The week in review…and yes I am still around

*Wow! What a finish at Daytona last Saturday night-major props to Jamie

*Tony and Denny–no one’s fault, just a racin’ deal. Way to go Coach Gibbs for taking the boys out to the woodshed. I guess we all are just going to have to get along.

*Ouch…that must have hurt Jimmie when your tire “exploded” and you car ended up in the wall at Chicago. It looked like it did.

*This Bud isn’t for for you Mr. Earnhardt. What more can the Earnhardt nation take these days? Nice driving with no power steering today at Chicago

*Thoughts and prayers go out to all the families and friends who lost loved ones in the plane crash.

*Did Kyle get snubbed last week? It’s all about perception I say. But I know what it is like to be leaving a job and get treated differently. It’s like you are branded as disloyal.

*On a personal note…i am not a fan of getting my blood sugar tested. You have to drink the nastiest tasting stuff that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Then you have to get your blood drawn every hour on the hour for 6 hours. That was DEFINITELY 6 hours I can’t get back. Results–no good, but I am dealing with it. My mother is undergoing surgery in a week. I am worried about her, but she will be okay with me there with her.

*TONY WON TODAY!!!!!! What a way to start of my week!!!!!

Looks like both Cup qualifying and the Busch race were rained out today.

It really sucks for Boris Said. He had the pole and now he has to go home. There were several others who had a good qualifying, but due to that top 35 thing they too have to go home. It’s a shame this has happened again. I think NASCAR should look at this situation. I think 35 is too much. It should be reduced to top 20 or 25 who are guaranteed.

Plus I have to get up early to catch the Busch race tomorrow morning–UGH. Oh well…all in the name of racing. That’s two races on one day…woo hoo.

Everything is quiet on the NASCAR front…for now any way.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable 4th of July. I am taking the next two days of from my current career pursuit. It was a rough week last week along with Monday and Tuesday. I know I just came back from vacation a few weeks ago, but damn it’s been crazy and very, very stressful. So..here I am at home doing absolutely nothing. Perhaps I may work on some “redecorating” the Park.

I am hoping the DFW area will receive a break from the rain they have been receiving over the past several weeks. The animals haven’t started lining up two by two and there has been no Noah sighting, but it’s only a matter of time if the rain doesn’t stop.

It is now July and that means NFL training camps are just around the corner. Postman is beginning his preparation for his fantasy football league. I am going to think positive thoughts for the Cowboys. They have a new coach. Tony Romo will be starting off the season as the quarterback and TO (hopefully) will remain healthy. But with football season around the corner this means I will have to “fight” Postman for the TV on Sundays. NASCAR or Cowboys football? Of course we all know who will win the battle of the TV….

I flipped onto Sirius yesterday to discover they were replaying old racebroadcasts from year’s past. At the time I was listening, the 1999 Bristol race had just completed. This was the one where Dale Sr. bumped Terry LaBonte right at the end to take the vicotry. When they interviewed Dale Sr. I thought they were interviewing Dale Jr. because they sounded so much alike…very scary. Terry was definitely a little upset to say the least. They also interviewed Tony. Apprently he was mixed up in a wreck and he was upset…and here’s the kicker which made me kind of laugh..he didn’t want to say anything because he was upset.

See what happens when all is quiet on the NASCAR front….I ramble on and on about nothing.

Have a good day.

Yea Denny! I knew it was just a matter of time this year that you would cross that finish line. This is the first win for JGR this season. I wish the first win could have been Tony, but a win for JGR is a win. If there had been a few more laps Jeff Gordon would have caught Denny, passed him and won the race. It was exciting to watch Truex and Gordon go at it. And the racing was clean.

As I thought the #24 and #48 were not affected by the suspensions. As reported the crew chiefs are allowed to be at the track, however they cannot communicate on the official team radio or be in the garage areas. So what did the suspensions really prove? Absolutely nothing. I think the crew chiefs should not be allowed at the track ANYWHERE. They should have to stay home like the rest of us and watch the race with those pesky commercials.

I am very upset with TNT. I swear it was like three minutes of racing and 10 minutes of commercials. At one point I was able to predict when they would go to commercial. I can’t remember which commentator said, but they mentioned about the exciting racing go on. How would I know? You keep showing commercials about TNT’s new summer shows or that stupid Subway commercial with Tony and Jared. Tony looks like he would rather be somewhere else than sitting next to that goober Jared. I wonder since next week’s race at Daytona will have limited commercials they had to get them all in this week to make up for next week. I hope ESPN/ABC has better coverage of the race and less on the commercials. I really think the coverage by TNT today was horrible. There were times they would cut to their pit reporters and there would be no one there. Wally, Kyle, and Bill had to fill the void. I really like Wally and Kyle, but I am not a fan of Weber. I wish they would put Alan Bestwick in the booth. But what do I know.

There were definitely some mishaps on pit road that cost several drivers positions. Greg B. got ticketed for speeding not once but twice. That just about says it for his season. Will he remain at Roush? It will be interesting to see. And then Carl’s day was pretty much over when there was a jack malfunction. I did however like his paint scheme. See what happens when you carrying the Boston Red Sox design on your car? All I could think of was the mishap in the 1986 World Series. I still can’t watch the replays of the Bill Buckner mishap. Ryan Newman got tagged for speeding as well, but finished 10th. And yes, Smoke even had problems in the pits…he finished 12th.

Next week the Boys are back in the “old” car for some Saturday night racing at Daytona.

Congratulations on Dave Blaney for winning the pole at Louden this weekend. This gives Toyota their first pole of the season. However, I still feel Toyota will not get a win this year. It has been a rough year for the other automakers too except for the Chevy cars.

I just popped on to NASCAR.com and saw that Brian Vickers qualifying time is null and void because his car was too low during post qualifying inspection. That means his spot will go to Chad Chaffin.

I guess NASCAR isn’t afraid to suspend drivers for using their vehicle as a weapon on the track. Ted Musgrave got a one race suspension for his actions last week in Milwaukee. I wonder if one of the Cup boys did what he did would they get a one race suspension? I don’t know. It was obvious that Musgrave’s actions were intentional, but look at the whole picture. I know there are those out there who love the truck series. I myself think it’s some of the best racing out there. But do you really think NASCAR would have the spine to suspend one of the Cup boys for doing the same thing? Gut feeling no. I will admit I would be angry if Tony did the same thing and was suspended especially if it was intentional. I still don’t defend his actions when he caused Matt K. to come across the grass and back onto the track at Daytona last year. Looking back on the post regarding this incident I wasn’t very harsh on Tony. Matt and Tony could have been beating and banging, and yes I did put a little blame on Kenseth, but in the end I was upset that Tony did this. I am quick to defend Tony’s actions because I am rabid Tony fan, but there are times I wish he would just keep his emotions under control. But it’s those emotions and his passion for driving that attact me as a fan and keep me coming back for more.

I am looking forward to this weekend’s race to see how the #24 and #48 cars will do without their crew chiefs. They will probably rise to the top as these two always seem to do. It’s like I always tell Postman…they could fall in a big pile of cow crap and come out smelling like a rose.

Good Luck Tony!

What can I write about today? Penalties in NASCAR? Nope…it’s kind of a moot point. I do have to say I am glad that HMS will not appeal the penalties.

What else is there to talk about around NASCAR nation? It seems pretty quiet right now. But you never know what the weekend will bring.

So what can I share with the Park? NBA draft? Nah…it’s pro ball. I tend to watch college basketball. Congrats to Houston Astros Craig Biggio for reaching 3000 hits tonight. Way to go. You are a class act. You were very loyal in an era where loyalty goes only so far as the dollar sign.

Ah…I know…people who can’t get over themselves. What is it about those kinds of people? They think they are all that when in reality that ain’t worth the trouble. I am acquainted with one such person. I don’t know how to keep it from getting to me. I have upset stomach and migraines that are triggered by the stress of dealing with this person. I have rallied the troops and tried to move on down the trail. For those of you out there in the blogosphere, perhaps you know what it’s like to be around something like this. I all have to say to this person…RESPECT.

I have been accused of being a little selfish lately. Perhaps I have. I have at times given everything that I am to everyone else to the detriment of my own life. So I have decided to take a little rest and take care of me for a change. I make no apologies for it. I guess I am just tired of giving and giving and the one time I need the givin’ to be flung my way…it’s like crickets…chirp, chirp…nothing. So if I am a little off the radar to everyone it’s by my own doing. Nothing’s wrong. I just need some Trixie time. I have a lot to work through right now and I have to do by myself. I am at that proverbial fork in the road.

I love funny TV commercials. I love the Subaru commercial where the animals are calling “Ricky”. I laugh every time I watch it. I guess the funny thing about it are the animals. My favorite??? The moose. Love the way he calls out to “Ricky”.

I leave you with one final note…guilty pleasures. I have discovered quite a few TV shows this summer…”The Starter Wife”, “Army Wives”, “The Closer”, and “Top Chef”. I really like all of them. Plus I am trying to get through the 5th Harry Potter book “The Order of Phoenix” before I go see the movie this summer. I have a couple of weeks.

Well…I guess that’s about it for Trixie’s musings.

Congratulations to Juan Pablo! I did not surprise me that Juan won. I mean he is a pretty good road racer. I really thought Robby Gordon would finally catch a break, but the best laid plans of mice and men.

I think Aric Almirola got a raw deal Saturday. He practiced and qualified the car, but yet can’t finish the race as the driver. I don’t think Denny really wanted to get in the car. It came down to a sponsor thing probably. Even though Aric is credited with the win. It still stings.

The truck race was interesting. I didn’t watch all of it, but I did get to see the post crash meet and greet between Musgrave and CTS Rookie Kelly Bires. I loved Musgrave’s comments. I was rolling on the floor.

Now on to the big news of this past weekend. I see penalities have been handed out to the HMS duo. Crew chiefs suspended for 6 races, drivers docked 100 points, owners docked 100 points, and everyone fined quite a bit of money. I have been listening to the media, commentators on both the cable networks as well as Sirius, and the NASCAR fans. I have heard all kinds of opinions on the subject so why not voice mine.

This is what I understand. NASCAR informed EVERYONE about the COT specifications and were told not to jack with them or suffer the consequences. That’s the reason Tony Eury Jr. has taken a brief respite and fined from NASCAR. NASCAR is is trying to make a stand here in the sand. Prior to today’s handing out of penalities, I thought NASCAR should at least give a minimum of 6 races suspended. Should it have been more? For Knaus, yes. This isn’t the first time Mr. Knaus has dabbled in the gray area. I think repeat offenders should get a stiffer penalty. I don’t know. Maybe there should be some “3 strikes” law like they have in the criminal justice system.

Here’s my thinking…why does this modification have to take place on the #24 and #48 cars? They have been dominating the first part of the season. They are both top drivers on the circuit. That being said…I pose this. Is this the first time they have modified the COT? or this just the first time they were caught?

On to New Hampshire for the boys…let’s see who will make news this week!