Garrett Duke

Yeah I kinda had a feeling that you aren't the most confident to go against a team that is currently 2-0 right now. Doubt this will help ya any, but I read on Facebook "Only five players on the current 53-man Bears roster were on the team the last time the Bears visited Pittsburgh in 2005: Briggs, Garza, Gould, Mannelly, and Tillman." See Roger...how many new faces you will get to see on Sunday night? Including our great quarterback JAY CUTLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or Defensive end...JULIUS PEPPERS!!!! Just to name a couple of them. Not to scare you any more than you are... But as Chris Meyers from NASCAR on FOX would say...I only kid 'cause I care. Should be a great matchup...just personally hope when I wake up on Monday morning the Bears will be 3-0. HA...May the best team win!

Well Hoss, if that was too old for you, then here is a great song by my one of my all time favorite artists...favorite newer artist. JASON ALDEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2012 too old for you, Hoss?

Have to go back a few years for this one...but it is a GREAT song all the same. By a GREAT artist...

Well Roger...you may have a lot of faith in your recently healed rookie running back, but perhaps you should be worried. Look at what Lance Briggs, Bears player, wrote on Facebook today: Lance Briggs #Pittsburgh here we come. Looks like the Bears are ready to take on your Steelers...are your Steelers ready?

Thanks Roger. It would be great if we can learn from all of this and move forward without retaliation of any sort...we got nine more races to see how all this will settle out. At least MWR has given me plenty of things to talk about this past week and a half. Just too bad none of it is good or positive...other than to set an example to the rest of the teams of what NOT to do...

Sorry Roger...I don't bet. If betting went as my fantasy sports does, that means I'd just curse the Bears (which I probably already do since I have the Bears players on my team already...) so I don't want to curse them or cause them bad luck by placing a bet on them. Besides...we already know the Bears are the best football team. I mean they have won every seasonal game this year so far...now haven't they?

I think with all the news that has come forth this season, I think I have enough of it to write a book. Definitely not complaining...I love it. Well as long as it is all positive news about my drivers and no one getting hurt. Well it looks like NAPA has pulled their sponsorship from Michael Waltrip Racing...December 31, 2013 will be the official end of NAPA's full sponsorship of MWR driver Martin Truex Jr. “NAPA believes in fair play and does not condone actions such as those that led to the penalties assessed by NASCAR,†NAPA wrote on Facebook. “We remain supportive of the millions of NASCAR fans and will evaluate our future position in motorsports.†( NAPA Leaving MWR at the end of the Year) Michael Waltrip did make a statement about NAPA leaving...NAPA has been with Michael a long time. Be odd to see NAPA not associated with Michael Waltrip. He also did say a partial apology...I say partial because he apologized to the fans and not to the drivers that his actions had caused unnecessary drama for. Here is his statement: Michael Waltrip's NAPA Statement Here is another article that has more background info as well as what happened. MWR losing NAPA KNOW HOW/ Hmmm I wonder if by now Michael Waltrip is regretting his choice to manipulate the Chase/points as he did at Richmond...sad thing is though the innocent are the ones affected by it. I say that because as far as I know Martin Truex Jr. is the innocent party in this deal...him and Brian Vickers. And yet they both were thrown under the bus, so to speak, by Bowyer and Michael Waltrip in their conquest to manipulate the Chase/points as they did at Richmond. Sure the whole reason for Bowyer's spin was to get Truex Jr. in the Chase, but Truex Jr had no clue it was even happening. According to Truex Jr. he didn't even know he had a chance to get in the Chase. Truex Jr. left Richmond excited that he had made the Chase...only for a day or so later for NASCAR to pull him out of the Chase and put Ryan Newman in his spot. So now all because of Bowyer and Michael Waltrip, he was in the Chase...and then pulled out of the Chase. And now because of them, Truex Jr is losing his main sponsor. I would love to have a chance to ask Michael Waltrip and Clint Bowyer...if it was all worth it. But then again, don't know if I would believe their answer or not by now anyway. I feel bad for Martin Truex Jr. for being caught up in all of this. He is one of the good guys and don't deserve to be put in the middle the way he has been thanks to his boss and teammate...would like to hear his opinion towards them right now as well... I do however applaud NAPA for standing up for what they believe in and believing in doing the right thing. If you have time...it is a lengthy read, but Kelley Earnhardt (Dale Jr's sister) posted this blog about the subject on Facebook and I just got done reading it. (Dang...would love to be able to write a NASCAR blog! LOL. ) Anyway, it is a very good read and I agree with what he has to say about the whole deal...he is right on with everything. Here is his blog: NASCAR BLOG I know this whole ordeal caused a lot of drama for Jeff Gordon as he was the one that these actions affected...or as NASCAR put it, Gordon was the ripple effect of their actions. And trust me, this 24 fan was one upset fan after the Richmond race...but even if Gordon wasn't affected by MWR manipulating the Richmond race, I'd still be upset. For one...it is just wrong to cheat your way into the Chase or into anything. Second of all it was a very selfish act on MWR and Bowyer's part. And third, I did like and respect Michael Waltrip and was very disappointed to hear all this coming from him. Have to admit...I found it sad that NASCAR had to pull the drivers into a special meeting to tell them to race with everything they had, to give the race a hundred percent. Shouldn't that be just common sense? Understand helping a teammate out to a limit...give him a lap for an extra point here and there, let them borrow or use their set up, but not to change the outcome of the race. I don't know about you...but I hope we can all learn from this and move forward without any more retaliation or drawback from the Richmond race. But does make you wonder about MWR other two sponsors who also had made statements of not being happy with what they did and were investigating it...time will tell.

happy thirty-eightth birthday to ol' five time...jimmie johnson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well someone had to awaken this thread with a great song...might as well as be me. Love this Keith Urban song...another one of his songs that he puts such great emotion in. Especially when you see him sing it live in concert! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-oKxpQrRY4

Well race one of the Chase is in the books...leaving ONLY nine more races left of the season. I am already dreading the off season...why can't we just skip from Richmond to Daytona? Doesn't that sound fair? HA HA. Here is how the Chase looks after one race: Position Driver Points Behind Wins 1 Matt Kenseth 2063 6 2 Kyle Busch -8 4 3 Jimmie Johnson -11 4 4 Kevin Harvick -15 2 5 Carl Edwards -23 2 6 Kurt Busch -23 0 7 Jeff Gordon -24 0 8 Ryan Newman -28 1 8 Clint Bowyer -28 0 10 Kasey Kahne -31 2 10 Greg Biffle -31 1 12 Joey Logano -52 1 13 Dale Earnhardt Jr. -53 0 Also today is Jason Leffler's birthday...he'd have been 38 years old. RIP Jason. You are missed!

Well Roger...don't know if you know it yet or not, but this upcoming weekend is going to be a big one for both of us. Not only does your Pirates come to Chicago next Monday, but my BEARS go to your Pittsburgh on Sunday. You think your team is up for the Bears? After all, the Bears are 2-0 so far...meaning they have won every seasonal game this year! The Bears seem to have a great group of talented players playing for them this year and players who are supporting and protecting Jay Cutler...have heard a time or two, that this year is the Bears' year. So....are you ready????????????????????? LET'S GO CHICAGO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This has got to be one of the craziest seasons of NASCAR that I can remember...with all that has happened with the Chase. And with how many people are changing teams and leaving their team. With all that had happened last week, I had failed to report that Jeff Burton is leaving RCR (Richard Childress Racing) and that Ryan Newman will be racing the 31 car next year. (Sorry if I reported this already...wasn't sure if I did or not.) The latest is...Juan Pablo Montoya is leaving NASCAR completely and will be driving for Penske in the Indy car series.. for car number 2 in 2014. There is a lot of people moving around next year...am glad my team Hendrick will remain the same next year.

Well Matt Kenseth went on to win the opening race at Chicagoland, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon make the top six. Logano and Earnhardt Jr both had engine problems it sounds. I turned it off with about a hundred laps to go...Jeff Gordon led a few laps before Cole Whitt's car caught on fire to bring out the caution and then a debris caution. Carl Edwards made it four wide after a restart which gave Gordon a flat tire and looks like a lap down. I was on my way to bed when I heard / saw Gordon going into pits. So it wasn't the win I was hoping for...but with all things considered, am happy with sixth.

Thanks Roger. I was and still super excited with NASCAR's great decision about including Jeff Gordon in the Chase. The Chase now has a whole different meaning to it than it did before. Yep just turned the race on...Matt Kenseth is still out front followed by Jimmie Johnson.

I am pretty sure that the race will start at 10:00 EST on ESPN2. I will have to write my review tomorrow afternoon after work and I get home. Sorry for letting y'all down, but I doubt I will be up to see the end. Not happy about this but perhaps Gordon will do better without me...let's go team 24!

I am hearing rumors the race may restart 8:00 central time or 9 central time...hmmm doubt I will be able to stay up to watch the whole thing. I have to get up at four tomorrow morning. Dang work anyway!

If the race goes green later tonight...it will be on ESPN 2. ESPN has said they will report at six to see if anything else is planned. Will keep you updated. Dang...what a lousy way to start the Chase.

So far it has been a pretty good race. Jimmie Johnson and Joey Logano are said to be the fastest on the track... We are now red flagged for more rain. We are currently thirteen laps shy of the halfway mark...

Race command has been said and the cars are on the track...it is cloudy over the track. Expecting more rain later on...hoping it will hold off until AFTER the race is over.

We are currently under rain delay...surprise.

As Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane would say...I got some baaad news, baaadd news. The boys...and Danica are racing at Chicagoland tomorrow/today which is the closest track to where I live...and all week they have been predicting rain/thunderstorms this Sunday (which we need...just wish it wasn't race day...) and after hearing talk on Twitter, I finally looked it up for Joliet Illinois where Chicagoland is at. They have a SEVENTY percent chance of rain on Sunday. Just read someone say on Twitter that the rain is suppose to start in the morning and end around nine or ten at night! So if it rains it will mean hours of delay before they cancel it and race on Monday around noon...when I have to be at work. Bet you can guess who is NOT happy with this, right?

Well first off Hoss...sorry to say but I have seen several of your post comparing NASCAR to F1...and sorry to break it to you, but NASCAR is not F1. As for your question one of the reporters I follow on Twitter was asked the same thing and he said that start and park cars are OK because they go as far as the money allows them to go. Personally I find them more of an annoyance and wish they would go away with them completely. Understand that they are out there for those five laps looking for a sponsor, but how can you prove yourself enough to gain an extra sponsor when you are out there for five or fifteen laps? As for if helping a driver lead for a lap for a point or pushing him...am unsure at the moment. Another article on the meeting

NASCAR held their meeting with the drivers to discuss what is OK and what isn't OK when it comes to team orders and what not...thanks to Clint Bowyer's intentional spin at Richmond last Saturday night as well as Penske's deal with Front Row Racing for Gilliland to allow Logano to pass him to give Logano that extra point into the Chase. Here is some of what I am reading... *Drivers are to give the race a hundred percent of their ability *Changing the way the race is played out in any way will be punishable by NASCAR (Such as Bowyer's intentional spin to help Truex Jr into the Chase.) *Drivers are now only allowed to have on spotter. *The Spotter stand will now have a camera that NASCAR can watch spotter activity. * Only two analog radios will be issued to spotter, none digital. *Further changes will come forth on restarts...do think I read that they will come out with it tomorrow at Chicagoland. I got most of this info through Twitter and from NASCAR reporters that I follow on Twitter, but here is an article from NASCAR.com that holds most of what they are saying: Change in NASCAR Rules Know Gordon was looking forward to this meeting and getting things addressed and hoping that they have done that today. I have followed NASCAR for over fifteen years now and never see anything like this...and do believe Jeff Gordon had said the same thing - that he never saw any thing like this in his twenty years as a Sprint Cup driver. Sad that certain drivers and teams have put NASCAR in this corner where they are forced to try to right a wrong...where no matter what they do, negative criticism will be given to them. No way you can go and undo what has been done, but do believe NASCAR has done the right thing for everyone affected...though still feel bad for Martin Truex Jr who was taken out of the Chase to put Ryan Newman in. Am really hoping that everyone can learn from Richmond and move forward...that this is the END of this ugly mess that Bowyer, Michael Waltrip, Penske, and Front Row Racing has created in order to help themselves and their teammates.