[Quality88]

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- A.J. Allmendinger left Martinsville Speedway Sunday evening still with no idea what he'll be doing next season.
But he made another strong statement that he ought to be somewhere in Sprint Cup racing in 2009 by nearly matching the best finish this season by the Gillett Evernham Motorsports No. 10 Dodge when he finished 15th.





"[Martinsville] wouldn't have been the first track I'd have picked to come to with a new team, but I'm looking forward to Atlanta and Texas, because I've been pretty good there -- so we'll see what happens," Allmendinger said. "Overall, [Sunday] was a good, solid day. I think if we could have got that [free pass] at the end when Reed [Sorenson] spun -- I wasn't trying to race the leaders and I was running right with them."
The icing on the cake was that the TUMS QuikPak 500 was the first start in the car for Allmendinger, who's been Sprint Cup's version of a pinball the last few weeks. Allmendinger's been hired to drive the car in the last five races this season before GEM brings on current Ganassi Racing driver Sorenson.
"The chemistry on the team is good and Gillett Evernham builds great cars," Allmendinger said. "They're a good team, I just think they needed to get steered in the right direction and I'm not saying I'm the guy that's going to be able to do that, but hopefully I can give them a good direction. To get a top-15 ... that's good."
It's perfect for Allmendinger, who's seriously ride-shopping.

NASCAR.COM - Allmendinger continues to make☻case with strong run - Oct 20, 2008

The boy has talent, he just needs time and a ride.

[Racer Duck]

Again, AJ was the top driver in number of positions improved in the race. Except for a couple "scrapes" (which at Martinsville is required), he seemed to have a pretty good race.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Again, AJ was the top driver in number of positions improved in the race. Except for a couple "scrapes" (which at Martinsville is required), he seemed to have a pretty good race.

A.J. is, IMHO, the most improved driver for this season, which his team mate close behind.

[jks812]

I think he's improved a good bit this year. I hope someone picks him up.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by jks812

I think he's improved a good bit this year. I hope someone picks him up.

I predict he'll sign with a small, under-funded team and quickly be consigned to the trash heap of drivers who could have, and should have, made it big but somehow didn't fit the template. (Brendan Gaughn, Casey Atwood, Mike Skinner, Ron Hornaday, Jack Sprague, Carl Riggs, Scott Wimmer are names which come to mind).

I guess the secret is to hire Mark Martin as your PR point man?

[Racer Duck]

consider this:

• AJ is driving the GEM #10 car for the rest of the season 'cause Sorenson isn't released yet from Ganassi's #41.
• the #10 car is 330 points outside the chosen .. not much chance to pick that up so AJ can pretty much drive the wheels off it to show what he can do (no points racing here!)
• Mayfield has been mentioned in some circles to take the #41 seat 'cause he did an adequate job in the #40 for one race after Franchitti left.
• the #41 car is +150 points inside the chosen .. not much chance of that changing drastically..
• then there's the young Ganassi drivers Bryan Clauson and Kevin Hamlin, but Clauson is scheduled to make his Cup debut this week at Atlanta in the #40 car - it looks like Ganassi is back to 3 teams (40, 41 & 42)
  
• though Target (a big open wheel sponsor) is rumored to be leaving, CGR denies it.
  
• the Ganassi-Petty (Kyle) merger would fill out the max 4 teams. The Ganassi-PE merger won't happen 'cause Petty has promised (and announced) McCumbee will drive the #44 in 2009 which would give G-PE too many teams...
  
• Ganassi seems to have an affinity for open wheel drivers.

My prediction: AJ signs on at Ganassi (with or without a Petty merger) to drive the #41. Target has their open wheel driver in a chosen car so they stay. If the (Kyle) Petty merger happens, look for Kevin Hamlin to get the temp seat in #45.

Yeah, I know Yeley and Riggs haven't signed anywhere yet, but AJ's been burning up the tracks lately which neither of those two have been. AJ's the best available driver at the moment and Ganassi needs a good driver for his Chosen #41.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

consider this:

• AJ is driving the GEM #10 car for the rest of the season 'cause Sorenson isn't released yet from Ganassi's #41.
• the #10 car is 330 points outside the chosen .. not much chance to pick that up so AJ can pretty much drive the wheels off it to show what he can do (no points racing here!)
• Mayfield has been mentioned in some circles to take the #41 seat 'cause he did an adequate job in the #40 for one race after Franchitti left.
• the #41 car is +150 points inside the chosen .. not much chance of that changing drastically..
• then there's the young Ganassi drivers Bryan Clauson and Kevin Hamlin, but Clauson is scheduled to make his Cup debut this week at Atlanta in the #40 car - it looks like Ganassi is back to 3 teams (40, 41 & 42)
  
• though Target (a big open wheel sponsor) is rumored to be leaving, CGR denies it.
  
• the Ganassi-Petty (Kyle) merger would fill out the max 4 teams. The Ganassi-PE merger won't happen 'cause Petty has promised (and announced) McCumbee will drive the #44 in 2009 which would give G-PE too many teams...
  
• Ganassi seems to have an affinity for open wheel drivers.

My prediction: AJ signs on at Ganassi (with or without a Petty merger) to drive the #41. Target has their open wheel driver in a chosen car so they stay. If the (Kyle) Petty merger happens, look for Kevin Hamlin to get the temp seat in #45.

Yeah, I know Yeley and Riggs haven't signed anywhere yet, but AJ's been burning up the tracks lately which neither of those two have been. AJ's the best available driver at the moment and Ganassi needs a good driver for his Chosen #41.

How can you argue with logic like that? I agree. But the thought of Mayfield back on the radar screen doesn't do much for my temperament today.

[loco4pablo]

I think Mayfield has about as good of a shot getting back into a cup car as Jose Consaco has getting back into MLB!!!

[loco4pablo]

This is what I THINK could happen:
1) GEM and BDR merge and AJ will get the 22 car w/ Blaney going to Davis's truck team. The 4 drivers with GEM/BDR toyota will be #9 KC, #10 Reed, #19 Sadler & #22 AJ. But they still need sponsorship for 10 & 22.

2) Kyle Takes his part time Wells Fargo sponsorship to Ganassi. They will combine that with the 42 car's part time Wrigley sponsorship. Kyle can race the Well Fargo races and Bryan Classen will race the Wrigley races. On big races such as Daytona/Charlotte/Indy they could try to qualify both of them, one in a new # erd car.
Montoya can go to the 41 wilh full target sponsorship.

Problem solved

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

A.J. is, IMHO, the most improved driver for this season, which his team mate close behind.

What about David Ragan, Bob? I think he's done a helluva job considerin last year about every wreck or spin was him or included him. Not sayin A.J. or Vickers haven't, just given Ragan his due.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Quality88

What about David Ragan, Bob? I think he's done a helluva job considerin last year about every wreck or spin was him or included him. Not sayin A.J. or Vickers haven't, just given Ragan his due.

Ragan is certainly in the running for most improved.

but, consider this: Ragan was the Roush Driver X winner a few years ago .. he has mucho time in fendered cars. AJ is an open wheel guy all the way (karts, Barber Dodge Pro Series, Champ Car Atlantic Championship and Champ Car World Series). He came to NASCAR in September 2006 and drove for BDR in a CTS. In Oct 2006 Red Bull snapped him up and put him in a Cup car at Talladega. He's been struggling to catch up for a year and a half. I think he finally has.

so while 2008 Ragan is certainly a breath of fresh air compared to his 2007 self, methinks AJ has actually come farther in the same amount of time (IMHO)

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Quality88

What about David Ragan, Bob? I think he's done a helluva job considerin last year about every wreck or spin was him or included him. Not sayin A.J. or Vickers haven't, just given Ragan his due.

Good point. In rethinking the whole thing I think I'd put Ragan 2nd and Vicker's 3rd most improved. I rank A.J. 1st because Ragan is in a bit better equipment and A.J. was benched the first part of the season which had to be really demoralizing.

But Ragan has done a Hell of a fine job this season, no bout adoubt it.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Ragan is certainly in the running for most improved.

but, consider this: Ragan was the Roush Driver X winner a few years ago .. he has mucho time in fendered cars. AJ is an open wheel guy all the way (karts, Barber Dodge Pro Series, Champ Car Atlantic Championship and Champ Car World Series). He came to NASCAR in September 2006 and drove for BDR in a CTS. In Oct 2006 Red Bull snapped him up and put him in a Cup car at Talladega. He's been struggling to catch up for a year and a half. I think he finally has.

so while 2008 Ragan is certainly a breath of fresh air compared to his 2007 self, methinks AJ has actually come farther in the same amount of time (IMHO)

See your point and got to thinkin about the whole different car issue for AJ after I posted.

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Good point. In rethinking the whole thing I think I'd put Ragan 2nd and Vicker's 3rd most improved. I rank A.J. 1st because Ragan is in a bit better equipment and A.J. was benched the first part of the season which had to be really demoralizing.

But Ragan has done a Hell of a fine job this season, no bout adoubt it.

Yeah Ragan has better equipment and like RD pointed out, AJ has been open-wheel til the cup aspect.