Rob, Reed split

[none]

No, but apparently it is a variable that can throw a real curve to those that are trying to adjust. Doug switched in 2023 back to open after the tire incident, which is three years ago. So, please tell us what we are missing.

The exception this year seems to be Maddi’s car with Rob Flynn.

The Kalitta cars have about a 1/10 on the field and they are open canopy, thus they made a choice.

That was 2025 I believe.......
Leah is 3rd in points, Tony Stewart is 4th.
And AJ is the best, has been since the mid 90s. But a tenth? I don't think so.
That's what you are missing.
Alan

 

[BOO BOO]

Well…. since Tony S is going over to Tony Stewart at the end of the season, I have to say don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. That may not be a popular opinion here. Not a fan of that guy. Drama seems to be wherever he is. There’s a reason for that

Well…. since Tony S is going over to Tony Stewart at the end of the season, I have to say don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. That may not be a popular opinion here. Not a fan of that guy. Drama seems to be wherever he is. There’s a reason for that.

Leah getting out of the seat .........Like him or not, Schumacher would have been crazy to turn that ride down.

 

[you]

I don’t know Tony Schumacher. Never spoken a word to him or even been in his presence…so I can’t really form a good or bad opinion of him. However, when he came to an established team and it was all but mandated (bullied) that Clay switch to a canopy car, that really rubbed me the wrong way. Glad to see Clay back in his comfort zone.

 

[z28]

Ashley, yes definitely.

Which is why it was a bonehead move to convert both Rick Ware cars to closed canopy, it’s already been shown by several other cars that they’re harder to tune. Starting with Alan Johnson and Doug‘s car three years ago.

I’m trying to figure out the chaos that must’ve ensued in the RWR camp this year with two canopy cars, they must’ve had it so completely a confused mess that they just didn’t know where to turn.

Too bad. Destroying three rear ends didn’t help the morale or the situation either.

But I bet that’s not the whole story.

Man it was just rotten. I miss JimO already. Apparently he took the departure with much grace. Not that I don’t like Rob even better, because the man is clearly a genius and extremely skilled in many arts.

I'm sure Jim and John O were as frustrated as anyone else about their performance. They had to know that a change was possible. Like many before them a change happened. Not the first time a crew chief was replaced. In the NHRA world it's not a good idea to burn your bridges.

 

[mike]

There was nothing wrong with the Chrisman and it’s not my business to say what the issue was but

That was 2025 I believe.......
Leah is 3rd in points, Tony Stewart is 4th.
And AJ is the best, has been since the mid 90s. But a tenth? I don't think so.
That's what you are missing.
Alan

They got rid of the canopy car after they hurt the car at Maple Grove in 2023 when Doug shredded a tire. They have ran the open cockpit car since Charlotte ‘23.

 

[none]

Michael,

You are correct. I went back and checked, I was thinking that Doug was in the canopy car when he got together with Tony Stewart, but that was the open car.

The fact remains, both type of cars are fast and both can win.

Alan

 

[DixonFan]

Thread 'We Had No Idea If This Would Work…'

Sep 19, 2026

We Had No Idea If This Would Work…

• News Bot
• Sep 19, 2026

• 0
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• News Bot
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Podcasts

 

[Ponyhntr]

I don’t know Tony Schumacher. Never spoken a word to him or even been in his presence…so I can’t really form a good or bad opinion of him. However, when he came to an established team and it was all but mandated (bullied) that Clay switch to a canopy car, that really rubbed me the wrong way. Glad to see Clay back in his comfort zone.

I’m not so sure that was the reason why. I’ve heard something totally different, but that’s not my story to tell.

 

[GumbyWVU]

Michael,

You are correct. I went back and checked, I was thinking that Doug was in the canopy car when he got together with Tony Stewart, but that was the open car.

The fact remains, both type of cars are fast and both can win.

Alan

Based on your knowledge and experience, does a canopy car have any real advantage over the other? I always thought it had something to do with the air flow over it but could never really pin down hard evidence of one being more advantageous. Maybe the faster it goes the less the air flow matters? Curious as to your thoughts.

 

[Butch]

It was a safety issue. Copied from the TFH boat capsule

 

[Butch]

So as seen on Clay's video, the car at Martin is the new one with the canopy removed. It sounds like the crew is happy with the decision to go with the open style.

 

[Paul]

So as seen on Clay's video, the car at Martin is the new one with the canopy removed. It sounds like the crew is happy with the decision to go with the open style.

Crew was really happy to be out of the canopy.

 

[z28]

Crew was really happy to be out of the canopy.

I'm sure those crew guys were tired of losing.

 

[Rasn1320]

I'm sure those crew guys were tired of losing.

Yea they seem much happier,wonder how hard it is to work with the O brothers??

 

[turbo ken]

Did Joe explain this on his channel? If not where can I hear it?

thanks.

There was nothing wrong with the Chrisman and it’s not my business to say what the issue was but

They got rid of the canopy car after they hurt the car at Maple Grove in 2023 when Doug shredded a tire. They have ran the open cockpit car since Charlotte ‘23.

The problem with the Chrisman was the foreign made gear sets, which was also the problem with the Strange rearends a couple of years ago. Hunter Green just had the same thing happen with a Chrisman yesterday in Q1 of FC qualifing yesterday (oiled the track).

 

[65 Goatboy]

It was a safety issue. Copied from the TFH boat capsule

I always thought it was personal driver choice mostly for safety.

 

[z28]

Yea they seem much happier,wonder how hard it is to work with the O brothers??

probably about the same as anybody else when you're losing every week.

 

[Rasn1320]

Nicky is over on will smiths car now,as an addition,running the best they ever have lol

 

[Topfuel386]

Hunters rear gear wasn’t a new batch gear. It also didn’t have an excessive amount of runs. It was just bad luck.

 

[LoPony]

Michael,

You are correct. I went back and checked, I was thinking that Doug was in the canopy car when he got together with Tony Stewart, but that was the open car.

The fact remains, both type of cars are fast and both can win.

Alan

They can win, but open is clearly easier to tune and has an advantage, otherwise people wouldn’t be ditching their closed cockpit cars and going to open!

I never said closed cockpit cars couldn’t be competitive but they can’t run with the well-tuned open cockpit cars. This is especially obvious after the US 131 Michigan race. Kalitta cars are blowing everybody away. I know obviously the team and workmanship is a major factor, but they made the decision to stay with open cockpit. What does that tell you?