Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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I think the ride Kyle took in Sprint Cup was a mistake.    I am pretty sure the motors he is running are not Phoenix racing motors but Ganassi/Earnhardt motors.  (anyone know for sure?)

So, either he is in for a long haul with the equipment he is going to be given (2 blown engines in 2 races) or they are testing some motors at his expense while giving him some experience.    I did not watch the Martinsville race but he ran very well in his 1st cookie-cutter race before the motor expired. 

Anyone have any (useful) input on this?  I know he got a big check, but I would have gone with a team with more credentials. 

I think the kid just wants to race !  Its not like top tier rides r falling out of the sky at this point in the season.  Besides this isnt the ride hell b in next year is it ?   

How's Mark Martin done in the 14 car???  very poor as well.

My take is that this gives the team (and Tony's team too) an opportunity for testing during the race (since NASCAR really limits testing, this gives the entire EGR team a leg up going into 2014 (they can try new parts and pieces and motor combinations in a car not running for points in 2013).

Hendrick, Gibbs and Roush don't have this luxury as they are at the 4 car limit (so one of their full time teams has to be the guinea pig and they can't take as big swings at things if/when all 4 of their cars qualify for the Chase).

I think it will be ok for Kyle in 2014 (and Tony too), as getting seat time in 2013 will vastly help him in 2014.

Time will tell if moving to Cup was a mistake, but from a money standpoint, it's a "no brainer".  The short term $$ is still more than you could earn staying in the minor leagues for 20+ years and never getting that opportunity at a big time ride again.

Forgot, if I remember correctly, Jamie McMurray said in Victory Lane @ Talledega that moving to Hendrick Engines costs them a lot more $$$, but he felt Chip made the right decision in doing so....

Unless you start seeing major motor issues in the 48, 24, 5, 88, 14, 39 (4 car next year), the 1 and countless others that lease Hendrick power, I'd chalk the motor failures up to expirmental motors being used since points aren't at stake.

So is this the team he will be with next yr?  Sorry i dont pay much attention to NASCAR only to try n see what Kyle might b up to.

No next year he will be in the Gnassi 42 that Juanito pablo drives now

Basically, it's an EGR prepped car with Kyle's 2014 crew chief calling the shots operating as the #51 car for James Finch at the racetrack.

I think he'll do fine next year, but seems the team is doing the right thing by testing stuff this year with nothing at stake prior to Kyle running for points in 2014 (by rule, he cannot accumulate any points in Cup or Trucks since he is running for the Nationwide points (new rule a couple years ago to keep Kyle Busch from winning the title and only running 3/4 of the races IMO).

I think it's a little of both, track time at new places and a little experimenting. I don't think he can possibly do anything but benefit from the experience. Even when he starts running the full cup schedule, it's going to take some time to gel with the team, crew chief etc. I don't think he'll be with Ganassi for too long anyway, 

What I see is that he's not being asked to start and park ,but instead is being told ,"put it to the floor and let's see what it's got!"

This is for a lot of teams benifit ,and it's cool they trust Kyle's driving ability's will put enough stress on those motor's to be able to learn from.

I really don't like watching it go up in smoke so early,but I understand what they are trying to acomplish.

I think the situation will be different next year because right now he is basically running a car that is owned by one team, but being prepped by another team. I'm sure there is some experimentation going on right now too. Next year I believe his ride will be much more solid. Although I am concerned about EGR's ability to get a team completely on the same page. They are able to squeak out a win once in a while, but their two teams have never been able to put together a complete competitive season I suppose (although they have made the Chase before).

There are definitely worse rides and worse teams he could be involved with though. We'll just have to sit and enjoy it, hopefully it plays out well for Yung Money.

Ask Frank

Finch and Phoenix use Hendrick engines, as does Turner Scott. Finch just sold the team to Scott this season.

http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2013/08/28/nascar-harry-scott-buys-phoenix-racing-james-finch-justin-allgaier.html

They had all kinds of problems when Kurt drove the car last year too.

Reading this post reminds me of how different things are today than they were 30 years ago.  Back then if a hot Sprint Car prospect came along I could be pretty sure that I'd eventually see them somewhere.  Kyle Larson came and went without a lot of us ever getting a chance to see him race at our local tracks.  I'm thinking that his Sprint Car activities may be reeled in starting next year.

Stan Meissner

WOW!!  11 responses and no one ripped me to shreds for asking about Nascar!!!   Thanks all!!

I know Kyle is running the number 51 but the car is straight up Ganassi/Earnhardt--that was confirmed during qualifying in his first race.  I just wondered if anyone had some inside info on the motor situation.  Would Hendrick give them motors to "try" for a discount?  Maybe a tit for a tat?  You get a motor and experience--we get to see what this motor and that motor would do? 

Pure speculation--find it funny he blew two powerplants in two races.  I would agree that this will not be the failure rate next year--don't recall Jamie and Juan blowing motors non-stop.  I just hope the rest of the equipment gives him the shot he needs.   Time will tell.  ???

Most of you had some pretty valid points and arguments by the way.

There was in interview with Kyle in front of the stands at the Trophy Cup.  He said he has something like 70 nascar events set for 2014 and would probably only have time to run 10-12 open wheel shows.

Fans were asked to give questions for Kyle to answer.  A gal in the stands question was, "is it briefs, boxer, or thongs ! ?

Kyle' response after a little giggle was, "well I wear boxers but I like thongs for the ladies."  The crowd got a chuckle out of that . . . . .

I think it won't be fair to judge them until after a few races next year. As far as moving him up too early or not I don't think it matters in Nascar today as it did a few years ago because from what most of the drivers say now the nationwide cars and cup cars drive so much differntly from each other now. I don't think it will help him or hurt him to stay in nationwide or come up to cup now.

Not sure Kyle had many options when he started his nascar career.  The way I heard it, kyle busch offered him a truck ride and Kyle would recieve $100K a race IE Larson would have to come up with $100k to race Busches truck, each race.  Kyle did have NASCAR support with "The Drive For Diversity" program which Daryl Wallace used to win the truck race last week.

Although, EGR might not be on the level of Hendricks, Gibbs, etc.  It is safe to assume Chip will do whatever he can to be successful and it might not be a bad team in the future.  If Kyle does as well as many expect, I bet many talented engineers/crew/etc will join ECR to work with a talented young racer.

Not that long ago (2010), the ECR won 3 races including Daytona and Brickyard race.  I am sure you are aware of Chip's success in Indy Cars and Sports cars.  In time, I believe EGR will win a championship (hopefully with Kyle Larson    

the only thing the 51 car used that was from its normal stable was the number and the hauler. the first car was a car jamie mac had won with before. if they are experimenting with engines on kyle, it is a stupid move. target is on the car and its new driver is in it. that car and driver need to finish races and get publicity.

as far as what team kyle signed for, well from everything i have heard other teams wanted bucks. chip was the only one who took kyle on without bringing money.

speaking of money, i don't know if kyle got the big check as someone said. he may have. i don't know if he is still driving for development money, or if he got more. i knew he was under development contract for 7 years for "X" amount each year and that amount increased over time. now i hope he is getting more money for his move up and for him driving in two series next year.

by the way, kyle take some money and go buy your mom something nice .

to indy and beyond!!

Even if his salary was that of a developmental driver, his win percentage should still be enough to get him over a million next year.   Ever look at the money that yeley and blarney win.   The money is insane.

I don't know how valid the info is, but I was under the impression that Chevy had a hand in the size of the check--and the rumors of the size of the check are big.  Don't have any hard facts or specifics though.

The #51 operation is no longer owned by James Finch.

Tucson Osty