SPENCER: Roger’s Regrets?

Sprint Cup

SPENCER: Roger’s Regrets?

Penske stands a favorable chance of winning this year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship for Dodge before parting ways with the manufacturer...

Jimmy Spencer | Posted October 03, 2012 Charlotte, NC

Team owner Roger Penske's decision not to continue with Dodge in 2013 set in motion a chain of events that is forcing the manufacturer out of NASCAR. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

I have the utmost respect for Roger Penske but I can’t help but wonder if he is having any second thoughts about his decision to leave Dodge for Ford next season. One look at this week’s point standings legitimately raises that question.

When the announcement was first made that he’d race for the “Blue Oval” in 2013, it surprised me that Penske is willing to join Ford and most likely play second fiddle to Roush Fenway Racing. While Penske currently looks right on track to finish much higher in the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup than the Roush brigade, Penske won’t be nearly as in control of his team’s own destiny next year – motors and all.

Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski has five wins in 2012, two of which he scored in the Chase, not to mention the fact he is leading the points. Roush, meanwhile, has only three wins this year among three drivers, none of which currently are a threat for the championship. Greg Biffle is 11th and Matt Kenseth 12th in the point standings heading into Talladega this weekend.

We often hear in the NASCAR media that teams that are under one manufacturer umbrella share information with each other. Do you really think the Chevrolet teams of Richard Childress Racing and Hendrick Motorsports are sharing important information? Hell no. They may share basic, manufacturer-related information, but they’re certainly not passing along any “secrets” or worthwhile knowledge they’ve figured out that could potentially position one to be at a competitive disadvantage to the other. By the same token, don’t expect Roush to share the “good stuff” with Penske. It’s just not going to happen.

If anyone benefits from this new relationship, it will be Roush. His organization fields cars for three of the best drivers in the sport with Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, but they’re not producing on-track results of nearly the same caliber they have in the past. Then look at the No. 2 car and Keselowski and what he’s accomplished this year. I’m guessing that if Penske shares anything with Roush next year, Roush will emerge the big winner in that exchange.

Meanwhile, Penske stands a favorable chance of winning this year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship for Dodge before parting ways with the manufacturer. Talk about a heck of a parting gift. That would be awesome for both the team and the manufacturer, and I’d love to see “The Captain” pull it off because he has given so much to this sport. Penske has had great success in the IndyCar world, but has never been able to capture the Cup Series title for one reason or another despite dedicating all necessary funding, personnel and effort to the cause. Penske has won several big races but has never been able to seal the deal when it comes to the title.

While Keselowski at the moment may appear to be the favorite for the championship, I certainly wouldn’t underestimate the Nos. 48 and 11. That would be foolish. Keselowski has been strong but he also has been lucky at times. Fuel mileage luck played a role in his win at Dover, but winning a championship does require a certain amount of luck. That Miller Lite Dodge is strong but the team hasn’t suffered much bad luck in 2012. If they can continue to avoid that menace and keep their performance streak going, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see them hoist the Sprint Cup trophy at Homestead next month. If they do, make sure you look around because there will be Roush watching from the sidelines, secretly happy that if he can’t win the championship, Keselowski and Penske Racing did. After all, that certainly can’t hurt him in 2013.

Jimmy Spencer calls it like he sees it on NASCAR Race Hub on SPEED. He retired from driving with two NASCAR Sprint Cup, 12 NASCAR Nationwide and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory, putting him in an elite group of drivers who have logged wins in all three of NASCAR’s premier divisions. In 478 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, Spencer amassed 28 top-five and 80 top-10 finishes. He won back-to-back NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championships in 1986 and 1987 on the heels of 15 victories, becoming the first driver ever to earn consecutive titles in the series. He earned the nickname “Mr. Excitement” for his flamboyant and aggressive driving style early in his racing career.

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jimmy Spencer

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