Forbes Magazine’s Top Paid NASCAR Drivers

According to Forbes Magzine, the top paid drivers in NASCAR’s premiere series are:

1. Jeff Gordon $32 million
2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - $31 million
3. Jimmie Johnson - $23 million
4. Tony Stewart - $19 million
5. Kasey Kahne - $14 million
6. Juan Pablo Montoya - $11 million
7. Matt Kenseth - $11 million
8. Kevin Harvick - $11 million
9. Kyle Busch - $10 million
10. Denny Hamlin - $10 million

Yeah, I think a few of those are extremely over paid. Can you guess who I’m talking about? (more…)

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Montoya still pissed; possible Smoke replacement?

If this were to happen… I think I would poke my eyes out with a fork or steel rod.

#42-Juan Pablo Montoya requested a face-to-face meeting with his boss and got it the day before the Indianapolis 500, when owner Chip Ganassi flew to North Carolina to talk with his emotional driver. The early morning meeting Saturday let Montoya express his frustrations over the race team’s direction, including the firing of crew chief Jimmy Elledge, a move Montoya vehemently opposed. “I told him everything I was thinking and how it was,” said Montoya, who finished 30th. “The hope of the meeting is that everything that has happened turns into results. I need to run better. That’s what will calm me down.” Meanwhile, there is speculation that Joe Gibbs Racing may make a run at Montoya to fill the seat Tony Stewart is expected to leave at the end of the season. (Per Jayski via Chicago Tribune)

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Elledge dismissed, Montoya pissed

Crew Chief Jimmy Elledge, who helped guide the racing careers of Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray, Reed Sorenson, and the past month, Juan Pablo Montoya, has been dismissed from Ganassi Racing after a heated argument with competition director Steve Hmiel (formerly of Dale Earnhardt, Inc.)

Elledge’s dismissal leads Montoya to have his third crew chief in a month with Brian Pattie taking over.

Montoya expressed his displeasure with the dismissal of Elledge after he qualified next to last in this Sunday’s Coca-Cola 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Chip Ganassi said:

We had an employee step over the line, and I’m sorry it happened because I like Jimmy personally, but it had to be done. I know Juan is upset and he comes out on the short end of this deal. I apologize for that, but unfortunately it was unavoidable collateral damage.

Elledge is (or was) married to Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s sister, Kelley and together they have two children, Karsyn and Kennedy.

(Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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NASCAR: Inconsiderate and Inconsistant?

I will be the first one to admit that I love a good fight on the track. Whether it’s bumping cars, bumping someone out of the way, rubbin’ is racing, or just getting out of the cars and knockin’ the wind out of each other - I love it. So when Kevin Harvick and Juan Pablo Montoya jumped out of their cars yesterday during the Watkins Glen race, I was cheering as if I was ringside at a boxing match. They pushed, shoved, grabbed helmets and then seperated by officials and Jeff Burton. Then there was the slip of “ass” by Harvick - a slip that was intentional and said to show harm to a fellow competitor.

So being the Tony Stewart fan that I am, you can imagine how shocked I was today when I hear that neither Montoya nor Harvick would be fined or penalized and that there would be no fine for the bleep that Harvick let loose on the air. (more…)

Posted in NASCAR, Television, Tony Stewart | 1 Comment »

Is Tuesday the day?

Before I start getting ready for class tomorrow, a 8am newspaper meeting, and bed… a little news. First though, I want to ask all the racing fans an opinion on something.

Do you think that there’s a possibly of an inside job to make sure that Dale, Jr. doesn’t make the Chase? I think it’s funny that it’s mostly Junior having the engine problems. Sure, Truex has had one… but Childress has been FINE. Think the evil step-mother might be doing a little dirty business on the side? *enter soap opera music* (more…)

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Intuition… I’ve got it bad.

That’s it. I’m quitting school and I am becoming a psychic. I told Penni and I told my Mom that…. I had a feeling. I always have my feelings. He would do good. One of my boys would do good. I know the feel well. I wake up with it or if it’s intense, like last year’s Pepsi 400… I will feel it days before hand. I had that feeling today and well…. we all know what happened. (more…)

Posted in NASCAR, Tony Stewart | 2 Comments »