danica's big hit

[Panther_99FS]

But I think that during "Silly Season" Penske could have gotten a far more stock car skilled driver than AJ - but he didn't.
-Ed-

Perhaps he was looking long term so for example, that puts out Mark Martin. Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer already had moves cashed in so who else

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

I didn't keep track close enough to know who was available when but I think Vickers is available now and as for next year I'd be trying hard for a Logano or Ragan if you want young or we'll see what higher ranking drivers come free. I like Brian Vickers as I think his general attitude toward racing is "right" and he is more of a stock car guy. You never know how his health problems have affected him although he was good in the 83 and with a better car would I think challenge seriously for some wins. AJ I'm not so sure. If you want to get way out there - wouldn't Danica and Brad make a good team - I actually think so. And getting even more way out there - if Johanna Long shows potential I think Roger should take a long hard look at her. Hiring a talented woman - fair or not - would be a smart financial move and perhaps encourage a full blown 3rd team which I really wish Roger would do.

-Ed-

[Panther_99FS]

Hey All,

I didn't keep track close enough to know who was available when but I think Vickers is available now and as for next year I'd be trying hard for a Logano or Ragan if you want young or we'll see what higher ranking drivers come free. I like Brian Vickers as I think his general attitude toward racing is "right" and he is more of a stock car guy. You never know how his health problems have affected him although he was good in the 83 and with a better car would I think challenge seriously for some wins. AJ I'm not so sure. If you want to get way out there - wouldn't Danica and Brad make a good team - I actually think so. And getting even more way out there - if Johanna Long shows potential I think Roger should take a long hard look at her. Hiring a talented woman - fair or not - would be a smart financial move and perhaps encourage a full blown 3rd team which I really wish Roger would do.

-Ed-

Since no one else has picked-up Vickers, there **might** be more to his health assessment....Logano and Ragan appear to be somewhat of a question mark IMHO. Finally to top it off, last year Allmendinger finished 15th in the championship ahead of Vickers, Logano, and Ragan...

[Panther_99FS]

One last thing...
Like Danica, Allmendinger has come out of the gates strong this season and out-qualified his teammate (Keselowski).....

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

I would really put no weight on Daytona qualifying. Many teams do not take it very seriously as it doesn't matter where you start. AJ's real performance starts sunday and on into next week.

-Ed-

[Panther_99FS]

Hey All,

I would really put no weight on Daytona qualifying. Many teams do not take it very seriously as it doesn't matter where you start. AJ's real performance starts sunday and on into next week.

-Ed-

Well then...
The statistics favor Allmendinger.

2011: Allmendinger finished the season 15th, higher than the 3 drivers that you recommended
2010: Allmendinger finished 19th, still higher than the 3 drivers that you recommended
2009: Allmendinger finished the season 24th, falling behind Logano but still ahead of the other 2 drivers you recommended.

The biggest take-away though is that each year, Allmendinger has steadily IMPROVED his end-of-season standings/place.

Shows that he's a learner.

[wombat666]

Ed, considering the multitude of titles and races won over the entire spectrum of Motorsport, including driving as well as a Team Owner, Roger Penske outshine every other NASCAR owner/driver.
I'd lay even money that 'The captain' knows EXACTLY what he is doing.
Did I mention his brilliance when it comes to his 'Business Empire'..............well, I have now.

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

Penske has ONE and only ONE Championship in any top tier NASCAR Series in about 30 years of trying. If you say The Captain knows what he's doing well I say lets just let the record speak for itself.

-Ed-

[Panther_99FS]

Hey All,

lets just let the record speak for itself.

-Ed-

And as I posted above, Allmendinger's NASCAR record speaks for itself over the drivers that you mentioned.

[wombat666]

One NASCAR title mean jack considering the balance sheet, USSC, Trans Am, Can Am, Indycar, USAC, CART, IRL, Indy 500 with his 'own constructed' cars, even an F1 victory [OK, it was John Watson, an Irishman who drove the PC3].
Add those to the vast number individual events won by Penske himself before he decided that he would do better as a team owner and NASCAR is insignificant.
Roger Penske is known and highly respect on an international scale, where aside from Richard Petty [like it or not, Petty was/is/remains the best ambassador for NASCAR ever] most non-Americans have never heard of the NASCAR family.
I doubt if to many know that Penske, Jim Hall and Hap Sharp completed a full F1 season way back in the early 60s, customer cars and of course, not very competitive, but they had a go!
Mate, you really need to get out more ...........

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

I have never said Penske isn't a great guy and a man truly dedicated to motorsport. There is no question about that. I am simply pointing out that in NASCAR he has met his match - a motorsport in which he hasn't in 30 odd years even been able to match the one Championship won by Alan Kulwicki or Tony Stewart as an owner. This does not take away from the greatness of the Captain in motorsports in general - everyone has challenges in their field of endeavor they just could not overcome - yet. I really hope Brad Keselowski can win one for Roger - if any driver out there can it's Brad.

That the rest of the world doesn't follow NASCAR is their problem. I like watching Ute races and look forward to following the upcoming season. Who else in North America follows Utes?

-Ed-

[Panther_99FS]

Who else in North America follows Utes?

-Ed-

I don't know about Ute racing but if you check the forums, there are a lot of Americans who like the Ute in itself & would also like it brought to America as an El Camino.

[Cazzie]

Utes are just foreign truck races, personally I think the NASCAR Truck series is the closest we come today to old time stock car racing. The vehicles look like what you buy. They can race in a pack on any track, and they don't make no never-mind when it comes to mixing it up a little.

[wombat666]

Not the same animal Caz.
An Aussie 'Ute' is built on a passenger car platform, the original concept being a vehicle that paired sedan comfort with carrying capacity for half a dozen Hay bales, a few Sheep, or a couple of 44 gallon drums of diesel.
In other words, a vehicle aimed squarely at the 'man on the land', a 'Utility Vehicle'.
When we were kids Utes were the popular means of hauling two dirt bikes, four surfboards, a pile of skin diving gear and a 'rib' with bonus sleeping and/or fornicating space!
The nearest thing to an American 'Pickup Truck' was the 'One Tonner', a much heavier chassis with a plain flat bed, retaining the basic Ute cabin.
Only Tradies and Farmers bought them.
Today's 'Ute Racing' is pretty much the bottom of the food chain, the bulk of the grid is made up of drivers who never made it up to Level 1 or Level 2 in the Supercars, except for two reserve Supercar drivers who run a few races to keep their hand in, and who eat the regulars, along with people who can't get a drive in Supercup or GT.
Originally intended as a basic 'fun' series for the less financial enthusiasts [similar to the mind numbing 'Kingwood' and equally boring 'Gemini' series] they were rapidly taken over by well funded but talent-poor Muppets.
The present series are quite expensive to prepare, despite the sold rear end and road rubber, these cars are a long way from the road versions, but the Bogans love them.
I tend to regard them as comic relief, if I want serious racing at lower levels it comes in spades with Formula Ford or the Aussie Legends [borrowed from the US Legends] series.

[Daveroo]

nascar trucks are car racing chasis modified in the cockpit area to accept the truck body,but are the same basic "car chasis" as any other stock car...and we used to have El Caminos,ford rancheros...and my fav was the farily rare GMC sprint...