Garrett Duke

Well I don't even know where to start with my post race review right now...I am so mixed with emotions right now I got a headache. For the most part, the race was very uneventful...expected for Homestead. Two debri cautions and one for Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr wrecking.. Jimmie Johnson came in twenty points behind Brad Keselowski and it went back and forth through out the race. Until during a routine green flag pit stop, the 48 crew forgot to put on a lug nut and had to go back in...then came out only for him to have engine problems to send him into the garage... To give Brad Keselowski the 2012 NASCAR championship...Jimmie Johnson finishes third in points as Clint Bowyer got his wish to finish second in points. (Clint Bowyer is 39 points behind Keselowski and JJ is 40 points behind Keselowski). Well Jeff Gordon had to finish ahead of Martin Truex Jr by five points today...with twenty laps to go or so, race leader Kyle Busch and Truex Jr had to pit...handing the lead over to JEFF GORDON. Oh and by the way, Clint Bowyer was behind Jeff Gordon, but never gave him much of a battle. JEFF GORDON WENT ON TO WIN HIS FIRST RACE AT HOMESTEAD...JEFF GORDON'S 87TH CAREER NASCAR WIN! Not only that, Jeff Gordon won with his 20 year special Dupont car. (Being a huge JEFF GORDON fan, I was yelling and screaming. Surprised the neighbors didn't come and see what was wrong. LOL) Love how classy Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus are as well as Jeff Gordon to congrutulate Brad despite losing the championship. Penske has been searching for the championship for two decades (Penske owns Keselowski's car) and finally got it. Penske is the only team who drives Dodge in NASCAR and will be switching to Ford next year. Great for Dodge to step out like that... Here is the final results: 1. Jeff Gordon 2. Clint Bowyer 3. Ryan Newman 4. Kyle Busch 5. Greg Biffle 6. Martin Truex Jr. 7. Aric Almirola 8. Kevin Harvick 9. Kurt Busch 10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 11. Paul Menard 12. Carl Edwards 13. Marcos Ambrose 14. Joey Logano 15. Brad Keselowski 16. Mark Martin 17. Tony Stewart 18. Matt Kenseth 19. Jeff Burton 20. Jamie McMurray 21. Kasey Kahne 22. Sam Hornish Jr. 23. Trevor Bayne 24. Denny Hamlin 25. Bobby Labonte 26. Travis Kvapil 27. Landon Cassill 28. Juan Montoya 29. Casey Mears 30. Regan Smith 31. David Ragan 32. Dave Blaney 33. David Gillilan.d 34. David Reutimann 35. J.J. Yeley 36. Jimmie Johnson 37. Ken Schrader 38. David Stremme 39. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 40. Josh Wise * 41. Michael McDowell 42. Scott Riggs 43. Mike Bliss Well there is exactly 98 more days until the 2013 NASCAR season starts at Daytona next year...my count down is ON as of now. I will post the official points tomorrow when the points will be official. As of right now the points are unofficial and don't want to over lap my review with points. No matter what, Brad Keselwoski is the 2012 season championship.

Wel there is 38 laps left of the season and this fan is NOT happy. Will write later...

Thanks Lizzy for the update...you are more up to date on it than I am. Happy for Ambrose to be starting at number one...he deserves a good break. As for Keselowski...hmmm just say I am a Jimmie Johnson fan. As Darrell Waltrip says on Facebook...I'm just sayin'. LOL It should be interesting to see who has the better race today between Keseowski and JJ and who is handed the championship trophy after today's race. Always feel bad for the winner of Homestead because their win always seemed to be shadowed over by whoever wins the championship...the championship driver seems to get the more publicity and the bigger spin outs and so forth...

Well first of all, for anyone who follows the Nationwide Series (y'all tell me if you want me to post results for that series...I can make a topic for that series as well...) today was their last race. Dale Earnhardt Jr's driver, Ragen Smith won the race. While Jack Rousch's driver, Ricky Stenhouse Jr won the championship by 23 points over Elliot Sadler thanks to Sadler's late race accident last week. Ricky Stenhouse Jr will be taking over Matt Kenseth's 17 car next year (also for Jack Rousch). Meanwhile the Sprint Cup Series' last race is tomorrow at Homestead - Miami. Dang, where has the season gone? Seems like it just started - NASCAR by far must have the shortest season...ever! LOL. I say that jokingly, I know their season is longer than most and going about nine month long...or short if you are me. Just can't believe at this time tomorrow, the champion will be crowned and my NASCAR withdrawl will officially start (it has already unofficially started...). Here is the starting line up for the Sprint Cup Series... 1. Joey Logano 2. Marcos Ambrose 3. Brad Keselowski 4. Carl Edwards 5. Aric Almirola 6. Clint Bowyer 7. Martin Truex Jr. 8. Kyle Busch 9. Mark Martin 10. Jimmie Johnson 11. Matt Kenseth 12. Kasey Kahne 13. Greg Biffle 14. Jamie McMurray 15. Jeff Gordon 16. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 17. Sam Hornish Jr. 18. Paul Menard 19. Ryan Newman 20. Trevor Bayne 21. Juan Montoya 22. David Stremme 23. Kevin Harvick 24. Regan Smith 25. Michael McDowell 26. Kurt Busch 27. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 28.Casey Mears 29. Mike Bliss 30. Landon Cassill 31. Dave Blaney 32. Bobby Labonte 33. Jeff Burton 34. David Ragan 35. Tony Stewart 36. Josh Wise* 37. David Reutimann 38. Travis Kvapil 39. J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 40. David Gilliland 41.Denny Hamlin+ 42. Ken Schrader+ 43. Scott Riggs Did Not Qualify 44. Reed Sorenson 45. Stephen Leicht* 46. Jason Leffler 47. Joe Nemechek + Set by Owner Points * Denotes Rookie Fingers crossed that ALL of our drivers will have a fun and safe race tomorrow and that all the drama has evaporated over this past week. Right now Jimmie Johnson is twenty points behind Brad Keselowski. According to the broadcasters during the race last week, Jimmie Johnson needs to lead the most laps and to win the race and for Brad Keselowski to finish 16th or worse for tomorrow's race.

LOL Roger. EXACTLY.Don't know why he makes such a big deal over his phone...he has better things to worry about out on the track than his phone and taking and sending pictures via Twitter.

Well I don't know how many of you would care one way or another on this but with all this negativity swirling around Jeff Gordon this week (totally disagree with it all...of course!) feel like it is time to shed some positive information on the driver of the 24 Sprint Cup car. Twenty years ago from TODAY (Thursday, November 15th) a young kid from California with a new sponsor to the sport climbed into the 24 car for Rick Hendrick. Jeff Gordon's first race was at Altanta which was the last race of the season and was also Richard "the King" Petty's last race. Congrats Jeff Gordon and Dupont on twenty great years in NASCAR! Sadly I didn't become a fan of NASCAR until 1997 or 1998 and really didn't understand the sport until '04 when the new point system started (sadly). But Gordon has been my favorite driver since the day I became a fan of NASCAR... This Sunday at Homestead Jeff Gordon and Dupont will have a special 20 year paint scheme...I for one can't wait to see it. Personally, I hope to get to see the car a lot and in Victory Lane when the the checkered flag drops.

Innocent driver? Like Jeff Gordon...would hate for that to happen. Uh I'd hate to see anyone get hurt in any way shape or form... If it would help Jimmie Johnson... (I'd love JJ to win the championship, but I am done with all of this. Gordon needs to stay FAR away from any further conflicts. On and off the track!) HA HA Roger. I hope Jeff Gordon is far away from thirtieth place on Sunday...but if Bowyer has anything to say about it he probably would like to see Gordon back there. I just hope those two will be able to stay FAR away from each other, but normally when drivers have conflicts like that, it seems like they find a way to get by each other.

Yeah hopefully they can go without any incident for one race...as well as for the month they are not racing. As far as electronics in the car, I assume they mean radios and phones and unneccary electronics in the car. Brad had posted a pic on Twitter in Feb of Montoya' wrecking the jet dryer at Daytona and someone said he had been warned about it then. Well obviously he didn't listen and the consequences followed...

Well after the ugly incident that happened on and off the track between Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer yesterday at Phoenix (Bowyer wrecked Gordon - third time this year - Gordon intentionally wrecked Bowyer. Bowyers crew went after Gordon to cause a fight...everyone called into the NASCAR hauler after the race...as I said, ugly incident.) the NASCAR judges have sent out their penalties. Jeff Gordon has been fined $100,000 - 25 driver points, and on probation through December 31st. Alan Gustafson, Gordon's crew cheif (I liked Alan before, but I have the utmost respect for him after yesterday.) is on probation until the end of the year as well. Gustafson didn't do anything but supposedly the cc is responsible for the driver and his crew. Jeff Gordon's car owner, Rick Hendrick has been fined 25 car owner points. Brian Pattie, crew cheif for Clint Bowyer, has been fined $25,000 and put on probation until the end of the year. (OK I must vent. I am a tad biased here...I understand Gordon's penalty and I accept it. It is better than what I was expecting and am very relieved and grateful. What I don't understand why Bowyer didn't get nothing for running after Gordon...or perhaps his entire crew who ATTACKED (or tried attacking Gordon. Gordon's crew pulled him away before they could) got nothing. I think the penalties are lopsided a little more than they should be. . .but with all things considered, perhaps I should stick with being grateful. ) But on a side note . . . NASCAR has also fined Brad Keselowski $25,000 dollars and put on probation until the end of the year as well. He was fined for violating the rule that says no electronics in the car. During the red flag the TV showed Keselowski typing something on his cell phone...which had me checking Twitter since Keselowski is big on Twitter...he had posted a pic (that someone had sent him) of the fight onto Twitter. URGH...All I have to say is that Clint Bowyer better be staying FAR AWAY from Jeff Gordon on Homestead. Both Bowyer and Pattie (his crew cheif) had threatened to take revenge at Homestead on Gordon. If they do, at least, NASCAR has it on tape and hopefully be handing out penalties to them - but I really HOPE it doesn't come down that. One more race to go of the season, before the dreaded off season starts....

Yeah a lot of NASCAR drama today...drama I could definately live without. Thanks Roger.

Yeah poor Ragen...poor Roger. Guess I kinda over looked that with all that had happened. Still can't believe...

Well the Tallede...I mean Phoenix race just got over. Though by the looks of the end of the race, one would think it was Talledega. My emotions are all over the place right now - but will attempt to keep them under control. Jimmie Johnson came into the race number one in points but left number two in points due to a tire sending him into the wall...and to the garage for 38 laps. Phoenix was Kyle Busch's show as he led the most laps but came home third when Kevin Harvick won the race when he drove past him on a restart. But I don't think this race will be remembered by any of that. I think it will be remembered by Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer. Jeff Gordon had run top ten all day until with five laps to go or so Clint Bowyer (for the THIRD time this year) got into Jeff Gordon to wreck him. Two laps to go, Jeff gets black flagged before Jeff Gordon gets his retaliation and runs Bowyer into the wall (Joey Logano got caught up in it) and the race was red flagged to clean up - with only one lap to go. Race red flag...and Clint Bowyer's team runs over and starts attacking Jeff Gordon and his crew. Bowyer climbs out of his car and runs over to Jeff Gordon. Gordon was quickly escorted to his garage before they all were called to the hauler...hauler had to be guarded by the police who would later escot him from the hauler. Personally, I am not for retaliation...am still surprised that he did this...but after being wrecked by the SAME driver, (Jeff would've won at Martinsville in the spring race except Bowyer wrecked him and JJ on the last lap), well Jeff has had enough. As I said, I don't go for retaliation, but will back Jeff a hundred percent on this after how Clint has raced him this year. Clint was seven or so points behind Jimmie Johnson in points to be third in points when this happened. Now Kasey Kahne is third. Hate it for Clint for him to be taken out of the championship hunt like this and am sure NASCAR will take that into consideration when they hand out their penalties. If that wasn't enough, once they go green flag, Jeff Burton went up and wrecked Danica Patrick who leaked oil over the track.. But since they were white flag, NASCAR di dn't throw a caution causing a lot of good cars to wreck crossing the finish line. Here is the finish line up: 1 Kevin Harvick 2 Denny Hamlin 3 Kyle Busch 4 Kasey Kahne 5 Ryan Newman 6 Brad Keselowski 7 Greg Biffle 8 Kurt Busch 9 Paul Menard 10 Mark Martin 11 Carl Edwards 12 Juan Montoya 13 Jeff Burton 14 Matt Kenseth 15 Bobby Labonte 16 Aric Almirola 17 Danica Patrick 18 Marcos Ambrose 19 Travis Kvapil 20 Tony Stewart 21 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 22 Casey Mears 23 Jamie McMurray 24 Regan Smith 25 Landon Cassill 26 Dave Blaney 27 Joey Logano 28 Clint Bowyer 29 Timmy Hill 30 Jeff Gordon 31 Sam Hornish Jr. 32 Jimmie Johnson 33 David Ragan 34 David Stremme 35 Stephen Leicht 36 David Gilliland 37 Josh Wise * 38 Michael McDowell 39 Joe Nemechek 40 David Reutimann 41 Mike Bliss 42 Jason Leffler 43 Martin Truex Jr. Well we have one more race at Homestead next Sunday where the championship trophy will be handed out to the number one in points. Clint Bowyer wouldn't deny it and his crew cheif has said they will get back next week. Personally am worried about that...will let y'all know what penalties will be handed out when they hand 'em out or I find out about it. Probably Tuesday. All I can say right now...this 24 and 48 fan is NOT happy with today's race.

Gotta love Alan Jackson and his music...keeping Country music true. Sadly when he first came to Nashville to be a Country singer he was turned away...saying he was too Country. Don't understand how Country Music could turn someone away for being too Country...I mean isn't that what he is suppose to sing? Ah well, look at him now, twenty years later...

No favorite driver? Who ever heard of such a crazy thing? LOL - just joking. Though personally, don't know if I'd be a fan of NASCAR if it wasn't for Jeff Gordon or having a favorite driver(s) to follow. Being into fantasy sports, can see how it would be interesting to just follow the players or drivers in your fantasy teams. Guess that way you wouldn't have to worry about what to do when your fantasy team/driver/player play your team and what not...but personally, don't know if I could do that. I'll be a fan of Chicago Sports til the day I die (All except for the White Sox...too big of a Cubs fan to be a fan of their cross town rivals). As for NASCAR Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson will always be my favorite, when that dreadful day comes and both aren't in racing no longer, then my loyalties will probably go to another Hendrick driver. If Hendrick closes up ... well don't know what I'll do. As far as fantasy goes...love how it gives me more teams, players, drivers to follow. It broadens my following span -especially in NASCAR. Instead of just watching and worrying about where my Hendrick boys are racing, I am looking out where my fantasy drivers are at as well...though as in all other sports, I'd rather have Jeff Gordon or JJ or Jr or Kahne win than a fantasy driver (if they are not on my fantasy team.) My personal favorites are always #1 before my fantasy teams and players. Guess I am going to have to watch what I write on here when it comes to NASCAR info...Roger may just use it agaisnt me next year. LOL. I never knew anyone who's goal was to beat me... Should make for a great fantasy NASCAR season!

Thanks for the response Hoss .

Well the next to last race will be at Phoenix on Sunday at 2 PM EST on ESPN. Don't know about you, but am already starting to feel the sour taste of NASCAR withdrawl starting to settle in... Here is the starting up for Sunday's race: 1. 18 Kyle Busch 2 56 Martin Truex Jr. 3 11 Denny Hamlin 4 5 Kasey Kahne 5 43 Aric Almirola 6 78 Kurt Busch 7 27 Paul Menard 8 51 Regan Smith 9 14 Tony Stewart 10 55 Mark Martin 11 24 Jeff Gordon 12 39 Ryan Newman 13 99 Carl Edwards 14 2 Brad Keselowski 15 20 Joey Logano 16 15 Clint Bowyer 17 9 Marcos Ambrose 18 1 Jamie McMurray 19 29 Kevin Harvick 20 16 Greg Biffle 21 42 Juan Montoya 22 17 Matt Kenseth 23 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 24 48 Jimmie Johnson 25 13 Casey Mears 26 22 Sam Hornish Jr. 27 83 Landon Cassill 28 98 Michael McDowell 29 34 David Ragan 30 47 Bobby Labonte 31 38 David Gilliland 32 30 David Stremme 33 31 Jeff Burton 34 144 David Reutimann 35 33 Stephen Leicht* 36 119 Mike Bliss 37 10 Danica Patrick 38 26 Josh Wise* 39 93 Travis Kvapil 40 191 Jason Leffler 41 32 Timmy Hill 42 36 Dave Blaney+ 43 87 Joe Nemechek + Set by Owner Points * Denotes Rookie Well I decided to try to copy and paste from NASCAR.com...plus edited out the sponosrs and qualifying speeds. Let me know if you would rather me do it this way or keep it to my original top ten starting positions. Can try and do this for finishes as well if you would like. Let me know...hope it is alright to copy and paste like that. Well perhaps I should go and post this on the NASCAR news, but as of right now it is not news but only rumor. Rumor has it that when Kevin Harvick's contract expires after next year (he drives for Richard Childress Racing) he will be leaving RCR and will be driving a new fourth car for SHR...Stewart - Haas Racing (Tony Stewart owns half of the team...and drives for it.) Right now only Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman drive full time for SHR with Danica Patrick driving part time in the third car. As I said, it is only rumor since Tony Stewart is refusing to talk about it at the moment...

Well then Roger, perhaps I should say, WELCOME TO JUNIOR NATION! Though what is wrong with Jimmie Johnson who you went for last year or perhaps Jeff Gordon? Perhaps if you became a fan all of that nasty bad luck he has had this year will evaporate...LOL. Hopefully for Ragen's sake next year will be better for him, but the only way that I can see that happening is if he got a new ride. One with more money behind it. I am looking forward to fantasy NASCAR...espcially with you in it.

Roger - you will be missed around here...know you will be welcomed back with a smile whenever you feel it is ready to return to the computer. Hope all is well with you and everyone at your house... Though couldn't this break of your's wait a couple of weeks? I mean, afterall, there is only TWO races remaining of the NASCAR season...meaning you are going to miss out on two great and important reviews written by a die hard NASCAR fan. Seriously though, hope all is well with you and that you will be able to enjoy your break.

You are welcome...eh don't give up on poor David. He is driving for an unfunded team. Gordon and Johnson has the best of the best equipment in their car and on their suit...best of everything. David's team doesn't have the money to do all the testing and have the best of everything on their car. Though he kinda did have that with Roucsh before Rousch let him go...perhaps next year will be better for Ragen.

Well Roger you were pretty darn close in your predictions...and if Mark Martin didn't spin out you probably would have been right on. First half of the race nothing much had really happened...Jimmie Johnson dominated the first half but when it went on, he was passed and Keselwoski led a lot of laps. There was nine cautions...several for debris or for people wrecking. AJ Allmendinger wrecked as did Juan Pablo Montoya. Jeff Gordon who started in 16th was quick to make it to the top ten and was in second...and then he got a flat or something (had left for seven minutes or so and he was 25th when I got out to watch...was not happy) he ended up finishing 14th after he was involved in another wreck. Biffle was racing him hard and he got caught up with teammate Kasey Kahne to ruin Kahne's night. Last pit stop Keselowski went with two tires instead of four to get the lead with Johnson second. Johnson and him were racing hard when Keselowski tried wrecking Johnson to send Johnson back. Carl Edwards spun Mark Martin out to drag out the last caution and to even the racing field out again...Johnson was able to take the lead and go on to win the race. Here is the top ten finishers of today's race: 1. Jimmie Johnson 2. Brad Keselowski 3. Kyle Busch 4. Matt Kenseth 5. Tony Stewart 6. Clint Bowyer 7. Dale Earnhardt Jr 8. Kurt Busch 9. Kevin Harvick 10. Greg Biffle Talking about Kevin Harvick, he got his car ruined before they even started racing. They had parachutes going down in the infield of the track when one went down the sandbag hit the side of his car to dent his door. Didn't seem to affect him since he got a top ten out of today's race. With two races remaining...Jimmie Johnson is seven points a head of Brad Keselowski.

Jay Cutler / Bears commercial Being a HUGE Bears fan...love this commercial.

Oh Roger...where does Gordon fit into your prediction? LOL. You may be right...but personally am hoping Johnson will finish before Keselowski for the next three races. My opinion and we know how little that is worth. Thanks Roger for the post...

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be racing at the Lone Star state tomorrow at 2:00 EST on ESPN. I do plan on watching it and hope to watch the whole race, but will be watching my neice and nephew so my review of the race may be a day late or so...but will do my best to get my review of the Texas race as soon as I can. Here is the top ten qualifiers for tomorrow's race: 1. Jimmie Johnson (two poles in a row...first at Texas) 2. Greg Biffle 3. Kyle Busch 4. Clint Bowyer 5. Martin Truex Jr 6. Joey Logano 7. Trevor Bayne 8. Brad Keselowski 9. Carl Edwards 10. Matt Kenseth