Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie

NASCAR scribes - to your corners...

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.

Racing season is heating up--behind the mike.

There are already some "he said--she said" confrontations heading up the NASCAR 2008 season.  But surprisingly enough the combatants have centered around the radio broadcasting scene.

Former ESPN RPM 2Night host John Kernan and Charlotte Observer, Sirius Radio and ON PIT ROW raconteur, David Poole, have been sniping at one another for a couple of weeks as was chronicled on The Daly Planet blog.  Kernan's gig for Sirius Radio has gone up in smoke. And he seems to think it has to do with the current crop of radio personalities who do nothing but "tow the NASCAR line"  He was/is unwilling to be a "shill" for NASCAR and intimates that others, including Poole, have lost their journalistic edge.

This week the Fast Lap asks:

1) Should NASCAR raise the minimum age for drivers in any of their top three series to 21 years of age?

2) Is NASCAR relying on Dale Jr. to single handedly rejuvenate the sport?

3) Was all the 2007 worry about Toyota taking over the sport; just one year too early?

4) Kenny Wallace or Jimmy Spencer?

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 ET on Tuesdays.

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.

Jeff Gordon treats ON PIT ROW like a dirty diaper

Jeff Gordon was the last NASCAR scheduled driver interview for the media on Friday and Jeff wasn't in a mood to answer any serious questions.

After answering questions about Junior not being able to keep number 8, a myriad of baby/diaper questions and being lauded for his work on Saturday Night Live, I asked him about Kyle (Rowdy) Busch's claims about being "a red-headed stepchild at Hendrick".  Maybe Jeffy was up late changing diapers because I received a rather terse response.  "Where have you been, that was like two months ago..."  Actually I think that was a statement Rowdy made after the Pepsi 400 when his team mates, specifically Gordon and Jimmy Johnson chose lines other than with Busch at the close of the race; which was, in reality, 42 days prior.

I still believe it was a legitimate question, especially seeing as Rowdy officially announced his new team just this past week.  Historically teams tend to withhold information from lame duck drivers after their intentions to leave are known.  That was the question I was asking; whether information was being withheld from Kyle.  Obviously Jeff was a little over sensitive to being accused of not helping his team mate at Daytona.

After his snotty beginning , he did continue to say that if he couldn't win the championship; then it would be okay for teammate Jimmy Johnson to do it.  If Johnson couldn't pull of the feat, then it would be okay for Busch to win it for car owner Rick Hendrick; after all that would be in the best interest of Hendrick Motorsports.

Anyone who has ever heard  ON PIT ROW or read this blog knows; I have never been a fan of Jeff, but always respected his talent and willingness to be straight with the media.

Friday I lost all respect for the latter.  He is one hell of a driver.  He proved that by taking the final qualifying lap of the day and turning it into a pole and he may win another championship in 2007.  But in my mind he acted like a donkey's butt.

photo: ON PIT ROW-BethAnne Heisler

Harvick--oui, Robby agi comme un idiot

Robby Gordon acted like a spoiled brat again today at the Busch race in Montreal.

  With 4 laps to go, while cars were wrecking behind him and Marcos Ambrose, Gordon and Ambrose swapped paint, positions, more paint and positions again before or during the yellow flag that ensued.  Television replays were unable to verify if Robby got into Marcos before the tide was turned and Robby went spinning.

NASCAR ruled that Gordon needed to restart in 13th place for the Green-White-Checker finish.  Robby disagreed and refused to leave his second place spot behind Ambrose.  Even after NASCAR displayed the black flag to the Nextel Cup regular, Gordon stayed behind Ambrose and may as well have displayed a neon sign that said something like, "I'm gonna wreck your sorry kangaroo meat ass."  Everyone, including Ambrose I'm sure, knew what was going to happen--Robby would soon punt Ambrose into the bushes.  No one was surprised.

NASCAR issued this statement on his placement for the restart:

“Once the caution came out on Lap 72 the field was frozen. Once the field is frozen, all cars must maintain cautious pace in order to be scored.

“At the time that the field was frozen, the 59 was in the lead.  The 55 did not maintain cautious pace and by NASCAR rule, cars not maintaining cautious pace are scored only when they blend back into the continuous line. The 55 based on our scoring was ordered to blend back in behind the 33 in front of the 7. 

“The tower ordered the 55 multiple times to get in to position. The directive was acknowledged by the crew chief of the 55 and the crew chief also communicated the order to the driver of the 55. The driver ignored NASCAR’s directive.

“He was warned that he would be black flagged if he did not comply. Once the 55 crossed the start-finish line he was posted per the NASCAR rule book and at that time the directive to display the black flag was given. 

“After contact with the 59 on Lap 73, NASCAR took emergency action per the rule book Section12-2 thus parking the 55, which was also ignored. The black flag with the white cross was displayed to the 55 when it crossed the start-finish line on lap 74. The 55 finished the race in the 18th position.”

No one was surprised either when Robby pretended to win the race; even doing a celebratory burn out, along with the actual winner Kevin Harvick.

What will become of Gordon?  Will he be given the usual 100point / $100,000. fines or will NASCAR sit  him down for the remainder of the Busch season?  Will they get real aggressive and sit him down for the Cup race on Sunday?  NASCAR probably doesn't have enough guts to do that--but should.  This was a premeditated act; committed in the face of the NASCAR brass, in attendance in Montreal for the first ever Busch race in Canada.

Robby--you stepped over the line this time.  NASCAR is going to make you pay.  What will your response be?

photos:  Robert Leberge (Harvick)  HHWEB.com (Gordon)

Tony takes "pep talk" to the flag stand

After coach Gibbs had his closed door pep talk with his "two kids"; Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin, during happy hour practice on Saturday, Tony ended Sunday's race with his signature climb to the top of the flag stand. 

It was a bit tough for NASCAR driver, turned broadcaster, Kyle Petty to spin a positive feel for this race.  "Guys, this has not been the most exciting race in the world," Petty said. "Let's be honest."

While the race may not have been full of multiple wrecks or lots of side by side racing, it did hold it's own in the strategy department.  Once again crew chiefs earned their money as they were called to make the tough choices to take two or four tires or gas only during the final pit stops.

The most exciting part of this race was watching Stewart laboriously climb the spectator fence to reach the flag stand.  It took so much out of him that he had to rip the label off a water bottle and consume it while on the stand.  A great Coke moment was lost.  Obviously team Gibbs wasn't expecting a TS win as they hadn't stocked the tower with the approved drink.

The Buzz ON PIT ROW is:

Is it indeed down to a 15 man race for the top12 spots or does Biffle, Martin, Yeley, Montoya or Labonte have a shot?

The Fast Lap this week asks:

1)  Kyle Petty admitted during the TNT broadcast that the race was a snoozer.  What is worse, long green flag runs, or too many "competition" yellows??

2) If Coach Gibbs needed to be brought in to settle the Stewart/Hamlin war: would Henry Kissinger need to be on retainer if Rowdy Busch were added to the lineup?

3) Which deal will happen first, Rowdy's new team announcement or Budweiser's new spokes-model?

4)  When NASCAR announced that the CoT would go Full Time in 2008; should they have added a cookie cutter race to prep for next year?

Let us know how you feel about these questions or anything else that happened at ChicagoLand in Joliet.  If we like your comments we could 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 credit:  Jamie Squire/Getty Images

McMurray ends drought--Rowdy not happy

Kyle Busch won the Busch race on Saturday morning and was on top of the world.  That euphoria was short lived as Rowdy found out what George Bush and a bunch of pro sports coaches all know too well.  Being a lame duck sucks.  Rowdy believes he is being "frozen out" by his Hendrick Motorsport's teammates.

Rowdy believes that Jeff Gordon not only chose to help Jamie McMurray win the Pepsi 400; he snubbed him when Rowdy met up with Jeffy after the race (Insert sound of cats fighting).  Kyle may want to start talking to his potential employers about getting him on board for the end of this year if he doesn't make the Chase.  If he makes the chase he will have to live with what he gets from Hendrick.  No matter what else goes on between the four drivers in the Hendrick stable; if Rick Hendrick thinks ol' Rowdy can win him a championship, he'll get winning equipment.  But probably not a smile or an invite for vittles at Jeffy, Casey or Jimmy's motor homes.

The Buzz ON PIT ROW is:

TNT tried something new with it's "wide open coverage" of the Pepsi 400.  How do you think that worked out?

The Fast Lap this week asks:

1)  Who do you blame--Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart or Just a Racin' Deal?

2) Is Sprint replacing Nextel as big of a deal as was Nextel replacing Winston as the Cup sponsor?

3) Should NASCAR go back to two days of qualifying to help eliminate having qualifying rained out ?

4)  Rowdy Busch was hacked off at his teammates--Jeff Gordon in particular--for not drafting with him at the end of the Pepsi 400.  Is Rowdy the "dead man walking" at Hendrick?

Let us know how you feel about these questions or anything else that happened at the last Pepsi 400.  If we like your comments we could 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.

The girl with Jamie?  Elaine Irwin Mellenkamp--as in Mrs. John Cougar.

photos: gypsyville.com,  nascar.com

The blog must ....go on

Man, as easy as it is to do a two hour live NASCAR radio show, this posting business can sure stump me.  It doesn't  matter how seemingly little the world of the family von France provides us some weeks, we always have more than enough stuff to run out of time to present ON PIT ROW.

The blog is a bit tougher for me. Although it may not seem so, I try to be original and thoughtful and at least kind of knowledgeable in here.  There is plenty to write about this week. I mean I have read many great posts about the Car of Whatever and Bristol and Kyle Busch. Jeff Burton's non-pass and Greg Biffle's non-cheat. Toyota, Michael Waltrip. Next.

Bob's comment on the previous post mentions a great Kyle rant on the NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

First of all Kyle, with the way you were driving your car, it seemed to handle alright for you - you won after all.

Secondly, if your car was crap then imagine how bad the cars were in the back of the pack.

Thirdly, what are you a sissy? Imagine actually having to really drive a car and not let the areo or shock package do it for you. I would imagine that if your steering pump broke you would park the car because it would be too much effort for you to drive the car. Hey if it is that bad then quit, there are about 10,000 (and counting) other drivers out there who would drive a Rick Hendrick car. Give your ride to someone who actually deserves it, like Kenny Wallace.

Sorry about the formatting. I don't have this totally mastered. For sure. Anyway read the rest of 4ever3's rant if you haven't already.

Here's what I think happened to me this week. The past ten or so days of Nextel Cup talk, debate, what have you, has focused on the Car of THIS SPACE FOR SALE.  It was fun and certainly important to the sport and the fans of the sport. Technical racing stuff is a gas to argue because, frankly, I don't know what I'm talking about most of the time but neither does anybody else. Percentage wise, it's a level playing field.  The problem with all that wrench/tech discussion is we got away from the real passion generator in this sport.  The passion does not come from car silhouettes and spoiler/splitters.  Personalities, or in the case(s) of the Busch Bros, the lack thereof, drive the popularity and speed up the pulse of the kingdom of France.

The picture is from  the film "Shakespeare in Love". Great. Very funny.

Anyway, the blog must....thanks again Kyle, you weasel...go on.