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NASCAR Pure Michigan 400: Parker Kligerman in #22 for Practice

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

August 17, 2012 8:36 am UTC No Comments

Red Horse Racing driver Parker Kligerman will take the early laps in the Shell #22 for Penske Racing Dodge this weekend, filling in for Sam Hornish Jr. Kligerman joined us On Pit Row Tuesday and talked about his new Camping World Truck Series ride with Red Horse, filling in for Hornish on the #22 and philosophy on race drivers and the state of the sport. Kligerman is not your average 21 year old.

Filed under: Camping World Truck Series, Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Penske Racing, Sam Hornish Jr

Tagged with: Parker Kligerman

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NASCAR Nationwide at Chicagoland: Best Car is First Loser

by Charlie Turner

July 22, 2012 3:59 pm UTC No Comments

A caution with 31 laps to go almost turned a laugher into a crier for Ricky Stenhouse Jr and his dominant Roush-Fenway Mustang. Stenhouse had led 200 miles of the race up to that point but got caught out when Brad Sweet spun.

Elliott Sadler had battled a loose handling car all day but pitted at the right time and the final adjustments hit the sweet spot. On the restart, E-Sad checked out. Stenhouse got the Lucky Dog for the restart and had passed everyone but Sadler, with eight laps to go, but looked like he’d come up short.

Then Kyle Busch, who also had battled an evil handling race car all race, was hit from behind by a (later) repentant Sam Hornish Jr. Busch slammed Brendan Gaughn bringing out the final caution, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr had one more shot.

On the green-white-check restart, Sadler (inside) and Stenhouse were front row, Justin Allgaier and Michael Annett were behind. Sadler got a big push from Allgaier and some separation at the start. Allgaier battled with Stenhouse trying to get to Sadler. Stenhouse went high, then low, but couldn’t make it happen at the end.

Fantastic finish and the best car didn’t win. But they don’t always and that sometimes makes the best races. The NASCAR Nationwide Series is where the action is right now.

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler – OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Chicagoland Speedway, Elliott Sadler, NASCAR, Nationwide Series, Sam Hornish Jr

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NASCAR Nationwide at Chicagoland: Stenhouse Jr on the Pole

by Charlie Turner

July 22, 2012 12:17 pm UTC No Comments

Roush-Fenway driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr was fastest in Sunday morning qualifying at hot, overcast Chicagoland Speedway for the 2nd annual STP 300.

Austin Dillon and Sam Hornish Jr were 2nd and 3rd fastest with Kyle Busch grabbing the outside of row two for the 3PM ET start.

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler – OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Chicagoland Speedway, Kyle Busch, NASCAR, Nationwide Series, Roush Racing, Sam Hornish Jr

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At Last NASCAR Victory for the Son of Sam

by Charlie Turner

November 12, 2011 10:07 pm UTC No Comments

Sam Hornish Jr won the 2011 WypAll 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway. Finally triumph for the Penske Racing driver whose first NASCAR start came at the same track in a Nationwide Series race in 2006.

One win in almost six seasons of NASCAR.

But Hornish won 19 races in eight seasons of IndyCar (CART and IRL) including three championships. He won the 2006 Indianapolis 500. He’s a helluva good driver.

Watching Hornish hold off his teammate Brad Keselowski over the last 25 laps, I was on the edge of my seat. I can’t remember wanting a driver to hold on more than I did Saturday. It wasn’t a big race in relative terms and the result had little to do with history making. It didn’t save a career, or validate anything. But it felt good to me.

Congratulations Sam Hornish Jr and Penske Racing. Now go get some more.

Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR

Filed under: Brad Kesolowski, Indy Cars, NASCAR, Nationwide Series, Phoenix International Raceway, Sam Hornish Jr

Tagged with: WypAll 200 presented by Kimberly-Clark

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The Kez Wins One for the Captain

by Charlie Turner

November 6, 2010 7:32 pm UTC No Comments

Brad Keselowski showed maturity – yep he did – in closing out his first NASCAR series championship at Texas Motor Speedway.

In doing so, The Kez brought one of auto racings’ most accomplished team owners his first NASCAR championship too.

Keselowski followed his two closest Nationwide Series championship contenders – Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch – to the finish line at TMS. He locked up the NNWS for Roger Penske, and himself, by doing so.

Penske has more racing championships than Keselowski has enemies, but this was The Captain’s first in NASCAR.

Rusty Wallace couldn’t bring one home. Nor did Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch or IRL Champ Sam Hornish Jr.

Congratulations Brad. You done the Captain proud.

Photo credit: Glenn Bure – OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Brad Kesolowski, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, NASCAR, Nascar Legends, Nationwide Series, Penske Racing, Rusty Wallace, Ryan Newman, Sam Hornish Jr

Tagged with: NNWS, Roger Penske

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Looks Like a Chevy vs Toyota Showdown at Talladega

by Charlie Turner

October 30, 2010 7:57 pm UTC No Comments

Juan Pablo Montoya took his second career pole at Talladega Super Speedway and along with Clint Bowyer, gave Chevy the front row and six of the top eight spots on the grid.

Earlier, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota drivers Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch topped 201 MPH (lap average speed) in practice, while drafting together – which they just may do some on Sunday in the race.

The AMP Energy Juice 500 shapes up to be Fast and Fabulous, as are most races at the big track. Despite a nice qualifying showing by the Penske Racing Dodges of Kurt Busch (3rd) Sam Hornish Jr and Brad Keselowski (10th and 11th), the Racing for Glory this week shapes up to be between the Bow-tie camp and the Rice Burners.

With lots of three and four wide action, there will be plenty of the old Rubbing’s Racing talk during and after this one. And there is bound to be a big wreck or two. Maybe the Fords can shake their problems and the Dodges are for real. It is Halloween after all. Strange things do happen.

Filed under: Brad Kesolowski, Chase for the Cup, Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon, jimmie johnson, Joe Gibbs Racing, Joey Logano, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Kyle Petty, Mark Martin, NASCAR, Sam Hornish Jr, Sprint Cup Series, Talladega Superspeedway