The night race at Bristol is my favorite race of the year. The environment at the track with everyone so close, packed into a huge stadium with a lightning fast, high banked half-mile race track in the middle is unbelievable. The place is packed with energy and the fans are so close it will get your attention when they cheer! With a 39th-place qualifying effort, I knew it would be a challenging night from the start.
Although our practice sessions and qualifying were terrible, we finally hit on something in the final practice before the race. The car had been terribly loose entering the corner and that is not a good thing when the radius is so tight around the corner. Starting so far back, you were basically half a lap down at the start. When the lap times are below 16 seconds a lap…you do not have much time to play around! It was a constant battle from lap one to lap 500. I don’t think there was one lap that I did not say something. After a new surface to the track last year, it is 10 times more difficult to pass or be passed here. Everyone whether they are high or low can get good grip and get a good run off the corner making passing very difficult. Juan drove a good race and stayed very busy all night. There were times that we had to race the leader really hard to stay on the lead lap, but that is what you had to do! Even when guys that were running in the top 10 would get around you, you could not be courteous and let them go. I know some people got angry but I guess that is why they call it racing right?
We got a lap down early and Juan did a good job hustling the car to stay there. The pit crew did a really good job getting the car back out of the pits during the stops under caution. That was very important because it put us in a good position to be further toward the front on the restarts and stay only one lap down. Later in the race we got an additional lap down during a long green run. When the race concluded we finished in the 19th position after starting 39th. I was rather pleased with that. There were many long green-flag runs in this race and it is very difficult not to go quite a few laps down like that. I had a really good time during this race. Like I said it is my favorite of the year and I liked watching Juan drive his butt off! We had the yellow car this week and I could sometimes see Juan’s yellow sleeves inside the car “sawing” on the wheel…that was pretty cool! He had his elbows up getting with it.
After a long motorcycle ride back home through the mountains, it was time to be back to the shop to prepare for the race this weekend in California. Hope everyone has a good week and I will talk to you next week!
-Tab
Comments
Sorenson leaving I like it I'll like to see a stronger driver that can team up with JPM and help each other out there the same way David Stremme did it at last the last Talladega race.
Who would it be???
As far as Kyle B. comment "Juan is the best at racing for the 40th, spot" (or something like that), is funny how quick they forget who pushed them to the front at Talladega, oh well, Tab i hope you folks remember that, a little, woops!!! sorry Kyle B. was that your fender that just flew off or is that your wing , anyhow sorry about that....lol...lol...keep on working Tab, Montoya will take you to the promise land sooner rather than later...hey TAB are you folks going to use the new DODGE engine this year...
I find most of your comments quite offensive to me and the rest of my teammates. I think that the comment about our cars being "clunkers" is what really ticks me off. Spotting is only half of what I do on the team. During the week every guy on the team as well as myself works very hard to put together the highest quality and safe race cars possible. I am the team fabricator and anything else that needs to be done. So when you talk about the team and decisions that are being made, you are talking about me too. I look at things positively and I believe a top 15 is very obtainable. You can take that 34th 3 laps down and shove it. We work way too hard and travel away from our familys way too much to hear stuff like this from you ....I don't care if you ever write here again. To everyone else, I hope you have a fine day.
Tab Boyd
What happen at the end 20th I heard you guys are testing I hope is the new engine because we need more horse power behing Team #42 I wish you guys good luck in qualifying for RIR.
RC.... amen to the horse power...lol
I agree, we are all fans and there is no need to be rude.
Here is my take, I think the team is trying harder every race to have a good car. The race in fontana proves that and its easy to see how the car is getting better out of the box. There is something that frustrates me though. I heard the whole race in fontana, and Juan was doing great the first part of the race cause his car was tuned for the daylight. As the night started to fall, I could see and hear Juan complaining about the car becoming tighter and tighter, what I do not understand is that the adjustments made (at least what was said over the radio) where minimal and I just don't believe that Juan can not finish races on a better position if Bryan is unable to make the right calls with the adjustments in mid-race. Half a pound of pressure when the car is getting tighter and tighter its just not enough when the car is going downhill on the handling.
I was watching an interview of JJ crew chief, and he was saying that the key for their win was the adjustments made to the car to always keep it as best as possible.
Why can Juan go back to work with Donnie, The team was doing so good back then.
Keep up the good work Tabb, I know the team is capable, Juan was top 10 half of the race while the car was with the right setup
KG
The first half of Fontana was very encouraging (watched the whole thing despite it finishing about 5:30 AM over here!). Evening to night must make keeping the car changes up with the track very difficult indeed. Chasing the setup is an area that can only improve as the driver/crew chief understanding improves with time.
Also, please don't be discouraged from blogging, we all appreciate your insight into the weekend. I'm always eagerly checking to read the next installment :-).
I wish with could had a chance to the pole, and show some people that the #42 team deserves the spot at the coors pole race now with the change of rules and JPM and his position he is already qualify but I read a nasty article by one of the nascar writers talking about it.
Tab, I hope you guys the best on sunday race and I hope Brian figure this thing out, go wild in setups and learn as much as you can .
Jeff G's comment was out of line. No, the team doesn't have the results-YET-to go along with the progress you guys have made, but the results will come. I've followed JPM since he was in CART; when he said he was coming to NASCAR, I was stoked! Anyway, I've followed the team, and I've listened to you guys for two seasons now, thanks to TrackPass' RaceView-yeah, baby!
Anyway, I've noticed many positives; I've noticed many steps in the right direction. One, the pit stops have gotten better. Two, qualifying has gotten better as of late. Three, Brian is an under rated, mechanically savvy crew chief. Four, communications between Juan & Brian have improved, as has the chemistry there. Finally, Juan is obviously getting the hang of the new car.
Back at the first Michigan race, they were spotty & inconsistent, with one taking 23 seconds or thereabouts; now, they've all been solid, consistent 14-16 second stops. With Brian's obvious attention to detail, I knew that this would be rectified, and it was. Since Michigan I, the pit stops have been good; other than the Dover II stop (an honest faux pas that I'm sure Brian will analyze and prevent next time).
Secondly, qualifying has gotten better. Juan got the pole @ KC, only to be screwed out of it. At Talladega, he got 13th-not a bad place to start at the plate tracks. I'm sure qualifying will continue to improve, which will help the team in many ways. The improved qualifying is but one manifestation of the team's improvement!
Three, when Brian was selected to be Juan's crew chief, I read the articles that Jayski's linked to; I read that Brian was one of the most MECHANICALLY SAVVY crew chiefs in the NNS, and it shows. Of the three crew chiefs Juan has had, Brian is the ONLY one who consistently calls out gear & RPM (47, 2nd! 47, 2nd!) when pulling out of the pits, so as to do his part to prevent a pit road speeding penalty. To me, it's obvious that Brian sees EVERY, LITTLE DETAIL in an effort to lead the team to victory.
What I also like about Brian is that he'll take a bad situation, and use it for the team's benefit. For example, at Michigan I, when Juan ended up in 38th due to handling difficulties, Brian suggested trying a bunch of different adjustments in an effort to build the setup notebook; you all tried anything & everything, and that was a good idea. You all took lemons, and made lemonade with them.
Four, I think that communications & chemistry between Juan & Brian are improving. I liked the bet you all had at Dover II for the Argentina beef; I liked how Brian won that bet too! He said, "I'm gonna win some meeaat!" That was funny! You guys are joking around when it's appropriate, something that I didn't notice earlier this year or last year. That's a good sign.
I also remember how all of you guys were discussing whether or not you liked Big Red or Juicy Fruit. I like Juicy Fruit myself (I have for a long time), and I buy some now & then to support the team... :)
Finally, Juan is figuring out how to drive the new car. Granted, it's a pain compared to the old one, but he's driving it better. He's been running up farther up front, and doing so more often. I don't know who it is on your team, but an old guy said at Dover II that Juan had "driven his ASS off today," and he has. Since Loudon, Juan is increasingly finding his way into the top 10 & top 5, and staying there longer when he does. Sooner or later, that'll lead to consistent top 10 & top 5 finishes, which will eventually lead to wins. Way to go, guys!
Mark
A Long Time Montoya Fan!
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