Garrett Duke

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.

You sound pretty certain there Roger. Last I saw the Brew crew was at least ten games ahead of their local competition... Not that I care that much...my concern with baseball ends when the Cubs. Will be interested to see who will win the WS, but for me, baseball ends when the Cubs season ends. Which is in a couple of weeks...very depressing for me.

Well I am g lad I didn't stay home today...er last night to watch the race since it got rained out. I was kinda wishin it would thinking I could watch it tomorrow since I got tomorrow off. WRONG! They will be racing the Sprint Cup race in Atlanta at noon or eleven EST on Tuesday...when I have to be at work! So irritated. Guess there is a chance for tornadoes, high winds, and rain in tomorrow's Atlanta forecast. I get no break this weekend! So y'all will have to rely on my race coverage they show online. :(

Well sorry to say this Roger but of your list of favorite drivers the only one that had the option of earning his way into the chase was David Ragen. Ragen has had the best year of his career this year with his win at daytona and his near wi n at the Daytona 500...he may need a miracle to get into the chase right now, but he has a lot to smile about this year. So don't go looking all sad on me about him not in the chase. But if he did make it in the chase I would be happy for him and you. He's a good kid...just not as happy as I am that Gordon is in it...and Johnson. Am really hoping Jr will make it into the chase as well, but he still could drop out of it if he has two bad races. (fingers crossed that he'll have two GREAT races!) Yep...Atlanta...actually it is not in Atlanta itself but an hour away or something like that. Know it isn't in Atlanta as it seems as it should be since it is Atlanta Motorspeedway. A couple of years ago John Schneider sang the "National Anthem"...I was in heaven! Won't be able to watch it on Sunday due to going to see Marty Stuart, but am hoping to record it and watch it on Monday. (Love three day weekends!)

Congrats Redneck of a very well deserved honor!

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Just heard the best news all day...Jeff Gordon is now clinched into the chase...if not the top ten, then as one of the two wild cards! (Jumping up and down in excitement!) can now be relaxed for the next couple of races knowing no matter what, Gordon is going to be in the 2011 chase and has that golden opportunity to gain his fifth championship. HIS DRIVE FOR FIVE IS ON!!!!!!!! OK I am probably the only one excited about the news...don't know if there is any other Jeff Gordon fans on the site. But thought I'd share my excitement with y'all. Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, and Jeff Gordon has now clinched their way into the chase (Harvick and Gordon are tied in points as is Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson...both my guys tied with someone else and am hoping they both will prevail.) Well there's my exciting news...ain't y'all excited?

Michael Waltrip (Darrell Waltrip's younger brother.) went on to win the race. As of now, (August 29, 2011) who has the most wins of the 2011 season?

Nascar (Won't let me capitalize the whole word...)

Thanks Roger. Third place is a great finish for the 24 team and it was great to see him have such a fast and dominant race car. I have little room to complain about, just disappointed that he didn't get the win he should have gotten it. Yeah...there's always controversy in NASCAR. If it isn't one thing...it's something else. As for David Ragen finished twentieth...not such a good run for the number six team, but he did finish ahead of where he started so at least he had a better finish t han start...he started twenty-fourth. Bobby Labonte runs a full schedule where as his older brother Terry only races a handful of races, if that. It is great to see them both in the race together. Wish Bobby would have better finishes than he has had as of lately.

Golf

In other words...Jeff Gordon got robbed of his 85th win last night. Of course, I am a Jeff Gordon fan and my opinion is biased... I should explain a little bit how it works...pit road has sensors laid periodically through pit road. Well some drivers will pick their pit stalls knowing where the sensors are and will speed where the sensors are not laid out. According to Gordon, Bristol's pit road the sensors are spread out farther than normal. So I guess it is the track at fault as much as the drivers...but all the same, I feel Gordon got robbed last night.