On the Loose Side
A NASCAR BLOG BY Kenny Bruce
Surprise or statement for Juan Pablo Montoya?
LOUDON, N.H. – Juan Pablo Montoya, that qualifying whiz from Earnhardt Ganassi Racing …
Yeah, you’re right. That might be a little strong. Maybe Montoya, who turns 34 Sunday, isn’t considered a weekly threat to qualify No. 1 when NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series comes rolling into town to set up shop for the weekend. But he did win his second career pole here at New Hampshire International Speedway Friday, and set a track qualifying record in the process.
Maybe it was a statement run for the Target team, which is making its first appearance in the Chase. Regardless, it was a run that definitely caught the eyes of those in the garage. …
• Mark Martin now says he’ll stick around through 2011 as a driver at Hendrick Motorsports. Ponce de Leon had it all wrong. Apparently the fountain of youth can be found inside the team’s No. 5 Chevrolet. …
• Bobby Labonte had one of his best finishes of the season a couple of weeks ago when he finished 18th in the TRG Motorsports Chevrolet. He turned in his best qualifying effort, eighth, Friday in his return to the team.
• The world’s biggest FedEx box? The Joe Gibbs Racing hauler that ferries driver Denny Hamlin’s Toyota from shop to track has a new look. The trailer’s been wrapped to resemble one of the sponsor’s distinct packages. It’s a Chase-only endeavor. And a clever one at that.
Kenny Bruce
Kenny Bruce covered his first auto race in 1981 and, except for a brief four-year departure to work in drag racing, has been at it ever since. He joined NASCAR Scene in 2001.
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