Garrett Duke

Noise

Well I was out of town this past weekend so my racing kinda got messed up, but don't worry, I watched or listened to all of it. Plus I got to watch most of the truck racing in Iowa as well. Don't normally get to watch it. Watched all but the last sixty laps...I know, I know the most important part of the race, but when your ride is leaving, you either got to leave with it or get left behind. So I had to leave. There was a scary accident in the truck series where Justin Marks slid across the track and plowed into the inner pit road wall that is all cement. Caved the wall in a foot and a half. He got out and instantly doubled over. Got up, walked a little bit before the officials caught him before falling. He was taken to the hospital and the race was red flagged for twenty minutes. Guess Marks is ok according ot his wife. Still had tests to be done last I heard, but all looked to be OK. Austin Dillion led most of the laps - was in a race of his own, until with sixty laps to go they had a caution and he went in and his crew sent him back eight spots. Matt Crafton went onto win and Dillion who had it won came in second. Very sad to see him lose it that way and so close... Anyway, now onto the Sprint Series...LOL. They raced in Loudon New Hampshire. Ryan Newman had the pole with the fastest qualifying lap ever made and was followed by his boss, Tony Stewart. I only watched the first hundred out of three hundred laps before we headed back home...but don't worry, I caught most of the rest of it on the radio. If there's a will, there's a way, right? Jimmie Johnson started way in the back and for most of the race, stayed back there. Must have gotten frustrated because at one point towards the start of the race, he shoved Kyle Busch out of the way - almost turning him. NOt usually his style of racing. Kyle Busch was in the back...which is not normally his style either. Seems like something happened and he was sent back and then later on, his tire blew and he slammed the wall. He went to the garage for some ninety plus laps. When I had to leave, Gordon was first...that is until BOTH of his batteries died at the same time. Guess if both could die at the same time, it would happen to Gordon. Luckily he got a caution, was able to change his battery, get a lap down, get another caution and earn his lap back. He was quick to charge to the front. Must have had an awesome fast car! (Wish I could've seen it! LOL) Johnson had to deal with controversy throughout the whole race it sounded like. Sounded like he got in it with Montoya, his crew didn't tighten a lugnut on pit road and he had to do a drive through penalty. And even with all that, came up with a top five finish. Very impressive run by the forty-eight. Jr got penalized as well when his crew didn't put the tires over the wall and he drove away. Very rookie mistake if you ask me and should never have happened. Bet Jr was upset as he should have been. He came home fifteenth and disappointed with his run. Though am disappointed,...Gordon was running fourth for a long time and by the announcers talking sounded like him and Stewart were best on gas at the end. So I figured it'd have to come down to those two...well guess who ran out of gass during the white flag lap? None other than JEFF GORDON!!!!! ERRR and of course all the announcers on the RADIO would say was that he lost a ton of spots. Took them forever to come down to the final lineup to find out Gordon finished eleventh...not the position I was hoping for. But it could have been a lot worse and luckily he was able to finish the race. (Trying to stay positive here...) Meanwhile, Kurt Busch led a lot of laps...but it all came down to Ryan Newman who led the most laps and his boss Tony Stewart. Ryan Newman crossed the checkers first with Stewart behind him. The last couple of years I was quick to point out that Stewart's attitude has changed...and that his anger management classes he had to take finally helped. Well to me it seems like he's lapsing back into the old Tony Stewart. The take no prisioners Stewart who was easy to anger and was quick to wreck people. (Or is it just me?) A couple of weeks ago he vowed to wreck the next person who blocked him (why he wrecked VIckers who wasn't blocking him)...even if it was his teammate Ryan Newman. And yesterday he vowed to wreck Andy Lally (who is always a lap down car...) if he didn't learn how to get out of the way of lead lap cars. (The announcers stated Lally got out of their way...) And according to my uncle who watched qualifying, said that Stewart snapped at the reporters for asking a question...so far (except for wrecking Vickers) he's been all talk and I personally am hoping it stays as that... Well here is the top ten finishers of the race yesterday: 1. Ryan Newman 2. Tony Stewart 3. Denny Hamlin 4. Joey Lagano 5. Jimmie Johnson 6. Kasey Kahne 7. Bobby Labonte (Great to see him get a top ten finish again! Way to go Bobby!) 8. Martin Truex Jr 9. Marcos Ambrose 10. Kurt Busch 11. Jeff Gordon (Sorry...I couldn't leave my favorite out of the line up...) (Just read...Gordon had problems with his alternators (had changed batteries on multiple stops, and that his tire blew on the last lap - not gas. Article I read said if not for the alternator, Gordon would've won. Oh well, coming in eleventh after all that, is pretty dang impressive, if you ask me. But my opinion, as you've probably guessed, is biased...LOL) (Definately not a bad race for my Fantasty NASCAR team...had Kurt Busch on it who led 66 laps, finished tenth. Had Newman on it who led the most laps, got pole, and won it...two out of four had great races. Other two so-so. Moves me up to sixth...from seventh.) And since I am too lazy to go to the other thread, I am going to post the top twelve points here: 1. Carl Edwards 2. Jimmie Johnson (-7) 3. Kurt Busch 4. Kevin Harvick 5. Kyle Busch (who was first coming into the race) 6. Matt Kenseth 7. Jeff Gordon 8. Ryan Newman 9. Dale Earnhardt Jr 10. Denny Hamlin **** 11. Tony Stewart 12. Clint Bowyer I am sad to announce that there is no race next weekend...it is an off weekend. Feel the tears comin' already. The next race will be on ESPN (TNT is done for the year) and will be at Indianappolis where Gordon was the inaugural winner...hopefully he'll be kissing the bricks once again.

Congratulations Val on the marriage! I agree...may have a very happy and blessed marriage. Once again, congratulations to someone who is deserving of such true happiness.

NASCAR (Roger - I was hoping someone would pick up on my thinkin' when I said Bristol. Only one of the best short tracks on the circuit...next month they'll be racing there under the lights. It's a great race on Sunday during the day in the spring, but it is even better at night in late summer. )

Bristol

Wow...I'd be furious too! Though I'd be dang determined to find a parking spot, even if I had to walk five miles in order to get to the track. Seems like I remember there was a pro football game or something like that who sold more tickets than they had seats...don't quote me, but it seems familiar. Like last year or so. That would be horrible to pay all that money and not be able to get in due to parking. Hopefully they get refunded or get tickets to the next race at Kentucky...can't imagine how upset they are. Ironically, I was on NASCAR.com on another window while reading this and came across this article about what you are talking about. NASCAR.com article. That has got to be so frustrating for NASCAR and it's fans. Hopefully France will see fit to force Kentucky to solve their problem. Sure it will keep a lot of those fans from returning next year. Know I'd have second thoughts about going knowing I may face the same problem...

CORRECTION: Jeff Gordon finishes tenth and Denny Hamlin finishes eleventh today. I was going by NASCAR.com at first and then went to my facebook account where I get Gordon updates and Gordon stated that there was a correction that he finished tenth and not eleventh...took awhile for NASCAR.com to change it, but they finally did. Being a Gordon fan...am very grateful for a top ten finish. May only be one position, but now I can say Gordon got a top ten finish.

Kyle Busch won the inaugral race at Kentucky after leading the most laps. Keselowski led a lot of laps as well. Not a whole lot really happened...Gordon and a lot of other good drivers were a lap down at one point and ended up finishing in the top half. Gordon finished eleventh...was tenth until a lap to go. Oh well. Better than 24th where he hung out for most of the race. Final green flag pit stop, Jr went in and only got gas only for his tire to explode once he got on the track. 1. Kyle Busch 2. David Reutimann 3. Jimmie Johnson 4. Ryan Newman 5. Carl Edwards 6. Matt Kenseth 7. Brad Keselowski 8. David Ragen 9. Kurt Busch 10. Denny Hamlin 11. Jeff Gordon

Not a chance...Jeff Gordon won the inaugral Indianappolis (sp?) race and perhaps another inaugral race so I am hoping he earns another inaugral race tonight. HA HA. David Ragen can come in third behind JJ.

A great rock Christian group...

Captain (from Captain Kangaroo...)

Sorry for the double post...meant to fix the times of the race. NASCAR.com has the time at 6:30 ET...not 7:30 as I first posted.

The Sprint Cup will be racing at Kentucky for the first time while the Nationwide Series is currently racing there now. Kyle Busch won the truck series there and now will be starting first at the pole due to the qualifying run being rained out...Kentucky better get the rain over with by tomorrow. Kentucky is a mile and a half tri-oval shaped track. They will be racing Saturday night at 6:30 ET on TNT. Am looking forward to seeing what Kentucky is all about...plus missing Daytona last weekend, I am going through NASCAR withdrawl...

The Sprint Cup will be racing at Kentucky for the first time while the Nationwide Series is currently racing there now. Kyle Busch won the truck series there and now will be starting first at the pole due to the qualifying run being rained out...Kentucky better get the rain over with by tomorrow. Kentucky is a mile and a half tri-oval shaped track. They will be racing Saturday night at 7:30 on TNT. Am looking forward to seeing what Kentucky is all about...plus missing Daytona last weekend, I am going through NASCAR withdrawl...

Great picture, Hoss! Would love to see The General out on the race track...and Jamie McMurray would probably enjoy to drive anything with four wheels, but he probably would have a problem having General Lee's name on the car and not his own. Though I would love to see The General out on the race track, I doubt I could ever trade or give up Jeff Gordon as my favorite. Even for The General. Hope that don't make me a bad Dukes fan...General may have to take second to Gordon. Though if Bo or Luke was behind the wheel, I might have a problem.

WOW...I miss a couple of days and I miss everything. How scary Roger! I pray that you will have a safe and speedy recovery. I bet that was a very awakening experience, especially the white light and what you later learned. Thank-you for letting us know and pleas keep us updated. Very scary and am glad to hear that you have survived the horrorific experience and seem to be on the road to recovery.

Well Roger...know what you mean about not being wishy-washy. I'm the same way. Once I get a favorite, it stays a favorite (though took me a while to settle upon a favorite football team - go BEARS!!!!). The Cubs, Gordon, and Bears will always be my favorite teams... You're just lucky that you didn't go with Tony Stewart...MA may not allow you on HNet if you chose him as your favorite. As for you Hoss...you asked MA what car that certian driver drove, but hope y'all forgive me for answering. Figure MA don't like mentioning his name, she wouldn't care too much to talk about him either. Tony Stewart drives the number fourteen Office Depot car. (use to drive the number 20 Home Depot fan until he left to coown his own team.) He use to be on the top of disliked drivers as well, but he has seemed to change the past few years...but as I said earlier, his attitude seems to be returning to how he once was with his vow to turn people out if they block him. (Better not think of turning Gordon or Johnson...)

Luke pats Gordon on the back of the shoulder with a smile of confidence spread across his face before his hands are shoved into his back pockets. "Y'all stay here. I'll inform you when I get back," Luke states, eyeing Bo sternly who exhales heavily before nodding. "Very good. Thanks Bo...you both will have your roles in my plan. I just need to get the plan started, first." Bo nods before looking away in attempt to hide his displeasure and sits back down, impatient with how things are going so far. "We'll get you outta this mess, Jeff. Watch and see," Luke states to fill the empty void before turning around walking out of the room. Walking out of the whisky filled room, Luke is facing the wrong end of the gun, with Finley standing firmly on the other end. "I thought you all were to stay in the room until you got out of this problem of your's. Seeing how it's only you, I assume y'all ain't on your way out of my kingdom," Finley snaps at Luke as Luke puts his hands up in surrender, "you better make this good or else your friends in there will be cleaning up your mess." "Hold on a sec there Finley," Luke states with a small nervous smile, "we're not done in there. Not until we get Gordon in the clear. We was just thinking of a plan on tricking Rosco and Boss and well, I got to thinking." "You did, huh?" Finley questions still holding the gun aimed at Luke. "Yes sir, I did. Got to thinking of you and Jesse. Of your beef with Rosco and Boss and well," Luke pauses and shrugs, wishing Finley would put the gun down, "thought you and your boys may want to have a part in taking Rosco and Boss down for what they're corruptness that they imply on you, on Gordon...on all of Hazzard." "You thought, huh? You must be the one who does all the thinking in your group, huh?" Finley throws back at him, his gun still aimed at Luke, though not as firm, "Well you thought wrong. I don't want nothing to do with Rosco. Or Boss. Or Hazzard. I am fine here in my own kingdom. Alone." Luke grimaces and shakes his head in a dramatic fashion. "Well I apologize Finely. I took you all wrong," Luke forces a grin as he turns around and as he takes a step back towards the room he just left, he hears Finely drop the gun. "Wait a minute, Duke. You took me wrong?" Finley bites onto Luke's hook he had thrown at Finely, "How so?" Walking back to Finley, Luke states, "Well I took you as a man of justice. A man who would seek vengence when wronged by someone. And me and you both know Rosco and Boss both wronged you years ago. That's why you hide away from all the world to see. They hurt you once, you don't want to get hurt again," Luke pauses, watching Finley carefully, "don't you think it's about time your story gets heard once and for all? Don't you think it's about time Rosco and Boss pay for what they did to you?" Finley violently shakes his head at Luke. "I'm fine here. My boys are fine here," he vehemently states despite the anger in his eyes softening a bit, "things are best left in the past." "Yeah, so they can wrong other people? Like they wronged you?" Luke pause for a long moment, "Because right now, they have wronged Jeff Gordon. Jeff Gordon is a famous NASCAR driver who was driving home from the race in Atlanta...home to see his family. He has a wife and two small kids that are now at his house, waiting for him to return. And yet, he's stuck in your back room there. You want to know why?" Finley eyes him questionably. All of him wanting to angrily kick Luke and his friends out of his house, off his property. While all of him wants to ask why. Wants to help Luke and his friend out. "Why?" Finley questions despite his inner self yelling at him to get Luke away. "Because Sheriff Rosco Coltrane ran into him. Not only did Rosco ran into his car and did great damage to it, he is now accusing Gordon of running into him. Pressing charges against him for supposedly running into him. So me and Bo jumped in and pretty much forced Gordon to run from the law. Now we are wanted by the law as well," Luke sighs heavily, surprised and relieved to get this far with Finley, "Gordon has a wife and kids waiting for him to come home. He won't be going home if Rosco gets his hands on him. Not only that, he has a publicized race this Sunday that he won't be able to attend if he is arrested and doesnt' get out of this mess." "Sounds like Rosco and Boss are trying to use this man Gordon's job and celebrity status to their benefit," Finley snorts, "bet Hogg has a plan in that fat head of his to use Gordon to his advantage to get his hands on Gordon's money or to earn money due to Gordon being in Hazzard." Luke nods. "Exactly," he states, relieved. Finley nods, now relaxed with Luke standing in front of him and regrettably in his mind, willing to help them out in his case. "I really despise you for putting me in this position, Luke. You know damn well how I feel about people. About Hazzard. I allowed Bo and you to use my room to hide out in in my attempt to pay my debt to your uncle. You're now taking this too far. In fact, I may accuse you rightfully of you trying to use me and my past for your own damn benefit," Finley pauses harshly and premature frustration fills Luke in thought of his plan being forced to a short halt, "but despite how I feel and my reputation, I do have a heart and perhaps you are right about me," he goes silent once more as he eyes the closed door over Luke's shoulders before eyeing Luke, "So Luke. What's this plan of your's?" Luke grins with relief. "How 'bout you step into my new office and I'll fill you in with Bo and Jeff?" Luke asks and they slowly begin their way to the back room.

Well MaryAnne...guess you don't like Tony Stewart very much. Am I right? LOL. Never was a fan of him either, but he has gotten better about his attitude. That is until last weekend when he spun out Brian Vickers for supposedly blocking him and now claims he will spin out anyone who blocks him...even Ryan Newman who is his own team mate as well as own Newman's car. Looks like the old smoke is back...which I really hope I am wrong about. Drivers wreck one another enough as it is than to have some help from the number fourteen car. As for the sponsorship, sad to see Winston change, but think you're going over board in the brands. Gerber? I may work at a day care and all, but would like to think NASCAR would stand for a little more than just baby food and accessories. HA HA. Be better if the had a car part brands for a sponsor or something. Something that could represent NASCAR.

Thanks for the update on Edwards, Hoss. I didn't see anything on him when I checked things out. Thanks for the videos as well... Your forgiven Roger for not caring "too" much for Gordon...I am the same way with Gordon. He's my main concern before thinking of other people's favorite drivers and so forth. Next week's race is at Kentucky...first ti me Sprint Cup has or will race there. Think Nationwide Series has raced there before.

Just read a post from Jimmie Johnson on my facebook...looks like he finished 20th after getting involved in the last lap wreck. Figure that must be the big one they were talking about and showed...and seeing how I think Jr finished 19th, am I correct to assume he was involved too?

Thanks for the summary of the end of the race, Roger. I hate missing the races, but knew I'd regret missing the concert as well. Thought of you when I saw Ragen won...dang, I almost put him on my fantasy NASCAR team too, but went with Trevor Bayne instead. think I put a curse on the drivers I chose. Oh well. Saw some of the big one...was that big accident at the end of the race? What happened to Dale Jr? He finished 19th . . .another driver I chose for my team. LOL. I was getting upset when I saw online about Gordon spinning. Played the video and was very impressed with Gordon's recovery...and I think you are right. His skill and talent came into play with that one. Very relieved with his sixth place finish after seeing that...thought he'd be finishing in the back fo the pack when I saw he spun out like that. (Moves him up to eightth in points!) Thanks again Roger!

Well I am not going to be of much help this week...I missed the race tonight. Miss Daytona...just ain't right. But I just read up on it or seen footage of it. David Ragen got his first Sprint Cup win tonight...after the win got stolen from him at the Daytona. Glad for him. Gordon got spun out at the end when Brian Vickers slid up into Kasey Kahne...Gordon did an awesome job of saving it and came home sixth or seventh! Though sadly, all my fantasy NASCAR drivers finished poorly tonight...Bayne got caught up in the big one. I apologize for my lack of a review here...went to a free outside concert tonight instead. Did try to record it, but don't know if I was able to do it right or not. Was a great night...great concert, but always sad to miss a race.

You know Roger, I feel for you and others that find it difficult to find a driver to follow...if it took me this long to pick a favorite driver to follow, I'd have probably gave up on NASCAR all together. Then again, your method of researching the drivers before picking is probably a better way to do it than how I picked Gordon out as my favorite. LOL (I found his picture in a magazine of the best looking men or some odd title like that...reminder to all, I am a girl. Garrett is only my ID. . .HA HA. Saw his picture, saw he won championships and he drove a Chevy. My mind was set on him. Of course my reasonings behind liking him has greatly improved since then. . .) Sorry...don't mean to confuse you any. David Ragen drives the number six UPS car and drives for Jack Rousch. He is a good and young driver. Almost won the Daytona 500, but at the last restart had passed too early and had been black flagged for it. Felt bad for him. He's a great driver and a nice guy. I am pretty sure it is Peachtree Georgia that he is from...though he don't look to be a redneck, then again, looks are deceiving. Good luck with your quest, Roger. You'll have to let me know who you come up with as your final canidate...my final canidate is Jeff Gordon if you can't tell. HA HA. Then Jimmie Johnson. Then Jr.