Garrett Duke

Uh oops perhaps the caps magically got stuck when I wrote Jeff Gordon's name down because I for one don't play favoritisms at all. There is 43 GREAT drivers on the track and sadly only ONE gets to start from the pole...just so happens to be my favo...to be Jeff Gordon starting from the pole. HA HA. Well OK...so I got a tad excited when I saw my driver won the pole for the second time this season. Sorry for picking favoritisms, but after having such a strong car last week only to hit the wall and finish 35th last week, I do believe I should be able to get a tad excited when he wins the pole the next weekend. Especially since he has had such an up and down year this year... Am I wrong to feel that way? DAVID RAGEN, TONY STEWART, DALE EARNHARDT JR, JIMMIE JOHNSON... Well there are the drivers...all in caps...that I know of someone on this great board likes. So, are you happy, Roger? I didn't even include Jeff Gordon on that list... But since I am no longer able to express my excitement over my driver's achievements, I guess I'll just call it quits. . .ah never mind, I'll follow NHL's great example and go on lock down. Or go on strike like the NFL refs... Wonder how much money I can earn if I go on lock down long enough? How much money y'all would pay me to come back and write about NASCAR...gotta be more than what I am earning now. Better question would be if I could have enough discipline not to talk about NASCAR...especially after race day. Y'all give me the prime opportunity to talk about the one thing I love talking about...NASCAR. Thank you for putting up with and reading my NASCAR news and reports, reviews...and for putting up with my favoritisms. LOL...so hard not to do, but will do better.. Or try to do better...

The next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is at Loudon, New Hampshire at 1:00 PM EST on ESPN...race number two of the 2012 Chase. Here is the top ten starting line up: 1. JEFF GORDON 2. Kyle Busch 3. Tony Stewart 4. Brian Vickers 5. Carl Edwards 6. Kasey Kahne 7. Paul Menard 8. Ryan Newman 9. Martin Truex Jr 10. Dave Blaney Dale Earnhardt Jr will start 14th, Jimmie Johnson 20th, and David Ragen 26th.

Wow Roger, didn't know you were such attached to a car that doesn't move. Didn't mean to offend you by pointing out the negative yet true statements about the description of your car. Am sure that two percent rust free section of your car is beautiful and am sure it was a great car in it's day and you loved it immensely. Sadly I am not a mechanic and I know very little about fixing a car and all that fancy stuff. I work at a day care and the extent of fixing up a car comes with toy cars...HA HA. But even with my lack of knowledge (Thanks to NASCAR...HA HA and Jeff Hammond) I do know that cars do need transmissions, fuel pumps, and alternators to get anywhere. Sorry Roger...that there is a fact and you can't change a fact like that. Sometimes, well, reality hurts. Sorry bud. Hate to be the one to break it to you, but sooner or later you will have to realize and know this. No hard feelings towards you or your car. I am not a negative person...just a truthful person. Though am sure your chickens love checking themselves out in your rearview mirror and dancing along with your 8 track player. Does it have any New Kids on the Block music? Am sure your chickens would really love listening to the New Kids.

I've been hearing that Penske is thinking more open wheel for AJ...which will make me sad since I really don't get to watch those kind of races and already miss seeing AJ on the track. But perhaps that is just me. Well Roger perhaps I am reading in between the lines here, but I am getting the hint that you are not an AJ fan and would rather see him suspended than reinstated and able to race. I am pretty sure that no NASCAR official would EVER pass that car for pre race inspection not alone on the track and post race inspection. Plus eight hundred dollars may not sound too much for a car, but he'll have to have more money to add the transmission because I am pretty sure no car will move without a transmission or an alternator or a fuel pump. Hmmm add all that up he might as well as buy a new car, don't you think? Of course I don't know how much those are but when I had to get my transmission switched, I remember it being a pretty ugly penny. LOL. And I never seen any livestock in a race car before, but would feel bad for them chickens being drove two hundred miles per hour in circles like that...AJ would get cited for throwing eggs out his window or something... Am sure AJ would appreciate the offer Roger...not everyone is willing to give up a prize car like that to just anyone. But get do have a feeling he'd have to decline your offer...all thanks to them pesky NASCAR officials.

Well I don't know if anyone else is following the whole ordeal with AJ Allmendinger on here or if it is just me and I am boring you all with it. But it is NASCAR newsworthy... AJ ALLMENDINGER HAS COMPLETED HIS ROAD TO RECOVERY PROGRAM AND HAS BEEN REINSTATED INTO NASCAR! As for now, all that means, is that he is able to race at any level in NASCAR...if he has a ride. As of now, he don't have one. Roger Penske has given his old car to Joey Logano next season...though had said he would be willing to give him a ride if able. Don't know what Penske has in mind, but if something does come up, will make sure to let y'all know.

Am torn with baseball usually watch it during the commercials as well...but if the Cubs went post season next year, well, NASCAR may meet it's match. Hope I have that problem next year...would be a great problem to have. Yeah, Roger, me too. (About Jeff Gordon not being hurt) they really have a lot of great safety gear in the car and on the track. Saves lives and reduces injury.

Another great Tim McGraw song...

I am still trying to figure out how you googled CHICAGO BEARS and came up with polar, grizzley, brown and black bears. I may not live in Chicago, but am pretty sure that no grizzley, brown, black, or polar bears live in Chicago either. Except perhaps the zoo. If your google came up with teddy bears and all that stuff in Chicago, your google is BROKEN and I'd call your internet provider and complain to them about it. After all, I would assume you would want to get your money worth for your internet and if it is that INACCURATE you are definately being ROBBED. Heck perhaps ol' Boss Hogg is behind your internet provider to give you such faulty info as that... I know this is a different sport and all Roger, but had to ask since we are talking about CHICAGO here. You happen to watch the Cubs - Pirates game yesterday? Wasn't that a beautiful grandslam home run the Cubs ROOKIE first baseman hit? Sure Pirates fans as yourself didn't see it so beautiful, but after the whole Gordon ordeal yesterday, it made my day. Another reason to never give up hope...Cubs were down 1-6 at one point, came back to win the game. This Cubs fan...loved it! Though did feel bad for you since I do know you are a fan of the Pirates, know I'd be a little disappointed if I were in your shoes. But hey after the hard luck both the Cubs and Jeff Gordon has had this year, I will definately take it. And since two out of my three teams are suffering from Duke type luck (BAD), that only means that the CHICAGO BEARS have to go and win the SUPER BOWL this year. If they have a bad season, I will be convinced that it is me that is giving my teams all this bad luck and would hate to think that. GO CHICAGO BEARS !!!!

Popcorn

Yeah it must be difficult on NASCAR to compete with the NFL...I will always take NASCAR over NFL.. So they have nothing to worry about with losing me...except for during commercial breaks. You are welcome. You know I like talking NASCAR. Oops...guess I forgot to mention the most important thing. Jeff was fine...just disappointed. Glad he is OK, that is the main thing.

Chicagoland is over and the only two big events of the race effected my top two drivers . . .in a bad way. Other than that, not much had happened today. Jeff Gordon was quick went from starting 19th and was racing in fourth place when his throttle stuck or broke and he hit the wall...HARD. Ended his day and he finished 35th. Definately not the way I wanted the chase to start for the 24 team. Jimmie Johnson led the most laps to day from starting from the pole. Last pit stop he came in a lap before Brad Keselowski and came out with Brad. On the track, Brad passed Jimmie and Brad went onto win the race. Second place for JJ is great, but was really hoping for a win after Gordon's ordeal. Ah well... Here is the top ten finishes for today's race: 1. Brad Keselowski 2. Jimmie Johnson 3. Kasey Kahne 4. Kyle Busch 5. Ryan Newman 6. Tony Stewart 7. Joey Logano 8. Dale Earnhardt Jr 9. Martin Truex Jr 10. Clint Bowyer Now onto Loudon next Sunday for chase race number 2...

Whisper

Wow Roger...those diamonds on the Steeler's symbol must be bright and blinding you if you think the Bears is a hockey team. Bears are NFL football...Chicago Blackhawks are their hockey team. I heard the hockey players are going on strike...guess every sport has to go on strike at some point. Feel bad for their fans...know I hated it when baseball was on strike. Wasn't very happy last year with it with football. . .

Drivers thirteen in points and down to 43rd all racing for the 13th spot and a million dollars. The last ten races for the non chase drivers are races they generally start trying new things, trying for things to work for in the next season. The last ten races for the non chase drivers, they have nothing to lose...glad NASCAR had stepped up and does protect the chase drivers, because in '04 when the chase started Robby Gordon got upset at a chase driver and spun him out...one bad race you could lose you the championship. Hope that helps a little. Plus it is more exciting, I would think, having all 43 drivers out on the track rather than just twelve cars. But that would be interesting all in yourselfe. NASCAR probably didn't do that because that would infuriate the fans of the nonchase drivers...just think of Jr Nation last year when he didn't make the chase. This is the first time in awhile Jr had made the chase and is a threat....know the couple of times Gordon didn't make the chase, NASCAR would mean little to me on Sundays. Talking about Jeff Gordon...Brad Daughtery said last weekend if Gordon made the chase, he'd wear a Gordon shirt. Prerace show comes on and he is not wearing one and I was just thinking of what a liar he is or perhaps I misunderstood him...well they were in the middle of talking about Brad Keselwoski and Jeff Gordon comes in and gives him a shirt! Love it. Perhaps Brad will take Gordon more seriously now...

You are welcome Roger. Well Roger you have highly disappointed me to hear you will never be a Jeff Gordon fan. So sad. Jeff Gordon is probably the least redneck driver there is out there and can't see that changing anytime soon. Ah well...guess Jr needs all the fans that he can get. HA HA. JK...I like Jr. In fact last night I finally caved in and bought a Dale Jr sweatshirt at WalMart. Don't worry though, Jeff Gordon will always be my favorite driver and Johnson my second favorite, but Jr is my third driver and I gotta support my Hendrick drivers. Hope your JR will do well...tell you what, he can come in second in points after Jeff Gordon. As of now, am just happy Gordon is amongst the top twelve. Just hard to believe that we have had 26 races gone of the season and ONLY ten races left. Hendrick takes up a third of the chase field and am wishing them all the best of luck...just hope Gordon comes out at number one. Kinda be afraid if Jr does win the championship to see how Jr Nation would react...LOL:-o

Well I am surprised by myself about not thinking of this song earlier...Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw are two of my top favorite Country singers. Awesome song...great when two great artist combine their talent in a song like this. Have seen Kenny Chesney several years ago in concert and he puts on a great concert...Tim McGraw is the ONE Country artist that I have yet to see that I would love to see in concert.

Oops I lied...well not really. But thanks to an engine change, Dale Jr and the 88 team will give up their fourth place starting spot for tomorrow's Chicagoland race and will start way in the back in the 43rd spot. Not exactly a great way to start his 2012 chase...hopefully he'll have a fast car for tomorrow's race.

Well the Chase starts tomorrow at Chicago Land at 1:00 PM EST on ESPN. This is where the top twelve will put everything on the line to earn the championship in November and the rest of the field will be racing for 13th place and a million dollars. As of right now there is a total of twelve points seperating twelveth place Jeff Gordon and first place Denny Hamlin in the top twelve...meaning ANYTHING is possible. For anyone in the top twelve in points...even Jeff Gordon who has been struck with bad luck for half of the regular season if not more so - he had squeaked into the chase last week thanks to bad luck turning good for him and bad luck striking Kyle Busch. Oh and talking about Jeff Gordon, guess I should warn y'all before you see him tomorrow. He had told his crew last week if made the chase he would bring his stache back...he had a mustache twenty years ago when he came into NASCAR to help distinguish him old enough to be a driver. And well as Jeff had said via Facebook, he is a man of his word. So the stache is back. LOL. His drive for five is ON!!! Here is the top ten starting position for the Chicago race tomorrow... 1. Jimmie Johnson 2. Aric Almorila 3. Matt Kenseth 4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 5. Carl Edwards 6. Kasey Kahne 7. Regan Smith 8. Denny Hamlin 9. Clint Bowyer 10. Joey Logano (Jeff Gordon will start 19th, David Regan starts 37th, and Tony Stewart will start 29th tomorrow...)

Love and miss this Country group of Restless Heart. Great music.

Awww that is too bad MM...they just showed the last thirty seconds of your SeaHawks game after the Packers game got over and they lost by four points to the Cardinal. They came close MM .