Is Scott Speed good enough?

[BethAnne]

Now,that the ARCA season is officially over, some of the drivers are pursuing other options. We all know Scott Speed thinks he's 'All That'. My question is: Who, from the ARCA series, do you think is talented enough to be sucessful in the NASCAR arena?

[Charlie]

Speed has the talent. He now, after his antics when a championship was on the line for his team, has to prove if he has the head. Scott has said often that the ARCA championship would mean nothing to his future. Maybe that's true, I don't know. Scott won't know either, because he didn't close that deal. It didn't seem to mean much to him personally. But it meant plenty to his team owner - Eddie Sharp, of Eddie Sharp Racing. Sharp fielded three, first class teams in the ARCA RE/MAX Series this season. Speeds was the lead team though. The Red Bull sponsorship was the same support that backed Michael McDowell to an ARCA Rookie of the Year award and second place in the championship in 2007. Sharp, Red Bull and that team, led by crew chief Patrick Donahue, wanted that championship. Scott pissed it away when he couldn't get over the fact that his closest rival this year, Roush-Fenway's Ricky Stenhouse Jr, got back at him for an earlier-in-the-season incident, and punted him into the wall. Speed's car was damaged heavily, but he still had a chance to get back in the race and eek out a championship for his TEAM. Saving his OWN pride was more important. I feel bad for Sharp, Donahue and the guys who did the work to get that car ready every week.

Maybe Speed has Cup Series talent. Red Bull thinks so. Roger Penske thinks that Justin Allgaier - the kid who benefitted from the Speed-Stenhouse contretemps - is good enough. So do I. And Stenhouse will get his shot from Roush-Fenway, most likely. There will be other ARCA allums who move up. Maybe Travis Carter's son Matt. Watch for Sean Caisse who may run the whole 2009 ARCA season.

[Steve]

Speed worked his way into a great situation, but not a good ride with Red Bull in F1. He also worked his way out of that ride; maybe by his own doing or not. That equipment wasn't good enough to beat the top teams in the FIA. Conversely the equipment he was given by Eddie Sharp Racing was the best that money could buy in the ARCA Re/Max Series. But no matter how good that equipment was, Scott wasn't able to pull off a championship in support of the team that worked their collective asses off to give him the opportunity. And that is too bad.

Justin Allgaier has been a pleasure to watch all season. Running almost exclusively for the family race team, Justin is all that Scott Speed isn't. Look for Justin to do well in the NASCAR ranks and have a solid career. I'll never forget the way he ran that car at Salem with no brakes, just trying his damnedest to keep it off the wall,

Stenhouse, Jr. may make it, but the field is awfully crowded in the Roush-Fenway camp at the moment.

[Clance' McClannahan]

Justin Allgaier has some serious potential. I love Scott Speed.. strictly for viewing pleasure. He has the greatest attitude and sense of humor. I think they can both do well in the long run.

[BethAnne]

I love Justin Allgaier. He and his dad have great attitudes. Scott Speed is such an entertaining individual I hope he does well. NASCAR needs more personality, so I agree with you Clance' and I wish them all the best.