Garrett Duke

Well the chase will officially start on Sunday at Chicagoland...meaning we have ten races left of the season. Thought it would be interesting to see who y'all think may win the championship in ten weeks. My opinion may be biased, but with how he's been racing in the past few weeks and how dominant he has been, I voted for Jeff Gordon. (Y'all surprised?) (Please disregarud my last predition thread...I did the pole wrong. . .)

Well the chase will officially start on Sunday at Chicagoland...meaning we have ten races left of the season. Which of the twelve chase contenders do you think will win the 2011 championship: 1. Kyle Busch (18) 2. Kevin Harvick (29) 3. Jeff Gordon (24) 4. Matt Kenseth (17) 5. Carl Edwards (99) 6. Jimmie Johnson (48) 7. Kurt Busch (22) 8. Ryan Newman (39) 9. Tony Stewart (14) 10. Dale Earnhardt Jr (88) 11. Brad Keselwoski (2) 12. Denny Hamlin (11)

Hoss, tried playing your video and my computer is being ornery and freezing up on it. Sunday's race is at Chicagoland...am super excited for it! Well as always, but Chicagoland is a track that I have been at. Sadly not for a race, but to ride in Richard Petty's driving Expereince. It was awesome and would love to go again! Nothing like going over a hundred miles per hour next to the wall as they do on the TV...only thing better is if the driver had been the king himself or Jeff Gordon. HA HA. Almost had a chance to go this weekend to Chicagoland on a bus, but it didn't pan out . Which is probably for the best financially wise plus I'd be going alone on a bus full of people I don't know and was nervous about that. But it sounds like I may be going next year...but knowing my luck, Gordon will get spun out on the first lap and won't be able to come back in. Anyway, as I said, Sunday's race is at Chicagoland at 2:00 EST on ESPN (I think). And since we got the twelve chase contenders set for 2011, it will also start the chase! Am I the only one depressed knowing that means we only have ten races until the end? I am excited to see who will win the championship since there seems to be people online pointing at Gordon to break JJ's streak of championships...which also makes me nervous as well. Could this possibly be the year he finally clinches his drive for five? I really hope so...would love to experience that. Know he has four already, but I had only been a fan of his for the last two of them and when he won them, I didn't know enough to know he won them! But really don't want to see the season come to an end...those ninety some days until Daytona is the LONGEST days ever for me! Chicagoland at 2 EST on ESPN for the start of the 2011 chase to see which of the twelve drivers will be the 2011 championship.

Well just read on Facebook that the Phillies has clinched their spot in the playoffs...is any other team clinched in yet?

Welcome to Hazzardnet Hope! It is always great to meet Duke fans no matter what the age is. I was about your age when the Dukes came back on TV on channel TNN and I became a BIG fan for the second time. Fourteen years later, am still a big fan. Always will be if I have a say in it. Anyways, great to see another great Duke fan...welcome to HNet!

You are very welcome...you know how much I love talking about the races and NASCAR! I feel for you...you are way more dedicated to a sport that's not your number one favorite sport than I would be to stay up that late. It was an exciting race last night...that is for sure. Just wish Gordon would have ended the way you fell asleep. I am out of town that weekend...but would normally still be in bed at that time. My w eekenedns are my time to catch up on some zzzs. LOL. Glad you got to watch most of it Hoss...you didn't miss much after that time!

Well my baseball ends when the Cubs end...but since you asked, I'm going for the Yankees though I am not a big fan of American League baseball.

We missed you Roger! Hope you had a great time with your family.

Well Richmond just got over, meaning that the chase will start next Sunday. Also meaning that the points are now all messed up according to wins. Here is the top twelve chase drivers... 1. Kyle Busch 2. Kevin Harvick 3. Jeff Gordon 4. Matt Kenseth 5. Carl Edwards 6. Jimmie Johnson 7. Kurt Busch 8. Ryan Newman 9. Tony Stewart 10. Dale Earnhardt Jr (two wild card drivers) 11. Brad Keselowski 12. Denny Hamlin Personally am excited about the chase to see the momentum on Gordon's side...plus my four top favorite drivers in the chase! (Gordon, Johnson, Jr, and Edwards.) (Make sure to look at my review under the NASCAR review...)

Wow! Talk about a high energy and a high accident race. Fifteen cautions throughout the four hundred laps. Don't even know where to begin...know I'll miss something. Jr struggled all day and ended up in two accidents and gaining the lucky dog three times to get back on the lead lap all three times. But through out his rough race, made it into the chase! Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson has had a long history with one another. Kurt spun Jimmie Johnson out...looks like not on purpose, but think Johnson took it as it being on purpose. Johnson went after Kurt and spun him out. Just an odd night for team forty-eight. Johnson is normally calm and collected, not his style going after another driver like that. Kurt Busch went on to get a top ten finish...Johnson took it to the garage for eight laps before coming back out. Sad to see Johnson have such a tough night. Kasey Kahne got spun out once and then twice when Ambrose bumped into Vickers. (Kahne's team mate) Vickers got mad and wrecked Ambrose under caution...NASCAR parked him for several laps. Gordon had an up and down night...was twentieth at one point, but his crew got his car in gear and he raced his way past Kevin Harvick with 22 laps to go. Only for Paul Menard to spin out and throw a caution...Harvick's crew got his car out first while Gordon came out of pits second. Gordon got passed by a couple of cars at first but was able to race on for a third place finish. Great finish for team 24, but disappointed with the caution. Was tasting the win at that point! Kevin Harvick held off Carl Edwards to win his fourth win of the season... Here is the top ten finish of Richmond: 1. Kevin Harvick 2. Carl Edwards 3. Jeff Gordon 4. David Ragen 5. Kurt Busch 6. Kyle Busch 7. Tony Stewart 8. Ryan Newman 9. Denny Hamlin 10. Mark Martin Well the regular season is now over and the chase is on starting at Chicagoland next Sunday on ESPN...meaning there is only ten races left of the season. So hard to believe that we are at this point of the season already. It has gone by so quickly so far and now the last ten will go by just as fast...sadly.

My money's going on the Chicago Cubs. Never give up hope. HA HA. . .

Race time is now...eleven laps in and just getting through the second caution. Last one involving Bowyer, Jr, and Hamlin who are all searching or seeking to get into the 2011 chase! Let's go Jr let's overcome this!

Am I too late for the buttermilk? I couldn't hop online last night to wish Tom a happy birthday, but definately did NOT forget. Happy belate birthday Tom - hope it was a great one!

Thanks Hoss for the links! I finally got to watch Gordon's victory spin out...very excited about. Though that would have been a torture for me to watch if I had been able to on Tuesday...talk about an high energy and exciting finish! I'd have been on my feet pacing the floor while yelling at Gordon to hit it! LOL. Y'all know I love JJ ALMOST (Gordon will always be my favorite driver...) as much as I do as Gordon, but would have been highly upset if Gordon had lost this race (especially after being robbed of the win at Bristol a week or two ago!). It was hard for me to sit and watch it now knowing Gordon had won it...very close race. A race I am glad Gordon won. I may be highly biased in saying this, but 85 wins says A LOT about him! Making him the third winningest driver...also says a lot about him. (He may or may not reach number two, but no one will ever reach Richard Petty's 200 wins. Mainly because in ol' Petty's days, they raced several races a week, not just one. And pretty much year round...what a great time that had to have been!) Thanks for the link...really enjoyed watching it! As for Montoya and Bowyer, Bowyer may have been at fault there, but it did show Montoya bumping Bowyer earlier than that. Bet Bowyer is spitting mad. The only way he can get into the chase now is if he wins the race tonight - feel bad for him. He's a great guy, great driver. As for Montoya, my opinion, with his reputation and how he races people, it would be easy to think it was him. Richmond is tonight at 6:00 Central time on ABC...night racing. Gotta love it! I do at least. Not only that, after tonight's race, we will know who will be in and who will be out of the chase. Chase starts next Sunday at Chicagoland! Six drivers are for sure in...as fas as I know, those are all that are set. Am highly hoping Jr will get a good finish to enter the chase...he's had a pretty good year compared to the last few years he's had and feel like he deserves to be in. (By the way, he just signed a five year contract with Hendrick to longer his stay at HMS...very happy to have him on Gordon's team!) Am highly looking forward to the race tonight...it better NOT rain or anything else to perlong my NASCAR withdrawl! HA HA. LET'S GO JEFF GORDON AND TEAM 24!! LET'S GO FOR WIN NUMBER 86!!!!

Well Hoss, you just had to go rub it in, now don't you? Not bad enough I can't watch his eighty-fifth win, I can't even give a half decent review on it. So frustrated right now...but that is life I guess. Just excited he won. Heard most of it on the radio and the end did sound exciting...love JJ, but would have been upset if he had stole the win from Gordon as he was trying to do. HA HA. Heard Bowyer's side of the wreck and whether or not JPM was at fault, do understand his being upset. Now, in order to get in the chase, he'll need to win at Richmond. His hopes are pretty much done right now...as far as JPM I will keep my opinions to myself. I didn't see who was at fault, so will keep my opinions to myself on that part... I heard they had a show or whatever for Gordon's 85th win after the race on ESPN...very upset that I had to miss that. Dang rain anyways...or dang work. LOL. Miss all the good stuff doing taht. I had Bobby Labonte on my fantasy team last week...for Atlanta and each time I heard him wrecking thought of that. I think he slowed me down from climbing much in points that I got from Edwards top five finish...sadly I only had Gordon as my bench driver. Glad you got to watch it Hoss...count me jealous! Rain or shine, I refuse to miss the race at Richmond this upcoming Saturday night!!! HA HA. Talking about the races...they will be racing at Chicagoland in another week and a half. A track where I rode in Richard Petty's driving Experience. Awesome ride to ride around the track as the drivers do! I may have a slim chance to go on a bus ride to go see the race...opener of the chase! How awesome would that be! LOL. I will find out for sure one way or another tomorrow. It all depends on another person and price. Don't have a whole lot of money right now to be spending, but if the opportunity arises for me to go to a NASCAR Sprint Cup race, don't see how I could resist that! (Though...*sigh* knowing my luck, if I ever did get to go to a race, Gordon would wreck on the first lap...that'd be the longest race ever!)

Well I didn't get to watch the race today...and dang, I missed a great race! I listened to it on the radio at work, but definately NOT the same thing as watching it live on TV. (Thanks to the new digital box, I couldn't even record it...so frustrated!) Guess there is little I can do about it... But with all that aside...am very excited to announce that JEFF GORDON WON AT ATLANTA...HIS EIGHTY-FIFTH CAREER WIN! (I'm a little excited, if y'all can't tell!) Sounded like an exciting finish to the end...Jimmie Johnson gave Gordon a run for his money the last eighteen or so laps, but Gordon held on tight to earn the win. He now has more wins that Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison. He is the third winningest driver in NASCAR history behind Richard Petty and David Pearson. Sorry for the lack of a review here...listened to it at work so was distracted with two year olds running around yelling, but did hear the name Jeff Gordon's name mentioned alot on the radio...am still very excited. This is Gordon's third win of the year...should have been more if he hadn't been robbed a couple of 'em, but who's counting? LOL. Here is the top ten finishes of the race: 1. JEFF GORDON 2. Jimmie Johnson 3. Tony Stewart 4. Kurt Busch 5. Carl Edwards 6. Brad Keselowski 7. Kevin Harvick 8. Denny Hamlin 9. Matt Kenseth 10. AJ Allmindinger Richmond is Saturday night race...which is the last race of the regular season. Meaning there is only eleven more races left of the season...how depressing is that? LOL. Then the withdrawal will start all over again. Well I am not going to worry about that now, for now I am just celebrating win number 85 from Jeff Gordon and his third win of the season. I'll be lazy. Here is the new points in the top twelve... 1. Jimmie Johnson (new point leader!) 2. Kyle Busch -21 3. Carl Edwards 4. Matt Kenseth 5. Jeff Gordon (Climbed up a spot...) 6. Kevin Harvick 7. Kurt Busch 8. Ryan Newman 9. Dale Earnhardt Jr 10. Tony Stewart **** (Eleven and twelve place will be determined by wins after Richmond...looks like they already put that into play in the points as of what they would look like according to wins...) 11. Brad Keselowski 12. Denny Hamlin Some Jeff Gordon trivia...Gordon won his 85th time at a track where he started his career at...not only that, Gordon's first NASCAR race was Richard Petty's last race.

Marty Stuart is awesome and he put on an awesome show! He is a great perfomer and seems to be a great guy. A good sense of humor. Was only an hour long concert, but it was a great hour and it was worth any price to see...though the only thing we paid was to get into the fair grounds (plus I bought Marty's new GREAT CD). "Hillbilly Rock" is my all time favorite Marty Stuart songs...was really excited when he played that song. Awesome song - love it! Wish they would play him and his music on the radio . Not to make you jealous or anything, Roger, but after his concert, got to stand in line and shook Marty's hand and got Marty's and his band's autograph on the new CD I bought. It was a great night. Great show...would suggest you go see him if you ever get the chance to do so.

You trying to rub it all in, huh Roger? LOL. Good question. Perhaps they just don't know how to destribute the money properly. They do have a few players that are getting a pretty penny right now (Aramis Rameriz and Alfonso Soriano for example)...and now are rumored trying to get either Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols for next year... Pujols is asking for a two hundred mil contract and it sounds like Fielder is asking about the same as well. Personally I think the Cubs should stick with Pena who they have at first and destribute that kinda money across the field where they need the help at. As I said, that all is just rumors flying around right now so am not getting too worried about it. But it does make you wonder why the Yankees can afford a new ball park plus Jeter and all the other top name players that takes them to the post season and the Cubs are just stuck... Perhaps that goat they didnt let on the field all them years ago really did put a bad luck spell on 'em after all...

Call it what you want Roger...still not happy about missing this race. HA HA. (Actually, was going to miss it if they raced on Sunday since I went and saw Marty Stuart. But would have been able to see it today if they raced on Monday as they normally do when the race gets postponed...) I just hope this tropical storm Lee will pass over and not inflict too much harm on any one or anything. Doesn't sound like fun at all...

Well I went to a Marty Stuart concert last night - what an awesome perfromer! I enjoyed his music just as much now as I did back growing up. I even stood in line after the show and got to shake his hand and get his autograph. Awesome concert...awesome performer! Anyways, listening to his music last night there were a few songs of his that reminded me of the Dukes and thought I would post them here... heard this one for the first time last night...great song. (Marty is singing with Merle Haggard in this video!) My all time favorite Marty Stuart song! Love it.