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David Reutimann Nails it: On Pole for the Samsung 500

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

April 3, 2009 11:45 pm UTC No Comments

I watched David Reutimann today as driver after driver tried to take away his top qualifying spot for Sunday’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. I think I was more nervous than Reut.

He sat calmly chatting with several people along the pit wall as the best of the best went after his time. Maybe he just knew that he’d run the perfect lap today.

According to Darrell Waltrip – talking on the Speed TV broadcast of qualifying – Reutimann calls himself “The Franchise” when trash-talking with his boss, Michael Waltrip. I don’t think that’s too much of a stretch.

Watch video of David here as he talks about his pole and what it means to his Michael Waltrip Racing team.

Filed under: Bench Racing TV, David Reutimann, Michael Waltrip, Michael Waltrip Racing, NASCAR, NASCAR & the Media, NASCAR video, SPEED TV, Texas Motor Speedway, The Waltrips, Toyota

Tagged with: NASCAR video, pole qualifying, Samsung 500, SPEED TV

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Matt Kenseth vs Darrell Waltrip: 64 Greatest NASCAR Drivers Round 2

by Charlie Turner

April 3, 2009 3:09 pm UTC 10 Comments

One of NASCAR history’s biggest – and loudest – stars is up against one of today’s most talented – and quietest – drivers. Two Winston Cup Series champs toss it up in a round two match from the One and Done Region of the NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie.

Matt Kenseth is still racing. And winning too as he grabbed his first Daytona 500 win in February ’09 and followed up with a win in California, giving him 18 career Sprint Cup wins. Kenseth is the 2003 Cup Series champ and one of only two drivers to qualify for the Chase to the Cup playoffs in all five seasons. Matt finished second in the 2006 standings and was Raybestos Rookie of the Year in 2000.

Darrell Waltrip is a three-time Winston Cup Series champion – ’81, ’82 and ’85. In the 61 races run during ’81 and ’82, he won 24 times. Waltrip finished with 84 Cup victories ( tied for 3rd all-time) in 809 starts and qualified on the pole 59 times. And he made boogity, boogity, boogity famous. Or infamous.

D W has had to go against current Sprint Cup stars in both of his tournament draws so far. Kenseth has been paired with veteran members of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in his. It’s interesting to see the outcomes when today’s fans have the choice. Leave your comments please.

Filed under: Darrell Waltrip, Daytona 500, Matt Kenseth, NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends, Sprint Cup Series, The Waltrips

Tagged with: boogity boogity boogity, Chase for the Cup, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, Raybestos Rookie of the Year, Winston Cup

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Kyle Busch vs Darrell Waltrip: NASCAR’s 64 Greatest Drivers Match Up

by Charlie Turner

March 21, 2009 2:35 pm UTC 7 Comments

How about this one: Jaws against the Shrub. One of NASCAR’s all-time greats against a youngster that some think is the best on the Sprint Cup Series circuit today. A round One super match in the NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie.

Kyle Busch. Some call him the Shrub or Rowdy. Many are less kind. But the kid can drive. He won 21 times in NASCAR’s top three divisions in 2008 alone. Think about that. In his Sprint Cup career, Kyle has 13 wins, 47 top fives and 72 top tens in 150 starts. Busch was Raybestos Rookie of the Year in ’05 and his best finish is 5th in series points.

I’m looking forward to this one. These two guys bring out more fire – and a fair amount of it is negative – in comments on this blog than any other subjects. Leave us your comments.

Filed under: Kyle Busch, NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends, The Waltrips

Tagged with: Darrell Waltrip, Jaws, NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tourney, NASCAR bracket tourney, Rowdy, Winston Cup

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Hall of Shame: That’s No Way to Treat Sliced Bread

by Charlie Turner

October 2, 2008 1:05 pm UTC 3 Comments

Mindy didn’t think much of Hall of Fame – or Shame – Racing’s decision to dump Joey – Sliced Bread – Logano from the No. 96 seat. She liked Carl Edwards big move at Kansas and apparently, she approves of the Aric Almirola in a fire suit.

Watch the latest Monday Morning Crew Chief right here, right now.

Filed under: Bench Racing TV, Carl Edwards, Chase for the Cup, Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Joey Logano, Kenny Wallace, Michael Waltrip Racing, Monday Morning Crew Chief, NASCAR Rumors, NASCAR video, Rusty Wallace, Ryan Newman, Sprint Cup Series, Stewart Haas Racing, The Waltrips

Tagged with: Aric Almirola, Carl Edwards, Hall of Fame Racing, Joey Logano, Ken Shrader, Kenny Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Michael Waltrip Racing, Rusty Wallace, Ryan Newman

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Thinking about Michael Waltrip

by Charlie Turner

July 24, 2008 5:59 pm UTC 8 Comments

What’s this about Michael and Buffy Waltrip, maybe, having…issues? I gotta get out more often. Valli was a guest ON PIT ROW Tuesday. She says that’s the most popular search on her blog. I’m shocked.

So I saw this post about Michael Waltrip Racing’s big plans for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Scene Daily. They didn’t ask Mikey about his domestic tranquility, or lack of same. Waltrip did talk about what he calls generation three of MWR’s version of the CoT, and how his team has improved the car – citing lower weight, and how lowering the center of gravity is a key, to him, in improving the New Car.

“Drivers talk about how this car is heavier than the old cars. That means the center of gravity is very critical. A way that I can explain this is if Jeff Gordon and I are racing, and if he has a lower center of gravity in comparison to mine, then he will have the ability to make it through the corners faster.”

Of course, if Mikey has a lower center of gravity than Jeff Gordon, Gordon will still be faster through the corner than Waltrip. I mean, he’s Jeff Gordon for cryin’ out loud!

Filed under: Car of Tomorrow, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, It's Only Cheating if You Get Caught, Jeff Gordon, NASCAR & the Media, NASCAR Rumors, NASCAR Tech, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Sprint Cup Series, The Waltrips, Toyota

Tagged with: blog, Buffy Waltrip, Car of Tomorrow, Jeff Gordon, Michael Waltrip, motorsports, NASCAR, NASCAR Rumors

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Will Tony Stewart Succeed Where So Many Have Failed?

by Charlie Turner

July 10, 2008 10:31 pm UTC 4 Comments

I wonder if Darrell Waltrip was as happy as Tony Stewart was today, on the day that DW announced formation of his- then – Winston Cup race team?

I can’t remember Ricky Rudd’s press conference, if there was one, when he kicked off Rudd Racing. Or whatever it was called. I don’t remember that either.

I do remember that the ends of those two enterprises weren’t that happy.

Michael Waltrip’s own start-up got off to a rousing start. Big-time press coverage there. Big-time hopes too, what with Dale Jarrett, UPS, NAPA and Mikey spearheading Toyota’s foray into the, then Nextel Cup wars. Then there was that little cheating deal at the Daytona 500. Been kind of downhill, generally, ever since.

Venerable racer-owners, the Pettys and the Woods, have had glorious success. But that was a long time ago.

Now Tony Stewart is a, Sprint Cup this time, team owner. Today was a happy one for Stewart, the Haas Engineering organization, Chevrolet, Office Depot and somewhere we presume, Gene Haas.

Good luck Smoke.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: Chevrolet, Chicagoland Speedway, Daytona 500, NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup Series, Stewart Haas Racing, The Waltrips, Tony Stewart, Toyota

Tagged with: blog, Chicagoland Speedway, Gene Haas, motorsports, NASCAR, NASCAR Rumors, Stewart Haas Racing, Tony Stewart

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