Garrett Duke

Well I went to the closest Wal-Mart to me last night to run in and grab something real quick and was greeted by a cardboard poster of Jeff Gordon! I was excited to see that, but got even more excited when I was buying my items when I looked up towards the other entrance area where they had built Jeff Gordon's race car using pop bottles or popcan boxes...I didn't get a close look at it due to the lack of time...but was excited to see both of them.

Didn't noticed the color of the track...I will have to pay more attention on Sunday to it. The two car tango was odd to say at Daytona. Daytona is suppose to be fast and actioned packed...which it was, just in a different way. It is the kind of racing that you don't want to be leading unless it is on the last lap really, because otherwise the driver will be going back after awhile. Saw where they may try to do something to fix that before Sunday's race, but am not sure what that is or would be. Nice pictures, TRP Coltrane. A Stewart fan, huh? He's a talented driver and I do find myself wishing him well now that he has changed his attitude and driving style. Kansas looks to be a good track and am looking forward to see them race on it for the first time. I hope you get to go. I would love to go to a race...never been to one before other than the local dirt track and that has been ages since I have been there.

Hoss - Sorry you missed the show. Hopefully they will show it again for you to see. That was a neat movie...plus it was great to see John in it. Great picture!

Well they had qualifying today for the Daytona 500 next Sunday (YAY seven more days!!!!!!!!!) but it is different than it is for the rest of the races. Today's qualifying only assigned the first two starting positions...the rest of the positions will be determined in the two small races on Thursday that is called the Gatorade Duals. So here is the top two starting positions for the Daytona 500: 1. Dale Earnhardt JR has won pole position for the Daytona 500 with a speed of 186.089. 2. Jeff Gordon will start second (but on the front row, since they start double file) and was leading for awhile there until Jr pushed him down to second. He had speeds of 185.966. So we'll have two Hendrick cars starting on the front row at Daytona! Would much rather have Gordon get pole for Sunday's race, but second is pretty good. Hopefully he'll have just as great of a finish as he does a start...so far it looks like the new sponsor/paint scheme, cars/garage, and crew cheif/crew is working out pretty well for Gordon (and crew cheif/crew, cars/garage for Junior working well.) I will let y'all know the rest of the starting grid...or at least the top ten or fifteen starting positions Thursday or Friday (as soon as I possibly can. My week tends to be pretty busy sometimes, but I will try my best to keep y'all updated.) GO TEAM 24 - GO GORDON GO!!!!! (Sorry...had to up that. Hope y'all's drivers will have a great qualifying run as well.)

Sitting on the old and thin cot that lies tightly bolted onto the wall, Bo stares blankly ahead as he concentrates upon his violently throbbing head. The throbbing headache he had achieved last night when he had slid half way down the rocky hill in attempt to reach the unconsious sheriff. Staring forward, his guilt continues to yell at him that he is well deserving of his headach after what he had done. That he deserves more than his headache, but that it should be him in the hospital. Not Rosco. He jumps slightly as the soft foot steps beginning to descend the stairs screams loudly to his aching head and he glances up to find his family with Cooter following the stairs down to the lower level where he is locked up at. Sighing heavily, he quickly glances away from them to enforce a heavy wave of dizziness to wash over him and his throbbing head to seemingly worsen than it had been a second ago. "Bo," Daisy states in a half whisper as she reaches the thick bars and fresh tears build in her eyes at seeing her younger cousin looking so weak and vulnerable sitting on the thin cot. "Luke here tol' us what happened last night with Rosco and everything. Jesse tol' us that Enos arrested you for attempted manslaughter and for robbing Hank's. We all know you wouldn't do any of those things!" Bo remains quiet as he looks down at his leather boots, refusing to look up at the people he loved the most in fear of seeing the disappointment and accusatory that he knew had to be there. Despite what they have been saying. "Daisy's right," Luke states in his calm manner, "we all know you wouldn't do what they are accusing you of. Rosco falsely accused you as he always had done and his brakes went out or something when he went after you. This isn't your fault." Luke goes silent, seeing his attempt to help his cousin's guilt to lesson not to be working. "Cooter here joined us as we were getting out of the truck to come visit and he's agreed to have a look at Rosco's patrol car. See if someone had been tampering with his car before he began driving it yesterday." "Bet we find something, too," Cooter chimes in besides Luke, wrapping a grease stained hand around the old thick bar; his own fear building up within him at seeing how hard Bo has taken last night's events. "Don't matter if they find something or not. They'll just say I was the one tampering with it," Bo breaks his silence, his eyes fixed upon his scuffed boots, "I didn't tamper with it, but if I hadn't ran from him as I had, it wouldn't have happened. At least not from me, it wouldn't have." Swallowing hard, Jesse shakes the barred door momentarily to create a loud metal hitting metal noise in hope of gathering Bo's attention, only to fail. "Bo," he finally states in a stern voice as he lets go of the bars, "look at me." For a long moment, the room is silent as they watch Bo who remains looking down at his old boots as if refusing to follow his uncle's stern order. After a moment, Bo slowly looks away from his boots to look up at his uncle only to increase the sadness and worry within the Duke patriarch. Sadness and worry at seeing the intense pain and grief thickly filled his youngest's baby blue eyes. "Cooter," Jesse hears himself say and feels the mechanic tense up besides him, "go tell Enos to grab Bo some water and some pain medicine. I think his head's bothering him. If he don't comply, tell him, I'll bring some from home to give it to him." "Yes sir Uncle -" Cooter begins to say before Jesse's impatient look interrupts him and he goes silent, nods, and runs up the stairs. "I'm fine," Bo lies as he looks away from them again and this time stares across the cell from him. "Hogwash. You know how I feel about you lying to me," Jesse states half sternly, his worry overshadowing any anger he could attempt to create at his nephew's attempt at braving through his pain, "I can see the pain just as clearly as you're feeling it. You'll take the medicine without any struggle...ain't bad enough you sitting in here feeling guilty over what you had no control over and then having your head hurtin' to top it all off. You hear?" Bo nods silently. "Yes sir," he finally states as he forces himself to glance up as Cooter runs down the stairs with a glass of water and three brown pills. "This is all Deputy Strait was allowed to give me to give to Bo. It's over the counter generic for Ibprofen," Cooter states as he hands it to Jesse who nods his appreciation at him as he accepts it. Bo eyes it skeptically as Jesse pushes his hands through the bars, one hand holding the glass of water and the other a bag of the three pills. After a moment, Bo slowly and weakly stands up to take a couple of steps to the bars. "Look at me," Jesse states in a softer tone as Bo slowly takes the bag and the glass. As Bo glances up at Jesse, Jesse continues, "I know it won't help none, but I'll say it again. It's not your fault. You didn't do that to Rosco...Rosco said something about his brakes...it was his brakes that did it. Not you. As Luke said, him and Cooter are to get to the bottom of this while Daisy and I are going to keep checking up on Rosco. Perhaps he'll shed some light on it when he wakes up." Bo tiredly eyes his uncle as he opens the bag and Jesse helps him get the pills out. Bo swallows down all three pills at once with the water before setting the empty glass down on the floor. Slowly standing back up, Bo states, "If Rosco wakes up." "Have faith Bo. He'll wake up and we'll get this all cleared up. Until then, know we don't blame you or think you did any of what you are charged with," Jesse slowly states as he puts a hand through the bars to place a comforting hand upon Bo's shoulder, "we'll get through this. But for now, I think we should go and let you get some rest. Bye for now, Bo." Bo nods, knowing better than to argue with his uncle. "We'll get you outta this dump, Bo. I promise," Luke states as he leans in and does the same to Bo as Jesse hand done. Bo nods before Daisy looks in at him for a long moment before saying, "Bye Bo. We'll be by tomorrow to see you and let you know how things are going." "Bye now, Bo. We'll get this figured out," Cooter is the last one to leave. Bo watches them go for a long moment, watching his family and Cooter disappear upstairs before listening to their foot steps echo on the ceiling above him before he turns around to face his cell. He had been locked away for things he didn't do plenty of times in the past. But it was always with Luke besides him. Now he was charged, arrested, and placed in the cell alone to deal with his thoughts and to deal with what he had done.

I am so sorry for your losses, Jami. As I said, you are in my thoughts and prayers as you go through this difficult time.

beans

Well Roger, I thought of you when they said Kurt Busch had won. Am glad for you that your 'new' driver has won the Shootout...whaddya know, his first restrictor plate win and all. An exciting race for Kurt Busch, his crew, and his fans and a great way to start off the 2011 season. Jimmie who? I'm hurt that with just one win, you act as if you already forgotten about poor ol' Jimmie. Well you may forget who Jimmie is, Roger, but don't forget what he's done in his short time as a sprint cup driver. . .it might not be Gordon...or your Kurt Busch, but five consecutive championships is a pretty big deal if you ask me. Just too bad it wasn't Gordon. As for tonight's race, I think the whole race was action packed. It was apparent from the drop of the checkered flag that you needed a drafting partner in order to go anywhere fast in the race...two cars worked the best. I thought the first twenty-five laps were fast and exciting, but nothing big had happened. The accidents and cautions came during the second segment of the race starting off with Dale Jr, Carl Edwards, Lagono, and a couple other drivers getting into it. Then Mark Martin got into Kyle Busch which took both of them out. Stewart accidently spun Michael Waltrip out as well. And to end it all off...they had a dramatic finish. Ryan Newman was leading with Denny Hamlin drafting him...besides them was Kurt Busch being drafted by Jamie McMurray. Newman left the double yellow line (can't pass drivers under the double yellow line in restrictor plate racing) open a little bit and Hamlin tried to take advantage of it. . .but in doing so went under the double yellow line and instead of winning the race, got sent to the back. Kurt Busch got pushed by McMurray to win the Budweiser shootout. (It would have been a photo finsih, if Hamlin hadn't gotten black flagged and sent to the back. Very close finish if only...LOL) I think they said they had 25 lead changes...to make history in the 33rd running of the Shootout. Jeff Burton led the most laps...but with drafting, drivers kept going forward and backwards all night. The fastest lap they had was 207 mph...think they said it was another record. I think the 2011 Daytona 500 will be a lot different than past Daytona 500s. It was great to see the drivers all out there in a good mood and just racing for the fun of it (and for the two grand winner's prize...LOL). Then again, it was just great to see them back out on track racing all together. Next Sunday there will be 500 laps of what we saw tonight...can already hear Bo giving his rebel call. KHEE! Here is the top ten finishing results: 1. Kurt Busch 2. Jamie McMurray 3. Ryan Newman 4. Jimmie Johnson 5. Greg Biffle 6. Jeff Gordon 7. Kevin Harvick 8. Jeff Burton 9. Clint Bowyer 10. Bobby Labonte Well it was great to have a small taste of what the Daytona 500 will have. Tomorrow they will have qualifying for the top two positions for the great American race before they figure out the rest of the driving field on Thursday afternoon in the Gatorade Duals...ladies and gentlmen, welcome to speed week!

Welcome to Hnet! Always glad to see and meet another Duke fan!

sad

Think Darius Rucker is one of the better newer Country artist. He has a great voice and I really enjoy his songs - glad he switched over to country.

Here is the starting lineup for tonight's Shootout race: (They don't qualify for it, but they draw their positions out of Budweiser bottles...at least that is how they use to draw 'em.) 1. Dale Earnhardt Jr (that'll make a lot of people happy ) 2. Tony Stewart 3. Carl Edwards 4. Denny Hamlin 5. Kasey Kahne (Now racing the number four Red Bull Toyota) 6. Bobby Labonte 7. Clint Bowyer 8. Ryan Newman 9. Derrike Cope 10. Michael Waltrip 11. Greg Biffle 12. Jeff Gordon 13. Juan Montoya 14. Jamie McMurray (last year's Daytona 500 winner) 15. Jeff Burton 16. Kevin Conway 17. Kurt Busch 18. Kevin Harvick (has won the past two shootout races) 19. Matt Kenseth 20. Mark Martin 21. Kyle Busch 22. Joey Logano 23. Jimmie Johnson 24. Regan Smith Have been watching their practice runs off and on this morning and it looks to be an exciting race...an exciting Daytona 500 next week. Yesterday they reached speeds up to 203 mph and looks like drafting will play a part in it. Will be great to see them racing under the lights tonight. (8:00 ET on Fox)

Jamie - I am sorry to hear about your losses and to hear you going through such a hard time. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you face this difficult time. Welcome back...you have been missed.

Well with the 2011 season only days away (y'all hear me yelling in excitement?! HA HA.) I figured I'd start a new thread for this year's race reviews and results. (I would love to continue to to give the race recaps, results, and point reviews if y'all would want me to? I might even start watching the Nationwide Series races this year to give reports over if y'all are interested. . .) I am excited to report that tomorrow (Saturday, February 12) on FOX at seven PM Central time, (8:00 PM ET) the Budweiser Shoot out will start to kick off Speed Week. It is a preseason race that will not be for points or go towards the chase and will only contain 20 some drivers who have either won the championship before, won a previous Budweiser shootout in the past ten years, made rookie of the year within the past ten years, and drivers who have won either the Feb. or July Daytona race. It will be great to hear them finally say them beloved words "Gentlemen start your engines" once more. It will also be exciting to see them race for the first time on the repaved Daytona track and see what changes it will make for the drivers. (Y'all don't miss out on TRP Coltrane's new 2011 NASCAR discussion thread. Don't want it to be forgotten about with this one...but had to write a note about the race tomorrow. Wouldn't want y'all to miss out on it! Though I'll be more than glad to give race recaps and results either after the race or on Sunday...Don't know about you, but I'm excited!!!!!!!!!!)

Hi TRP Coltrane...you beat me with this thread! LOL...guess I snooze, I loose. There is a lot of changes this year...with the drivers and NASCAR in general. I don't understand why Brad Keselowski will be driving the blue duece this year with Miller and Kurt Busch will be driving the number 22 Penzoil car. They both are driving for the same owner...but that is another change. Another paint scheme change is Jeff Gordon's number 24 car...I've seen pictures of it and am looking forward to seeing it on the track. Am sad to see him lose the flames and Dupont...though he will have that car for fourteen races this year. His new primary sponsor is AARP Drive to end Hunger and his car is a burgandy color. Not as fansy as his flames, but as long as Gordon is behind the wheel of it, I'll take it. Am excited to see what Kansas is all about. I know they have been trying to get Kansas in for a while now...If I remember right Bruton Smith owns that track as well (he owns several NASCAR Sprint tracks). Though am sad to see that it took over one of the Atlanta races and I think a California race. More sad about Atlanta though. Also they will be starting the chase at a different track as well...think it will be Chicago, but am not sure about that. Then add the new point system, the new chase...oh and they can only have six crew members behind the wall instead of seven. Think I read on Gordon's fan forum that the catchcan guy has been eliminated. Another change is the garage/crew swap at Hendrick for Gordon, Earnhardt Jr, and Martin. I would love to hear what y'all think about that? I am sad to see Letarte and Gordon's crew go to JR...I liked Letarte and he had a fast pit crew. So hopefully Jr will benefit from his crew and his old cars. Though am glad to see Gordon get Gustufson...perhaps he can help Gordon out of his slump he had last year...also sad to see Gordon and Johnson no longer sharing a garage. Oh well...I think I read that that move was to help Junior out with Johnson and for next year for Gordon to help out with Kahne when he comes to the number five car. As I said, would love to hear y'all's opinion on that...to me that's a huge change, but then again, it involves Gordon (If you can't tell by now TRP Coltrane, Jeff Gordon is my favorite driver. Who's your's?) As I said, there is a lot of change going around for the 2011 season...I think most has been for the good of the sport. I am excited for Daytona (and to see Gordon win...HA HA) and to get the season under way. It should be a great season and to see if Johnson will get his sixth championship in a row or if we'll get a new championship (like Jeff Gordon... I can always hope, right?) You mentioned Red Bull...think I remember hearing the number switch (am glad that through the switching at Hendrick that Gordon will still be number 24 -I'd be upset if he had to change numbers!). Though couldn't tell you what numbers. Talking of Red Bull...I am excited to see Brian Vickers return to racing. What a scare he went through last year. Am glad to see him back to good health and back into his Toyota. Well there is my take so far on the 2011 season...I can go on and on about it or anything NASCAR! HA HA. Great discussion topic, TRP Coltrane.

CHAPTER TWO Listening into the thick silence that invades the cab of Jesse's old truck, Luke stares out through his side window, his mind filled with heavy thoughts. Heavy thoughts of all that had happened last night and mixed with heavy thoughts of what Bo's future holds for him now that he has been arrested. Scenes of last night's events pollute his thoughts as well to send a violent shudder down his tense body at seeing Bo's horror-filled eyes looking back at him from last night. Being in the Marines and fighting at war, Luke had seen his share of people suffering, dying, or dead. He was even forced to place the suffering and death upon other people as he fought to defend himself, his troop, his country. But compared to Luke's past, Bo had lived a sheltered life from such horrible violence as he opted not to sign up for any military service and avoided war. He never saw someone suffering so greatly or to see someone dying, or dead. Nor had he enforced suffering on anyone else nor took someone's life. All that had changed for Bo last night when Rosco took the sudden turn into that steep ditch and rolled into the tree. It changed when Bo went down to see Rosco unconscious and covered in his own blood. And Bo being who he was, was struck with guilt with his own accusatory thoughts that he was to blame. And now Bo sits in jail by himself to deal with his thoughts and emotions over what had happened. And after last night, the thought of Bo being arrested and locked uip alone sends fear and worry racing through Luke for what it'll all do for Bo. "What are we going to do?!" Daisy breaks through the heavy silence who sits in between Jesse and Luke, "I mean, we all know Bo wouldn't hurt anyone...especially Rosco like they are accusing him of! Yet he's arrested and accused of manslaughter...as if he killed Rosco. On purprose!" Luke glances over at Daisy to find her cheeks red and tears still running down them and he pats her on her knee in attempt to offer some support. "Attempted manslaughter," Jesse slowly corrects her, his eyes remain fixated upon the splattered windshield, "and we all know he wouldn't do that on purpose. But he was running away from Rosco when it had happened. Was avoiding arrest. Despite how I feel, Bo is right. If he had pulled over as he was asked to do, Rosco's brakes may not have gone out on him as fast as they had." "I'm sorry Uncle Jesse, but you're wrong. Bo's wrong!" Daisy cries, "It's not his fault! If Rosco wasn't falsely accusing him, perhaps -" "It don't matter. Sheriff Coltrane has the authority behind him...no matter how wrong he is," Jesse calmly states despite his own wettened cheeks, "I'm just saying how the law will look at it, sweety." Luke silently nods in agreement as he watches the farm scenery turn into the small town and the court house looming closely ahead of them. His thoughts reluctantly turn from last night's events to Bo stuck in the small cell by himself to deal with his demons. "I don't care what the law thinks or how they will look at it. I'll do anything to get him out of that dump," Luke states to grab both Jesse's and Daisy's attention, "I think after we go see Bo, I'll run over to Cooter. Perhaps he can have a look at Rosco's car. See if anything was tampered with." Jesse nods silently for a moment as he pulls to a halt in front of the court house. "I'll run to the hospital and visit Rosco while you are doing that," he slowly states as he eyes Luke with saddened eyes before opening the door, "but as for now, let's go see Bo."

emotion

"Cover Girl Eyes" Catherine Bach Couldn't find the song on Youtube...bummer!

Bo slowly goes silent, his attention remains at his well worn boots as if he is looking for the dog poop he had just stepped in. Vivid images of last night’s events flow vividly in his mind from leaving the farm to pick Luke up to sitting in the waiting room of the ER and explaining what had happened to Boss and Lulu. Boss’ thickly accusatory words towards Bo in the ER continue to yell back at him only to bring more tears of pain to his eyes before the scenes rewind to hearing the sirens for the first time. Breathing in heavily, Bo roughly wipes his eyes and cheeks with the back of his hands before forcing himself to look up at Jesse and is half way surprised to see fear and sadness within his wise eyes. Surprise at not seeing the disappointment and accusation in them towards him as he had expected to see in them after what had happened. After all, Jesse had made it a point to tell them over and over since they were little til they were adults; that no matter what he other person had done to you, make sure you don’t hurt them. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Well Bo had done more than hurt Rosco, he had put him on the edge of death. And yet the anger he thought would be there on his uncle’s face is either well hidden or not there only to make Bo wonder why or when Jesse will get upset at him. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, Uncle Jesse. I didn’t mean to hurt Rosco,†Bo hears himself state as his hand goes up to his swollen and bruised cut that hides under his thick bangs and he winces in pain at the touch. “I don’t know what them charges are for, but I didn’t do anything worth charging me for. Honest.†“I know you didn’t, Bo. So did Rosco,†Jesse inhales heavily as he tightly hugs Bo for a long moment before letting go, “and we all know you didn’t mean for all that to happen nor meant for Rosco to get hurt. As Luke said, sounds like it was his brakes. Not you.†Bo sadly shrugs. “Yeah. Maybe,†he finally states as sirens begin to wail in the near distance to send a violent shudder down his lengthy body, "but if I hadn't ran from him as I had -" "You'd be in jail," Jesse is quick to interupt him as a patrol car comes into view and Jesse goes silent to watch it for a long moment in fear of what it means. He slowly looks away and back at Bo as he fights for words that may comfort his young nephew. Laying a hand upon Bo's shoulder, he states, "this isn't your fault, Bo." Bo remains quiet as he watches the patrol car reach their farm before slowing down at their drive way to slowly turn in to to send his heart racing rapdily within him. "Now what?" he mumbles as he lowers his head as Deputy Enos Strait climbs out of the car with a grim look on his face. Jesse pats Bo on the shoulder before he slowly stands up to meet the deputy at the foot of the steps. "Mornin' Enos," he states hesitantly, fear building heavily within the elder Duke, "what is it we can help you with?" The deputy eyes the elder Duke with saddened eyes before forces himself to look behind him at the blond haired Duke who remains sitting on the porch step. Looking back at Jesse he places his hands upon his hand cuffs and states, "I'm sorry Mr. Duke." He goes silent as he walks past Jesse to Bo who slowly looks up at Deputy Strait with watered eyes. "I'm sorry, Bo." Enos goes silent, feeling his own torn emotions within him. "I'm here to..."he goes silent, looking at Jesse who is quick to approach him and back to Bo, "Bo Duke you are under arrest. You need to stand up and put your hands behind your back." "Under arrest?!" Jesse exclaims as Bo weakly stands up and slowly does as he is told to do, no longer interested fighting for his freedom. "What for?!" Enos frowns at the elder Duke at his outburst as he slowly places the handcuffs tightly on Bo's wrists and turns him around. "Bo Duke you are under arrest for the attempted vehicular manslaughter of Sheriff Coltrane and for the robbery of Hank's Jewlry Store," he slowly states, "I'm sorry, Bo...Jesse." He slowly begins to read him his rights from the card he carries in his pocket. "Rob Hank's? You've got to be out of your mind, Enos! Attempted vehicular manslaughter?! You know as well as I do that Bo wouldn't hurt no one. Especially the sheriff!" Jesse yells feeling his face go hot in his anger. "I'm just following orders, Mr. Duke. You'll have to bring your complaints to the judge or to Commissioner Hogg who has issued the charges. As for now, I am to take him in and get it all processed. You may come visit Bo at the jail later this afternoon. I'm sorry, Mr. Duke," Deputy Enos slowly states as he motions Bo to walk down the steps who slowly does as he is told. "Yeah we'll see about that. Look Bo," Jesse calls out after him and Enos halts at the back door of his patrol car for Bo to hear, "we'll be in town to see ya as soon as they let us. Meanwhile, we'll be looking into these false charges and we'll get you out." Bo silently nods as he eyes his uncle in time to watch Luke and Daisy quickly running out onto the porch. Enos slams the door closed before climbing in behind the wheel and slowly backs out of the drive way. Bo watches as Jesse hugs onto Daisy and Luke walks angrily out into the driveway with his hands dug deeply within his pockets. Tears melt down from his eyes as he watches the Duke farm, the farm he grew up at, the only place he ever lived at, slowly disappear from sight. Fear swells deeply within him at the thought that, that he may never be able to return or see home again.

moon

Once again, I saw Toby Mac w/ Brandon Heath last night and they were both great. Love this song...Toby has such energy that he puts into his songs and concerts. Love the dancing him and his band does on stage - it is shown somewhat in the video. Hoss- I listened to half of Layla. That looks to be a long song. I like the tune and the rhythm of the song.

Another Brandon Heath song...from his new album.

I saw Brandon Heath in concert last night with Toby Mac (Christian music artists) and they both put on a great concert! Very energized. I love this song. . .

Welcome to HNet Molly! Always great to meet another fan of the best television show out there! Have to admit..."Ghost of the General Lee" is my favorite episode to. All that emotion in it. Great show.