Garrett Duke

They are racing at Fontana California tomorrow at 2:30 EST on FOX...that is if it doesn't RAIN...rain is in the forecast, at least it was yesterday .... got a link to it on Facebook. Am really hoping for it NOT to rain...as always. And despite what I said earlier, will be able to watch it since my plans got postponed... Anyway, qualifying was last night...am not too happy since Gordon qualified 21st. Don't know why he is having so much bad luck lately...one would wonder if he was related to the Dukes or something. HA HA. Guess it is better for him to start there and not finish there...so am hoping he has a car he can move up through the pack with. He's gonna need it! OK...sorry, had to vent a little. Been looking forward to this season to start, as always, and the only word that comes to mind from the first four races...and the shoot out, is disappointing or frustrating for this 24 fan. Anyway, know you all aren't big Jeff Gordon fans as I am...so I will stop my complaining. For now. HA Here is the top ten starting positions for tomorrow's race: 1. Denny Hamlin 2. Kyle Busch 3. Mark Martin 4. Greg Biffle 5. Kasey Kahne 6. Ryan Newman 7. Kevin Harvick 8. Joey Lagano 9. Tony Stewart 10. Jimmie Johnson Once again...will be praying for NO rain in Fontana tomorrow. It can rain in Iowa all it wants, just not there!!!!!!!!!

Well I got the best news today when I turned on the computer, but then again, my opinion on this is biased...after all Jimmie Johnson is my second favorite driver (after Jeff Gordon, of course ). And it does affect Jeff Gordon as well since Gordon owns most of Jimmie Johnson's car... Jimmie Johnson went onto the final stage there is for appealing NASCAR's penalities against him that was given to him after the Daytona 500 race for failing car inspection BEFORE the Budweiser Shootout race. He was fined 25 owner points, Gordon was fined 25 car owner points, his crew cheif was fined $100,000 dollars...and both crew cheif and car cheif was to be put on probation for six races. Last week they went forward to the first option to appeal and lost against NASCAR. They took the appeal to National Stock Car Racing chief appellate officer John Middlebrook, who use to work for General Motors and has faced three other appeals prior to Johnson's. In all three he has reduced the penalties. Middlebrook has reduced Johnson's penalties in a BIG way...he took away the points fined against Johnson and Gordon (HUGE sigh of relief...) as well as the suspensions for crew cheif Chad Knaus and car cheif Ron Melec. Knaus and Melec will be on probation until May 9th...and Knaus' $100,000 fine still stands as is. Which means two things. One...Jimmie Johnson no longer is 17th in points where the 25 point fine had put him...he is now 11th in points! Two...he will have his crew cheif supporting him this weekend. Know there probably is a lot of people who don't agree with this since there seems to be a lot of people against JJ, fan wise that is. But I for one am excited and relieved about this. I agree punishments should be handed out if something is wrong or done wrong, but that was harsh for someone who didn't even take that car on the TRACK! Now if only Gordon could find a way to climb up in points...really hate seeing him stuck in 23rd in points due to BAD LUCK!

The race just got over and it definately didn't go my way. Gordon always has a good attitude when they interview him after something like that. Stewart hit the wall, but rebounded to finish 14th. Jr later got caught speeding in pits and went home fifteenth after leading a couple of laps. Have to admit was frustrated with him cutting Gordon's tire, but do have to agree with him, that it wasn't done on purpose. Always glad to hear them apologize for wrong doing. He was quick to send an apology to Gordon after it happened. Here is the top ten finishes: 1. Brad Keselowski 2. Matt Kenseth 3. Martin Truex Jr 4. Clint Bowyer 5. Brian Vickers 6. Jeff Burton 7. Jamie McMurray 8. Juan Pablo Montoya 9. Jimmie Johnson 10. Paul Menard Well we are onto Fontana California next week...don't know if I'll be home in time to watch it but will do my best to do a write up.

Well we have ninety laps to go at Bristol...Kahne got in an early wreck that took him out with Edwards and Kyle Busch. Brian Vickers who is racing part time with Waltrip racing is in his first race of the season and led a lot of laps. Gordon had a great car and was in the top five for most of the day until racing for position with Dale Jr. Dale Jr tale pipe hit his tire to give him a flat tire and into the wall. Which shattered Gordon's Bristol race. Very frustrated about it right now...can't believe the rotten luck he has had this year so far!

We're racing at Bristol baby! The pre-race show is on right now and here is the top ten starting drivers... 1. Greg Biffle 2. AJ Allmindinger 3. Ryan Newman 4. Jeff Gordon 5. Brad Keselowski 6. Regan Smith 7. Aric Almirola 8. Carl Edwards 9. Joey Lagano 10. Kasey Kahne Well y'all know I am a Jeff Gordon fan so this is not going to be any surprise to any of you, but REALLY hope that Gordon has a better race today than he has all season long. Hope his run of BAD LUCK is all over and he can go for the win today. Am really excited for this race...love Bristol racing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TRPCOltrane...sorry you haven't been feeling the best. Hope you are feeling better. Hopefully Stewart's win helped you feel better as well. Didn't watch the end of the Daytona race...saw the jet dryer wreck and watched for the red flag but went to bed when the drivers were sent to their car. I get up at four AM so had to catch at least a little sleep..especially since BOTH Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson were out by then. Though was hoping Jr would have won it...came all so close. Love Bristol racing. One of my favorite tracks and love it when they got there. Especially for the night race in August. Jeff Gordon is great on this track and hope he will turn his BAD LUCK around this weekend. THat is if he isn't collected up in one of them accidents that is bound to happen at Bristol. Fingers crossed for a top five...or a win from team 24 this weekend. Glad to see you back online TRPColtrane and hope this is a sign that you are feeling better.

Thanks Hoss. Me too. I heard online that JJ's crew cheif's reputation has a thing or two to do with the harshness of it. Back when this car was new...they had it in a few races first before going full season with it. Well in one race they were using COT (Car of Tomorrow) both Gordon's and Johnson's car was found with illegal measurements on it...cc's were suspended, points taken. I didn't understand them being so harsh to them back then and still don't...you make them drive a new car, it's bound to take 'em awhile to get everything right. (BTW...Darian Grubb (who was Stewart's CC last year) was JJ's replacement during the races Chad was suspended and JJ won the first two races with him...) I know JJ's crew cheif Chad Knaus has been known to push the envelope so to speak a time or two...but as he said when he was suspended with Gordon's cc...they are paid to push the envelope as far as it will go. Sometimes it goes too far. But still feel like they should penalize him according to what was wrong and not what had happened SEVERAL years ago. Feel this is too harsh for what the crime is and really hope that the penalities will at least get reduced...

Well Rick Hendrick took the charges against the 48 team (Jimmie Johnson) to apeal this afternoon and it didn't do nothing. There is one last option to take it to another level...which he is going to do. Good for Mr. H. I agree if the part was out of proportion according to the rules that some penalties should be applied...but 25 driver points? Suspending BOTH car cheif and crew cheif for SIX races? Fining cc Chad Knaus a hundred thousand dollars?! Just WAY too much for what the charge is. JJ didn't even put it on the track, didn't even race in it...not even in practice! How can they fail the same car that they passed inspection at least four times last year? URGH just frustrated right now. Am really hoping the last stop will be the right stop for team 48...

Never got into horse racing, but that is awesome that one is named the General Lee. Hope he has a great career!

Here are the official top ten in points after the Las Vegas race on Sunday: 1. Greg Biffle 2. Kevin Harvick 3. Denny Hamlin 4. Dale Earnhardt Jr 5. Matt Kenseth 6. Carl Edwards 7. Tony Stewart 8. Martin Truex Jr 9. Joey Lagano 10. Mark Martin After the horrible year Greg Biffle had last year...he may not be a Hendrick driver...but am glad to see him finding success early on this year. If not one of my Hendrick boys or Carl Edwards...am glad to see "the Biff" up there.

Well the race at Las Vegas just got over. Dale Earnhardt Jr took the lead on the first lap and led more laps today than he had last year. That is until he took four tires and most everyone else took two and he fell back to 16th. Think he rallied on to finish tenth. Jimmie Johnson got sent to the rear due to a crash on first lap of practice and he was fast to move to the front. Led some laps and came home second. Kyle Busch also had to start at the rear of the pack due to a crash and had first started up the track fast, but wasn't his day today. He ended up hitting the wall at one point and then he hit the pitroad cone that spun him out and ended his day early. (Right after big brother Kurt Busch spun out and hit the wall due to a flat tire...both were due to flat tires.) Tony Stewart dominated the race and went on to win his first race at Las Vegas. Here is the top ten finish of today's race at Las Vegas: 1. Tony Stewart 2. Jimmie Johnson 3. Greg Biffle 4. Ryan Newman 5. Carl Edwards 6. Clint Bowyer 7. Paul Menard 8. Jamie McMurray 9. Trevor Bayne 10. Dale Earnhardt Jr (Sorry Roger...David finished 21st today. Though it is better than his 34th starting position. He is starting with a new team, new car this year. Am sure it will take awhile to get everyone on the same page and get things working up to par.) We are onto Bristol next Sunday...one of my favorite tracks. Am excited to leave this race behind and move onto Bristol baby!

As I said, NASCAR Sprint Cup is racing at Las Vegas. The track that took Dan Wheldon's young life. RIP Dan! Am hoping for a safe and fun race. Jeff Gordon also got into a scar accident at the end of the race several years ago...hoping all the drivers will return home tonight safe and healthy.

A Christian rock group...got their new CD "Believer" with this song on it yesterday. Great album!

Well they are racing at Las Vegas today...Pre race show starts at 1:30 CENTRAL time on FOX. Kasey Kahne has won his first pole position with Hendrick so he will be starting up front while team mate Jimmie Johnson crashed in practice and will be sent to the back of the pack with a new car. He is just having horrible luck to start the 2012 season...but if anyone can overcome it all, it is JJ. Will be writing the review after the race... Carl Edward won at Las Vegas last year...meaning it has gone a full circle since his last win. A year...perhaps he will break his win-drought to win again or will it be one of the Busch brothers since they are from Las Vegas...will know by this afternoon. Weather permitting...am hoping only but sun and warm weather in Las Vegas!

This is where I will post the point position after every race...or later on in the week. Points aren't made official until Monday after the officials review everything. Here is the top ten in points after yesterday's Phoenix race: 1. Denny Hamlin 2 Greg Biffle 3. Kevin Harvick 4. Matt Kenseth 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr 6. Martin Truex Jr 7. Mark Martin 8. Joey Lagano 9. Kyle Busch 10. Carl Edwards

Well the race has just gotten over and Denny Hamlin is taking home the trophy from Phoenix. It was a pretty good race for most drivers...except for a few who had problems. Kasey Kahne hit the wall at the beginning of the race, Clint Bowyer had a couple of flat tires back to back. Dale Jr didn't have the best car and didn't have that good of a finish to show for it...Gordon had an on and off again car. Going from good to bad. To good it seems. Johnson has rebounded from last weekend's race. There was also a few engine problems...Marcos Ambrose had engine problems as did Jamie MacMurray. Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards both ran out of gas on the last lap,, but Harvick was able to hang on for second place finish. They also found there is a problem with the new fuel injection that they started to use this year when Stewart turned his car off to save gas and couldn't get his car started. Disappointing for the former champ from going to a good race to two laps down. Here is the top ten finishes of today's race: 1. Denny Hamlin 2. Carl Edwards 3. Greg Biffle 4. Jimmie Johnson 5. Brad Keselowski 6. Kyle Busch 7. Martin Truex Jr 8. Jeff Gordon 9. Mark Martin 10. Joey Lagano We are off to Las Vegas next Sunday. Don't know about you, but sure am glad that NASCAR is officially back.

What's so bad about me wining? I tend to think of it is a good thing... Besides (since I am watching the pre race show) since my guys had such a hard time in Speedweeks and in Daytona, feel I deserve a win somewhere. Right? I am thinking or hoping positive...am hoping the Cubs can at least win ninety games this year. If not more...I can always hope, right? Talking baseball...Cubs has their first Spring Training game against the A's today. GO CUBS GO!!!!!!!!!!

The pre-race show has just started on FOX. The Sprint boys are racing under the dessert sun in Phoenix today. Mark Martin has won the pole...while Jr starts 29th...and Gordon 30th. Will make sure to keep you all updated either throughout the race and or after...Hope you all get to watch.

I had that thought when I first read this thread. What a shame if it is true. But at least it is on DVD...

Roger- You say that like Fantasy Sports is a bad thing? LOL. To me it is just plain addicting...though sadly I kinda let my hockey and basketball teams slide a bit - though I did look at 'em last night. Not that they are too much time, just I've been too busy. But now with NASCAR on and almost baseball...I'll make sure to find the time to keep my roster up to date.

I follow Donnie Wahlberg on Twitter...he is one of the New Kids on the Block...and plays Danny Reagen on "Blue Bloods". Well I had a friend, who also is a NKOTB / BB fan and follows Donnie on Twitter and she pointed it out to me via FaceBook (I don't check Twitter as often as I do FB) Anyway, I had to share what Donnie had to say about last night's episode: Donnie Wahlberg‏@DonnieWahlbergReply Retweet Favorite · Open Danny Reagan did what Boss Hog and Roscoe P Coltraine could never do... Arrest a DUKE! This cracked me up!

Ok so now I am absolutely ashamed and MAD at myself. I am a HUGE "Blue Bloods" fan (my second favorite show...after the Dukes of course. ). Donnie Wahlberg, from the New Kids on the Block, plays Danny Reagan so I look forward to seeing him every Friday night. And as every Friday night, I watched "Blue Bloods" last night. When I saw him, I thought every time that he looked like Tom Wopat, but kept saying to myself that it couldn't be him. At least I recognized him, but still, I should have been sure it was him. Should have been excited to see him...even though he played one bad dude last night. Well now my top two favorite TV shows have now been connected...wish I had been more certain about Tom Wopat though. If you all want a good police TV show to watch..."Blue Bloods" is it. Love "Blue Bloods" almost (I said almost...) as much as The Dukes of Hazzard. Sure Donnie Wahlberg got me interested in it (he plays a major part in the series too...) but now it is about all the actors/acteress and characters. They are all awesome...Tom Selleck plays the dad if any one is a fan of him. Just as Dukes of Hazzard were about family, the Reagen family is all about being family. They even have a family meal in every episode. There is my two cents worth on it. Love the show and am excited that Tom was in it and that my suspicions were right...

I thought about giving up FB for lent or the internet before giving up that idea and went onto something else that is also a challenge for me. Figured one challenge at a time, I guess. As for others, I haven't heard, then again, don't know anyone who would have told me...sorry I am of no help.

Well it looks like it is my turn to vent... Jimmie Johnson's car failed car inspectiong BEFORE the Shootout race for having illegal "C" post (The part of the car that lines the back end of the side window that connects the roof to the car.) NASCAR stated they would deal with penalties AFTER the Daytona race. Well it is after the Daytona race and this NASCAR fan is NOT happy at all about what they gave out. Jeff Gordon will always be number ONE in my book, but JJ is second. NASCAR has fined Jimmie Johnson 25 driver points...and since he finished 42 at Daytona (as if that is NOT bad enough...) he is now -23 (MINUS POINTS!) behind the point leader. The article I read said he most likely will have to have a top twenty finish at Phoenix this Sunday in order to reach the zero mark! They have fined car owner, JEFF GORDON, twenty-five owner points. They have fined his crew chief, Chad Knaus, $100,000. Plus they placed Knaus and car chief Ron Malek on suspension for six weeks. Meaning they won't be back until the April 22nd race at Kentucky! Hendrick is appealing it all and is positive they were not cheating. The car they ran at Daytona is the SAME car they used last year at restrictor plate races. Only thing changed was the pain scheme! Also said that Knaus and Malek is not the ones who work on that area of the car and even the guys who did work on it, says nothing has changed. They didn't do a thing to it! Am so frustrated right now. As if getting wrecked on the second lap into the race wasn't bad enough...now this. Minus points even! If Knaus and Malek...and Johnson didn't do a thing with that part, why they getting hit so hard? Just don't make sense to me. Knaus has the reputation for breaking the rules from time to time, but he himself says the cc are paid to push the envelope as far as allowed...so perhaps they pushed it a little to far this time, but really? Does the penalty fit the crime? Especially since they changed the part out before the shootout race, they didn't even race with that dang illegal part on the car! Well hopefully JEFF GORDON will win at Phoenix once again and JJ come home second..and am hoping Hendrick will WIN the appeal.