NASCAR

One more

/ Trixie / 2 Comments

Carl Edwards is done with the silly season before it kicked into high gear. It was announced today Carl Edwards has resigned to driver for Roush-Fenway racing. One free agent down…so many more to go.

Now on to some Friday night racing. I really didn’t watch much of the race. It was on in the background, but to be honest it was mostly background noise for me. I would like to congratulate Denny Hamlin for winning the race from the pole. In the closing laps, there was a caution and race leader Kevin Harvick chose to stay out on old tires while Denny decided to go in to get fresh new ones. This was Denny’s home track and he had never won at the track either in Nationwide or Cup. In the closing laps Denny passed Kevin and took the lead for good. But Kyle Busch was headed towards the front. I changed the channel for just a second and switched back and it was over. Denny was doing his victory burnout. And ESPN was showing Kyle and Steven Wallace “discussing” the race. Of course we all know how tempers can flare at the short track. I am sure they were both called to the “principal’s office” after the race. Congratulations Denny!

I will be watching tomorrow night more closely. I really do like short track racing. With the momentum from tonight will Denny sweep the weekend? Will Junior get his first victory in roughly two years or will his teammate Jeff Gordon come away with his first win of the season? Of course as well all know, just when you think you have everything figured it, you don’t.

Oh…blurb running across the bottom of my tv screen…Eddie Gossage offering a wee bit of money to run at the IRL race in June at TMS.

Just another day in NASCAR….

Dale Earnhardt Fan Photo Mosaic

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This article courtesy of NASCAR.com

The Hershey Company honored the life and career of racing legend Dale Earnhardt with the unveiling of a replica of a large fan photo mosaic during the Dale Earnhardt Day celebration in Mooresville, N.C., on Tuesday.

Bearing Earnhardt’s likeness, the 6-foot-tall, 8-foot-wide mosaic is comprised of approximately 1,400 photos from fans across the country, including actress Carmen Electra, racing team owner Richard Childress and drivers Mark Martin and Martin Truex Jr. The mosaic, previewed to fans, will serve as a permanent tribute to “The Intimidator” at Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) headquarters in Mooresville when completed later this year.

In recognition of Earnhardt’s impact on the racing world, Hershey is paying tribute to Dale Earnhardt by producing a series of Collector Edition Dale Earnhardt Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almonds Bars and Kit Kat Wafer Bars. The specially moulded bars feature a distinctive on-bar design, including Earnhardt’s signature and stylized No. 3.

The Collector Edition bars will be available at select retail outlets nationwide while supplies last. Hershey is also encouraging fans to honor the racing legend by inviting them to visit http://www.hersheys.com/dale to upload a photo for inclusion in the permanent mosaic and to make a donation to The Dale Earnhardt Foundation. Fans can still upload their photos and tribute messages through June 3 for inclusion in the final mosaic.

“Dale Earnhardt touched the lives of many people both on and off the track, and The Hershey Company is honored to recognize his legacy and fans through this promotion,” said Michele Buck, Senior Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer, The Hershey Company. “We are proud to give our consumers a chance to show their support and be part of history through the Dale Earnhardt photo mosaic and online tribute.”

“This mosaic, presented by The Hershey Company, is such a unique and fitting tribute to Dale Earnhardt,” said Dick Baker, executive director, The Dale Earnhardt Foundation. “We want to thank the loyal fans for all of their passion and support in helping Dale’s legacy live on forever.”

I found this very interesting.  I have to say I uploaded a photo to be included in the mosaic.  Hopefully I will be one of the lucky ones to have their picture included in the final mosaic.  If you are interested in uploading your photo and would like to leave a tribute, stop by Hershey’s and leave your mark.

Do you have your collective Hershey bars? I do. They are carefully stowed away amongst my Tony Stewart shrine. I figured this was the safest and most secure spot away from Little Smoke and Postman.

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

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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!

Where there is Smoke…I am there!

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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!