New N'wide Challenger looks like a Challenger!

Stolen from the Blogosphere this morning, the guys at Jalopnik posted pictures of the new Dodge Challenger Nationwide machine. The car is built to CoT specs and is set to debut next season. NASCAR has apparently relaxed on some of the body restrictions for the new N'wide machines and the result is a car that actually looks similar to a Dodge Challenger. How could this car possibly lose to a Taurus or Camry?

That is the sound of rolling heads

The penalties have come down in the whole Joe Gibbs Racing dyno cheating debacle, and they are rather harsh. Like, really harsh.

Here's an outline:

-Joey Logano of the No. 18 and Tony Stewart of the No. 20 – have been penalized with the loss of 150 championship driver points and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2008.

-Joe Gibbs, owner of both of the cars, has likewise been penalized 150 championship owner points for each of those entries.

-From the No. 18 team, car chief Dorian Thorsen; engine tuner Michael Johnson; and crew member Toby Bigelow have been placed on indefinite suspension from NASCAR.

-From the No. 20 team, car chief Richard Bray and engine tuner Dan Bajek have been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR.

And the pièce de résistance of suckhood:

-Both crew chiefs – Jason Ratcliff of the No. 18 and Dave Rogers of the No. 20 – have been fined $50,000 and indefinitely suspended from NASCAR.

So, if you have any crew chief experence, now may be the time to shoot JGR a resume and cover letter.

Get your ponchos ready

The NASCAR Nationwide Series is competing on the road course in Montreal this afternoon. Rain is in the forecast. Rain is in the forecast. It's going to rain. ESPN just featured a piece about Goodyear's rain tires and said they haven't been used outside of a practice session during an exhibition race in Japan. Does anyone else see the impending disaster. This should be good. The race starts at 2:30 pm EST. on ESPN 2.

HOUR-BY-HOUR WEATHER for Montreal, Canada

Interactive Weather Map

Busch v. Wallace

Steve Wallace finished behind Kyle Busch in last night's Nationwide race at Richmond. A war of words and indecipherable insults (on Wallace's part. Seriously, what the hell is this guy saying?) were tossed back and forth between the two, coming to a head when Wallace approached Busch's Toyota after the race, grabbed his helmet and shook. If the story ended there, it would be pretty funny. But, post-race interviews lead to Busch making fun of Wallace and his father Rusty. Wallace (Steve, that is) later responded by calling Busch "a big tall big-ear loser..."

Enjoy the final laps of the race, plus the ensuing insults.



-Wallace, Busch trade barbs following Richmond Nationwide race