Feud of the Week: Did Junior deserve a penalty? Is Logano for real? - NASCAR

Pete Pistone	Brian De Los Santos
Should Dale Earnhardt Jr. have been penalized for passing the pace car attempting to save gas at Michigan?
There's no way NASCAR would have penalized Earnhardt, Jr. or anyone else for what happened under that final caution lap last week in Michigan. The anti-Junior fans say he should have been penalized for going past the pace car under yellow and NASCAR did warn Earnhardt to stop. But it had nothing to do with who was driving the car, any other driver would have no doubt been given the same pass. Earnhardt maintained speed and made it to the checkered flag and really that's all that mattered. But the conspiracy theories are flying that NASCAR "gave" a win to its most popular driver. I don't buy it.	I'm all for NASCAR showing discretion when it comes to some of its rules, but when it does, it opens itself to criticism. As we all know, in NASCAR there are rules with which officials will govern with an iron fist (such a pit road speeding penalties) and then there are rules which are merely guidelines. Apparently the "rules" regarding pace laps fall under the latter. Last year, NASCAR did nothing when Greg Biffle slowed dramatically while trying to conserve fuel at Kansas. Earlier this year, they let Denny Hamlin get away with purposely slamming into Brad Keselowski during a yellow flag. So it was the right ruling based on their recent history in similar instances. It would have been hypocritical to penalize Earnhardt. Plus, I don't want to imagine the riot that would have ensued had NASCAR made the call that would have cost him the victory.

Is Joey Logano that good or simply fortunate to be with a great team in a great car?

Well there's no doubt he's with a great team and I wouldn't go as far to say that Brian and I could drive a JGR car to victory lane, but it helps to be with a powerhouse team. However Logano is that good, he's been on the radar for so long and has won everywhere he's raced no matter what kind of car and or type of series. It would be easy to get caught up in the frenzy Logano has already started with his success right out of the box, but Joe and J.D. Gibbs appear to be on the right course with keeping the talented youngster off the Cup circuit at least until 2010.

From what I've read, heard and seen, I have no doubt that Logano is the real deal, but it certainly didn't hurt that he was able to jump into the Joe Gibbs Racing 20 car, which had already been driven to six victories in the Nationwide Series this season prior to his arrival. He's in a perfect situation. But he's in that situation because he is so talented. I think it's proven that no matter how good a car may be, it's not going to be a consistent front-runner without a strong wheel man. Look at J.J. Yeley and Kyle Busch. Gibbs gave Yeley every opportunity to succeed in the 18 car, but he lagged far behind teammates Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. In a little more than two seasons, Yeley compiled a mere six top 10s. Busch comes in this season and already has four victories in the 18.

mikeyfan1599 asks: With Bobby Labonte signing for four more years at Petty Enterprises, who is at the front of the line for the fourth Richard Childress ride?

Free agents Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle are in that mix at this point, with neither signed at Penske or Roush respectively. Martin Truex Jr. is also a name in the mix, another guy who hasn't gotten his extension deal done at DEI for 2009. Childress wanted Labonte there's no doubt as did sponsor General Mills, who is moving from Petty Enterprises to RCR next season. But his staying at PE has thrown things off course just a little bit. A dark horse candidate? How about current RCR Nationwide pilot Scott Wimmer, who has done an excellent job in a limited role.

Well, of course, RCR would love to land Tony Stewart -- if he does indeed leave Joe Gibbs Racing. RCR fields the Chevrolets everybody says Stewart is inclined to drive and he's pretty good buddies with RCR driver Kevin Harvick. I would think Childress would be able to present a package that would include helping him start his own team. But if Hendrick Motorsports gets into the bidding, forget about it. The next best option out there is Ryan Newman. Unless RCR lands Stewart, the top 35 owners rule is going to be an issue for the first five races of the 2009 season, so they'd need a strong qualifier, which Newman has been through the course of his career. Aside from the Daytona 500 win earlier this season, there have been few bright spots the last several seasons at Penske Racing, a move might do him good. After Newman, the pickings are slim among the veteran contingent. Jamie McMurray and Reed Sorenson possibly.

Can a ringer finally pull one out at Sonoma, or will it again be a Cup regular in Victory Lane?

You know the "ringers" aren't as capable of stealing a road course win these days because so many of the Cup regulars have stepped up their road racing game. Boris Said will be in the mix but I see Juan Pablo Montoya, Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon as the guys to beat Sunday and a Sprint Cup regular sipping champagne in victory lane.

The percentages just don't favor the ringers considering there will be about five ringers and 38 regulars. On top of that, Jeff Gordon, Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya are every bit as good at road racing as the specialists. In addition, the Cup regulars tend to have better, more reliable equipment. These ringers aren't climbing into a top 10 car. Usually it's with a team fighting to stay in the top 35. Of the ringers, I say keep an eye on Scott Pruett, who's replacing Reed Sorenson in the 41 car this weekend..


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