Life in the Fast Lap lane is good for Jimmy Johnson

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.

4 Responses to “Life in the Fast Lap lane is good for Jimmy Johnson”

1. Luke on September 11th, 2007 11:13 am

   1…
   Richmond has always been a good show. Bristol this past August was too. OK, there weren’t a ton of wrecks, but there was a ton of door-to-door action all over the place.

   But, I think what a lot of people feel makes Bristol so “special” is the tempers flaring, and the drivers getting into that “super” beating and banging mode. Guys getting knocked out of the way, and occasionally ending up in the fence or taking a little ride on the “loop”. This past race, the chrome horn wasn’t needed as you could just go around in another groove.

   Richmond was plum crazy. There wasn’t a lap go by where someone wasn’t pushing it 3-wide in the corners. It was incredible, and that new surface (OK, it’s 5 years old now but still) is really coming into its own.

   It’s no doubt one hell of a show, and no wonder they just had their 32nd sellout in a row.

   2…
   I’m going to have to go with Hornish on this one, mainly because he’s been through the motions a few times before.

   As long as both can keep their fenders clean, and roll through, I think they will be fine though.

   Franchitti should at least have one thing on his side in the back of his mind… “If I wreck, I’m in a much safer vehicle”.

   3…
   This is a toss up, really. And I’ll quote The King directly when he flat out said that indeed they would need to look for someone with better business access. In his words, “they” [PE] know “racing” folks, and there are a lot of people out there that know many more “business” folks. He went on to say that [PE] needed better access to potential sponsors, and that was just the nature of the business.

   What that means specifically to a PE-GEM merger or partnership is anyones guess.

   As for signing Patrick Carpentier, who knows. He did run well up north last month, but can that translate to an oval? Maybe, but who knows.

   4…
   Heck, I’ll spot you the 5, and just take Gordon and Johnson. And from there, I might just spot you Johnson too.

   Even with Jimmie having a “20″ point spread at the moment, I still think that this whole deal is Gordon’s to lose. He hasn’t been points racing for the better part of a month or more, and once he “goes back” to his other approach, he’s going to tear it up. That approach would be the one that put him atop the standings by over 300 points.

   Richmond was the beginning of this transition back into “the points groove”, as he could have pushed it a little harder, but kept it pointed in the right direction (no thanks to Junior) and brought it home in 4th. Two weeks prior he very well may have pushed it harder, but it’s time to get back into it, and go for #5.

   That being the case, Johnson will be strong as well, but can he keep it together for 10 races, as that pressure mounts to repeat his performance of 2006, and successfully defend his title?

   Hamlin’s my dark horse pick, he’s been flying under the radar, but between him, Flip-Flop, and some shady Holliday Inn meetings, I don’t know if they’ll have that finite extra “push” that they would have had.

2. Charlie on September 12th, 2007 11:05 am

   Kumbaya my boys, kumbaya. I sense too much agreement among the throng after last night’s ON PIT ROW and reading Luke’s comments here. But right is right.

   1. The Richmond races are always among the “prettiest” on the Cup schedule. Add to the look the ultra competitive nature of the track and the surface and RIR is maybe my favorite track. I like Bristol because it is unique and the night race a true sport spectacle. That said, the racing this year - at least for the lead - couldn’t hold a candle to Richmond.

   2. Sam hasn’t shown much so far in his Busch Series starts but I give him the nod here for slightly more experience and better equipment/team support from Penske. But I have doubts.

   3. Toss up. I’ll go with the Carpentier rumor because I did on the show(I think) but I am not really sold on the idea. The Pettys almost certainly will merge with someone. Too bad the Diamondback’s group went with H O F. The marketing contacts that those guys have are exactly what PE needs. But a strong driver to team up with Labonte would help as well.

   4. I took the field on the show. Can I change my mind? Actually, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch look good to me. Throw in the RCR cars and Hamlin and the field has a chance. Pucher’s chance at least. I’m not putting any money on though without big-time odds.

3. Luke on September 12th, 2007 11:22 am

   You know, the funniest thing Richard Petty said?

   Oh, Kyle’s all right. He runs about as well as he feels that day.

   That killed me. It was quite funny. Although, to be honest, that’s probably about right. I can’t imagine being in Kyle Petty’s shoes.

4. Steve on September 16th, 2007 6:54 am

   1- The Bristol night race was a dud. At least for one trip around the sun, a night in Virginia was by far more entertaining than the one up on the border with Tennesee. Most of that had to do with getting fans aclimated to seeing a new way of racing with the CoT. It’ll return to form by this time next year.

   2– Hornish would seem to be the logical choice. But who ever accused me of using logic? All defectors will have a hard time making races. Just getting into these fields is a monumental task. Visiting the truck series may be the best bet any have in getting some seat time for next year. But to answer the question–Hornish.

   3– I can see the Petty-GEM deal getting done. It seems that Kyle and Ray have some mutual respect. I could see Kyle taking a managment role in a new partnership and leaving the driving to Carpentier.

   4– If I had a million bucks lying around–which I don’t–I’d throw it down on the Hendrick boys in a NY minute. Sure “the field” includes the Gibbs cars and the RCR cars; but my money, as much as it pains me, would go with Hendrick. That really does cause me pain.

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