Penske Racing South

Hey guys I love pulling for the underdog or little guys or even the unknown in NASCAR and I'm definitely buying me a Verizon Nationwide hat!

The 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series champion Justin Allgaier won't be running in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona, but the Riverton, Illinois driver will be there at the "World Center of Racing" in full force nonetheless.

Penske Racing announced Monday that Allgaier will run the full NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule in 2009 with Verizon Wireless as its title sponsor on the 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge Charger.

Allgaier made four Nationwide Series starts for Penske Racing in 2008 after joining the team in late September. The 22-year-old driver is looking to lead the team to a breakout season, beginning next month in Daytona.

"Penske Racing enjoyed a productive, winning relationship with Alltel over the last decade," said Roger Penske, Chairman of Penske Racing. "We look forward to building on that solid foundation and in sharing many future successes with our new partner, Verizon Wireless."(Arca Motorsports)

In 2008 he ran a full ARCA/REMAX Series season (21 races), wins six races (Salem Speedway, Cayuga Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Talladega Superspeedway, Toledo Speedway), 14 top-5, 16 top-10 finishes, one pole position.

Using a Penske Racing engine, wins in a dramatic last-lap pass of Joey Logano. At season finale in Toledo, in third place in the championship. After the top two drivers take each other out, wins the race and his first ARCA championship.

Joins Penske racing on September 17, makes NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway (Concord, N.C.) in October—starts 14th, finishes 34th. Runs three more Nationwide Series events in 2008—Texas Motor Speedway (starts 13th, finishes 21st), Phoenix International Raceway (starts 20th, finishes 11th) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (starts 26th, finishes 28th ). Runs one NASCAR Craftsman Truck race in Kentucky (starts 34th, finishes 24th). Runs one UMP Late Model event at Farmer City Speedway, wins two of four midget events entered (Macon Speedway, DuQuoin State Fairgrounds). Runs at the 2008 Chili Bowl, finishes 11th in the F Main event. (Penske Motorsports)

Justin's nickname is "Little Gator." He started racing at age 12 he is a five-time quarter midgit champion and has over 100 wins. As I predicted in my Nationwide preview I predicted Justin to win four races now announced that he will run a full season I stand behind it 100 percent. Watch out David Streeme, "The Gator" may be shooting for your job in 2010 or Penske may expand to a three-car team they definitely dont need to lose this guy.

Kurt's luck ran out again at Martinsville today!   The third-place finish from last week's race at Lowe's Motor Speedway was almost forgotten when the Penske Plague surfaced again.

After three blown tires and a spin out, Kurt was clear about what he wanted.  He asked his crew "Can I park this thing?"  The answer came back: "NO."

When Kurt expressed his concern for safety, I wondered if the crew took it seriously or just brushed it off as Kurt just being upset.

It got me thinking: When the driver is feeling uneasy in the car, why was he not given the option of parking it?   Kurt was more than 20 laps down, was not in the chase, and undoubtedly had a car not worth driving (as it's been most of this season).

NASCAR rules state that if the driver starts the race, they will be awarded points and money according to their finish.    How much worse could it have been if Kurt finished 41st instead of 36th (Joe Nemecheck and Ragan Smith were already out of the race). 

* Kurt was awarded 55 points, if he finished 41st, he would have been awarded 40.   Kurt is currently 18th in points and the 15 points he would have lost by not finishing would not have jeopardized his spot in the top 35.

* Regarding prize money, the purse is pretty close for the lower 35 positions.  I don't think anyone believes money is an issue.

* Sponsor concerns.   Could Miller Lite truly want to see their car running horribly, race after race?   

A good alternative would have been to pull it behind the wall and pretend to work on it.  ABC would have kept going back to check on the "progress," giving the sponsor a lot of air time.

When does a crew trust the driver?  And when does the driver say "screw it" and walk away from the car?  

For all us Kurt Busch fans out there, it sure was nice to see him finish ahead of his brother Kyle.   

We know he's talented, we know he's driven, but the equipment (we won't dare call it a race car) he's been forced to drive this season isn't fit for backyard racing, let alone the most prestigious race arena: SPRINT CUP RACING!

I was fortunate enough to be able to get into the Dodge Hospitality at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this month. I say fortunate because a small group of us were able to spend a few minutes with Kurt.

If you've never had the opportunity to hear Kurt speak, he is incredible.  He dives straight into a one-on-one interaction with the fans (even if they are not his) and talks about details that some drivers never mention.

He was open about the new C.O.T. and where Penske was headed with the new engine package.  He was hopeful he'd run well that day, but was confident that 2009 would be a much improved year.  

If the race at Lowe's Motor Speedway this past weekend was any indication, I say we're gearing up for a great 2009 season.   

Being a Busch Boys fan (both Kurt and Kyle), I was happy to hear Kurt brag a bit on little brother. He was honest in saying there was a rivalry there and that he's been too long in Kyle's rear-view mirror.

I don't think Kyle is the better driver; I just think he has a few things that Kurt is lacking right now.

No. 1 is equipment.

There is no comparison between Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing this season. I'm not sure if the credit should be given to Toyota for building the superior car or Joe Gibbs for hiring the right people to tweak them.

No. 2 is the "Here's to you" attitude. 

Kyle had something to prove this year; Kurt didn't.

Being released from Hendrick Motorsports for the most popular driver in NASCAR must have been a huge slap in the face for this up-and-coming superstar. 

Nothing would be nicer than to throw it back at Mr. Rick.

No. 3 is what I call NFF, better known as the NO FEAR FACTOR.

Kyle drives like a madman who is obsessed with racing. Remember the days of Kurt Busch vs. Jimmy Spencer?   Kyle was fortunate enough (and yes, I said FORTUNATE) to plow into Dale Jr. this season, becoming one of the most hated drivers ever.

I think the only way you can make it big in this sport is to be the most loved or the most hated, so good job, Kyle. I know it drives me to sit in the middle of a bunch of Dale Jr. fans at Talladega wearing only Kyle Busch apparel. 

I love the battle, I love the reaction, and I love it most of all when Kyle gets out there and wins!  Don't you think Kyle gets the same feelings?

Kurt doesn't have that this season. I thought it was there when 2008 started: the feud with Tony...but that was short lived. What Kurt needs is a rivalry with another superstar.  Maybe Dale Jr.?  Carl Edwards?  Jeff Gordon?  

I remember reading an interview Kurt did years ago where he was quoted saying "If you think I'm good, wait until my brother comes on-board". 

I'm sure he never thought he'd be running so far behind baby brother, but it makes me wonder what may have happen if Kurt would have stayed at Rousch, would he be running where Biffle and Edwards are?

Would he be the superstar of the team? Would he have another championship? 

Okay, I'm going to take the high road from here on out. I never hear Kurt bad-mouth his team, and I'm going to stop. I am going to try and have the faith that Kurt does. 

Let's hope that by Newman leaving and none of team PENSKE making it to the Chase, that Roger will kick it up and 2009 will be their year.  

I'm a loyal fan as long as Kurt is there, and he is Penske's best shot and getting back in the Chase next year. 

Good luck, Kurt! 

Justin Allgaier was all smiles at the start of the Friday night Nationwide Series race under the lights at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Not only was this his first appearance ever in the series, but he had qualified the number No. 12 Penske Dodge in the fourteenth position to start the race.

During pre-race interviews, Allgaier admitted that he was “in awe” of racing side by side with some of the best racers in NASCAR. The field for the evening included fourteen Cup drivers, six of whom are currently in the Chase for the Championship.

But Allgaier is no racing novice. Hailing from Riverton, Illinois, this 22-year-old driver has already established impressive racing credentials. 

Justin has been racing in the ARCA REMAX series since 2004. This year has been his most successful ever as he has won five races, including races at Salem Speedway, Cayuga Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, New Jersey Motorsports Park, and most recently, Talladega Superspeedway.

Allgaier also currently sits third in points in the ARCA championship battle, 105 points behind leader Scott Speed. He is only 20 points shy of second place Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

Justin can also take credit for a third place finish at the 2007 Chili Bowl. There he finished behind winner and Cup champion Tony Stewart and second place finisher J.J. Yeley.

So, Allgaier was primed and ready in his bright yellow Penske Dodge to take the green flag at Lowe's Motor Speedway for his first foray into racing at the next level.  He was doing well, studying and learning, staying mid-pack in the twentieth or so position for much of the race.

Justin dodged one bullet during the first major wreck of the race.  Chase Miller got loose and took out both Jason Keller and Bobby Hamilton, Jr.

Allgaier just managed to squeak by that wreck by following his spotter's instructions to "go left." He took that hard left, went low and was able to thread the needle through the accident unharmed.

Justin's second challenge came during the next wreck, which featured Mike Wallace clipping the left rear quarter panel of the Rusty Wallace team's No. 64 car driven by David Stremme. Again, Allgaier was able to masterfully steer his way through that melee.

But, Justin was not so lucky on the third major incident of the race. This one came on lap 125 and was instigated by Jeff Green, who was already limping along in the race, several laps down.

Green spun, collecting the other car in Rusty Wallace's shop, driven by Rusty's son Steven. Unfortunately, Justin could not avoid this one, hitting hard into the wall and sustaining heavy damage to his race car.

Although Allgaier was able to climb out of his battered yellow Dodge, his evening was over. He had survived thirteen cautions, two major rain delays, and two other close calls only to have his race end early, finishing 75 laps down in the 34th position.

During one of the rain delays, Justin acknowledged that he would not have any time to think about the outcome of the Nationwide race. He had a plane waiting to whisk him off to Toledo Speedway for the ARCA REMAX finale.

Allgaier, along with his other ARCA competitors, are set to practice first thing on Saturday morning in Ohio and then race for the championship on Sunday afternoon. 

Hopefully, Justin will be able to shake off his Charlotte experience and move on to his ARCA seat, where the action will be equally as exciting, but hopefully with a better outcome for him and his family owned team.

For Kurt Busch this season has been about living in his brother's shadow and breaking free from behind Ryan Newman leadership roles at Penske. With Ryan Newman leaving  for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009, Kurt has his chance to be the leader at Penske racing.

The only thing that is holding back this former champion is performance and younger brother Kyle Busch.

Now you are thinking, Why would Kyle Busch be holding back his older bother? My answer  while Kurt Busch has been battling all year just to stay in touch with the leaders his brother was scorching the field and leaving many to wonder what happened to Kurt?

Kurt has said it in the past, you think I am good wait till my brother hits his stride. And hit his stride he has. Leaving Kurt Busch struggling to get his blue deuce anything close to the TV time his brother is getting.

It's not rare to see brothers in racing. NASCAR is a family sport. Generations race  in NASCAR's top division like the Pettys and Allisons and Waltrips. NASCAR is about passing on racing traditions to the next generation.

Both have the talent and the drive but the difference between the two is performance and equipment.

For Kurt Busch who he himself has won a championship and has until the last two years ran well within the top 10 in this sport. He has become an afterthought in this sport.

The performance at Penske racing is what really drove Ryan Newman to join friend Tony Stewart newly formed Stewart Haas Racing. Ryan has always been the leader and face of that organization even though he himself hasn't run nearly as competitive as  he did in his break out season of 2005.

I think Kurt choice to not jump ship himself from Penske is the fact that in any other organization he would not be the  number one guy. He would always be the second or possibly third driver on a team.

It's a smart move for him to be honest. He is the face of an organization that needs to to improve. Busch is the perfect person for it. He races hard, no doubt about it. And with every DNF you can see the frustration and disappointment on his face, but you won't hear him bash the organization or call out crew members in the media.

He knows how to play face with the media. So for Penske while losing a guy like Newman is hard. He's got a driver whose passion for this sport hasn't changed since he took his first laps  in the top series.

Kurt has the talent to win races. He has a strong relationship with crew chief Pat Tryson. But the on track performance has garnered this team engine failures, mechanical issues, and lack of overall speed on the track.

Now the new car has played a role for many teams struggling, but there has been progress for those teams. For the Penske Dodges they are struggling to keep there  cars competitive and finish races. In this tough competition  today Penske racing could see the organization itself slip into  becoming a filler team instead of true contender.

Penske also runs the risk of losing sponsorship for his teams. While Kurt Busch is not the most marketable driver in NASCAR, he can keep  sponsors, for now. Sponsors want to see there product on TV. They don't want to hear you didn't finish the race which means you garnered little to none TV time.

Kurt Busch recently said they are focused on next year. Focused on making there cars stronger and more competitive. But they are way behind on other organizations and playing catch up puts you one year behind the rest of the field.

Penske needs to focus on NASCAR if he wants to win a championship, in a field of tough, hungry competitors.For Kurt Busch in the remaining races and in 2009 he needs to display why Penske Racing is not an afterthought and will be contending, simply by finishing the races.

According to current crew chief Greg Zipadelli, Tony Stewart sounds like a man committed to greener pastures in 2009. The driver of the #20 Home Depot Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing is unsatisfied with his current team, according to rumors that broke at Talladega weeks ago, and is looking at potential ownership opportunities for the 2009 season.

Much like the silly season last year revolved around Dale Earnhardt Jr., this year's silly season revolves around the wants and needs of Stewart.

Earnhardt found the performance and leadership he sought at Hendrick Motorsports. Stewart may find his potential ownership opportunity at Haas CNC Racing, a mid-pack team currently struggling with little sponsorship and low-level drivers.

The entire silly season revolves around whether Stewart jumps on the opportunity. Does he want to stick with the top Gibbs team, which has provided him with decent cars (at worst) all season, despite relegating him to third driver status based on performance? Or does Stewart want to risk becoming the next Michael Waltrip, an owner-driver stretched too thin by the demands of running a multi-car team while simultaneously trying to qualify for races?

Below is a potential synopsis of what may occur if Stewart makes the leap into ownership.

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1. Tony Stewart Racing formed

Stewart buys into Haas CNC Racing, assuming majority ownership from current managing partner Joe Custer. Keeping the team at two cars, his presence alone is enough to attract plenty of potential sponsors; Stewart manages to lure Bass Pro Shops away from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to sponsor his #70 Chevrolet.

Unsure about sponsorship on the #12 Penske Racing Dodge he currently drives, and noting that UPS has made the move to TSR, Ryan Newman also joins the fledgling team, assuming the drivers' seat of the #66 Chevrolet.

2. Hendrick Motorsports picks up Martin Truex Jr.

With Bass Pro Shops leaving DEI for TSR, Martin Truex Jr. has no sponsor for the #1 Chevrolet he drives for Teresa Earnhardt. With the #5 Kellogg's Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports underperforming, and with close friend Dale Earnhardt Jr. already driving for HMS, Truex replaces Casey Mears
in the seat.

This seems like a natural fit, as the #5 and #88 teams at Hendrick work together, much as the #24 and #48 teams of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson do.

3. Penske Racing replaces Newman with Stremme

Longtime Dodge driver David Stremme signs with Penske Racing to replace Newman in the #12 Dodge. Currently a Penske test driver, Stremme ranks ninth in Nationwide Series points in 15 starts for Rusty Wallace Racing.

Penske convinces Kodak to move up and foot the bill for the entire season on the hood of Stremme's car. With the Alltel brand being phased out after Verizon's purchase of the company, Penske needs a company to step up for the 2009 season.

Chase Austin replaces Stremme full-time in Rusty Wallace Inc.'s #64 Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series.

4. US Army, State Water Heaters join Bill Davis Racing

With DEI a sinking ship, the US Army joins Bill Davis Racing as a sponsor for its #22 Toyota. State Water Heaters also joins the team as a sponsor for the #23 Toyota.

Popular BDR driver Dave Blaney, the first driver to ever win a pole for Toyota, is retained to drive the #22, while Scott Riggs joins State Water Heaters (his current sponsor) at the #23 team.

5. Richard Childress Racing signs David Reutimann

David Reutimann joins RCR as the driver of the #33 Cheerios Chevrolet, beating out Scott Wimmer and Aric Almirola for the ride. He leaves Michael Waltrip Racing, which lost sponsor UPS to TSR. Reutimann joins a powerhouse stable that also fields cars for Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, and Kevin Harvick.

In the Nationwide Series, Bowyer returns to the #2 BB&T Chevrolet, and Scott Wimmer takes the #29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet over full-time. Reutimann, Burton, and Stephen Leicht alternate driving duties in the #21 Chevrolet, which runs a part-time schedule as sponsorship permits.

6. Michael Waltrip Racing cuts down to two Sprint Cup teams

With UPS leaving the #44 team, MWR signs Office Depot as the sponsor for its second car. The team then shifts Michael McDowell over from the vacant #00 to the #44. Michael Waltrip's #55 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota remains intact.

McDowell also replaces Reutimann in the team's Nationwide Series car, the #99 Aaron's Toyota, at Sprint Cup companion events.

7. Dale Earnhardt Inc. sees complete overhaul

Paul Menard returns to the #15 Menards Chevrolet, but everything else at DEI is different for 2009. Aric Almirola moves to the #1 Chevrolet, which receives increased financial backing from current DEI sponsors Steak-Umm, Cub Cadet, and Freightliner.

Mark Martin shares the #8 Chevrolet with Regan Smith, this time with the backing of Principal Financial Group for the season. The #01 team is folded. BDR attempts to buy the team's owners' points for its #23 car, but NASCAR denies the request, citing the four-team ownership cap.

8. Joe Gibbs replaces Tony Stewart with...

This one's a no-brainer. With Stewart gone, Gibbs takes a chance on Joey Logano, the superstar of the future, as the new driver of the #20 Home Depot Toyota.

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It's easy to see why Stewart's foray into ownership could have such an effect on the entire NASCAR garage - in this fictional synopsis alone, 15 teams (#1, #5, #8, #12, #20, #22, #23, #33, #44, #66, #70, and cars #21, #29, #64, and #99 in the Nationwide Series) saw the direct effects of the potential move.

Expect big, big changes all around if Stewart makes the leap of faith.