Garrett Duke

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 .

Anyone else excited about the football season starting? If so which games are you excited for and what team are you going for? As my title states, chicago Bears are my favorite team...they are playing the Indianapolis Colts today. Right now the Bears just got a touch down and are leading 24 to 14 going into half time. This Bears fan is excited thus far...Jay Cutler and the Bears are on fire today.

You are very welcome Roger. I enjoyed writing that review...if it finished differently, probably wouldn't have been so excited to write it like that. Thanks for the congrats on Gordon. I can now say I am excited for the chase . Did think of youwhen Ragen spun out...just not his year. Ah another Jr fan huh? How 'bout this...I'll tell JG to stay out in the sun today and get sun burned on his neck...that way he'll have a red neck. That enough redneck for you? HA HA HA. I am just excited to have all four Hendrick drivers in the chase... And yeah...Brad Daughtery did play pro basketball but don't know what team...that could be it. Really hope he is eating his words now that Jeff Gordon is in the chase. So glad Jeff Gordon proved him wrong. No matter where Brad played basketball... I am sorry about your friend Roger

Well the Richmond race has just gotten over for the Sprint Cup Series and it was an up and down race for everyone I think. The race started out ninety minutes late due to rain delay. Dale Jr started out on pole and had let Jeff Gordon take the lead early on before racing up and taking the lead back from Gordon. Gordon started second and went for the lead as I said, but once passed he lost his car and lost his car fast. Was very disappointed when Gordon lost a lap. Fifty or so laps under the half way mark, it had began to rain again to bring out the caution and then the red flag and they covered up the cars. Jeff Gordon was 22nd (I think) at that time. One of the pit road reporters had talked to Jeff Gordon (as well as other drivers) and Jeff sounded so disappointed on how bad his car was. Saying they just missed the set up... Meanwhile Kyle was in or around the top ten for the most of the first half of the race, complained his car was junk several times and was at one point like 24 points ahead of Jeff Gordon. They eventually went back to green thinking there could be more rain...though only went to caution one other time for a brief sprinkle later on. Not much accidents or major wrecks to talk about. David Ragen spun out once (Sorry Roger...David was shown on TV tonight, but the way you want to see him.) and then Juan Pablo Montoya spun Clint Bowyer out. The Wild Card Chase was a big story through out the night with all the scenerios that could have happened. Kyle Busch continued to have problems. Denny Hamlin led a lot of laps and Ryan Newman had led a few laps after passing his boss, Tony Stewart (who battled from like 28th starting spot). If Newman woulda won, he coulda made the chase... (Sorry I know I am going out of sequence right now...but can't exactly remember how it all went perfectly.) As I said, Kyle continued to have problems, while Jeff Gordon excelled after they came back to green from red flag. He was fast and after the caution for the sprinkles, Gordon got his lap down lap back to be on the lead lap. He was passing cars and at a few points throughout the last half of the race, was the fastest car on the lead lap. Don't know about if you all watched the race and how close you were paying attention to the points, but this 24 fan kept paying attention to where Gordon was and to where Kyle was. Jeff needed to finish 13 spots ahead of Kyle Busch to make the chase... Clint Bowyer ended up winning the race and running out of gas right afterwards (even thanked Montoya for wrecking him when they interviewed him in the winner's circle.). Jeff Gordon on the other hand came home second...and guess what y'all? He has MADE THE CHASE by three points over Kyle Busch who finished two laps down. This has been a pretty long race starting around 8:30 central time and ending around 12:30 central time...four hours isn't too long, but when it comes that late? Never remembered staying up that late for a race...here it is 1:14 central time and I am up writing my report. HA...so if it isn't all that good, that may be why. The outcome of the race is well worth it though...love seeing Jeff Gordon this happy. He was so disappointed when they talked to him d uring the rain delay If elt so bad for him. Jeff said during his interview on Press Pass "Second place went from so disappointing last week to feeliing like a win this week." The first half of the race I was ready to claim that Gordon was not going to be in the chase to gaining hope when they went back racing to being real nervous with fifty or so laps to go. Jeff Gordon is a great example to NEVER GIVE UP HOPE, NO MATTER WHAT! (This past paragraph is of my own opinion.) I am also excited that Hendrick has all FOUR drivers/cars in the chase...just awesome! Once again, my opinion... Well I will stop my rambling...here is the top ten finishes of the Richmond race: 1. Clint Bowyer 2. Jeff Gordon 3. Mark Martin 4. Tony Stewart 5. Matt Kenseth 6. Jeff Burton 7. Brad Keselowski 8. Ryan Newman 9. Greg Biffle 10. Kevin Harvick Here is the top twelve chase drivers: 1. Denny Hamlin +3 points 2. Jimmie Johnson 3. Tony Stewart 4. Brad Keselowski 5. Greg Biffle 6. Clint Bowyer 7. Dale Earnhardt Jr 8. Matt Kenseth 9. Kevin Harvick 10. Martin Truex Jr. ------------------- WILD CARD SLOTS 11. Kasey Kahne 12. Jeff Gordon NASCAR seeds the chase drivers to amount of wins the drivers have...so the driver with the most wins starts with the leads points. If that makes sense. Right now, there is ONLY 12 points seperating Denny Hamlin from Jeff Gordon. The top twelve drivers are the only drivers with a chance to win the championship while all the other drivers will be racing for a million dollars that the 13th place driver gets at the end of the season. The chase will start next week (SUNDAY) at Chicagoland...

We are now racing at Richmond. Dale started from the pole until Jeff passed him to lead a lap and then Dale passed Jeff back...

Well I am not a Kyle Busch fan per say, but love this M&M commercial. Love the announcers when they say "Now that is bad, bad, bad Racing" and the M&Ms asking each other if they were winning, the other says "I thought you were looking." Too funny.

Well NASCAR is rain delayed...they are waiting for the jet dryers to dry the track, but they are expecting more rain at Richmond. Guess I'll be listening to them talking for the next two hours before they either go racing or post pone it til tomorrow. Am not happy with this at all... Brad Daughtery of ESPN NASCAR announcer is not helping at all. For the past three weeks he has said several times how Jeff Gordon and his team is done for and how he can't make the chase. Am tired of his negativity based on Jeff Gordon and his team...Jeff needs to go and win this race and show Brad just how great he and his team is. Personally, (my opinion), am so ready for NASCAR to be back on FOX and wish they would stay on FOX. FOX announcers are positive about ALL drivers and not just SOME drivers. Tired of all the negativity on ESPN and ABC. Talking of which they were just talking to Carl Edwards and now Jeff Gordon will be in the studio next to face Brad and his negativity... Sorry all that is of my opinion...sorry to vent.

Well y'all looks like I lied to y'all...well not really, just plans have changed and looks like I'll be home to watch the race tomorrow night. Don't know if I should be relieved to do so or not...kinda making me more nervous to know I'll be watching the race. Hopefully I'll remember to breathe sometime during the race...LOL. Well here is the fist ten starting positions for tomorrow night's race: 1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2. Jeff Gordon 3. Regan Smith 4. Clint Bower 5. Jimmie Johnson 6. Mark Martin 7. Denny Hamlin 8. Joey Logano 9. Martin Truex Jr. 10. Brad Keselowski I will make sure to write my normal post race review after the race is over and will include who will be seeded in the top twelve of the chase. I think y'all know who I hope to be in the chase after tomorrow night.