ESPN

Mark Garrow

  (2:58 PM)

Good afternoon everyone...Let's get he partaayyyy started!

Joe (Boston)

Steiny: Is he a great chatter or just sends in so many questions that he has to get something posted?

Mark Garrow

  (3:00 PM)

Joe, from what I understand no one tries to stay up on each and every sport like Steiny does...He's involved with many chats at ESPN.

Hook (Southern Maryland)

What are your picks for this weekend?

Mark Garrow

  (3:03 PM)

Dr. Hook..from the Medicine Band I presume..lol...Here's the deal, prior to Texas, which I stated Gordon would be up front, but doubted he would win...I was really looking to Phoenix as the place I thought he would end the winless streak...Jimmie Johnson has won three in a row there, leading more laps by the way each time, but Gordon was the last guy other than him to win at Phoenix and I think he just might make it two in a row..Johnson,Hamlin, Stewart and Martin are my top-five pre-race picks.

Jimbo (Cleveland)

Guru... I see 44 with a top 15 this week. He has run well this year except at mile and a halfs. Your thoughts??

Mark Garrow

  (3:06 PM)

I have the "Dinger" pre-race ranked 18th. I think he has a shot to run 14-19th at Phoenix. As a low budget driver he could be of some help along with Marcos Ambrose and Bobby Labonte.

Rich (Saint peters, mo.)

Hey Guru, Hope your Easter was great....Now back to racing. Pick one from each group...24,48,99...31,5,29...1,26,47. Thank you for your great wisdom every week. See you next week..."same bat time, same bat channel."

Mark Garrow

  (3:09 PM)

24 and 48 is almost a pick'em in group 1..I'm leaning towards Gordon...I'm going with the 5 in group 2..RCR is off it's game just a bit 31 and 29 will be decent but 5 could run top-five....In third group, Truex is struggling so don't go there..I think I'd take McMurray over Ambrose..Jamie was tenth on flat track in Martinsville and was third in this race at Phoenix last year....now back to the bat cave...

ray gordon reid pampa texas 79066

question to mark garrow at 3.15pm hi mark do you nascar racing on saturday or sunday

Mark Garrow

  (3:09 PM)

Saturday night racing is pretty neat...but the thing I like best..should you have bad weather still have the option to run Sunday..

josh macon, ga

Dear guru, I have 99,18,33,83,00. I know cousin carl is in a slump but i think not for long. My question is i could trade the 99 for 48 and the 33 for 2, what do u think about that for the next 4 races? I couldn't be more excited about stewart/haas racing guess it really is the driver.

Mark Garrow

  (3:11 PM)

Josh...I'm not in love with 99 and 83 for sure at Phoenix...so trade up to Johnson for the 99...I think RCR is struggling, but I really thought Kurt Busch looked really bad at Martinsville...just couldn't get around that flat track which is not a good thing when it comes to Phoenix potentially either..I don't think I'd make that trade.

Tim Concord, NH

Pick 2: 96, 44 or 47.

Mark Garrow

  (3:12 PM)

I would rank these guys 47,44,96..all have a shot to run top-20...47 and 44 might be able to sneak a 14-15th place finish..

Mark(NC)

Wii Junior find his pit this week and have a good finish?

Mark Garrow

  (3:14 PM)

Gosh, I certainly hope so...He's always married up pretty well to Phoenix, finishing seventh and sixth there in 2008...Let's hope for the best because Junior might be feeling a little heat.

Beth WV,

Sure missed tou last week. What does your team look like this week.. Thanks Great One

Mark Garrow

  (3:17 PM)

And I missed you too....but haven't done my team yet....I was left with 48,88,11,00 and 71 after Texas...I lost my mind gambling 00 was going to come up big and Gilliland was going to finish a minimum top-20...boy did I get that wrong...That Sunday morning at Texas was really messed up and fact I messed up my team...not surprising...lol...

Jason (Bellefonte, PA)

Welcome back Guru. I need a little advice for Phoenix this week. Choose two from the 18,24,48,99. Choose four from 2,6,9,11,26,39,88 and two from 44,47,96. Thanks for the help!

Mark Garrow

  (3:19 PM)

24 and 48...no brainer...11,39,88, and with no clear cut number four in that group I'm going with McMurray..good at Martinsville and third at Phoenix last year..2 might not be bad fourth pick either...47 and 44 from group three..

Tom ( Chicago,IL)

Gotta take the 96 two times in the next 10 weeks. He has been pretty good at PHX. Is this the week to take him or does he disappoint? I need a top 15. He has not run very well this year.

Mark Garrow

  (3:20 PM)

I think Bobby will have a decent run Bobby at Phoenix...pencil him in for top-20..he was 12th and 19th there last season and I think equipment this time around is better so Bobby should hold his own.

bobby(SC)

With it being a Sat night race, are you going to be doing a pre-race chat. If so, when does it start. Is this an impound race?

Mark Garrow

  (3:21 PM)

Bobby it looks like this Saturday's chat will begin at 4:30 eastern time...Might jump the gun a little bit though and come on a little early because the night race schedule is pretty compacted.

Cactus Jack (New Mex)

three guys i want your guru wisdom on: JPM, Newman and Dale Jr.

Mark Garrow

  (3:22 PM)

Newman and Junior potential top-10..Juan Pablo potential top-15..All three should be in decent shape...JPM finished 16th and 17th there last year and no question he's got better car and more ponies under the hood...

Billy ( NH)

26 or 44.....5 or 18.....96 or 44.....Thanks buddy

Mark Garrow

  (3:23 PM)

26....5...44....if you go completely opposite of me there isn't much downside..each of these match-ups pretty close..

norm, palm springs ca

Hi Mark,Welcome to Phoenix,Who's your pre-race favorite?Any chance Truex Jr runs better.Last year the DEI cars were pretty good on the short tracks, but they seem tohave no followed up this year. From what I hear the EGR will debut their newchassic and will be able to share info between the 1 and the 42.

Mark Garrow

  (3:26 PM)

Hey Norm....Truex is a tough call..he's run top-10 at Phoenix in two of last three races, but wasn't even top-25 last fall and has really struggled this year...The new chassis deal will certainly help...but it will take a few weeks to get that all ironed out to be any big benefit to Montoya or Truex.

JC (Rancho Cordova, Ca)

are you back on the mark martin wagon yet?

Mark Garrow

  (3:27 PM)

Why yes I am as a matter of fact JC...I can easily see him running top-five this weekend...and if you can do that with the right break or two he might challenge for the win....Martin is really tough at this place...and he's back to finishing races again after stumbling in the season's first few races.

John (Ct)

Guru... I noticed no happy hour practice AFTER qualifying. Is it an impound race and does it mean that teams will focus mostly on race setup meaning that qualifying may not be a good indicator of which cars are best??

Mark Garrow

  (3:30 PM)

From what I see when I just checked my NASCAR schedule..it's not an impound race. However, final practice will take place before qualifying Friday...so just about every team in top-35 will be working on race set-up and putting little or no time into qualifying..

norm, palm springs ca

Mark, with a win the the jr series, do you think the 20 win some mo for this race?

Mark Garrow

  (3:32 PM)

Logano will have a little more confidence this week you can count on that...but what you can't count on is Joey running front in a Cup race anytime soon..In first seven races his average finish is 30 so don't go from there to winning ..it's a step by step process..painful now, but should pay off big dividends down the road..

Cal (NYC)

Hey Mark. What team do you like? A)48,11,5,2,47 or B)14,11,5,2,42....Can you rank these guys 11,88,14

Mark Garrow

  (3:34 PM)

I like the first team a little better...both should score a pretty big chunk of points..I rank those three guys like this 11,14,88..

Kacie (kansas)

guru, I have to stomp that rascal boyfriend of mine again this week. Im out of town tomorrow and will be gone all week so I have to set my line up now. How does this look? 48,11,5,42,00

Mark Garrow

  (3:35 PM)

Not bad Kacie...that's potential "stomp my boyfriend in the dirt" team...might even allow you to...back over him....lol...

JC (Rancho cordova)

im going Mark martin, smoke, hambone and ambrose or labonte. money in the bank right?

Mark Garrow

  (3:36 PM)

Could be "show me the money!",,,but I'd go with 47 over 96...now repeat after me "Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with three....."

Alan (memphis)

please rank: 00,39,42,1,9,83,44

Mark Garrow

  (3:38 PM)

39,42,44,00,1,9,83...That's what it feels like going in for me Alan.

Dennis (Atlanta)

Since this is a short, flat rack; will martinsville serve as a good indicator track as to who will do well?

Mark Garrow

  (3:39 PM)

Martinsville will give you a decent "vibe"...but looking back at recet Phoenix and NH races should be biggerhelp.

Hershal (Arkansas)

2 questions guru. Will mears be out after this year and where will truex end up?

Mark Garrow

  (3:40 PM)

If things keep going the way they have been Mears could have a hard time keeping that ride..A for Truex no telling but I don't see him returning to DEI or EGR..

Jay (ohio)

guru, im graduating in dec. from Va Tech with an engineering degree. Id love to get into nascar somehow. Where would be a good place to get a foot in the door?

Mark Garrow

  (3:45 PM)

Wow, Jay I really wish we were having this conversation early last year...jobs out there now very tough to come by. What I would do is get a few days and come down to Charlotte area and try to set up meeting with Human Resource people at Hendrick, Gibbs, Roush, and Childress...see if the head of their engineering departments might speak with you a few minutes...maybe ask for an e-mail address of the team's top engineer or guy who heads up fab shop..e-mail him and tell him what you'd like to do and what you think you're qualified for...In this economy you'll just have to knock on doors until your knuckles bleed....dig in and don't give up..If you have the skill and talents needed someone will figure that out...but be prepared for a lot of 'No" answers but don't give up..and good luck..

norm, palm springs ca

Mark, how would I listen to PRN?

Mark Garrow

  (3:46 PM)

You can go to goprn.com and there's a listing of programs and local radio stations..you can also listen to the race broadcasts on NASCAR.com Track Pass....At goprn.com you can hear my daily show Garage pass or again find out the closest station to you..

Phil (tenn)

Listening to the radio today and they had an interesting thought. Who would be your 5 all-time broadcasters?

Mark Garrow

  (3:51 PM)

Do you mean in racing?...if you do....on radio Barney Hall and Ken Squier were great...I hope to make some people's top-10 in that category..on TV...again Ken Squiers and not many people probably remember him but he was great when CBS started broadcasted the full races..these days I like Fox both of Joy, Waltrip, and McReynolds...I really like the tandem of Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach on TNT...Dale Jarrett does a good job on ESPN and booth has been getting stronger there as he works more with Jerry Punch and Andy Petree...Two of my old favorites on TV were Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons...not sure if I answered your question right Phil, but I tried..

Todd (richmond VA)

Who is a guarantee for a top 5 this week other than 24 and 48

Mark Garrow

  (3:51 PM)

How about the 11,14 and 5 as top-five candidates too?

Nick (big easy)

Do ya think rocket man will be that good this week guru?

Mark Garrow

  (3:52 PM)

Nick, I think Ryan is a strong top-10 kind of car this week..

Mark Garrow

  (3:52 PM)

Nick, I think Ryan is a strong top-10 kind of car this week..

David (VA)

Guru, whats your initial top 30 headed into this weekend?

Mark Garrow

  (3:52 PM)

1. Jeff Gordon2. Jimmie Johnson3. Denny Hamlin4. Tony Stewart5. Mark Martin6. Carl Edwards7. Greg Biffle8. Kyle Busch9. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.10.Ryan Newman11.Clint Bowyer 12.Kevin Harvick13.Jeff Burton14.Kurt Busch15.Jamie McMurray16.Juan Pablo Montoya17.Marcos Ambrose18.David Reutimann19.A.J. Allmendinger20.Martin Truex, Jr.21.Kasey Kahne22.Matt Kenseth23.Bobby Labonte24.David Ragan25.Casey Mears26.Brian Vickers27.David Stremme28.Paul Menard29.Michael Waltrip30.Reed Sorensond

norm, palm springs ca

Thanks on the radio info. The TV people keep putting everything but racin. Now that the 24 has started a new streak when do you see the 29 ending theirs? He is usually pretty good at Phoenix.

Mark Garrow

  (3:53 PM)

Harvick is pretty good at Phoenix, but RCR in a little bit of a slump these days..I see Harvick as top-10 material and probably not much more than that.

Matt (Albuquerque, NM)

Hey Mark, can you post your rankings before you "leave the building"? Thanks guru!

Mark Garrow

  (3:54 PM)

David (VA) beat you to the punch Matt on that request...but was just posted a minute or two ago...what do you think?

Big Mama (Yazoo)

Ill take Mark Martin for the win.

Mark Garrow

  (3:55 PM)

This is the first time in awhile Big Mama, and hold me because I might faint..lol... that I'm in the mood to agree with you...Martin should be good at Phoenix..

Jarvas (TN)

Can you rank these drivers: 24,48,11,18,5,33,14,16,99

Mark Garrow

  (3:57 PM)

24,48,11,14,5,99,16,18,33 ...there you go Jarvas..

Idiot(NC)

Da BIFF wins Saturday night

Mark Garrow

  (3:58 PM)

Da BIFF will run strong...but won't get the win...sorry...

norm, palm springs ca

The 99 ran 4th both races last year. But you don't seem very high on them or the 17 a past winner. Do you think the 99 crew will improve?

Mark Garrow

  (3:59 PM)

I can see Carl running 4th to 8th Saturday night..pit crew change will help, but will it have immediate impact I don't know about that..

Big Mama (Yazoo)

will carl edwards be a "hero" for his new sponsor this week?

Mark Garrow

  (4:00 PM)

No pun intended right Big Mama?...lol...He won't be a Subway "hero"...but he also won't be a messy meatball sub either...

Jay (ohio)

thanks for the job advice guru. Hopefully you can interview me on pit road 10 years down the road.

Mark Garrow

  (4:01 PM)

Jay...if I'm still doing this ten years from now...I'll probably tell you just before going on the air the immortal words..."I'm getting too old for this crap!"....lol..

Mark Garrow

  (4:03 PM)

Got to go folks..as always it's been nice "chatting"....don't forget race day chat this Saturday afternoon at 4:30 eastern....until then may the "force" be with you...The Guru has left the building...

norm, palm springs ca

Which driver commercial do you like best, 99 with the duck. 48 fixing pipes, 14 with the spice or. I am kinda fond of jimmie axing the speedbump at the espn shop.

Mark Garrow

  (4:04 PM)

Okay..could resist..I'm going with the duck..

Cactus Jack (new mex)

Jay- offer to work for free. if you hang around long enough you will get ajob. thats true just about anywhere

Mark Garrow

  (4:05 PM)

Not a bad idea ....but experienced guys are doing that now and so that gets tougher...but again Jay...don't give up..and you'll "get'er done"..

Matt (Albuquerque, NM)

My thoughts? Rankings look good as always, though I might put McMurray a little higher--top 10 at Martinsville in spite of Roush's poor showing. 3rd in the fall as well. Thanks buddy!

Mark Garrow

  (4:06 PM)

Got it...thanks for the feedback...now..finally..for real..honest to goodness...The Guru has left the building...................and I mean it this time..lol..