Mark Garrow

  (3:59 PM)

Good afternoon everyone...let's do this..let's get the partay started!

nick(miami,florida)

how does this sound? 11,20,2,29, ron fellow

Mark Garrow

  (4:00 PM)

Nick, that doesn't sound bad at all..2 and Fellows need to come through but no reason they can't...Going in without seeing practice there's no reason all your five drivers can finish inside the top-15.

tony stewart

will i break through this week with a W

Mark Garrow

  (4:01 PM)

Smoke, my man..answer is yes dude..I've got you ranked numero uno in my pre-rankings for ESPN.com...So don't leaving me hanging bro...get'r done!

will

what road course ringer will have the best day

Mark Garrow

  (4:02 PM)

Ron Fellows is a pretty smart guy who's always pretty fast and takes care of his stuff...Boris Said is usually more spectucular, but doens't usually finish as well as he's run inside the race.

Travis (Ohio)

Hi mark first time here to ask I'm in a yahoo league and am currently in first some how lol need line up advice for each group hope you don't mind. Heres what I have to work with List A. Gordon-5/9 Stewart-3/9 Johnson-4/9 Edwards5/9 Burton0/9 Hamlin3/9 Kenseth0/9 Harvick0/9 Bowyer0/9 Kurt Busch 1/9 List B. Truex Jr.1/9 McMurray 1/9 Juan Pablo Montoya 0/9 Robby Gordon0/9 Kyle Busch6/9 Earnhardt Jr.7/9 Biffle5/9 Kahne4/9 Ragan0/9 Newman8/9 Labonte1/9 Sadler1/9 Mears1/9 Gilliland1/9 Blaney0/9 Sorenson 0/9 Yeley1/9 List C. Fellows0/9 Said1/9 Vickers8/9 Kvapil1/9 Reutimann1/9 Riggs3/9 Menard4/9 Allmendinger1/9 Almirola0/9 Smith0/9 Waltrip1/9 Hornish Jr.0/9 Carpentier0/9 McDowell0/9 Nemechek0/9 Ambrose0/9 Petty0/9 Jones0/9 Sorry if its a long format or anything just need some great advice cause as you see im pretty bad at managing the drivers thanks for your time.

Mark Garrow

  (4:04 PM)

Travis..don't really understand what you want..how about making it clearer and writing me back and I'll make sure I answer you.

Kevin St Clair Shores MI

Mark the 20 & 24 are obviouse picks for this course, who eles in the top 12 do you see that has a better chance to win? How would you rank the following for this race 1,7,8,12,18,19,26,88. Thanks for the help last week, only 25 out of first.

Mark Garrow

  (4:06 PM)

I think Jimmie Johnson has a shot..I also like Kevin Harvick going in..possibly Juan Pablo Montoya..maybe Kyle Busch don't forget he ran away at Sonoma.. 18,88,7,12,1, 26, 19,8

Mike F. - Arkansas

Howdy Guru. Thanks for all the advice. Much appreciated. Can you help me separate the contenders from the pretenders this weekend? Pick your top two, four, and two from A B and C groups? A - 20, 24, 29, 48 B - 7, 12, 18, 19, 26, 42 C - 01, 15, 60, 83 Thanks Mark

Mark Garrow

  (4:07 PM)

20,24......18,42..........01,60

Frank, PA

I have to pick one driver for the Glen. My choices are down to Hamlin, R. Gordon, Kurt, Earnhardt, Kenseth, and Newman. The numbers say to pick Gordon, but that scares me. Who would you pick and why? Thanks.

Mark Garrow

  (4:09 PM)

Gordon is a scary pick..always fast..but a lot of times finds a way to steal defeat from the jaws of victory..I'd say Hamlin safest pick in that group in my opinion..Earnhardt, Jr. might be my second choice.

Matt( Baltimore)

Hey Mark whats up? Is it me or has the Sprint Cup series this year, specifically when it comes to where drivers are finishing races, more and more coming down to fuel mileage and pit strategies as apposed to just being a fast car? In the past it seemed like the fastest car won the race most weeks. And the top 5 and 10 cars also were good cars that week. This year it seems to me like many weeks you have guys getting top 5s and 10s who were not running there all day. I understand that it happens sometimes. But this year it seems to be happening every week. The COT seems to produce less cautions late in the race which is making pit strategy as important as being fast and hooked up. Do you agree? Or am I just seeing things?

Mark Garrow

  (4:10 PM)

Matt, you might be on to something there..it's really maddening for me to scope out the garage, give my advice on who's going to be the fastest? Who's going to run up front? and have that turned upside down by what happened at the end of the race at Pocono.

Charles ( New York)

Do you see any scenario in which Tony Stewart does not run the whole schedule this year. Say he does not make the chase. Is it possible that he and Gibbs agree to part ways with 3 or 4 races left to go. This would give Lagano(If he is the guy) and Zip sometime to work together and it would give Tony more time to get his team off the ground. Could be a win win for both. Is this a possibility or would sponsor commitments oe some other reason prevent this?

Mark Garrow

  (4:12 PM)

Charles, if he doesn't make the Chase I think you would see him leaving early because it would make sense for Joe Gibbs to let his new driver get a jump and same thing for Tony with his new team..to make that work, it's got to be beneficial to both sides..So, I agree with what you said.

William (Boston)

Guru! I would like your opinion on the idea of bonus points for wins. I feel a race winner should get alot more than 10 bonus points for a win heading into the chase. 10 points is nothing in my opinion. Someone like Kyle this year or Gordon last year does not get nearly enough of a lead when the chase starts. It seems to me like 50 would be a better number. Drivers having a dominant season like Carl, Jimmie, and Kyle should not be one bad finish in the chase away from being behind say Jeff Burton who has been not nearly as good. I think the current set up simply creates "artificial" competition for the 10 race chase by tightening up the field and giving race winners a very minor advantage when it starts. What do you think?

Mark Garrow

  (4:14 PM)

Well, I like the Chase..thought the bonus points for winning races was good...does it need to be more? Not sure...but have to be careful we don't let someone get too far out front. Otherwise where's the drama?

Jason:Alabama

Hello Mark; For my SCC team; I have the 48 locked in at 22.8; so i really need to keep him; what about this line up 48,24,20,42,7; robby gordon scares me a little bit, would i be safer taking fellows instead? Thanks for all you help!

Mark Garrow

  (4:15 PM)

42 and 7 have to come through for your team to do well. I like Fellows to give me a nice quiet top-15 run..Should be safer than Gordon..Robby will be more spectacular..but will he finish higher than Fellows?

Mike-Woodridge,Ill

Hey Mark, who will have the best finish this weekend that did not place in last years top 10 at the Glen? Thanks!

Mark Garrow

  (4:16 PM)

I think that man is going to be Kevin Harvick.

Matt (WI)

Hey Mark, Of the Road Course "Ringers" entered this week, who would you say has the best chance for success at the Glen?

Mark Garrow

  (4:17 PM)

As I said before the safest pick of the group in m opinion is Ron Fellows.

Ted (Cleveland, Oh)

Guru: Do I put some road specialists (R. Gordon, Said, Montoya) on my team this weekend? I kind of got burned when I did at Sonoma.

Mark Garrow

  (4:19 PM)

I stayed from all of them at Sonoma but Fellows..his cap figure was so low helped me put a couple of big hammers at the top.

Mike (Toronto)

Hi Mark, Great work as always. Who are your top 10 for this week?

Mark Garrow

  (4:21 PM)

Stewart, Harvick, Gordon, Kyle Busch, Hamlin, Montoya, Johnson, Earnhardt, Jr., Robby Gordon, Ryan Newman

RAY GORDON REID ARLINGTON TX 76001

QUESTION AT 4,20 PM HI MARK GARROW COULD CARL EDWARD MAKE IT TWO IN A ROW

Mark Garrow

  (4:22 PM)

It's possible, but I don't see it. I believe it would take a special set of cirumstances for him to win at the Glen. I do see a top-10.

Beth WV

What do you think of 24-29-20-9-17. I am not big on 9 or 17 but I have them locked in so cheap. Thanks guru

Mark Garrow

  (4:23 PM)

Beth, rethink this whole thing from top to bottom..You really ought to think about swapping out 17 and 9..their Glen stats not good.

Brian Vickers

Whatever you do, do not pick me this weekend.

Mark Garrow

  (4:23 PM)

Believe me, I won't.sorry.

Ed (Petersburg, WV)

Hey Mark, can we take anything away from how the Sonoma race was raced this year and apply it to Watkins Glen as far as what drivers to be on the outlook for besides J. Gordon and Stewart? I'm liking what McMurray and R. Gordon did at Sonoma before race incidents took them out. Thanks.

Mark Garrow

  (4:25 PM)

Ed, I did the same thing in putting together my pre-race rankings..I think you look at this year Sonoma and last year Glen and then work from there.

Joe SC Iowa

What up with Hamlin..outside of the 3rd place finish at Indianpolis under mandated cautions, he has not been any thing like a chase contender?

Mark Garrow

  (4:26 PM)

I think he runs a lot better this weekend..very underated road racer.

cory (ohio)

mike, I think once the chase starts Kyle Busch will be non existent and Jimmie or Little E will take over. What are your thoughts?

Mark Garrow

  (4:27 PM)

Not sure about Little E taking over, but he'll be better and Johnson will be in contention right to the end.

Joe (Philly)

Ambrose worth a flier this week? Can he qualify well?

Mark Garrow

  (4:28 PM)

I don't think so..this is the Sprint Cup Series man..any little mistake you make is magnified. Just like Sonoma can he and the 21 team get through a complete race and the answer is proably don't know..lol..

Mark Garrow

  (4:28 PM)

I don't think so..this is the Sprint Cup Series man..any little mistake you make is magnified. Just like Sonoma can he and the 21 team get through a complete race and the answer is proably don't know..lol..

Chris (Richmond)

Hi Mark. It seems to me that Elliot Sadler and Jamie McMurray are quite underrated as road course drivers. They seem to be fairly safe bets for a top 20 or a sleeper top 10. What are your thoughts on this?

Mark Garrow

  (4:30 PM)

Chris, I totally agree..very underated on the road courses but pretty darn good at running top-20 here I think.

deneil (charlottesville,VA)

I cant stand nascar

Mark Garrow

  (4:30 PM)

sorry to hear that..better luck next time.

ying (bert, ma)

what makes someone a good road course racer?

Mark Garrow

  (4:32 PM)

Hey Ying, you've got to have rythmn man..that's how you can knock down consistent laps ..lap after lap..you get in a rythymn..you also have to have two pretty quick feet and know how to slowly squeeze the throttle open..not just jam your foot through the firewall..and be willing to give a little in the corners in the beginning of the race and take it all back in the late going.

Sean (Philly)

Mark, I think with each driver in Travis post, he is allowed 9 starts per driver for the year, so /9Nemecheck0/ translates to 9 starts, none used. And then wanted help in who to start because he has used a few drivers a lot instead of spreading the races around, which may also be why he is in first.

Mark Garrow

  (4:33 PM)

Thanks Sean..I'll try to go back and look at that note..love to help the guy like everyone else..if I can..

Jordan(Jonesboro,Ark)

So like alll the #'s you and other chatters are talking about are drivers numbers???

Mark Garrow

  (4:35 PM)

yes

Fman (bham)

Hey mark go bama!!!!!!

Mark Garrow

  (4:36 PM)

Go Auburn...just kidding..really..lol..

Corey (Sioux Falls, SD)

1 of each Chevy, Ford, Dodge, and Toyota....Your picks?

Mark Garrow

  (4:37 PM)

Toyota...Stewart, Chevy, Harvick or Gordon..Dodge - Montoya...Ford..probably Edwards

Austin, Cali

How do you feel about the 26 this week? Thanks

Mark Garrow

  (4:38 PM)

I've got Jamie ranked 13th in my pre-race rankings so I think going in he's capable of at least a top-15..not too bad right?

chris(buford.ga)

which one would u pick 12,26 or 88

Mark Garrow

  (4:39 PM)

I think the 88...would rank 88, 12,26 ..all in pretty good shape..but 88 has more upside I do believe.

Joe (Philly)

Mark, a bunch for you. Smoke or Gordon? Can Gilliland run well again? What about Juan Pablo, he is a road ringer but has had terrible luck with everything this year...

Mark Garrow

  (4:41 PM)

Yo Joe, I'd go with Smoke..but Gordon will be very good..not much difference there I do believe...I don't see him doing as well as he did at Sonoma because Glen is easier track and that puts more guys in the hunt. but I can see Gilliland giving me another top-15..maybe sneak a top-10.

Doob (OlyWA)

What's with Davis picking Kasey Kahne this week?

Mark Garrow

  (4:42 PM)

Did he really do that? He must have walked into a door and bumped his head..lol...I ranked Kahne 25th..which is probably too low but I don't see him finishing top-15 that's for sure..

ray GORDON REID ARLINGTON TX 76601

QUESTION TO NASCAR GURU MARK GARROW AT 5.05 PM PM HI MARK GARROW WILL CARL EDWARD DRIVE SUNDAY AFTER ARGUEMENT ABOUT PIT STOP LAST SUNDAY

Mark Garrow

  (4:44 PM)

He sure will. He and crew chief Bob Osbourne have already kissed and made up..and as it turns out..apparently Osbourne was jokingly yanking Carl's chain during the red flag..Carl didn't know it and that's why things got heated..that according to Jack Roush.

Gale, IL

Mark, I have the 99,48,24,17, & 84. I have all of them under market except for 24. Should I replace the 24?

Mark Garrow

  (4:45 PM)

I might think more about the 17...before the 24..and this week maybe Fellows instead of Allmendinger..

Teddy

Just because I like Busch beer does that mean I have to like NASCAR?

Mark Garrow

  (4:45 PM)

Keep up with the program Teddy...Coors is NASCAR's brewery boys these days..lol..

Mark Garrow

  (4:45 PM)

Keep up with the program Teddy...Coors is NASCAR's brewery boys these days..lol..

russ pa

from this group which 5 do you like for this weekend 18,07,2,31,26,43,10

Mark Garrow

  (4:46 PM)

18,07,2,31, and 26..43 should be okay..10 maybe top-25..top-20.

Camp (WI)

Mark, is Scott Pruett entered at the Glen this week?

Mark Garrow

  (4:47 PM)

He is not on any of the entry blanks I've seen. Reed Sorenson driving the 41 for Ganassi.

Cam, Houston

Can you rank these drivers 24,20,7,19,26,42.. Thanks guru.

Mark Garrow

  (4:47 PM)

20,24,42,7,26,19

Ryan (Auburn, AL)

Thanks for not saying go Bama. I would have to stop reading this chat. lol

Mark Garrow

  (4:48 PM)

I hear that....loud and clear..

Buzz (Chicago)

Hey Guru, of the ringers are there any guaranteed entry on owner points or do they all have to qualify?

Mark Garrow

  (4:49 PM)

Fellows is going to use the 01 points so he's got a guaranteed spot..the others will have to qualify on speed.

Ben (FL)

Out of Fellows, Said and Ambrose which two do you like?

Mark Garrow

  (4:50 PM)

Fellows and Said..Ambrose was outstanding at Sonoma..but that team seems to always get bit right at the end..plus again Glen less technical more people for Ambrose to climb over..Fellows and Said have been here and done that before..many times.

Kev (NYC)

Ever been to Pizza Jerks, VT?

Mark Garrow

  (4:51 PM)

Sorry Kev..never heard of it man..Burlington? where?

Charlie (Philly)

Mark Will we see the pony cars (Camaro,Mustang & Challenger) in the 2010 Sprint Series or will Nascar continue to insist that they run in the Nationwide series. Who do you think will fold and if so why?

Mark Garrow

  (4:52 PM)

It won't be on the Cup Series..just Nationwide...not sure the reasoning but that's the latest I heard..

Kev (NYC)

There's one in Rutland right at the base of Killington.

Mark Garrow

  (4:52 PM)

I'll check it out next time I'm in "town".thanks.

mike (LA, CA)

mark - pre-practice, can you rank these cars: 7,42,19,12,1,26,38,43 - thanks for the help!

Mark Garrow

  (4:54 PM)

42,7,12,1,26,38,19,43

Steve (NY)

Where would you put the 38 into this group 42,7,19,26,88?

Mark Garrow

  (4:55 PM)

Steve, I think I'd put 38 after 7..

mike (LA, CA)

who is driving the 96 car this week?

Mark Garrow

  (4:56 PM)

Road racer P.J. Jones..Yeley was just released..Rookie Brad Coleman will be in #96 starting at Michigan.

Mark Garrow

  (4:57 PM)

Well folks that's going to do it for this afternoon..don't forget our Sunday morning race day chat coming your way from the Glen at 10:30 eastern...until then may the force be with you.