Garrett Duke

"Sweet Thing" Keith Urban I'll keep it sweet with Keith Urban... Love this song!

Well I finally was able to watch the race after missing the last two races due to one thing or another...was a decent race. Carl Edwards led a lot of laps, Jimmie Johnson led the most laps, and Kurt Busch passed on the last or second to last restart to go on to win the race. (Know you were happy to see or hear about that, Roger...am happy for you, but disappointed to see JJ get his win stolen from him.) Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman ran pretty bad today...after Stewart winning two in a row, he had a bad race today - finishing 25th. Jr had his share of bad luck as he had a sway bar fall in the first half of the race and came home 24th. Jeff Gordon had his worst starting position today as he started 34th...first half of the race he was fast going to the front, but didn't do much on the last half of the race. He went home a disappointed 12th place today - knock him down from fifth in points to nineth. Here is the top ten finishes of today's race: 1. Kurt Busch 2. Jimmie Johnson 3. Carl Edwards 4. Kasey Kahne 5. Matt Kenseth 6. Kyle Busch 7. AJ Allmindinger 8. Clint Bowyer 9. Marcos Ambrose 10. Kevin Harvick

Ack! I'm sorry to hear that...that is the only thing the Cubs have this year...the fact they are not in last place. Aw well MM and Roger, there is always next year!

Jeff Gordon's on his drive for five...

Sorry about your Braves Roger...at least they made it to September as being good. And since you are who you are Roger, I'd be more than glad to give you a second chance. Just as long as my Yankees win...HA HA.

Jeff Gordon is twenty-five points behind Tony Stewart and we still have eight races remaining (counting this Sunday's race...) so he has plenty of time to turn his stuff around to come back for the win. Jimmie Johnson sitting in tenth place...lowest of his career...is looking like he could be out of the championship picture as of now. But I wouldn't count him out of the chase as of yet - he is always strongest in the chase. Don't want to burst your bubble TRP Coltrane...if Stewart does make it stick, I will be happy for you. As of right now, I am not giving up hope (nor will I ever...) on Gordon's odds or Johnson's. Or anyones...just too early to tell as of now.

Haven't looked too deeply into the new schedule, but hate the idea that Daytona is going to be shovede back a week! As if the off season isn't long enough as it is... As for the television schedule...just wish they would keep it on FOX. Other channels and announcers are good, but not as good as they are on FOX. Gotta love ol' DW and Jeff Hammon!

Well at least there is a positive about the Cubs season. So sad that today is their last game...I can't even watch it. Hope they can at least go out with a win! See the Brewers are in...six games above the Cardinals. HA HA. Being a die hard Cubs fan, it is good to see the Cards get beat...even by the Brewers. As for me, I'll stick to my yearly saying...next year is their (Cubs) year! LET'S GO CUBS!!!!

So you have said before...am looking forward to seeing who ever it is you plan on following. HA HA. I for one have to have a driver or a team to follow, but I suppose you don't get too upset over who wins or loses or who crashes or who cheats who if you don't have that driver or team to go for. Just glad I got you into watching NASCAR Hoss...it's a step in the right direction . HA HA. Just joking. Nothing wrong with F1...I just understand NASCAR better.

Ah MaryAnne, you didn't disappoint me. I thought you may have felt something like that when I heard who had won. If it gives you any consultation any, I wasn't all that happy about it either...though do have to admit I can stand him a lot more now that I could a few years ago..and can think of a couple of other drivers I would be more upset over winning than Stewart. . .

Thanks for the update. Knew it had to do something with fuel with JG, but that is about it. Really dislike missing the races...feel like I miss out on everything. Dang...Clint Bowyer was on my fantasy team this week. None of my drivers did well that I picked. Too bad I can't pick JG every week... Am starting to pick up that you are beginning to be a Stewart fan, Hoss. Am I right or will you be brave enough to admit to it? HA HA

Well once again, I missed the race. I was told Kasey Kahne led a lot of laps but with fifteen or so laps to go, he pitted and no one else did. He finished fifteenth out of it. Gordon led a lot of laps, but came home fourth after running low on fuel or something like that. Tony Stewart went on to win his second straight race of the season and is now leading in the points where as Jimmie Johnson as at a low of tenth place right now after having an 18th place finish yesterday. Junior finished 17th. Sorry for the lack of a review...unless it rains at Dover next Sunday, I'll be watching it and having a much better and more detailed review. As for the points...this is how they look now (from Yahoo!'s NASCAR page...) 1. Tony Stewart 2. Kevin Harvick 3. Brad Keselowski 4. Carl Edwards 5. Jeff Gordon 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6. Matt Kenseth 6. Kyle Busch 9. Kurt Busch 10. Jimmie Johnson 11. Ryan Newman 12. Denny Hamlin

Well I am currently watching the Chicago Cubs game against the Brewers...and guess who's going to sing "Take me out to the ball game" in the middle of the seventh inning... Kurt Busch who also threw the opening pitch (didn't see it...) not a Kurt Busch fan, but always nice to see my two favorite sports collide. JJ threw the opening pitch at Wrigley a couple of months ago and several years ago Jeff Gordon did sing "Take me Out to the Ball game" at a Cubs game...and got booed for calling Wrigley Field - Wrigley Stadium. Very disappointed with Cubs fans to boo such a great guy like JG! Don't know if I'll stay up to see Kurt Busch sing, but do know he is a Cubs fan...as is Jimmie Johnson. If anyone is wondering...thanks to Geovany Soto's two run home run he just hit, the Cubs are currently leadin 2-1 against the Brewers in the bottom of the third. LET'S GO CUBS...LET'S GET SOME RUNS!!!!!!!!!! (Sorry to post that here...my short review of the race is post previously on this thread if y'all are looking for it...)

"Sweet Thing" Keith Urban Back to Country with Keith Urban's "Sweet Thing" Love Keith's music!

Well I didn't get to watch today's...er yesterday's race that was raced today due to having to be at work. It is hard enough having to go back to work after an extended three day weekend, but even more so knowing there is a race on TV and I got to miss it. Especially Chicagoland. Very frustrated. But it looks like to this Jeff Gordon fan, I didn't miss much other than him running out of gas on the last lap or so. Sounds like he battled handling all day with his car, but at the end, it was the shortage of gas that cost him and led him to a twenty-fourth finish. I love the number 24 as much as I do 01, but really hate to see Gordon finish at his number. He now sits eleventh in points and twenty-five points behind point leader Kevin Harvick. Junior fans should be proud of their driver who had the best finish he has had in a LONG time. He came home third and climbed up a lot in points. Sorry for the really bad race summary. I am too tired to really read up on anything right now and I didn't get to see the race. Just know where Gordon finished up at and that Tony Stewart won his first race of the season today. At least I picked him as my fantasy driver...HA HA. Something good came out of it. Sounds like Gordon is not the only one with gas problems...Johnson coasted to the finish line as did Ryan Newman. Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth, who was the pole setter and led a lot of laps, ran out. Guess Kenseth was getting pushed by JJ Yeley on the final lap while being eightth but NASCAR docked Kenseth since they are not to be assisted on the last lap. He ended up 21st. Three chase contenders right there. Just very disappointing for me. Here is how they came across the finish line...top ten... 1. Tony Stewart 2. Kevin Harvick 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr 4. Carl Edwards 5. Brad Keselowski 6. Kurt Busch 7. Clint Bowyer 8. Ryan Newman 9. Mark Martin 10. Jimmie Johnson Once again, too lazy to go to the other thread. Here is the top twelve in points (chase drivers): 1. Kevin Harvick 2. Tony Stewart (who climbed 7 positions with his win) -7 3. Carl Edwards 4. Kurt Busch 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr (climbed 5 positions) 6. Brad Keselowski 7. Ryan Newman 8. Jimmie Johnson 9. Kyle Busch 10. Matt Kenseth 11. Jeff Gordon (who dropped 8 positions. :( very sad racing day!) 12. Denny Hamlin We are off to New Hampshire next Sunday afternoon...which I will be out of town and will be left to read about it afterwards. Already feel the withdrawl begin to kick in here. Hate missing races. But am looking forward to seeing Gordon climb out of this hole and return to championship shape...hopefully starting next weekend.

They'll be racing at noon ET tomorrow...when I'll have to be at work. So frustrated right now.

Well if y'all haven't guessed or saw it, we are under rain delay at Chicago. Have been waiting all day for it to get started. Though Chicagoland has lights so they may be racing under the lights tonight...which would be great with me. I just hope they get the race in tonight. Would hate to miss a Chicagoland race. RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY, COME BACK ANOTHER NON RACING DAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I'm keepin' it Country and keepin' with Toby Keith with this one. . .

Dang...I miss Billy Ray! He was my all time favorite Country singer for a LONG time. Love his old stuff...seen him in concert seven or so times...even been on stage with him for a brief couple of minutes. Love his music before his whole "Hanna Montana" show...wish I could rewind time...now I'm in the mood for some Billy Ray music I'll have to get some of his music going on the computer!

(I haven't wrote here for a long time now and my own solo story has been stuck for awhile now due to my ornery and stubborn muse, so I thought I would try to start writing one here. It is open for ANYONE to join and write in, I just ask for it keep it smooth and following where the story is going. Don't have any real ideas for plots for the story at the moment other than what is written in this here post. Am looking forward to writing this story with whoever wants to join in! It is welcomed to anyone who wants to write with me.) THE RACE Walking up to the Hazzard Garage, Bo Duke comes to an abrupt halt as he notices the thick poster taped upon the garage's walk-in door. A colorful race car is located upon the lower half of the poster while the upper half of the poster is covered in thick bold red and black lettering that reads: LOOKING FOR A TALENTED DRIVER TO DRIVE FOR ME! With a moment of thought, Bo glances back at his cousin who is slow to follow him, "Hey Luke. Have a look at this," Bo states, pointing to the poster. Luke Duke comes to a halt besides his cousin and scans the poster for a short second before shrugging it off. "What about it? You know damn well the General ain't in no condition to be in some race and we definately don't have the money to fix him up for the race," Luke finally states, reluctant to break his cousin's excitement over the race, "besides, with Hogg involved, it reaks of trouble." Bo eyes Luke momentarily and then looks at the poster once again. "Yeah maybe. But why's this the first we've heard of it?" he questions. Races has been held annually in Hazzard ever since he could remember and the last race had been raced two months ago. When he went on to win the race. And yet, here is a poster acclaiming another race is planned to happen in their hometown in the near future. Which isn't neccesarily uncommon, but something of the poster screams that something is different or wrong about this race. "Well hot damn. Look who just found my new poster!" Cooter Davenport states behind them, forcing Bo and Luke to quickly turn around to find their family friend with a huge crazy smile spread across his grease stained face. "Was wondering how long it'd take the two of you to find it hanging up. You'll never believe who visited me this morning to ask me to hang it up. Wanna guess?" Luke shrugs, impatient with this conversation. Impatient in knowledge that it is only feeding onto Bo's pride, Bo's eagerness and excitement about the race. The race they both know they couldn't afford to enter due to their lack of money and now the lack of time. "Who cares, Cooter," Luke injects before Bo can say anything, wanting to end this conversation before Bo is tempted to agree to do something he knew he couldn't do, "Bo and I don't have the cash it takes to enter the race or to fix the General up. You know that. We owe you already for the quick fix last week. The General needs another fix whenever we can find the money. So -" "I have a guess, Cooter," Bo slowly interrupts Luke while elbowing him in the sides, "this is gonna be a hard one, but I'm going to go with Boss Hogg. Though have to admit, he went all out with this poster. Color and all? Must be feeling generous with this race." "Nope...wrong," Cooter laughs crazily, "though I am sure once Hogg gets word on all of this, he's gonna eat it up. Wanna another guess, Bo?" "Not Boss?" Bo questions, "Dang you got me, Cooter. No one else here has the money or the leverage to rent the track or get the road closed for a race. Gotta be someone not from Hazzard." "You got that right, Bo. Way outside of Hazzard," Cooter grins eyeing the poster with pride as if it was him who had made it. Looking back at the Dukes he says, "in fact, he don't even live in Georgia. Lives in North Carolina. What about you, Luke? Got a guess?" Luke shakes his head in disbelief. Knowing he is losing the battle. "You aren't listening to me, Cooter. Bo and I don't have the money to enter to any race. So why does it matter if it is Hogg who is having this race or somem guy living in North Carolina?" he questions, irritated, "It don't matter." Turning to Bo, he questions, "What's his problem?" Bo shrugs. "I don't know. This lack of money thing has put him in a bad mood," he finally answers. "Forget about him, Cooter. You ever gonna reveal who's putting this race on?" "Damn right I will. I've been excited as all gets out to tell you about this race. About the visit I got this morning. It's been the best day of life today!" he laughs crazily and turns to Luke, "And I am not going to allow you to ruin it for me, Lukas." He turns back to Bo and says, "Where's the drumroll when you need it? Anyway, Adrian McDeen was the man who paid me the visit this morning to ask me to post his poster up on my garage. He -" "Adrian McDeen?!" Bo exclaims to interupt Cooter, "The Adrian McDeen that owns a team of cars in NASCAR? Can't be...no way. Why would he come to Hazzard for?" Cooter laughs while he shakes his head. "Damn right it's the same Adrian McDeen. He owns four cars in NASCAR...he's a busy man," he pauses for a long moment as he once again eyes the poster and back at his friends, "According to my new friend, Adrian, his team is doing well enough without him and he needs to catch up on some charity work. After a couple of months of research he finally decided to put his charity race here in Hazzard. He will put on a qualifying run of the men that signs up for the race and he will chose the top ten driver to race against two of his drivers next weekend. They have an off weekend next weekend so they are free to race here in Hazzard." "Damn...Hogg's gonna love the publicity this is going to bring Hazzard," Bo states in excitement. "We got to enter The General, Luke! How can we pass this up?" "Easy. We don't have the money," Luke pestimistically states. "Sorry to interupt your pestimistic opinion on this race, Luke, but Adrian has agreed to fix up all cars that qualifies into the race," Cooter inserts, "and who ever wins the race will recieve a thousand dollars. The rest of the money he earns from this race will go to the children's hospital in Atlanta. The race is in Hazzard, but he's got posters scattered all over. If y'all plan on entering, you better sign up now. He's only going to accept the first hundred drivers to qualify for the race." "This is too good to be true. Gotta be a catch somewhere, Cooter," Luke states, not wanting to believe it. "Nope...all seems legit to me. So you can stop your worrying, Luke," Cooter pats Luke on the shoulder, "I've already signed up. As for The General, bring him in before qualifying and I'll fix him up and put him on your tab. You can pay me back with your winning money." "Why enter if you already pegging us as the winners?" Luke asks, growing excited about the idea. "I'm going to win, just had to say that to give you an added bonus to sign up," Cooter winks at him, "but honestly, you come in before qualifying and I'll fix him up and put it on your tab. You can pay me whenever you get the money to do so." Luke pats his excited cousin on the shoulder and slowly nods. "Well it's looking good on us signing up then. We'll have to run this past Jesse and see what he says, but can't see how we can pass up this offer," Luke states as they slowly walk into the shadow covered garage, "Hogg know about it, yet?" "Adrian tol' me he had his represenative talk to Hogg about it, but didn't give Hogg Adrian's name or any detail. Just wanted to rent the fair grounds for a couple of weeks to put on a charity race. He agreed to Hogg's prices and that was it. Adrian said he'd talk to Hogg himself when the time came for that. He wants people to sign up for the race on reasons for charity. Not for his name or his driver's names." Luke laughs as he pulls a bottle of beer out of the fridge before grabbing one for Cooter and one for Bo and hands them out. "Hogg's gonna be rolling in dough once he hears this," Luke states and holds up his beer, "thanks for the beer, by the way. Looks like you're in for a busy day." He motions at his empty garage. "Well how can I be busy at work if the two of you are in it?" Cooter asks as he opens his beer, "After all, it is the two of you that keeps me in business." Bo takes a drink of his beer and states, "Well, don't ever say we don't do anything for you, then, Cooter. Looks like ol' Rosco is parked in front of the Sheriff's Station as well. He's the one that truly keeps you in business. Not us." "True. But if you two didn't keep him busy in his pursuit to arrest you, he wouldn't need my business as much either," Cooter adds, "and trust me, I appreciate the business you bring me." Bo and Luke nod, eyeing each other a moment before they both set down their half empty bottle of beer. "Well, Cooter, we appreciate the drink," Luke speaks up, a protective hand goes on Bo's shoulder, "but we really ought to get our tails in gear and get on with the chores Jesse sent us in town for." "Sure thing. But boys," Cooter brings their attention back to him, "keep this thing about the race being held by Adrian between us until he reveals himself. He as real adament about not letting his name out about it." "That's a big ten four," Luke nods silently, "it's safe with us." "Figured as much. Have a good day," Cooter waves them off before they walk out of the garage and back out into the sunny day. (FYI - Adrian McDeen is a fictional name and character that I created. As far as I know, there is no car owner by that name in NASCAR and created him out of my imagination...and will do so with his drivers in his team. CUE ANYONE!)

From Toby Keith's first album that made it big...love TK's music!