Mark Garrow

  (4:11 PM)

Good afternoon everyone..sorry for being a few minutes late..for some reason couldn't log on..so decided to reboot and that left twiddling my thumbs..let's get to it.

Josh, Alabama

My league is not that deep but should i take a chance on picking up paul menard

Mark Garrow

  (4:13 PM)

Menard can finish top-25 at Texas..maybe top-20..He's a "tweener" for me because he's so inconsistent. Every time I put him on a team the outcome isn't usually good...but he does run this size track pretty decent..

Cam, NC

Mark, my lineup last week of Earnhardt, Hamlin, Gordon, Johnson, and Schrader did really well for me. I know I have to get rid of Schraeder, but which of my top drivers is worth letting loose this week in SCC to free up some money? Also, which low-value drivers are this week's best bets?

Mark Garrow

  (4:16 PM)

Until Jimmie Johnson proves he's got this 1.5 mile track slump behind him..I say he's the guy..88 and 24 and 11 will be bad fast..you'll have 99 and 18 and 20 to choose from in his place..as for low budget..take a look at Vickers, Ragan and Mears might have a price low enough because of early season woes to make him someone to think about..low low low..maybe Riggs based on how well he ran Vegas and Atlanta..

Dale (Louisville)

Is there anyone I should definitely avoid starting this weekend?

Mark Garrow

  (4:17 PM)

At this point not really anyone..but again I'm shying away from Jimmie Johnson until he proves they've figured out the intermediate tracks..oh Kyle Petty..he's not in the race..lol..

Aaron (Florida)

Who are you starting this weekend?

Mark Garrow

  (4:18 PM)

Aaron, not sure yet..by I like Edwards, Kyle Busch, Stewart, Gordon, Junior a lot..Will also take a look at getting Mark Martin back off my bench..

Paul (Connecticut)

Is there anyone I should keep my eye one in the Nationwide or anything that might get a shot in the Sprint Cup and might want on my team?

Mark Garrow

  (4:19 PM)

At this point probably not..No one on the Nationwide Series is setting anyone's heart on fire..David Stremme, though has Cup experience and has been running strong for Rusty Wallace..after that like the country music singer..Slim Pickens

Wes (Idaho)

Should I factor the makeup of a guys team when deciding to put him on my team or not?

Mark Garrow

  (4:21 PM)

Absolutely..right now Hendrick, Gibbs, RCR and Roush are the heavyweights..good engines..good cars and good drivers pretty much top to bottom..Gibbs with Toyota power will be a big factor at Texas.

Anthony (Cleveland)

How many average performances should I wait before dumping or trading a driver?

Mark Garrow

  (4:21 PM)

Depends if he was wrecked out of a race and was he going forward when he wrecked or going backwards..If he's just running bad..two races and he's got to go..even with Jimmie Johnson until reproves himself..and he will.

Oak (Dallas)

Should I try to sell JJ?

Mark Garrow

  (4:22 PM)

It depends who you can dump him for..J.J. real inconsisent and I'm staying away.

Ethan Anderson. Amarillo, Tx

Do you think any one of those Hendrick Boys will win a race this year.Tuff watching that race Sunday.

Mark Garrow

  (4:23 PM)

Absolutely..equipment too good and they have too much talent..all the Hendrick fans got spoiled by 18 wins last year..but they'll win..all four drivers could and probably will.

Jeff (Rochester NY)

I have Stewart, Edwards, Bowyer, and Newman as my starting four and Waltrip as my bench guy. Will there ever be a reason to start Waltrip?

Mark Garrow

  (4:24 PM)

Not with those four guys..just dust Waltrip and wipe off the cobwebs every once in awhile..

Lee (NE)

I'm curious about Truex this week, seems to like the track, thoughts? When is Kurt Busch going to get back on track? He does have some history here.....

Mark Garrow

  (4:25 PM)

Truex is top-15 material this week..not sure about top-10 until they practice-qualify-practice..He'd be a good guy to tune in this Sunday morning for my race day "chat"..I still say DEI is lacking what the Big Four teams have.

KEVIN (MEMPHIS, TN)

WILL RYAN NEWMAN REBOUND FROM HIS SLUMP OR SHOULD I GO WITH SOMEONE ELSE?

Mark Garrow

  (4:26 PM)

He just hasn't been running good lately..so I say politely to ask him to leave without slamming the door..but for the money I think you can definitely do better than Newman right now.

Matt (Des Moines)

Git r' Done NASCAR! Jeff Gordon sure can drive fast!

Mark Garrow

  (4:27 PM)

Yes, he can.

Ted (New Jersey)

Who are your top drivers right now?

Mark Garrow

  (4:28 PM)

Again Ted, I think 99,18,20,88,24,31,11,29,16,17..are my top-10 best..Dark horses Ragan, Vickers and Mears..

Andrew (Bristol CT)

Do you think Las Vegas and Atlanta are good barometers to use in figuring who will run well before the cars hit the track or are they not similar enough?

Mark Garrow

  (4:29 PM)

Absolutely. The tracks are close enough to be a real good gauge..I also think you mix California in too and you can do all right working it like that.

Pete (New Jersey)

How about the 00? Should he have gotten out of the way?

Mark Garrow

  (4:30 PM)

Absolutely, the rookie screwed up there..next time he'll get a lap or two or astalavista baby!

Cam, NC

I know schraeder has to qualify on time this week, but is he worth having in order to get four big hitters in SCC or not?

Mark Garrow

  (4:30 PM)

Cam, Bam Racing has pulled out of this week's race at Texas..Also next week at Phoenix..so Schrader will not be racing.

Craig from Illinois

How much stock do you put into the average speed lap times during Happy Hour? For Atlanta and Bristol, it sure didn't seem worthy of going by.

Mark Garrow

  (4:31 PM)

That's a pretty good gauge ..only problem is some guys are out there on old tires..some on scuff..some on new ones..and there's no real way to keep track of that..

Lee (NE)

I know his start to the season has been up and down, but is there any reason to not start Kenseth this week? He DOMINATES this track.

Mark Garrow

  (4:32 PM)

Kenseth will be good this week..start him and you'll be glad you did.

brad St louis

hows this line up sound 07, 24, 99, 11, 28 any other ideas?

Mark Garrow

  (4:33 PM)

I like it all the way up to 28..had a great run at Las Vegas..and then nada..zip..zero..If you get a Vickers, Ragan, Martin and maybe Riggs you'd be better off.

Ian, Morgantown West virginia

If I was gonna trade mark martin what would be a good value for him? considering he's only racin half of the races?

Mark Garrow

  (4:34 PM)

You want to get what a top-15 driver is getting on the market..don't fire sale him because he should do alright this week at Las Vegas.

Kevin (Virginia)

Who is a driver that you have your eye one that not many are talking about?

Mark Garrow

  (4:36 PM)

David Ragan..this kid is the real deal and he's only getting better each race..I like him a lot..a lot of moxy!

Matt (NY)

What about Jeff Gorden?

Mark Garrow

  (4:36 PM)

I think Gordon runs top-5 at Texas, but I don't see him getting his car in victory lane.

CONNOR (BARTLETT, TN)

WOULD YOU START TRUEX OR BIFFLE THIS WEEK?

Mark Garrow

  (4:37 PM)

I'd go with Biffle based on Las Vegas,and Atlanta ..he should out run Truex.

Lee (NE)

How do you decide what pit crews to talk to in the mornings and have you done any "practice runs" on your posting of crew chief notes to qualify for Sunday?

Mark Garrow

  (4:39 PM)

Lee..we take our "victims" as we find them..trying to cover all of the major teams and then some dark horses some of hte crew chiefs are talking about...as for the practice runs we will hopefully have that solved this weekend..It's too much work to go through not to be able to get it to you and the other fantasy fans..

Jason (Las Vegas)

I've watched Jimmie Johnson this season. What do you think is his biggest problem so far?

Mark Garrow

  (4:40 PM)

On the 1.5-mile tracks just doesn't have a feel for what he needs..He'll eventually figure it out..maybe even this week..but he's got to prove it to me first.

al (Florida)

who has been your most consistent driver?

Mark Garrow

  (4:42 PM)

For me I've had Dale Jr. from the get go and he's been realy,,and other than last week Kyle Busch..until Martinsville had been averaging 156 points a race.

Neal (Washington)

Reutimann. Is he worth a look for my team?

Mark Garrow

  (4:43 PM)

I think he is..but I'd wait until first practice is over at least..maybe qualifying too if you can.

John (New York)

I want your opinion on this...After McMurrays strong run at Martinsville, will we see more of this to come?

Mark Garrow

  (4:44 PM)

Hard to say..hasn't done anything on the big tracks..so this weekend a big test..He's on my draft team and has killed every week but Martinsville.

Henry (Buffalo)

Mark, which driver do you feel needs to start giving more effort?

Mark Garrow

  (4:46 PM)

I think effort wise they are all pretty much digging in..probably Reed Sorenson could show me a little more..great talent not sure effort is 100 percent..maybe it is but sometimes get feel it's not..

Andrew

Durring the race at Martinville, over the radio while Earnhardt was leading he said he didn't like how his car was handling. DW said that it doesn't always matter how the car is handling, it matters how it's handling compared to the competition. Is that how it's going to be with this new car from here on out?

Mark Garrow

  (4:47 PM)

No I don't think so..they'll get a better handle on these cars over time..but this car will not handle..ever..as good as the one NASCAR junked.

Anthony (Cleveland)

A top guy like Junior or Jeff, do I need to get at least two upper tier guys in return for a trade?

Mark Garrow

  (4:48 PM)

That's where I would start..those two are money...as in hold on to them they are cash in the bank..

Lee (NE)

What is wrong with the 2 car this year? For a veteran driver and team, that seems really strange.

Mark Garrow

  (4:49 PM)

Lee, you're right..this team is "off"..and its hard to say where..then again..after Daytona..what exactly has Busch or Newman done to set the world on fire..not much or nothing.

CONNOR (BARTLETT, TN)

WOULD YOU TAKE TRUEX OR MEARS THIS WEEK?

Mark Garrow

  (4:49 PM)

Truex might be the safer pick..but on performance I think Mears will be faster and have a better chance of getting up front.

Shelly (Boston)

What is the points structure in your league like?

Mark Garrow

  (4:50 PM)

I'm playing the ESPN games Shelly..pretty simple on the point structure front..any particular reason you ask?

Dan (Detroit)

What should I do if one of my drivers gets suspended or take a points penalty? Ride it out or get rid of him?

Mark Garrow

  (4:51 PM)

If its 100 points..need to lean towards ditching..that's an awful lot to give up..smaller penalty a little more thought because a good team and driver can make up 25-50 pretty easy.

Shelly (Boston)

I was just wondering if there are any other point structures used out there for fantasy NASCAR. Have you heard of any?

Mark Garrow

  (4:54 PM)

There's a few that use a point system of their own design instead of NASCAR points..but not many..

Dan (North Carolina)

If I have Petty, do I hold on to him, or does this whole sponsor thing too much of a distraction.

Mark Garrow

  (4:55 PM)

I think you get rid of him because he hasn't really performed..other stuff is a distraction..but flat out hasn't performed and it's not all his fault either.

Bill (Toledo)

If Biffle gets his contract extension, do you think we'll see more focus? Is he worth making a move to get?

Mark Garrow

  (4:56 PM)

I think Biffle is going to have a pretty big year especially in the first half where it appears Roush is in really good shape when it comes to the1.5-mile tracks..when teams start to catch up that could be a problem..He doesn't appear to me to be the kind of guy that is thinking contract when he's competing..

Lee (NE)

Just to be funny, thought about picking 16, 17, 18, 19, 20....is that a death sentence?

Mark Garrow

  (4:57 PM)

If 19-Sadler can run top-20 or better..you could be gold and you could have the last laugh..16,17,18,20..could all run top-five.

Nick NJ

Bowyer is in the Chase right now, do you see him keeping it up?

Mark Garrow

  (4:59 PM)

Nick, yes I do..this guy is the real McCoy..the guys I see in the top 12 now that are in the most danger of not hanging on..Newman, and maybe Kahne if they don't pick up their performances.

Cam, NC

How well will drivers be able to move up this week if they start in the back? Should we shy away from bad qualifiers if we can or will they move around pretty easily? Also, my dad wanted me to say hi for him...he's Danny West your CPA.

Mark Garrow

  (5:03 PM)

Well first tell your dad to do a good job on my tax returns...and don't go crazy because I don't look good behind bars..now starting in the back not a good deal at Texas..Biffle and Truex last spring started mid 20's got up to sixth or seventh..meanwhile most everyone in top-five started top-10..unless it's a superstar who had a problem in qualifying or blew an engine in practice..be very careful how far back you go..

Mark Garrow

  (5:03 PM)

got to run everybody..don't forget to tune in Sunday morning for our raceday "chat" after I've had a chance to chat with the crew chiefs..talk to you then..and have a great day!