Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie

CoT makes way for "Co-ed"

NASCAR announced today that the Car of Tomorrow will become the Car of every day (Coed) beginning in 2008.  NASCAR has finally done something right.  Way to go NASCAR; this makes great economic sense as team will no longer have to maintain two separate race car programs for the same series.

In a press release from NASCAR:

“We are proud of how the new car has performed at multiple tracks,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s Vice President of Competition. “NASCAR, with the support of team owners, agreed that the new car is ready to compete at all NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events in 2008. Beginning next year the Car of Tomorrow is officially ”the car”, a Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota,” said Pemberton.

The original transition program had the new car running 16 races in 2007; 26 races in 2008; and the entire schedule in 2009. So far this season, the new car has run five times – at Bristol, Martinsville, Phoenix, Richmond and Darlington – with the races featuring close competition on the track and the safety and durability features of the car well-demonstrated.

The average margin of victory through the first five Car of Tomorrow races has been a mere .505 seconds (compared to 1.286 seconds at these same races a year ago) and there have been six fewer DNFs through this same race sequence from 2006. Additionally, 13 teams have used the same chassis for three of the five races; four teams have run the same chassis in four of the five races; and one team – the No. 29 Chevrolet – has run the same chassis in all five Car of Tomorrow races.

NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow has shown to be dependable, racy and economical.  Way to go NASCAR.

photos:   CO-ed magazine,  foxsports

ARCA and NASCAR spotlights shine on the up-and-comers

Richard Childress was asked about the possibility that Dale Earnhardt Jr. might drive a fourth RCR Chevrolet.

He said everything that you would expect.  Of course he'd love to have Jr. drive for RCR.  Dale is like a son to him.  He just wants Dale to take his time and make the right choice. 

Then he said something like " If it doesn't work out here with Dale, we'll just move on and when it's time to add a fourth driver, we'll make our choice.  There are more drivers out there than people think."

Childress' comment perhaps struck home more Sunday because a couple young hard chargers held off big stars in races that would have gotten less attention if the Cup crowd had been running.

First, sixteen year old Joey Logano ended Kevin Harvick's weekend run of wins, at Iowa Speedway.  Shawn Courchesne has been touting Logano for a while and has the whole story.  But the short stack is Joey beat Harvick to the finish, and raced with and rubbed with Harvick on the way.

The ARCA RE/Max Series race at Toledo Speedway saw young Ken Butler III spin his team mate out of the lead and then hold off a charge by Cup star Ken Shrader to win the Hantz Group 200 presented by Federated Auto Care. Get the whole race story here.  I was there.  It was a hell of a good race.

Logano is in the Joe Gibbs racing stable and seems on a fast track while Butler is in development with Michael Waltrip Racing. 

Who knows if either of these young guys will become another Jeff Gordon or Denny Hamlin.  Whatever happens from here on out, they were two of  stock car racing's stars the weekend of May 21, 2007.

They would come cheaper than Dale Junior today for sure.  Ten years from now, who knows?

NASCARs All-Star Race--NOT

Was NASCAR's All-Star race over hyped?  YES.  Was it boring?  YES.  Other than Juan Pablo taking out 5 other cars in the prelim and Kurt and Kyle running into one another (regardless of fault), it was a pretty lackluster race.  Unless you are head of General Motors, have stock options or only root for cars that start with the letter "C", this race sucked.  Yeah, Kevin Harvick took his RCR Chevy to victory and Jeff Burton got to slap some AT&T logos on his very orange Chevy.  So Richard Childress had fun--nobody else did.

Give us your thoughts on these while anxiously awaiting the Coca-Cola 600.

The Buzz ON PIT ROW is:

Will the Dale Earnhardt Inc.-Richard Childress Racing engines shop merger help or hinder Dale Jr.'s negotiations?

The Fast Lap wants to know:

1)  Should NASCAR change the "qualifications" to be in the All-Star race?

2) Do you prefer the All-Star race with or without the fan voted inversions?

3)  What race do you like better; The Bud Shootout or the All-Star Race?

4)  Should NASCAR change or eliminate the past champions provisional?

Let us know how you feel about these questions or anything else that happened at Lowe's last weekend.  If we like your comments we could use them on the air during Tuesday's show.  Leave us a comment on the blog or call the show--toll free at 1-877-502-8255 between 5-7pm edt on Tuesdays.

Scheduled to call into ON PIT ROW this week are FOX Sports' Larry McReynolds at 5:30pm EDT and driver of the  #12 Alltel Dodge, Ryan Newman at 6:30pm EDT.  To talk to Larry or Ryan and "the pit crew" call 1-877-502-8255. 

If your radio market does not air any or all of ON PIT ROW-- tell them they should and listen to our show on www.racetalkradio.com Thursdays from 7-9pm et.

photo:  cumberlink.com

ARCA Re/Max Series excites Toledo

What was fun this weekend was having the ARCA Re/Max series in Toledo and seeing some great racing, a big fan turnout and having some finger pointing and name calling in the winners circle.  How can you beat that?  You can't.

Ken Butler III beat NASCAR vet Kenny Schrader to the line for his first Re/Max victory, then got to listen to a tirade by his teammate, pole sitter Michael McDowell, before he could exit his Michael Waltrip Development race car.

Short track racing at its best is why many of the ARCA drivers call Toledo--"ARCA's Bristol".  After seeing Sundays race, nobody would dispute that.

And I want whoever sold this sponsorship on Terry Jones' Dodge to sell advertising for ON PIT ROW.  You talk about selling refrigerators to Eskimos, anyone that can sell a Ford dealership on sponsoring a Dodge race car is OK in my book.

Congratulations to Ron Drager of ARCA, Scott Schultz of Toledo Speedway for putting on a great event and a terrific job by track announcer Gary Lindahl. 

Go see an ARCA Re/Max Series race near you.  You will not be disappointed.  Guaranteed!

photos: ON PIT ROW

Business life goes on at Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. are partnering up.

The Charlotte Observer reports today that the two teams  have formed a new venture that will construct an engine building facility somewhere between the locations of the respective teams, in North Carolina.  Starting with the July Daytona race, both teams will use identical engines in all six of their Nextel Cup cars.

Speculation began immediately about the possibility that this move would make Dale Earnhardt Jr reconcider his choice to leave DEI.  Maybe they could give him fifty one percent of the engine plant.

Perhaps the announcement would make Junior more likely to choose RCR as his new home, since there would be a connection to the old homestead.  But maybe NASCAR's hottest ever free agent would be put off by the new connection between RCR and the evil step mom.

This development certainly appears to kill any possibility of a merger between DEI and Robert Yates Racing.  At least it does if you believe the Yates' assertion that they are and shall ever remain, Ford tough. 

Anyway, sister Kelly has begun talking to suiters of her brother's services.  Reportedly the Earnhardt sibs will talk to anybody.  Except, you know.

Wherever he lands, his very vocal fans want Budweiser and the number eight to follow.

Maybe NASCAR and  Budweiser could convince Theresa to take a package.  xxx million bucks and the number fifty one.

Bill Elliott & The Wood Brothers---aaahhh

Bill Elliott will drive the #21 Wood Brothers FORD in the Coca-Cola 600.  LIFE IS GOOD AGAIN!  Somebody call Jim Nabors so he can sing "Back home again" (forget the Indiana part).  Bill Elliott is back in a Ford, where he belongs.  It's been too long.  Forget the foray into the Evernham Dodge camp and the unthinkable short tenure in the Chevys and don't even talk about testing for Toyota.  Bill Elliott is BACK.

Forget for a minute why he is back in a Ford. NASCAR's stupid top 35 rule is forcing The Wood Brothers to find a driver with a guaranteed starting spot and Bill is the guy.  Jon Wood was slated to be in the car for the 600; taking over for Ken Schrader as part of their "share a ride" program.  But, because they aren't in the top 35 in owner points, the Wood Brothers had to do something to be assured they will be in the 600, and this was the best solution.

I'm changing my pick in the onpitrow.com chain game to the #21 Wood Brothers-Motorcraft/Air Force Ford driven by Bill Elliott.  Awesome Bill from Dawsonville--Million Dollar Bill.  aaahhhh---LIFE IS GOOD AGAIN!

photos:  Bill Elliott---the auto channel.com          Wood Bros #21-- Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

NASCAR Reality Theatre

I suppose this isn't any different than the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest.  Major League Baseball has the Home Run Derby.  Even the NHL has it's Skeeels Competition. 

Those are all lead-ins for the annual all-star games for their respective sports. 

Just as the Nextel Pit Crew Challenge is one of the features of the Nextel All Star week, at Lowes Motor Speedway.  And naturally the family France handled the show in a typically understated manner.

It was actually a pretty cool event.  Head to head competition.  Lugnuts everywhere.  NASCAR penalties.  Yep NASCAR handed out penalties in an all star game.  More than half of the teams competing were penalized for things like loose lugnuts or spilled gasoline.  No reports of altered rear wings or blue fuel additives, though.  Oh yeah, this was a game for pit crews, not crew chiefs.

The solution for speeding in the pit lane has been found as well.  From now on, the poor jackman will push his car from the commitment line to his pit stall.  This was NASCAR reality TV at it's gaudiest.

Rumor has it that the engine shops will have their own competition in 2008.  The Jack Daniels Still Building Classic.

For next year's event, I have a suggestion for the Pit Crew Challenge.

Try writing about it.

Picture credit: Chuck Burton/Associated Press

The week that was: Darlington, Dale Junior and do y'all just give up?

Is it just me or did the last six or seven days seem like the whole month of May. And it all belonged to NASCAR.

The month of May used to belong to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and practicing and qualifying for the former Greatest Spectacle in Racing.  I never thought that I would see the time when the Indy 500 meant less than the answer to who might sponsor and hire a stock car driver.  Regardless of the talent, resume or DNA of said stock car driver.  Nice job, Tony.

I was afraid that Darlington might show the CoT as what the CoT haters have claimed -- an un-drivable, terminally tight, slug that can't pass itself let alone a determined competitor.  Uh uh.  From practice to qualifying and throughout the race, I saw a twitchy, nasty, slower than they used to be, racer that was more fun to watch than anything run the last three years in the Cup series.  I'll take it.  If the drivers don't like the way it drives...good.

Denny Hamlin is pissed.  Tony Stewart has been pissed.  Jeff Burton's team has blown a few. The Roush guy's  continue to do something wrong every week.  Only one team overcomes mistakes -- or doesn't make them -- and that's, so far, Hendrick Motorsports, numbers 24 and 48.  You're eleven races into a thirty six race year.  Suck it up and beat 'em or quit bitching.

Finally, my feeling on Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the possibility of driving for Richard Childress Racing.  I hear many Earnhardt fans that want Jr. in a black, #3 Budweiser car or a resurrected # 3 Goodwrench Chevy.

Please, officially and forever, retire the number three from NASCAR competition.  Nobody driving a car, no matter the sponsor or color, with that number, can do anything to enhance the legend that exists for the number three. 

While your at it, retire the 43 and 28 too.  Hopefully, it's not too late.

Picture credit: Speed TV

Formula NASCAR race won by Schumacher...err Gordon

Once again a Formula N race has come and gone, and who was the winner?  Ferrari--I mean Hendrick--of course.  This whole NASCAR Nextel Cup thing is starting to bore me.  If I have to sit through one more Hendrick win, I think I'll puke.  What could be worse on a day where my Pistons, Red Wings and Tigers all lose?  Jeff Gordon winning---argh!

Give NASCAR a big thank you as they DIDN'T see what Denny Hamlin described as, "the entire undercarriage of someone's car" on the racetrack.  No yellow flag this time--Jeffy needs to win with his overheating ride.  You did know his car was overheating didn't you?  The FOX gang sure told you enough times, didn't they.  One more reference to the Stanley Steamer and I'd have wretched for a second time.

What a crap day!  Lets now take a week off of points racing to have the All-Star event.  Is there any reason to invite anyone but the Hendrick gang?  Probably not.

Here's a few things to ponder while we wait for the Coca-Cola 600, in two weeks.

The Buzz ON PIT ROW is:

What team, if any, will be able to derail the Hendrick juggernaut?

The Fast Lap wants to know:

1)  Was Dale Earnhardt Jr. decision to leave DEI the best for ALL involved?

2) Who will win the Junior sweepstakes?

3)  What is the best timing for NASCAR's all-Star race; now, later or never?

4)  Darlington was supposed to be "THE" test for the CoT.  Has it passed or should it be passed...over?

Let us know how you feel about these questions or anything else that happened at Darlington last weekend.  If we like your comments we could use them on the air during Tuesday's show.  Leave us a comment on the blog or call the show--toll free at 1-877-502-8255 between 5-7pm edt on Tuesdays.

If your radio market does not air any or all of ON PIT ROW-- tell them they should and listen to our show on www.racetalkradio.com Thursdays from 7-9pm et.

photo:   worldinconflict.wordpress.com

Pondering Darlington, diecasts and Warren Wallace

I had to follow the qualifying today for the Dodge Avenger 500, via NASCAR.com's Live Leaderboard feature.  It's really just a technologically updated wire service with some cool graphics, but for someone stuck at the day job and sans cable, it got the job done.  It didn't tell me about all the cars that apparently smacked the Lady's walls.  It did, however impart the looming sense of doom for Michael Waltrip and D J, as the math became clear that their decent qualifying efforts would again go down the NASCAR top 35 drain.  What a shame.

I need to ask my friend Jerry, The Diecast Dude, what will happen, or probably already has, to Dale Earnhardt Jr. collectibles with the number 8 all over them.  I am not a collector.  I have a few things that are valuable to me and no one else.  But I remember last year strolling the souvenir trailer park at the Brickyard 400, shortly after Jeremy Mayfield parted ways with Everinham and Brian Vickers left had Hendrick.  That stuff was CHEAP!  Somehow, I just don't see a fire sale for Junior swag.

That day, the longest lines for any of the merchandise trailers were for Ricky Bobby and the Wonderbread car.  Long lines of fans buying the stuff and plenty of folks wearing Talladega Nights gear.  That fad faded fast.

If I could have one trailer at any or all of the remaining Cup Series races, it would be the Warren Wallace concession.  I can see it now.  Retro driver's jackets.  Sunglasses and toothpicks.
And "Poor fella, never saw it coming" t-shirts.

Warren has a fan club. Check it out here.