Garrett Duke

Well I have some more NASCAR news to share with y'all...though it isn't official as of yet. It sounds like more news and info will be brought forward either at the end of the week or next week... Last year, 2010, Brian France...NASCAR chairman...made it clear that he was wanting to change the chase in some way. Well, the chase last year was the best chase they have had yet in the Chase four year history. So it sounds like there will be a few changes, but not as much as expected. The field will stay at twelve, but may consist of ten chase drivers with the remaining two spots be given to non chase drivers with the most wins. The best part for me, is the fact that they are not going to be eliminating drivers within the chase as it was rumored. Though they are considering changing the point system that has been set in place since 1975. As of right now the driver who wins the race gets 175 points and the driver coming in last gets 34 points (unequal increments). Under the new point system, if they do go with it, the winner will get 43 points, second place would get 42 points...and then all the way down to the last driver getting one point. They are unsure with what they would do with the bonuses...leading a lap, most laps lead, and winning. Well I for one would love NASCAR to just get rid of the chase and go back to the old point system and see a lot of people saying the same thing online. But I don't see them doing that no matter how many people complain about it and though I didn't have a problem with the old point system, am excited about the new system they are thinking about. Makes much more sense to me. Though it is sad to see them be away with a part of NASCAR history. As it is, if they went under the new point system this past season, Kevin Harvick would have been the champion, Edwards would have came in second, and Johnson would have finished third. (Gordon would have finished 6th...) As I said, it isn't official. The article I read said that more will be coming out during Preseason Thunder that starts this Thursday as well as next week. I guess they have a conference or something at a track that they will come out with more news. I will let y'all know as soon as I hear or read about whatever else is going to change or happen... Don't know about y'all, but I'm gettin' excited for Daytona!!!!!!!!! (32 more days!!!!!!!!!!! )

Well Roger, I don't think there is any correct way to pick a favorite driver other than whatever suits you best. So if it is that link between the Dukes and Kurt that works well, then go for it. You could research the drivers if you wish to as well...or you could just watch them on the track and go from there. (Though you are proving yourself a bigger Duke fan than I am by going by a driver that has a Duke connection where as I just picked one out of a People's Magazine...LOL.) As fo 01...there is not a 01 that I am aware of. Though Jamie McMurray drives the 1 car and it is kind of an reddish orange color with black... As for any relation with Cale, I am unaware of any of the drivers being related to Cale out there.

Uncle Jesse

I agree. In most sports it is easy to chose a favorite team by the city or a certian athlete. Chicago is the closest city with a pro team in it since Iowa doesn't have a pro sport...so I went with the Cubs. And then the Bears. NASCAR you are outta luck if you chose by city unless you live in the city or state that a certian driver is from and decide to go for them. But other than that, I guess one goes by the info they know of the driver as to who to root for. Or something like that. I got to be a fan of Jeff Gordon originally due to a magazine that had a picture of him in it with a list of info about his racing career up to that part of time. Though I hate to disappoint you, Roger. I don't know whether or not Kurt Busch is a Dukes fan or not. He picked the theme song to be his song in that race intro, but I don't know if it is because he likes the show or just thinks of himself as a Good ol' Boy. But he could also be a huge Dukes fan. So far that is the only Duke related theme I found in NASCAR amongst the drivers. With that said, Roger, I am glad that you found a driver to root for (even though it isn't JJ...poor JJ... ) That is one of the MANY great things of NASCAR you have a huge selection of drivers to chose to go for or to go against. HA HA. I hope finding Kurt Busch to root for will help you to become a serious NASCAR fan! Well Roger, I wouldn't be holding your breath for ol' Cale to come out of retirement any more so than I would for Richard Petty. Though it would be a great and amazing thing to see...though despite his Duke connection and all the great accomplishments he has done in his career and life, I'd still be going for Jeff Gordon. Gordon will always be number one in my book. GO JEFF GORDON!!!!!!!!!!!

What an honorable title, Roger...the biggest NASCAR fan. I like it! (Just heard it is under 30 days now until the Budweiser Shootout...is it just me, but January is going by slloooowwwwllly?) As for Tony...I was hoping it was in self defense as well. But I just read an article that said that Stewart didn't like something...perhaps track condtions, and allegedly hit the co-owner in the face with the helmet. The co-owner punched him in return. According to the article, Tony may have left Australia with a black eye from the incident. . .(once again, wasn't any fact that seemed set in stone in the article with words such as allegedly and might have placed in there. . .) *GASP* You...dropping Jimmie Johnson? I was fearing that was what you had in mind when you asked that question. I can't believe anyone would want to drop JJ from being their favorite driver...especially for... Well never mind, I will keep my opinions and thoughts to myself. After all, everyone has a right to who their favorite driver is. Kurt is a talented driver and for your sake, Roger, I hope he does well this season. (Just not better than Gordon and Johnson...)

I would be more than happy with a Bears against the Steelers for the Super Bowl. The only team I really care about, is the Bears. So as long as they make it, I'll be very excited! But first thing's first...Bears VS Packers. Should be a good match up. Their last game together showed me that they are pretty well matched up and every point will be well earned. I am excited and nervous about the game. I agree...the Bears vs Packers will be bigger than the Super Bowl. It should make for a great game. . .

ice cream (Can't go wrong with cake and ice cream )

Thank-you! It was a great game...I am still excited about today's game as well as next week. I agree...I really hope they will beat the Packers next weekend! GO BEARS!!!!!!! I am now hoping for Bears VS NY Jets Super Bowl game in February. (Sorry Roger. Know you were at least hoping for the Steelers, but Shonn Greene is from Iowa so I have to go for his team. At least until he plays against the Bears...)

"Time Marches On" Tracy Lawrence My favorite song by him...

celebration

host

Tony Stewart, driver of the number 14 car, was down in Australia to do some dirt track racing when he complained to the co-owner of the track about track conditions. It turned into a fight where supposed punches and a helmet were thrown. Stewart was held for questioning by the police, but charges were not being placed upon Stewart, and is on his way back the US. Reading this yesterday and the follow up article today, was half surprised to see Tony fighting...again. Tony use to be a driver with a temper and had been known to throw a punch here and there (punched a news reporter and another driver in different occassions, plus had a fight with his own pit crew) but that was a few years ago when he was still at Gibbs racing. He had seemed to calm down the last year or two and not so easily upset as he use to be. Then again, the article didn't say who threw the first punch...so maybe Stewart was defending himself. Guess we may never know, just glad to see Tony on his way back to the US... In other NASCAR news...they had advertised for the Daytona 500 during the Bears and Seahawks game on Fox today. One of the highlights of the game, if you ask me. They said with the repaved track, they'll be racing three wide...I am looking forward to it. (Can't you tell?)

Well Roger...for your sake I am sorry (Though not too sorry since you went againgst my Bears...)that you are not to earn either of your wishes. Even though your team did win...so you should be happy. BEARS WIN! GO BEARS!!!!!!!!! Now it will be Bears against the Packers at Soldiers Field in Chicago next Sunday!

Companion (Congrats Hoss at reaching 1,000 post mark!)

Right now I am listening to Audio Adrenaline CD...they are now singing "To my Father's House."

In "Carnival of Thrills" "Pride makes a horrible master" Now ain't that the truth...

Casserole

Four days later and here I am with some more NASCAR news I am just a little excited to finally start getting some newsworthy news on NASCAR...can't you tell? I am assuming now that it is slowly getting closer (40 more looooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggg days until Daytona 500!) that more news will start to come out. Or perhaps that is just wishful thinking. I know there has been word since the season ended in November that Brian France (NASCAR CEO...or something like that.) has been talking about changing the chase around. So far I have only heard rumors about what that may be and in my opinion I hope the rumors are wrong. . .but I will wait until it is made official before getting too excited about it. Anyway, NASCAR has finally made a small step in the right direction when it comes to the Nationwide Series and perhaps the truck series. NASCAR has now made it so a driver has to chose which series he wants to contend for a championship in. He may still race in all three series, but can only win or go for the championship in one series. So drivers like Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick will have to chose whether they are going for the Sprint Cup (which I assume they would) or the Nationwide series. For example this year's point standings Brad Keselowski was first, Carl Edwards was second, Kyle Busch was third (all Sprint Cup racers), and the fourth driver was Justin Allgaier (who is just Nationwide Series driver) - So if they finished in that order this year, instead of the championship going to Brad who finished first, it would go to Justin Allgaier who finished fourth. In my opinion, they shouldn't allow Sprint Cup drivers to race in the Nationwide series...at least the full time racers. As it was, last year in the top ten in the Nationwied series standings, six of them were full time Sprint Cup racers. Four of those were in the chase. I guess I understand NASCAR's position that they need those top names in the Nationwide Series to attract more fans to the track and on TV. As well as the announcers and so forth and that perhaps those are the only races some people can see the Cup drivers race in. But still...in my opinion, if they want to seek talent in that level, they should be racing others with the same talent and not drivers who have years of experience of racing on NASCAR's top tier of racing.

Looks like I am the only one with good taste when it comes to football around here. Oh well, I guess all them other teams need a little support as well. GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!! (Roger - the Dukes may live in Georgia, but they're Chicago (Bears and Cubs) fans at heart. )

late

go bears!!!!!!!!!!!