NASCAR 2008

California–why?

/ Trixie / Leave a comment

I sat down yesterday to watch the race.  Well at least see if it was going to be cancelled until today.  There was a little bit of racing…well they were driving fast around the race track with each other.  I don’t know how much “racing” was really going on.  Casey Mears’ crash was very scary.  And in the race fan’s opinion could have been prevented.  NASCAR knew there was a seepage problem and thought the race could get underway.  Did they take into account what would happen if 43 cars going close to 200 miles would do to these weepers?  I know NASCAR wants to try to get the race in on Sunday because of the fans, sponsors, and so on, but at what cost?  Isn’t NASCAR always touting about the safety of the drivers?   Luckily I will get to watch some racing today because I will have the afternoon off.  It was already planned that way, and I am not taking off because of the race.  Besides if I am going to take off work to watch a race, it will be because I am actually going to the race.

Have a good one….

Newest Addition

/ Trixie / 2 Comments

For those who read The Park on a regular basis know that Postman and I have been working on adopting a child or children.  Last weekend we went to visit the little guy and everything went well.  On Tuesday we got word we had the green flag to go get him from his foster family and bring him home with us.  Both Postman and I very elated because we have both been through so much with regards to having a family through all the fertility things to the adoption/foster process.  We will be given guardianship tomorrow and hopefully by the end of August or the beginning of September this little tyke will be formally adopted.The little tyke has been quite a lot for his 4 years, but I believe his life will take a normal path.  Now I will have not only NASCAR to talk about, but the newest NASCAR fan as well.Well…racing has started back up at California…more to come. 

Newman!

/ Trixie / 3 Comments

All I have to say is WOW!

This year’s Daytona 500 was worth the wait.  Congratulations to Ryan Newman and Roger Penske for their first Daytona 500 victory!  I am not a big fan of Ryan Newman, but it was a well deserved victory.

I thought on that last lap Tony was going to win his first Daytona, but alas it was meant to be.  I think when Tony went down to pick up Kyle, it was over with.  Ryan had the run going and his teammate pushing him to the finish line.  I wonder if Kurt was just snickering a little after his meet and greet with Tony during the shootout practice?

I thought this was spectacle that is Daytona was awesome this year.  The pre-race stuff was great.  All the greats came out to celebrate the 50th Daytona.  I had a little sadness in my heart because Dale Sr. wasn’t there, but you know he was there watching it all.  Even the pre-race concerts were good.  I have to say those people who were in the infield for the concert need to get with it.  I didn’t see many people dancing “The Twist”.  I even got up in my living room and did the twist.  It is one of those songs that you can’t help but dance too.  I loved Brooks and Dunn.  I have seen them in concert and they put on a damn fine show.  And when they brought out the #3 during their part of the concert, wow!  Trisha Yearwood sang the national anthem the way it should be.  She didn’t put her little twist on the song or try to make syllables longer than what they were supposed to be.  Thank you.  The “Gentleman Start Your Engines” was ok.  It wasn’t no Kevin James rendition, but who can top his rendition anyway.

Once the green flag dropped it was on.  I was joking with Postman on how funny it would be to see someone other than JGR or Hendrick in victory lane.  And he was right…not a JGR or Hendrick in sight.  In fact the Hendrick team pretty much crapped out.  Jeff left the race with some kind of suspension issue.  Jimmie wasn’t a factor after his meet and greet.  Casey was up front near the end, but when he decided to move up to the outside, he got clipped by Tony and well…that ended his night.  So when it came down to the last laps, Junior’s temmates weren’t there to help.  Junior finished 9th–the highest Chevy.  I have to give major props to the Dodge cars.  They had 6 of them in the top 10.  No one not even me gave Dodge a chance to even challenge for the victory.  It was kind of nice for a change.  Way to go! 

I know there are a lot of people out there in NASCARland who really don’t like Kyle Busch.  For awhile I was one of those people.  But he is growing on me.  He clearly had the fastest car on Sunday, but the best and fastest car doesn’t always win the race.  It’s not where you start, it’s where end the race. 

Now comes the real test…a non-restrictor plate race.  I think California and Vegas will be the real tests to see who has what under their hoods.  Will Ryan Newman and the Dodges be able to carry the momentum from the 500 this weekend?  Or will Roush rise to the top as they seem to do at California?  And we can’t forget JGR and Hendrick.  It will definitely be worth watching this weekend even though I do not like racing at California.

Have a great everyone!

Daytona Eve

/ Trixie / Leave a comment

Congratulations to Smoke for his victory in the Camping World 3oo.  This is another victory for Toyota in these many days.  I didn’t get to see any of the race today, but was able to listen to most of it via my Sirius radio.  It’s not the same as sitting in front of the TV, but at least I got to listen to Tony’s victory. Tomorrow is a NASCAR fan’s Christmas.  We have all waited since last November for this day.  We have bought all our new cars, t-shirts, hats.  We have prepared our family and friends.  This is OUR CHRISTMAS!  I am planning to get my housework done.  I am hoping to get all or most of the laundry done as well.  Because once the green flag drops nothing matters.  I will not answer the phone.  Leave a message that’s why I have voicemail.  If you plan to stop by and visit, pull up a chair, but you can ONLY talk to me during the commercials.  If you want to have dinner, it will have to wait until after the race.   So here is to all us NASCAR fans, no matter who you cheer for, we are as one tomorrow.  Let the racing begin! 

The Duels

/ Trixie / 1 Comment

I hope everyone had a great Valentine’s Day.  Postman brought me flowers which I didn’t expect since he already bought my Valentine’s presents last week.  But it was a nice surprise. The other cool thing…I was home from work and got to watch The Duels!  HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO ME!!I needed to get some more things done before Postman and I go meet the little boy we are interested in adopting.  Plus it doesn’t help that I was able to watch NASCAR pretty much all day.I caught a little of the Busch and Truck practice.  Then of course the big events of the day The Duels.The first Duel winner was Dale Jr.  This doesn’t surprise me at all.  He ran pretty good the other night in the Shootout.  I was very excited to see both Brian Vickers and Kenny Wallace transfer to the 500 on Sunday.  Kurt had to take his champion’s provisional to get in the race which meant Bill Elliott would not be racing on Sunday.  Now I was interested in the second Duel because Tony was in the race.  Also in this one…Dale Jarrett.  Both Mikey and David R. were already qualified for the 500 by virtue of their qualifying time last Sunday.  It was nice to see Mikey and David working as teammates to get their other teammate in the 500.  It would have been a sad day to see Dale miss his final 500, but it wasn’t.  Dale will race on Sunday.  It brought a few tears to my eyes.  And congratulations to Denny Hamlin for getting Toyota’s first win in the Cup series.  Hamlin passed Tony during the green/white checker.  It’s ok though, it’s a win for JGR.  Smoke looked good in a Toyota.  But of course, Tony can pretty much drive anything.I will miss the Truck and probably the Busch race since I will be busy with the adoption stuff on Friday night and maybe Saturday.  But I will be back in time for the 50th running of the Daytona 500. 

Crime and Punishment

/ Trixie / 2 Comments

Tony and Kurt were put on probation for the first six races of the season.  That’s it my fellow NASCAR fans.  6 races.  Of course, what happens in the hauler stays in the hauler.  But as I told Postman last week, somebody, somewhere knows the scuttlebutt and is willing to share. 

As I have said before sometimes being a Tony Stewart fan takes a lot of patience and understanding.  He is a passionate driver and will always be that.  You can’t change him.  I wouldn’t want him to change.  But that passion can sometimes overshadow his incredible talent and performance on the track as well as his philanthropy off the track.  But when you become a Tony fan you just have to understand this is who he is and go on.

Just a reminder…take a brief moment out of your day tomorrow to show your sweetie how you love him or her.  Perhaps Tony will show the love to all us Smoke fans and win one of the Duals tomorrow.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!!

Bud Shootout

/ Trixie / 1 Comment

All I can say is this Bud’s for…oops…this Amp’s for you.  It was weird seeing the former Bud driver winning the Bud Shootout.  I think the question of whether Dale Jr. could be successful in a Hendrick car was answered on Saturday night.  That’s one monkey off his back.  Now comes the hard part, winning a points race with Hendrick.  It was good to see him win a genuine smile on his face.  The other times it looked strained.  All he now has to worry about his racing–that’s it.  The only thing I have to say is enough of the media love for Junior.  We all get it.  Let the boy alone.

Tony looked good during the Shootout.  I was hoping he would drive away with his four Shootout win, but the Hnedrick camp proved too much for him.  But that wasn’t all the excitment for Tony this past weekend.  Once again, Tony and Kurt had a meet and greet at Daytona.  Last time it knocked them out of contention for the Daytona 500.  This time it was practice for the Bud Shootout.  I didn’t get to the see the meet and greet when it happened, but I saw a replay of practice on Speeed.  From what I could tell, Tony got a run on Kurt and tagged him in the end…and at those speeds it isn’t going to turn out good.  Then Kurt decided to continue the meet and greet on pit road.  Of course this guranteeed them a trip to the Principal’s Office.

Well..the Hendrick brigade continued yesterday…Jimmie has the pole. 

Oh by the way…it is HENDRICK not HENDRICKS!!!!!

On a personal note…Postman and I are still continuing the adoption process.  We are planning to meet a little boy coming up this weekend-(and yes–I know it is Daytona weekend).  And here’s the really cool part…HE LIKES NASCAR!  He is a Dale Jr.  and Tony Stewart.  Plus he likes the M&Ms car.  Oh…and his foster dad..Dale Sr. fan.  Talk about meant to be.