Garrett Duke

Well NASCAR is on a roll with new changes for the 2014 season...and we are only 18 days from the Daytona 500! First it was the rumored change in the Chase, then the change to the qualifying, then the factual change to the Chase...and now this! The way they are going, they might as well as throw everythig away and start all over again! (I say that with a lot of sarcasm if you can't tell. Don't understand why they have to make such drastic changes all at once like this....) Anyway the new change is now in their penalty system. (Perhaps this new change will mean that they will be consistant with their penalties and not just throwing it at certain drivers and not others? I can only HOPE!!!! If that is what this change will do, I will be happy. But am not holding my breath on that....) So I guess they now have a six tier based system to go on. Starting with a warning for first time offenses or minor offenses. Then it goes from one to six...and since I really don't understand it at this time, I will post the link that will explain it more accurately than I would. NASCAR's new penalty structure (Yahoo.com article) Personally I really don't know what to think about this new change. Will have to go over it more and watch and see how NASCAR will handle it. If they treat ALL the drivers the same, then great. But what irritates me is when they will penalize one driver and yet won't penalize another driver for doing the same thing or worse.

Well, y'all, I just got finished with my new post in my blog about the qualifying changes and the Chase changes. I do believe I went more in depth in my blog as I had more time to do so. Please let me know what you think.... My new blog post!

Yeah...I do believe there is a couple of 'em lurking around here that need to be cuffed n' stuffed. Even Hoss said himself he was stealing it. At least he confessed to it.

I heard that too Roger and if that is the real reason behind the change well then...it is even more upsetting. Don't get me wrong, I do like Dale Jr. He is my third favorite driver...but you don't go changing rules just to help one driver. He was the main reason why they pushed the Chase field to twelve drivers. It was originally set at ten drivers but then one year Gordon and Jr didn't make it...so they shoved it to twelve to help Jr out. I get he is the most popular driver...but what ever happened to letting the best guy win? Oh wait...the entire Chase seems to be set against that idea. And to be honest...that idea came to mind when they first started talking about it...that this was NASCAR's way of trying to dethrone Jimmie Johnson. But personally, I feel like they will fail at it. I think it will take a lot to dethrone Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus. Even Richard Petty said that he won his seven championships under several different changes...want to say he said five, but am not sure. As for the qualifying order, sorry Hoss I didn't get the info correct. I got the general gist of it. I will try better next time. I am sure it does add for some excitement. Especially when drivers start wrecking each other to get the better qualifying run...just my fear of the whole thing. The qualifying change and the chase change. It was bad enough having Bowyer and Waltrip manipulate the points last year...to me it seems NASCAR is just asking for more of that with all this change. My opinion...

Y'all hijacking my thread again...I'm gonna have to call in ol' Rosco and report ya. He may just have to throw you under the jail for this! Well the 2014 NASCAR season has yet to start (there is a lucky number 24 days left til Daytona...though I wish it was only one!) and NASCAR has gone through and made some DRASTIC changes for qualifying and the Chase. Changes that has left this die hard NASCAR fan very unhappy....though I guess I will have to give it a chance. First off a week or so ago they came out saying that they will change the way that they qualify for each race. I guess they will do it different for the length of the track and I wish I had more info on that right now. But they are going to seperate them into segments. The first one they all will qualify together and then have a break before the top twelve will qualify together. At least that is at some of the tracks. Here is the link to the new change in qualifying...Changes in qualifying And drastic change number two was reveiled today...though it was talked about a week or so ago. I have to admit, I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now.... They are now changing the Chase format. Instead of twelve drivers going into the Chase, there will be sixteen drivers. (Pretty much makes it where you win, you're in.) And then every three races in the Chase, they will eliminate drivers until there is only four drivers competing for the win at Homestead. New Chase format Have to admit...I don't like this at all. I get that they want to empasis on winning. Winning is important, but what happens to the driver who is consistant throughout the entire season? Or what happens to the driver who wins the most but has engine problems at Homestead? Also what is to say that someone outside of the Chase won't wreck a Chase driver? And perhaps NASCAR should be reminded of what happened at Richmond last season with Michael Waltrip and Clint Bowyer...this elimination theory will only promote more of that. They keep saying that this is what the fans want...but the majority of the fans reactions that I have read on Facebook has been negative towards all this. I am not a fan of the Chase...personally, I'd rather them ditch the Chase all together and go back to the old format of racing. Going for points. Being consitant throughout the whole season. Perhaps I am a bit biased here, but in '07 Gordon had an average of fifth place and was four hundred points ahead of everyone before the Chase...he entered teh Chase second due to JJ having an extra win and the points wiped away. Gordon finished the season second behind JJ due to that win. Even if it wasn't Gordon, I find it totally wrong that he could have such a strong season and yet finish second due to this Chase. I will be a NASCAR fan no matter what. But this has me shaking my head and upset. Perhaps I am wrong, but with the qualifying changes and the Chase, all they seem to be asking for is chaos and wrecking each other out to get the best qualifying spot. To stay in the Chase. Well I gave my two cents worth on it all...what you think?

I don't know why it is giving everyone a hard time this year. You are not the only one who has said that. Dang thing. Am glad that you were able to make it work! I want you on my team.

Well my Bears didn't make it this year...and my second team, the Panthers got beat out of it...as did Jeff Gordon's 49ers. So I really don't have a call in it...but my aunt is from Colorado and likes the Broncos. And I know this isn't a NASCAR thread nor are we talking NASCAR... Kasey Kahne likes the Seahawks...and Kyle Busch likes the Broncos. They have a bet going on where who ever's team loses they will have to wear the winning team's jersey and hat during speed weeks next month. LOL. That story about the Seahawk player that is completely deaf (is it Derrick Coleman?) is really touching. About the deaf twins writing him and Derrick writing him back. Sounds like a great guy. Wish you the best of luck to your Seahawks MM...hope they win for you. Do believe they have their work cut out for them with the Broncos...but they seem to have done great too to make it this far.

Thanks Roger for your support. It is probably one of the easiest fantasy sports to play...heck you can fill out one team every week while playing in several leagues as I do and it goes to every league. The hardest part is picking the drivers...but Yahoo Fantasy has their own "expert" players that show their drivers when they pick them...plus if you click on the driver's name, you can see what track they are good at and how many wins and stats at each track that they have done. I wouldn't think asking a friend for advice would be cheating. You could always ask me help too...though don't get mad at me if the driver crashes out or has car troubles. LOL. As for me...I manage to do average every year. The first year I won, but it was against two guys who didn't follow NASCAR...that is the only time I won anything at fantasy sports. Think I came in second a time or two in NASCAR and football. I would like to think I do good in my picking, but I normally jinx the drivers I pick and they end up wrecking out or something when I pick them...and the weeks I don't pick 'em they have great finishes. URGH. LOL.

How come I am starting to feel like I am outnumbered here? Can't see how any other form of racing could possibly even measure up to NASCAR and yet you seem to find ways to hijack my NASCAR threads and pollute them with your F1 racing. LOL. I did see something about Gene Haas and F1 but didn't read much into it. Wishing him the best of luck if he does go that route...perhaps then you will turn into a Tony Stewart fan? LOL. Though, Hoss, you'd be better off going with Stenhouse Jr...he doesn't seem to create as much drama as Stewart tends to do with his temper. (Hope y'all don't mind if I steal my thread back and turn back to NASCAR...) Well talking about drama...NASCAR seems to know how to create it. Or at least to draw reaction from everyone. With just over a month left of this horrible off season, NASCAR is now talking about changing the Chase...again...this season. Right now it is not official and is something they are discussing...or as I read on a Yahoo! article, NASCAR seems to like to throw ideas out and see the reaction. So maybe that is all that it is (and personally hope that it doesn't go any farther than that!) What they are talking about is extending the Chase field from twelve drivers to sixteen drivers...making it so that all you have to do is win a race and they are pretty much in the Chase. And then after that have an elimination format where they eliminate a number of drivers after a couple of races until there is only four drivers going for the championship at the last race in Homestead. If they go through with it, I will report it with more detail...right now I don't have the time. But if you ask me, which no one has, but here is my OPINION anyways...all this is going to do is create more drama as we had at Richmond last season. More races where teams will try to manipulate the points to help them or their team into the Chase or to stay in the Chase. And trust me, I get it, that they want to capitalize on WINNING...which is great. But what happens to the drivers who wins a race or two and have consistant top ten races through the season or during the Chase? They get eliminating just because another driver has an extra win and isn't as consistant? Personally, I wish they would just get rid of the Chase. Have the drivers go after the points as they use to. I understand they want to have the play off format, have the world series type event...but this is NASCAR, not baseball or football. To me, there is something wrong when a driver can have a top five average during the regular season, be ahead by four hundred points, and finish the season second due to the other driver having one more win and due to the Chase wiping the points away. As I said all this is what they are talking about doing and NOTHING is official as of yet and whenever anything comes official, I will let y'all know. In the meantime.... What do you think?

Well I read on Facebook yesterday that Schumacker may spend the rest of his life in a coma. Doctors say they won't wake him up unless they see a lot of improvement or something like that. Just incredibly sad. Thoughts and prayers for Michael and his family.

Well I just found out that for the password, it is NOT capitalized...the password is nascar24

Well y'all...they finally did it! Yahoo has finally opened up their fantasy NASCAR up...and guess who already made their league? I DID! I am super excited for the season to start...if you can't tell. This has got to be the LONGEST NASCAR off season ever... Just as last year, am looking to see who all would be interested in joining my league. All are welcome. It is free, easy, and all for fun! Would love to have some Duke friends/fans on my league. Here is the info you may need to join my league (Have to go to Yahoo.com. Have a Yahoo.com address I think (which is free) and go to their fantasy page and then Auto Racing fantasy...) My league's name is Gordon's Drive for Five (though you don't have to have to be a Gordon fan to play... ) Group ID Number: 947 Password: NASCAR24 Or you could send me your email address here or in a PM and I can send you an invite. That may be an easier way to do it. As I said, it is all for free and it is real simple...here is my short summary of how it works. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know and I will try to help any way I can. For all that is somewhat interested, here are some of the rules or how it works: *Every week you chose eight drivers to be in your team that week (or if you don't change it the next week, it will stay with last week's picks.) * Four of the drivers are starters, the other four are bench drivers. The starter drivers you will get points for where they qualify at, for laps led, and where they finish the race at. Whereas the bench drivers will get you points for where they qualify at ... so for them it don't matter if they finish first or last or last. *There are three groups of drivers. Group A (the more seasoned drivers, drivers that win more...) Group B (drivers that are good, but don't win as often) and Group C (the underdog drivers...the rookies and the drivers that you don't think of to win races.) *From Group A you pick one starter driver and one bench driver. From Group B you pick two starters and two bench. From Group C you pick one starter, one bench. On Yahoo they do have driver stats and expert picks that you can use from race to race - though it don't neccesarily mean a great finish (Here is an example of what a roster may look like: Group A: Jeff Gordon (S) Jimmie Johnson ( Group B: Dale Jr (S) Jamie McMurray (S) Ryan Newman ( AJ Allmendinger ( Group C: Michael Waltrip (S) Paul Menard () *For starters, you can only use a driver nine times (Bummer, I know. I'd love to use Gordon all 36 races...oh well. ) That is all I can think of as rules right now...I find it fun and entertaining. It gives me more than just Gordon, Johnson, and Jr to follow throughout the whole race. I am really looking forward to the NASCAR season to start up and to get back to playing NASCAR fantasy!

I was going for the Panthers too...but am happy for the 49ers. As I said, they are Gordon's team, so I have to go for them. Sounds reasonable, right? LOL Hobie...that would make things interesting having Hazzard High in there competing.

Congrats MM on your Seahawks winning today!!!!!!! So, did you have a huge party to watch the game and to celebrate the win??? Will you if they make it to the Super Bowl? My football season ends when my Bear's football season ends, so needless to say, I didn't watch the game, but I was going for them for you...and well, for Kasey Kahne. He is a big Seahawks fan and I know he was excited about the game the other day when I heard him being interviewed...he said that if the Panthers beat the 49ers tomorrow and the Seahawks play the Panthers in Seattle next week that he will go to the game. As I said my Bears are not in it so I am not watching much football...but the Panthers are my second favorite team, so I am pulling for them to win tomorrow. I am a big Cam Newton fan...their QB. I have had him as my fantasy football QB ever since he has made it pro and he has yet to let me down...LOL. Though if they do happen to lose, I will be happy for the 49ers as well. . .seeing on how they are Gordon's favorite team. LOL. See what NASCAR's off season has led me to? Going for my driver's favorite teams...(JJ likes the Chargers and the Panthers...while Dale Jr is a HUGE Redskins fan.) C'mon Daytona...43 more days and counting down...

LOL Hoss. I guess that would be pretty interesting and I am sure the announcers and the media will have a hay day with it as well. So far he is off to a good start. Thursday and Friday the Sprint Cup had their practice/testing at Daytona. Thursday it was rained out...really hope that is NOT the trend this season. URGH. Friday went as planned. Sadly I didn't get to watch it. Though today was the Nationwide Series and I read that with help from his dad, Bill Elliot, Chase Elliot came in as the fastest driver. Not too bad for a first test in NASCAR... Thanks Liz for the words of encouragement for this Jeff Gordon fan! They have been talking about Jeff Gordon and retirement for the past few years now. Don't know if it is because he has kids now or what, but they need to stop talking about that dread r word with him! LOL. I am hoping he has several good years in him... Oooo talking about NASCAR. Did hear some news the other day that does have me a bit sad. Dale Earnhardt Jr's crew chief Steve Letarte has came forth to say that this will be his last year. He will be stepping down and will help be an announcer when ABC will start showing the races. Happy for him, but sad to see him leave as Jr's crew chief. He is a good guy. He use to be Gordon's crew chief before they switched garages/ crews / cars with Gordon, Jr, and Kahne (Well it was Mark Martin at that time...).

Well I just wrote a blog about Chase! Here is the address if you want to check it out. Feel free to tell me what ya think. My Blog

Not a problem. Have been thinking of him and his family since it has happened. Been keeping track of it through several pages on Facebook that I have liked (NASCAR related). Just so sad. Especially it happening during the holidays and so close to his birthday. I really hope he will pull through this. I do have some NASCAR news to report that I am excited about...so I hope you don't mind that I share it here instead of starting another post. The past couple of years ago I have been keeping tabs of an up and coming Hendrick driver...Chase Elliot. He has drove one truck series race last year but it was mainly ARCA and other type series that drivers normally go through before coming to NASCAR. Hendrick must own teams or something in those series since he has been driving for Hendrick. I know he won a couple races in the series he was racing in and do believe they said he was the youngest driver to do so. . .so he has been fun to follow. Haven't really seen him race, but have been following him on Facebook and reading on how he has done since he was for Hendrick...as well as another reason (will get to that later..). Chase Elliot is Bill Elliot's eighteen year old son. Awesome Bill from Dawsonville I believe they called him. Bill is an retired race car driver (though he has ran a few races here and there...do believe he may have a ride for Daytona this year) so perhaps it isn't a surprise that his son his following his footsteps. Or that he is good at it. Anyway, my awesome news is....(drumroll...) That Chase Elliot will drive full time for JR Motorsports this upcoming 2014 season and will be sponsored by NAPA! (Michael Waltrip/Matin Truex Jr's sponsor that left after their whole ordeal at Richmond...) Dale Earnhardt Jr owns JR Motorsports with his sister Kelley Earnhardt in the Nationwide Series and now will have Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliot racing for him in 2014. Personally, I am excited to see what Chase will do in the Nationwide Series...with a good car. (As most know, Dale Jr drives for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Series...) To see how he will do against other Nationwide Series drivers as well as the Sprint Cup drivers that race in the Nationwide Series. Though I am excited about all this, I am also a big saddened by it. I am saddened by it because it has been said that Chase Elliot will be the driver who will take over the 24 car when Jeff Gordon retires. And as y'all know, I am a HUGE Jeff Gordon fan! I hate the thought of Gordon retiring. Dread that day. Can't stand to think of a day where there will be someone else behind the wheel of the 24 car...just seems so wrong. NASCAR without Jeff Gordon seems all wrong to me. Though Gordon is 42 years old. The word RETIRE has been floating around with his name for some time now. (Though I find it odd that Tony Stewart is 42 years old...several months older than Gordon and yet no one mentions the word retire when saying Stewart's name. Just sayin'...) And personally, know that sooner or later they will all retire. I just hope that Gordon and the rest of the rest of the Hendrick drivers will last several more years...Gordon himself hasn't really came out when he will retire but has said that he will still be around when he does finally give in and retire. (Did say that he wants to race long enough for his kids to be able to enjoy it and remember it. Ella is six years old and Leo is three years old. So hopefully that means Gordon has several more years behind the wheel of the 24 car!) And I am sure Chase will take a few years in Nationwide Series before being "ready" for the Sprint Cup... So I guess...if anyone is to take over Gordon's ride...I would happy with Chase Elliot. Just hope it will be a few years...am not ready to see Gordon go. Then again, I don't think I ever will be. He was the first driver I liked...and will always be my favorite! Will be keeping track of Chase in the Nationwide Series and hope him the best of luck...

No need to be sorry Hoss...I was going to post it myself. I just didn't get to the computer until now. I really hope Michael will pull through all of this. How scary and sad...

Sorry to hear that Roger.

Thanks Hoss for giving me a chance to share another GREAT song from my favorite Country artist; Kenny Chesney. I could listen to his music over and over again. He helps turn a bad day into a better day. This song is no exception...love it! Come Over - Kenny Chesney

I hope you have super great birthday MM.

Well this song has more than one word, but had to post it with Christmas tomorrow...Hoss will love their dance moves!

I really hope you get feeling better soon MM...not fun being sick...even worse when you have to work through it all. Merry Christmas to MM and to everyone. I hope you will get to spend it with family and friends and it will be all together a great day for all. Hope 2014 will be great for all as well!

Well y'all, I got the best NASCAR news ever...well Ok perhaps not the best...well ok perhaps not news at all, but I thought I would let you know all the same... I have finally gone and done it! I have created my own NASCAR blog!!! Feel free to follow it or not, just thought I would share it with you. Just posted my first blog ever! NASCAR: A Fan's View

Well, I don't know how newsworthy this is since it has been rumored for a couple of months now, but Richard Childress has made the "news" official this past week. Childress is a car owner and had owned Dale Earnhardt Sr's car...Sr use to drive for Childress. Austin Dillion, Childress' grandson, will be racing for Richard Childress in the Sprint Cup this season...using the number three. The number three hasn't been used in Sprint Cup since Dale Earnhardt Sr had died in the closing laps of the 2001 Daytona 500... except I do believe Dale Jr drove it once for a promotional deal or some sort of thing...could be wrong. This seems to be an controversal topic in NASCAR since Dale Sr was so big and all. Personally, I don't really see what the big deal is that another driver is using the number three. It is an iconic number and probably always be associated with Dale Sr...I do get that. But NASCAR isn't like baseball or football where a team will retire a major player's number after he retires to respect all that he has done for their team, for the sport. Where as in baseball, football, hockey, or basketball there could be a lot of players with the same number, just a different team, NASCAR don't use the same number in different team, but ALL the drivers have a different number. You retire the number three for Dale Sr, where do you stop? He is not the only driver who has died too early...so would they retire their number too? Or how about the number 43 for Richard Petty...after all no one else will ever begin to compete with his two hundred wins... So I do agree with using the number three again, though don't know if I would give it to a kid as Dillion the first year in Cup. That is a big number to live up to and to be associated with. Am grateful that his car will be sponosered by Cheerios and will be yellow and not the black that Dale Sr drove. Smart move there. It will be interesting to see what Austin Dillion can do in a Cup car on a full schedule...as well as Kyle Larson who will be driving for Ganassi. . . So what y'all think of Dillion driving the number three? (Oh by the way...there is 70 more days til the Daytona 500. At this rate, don't think it will ever get here!!!)