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Mark Garrow

  (2:59 PM)

Good afternoon everyone...Let's get this partaayyy started!

JJ Glo

I know mark dont like plate tracks but hes kinda on a roll????What do you think???Oh its time for Smoke to be spinning donuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark Garrow

  (3:00 PM)

I think Mark will have a strong run Sunday and I'll be keeping him on my team..Smoke?...he very well could be burning rubber after the race at Talladega..He's number one in my pre-race rankings this week.

steve plymouth mn

Who does better this week Hamlin or Stewat

Mark Garrow

  (3:01 PM)

I believe it will be Mr. Stewart.

Justin Behling (Boyceville, WI)

Do you consider Earnhardt Jr. the favorite this weekend at Talladega, or is he among them?

Mark Garrow

  (3:02 PM)

I don't think Junior is a favorite...He should be solid and has the potential to run top-five...If you can do that with a break or two can challenge for win...He's won there five times before so he can get it done...Do I see it? Probably not. But Junior will have a solid day.

Courtney (Sun Prairie, WI)

Hey Mark, I'm in a league where we get to make one trade this week that sticks for the rest of the first half. I could trade away the 26 car and pick up one of these: 88, 1,83, 07 or 39 OR I could trade away the 98 and pick up one of these:55,47,43,96,19 or 6. Which one should I trade and who should I pick up? Thanx!

Mark Garrow

  (3:06 PM)

This is a tough one Courtney because I'd probably recommend unloading both guys...I'd get rid of 98 for either the 47 or 6..Ragan has more upside because he's already proven he can run top-10..As for JMac...88 or 39 would be the play there..Junior should get running better...Can you swap out the 98 and still make trades in the other group?

Joey Logano Connecticut

What are the chances I make it through the weekend without taking out half the feild?

Mark Garrow

  (3:07 PM)

Like everyone else's I would guess 50-50...

Marc (Gulfport, MS)

Since we know that plate races (Talladega, especially) are generally crapshoots, is the smart money to go with experienced plate racers regardless of how they're running thus far? I'm looking at the 88, 29, 19 as examples.

Mark Garrow

  (3:10 PM)

For the past two years, I've over thought my picks at Talladega and got torched. So this time around looking at guys with experience in running up front and finishing the deal..Didn't know if you knew but just a little while ago Childress just swapped the entire Casey Mears crew over to Harvick after Talladega...and Harvick's crew now goes over to Casey Mears..88,29 and 19 should net three decent finishes this Sunday...maybe not world beaters, but still solid finish with four fenders at the end...19 is a little scary, but Sadler is a great little plate racer.

Kevin StClair Shores MI

Mark, I'm in yahoo, what do you think of the following picks Group A: 18 and 33 Group B: 1,6,42,83 and Group C: 43 and 44> What is your top 20 or 30. I haven't commited to anything yet, have till friday, what driver would you keep and which to get rid of? Thanks again Mark, had a 300 point race last week.

Mark Garrow

  (3:12 PM)

18....1 and 83...44...AND....here's my top-30 pre-race rankings...1. Tony Stewart2. Jimmie Johnson3. Jeff Gordon4. Kyle Busch5. Mark Martin6. Denny Hamlin7. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.8. David Ragan9. Kurt Busch10.Kevin Harvick11.Clint Bowyer12.Brian Vickers13.Jeff Burton14.Carl Edwards15.David Reutimann16.Ryan Newman17.Matt Kenseth18.Jamie McMurray19.Juan Pablo Montoya20.Kasey Kahne21.Marcos Ambrose22.A.J. Allmendinger23.Martin Truex, Jr.24.Greg Biffle25.Robby Gordon26.Michael Waltrip27.Bobby Labonte28.Paul Menard29.Casey Mears30.Elliott Sadler

Rich (Saint peters, mo.)

O.K. Mr Guru, here comes DEGA!!!!! one from each group please....18,24,14....5,29,39....26,7,6...Thank you for the help last week...had 5,48,26...good week for me....Until next week...don't forget"if your not first, your last"

Mark Garrow

  (3:13 PM)

14...5....6....Stewart has a chance to win...Martin's on a roll and better plate racer than he gets credit for...and David Ragan was the only guy last year to finish both Talladega races in the top-five....AND..I won't forget!

norm, palm springs ca

I over think my picks every week. Last week I swapped out the 88 for the 5. And didn't swap the 14 for the 24. As soon the pickin was locked I knew I SHOT MYSELF IN THE FOOT.

Mark Garrow

  (3:14 PM)

I do the same things some time...I had Martin and Stewart...but opted for Gordon over Johnson...Newman hurt me big time...Ambrose did okay..

Willie (MS)

Good ole' Robby Gordon has very impressive finishes the past two races at Dega! What do we expect from him this weekend? Is perhaps the Jim Beam #7 team "built" for impressive Superspeedway performances, or is Robby Gordon just a phenom when it comes to resrtictor plate racin?

Mark Garrow

  (3:16 PM)

Robby is fearless and you need a big dose of that to be good at 'Dega...Here's something I bet you didn't know...I didn't until I put a calculator to it...In the last six Talladega races, Robby Gordon has scored the tenth most amount of points..

Billy Bob (Concord, NH)

Please rank the following 42, 39, 83, 88, and 6 and then 43, 44, 47, 96. Are there any drivers you tend to avoid at the 'Dega based on their propensity for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? (besides being near Robbie Gordon) -- Many thanks for your time.

Mark Garrow

  (3:18 PM)

88,6,83,39.....47,44,96,43...As for guys to stay away from...it's a total crapshoot at Talladega...You're not safe out front...in the middle ....or the back...and anyone can make the slightest mistake that triggers a big pile-up...

Gene (NC)

gordon and reutimann or johnson and vickers?

Mark Garrow

  (3:19 PM)

Johnson and Vickers...Gordon-Reutimann won't be terrible...but on paper 48 and 83 should score a few more points.

Marc (Gulfport, MS)

Mark-- I'll be at 'Dega this weekend camping in the Redneck Riviera. Any words of caution?

Mark Garrow

  (3:20 PM)

Don't let anyone take any pictures or videos...I'm think after day or two of Marc "unleashed" you might turn into a You Tube sensation...lol....

Ryan (Gilbert, AZ)

I have the 18-48-42-83-44 for my prelim. SCC team....Show me the $$?

Mark Garrow

  (3:21 PM)

Ryan...that's not bad...and yes you have a shot to shout...Show me the cold hard cash baby!

ray gordon reid grenada miss 38901

AT 2.55 PM HI MARK WHOS YOUR PICK SUNDAY TALLADEGA

Mark Garrow

  (3:21 PM)

Ray Gordon...I'm thinking it could be a big day for Tony Stewart.

Beth WV

What a great night in Nascar to see Mark Martin win last week, I was so glad. What was really great to see, was all of his co-workers going up to him and patting him on the back. MM is a Class ACT.. Who are your favorite drivers to talk with. Thanks GURU

Mark Garrow

  (3:23 PM)

You, of course....oops forget drivers....They are all pretty good...but Johnson..Jeff Gordon...Jeff Burton..Carl Edwards...Clint Bowyer ...those are a few of the drivers who make it the easiest for people to do their jobs..and there are several others too..

Mark Garrow

  (3:23 PM)

You, of course....oops forget drivers....They are all pretty good...but Johnson..Jeff Gordon...Jeff Burton..Carl Edwards...Clint Bowyer ...those are a few of the drivers who make it the easiest for people to do their jobs..and there are several others too..

Jason: Andalusia, Alabama

Hey Mark: For SCC which team do u like better; 14,2,5,39,00 or 18,14,5,39,96? Any other suggestion?

Mark Garrow

  (3:26 PM)

I think the first team is a little more "balanced"...96 has potential to come through with a top-20 or better...but I like first team a little better...tough choice though..because I like the first four on team 2 a lot..

Dale Jr. (Whisky River, NC)

Think the 07 will draft with me this weekend?

Mark Garrow

  (3:26 PM)

You're good if your on his back bumper but if he's on yours....that could be not good...lol...

Ryan (Gilbert, AZ)

How you doin Guru....What do you think about David Ragan's chances this weekend...He has quietly put together a nice streak of plate finishes....Do you think he could be a nice sleeper??

Mark Garrow

  (3:27 PM)

Absolutely...top-five in both Talladega races last year and was sixth in February's Daytona 500.

Mike (LA)

Guru - This statement is not completely true "ou're not safe out front...in the middle ....or the back" rememebr the 48 stayed out back last year and was 1 or 2 laps downd and played that game till the end and wounded up at preety good finish I beleive. Maybe it is safe to stay back. So at what lap does the big crash happen?

Mark Garrow

  (3:29 PM)

My point was simply a crash can AND has occured up and down the pack before and will happen again...I tink the big crash will happen late...say 70 percent of the way through..

Harry (Cali)

Nice work last week, I had 14,11,5,2,00..big score! With everyone locked in, do I let it roll again?

Mark Garrow

  (3:31 PM)

Harry, on paper there's nothing wrong with that team going in..

David (VA)

Guru- Interesting that you go with Tony up front and Kyle back at 4. Are your top 5 pretty close? If I remember right, at Daytona Tony was ok in the pack but he complained he didn't have the horsepower to run in front of everyone. The 18, and to a lesser extent the 24, were the class of the field...

Mark Garrow

  (3:33 PM)

Remember Daytona was more about handling than horsepower...At Talladega almost any chassis set-up will work and it just depends on how good you are making the right "chess" move when it counts...Stewart is one of the best at that at Talladega so that's why I'm high on him...Remember he gets his engines from Rick Hendrick so he'll have plenty of ponies under the hood..And yes my top-five are pretty close.

Billy (TN)

All Knowing-All Seeing Guru, Please provide your wisdom by ranking these lower tier teams for Dega 47,44,96,36,77,43 Thanks again for your weekly advice.

Mark Garrow

  (3:34 PM)

47,44,96,43,77,36.....that's how I see it at this time.

Daniel(IN)

hey mark, just want to get yout thoughts on the follwing drivers, and how you think they'll fare Sunday, those drivers being: Burton, Ky.Busch, Mears, Ragan, Reutimann, Menard, R.Gordon and Regan Smith, you thoughts?

Mark Garrow

  (3:37 PM)

Burton..hard to figure RCR a little off...no worse, though, than top-15..He's sneaky good plate racer...Expect a lot from Kyle Busch...and David Ragan...Reutimann should be top-10 to top-15 decent...Menard and Robby have potential to run top-15 but are always risky...Regan Smith...18 last fall at Talladega...21st at Daytona..tough call because of immense risk.

bobby(SC)

Great call on the 00 last week. What two do you like for this week A)29/88/11 and 00 B)18 and 19 C)31/33 and 39.

Mark Garrow

  (3:39 PM)

Thanks for the props...I should have been smart enough to take him after I recommended him..lol....not sure what you're looking for ..I'll rank those guys..In group A..11-88-29....B)18 C)33,31,39

Richard(California)

Hi Mark,My team,held for two 700+ weeks,has gained so much value,+4.6 overall, it is hard to switch out for other teams.So,is 48-11-2-00-42 at the "don't mess with it" stage? Thanks as always.

Mark Garrow

  (3:40 PM)

It's possible...42 is always a little risky but he's been getting more consistent....That's a pretty good team to go to war with..

Tom Gulf Coast

Mark with the new Dodge Engine putting some life back into PCR, why has RPM not made the move to the newer engine.They have both Kahne and AJA through 2010, I have to think to keep those guys they will have to improve there engine program. Why Wait, or are they working on it?

Mark Garrow

  (3:42 PM)

Not sure what the story is...but one of the top guys at Penske told me that maybe RPM isn't working on it because they don't want to spend so much money when they might be switch manufacturers...something Petty people have denied...

norm, palm springs ca

Any chance Casey Mears has a good run at Dega. He has a 9 ave finish in the COT there, all with HMS. Or is RCR still searching for HP?

Mark Garrow

  (3:43 PM)

It's possible Casey could have a decent run..It will be interesting to see if team swap after Talladega...affects them positively or negatively at Talladega.

Cal (NYC)

Whats up with RCR? They are usually good at plate tracks but they have been pretty bad lately. Do they get it back together this weekend?

Mark Garrow

  (3:44 PM)

They won't be world beaters...I can't see any one of them winning...but they are good enough drivers to ring up top-10 or top-15 runs at worst...RCR's off an inch or two, not a mile.

Hunter (OH)

Hey guru..I know this is an impound race, but my league rewards points for qualifying...Other than the Go or Go Homers, which teams have the horsepower to qualify towards the front?

Mark Garrow

  (3:45 PM)

Looking for raw speed among the top-35...Kyle Busch was pretty sporty at Daytona and Earnhardt - Ganassi was in good shape with Truex and Montoya.

norm, palm springs ca

Hi Mark, Do you think qualifying position means that much with the COT at the plate tracks? (17 started last a Daytona) Thanks.

Mark Garrow

  (3:46 PM)

I don't think it matters at all.

norm, palm springs ca

Truex had a good race for a change. But His COT Dega stats are horrible, what do you think his chances ae this weekend?

Mark Garrow

  (3:49 PM)

He was 11th at Daytona...has a good car and decent power...on race day at Phoenix I picked him out as someone the garage was talking about...so hopefully they have about to put their slump behind them...I wouldn't rule him out.

Doug(wi)

mark..I have a question I use to know the answer to, but can't remember and I need to explain to the guys in our pick-em pool. Why in the NASCAR.com lineups, do they put a #1 in front of some car numbers,for instance #187 instead of just #87? And sometimes they even out up a #2 in front.

Mark Garrow

  (3:50 PM)

For cars that are not going to run the full season or are using a number NASCAR might allow someone else to use..they'll put a #1 or #2 in front of it so people know the number has not yet been given to the team "permanently"..

norm, palm springs ca

Rumor's are circulating about a JR crew cheif shake up. Any truth?

Mark Garrow

  (3:51 PM)

I just heard from Hendrick Motorsports guy I know..He also contacted Jayski.com and told Jayski also deal wasn't true.

Mark(NC)

Will Junior find his pit, have no pit stop mistakes, and make adjustments to his car doing the race and finish top 20 this weekend?

Mark Garrow

  (3:52 PM)

He should finish top-10..top-20 would be a big disappointment....I'll bet he knows where his pit is this time that's for sure.

Tom Gulf Coast

Mark, thanks for answering my question. I had a feeling that the reason RPM and Evernham didn't work on this last was because they were looking to change MFG for the 2009 season..Any truth in that?

Mark Garrow

  (3:54 PM)

For 2010 I think they are working on other stuff...given the state of the parent company if you're running a Dodge right now..you're working on Plan B just in case its needed..

David (VA)

I have to make it to a plate race one of these days. . .Which track do you like attending more, Dega or Daytona?

Mark Garrow

  (3:56 PM)

I'd probably say Daytona because you can see a little more...and there's a little more to do in the area...Both are a trip and great places to go enjoy a race...Go in understanding, though, they are so big you won't see everything and there are times the cars are so far away and when they come by ....they do it in a hurry!

Marc (Gulfport, MS)

Mark, I promise I won't embarrass the weekly chat crew while I'm at 'Dega.

Mark Garrow

  (3:56 PM)

and repeat after me...I solemnly swear not to bring a suitcase full of beads....lol...

Mike (Los Angeles)

Mark, I always tend to overthink my roster for the plate tracks, but they're so inconsistent that I've found it's not worth it. I'm probably going to stick with my team from last week, which is 48-14-2-00-47. How do you like my chances?

Mark Garrow

  (3:58 PM)

I've done the same thing last two years at Talladega and got burned...actually writing about it in my race preview...I'm going to stick with what I know...and play the percentages, trying not to get too fancy...On paper your team has five guys who are no worse than top-15...top-18 drivers..

Mike (Los Angeles)

Jayski has 29 and 07 cars swapping most of their staffs and 96 with a new crew chief. Any impact on their Dega performance from these changes?

Mark Garrow

  (3:59 PM)

Hard to say...RCR not swapping until after race...96 will do it going in...We'll be digging into it when we arrive in Alabama.

YouTube Sensation Talladega Alabama

Hi Mark, please help.I just was wondering if you factor in the famous Dega hangover into your race picks. Do you avoid drivers known to party(Jr) in your picks?

Mark Garrow

  (4:01 PM)

Hate to burst your bubble but none of these guys, including Junior, are big party boys on race weekend...that's old school..this is a new day..a few might sip a beer but that's about it..

Mark Garrow

  (4:02 PM)

Well, that's going to do it for today...We'll have race day chat from Talladega on Sunday morning...Until then...may the force be with you.

Mark Garrow

  (4:02 PM)

The Guru has left the building!