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NASCAR Pictures: Sunday Action at Pocono Raceway

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 22, 2011 7:14 pm CDT No Comments

Exclusive Pocono 500 NASCAR race action and Driver photos

On Pit Row photographer Glenn Bure will be at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend capturing all three days Nationwide Series and Chase to the Sprint Cup action on the track and in the garage. we thought we’d give you a little taste of what to expect with some bonus images from the last Pocono weekend. Enjoy and leave Glenn some comments about his work.

Photo credit: Glenn Bure - OnPitRow.com

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Brad Kesolowski, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, Clint Boyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Ragan, David Reutimann, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Joe Nemechek, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth, NASCAR, NASCAR photos, NewHampshire Motor Speedway, Paul Menard, Pocono Raceway, Robby Gordon, Ryan Newman, The Busch Bros, Tony Stewart, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: Glenn Bure, NASCAR pictures, Pennsylvania 500, sylvania 300

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Race Day NASCAR Pictures: Pure Michigan 400 at MIS

by BethAnne, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2011 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

I am the field producer/photographer of the syndicated radio show/website ON PIT ROW. When Steve and Charlie ask me to 'jump', I say "Yeah right."

September 4, 2011 9:59 pm CDT 1 Comment

Exclusive NASCAR photos from Sunday at Michigan Speedway

Michigan is always hot on race weekend at MIS. Sunday was no different. Hot weather and hot action on the track too.

: #16 Greg Biffle #32 Kenny Schrader turn 2 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #11 Denny Hamlin #9 Marcos Ambrose turn 1 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #2 Brad Keselowski #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr #24 Jeff Gordon turn 2 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #5 Mark Martin #18 Kyle Busch #33 Clint Bowyer #56 Martin Truex Jr #14 Tony Stewart turn 1 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #17 Matt Kenseth turn 2 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #20 Joey Logano turn 2 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #24 Jeff Gordon #4 Kasey Kahne turn 1 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #48 Jimmie Johnson #20 Joey Logano turn 1 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #51 Landon Cassill #38 Travis Kvapil #36 Bave Blaney Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr #24 Jeff Gordon #39 Ryan Newman turn 1 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #2 Brad Keselowski turn 2 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #24 Jeff Gordon #22 Kurt Busch turn 2 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #42 Juan Pablo Montoya #83 Brian Vickers turn 2 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #14 Tony Stewart turn 2 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: Pitstop in turn 1 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #4 Kasey Kahne pitstop Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #22 Kurt Busch pitstop Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

: #36 Dave Blaney pitstop Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler - OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Brad Kesolowski, Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dave Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kasey Kahne, Kenny Shrader, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Marcos Ambrose, Mark Martin, Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth, Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR, NASCAR photos, Red Bull Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Roush Racing, Ryan Newman, Sprint Cup Series, Stewart Haas Racing, The Busch Bros, The Wood Brothers, Tony Stewart, Toyota, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: NASCAR pictures, Pure Michigan 400

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Fantasy Pick’Em: 2011 Coca-Cola 600

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2011 NASCAR schedule, 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.

May 26, 2011 11:25 am CDT No Comments

Ah, the old World 600. The longest race of the year, and NASCAR’s attempt to steal the spotlight from the Indianapolis 500 on the same day, has seen its share of interesting (i.e. first-time) winners in recent memory. Jeff Gordon took his first career victory in this race back in 1994. Bobby Labonte repeated the feat the very next year. Casey Mears did the same in 2007, while David Reutimann, with the aid of rain, stole a win in 2009 as well.

This is one of the reasons why the 600 is one of the best races in NASCAR - you never know what’s going to happen, or who’s going to win. For that reason - nevermind the first-time winners at Daytona and Darlington this year - don’t expect your typical, run of the mill winner come Sunday night. It’ll either be a first-timer, or somebody who’s had quite the drought.

Joey Logano: Logano’s been the picture of consistency at Charlotte for the past two years. Three top-10s in four starts, including a best finish of fifth, give him the best average finish of any active driver at the track. Logano’s had a rough season, sitting 27th in points, and hasn’t won since taking his maiden victory in a rain-shortened Loudon race in 2009, making him exactly the type of turnaround candidate I’m talking about.

Martin Truex Jr.: I know, Truex has a win in his career too, but it’s been a while. The No. 56 team showed the speed in qualifying for this race third last year, but dropped down the field to finish a disappointing 23rd, second to last on the lead lap. Don’t expect them to let it happen again - these boys are hungry and everyone knows it.

A.J. Allmendinger: So what gives with me doing this write-up about first-time winners, when my first two picks don’t fit that mold? To be honest, I think that A.J. Allmendinger has a shot at this thing. He’s been a consistent top-15 driver all season, and everybody in the garage feels like his first career win isn’t too far out of reach. Same goes for Marcos Ambrose, although Ambrose’s team has been slightly less consistent over the course of the year. Either way, though, it’d be nice to see two-time race winner Richard Petty back in the winner’s circle this weekend as an owner.

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Joey Logano, Lowes Motor Speedway, Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Fantasy Gaming

Tagged with: A.J. Allmendinger, Coca Cola 600, Fantasy Pick'Em, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr.

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Fantasy Pick’Em: 2011 FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2011 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

May 13, 2011 10:46 am CDT No Comments

martin truex jr david reutimann qualifying new hampshire

Ah, Dover. The track known colloquially as the “Monster Mile” is always a fun time, and given how much fun we had last week at Darlington, it won’t be a shock if this weekend’s race, the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks, will be even more exciting.

Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch are the new power feud in the sport, after last week’s pit road incident. Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya still hate each other, if it’s been slightly de-emphasized. Dover is the last chance for top drivers without All-Star eligibility - and yes, that includes Dale Earnhardt Jr. - to earn their way into the event without having to either rely on a last-chance victory in the Sprint Showdown or fan vote.

So let’s make this interesting. My lead pick this week is going to be a driver that hasn’t won in a while. Ready?

Martin Truex Jr.: With Regan Smith taking the surprise victory at Darlington, I might as well go out on a limb and say that lightning can indeed strike twice. Dover is kind of a home track for the New Jersey native, and the site of his lone Sprint Cup win, back in 2007 when Dale Earnhardt Inc. was still a power player in the garage. He’s somewhat struggled at the track since, at least in the finishing order, but starts of first and third last year prove that he’s fast.

Carl Edwards: I could just as easily pick Jimmie Johnson as my alternate, with his six wins at Dover (three of the past four, too) to Edwards’ one. In fact, I probably should. But I won’t. Why? Simple - consistency. When you’re faced with two drivers who perform so well at this track, you might as well go with the guy with the slight edge in consistency, and that’s Edwards. Since 2006, Edwards has only finished outside of the top 10 two times, to Johnson’s four. He just edges Johnson in points scored at the track, 1561 to 1539, in that time frame. You can pick either, but I’m going with Edwards.

Joey Logano: Oh hi, dark horse. Logano has underperformed this year, never cracking the top 20 in points or a single-digit finishing position, but maybe Dover will help him turn it around. Last year he scored finishes of 10th and third in the two Dover races, spending 724 out of 800 laps in the top 10. He also won both Nationwide poles and finished second both times that series took on the Monster Mile in 2010. Even if he hasn’t won at the track yet in either series, he clearly knows how to run up front here.

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Dover International Speedway, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Fantasy Gaming

Tagged with: Carl Edwards, Dover International Speedway, Fantasy Pick'Em, FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks, jimmie johnson, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Regan Smith

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Fantasy Pick’Em: 2010 Lenox 301

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2011 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

June 24, 2010 11:20 am CDT 1 Comment

Jeff Gordon Pitstop at Michigan Speedway

This weekend’s Lenox 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway marks the first race of the Sprint Cup Series’ Race to the Chase, a ten-race dash to set the field for the Chase for the Sprint Cup at the end of the year. Right now, eight drivers are within 161 points (the maximum swing between first and last in a race) of 12th-place Carl Edwards, making the next ten races crucially important for those bubble drivers.

Loudon is a unique track to Sprint Cup, in that it is reminiscent of Martinsville on steroids. It’s a mile long, completely flat, and few drivers can maintain top ten average finishes at the track. Even the best Loudon drivers only crack the top ten about half the time.

So which drivers are good bets at the sport’s most northern track?

My pick for the weekend is Jeff Gordon. In 30 starts, he has an average finish of 11.4, with 13 top five results. Though he hasn’t won at the track since 1998, he has four finishes of third or better in the last seven Loudon races and led 64 laps in this event last year. He’ll be looking for a long overdue first win of the season.

My dark horse for the weekend is Martin Truex Jr., racing once again at his home track, per se. The New Jersey native finished in the top ten each time he ran at Loudon in 2007 and 2008, with last year’s poor finishes an aberration. It was his big wins at Loudon in the K&N East Series that actually put him in position to step up to the big time in the first place. Truex will also be looking to make up for a race ruined by Gordon last weekend.

Three more, as per usual:

Denny Hamlin has the best average finish of a driver with a significant amount of starts at Loudon. In eight races, he’s put up a 7.5 average, with one win and six top fives. More impressive, Hamlin has never failed to complete a lap at the track, nor has he ever finished worse than 15th.

Any longtime fan of the sport, or of this track, knows that Jeff Burton once owned Loudon like no other driver could ever imagine. From 1997 to 2000, Burton won a race every year, with his 300-out-of-300 laps led in the fall of 2000 his masterpiece at the track. Sure, Burton hasn’t won there since, but he’s continued to put up solid runs.

Finally, let’s go way out in left field and give Bobby Labonte a little name recognition. He’s just left TRG Motorsports and will attempt to run the full race in Robby Gordon’s unsponsored No. 7 car. He actually led in both Loudon races last year, and although his finishes haven’t shown it as of late, he was once a shoo-in for top finishes every race. His feedback on the car will help Gordon’s team move forward as they attempt to gain sponsorship for the rest of the season.

Filed under: Bobby Labonte, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Martin Truex Jr., New Hampshire International Speedway, One and Done NASCAR Fantasy Racing

Tagged with: Bobby Labonte, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Lenox 301, Martin Truex Jr., New Hampshire Motor Speedway, One and Done NASCAR Fantasy Racing

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NASCAR Pictures from Pocono Raceway Saturday

by Charlie Turner

June 5, 2010 11:39 pm CDT No Comments

Glenn Bure is at the track for the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 weekend. Here is a selection of his NASCAR photos from Saturday’s practice at the Tricky Triangle with some bonus photos of Elliott Sadler doing Trackside Live!