Hornish back in a Cup ride?

S

Sidewayz

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With Marcos Ambrose opting to return to Australia to rave V8 Supercars, the seat of the No. 9 Ford Fusion at Richard Petty Motorsports is vacant.

Ambrose, 38, won two races at Watkins Glen during his Sprint Cup Series career but was never able to put his car in victory lane on an oval and failed to qualify for the Chase during his six full seasons at the Cup level.

The departure of Ambrose will open up an opportunity for someone else at the Cup level. That opportunity may go to Sam Hornish Jr. who has been running a part-time schedule in the Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry.

MRN is the latest to get on the rumored move to RPM by Hornish.
 
It's been rumored that either Sam or Regan Smith would get the #9 since before it was confirmed that Ambrose was going back down under. Glad MRN reads Jayski like the rest of us.
 
KevinWI said:
It's been rumored that either Sam or Regan Smith would get the #9 since before it was confirmed that Ambrose was going back down under. Glad MRN reads Jayski like the rest of us.
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Would Regan be like a 1 year deal? Like a rent?

I always thought of him as a Chevrolet guy and the designated Hendrick go to driver.

You have to get yours where you can though.
 
Reck said:
Would Regan be like a 1 year deal? Like a rent?

I always thought of him as a Chevrolet guy and the designated Hendrick go to driver.

You have to get yours where you can though.
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Don't know. I remember when Roger Penske hired a little replacement driver who had bummed around for Hendrick and Finch named Brad Keselowski. That turned out ok.
 
KevinWI said:
Don't know. I remember when Roger Penske hired a little replacement driver who had bummed around for Hendrick and Finch named Brad Keselowski. That turned out ok.
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Ohhh touche'
 
I hope Sammy holds out for a better ride than the 9 if there is any way he can.
 
I wish Petty could snipe C. Beuscher away from the clutches of Roush, or gamble on new talent, Hornish and Regan had a shot at cup with some pretty good equipment and both were pretty bad.
 
Furniture row equipment also, worked pretty good for Kurt. Also has been given the best cars to drive in Nationwide the last couple of years and blew a lead last year and this year so far and is getting his butt kicked by a rookie. Besides he has signed for next year to run a Jr car in Nationwide.
 
Hornish or Ragan would be a safe choice, might get them a couple top 10's here and there but I'd seriously doubt they'd contend for wins or the Chase. They're know commodities at this point, you know what you're getting with those drivers, steady but certainly not consistent race winners.

Honestly if I was making the decisions at RPM, and given the sponsorship status of that team; I'd look to go young and rebuild that program around a youngster that has potential and upside. I'd look to go with a kid like Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, or maybe a Cole Whitt.
 
Kyle18fan said:
I hope Sammy holds out for a better ride than the 9 if there is any way he can.
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Why? He's lucky to even get considered for the 9. Hornish just isn't that good, plain and simple. He needs to quit acting like he's Jimmie Johnson.
 
TooSweet said:
Why? He's lucky to even get considered for the 9. Hornish just isn't that good, plain and simple. He needs to quit acting like he's Jimmie Johnson.
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I admit that Sammy did some questionable stuff back in the day but he has done a reasonable job in the 54 car. To me it seems that the 9 is the bottom of the barrel, maybe Sam can do something with it maybe not
 
I have no problem with it. It's just Sam after having such a successful IndyCar career on the ovals, but it does not mean that it will translate to NASCAR. I feel as if the 9 should go to Ragan instead, but I would also like to see maybe a Cole Whitt, Landon Casill, Parker Klingerman, or so many other younguns that deserve a year or so.

If Petty is usually cheap with his drivers, why not take the leap and get a youngster beside Amirola? Experience vs. Youth.

I'd say give Ragan some time or have a long term project with a youngster.
 
TooSweet said:
Why? He's lucky to even get considered for the 9. Hornish just isn't that good, plain and simple. He needs to quit acting like he's Jimmie Johnson.
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Are you accusing him of being boring as hell?

I hated him when he first showed up outta Indy cuz he brought out more yellows than Mikey and Juan Pablo combined.. it took him getting booted from his ride and then demoted to the N-wide-Busch series for him to figure out how to adjust from his open wheel style to stock cars. From what I've seen of him in the last few years I think he's a good candidate for the 9
 
If I owned that 9 car, I'm not sure I'd put any of the above mentioned drivers in it.

I'd probably try to sign Ryan Blaney.
 
TooSweet said:
Why? He's lucky to even get considered for the 9. Hornish just isn't that good, plain and simple. He needs to quit acting like he's Jimmie Johnson.
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Whoa there, mister. It's the #9 we're talking about not a Hendrick or Gibbs car.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
How about an actual female racer to upstage Danica?
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That would be perfect for Petty to do that after what he and Kyle have been saying. :headbang:

My vote is the big Swede girl.. DeSilvestro She can drive and it looks like she can kick some butt in a tussle.
Simona-de-Silvestro-130311-Posing-G-300.jpg
 
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StandOnIt said:
That would be perfect for Petty to do that after what he and Kyle have been saying. :headbang:

My vote is the big Swede girl.. DeSilvestro She can drive and it looks like she can kick some butt in a tussle.
Simona-de-Silvestro-130311-Posing-G-300.jpg
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Dude thats a terrible picture of Simona, but she can drive
 
I wonder how good Simona would be with a high horsepower, no grip car.

She was a bad ass in Indy a few years back. Damn near won at St. Pete
 
Turn5ive said:
I wonder how good Simona would be with a high horsepower, no grip car.

She was a bad ass in Indy a few years back. Damn near won at St. Pete
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She couldnt do any worse than the current driver of the 9
 
Love to have someone try and compete with Patrick. I am thinking Kenzie is the best bet.
 
FenderBumper said:
What kind of name is Danica anyway?
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From a Slavic word meaning "morning star, Venus". It has sometimes been used in the English-speaking world since the 1970s.

A name common to the Eastern Europeans derived from an old Slavonic element meaning "morning star."
 
Johali said:
From a Slavic word meaning "morning star, Venus". It has sometimes been used in the English-speaking world since the 1970s.

A name common to the Eastern Europeans derived from an old Slavonic element meaning "morning star."
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Damn, Johali, you got it bad! ;)

Thanks. I looked up 'Denny' and all it said was "See Grand Slam".:confused:
 
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