Garrett Duke

I am still not happy with Daytona...or Jamie McMurray. I mean, four wide...at Datyona? Really?! Well the race at Atlanta is winding down. The race should be called the Kevin Harvick Race as he has been in lead and not a very eventful race. Except for all the speeding penalties that they have been handing out...so far nine. Two of them going out to Jimmie Johnson. ERRRR. Oh well we are early in the season...I am just glad NASCAR is back.

Well y'all...I am here. I tried posting the other night when I didn't have much time and somehow ended up deleting what I wrote and gave up due to how late it was. Roger...I can't believe you discriminate drivers that are not from Georgia. But then again, you did say that Dale Jr was your second favorite driver...and he's from North Carolina. Sorry to let you down Roger. Did you happen to see who won the championship last year? (His seventh, I might add. . .) Yep...Jimmie Johnson. And he's from California. As is Jeff Gordon. Those California boys know a thing or two about racing. Then again, Kevin Harvick is from California too. Sadly I missed the Clash last week because my nephew and niece were over. Mostly when they are over and Blue Bloods or the race is on, they know to turn the TV over to me or I will let them know when I get the TV. . .but my niece wasn't feeling good, so I decided I should probably be nice. I missed qualifying as well as the races on Thursday night...but I will watch Daytona 500 tomorrow. I am so looking forward to it! I am glad that the races are back on FOX...love when the races are on FOX. First of all, yeah, Jeff Gordon. Second of all, Darrell Waltrip and Mikey Waltrip. Personally feel that they are more open and not as biased as some of the other announcers on the other stations can get. MY OPINION. Though it will be odd to NOT see Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, and Greg Biffle NOT out there... OOooo I almost forgot to let y'all know the exciting news I heard about yesterday...guess who's driving the pace car for tomorrow's race!!! JEFF GORDON!!!!!!!!!!!! I am beyond excited...for at least a couple of laps my guy will be on track and leading the race! I have to admit...I really miss Jeff Gordon behind the wheel of the 24 car. NASCAR hasn't been the same since he retired. I do really like Jimmie Johnson and love watching him race...but it's just different not having Jeff Gordon out there. He was the one I liked since I got into racing in '97 (like Roger...thanks to the Dukes and the General Lee) and I got to liking Jimmie Johnson because of Jeff Gordon (Gordon pointed him out to Hendrick...Hendrick told him to put his money where his mouth is...and owns half of Johnson's car. ) Talking about who I like...be interesting to see who everyone else likes... My list is: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards. I do like Chase Elliott...still having a hard time accepting someone else in the 24 car. Y'all's turn...

Five minutes in the garage? Really? Should make for a boring race come Daytona when half the cars are out of the race because they can't fix them in the garage like they use to. I love my NASCAR (y'all should know that by now...) but really...Brian France seems content on ruining a great thing. Stuff like this makes it loud and clear to me on why Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards as well as Tony Stewart has stepped away from the sport they love. As for the driverless car...I am sure it would be of great technology and science, but I do believe that would be the day I stopped being a NASCAR fan. I need a person to root for...I don't just go for a car with 48 on the doors. But for Jimmie Johnson. His style of racing. His character. And so on. General Lee is my only exception to that rule...afterall, General Lee has his own personality and story. Well not saying that the 48 car doesn't, but Jimmie Johnson is the reason I like the 48 car. Then again, The General Lee and the Duke Boys are the guilty ones who got me addicted to NASCAR (before them, racing was a waste of money and time. . .you might as well as watch your dog chase his tail...) now it's so much more to me. LOL

Well Hoss...you can have your driverless racing. NASCAR many benefit from a few of the drivers having driverless cars out there, but without drivers, all it is, is well, cars. As much as I love cars and all...I need someone to follow and support. Guess take out the people or drivers, it would end all the fighting and the drama...which is what NASCAR wants, so I don't think that will happen. I think if that ever did happen, I'd have to throw it all down and walk away...I need Jimmie Johnson to root for. Well, I see y'all beat me to the horrible and nightmarish news. I keep telling myself that I should give it a chance, but I just don't like it. The segments work in the All Star Race because that's the All Star Race. One race. One race without any points on the line. But every race? Yeah they are making it more complicated than what it has to be. Whatever happened to racing being about the race? Brian France just needs to step down and let me take over. I'd throw the whole Chase idea out the window and go back to the old point system. You know, when racing was about racing and not seeing how much drama we could put in the sport. Ah well, that won't happen so I will keep my day job, but still... With that said, I will continue to watch and attempt to give it a chance. I don't have much other option. Just had to give my two cents worth in on the topic. As for Roger...you are going down! I had a horrible fantasy season last year...all my drivers I picked decided to have horrible races when I picked them. Not this year. I will be crowned champion just as JJ takes home his 8th championship at Homestead in November. (If anyone else wants to join, let me know. It's fun and free to play. ) GO JIMMIE JOHNSON!!! Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Where have you been Roger? My Cubs did WIN the World Series this past season...and it was no fluke! They had 102 wins...they earned that World Series trophy! Ironically, this past weekend I bought a WS Cubs sweatshirt that was on sale for $18. When I bought it, with tax...I kid you not, it was $19.08. The last time the Cubs had won the WS. But OK back to the topic on hand...I do believe that the screen and the news had gotten it all wrong. No way the Patriots won when they weren't playing...it was the Bears in disguise! LOL. (I will admit, I was torn on what team I wanted to win. I wanted the Falcons to win since they haven't won it before and they are in GA, but was also wanting the Patriots to win it for Donnie Wahlberg. LOL) Despite the Falcons being in Georgia...we all know the Dukes are die hard Chicago Bears fans. Yep...they love their Bears and Cubs.

I haven't watched enough Coy and Vance episodes to pick any of them out. I think I only watched that season once to give them their credit...so I can't say anything about them other than that I am not a fan of Coy and Vance. Sad thing is, they could have made it work a lot better if they didn't have them dress like Bo and Luke and make them someone they are not. The poor actors didn't stand much of a chance, in my opinion. But even if they did do them differently and had their own personalities, I'd probably still prefer Bo and Luke. As for Bo and Luke episodes..."Strange Visitor in Hazzard" ranks at the top of my short least liked episodes. It'd be nice if they at least kept some sort of reality in Hazzard (my opinion). Second would be "Luke's Love Story". I have to admit I loved the fight with Bo and and the bad guy in Cooter's garage...thought that was great! But I really didn't like how they portrayed Bo or Luke in that episode.

Spike -Where did you hear that at? I haven't heard about it being switched like that. That format works for the All Star Race because it's a different race. It's not a points race...and it's only for one race. I really hope that that rumor is wrong. Brian France has done enough to ruin NASCAR with this horrible Chase format (that's my opinion...) and then to add onto it. Personally, I don't blame the older drivers for dropping out like they seem to. To me with this format now, they seem like they are just asking for drama that doesn't need to be there and focusing more on the drama than on the racing...my opinion once again. Yeah...I really hope that rumor is blown a way real quick like. Thanks Roger. Have missed this place and would love to do a review for NASCAR. Sadly with events that happened last year, I didn't get to watch a lot of the races, but am hoping to watch more this year. I need to support my driver...ol' seven time! I like Chase Elliot and I think he has a lot of talent and I can see him winning a race or two this season. It's coming. But I am still having a hard time having him drive the 24 car. 24 will always be Jeff Gordon to me. Always.

Well y'all..I am out of hibernation. For now at least. Thanks to Roger. Life is just busy with two jobs and two dogs . . . and well life. I am beyond devastated to see Carl Edwards retire...Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart was predictable (whether I liked it or not...) but Edwards? Edwards is only 37 years old...and him and Jimmie Johnson are probably the most fit out of all the other drivers on the track. I was kinda predicting Dale Jr to be the next one to retire after this concussion like symptons he had. Reportedly his fifth concussion. (Trust me, I love Dale Jr...so am glad to see him hang around, but he also has to look out for himself and his health.) But Carl Edwards? Not at all. As for me, Carl Edwards was always my favorite driver outside of the Hendrick camp. He is always positive, has a smile on his face...and who doesn't like his backflips? So yeah...I am bummed. First Gordon, then Stewart...and now Edwards. I am just glad that Jimmie Johnson is hanging around...I would be beyond devastated if he was the one to retire - especially with no warning. So I guess it could be worse and for that I am thankful. Well if y'all forgot how much I love NASCAR, let me tell you...I am BEYOND ready for Daytona. Six more Sundays...

I predict the Chicago Bears will win the Super Bowl this year. Say what you wanna say, but that trophy is going home to Chicago...whether you like it or not. Chicago Bears...there's my prediction and I am sticking with it.

I am not a fan of the Chase either and could go on and on with how I feel about that as well as with other issues NASCAR seems to have...but despite that, will always love NASCAR and seeing how I doubt NASCAR will get rid of the Chase...might as well as accept it for what it is. Talking of which...I finally got to watch a race yesterday. Most of it at least. I think I turned it on on lap 86 or something like that. Martin Truex Jr owned that race. Started on the pole and led 588 out of 600 laps to win the race. Never seen a driver be that dominant before. Jimmie Johnson was the only driver to pass him during green flag, but it wasn't for long. It's was a story book ending kind of story for Martin Truex Jr with all the rotten luck he's been dealt with. Not just this year either...was happy to see him win as he did. Onto Pocono next weekend...

I really miss out on a lot of stuff by not stopping by as much as I use to. Didn't even knew Ben was having issues...that is rotten for him. But on a positive note, that would be awesome to go see and to attend. I went to several Dukefests and had a great time. Highly doubt I will be able to go to this one, but we will see. Hope you have a great time Roger and all who does get to go.

Yeah, I hope he don't get in trouble for it either. Just found it cool. I am a huge DOH and NASCAR fan so I love it when the worlds collide like that. I don't have cable either due to money issues so if the races are on cable, I have to watch it at my parents' house. Frustrated last week...was home expecting it to be on FOX and it was on FOX Sports 1, so I missed it. Really wish all races would be on FOX. But that is just me. As for NASCAR and Brian France there is a lot that they do that upset me...like fining Tony Stewart for speaking the truth a couple of weeks ago. But they will do what they do I guess. As for Kyle Busch...NASCAR owed him a chance to earn his way into the Chase. Yeah he should work for it and he got the wins and the points to make it into the Chase. But the only reason Kyle Busch missed those races was because they didn't have the walls at Daytona safe enough. NASCAR by now should have every wall of every track with safety barrier on them...no reason not to. Especially after that hard hit Jeff Gordon took at Las Vegas several years ago that got that track's walls to be surrounded by safety barrier...every track should have changed right then to have the highest protection as possible. I am glad to see NASCAR give Tony a chance to make the Chase as well...hope can make it. Well that is my two cents worth, for how little it is worth.

Sadly due to life's circumstances, I have missed most of the races this year. I have been reading up on them...but did watch Talladega and was disappointed with the accidents. I know Talladega is known as the big one and for the accidents, but it got ridiculous. I felt like a lot of them could have been avoided if the drivers used common sense...such as Kurt Busch wrecking Jimmie Johnson. Just lucky no one got hurt. Anyway...I found this on Facebook and thought of y'all. I know James Best helped Ryan Newman with his animal charities as well as lived down the road from James. And now looks like he owns a General Lee. What a lucky girl to be picked up in The General Lee...;) http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/ryan-newman-richard-childress-racing-dukes-of-hazzard-general-lee-performs-dad-duty-051116

Hoss- I don't know if that would work in NASCAR...but if that was in NASCAR, the driver and team would be punished for having too many people over pit wall. Can't recall how many members can be in the pit area...think it is seven, but that seems high. Know there is a number set of how many can be on the pit wall. That is one fast stop!

Believe it or not, I am still here. Just been quiet and busy. Life is busy. In fact, I haven't watched a whole race since Daytona this year. Sad, I know. I did watch part of Bristol last week...Bristol is my favorite track/race. Sadly I missed the last half of the race though. LOL. I do have some great news though...Tony Stewart will be returning to the number 14 car this Sunday. Stewart suffered a back injury before the season started and has been sitting out. Thursday he came forward saying he has been cleared by his doctors and NASCAR to drive this weekend. YAY. This is Tony's final season and will be retiring after this season. NASCAR will not be the same without him. NASCAR has also said that they will give Stewart a pass to allow Stewart into the Chase this season IF he can be in the top 30 in points and/or gets a win or two. NASCAR did the same for Kyle Busch last season after Kyle broke his leg and foot at the Xfinity Series Daytona race . . .Kyle made the Chase and won the NASCAR Sprint Cup title. So Smoke (Tony Stewart) still has hope... Though just as I was congratulating NASCAR on their right choice of giving Stewart the pass...they came back and fined Stewart $35,000 for some violation over what he had said earlier this week or last week. Stewart had criticized NASCAR's lug nut policy. Up until the beginning of last season, all cars had to have ALL lug nuts tight or else NASCAR would give them a drive through penalty. Well the beginning of last season NASCAR took the policy away allowing the crews/drivers to decide if they want to tighten all lug nuts or save time on pit road and leave some lose. Stewart said how dangerous that NASCAR is giving the teams the choice on leaving lug nuts lose...and he is absolutely RIGHT! Those lug nuts are what are keeping those tires on. As Stewart said, there will always be teams willing to push the envelope when it comes to see how they can save time on pit road and to get back out on track faster. Someone can get seriously hurt or worse if a tire falls off during the race or even if they are coming onto pit road and it falls off. NASCAR penalizing Tony for speaking his opinion...which is absolutely right...is beyond ridiculous and frustrating. Teams will be penalized if they lose control of the tires when they take them off on pit road, and yet they are allowed to test fate by not tightening the lug nuts? Just don't make sense to me that it is an option to leave them lose...thought that last year when they changed the rule. Welcome back Tony...here is your $35,000 fine for speaking the truth...:( Though of what I saw on Facebook, other drivers are chipping in to help Tony pay his fine. Which never should have been given to him to begin with. I am beyond done with NASCAR's punishment policy where they will fine a driver like Stewart for something petty and yet will allow others go by with a lot worse without saying anything. It has been like this for a long time...they really need to stop looking at who the driver is when they hand out the fine, and look at the deed and punish despite who the driver is. Don't get me wrong...I will always love NASCAR despite all this, just makes me mad and frustrated.

LOL Hoss...you are probably right. But his nickname is Superman. And this weekend he will be driving his Superman car...while Jr will be driving Batman.

Another reason to love Chase. He has done great so far and am looking forward to seeing how far he will go this season. Still have a hard time accepting him in the 24 car, but other than that, that he is great. But I am sticking with Jimmie Johnson...the man of steel.

Well I am glad you are finally going for the 24 car...guess it is better late than never. Chase is a great and talented driver...he has a lot to prove. I like Chase...though will admit that I do have a hard time accepting him as the #24. 24 will always be Jeff Gordon for me. Double that 24 number you will get the number of the driver of my favorite current driver. Will definitely follow Chase and see how he does and maybe in the future he will be my favorite driver once my current favorite driver retires...which will be never. LOL. Glad to hear you have found a driver to follow and one that will bring home the checkered flag in the near future.

I know, I know...I have to enjoy it while it lasts.

My boys finish 1-2 today. Johnson finished first...ties his wins with Dale Sr. at 76 and Dale Jr finishes second. So good to hear Jr sound soooo happy after the race. Chase Elliot finished 8th in the 24 car. Great race today...sadly for my fantasy team, I went with Kevin Harvick who led the most laps, but finished sixth. Shoulda went with my boy Johnson. LOL.

And who is in first place? ? ?

Beat me? Oh hog wash. I felt sorry for you last year...now with all this smack talk, I don't feel to bad. I am about to show you all who's boss...ME. LOL. Me and my buddy, Jimmie Johnson, is going to dominate this year!

Sounds like a great idea...sorry I didn't think of that when I created this one.

Thanks Roger for putting this out there...anyone is welcomed to join. It is fun, free, and it is easy to play. Let me know and I'll help you get signed up. It is already very tough on me. I get anxious for Daytona...and then it hits me. Oh yeah, Gordon's going to be in the booth. Not the 24 car. Hard for me to accept that someone else is driving the 24 car...that will always be Gordon's car to me. Don't get me wrong, I am still excited for Daytona. Jimmie Johnson will be my guy to follow now that Gordon isn't out there. Just won't be the same. Please join Roger and I in a little fun NASCAR fantasy league...you don't even have to know a lot about NASCAR to play it. . . I have some sad NASCAR news though...Tony Stewart was in a bad non racing accident last Sunday. By what I read he was at a friend's house where they were driving the guys' sand buggies. At first, people said Tony flipped it. But now it sounds like he got separated from the pack and lost control of it. It must have went air borne and he landed hard on the sand. Sounds like he laid there for ninety minutes before the guy, Jeff Gordon, and Ray Everanham found him, helped him onto a helicopter and flew him to the hospital with a serious back injury. They later flew him to North Carolina's hospital where he had back surgery. Sounds like he broke his lower vertebrae or something like that. They say he will make a full recovery and should be able to return to racing later this season...but in the meantime he will have to find another driver to replace him for Daytona and until he is healed. Sad way to end his stellar career. Stewart said at the end of last season, that this would be his last season in NASCAR. Sorry to put the news here, but I didn't want to take away from my fantasy league. . .

I am highly sad that Christmas is here and over already...New Year's tomorrow. And back to work on Monday. Yuck. I like my job...just not ready to get up to the stupid alarm at three fifteen in the morning again. Oh well. Don't worry about me...I'll be fine in seven more weeks when NASCAR starts back up again. Seven long weeks...