Matt Borland Poll

I thought about why they would make Borland Ryan's CC.
Could they be thinking they honestly think the two combo'd back together can bring back the magic? It doesnt normally happen in the past, when other combos tried the comeback.
With Ryan only having a one year contract, maybe they arent to confident in bringing Ryan back after 2013 so why go spend money on a new CC for him, using Matt as a Bandaid for a year. Will they use Ryan as a dead duck next year.
Or maybe they are filling in the year with Matt because I remember Zippy saying they were waiting to talk to others under contract. Maybe they cant get the CC they want until 2014.

I said it before and I'll say it again.......Borland has the fire again. There's only so much sitting at home playin' patty-cake and changing diapers that one can stand. Matt has been gettin' the itch over the course of the season. If I'm not mistaken, he's been showing up in various places instead of just the office. I think its gonna do alot of good.

Option 2 & 3 are so very close in my mind. With sponsorship being a major issue for all teams and SHR only signing Ryan for a 1 year contract, I think SHR is taking a short-term approach to the whole #39 team. They can't see past 2013 right now, due to the economy.

Ryan & Matt have worked well together in the past, so let's put them back together to see if they can improve Ryan's results next year. If his performance does improve (makes the Chase) and he is a serious contender for the title, they might find it easier to get sponsorship for 2014.

Depending on 2013 results, they'll make decisions for 2014. If the #39 team does not improve in 2013, then I think SHR will look to replace Ryan, depending on who is available at that time. Then, Matt may no longer be a CC.

I picked poll option #2.

wow pretty close poll so far.

Ryan's sponsorship was iffy when they signed him for just 1 year. The need for the cc change was a given. Putting Matt in that position was what was believed to be the best option for Ryan and SHR. If Ryan and Matt have good results next year, I believe Ryan's contract will be extended and their sponsorship woes will be over.

I'm having a hard time trying to understand the negative vibe I'm getting from this post. While that may not have been the intention, that's how it seems to me. Most wanted a new cc for Ryan, he got who I consider one of the best.

Being a pessimist at heart, it doesn't quite sound like me when I say I wish everyone would look at this in the most positive way and keep any negativity out for the time being. The next 4 races should tell us something so please send Ryan and Matt good vibes so they can end this season on a positive note.

Ryan's sponsorship was iffy when they signed him for just 1 year. The need for the cc change was a given. Putting Matt in that position was what was believed to be the best option for Ryan and SHR. If Ryan and Matt have good results next year, I believe Ryan's contract will be extended and their sponsorship woes will be over.

I'm having a hard time trying to understand the negative vibe I'm getting from this post. While that may not have been the intention, that's how it seems to me. Most wanted a new cc for Ryan, he got who I consider one of the best.

Being a pessimist at heart, it doesn't quite sound like me when I say I wish everyone would look at this in the most positive way and keep any negativity out for the time being. The next 4 races should tell us something so please send Ryan and Matt good vibes so they can end this season on a positive note.

Perfectly said Rochelle........Schmoopy you now have what you have wanted for, talked about,
complained about, pouted about for so long, be thankful!! You are over thinking this......

Ryan's sponsorship was iffy when they signed him for just 1 year. The need for the cc change was a given. Putting Matt in that position was what was believed to be the best option for Ryan and SHR. If Ryan and Matt have good results next year, I believe Ryan's contract will be extended and their sponsorship woes will be over.

I'm having a hard time trying to understand the negative vibe I'm getting from this post. While that may not have been the intention, that's how it seems to me. Most wanted a new cc for Ryan, he got who I consider one of the best.

Being a pessimist at heart, it doesn't quite sound like me when I say I wish everyone would look at this in the most positive way and keep any negativity out for the time being. The next 4 races should tell us something so please send Ryan and Matt good vibes so they can end this season on a positive note.

Perfectly said Rochelle........Schmoopy you now have what you have wanted for, talked about,
complained about, pouted about for so long, be thankful!! You are over thinking this......

LOL looking at all angles is what I do.
I am not saying this is a bad thing by no means. it very well could be the 1st choice (which would be the easiest one to choose)
however I think when Zippy was talking earlier he wasnt referencing Borland. Which means did something fall through, or does that mean they have a permanent guy in mind but cant get him until 2014? The fact is being a Crew Chief is one of the jobs that take more time from an individual than any other job as a crew member, & it is already clarified he will keep his current job as well. Most of the top CC's wish they had more time, & Matt will have to split that time. So that leaves a question about pick 2.
I honestly expected most on here just to choose pick one without putting much thought into it.
(which by the way you can change your picks on this poll)
All I did was put the three scenarios why they made the move they did. Looking at all angles it doesnt make as much sense to me to pick him as a permanent fixture long term on the 39 team. Unless they were taking his other job away. or as pick one states. They really think he & ryan will be back to being badass.
I honestly could make an argument for all three. I havent even voted yet. I am curious what everyone else thinks/believes.

As much as I don't want to think about it I think option #2 is the closest. Ryan's gotta get it done next year, as do a lot of other teams/drivers, it's going to be a tough year.

If they do have success than they'll have to go for it another year you would think, but then not sure if it is best to have a crew chief also be VP of competition for 2 years straight.

Another angle is that when GoDaddy drops Danica and if she doesn't have sponsorship for 2014, that SHR will drop that car as well, and Tony G. comes back to the 39 team!!

If there isn't immediate success with these two, they have to look at getting someone else for 2013. Rarely, if ever, does a driver and cc click after separating. There are PLENTY of qualified candidates within SHR and other teams for that matter. Why keep recycling the same people?

Borland was chosen because of their(Newman/Borland) past success. Plus, it's much easier to convey race car information to ANOTHER college educated engineer such as Matt. Gibson graduated from "Hamburger University" folks!

Matt hasn't been "out of the loop" really. Only time will tell.

My honest opinion. I feel it's very unfair to judge a driver like Ryan Newman when he has been hand-capped for almost 4 years! Unless you can point out consistent driver error. The problem lies with the crew chief and his support team! No driver is 100% perfect. You have to factor in the human element of a race team's driver.

Now, if Newman is terrible under Matt. I might be able to "call out" Newman at that point?

P.S. There was one more Crew Chief from Newman's past that was pretty good. Roy McCauley!

I only hope that the two engineers can work things out and bring back some of the fire from 2002.

My biggest fear is that they become too analitical and pay less attention to winning.

I remember one race, where Ryan had an axle break and it took them 79 laps I think to change it where most teams would have changed it an had him back on the track in under ten (I think it was Talladega). The expalantion at the time was we wanted to determine what caused it to fail. Heck change it get him back on the track then analyze the problem.

Anyway, hoping the magic returns to the year they won eight races and had 11 poles.

id pass on roy, the only true success they had together was in the NW series, and someone with the talent that ryan has should have won in the NW series, as far as the 500 goes, ill give him that, but there was nothing after that.............

I only hope that the two engineers can work things out and bring back some of the fire from 2002.

My biggest fear is that they become too analytical and pay less attention to winning.

I remember one race, where Ryan had an axle break and it took them 79 laps I think to change it where most teams would have changed it an had him back on the track in under ten (I think it was Talladega). The explanation at the time was we wanted to determine what caused it to fail. Heck change it get him back on the track then analyze the problem.

Anyway, hoping the magic returns to the year they won eight races and had 11 poles.

You need to come on here more often 39-newman. We are the only two with a real Newman avatar!

I know what you mean by your fear of being too analytical. I think Matt will simplify things in order to make adjustments that make sense. Or at least, set the race cars up with some "wiggle room" for long run car adjustments. Gibson couldn't do that. That's why Ryan was stuck on long runs with a tapped out non-adjustable race car that in no way could be balanced!

i dont know what to make of this whole thing, im not gonna get all excited and think it will be 2003 all over again, time has passed and both of them have changed, personally would have liked to see them bring in someone new.. What if it doesnt work out?? will there be posts screaming for Mb's head, or does this mean ryan isnt what we all thought he was, maybe he is just average, this is not me hating, but being realistic....

P.S. There was one more Crew Chief from Newman's past that was pretty good. Roy McCauley!

What you really think McCauley was any good? Can't tell if you're kidding or not. If not, I'm not trying to give you a hard time or anything. But I remember the same exact things being said about him and the same mocking pictures that people would post that has been happening with Tony G. McCauley and Newman had that unbelievable 2005 Nationwide run but that's about it.

I think Ryan actually had more success with Mike Nelson (2007 season) in Cup than with Roy, the car had speed at times that year after a terrible '06 season, and then a terrible '08 season with Roy.

The deal with Borland which may be different from other situations, they didn't necessarily "break up", Matt had stated he wanted to retire from the traveling and being a crew chief. However, it's hard to say, 2006 was such a bad year, it looks like Penske initiated the change, as Matt actually ended up being crew chief at MWR for some races earlier in 2007 before moving on to a front office position. But '06 was the only real bad year they had, and at that point the Penske Dodge was a car that couldn't be fixed no matter how good anyone was. Both the aerodynamics and engine were the worst in the sport, the only Dodge that did anything that year was the 9 car with Kahne on 1.5 mile tracks, in which all his wins that year came with the exact same chassis and they obviously had some kind of magic setup.