Rain once again affected the racing this weekend. I didn’t get to watch the race because I couldn’t find it on its usual channel. I guess college basketball overrides NASCAR. Oh well…I finally find it over on ESPN classic just as it is over. Congrats to Clint Bowyer for his win at the rain shortened race today.I hope the mother nature will be a little bit friendly tomorrow. Even if they have to call the race tomorrow because of weather and move it to Monday, I will for once get to watch it. I am taking the next week off for Spring Break! WOO HOO!!!It has been somewhat interesting watching Tirewatch 2008. I am sure this will not be the end of it all. The season is still early. If this is something that will kick start things by all means discuss amongst yourselves. To be honest, I think everyone is still collecting data on the new car. I am sure the type of tire needed for this car is going to be different from the previous model. We are at Bristol this weekend, a place where the COT debuted so the teams have some data as opposed to last weekend. I don’t think this will be the last we will hear about the tires.
NASCAR 2008
Free Curly Fries on Monday
If you regularly watch the N’Wide series, you know that Matt Kenseth drives the Arby’s car from time to time. Thus you know that if Matt wins on Saturday, everyone can get a free order of curly fries on Monday. So if you watched today, gear up for Monday…because it’s FREE CURLY FRIES for everyone!!!!
Randomness
I really don’t know what to talk about today. There are so many things that need attention out there that I can’t decide what to write about. So I guess I will write a little bit about nothing.
1. Thanks for the memories–After 17 years of playing in the NFL, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre will hang up his shoes and ride off into the sunset.
2. It’s primary election day here in the great state of Texas. If you live in Texas–go vote.
3. I hate being caught up at work. I know this sounds odd, but I really do like my job. And I hate it when I just sit around looking at the four walls in my “office”. I say “office” because I have two cubicle walls and two real walls and no real door. In fact, there is no door, but I do have a window. The upside of being caught up…I can write about nothing here in The Park.
4. I have been trying to understand my dislike for Jimmie Johnson. I think it’s kind of like my dislike for liver. I can’t really say why I don’t like liver, but I just do.
Seriously I really do want to discuss something here in The Park. NASCAR needs to look at putting safer barriers on the inside walls at race tracks. If not on all the walls at least think about protecting the drivers against crashes that occur near a track opening. They have made great strides in protecting the drivers, but after Jeff’s crash, perhaps more evaluation needs to be done with regards to the inner walls. It is still amazing to see a driver walk under his own power after a violent crash. One only has to look at Tony’s crash on Sunday. He was hurting that was clearly evident as he was assisted from his car, but he was able to walk away and race another day. This wasn’t always the case. The impact Jeff took from his crash late in race was unbelivable. The violence of the crash was something I would not want to ever experience in my life time. Jeff was able to walk away from this crash. But what is it going to take for NASCAR to seriously think about making the inner walls safer for drivers? Does the death of another superstar need to occur for NASCAR to sit up and take notice? I for one don’t believe the sport is ready for that kind of tragedy again.
As The Wheel Turns
“As The Wheel Turns”
Will driver and owner Robby Gordon beat the rap? Will he run the double?
Will Flipper lose points and money for the missing oil tank box lid?
Will Junior win at Atlanta becoming the first Chevy to win a Cup race this year?
Will Tony cut his hair?
Find out the answers to these burning questions and much more this weekend on “As The Wheel Turns”
Jackpot! We Have A Winner!
That’s two in a row for Mr. Edwards and 20 bonus points he has racked up already. I thought the end of the race was going to be a shootout between Jeff, Matt, Carl and yes perhaps Junior. Unfortunately I didn’t get the ending I wanted. Jeff tapped Matt which sent Matt’s car spinning like a roulette wheel and Jeff’s into the inside wall. After the smoke cleared, Jeff’s radiator was sitting in the middle of the track and his car well, pretty much scrap metal. It was definitely a vicious hit for Jeff. After the race was red flagged, we got under way and Carl crossed the finish line for his second win a row.
I have to say I didn’t pay that much attention to the race after Tony’s crash midway through the race. Tony’s crash was scary looking. When the emergency crews helped him out of his car, he looked hurt. I am sure he was sore from yesterday’s crash with Reutiman in the Nationwide race. Tony will definitely be feeling it in the morning. He finished 43rd. Tony definitely crapped out in Vegas this weekend.
Much of the talk this weekend was about Kyle Busch. He was the home town boy coming home to race at his home track. You could tell he wanted to win at LVMS. He had great shot yesterday until he blew a tire and slammed into the wall. He also had a shot today as well. After all he was starting from the pole. But as the reporters kept telling us today, no driver has won from the pole at Vegas so the odds were against him from the beginning. Like I said after Tony was gone from the race, I didn’t pay all that much attention to the race. Kyle finished 11th. Not bad, but probably not the spot he wanted to finish. He is now second in the points behind Carl Edwards.
Speaking of standings where is last year’s champion? I believe he is sitting in 14th while Jeff sits in 22nd. Not the way the two dominant drivers from last year wanted to start out 2008. But we have only finished 3 races. There is still quite a bit of racing to do. Let’s review…3 races…and no HMS winner…or Chevy driver has won. Just some observations…
I have to say Mark Martin is a one of the classiest racers on the circuit. After running into Carl towards the end of the N’Wide race on Saturday, the first thing Martin did in victory lane was apologize for his actions. Postman even said the minute Mark got out of his car he would apologize. Mark is a clean and hard racer. I don’t think he would purposely knock some out to win a race. Of course, maybe during last year’s Daytona. He was racing for the win. Even Carl couldn’t be mad at Mark. I wish all drivers would take a page from the Mark Martin book of racing.The boys get to head back to the East side of the country…Atlanta.
Update on Little Smoke…he got to build his own Tony Stewart car yesterday at one of our local Home Depots. He had a great time. Too bad they didn’t have a workshop for the adults..he he. He played with it all day! During the N’Wide race, he kept looking for the orange #20. I explained to him that his car for the race was going to be red. When I said there was Tony Stewart’s car on the television set, he stopped to look for him. I am raising this boy right!
Viva Las Vegas
Congratulations to Kyle Busch for sitting on pole for Sunday’s race. I know there are lots of people out there who dislike Kyle, but he’s grown on me. I think he is the right fit for JGR. He can drive the wheels off his car and has done so literally. I just finished watching him on Trackside and I have to say he seems happier and having quite a bit of fun. I think at HMS he was the red headed step-child. I know Junior is over at HMS now, but Jeff and Jimmie will still be the top drivers at HMS. Kyle has the spunk to be on the same team as both Tony and Denny. They are all passionate about racing and winning. I look for JGR to make a lot of noise this year. Watch out HMS and everyone else that’s JGR crossing the finish line!
Update on Cali
Carl Edwards won and Tony Stewart won.
Way to go Tony!
I did get to watch the final 25 laps of the Cup race. Nice pass Cousin Carl. Luckily this past weekend didn’t turn into a Michigan weekend like we had last year.
I saw a little bit of the N’Wide race. And what I saw, Smoke pretty much dominated the race. That’s two for two in N’Wide series for Smoke.
An interesting point…Chevy dominated last year’s races, but who has won the first two Cup races? A Dodge and a Ford. I know it is early, but it’s a good sign.
On to Vegas…maybe Lady Luck will be on the boys side this weekend.
Little note on the newest little NASCAR fan, Little Smoke…went to Home Depot and he was able to ride in the Tony “Car”t. He loved it. Plus Home Depot has building workshops about every month…in March..it’s build a race car! So, Little Smoke will be building his own #20 this Saturday.
I’m doing all I can to cultivate the NASCAR nation fanbase.
Trixie's Trailer Park 