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2008 Review/ 2009 Preview: David Stremme
By admin | January 11, 2009
By Richard Allen
Over the next few days and weeks I will be presenting a review of 2008 and a preview of 2009 for each of the drivers and teams who appear to be set for a full time run in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. For the most part these pieces will run in order by car number. If you should miss out on your favorite driver simply type his name into the search box at the upper right hand portion of the website.
#12- David Stremme
It’s almost like David Stremme is getting a second chance at being a rookie. He drove for Chip Ganassi Racing 2006 and 2007 then lost that ride and was unable to find another in the Sprint Cup series. During the past season he has driven on the Nationwide Series for Rusty Wallace, Inc.
Now, Stremme has resurfaced with Roger Penske’s organization to give NASCAR’s top series another try.
He will be replacing Ryan Newman who left Penske Racing South to join forces with Tony Stewart at Stewart Haas Racing. Newman won the Daytona 500 with the #12 team in 2008 but was unable to parlay that early season success into a championship run. This team had the one win, two Top 5s and eight Top 10 finishes in 2008.
Driving in the Nationwide Series in 2008, Stremme had five Top 5s and 16 Top 10s. His last season in the Cup series was 2007. That year, he had three Top 10 runs.
This team definitely has un uphill climb ahead of them. After Daytona they did not run particularly well in 2008. And, there is essentially no testing in 2009 so the only place they have to work on getting better is at the race events themselves. What’s more, their driver has been out of Sprint Cup, and thus the Car of Tomorrow, for a full year.
It would difficult to imagine Stremme emerging as a top contender in 2009.
Driver: David Stremme
Car: #12
Owner: Penske Racing South
Sponsor: Alltel
Manufacturer: Dodge
Crew Chief: Roy McCauley
Scanner Frequencies(?): 457.7875 & 466.2125
Chances of making the Chase for the Championship: Not good
Richard Allen is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association. His weekly column appears in The Mountain Press every Wednesday.
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