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Fantasy Pick’Em: 2010 Kobalt Tools 500

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary,NASCAR video,NASCAR pictures, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

If OnPitRow.com was a NASCAR team, I’d be the development driver of the bunch. In the same way that young hotshots like Joey Logano have been driving since they were in grade school, I’ve been following and writing about all forms of motorsports since I was barely old enough to talk.

March 4, 2010 2:05 am CST 2 Comments

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Three races into the season, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Kobalt Tools 500. Jimmie Johnson, sponsored by Kobalt Tools in his Cup efforts, will attempt to win his third consecutive race this weekend… and with the old formalities down, let me tell everybody that it’s my midterm week here at school, and combined with reading too many sarcastic IndyCar blogs in preparation for that season, I’m going to be a little more bitingly sarcastic than usual. Strap in, folks.

Speaking of winning, guess who picked the winner last week? That’s right. I called him an easy pick, but sometimes it’s worth it to take the easy money (and the gift win)… especially when the rest of your picks were relative duds. Jeff Burton wound up 11th, Kyle Busch was 15th, and Denny Hamlin finished 19th, while my dark horse, Bobby Labonte, was 51 laps down in 38th.

I would love to pick Johnson again this weekend, but my conscience tells me to be a little more interesting. Fair enough. How about Jeff Gordon? 23 top-fives in 35 Atlanta starts, with four wins, and a dominant car last weekend in Vegas suggest that the DuPont team may be a force both this weekend and beyond.

(For the record, if Johnson wins this week, I will attempt to write some revisionist history by suggesting I picked the 48 this week and the 24 last week, all in the name of sounding smart. This is what happens when you write a fantasy racing column for too long and want to finally sound smart.)

As for a dark horse, how about A.J. Allmendinger? Last weekend was a struggle for sure, but the ‘Dinger heads to the best track on which he has started more than two races. He’s been consistent, if nothing else, with all four of his finishes between 14th and 20th. And while that’s not “race-winning dark horse” material, it does seem like a gimme for a solid, reasonable finish, and I’ll take what I can get. Perhaps we simply have varying definitions of “dark horse.”

Three more for all you skeptics:

Jimmie Johnson. There. I said it. It’s 1 AM and I’m very tired. Next.

In what is sure to raise a cheer from the majority of people who read this column, my next pick is none other than Dale Earnhardt Jr., the second best active driver at Atlanta (behind his superhuman teammate, of course). Yes, he hasn’t been the same driver the past two weekends as he was at Daytona, but come on, the curse of the last Hendrick car can’t apply every weekend. Even Casey Mears won in a fourth Hendrick vehicle, and Casey Mears hasn’t accomplished half of what Dale Jr. has.

For my final pick, I’m going to go with Joey Logano. This has nothing to do with his Atlanta track record in Cup, which is pretty abysmal. It has everything to do, however, with the fact that eighth in points is the highest he’s ever been in Cup. Sliced Bread is finally starting to really get things together with the No. 20 team, and he could do what David Ragan almost did in 2008 by making the Chase in his sophomore year.

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: A.J. Allmendinger, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, jimmie johnson, Joey Logano, Kobalt Tools 500

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Lone Star NASCAR Sunday Morning

by Charlie Turner

I'm Charlie Turner co-host of the syndicated, mostly NASCAR radio show On Pit Row. Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. Oh yeah, Steve is an idiot. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

November 8, 2009 9:56 am CST No Comments

Here’s what’s on my NASCAR mind this hazey Sunday in Texas, waitin’ for the start of the Dickies 500.

Will Kyle Busch pull off the sweep?

He’s had chances before. But he may have never looked as dominant on a weekend as he has at TMS this time. I picked him in the One and Done game this week. So he probably has no chance. But I’m pulling for him to make history.

Then there’s that Jimmie Johnson guy. Talk about history. I know it’s all over but the shouting but and he can’t officially clinch his fourth straight Sprint Cup championship. But a win would stamp it a done deal.

Or maybe Carl Edwards can get back on the winning track. Texas has been good to Carl. This could be the one. But he didn’t look all that good in the Nationwide Series Race Saturday.

First-time winner? David Ragan could do it, and start to repair the damage of 2009. Maybe A J Allmendinger can take that Richard Petty Racing retro paint job to victory lane. How ’bout Dale Junior? Oh wait - it’s just been so long…

We have On Pit Row on the road this week at Texas Motor Speedway. We’re getting ready to head out to the track now. Follow @onpitrow and @thunderounge on Twitter for race updates and pics.

Enjoy the race.

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler - On Pit Row

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Carl Edwards, Chase for the Cup, Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Ragan, Kyle Busch, NASCAR, Texas Motor Speedway, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: Dickies 500, On Pit Row on the road, Thunder Lounge

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Richard Petty Motorsports Further Solidifies 2010 Plans

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary,NASCAR video,NASCAR pictures, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

October 28, 2009 7:50 pm CDT No Comments

An Associated Press report published today suggests that Best Buy, Elliott Sadler’s sponsor on the No. 19 Richard Petty Motorsports car for the past couple of years, will move to its teammate, the No. 43 car, which A.J. Allmendinger will drive for the 2010 season.

Best Buy began its relationship with Allmendinger this season at Darlington, when they sponsored his No. 44 car as he finished 17th. Allmendinger also finished 7th at Sonoma and 23rd two weeks ago at Charlotte with Best Buy on the hood.

Best Buy sponsored Sadler in 19 races this season, including the Sprint All-Star Challenge, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Sadler’s best finish this season was a 5th place in the Daytona 500.

The move is one of marginal elevation for the Richfield, MN-based company: Allmendinger sits one spot ahead of Sadler in points, although their records this season are virtually identical: 32 starts, no wins, a top-5 and four top-10s apiece.

The move leaves the No. 19 with one primary sponsor, Stanley Tools, which has covered 22 races over the course of this season (19 with Sadler and 3 with Allmendinger).

However, the move also strengthens Richard Petty Motorsports as a whole; instead of putting together a multi-million dollar sponsorship package for Allmendinger, they only need to patch holes for both Sadler and Allmendinger, a much easier task. RPM also has experience with this method, having utilized it all year with Allmendinger’s car and the No. 43 of Reed Sorenson.

Thus far, the biggest supporters of those two teams have been McDonald’s and Valvoline, with 10 races apiece. Hunt Brothers Pizza sponsored eight races for Allmendinger this season, with the last one this weekend at Talladega. Charter Communications covered seven races, but none since Phoenix in April. Super 8 Motels, the Air Force, and PVA.org have also sponsored RPM cars this year.

Ideally, RPM will fill its sponsorship gaps with the companies that have already appeared on its cars this year, giving them three fully sponsored and factory supported teams for next year. Pending the potential addition of Paul Menard and his family sponsorship, RPM could finally have a financially stable four-car team for the 2010 season.

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Elliott Sadler, Richard Petty Motorsports

Tagged with: A.J. Allmendinger, Elliott Sadler, Richard Petty Motorsports

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Kasey Kahne Delivers a Win for The Kings

by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Charlie likes to call me an "idiot". I'm not an "idiot"; I just prefer not to let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

June 22, 2009 8:38 pm CDT No Comments

Kasey Kahne wasn’t much of a road racer until winning the Toyota Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway on Sunday; taking the King of Beers and the King of NASCAR to victory lane.

Other than sitting on the pole in 2008, Kahne had done little when faced with going left and right to think that he would be able to take Richard Petty Motorsports back to victory lane. A journey that lasted ten years since John Andretti last won for The King. Andretti’s win came during the Petty Enterprises years; before mergers and re-locations made the once dominant team a mere shadow of itself.

There is very little of the old Petty Enterprises remaining in the new team owned by George Gillett. The win comes within days of Gillett announcing that he has sold his interest in the Montreal Canadians hockey team. Rumors have been circulating since the race in Michigan that RPM may be within weeks of a huge downsizing.

Could Kasey Kahne soon be the only driver left from the four that started the season? Elliott Sadler, AJ Allmendinger and Reed Sorenson could all be without a ride and Kahne could be in an un-supported Toyota soon. Petty let the cat out of the bag before the race at Michigan that Chrysler had not been sending checks and the money to run four teams was running thin.

That brings us to this week’s BUZZ ON PIT ROW:

With all the recent and pending changes at Richard Petty Motorsports again; what does Kasey Kahne’s win do for the team?

Let us know what you think and we could use your comments on this week’s ON PIT ROW radio show. Listen live every Tuesday from 5-7pm ET here. Or call the show at 800-645-2946 and if your call is voted the Shell Nitrogen Enriched Call Of the Day you will win a Kevin Harvick bobble head.

photo credit: Robert LaBerge/Getty Images for NASCAR

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Gillett Evernham Motorsports, Kasey Kahne, NASCAR, NASCAR Rumors, Nascar Legends, Reed Sorenson

Tagged with: AJ Almendinger, Elliott Sadler, George Gillet, Kasey Kahne, Reed Sorenson, Richard Petty Motorsports

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Auto Club 500: Line ‘em Up as they Qualified…Almost

by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Charlie likes to call me an "idiot". I'm not an "idiot"; I just prefer not to let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

February 22, 2009 8:29 am CST 1 Comment

NASCAR fans almost got what they have been asking for–no Top 35 rule–at Fontana.

Fans have been less than enthusiastic about the Top 35 rule since its inception. While many of those same fans will acknowledge that there should be some concession for top teams, many think the number should be smaller or non existent. Qualifying at Auto Club Speedway almost gave the fans who think, “They should line ‘em up by how they qualify–period” what they asked for.

When the field rolls off for the start of the Auto Club 500 the 42 fastest cars and Michael Waltrip will make up the field. Waltrip had valve train problems and couldn’t make a qualifying lap for the race. He will start forty-second on the field due to his owner points from 2008. If not for the Top 35 rule, Waltrip would be having a 2007 deja-vu moment. Instead Todd Bodine will pack up his unsponsored, Larry Gunselman owned Toyota and head east to Las Vegas.

Bodine joins Tony Raines, David Starr, Sterling Marlin and Mike Garvey as non-qualifiers.

AJ Almendinger again looked strong, pulling down an eighth place starting spot in his part time ride in the #44 of Richard Petty Motorsports. The lone past champion not in the Top 35, Tony Stewart, took his #14 to an eleventh quickest time ensuring that there was no need for that provisional to be used.

As harsh as it is for Bodine’s team not to make this race, it would be an even bigger injustice to send Waltrip packing. Waltrip has struggled making races; especially in 2007, and it is time for him to reap the benefits of his hard work, and NAPA’s money from 2008.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Auto Club Speedway, Michael Waltrip Racing, NASCAR, NASCAR Bidness, Top 35 Rule

Tagged with: AJ Almendinger, larry Gunselman, Michael Waltrip, todd bodine, Tony Raines, Tony Stewart

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Riggs, Mayfield, Smith and Allmendinger Live to Race Another sunDAY

by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Charlie likes to call me an "idiot". I'm not an "idiot"; I just prefer not to let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

February 12, 2009 6:19 pm CST 5 Comments

Much has been made about the Gatorade Duels not meaning much for most of those involved.

After all, there were only seventeen drivers who had a stake in the races. The Daytona Seven were looking for only four spots in the 51st Daytona 500. The Duels were about racing for starting positions, but the biggest stories were about those four spots that needed to be filled.

So why was it that SPEED didn’t focus on those battles to make the race? Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds and Darrell Waltrip kept TV viewers abreast of who was doing what during the races until the last laps of each race. Sure race fans want to see who wins the race, but the bigger story was who was in and who didn’t make their dream come true.

In neither race did the cameras give viewers a look at the battles for the transfer spots. Scott Riggs beat out Joe Nemechek to make the field while Front Row Joe would end up on the outside looking in. It took the results of the second race before Nemechek’s fate would be known, but fans wanted to see the Riggs/Nemechek battle.

The conclusion of the second Duel was just as mysterious for the TV fan as SPEED focused their coverage on the front runners only. Again, the finish of the front runners was exciting and worthy of coverage, but we all knew they would be in the race. The bigger story revolved around Jeremy Mayfield, Regan Smith and AJ Allmendinger.

Lets hope that ALL the TV coverage in 2009 shows viewers everything going on everywhere on the race track, not just the leaders. There are stories and battles everywhere. Don’t short change the TV viewers by showing only the leaders. Let’s do better in ‘09.

photo credit: Icon Sports Media

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Daytona 500, Jeremy Mayfield, NASCAR Bidness, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Regan Smith, Tommy Baldwin, scott riggs

Tagged with: A.J. Allmendinger, Jeremy Mayfield, NASCAR, Regan Smith, scott riggs

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