Latest Headlines

Comments

Charlie Turner on One and Done: Coke Zero 400
Grand PRIX on Crossed Flags for NASCAR on the Fourth of July
Chris Lacey on Richie Evans vs David Pearson: NASCAR’s 64 Greatest Drivers Match Up
John Douglas Jr. on Richie Evans vs David Pearson: NASCAR’s 64 Greatest Drivers Match Up
Ryan Rantz on Fast Laps: Daytona

Sections

Matt Kenseth Loses Shot at NASCAR Immortality

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.

March 3, 2009 8:19 am CST 5 Comments

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Matt Kenseth was the talk of Las Vegas for most of the week; as NASCAR took center stage in Sin City, until it was all gone in an instant.

Kenseth had the opportunity to do something that no other driver had ever done on the circuit; win the first three races in a season. Not only had it never been done in NASCAR’s premier Sprint Cup Series, it had never been done it any of its top three traveling series. The #17 team was set to give fans something to root for or against during the Shelby 427.

Engine problems took the suspense away early. Before five laps had been run at the 1.5 mile high banked track Kenseth’s power plant went up in smoke. The engine in Kenseth’s ride was not the only one to have problems over the weekend. Kenseth’s team mate, David Ragan endured a similar failure during the race.

The engine problems were not limited to the Fords at Roush-Fenway Racing. Mark Martin also had one blow in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, resulting in a fortieth place finish. Even eventual race winner, Kyle Busch, had to move from his number one starting position, to the back of the pack, because of an engine change before the start of the race.

And that all sends us toward this week’s BUZZ ON PIT ROW:

Are all the engine problems the past two races just bad parts or something else?

Let u know what you think and we may use your comments on this week’s radio show. Listen live to ON PIT ROW Tuesdays from 5-7pm ET.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media

Filed under: Kyle Busch, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, NASCAR

Tagged with: David Ragan, Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Roush-Fenway Racing, Shelby 427

Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

Fantasy Racing: Smoke and Mirrors

by Luke, Special To Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

Luke is the head honcho of ThunderLounge.com, and hails from a storied background of sitting on pit walls and getting knocked off, through over a decade of service in our nations Navy. Typically off-beat, never backing down and a witty sense of humor make for a show that's not to be missed.

March 2, 2009 10:28 am CST 4 Comments

the calm befor the storm.

Smoke and mirrors. Yep, that sums it up nicely for a lot of NASCAR Fantasy Racing enthusiasts. Participants in the On Pit Row NASCAR Fantasy Racing game, One and Done.

Aside from Matt Kenseth coming out of the box with both guns blazing, spurs dug in deep around the bucking bronco of his race car, NASCAR Fantasy Racing guru’s are left scratching their heads after being just three races into the current season thanks to the smoke. That smoke is from all the blown engines amongst many teams who were considered good, safe picks in the fantasy world.

Mark Martin? Always the safe bet, he has blown up two weeks in a row with cars that could have been contending at the end.

Carl Edwards blew up with two laps to go at Vegas, while running 4th. Too much pressure in the oil system is the word. Must be that extra tight lid.

Matt Kenseth? Blew up a couple laps into the event, as did teammate David Ragan.

Think Greg Biffle and Jamie McMurray were worried? Jamie and his team were, especially when he reported vibrations before the sticks were crossed on the flag stand.

Dale Earnhardt Junior, always a fan favorite, blew up at California.

The examples above don’t even take into consideration all of the engines which were changed before the green flag flew on Sunday. This leaves but one thing to seriously remember when it comes to Fantasy Racing. There is no safe bet. Not even on the man who was poised to break the overall streak of races without a DNF, who also holds the modern-era record. Kevin Harvick had a hole in the oil filter at California, although they thought he had blown up as well. Had there been a few more laps remaining, he may have made it back onto the track. He didn’t, and his streak ended at 81 races without a DNF. Just 3 races short of the overall record. Clint Bowyer is hot on his heels though, with 76 races (and counting) without a DNF. If he can manage to keep his streak alive he would eclipse Harvick’s record at Talladega (82) and the overall record at Charlotte in the 600 (85).

No pressure, Clint. Just remember, the Jayhawks had no pressure in their 25 point payback romp over Mizzou yesterday.

As the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season plows on, keep your picks in check. Just don’t be surprised if your pick goes up in smoke, unless you’re one of the lucky ones who’s driver happens to instead watch it in their rear view mirror.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc

Filed under: One and Done NASCAR Fantasy Racing

Tagged with: Carl Edwards, David Ragan, Hendrick Motorsports, Las Vegas Motors Speedway, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, NASCAR fantasy racing, Shelby 427

Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

New Monday Morning Crew Chief with Mindy

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

September 22, 2008 3:16 pm CDT No Comments

NASCAR, if you don’t stop cancelling qualifying, Mindy’s gonna kick someone’s tail!

She likes the Biffster and thinks the Shrub is losing it. But don’t take my word for it. Afterall, It’s my fault that this is so late.

Watch the Monday Morning Crew Chief right here.

Filed under: Bench Racing TV, Chase for the Cup, Craftsman Truck Series, David Ragan, Dover International Speedway, Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Gillett Evernham Motorsports, Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, NASCAR video

Tagged with: Bench Racing TV, David Ragan, Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, Monday Morning Crew Chief, NASCAR drug policy, NASCAR video

Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

Signing A.J. Allmendinger Would Be A Steal For Ganassi

by Matt Mercer, Special To Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

I'm the writer of The Catfish Show NASCAR Blog, which you can access through the links on the right. Follow me on Twitter: @mattmercer

September 21, 2008 7:58 pm CDT 4 Comments

Should Red Bull Racing make the (stupid) decision to fire A.J. Allmendinger, Ganassi will score a coup. Allmendinger has returned from the brink in fine fashion this season after getting Mike Skinner in the car to confirm what he was feeling. A.J. has gone on to score no fewer than 9 finishes in the top half of the field, with 5 top 15 finishes – a marked improvement from his 2007 and early 2008 results. What’s more, Allmendinger won the Sprint Open in May and has run in the top 5 during races, specifically his race at California a few weeks ago. Yet he will likely face termination, possibly as soon as this week or next, to make room for Scott Speed. Sure, Speed has talent coming out of his painted toenails, but there is no reason to rush him to Cup – especially not to replace Allmendinger, who has shown more improvement than any driver except for David Ragan in 2008.

Should it happen, Ganassi will likely swoop in and sign Allmendinger to drive the #41 in 2009 – or sooner, should Reed Sorenson cause enough trouble to get released early to his new ride at GEM. It wouldn’t be the first time for Allmendinger and Ganassi to work together, last season Ganassi put A.J. in the #42 Busch car 7 races. It’s believed that this seat time helped A.J. immensely. Not to mention, as others have, Ganassi has multiple teams in open-wheel and sports cars to scratch whatever itch his drivers may have. That could include moving to the IRL and compete for the championship, or an Indy 500 win.

Simply put, I don’t want Allmendinger gone from Red Bull. He has done too much and shown too much promise to be shown the door. If it happens, I look at Ganassi being his best option. Juan Pablo Montoya’s been running a bit better lately, perhaps showing that the disbandment of the #40 team has helped. I know this: A.J. Allmendinger belongs in the Sprint Cup Series – whether it’s with Red Bull or Ganassi. He’ll prove to whoever doubts him that the talent and desire are there. He just needs the team and the equipment.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Chip Ganassi Racing, David Ragan, NASCAR, Red Bull Racing, Reed Sorenson, Scott Speed

Tagged with: A.J. Allmendinger, Busch Series, Chip Ganassi Racing, David Ragan, Ganassi Racing, GEM, Indy 500, IRL, Juan Pablo Montoya, Red Bull, Red Bull Racing, Reed Sorenson, Scott Speed, Sprint Open

Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

Kasey Kahne and David Ragan Fail to Make The Chase

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.

September 9, 2008 5:26 am CDT No Comments

Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin are among the drivers to survive in “the Race for the Chase.”

While Jimmy Johnson was on his way to another Sprint Cup victory, the race within a race to make it into The Chase saw David Ragan crash out. Kasey Kahne never had enough race car to make it past Clint Bowyer, thus eliminating any hope for a Dodge team to make it into NASCAR’s post season.

Tony Stewart was agitated with Greg Zippadelli and threw his Home Depot crew under the bus on the team radio for their inability to get his car out of the pits ahead of race winner Jimmy Johnson during the final pit stop.

The scenario that brought the fans to their feet however was the contact between points leader Kyle Busch and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Junior was trying to pass The Shrub on the inside making slight contact and spinning him out. A similar incident occured in the first race at Richmond International Raceway but with the roles reversed, which was the beginning of the season long hatred of Busch.

And that brings us to this week’s BUZZ ON PIT ROW:

Was Junior’s spin out of Kyle Busch retaliation for the incident at the first Richmond race or coincidence?

Let us know what you think and we could use your reply on this week’s ON PIT ROW. Listen live from 5-7pm ET here. Stay tuned to INSIDE ARCA from 7-8:30pm ET. Call the show at 877-502-8255 with your opinions.

Photo credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Filed under: Chase for the Cup, Clint Boyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Ragan, Kasey Kahne, NASCAR, Tony Stewart

Tagged with: Clint Bowyer, David Ragan, Kasey Kahne, Race for the Chase, Tony Stewart

Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

Quick Hits: Richmond International Raceway

by Chris Leone, Special To 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.

September 3, 2008 3:32 pm CDT No Comments

The Sprint Cup Series heads to the 3/4-mile Richmond International Raceway for its final race of the regular season, with eight drivers competing for six available spots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. While Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Jeff Burton are already locked into the Chase, and Greg Biffle will be simply by starting this weekend, some of the sport’s top names and up-and-coming stars are still searching for a Chase berth.

Among those drivers is 13th-place David Ragan, the heir to Mark Martin in the No. 6 Ford at Roush Fenway Racing. Although Ragan could barely keep the car running straight two years ago in an abysmal start in Martinsville, he’s improved a full ten positions in the standings from his overall position last year. Although he hasn’t won yet, Ragan, fourth on the Roush food chain behind Edwards, Biffle and Matt Kenseth, has five top-5s this season, more than Burton, 12th-place Clint Bowyer, 14th-place Kasey Kahne, or 16th-place Ryan Newman, the 2008 Daytona 500 winner.

At the same time, however, many wonder whether the sophomore driver’s season has been a product of a newfound maturity behind the wheel, or a combination of luck and Roush power. Securing a spot in the Chase this weekend would prove that Ragan’s no fluke.

Obviously, longtime NASCAR sponsor UPS is banking on Ragan being an annual force in the series, as rumors are abound that place the Atlanta-based company on the Georgia driver’s car for the 2009 season and beyond. Having failed to visit Victory Lane since 2005, the company wants an up-and-coming driver to throw its support behind after leaving Michael Waltrip Racing this season, and Ragan appears to be the perfect fit for the company.

However, we’ve seen drivers with plenty of promise falter before. Remember Casey Atwood? He had full backing from Dodge and Sirius, and couldn’t find Victory Lane. Scott Riggs hasn’t exactly done much with his career, save one 20th-place in points a few years back, even with the undying support of Valvoline. And Todd Kluever - the man who was really supposed to replace Martin at NASCAR’s largest team - flipped his car in an ARCA race in Daytona and was simply never the same afterwards.

What makes Ragan such a sure bet to be successful? He’s never won in any of NASCAR’s top three series, while Atwood has 2 Nationwide wins, Riggs has 9 in Nationwide and the trucks, and Kluever has three second-places in one Truck Series season. However, besides an unshakeable confidence, Ragan generally does a better job of keeping the car off the wall, running smoothly, and in one piece - his 7 career DNF’s in 63 career Cup starts compare favorable to Riggs’ 22 in 156 starts, Atwood’s 12 in 75 starts, and Kluever’s 9 DNF’s in 51 Nationwide starts. This compares favorably, as well, to UPS’s current driver, David Reutimann, who has 12 DNF’s (and 8 DNQ’s)in 52 Cup starts dating back to 2005.

It should also be noted that of past champions who have competed in Sprint Cup this year, it took Terry Labonte 58 races to first visit Victory Lane, his first victory coming in 1980. Bobby Labonte waited until his 74th start to win his first career race, in 1995. Finally, Dale Jarrett won his first race in his 129th start, in 1991, after four full winless seasons. Don’t be concerned at Ragan’s lack of wins - he’s just hitting his stride.

Before the green flag drops on the action at Richmond, here are this week’s five Quick Hits:

5. NASCAR is getting ready to announce a modification to its drug-testing policy within the next few weeks. The modification, according to CEO Brian France, deals with the testing end of the policy, rather than the penalties for a positive test. France did not specifically say that NASCAR would implement random drug testing, but did say in a NASCAR.com report that “there’ll be more testing.”

4. Current Team Red Bull general manager Jay Frye is being courted to join Stewart-Haas Racing in the same position for 2009 and beyond, and is expected to accept the position. No word on what would happen to current general manager Joe Custer.

3. Brad Keselowski was spotted visiting the Penske Racing complex in Mooresville, NC last week. However, Keselowski reportedly turned down a contract offer to drive the team’s No. 12 Dodge for next season, replacing Ryan Newman. David Stremme remains the front-runner for the ride, as a current Penske test driver with a good past relationship with Dodge.

2. The Dario Franchitti experiment is over at Chip Ganassi Racing, with the 2007 IRL champion returning to that series with Ganassi to partner with 2003 series champion Scott Dixon.

1. A new format for the season-opening Bud Shootout will allow the top six teams for each manufacturer into the race, starting with next season’s event. Previously, all pole winners from the previous season, as well as previous Shootout winners, were allowed to enter the race. But with Budweiser being replaced by Coors Light as the official sponsor of NASCAR’s pole award, Anheuser-Busch wanted to distance itself from its rival brewery.

Finally, congratulations to last week’s winners in California, Busch in the Nationwide Series and Johnson in Sprint Cup.

Filed under: Brad Kesolowski, Brian France, Chip Ganassi Racing, David Ragan, NASCAR, Penske Racing, Red Bull Racing, Roush Racing, Stewart Haas Racing

Tagged with: chase for the sprint cup, David Ragan, Richmond International Raceway, UPS

Digg This | Save to del.icio.us

« Previous Articles