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Mark Garrow

  (4:00 PM)

Good afternoon everyone..let's get the partaaayyy started!

Gracie,The Northwoods

Ok this week I did good, and need some help this week. Would you drop any of these possibly: The 48 Locked at 23.5 The 18 Locked 0.5 under 17 0.9 under 2 0.5 under, 42 none under, also do you think the 42 will outperform the 44??Thank You Mark

Mark Garrow

  (4:04 PM)

I dropped Johnson last week, knowing that he would still run good and picked up the 99 so I scored a few more points..I wil say this, however, Johnson will be better at Texas than he was at Atlanta..matches up there a little bit better..18 is a little up and down and 17 has been really consistent...I thought for sure 44 would outperform 42 at Atlanta, but 44 was a slug all day and 42 was great until he got wrecked..I say wait on the 42-44 debate until at least after qualifying...and I'm a believer again in AJ Allmendinger..he's a little cheaper and might open up some cap space for you and get a top-15 finish too.

RJ Suwanee, Ga.

Good afternoon Mark! Question for the day: Do you agree with me and many others that Junior will never get above the 2nd tier he is stuck in as long as he insists on keeping that bafoon Eury Jr. as his crew chief? Will Hendrick ever make him get a real crew chief? It seems that Eury's decisions or lack there of cost JR almost every week. Your thoughts??? Also how about some help with the picks this week, please rank within each group A: 11, 17, 20, 24, 48, 99 B: 1, 6, 8, 9, 12, 16, 26, 42, 88 C: 10, 15, 28, 44, 66 THANKS!

Mark Garrow

  (4:07 PM)

RJ..I'm telling you right now Tony Jr. is not a buffoon and he's only a part of the problem, a lot of which has to lay at Junior's feet...He's got to get better at communicating what car is doing and what he needs..that would go a long way towards helping that situation...and I think that's something Junior is going to work on...Group A: 99,48,17,11,24,20...B:..16,88,26,6,8,9,12..C:..10,44,28,15,66..

Incognito (The Garage!)

Mark "The Guru!" - Hey, I'm 40 points up on my leaguemates with three left. How does 48(locked)-99-17-2-10 look this week? Will I keep my lead? Thanks for all of the invaluable insights this year, especially in the pre-race Sunday chat.

Mark Garrow

  (4:09 PM)

Looks really solid..I took the 44 over the ten last week and would have been over 800 if I had gone with Allmendinger or close to it...I thought AJ would have a harder time running for a new team..but the 10 stuff must be better than most people thought and AJ needing a job for next season is worth a tenth a lap..and you're welcome!

George ( TX )

Hello Mark ! Need your advice once again. Pick 2 out of 48,17,20 and rank these 6,26,5,1,9,42. And I'd like to ask you about the 44, do you agree that the last few races he hasn't been doing that great lately ? I am more inclined to lean towards AJ, 28 or 15 .... so how would you rank these guys for Texas 10,28,15 and 44 ?

Mark Garrow

  (4:11 PM)

48,17...26,6,6,1,9,42...I don't know what's happened to the 44..Inside the garage last Sunday one crew chief after another was bragging how good the 44 looked..Then the green is dropped and he's junk..a real mystery because he killed my team and I still scored 733 points...AJ has looked awfully good the last two weeks in that 10 car that's for sure..10,44,28,15

Ed (Petersburg, WV)

Ok, Guru, I'm back again to bust your chops about Allmendinger. For the second week in a row you've said to stay away from him and what does he do but finish in the top 15 again. I stayed away from him in Atlanta and went with Reutimann. No more. I'm definitely on the Allmendinger train from now on. Your thoughts about him going forward?

Mark Garrow

  (4:13 PM)

Just talked about that...AJ does way better than I thougt he could these past two weeks..Who could have figured he'd jump in with a new team and outperform, both weeks, his more famous teammates, Kahne and Sadler. Plus, I'm trying to figure out how crew chiefs thought 44 was a world beater and he wasn't even an egg beater at Atlanta...I'm going to give AJ some serious thoughts for my team this week that's for sure.

Big Poppa..Hotlanta

Good Evening to you there PlayBoy Mark.the guru..How ya Been?Well you can mark it down the 99 goes to victory lane for the second straight week lets se if i can go 2-2 what do you say partner....roll on Concrete Nation

Mark Garrow

  (4:14 PM)

I think you're right...He's my number one going in..did you know last three years guy who won at Atlanta came back and won at Texas the next week?

James (Portland)

Afternoon Guru, Is it officially ok to rely on Kurt Busch again for Fantasy for Texas after his very good runs at Lowes and ATL? Also is McMurray a pre race top 10?

Mark Garrow

  (4:15 PM)

James..I think Kurt could be a good bet...I used him last week and scored big and he might stick on my team this week..I have McMurray tenth in my pre-race ratings..starting to realy come around..

Sam (Boston,Ma)

Hey Mark....."Let's get this partyyyyy started" is a little tired and outdated. You need a new opening line! Ok now that I got that off my chest.... What do you think can be done, if anything, about the qualifying rainouts? I know Nascar always gives its usual explanation that they have a "tight schedule" every race weekend and there is simply no time to run qualifying on Sat if its rained out on Friday. Your at the track most weekends, whats your opinion on this? On most weekends there is only one companion race taking up track time (unlike this weekend). Why, for example, could they not have had a practice early Sat morning and then qualify on Sat this past weekend? It just seems to me that Nascar should do everything humanly possible to hold qualifying. Maybe thats part of the reason(along with the 48 being out of this world) for a boring chase and some boring racing this year, ALL the good cars are starting up front without having to earn it each week. This is an issue I think many fans struggle to understand. Can you help us understand this better? Thanks

Mark Garrow

  (4:19 PM)

Ok folks...Sam says I need a new opening line....Any suggestions?...send them to tg2vt@aol.com......I agree with your frustration, but there's more to these schedules than meets the eye...that said I think NASCAR is taking a hard look at this for next season...and you might see a deal where the go or go home guys get a shot Saturday morning..but have a hard time seeing NASCAR mess with the guys top-35...So, again, what's my new opening line?...

Stevie ( Las Vegas)

All Knowing Guru..... I have one more 16 pick to use and one more 20. Which of the remaining 3 tracks would you look to use them on?

Mark Garrow

  (4:20 PM)

16 will be a solid pick at Texas or Homestead...Can probably get away with holding him until then..20 I'll hold him for Phoenix potentially, although right now he and that team are not very in sync so he might not be useable at all in the final three races..that's not outside the realm of possibility.

John ( Montana)

Mark, besides past performance at a track which piece of info do you find most reliable to really narrow down your picks for a given weekend? Obviously practice speeds are important and qualifying to a certain extent too I would think. Also, sometimes you can get info when drivers are interviewed, especially if they are really good or way off. You have the advantage to talk to the crews too. Of all this info what have you found to be the one thing thats most important when you make your top 6 picks each week?

Mark Garrow

  (4:22 PM)

I look at practice speeds, how they've done on tracks that size this year and then let the crew chiefs open up their hearts to me..the Doctor of Love...lol..qualifying is more about pit selection than anything and that can be a big deal if a big gun qualified bad and has to pit with Robby Gordon all day or something like that.

Mike, Atlanta

Oh great one!!! What do you think, does the 44 crew either (A) Not have a dang clue whether they are going to be good of bad on any given day or (B) Just like messing around with you. Top 10 car... that was a good one!!

Mark Garrow

  (4:24 PM)

Mike..here's the deal about the 44 at Atlanta..it wasn't his crew chief that was raving about him..They were with other teams and they were convinced he was going to ride at least into the top-10..That's what got me going down the wrong path.

Lonnie (Baltimore)

Just curious.... Which teams in this years chase do you predict will NOT make it next year and who do you see replacing them? Bowyer and Stewart come to mind and Regan is a trendy pick to move in. What do you think?

Mark Garrow

  (4:26 PM)

I think you're right Bowyer and Stewart will be under the gun with new teams...Hamlin is awfully inconsistent so he might have an issue...Ragan's close to breaking into the Chase..but he stil has to prove he can run up front each of every week and he's got to win a race before he gets over the hump.

Ryan in Lincoln

Mark, I think I have a pretty stable SCC team going. I have the 48,16,24,17,10, but I think I should probably change out the 16 this week. what is your suggestion to take his place? maybe a 88 or 11? or anybody better? Thanks Guru

Mark Garrow

  (4:27 PM)

Ryan..you might just want to leave it alone..16 should be good again this weekend...based on last week 11 over 88..

Ryan in Lincoln

Mark, my other SCC team needs a little work this week. I have the 99,48,20,17, and 84. I would like to change out the 84 this week for somebody more stable. What dark horses do you see doing well this week? I can go up to #10 or somebody higher, but then I will have to probably change out the 20 as well. what's your thoughts? Thanks Guru!

Mark Garrow

  (4:28 PM)

I go up to the 10 and then upgrade 20..Tony's been too inconsistent for my taste..A Kenseth is a little bit cheaper and should be a lock to finish 7th or better.

Chad in Las Vegas

Hey guru. Love Mark Martin but do you think maybe Tony Gibson looks at a cup and says its half full when other people would say, "No, that cup is bone dry." They seem to always have a top five car pre-race.

Mark Garrow

  (4:29 PM)

Chad, you're right they've been junk the last two times out after looking likke world beaters in practie..I'm staying away until they figure it out.

Big BULL....Fl

What do you say there Mark i have a Gut feeling this week that the 55 or the 77 gets a top 10 possible top 5...Are you with me on this one Guru...have a great evening

Mark Garrow

  (4:31 PM)

Big Bull...you are full of Bull if you think those two are top-10 or top-five..Top-25 maybe and that's if they're lucky.

dave orlando

how ya doing guru, who you like this week 48 or 99, and i need two guys from these options, 12-9-1-6-19-43-5 and one fromk these, 28-44-10, thanks for the advice

Mark Garrow

  (4:32 PM)

You don't get hurt too bad either way but I'm going with 99 like I did last week..5, and 6...10

Casper( Salem, Ma)

Mark what are you gonna be for Halloween?

Mark Garrow

  (4:34 PM)

I'm going as the scariest Monster anyone has ever scene..blood thirsty...unrepentant..a monster's monster...I'm going dressed to look like my mother in law....

Jeff, Chicago, IL

Here's one for you! I need two drivers this week. One from last year's top ten, and one from outside last year's top 10. However, only one of those drivers can be in this year's chase. Who do I go with?

Mark Garrow

  (4:35 PM)

Outside last year's top-10...Greg Biffle...then Edwards or Johnson..

mike - ca

are you serious, there is such a thing as Fantasy Nascar????

Mark Garrow

  (4:36 PM)

Duh....what's left to say? Do you know of one sport that doesn't have fantasy?

Mike (Provo, Utah)

OK Mark, I may be locked in for the rest of the chase here with big gains on all my drivers, but how do you see this team performing? 48,24,17,6,5 and who might be better to replace them with an why?

Mark Garrow

  (4:37 PM)

Mike, on paper that's a pretty good team...

Kevin, St Clair Shores, MI

Mark who's better this week 48 or 99, only have 48 for 2 more races. Need top 2 out of the following, 5,6,12,18,26,38,42. Need top 2 out of the following. 10,15,28,44. I'm in first place by 29 points and only have 1 race left with the 88 do you think saving him for phoneix is a good idea? Same with the 16, want to use him in miami. 2nd place guy cant use the 48,88,18,16,8 or the 9. Who would you start this week and who would you save?

Mark Garrow

  (4:40 PM)

Use 48 at Texas and Phoenix...18 and 6...10,44..88 at Phoenix should be pretty good..but keep 16 for Homestead...as for the rest of it I'm just understanding what you want.

Shammy....Detroit, MI

What do you think about Newman, Krt Busch and Kahne @ TMS?

Mark Garrow

  (4:41 PM)

Kurt Busch should be pretty good, but Newman and Kahen have not been very good lately.

Corey (Sioux Falls, SD)

Hey Mark, hope all is well....Need one of each Chevy, Ford, Dodge, and Toyota again this week...Thoughts? Thanks!!

Mark Garrow

  (4:42 PM)

Ford..Edwards...Chevy...Johnson...Toyota..Kyle Busch...Dodge...Kurt Busch

Ken (Hendersonville, NC)

Have you upped your opinion of Dinger?

Mark Garrow

  (4:42 PM)

Absolutely and I'm glad to eat my words.

ct

mark rank truex

Mark Garrow

  (4:44 PM)

My pre-race ranking for him is 21st..Taking away third in the fall of 2007 and he's done nothing in three of last four at Texas.

bob mi

if i drop biffle this week who would you replace him with i have johnson truex kenseth and reutimann for this week

Mark Garrow

  (4:45 PM)

Not sure I would drop Biffle this week..but if you did think about Kyle Busch...you need to keep an eye on Truex and Reutimann too.

Mike (LA)

Mark - did NASCAR check and tested JJ's car after the race in ATL for steroids, rocket fuel, or anything? Man, I was so happy he dropped abck to 13 or so and then next thing you know, I'm amazed by the guy just flying by every car. If he had 5 more laps or so, he would have won the darn thing. Give the guy the trophy and move forward to next season.

Mark Garrow

  (4:46 PM)

I don't know if he would have won it ..his tires were going away bad after he had run so hard...I agree let's give him the trophy and go home early!

bob mi

why does biffle do poorly at texas if specially when he does great on tracks with banking

Mark Garrow

  (4:47 PM)

Not sure why...but forget the past stats for Biffle right now..he's operating at a higher level ..

Jacob (VA Beach)

Cow Milking doesn't have fantasy

Mark Garrow

  (4:47 PM)

Did you think that up all by yourself?...

JD

The 42 team had an awesome weekend at Atlanta before the wreck on pit road and then the the collision later on. But the improvement on that team is pretty impressive. So where do you see the 42 team finishing this weakend at Texas? And any sponsorship news for JPM?

Mark Garrow

  (4:49 PM)

No new sponsorship news...They did great at Atlanta but there's not as much room for Montoya to roam in the corners at Texas and that could be real problem.

Billy (TN)

All knowing-All Seeing, Top 20?

Mark Garrow

  (4:49 PM)

Let's look at my pre-race top-25...1. Carl Edwards2. Jimmie Johnson3. Kyle Busch 4. Matt Kenseth5. Denny Hamlin6. Greg Biffle7. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.8. Jeff Burton9. Jeff Gordon10.Jamie McMurray11.David Ragan12.Clint Bowyer13.Kevin Harvick14.Tony Stewart15.Kurt Busch16.Casey Mears17.A.J. Allmendinger18.Mark Martin19.Elliott Sadler20.Brian Vickers21.Martin Truex, Jr.22.Kasey Kahne23.Ryan Newman24.Juan Pablo Montoya25.Bobby Labonte

big jim, la mesa,ca

hi mark, i enjoy your work on espn fanasty. thank you for that!!!one question, i am in a private pool, it goes by standings in the cup race,first, when the season starts, and at the midway point, the pool is drawn up.the big boys are always in the top 20.they are pretty easy to pick.where can i find info on the bottom 20+ drivers???your good,bad and ugly is good info, i'm just looking for more...thanks again.

Mark Garrow

  (4:51 PM)

Hard to say except that we pay a lot of attention to the "scrubs" on our Sunday morning chats..another source racingreference.info....great place to get stats..

Mark Garrow

  (4:51 PM)

Also there's places on Jayski.com that should be helpful.

jay(durham nc)

ur thought on where scott riggs is heading in 09...15 , 01,41...whre u think

Mark Garrow

  (4:52 PM)

I'm hearing the 41...but 01 and 15 are in play.

Glen ( North Dakota)

Mark Truex was running top 5 earlier this year at Texas when he lost the motor with about 5 laps to go. Does that change your opinion a little or do you still see him 20th or so?

Mark Garrow

  (4:53 PM)

Team just hasn't shown me much lately...I'll look closer Sunday and see what's up with Truex,.

Mike (LA)

Mark - Let's get this partyyyyy startedsen it to Sam in boston. Gentlemen, start your engines?

Mark Garrow

  (4:53 PM)

What about the ladies?

chris (richmond, va)

Does the season (i.e. time of year) come into play when analyzing a team's track history? For example, Texas in November must be different from Texas in April, right?

Mark Garrow

  (4:56 PM)

Yes, but I'm more concerned about what they are doing lately...we've had a bunch of intermediate superspeedways on schedule lately and I like to look at those to spot trends etc...I think that's a little more important than what they did in the spring.

Mike (Los Angeles)

Mark - keep your opener with what you want! Don't change because Sam doesn't like it! You don't need to pander to public opinion and make random pop culture references like TMR - be yourself!

Mark Garrow

  (4:56 PM)

Thanks

bob mi

do you think red bull kicking themselves for letting aj go and whats the chances he lands with gillte everham team next year considering what he doing for them right now

Mark Garrow

  (4:57 PM)

Yes and they'd be crazy not to try and lock him down? But GEM doesn't have a car for him right now..

Ogre (Adams College)

Fantasy nascar is for NERDS!

Mark Garrow

  (4:58 PM)

Coming from a "watch me crush a beer can on my forehead" kind of guy, I'm going to take that as a compliment...lol...

Frank (PA)

Mark - gotta pick one from this group: 24, 20, 29, 07, 2, 9. Who is it aand why? how do you rank the remaining five? Thanks!

Mark Garrow

  (4:59 PM)

24 has been a little more consistent lately than the others in the group..I wouldn't classify any of them worldbeaters.

cactus jack (new mex)

3 races left- i have one allotment each for 16, 18, 88. match them with their best tracks please.

Mark Garrow

  (4:59 PM)

16..Homestead..18 Texas...88 Phoenix...

Bill (Michigan)

Surprised to see Kurt so low this week in your rankings. His run last week and at Lowes does not warrant a higher ranking.? I think he is better than the 31,29,07,88,24 and maybe one or two more right now. I see another top 10 this week from the Deuce.

Mark Garrow

  (5:01 PM)

I can see a top-10 too and remember I put Kurt on my team last week..My rankings are not just about where I see them finishing but also ranking some guys within a cluster..So in other words when you look at drivers down around Busch's value and then look at the rankings..you'll see I'm giving him plenty of love.

Big MAN (jersey)

i have one 48 left- does it slow it down in the last 2 races after a good run this week?

Mark Garrow

  (5:01 PM)

I'd use Jimmie at Texas if I had just one left..

Chris from nc

Hello mark, have one more 18 pick. Is this a good week or should I hold off until pheonix or homestead. Thanks for your help.

Mark Garrow

  (5:02 PM)

I'd go ahead and blow it out probably this week...

Mark Garrow

  (5:03 PM)

Got to run everybody...catch you again Sunday morning...till then take care...keep your feet on the ground but keep reaching for the starts...how's that for an outro Sam?...lol...is it a keeper?...have a great day everyone...

Mark Garrow

  (5:03 PM)

stars..