Archive for October, 2007

I love it when the cars come to Atlanta. No, I have never been at the track during a race, but I love watching them on my big screen. What a strange race this was. I thought for sure one of the Busch brothers were going to run away with this one… Then I thought maybe Junior had a chance too.

Sunday’s race at Atlanta was a microcosm of Earnhardt’s final season in the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet before moving on to drive for Hendrick Motorsports, beginning in the 2008 season.

Earnhardt qualified fifth, fell a lap down after a tire went flat but was able to battle back into contention in the closing stages of the race.

But while running third during a green-white-checkered finish, the left-rear wheel fell off the back of Earnhardt’s Monte Carlo and it careened up the track. Meanwhile, Earnhardt slammed into the second-turn wall and was then hit by Jamie McMurray.

Did you see Junior’s tire fall off? What the hell was that about? Have you noticed the great number of “mishaps” the #8 team has had this year? It’s too bad Johnson won the race, even though he did donate his winnings to the American Red Cross to help with the victims of the California wildfires. I think it would make the Chase far more interesting if Johnson and Gordon weren’t so far ahead of everyone else.

I missed the race because I was driving in the car all day, and forgot it was Sunday. I know. I suck.

Jimmie Johnson didn’t have the car most suited for restarts, and he found himself in a two-lap sprint against the guy who might have.

In another sign that this may be the year that the teams of Hendrick Motorsports can’t be touched, Johnson still came away with the victory Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, his spot in front protected by the last of a race-record 21 caution flags.

”Those last restarts were tough on me,” Johnson said after holding off a stiff challenge by Ryan Newman before being rescued. He earned his third consecutive victory on the 0.526-mile oval, the shortest and trickiest in Nextel Cup racing.

With Newman on his bumper, the two-lap dash was halted halfway by the final caution of the day — the one that kept the Hendrick domination going.

This weekend the race comes to Atlanta. One of these days I will find myself at the track on the same day as a race…

Here’s a nasty truck wreck from a few years ago.

Ouch.

As I mentioned yesterday, my man Ryan just lost it…

As the green flag was set to wave for the restart with five laps left in the Bank of America 500, all of the attention was on leader Jeff Gordon and second-place Kyle Busch.

But as the cars came to full speed, Gordon’s car sputtered and there was Ryan Newman, seemingly coming out of nowhere to pass Gordon for the lead on the high side.

“I couldn’t believe it,” driver Clint Bowyer said. “It looked like he was going to win his first race of the year and then, whammy.”

Indeed. As Newman started to pull away, his left rear tire blew out and he hit the wall. He couldn’t make it back to the track and ended up 28th.

Hang in there, Ryan. I have faith in you.

Ryan Newman made an awesome pass with about three laps to go, and the race was his to lose. Of course, he lost control and spun himself bringing out the caution and handing the race to Gordon.

Jeff Gordon conceded the win to one teammate, worried another would take it from him, then stressed about a fuel issue he feared would prevent him from finishing Saturday night’s race.

Despite all his concerns, Gordon made it to the finish line for his sixth win of the season, and staked his claim on the Nextel Cup title. Gordon’s win at Lowe’s Motor Speedway helped him widen his lead in the standings from nine points at the start of the night to 68 over teammate Jimmie Johnson.

“Just an incredible day for the team,” Gordon said. “We needed to get to the finish. We had such a hard time getting to the finish, whether we were wrecking or having a mechanical problem.”

All in all, even though Gordon won, it was a great race. I thought it was hilarious, listening to the announcers though. Everytime one of them complimented Jeff Gordon, it seems Rusty Wallace had nothing to say. Ha!

Dale Jarrett, like his father Ned, whose 75th birthday was yesterday, is a legend in this sport. He has nothing more to prove, so limiting his races to those he has, only makes sense.

Michael Waltrip said farewell to Dale Jarrett on Friday, then introduced a partner who he believes will help his fledgling race team become competitive.

The 50-year-old Jarrett will run just seven races in 2008 — the first five points events, the All-Star race and the season-opening exhibition event at Daytona — before turning the No. 44 Toyota over to David Reutimann.

“It’s been a difficult decision, but we knew this time was coming,” Jarrett said. ”With the things that transpired this year, it showed me we are ready to do this.”

I hope he shows up on one of the networks announcing races. His insight would prove very interesting each week.

Once again the Rocketman shows everyone how to capture a pole. Now I just wish he could remember how to win a race. It’s been far too long.

Ryan Newman dominates qualifying at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson dominates the races.

The pair will start on the front row in the Bank of America 500.

Newman captured his seventh career pole at the track when he knocked Johnson off the top spot with a speed of 189.394 mph in qualifying Thursday night.

Johnson, who has won five of the past 12 races at LMS, will start second after a lap of 188.990 for Saturday night’s race, which marks the halfway point in the Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.

Bobby Labonte qualified third, followed by points leader Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray.

Newman, who also won the pole for the May race at LMS, went out three drivers after Johnson’s lap. With Johnson watching from pit road, Newman beat his speed on the first of two laps.

I know it sounds rude, but I hope someone other than Jimmie Johnson (or Jeff Gordon) wins the race this weekend. I know those Hendrick teams are strong, but I get tired of watching the same old cars going around in circles. I want more lead changes, more action on the track. Is that too much to ask?

Wow. NASCAR was consistent on this one. They proved they can consistently hand down stupid penalties for stupid reasons. If no one was involved in intentionally “cheating” I don’t see why it’s a problem, but then again, I iz not so smart az thowse NASCAR doods.

An appeals committee on Wednesday upheld the penalty that was levied against Carl Edwards and his Roush Fenway Racing team when his race-winning car failed inspection at Dover.

Edwards’ car did not meet minimum height requirements, and NASCAR docked him 25 points. Crew chief Bob Osborne was fined $25,000 and car owner Jack Roush was docked 25 car owner points.

Roush Fenway Racing appealed, claiming a jack bolt failed and caused the car to be too low. They argued that the car being low hurt performance, and that 25 points was too steep a penalty during the Chase for the championship.

[Source: Yahoo! Sports]

I hope his shoulder has healed enough and he is not just coming back to make his team owners and sponsors happy.

Ricky Rudd will get back behind the wheel of the Robert Yates Racing No. 88 Ford this week at Lowe’s Motor Speedway after missing five weeks with a separated shoulder.

“My shoulder still is not at 100 percent yet,”‘ said Rudd, who will retire at the end of the season. “But we’re going to have to see how it handles being in the car for practice.”

If there’s a way to do it, I am sure he’ll be behind the wheel.

Benny Parsons was one of a kind.

Residents of North Carolina’s Wilkes County will pay homage to their hometown hero, Benny Parsons, by naming a portion of U.S. Highway 421 in honor of the 1973 NASCAR champion.

The “Benny Parsons Highway” will be unveiled during a dedication ceremony at 11 a.m. local time on Thursday. The five-mile stretch of road runs from the Maple Springs community to the Watauga County Line.

[Source: NASCAR]