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Mid-Season Test

6/21/2010

It’s that time of year again. Have you been noticing or napping? Cheering or jeering? As a wise tutor once told me, a good guide in multiple choice exams is to go with your first choice.

1. The biggest story of the year is:

a) The impact double-wide restarts and three green-white-checker attempts has had on NASCAR finishes.
b) Roger Penske positioned to win both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series championships (no NASCAR titles to date as an owner)
c) Dario Franchitti wins Indy 500
d) Dale Earnhardt Jr. not winning

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

a) Denny Hamlin
b) Kyle Busch
c) Scott Pruett
d) Larry Dixon

3. Biggest eye-opener so far:

a) NASCAR Hall of Fame
b) Robert Hight
c) Will Power
d) Danica Patrick

4. Best rookie:

a) Randy Bernard
b) Simona De Silvestro
c) Austin Dillon
d) Justin Lofton

5. Best idea:

a) John Force making Mike Neff his new co-crew chief
b) Rick Hendrick hiring Kasey Kahne
c) NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte
d) Delta Wing

6. Worst idea:

a) Nationwide cars at Elkhart Lake, but not Indy Cars
b) Starting the season with wings on Sprint Cup cars
c) NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte
d) Delta Wing

7. The biggest surprise:

a) Roger Penske winning in NASCAR as the only Dodge team
b) Kevin Harvick atop Sprint Cup standings
c) Mark Martin not winning
d) Warren Johnson’s Pro Stock win

8. Best NASCAR rivalry:

a) Kyle Busch-Denny Hamlin
b) Kevin Harvick-Joey Logano
c) Brad Keselowski-Carl Edwards
d) Jeff Gordon-Jimmie Johnson

9. Best bet to win the Sprint Cup:

a) Jimmie Johnson
b) Kyle Busch
c) Kurt Busch
d) Kevin Harvick

10. Most intriguing non-driver:

a) John Medlen
b) Jean Todt
c) Tom Logano
d) Delana Harvick

11. Happiest moment:

a) Ryan Hunter-Reay wins Long Beach
b) John Force wins Pomona
c) Justin Allgaier wins Bristol
d) Kevin Harvick wins Talladega

12. Biggest disappointment:

a) IndyCar safety crew’s reaction to Simona De Silvestro crash at Texas
b) Paul Tracy not qualifying for Indy 500
c) Carl Edwards flipping Brad Keselowski at Atlanta
d) Indy 500 ending under yellow

13. The “Whatever Happened to . . .?” Award goes to:

a) Ward Burton
b) Thiago Medeiros
c) John Wes Townley
d) Ted Musgrave

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

a) Carl Edwards
b) Felipe Massa
c) Tony Kanaan
d) Mike Skinner

15. Most incredible non-driver story:

a)  Pothole stops the Daytona 500
b)   PRO organization folds on demand for no more four-wide drag racing
c)   NASCAR conducts more Town Hall meetings
d)   USF1 team

16. Gotta feel sorry for:

a) All of the below
b) Graham Rahal
c) Ryan Hunter-Reay
d) Brian Vickers

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

a)   Steve Letarte
b)   Dave Sharpley
c)   Chris Cunningham
d)   Gene Nead

18. Can You Believe That Really Happened? Award:

a) Robin Miller saying nice things about the IndyCar CEO
b) Johnny Sauter-Ron Hornaday Jr. twin-slides at Kansas
c) Red Bull Formula One teammates collide in Spain
d) Steve Kinser driving for Tony Stewart

19. Biggest question for rest of 2010:

a) Will Dale Jr. win?
b) Will Jeff Gordon win?
c) Will Danica win?
d) Will Michael Schumacher win?

20. Biggest question for 2011:

a) What car will Kasey Kahne drive?
b) Will Courtney Force be in Top Fuel?
c) Who will be Dale Junior’s crew chief?
d) Who will win the 100th anniversary running of the first Indy 500?

[ Next column: July 12 ]

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(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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About I.N. Sider

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.