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Mid-Season Motorsports Exam

6/15/2009

June 15, 2009

I hope you've been paying attention, because it's time for our annual Mid-Season Motorsports Exam. Look over the questions and then decide carefully.

1. The biggest story of the year is:

a) Helio Castroneves winning in court and at Indy
b) Kyle Busch continuing to win in all three NASCAR series
c) Ron Capps winning in NHRA Funny Cars
d) Dale Earnhardt Jr. not winning

2. The Mid-Season Driver of the Year is:

a) Jenson Button
b) Ron Capps
c) Helio Castroneves
d) Kyle Busch

3. Radical rule changes have made Formula One:

a) Boring
b) Ridiculous
c) Amusing
d) A little more entertaining

4. The most important off-track issue the rest of the season will be:

a) Who is named Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s permanent crew chief
b) Danica pondering NASCAR
c) Who becomes the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO
d) Jeff Gordonís back

5. Best decision:

a) Keeping Steve Letarte as Jeff Gordon's crew chief
b) Richard Petty finding a way to keep No. 43 on the track
c) Mark Martin running full-time in Sprint Cup
d) Ross Brawn taking over the Honda Formula One team

6. Worst decision:

a) Budweiser not renewing with Kenny Bernstein
b) Honda not continuing in Formula One
c) NASCAR not going a full 500 miles at Daytona
d) Digger

7. The biggest surprise in NHRA is:

a) Mike Edwards
b) Del Worsham
c) Bob Tasca III
d) Ron Capps

8. Driver suggestion that deserves the most attention:

a) Change the IRL aero package
b) Make Cup races at Pocono shorter
c) Reduce NHRA nitro-engine horsepower
d) Wider tires on CoT cars

9. Best bet to win the Sprint Cup:

a) Tony Stewart
b) Jeff Gordon
c) Mark Martin
d) Jimmie Johnson

10. Most missed:

a) Tommy Johnson Jr.
b) Angelle Sampay
c) Melanie Troxel
d) All of the above

11. Happiest moment:

a) Helio not guilty
b) Ashley Force Hood winning at Houston
c) Matt Kenseth in victory lane at Daytona
d) Mark Martin winning at Phoenix

12. Worst moment:

a) NASCAR penalty to Carl Long
b) Jeremy Mayfield suspension
c) Waved-off Indy 500 start
d) IRL officials trying to prevent Castroneves from climbing the fence after Indy 500 win

13. The "Whatever Happened to . . .?" Award goes to:

a) Cale Gale
b) Kyle Krisiloff
c) Landon Cassill
d) Driver development teams

14. Most puzzling lack-of-performance (non-Dale Jr. category):

a) Robert Hight
b) Kevin Harvick
c) John Force
d) Denny Hamlin

15. Most interesting non-celebrity driver:

a) Rubens Barrichello
b) Jon Fogarty
c) David Reutimann
d) Jack Beckman

16. Gotta feel sorry for:

a) Buddy Lazier; former winner doesn't qualify at Indy
b) Ferrari Formula One enthusiasts
c) Kyle Busch; fastest again at Daytona 500 but doesn't win
d) Coca-Cola 600 ticket buyers

17. Crew chief on the hot seat (non-Dale Jr. category):

a) Jimmy Prock
b) Gil Martin
c) Larry Curry
d) Mike Ford

18. Can You Believe That Really Happened? Award:

a) Marco Andretti crashing on first lap of Indy 500
b) Danica swimsuit photos
c) David Reutimann won at Charlotte for Michael Waltrip
d) Matt Kenseth leaving the bottom lane open for Tony Stewart at end of NASCAR All-Star race

19. Change not for the better:

a) Darlington going back to 500 miles
b) Porsche out of ALMS P2 class
c) End of Pontiac brand
d) Reconfigured Bristol Motor Speedway

20. Biggest question for 2010:

a) Who will sponsor Brandon Bernstein?
b) What will Lance McGrew be doing?
c) Will Lewis Hamilton win?
d) How many prototypes will be in the ALMS?

[ Next column: July 6 ]

Sign-up at Valvoline.com for I.N. Sider's free weekly "Track Talk" Newsletter, delivered to you by e-mail.

(I.N. Sider is the pen name for an independent motorsports business-person who has a quarter-century of professional experience working in almost every major North American racing series. The writer is not an employee of Valvoline or Ashland Inc. The column is intended to inform, entertain, and stimulate thought on the contemporary motorsports scene. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Valvoline or Ashland Inc.)

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