NASCAR 2008

The Intimidator

/ Trixie / 1 Comment

I still can remember when and where I heard the NASCAR family lost Dale Earnhardt Sr.  I was glued to every sports, race, and even news programs trying to make sense of all it.  Postman and I were married in June that same year.  Since we were staying at the Sahari in Vegas, we went down to the NASCAR Cafe.  In the gift shop located in the same area was one of Dale’s cars.  It was covered with cards, letters, and everything you could think of.  It was amazing.  I have a picture of it somewhere amongst my treasures from that trip.  Dale Sr. was missed by all. 

There was no other driver like Dale Sr. and to be honest there will never be another one like him.  Dale Sr. was the man.  You don’t get to be a 7-Time Winston Cup Champion (that’s right I said Winston Cup) by sitting back and watching everyone else go by.  I still remember his first and only Daytona 500 win.  I cried right along with I am sure quite a few us in the NASCAR family.  For all the attempts and near misses, it was as if he was winning for us as well.  Little did we all realize that he would be gone in a few short years.

His memory is still alive and if you don’t believe me, look around the next NASCAR race you attend or watch on television.  He is still one of the most repsected drivers to ever race around the NASCAR circuit. 

We miss you Dale!

Bing, Bang, Boom

/ Trixie / Leave a comment

All I can say is WHEW!

Yesterday’s race kept me very glued to the television set even while cooking bbq ribs for Postman’s birthday festivities.  I was worried this race would turn out like last Fall’s race when the COT made it’s debut.   But on the contrary, it was well worth it.

Going into yesterday’s race, I knew it was going to be the Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart show.  Sorry for all the fans of other drivers out there, that’s just the way I saw this particular race shake out.  And it pretty much was that for majority of the race.  Except there was that #11 guy, Denny Hamlin.  Denny was either challenging for the lead or leading the pack.  But looming in the distance, you could see that big #20 and the #88.  But just when you think you have everything all figured out at Talladega, you don’t.

Earlier in the week, I did a comparision between Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr.  I gave the edge of Dale Jr. and the rest of the field and that includes over my driver Tony Stewart.  Prior to yesterday the highest Kyle ever finished a race at Talladega was 11th.  And yesterday it looked like once again Talladega was going to get him again.

On Lap 44, Kyle was having difficulties with his car.  He tells his crew “This is a bad sign.”   Then comes the miscue on pit road where Kyle cannot get over to pit on Laup 62, thus having to go around and come back through.  This puts him 35th and almost a lap down.   He will eventually go a lap down and on lap 117 will get the infamous lucky dog.  But retarting at the back of the pack at Dega compared to staring at the back say at track like Bristol, is different and it was going to be a matter of time before Kyle made his way up front.  After all most getting sideways with Jamie McMurray, Kyle takes the lead on Lap 170.  I have to give major props to both drivers for not creating the Big One at this point of the race.  I believe if this were the old car, Kyle Busch would not be celebrating in vicotry lance.  At this point in the race, however, it was on as we say here in The Park.  Gloves are off and it’s ever driver for himself.  I know some of you Gordon fans out there didn’t like the way Kyle blocked Jeff, but hey it’s racing and that’s that.  I have seen Gordon do the same thing.  Like I said, it’s Talladega baby!  You do whatever and/or draft with whoever to get yourself to the front–and that’s just what Kyle did to capture his first win at Talladega.

CONGRATULATIONS KYLE! 

Talladega didn’t disappoint us with the Big One.  The Big One occurred on Lap 173 when it looked like mass chaos.  When it’s three wide and everyone is jocking for position, it’s just a matter of time before BAM!  Bobby Labonte gets sideways and heads up the track and well…collects Tony, Martin Truex, Kurt B. and Jamie McMurray.  Dale Jr. sustains damage to his vehicle.  However, it was the end of the day for Smoke.  He finished a bismal 38.  This wasn’t the only Big One for the day.  Just as white flag is thrown, Michael McDowell spins on the frontstretch, but no caution is thrown.  However, there is a big crash towards the back.  Apaprently #26 shoots up the track and collects quite a few cars including David Stremme who was having a great day substituting for Dario Franchetti who was injured the day before in a crash during the Nationwide race.  David finished 28th.

I have give some kudos to Juan Pablo Montoya.  He finished second to Kyle and I thought ran exceptionally well.  Where did Denny Hamlin end up?  That would be third.  And which HMS driver finished the highest in yesterday’s race???…wait for it…Casey Mears.  I turned to Postman at one point yesterday and jokingly said…Casey is racing today right?  I know it must be difficult at times when your other 3 teammates get all the press coverage before, during, and after the race.  Way to go Casey!  David Ragan and Travis Kvapil had good days as well both finsihing 4th and 6th respectively.

All in all this Dega race did not disappoint.  On a side note, yesterday we had Postman’s birthday celebration.  The race was over by the time all the non-NASCAR guests arrived, but like with any good party there were some beatin’ and a bangin’.  We had a sprainged knee, broken piggy bank, knee to the groin, and the final accident…a knee to the nose which caused some minor bleeding.  That’s when I knew the party was over.  Once you have blood drawn, the party’s over!  That’s what you get from a party over in The Park.

Now we move on to Richmond and some Saturday night short track racing!

Smokin’

/ Trixie / 2 Comments

Wow! What an ending to the Nationwide race today. It looked like it was going to be a classic Talladega last lap pass kind of race until a debris caution came out. It was Tony leading the pack with Dale Jr. right behind him. When the green flag was thrown, it was on. Dale Jr. pulled out and looked like he was going to take the lead. But in the race fan’s opinion, he went a little too soon. Of course I am a little biased because my boy was leading. But Tony wanted this win. He had not see victory lane at Talladega in either the Nationwide car or his Cup car. After all the talk across the world wide web with Smoke talk, it was Tony’s time to see the checkers at Dega. Oh yea…he won it from the pole!

CONGRATULATIONS SMOKE!!!

And where does Tony start in tomorrow’s race? That would be 2nd. Way to go Front Row Joe!

Of course, Talladega is famous for the Big One and today was no different.  Kevin LePage was coming out of the pits and trying to merge with the racers on the track.  From what I understand from the merging rule, he came up onto the check too soon and the melee began.  The intial impact was very violent.  It was scary.  I saw the post crash race interview with Kevin Lepage.  Now, this is from my own viewpoint as a race fan and this my own personal opinion, so if you are a Kevin Lepage fan, I’m sorry.  This wreck was his fault.  From his interview, he seemed like he was not taking responsibility for the wreck.  Even the guys in the booth were saying he made a mistake.  I hope in tomorrow’s driver meeting, the NASCAR bosses explain the merging rule so a wreck like today doesn’t happen tomorrow.

And how ’bout David Stremme finishing 2nd behind Smoke.

Even though tomorrow is Postman’s birthday, we will be watching the race.  We are not having his party until later in the day and perhaps the race will be over so the non-NASCAR friends of course will be able to enjoy themselves.  But hey…a little NASCAR never hurt anyone.

Where there is Smoke…I am there!

/ Trixie / Leave a comment

I have had about 24 hours to digest all of this about Tony. 

There was one point yesterday, I am like who cares who Tony drives next year or the year after that.  I will follow him whereever he goes…that it’s.  And yes, even if a spot opens up at the HMS and that is where he goes so be it.   And like Junior fans did this year, I will buy all new stuff and still cheer on my driver even if he is no longer with JGR and driving the #20 Home Depot Car,  because it comes down to the fact that Tony’s my driver period end of discussion.

We all know how things get started in NASCAR.  One little remark or comment by someone “close to the situation” can become much ado about nothing.  There is only one person who knows what Tony is planning to do and that is Tony. 

So this Tony fan is behind Tony on whatever path he chooses. 

Stewart to leave JGR?

/ Trixie / 7 Comments

To all you Stewart fans out there don’t panic…as of yet. While driving home yesterday, I caught the tail end of this story on Sirius Speedway so I decided to check it further.

Of course as always I head on over to Jayski’s to find out more information regarding this news tidbit. I just wanted to check things out to see what other details are available. According to Sports Illustrated, Tony may be shopping for another team, more specifically Haas CNC, next year. According to the “sources” close to the situation, he would be given the opportunity to have some percentage of ownership with the team. However, Tony’s PR man Mike Arning was very, shall we say for argument sakes, avoiding the matter at hand. According to Arning, Tony is with JGR the rest of this year and next year. He has a contract with JGR through 2009. And plus JGR is interested in signing Tony beyond the 2009 season. JGR wants Tony to retire with them.

We all know that if a driver wants to be release from his contract with his current team it can happen.  I mean all you have to do is look Jamie McMurray and Kurt Busch.  So if Tony wanted out of his contract, say at the end of this year, it might could happen.  You never know what really goes on behind closed doors. I mean look at the Busch/Earnhardt deal from last year.  I think I recall at one time Rick Hendrick stated he was not interested in Earnhardt, but yet who is Earnhardt driving for this year? 

Would this be a good move for Tony?  I really don’t know.  If he were to move to Haas CNC, he would be given the opportunity to be partial car owner of Cup team.  He would return to driving a Chevy which has been the only manufacturer he has driven for until this year.  Tony’s open wheel sprint car teams drive GM products.  HMS does provide the motors to Haas CNC.  However, Haas CNC has not been tearing up the circuti these days.  The #66 is currently 28th in the driver and owner standings, while the #70 is outside the top 35.  The #70 has had a revolving door of drivers this season.  Jeremey Mayfield started out the season as the driver for the car, but was released on April 8.  Immediately Johnny Sauter was hired to drive the #70 at Phoenix.  Oh by the way, Sauter was the previous driver of the #70, but was let go and replaced by Mayfield .  It was announced yesterday that Max Papis will race the road races this season and Ken Schrader will drive it this weekend.

I think is going to one of those news items that has some meat to it.  I guess we will just have to wait and see.

#18 vs #88

/ Trixie / 6 Comments

The talk so far this season, in my opinion, has been about Kyle Busch and Dale Jr.  Both drivers moved from their prospective teams to new teams this season.  Both of the moves were interrelated to one another.  Kyle was let go at HMS to make room for Dale Jr., who became quite the free agent after deciding to leave his father’s team DEI after the 2007 season.  Kyle landed on his feet over at JGR which made a big move from Chevy to Toyota.  The expectations placed on these drivers was already high coming into the 2008 season.  How would Dale Jr. perform under HMS?  Would Busch find success under JGR and a new manufacturer?  And finally, at the end of the season, who will be judged as the driver who made the better move? 

In this race fan’s opinion, both drivers have performed outstanding.  And here is a little comparison, if you don’t believe me.

Kyle Busch

  • 1 win (Atlanta)
  • 4 Top 5s
  • 5 Top 10s
  • 11.0 avg finish
  • 2nd in the points standings

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

  • 0 wins
  • 3 Top 5s
  • 6 Top 10s
  • 10.5 avg finish
  • 3rd in the points standings

Now, this weekend I believe will be a whole other ballgame for the two.  I think this is the weekend, Dale has the biggest chance to come away with his first win of the season and his first win since the spring race at Richmand in 2006.  Last year, just wasn’t his year.  With all that was going on with DEI and the media scruntiny, one can’t blame him for having a rough year.  But this year is a different story.  Just look at where he was this time last…15th in the points.  He is now sitting 3rd behind Kyle Busch and points leader Jeff Burton.  Now speaking of this race weekend…Dale Jr. has not only the definite edge over Kyle, but I think the rest of the field.

Dale has 7 wins, 14 Top 5s, and 20 Top 10s at Talladega.  He has an average finish of 16.4.  The last couple of years at Talladega has been rough for him.  In 2007, he finished outside the top 20 in both races.  The spring race was due to engine issues.  In 2006, he finished 27th and 33rd, and in 2005, 20th and 36th.  He has not won at Talladega in a Cup race since the spring race in 2003. 

Kyle on the other hand hasn’t faired so well at Talladega.  He has had zero wins, zero top 5s, and zero top 10s.  His average finish is 31.7.  The highest he has ever finished at Talladega is 11th and that was back at the spring race in 2006.  Will that all change this year?  I am not sure.  The way he has been driving he might be able to tame Talladega and finish in the top 10, but Talladega is a different beast all together.

Kyle has been known to overdrive his car and not be there at the end of the race when it matters the most.  With Talladega, it’s all about staying out of the big one and putting yourself in position to make a challenge for the win in the closing laps.  It’s also about drafting partners too.  Dale will definitely have more drafting partners this year with Jimmie, Jeff, and Casey.  Plus there is always Tony who Dale likes to team up with on occasion.  Since Kyle is now teammates with Tony and Junior with the HMS guys, it will definitely be interesting to see how all the drafting dancing will work out this weekend.  But as we all know, we it comes down to the last few laps, all bets are off and it’s every driver for himself.  Hell, I’d even draft with Jimmie if it meant I could win!

And of course….

Plus you have The Big One which can take out many an experienced driver (This if from 10/7/07).


 

Note to Postman, I know Sunday is your birthday, but this is Talladega baby!  I love you!

I Survived

/ Trixie / Leave a comment

This NASCAR fan survived the weekend.

I would like to congratulate Danica Patrick for capturing her first win. I have always thought it wasn’t a matter if, it was when. She has a desire to win and she is a very competitive racer, plus she isn’t afraid to go toe to toe with “the boys”. This is a weight of her shoulders, of course, people will now ask when will she win Indy. Indy is a tough place to win a race just ask Michael Andretti. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out in May. Good Luck Danica!

I peeked in and out of the Mexico race today. Congrats to Kyle Busch for his third win in a row in the Nationwide Series. Perhaps he will now think about running for the Nationwide title. That boy can drive a car.

Like the title of this post says, I survived. I was able to attend the annual Spring game at TTU. This was the first time I had attended the spring game. Next to NASCAR, I LOVE FOOTBALL! It was hot! Postman and I took Little Smoke with us. It is never too early to expose Little Smoke football and the Red Raiders. We stayed until the end of the first quarter because frankly I was tired and sunburnt. I know, it didn’t seem like I was that dedicated, but damn it was freakin’ hot! Besides we wanted to take Little Smoke to our local arts festival so he could participate in another Home Depot building workshop. I didn’t mind all that walking around because it was indoors with AIR CONDITIONING!

Here are a few pics from yesterday’s spring game.
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The boys will be heading to Talladega this week. Postman will also be celebrating his 37th birthday on race day. For those of our friends who will be celebrating his birthday with us will have to watch the race with us. It is Postman’s birthday and they can give him this…his day. Speaking of birthdays, my birthday falls on Father’s Day and race day. I know I will probably have to share my birthday with him since this will be his first father’s day, but I think I deserve something special….like race tickets and pit passes to the Texas race weekend in November!!! I told him it would take care of mother’s day, wedding anniversary and my birthday. I think it is fair trade!