Based on that though ladybug you would then say that "the next best thing" Joey Lagano should also not be running the #20 car next year in the Sprint Cup series because the only full season he has run was I believe last year in the Camping World East division. Otherwise they have pushed him through each other division. I for one think the only way he does well next year is because he is in such a solid car with Gibbs. Look at his results this year so far in the few events he's run on the cup side in the equipment he's in the results are not there. Just like Patrick running in 2nd grade equipment and running as decently as he could. Maybe if Dodge gave them a real engine to run he wouldn't have been fighting to qualify at the super speedways like he did this year.
put patty in that 25 car!...just saying....cars mean alot!
"We certainly appreciate all the effort that Patrick Carpentier made for us this year," Mark McArdle, GEM's vice president and managing director of competition, said in a statement released Tuesday. "But our job is to put ourselves in a position to win races, plus we're striving to get the No. 10 into the top 35 in [owner] points. We feel A.J. gives us the best chance to do both."
The No. 10 is currently 338 points out of 35th place in the owner standings.
Are you kidding me???? aj can't drive his hands down his pants, but he is going to make up 338 points and win a race? lmao
DWfan4ever, what I mean is that we've seen Joey Lagono's talent in Nationwide with how he ran while meanwhile we haven't seen anything in Nationwide with Scott Speed. That's what I meant by those words. And yes, equipment is a lot to do with it - we've seen evidence of that in a lot of cases. That's why sometimes you have to look at the quality of car compared to the driver, so Thayne your suggestion is definately one to consider. That's why the entire blitz of is it car or is it casey with the #25 at HMS righ now is one to definately look at next year as a lot of people say Casey isn't getting fairly treated, while meanwhile others are saying that Casey doesn't have talent. Therefore with Mark in that car next year and proven talent, it'll showcase the truth of the car. Though if Mark struggles, well then story settled. And that also works with Casey at RCR and if he runs well.
Dodgeguy14, if they're 338 pts out they're not gettin in as that's a little too much, although anything can happen and they're not mathimatically out 😉 - thou win a race? Possibly as AJ did get close a couple of times in the 84.
Lets do the side step and measure things up...
Patrick- is a racer, and come's from open wheel with allot of talent and can get the job done, but, he is Canadian and finding Sponsorship proceeds in a USA based Series is very unlikely to ever happen.
BEST CASE- Patrick gets a Nationwide ride and finds a Sponsor that works on a International level- showcases his talent and crosses his fingers for a Cup Ride.
MY THINKING- Patrick needs to try and find a Sponsor that wants Patrick and not the Series. Get your butt back into Open Wheel where you belong, and where you can be regarded as one of the better drivers.
A.J.Allmendinger- is fast- will drive hard- and see's no boundary points in racing at any level. He is very cocky and runs with that Gordon attitude that his shit don't stink...and I mean the other Gordon- Not the one that can really drive in the 24 car.
BEST CASE- A.J. learns that he has to control his mouth and learns to work with his team, and by doing so wins allot of races as he does have the talent to do so.
Sponsors love the guy- so money is not an issue here.
MY THINKING- I would lean more towards this young - top gun- as a driver to lead my team to victory lane over allot of Drivers, but he does need to control himself on and off the track.
Mike Wallace- Great Racer with allot of patience, but has to follow in his brothers foot steps...not the yacky one..the one that can actually drive and win races.
As a Driver he is what you would want as a Team Representative.
Clean Cut- Good Looking- Well Spoken- Great Feedback- Can dial in a Car- Can run up front- Is more likely to wreck trying then trying to wreck- and best yet- is a Wallace !!
BEST CASE- Gieco follows Mike to Cup and gets a good couple o9f years out of the ride.
Mike is not a young gun so he doesn't expect to be here in 5 years from now- but NOW really matters to this guy.
MY THINKING- If I had to pick one of the three- Wallace is my man.
He will run hard- keep equipment in shape- work with others- and is respected in any Garage at any level of Motorsports.
Evernham Gillette- Ray had the ride of his life with Jeff Gordon, and visaversa.
Both Men experienced winning better then most and have never been able to accomplish that level of stature ever since they parted ways.
Ray went on his own and did so by bringing Dodge back to Cup style racing and has been very successful at that venture, but has yet to provide the evidence of that once bright moment in his racing career.
BEST CASE- Ray finds another Gordon and molds him to be his driver- win races and dominate's a Championship.
Evernham has more talent in his back pocket then 99% of the entire cup field and needs an opportunity to show case it.
MY THINKING- Most of the Power House Teams are peaked out.
Hendricks is capped with a stellar Driver load and next year, attitudes will bring down this team as everyone trys to figure out who is the leader.
Roush, Ganassi, and Penske will stay intact and aggressive, but Driver jumping has not even started to play a role in their programs....yet !!
DEI is not a threat at all- to anyone- but could become a great purchase program for Evernham and Gillette as DEI's value continuously sores to the basement.
Rumor- Maybe...but every week for the past month DEI has had Auctions selling off a ton of GM stuff....keeping everything that is useable to startup under a differnt logo !!
Can Ray build a 4 car team... YES- once the purchase is finalized and DEI becomes GEM.