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NASCAR is playing French-Canadian roulette

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

September 29, 2007 5:23 pm CDT 8 Comments

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Bill Davis Racing’s announcement this week that Jacques Villenueve would attempt to make his Nextel Cup Series debut at next week’s Talladega race, has had me scratching my head.  What’s the hurry? 

Cravens_crash_at_talladega_2 Jacques had a nice, first NASCAR race in the Craftsman Truck Series race last week.  He qualified decent.  Raced respectfully before wrecking.  By all accounts his testing sessions at Talladega in the Car of Tomorrow were fine.

Jacques is a fantastic talent and highly accomplished champion in both Indy Cars at the Indy 500 and in Formula One as a World Champion.  But that track in Alabama and this race are not the place to get your stock car feet wet - especially not during the Chase for the Nextel Cup. 

Jeff Gordon is "fired up" about the whole deal too.

"I am a big fan of Jacques, but I think this is not the right decision, I just look at that race in the Chase - Why? You want to run a race, go to Atlanta, go to one of the mile-and-a-half tracks. I am very, very surprised that was approved as his first Cup race. "

The chances of Villenueve actually qualifying for the race are probably pretty slim.  If he does though, the crap shoot/wild card  that is the Talladega Chase Race will be even more risky than normal.

"It makes no sense to me other than the fact that NASCAR approved Gilliland last year under a similar situation and they kind of got themselves into a box with that one."

I agree with Gordon.  What is NASCAR thinking? 

Picture credit: Not sure, but Ken Shrader went for a wild one, huh?

Filed under: Car of Tomorrow, Chase for the Cup, Jeff Gordon 

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NASCAR paint schemes–Too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing.

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

September 29, 2007 12:52 pm CDT 4 Comments

Many of the NASCAR race cars that are seen, week in and week out, are sporting more elaborate paint schemes than ever before.

24nicoretteside But they aren’t really paint schemes at all.  Say hello to the "vinyl wrap".  Much of the graphics on current race cares are what we would have termed "decals" in the past.  Now almost entire cars are being wrapped in thin vinyl decals–making for some gorgeous "paint" treatments.  Would you like to paint all those m&m’s on the side of the 38?

By using modern computer graphic programs and new materials from 3M and others, the modern stock car has come a long way since Ned Jarrett said: "we ran number eleven because it was easy to make two white lines on the door."

Our friend 4ever3 on his blog has his list of the 20 best looking cars of all time.  Check it out.  But along with some great new car looks; have come some really awful ones as well.

Leading the list of cars that are just trying too hard, is almost everything with a number 24 on it.  Especially anything to do with Nicorette.  The puke green Chevys that Jeff Gordon Drives when Nicorette is involved are horrid.  As a matter of fact–give me back the "rainbow" cars of yesteryear.  With much deference to Darrell Waltrip–flames don’t always make a car look faster–sometimes Elliotts_mac94they just make it look sillier.  Don’t believe me?  Check out the other photo images at Jayski’s site.

Bill Elliott’s 1997 McDonald’s Mac the Night car ranks right up there with some of the rankest schemes ever also.  There are tons of other less than appealing schemes.  We would like to know what you think are the ugliest paint schemes of all time.  Let us know what you think by leaving us a comment.

In a lot of cases the truly ugly cars have way too much use of neon colors.  What is the most overused color?  Neon–anything.

Filed under: Hendrick Motorsports, Nascar Legends, Nextel Cup Series 

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Brian France the sixth most powerful person in sports

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

September 28, 2007 4:23 pm CDT 1 Comment

Did you notice this week that Business Week, in collaboration with ESPN the Magazine tackled the problem of ranking the sport’s world’s top 100 most influential individuals, in what they modestly termed "a mammoth and challenging project".

Boss_hog No doubt it was.

While listening to the mainstream sports media noodle this story over the past few days, I found the same anti-NASCAR bias blathered as is always the case when the stick and ball boobs are forced to act like they know what NASCAR is - and that real people, with full sets of teeth actually pay attention to it.  I know it bothers many of you as well.

Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO, is listed as the sixth most influential or powerful figure in the mega billion dollar sports business game.  Here is the top ten, in case you missed it.

1. Roger Goodell Commissioner, NFL
2. Tiger Woods Golfer
3. David Stern Commissioner, NBA
4. George Bodenheimer President, ESPN, ABC Sports; co-chairman, Disney Media Networks
5. Bud Selig Commissioner, MLB
6. Brian France Chairman, CEO NASCAR
7. Dick Ebersol Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics
8. Phil Knight Chairman, Nike
9. Sean McManus President, CBS News and Sports
10. Rupert Murdoch

Chairman, CEO, News Corp

Not bad company there, Brian.  Other notable representatives of the so-called major leagues follow.

23. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

27. Gary Bettman

Commissioner, NHL

30. Roger Federer

 Tennis player

57. Bernie Ecclestone

 Head of Formula 1

Fear not, fellow red necks.  There appears to be hope for us after all.

Let’s go racin’ Y’all.

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR & the Media, NASCAR Bidness, The France Famliy 

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Carl Edwards turns The Chase upside-down

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

September 24, 2007 10:00 am CDT 2 Comments

Roush/Fenway driver, Carl Edwards held off team mate Greg Biffle to win on the concrete at Dover Downs.

Carl_edwards Another Roush Fenway Racing driver, Matt Kenseth dominated the race until a blown engine ruined his day.  The Monster Mile lay claim to a host of unsuspecting drivers, as the second visit to Delaware turned into a crash fest, late in the race.

Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon took over the points lead after relinquishing it to team mate Jimmy Johnson for one race.

Kyle Petty and Denny Hamlin gave the fans a little WWF action as Kyle paid a visit to Denny’s garage stall while crews were trying to facilitate repairs after the two tangled halfway through the 400 mile event.

The Buzz ON PIT ROW is:

Could a Roush/Fenway Ford driver be a contender for the Cup title after all?"?

The Fast Lap this week asks:

1)  Should NASCAR penalties be more more severe during the Chase than during the regular season?

2) Should someone have physically kept Kyle Petty from visiting Denny Hamlin’s garage during the race?

3) Drivers are still hating on the CoT.  Is it basically flawed–or, still, just in need of some off-season tweaking?

4) Is the Monster Mile too much of a monster to be included in The Chase schedule?

Let us know how you feel about these questions, or anything else that happened during this monstrous week in The Chase.  If we like your comments, whether we agree or not, we may use them on the air during Tuesday’s ON PIT ROW.  Leave us a comment on the blog or call the show–toll free at 1-877-502-8255 between 5-7pm edt on Tuesdays.

Filed under: Car of Tomorrow, Carl Edwards, Chase for the Cup, Denny Hamlin, It's Only Cheating if You Get Caught, Nextel Cup Series, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Roush Racing, Shut Up and Drive, The Fast Lap, The Pettys 

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Round 2 of the Chase to the Nextel Cup, ding ding

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

September 23, 2007 11:41 am CDT 1 Comment

Jimmy Johnson is on the pole.  Denny Hamlin won Saturday’s Busch race.  Juan Pablo Montoya is on the front row.  Clint Bowyer, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards were fast in practice.  Oh, and Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart are entered too.

Ring_girl_round_2
Take your pick NASCAR fans.  According to the Channel 12 weather  forecast at  the Ryan Newman Fan, it should be a perfect day.  Who do you like to win this one and kick off the Chase talk for the week?  I think it is tough to go against Martin Truex Jr.  In the second race of the season at any given track, I look at the winner of the first race - Truex this time.  Then I look at the Busch race winner, if the Buschies are at the same venue - a sick Denny Hamlin yesterday.  Hamlin may have been used up by Joe Gibbs Racing and Rockwell Automation, if he is as ill as reported.

Hey, maybe Gibbs will start Hamlin and then sub the driver sure to be in the fourth JGR Toyota before too, long - NASCAR Busch East Series champ Joey Logano.  Won’t happen, of course, but what a Logano_trophy_1_dover_sept_2007_thu
story that would be.  Maybe we should start a rumor or something?

Enjoy the race and the rest of your Sunday.

Picture credit: Logano - Getty Images for NASCAR - Ring Girl - I don’t know, does it really matter?

Filed under: Busch Series, Chase for the Cup, Denny Hamlin, Jimmy Johnson, Joe Gibbs Racing, Martin Truex Jr., Nextel Cup Series, Ryan Newman 

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Ford seems to be circling it’s wagons around Roush-Fenway Racing

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

September 23, 2007 12:58 am CDT 1 Comment

Final practice for the Dodge Dealers 400 at Dover International Speedway had Denny Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet fastest in the rain shortened session.  Most of the rest of the fast guys were Chevys too.  Pole sitter Jimmy Johnson and last week’s winner Clint Boyer were 4th and 5th.

Roush_fenway_racing
The two Roush Fenway Racing Fords of Chasers Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards were 2nd and 3rd - and Ford Motor Company must audibly sigh and thank the late Henry Ford that someone driving a Fusion may have a chance Sunday.

The late week revelation that Yates Racing may be losing the lead sponsor for the #38 car -  M&M’s - to Joe Gibbs Racing  seems potentially devastating.   Yates was the one Ford  organization that seemed it might be able to compete side by side along with Roush Fenway in the NASCAR wars. Things look bleak from here for the team.  Yates is only one year removed from losing the UPS backing on their second car.  Now, the company that has sponsored both entries in 2007 may be heading elsewhere.

Good luck to Doug Yates.  Working closely with Jack Roush may help bolster the team.  Right now it sure doesn’t look good.

Picture credit: Beth Anne Heisler - ON PIT ROW

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR Rumors, Nextel Cup Series, Robert Yates Racing, Roush Racing 

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