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Tight in Turn Two and Headin’ for the Flag

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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.

November 14, 2008 10:03 am CST No Comments

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It’s late in the race. The last round of pit stops is done. As always, regardless of where you are in the standings actually, you need every possible place. The car is far from perfect. In fact it’s real tight in turn two. Now what?

The best of the best will make it work. Winning drivers, championship capable winners find the lines that others don’t try. They get the most out of it, and keep the thing off the wall, and other cars. Top crew chiefs will have a tactic to suggest, part of an overall strategy that merely mortal box-toppers fail to find. Elite team owners are like master painters in that they find the perfect mix of disparate hues and blend them into a work of mechanical-performance art. But which part of the masterpiece is the key?

That question is the theme of the Bench Racing blog’s Tight in Turn Two post this week.

Looking at all three major series and picking one individual from all of the drivers, owners, sponsors or crew chiefs, who is your NASCAR Most Valuable Player?

Charlie: Pick one and just one of the above to start your 2009 NASCAR team. How’s that for tough? I’ll take Rick Hendrick. It’s about leadership. He brings the best of the best together, makes sure that they have whatever it takes to be at the top of the NASCAR game. He keeps his teams relatively happy all the while never settling for mediocrity from any of them. And then he’ll gamble to make it all better. Dumping Kyle Busch for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Changing Jeff Gordon’s crew chief. Bringing in Mark Martin and convincing him to return to full-time driving. The best owner in NASCAR is the MVP.

Bruce: I hate second round draft picks. All the good players get snatched up! But let’s play it in your court and I am going to stick with a car owner.. they do make the calls, put the teams together, pull the money in, and support the processes they’ve developed.

So who would I go with? Man, that’s tough. I’ve looked at the top 10 in owners points across the three series, Trucks, Nationwide and Cup. I came up with the inevitable 2nd stable for my choice of the Cat in the Hat, Jack Roush. It’s a pure numbers game, but across all three series, he’s got the breadth of performance. Across all three series his shop has 117 top 10’s, 73 top 5’s, 17 wins. I thought maybe these numbers were skewed because of the number of starts his teams had across all three series, but it broke down to a win every 12 starts, a top 5 every 3 starts and a top 10 every 2 starts. He’s got the edge and focus to see a broader picture and he’s almost got a Cup under his belt this year - but that’s OK if it doesn’t happen this year… I think as they actually come up to speed in the COT, next year will be their year… if Johnson or Ky Busch don’t break out next year and have a better year!!

That’s what we think. What do you think? Let us know in the comment section of this post.

Then head over to - if you haven’t already been there - to Bruce’s NASCAR Bits for Bruce’s topic of the week, which is more of a rant this time. All the better. Bruce isn’t happy about ABC’s decision to preempt  the Phoenix Cup race and move the end to cable. That just get’s him started though. Check it out.

With that said, just what informational outlets do we have that don’t inundate us with online ads, or focus on what we really want in the world of NASCAR? Are we being diluted to the point of over-saturation?

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., ESPN, Hendrick Motorsports, Mark Martin, NASCAR & the Media, Nationwide Series, Roush Racing, Sprint Cup Series, Turn 3 posts 

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How to Get Better When You’re Tight in Turn Two

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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.

November 7, 2008 10:48 am CST No Comments

To win races in any series requires adjustment. If your car is tight in the turns, you play with stagger, tire pressure, track-bar settings and wedge. Drivers want the thing perfect and for the crews, it’s a constant search for that perfection.

Maybe NASCAR should take a cue from Bob Osborne and Chad Knaus. The Chase to the Cup ain’t perfect guys. The shrinking crowds and TV ratings should tell you that. Time to adjust.

The Bench Racing portion of our Tight in Turn Two  series attempt to help the Family France with there issues.

If you had the power to make one change and only one, what is that one change you would make to the Cup Series?

 Charlie:  I would make the difference in points value between the winner and the second place finisher of every race, 25 points. Increasing the points for a win has been one of my pet causes for a few years now. Watching Carl Edwards and the Office Depot Racing  team gambling on the track and in the pits has made what could have been a ho-hum late Chase, anything but boring. Just imagine if three or four other teams thought that stringing a few wins together might just get them back in contention.

Bruce:  Charlie, I thought we were supposed to have differing opinions on issues? Sheesh. I agree with you on the points per win. Make it more valuable to win and when someone has a win streak (If you can count 2 in a row a streak) or a successive number of wins, that would make it more interesting indeed. Someone 2 or 3 spots down in the chase could have a win, and make up a lot of ground rather than a point or two. Nice.

If I were to change anything in the NASCAR Cup series, I’d…well, then…no, maybe I’d…crap. There’s quite a few things that come to mind. Rule books, templates, rule enforcements, weather, qualifying, TV coverage, controlling fans from throwing things - it’s nuts! So many things to pick from and so little space to choose.

Hmm…despite many options, I’d say “drop the farce” of team ownership limits. The teams always find a way around the car team limits per owner.From dispersing ownership to wives and drivers and heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone’s dog owns a team.

Yes, it would “threaten” the smaller independent teams, but heck, they’ve been getting absorbed anyway. The smaller teams will just have to try to get under the roof of one of the big wigs from the get go and then, as they succeed, maybe break away at a later date.

That’s what we think. What do you think? Let us know in the comment section of this post.

Then, if you haven’t already done so, head over to Bruce’s NASCAR Bits and tell us what you think of Bruce’s topic this week…

In going with your theme of picking one thing, what would you do to help increase attendance in these tough economic times?

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Filed under: Carl Edwards, Chase for the Cup, NASCAR, Sprint Cup Series, Turn 3 posts 

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NASCAR Tight in Turn Two? It’s the Economy Stupid

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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.

October 17, 2008 10:42 am CDT 2 Comments

There’s plenty of doom and gloom in the mainstream media about the current state of the U.S. economy. You don’t need more from a NASCAR blog and I’m not going to give you any. But NASCAR teams had money issues before the recent house-of-cards crashed on all of our heads. Race teams always have cash concerns, no matter the league.

But this time, will NASCAR go in an all new direction? Will NASCAR finally embrace the “F-word”? Full Throttle’s Marc has a great post with question suggestions for Dustin Long to ask of Mike Helton. Here’s one…

Set the record straight on any potential franchising of NASCAR teams. Is franchising in NASCAR’s future? And if so will the number of teams allowed into Cup be restricted further in the number of cars allowed? (i.e. From 4 to 3 per owner)

I’m betting that Dustin will get danced on when Mr Helton answers that one. But nobody dances the answers here. Check out my Tight in Turn Two topic this week. Then go to  NASCAR Bits and register your votes on question of the week.

According to various reports, Felix Sabates and or Chip Ganassi are predicting that NASCAR will reduce the size of starting fields in the three top series to as few as 36 cars. Do you agree?

Charlie:  No, not for the Sprint Cup Series I don’t. But I don’t know what these guys know either. I believe that the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series fields will shrink. They already have, unofficially. We posed this same question to Larry McReynolds on Tuesday’s ON PIT ROW. He agreed on the Nationwide and Truck but surprised me by saying he saw scenarios where Cup could shrink as well. I don’t see it. If anything, the attitude of Earnhardt Jr may force the Cup Series to increase its field size. Remember Junior saying that, with the cost of fielding Nationwide teams being what it is, he may as well move JR Motorsports up to the Cup level. A similar thing seems to been behind JTG Racing moving to Cup.

One of the problems early this season was teams with good sponsors having to go home after failing to qualify. Many of those sponsors have moved to teams with a better chance of making races. How will fewer teams help that?

Bruce:  I think that some of the guys on the Cup side are guessing at the situation from some stats that are floating around out there right now.

If they had to, NASCAR will probably back up their Cup side of things and it would be an interesting consolidation to see more Nationwide teams merge over to Cup, whether they are ready or not for it. If that’s a possibility. It don’t think the field will be limited, but it may be short in a race or two in 2009.

That’s what we think. What do you think? And what do you think about Bruce’s topic?

I have to wonder just how well NASCAR can fare the financial storm that not only just plowed through everyone’s wallets, but next year while we still deal with the after affects?

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: Craftsman Truck Series, Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, JR Motorsports, Mike Helton, NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR Rumors, Nationwide Series, Sprint Cup Series, Stewart Haas Racing, Top 35 Rule, Turn 3 posts 

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Tight in Turn Two: Going Forward

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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.

October 10, 2008 10:13 am CDT 1 Comment

NASCAR’s Mike Helton has added to the lexicon of the sport. Along with “restrictor plate”, “car of tomorrow”, “racing deal” and “Junior”, I propose the phrase, “going forward”, for inclusion. In doing so, I acknowledge that the term, “do over”, will never be.

This all comes from Mr Helton’s statement after the confusing Talladega finish.

“Since the end of the race there has been some confusion as to what is allowable during the last lap at Daytona and Talladega. To be clear, as we go forward, there will be no passing under the yellow line at any time during NASCAR races at Daytona or Talladega, period. This includes any passing below the yellow line near the start/finish line on the final lap,”

My only question is, Why wasn’t/isn’t this statement a regular part of the driver meeting at every race at Talladega and Daytona?

This week’s Bench Racing with Me and the Dummy’s question is…

Talladega reared it’s wild-card head again Sunday. It was entertaining but is the chancy nature of the plate-race big-ones just too random for ‘Dega to be included in the Chase?

Charlie: I admit that about the only Cup races that I can actually watch from start to finish are the races from Talladega. And I’m right on the edge of my seat for most of them. But I caught myself making notes during last Sunday’s race about who I thought would get caught up in the big wreck, and why. Not who had the best car or which crew chief was likely to make the big call. Dale Eanhardt Jr showed the extent of competitor frustration, after his team re-built his car, only to see it wrecked in a random act of wild-cardness…

“We ain’t going to spend this much time putting this many man hours into the next (restrictor) plate race because there ain’t no telling what’s going to happen anyway,” Earnhardt said.

I don’t want to see the plate races go away. They’re too much fun to watch. But maybe the results are too random. Take Talladega out of the Chase.

Bruce: I’m with you in this one Charlie. Restrictor plate races are a blast, are intense, and have tons of drama every time someone even changes lanes. But for the Chase for the Cup to have any validity, they need to reconsider how they do this run down. This isn’t really racing. It’s survival. Yes, the some of the best cars end up at the front at the end of the day… if they’ve survived the inevitable big wreck. If they need to keep the race, make this race the non-points race of the season.

Yes, Regan Smith almost got his first win, but would that have been possible if the entire field was still in the hunt for the checkers? I look at RP racing the same way I look at figure 8 racing, and in a valid contention for a championship, the last 10 races should be ones where it’s about racing, pit stops and strategy, and not hanging back at the end of the pack to survive the event.

That’s what we think. What do you think?

And Bruce’s NASCAR Bits has a bit of a rant over there. Give us you two bit on this one…

Should NASCAR take the winter off to actually create / print out a rule book for everyone involved?

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media Inc.

Filed under: Chase for the Cup, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona International Speedway, Mike Helton, NASCAR officials, Sprint Cup Series, Talladega Superspeedway, Turn 3 posts 

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Is Your Collar Tight in Turn Two Kyle?

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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.

September 26, 2008 10:01 am CDT 2 Comments

Can you perform in the clutch?  That’s one of sport’s great cliche questions, isn’t it?  

The two-out, walk-off  homerun.  The buzzer-beater jumper to win the championship game.  Being your best when a special win is on the line.  Michael and Reggie and Tiger.  You know who they are by their first names only, because they did it on the big stage.  A-Rod and Phil, not so much.

NASCAR’s big stage is the Chase to the Sprint Cup.  It is the ten races that every team spends the rest of the year trying to qualify for.  But those who do the best during the qualifying races, often fail to perform in the actual Chase.  That’s the subject of the Bench Racing blog’s Tight in Turn Two this week.

Is Kyle Busch choking?

Charlie:  The signs are all there.  Starting with two very poor finishes in the first Chase races. Do you blame that on a broken bolt and a bad motor?  Maybe.  But that doesn’t explain the way Rowdy handled the bad start.  He pouted and ran away.  Contrast that with Matt Kenseth, who has a better resume than Busch - though not a better season so far - and stood up and took the tough questions like the champion he is.  Kyle acted like a punk.  The real telling thing will be, if after a couple more poor races, and he Kyle totally eliminates his Chase chances, he starts winning again.  See, winning during the regular season is like winning regular PGA golf tournaments. You have to be really good to win one of those too.  But it takes a special player to win a Major Championship, like the Masters.  The Chase Races are like NASCAR’s Majors - along with the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard.  Kyle may not be ready after all.

Bruce:  I had completely expected him to implode in the chase. Earlier in the season when he didn’t have so many wins under his belt, he tended to get more antsy near the end of a race. I was expecting that from him now. The mechanical failures pretty much took the driver out of contention to prove my suspicions. Like you Charlie, I see his behavior as less than stellar and after a bad race, I just want to call him a wah mbulance.

I agree with you again, when he knows he’s out of it, he’ll relax and does what he does best. I’m a professional bowler, and I can’t tell you how many times someone is mathematically eliminated from winning a match, and they just relax and bowl the rest of the game really well.  We’ll see.

That’s what we think.  What do you think?  Let us know your opinion in the comment section of this post. 

And head over to Bruce’s NASCAR Bits to let us know what you think of Bruce’s  topic too.

Do you think AJ Allmendinger (Dinger to his buddies) will replace Sorenson at Ganassi or does Ganassi have anyone else in mind?

 Phot credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Chase for the Cup, Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup Series, Turn 3 posts 

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Kyle Busch: Tight in Turn Two and Loose Everywhere Else

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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.

September 19, 2008 9:20 am CDT 1 Comment

Did a broken two dollar bolt really cancel out a season of NASCAR dominance like we’ve never seen before? 

Maybe and maybe not.  Kyle Busch’s run and pout act after the New Hampshire Motor Speedway Chase kick-off didn’t help.  The guy seems to handle success just fine.  It’s the little bumps in life’s road that challenge him.  That doesn’t make him unusual.  But it may not make him a champion either.

Dodge’s NASCAR status is seeing some of those bumps as well.   Dodge  announced they were dumping the Craftsman Truck Series last week.  And now they may be going from dumper to dumpee, as the team that brought them into the Sprint Cup Series, may be jumping ship. 

Bruce, of NASCAR Bits and Pieces  goes Tight in Turn Two with me on the whole deal.

If the rumors turn out to be true, and Gillette-Evernham Motorsports buys Bill Davis Racing and becomes a Toyota team, is it a good thing for NASCAR and the sport?

Charlie: Well, it would weaken the Dodge presense in a serious way.  On the other hand, it would probably strengthen GEM and save Bill Davis Racing’s No. 22 team - which has been pretty good for the most part.  With Dodge pulling out of the Truck Series, the future of their involvement in NASCAR’s other series is cloudy.  Dodge needs to show that they are in this thing to compete for the long haul, on a level with the other three manufacturers.  Not sure they have everyone convinced of that right now.  You can’t blame GEM or BDR for making a move like this.  I say, what’s good for the teams - and competition on the track - is good for the sport.

Bruce: Though technically, GEM switching to Toyota would weaken what Dodge presence there is, would it really?  The Dodge teams are all struggling, per se, with the highest spot they hold in the standings right now at 13th, (Kahne) then Newman in 17th.  GEM has to lookout for itself and that’s that. More fans could balk at more Toyota’s in the field, but it would seem that Toyota has proven itself sufficiently.  Dodge needs to show they are in it for the long haul, but even a little thing like pulling out of the Truck Series can’t help that endeavor.  The economy just isn’t there for them any more.  Maybe they should have already put more into NASCAR… too little, too late?

That’s what we think.  What do you think?  Let us know your opinions on this topic and Bruce’s own query…

If NASCAR  insists on limiting the year end competition to top performing drivers, are 12 drivers too many?

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Filed under: Chase for the Cup, Craftsman Truck Series, Dave Blaney, Gillette Evernham Motorsports, NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup Series, Toyota, Turn 3 posts 

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Matt Kenseth: Tight in Turn Two

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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.

September 12, 2008 8:25 am CDT No Comments

Matt Kenseth and Jimmy Johnson are four for four. They are the only drivers to qualify for every NASCAR Chase to the Cup. But Matt has the singular distinction as the last of the non-Chase champions. He should have automatic membership in any NASCAR observer’s driver royalty.

But Matt Kenseth and his no. 17 team are getting dissed. Nobody, including Matt hissownself, is giving that team a chance to win this championship. Something is missing. Or maybe someone.

Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle were two of NASCAR’s hottest free agents in 2008. Did Jack Roush sell out Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray, by raiding their teams of talent, in order to help entice Biffle and Edwards to re-sign?

Charlie: Biffle was quoted after the California race as being grateful that Roush-Fenway director of competition, Robby Reiser had shuffled the best Roush personnel to the teams most likely to win the championship. Kenseth has been complaining about his cars and team all year, saying they just aren’t very good. It may be that, in Matt’s case, the fall-off is due to post-partum depression over the loss of Reiser as his only-ever crew chief. If Reiser took talent from the no. 17 in order to bolster the 16 or 99, maybe he did it with faith that Matt could overcome the loss. A case of confidence in his ex-champ driver. But if the moves were made by the silent hand of the Cat in the Hat, then maybe there was an attempt to make home sweeter for guys that he wanted to re-sign. Whatever the case - and Jack Roush knows this - it’s risky moving people around. Then again, Roush-Fenway Racing does have three cars in the Chase.

Bruce: I like where your head is on this one Charlie. Kenseth is going through withdrawals losing his life long crew chief and Roush at least retains Edwards and Biffle with the crew moves. I think it was more a calculated risk than faith in his past champion, but we’ll see if our perspectives are vindicated if he moves people back around at a later date!

That’s what we think. What do you think? Let us know your take in the comment section of this post.

Then head over to Bruce’s NASCAR Bits. Bruce and the Bench Racers have another discussion going there, wrapped around this topic…

What is Up With the Truck Series? Is it’s existence at the televised national level in jeopardy?

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Filed under: Chase for the Cup, Craftsman Truck Series, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth, NASCAR Rumors, Roush Racing, Sprint Cup Series, Turn 3 posts 

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Break Out the Rain Tires: We’re Tight in Turn 2

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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.

September 5, 2008 8:20 am CDT No Comments

There is a consensus among people who should know in NASCAR that 3400 lb, 800 horsepowered race cars can’t race in the rain - at least on ovals.  There’s less agreement that road course racing in the wet is doable.  Especially after this year’s Montreal Nationwide Series swim-meet.  If NASCAR was ever going to give round-track rain racing a shot, this coming weekend at Richmond International Raceway might be the perfect opportunity.  It looks to be wet.  Real wet.

Hanna is coming. As in - currently tropical storm, maybe hurricane, Hanna.  And she is heading for the North Carolina - Virginia coast.  Expect delays.

Those who have tickets to Saturday night’s Race to the Chase finale may need some patience.  If they are Dale Earnhardt Jr fans, patience may be in short supply.

Many, if not most, Dale Earnhardt Jr fans seem to be disappointed in Junior’s season so far in 2008. Are they justified?

Charlie: Some of the members ” Green Nation” will never be happy unless Junior is allowed to drive the black number three car. Others still feel that his step-mother should give him DEI and get out of the way. Many just blame everything that doesn’t go perfectly on Tony Eury Jr. For most of 2008, Earnhardt’s No.88 has been the best of the Hendrick Motorsports teams. Until a couple races ago, he had been in second place in Sprint Cup points - somewhat ironically, behind the driver who he replaced at Hendrick, Kyle Busch. He broke a two year, Cup race win-less streak at MIS. He won his qualifier race at Daytona and the Bud Shootout. He has a chance to win the Sprint Cup itself.

No. They are not justified. They are fans.

Bruce: I recognize that Jr. has just had one of his best seasons in living memory. For the fan, that’s pretty neat to see. We knew he had something in him and it’s nice to see that perspective justified.

On the other hand: It’s too late for him to have anything to do with DEI. They “not” in negotiations to sell the place. If you’ve ever listened to the radio between Jr and Jr, it’s a circus sometimes. I think Eury Jr is
the only one who can put up with Dale Jr and that’s why he’s there. Now if’ they’d just get it more together, they might be able to pull off a better race.

It’s a team effort. An effort to win, and an effort to lose. Case in point: They are now 4th in the standings. Once they get that communication issue out of the way (Will they ever?) I think they’ll get their act together. (That is once Kyle Busch cools down.) Until then, the unjustified finger pointing by the fan(atical) nation of
green, that was red, will keep on going. At least it’s nice to see fans sticking with their driver as opposed to the checkered flag chasing fans.

That’s what Bruce - NASCAR Bits and Pieces blog - and I - Charlie of the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie, Charlies - think. What do you think?

And go to Bruce’s blog to express yourself on this topic too…

Bruce wants to know who will get in the Chase. And will Kyle Busch be able to keep it together to win the Cup?

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Sprint Cup Series, Turn 3 posts 

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Tight in Turn Two at Bristol Motor Speedway

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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.

August 22, 2008 9:58 am CDT 3 Comments

I guess you can only be Loose in Turn 3 for so long.  Sooner or later, you have to make adjustments.

Bruce, from NASCAR Bits, Tim of Do You NASCAR? and the Bench Racing blog have been playing with this NASCAR round robin that we called Loose in Turn 3.  Tim is moving to other things, but Bruce and I are too dumb to stop.  Hence, we are now Tight in Turn 2.  Here goes.

It looks like the Ford teams will have, maybe, nine cars for 2009 - Roush-4, Yates-3, Wood Brothers-1 and JTG-1. Who will fill the seats?

Charlie: Roush-Fenway is easy with Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan.  I think Yates Racing will be David Gilliland, Travis Kvapil and Roush developement driver Eric Darnell.  We know that  Marcos Ambrose will drive for JTG Racing.  But who will the Wood Brothers have, Jon Wood? And what about Colin Braun and Jamie McMurray?  The Cup seats are filling fast.  Colin Braun will likely run in the Nationwide Series, but Ricky Stenhouse Jr  will be pushing for that seat by 2009’s end.  If the Ford Racing folks haven’t soured on Jamie, I look for him in the No. 21.

Bruce:  Of available drivers who will be floating around, I’m not sure I can disagree with you on this one as far a Jamie McMurray goes, but with how the 21 shop has been doing of late, this season and last, would Jamie go for it? The only other angle I’d be worried about is how dedicated the 21 shop
has seemed to be towards Jon Wood. I can only hope logic and / or reason pans out in this one, no matter who they go with!

That’s what we think.  What do you think?  Let us know in the comments section.

Then head on over to NASCAR Bits for Bruce’s discussion on this topic…

Several staff on the Gibbs Nationwide team felt it necessary to try this stunt.  Or as DW calls it, reverse cheating, seeing as how the cars had to run with less power available to them through the entire race.  How does this make people feel about Joe Gibbs Racing, or the sport in general?

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: It's Only Cheating if You Get Caught, Marcos Ambrose, Robert Yates Racing, Roush Racing, Sprint Cup Series, The Wood Brothers, Turn 3 posts 

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At Watkins Glen and Loose in Turn 3

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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.

August 8, 2008 9:01 am CDT 6 Comments

Having your judgement questioned by both your driver and your boss would make some guys sweat, but not Bob Osborne.

Carl Edwards openly disagreed with crew chief Osborne during a break in the racing.  Jack Roush, whose name is on the paychecks, second guessed Bob’s critical, in-race call to pit from the lead.  It worked out for Osborne and the No. 99 team this time.  But you have to wonder if the public show of doubt by members of his team will temper future rolls of the racing dice.

The Bench Racing part of Loose in Turn 3 is this…

Who is the best crew chief in the Sprint Cup garage right now?

Charlie: Tough, tough, tough question. Why did I do this to myself? It’s hard, maybe impossible, to separate crew chief and driver combinations. The ones that jump out are Knaus/Johnson, Stewart/Zippidelli and Kenseth/Reisser. But I’ll take Bob Osborne, crew chief for Roush-Fenway’s Carl Edwards. Chad Knaus is right there with him, but I think Osborne has made all the right calls this year, including Sunday at Pocono.

Bruce: You truly are a cruel individual in making me think this hard about this.
Fortunately, you phrased your question to force me to answer in the now, otherwise I might have said Knaus. With that in mind I look at the top 5 teams and have to ponder that through it all, Tony Eury Jr. has been keeping the No. 88 car up at the top of the ranks. Yet cousin Carl (Bob Osborne) has been slowly creeping his way up through the ranks since the beginning of the year. It’s an emotional pick more than a logical pick for me, but then again, sometimes after all the stats have been printed, it still comes down to emotion and I’ll say Eury Jr.. … for now. (Gimme a few more races to change my mind!!)

TZ:  Did I really just hear someone claim Tony Eury Jr. as the best Crew Chief in the garage? That’s weird …. and disturbing. I think Bob Osbourne is a legitimate call here, but it’s impossible for me not to go with Chad Knaus. Not to take anything away from Jimmie Johnson - ’cause he’s an amazing driver - but, so much of J J’s success has come at the hands of what Chad’s been able to do with that car and the calls that he’s made from the top of the box. By the way, Charlie, Chip Bolin’s the guy making the calls for Kenseth these days.

Charlie:  I know who Kenseth’s crew chief is.  But the combo that is famous, which was the point I was trying to make, is Matt and Robby. 

That’s what we think.  What do you think?

Bruce’s topic is this…

Is there something on the horizon that Truex knows that we don’t?  Or does he truly not have better offers out there?  Or did the offer that might have been floating out there that he was waiting on not materialize?

TZ’s question is this…

Did Goodyear finally clear their name in NASCAR with the success of their rain tires in Montreal?

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmy Johnson, Roush Racing, Turn 3 posts 

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