Thoughts

[Chris]

It wouldn't surprise me if there were alot of "old guys" in the same boat.  Joey's young and has time to mature....he shouldn't be rushed up to the Cup level.

I know what you are saying... but if he has the talent "now".... not any real sense to hold him back either.
ONly way to learn at that level is seat time.  No substitute for it... especially in the CUP cars.

[20forLogano]

Things with Joey can be interpreted any way one would like.  He is extremely mature and classy especially to his team.  He has a passion to win that the greats all had/have.  I can sit here all day and state instances when Senior, Waltrip, Allison, etc didn't ALWAYS say things about their teams.  Just getting out of the car after a race in which you felt you had the car to win results in ommissions. 
As for Cup, why hold someone back based on their so-called lack of communication?  If that is the only problem than JGR will have Joey's PR person address that and make sure Joey is thanking his sponsors/team etc but I am pretty sure JGR is not worried about that.  Heck Newman and Kurt Busch threw their organization under the bus yesterday on TV stating about bad pit decisons and how the equipment always is snappy, loose in, tight in the center and losse off.  Cup is where you learn from the best and when you are talented enough to compete, let's go race.   

[FS_Amy]

Well.. I have to throw this out... If saying nice things about your team, have the proper attitude, etc were all "requirements" for getting to the CUP level... then some of the guys on the CUP series now wouldn't get there.
Kyle Busch for one comes to mind presently....
I'm sure if I thought about it I could think about a lot of "old" guys who were in the same boat.

I'm not saying they should be requirements, though I very strongly that a FULL season of consecutive races in either the Nationwide or Truck series should be (as in 35 in a row).  Smaller touring series, including ARCA, are fantastic beginnings, but there is more to racing at the Cup level than pure talent (if there wasn't, Robby Gordon would have Tony Stewart's numbers).  Seat time is important, but lots of guys with huge talent ahve come up too soon and not performed where they should simply because they lack the experience and attitude of the veterans. 

As for attitude, if I personally was a car owner, I would not bring a driver up if I didn't think he was mature enough to handle it-the pressure is huge, and I firmly believe that people are happier if they are better equipped to handle that.  And it would be expected, no matter HOW good or crappy his days was that if he was interviewed on television, he was to thank his crew, no matter what.  If he couldn't do that, a modest fine of $100 to charity might remind him to do so next time.  After that, he can be as colorful as he wants, but the crew would be thanked every time.  If mistakes were made by crew members, they would be addressed in private, as they should be.

[Prof555]

There is not a reason in the world to cancel a road race because it's raining. I road raced motorcycles for years in the sixties and seventies and we raced in the rain on pure road courses, though not on super speedways with infield road courses like Daytona, Talladega and Pocono. All of the tracks that Nascar uses for road racing are capable of being raced on in the rain. Perhaps if NASCAR were to make it clear that they will do so, Goodyear would be able to make a few fresh batches of full wets and intermediate rain tires. The crews might also get serious about installing wipers and demisters on the cars. Im sure the ALMS wouldnt mind providing the appropriate information.

[Tyyrus]

There is not a reason in the world to cancel a road race because it's raining. I road raced motorcycles for years in the sixties and seventies and we raced in the rain on pure road courses, though not on super speedways with infield road courses like Daytona, Talladega and Pocono. All of the tracks that Nascar uses for road racing are capable of being raced on in the rain. Perhaps if NASCAR were to make it clear that they will do so, Goodyear would be able to make a few fresh batches of full wets and intermediate rain tires. The crews might also get serious about installing wipers and demisters on the cars. Im sure the ALMS wouldnt mind providing the appropriate information.

Your absolutely correct ifin Nascar would get their head out of the sand !