What's up with Benson?!! Two in a row. I think Toyota is going to be very
competitive in their first Cup season. Maybe even Waltrip will win a few
:-).

"None40" wrote ...
Will JB get back to cup in a Toyota?

WildWeasel wrote:
Don't know, but it would be nice to see.

"Bill Jonesi" <jonesi (AT) pcmagic (DOT) net> wrote

On another note, why is Johnny wearing glasses again? I remember him
getting Lasix surgery several years ago and Inside Winston Cup doing a story
on it. Just caught my eye when I saw him wearing glasses last week in
victory lane.

One of the columnists in NASCAR Scene this week was discussing the fact
that there are a bunch of openings for drivers in Cup next year and
only one available driver currently from cup (Vickers.) The idea was
that teams may be bringing back guys like JB, Mike Skinner, Ward
Burton, maybe Ricky Craven, etc: guys with cup experience not doing Cup
now. Food for thought, eh?
Sandy
Tom & Debbie Heintz wrote:

"Sandy" <sandrabrown_509 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

I'd be surprised to see it myself. There's lots of talent in the Busch
series that would be better money spent. The guys that are out of Cup today
are out for a reason. A lot of them were nice guys - fan favorites, but
they had their crack at it and they never set the track on fire. Much
better to spend the money on the Busch guys and bring them up through.

--

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE (AT) alltel (DOT) net

"Tom & Debbie Heintz" wrote ...
Lasik improves the focusing power of the eye (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism)
but doesn't fix Presbyopia, reduced elasticity of the cornea with increasing
age, as far as I know.

Just guessing that he's over 40 and his lens doesn't flex anymore (he typed as
he adjusted his bifocals).

"Mike Marlow" wrote ...
Well, does Toyota want a blank slate or some experience?

"WildWeasel" <wweasel_24 (AT) zerospam (DOT) yahoo.com> wrote

Good point. Considering they took on Mouth Waltrip and Dale Jarrett, it
does appear that experience (regardless of talent) is what they're after.

--

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE (AT) alltel (DOT) net

Mike Marlow wrote:
I'm not seeing a lot of availible talent in Busch. Looking at the
current standing (half way?) of the top 20:
9, are already cup regulars
3, have cup deals for next year (Menard, Wood, Kluever)
5, already had a shot in cup and didn't do well (J Sauter, Leffler,
Andretti, D Green, Compton) I think I'd rate Benson & W Burton above
them.
2, are signed doing the Busch finishing school (O'Quinn Roush, Lamar
Harvick/RCR)
That kind of leaves Ashton Lewis, with only 1 top 5, and 2 top 10. Is he
signed with anyone?

It doesn't look like anyone out side top 20 have multiple top 10s,
unless they are already making the big bucks in cup.

Oops just saw Reutimann 3 top 10s in 6 starts, that's pretty good now a
days. Is he on anyones developement plan?


For next year Toyota needs drivers who can qualify their way into races
and give them valuable race data & feedback. Next year it looks like cup
is going from about 42 full time teams to about 48 if none of the
scraping-by teams pull out. (counting +4 Toyota, 77 Penske'/Jasper back,
15 DEI full time, and not counting 3rd Yates, 2nd Wood Bros, 3rd
Waltrip, Tim Brown or Said) If I was running Toyota I'd go after every
recent "retired" cup driver Rusty, Rudd, Elliott, T Labonte, and take a
partial schedule from them if needed. It's not that they don't want to
race any more, they're tired of doing it from Groundhog day to
Thanksgiving.