Top 35 will be close after Bristol with some Big surpises

The Top 35 is very close. Some drivers can't afford to get caught in an accident or have a bad points day at Bristol:
Newman, Logano & Mark Martin are the biggest names sitting in jeopardy. Menard, Speed & Almirola are already on the outside and must fight their way inside. Gilliland still has to qualify on speed alond with Kvapil at Bristol.

30) #34-Andretti/Earnhardt Ganassi: 336 +59
31) #77-Hornish/Penske Racing: 328 +51
32) #39-Newman/Stewart Haas: 324 +47
33) #20-Logano/Gibbs Racing: 321 +44
34) #71-Gilliland/TRG: 301 +24 [new team]
35) #5-Martin/Hendrick: 286 +11
36) #8-Almirola/Earnhardt Ganassi: 277, 11 out of 35th
37) #82-Speed/Red Bull Racing: 256 -30
38) #98-Menard/Yates Racing: 238 -48
39) #28-Kvapil/Yates Racing: 214 -72

Predictions: Newman & Martin find a way to stay inside the Top 35, Logano gets a Bristol beat down and JGR finds itself in a bad situation having to qualify on time. The last time JGR had this situation, FedEx was placed on Bobby Labonte's ride after Leffler failed to qualify and opened the door for Denny Hamlin to take over. Could Joey be the next bust, and follow Casey Atwood as overated?

If Joey starts missing races, look for JGR to put Joey in a Nationwide ride and open auditions for the Cup ride...lots of decent drivers would love a shot at that #20 Toyota.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by brian campbell on March 9, 2009 at 12:01pm

i think they will give joey a little more time to develop befor they give him the shoe.
newman: will find a way but will stay back in the mid 20's all season.
martin: really feel for this guy.just bad luck.i think if he falls out of the top 35 qualifying will not even be a problem.i think he gets it turned around and even wins a race this year but will not make the chase.
menard:disappointing
gilliland:on fire, yates has to upset with it's decision to keep kvapil and bring in menards but there is dads $$$$$$
earnhardt/ganassi:i bet dale sr is rolling over in his grave.and jr made the right move.
this is of coarse my opinion and i could be wrong but it will be fun to watch.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by WJM on March 9, 2009 at 12:23pm

The 39 looks like the Stewart/Haas "B" team or maybe Hendrick is using the 39 as the R&D team.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by WJM on March 9, 2009 at 12:09pm

13 teams with 3 or more qual attempts sitting outside the top 35. I wouldn't be surprised if at least 6 of them park it.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Keith on March 9, 2009 at 12:26pm

By July the top-35 will become a lame duck.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike/WC77 on March 9, 2009 at 12:11pm

I've heard multiple times that both JGR,& Home Depot understand are on the same page with Joey. It's going to be a developmental year for him.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Keith on March 9, 2009 at 12:24pm

You heard right... Joe Gibbs is on record with that. The new HD commercials reflect that as well.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TOG on March 9, 2009 at 12:44pm

Except the scene where they showed the car, the salesman should have said " You will need at least 36 of these, so the hell with your budget "

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Garrett Gleason on March 9, 2009 at 12:45pm

haha sad but true.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike/WC77 on March 9, 2009 at 1:13pm

Ya know, I looked for those cars @ Home Depot. I was disappointed to find they don't actually stock them.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Keith on March 9, 2009 at 12:21pm

Nobody is going into the 20...

You know nothing about Joe Gibbs if you actually think he's going to throw the kid under the bus.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on March 9, 2009 at 12:57pm

I don't think they'll dump Joey, but if Joey starts DNQing at traks...don't be surprised if JGR doesn't bring another driver in while Joey is on payroll to give feedback...then what do you do if that driver pulls off a win or starts running solid weekly...it's happened so many times...that's how Khane got the ride from Atwood, Hamlin from Leffler, AJ Allmendinger with RPM, and so on....even the JGR's #18 was junk with Labonte's last 2 years and the year with JJ Yeley...then Kyle took over and BANG!

I think Joey will be good, but will Home Depot be okay when the car is not even in the show? I agree, they won't fire him, but when Home Depot is paying big bucks and their car is in the hauler on sundays...that's when we'll see if they will stand by their word. Be hard if they let someone like Gilliland or Riggs get behind the wheel and they won...then what? Nationwide? a #02 Home Depot for Joey?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Keith on March 9, 2009 at 1:20pm

If you knew as much about Joey as you lead on, then you would know he is already sharing the NNWS ride in the 20 that was scheduled before the season started.