“James (Finch) came into the shop and we were throwing a few names around. Robby Gordon was a candidate and then Owen’s name was put up,” said Harrison

“To be honest Dale (Earnhardt) Jr, Marcos (Ambrose), AJ (Allmendinger) , anyone we spoke to was very supportive of Owen and what he could bring to our team.

“We are pumped to have him as part of our operation. Anyone who looks at his career and has watched him in his Nationwide qualifying and races knows he has got talent.

“We will be running the same car which Kurt Busch finished third in at Sonoma last year. We head up to Watkins Glen believing we can be very, very competitive.

“We had Jacques Villeneuve in our car at Sonoma this year and had Robby Gordon as an option, as I said, but we believe Owen is the best option for us.

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Read about it, hope Tony heals fast! I definately hope Tony gives Robby a call. Proven Winner at the Glen!

This is just my guess on this.. Who ever they call on to replace Tony, they are just wanting someone to points race. So my question.... Would Robby go back to Nascar just to points race for someone? I'm thinking Robby would only do it if a chance to win. But....ya never know...

Need a sponsor approved driver

It's ovbious Bass Pro Shops tabbed Austin Dillion for this weekend's race. Read Humphrey Wheeler's article on how Nascar screwed up. It's obvious to many now (too late) that the corporate America way ruined Nascar. Here again is another example of Sponsor making decision with Dillion in the 14 car. I understand the sponsor writes the check, but it was the team and performance that attracted the sponsorship in the first place. Sponsors need to back off. I still believe the biggest killer was Nascar stealing sponsors away from teams. Look at the Official Sponsor of Nascar list...almost all sponsored a team first. Then Nascar gave exclusiveness to sponsors like Sprint driving AT&T, Altell, and Verizon out of the series. That effected the teams. When you look at the Top 15 in standings most of these are not young drivers either. None are announcing retirement this year, but look at the "talent" that has failed in the last few years in Cup. From 2000-2006 Rookie drivers have blossomed into great drivers, but since 2006 it's been all downhill.

Here's the Rookie of the Year Winners since 2000:

2012 Stephen Leicht - FAILED
2011 Andy Lally - FAILED
2010 Kevin Conway - FAILED
2009 Joey Logano - TBD- Let go by JGR and now with Penske
2008 Regan Smith - TBD - Let go by EGR and FRR and now in NationWide
2007 Juan Pablo Montoya - TBD - Being let go by EGR at end of year

2006 Denny Hamlin - SUCCESSFUL
2005 Kyle Busch - SUCCESSFUL
2004 Kasey Kahne - SUCCESSFUL
2003 Jamie McMurray - SUCCESSFUL
2002 Ryan Newman - SUCCESSFUL
2001 Kevin Harvick - SUCCESSFUL
2000 Matt Kenseth - SUCCESSFUL

So Conway is now a "Driver Owner" in this Lamorghini thing going on??? I guess. Anybody in Kansas check it out.. ! I could not find the full field finish from the event at Lime Rock from the 4 th of july event but did not try very hard......

Conway won the Friday night race at Kansas.

Austin also impressed Anthony Stewart with his win at Eldora. Parlay the relationship with Bass Pro, I can see why he got the ride.

Looking back at all the talent that came into Nascar over the past 30 years it's obvious drivers that worked their way up from the dirt tracks and lower divisions faired alot better than the others: Since 2007 the drivers coming into NASCAR are NOT Making It...

2012 Stephen Leicht - FAILED
2011 Andy Lally - FAILED
2010 Kevin Conway - FAILED
2009 Joey Logano - TBD
2008 Regan Smith - FAILED
2007 Juan Pablo Montoya - TBD (Paul Menard - Runner Up)
2006 Denny Hamlin - SUCCESS (Clint Bowyer / Martin Truex Jr - Rookie Year)
2005 Kyle Busch - SUCCESS
2004 Kasey Kahne - SUCCESS (Brian Vickers / Carl Edwards - Rookie Year)
2003 Jamie McMurray - SUCCESS (Greg Biffle / Casey Mears - Rookie Year)
2002 Ryan Newman - SUCCESS (Jimmie Johnson - Runner Up)
2001 Kevin Harvick - SUCCESS (Kurt Busch - Runner Up)
2000 Matt Kenseth - SUCCESS (Dale Earnhardt Jr - Runner Up)
1999 Tony Stewart - SUCCESS (Elliott Sadler - Runner Up)
1998 Kenny Irwin - KILLED EARLY IN CAREER
1997 Mike Skinner - Average (Robby Gordon - Runner Up)
1996 Johnny Benson - Average
1995 Ricky Craven - Average
1994 Jeff Burton - SUCCESS (Joe Nemecheck, Jeremy Mayfield, Ward Burton - Rookie Year)
1993 Jeff Gordon - SUCCESS (Bobby Labonte, PJ Jones, Kenny Wallce - Rookie Year)
1992 Jimmy Hensley - Average
1991 Bobby Hamilton - Average
1990 Rob Moroso - KILLED EARLY IN CAREER
1989 Dick Trickle - Average (Jimmy Spencer Rookie Year)
1988 Ken Bouchard - Average
1987 Davey Allison - KILLED EARLY IN CAREER
1986 Alan Kulwicki - SUCCESS
1985 Ken Schrader - SUCCESS
1984 Rusty Wallace - SUCCESS
1983 Sterling Marlin - SUCCESS
1982 Geoff Bodine - SUCCESS (Mark Martin - Runner Up)

Great read, thanks. An eye opener for sure. I always wondered where the money went. The billions of dollars from TV, the tracks paying, the drivers paying all going to NASCAR. Then, to dictate the cars and the major changes they've needed makes me wonder how anyone can make a dime!

Brian France is where the money went/goes

AMEN MK AMEN !!!!!
Glad to see someone finally admit it . Everyone always asks " what's wrong with NASCAR ? "
Simple 2 word answer .....
BRIAN FRANCE .

Brutin Smith has his hands in deep too!

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