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| The car formerly driven by AJ Allmendinger |
NASCAR’s silly season started in June with Matt Kenseth’s decision to leave Roush-Fenway Racing. Kenseth has yet to reveal what team he will drive for next season, but most people are saying Joe Gibbs Racing.
Two teams that we don’t know about are the 39 of Ryan Newman and the now vacant 22 car for Penske Racing.
There's no telling what SHR co owner Tony Stewart has up his sleeve with his driver choice for the 39, but the 22 is up in the air for anyone to have a shot.
The question is who deserves it?
Here are some drivers that have been using up a lot of Roger Penske’s Sprint cell phone minutes since they announced Allmendinger will not be back in 2013.
DRIVERS WITH A CHANCE
Sam Hornish Jr.:
Sam has been the driver of the 22 since Allmendinger was suspended by NASCAR and will be in the 22 for majority of the races left in the season. When Hornish drove in the Cup series from 2008-2010, it wasn’t great but he was improving. Once sponsorship ran out for the #77 Sam was driving, I remember Penske saying if he had sponsorship Hornish would be in the Cup Series. He has that now, so will he go with loyalty to Sam or with a driver that will produce better results? The ball is in Sam’s court, he has to produce in the races he runs the rest of this season.
Joey Logano:
With Kenseth being rumored to be headed to JGR, Logano has to find a ride as well if Gibbs doesn’t get sponsorship for a 4th car. Logano is young and he is finally living up to the hype he had coming in to series in 2009 so Penske investing in him could payoff in the long run. The only problem I see is the sponsor being willing to go with Logano. For some weird reason I believe that Home Depot had something to do with putting pressure on JGR to make a change. Logano is 22 years old. How many people in that age range shop at Home Depot? Not many. Everyone buys gas, so Shell sounds like a good fit. The bread isn’t sliced yet.
Brian Vickers:
After coming back from a health scare which caused him to sit out most of the 2010 season, Vickers has found a part time home at Michael Waltrip Racing. There is no telling if MWR will make him full time in 2013, making Vickers eligible for the vacant 22. Does he deserve it? No. Yes Vickers is a good driver and would be a great choice if chosen, but I believe there are others who are more worthy. Vicker’s has been great in his races this year for MWR, but what did he do the years before? Wreck people…my point exactly.
Kurt Busch:
If this happens I will go to Chickfila, church, and a rap concert with Mark Martin all in the same day. #NotGonnaHappen
Elliot Sadler:
Despite a recent throng of people jumping on the bandwagon lately, I’ve been tooting Sadler in the Cup Series since before the season began. Not to mince words, but when the news of Aric Amirola to drive the 43 came out this past January, I was pissed. I thought (despite leaving RPM) Sadler deserved to be in the cup season after having to spend 2011 racing in the Nationwide Series. That season wasn’t great, as Sadler struggled, but he was more deserving of a cup ride than drivers like Allmendinger, Almirola, and others.
After all, Sadler is a 3 time winner in the cup series and he’s made the Chase for the Sprint Cup. That’s more than any driver fighting for the 22 with the exception of one, Jamie McMurray. McMurray, whose contract runs out after this season, possibly opens up another decent cup ride in the 1 car for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. Regardless of his success this season in the Nationwide Series, Sadler deserves to be in a cup ride. If I were Roger Penske, I’d give him a call.
Others to consider:
They may be long shots, but other drivers like Jamie McMurray and former Penske driver Ryan Newman have a chance as well. In NASCAR there’s only one thing that’s for sure, absolute zero. Nothing is for sure, but it sure is fun to talk about it.
Follow me and send comments to Twitter @Dontae_Allen
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