Loose in Turn Three: Did Tony Stewart’s Team Make The Right Call In Charlotte?
May 30, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
Image details: Coca-Cola 600 served by picapp.com
Yes, it’s Friday once again, and I think we all know what that means! Welcome, everyone, to yet another edition of “Loose in Turn Three” with your favorite blogging panel. Of course, you know who I am, and I believe my colleagues here no longer need introduction, either … but, just formality’s sake, I’m joined once again by Bruce Simmons from Bruce’s NASCAR Bits & Pieces, and the infamous Charlie Turner from On Pit Row.
We’ve got another exciting lineup for you this week, as we refuse to let go of the drama that was the Coca Cola 600 as we analyze the decisions of Tony Stewart and Greg Zipadelli on pit road late in the race. We will also examine the struggles of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to get into Victory Lane, and we also tackle NASCAR’s “great debate” … otherwise known as “Give and Take”. So, sit back and buckle up tight. Three questions, three voices, and three different answer … we’re about to get Loose in Turn Three!
Should the no. 20 team have called for two right-side tires on Tony Stewart’s next-to-last stop at the Coca Cola 600?
TZ: As we all know, hindsight’s 20/20, so it’s easy to sit here and bash Zippy for not giving Smoke some fresh rubber with sixty plus laps left. But, it was the right call. For the past two weeks, the checkers at Lowe’s have gone to the gamblers , so I don’t see why they’d have reason to call this one differently. Kahne won the All-Star race by not taking tires; Busch won the Nationwide race not pitting so they could keep their track position; and, the 20 crew had the same thing in mind. No tire stops aren’t common for this team, and now I guess we know why, but it was still the correct call, and Tony should’ve been climbing the fence in Charlotte.
Bruce: I’m all about fresh rubber… Yes you lose time putting on tires, but you can gain that time if you have enough laps back up.. nothing ventured, nothing gained.. then again, they did venture. No, it was not a bad call for the 20 team to not take tires… the dice just came up snake eyes this time and did not work for them. They must have had reason to believe the tires would have lasted. Wouldn’t they?
Charlie: Charlie: When in doubt, trust Zippy. Nobody knows Tony Stewart better than Zippidelli. I have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, what do I know anyway?
Follow the rest of our discussion here:
- Kyle Busch got his panties in a bunch because Jeff Gordon kept racing him hard for position in the Coca-Cola 600. Should drivers get over the idea of people moving over for them because they think they're faster than they are?
I think it was the wrong call. always take fresh tires and now we know why!!!
I can definitely see your point, Adam, but I don’t think that just because it didn’t pan out in this instance means that it was necessarily the wrong call.