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NASCAR Shark Fin Soup from Las Vegas

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

March 4, 2010 11:54 pm CST 2 Comments

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“I gotta go where there aint any snow

Where there aint any blow

Cause my fin sinks so low

I gotta go where it’s warm”

Sorry, but I needed that. February was long leaving and March 2010 has been a major strain. Buffett usually helps me.

Him, baseball and Margaritas.

And the line in that song about “fins sinking low” seems to fit right now. And not just for me.

The NASCAR Shark Fin has been trimmed to negligible height since the Great White sized rudders used at Daytona.

I thought I might have to find another post title idea. But it turns out, I’m too lazy. Shark Fin Soup stays.

If you haven’t stopped by the On Pit Row Facebook Fan Page on Tuesdays during the On Pit Row radio program, you are missing some pretty good stuff. This is a plug - sure - but we do have a blast. And live “Tweeting” during the live radio is dangerous.

Steve and I were debating whether “Jeff Gordon and Steve Latarte gambled too much on a two tire stop at the end of the race?”

We agreed that Latarte had blown the call. But when I wrote the update for the Fan Page and Twitter it came out…

“Steve and I agree that Steve Latarte blew..”

Not what I intended…. Actually it was alot funnier than what I intended.

We had Kevin Conway, driver of the ExtenZe Racing Ford Fusion for Front Row Motorsports on the show. Kevin is the current favorite for 2010 Raybestos Rookie of the Year, and a funny guy in his own right.

While answering one of our questions, Conway smoothly worked this into his answer…

“with the ExtenZe racing team, we try to do everything big…..”

Nice work Kevin. You’ll go far in this NASCAR gig with sponsor stumping like that.

Latarte and Gordon stumbled and Johnson and Knaus were there to shoot the cripple as they say in billiards. Don’t make mistakes if you want to win a Cup race in the J J era.

Filed under: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Sprint Cup Series, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: ExtenZe Racing, Front Row Motorsports, Kevin Conway, Shark Fin Soup, Shelby American 400, Steve Latarte

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NASCAR at Auto Club Speedway: Dudes, Dames and Delayed Dominance

by Charlie Turner

February 22, 2010 11:23 pm CST No Comments

The Auto Club 500 was vintage Jimmie Johnson. To the chagrin of those fans who had hoped that J J’s Daytona 500 performance might be a sign. Sorry haters. Lowes no. 48 crew chief Chad Knaus still makes the perfect pit call more often than anybody else and, like Albert Pujols, Jimmie Johnson knows what to do with a fat pitch. He doesn’t miss it.

The Sprint Cup Series race almost seemed like the undercard of this second round of 2010 NASCAR schedule. Most of the buzz early in the weekend was about Danica Patrick’s second run in her limited 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. Patrick wasn’t a factor in the actual Nationwide Series race. She may not worry the leaders at all this year. But she did OK. She’s learning. It adds interest.

On Pit Row was ably represented by Jerry Wilson - the Diecast Dude to many - during the Auto Club Speedway weekend. Read Jerry’s posts and go to the OnPitRow Twitter page if you missed any of Jerry’s observations during the weekend. Thank you my friend. It was a blast following you the past few days and an honor hosting your stories.

Time for Vegas. Who’s betting against the Lowes car?

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

Filed under: Auto Club Speedway, Danica Patrick, NASCAR, Nationwide Series, On Pit Row on the road, Sprint Cup Series

Tagged with: Chad Knaus, Diecast Dude, Jerry Wilson, Round girl Jen

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NASCAR Championship Fast Laps

by Charlie Turner

November 26, 2009 9:39 pm CST No Comments

NASCAR drivers don’t come much more dominant than Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsport’s no. 48 Lowes Chevrolet these last four years. Johnson’s NASCAR results may be drama killing, but they are still the topic of the week.

Check out the Fast Lap Show video this week. Then let us know what you think about these four, fast ones.

Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.

Turn 1 - Now that Jimmie Johnson has his fourth consecutive championship will he be able to show more of his personality?

Turn 2 -Where does Hendrick Motorsports 1-2-3 points finish rank in importance in NASCAR history

Turn 3 - Which under-achieving organization has laid the best foundation for 2010?

Turn 4 - Where will the #48 team’s greatest competition come from in 2010?

The video tells you what we think. What do you think. And since this is supposed be fast, please limit your answers to Twitter length - 140 characters. We don’t have a way to count your input, so this is the honor system for now.

Filed under: Chase for the Cup, Fast Lap Posts, Fast Lap video, Hendrick Motorsports, Homestead-Miami Speedway, NASCAR, NASCAR video, Sprint Cup Series, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: Ford 400

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Proposition: Jimmie Johnson is the Greatest NASCAR Driver Ever

by Charlie Turner

November 23, 2009 11:28 pm CST No Comments

Mark Martin calls him Superman.

But his crew chief, Chad Knaus, gets almost as much credit for Jimmie Johnson’s success as Johnson does himself.

Johnson has won 47 times in 291 Sprint Cup starts. He is the only driver ever to win four straight Cup championships.

And he is resented for his dominance. No problem.

That, in itself, isn’t new to NASCAR. Half of the stands cheered wildly for Dale Earnhardt Sr in his heyday. Darrell Waltrip too. They still do for Jeff Gordon. The other half booed their voices hoarse for all three.

It’s different for Johnson. The water-cooler talk and internet buzz - blog posts and tweets - mostly blame J J for all of NASCAR’s problems. From declining TV ratings to empty grandstand seats; it’s all because Jimmie Johnson is too good.

“He isn’t flashy enough. He’s so perfect. Why doesn’t he wreck someone? Or flip ‘em off? Or punch ‘em? I’m so tired of him winning all the time! It’s that damn Chase! He wouldn’t win if it wasn’t for the damn Chase!”

That’s what they say.

I have watched Jimmie, and listened to him, up close. I’ve watched his eyes as he answered questions. Questions that, I’m sure he had answered a hundred time before. The sincerity that he displays is real. I am convinced that nobody who had the chance to observe him that closely, could come away disliking him. He’s a good guy.

He’s the greatest NASCAR driver in the sport today.

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler - On Pit Row

Filed under: Chase for the Cup, NASCAR, Sprint Cup Series, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: Chad Knaus, Darrell Waltrip

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NASCAR Photos - Kurt Busch’s Texas Win

by Charlie Turner

November 15, 2009 9:16 am CST No Comments

Kurt Busch and the Blue Duece sit outside, front row for the start of the Checkers O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 today at Phoenix International Raceway.

This coming off his win last week at Texas Motor Speedway. The Penske Racing no. 2 team has to be considered a favorite to win at PIR.

Kurt has had a nice year. Busch and Kasey Kahne have helped to keep the Dodge brand significant in NASCAR this season. I expect to see the Miller Lite Dodge upfront and mixing it up with all those fast Chevies today at PIR.

Below are some pics of Kurt’s winning Sunday at the Great American Speedway. Click on the thumbnail for a better view.

: Kurt Busch in the Miller Lite Dodge at TMS practice

: Eva Busch in victory lane at TMS

: Miller Lite Dodge inspection at TMS

: Kurt Busch grabs the checkered flag at Texas

: Victory burn-out for Kurt Busch

: Kurt and Eva Busch in victory lane at TMS

: Kurt Busch and the Texas hat dance

: Kurt Busch and Eddie Gossage exchange rings

: Kurt Busch gets a Texas sized check

: "I've got two guns - one for each of you." Kurt Busch

: Kurt Busch in victory lane at Texas

: The Blue Duece getting teched

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler - On Pit Row

Filed under: Kurt Busch, NASCAR, On Pit Row on the road, Sprint Cup Series, Texas Motor Speedway

Tagged with: Dickies 500, Eva Busch, Great American Speedway, Kurt Busch NASCAR stats, TMS

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The Busch Brothers Crashed the Hendrick Party at Texas

by Charlie Turner

November 13, 2009 2:36 pm CST No Comments

The Chase to the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship has turned into an intramural match race for Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson.