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Tony Stewart Gives NASCAR Fans the Show They Crave at Daytona

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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 5, 2009 8:47 am CDT No Comments

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Tony Stewart was able to make the last lap pass of his former teammate, Kyle Busch, to win the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.

However; in the process, Busch went spinning in a last lap wreck that saw him get airborne and land on Kasey Kahne’s car, very reminiscent of the final lap at Talladega where Carl Edwards went into the spectator fence.

The Shrub was able to get out of his mangled race car and walk toward the garage, where he was intercepted by track personnel that escorted him to a safety vehicle for a trip to the infield care center.  Busch was later released with no injuries other than a bruised ego.  Busch was able to get past Stewart on the white flag lap when Tony slowed, trying to make his pursuers lose momentum and avoid the last lap onslaught.

The move backfired on Stewart with Busch taking the lead and then going into full blocking mode.  Stewart was able to get his #14 just up to Busch’s quarter panel when they touched, sending Stewart to a win and Busch to the wall.  Stewart explained:

It’s nobody’s fault, it’s just racing.  I mean, it’s a product of the environment.  It doesn’t mean the environment is bad, it just means that’s the way it is.  Like I said, he did what he had to do, and he defended his spot and we held our(s).    It wasn’t even that we tried to hold our ground, we just got on his quarter panel, and that’s just how you suck up.  As soon as he moved, I didn’t anticipate him moving, and went across the nose.

Stewart had the dominate car all race as he never fell outside the top three.  During the seven pit stops for the Burger King car; each time he came in first and left first.

One other thirteen car melee took out some of the cars battling for the final positions in The Chase.  Most of the cars involved in that incident were able to repair their cars and finish the race.  Twenty-eight cars finished on the lead lap, with Jeff Gordon bringing up the rear of the lead lap cars.  Mark Martin ended his day in 38th and David Reutimann finished 36th, severely hampering their efforts to make it into the Chase.

Therefore; this week’s BUZZ ON PIT ROW is:

Aren’t the finishes at Talladega and now Daytona, exactly what NASCAR fans say they have been missing from the other tracks?

Let us know what you think and we may use your comments on this week’s ON PIT ROW radio show.  Listen live every Tuesday from 5-7pm ET.  Give us a call on the Bench Racing Hotline at 1-800-645-2946 and if we pick your call as the Shell Nitrogen Enriched Call of the Day you will win a Kevin Harvick bobblehead.

photo credits: Jerry Markland (wreck), Rusty Jarrett (Stewart)/Getty Images for NASCAR

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Chase for the Cup, David Reutimann, Daytona International Speedway, How to fix NASCAR, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, NASCAR, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Sprint Cup Series, Tony Stewart 

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Reutimann’s NASCAR Memorial Day Parade Rained On–YES

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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.

May 26, 2009 9:54 am CDT 5 Comments

Some of the media were referring to the Coca-Cola 600 as the 24 Hours of Charlotte because the holiday weekend dodged rain storm after rain storm.

Mike Bliss won a rain shortened Nationwide Series race on Saturday night, but the 600 couldn’t roll off the starting line on Sunday because of persistent rain.  By the time Memorial Day Monday rolled around, the teams, drivers and media had had enough of trying to kill time.  But it didn’t take long for the first of several rain delays to stop the action at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

It looked early on as if the scheduled 400 laps would never be seen and a race to halfway was going to be the order of the day.  Michael Waltrip Racing’s David Reutimann got the teams first Sprint Cup win by staying on the racetrack when the final rain delay hit the speedway.

I think we sat on pit road eight hours today is what it felt like.  We just kept waiting.  Rodney and I talked.  I was like, I’ve been in situations like this before, obviously not in a Cup race, but different situations.  This deal never goes my way, so I don’t see why it should now.  We talked about what we were going to change on the car when we came down pit road.  Rodney told me, I’m either going to get us a win or lose us 10 spots, one or the other.  It’s a gamble.  I said, I’ll stay out.  That’s what he told me to do.  That’s what I do.  When I’m told to do something, I generally do something.

NASCAR waited about two and a half hours before finally calling the race over and done.  By that time there weren’t many fans left in the grandstands to celebrate.  MWR, had seen its share of adversity throughout its first two-plus years of competition.  From the jet fuel incident it first year, to not making races times have been tough.  Reutimann made all those heartaches and mis-steps seem long removed when he was able to paddle his #00 into the winners circle.

This week’s BUZZ ON PIT ROW ponders:

How does Reutimann’s win stack up as far as first wins go?

Let  us know what you think and we could us your comments to this weeks ON PIT ROW radio show.  Listen live every Tuesday from 5-7pm ET at onpitrow.com.  Call the show at 1-800-645-2946 and you could win a Kevin Harvick bobblehead if your call is the Shell Nitrogen Enriched Call of the Day.

Filed under: David Reutimann, Lowes Motor Speedway, Michael Waltrip, Michael Waltrip Racing, NASCAR, Nationwide Series, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio 

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Dancing With The Cars and Singin’ in the Rain at Lowes

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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

May 25, 2009 11:19 pm CDT 2 Comments

 

Rain shortened races are never perfect, unless you’re the winner. Or the winning owner. Or sponsor of the winning car.

That last rain delay for the 2009 Coca Cola 600 was so long, that David Reutimann’s main sponsor Aaron’s Rent got almost as much exposure as the race’s title sponsor Coke.

And leave it to car owner Michael Waltrip - once referred to as a “NAPA hatted Ho” in the funniest blog title ever by Darren Fauth of One Bad Wheel. Mikey was hangin’ around spreading the NAPA colors right along with Reuty.

Coca Cola got unlucky with the weather but they had plenty of marketing ammo on hand for the event. Bobby Allison was there as grand marshall in the ‘69 Mercury Cyclone he drove to the ‘71 Coke 600 win.

And Dancing with the Stars winner Shawn Johnson did some laps with Coca Cola Family driver Kyle Petty and taught Petty some moves. Check out the pics below. Click the thumbnail for a full size view.

Shawn Johnson stuck this landing too
I guess if Kyle wins again, he'll have a victory move now
Where's Danica?

Nice jack...person Kyle
I have nothing to say
Guys, you don't have to tweet when you can actually talk to each other

She never would have won with Kyle
Kyle as Travolta?
Is this a jig or what?

Bobby Allison, Grand Marshal for the historic 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600

 

Photo credit: Worth Canoy

Filed under: David Reutimann, Kyle Petty, Lowes Motor Speedway, Michael Waltrip, Michael Waltrip Racing, NASCAR, NASCAR & the Media 

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David Reutimann Nails it: On Pole for the Samsung 500

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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

April 3, 2009 11:45 pm CDT 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 

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The Gatorade Duels are a NASCAR Prop Bet Spectacular

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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

February 13, 2009 12:02 am CST 1 Comment

So, what did you bet on - or whom - in the Gatorade Duels at Daytona today? 

Did you pick the four drivers to transfer into the Daytona 500?  Or were did you have lunch - a late one - wagered on a Dale Junior repeat, Jeff Gordon streak-stopper or a Boris Said upset?

I was looking for some old fashioned, NASCAR serendipity. I called for Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman to sweep the races we used to call The Twins for the new Stewart-Haas Racing team. Smoke gave me hope in the opener, and ran a hell of a race. Newman ended his day with a wrecked car and bad temper after David Reutimann dumped him in the second Duel.

Cost me a beer too. But I had fun watching one of the best days of racing NASCAR hosts any year. Can’t wait for the Camping World Truck Series race Friday night.  

But don’t listen to us about betting on races. If you are thinking of doing any actual NASCAR betting you may be better served by finding actual NASCAR odds at a service that is involved in online wagering or something. We, most assuredly, are not.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: Boris Said, Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Reutimann, Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR, Sprint Cup Series, Stewart Haas Racing, Tony Stewart 

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Quick Hits: Homestead-Miami Speedway

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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.

November 12, 2008 11:28 pm CST 4 Comments

I think this is the first time in quite a while that, heading into the final race of the Sprint Cup season at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, we have no idea who the 40-plus full-time drivers for the 2009 season will be. Granted, back in the days before Jayski, when “silly season” wasn’t as prevalent as it is now, a lot of contracts were signed in NASCAR’s offseason. Yep, we used to have an offseason. Who knew?

30-plus teams have already set their drivers and schedules for next season. Most of these teams, and a few others, have secured sponsorship. However, a lot of teams face uncertain futures, and as I detailed last week, a good amount of cars may not be around next year.

That being said, plenty of companies are still interested in sponsoring Sprint Cup teams. It’s just a matter of matching up the right driver, team, and sponsor with one another. There are plenty of quality drivers out there waiting for a call from teams, and there are plenty of teams fishing for enough sponsorship to be competitive next year.

Allow me to do all the work for you, drivers, teams, and prospective sponsors. This week’s Quick Hits are five teams that would certainly make sense to appear on track next year:

5. No. 41 A.J. Allmendinger - Target Chevrolet, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing

This one’s not too much of a stretch, which is why it ranks fifth. Allmendinger is the best driver available, and the No. 41 is the best car available. Chip Ganassi likes taking risks on open wheel drivers (because, obviously, that’s where he does his best), and Target would certainly appreciate a young driver who’s shown promise as of late.

Allmendinger’s done well in the No. 10 at Gillett Evernham Motorsports the past few weeks, with three top-20 finishes. He’s only failed to complete four laps out of a possible 1476, showing that he can keep the car on the track. EGR (sounds unnatural, doesn’t it?) may be in a take-whatever-we-can-get mindset, but adding Allmendinger to its stable could prove a savvy move by the end of the season if he breaks out.

4. No. 28 Travis Kvapil - US Air Force/Hitachi Power Tools/K&N Filters Ford, Yates Racing

There have been rumors as of late that the Air Force is going to head to Yates after a long association with the Wood Brothers. If so, there’s no doubt in my mind that the sponsorship would go to Kvapil. Not only has Kvapil outperformed David Gilliland this year, his sponsorship status is far less certain - Gilliland has relationships with FreeCreditReport.com and CitiFinancial that should carry him through at least part of next season, financial crisis notwithstanding.

Yates wants to expand to three cars next year, the other belonging to Paul Menard, who brings his Menards family sponsorship to the table. They basically have Menard’s and Gilliland’s rides covered. It wouldn’t be surprising if Hitachi stuck around for next year, or if some of the team’s other one-race sponsors made more of a commitment next year.

3. No. 00 David Reutimann - Aaron’s Rent/Champion Mortgage/Dow Chemical Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing

Reutimann’s earned his keep these past few weeks. He had a chance at winning his first race in Texas two weeks ago and qualified fourth last week at Phoenix. Aaron’s has already announced that they will be on the car for half the season, but that still leaves an 18-race hole to fill.

This year, Champion Mortgage sponsored the No. 00 for 12 races with Michael McDowell, two with Mike Skinner, one with Mike Bliss, and one with Allmendinger. Even if they don’t return, rumors have been floating that Dow Chemical will upgrade their associate sponsorship with the team. It’s unlikely that Champion would want to commit to 16 races again in this economic climate, but anything that they don’t pick up, Dow would probably fill. Reutimann’s going to be a star in Sprint Cup one day, and whoever can snap up space on his car would be smart to act now.

2. No. 21 Kyle Petty/Bill Elliott/Jon Wood/Patrick Carpentier - Wells Fargo/Motorcraft Ford, Wood Brothers Racing

So the Air Force might go to Yates. Big deal. If the team brings on Kyle Petty and his 12-race Wells Fargo sponsorship, that more than fills the commitment the Air Force made this season. The Woods claim that their sponsorship contracts are set for next season, with Ford and Motorcraft, but given the automaker’s plight, a backup plan would certainly help.

The question is more about who will drive the car than who will finance it, as has been for the past couple of years. Bill Elliott is open to running a few early-season races, but nothing more. Jon Wood’s been waiting in the wings for a while. However, the Woods are also high on Patrick Carpentier, who was unceremoniously dumped by GEM after an incident at Talladega with team director Mike Shiplett. A few decent performances with the Woods could be the necessary jump-start to make Carpentier’s NASCAR career as successful as his career in CART.

1. No. 22 Scott Riggs - State Water Heaters/Hunt Brothers Pizza/Bad Boy Mowers Toyota, Bill Davis Racing

Despite the past couple years, people need to remember that Riggs is a capable driver. He finished 20th in points in 2006 despite missing the Daytona 500. His poor 2007 was the result of completely wrong data at GEM, and the Haas CNC cars currently aren’t high-quality competitors. (Just you wait ‘till next year, though.)

Counting both starts and DNQ’s, the three aforementioned sponsors have combined for roughly 36 races this season over four cars - the Nos. 22 and 27 at BDR, and the Nos. 66 and 70 at Haas CNC. State and Hunt Bros. have both affirmed their desires to stay in the sport in 2009, after combining for just over 30 races in total this year. Both sponsors appear pleased with what Riggs has done this season, qualifying for almost every race. Bad Boy Mowers has adorned Davis Toyotas four times this season and could certainly fill out the schedule.

Finally, congratulations to Phoenix’s winners: Jimmie Johnson in Sprint Cup, Carl Edwards in Nationwide, and Kevin Harvick in the Truck Series.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Chip Ganassi Racing, David Reutimann, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Haas CNC Racing, NASCAR, Robert Yates Racing, Sprint Cup Series, The Pettys, The Wood Brothers 

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