2006 Not So Championship Awards

11/30/2006 / Trixie / 1 Comment

Trixie radioed…

Because there is so much attention being made in NYC this week and I just don’t have the energy to add to the fray. So with that in mind, I would like to announce to all who visit The Park, the winners of the “Not So Champion” Awards. I will be celebrating their achievements in The Park.

I have dusted off my tailgating gear and beer cooler and plan to sit out in The Park tail gating section and pay homage to all the winners. I plan to pull out the brauts and hotdogs as well as a six pack of Coors Lite beer. Since the Budweiser driver is in NY this week, I felt Coors Lite would be appropriate at this banquet. Now that I have my refreshments and adult beverages, let’s begin with the awards.

The Not So Champions Award Winners for 2006

1. Robby Gordon (this year’s Nextel Cup Not So Champion winner)–First up for Mr. Gordon the award for best use for roll bar foam. He will also receive the award for demonstrating how to crash your car all by yourself.

2. Brian Vickers–He received the “How to get sweet revenge on a pissy ass teammate and become the most hated HMS driver since well..Jeff Gordon” Award. I receive a lot of votes from the #8 Nation voting block on this one.

3. Jeremy Mayfield–He receives the “How to lose your ride and sit out the rest of the season” Award.

4. Kyle Busch–I know he is NYC this week, but he will receive an award from this banquet as well. Kyle will be awarded the “Hans Award” for his attempt to use his HANS device for other purposes not outlined by the manufacturer.

5. Kurt Busch–Not to be outdone by his brother, Kurt will receive the “Celebration Award” for his lovely rendition of a snow angel. Because his little brother is unable to attend, he will accept the Hans Award on his brother’s behalf. Kurt also receives the “Most Improved Award”, not for his driving, but for his ears.

6. Michael Waltrip–He will receive the “Big Pockets” Award for buying his way into the Coca Cola 600. He will also receive the “Big Goober” Award. He is a repeat winner for this award. He will also receive the “Aaron’s Not So Lucky Dog” Award for sometimes just being not so lucky on the track. And finally not to be out done, the “I can say all my sponors in one breath” award. Once again a repeat winner in this category. Runner-up to Robby Gordon for the Not So Champion of 2006.

7. Elliott Sadler–He is a champion in my book, but I would be remissed if I didn’t mention his awards. First off, he will receive the “Watch This” Award for his attempt to jump into the crowd off the stage during a taping of Speed TV’s Trackside. Honorable mention goes to one of Ryan Newman’s crew for his “attempt” of stage diving at the All-Star Race.

8. Tony Stewart–He is also a champion in my book, but I he did earn this award. Tony will receive the “Foot In Mouth” Award. I mean you don’t shoot off your mouth about safety at Daytona and then do what you did to Matt Kenseth.

9. Chad Knaus–I know, I know, he too is in NYC this week, but who else really deserved this award by Mr. Knaus. Congrats on receiving the “How to Get Around Things” Award. This is a repeat win for him.

10. Bob Dilner–Bob will receive the “I should double check things” Award.

11. Jack Roush–Mr. Roush receives the “WTF Were You Thinking” Award. I am sure there is more to the story of why Mark Martin, a loyal driver for the past 19 years, is leaving Roush. I mean after all Jack, Mark did give up his own retirement to run another full season for you in 2006.

12. NASCAR Officials–This is group of people will collectively receive the “We can see a speck of dirt on the track, but miss giant safety trucks” Award. Congrats on being repeat winners of this award.

13. Mike Helton–There are too many “awards” and “accolades” to present to Mr. Helton, but I will mention one of them. He will receive the coveted “I Sold Myself to the Devil” Award.

14. Brian France Jr.—Like Mr. Helton, there are too many to mention. I mean he did bring us the COT, the Chase format, two races at California, and moved the Southern 500.

15. NBC and TNT–Once again another group award. They will receive the “How to Piss Off NASCAR fans” Award. I mean how thrilling is it to see all those “wonderful” commercials strategically placed throughout the races. Of course Fox and FX deserves an honorable mention here as well.

That wraps up the 2006 Not So Champion Awards. I will be taking my final laps of the season after work as a brave the snowy streets of Raiderland with not so champion drivers.

Once again I would like to congratulate Robby Gordon our 2006 Not So Champion.

Nominees in each category were submitted and final voting was counted by The Count over at Sesame Street and certified by the accounting firm of Larry, Darryl and Darryl. All decisions are final and the results were not known by the winners until today.

NASCAR Hits the Big Apple

11/30/2006 / Trixie / 2 Comments

Trixie radioed…

It is championship week in NYC this week. I haven’t been keeping track of the festivities. For one I am adjusting to a “new job” and all that goes with that and two, I just don’t care right now. I will probably watch the banquet on Friday evening because I have to get my NASCAR fix.

I got another hit tonight to last me to Friday. Postman taped for me several weeks ago an episode of Speed’s Past Champions that was profiling Tony Stewart. It was probably taped right after Tony was his first championship in 2002. It was a short diversion from making sausage balls for an office party and waiting for CSI: NY to come on. And of course as well all know he went on to when the championship in 2005. I have put my coutdown clock in The Park (sorry about the margin).

I too will be “tweaking things” soon. I am working on a few things to revamp the look of The Park. Why not I say? However, I hope I won’t cause as much controversy as the COT or Toyota. Hopefully you will begin seeing the changes this weekend. I have little under 80 days to get things tweaked before the next season starts.

I want to send out a BIG thanks to Ms. H. for showing me GIMP. The results of her efforts will be seen soon here in The Park.

2006 and then some

11/27/2006 / Trixie / 1 Comment

Trixie radioed…

Well, I survived my first non-NASCAR weekend of this off season. I hope everyone had lots of food, family, and football. The 2006 NASCAR season was definitely one that left everyone talking and going WTF. So here are some highlights from the 2006 season some good, some not so good.

1. Jimmie Johnson wins his first NEXTEL Cup Championship.
2. Kevin Harvick dominiates the Busch Series walking away with 9 wins and the Busch Championship.
3. Todd Bodine wins the Craftsman Truck Series in a Toyota Tundra.
4. Tony Stewart, 2005 Cup champion fails to make the Chase and finishes 11th. Tony wins 5 races, two of which are The Chase.
5. Denny Hamilin in his full cup season wins the Bud Shootout, sweeps Pocono, qualifies for The Chase, and finishes 3rd in the final standings. This is the highest a rookie has finished since his teammate finished 4th in his rookie season
6. Richard Childress Racing drivers Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton qualify for The Chase for the first time.
7. Kasey Kahne wins six races this year (sweeping Lowe’s) and makes his first Chase appearance.
8. Jimmie Johnson wins both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400.
9. Both Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. return to The Chase after missing the 2005 Chase.
10. Brian Vickers gets his first Cup win at Talladega.
11. Jeremy Mayfield is fired from Evernham Motorsports.
12. Toyota will begin fileding teams in the Cup Series.
13. Terry LaBonte raced his final race at Texas Motor Speedway.
14. Mark Martin ended his 19 year relationship with Roush Racing.
15. Ward Burton makes a return to Cup racing after a 2-year abscence.
16. Tony Stewart wins his first IROC Championship. In the process winning two of the four races (Texas, road race Daytona).
17. Chad Knaus is suspended for the first four races of the 2006 season.
18. Toyota finishes 1-6 in the Truck Series while eight Cup regulars finish in the top 10 in the Busch Series.
19. Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch 2005 Chasers fail to make the 2006 Chase.
20. ESPN and ABC will begin covering NASCAR beginnning 2007 taking over for NBC. Fox, FX, TNT, and Speed will still cover NASCAR events as well.

There are going to be some driver changes next year and some of which began in 2006.
1. Elliott Sadler leaves the #38 and takes over the #19.
2. David Gilliland takes over the #38 for Robert Yates Racing
3. Dale Jarrett leaves the #88 to drive for Michael Waltrip and Toyota beginning in 2007.
4. Brian Vickers leaves the #25 to drive for Red Bull Racing and Toyota. Casey Mears will begin his tenure with HMS in the #25
5. Juan Pablo Montoya takes over the #42 from Casey Mears.
6. Mark Martin will drive the #01 for Ginn Racing and will share part time duties with Regan Smith. Joe Nemechek will move over to the #13.
7. David Ragan will take over the #6 from Mark Martin.
8. Jeremy Mayfield will return to Cup racing in the #36 with Bill Davis Racing.

I know there have been lots of other things that have happened over the 2006 season. If this is any indication of the 2007 season, we are definitely in for a bumpy ride.

Happy Thanksgiving

11/23/2006 / Trixie / 1 Comment

Rhett and Raider radioed…

Are you ready for some turkey, stuffing, cranberries, and all the trimmings? We are!

Since our Mommy, Trixie, is working hard in the kitchen to prepare a WONDERFUL feast for us, we wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh by the way…only 86 days til Daytona 500!

It’s Over…Finally

11/20/2006 / Trixie / 3 Comments

Trixie radioed…

Here is your 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion

Even though I am not a Jimmie fan, you have to give him some props. He won the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 this year. He started out in the hole early in the Chase and was practically counted out as a contender. He won at Martinsville. He had second place finishes at Texas and Phoenix. And finished 9th today in today’s race at Homestead. He finished 56 points ahead of Matt Kenseth to win his first championship.

I am so glad that Nothing But Commercials or otherwise known as NBC will NOT be covering the races next year. For one, I was already tired of hearing all about Jimmie. It was as if they had already handed the championship to him. Now that he has won we won’t have to hear about how he was always so close but never could get over that hump to win a championship.

Way to go Greg! That makes it three years in a row that you have won at Homestead!

I am looking forward to 2007. I will post later on this week with my favorite and not so favorite moments from 2006.

Changes

11/16/2006 / Trixie / 5 Comments

Trixie radioed…

I know there is still one race left in the 2006 NASCAR season, but my eyes as well as others have turned to preparing for the 2007 NASCAR season.

Ganassi Racing announced that Juan Pablo Montoya will be in the #42 at Homestead this weekend with Casey Mears running in the #30. This will means Casey will have to qualify on time unlike Juan. Good luck with that Casey and good luck over at HMS.

Since the National Guard will not be the primary sponsor next year for Greg Biffle, Ameriquest (who also sponsored several of his Busch cars) will step up to the plate next year and sponsor his Cup car. Here is a photo of the car paint scheme. And of course Greg will also be getting a new crew chief next year as well. A man by the name of Pat Tryson. I haven’t seen anything about Doug Richert in the mix. Wonder if he will end up somewhere else next year?

I still would like to have seen Mark race for Roush next year in the trucks, but we all know how things are these days. Travis “can I buy a vowel” Kvapil was named the driver of the #6 truck for the 2007 Craftsman Truck Series. I know owners want to keep up with each other, but there have been a lot of things going on over there in that Roush camp. I am still a little upset that Mark won’t be driving for Roush next year, but I can deal with it. Postman not so much. Mark will be taking over the #0 Army over at Ginn Racing (formerly known as MB2 Motorsports) part time and sharing duties with Regan Smith . David Ragan will take over the #6 from Mark.

And how ’bout the Matt Borland deal over at Penske. I guess Matt is no longer in Penske’s My Circle. Will Matt be with Penske and Ryan Newman next year? My gut feeling says no, but you never can tell.

Jeremy Mayfield will attempt to qualify for the race this weekend at Homestead. Perhaps he will be able to qualify on time this go around. As well know he was fired from his #19 ride over there at Evernham Motorsports. The #19 is currently occupied by Mr. Elliott Sadler. I still believe Jeremy and Ray could have handled it in a more professional manner, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Jeremy will be driving the #36 360 OTC Toyota Camry for Bill Davis Racing next year. He will have to qualify on time beginning next season. Good luck Jeremy.

And this is all before the end of the season. Of course there will be more changes during the off season. I am probably going to need some kind of flow chart or diagram to keep up with this.

That’s all to report from The Park..

Mark Rocks

11/15/2006 / Trixie / 1 Comment

Trixie radioed…

Congratulations to Mark Martin for being ranked #1 on the 25 Greatest Busch Drivers Poll.

A poll was conducted by NASCAR.com and NASCARMedia.com to find the top 25 greatest Busch Drivers. And well…when Postman told me about the poll, the first name of my lips was Mark Martin. Of course I was right. He was tops on both polls. Check out the results on NASCAR.com