ESPN

Mark Garrow

  (3:00 PM)

Good afternoon everyone...you know what I like to say right here...Let's get this partaayyy started!

Ken (Hendersonville, NC)

Mark: I hope that no one brings up the Dega subject...I may still yet put my fist through the computer screen. I currently have JJ (+.7), 11, 5, 00 and 47 on one team. On Sunday I could drop JJ and MM and add Smoke and the Kyle which would give me 3 of the Top 4 drivers in averages. The 18, 11 and 14 average better than 444 points at RIR and between them they had a 1st, 2-2nds, a 3rd and a 4th at RIR last year. The worst finish of the 3 last year was a 24th by Hamlin in the Spring after he blew a tire leading the race. Does that trade make sense to you?

Mark Garrow

  (3:04 PM)

On paper current team doesn't look too bad, but I'd go along with making that trade. Be prepared for Mark Martin being very, very good. You might want to think about dropping JJ, adding Kyle or Smoke..and move up from the bottom, dropping Ambrose for perhaps Truex or Newman..might not be a bad way to go either.

Ken (Hendersonville, NC)

Mark: Contrary to what the big team owners say, I have thought for years that the #1 driver got 1st choice on crew chiefs, pit crews, equipment, etc. Do you believe that Smoke is giving Newman as good equipment and crews that he is putting in his own car? Your comments please?

Mark Garrow

  (3:05 PM)

Yes, I think Newman is getting the exact same stuff as Tony and he's not doing too terribly bad with it. They are a little bit more hit and miss than Tony, but they have the speed most of the time. And as good as Ryan Newman is, he's not Tony Stewart, few people are that good.

Justin Behling (Boyceville, WI)

Your top 5 for Richmond?

Mark Garrow

  (3:07 PM)

I haven't made up my official list yet because I've been sicker than a dog since getting back from Talladega...but I would probably go in the order Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Mark Martin..that's what I'm thinking now..

Richard (California)

Hi Mark,I would first like to thank you for staying on for 2+ hrs.on Sunday,very cool!My 31 team league had 4 300's and 17 400's so it is nice to move on from Dega. In analyzing Richmond,what data from "09 is useful, or do you use past Richmond data?

Mark Garrow

  (3:11 PM)

Richard, I'm glad we're done with Talladega because it just makes me look stupid..lol.....now I might be an idiot, but I'm not stupid. I stumbled on to something atTalladega, though, talking with Jeff Burton and that was that if you run well at Phoenix you feel pretty good about your package for Richmond and NH..That's right Richmond. So, I looked up the stats from last year and sure enough there was evidence of that..In the fall, 11 of top-15 at Richmond were top-15 at Phoenix. Six out of the top-10 were the same..Same in spring where it was five out of ten and it should have been six with Denny Hamlin leading 381 laps before cutting a tire...So past RIchmond is useful and so apparently is Phoenix.

ray gordon reid hyattesvile maryland 20871

questionTO MARK GARROW AT 3.10 GRETINGS MARK YOUR PICK SATURDAY NIGHT RICHMOND

Mark Garrow

  (3:13 PM)

I thinnk Denny Hamlin is going to be set on "win baby win"...but he'll be trying to get away from the smoke, if you get what I mean..

Hook (Southern Maryland)

What would your top 10 be for this weekend?

Mark Garrow

  (3:15 PM)

Well my top-five is Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Mark Martin..then I'm probably going with Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., David Reutimann, and Greg Biffle.

Tom Gulf Coast

What do you think about Sam H Jr here, he ran very well at PIR, but hes not been at that great at short tracks this year.

Mark Garrow

  (3:18 PM)

Tom, funny you should bring him up, I was just thinking about him...If Phoenix is a good indicator then Sam's ninth place run there has to be thought about carefully. The problem I have with Hornish is that he's really had some solid runs but either he finds trouble near the end of these races or trouble finds him like it did at Talladega. But with SCC value of 15.0 if he could score a top-10, top-15 at that price that could really give someone some flexibility to in the top and middle part of the values.

Ken (Hendersonville, NC)

Why not keep Ambrose...He was 14th @ Phoenix.

Mark Garrow

  (3:28 PM)

Ambrose won't be a bad "keep"...but I think Truex and his boys have begun to turn it around. I can see him potentially finishing top-10 at Richmond...I can't see Ambrose doing that but I can see him 13th 15th when its over, which is still good and boy do I wish I would have kept Ambrose last wek...then my team wouldn't have been a total dud.

Ken (Hendersonville, NC)

I told you 4 weeks ago that he keeps his nose clen...he save my butt

Mark Garrow

  (3:32 PM)

I hear you Ken....you were right and I didn't get on that bandwagon soon enough..maybe I should make you a "Guru" for a day?

Ken (Hendersonville, NC)

Bad idea but we think the same a lot of the time

Mark Garrow

  (3:35 PM)

should we be scared you and I think alike? I think so!...lol..

Tom Gulf Coast

Is Brad Keselowski committed to any cup teams for the 2010 season? I know there is talk he will go to the 5 or maybe to JRM if they move to cup. But does anyone have him signed?

Mark Garrow

  (3:38 PM)

Not officially...but he does have a plan in place with Rick Hendrick and Dale Jr...He'll be in Cup next season and you can probably take that to the bank. Could someone come in and steal him? Maybe...but it would take a lot of $$$ and would have to be Joe Gibbs or why would Keselowski take a move down from Hendrick Motorsports...Roush is not an option because he's already got one too many drivers right now...

Ken (Hendersonville, NC)

At least we agree on writers

Mark Garrow

  (3:39 PM)

10-4

Tom Gulf Coast

I agree, With the talks that Mark would maybe stay another year. That would lock him out of HMS.. Im sure that he will be in Cup next year too..Maybe if Mark stays and JRM doesn't move to cup..He could end up at SHR..Any thoughts

Mark Garrow

  (3:49 PM)

I hadn't thought about SHR, but that would seem to be a reasonable possibility. They have room to expand and get all their stuff from Hendrick..it's at least a viable option.

Mark Garrow

  (3:49 PM)

I hadn't thought about SHR, but that would seem to be a reasonable possibility. They have room to expand and get all their stuff from Hendrick..it's at least a viable option.

Mark Garrow

  (3:51 PM)

We're missing a bunch of "regulars" today...Hope they haven't caught what I did..

Mark Garrow

  (3:51 PM)

Any last questions anyone?

Mark Garrow

  (3:52 PM)

Does anyone have any further questions?

Dan NC

I don't know if you noticed Garrow but your chat isn't linked on the main stock car page on ESPN... maybe why the chat is a little slow? Anyway, I heard Jimmie is bringing the same car that has won its past 4 races. Is there any reason to leave him off your roster?

Mark Garrow

  (3:57 PM)

No he's going to be pretty good...He's going to be somewhere in my top four picks for the race...My pre-race team I won't be able to add him because I'm setting a floor of Truex and Reutimann...but I'd love to have him that's for sure.

Ken (Hendersonville, NC)

I have more but I'm on a final table at a Poket Tourment...could win 2K...have to pay attention

Mark Garrow

  (3:58 PM)

double down...I can feel a Royal Flush coming on..

Tom Gulf Coast

The chat was very hard to find today.Thanks for you responses see you next time

Mark Garrow

  (3:58 PM)

Thanks Tom...have a great week.