Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie

NASCAR Non-News Now

I feel so used.  Sucked in by the implied respectability of network television coverage of our beloved sport and the desperation of one of the biggest players in NASCAR media to invent stories when they are tough to find.  Nice job ESPN.

I admit it.  I bit.  Shortly before leaving to get to our ON PIT ROW broadcast location Tuesday, I saw a blurb about MRN stalwart and Sirius Satellite radio host  Dave Moody checking on a report that ESPN the Magazine was breaking a story about some Toyota team being caught red-handed with a top-secret Jack Roush Racing part. 

Now we broadcast the show from our winter home,  a sports bar called Frickers, just outside the right field wall at Fifith Third Field - the home of the Toledo Mud Hen’s and like all respectable sports bars, it’s full of TV’s - and one radio show that’s full of….itself.  Just before our scheduled air time,  ESPN’s NASCAR Now was on the tube, with a “special breaking news” report from Terry Blount.  My suspicion level  began to tick upward.

to read the rest of this post go to the new home of the Bench Racing blog.

We've moved the home of Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie to the new OnPitRow.com site.  We'll continue to post over here for awhile, but please check out the new site and change your bookmarks. Thanks.

Jack Roush ain’t afraid of the rice burners

A big deal was made during the Daytona 500 weekend about the comparative horsepower results from NASCAR’s post Dual 150 dyno tests of Sprint Cup Series cars.

Most of the noise was - depending on which side you listened to -  either crowing or complaining about how the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas had up to a 30 hp advantage over the Chevy teams.  I never did see any definitive numbers for Dodge or Ford, but the quotes that I did see didn’t deny Toyota’s overall power advantage.

That impressive win at the Auto Club 500 by Roush-Fenway’s Carl Edwards seemed to be argument enough that Jack Roush’s Fusions are plenty strong though.

to read the rest of this post go to the new home of the Bench Racing blog.

We've moved the home of Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie to the new OnPitRow.com site.  We'll continue to post over here for awhile, but please check out the new site and change your bookmarks. Thanks.

Head to Head driver challenge: Dodge vs Ford

We've moved the home of Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie to the new OnPitRow.com site.  We'll continue to post over here for awhile, but please check out the new site and change your bookmarks. Thanks

So Robby Gordon is switching from Ford to Dodge - who cares you say?

Ford fans ought to.  At the end of the 2007 Nextel Cup season, the Blue Oval brigade looked to be a solid number two in the manufacturer’s championship race going into 2008’s innaugural Sprint Cup Series season.  The thinking was Roush-Fenway Racing had slipped up and fallen behind the CoT and general testing  programs of the big Chevy outfits.  The Ford faithful assumed that Jack Roush would straighten out the problems and restore Ford to at least competitive equality with the dominant Hendrick-Gibbs-Childress troika.

Observers of preseason testing are telling us otherwise.  The Joe Gibbs Racing move to Toyota has boosted that brand’s prospects.  Many experts think that Toyota may well jump to number two status.   Boris Said told us on last week’s ON PIT ROW that the speed and sheer numbers of the Toyotas will make it very tough for his Ford team to qualify for non-road course races.

Ford vs Dodge

The real question is;  can Ford keep from falling to fourth, behind Dodge in the Cup Series?  Look at the rosters of the two makes and compare.

Ford teams will field eight fulltime teams in 2008, led by Roush-Fenway’s fivesome.  Dodge enters 2008 with a lucky thirteen.   Seven of Ford’s eight have top 35 owner’s points while Dodge gets twelve of it’s thirteen in each of the first five races.  So far it looks like, advantage Dodge, if quantity counts.  If you’re one of those quality folks - here’s my personal Power Ranking of the Ford vs Dodge NASCAR battle.

1. #17 Ford -Matt Kenseth - past champ, two time 2007 race winner and Chaser
2. #2   Dodge - Kurt Busch -  see above
3. #99 Ford - Carl Edwards - three time race winner in 2007 and Chaser
4. #12 Dodge - Ryan Newman - 12 career wins, no Chase but a solid 2007
5. #9   Dodge - Kasey Kahne - Bad 2007 but won 6 in 2006 - just a hunch
6. #16 Ford - Greg Biffle - Missed the Chase but got a win
7. #26 Ford - Jamie McMurray - see Biffle
8. #42 Dodge - Juan Pablo Montoya - 2007 Rookie of the Year won a race too
9. #43 Dodge - Bobby Labonte - past champ finished ahead of Kahne and Montoya
10. #41 Dodge - Reed Sorenson - his 2007 points put him here
11. #6   Ford - David Ragan - ditto
12. #19 Dodge - Elliott Sadler - very tempted to rate higher
13. #7   Dodge - Robby Gordon - ditto
14. #38 Ford - David Gilliland - The Yates team is Ford’s wild card, they hope
15. #40 Dodge - Dario Franchitti - I think the 2008 ROY will drive a Dodge
16. #28 Ford - Travis Kvapil - see Gilliland
17. #21 Ford - Bill Elliott et al - Awesome Bill’s provisionals will payoff later with starts
18. #45 Dodge - Kyle Petty - Must stay in the top 35
19. #77 Dodge - Sam Hornish Jr - My pick for ROY, but I’m hedging that bet
20. #10 Dodge - Patrick Carpentier - Going to have a tough time qualifying to race

I give the nod to Dodge.  Kurt Busch and Kenseth are a push.  Maybe the Ford boys get a slight edge in slots 3 through 8 but Newman and Kahne have championship capability in them - it’s close. The Dodge advantage is in depth and the fact that it’s major teams are all agressive and growing.  I like the look of Gillette-Everham, Penske, Ganassi-Sabates and even Petty Enterprises over Roush Fenway and the struggling Yates and Wood Brothers.

Picture credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Merry Christmas David Ragan

I've got a feeling that David Ragan won't have the USA Today's Seth Livingstone on his Christmas list this year.  Livingstone cited Ragan as the driver with the most wrecks in NASCAR for the 2008 season.  Now that's an award that I had not seen during the last few weeks of award show orgies.

Congratulations David!  You have also been the victim of one of the stupidest bits of NASCAR related blather I've seen this year - and I've read, and probably written, some pretty dumb stuff.  Then again after reading the mostly ignorant comments generated by the piece, maybe Livingstone was just writing for his audience.

There may not be anything less relevant than racing crashes looked at out of context.  All Ragan did was replace the legend, Mark Martin, in the legendary #6 and finish an enviable 23rd in series points.  Singling him out as the most wrecked and spun driver in Nextel Cup is ridiculous.  Who wrecked whom?  What caused the spins?

Some writers need an off season.

Picture credit: AP Photo/Wade Payne

Shopping for some NASCAR answers

Its good to see that many of the ARCA ReMax Series teams have been to Daytona to do some testing over the past weekend.

It gives the feeling of warmth and things to come as we in the great white north sit through a snow and ice storm.

Congratulations to Erik Darnell and Roush Fenway Racing for setting the pace during the 3 day test session in Florida.

This week the Fast Lap asks:

1) Should NASCAR allow team owners to transfer points from one team to another?

2) Jeff Hammond says the proposed new Nationwide Series car will hurt the series. Yeah or Nay?

3) Has the Craftsman Truck Series surpassed the Nationwide Series has the second best show in NASCAR?

4) NASCAR has a minimum age requirement.  Should they have a maximum ?

Let us know how you feel about these questions, or anything else that happened since last February in Daytona.  If we like your comments, whether we agree or not, we may use them on the air during Tuesday's ON PIT ROW.  Leave us a comment on the blog or call the show--toll free at 1-877-502-8255 between 5-7pm edt on Tuesdays.

photo: Roush Fenway Racing

Hunting for an eight point NASCAR story

Today was opening day for firearms deer hunting season around here.  That's a big deal for alot of folks.  If you were hunting today, I hope you had more luck than I had, looking for compelling NASCAR stories.

This is Championship Week for cryin' out loud.  If I see one more feature about Jimmy Johnson's and Jeff Gordon's mutual respect for each other I may puke.

The closest thing that I saw to a story today was the announcement that Roush-Fenway Racing general manager Max Jones is leaving that post to become a part owner and GM at the new Yates Racing.

Does this strike anyone else as another veiled, pseudo-Roush-ownership move?  The consolidation of Ford Racing under the control of Roush-Fenway seems to continue.  I don't really have a problem with it if the moves help to keep the Ford Motor Company committed to the sport.  But it is against the spirit of the four-car-per-team-max rule.

Picture credit: David Chobat

Carl Edwards turns The Chase upside-down

Roush/Fenway driver, Carl Edwards held off team mate Greg Biffle to win on the concrete at Dover Downs.

Another Roush Fenway Racing driver, Matt Kenseth dominated the race until a blown engine ruined his day.  The Monster Mile lay claim to a host of unsuspecting drivers, as the second visit to Delaware turned into a crash fest, late in the race.

Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon took over the points lead after relinquishing it to team mate Jimmy Johnson for one race.

Kyle Petty and Denny Hamlin gave the fans a little WWF action as Kyle paid a visit to Denny's garage stall while crews were trying to facilitate repairs after the two tangled halfway through the 400 mile event.

The Buzz ON PIT ROW is:

Could a Roush/Fenway Ford driver be a contender for the Cup title after all?"?

The Fast Lap this week asks:

1)  Should NASCAR penalties be more more severe during the Chase than during the regular season?

2) Should someone have physically kept Kyle Petty from visiting Denny Hamlin's garage during the race?

3) Drivers are still hating on the CoT.  Is it basically flawed--or, still, just in need of some off-season tweaking?

4) Is the Monster Mile too much of a monster to be included in The Chase schedule?

Let us know how you feel about these questions, or anything else that happened during this monstrous week in The Chase.  If we like your comments, whether we agree or not, we may use them on the air during Tuesday's ON PIT ROW.  Leave us a comment on the blog or call the show--toll free at 1-877-502-8255 between 5-7pm edt on Tuesdays.

Ford seems to be circling it's wagons around Roush-Fenway Racing

Final practice for the Dodge Dealers 400 at Dover International Speedway had Denny Hamlin's Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet fastest in the rain shortened session.  Most of the rest of the fast guys were Chevys too.  Pole sitter Jimmy Johnson and last week's winner Clint Boyer were 4th and 5th.

The two Roush Fenway Racing Fords of Chasers Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards were 2nd and 3rd - and Ford Motor Company must audibly sigh and thank the late Henry Ford that someone driving a Fusion may have a chance Sunday.

The late week revelation that Yates Racing may be losing the lead sponsor for the #38 car -  M&M's - to Joe Gibbs Racing  seems potentially devastating.   Yates was the one Ford  organization that seemed it might be able to compete side by side along with Roush Fenway in the NASCAR wars. Things look bleak from here for the team.  Yates is only one year removed from losing the UPS backing on their second car.  Now, the company that has sponsored both entries in 2007 may be heading elsewhere.

Good luck to Doug Yates.  Working closely with Jack Roush may help bolster the team.  Right now it sure doesn't look good.

Picture credit: Beth Anne Heisler - ON PIT ROW

And the Chase is on...Finally!

The playoffs are here.  The long regular season has ended and as has been evident for a long lime, the Hendrick cars, or at least the Chevys, are the "pick of the litter".

Jimmy Johnson ran away with the Chevy Rock 'n Roll 500 at Richmond.  Teammates Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch are in The Chase.  Chevy teams represent nine of the 12 spots.  Only Roush/Fenway drivers Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards hold the Ford banner and Kurt Busch drives the lone Dodge to make the field.

Interestingly half of the field has incurred some form of points penalty this season.  The teams of Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch have all been hit with 100 point penalties.  Matt Kenseth had been docked 50 points, while Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart have lost 25 points each. 

I guess Grandma Christine was wrong--"cheaters ARE beaters" after all.

The Buzz ON PIT ROW:

Given the long shot chance Dale Earnhardt Jr. had at making The Chase--did ABC/ESPN over play that story?

The Fast Lap this week asks:

1) Did Richmond replace Bristol as the best short track night race?

2) Which open-wheel defector will be more successful through the final 10 Cup races--Sam Hornish or Dario Franchitti?

3) Which rumor is more plausible; Gilett-Evernham Motorsports signing Patrick Carpentier or GEM merging with Petty Enterprises?

4) Would you take the 3 Hendrick cars or "the rest of the Chase field", if you were betting on the 2007 Champion?

Let us know how you feel about these questions, or anything else that happened during the week in Richmond.  If we like your comments, whether we agree or not, we may use them on the air during Tuesday's ON PIT ROW.  Leave us a comment on the blog or call the show--toll free at 1-877-502-8255 between 5-7pm edt on Tuesdays.

photo: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

MIS Nextel Cup qualifying cheers and a wet blanket finish

As I write this on Sunday morning, it is looking more and more like the race today at Michigan International Speedway will be rained out.  What's more the forecast for the next week here in Irish Hills country is for more of the same.  100% chance of rain today followed by 80% for the next several. 

NASCAR says that if they are unable to run at MIS this week,  the race would possibly be moved to the final race in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.  I hope these guys realize that weather conditions in Michigan in late November are may a bit dicey as well.  But maybe they could get Gordon Lightfoot to sing the national anthem.  After all, he knows something of the "gales of November".

Friday's qualifying was sunny and hot with a brisk breeze keeping things comfortable. 

Kasey Kahne brought the first big cheer, putting up an obviously fast time.  The #9 was fastest in first practice as well, so the 188 mph plus run looked to be strong. 

Michael Waltrip came along and at just over 187 mph, moved into what was then the third spot, bumping Truex and Kurt Busch, to loud cheers from underdog fans, and probably tears from obviously happy team members.  Waltrip, through all of the flack of 2007, is still hugely popular.  He must have signed a hundred autographs while working his way from his car to the post-qualifying interview.  I was happy for him.

Bobby Labonte qualified late and jumped into the front row with Kasey, as the Dodges look strong.  Unfortunately for #43 fans, it didn't last. 

The last two attempts were by Greg Biffle and Jeff Gordon.  Biffle bumped Labonte from the front row, as Steve was getting the ON PIT ROW interview with Bobby.  And Gordon threw the first wet blanket of the weekend, knocking Kahne to row two for a race that may not run now, until After Thanksgiving.

Picture credit: Beth Anne Heisler - ON PIT ROW