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NASCAR Gunfight at the Paperclip Corral

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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

October 22, 2010 8:37 pm CDT 2 Comments

Maybe Kasey Kahne will win the TUMS Fast Relief 500 in his first race ever for Red Bull Racing Sunday. Or perhaps Eric Almirola will take the legendary #43 to a win in Richard Petty Motorsports’ final race.

Doubt it. Very seriously doubt it.

For the last five plus years, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin have absolutely DOMINATED Martinsville Speedway. Kevin Harvick hasn’t been quite in the same league as those three, but he’s close enough - and ahead of one in the 2010 Sprint Cup Chase points - to have a shooter’s shot.

And Martinsville is the perfect place to have a shootout. Give me a better setting with five races to go.

The best drivers at NASCAR’s best race track,  battling on that track, with the Championship on the line.

And yes, I’m watching Tombstone, my favorite movie, as I write this. My only problem with casting the Cup guys is there aren’t any bad guys in the bunch. Maybe Harvick could play Johnny Ringo. Jimmie is Wyatt, for sure. Gordon the grizzled Virgil Earp. Haven’t pegged Hamlin. He’s not Doc Holiday.

Enjoy the race. I’m watching the movie.

Filed under: Chase for the Cup, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR, jimmie johnson 

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

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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

October 2, 2008 1:05 pm CDT 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 

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Who Will Be the Sprint Cup’s Next First-time Winner?

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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

May 30, 2008 9:32 am CDT 6 Comments

Martin Truex Jr grabbed his first and, so far only, Cup Series win at Dover Downs in 2007.  By my count, he was one of three drivers to accomplish that feat last year - Casey Mears and Clint Bowyer were the others.

I’m looking at the line up for this week’s tilt at the Monster Mile and wondering who will be the next first timer.  The answer is not obvious.  David Ragan would seem the best bet.  He drives for one of the major teams, as did all of 2007’s first time winners.  Ragan has lately been running up front and looked like a contender at Charlotte.  But who else.  Is there anybody else?

Before his injury, Dario Franchitti would have been my pick if only because of the two road courses where he should be one of the contenders.  His lost seat-time may not hurt his chances at Sonoma and the Glen, but it steepens the learning curve elsewhere.

Fellow Dodger Reed Sorenson looked strong coming out of Daytona.  Since then though, his team has been a big part of Ganassi’s funk.  The stirring of that pot by Chip doesn’t bode well for the Target car.

Dave Blaney is the only non winner in a Toyota who seems a candidate.  A J Allmendinger didn’t convince me at Lowes.  David Reutimann looks like a journeyman.

Who do you like in a Chevy?  All of 2007’s virgin winners were Bowtie Boys.  But who’s left?  Regan Smith?  Too soon and not enough chances.  Same for Aric Almirola.  The Haas CNC teams probably killed their chances by losing crew and car chiefs for six races.

No, the next winner looks to be a Ford man.  If not Ragan then maybe one of the Yates guys.  Travis Kvapil looks primed.

Filed under: Casey Mears, Chip Ganassi Racing, Clint Boyer, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Haas CNC Racing, It's Only Cheating if You Get Caught, Martin Truex Jr., Red Bull Racing, Reed Sorenson, Robert Yates Racing, Sprint Cup Series 

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Kenny Schrader puts BAM Racing Toyota on Fourth Row at The Clip

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by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Over ten years on the air and three on the net; see what can happen when I don't let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

March 29, 2008 11:23 am CDT 4 Comments

It was a swift turn around of fortunes for the #49 team over the Easter break.

Untitled PostFrom not making races in Gillett Evernham Motorsports engined Dodges to qualifying on the fourth row at Martinsville in a Bill Davis Racing engined Toyota, Ken Schrader must believe his Sprint Cup fortunes may have made a turn for the better. Schrader must be considered the oddity in the top ten at the paper clip known as Martinsville. He joins pole sitter Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola, David Ragan, Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne in the top seven. Gordon is no kid at 36, but not really considered a gray beard either.

Dismissing Gordon; at 52 years of age Schrader is over twice as old as the rest of the top 8, who’s average ages are just over 25. Kyle Busch rounds out the top eight qualifiers and must make Schrader feel like a chaperone on a third grade field trip to the zoo.

“The car was good all day and we were good here last year too. I’m just excited about the Toyota deal and working with Bill Davis some. I’ve always been a big fan of Bill Davis and Dave Blaney. New name on the car with Microsoft Small Business and a new manufacturer — we’re still one of those hooligans who doesn’t have their truck in here (infield), but we’ll pull it in tonight.”

Bill Davis Racing has to be happy to have a second car in the field as well. It’s well documented that the car they counted on to be thatr second car; to be driven by Jacques Villenuve, never materialized. This working agreement (don’t call it a merger–yet) with BAM could be just what the doctor ordered for two struggling teams. Rarely does the coming together of two down and out entities make for a full and rapid recovery to dominance. Just look to the corporate world and the merger of Kmart Corp and Sears. Putting those two together has not really set the world afire. The other good news is that there is finally sponsorship dollars to go into the Toyotas. BAM has signed Microsoft Small Business to foot the bill for the remainder of 2008.

In this instance though, at least for one week, BAM and Kenny Schrader can hold their heads high as they have cracked the kiddy corp and will start the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 up front with the fast guys. Where he will finish is another story. Many times these feel good stories have very short chapters. They’re easy to read, but end quickly.

I hope not. Kenny is one of the greatest guys in the sport.

photo credit: from Microsoft SMB Community Blog

Filed under: Gillett Evernham Motorsports, Jacques Villeneuve, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Kenny Shrader, NASCAR, Sprint Cup Series 

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