Truth & Rumors > Auto Racing

Penske backing Hornish next year

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Former Penske open-wheel driver Sam Hornish Jr. has the team's full support in his second full season of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing next year. Hornish, a three-time IndyCar Series champion and winner of the 2006 Indy 500, struggled this season in the No. 77 Dodge Charger in his rookie Cup year, finishing 35th in points and failing to qualify for the final race at Homestead. It was rumored he might even return to IndyCar. But Denker said Hornish, who will have Mobil 1 and AAA sponsorship on his Dodge in 2009, would play a pivotal part in the Cup campaign with fellow Penske drivers Kurt Busch and David Stremme, who replaces Ryan Newman. ''We're absolutely committed to Sam," Denker said. "We're behind him and are blessed to have sponsorship from Mobil and AAA. We are very committed to Sam and expect him to do well."

Charlotte Observer

Sam Hornish Jr., Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images Sam Hornish Jr., Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images
November 30, 2008  12:13 PM ET

i like hornish. i give him credit for trying. but its just so hard for these guys to just jump in cup. yea he's been around for a couple years. but in my opnion, he's not cut out for nascar

November 30, 2008  01:04 PM ET

first year in cup give him a little time

November 30, 2008  03:55 PM ET

he needs to use the old tried and true method of "abc" which stands for ARCA, Busch( which is now nationwide) cup.... a..b...c... spend a little time in each series then move up.. it hasn't happened yet but some one will get hurt due to a rookie mistake and then francecar will make the needed adjustments... but not til someone gets hurt. look at the hans device... you have to wear it now in all levels of nascar and it wasn't used til Dale sr got killed.... so FRANCECAR keeps going with the knee jerk reaction and some one is going to get hurt.
the dr.

November 30, 2008  07:38 PM ET

You have been drinking, ABC doesn't stand for anything! HaHa

November 30, 2008  07:54 PM ET

I guess he can drive OK. I just expect him to do a little wiggle into whoever is beside him every time he gets in camera range. He reminds me of Menard or Robby Gordon, getting in someones way or someone is in his way.

December 1, 2008  02:43 AM ET

Yes, "he" finished 35th in points, but what the Charlotte Observer failed to "Observe" (gee, this isn't the first time...) is that the TEAM finished 38th (because some teams above 38th in OWNER points didn't have the same driver for every single race).

So unless Penske pulls more shenanigans with the moving around of owner points (and Busch won't be the most recent champion not in the top 35...that goes to the Stewart/Haas #14 now), he'll have to make the show the old fashioned way, which he failed to do at Homestead.

They'll have their work cut out for them for sure. He missed two races after falling out of the top 35 before Richmond. And how many of those races, including Richmond, did he get a free pass because qualifying was rained out?.......

December 1, 2008  12:44 PM ET

Typical move for Penske. After all, what did anyone expect? Penske has always shown that they are satisfied with winning a few races here and there, with an occasional run at the championship. Face it, NASCAR comes second to Indy Cars in the land of Penske.

Besides, retaining Hornish makes sense. Penske needs to improve their equipment to be in any position to contend for wins let alone championships.

 
December 2, 2008  09:05 PM ET

i guess i supported hornish's efforts next year when i rented a PENSKE moving truck last week.. LOL

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