Well, I made it back from the 600 is good shape, Got home around 2:15 AM after the race. So here is what I observed during the race concerning Michael Waltrip Racing.
First the Good: David Reutimann had a great run. He started 28th finished 10th and was up as high as 5th at one point. The gas mileage game cost him a top 6 maybe a top 5 finish. David is doing well in the 44 and hopefully, is convinceing UPS that he is the driver they need to stay with.
Next the Ok: I give Mike McDowell the ok as he finished 31st, but despite the troubles I give him a pass because he is a rookie and this is the first time on this track. I have faith that if he can stay in the top 35 that he will do much better in the second half and maybe even win the rookie of the year award.
Last the Bad: Michael is having problems with the COT. I, as a big fan, am getting tired of him telling his crew chief week in and week out that "This is the worse car I have ever been in" It can't be the worse car every week. Thank goodness Bobby Kennedy has been with him long enough to brush off these remarks as Mikey and try to get as much information as he can from him to fix the car. I blame most of Mikeys problem on him and here's why. Mikey is telling the crew chiefs what he wants in the car prior to the race. The springs, Shocks, wedge, track bar placement, swaybar etc. Mikey has a lot of say and it usually ends up his way. But when the race starts and the car isn't right then you hear him whine about how bad the car is. But Mikey it's your own fault. What do I think he needs to do?
Well I'm not a racer, never have been, nor a mechanic, but if it was me I would take all three cars to the track, say Kentucky for a 2 day test. I would set each car up the same and have all three drivers go 30 laps in the car reporting back every 5 laps what the car is doing in the turns, ie. loose in, center ok, tight off, etc. and record their lap times. After the 30 laps, I would take the seat out of the 44 and put it in the 00, the 00 to the 55 and the 55 to the 44. Put 4 fresh tires on the car and do it again. after that 30 laps I swap seats again. After that I would check to make sure each driver kept his same complaints and if they did I have a baseline to work off of. It wouldn't matter if David considered the car loose entering the turns and tight off and Mikey considered the car tight in and real tight off the base line would be set. That way the three crew chiefs could make the changes for thier drivers report those changes and they should be able to help each other out. Say the make a shock change to David and that gets him right, then if the make the same change to Michael he may now be netrual in and tight off, As adjustments are made to get the cars to the drivers liking they are recorded and after the two day session is over they would have notes to compare with. This way MWR would take all three cars to the track with the same setup and as the drivers relay the information they make the changes and when one hits the right combination they tell the others and they should be able to find the right setup in no time.
Also, with this baseline during the race if David needs an adjustment and the other do too the crew chiefs can relay to each other what the changes are and they should be able to get all the cars right by the end of the race.
Mikey needs to do something and do it in a hurry. Right now he is 3 points from the go or go home position. Another sub 25 finishing position will leave him battling with the go or go homers and we have seen that scene before. So Mikey please get it together before its too late. I have enjoyed not having to stress about you making the races.