Merry Christmas To All

Cross Posted from Rev’Jim’s RantsnRaves

Santa didn’t forget

We almost let Christmas slip by without offering a wish list for some of our favorite drivers, teams, and NASCAR personalities. I’m not going to let that happen.

Silly season never really ended. Bobby Labonte was released from Petty Enterprises even after avowing his loyalty to that team. So of course, for Bobby Labonte: A full time Interstate Battery sponsorship and a full time ride for 2009.

For Tony Stewart: A four-leaf clover, or a lucky horseshoe, or both, wishing him the best of luck with his new team.

For Stewart/Haas Racing: A full time sponsorship from Interstate Batteries and Bobby Labonte for a third team.

For Scott Riggs: A ride where he will be appreciated. Perhaps the Team Formerly Known As Bill Davis Racing has an opening?

For Bill Davis: A happy retirement after going out on top.

For all Crew Chiefs: A free pass for “pushing the envelope.” We won’t see much of that anyway in ’09, due to lack of open testing, but if it happens, give them a break.

For Mark Martin: A Championship. Why not? He certainly deserves one.

For Kyle Busch: Some love from the fans.

For Greg Biffle: Some love from his team.

For Brian France: A key so he can escape his ivory tower, for a temporary taste of reality.

For All NASCAR Fans: A Merry Christmas, and a great 2009!

 

DYN’s Week in Review

Well, aside from talking about the wins this past weekend by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Joey Logano – which can be found at virtually any racing website across the country, Do You NASCAR has had quite a bit of other topics to discuss, as always. For those of you that may have missed some of it, here’s a quick recap:

Monday – For Austin Dillon, There’s No Place Like 1st Place – As promised earlier in the season, DYN continues to follow the career of Austin Dillon and his goal to one day driver the no. 3 car in the Sprint Cup Series for his grandfather, Richard Childress. Austin currently leads the points standings in the Camping World East Series.

Tuesday – Brian France Speaks Out on NASCAR Lawsuit – NASCAR CEO, Brian France, responds to the recent allegations that have shaken up the front offices of NASCAR. He also acknowledges the rumors that two NASCAR officials have been placed on administrative leave.

Wednesday – Road Course Ringers Flood Sonoma – DYN examines all of the road course “ringers” that will attempt to qualify for this weekend’s race at Infineon Raceway, including Chip Ganassi’s decision to replace Reed Sorenson with Scott Pruett, and DEI’s decision to replace Regan Smith with Ron Fellows.

Thursday – NASCAR Rivals: Kenseth, Vickers vs. NASCAR Rulebook – In the weekly segment of NASCAR Rivals, DYN points out the dissatisfaction from top-five Michigan finishers, Matt Kenseth and Brian Vickers, for incidents that occurred on the track at Michigan International Speedway.

Friday – Is Joey Logano Ready for a Jump to the Cup? – The “Loose in Turn 3” panel analyzes the recent comments made by Joe Gibbs Racing that youngster Joey Logano could see some seat time in a Cup car as early as the end of ’08. And, of course, I’ve also got to give a shout out to the article posted over at the RaceKitten, where she asks Is it the Car, or the Driver?

Additionally, I have added the Church of the Great Oval and Diary of a Track Bunny to my Blogroll. As you will notice, I have also highlighted all of the NBFT sites in my blogroll (this has actually been done for awhile). I’m not sure if this is something you all might consider doing as well.

There’s a lot more posted over at www.doyounascar.com, but these are just simply the highlights of each day’s work. Go check ’em out as we await the action for this Sunday’s Cup race, and be sure to keep checking back throughout the weekend as I will bring you the highlights and results for each race!

 

Playing Catch Up

We missed some of out NASCAR Bloggers’ blogs this week due to circumstances beyond our control, but we will try to catch up on a few of them.  Thanks should be given to our bloggers who have taken the time to post here, and, especially to our readers who make the NASCAR Bloggers FT Digest a regular stop during their daily web surfing.

In case you missed Sunday’s race, Rev’ Jim’s RantsnRaves presents a real time review of the Lifelock 400 in “Live on Type Delay: The Lifelock 400” 

There is an excellent review, as always from Trouble in Turn 2, with “View from the Couch: Michigan.” Mike’s “View from the Couch” series always contains some interesting stats and information that you don’t normally see on other sites. You may also want to read his views in “Ten Drivers Looking For a Slump Buster.”

RaceDriven.com has a good post covering the entire weekend, in “Emotions–Fathers Day Weekend ends with Joey Logano, Dale Earnhardt, Jr, in Victory Lane.”

On this father’s day weekend as I wish my father a happy father’s day, the keyword here is enough, yes enough with all of the off-track talk whether it’s the lawsuit, the drivers, media and fans complaining about the COT car, NASCAR’s meeting on Friday with Cup Series drivers, Petty Enterprises gaining a partner, the 35+ race Cup Series schedule with no time off, everything, enough and guess what, by the end of the weekend, the two biggest headlines where in my opinion not the off-track stuff, but rather the on-track actions and accomplishments of two drivers/teams and that’s the way it should be every single week…read more

Clance’ has a little piece on Michael McDowell, and his six month astrological forecast at The Church of the Great Oval:

 I was searching for birth info on a couple of Driver’s that I don’t usually do for this weekend’s Sonoma Race Scope’s…read more.

Thank you again for stopping by NASCAR Bloggers FT Digest.

 

NASCAR’s top paid drivers are…

Forbes Magazine came out with several lists this week including who NASCAR’s top paid drivers are. While I, being the pondering chick that I am, think some of the list are certainly out of place (and you can read about my thoughts here), I wonder what you guys think.

The list of NASCAR’s top paid drivers are:

1. Jeff Gordon $32 million
2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – $31 million
3. Jimmie Johnson – $23 million
4. Tony Stewart – $19 million
5. Kasey Kahne – $14 million
6. Juan Pablo Montoya – $11 million
7. Matt Kenseth – $11 million
8. Kevin Harvick – $11 million
9. Kyle Busch – $10 million
10. Denny Hamlin – $10 million

 

Nascar Chatter (Now With More Chatter)

by Badgroove

Dave Blaney sets a record at Eldora during the Prelude to the Dream.

Tony Stewart’s disappointment at Pocono.

Yep- it’s a mishmash of NASCAR notes and news and you can read about all this and more here.

**Update**

Just two quick little NASCAR tidbits I posted more recently (this is pretty much the whole post so you don’t need to follow the link unless you want some gratuitous doggie pictures).:

1. Valli over at The Fast and The Fabulous is giving away three copies of the new NASCAR DVD set Full Throttle Adrenaline over at her blog. You have until July 4th to enter to win! How come no body gives me cool stuff to review and give away? Huh?
2. If you are in New York on Wednesday June 11th, 2008 and a Jimmie Johnson fan you may want to stop by Military Island in Times Square. You can try your luck at beating other competitors at the Gatorade Tiger Moonshot challenge- where in a simulator you can attempt to hit the longest drive and the male and female simulator champs of the day will have the opportunity to create their own “out of this world” vacation experience worth up to $125,000. NASCAR Driver Jimmie Johnson is set to make an appearance there as well. Event is to happen from 10:00am -7:00pm.

 

Dominance Seems to Be the Factor at Pocono

I don’t know what it is about Pocono, but for a track that’s otherwise not all that entertaining, they seem to keep a level of drama in tact nearly everytime the series visits the Pocono Mountains. I think it’s in large part due to the fact that there always seems to be one – MAYBE two – dominant cars out there on the track, and for whatever reason, that car(s) always seems to run into trouble along the way.

The most notable in recent memory was no doubt Denny Hamlin spinning through the infield back in 2006, and then coming back to win the race, but the incident involving Kasey Kahne this weekend at the Pocono 500 was very reminiscent. Had the misfortunes not befallen Kahne earlier on pit road, then he likely would have gotten his car out front in the race early, and probably would have kept it there, resulting in what would have been a pretty boring race for us watching at home.

All in all, it probably wasn’t the greatest race to watch, but truth be told, at least it was far more entertaining than what I came into the weekend expecting … which NASCAR needed after a sub-par race at Dover last weekend – a race that I had very much been looking forward to. So, kudos to NASCAR for getting the job done this weekend!

For all of the action from this weekend, be sure to check out www.doyounascar.com for all of the following:
– Kahne Wins Second Pocono Pole (Cup Series Qualifying)
– Hornaday Edges Busch on Restart to Get the Win (Craftsman Truck Series Race)
– Keselowski Wins First NASCAR Race at Nashville (Nationwide Series Race)
– Kyle Busch Wrecks, Relegated to Backup Car (Cup Series Practice w/ Video)
– Juan Montoya Gets Wrecked, Then Catches on Fire (Video from Cup Race)
– Rating the Race: Pocono (Sprint Cup Series Race)

And, of course, be sure to keep checking back through the week as I’ve got loads more coming your way, to include my weekly segments of DYN Imposes, NASCAR Rivals, Fantasy Preview, and Loose in Turn Three.

 

The weekend in NASCAR

Perhaps, when I make my picks, I should pay more attention to Clance’s forecasts. This astrology thing may have something to it, as Clance pretty much predicted the kind of day at Pocono Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr would have. Perhaps Tony and Kyle should read their forecasts at Church of the Great Oval before the race so they know of that which they must beware. Things worked out well for Jr.

I like Pocono, but I am beginning to agree with the fans and the drivers that the races there are too long. It would be nice if NASCAR would listen to us and treat the races at Pocono as road races, and limited the distance to no more than 300 miles. this would avoid the race becoming a race of attrition and excessive or aggressive pit strategy. This would make sense, because the track is not an oval, at which 400 miles would pass swiftly, but has three turns, all of which require different skills from the driver and crew chief. There is nothing wrong with that, but we feel that it would be more fun if it were a shorter race.

For a play-by-play review of the race, and some of the commercials, please visit Live on type delay: Pocono, at Rev’ Jim’s RantsnRaves. You may also find reviews and thoughts on Friday’s Truck Series race from TMS, and Saturday’s Nationwide Series race from Nashville, which includes a tribute to the late Jim McKay.

At NASCAR This Week, Monte Dutton writes an interesting opinion on the fan’s view of the sport in “A fan’s view is often the best.” He also has  a very good take on Jeff Gordon’s fortunes and misfortunes so far this season, from Gordon himself.

Last, but not least, Unrestricted: My NASCAR Rants and Raves posts her thoughts about the race at Pocono

Thank you once again for stopping by NASCAR Bloggers FT Digest. As always, your comments are welcome.

 

 

Pocono Tri-Angles

This weeks race brings a lot of Mars aspects into the race. Many of the driver’s aspect are in exact opposition to each other, which makes for hot tempers.

My picks, based solely on good aspects would be for Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, all to have a pretty good team day. Greg Biffle’s ‘scope is awesome. So is Jamie McMurray and Ryan Newman’s. I look for Carl Edwards to have a decent day, and for Kevin Harvick to make up some ground. Tony Stewart’ aspects call for some serious driving.

However, the moon is void of course, which means that everything I we think, act or do, could result in the exact opposite result that we want. In  …up could be down and down could be up. Same goes for the race at Pocono! (If you would like to see all the driver’s scope’s in detail, they are at The Church of The Great Oval.

Let’s go racin’!

 

All-Star Week

By Txts20belle

I think this is the one time of year (along with a few others) that I enjoy being a NASCAR fan.  The All-Star race is slated for Saturday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.  This is the one race during the year where there are no points to be racing for, but a cool, crisp, $1,000,000 payout.  That’s right folks ONE MILLION DOLLARS!  This is where the boys get to race for fun–well that’s how I see it.  I mean look at last year’s race the Busch brothers took each other out.  Who wouldn’t take out a family member for the all that money?  I know I would. 

This is also the week where the pit crews get to shine as well.  I really like watching the Pit Crew Challenge. Most of the time these guys do they jobs week in and week out without much fanfare.  They get their drivers on and off pit road in a matter of seconds which they make look easy all the time.  Of course there is nothing easy about working on pit road.  The winner of the Pit Crew Challenge gets bragging rights for the rest of the year, plus the driver gets the first pick in the pit selection for the All-Star race.

There are several events that will be surrouding the All-Star event including the inaugural Pennzoil Victory Challenge prior to the All-Star race.  Five drivers will compete in a timed-competition where they must demonstrate certain skills for a victory celebration.  The four skills to be judged are: a tire-smoking doughnut, spectacular donuts, precision driving into “Victory Lane” and of course speed.  According to Humpy Wheeler, “the burnout contest gives us a chance to hihlight what has become an exciting part of race day.  It also gives these drivers the opportunity to light ’em up for the fans.”

One more thing…have you purchased your NASCAR Day pin?  I have and I am ready for NASCAR Day on Friday.  I will be wearing my Tony Stewart garb to work as well as my pin.

I, like the rest of my fellow NASCAR fans, will be enjoying the race on Saturday night with their beverage of choice.  Because if the All-Star race is any indication of balls to wall racing, then we will all have lots to discuss come Sunday morning.

 

 

 

Quick thoughts and links

First, a few search engine queries that have led folks to this site:

I-hate-Kyle-Busch

Drivers-hate-Kyle-Busch

Throw-beer-cans-at-Kyle-Busch

The first two I understand, because that is the emotions of driver fans playing out. Racing wouldn’t be as fun if it weren’t for those who take a strong dislike for a certain driver. I once “hated” Jeff Gordon, but I got over it.

Doesn’t anybody still “hate” Brian Vickers, though? Is there anybody who remembers how Vickers won his first race at Talladega in 2006? Am I being an ars for bringing up old baggage?

The last one, though, bothers me. It is a waste of good beer. Kyle Busch is wearing a helmet, so it won’t hurt him much. And, what if you missed Kyle and hit Junior? How would you feel then?

Busch-wrecks-Sadler

What race were you watching?

Stewart-reaction-to-wreck

Somebody was probably looking for some kind of dramatic reaction. Stewart was a disappointment, then, because he didn’t say a thing about the wreck. I looked on every site I could, and didn’t find anything, except that, by the end of the race the #20 team had the car running as good as, if not better than it was at the beginning of the race.  However, Elliot Sadler, took the high road and admitted responsibility for the wreck, which, by the way was very similar to the one between Busch and Earnhardt at Richmond last week, except, at Darlington, the damage to both cars was much worse.

Sadler also made a sincere and gentlemanly apology for wrecking Stewart, and he should be admired for that.

Now, a few new items from our bloggers.

Mike, from Trouble in Turn 2 has published his eagerly awaited race recap, “View From the Couch: Darlington”

Ovalscream has posted four new and excellent post-race items by the prolific Monte Dutton on NASCAR This Week:

“Sunday’s Post Race Report”

The winner and how he did it: Kyle Busch bounced off the wall repeatedly, prompting Jeff Gordon to say, “He didn’t win it on aerodynamics.”…read more

“Bad Boy Does Good In Darlington”

The fans who don’t like Kyle Busch left Darlington Raceway doubly frustrated Saturday night…read more

“Notebook: Stewart shoots par for Darlington course:”

Tony Stewart, who won the Nationwide Series race the night before, managed to make it slightly more than a lap unblemished in Saturday night’s Dodge Challenger 500…read more

And “He’s on top, which is something he has realized”

Dizzy Dean might’ve liked Kyle Busch. It was the St. Louis Cardinals great who said, “It ain’t bragging if you can do it.”…read more

Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave comments, here, or on the linked sites, or both!