Monday, December 26th 'What If' Question

With Kurt Busch gone from Penske Racing and AJ Allmendinger gone from Richard Petty Motorsports, replacing Busch in the No. 22, the No. 43 previously driven by Allmendinger is up for grabs.

As of late last week the leading candidate for the position was Aric Almirola, the current driver of JR Motorsports No. 88 in the Nationwide Series. Almirola finished fourth in points last season after moving back to the NNS, he had been in the Cup Series, sharing a ride with Mark Martin at Dale Earnhardt Inc. back in 2008 before lack of sponsorship shut the team down.

Now with news that he could be headed back to the Cup Series his No. 88 becomes of the hottest seats available. JR Motorsports has helped put drivers like Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. on the NASCAR map. They contended for championships and won races as JRM has become one of the best driver development organizations in the NNS. Drivers are lining up to get their resume into team owner Dale Jr. for the 2012 season.

Those included might be Reed Sorenson, who lost his ride with Turner Motorsports midway through last season while he battled for the championship. Or even Cup drivers Brian Vickers, David Reutimann and David Ragan who have all lost their rides, might not mind racing for the sports most popular driver and winning races. A job is a job, regardless of the series.

Or will JRM again find a young talent who is waiting to get his shot? Drivers like Chase Eilliott and Darrell Wallace Jr. who are dominating in other divisions would love to get a jumpstart on their NASCAR careers.

No announcement has been made about the new driver of the No. 43 for RPM yet. Anything official would be announced after the New Year and with Almirola's name expected to be attached. He would get the nod over the aforementioned drivers of Ragan, Reutimann and Vickers, past Cup winners. They come with the Cup experience that many sponsors are after whereas Almirola has nothing but unpleasant Cup memories from his past. He'll be itching to erase those should get the chance, which Ragan, Reutimann and Vickers are hoping he doesn't.


But ...

What if Aric Almirola is announced as driver of the 43 for Petty, who should be next driver JR Motorsports gives a shot in the 88? #NASCAR

@cruetten I like Reed Sorenson, but my out-there pick is Reutimann

@chreister89 Would like to see @ColeWhitt get a chance at a good ride.

@HarpAmyStabler I think that JR Motorsports should give David Reutimann a shot for a second chance at his career.

@Race_Girl24_7 26 #givereutiaride

@HD388 hopin for Sorenson if the 88 opens up

@rcracer20 Reed Sorenson and Reutimann are good picks,but Cole Whitt has talent that needs to be expossed and JR can do it

@racinwithjason Matt DiBenedetto!!

@BONES6699 Ryan Truex... Or is he under contract with JGR?

Wednesday, April 13th 'What If' Question

Before Dale Earnhardt Sr. there was Adam Petty. The fourth generation driver of the Petty family was just beginning to make his mark on the NASCAR world when he was killed at the age of 19.

Petty was practicing for what was then a Busch Series race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway when his car hit the wall in turn three. Many believe his throttle stuck which caused his No. 45 Chevrolet to head for the wall on May 12, 2000. The grandson of Richard Petty, the son of Kyle, Adam wanted to follow in their footsteps and make it into the Sprint Cup Series.

If he ever did make it to the top and when the time came for his father and grandfather to step away from racing, Adam was in a great position to help take over the family business. Petty Enterprises would be there for Adam to lead but instead his memory is left behind in the Victory Junction Camp which was built in his honor. The camp hosts children who suffer from illnesses at no charge to their families and is continually supported by many NASCAR drivers.

On the racing side, much has happened to Petty Enterprises. They've had name changes, new faces in charge and more failure than success. Drivers AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose are doing their best to bring the King back to the forefront and victory lane in the newly formed Richard Petty Motorsports. It's still a long, hard fought battle as they push onward.

It was not the way that things were supposed to go for the Petty family and the business. Things were supposed to fall right into place, passed from father to son to grandson. However, it just wasn't meant to be as the loss of Petty and many other NASCAR drivers have changed much about the sport over the last 10-12 years.

But ...

What if Adam Petty were alive and racing, how different would the now named Richard Petty Motorsports look? #NASCAR

@jenniferisindy: About Adam Petty you mean> It did, I was sad first then thought the answer would depend on how successful he would have been

@Talon64: Petty Enterprises would still be around, and Kyle Petty would've stayed involved with the team.

@The_Bumpdrafter: the original RPM never would have been screwed up by Gillete.

@jlaracefan14: If Adam Petty would still be with us I believe he would have already won a bunch of races maybe a title as well and the famed Petty Enterprises would be one of the powerhouses in NASCAR. The boy was TALENTED and drove like The King!

Thursday, February 3rd 'What If' Question

Almost doesn't count in racing but for Richard Petty Motorsports driver AJ Allmendinger there have been a few occasions where he almost won his first Sprint Cup Series race.

Driver of the No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion has developed into quite the little racer as they say and through all the internal problems that have plagued RPM, he hasn't lost focus of his main goal. Last season in Dover, Allmendinger again came close to victory, contending with the likes of Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson until troubles found him.

As the new season looms the predictions start and Allmendinger has made a few lists by those (including yours truly) who believe he will win his first race in 2011.

A driver winning their first career race is a big story but a driver winning in a car with the No. 43 on the side and owned by Richard Petty is also a big story. The number was made by Petty back in his heyday, when he won 200 races and seven championships. Forever dubbed the 'King' of the sport and elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame last season, fan support will never waver for himself or his company,

It just hasn't been easy for the company. Petty though, is back in control and said during the annual media tour 'Welcome to the new Richard Petty Motorsports.' The team will field two cars, Allmendinger in the 43 and newly hired Marcos Ambrose in the No. 9. Both have something they want to prove to the NASCAR world and Petty doesn't want to be the laughing stock of the sport anymore either.

See, there will always be stories. Just maybe none so more then anyone who drives the No. 43, much like another driver that is connected to one of the most famous names in NASCAR history. Allmendinger is indirectly in the same boat because of whom he drives for and what his car number is and both fortunately and unfortunately, not having won he hasn't had to deal with more Petty talks than he's already heard.

But ...

What if AJ Allmendinger is to win his first race this season, bigger story his first win or his car number and owner winning? #NASCAR

@racecrazy: AJ winning-at least to me

@Talon64: Probably his car owner and number winning, #43 hasn't won since 1999. I'd hope it would be AJ though.

@Brandon_MGraves: it would be both

@Matt_Kacar: AJ winning would be bigger because of all the uncertainty he had to go through last year.

@nascarjaj: the bigger story will be the car number winning again

@cruetten: AJ's first win will be the bigger story--i dare say the majority of #nascar fans started watching long after Petty retired.

@Nascar47Fan: My thought is his car no and team owner will overshadow his 1st win.

@Tmac2824: The King will always prevail. Even in headlines.

@MattEmbury: Probably the latter, it's been since 1999 at Martinsville that car has won. #NASCAR

@NancyatStudioN Bigger story would be AJ's win. RP made me sick when he practically pushed KK out of victory lane in Sonoma so he could hog the spotlight

Jose Acero (via Facebook) Trick question Kelly? Obviously we the fans would like for it to be big news AJ winning but as we all know the infamous "media" will put aside AJ's first win and focus on the the owner and the car number going back to victory lane. But from a fans point of view AJ winning no doubt the kid is as talented of a driver than anyone out there