Race Re-Caps: Kasey “Kahne-whips” Pocono
In our first week of T-N-T coverage, no less than race car driver-turned-analyst Kyle Petty came up with the perfect analogy of the race at Pocono, referring to today’s event as a “pitcher’s duel”- to borrow a baseball term. I gotta tell ya, I caught myself wondering how other NASCAR fans felt about this race, given the condition of the track, the course design and the continuing saga of the CoT.
I remember thinking, “This isn’t necessarily a bad race, just a different race.”If you think about it- again, borrowing Petty’s analogy- in baseball, you have your scoreboard popping slugfests that end up with scores like 13-11- complete with scads of home runs and loads of offensive fireworks. Then- you have your “pitcher’s duels”- where a pair of aces match each other pitch for pitch, playing “Mexian Stand-off” until a run scampers over the plate for a 1-0 nailbiter.
Now, stay with me here. To bring it back to NASCAR- we have all kinds of races- races on tracks where you need a muscular engine (Daytona, Talladega, Texas), races where brakes and passing skills (read that fearlessness) are needed (Bristol, Martinsville, Phoenix)- and then you have the road courses, which are a different animal altogether. If you know me well, you know that Pocono is probably my least favorite track. That said, I went into today’s race looking for something different in the spirit of keeping an open mind.
I got it all right. I’ve come to understand that Pocono is like the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s, a race where strategy and teamwork come into play. Pit stops and pit strategy come into play. That sure was the case today.
If you read my post yesterday, then you know I rightfully picked Kasey Kahne to win today. He’s on a roll, Kahne’s confidence is at an all-time high, Gillett-Evernham has their act together in the shop, and this track smiles on pole-takers. But wait, there’s more. Kenny Francis’ stock has gone up in my eyes with his pit calls. He went for 4 tires when others were going for two. They had their fuel mileage figured out just right. The crew is working like a well-oiled machine and not crippling Kahne’s exploits with silly errors in the pits.
This win was about teamwork, the Budweiser #9 team has it’s lost mojo back.
Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson kept Kahne on his toes. While I don’t think anyone would question that the winner of his 9th Sprint Cup race had the best car today, there were still plenty of occasions where the race was in a little bit in doubt. For just a fleeting moment, it looked like Brian Vickers might be in the mix. Give Team Red Bull props for their recent performances. They’re starting to show that JGR isn’t the only muscular Toyota team out there. Vickers and A.J. Allmendinger were both impressive. For A.J., that’s the former Champ car stud’s best Cup finish.
Nonetheless Kasey “Kahne-whipped” the opposition today. Who would’ve thought after the disaster of a 2007 season he had that the favorite of crazed soccer moms everywhere would be the third driver with multiple wins for 2008? Who would’ve thought that Dodge would have as many manufacturer wins as Ford and Chevy at this point in the season?
It’s all a part of that tangled web of story lines we call the 2008 season. I will be the first to admit that the racing has been a little uneven at times, but the plot lines more than make up for the slightly sloppy product.
I’m enjoying it myself, and judging by ratings and the overall track turn out, I think you are too.
RANDOM NOTES:
Kurt Busch gets the “Rocky Balboa” Award for hanging tough after an early incident where it looked like he was trying to plow the infield. That’s the closest I’ve seen anybody come to flipping the CoT after Michael Mc Dowell’s barrel roll in practice at Texas. The elder Busch (”Big Shrub”) ended the day nicely…. I may be a “D.W.” fan, but I must say I was happy with TNT’s race coverage, mainly the substantive analysis by Kyle Petty. There’s room for all kinds of color commentators in sports, and though Petty isn’t the ham in the vein of Waltrip or Kenny Wallace, I thought he brought good stuff to the party…In a display of taking ownership, Kyle Busch took the fall for the wreck with Jamie McMurray. Shrub gets a handful of “cool points” from me there…Say what you want, but in my opinion, Junior’s pressing. He really looks miserable in his post-race interviews. “Junebug”, you’re running well. The wins will come…
Next up is Michigan. Who will thicken the plot next week?
Stop by tomorrow for another edition of “Road To Glory.” We’ll explore where it all began for one of the West Coast’s most promising young drivers, Preston Jones.
Fearless Forecast: Picking Pocono- Look For Someone Different
Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, with 7 victories between them, it would seem to be the obvious picks for this race. Not this time. Based on what I’ve seen so far, I look for a different kind of race and a different kind of result.
Breaking development: Kyle Busch brushed the wall on pit road this morning, damaging his car badly enough that he will go to his back-up car. This will force Kyle to the back of the field, and in this race that is so reliant on good starting position, his job becomes all the more difficult. I also think he’s going to be dead dog tired tomorrow, and he could very become a victim of additional bad luck. The good new for Shrub is his dominating start. The kind of lead he has in the points affords the younger Busch a little more latitude and the luxury of shanking a race or two.
A “dark horse” could emerge. Joe Nemecheck, Mark Martin and A.J. Allmendinger all qualified very well yesterday and at this oddly shaped track where speed matters, position will be important. Mark my words, with good seat time, Allmendinger may become the next David Ragan- a guy who will get better and really contend with experience. It’s hard to believe “The Kid” has never won here, and starting at the 3rd position puts Martin in an excellent position. Martin is definitely the class of DEI this season and has some some brilliant runs lately.
There are drivers who’ve won here before who should not be counted out. Jeff Gordon’s won 4 Pocono races, Bobby Labonte has 3 to his record. These boys are among my favorites, but I think they have too far to go to win it. Running from the outside pole, I like Jimmie Johnson’s chances. I see a top 5 run for the Lowe’s 48. Denny Hamlin will represent JGR nicely. Denny swept the 2006 races, and he’s looking good in morning practice. Kurt Busch won the summer race at Pocono in 2007, and he’s running better since the All-Star race. The 11th spot in the line-up certainly puts him in contention.
While Edwards looks good in morning practice and Dale Earnhardt Jr. tested well here earlier, I’m going with Kasey Kahne. I’m generally not one to pick drivers from the pole, but Kahne (the wreck at Dove aside) has been on a roll, and he’s been crazy fast. The Dodge ”9″ hasn’t been exceptional in morning practice, but it looks like they’re just doing a little experimenting today.
I like how the folks at Gillett Evernham have put it together this year. Kahne’s winning, Elliott Sadler has been qualifying well (now if he can only translate that into effective racing) and Patrick Carpentier has had to get into eery race on speed, and he’s been doing it, only not making rain has set the field according to points. No doubt Ray Evernham’s concentration on the racing side, freed up due to the partnership with George Gillett.
They’ve got it together right now.
Kahne will be no ordinary “citizen” this week (obligitory pop reference inserted here- just to show I’m “cultured”).
Pull Those Belts Tight! (Race Preview) The “Bermuda Triangle” Edition
Up Next: The Pocono 500, Sunday, June 8, 2008 at Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Green flag: 2 p.m. EDT, 11 a.m. PDT. Broadcast: TNT- TV with Bill Weber, Wally Dallenbach & Kyle Petty. Radio Broadcast on MRN & Sirius Satellite Radio.
Track Facts- The first race ran here on August 4, 1974. Richard Petty took the checkered flag on the track that started out as a .75 miler when it was opened in 1968. The track was re-done in 1971.
Pocono Raceway is a 2.5 mile tri-oval track nicknamed “The Bermuda Triangle.” This track looks like a coat hanger with a front stretch of 3,740 feet, a short stretch of 1,780 feet and a back stretch of 3,055 feet. There is no banking on the straights, and 6 to 14 degrees of banking in the turns.
Track Records: Bill Elliott takes the honors as the leading winner at Pocono with 5 to his credit. Since Elliott is semi-retired, we should also mention that Jeff Gordon has 4 victories here as well.
Last year- Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch won the Pocono events. Gordon won a rain-shortened Spring race, just edging out Ryan Newman in a controversial finish in which some fans felt favoritism was shown towards Gordon.
The qualifying record is held by Kasey Kahne. Kahne ran a lap time of 52.164 seconds on June 11, 2004 with a speed of 172.533 miles per hour. Bill Elliott and Ken Schrader have captured the most poles with 5 each. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Ryan Newman won poles in 2007.
The fastest race was run by Rusty Wallace. The “Blue Duece” won the July 21, 1996 Miller 500 with a time of 3 hours, 27 minutes, and 3 seconds.
The oldest winner at Pocono is…..who else? Harry Gant. “Mr. September” won the June 7, 1990 AC Spark Plug 500 at the age of 50 years, 5 months, and 7 days. The youngest winner?….who else? Jeff Gordon, at age 24 years, 10 months, and 12 days. The win came at the June 16, 1996 Teamwork 500.
The caution flag waved a record 13 times twice- the most recent in June, 2005. The fewest “yellows” waved in the July, 1978. 1 waved on that day.
Some have referred to Pocono as a “drivers track.” Each turn provides its own unique set of challenges. The high RPM’s can contribute to a large number of engine failures. Six weeks separate the two Pocono events. Commentator Ricky Craven has commented that most teams will use the same set-up for the August event as the June race. It’s an idea that seems to work as Denny Hamlin swept the Pocono races in 2006 (he also captured both poles), Jimmie Johnson did in 2004, Tim Richmond did in 1986 and Bill Elliott in 1985.
This will kick off a challenging 6 week stretch for drivers as they encounter a different track style every week. After this race, the tour will move on to an intermediate in Michigan, a road course in Sonoma, a 1-miler in New Hampshire, a super speedway at Daytona, and a mile-and-a-half tri-oval at Chicago.
Other active winners include Bobby Labonte (3), Denny Hamlin (2), Jimmie Johnson (2), Kurt Busch (2), Ryan Newman (1), and Tony Stewart (1). Race analyst Kyle Petty has a win at Pocono too.
Check out my “Fearless Forecast” this Saturday, and I’ll offer up my forecast for the race winner.
NASCAR Terminology- A NASCAR For Dummies Primer
Contact patch: Sounds like a name for a football field. Actually, the “contact patch” is the portion of the tire that makes contact with the racing surface. The size of each tire’s contact patch changes as the car is driven.
Crankshaft: Before you get the idea that this is what FOX announcer Chris Myers calls pit report Dick Berggren, a crankshaft is “The rotating shaft within the engine that delivers the power from the pistons to the flywheel, and from there to the transmission.”
Magnaflux: What this is not is the condition you get from eating the red hot dogs at Martinsville. Magnaflux is “Short for “magnetic particle inspection.” A procedure for checking all ferrous (steel) parts (suspension pieces, connecting rods, cylinder heads, etc.) for cracks and other defects by utilizing a solution of metal particles and fluorescent dye and black light. Surface cracks will appear as red lines.”
That’s all for now. Until next time “Keep it off the walls.”
NASCAR Stocks (Power Rankings): Sadler Shakes It Up
I’m quite sure this is notoriety that Elliott Sadler would rather live without. Without meaning to, the driver for Gillett Evernham has muddled our “Top 10″ by initiating a crash at Dover that wadded up 6 of the top 12 point getters in the 2008.
For my part, it will be hard to hold that against the drivers involved. However, there’s no denying that the race to some degree altered the outcome and opened the door for the likes of Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon to move up.
Here’s how things shake out today:
#10- Kasey Kahne- (unchanged from last week)- of all the top runners collected in the lap 18 wreck, Kahne had the best finish at 31st. I guess he can take comfort that in the old car, his day would have likely been done. I don’t think this is the follow up that Kasey had in mind to his win at Lowe’s.
#9- Denny Hamlin- (down 3 from 6th)- Denny came darn close to falling out with his last place finish, the result of the “big one” at the “Monster Mile.” What helps Hamlin is 9th place standing in terms of average finish with a 15.2 for the season. Weird to think he was the “hot one” just a few weeks back.
#8- Jimmie Johnson- (unranked last week)- Good “comeback week” for Jimmie. The defending champ never really challenged for the win, yet a 7th place finish cannot be ignored.
#7- Clint Bowyer- (down 2 spots from 5th)- It’s been a rough “go” for Bowyer since his win at Richmond. What helps his standing now is that win, as well as his 3 tops 5’s, and 7 top 10’s.
#6- Greg Biffle- (unranked last week)- What a run for Biffle! Not only did he dominate the front end of the race at Dover, he also had a strong effort at Lowe’s, leading us to believe is he is the “real deal” for breaking into the Chase this year, after an up-and-down 2007.
#5- Jeff Gordon- (up 2 spots from 7th)- He may not have broke into the win column yet for 2008, but let there be no doubt that the “Rainbow Warrior” has it going in the right direction as of late with an average finish of 8.0 over his last 5 races- 2nd among our top 10.
#4- Dale Earnhardt Jr.- (down 2 from 2nd)- Like his teammate Gordon, Earnhardt is one of the top drivers without a win. Junebug’s 9 top 10’s ties him for second with Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards. Junebug’s 5 top 5’s puts him 4th behind Kyle Busch, Edwards and Gordon. The naysayers are silenced, let it be known that Junior belongs!
#3- Jeff Burton- (up 1 spot from 4th)- “Mr. Consistency” comes through once again with his 8th place finish at Dover. Thi guy knows how to finish a race, even if his is not the best one out there. Finishing matters, and there’s no one better at it than Burton.
#2- Carl Edwards- (up 1 spot from 3rd)- He’d be in 2nd in the points, were it not for the penalty at Las Vegas. “Cousin Carl” solidifies his place near the top with his 2nd place run Sunday. Look for the Busch- Edwards rivalry to last for years to come. These guys ain’t going anywhere.
#1- Kyle Busch- (unchanged)- Busch is starting to get a little separation from the field. With his Dover victory, “Shrub” is the undisputed leader in wins and holds a 142 point lead over Burton in the Sprint Cup standings. What’s weird is to think that his Sprint Cup car was not as good last weekend as his Nationwide car or his truck. Busch gave credit to the shop and the crew, reminding us that even in this sport, where the driver gets all the glory, teamwork still matters.
Falling out: Tony Stewart becomes a hard-luck casualty after finishing 41st.
Knocking On The Door: David Ragan is still contending with an average finish of 10.6 over his last 5 races…For all the talk of bad luck, Matt Kenseth still has 7 top 10’s to his credit…Don’t discount Ryan Newman, especially if he can put a streak together…Kevin Harvick is a survivor. He could use a hot streak right about now.
Dark horses: If Brian Vickers could avoid the errors, and if Jamie McMurray and Dave Blaney can keep it up, they just might find their stock rising all the way into the top 10.
We’re heading down the straights coming out of the first turn, a lot can happen between now and the finish line.
“Road To Glory” Update: Overcoming Obstacles In Marysville
Before the formation of NASCAR, each race track and organization did things as they saw fit. Not only did you have race promoters running off with the purse, there was no real sense of cohesiveness and consistency. One thing we can thank the France family for is the fact that there is an over-arching governing body to market the sport, regulate it and construct and enforce standards.
As I become more acquainted with local tracks on the West Coast, I observe a couple of challenges that can frustrate racers and those who follow the sport. First of all, I see a communication problem. Many track and organizational sites aren’t well maintained and cannot be relied upon to provide timely, needed information. This can be frustrating when trying to get race results, or more importantly- for the racer- have a good handle on the rules and policies as they prepare to enter. Secondly, there are political and organizational issues to work through. If you think NASCAR has a problem by concentrating all the authority in the hands of a few, imagine trying to adjust to varying standards and practices from track to track. It’s like trying to hit a moving target or herd cats.
Our feature’s protaganist ran across the same issues when he and his family packed up the trailer and headed for the track at Marysville. Imagine having raced in one class the night before, prepared for a road trip, and then make the long drive to a neighboring track, only to find you had a list of compliance issues to work through.
This will test your mettle and your ability to stay focused under adversity. Once you read Preston Jones’ report from last weekend, I think you’ll agree, he passed the test, as he successfully competed on the go-kart track Friday night, and then turned around and raced “Super 4s” on a track down the road in Marysville on Saturday:
“We raced friday night at the Southern Oregon Speedway kart track where I started second and finished second in a green to checkered heat race. Because of the rain, they skipped straight into the main events. I started on the outside pole and ended up 5th. Then they ran the trophy dashes because the track wasn’t too wet. I started outside pole and lead it until the last corner when Iwas passed by Seth Nunes.”
”Then we got up on saturday morning at 7 and unloaded all the kart stuff out of the trailer and cleaned it up and loaded the car and tools. We left our driveway at 9 am and arrived at the Marysville race park at 3 pm and got everything ready to go. We had some problems with rules because what was on the Internet and the actual rules were different, so we spent about an hour discussing the rules and making the car legal to run with them. I started 4th in my heat and finished 4th, then I started 8th in the main and fought my way back up to 2nd- winning $750 and barely paying for the gas to get home!!!”
The road to glory is not always smooth. Dealing with the pot holes along the way certainly gives those racers who’ve made it a greater appreciation for life at the top level of racing.
Tune in next week for the next edition Monday of “Road To Glory” when we update you on Preston’s exploits on the track this weekend, and tell you the story of how it all began for one of racing’s most promising young talents.
Road To Glory: Teamwork In The Family Garage
(No results from May 31st to report. For the second week in a row, racing was rained out at the Southern Oregon Speedway. Reports are the pits are a muddy mess).
It’s a family as all-American as their name. I had the opportunity recently to meet the Jones family in the shop at their home just outside Central Point, Oregon. Greg and Cinda Jones are best known by the title “Dad” and “Mom”- looking every bit the part of your neighbors next door. Adding to the apple pie allure are their two teen-age sons, Preston, a 17-year-old junior at Crater High School, and his 14-year-old brother Parker. Greg’s father, Don, was once the mayor of their hometown and a soon-to-be developed park complete with a War Memorial honoring all Oregon soldiers who have died serving our country in combat since statehood will bear the elder Jones’ name. If you were going to script a movie of a promising young race car driver, you couldn’t cast a better family than the Joneses.
When you look inside the shop, that’s where things start to look a little bit different than the Cleavers. First of all, Preston, Parker and I suspect even Greg and Cinda spend more time in here than many families do in their living rooms. Let’s just say it: this IS the Jones’ living room. Preston told me in a recent interview on his way to get an engine in California that “You have to want it.” The exuberant young man added, “I spend about three days a week working on my kart, and the other four working on my car.”
Now before we get you to thinking that the second year “Super 4″ class driver is nothing more than a garden variety gearhead, both Preston and his brother are expected to keep their grades up. For the record, I have in my formerly oil-stained hands a copy of the eldest Jones boy’s report second quarter report card, and he pulled down a 3.67 GPA. We’re not talking about “Underwater Basket Weaving” or “Rocks For Jocks” either. Preston’s course load included “Economics & Government,” “Algebra II”, and “Spanish II.” Now it’s been a few years since I darkened the door of classroom, but as I recall this is not the class schedule of a guy skating by. By the way, there are no shop classes anywhere!
In fact, Preston and Parker both know well the policy at home of “No grades, no racing.”
What I am trying to say, is if you’re looking for “stage parents,” this is not one of those stories. What we simply have here is a family with a common passion for the sweet hum of an engine and exhilaration of speed.They love showing off DVD footage of Preston’s recent last-to-first re-start victory the week prior to my visit. It’s fun to listen to Preston describe what’s going on in the car. “Did you see how I stuck in that turn?” says Preston. “Look at him sticking out his arm”, Parker grins. “He’s trying to keep keep them (the other cars in the tight turns of this 1/3 mile dirt track) off his fender.” The boys aren’t the first generation in their family, Greg has raced before, and Cinda’s brother Scott Lenz is still racing at Southern Oregon Speedway on Saturday nights. By the way, it should be noted for all you who would stereotype, Lenz is a local chiropractor.
My first impressions of the Jones family lead me to the conclusion that these boys will be winners no matter what they do. I’m no expert on racing, but I’ve played the sports, coached the sports and reported on the sports for a long time. I’ve seen even the very best struggle through losing streaks and slumps. It’s in those times that having a strong support network like family and/or faith to prop you up and remind you that your value lies in more than athleticism or skill. One day, Preston and Parker won’t race anymore. If they’ve done nothing but just race hard, they will have nothing more to look back on than a trophy case.
Greg, Cinda, Preston and Parker Jones are about much more than that. It takes more than a fast car to be a winner, and this all-American family knows it. The parents have built a firm foundation on which the boys can build a road to glory….on and off the track.
Next week: I’ll tell you how it all began.
Race Re-Cap: Muscle On The Monster Mile
I’m honestly not sure that big wreck on lap 18 really did much to affect the outcome of today’s race. Today’s real contenders were nowhere near this mess as it seemed that before we even got here, the race at Dover was about the Roush-Fenway Racing team, the old guard at Hendrick Motorsports, and the ever-present Kyle Busch. He wrestled the Monster Mile and made it cry “Uncle.”
Did you ever have a premonition? I swear when they went to Elliott Sadler’s on-board camera, I was thinking “Watch- he’s gonna wreck.” Sure enough, ol’ “Rabbit Release” moves down on David Gilliland, goes sideways on the track- and next thing you know, a collection of racers- including top runners like Kevin Harvick, Junior, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer are all wadded up. Could this change the outcome? Note the absence of Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Jamie Mc Murray from this mishap.
Did you catch Tony’s interview? Some fans were saying, “Wow, this is a different side of Tony. He’s taking responsibility for the mess. Why?” I think they missed the sarcasm. Basically, Tony was so much as saying that it’s his fault for being anywhere near Elliott Sadler. That’s the second time in the last few weeks the two have gotten together. I also got a kick out of Smoke’s “dune buggy” line. I appreciate his sense of humor about the whole thing.
By the time the smoke cleared, and Smoke was cleared, it was obvious that there was really only three serious contenders for the win at Dover. Greg Biffle put together another fine effort before mechanical problems set him back. Teammate Carl Edwards once again showed himself to be light on his wheels on concrete. The Roush Gang sure got it done today. Not only did Biffle and Edwards shine, but Matt Kenseth is becoming the 2008 edition of Lazarus as he seems to be bringing his Chase hopes back from the dead. Jamie Mc Murray is running like a guy who wants to stay with the team. But really, but late race, it was obvious that barring a catastrophe, there would be only one real serious contender.
Kyle Busch is just on one of those runs that drivers have from time to time. Don’t get me wrong, you have to be talented and have good equipment to do it, but it also helps to have Lady Luck in your corner. She’s got a real affinity for “Wild Thing” right now. But again, remember that “Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.”
If you don’t like him, give him credit for this much: he spread the love around. Busch was quick to credit his crew for good stops, to Joe Gibbs for their top flight organization, and for all his fans and all NASCAR fans.
Maybe’s he’s learning something. Nobody likes a champion who is not gracious.
The way he’s going right now, I wouldn’t bet against him. All the ingredients are there to take it all in 2008. I still think Edwards, Junior, Jimmie and maybe even the old guard like Gordon, Smoke, JB or even Biffle may have something to say about that- right now, it’s “Rowdy’s World” and we’re living in it.
Other random thoughts…
Brian Vickers’ pit penalties sure screwed up a good opportunity to have an awesome finish….did you see Paul Menard weave through that big wreck? Dinging the inside barrier looked like a better altnernative than getting crumpled up in the middle of the crash….FOX reported their NASCAR ratings were up this year, so much for the death of NASCAR, huh?….Jeff Hammond made a good point and I must concede that I agree. Unlike free-agent-to-be Greg Biffle, who’s stated he’d prefer to stay at Roush, you don’t hear how Smoke want to stay at Gibbs. He may be gone- or he’s screwing with the media big-time…The speculation that Franchitti will give up NASCAR was something I foudn interesting. There seems to be a school of thought that this “stock car thing” is harder than it looks…According to Darrell Waltrip, even Sam Hornish is not sure a sure bet to stick around.
It’s all the drama that keeps us watching, and helps us endure a race like today.
Sorenson with one foot out at Ganassi
After Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates made former open wheeler Juan Pablo Montoya when they fired his crew chief, Jimmy Elledge, against his request just a couple of weekends to go.
With Silly Season getting sillier, there is now speculation that Juan Pablo may make the move to Joe Gibbs Racing if Tony Stewart decides to leave the organization this year.
This scenario may be the only way Reed Sorenson will be able to stay at Ganassi.
Sorenson started as a developmental driver for the team in the Busch series (now Nationwide Series). He was quickly given a cup ride at the age of 20. In all, Sorenson has been within the CGR organization for five years.
Sorenson is a free agent after this season. With his performance at CGR, it is a long shot that he will be resigned.
Sorenson’s performance isn’t the only thing that could play against him.
One of Ganassi’s IndyCar drivers, Dan Wheldon is rumored to be interested in following the likeness of Dario Franchitti and Montoya in making the jump for the Sprint Cup Series next year.
Sorenson’s performance has not changed much for the better since his rookie year. He has now wins yet in the Sprint Cup Series. He only has 5 Top-5s, 12 Top-10s, and 1 pole. He has compiled $9,383,680 in career winnings, and out of 23,036 laps he has only led 132 laps.
When reached for comment from Amy Vadnais - Public Relation for Reed Sorenson - she wished not to comment until she had more information. So there is now word if there are contract negotiations at this time. I will be following this and other free agent stories throughout the year at NASCAR FanZone and the Finish Line blog.
