Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie

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

What's up with Yate's sponsorship woes?

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.

It was sad news last week that Morgan-McClure Motorsports was closing up shop and leaving NASCAR Sprint Cup competition.  It has been a long time now since the MMM #4, in bright yellow Kodak livery, was one of the iconic car-number-sponsor combinations at the Daytona 500.

Fox Sports and Speed TV's Jeff Hammond was a guest ON PIT ROW last week and we asked him if any of the other longtime teams were in imminent danger of giving up the ghost.  The question had been one of our Fast Lap debate questions early in the show.  Both Steve and I had speculated that BAM Racing might be the team most in trouble. 

Surprisingly - maybe shockingly - Hammond brought up Yates Racing.  He said that you have to look at the fact that one month short of the Daytona 500, neither of Doug Yates' Ford Fusions has a primary sponsor. 

Now, the Yates teams aren't the only NASCAR teams looking for money.  But they should be an easier sell than most.  Yates Racing, under the Robert Yates Racing banner has a history of success.  So did Morgan McClure.  Doug Yates is bringing back one of the great, historic - iconic - car numbers in the history of NASCAR by putting the #28 on Travis Kvapil's car.  But the #4 didn't seem to help McClure.

The thing that should worry the suits in Daytona and Charlotte though is the fact that both Yates Fords are solidly in NASCAR's top thirty five in owners's points and are guaranteed starts in the first six races of 2008.  If a team with those assurances can't find backing, what will happen when those teams and sponsors without the owner's points sky-hook, start missing races?

Picture credit:  Rusty Jarrett - Getty Images for NASCAR

Which of the Preseason Thunderers has the most to prove?

Even after an admittedly short, semi-off-season without NASCAR's Chargers and Impalas, it's tough to guard against putting too much stock in the daily results of the Preseason Thunder testing going on this week in Florida.

The NASCAR news for the last couple days has been full of reports of how Kyle the Younger Busch has been faster than anyone in Daytona.  Kyle's switch from his Hendrick ride to a Gibbs Toyota would have been the big story most years in the France Republic. But 2007 saw his story barely make the top five, behind the loss of the late Bill France, a couple of Earnhardt related sagas and the Gibbs to Toyota switch.

One of our Fast Lap questions ON PIT ROW this week asked who has the most to prove at testing this month.  It might be Kyle, and if it is, he is showing some pretty good stuff so far.

Busch's Joe Gibbs Racing team and even his manufacturer of choice, Toyota, have plenty to prove to sizable numbers of NASCAR watchers too.  Staunch Tony Stewart/Chevrolet followers are going to take plenty of convincing that Smoke's kidnapping by them evil fereners was, in the long run, a good thing.  Tony being fast out of the 2008 box would help with that.

I'm sure that Earnhardt Jr feels some pressure to start well and he probably will.   How about Michael Waltrip, who may be feeling heat from sponsors and his manufacturer?  Do you think that J J Yeley might have a little extra motivation to put that Hall of Fame Racing Camry in front of a Gibbs car or two?

Yates Racing is looking for sponsorship.  Gillette-Everham Motorsports sucked last year and has all new sponsors - and partners - to please.  On and on and on, throughout the garage the pressure -  if it ever let up at all during the shortest winter in sports - is back on in full.  Thank you NASCAR.

Picture credit: Sam Greenwood - Getty Images for NASCAR

The worst of NASCAR 2008

Alright NASCAR, we wouldn't want you to get too big a head or anything.  As I sit here preparing the tactics I will employ in the twin tasks of stalking roasted turkey and dealing with the likely disappointment the Detroit Lions will leave me with tomorrow - I thought I would remind the France family that 2007 wasn't perfect.

• It all started in Daytona.  The much anticipated debut of Toyota in the Nextel Cup Series along with the masterfully assembled and promoted flagship team of Michael Waltrip Racing crashed before it ever got started due to a stupid attempt by someone at MWR to doctor the fuel in Waltrip's own NAPA Camry.  The resulting penalty was devastating to Mikey, his sponsors and the team.

• Has there ever been a rule - in any sport - so universally reviled as the obsolete "Top thirty five" qualifying deal?

• There just should have been some way for the surviving Earnhardts to work things out.  In the perfect NASCAR world, Dale Junior fans and everyone else involved from sanctioning body to media to sponsors would want to have Junior driving that #8 Budweiser Chevy. The story was a huge distraction throughout the first half of 2007.

• After signing a high profile, big ticket contract with Waltrip's startup Toyota team, classy ex-champ Dale Jarrett suffered through a wasted year as he struggled to make races and showed poorly when he did qualify.  Jarrett's last full season in cup should have been better.

• Maybe DJ and sponsor UPS knew something when he left Robert Yates Racing for the joys of Toyota racing.  The slide of RYR has been fast and steep.  The one-time Ford super team is just a shadow of itself and will now operate as Roush - East.

• Craftsman Truck driver Aaron Fike's arrest for alleged heroin possession in the parking lot of an Ohio amusement park.  Nuf' said.

• Robby Gordon's meltdown in Montreal.

• ESPN's coverage of the Nextel Cup.  The early season Busch Series broadcasts gave me hope.  The fact that they never fixed the pathetic NASCAR Now with the awful Eric Kuselius should have been warning enough.  The race broadcasts went steadily downhill. 

I'm probably forgetting something significant.  But my stomach is growling and I better go dig out my Honolulu Blue and Silver turkey hunting gear.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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

Mike Wallace the next to drive the #88

Mike Wallace will drive the #88 Snickers Ford Fusion for Robert Yates Racing in the UAW Ford 500 at Talladega on Sunday. Mike takes the place of brother Kenny Wallace who had been filling the seat for injured Ricky Rudd. Got all that?

Mike spends most of his time these days competing in the NASCAR Grand National – still the Busch Series for a couple months. Wallace is sponsored by GEICO Insurance. The GEICO/Wallace team is a strong one, as Scene Daily noted….

GEICO has sponsored Mike Wallace for the last few seasons and is currently sponsoring him at Phoenix Racing. The company is known for its commercials featuring a "cousin" of Mike's.

The picture here is of Mike and cousin Warren Wallace - or is it Lauren – training for the three-wide chaos that is sure to be plentiful Sunday at “Dega.

The other news of the day was NASCAR’s announcement that Nationwide Insurance will become the title sponsor of the Grand National Series. Yikes! Nationwide, NASCAR and GEICO? Sprint, NASCAR and AT&T. Queue the sound of lawyers slobbering.

No worries, says the legal team that brought you the summer of 2007. GEICO has a two year “sunset clause” to shift their sponsor dollars to the Sprint Cup Series or possibly Craftsman Truck. Or maybe they just fade away.

I hope not. Those Lauren Wallace – GEICO commercials are some of the best television I’ve seen this year featuring a race car.

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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

No big surprises in NASCAR's Friday news

Here's a shocker.  The Hendrick Motorsport's CoT Impalas of Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Kyle the younger Busch grabbed the top spots in qualifying for the Saturday night Sprint Nextel Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.  It wouldn't surprise me a bit if they finish that way tomorrow night as well.

I was a bit caught off by the announcement that Robert Yates will retire at the conclusion of the 2007 season.  The move clears the way for Doug Yates to take the reins of the 2 car Ford team.  Canceled in the move is the earlier announced merger with the law firm of Newman-Haas-Lanigan.  I guess the accident chasers will have to find another failing team to prop. 

If N-H-L is looking for another dance partner, maybe Michael Waltrip Racing would suffice. David Reutimann, one highly thought of, fast riser in the garage is worried that sponsorship may not surface for his MWR ride for 2008.  He's talking.  He would be as hot a property as is left in the fast evaporating NASCAR Hot Stove league.

Speaking of the Nextel Cup silly season -  with the announcements of Regan Smith  for the #01 at Dale Earnhardt Inc, Travis Kvapil headed for the #88 for the new Yates Racing and - surprise - Dario Franchitti probably taking the #40 at Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates, and friends, the field is thinning fast.

Sadly, Kenny Wallace looks like the short-term solution to the #88 vacancy.  So, the Herminator is available.  So are, David Stremme, Scott Riggs, Joe Nemechek, Sterlin Marlin and Tony Raines.  Step right up sponsors!  That'll be $ten mill please.

The other two big, non-news items were;

1. Hendrick Motorsports knows who the sponsor for Dale Jr will be.  But Rick Hendrick announced that they won't announce it just yet.  Got t's to cross. I's to dot.  And that sticky number deal is still keeping them up at night.  Apparently the #28 has crept into the conversation.  Wake me when it's over - please.

 2. Joe Gibbs Racing will not be invited to Chevrolet's 2008 planning meetings.  Duh?

I think that about covers the Friday night headlines.  Pick up your subsciption to the Daily Bugle wherever bird cage supplies are sold.  Good night and good news.

All Wallace all the time redux

The news that Kenny Wallace will be driving the Robert Yates Racing #88 at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night is good.  Ricky Rudd's shoulder injury is a shame but not unfortunate.  For Herman, at least.  The Herminator is one of the few remaining, real personalities in the increasingly corporate world of NASCAR. 

At Indy for the Brickyard pre-race activities, Wallace seemed to be everywhere.  And everywhere his reception by fans was superstar-like.  Whether on the Speed stage for a Trackside appearance, on the music stage to intro a concert or at an appearance to race remote control cars against Richard Childress, Kenny's fans were loud and boisterous.  Just like him.  I hope he does well with the Yates opportunity.

Steve and I managed to catch up with Rusty Wallace in the garages at MIS a couple weeks back.  He had just finished interviewing Jeff Green for an ESPN segment.  He was mobbed by fans.  He is mobbed by fans always.  We grabbed an opportunity to ask him if he would be willing to be a guest ON PIT ROW.  You had to be there to appreciate this.  He was just like you see him on the air.  Smiling, appologizing for not having his schedule with him and writing down his assistant's cell number so that we could call and schedule with her.  Then he posed with us for  the picture you see here. 

Rusty was a guest on our show three years ago. He was terrific.  Around Toledo Speedway are many stories of his good nature and down-to-earth personality.  I think about this when watching him doing the color commentary on race day.  His in-booth performance is getting better each race.  You can tell he loves the sport.  It must have been tough covering his son Steve, driving a Rusty Wallace Racing car, when the young man struggled. 

Finally while we're on this world of Wallace - hey Geico.  How about a new Warren - or is it Lauren - Wallace commercial? 

Picture credit: Kenny and Rust : Beth Anne Heisler - ON PIT ROW

Johnson and Edwards par-boil the field at Cali

SoCal native Jimmy Johnson hung on to beat a hard charging Carl Edwards to win at Fontana.

Once again the Nextel Cup action was dominated by one team.  Johnson was never truly tested in a race that started with temperatures well over 100 degrees and track temps in the 130 degree range.  Carl Edwards did make a run at Johnson beginning with about 15 laps to go but was unable to catch the 5 time winner.

In a week where the main topic was the heat and silly season speculation, the race seemed to be an after thought.  Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran a respectable fifth but did little to gain on the last Chase spot. 

Ricky Rudd was involved in a mid race accident that resulted in his suffering a separated shoulder.  Could this be the beginning of an early retirement for Rudd?  If Rudd can't continue to run the #88, the dominos could begin to fall early, with JJ Yeley or Kenny Wallace moving into the RYR ride.  Both drivers have been rumored to be in contention for it.  Yeley is also the top prospect for a seat at Richard Childress Racing in a 4th car.

After Richmond next week, expect to see a lot of 2008 start coming into focus.

The Buzz ON PIT ROW is:

Even with the record heat at Cali, no drivers had to be relieved from their cars during the race.  Is it because today's drivers are better athletes than those "from back in the day"?

The Fast Lap this week asks:

1) Will Joe Gibbs Racing switching to Toyotas for 2008 affect their results in the 2007 Chase?

2) If Goodyear sets a minimum tire pressure should NASCAR actively enforce its use?

3) Should there be any concern over the ownership of teams moving away from traditional racing roots?

4) Will the timing of the final Junior announcements vary whether he makes The Chase or not?

Let us know how you feel about these questions, or anything else that happened during the HOT week in SoCal.  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:BethAnne Heisler - ON PIT ROW