Bobby Labonte Searches for Wins with Ask.com

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

January 22, 2009 7:11 pm UTC No Comments

Bobby Labonte driving a Ford ? OK. I’m a Labonte fan. At least he’s driving something in the Sprint Cup Series.

Driving a Fusion for Hall of Fame Racing? That doesn’t inspire me much. I am, after all, a J J Yeley fan too and Hall of Shame didn’t do anything for J J ‘s career.

But the car will be supported through a hybrid, satellite deal where Hall of Fame’s No 96 will be powered and pitted by Doug Yates’ Racing team, which also seems to mean support from Jack Roush and Roush-Fenway’s Ford factory team.

So given some of the scenarios I’d heard and read about concerning Texas Bobby, driving a car with solid support from one of the best organizations in the sport, is about as good as it could get I guess.

And that car will have full season sponsorship from NASCAR’s new “official seach engine“. Ask.com. Spiffy paint scheme too – flames and everything. He’ll get to debut the Ask.com no 96 Fusion in the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway next month.

Maybe Labonte will relax a bit too, now that he isn’t “the Great Petty Blue Hope”.

Filed under: Bobby Labonte, Daytona International Speedway, Hall of Fame Racing, NASCAR, NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR Rumors, Roush Racing, Sprint Cup Series, Yates Racing

Tagged with: Ask.com, Bobby Labonte, Doug Yates, J J Yeley, Jack Roush, NASCAR paint schemes, Yates Racing

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J J Yeley: Out at Hall of Fame Racing

by Charlie Turner

August 7, 2008 12:40 pm UTC 1 Comment

If there is a margin for error or a honeymoon period or a long term plan, it’s getting shorter all the time in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.

J J Yeley has been replaced at Hall of Fame Racing by Brad Coleman, a twenty year old rookie who drives in the Nationwide Series for Baker-Curb Racing.

Coleman is talented and has been on the radar for awhile, making the big splash when Baker-Curb announced him as their main guy last season.

But Brad Coleman is no J J Yeley. Not yet anyway. He’s never had a season like Yeley had in 2003. Not many drivers have ever had a season like J J Yeley’s 2003. But that was then and that was USAC. The last couple of years have been different, trying to make a mark in NASCAR’s top series.

I can’t help thinking that Yeley’s talent will buy him another opportunity. He can go race something else, sure. He will. But there is unfinished business in the Sprint Cup Series. I hope he gets the chance again.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: J J Yeley, Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR Rumors, New Hampshire International Speedway, Sprint Cup Series

Tagged with: Baker-Curb Racing, Brad Coleman, Hall of Fame Racing, J J Yeley, NASCAR, Nationwide Series, Sprint Cup Series

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Monday Morning Crew Chief on Friday Afternoon

by Charlie Turner

July 18, 2008 4:39 pm UTC No Comments

Sorry it’s late but check it out. Mindy gets into the Shrub and a couple J J’s, NASCAR threesomes and bass fishing. You can watch it right here…until we get our video player fixed. It’s the Monday Morning Crew Chief, better late than not at all.