Garrett Duke

*Slowly stops half way between General Lee and Uncle Jesse to slowly look around and give Jesse an innocent look.* Who me? I didn't drink nothin' but that sour orange juice this morning. Hadn't had much time to drink much else, Uncle Jesse. *Goes silent for a moment.* What look? What makes you think somethin' is botherin' me? I alright, Jesse.

Makes me wonder what I should talk about next. You like the Phillie's, Roger? They won big time today. Unlike my Cubs who won by one point.

Boy Roger, you ask a lot of questions...LOL. I think it was the final two Dukefests that I went to. So that would be in '06 and '07. He did have a white truck that looked like Jesse's, but I didn't pay attention to the plates. He may have had stuff for Uncle Jesse on his truck, not sure though. I'd have to find the pictures. Glad you had a good time.

Rosco is going to cuff ya Roger if you don't start talking in a language he understands.

OK this isn't news, but I got a kick out of it. The race tomorrow is on ESPN so I am really hoping that they show this commercial. (I enjoy the NASCAR commercials with the drivers in it.) I guess they aired it for the first time during the St. Louis race for the Nationwide Series last weekend that was aired on ESPN. It is an ESPN NASCAR commericial. I was going to post the link to the Utube version of it, but didn't know if that would be allowed or not... Anyway it is a renditin of Smokey and the Bandit...perhaps that is why I thought it was funny - that being my favorite movie. But it shows Carl Edwards' and Brad Keselowski Sprint Cup semi haulers at the gas tanks and the drivers gassing the trucks. (Coincidently this aired on the race where the two drivers got into it with each other so to speak.) To summarize it, they race out of there to get the attention of a cop who was in the middle of eating a burrito or something...all while the song "East Bound and down" was going on...Jerry Reed's song I believe, from the movie "Smokey and the Bandit." Anyone else see it? I thought it was great seeing it on the computer. Just something to keep your eyes open for in tomorrow's race. Or if it is OK I could post the Utube link here. I don't know how that works.

Bo 38 Luke 56 Jesse 6

Gives Jesse a short quizzical look before nodding. "Yes sir," he finally states, his mind seems to fall from that famous car chase to the ice cream Jesse had mentioned earlier. The car chase could always wait. Gives Jesse a smile and nods again as he takes a step back. "I'll be back before you can miss me." Gives Jesse an ornery look before turning around to start towards The General Lee.

Exactly Roger. 'Bout time you start making sense.

This is where I or anyone can post down where drivers start, who has the pole, what happens during the race and how they finish the race. Perhaps put some track info or race info as well. (This is for the Sprint Cup Series, if someone wishes to do the Nationwide Series they can, I don't watch it to really know what happens. But I could post what I read about it online. Just let me know or go ahead and do it. For now, I will stick with what I know.) They will be racing in Indianapolis Speedway...the Brickyard 400. Both Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon had grew up near by. (Gordon moved to Inidanapolis when he was fourteen from California.) The race will start at 1:00 PM EST on ESPN to start the ESPN coverages of the race. NASCAR Sprint Cup had started racing here once a year in 1994 (I stand corrected, I posted '97 somewhere.) and was won by Gordon. The track is 2.5 miles long. Last year's winner was Jimmie Johnson, but was dominated by Juan Pablo Montoya (who is a former Formula 1 and Indy driver) but had gotten caught speeding in the pits towards the end of the race and had to serve the normal drive through penalty. Just a heads up here...I probably won't have all that info for all the tracks. Indy is one of the major tracks/races that they go to so there is more info available and all. Here is the line up for the 2010 Brickyard 400: (I'll probably post the top ten, unless asked to do otherwise. Y'all will have to let know how you think I'm doing or if you want all 43 drivers listed.) 1. (Pole) Juan Pablo Montoya 2. Jimmie Johnson 3. Mark Martin 4. Jamie McMurray 5. Ryan Newman 6. Clint Bowyer 7. Greg Biffle 8. Jeff Gordon 9. Kevin Harvick 10. Jeff Burton

Great question, Roger! Larry McReynolds who was the announcer for Fox and the announcer for TNT who had explained the pit stops and technical car stuff had said once during a TNT race that a driver can earn 161 points total in a race. I assume that is if he gets the pole, led the most laps, and then went on to win the race. Because I did hear a lower number from somewhere else, but I do remember Larry saying that. Well Gordon starts eightth tomorrow with Juan Montoya at the pole, so Gordon wouldn't get the extra points from starting at the pole. But he could lead the most laps, in fact he holds the record for leading the most laps at the Brickyard, and could end up winning. So I would say that if Kevin Harvick had some major car issues and didn't finish or finished at the end, that Gordon could take the lead away from Harvick. At this point, Gordon really needs a win and that is what he is going for on Sunday...well he always is, but more so than normal now that he is secured in points. He needs the extra ten points that they get with each win. He has the most top five finishes so far with ten, five consecutive top five finishes. But without a win, once the chase starts up, they say Gordon will be twelveth in points. The last spot. Granted that is fifty points between the twelveth and first place at that point (so far, since Hamlin and Johnson both have five wins so far. So they'll have 50 points extra to lean upon) and that could be easily beaten with a great race from him and a not so good race from the others. But having those extra points would be great comfort going into the chase. Great question Roger. Don't wish nothing bad for Harvick (not a Harvick fan myself, but my aunt is) but would love to see Gordon's name up front for a change this year. HA HA. (Sorry for all the Gordon facts here...know not all is Gordon fans as myself. Just pointing out facts and info on the chase and how it works. Using him as an example.)

Roger- Thank you sooo much for sharing your wonderful experience with us! The thunderstorms and rain was amazing for me to hear it worked out so well for you. I am glad that it did! You sound like you were in for a great show...like you were watching an episode being made! Wow talk about drama and excitement! I am so glad you got to go and got to help "Uncle Jesse". You talking about Uncle Jesse made me think of this guy I saw at Dukefest that looked just like Jesse. Got my picture taken with him and all. Anyway, am glad that you got to go, it worked out great for you, and that you had such a great time! I hope you get to go to the Cleveland show!

Bo 38 Luke 54 Jesse 8

Bo 36 Luke 54 Jesse 10

Taking the paper from his uncle, Bo nods as he glances down at it momentarily. Glad to have the excuse to put The General to work, even to go to town to get some supplies. He could always have a little fun while on his way back from the store. Which would only upset Jesse worse if he got in trouble while running errands for him. Especially with Luke and Daisy gone. But in order for him to get in trouble, the law would have to catch him first and everyone knew how great of a driver Bo is and the lack of driving talent the local law has. "OK Jesse," Bo nods as sweat tickles down his back and he places the paper into his pockets. "You need these right away or would it be OK if I stop by Cooter's on my way home?" Normally he wouldn't be asking, but without Luke and Daisy around, his help around the farm would be needed more than normal.

Enos Strait would probably agree with us as well. Probably would also be surprised to see the two of us agreeing with one another.

The Sprint Cup is the top series or top devision of NASCAR...the big leagues. It is the series that I watch and follow, so I know more of the drivers and races and info regarding the Sprint Cup than I do the Nationwide Series. The Sprint Cup is a little different than the Nationwide Series race in the fact they have what they call the Chase. The Chase is like the play offs and only the top twelve in points are able to be in the chase to race for the championship. Any driver outside of the top 12 is racing for 13 who wins a million dollars at the end of the season. The points are reset at the begining of the chase which is the final ten races of the season and with each win the drivers get during the regular season, they will get ten bonus points (per win) that will be added onto the points come time for the chase. As of right now, they have seven more races left of the regular season (including Indy this Sunday) before the Chase starts on September 11. I will be posting the top fifteen drivers of the Sprint Cup just because there is several drivers outside of the top twelve fighting to get into the top twelve. I will most likely post the standings on Monday or later when I get the time to do so. The standings shown after the races are unofficial due to NASCAR checking the cars after the race to make sure each car is up to NASCAR standards. Here is the top fifteen in points as of July 22. 2010: 1. Kevin Harvick 2. Jeff Gordon (-103) 3. Jimmie Johnson 4. Denny Hamlin 5. Kurt Busch 6. Kyle Busch 7. Jeff Burton 8. Matt Kenseth 9. Tony Stewart 10. Carl Edwards 11. Greg Biffle 12. Clint Bowyer 13. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-15 points out of the top 12) 14. Mark Martin 15. David Reutimann

The Nationwide Series which use to be known as the Busch Series, is like what AAA (Triple A) baseball is to the MLB, to the Sprint Cup (Formally Winston Cup). If that make sense. Except that drivers from the Sprint Cup can also drive in the Nationwide Series races if they chose to do so. For example: Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Joey Lagano, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch drive all or some Nationwide Series races but are also full time Sprint Cup drivers. There are others that do both, but just listed the ones that came to mind right away. Just fair warning, I don't normally watch or follow the Nationwide series race other than to make note of who won or if anything big happened (like last week's wreck between Edwards and Keselowski). So I am or will be getting my information from NASCAR.com. If anyone else has anything else to offer or to include, feel free to do so. I know more drivers and stuff when it comes to the Sprint Cup than I do the Nationwide Series race. Just figured I'd make a thread for the standings of the Nationwide series points so I myself and others can make note of up and coming drivers along with other cup drivers. With all that said, here is the point standings as of July 22, 2010: (I will probably only list the top twelve drivers. If you want more then let me know and I can look it up or post more here. Just thought it would be eaiser to do a certain number than to do all the drivers. Only 43 drivers can race, but there are part time drivers so there would be more than 43 point positions.) 1. Brad Keselowski 2. Carl Edwards (-168 points behind Keselowski) 3. Justin Allgaier 4. Kyle Bush 5. Kevin Harvick 6. Paul Menard 7. Steve Wallace 8. Brendan Gaughan 9. Joey Lagano 10. Jason Leffler 11. Trevor Byne 12. Brian Scott

I agree with your friend, Roger. NASCAR had to do something, but they should have fined both drivers. Not just Edwards. These two drivers have been at each other for the past year now and as far as I can remember, Brad starts it with bumping into Edwards. I think Edwards is just plain tired of it. My opinion of course. NASCAR had put in a boys have at it mentality this year where they can police themselves, but Edwards flipped Keselowski in Atlanta to take it too far and now he caused a big wreck that could have also hurt Keselowski. So yeah, NASCAR had to step in. All I am saying is, is that they need to punish them both the same. It's not just Edwards that's doing it...they need to look at 'why' Edwards went back at Keselowski like that. I am just hoping that this doesn't boil over to the Cup races this Sunday or any other races...they took out a lot of cars last Saturday night, would hate to see them do that in the Cup series race (especially if they took out Gordon or Johnson...) which is probably why they put them on probation for the Cup series as well. Hopefully it will help them both not to attempt to try anything. . . I will be glad to start a point standing thread. I think I will make two of them. One for the Cup series and one for the Nationwide Series. I could make one for the truck series too if you wanted or if anyone is interested. Don't watch the Nationwide or the Truck series, but can look it all up and follow it on NASCAR.com and all. Perhaps I could do one for the race results and happenings. Something like that. Have to think of the title. Unless you want to do that. Don't want to hogg all the threads here. Tell me what you think. Hey Roger, what you think about the penalties for Keselowski and Edwards? As I said, all that is what I think and is of my opinion. Am sure a lot of people would disagree with me. I'd just have to disagree with them. LOL.

"Well Jesse," Bo Duke broke the silence as he eyes his uncle and then eyes the impatient mule before glancing back up at Jesse. "I finished Luke's job on the fence and fed the animals." He goes silent as he switches from foot to foot. "You want me to take over here for you?" He eyes his uncle inquistiviely as he silently pleads his uncle to be done for the day. The General could use a tune up and deep down he yearns to just take The General for a drive. A long fast drive. A drive in The General seemed to ease all the problems that had bugged him in the past. Except for when he got caught in one of Rosco's speed traps, though, Bo had to admit that despite the feelings the Dukes and the law had for one another, he enjoyed the car chases. Enjoyed finding ways to escape from the law. Enjoyed driving away with the law stuck or lost knowing he had out drove them and out smarted them. But if he got caught, both the law and Jesse were bound to be mad. The law for giving them a hard time and Jesse for getting himself into trouble and having to find the money to bail him out or pay for the ticket. Money they didn't have. But with Luke and Daisy gone, he'd love to take The General for a ride. Perhaps egg the law on a bit to go on another fast car chase. To see how far The General could fly today. But family, chores, and the farm came first no matter what Bo thought or wanted to do and he would respect his uncle's wishes no matter what. The General and the law could always wait for later or another day.

At last, a statement I understand and can agree with. No better place than ol' Hazzard.

I feel like NASCAR was too harsh on Edwards. I am not big on retaliation and all, Edwards did deliberately wreck Keselowski where Keselowski bumped into Edwards, but at the same time, Keselowski bumped him on the last lap to take the lead away. Any driver in Edwards' spot, I feel, would have came back at Keselowski to take the lead back. If Brad is going to drive people like that, he needs to expect that they may repay him for what he done. Especially on the last lap, especially when it is with someone like Edwards who he has wrecked in the past like that. Edwards I feel is not an overly aggressive driver, he just races other drivers the way they race him and Keselowski seems to find ways to run into him and other drivers. NASCAR needs to look into what starts it all, not just how it ends. They need to punish everyone the same. As I said, Edwards did take it a bit over board with how hard he hit Brad and he admitted to wrecking Keselowski on TV afterwards, but at the same time, it all started with Brad bumping into him to get the lead. I am just glad that NASCAR, this time, has also put Brad on probation as well (Both of them on probation on both series through 12/31/10), but they shouldn't have docked or fined Edwards for what he did. I feel probation for them both would have warranted the whole ordeal. That is my two cents worth on the topic. Reading online other people's reactions, I know there is a lot of people that feel differently, but that is how I feel about it. Anyone else watch it? (I didn't watch the race, but did watch what happened on computer) What you think of it and NASCAR's punishment?