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The Best of a Bad Situation for Labonte

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary and pictures,2010 NASCAR schedule,NASCAR video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

I do weekly Fantasy Pick'Em columns here at OPR, as well as the occasional opinion and analysis piece. I also provide the IZOD IndyCar Series coverage. For more on that, head to my site, OpenWheelAmerica.com. My Twitter handle is @christopherlion.

September 4, 2009 10:05 am CDT 2 Comments

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Talk about a hectic week for Bobby Labonte.

On Monday, the former Cup Series champion found out that, due to a lack of sponsorship on his No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Ford, Yates Racing (tasked with filling any sponsorship gaps on the car) was replacing him for seven races with Erik Darnell, who drives part-time for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series. The move was unpopular with most in the garage, with some wondering how a former champion with a seemingly committed sponsor (Ask.com) could be replaced so easily – at Atlanta, a track he used to dominate, no less.

Now, that’s not a knock against Darnell, and nobody has any ill will for him. In limited Nationwide starts this year, he’s shown prowess on most tracks, scoring five top-10s in 10 starts with an average finish of 12.3. Last year he finished 4th in the Truck Series standings, with one win and 12 top-10s. The sponsors like him, and he can flat-out drive. He’s earned his shot.

But the way in which Labonte was replaced – especially the sudden nature of the move – left a lot of folks with a bitter taste in their mouth. Those cynics who used to scoff at open-wheel racing’s practice of hiring pay drivers are now faced with NASCAR teams ousting former champions to do the same thing.

Worst of all for Labonte, it looked as if his start streak of 568 consecutive races, second only to Jeff Gordon (569) for most consecutive starts by an active driver, was going to come to a close.

Luckily for Labonte, this story has a happy ending. Kevin Buckler, a prominent sports car team owner who put together a Sprint Cup team for this year, decided that Labonte was an upgrade over David Gilliland behind the wheel. He came calling, and by Thursday Labonte had a ride for the seven races he was previously scheduled to miss. He’ll drive the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet.

In this scenario, everybody wins in some way or another. Given the grassroots nature of Buckler’s team, putting a past champion behind the wheel accomplishes two things: first, it gives the team a shot at the past champion’s provisional in future races, and second, it makes the team more attractive to potential small sponsors.

If Labonte can attract one or two companies to support TRG, either by his resume or his on-track performance, it could eventually help Gilliland run full races instead of starting and parking. Gilliland has been a loyal soldier to the team’s efforts this year, running respectably when he’s been able to and refusing to bail on his team (a la Scott Riggs) during the tough times. He, too, deserves a shot at running well.

Kudos to Buckler for making a move with benefits for everybody. We’ll see how it works out in the coming weeks.

Filed under: Ask.com Racing, Bobby Labonte, Hall of Fame Racing, TRG Motorsports, david gilliland

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Roush’s Talent Surplus Zapped Bobby Labonte

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 1, 2009 1:27 pm CDT 2 Comments

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Eric Darnell is going to replace Bobby Labonte in the Ask.com Racing Ford Fusion at Atlanta this week.

At Atlanta. When you replace Bobby Labonte at Atlanta Motor Speedway, you have to really want to.

Labonte was, not too long ago, the king of AMS. That’s why I have to argue a bit with Matt Mercer’s contention - that Bobby just can’t get the job done.

But that doesn’t mean that I think the other part of this story is bogus. Erik Darnell is ready for a shot at a big ride. He’s part of the Roush-Fenway minor league system, and he’s gone as far in the Busch leagues as he can go. Pushed from the bottom up, by the likes of Colin Braun and Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Darnell has to move up, or out.

It’s a tough pill for Labonte to swallow, according to reports. He isn’t taking it well. I wouldn’t either. But guys get bumped in this business. Ask Jamie McMurray - another Roush-Fenway castoff.

We interviewed Bobby last week On Pit Row. Steve asked him about his plans for 2010 and as expected, he was vague, evasive. I wish we had him today. Listen to our interview with Bobby Labonte. Click the player at the start of this post.

Filed under: Ask.com Racing, Bobby Labonte, NASCAR, NASCAR Rumors, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Roush Racing

Tagged with: Clin Braun, erik darnell, ricky stenhouse jr.

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Last Sprint Cup Off Weekend Leads to Decisions for Kevin Harvick and Yates Racing

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.

September 1, 2009 7:06 am CDT No Comments

NASCAR puts the final Cup SeriErikes off weekend behind themselves as the final push to make the playoffs begins.

This is usually the height of NASCAR’s “silly season”; a time for teams to put together their deals for the next season. This is the time for speculation to run rampant.

But what have we seen this week? Kevin Harvick will remain at Richard Childress Racing for 2010 and Bobby Labonte will be out of the #96 Hall of Fame Racingride for seven of the final twelve races. Labonte was a guest ON PIT ROW last week and made no mention of the move. The sad state of the sport is that if there is no money to race; you don’t go racing. In the case of HOF Racing, their sponsor had only committed to the final five of twelve events and were not willing to fund the other seven races.

In steps Erik Darnell of Roush-Fenway Racing, who fields the cars for Yates Racing who partners with HOF, and brings sponsorship money with him. So while the number may be the same for those seven races, the car will not be a HOF Racing entry at all. In essence HOF Racing is loaning its number to Roush-Fenway to give one of its rookies and one of Ford Racing’s prospects some seat time.

This week’s ON PIT ROW will include an interview with Harvick, who had been rumored to be looking for a new ride. Harvick has made no excuses for the poor performance of his race team and the entire RCR effort. With the way things are in NASCAR today, Harvick may well have decided that knowing what he was dealing with was far less scary than entering a new and possibly worse situation.

This leads us to this week’s BUZZ ON PIT ROW:

If a driver is out of the Chase and moving to a new team the following year; should he be allowed to move in the current season?

Let us know what you think and we could use your response on this week’s radio show. Listen live to ON PIT ROW every Tuesday from 5-7pm ET. Call the show with your opinion and you could win a Kevin Harvick bobblehead if your call is deemed The Shell Nitrogen Enriched Call of the Day.

photo credit: Icon Sports Media

Filed under: Ask.com Racing, Bobby Labonte, Hall of Fame Racing, Kevin Harvick, NASCAR, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Richard Childress Racing, Roush Racing, Yates Racing

Tagged with: Bobby Labonte, erik darnell, Hall of Fame Racing, Kevin Harvick, Roush-Fenway Racing, Yates Racing

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Winning the Brad Keselowski Sweepstakes Could Save a NASCAR Franchise

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.

July 11, 2009 11:27 am CDT 1 Comment

The 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season is barely half over and the speculation of what 2010 brings is in high gear.

Silly Season has started in earnest. Fox Sports’ Lee Spencer is reporting that Robert Yates Racing may be looking to blow up their lineup in 2010 because of lack of performance from Bobby Labonte and cash cow Paul Menard.

Roger Penske may be looking to shop the seat in the #12 for the second year. David Stremme has not taken to the new car as quickly as hoped after sitting out the 2008 Cup season. The hottest property in the 2010 free agent market is Brad Keselowski and he is being looked at to fill that seat.

The Kez has been included in talk of pretty much every open seat for next year; the anticipated fourth cars at Joe Gibbs Racing or third at Stewart-Haas, a move to cup by Junior Motorsports or Keven Harvick, Inc or even replacing Junior at Hendrick.

While no one knows for sure where he will end up yet, I may as well throw my personal hope into the mix. After years of struggling to make assorted drivers work on a limited budget with 1970’s thought processes one team has taken a step back to try and re-capture it’s former glory days. While some teams have resorted to start and park strategies to get their teams trough these tough times, The Wood Brothers took to a limited schedule to try and make things work.

Bill Elliott has held down the seat on again and off again until the right deal can happen. 2010 is the year that the once proud team that saw David Pearson, Cale Yarborough and others win races in droves, needs to grab the next hot, can’t miss driver since Sliced Bread. Keselowski is young, hungry and has proven himself a winner. Eddie Wood has made hard decisions over the past year. Adding Keselowski for the entire season could be the piece to the puzzle that brings the Wood Brothers back to the front.

Sponsorship is the key; getting it and getting enough of it to be competitive. The other hard decision to be made may not be so easy and that would be to give up the teams autonomy. An alliance with Roush-Fenway/Yates as a satellite team could help solve technical and financial challenges.

One car from Roush-Fenway will be spun off to Yates because of NASCAR’s four team rule. Common speculation has had either Jamie McMurrey or David Ragan moving to Yates as a third team. But, instead of sending a lower performing team, send Greg Biffle to become the cornerstone of that operation. Proven winner Travis Kvapil is available to take over the #96 ride if Ask.com can be convinced to stay on board or other sponsorship can be found.

The Wood Brothers with help from R-F/Y and Keselowski at the wheel could be a combination that returns the once proud team back to respectability and beyond.

photo credit: BethAnne Heisler/ON PIT ROW

Filed under: Ask.com Racing, Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, Brad Kesolowski, David Ragan, How to fix NASCAR, Jamie McMurray, NASCAR, NASCAR Rumors, Nascar Legends, Paul Menard, Sprint Cup Series, Stewart Haas Racing, The Wood Brothers, Yates Racing

Tagged with: Bobby Labonte, Brad Keselowski, Roush-Fenway, The Wood Brothers Racing, Yates Racing

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Coca Cola 600: Bump Linkin’ Saturday

by Charlie Turner

May 23, 2009 8:45 am CDT 1 Comment

The third leg of (my) Grand Slam of Sprint Cup racing is tomorrow. I’m layin’ in a supply of caffeine loaded consumables in an attempt to get through the afternoon warm-up race that was once the Greatest Spectacle in Racing (it’s now more likely a case study in anti-marketing) - and the A-Main feature, the Coca Cola 600. It’ll be a long day, because the one F1 that I still make it a point to watch (case study number 2 or, how to f-up the US market), the Grand Prix of Monaco will be breakfast.

At least Charlotte will be dry, unlike Daytona. If you haven’t already seen these pictures of the flooded Daytona International Speedway, take a look.

The Indianapolis 500 used to be a must listen to event for me. For the last several years, it’s been more of a case of checking it out when I remember. The fact is, before the break up of CART, I was a bigger fan of Indy Cars than I was of NASCARs. Now, I couldn’t intelligently pick a favorite for the 500. Not that I can for the 600, either, but that’s not the point.

So, if you want a solid pick for Indy, go to The Catfish Show. Matt has one, and a nice post about it too.

Marc at Full Throttle always has good Formula One stuff. This weekend is no different.

Our own James Jones stirred up a bit of a hornet’s nest with his post about NASCAR fans letting Toyota off the hook. The comments are flying if you want to chime in. Just be nice, please.

I like Trixie’s Trailer Park. Seems she’ tired of the Mayfield saga too.

This is the Coca Cola 600 weekend and the Coke folk always have something going at Lowes. I have some pics below from the main at the track promo this year. These are Coca-Cola Racing Family drivers Kyle Petty, Bobby Labonte and Clint Bowyer serving free food to fans at the Coca-Cola Quarter-Mile Cookout.

And we have a couple pics of Brittany Osborne of J.V. Washam Elementary in Cornelius, N.C who got to take a spin with NASCAR driver and former Sprint Cup Series Champion Bobby Labonte in recognition of her school’s selection for top honors in the Ask.com Safe Search Schools Program.

Photo credit: Round card girl Jen by Bethanne Heisler for OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Ask.com Racing, Bobby Labonte, Clint Boyer, Kyle Petty, Lowes Motor Speedway, NASCAR

Tagged with: Coca Cola 600, Daytona flood pictures, F1, Grand Prix, Indy 500, Monaco

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Ask.com Celebrates Bobby Labonte’s Birthday and Everyone’s Mothers Day

by Charlie Turner

May 8, 2009 10:01 pm CDT No Comments

I watched qualifying for Saturday’s Southern 500 and most of the Diamond Hill Plywood 300 Nationwide Series race tonight. Maybe Kyle Busch should have won the latter, but he didn’t. Matt Kenseth did. And Matty won the pole for tomorrow’s race too. Watch the Roushies this weekend. And maybe Sam Hornish. Yeah, Sam Hornish Jr.

NASCAR gets the racing out of the way early this weekend so that teams and fans can concentrate on Mothers day. It’s a NASCAR tradition that I appreciate. Quaint, but nice.

Ask.com is Bobby Labonte’s sponsor on the Hall of Fame Racing no. 96. Labonte’s birthday is this weekend and this week, the official search engine of NASCAR ran a promotion to celebrate.

Hundreds of fans submitted their ideas to Ask.com to be considered as the gift the Official Search Engine of NASCAR presented to Labonte on his 45th birthday. The suggestion from Hilary Mathis of Danville, Ill., inspired the gift - a commemorative racing helmet that includes the names of each fan that sent their supportive wishes and gift ideas over the past week.

Mathis has been a Labonte fan since 1997 and lists him and Brian Vickers as her top-two favorite NASCAR drivers. Ask.com has pulled together Mother’s Day content for fans. A special page on Ask.com includes interviews with the mothers of Jeff Gordon, Casey Mears, Ryan Newman, Reed Sorenson and Mathis’ fave, Brian Vickers. Here’s the Vickers story - from his mom….

When he was about 10 years old, he and his father were in the basement working on his go-kart getting ready for the next race. He was actually sitting in the go-kart while being weighed and just couldn’t sit still. He started sticking his fingers in the holes on the steering wheel and one of his fingers got stuck. We worked for hours trying to get his finger out, but that only made his finger swell. He wouldn’t let us cut the steering wheel off because it was his favorite one, so we had to take the wheel off the go-kart and he slept with it. He thought his finger would slide out just like it slid in - but that didn’t work. We went to the emergency room the next morning to see if they could get his finger unstuck, but they couldn’t either. And after all that they finally took him down to the maintenance department and had to cut the steering wheel off anyway.

To read more stories straight from the mouth of Brian Vickers’ mom, as well as childhood tales from the moms of NASCAR stars including Jeff Gordon, Reed Sorensen, Ryan Newman and Casey Mears search NASCAR Mother’s Day at Ask.com for some great Mother’s Day material.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Filed under: Ask.com Racing, Bobby Labonte, Brian Vickers, Darlington Speedway, NASCAR, Nationwide Series

Tagged with: Ask.com, Diamond Hill Plywood 300, Hall of Fame Racing, Southern 500

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