Garrett Duke

Well I wish I could do better than this, but I am too tired to think...I do love this song, but word wise, I wish I could do better. LOL "Kiss A Girl" By Keith Urban

Well y'all...I came on a day late and see y'all beat me to it. Thanks for covering for me. I did happen to watch most of the race from the hotel room, but didn't have my lap top with me. I had my tablet, but it wouldn't connect to the internet...and it would have taken me forever to write it on my phone. LOL. Just got home. Thanks for covering for me...I just hope I will have a job next week when they go to Chicago. I have to admit that race was the first race in a long time for a short track that didn't produce any wrecks or anger type issues. Which I am glad...though would have liked to see more of a battle for the lead and not the same guy lead the whole race. But then again, perhaps I'd feel differently if that was Gordon and not Keselowski. I will admit, I am not a Keselowski fan...but he had that race won from the beginning and was above everyone. There was talk on FB of the race being boring...but I have never heard of a race being boring. Especially when Gordon finished second. Gordon said earlier in this week that Karma has a way of coming around to people or something like that...I think Clint Bowyer is finding that out after finishing third and just missing getting into the Chase. In case you forgot, Clint Bowyer purposely spun out at Richmond last fall in order to help his at the time team mate Martin Truex Jr. get into the Chase. Which caused a lot of controversy and left NASCAR trying to right his wrong by taking Truex Jr out of the Chase and putting someone else in the Chase...and pushed the twelve car Chase to thirteen in order to let Gordon in who was affected by the spin as well as a couple of other teams not playing nice. And after how Bowyer has treated Gordon in the past...wasn't too upset about it. Though I did feel bad for Clint during his interview...he was pretty down about it, but did acknowledge that his team wasn't deserving of the Chase with how he has ran this season. And wow...I was super scared and worried to see Jimmie go down like that and not being able to stand up on his own. Kudos for his team for helping him out and helping him get the help he needed. I went to bed worried about Johnson, even though they had said they thought it was dehydration. I missed his interview as ABC went to another program and I turned it off...thanks for updating that Hoss. So glad JJ is OK...though it is sad to see all the Hendrick Chase pictures online and not have him in any of them due to being in the in care field center. But he is OK and that is the main thing. And now we are onto the Chase...going into the new eliminating format. Starting with sixteen drivers until we are down to the final spot and four drivers going for the championship. As of now, I am not a fan of this format and have worries with what will happen or what some of the drivers will do in order to get to that final round. Or this would be the great chance to get some revenge if a driver is not in the Chase and is upset at one of the Chase contenders...I could be wrong and I hope that I am. I will watch and see and give it a chance. After all, for some reason, Todd Helton and the rest of the top of the field of NASCAR seem to have little to no interest with how I feel or what I want... Here is a great page that shows how the Chase format looks going into the Chase and how it is broke down. The video is very informing too...plus I like any video with the drivers in it. LOL. 2014 NASCAR Chase Grid Onto Chicagoland...

Hoss...I figured you were just asking around, but it did make me feel a bit guilty for not doing it yet. Thanks for the super kind words. Also thanks for making note on Danica's great finish. Totally forgot to say that. And since I am here I will make note that the Nationwide Series will have a new sponsor as of January 1 and a new name. Xfinity Series.

I know, I know. I am slacking. I haven't forgotten, just haven't had time. Had my niece and nephew up this weekend...did watch the race, but didn't have my computer up to write the review after the race due to it being so late and have been busy ever since. I will write a review now, but don't have a lot of time so I won't be posting the final results. You can see them at www.NASCAR.com. I apologize for this being so late and all that. Kevin Harvick led from the pole after winning in Atlanta in the Nationwide race and truth be told, this was Harvick's race to lose. He led the most laps. In fact, most of the race he was pretty much had no competition. He had a fast car. Jeff Gordon was doing pretty good and got up to second from starting ninth when he had a tire go flat and sent him into the wall...and down two laps for most of the race. Though he had a fast car, he was racing with the leaders...just too bad he was two laps down... With this being Tony Stewart's first race back from the incident, all eyes were on him. He was doing real good from the drop of the green flag. Passing cars and was going fast...that is until Kyle Busch got into him and caused a lot of damage to his car. He still stayed out but was in the mid twenties and wasn't going anywhere. He then had a flat tire that led him into the wall and back into the garage where his car remained. Clint Bowyer, who is on the bubble of the Chase, had transmission problems and spent most of his time in the garage too. Though the real excitement was at the end when Kasey Kahne (Go team Hendrick!!!!) seemed to come out of no where to challenge Kevin Harvick for the lead and finally got it with forty laps to go or so. Harvick was right at his heals though. With ten laps to go or so, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. put out the yellow flag. I am still not sure what was going on or who started it...but they were both mad. To me it looked like Truex Jr slowed down and Kyle got mad and was shoving him from behind. When Truex Jr. got to his side he kept hitting Kyle...this Hendrick fan, was not happy to see that yellow flag come out at that time...especially for that. Well the green flag came out and Kasey had a great restart and passed Matt Kenseth to regain his lead...until Paul Menard and Kurt Busch got into Kevin Harvick and shoved Harvick into the wall...which sent the race to green-white-checkers. And guess who got on the lead lap then...JEFF GORDON. Too bad it was on the last lap, he could have gave them all a run for their money with how good of a car he had. Anyway...Kasey Kahne, who has been plagued with bad luck all season long, went off to earn his first win of the season and got himself into the Chase. This Hendrick fan was very excited! For the third year in a row, Rick Hendrick will have all four of his drivers in the Chase. Personally, the best part of the race, was at the end after Kahne's interview when the camera was still on him when Jeff Gordon came up and congratulated him...you could hear Gordon say how proud he was of Kahne and what an awesome job he did. Then Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr came and congratulate him...all four of my Hendrick boys standing in VL congratulating each other on making the Chase. Though, I am not a Harvick fan, I did have to feel bad for him. He had that race won. He was racing himself for the longest time and to be thrown into the wall at the end like that...just rotten. But at the same time, I did feel bad for his crew. During his post race interview...as someone on FB put it, he pretty much threw his crew under the bus with this...and it wasn't their fault. I can't remember what he said, but he did bring up his crew and his pit stops or something along the lines off it. I will give Harvick credit that Hamlin's pit stops were always faster than Harvick's which is what I am sure he was mad at, but still, if it wasn't for his crew, he wouldn't have had the car to beat all race long. He probably would have came in second, if not won the race, if it wasn't for Menard and Kurt running into him. Not his crew. But he had to be frustrated...I know I'd be if that was Gordon, Johnson, Jr, or Kahne that happened to. As I said, I don't have time to post the final results. Kasey Kahne won the race with Matt Kenseth coming in second and securing his seat in the Chase. Johnson got a top ten finish (I wan't to say fourth...not sure though) after a couple of bad race. Gordon with his issues finished on the lead lap but was seventeenth. This week's race will be at Richmond Saturday night...and I will warn you all right now, I doubt I will be able to watch the race. Which I really hate, becuase you all know how much I love night races. PLUS...this is the race that will determine who is in the Chase and who is not in the Chase. I think most drivers are in, with a couple of openings. So it is an important race...then again, the last time I missed a race, Gordon won. So maybe Jeff will win Saturday night. I don't know when I will be home long enough to write a reveiw but will do my best to do at as soon as possible. I apologize for letting you down two weeks in a row now. I guess family comes first, but still, really hate missing races... Roger- as for my fantasy NASCAR league...you are not the only one having bad luck. LOL. After all my years and faithful support to this sport and fantasy sports, I am second to last with most of my drivers having a problem with each race. I am no longer picking Gordon! I picked him this past week after not using him before...I swear I jinx my drivers...and he went two laps down due to me. LOL.Best of luck Roger, hope you get the winner for Richmond! Once again, I apologize for not posting this sooner. I truly didn't forget (I don't forget anything NASCAR!) but am lacking time this week...

Hey y'all...guess what... HE'S BACK! Tony Stewart will be behind the wheel of his 14 car on Sunday night at Atlanta. After missing three races since the horrible accident in a Sprint car three weeks ago, Tony is finally coming back to NASCAR and getting behind the wheel once more. I may be a Jeff Gordon / team Hendrick fan, but I will admit I missed Tony and it just didn't seem right without him out there. I for one am excited to see Tony back...and I'd even be happy if he won Sunday night. LOL. As for his investigation all I have been reading that it is winding down. I had read last night that word may come out about it last night or this morning, but so far not a word. Also heard that it may be a while before the official word becomes public, Though personally, I feel like with Tony getting behind the wheel this weekend that he may already know what the final outcome is of the investigation...but then again, I could be wrong. Just a feeling I got when I heard last night that he may be back to racing this weekend and again when that became official. Either way, I will report whatever they say about the investigation whenever it becomes official...

I thought of you when I wrote that down, Hoss...but then forgot to mention it afterwards. I am sorry. Thank you for explaining and filling in the blanks for me. Kevin Harvick is known to be an aggressive driver...and has a temper himself. Even though I am NOT a Denny Hamlin fan, I do see where he would think he did do it on purpose. And being that early in the race probably only made it worse. Am not accepting Hamlin's behavior and do think he should have some sort of punishment for his actions. I remember at a race years ago when Kyle Busch still raced for Hendrick when he got mad at another driver...can't remember who...and threw his HANS device at the driver. They were saying how expensive those HANS devises are. Bet Joe Gibbs won't be happy to replace that either... Well makes JJ's comeback even more awesome to be caught twice. . . that is kinda ridiculous that the speed limit is so low at a track that is so fast like that. Congrats Hoss for your great finish...

Well I missed yesterday's race...and yes I DVR'd it but after hearing who won and how Gordon did and all that...well I didn't feel like watching it. Bristol or not. So in other words, I am the bad one to be writing the review here. Sounds like Kevin Harvick got into Denny Hamlin who in turn got into Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hamlin got upset and by the sounds of it GOT OUT of his car and threw something at Harvick as he went past. And after what happened to Kevin Ward Jr. ONLY two weeks ago and after NASCAR's stern warning of staying in one car, personally, I hope he receives some sort of punishment. Know he was upset...it's Bristol, everyone's upset...but felt it was very distasteful on Hamlin's part. Kyle Busch got caught speeding on pit road...as did Harvick and Jimmie Johnson. Kyle Busch then got caught in another accident with I think Clint Bowyer. Which then led to some frustration on Kyle's and his crew chief's part. Kyle was radioing in that he needed his right suspension and front suspension replaced and will be in the garage in a couple of laps...Dave Rogers his crew chief who was having a hard time hearing, answered back to "Get your whiny ---- behind the hauler". Then what I heard, Kyle got mad and parked his car on pit road and walked away from his car. Which seems like the old Kyle, but it is Bristol...and as I said, everyone gets upset. Kyle and Dave had a long discussion afterwards in the garage. Jeff Gordon led a lap, but sounds like Kurt Busch got into him at one point and he missed his pit stall...and he finished 16th. Jimmie Johnson finished fourth after getting penalized for speeding on pit road. Jamie MacMurray had a strong car by the sounds of it and led a lot of laps. But at the end of the day, when it was all said and done, Joey Logano came home with his third win of the season. Official results: 1. Joey Logano 2. Brad Keselowski 3. Matt Kenseth 4. Jimmie Johnson 5. Kurt Busch 6. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 7. Carl Edwards 8. Jamie McMurray 9. Paul Menard 10. Greg Biffle 11. Kevin Harvick 12. Kyle Larson 13. Ryan Newman 14. AJ Allmindinger 15. Jeff Burton 16. Jeff Gordon 17. Clint Bowyer 18. Michael McDowell 19. Justin Allgaier 20. Martin Truex Jr. 21. Brian Vickers 22. Landon Cassill 23. David Ragen 24. Reed Sorenson 25. David Gilliland 26. Casey Mears 27. Danica Patrick 28. Austin Dillion 29. Josh Wise 30. Cole Whitt 31. David Stremme 32. Alex Bowman 33. JJ Yeley 34. Marcos Ambrose 35. Kasey Kahne 36. Kyle Busch 37. Ryan Truex 38. Michael Annett 39. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 40. Denny Hamlin 41. Aric Almirola 42. Brett Moffitt 43. Dave Blaney We are onto Atlanta next Sunday night for some night racing...hopefully I will be able to watch it.

Thanks Hosts for the great job as always. Once again I may miss the race...tho do have the DVR set this time. Hate to miss it...this my all time favorite race. Nothing better than racing under the lights at Bristol!!!!! Just to note....that to honor and support Stewart we are suppose to stand on lap 14. Thanks.

Well, I don't know if I should now be considering this as news since it has been talked about most of the season. But they have just made it official. . . Carl Edwards will be driving a fourth car for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015. He will be sporting the number 19 on his car. And this hasn't been made official but have read it in a couple different posts n FB. Tony Stewart will be out f the 14 car for Saturday night's race and Jeff Burton will be driving for him.

Well sorry to say I missed today's race and am away from the computer but am excited to say that Jeff Gordon won his 91st win from the pole today. His third of the season. So proud of him and his team. Sorry I don't have a review right now...may be tomorrow or so when I get a chance to write it up. Sorry.

I have seen the video a couple of times...and another time an half hour or so when I watched a segment of a newscast that was talking about it. And at first it does look like Tony's car was going right at him and people keep saying they heard Tony's car revving up or something like he was gassing the car when he saw Kevin Jr. But I heard numerous other drivers of that series saying that they steer more with the pedals and that was Tony trying to steer the car away from Kevin Jr. Personally I don't see why people are still trying to throw dirt on Tony and accuse him of doing this on purpose. I mean...Keven Ward Jr. got wrecked by Tony Stewart which had brought out the caution flag. Ward couldn't get his car to start or his tire was flat...so it is required to stay in their car to wait for emergency personel to help them off the track and to the infield care center. Kevin Ward got out of his car and onto a track where cars were still going around the track at 40 MPH. Add to all of that, that it was DARK outside, the track was poorly lit at best, Ward was wearing a black suit and helmet on a mud/dirt track. He waited until Tony's vehicle came into view and walked into the middle of the track. Is it so hard to believe that Tony didn't see him until the last minute? I don't even know how he could purposefully hit him...to do it intentionally he would have to know the kid would be on the track...in the middle of the track. And why would Tony do that? Tony wasn't the one mad...Kevin Ward Jr was mad at Tony for wrecking him...a racing move that other driver say they all make. People keep throwing out how Tony has a temper. He's a hot head. Trust me, I know. I remember him getting mad at Gordon years ago when Gordon was having car trouble and was trying to keep from getting passed by Tony and Tony wrecked him on purpose. Or how he punched Kurt Busch when Kurt was still the Nationwide Series...or of Tony throwing his helmet at Matt Kenseth's car a year or two ago at Bristol I think. Or how NASCAR made Tony go through anger management YEARS ago for his temper. But you know what...any of the drivers on the track has a breaking point. Loses their cool every once in a while. Afterall, they are going 150-200 MPH and for over 100 laps are fighting their cars, the track, and each other. They are hot and frustrated...and all it takes is one wrong move and it will wind up in the news of an argument of some sort. I am not condoning Stewart's temper or how he acts...for a long time I couldn't stand him because of his temper...but now that he has matured, can understand where he is coming from. No I don't condone that sort of behavior, but that don't neccessarily make him to be a bad guy. In fact, I think Stewart is a good guy under all that temper and hot headedness of his. And the thought that he would hit Ward Jr on purpose is so outlandish. So wrong. It makes me me upset to hear people throw such harsh accusations towards him. A year ago in Knoxville, Iowa he got in a bad accident in a sprint car that left his leg broke in two places and two or three surgeries left him side lined from any racing for the rest of the year. Wanna hear why he wrecked? Because he was avoiding hitting two people on pit road that would have killed them. Tony may have a temper, but he doesn't react by intentionally hitting people like that. He would wreck them in the car or would confront them with a few harsh words after the race...and in a few incidents a fist. But never has he tried running anyone over due to his temper. But as I said, Stewart wasn't the one that was mad. It was Kevin Ward Jr. Trust me, I feel horrible for Kevin Ward Jr. and his family. I can't imagine the pain and anguish they are now going through as Ward Jr's visitation was yesterday. His funeral was today. And by the sounds of it his dad is upset at Tony. Expecting answers. Which is natural to find the blame in the other person. I can't say I would react any different. After all that is his young son who was doing what he loved doing. They are all in my thoughts and prayers. But it wasn't intentional on Stewart's part. It was an accident. Due to the incident NASCAR is now trying to press harsher violations toward the drivers who do get out of their cars before emergency personel get there. There has always been a rule of what I am aware of that the drivers to stay in their cars after a wreck unless the car is on fire to wait for help to get to the infield care center...even if it is a flat tire that left the driver stranded in the middle of the track. But they never persued it when a driver got out...especially if it is to confront another driver. After all all those confronts arises publicity. The media love and supposedly do the fans...I on the other hand would rather see racing and not fighting. But it sounds like that is about to end due to the whole situation...even though it wasn't a NASCAR race or even a NASCAR track. Which is good. Most of you know that I am a Jeff Gordon/Jimmie Johnson...team Hendrick fan. But I stand by Stewart and only wish I could do something that could help him through his own suffering through all of this. I have read several articles on this as well as read other fan's comments. Some supporting Stewart, some demanding him to pay for this, some calling him a murderer, and others who think that Tony was only trying to teach the kid a lesson and didn't mean to hit him. It just saddens me to see everyone turn on Stewart. Or how the media keep bringing up his temper and how he got in a fight in a Sprint race last year or what not. Perhaps they should also throw in a few of his charities that he does or who he is as a person. The police have said that they have yet to find anything criminal in Tony's part but said that their investigation will take another two weeks. Last I heard they were doing a reinactment on Tony's part of the deal. I for one, pray that they will stick with thier original verdict of nothing criminal on Tony's part. Tony missed last week's race at Watkins Glen and Reagan Smith took the seat of the 14 car...Tony has now said that he will not be racing at Michigan this Sunday either. Veteran driver Jeff Burton will be climbing behind the wheel of the 14 car...which will eliminate Tony from the Chase with how the rules right now is wrote. Though with four races remaning of the regular season, Tony would have to win a race in the four races in order to get into the Chase. He has had a rough luck season so far as it is as he has only had a few decent races this season...which is way off for him. June, July, and August is normally his hottest time of the year. Personally feel his leg is still bothering him and giving him trouble in the car. I could be wrong. But as it is right now, as much as I would miss Tony...it might be best for Tony to hide out from all the negative media and let the investigation take it's course before thinking of returning. But that is just me and the only one who knows what is best for Tony...is Tony. He hasn't said anything about next week's race...just this week's race so far. I am sorry this is so long, but this is something that I have been upset over ever since I heard about it. Reading everyone's accustation toward Tony is only making it worse. And most of this is MY OPINION...which I know means very little to anyone. I could be wrong in it all, but I pray that I am not. Whatever the outcome of this is...NASCAR has taken a big hit with this and if it effects NASCAR, well it effects me. Kevin Ward Jr, his family, friends, fans, and team are in my thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult and hard time. Tony Stewart and his family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers as they too suffer through all of this. This is something that Tony will have to live with for the rest of his lift...that alone is prison all in itself. If you want to see the accident, you can see it on Youtube by searching Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward Jr. Once again, I am sorry this is so long and a lot of opinion in it. It is just how I feel.

Danica Patrick wrecked in practice I think on Friday...and then was involved in the Ryan Newman and Michael McDowell accident. Her car was pretty smashed in. It is good that she was able to finish the race. Danica seems like she finds her way into some accident or some sort of trouble it seems in NASCAR...though I feel like she is having a pretty good year this year. Compared to the past year or so that she was in NASCAR Sprint Cup. Maybe it is just taking her a while to get use to the Cup car and the competition. Personally I feel like she would have been better off if she got a few more full seasons in the Nationwide Series before getting pulled up to the Sprint Cup. Talking about the Nationwide Series. JR Motorsports driver Chase Elliot, Bill Elliot's son, is said to be driving in a few Cup races next season...

Well the race at Watkins Glen got over a short moment ago and it can be summed up in one word: CRAZY. Three caution flags in ninety laps? And at a track where they don't go extremely fast at... Gordon started out on pole and led 29 laps (which I was happy for. With this pole, it keeps his consecutive streak alive with at least one pole a season for the last twenty-two years or something like that. The longest consecutive streak with a pole in history now belongs to Gordon.) But Ambrose gave him a fit and after pit strategy Ambrose took the lead position...laps before Gordon's power in his car went out and he had to have a push back to his pit stall where they worked on it for four laps before he was able to go back out. (Of which I wasn't too happy about. LOL.) First half of the race was uneventful except for Cole Whitt hitting the wall and going hard into the wall and under the tire barrier that they had against the wall. He was OK. And Kyle Busch who is a favorite at Watkins Glen. He had left the pit road with his gas container stuck to his car so he had to do a drive through penalty which had put him a lap down. Then he got out and Martin Truex Jr got into him which had put him behind the wall and in the garage for a lot of laps. Brad Keselowski got into Matt Kenseth on accident (apologized over the radio) and later had to go into the garage as he lost brake fluid or something like that. Didn't start to get real eventful until Ryan Newman tried to get out of Greg Biffle's way and it threw his car hard into the fence and across the track and into Michael McDowell's car that went on it's side for a moment before hitting the other wall hard. Nothing much was left of their cars after that...and led to the first two red flags which lasted an hour and a half. Was a super scary wreck and am so glad they were both OK. Reminded me of the wreck of Jeff Burton when he was in the CAT 31 car (that Newman is now driving...) that involved Sam Hornish Jr and Jeff Gordon...and where Gordon hurt his back at a few years ago. Newman wasn't very happy with the safety of the track which I don't blame him. They did fix the track and make the fence farther apart from one another since Gordon and Burton's wreck...but still. They went yellow to rearrange the cars and put the other red flag up to finish the work on the cars, Afterwards it was clear that the race belonged to either Marcos Ambrose or AJ Allmendinger. Jimmie Johnson was wrecked when Kyle Larson got into Matt Kenseth who in turn got into Jimmie Johnson... (Once again, I was not too happy...lol). It also had taken out Reagan Smith who was driving for Tony Stewart. Smith was doing really good considering he didn't get flown into the track and landed until five minutes before the race started. Sad to see him get wrecked out like that too. Then with four laps to go and AJ Allmendinger just pulled a power move to get past Ambrose...Denny Hamlin wrecked into a barrel of gravel that was protecting the end of pit road and sent gravel all over the track and Alex Kennedy got into another wreck farther down the track...sent the race back into a red flag to pick up the gravel. Though it didn't take long and they were off again and AJ Allmendinger went off to earn his first NASCAR Sprint Cup win. Ambrose's crew chief had contacted NASCAR and upset with Allmendinger's start...I think he thought Allmendinger started too early. As of now NASCAR hasn't said anything about it either way so I am taking that Allmendinger's start was OK with them. Ambrose said in his post race interview that he got caught with that in the Nationwide Series before (I know Edwards got caught in the Sprint Cup series a year or two ago with that and was punished...) but Ambrose wasn't too concerned or upset with it. Said it didn't effect the outcome of the race. Personally I was torn. I like both Ambrose and Allmendinger. Both are fair and clean drivers. Great guys. I love how positive Ambrose is. About everything. Even after giving it all he had and Allmendinger winning, he was so positive and congratulated AJ over and over again...and smiling. To me that is a great picture of sportsmanship right there. I am super happy for AJ. I believe he deserves this win and he gave it a great fight ... both of them did. Sad for my top two drivers but am super happy with the top two finishes. Here is the official results: 1. AJ Allmendinger 2. Marcos Ambrose 3. Kurt Busch 4. Kyle Larson 5. Carl Edwards 6. Joey Logano 7. Kevin Harvick 8. Greg Biffle 9. Matt Kenseth 10. Brian Vickers 11. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (who is now the current points leader...taking the lead from Jeff Gordon) 12. Kasey Kahne 13. Martin Truex Jr. 14. Jamie McMurray 15. Casey Mears 16. Austin Dillion 17. Justin Allgaier 18. Aric Almirola 19. David Ragen 20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 21. Danica Patrick 22. David Gilliland 23. Reed Sorenson 24. Denny Hamlin 25. Boris Said 26. Nelson Piquet Jr 27. Clint Bowyer 28. Jimmie Johnson 29. Landon Cassill 30. Joe Nemechek 31. Michael Annett 32. Paul Menard 33. Alex Kennedy 34. Jeff Gordon 35. Brad Keselowski 36. Alex Bowman 37. Regan Smith 38. Josh Wise 39. Ryan Truex 40. Kyle Busch 41. Ryan Newman 42. Michael McDowell 43. Cole Whitt We are all done turning right this year...and left with only left turns to make. Onto Michigan next week with a new point leader...but I hope not for long. Not that it matters much since in a month they will mix it all up with the Chase. Once again, my thoughts and prayers are with Kevin Ward Jr who died last night in the accident involving Tony Stewart. For more info see the NASCAR news thread where there is a few posts there. My heart aches for Ward and his family...and for Tony Stewart. Something that was done for fun turned into a horrible tragic accident. Heaven has earned a new angel...a speedy one. RIP Kevin.

ok

http://www.motorsport.com/sprint/news/tony-stewart-runs-over-fellow-sprint-car-racer-authorities-investigating/ Above is a link to a better article and it does say Ward Jr is 20...everything I read yesterday said he was 17. Reagan Smith will be driving the 14 car of Stewart's today. I do believe the video has been taken down on Youtube or at least htat is what peple on Facebook is saying...but something about it being on ESPN. I don't know. My thoughts and prayers are with Kevin Ward Jr, his family, and his friends...and with Tony Stewart. Just so tragic and sad.

Well y'all I got some sad and tragic news to pass on to you all...I am just in shock of it all right now. It is almost three in the morning and yet can't go to sleep because my mind will not let go of it all. Tony Stewart was racing in the Sprint Series near where Watkins Glen is at when he got into an altercation on the track with 17 year old Kevin Ward Jr. that had brought out the yellow flag. Ward Jr. got upset at Stewart and got out of his sprint car and was yelling at Stewart when Stewart went by and Stewart ran Ward Jr. over. Ward was announced dead on arrival at the hospital. Stewart is now being investigated by the police for the incident. As far as I know, Stewart is cleared to race Sunday at the Glen, but have also read rumors where Max Papis will be racing Stewart's 14 car. Here is one of the many articles I have read on it: Tony Stewart hits Kevin Ward Jr. On a personal note, I have read a lot of fan speculation on it and how they feel about it. A lot seeming to think it was on purpose. Tony Stewart is known to be a hot head...for his temper. Has thrown a few punches. Got mad and purposefully wreck other drivers in their cars...but to purposefully hit someone on foot like that? I personally can't see him doing that. The video is on youtube right now and I have seen it...can post it if you all want, but didn't know if I should or not. In the video it does look like it could be intentional...but the thing is, is how is Stewart to know the kid is out of his car and on the track? The kid is dressed in a black fire suit while at night. Personally I feel like Stewart just didn't see the kid and hit him on accident. But I could be wrong, but I hope that I am not. My thoughts and prayers go to Kevin Ward Jr, his family, and friends. Gone too soon. Also, my thoughts and prayers go out to Tony Stewart. Can't imagine how he must feel right now. This whole thing is just so tragic in so many ways. I will make sure to keep you all updated with anything that comes forth from this. Right now it looks like Stewart is just being investigated...

The second Pocono race of the season is now in the books and it looks like it was a back and forth day all depending on what pit strategy they are on. I missed the first half of the race (listened to some of it on the radio in the car...) Johnson had a flat tire early in the race and Danica Patrick hit the wall. Kyle Busch's engine had problems and parked his car early in the race. Jeff Gordon led a lot of laps, going back and forth with pit stop strategy and had a fast race car today to back up his win last week. Jimmie Johnson's race ended early today as he had more tire issues, tire issues that sent him into the wall hard and into the garage. Denny Hamlin got loose and caused a thirteen car pile up that took out Stewart, Vickers, and other drivers. It was an ugly wreck...looking more like Talledega than Pocono. Dale Earnhardt Jr passed Greg Biffle with seventeen laps or so remaining and with six laps to go Kurt Busch hit the wall to bring out the yellow and bunch the cars back up again. Dale Jr went on to win the third race of the season...Pocono sweep of 2014. Official results: 1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2. Kevin Harvick 3. Joey Logano 4. Clint Bowyer 5. Greg Biffle 6. Jeff Gordon 7. Jamie McMurray 8. Ryan Newman 9. Denny Hamlin 10. Kasey Kahne 11. Kyle Larson 12. Caey Mears 13. Kurt Busch 14. Marcos Ambrose 15. Austin Dillion 16. Justin Allgaier 17. David Gilliland 18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 19. David Ragen 20. Ryan Truex 21. Cole Whitt 22. Michael Annett 23. Brad Keselowski 24. Josh Wise 25. Travis Kvapil 26. Dave Blaney 27. Reed Sorenson 28. Alex Kennedy 29. Carl Edwards 30. Danica Patrick 31. Alex Bowman 32. Martin Truex Jr. 33. Paul Menard 34. AJ Allmendinger 35. Aric Almirola 36. Tony Stewart 37. Brian Vickers 38. Matt Kenseth 39. Jimmie Johnson 40. Joe Nemechek 41. Landon Cassill 42. Kyle Busch 43. Johnny Sauter Well my congratulations goes out to Dale Jr who makes it the sixth win at Pocono from a Hendrick driver...his win comes after the big news in the 88 camp came out Friday or Thursday where Rick Hendrick has named Greg Ives to be Jr's crew chief next year as Steve Letart will be leaving after this season. Onto Watkins Glen next week...the final road race of the season.

Well I guess I was less than perfect in my last week's review. I apology. Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, and Greg Biffle will be at Rousch next season. And I have to admit I agree with Larry McReynolds that Jack Rousch was less than professional with the timing of his "surprise" announcement last week. I guess his press conference that he made it known wasn't scheduled and instead of doing it on a Tuesday as they normally do, Jack did it the morning before one of the bigger races of the season. As I heard someone say, trying to bring attention to himself as all the coverage or talk was on Gordon and how many races he won at Indy and how he won the inaugural race there twenty years ago. Well as a Gordon fan...I great satisfaction that Gordon took the last publicity away from his so called big news and bring it back to him with the win. But that is my two cents worth. And talking of Gordon...he is currently leading the race at Pocono...well now he is in the pits. He has led 38 laps or so today. Now is on top with the most laps led at Pocono with a thousand. And with his 43rd birthday tomorrow...I think a win would make a great birthday present to the driver of the 24 car. Well I missed the first half of the race due to grocery shopping, but will watch the last half...will write a review once the race is over.

Well y'all...the Brickyard 500 has just ended... Kevin Harvick started out up front with the pole with Jeff Gordon starting second. Gordon was quick to pass Harvick on the first lap and was dominant in the first part of the race but those restarts killed him in the first part of the race. Also a couple of pit stops as the first pit stop his gas man had a hard time holding the can and almost falling which slowed him down and pulled him back in the pack. Then his second stop when he was climbing up, Gordon got too close the wall and that slowed his stop down. Danica Patrick broke something in her car during one of her pit stop and it ended her race. Ryan Truex ran out of gas. After a season of bad luck, Kasey Kahne had a strong car and led the most laps...until the last restart when Kasey chose the top lane and Gordon the bottom...or vice versa. With thirty laps to go, Gordon had what he called the restart of his life and passed Kasey and Kasey went backwards. Gordon went on and had no competition and went on to win his FIFTH win at the Brickyard 500. In fact they have announced that today was Jeff Gordon Day as twenty years ago Gordon won the NASCAR inaugural race at Indy...it is also Gordon's second win of the season...and win number 90 of his career. Bet y'all know who is happy today...LOL. Brickyard 500 Final Results: 1. Jeff Gordon 2. Kyle Busch 3. Denny Hamlin 4. Matt Kenseth 5. Joey Logano 6. Kasey Kahne 7. Kyle Larson 8. Kevin Harvick 9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 10. Austin Dillion 11. Ryan Newman 12. Brad Keselowski 13. Greg Biffle 14. Jimmie Johnson 15. Carl Edwards 16. Clint Bowyer 17. Tony Stewart 18. AJ Allmendinger 19. Brian Vickers 20. Jamie McMurray 21. Aric Almirola 22. Marcos Ambrose 23. Juan Pablo Montoya 24. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 25. Martin Truex Jr. 26. Michael McDowell 27. Justin Allgaier 28. Kurt Busch 29. Josh Wise 30. Landon Cassill 31. Michael Annett 32. Cole Whitt 33. Casey Mears 34. Paul Mendard 35. David Regan 36. David Gilliland 37. Bobby Labonte 38. Reed Sorenson 39. Travis Kvapil 40. Alex Bowman 41. Ryan Truex 42. Danica Patrick 43. Trevor Bayne This morning Jack Rousch put out that after eleven seasons, Carl Edwards will no longer be at Jack Rousch. Greg Biffle will be back next year. We will be racing at Pocono where it marks a year since Kasey Kahne has won his last race...

I hope you had fun Roger at the race. Is there a local driver that you like the best and go for? I bet they are fun to go watch and see...and loud. Well the only good thing about having no race today is that my fantasy team won't take another hit. This is the last off weekend of the season and am so lost without Gordon or Johnson or Earnhardt or Kahne to follow. But they are deserving of the break...just wish they did it last weekend when I couldn't watch the race. HA.

Thanks Boss for filling in for me. I didn't get to see much of the race at all. Am super bummed that Johnson had such rotten luck and Gordon running out of gas is just as bad. But it is a gamble they had to make. Roger...I saw that I was no longer in last place in my NASCAR league. Lol. Thanks for taking pity on me. 😊 You maybe beating me in baseball...but no one will beat me in football. 😇

Thank you Lizzy. I was hoping that I didn't do something to get in trouble for. I heard about the King's birthday after I posted my post as well... I am sorry about Stenhouse. Both those accidents either took out good cars or affected good cars. After the second accidents they said they only had five cars as being recorded out of the race. I don't see how that could be possible, but I guess they know better than me. I am also sorry to inform you Hoss that ESPN isn't much different than TNT...you will just have to find a different spelling for it. I am so glad that they are done with TNT after the next race...heck TNT won't even be back next year. This is the last year for TNT and I think for ESPN too. Next year it will be on FOX then ABC and then an ABC affiliated station. I am hoping that ABC will better than TNT and ESPN. I know I have said this before...I just wish the race would stay on FOX all year long. I really miss DW and the crew. Plus they show more race than commercials. TNT is horrible about their commercials and personally I feel like they have their select favorite drivers and that is who they follow. But as I said, ESPN isn't much different. But I guess we will see in a couple of weeks.

BTW...was just wondering, why do I have a red explanation mark under my profile picture/name? Never noticed that before.

Well this is going to be a messed up review due to my failure to write last week's review at Kentucky. I will start off with a small review from Kentucky and go onto today's race. I apologize for not writing it sooner. For Kentucky...there isn't much to really report. Other than Brad Keselwoski started from the pole, led the most laps, and won the race. I think the most exciting part of the race is the fact that Keselowski cut his hand on the champagne bottle in victory lane as he tried opening it up. Had to rush to the infield care center to get four stitches that he got taken out this past Thursday. And for the Daytona race that was suppose to be raced last night (y'all know how much I love night races, right?) but was postponed due to rain (I was not happy. LOL) but luckily since it was a night race, was able to watch it today. Or most of it at least. And today's rain shortened race can be summarized by two words...RAIN and WRECKS. We had three red flags thrown today. First one was due to rain, second one was due to the huge accident (as it was called by the announcer), and the third one due to rain, again. David Gilliland started the race with his third career pole that was eventually taken over by Matt Kenseth before the rain came on the eleventh lap or so and the red flag flew. (I will admit I left to eat breakfast at this point so I missed when they resumed...) They had competition yellow on lap twenty I think, but a lap or two before that they had a caution for the big one. And as to who started it, seems to be a sensitive area or one with a lot of opinions by what I've read on Facebook, what the announcers insinuated whose fault it was and to what I think what happened. (As I said in a Facebook group, that it looks to be who one's favorite driver is as to which driver started it...LOL) but in reality, it is Daytona. It is restrictor plate racing. They are going two hundred miles per hour and one little mistake can take out half the field. Or as one driver said, the driver may not do anything but the air around them pushes the car a foot or so without the driver even moving the steering wheel. Sadly that is just what happens in these type of races which is why I am not a fan of restrictor plate racing. But if you want my take on things, I think Marcos Ambrose came into line ahead of Stenhouse Jr. where there wasn't any room, Stenhouse Jr. tried to stop from getting into him and got loose, and Gordon tried to get out of the way and ended up in the accident anyway. (Though if you want the announcers' opinion, it was Gordon's fault...I guess Gordon should just stay around and get wrecked and not even try to get out of the way. And then if you want Tony Stewart's opinion, it was Stenhouse Jr trying to play hero early in the race.) It really don't matter who started it...it is what it is. Hoss you will be happy with what Gordon just put down on Facebook (perhaps you should apologize to him? ) Gordon just put down on at Facebook "Wow what a crazy race at Daytona International Speedway! I'll take the blame and apologize to all involved for 1st wreck. Congrats Aric Almirola & 43 team!" I am highly biased and I still don't see it being his fault, but at least he will apologize for his part of the deal and is willing to keep the peace. He is a picture of class act in my book. All in all, it wasn't done on purpose by any driver. It is what it is and am glad everyone is ok. Then the second wreck was even more scarier than the other one. . .and once again the blame isn't exactly clear, but it seems more clear than the first. It seems like Greg Biffle tired to line up with Kasey Kahne and spun him out and took twenty cars with him. Jamie McMurray's car went air born for awhile...and Kyle Busch went on his roof when a car ran into his parked car. That went into red flag...it is so good no one got hurt in any accident. So sad to see so many good race cars all torn up as they were. Kyle's was the worst. They went back to racing for awhile before it started raining with 48 laps to go...and where they finally called it a race. Aric Almirola got his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win driving for Richard "The King" Petty in the iconic 43 car. Ironically his win comes on Richard Petty's thirtieth anniversary of his 200th career win. Here is the official results at Daytona: 1. Aric Almirola 2. Brian Vickers 3. Kurt Busch 4. Casey Mears 5. Austin Dillon 6. Denny Hamlin 7. Michael McDowell 8. Danica Patrick 9. Clint Bowyer 10. Marcos Ambrose 11. Terry Labonte 12. Jeff Gordon 13. Alex Bowman 14. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 15. Martin Truex Jr. 16. Paul Menard 17. Joey Logano 18. Brad Keselowski 19. Michael Waltrip 20. Matt Kenseth 21. Michael Annett 22. David Regan 23. Josh Wise 24. Ryan Newman 25. Justin Allgaier 26. Bobby Labonte 27. Kasey Kahne 28. Kyle Busch 29. Greg Biffle 30. Jamie McMurray 31. Landon Cassill 32. Ryan Truex 33. Reed Sorenson 34. Cole Whitt 35. David Gilliland 36. Kyle Larson 37. Carl Edwards 38. Trevor Bayne 39. Kevin Harvick 40. Tony Stewart 41. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 42. Jimmie Johnson 43. AJ Allmendinger Well...what a short and sad race for a lot of good drivers. But a quick and good race for a few drivers. It is good to see unfamiliar faces up front. People that don't win or have top fives all that often. Great for Aric to get his first win. He is a great guy and am happy for him. Sad for me that most if not all of my fantasy drivers were caught up in one of the big ones if not the first one...I think I might as well as give up as I have no hope left of coming off with a good finish this year due to jinxing all my drivers. Ah well...it is too fun to give up. Just not fun to watch the wreck. LOL. (Which is why I REFUSE to pick Gordon anymore!) (Sorry Hoss...but yeah, I did have Stenhouse Jr on my team this week. So yeah, I was just as sad as you were to see him spin out. I almost went with Vickers but a the last minute I switched Stenhouse and Vickers. Look what happened???? Stenhouse wrecked, Vickers finished second. Dang it! LOL) And if my fantasy team getting a huge hit this weekend wasn't bad enough, so did my actual favorite drivers. My entire list of my top five favorite drivers were involved in a wreck. Johnson and Edwards was taken out in the first wreck...Gordon and JR was involved in the first wreck as well. Kahne was taken out in the second wreck. Definitely not a good race for me and am glad that it is now behind us...and we will be going onto New Hampshire next week. . .and sadly don't know if I will be able to watch it. I will be going to my Grandpa's house next week for a little family get together and won't be back til Sunday night. So maybe team Hendrick will rebound for the win without me next week. HA. And do believe the announcers said that next weekend will be the last race on TNT...will have to look up on that one. If so, I won't be too sad nor will I miss all of their commercials. I think they have race breaks instead of commercial breaks... If I had my way, the races would stay on FOX with Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Hamond and Mike Meyers, and Larry MacReynolds. But hey, what ya know, no one asked me. Hope you all have had a good Fourth of July weekend and will have a good week ahead.

This is why I am not a fan of restrictor plate racing. The big ones always happen.