Garrett Duke

Thanks Roger. I will always love my Cubs, but it is definately not the same without Kerry Wood in the dug out. Am happy for him and that he was able to walk away on his own terms. But sad to see him go. Am going to a Cubs game next month and was really hoping to see him pitch (last year he was on the DL when I went...he came off the day after I went to Wrigley). Guess that won't happen...now the Cubs better WIN on June 14th! I guess I did hear the Red Sox were in a slump but don't pay that much attention to the standings unless it is the NL Central to see where my Cubs are at. Which isn't too pretty right now. . .

You are welcome, Roger. I enjoy writing them. Would enjoy writing them more if I could write about a dominating run and win by the 24 team, but enjoy them all the same. Perhaps one of these weekends, I'll be writing up a win for Jeff Gordon...I can only hope. As for JJ and his money...I feel like he should share with me since I've been a secondary fan of his from the get go. After all my number one driver owns over half of his car so logic being is that some of that money ought to be handed to me. Or either that he can buy me one of the cars sitting on Jeff Gordon's Cheverolet Dealer lot and a ticket and trip to go see them at the night Bristol race in August. Would be nice.

If it is something that would get you in trouble if found out about, as it sounds like it would, I wouldn't do it. Is this event worth getting in trouble for? Plus you say now that you would use it for this one time, but I can see how it would make it easier for future events or other things you may use the fake ID for in the future. Just my two cents worth. . .

Friday was a very sad day in baseball for this die hard Chicago Cubs fan. My favorite current player (second favorite all time favorite after retired second baseman Ryne Sandberg) KERRY WOOD (relief pitcher) retired his baseball career after striking out one White Sox player. Kerry has had a pretty poor season thus far which I think was a factor in his decision to retire. Kerry Wood struck out 20 Astros on May 6, 1998 and was a great pitcher until he had to have Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow. His hall of fame career he had started out with was robbed with injuries that had started with the surgery. He may not have been the best pitcher or had the stellar career he may have had if it wasn't for his injuries, but he was a great player for the Cubs. A great guy that has supported Chicago in many ways. A fan favorite who will be missed. Sad to see him leave, but glad to see him leave on his terms, when he was ready, and glad to see him retire in a Cubs uniform. Baseball will not be the same without him...but wish Kerry and his family the best of luck with the next chapter of their lives.

JIMMIE JOHNSON JUST BECAME A MILLION DOLLARS RICHER! Jimmie Johnson won the first segment...and now just won the entire All Star race. (He is a tad excite...just said over the radio that he doesn't want to this week to end. HA) JJ has gave a great spin out and then gave team owner Rick hendrick a ride in the window. Too funny. Jimmie Johnson won the first segment. Then Matt Kenseth the second one. Brad Keselowski won the third segment...and then Dale jr won the fourth segment...then Jimmie Johnson won the final ten lap dash to the finish line. Carl Edwards' engine blew, caught a fire a bit. He spent the rest of the race in the booth helping to announce the race. Love his attitude. Right after getting out of his blown car, he told the interviewer "This race has just lost a driver, but has gained a fan." Later on Edwards' team mate, Greg Biffle's engine blew. But worse. His car was on fire and was very relieved when he finally got out of his car. Scary wreck. 1. Jimmie Johnson 2. Brad Keselowski 3. Matt Kenseth 4. Kyle Busch 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr 6. Kevin Harvick 7. Marcos Ambrose 8. Kurt Busch 9. Kasey Kahne 10. Ryan Newman 11. AJ Allmindinger 12. Regan Smith 13. Jeff Gordon 14. Clint Bowyer 15. Trevor Bayne 16. Paul Menard 17. Tony Stewart 18. David Ragen 19. Bobby Labonte 20. Denny Hamlin 21. Mark Martin 22. Greg Biffle 23. Carl Edwards BTW...Jimmie Johnson's crew won the pit crew competition last Thursday night. Gave him the key pit stop on pit road today. Next week the Sprint Cup will be back at Charolette (where they raced tonight) for the Coke 600 next Sunday night. Racing under the lights on Sunday at a track that was once known as Jimmie's house. My opinion is, I am excited JJ won two in a row, but this 24 fan is hoping his bad luck ends now and he comes home with the win next Sunday night.

Do like BackStreet Boys...just not as much as the NKOTB. Was awesome seeing them both in concert.

The Sprint Cup Show Down has just ended. AJ Allmedinger and Martin Truex Jr started up front...AJ had a flat tire before the race went to green flag! (I only saw the last twenty laps or so...) Ol June Bug came to life tonight and led a lot of laps...including the last lap. The real race was for second place. AJ raced hard at the end as he had fresher tires than everyone else. He came to second and fought hard with Jamie McMurray for a lot of laps until he was able to pass Jamie on the last lap. So...Dale Jr won the race and AJ Allmindinger has raced t heir way into the All Star race. (It is worth $70,000 dollars just to enter the race...if I remember right...dang I should enter my car for that price!) Which leaves the fan voted driver for the race...which in the past few years, it has went to Dale Jr. Who doesn't need it today since he won his way into the race. The fan vote goes to (drum roll) Bobby Labonte! Bobby is a great guy and am happy for him...though am kinda sad to see Jamie sent home when he was so close to coming home second tonight. Here is the three drivers that are now entered into the tail end of the line up for the Sprint Cup All Star race: Dale Earnhardt Jr AJ Allmindinger Bobby Labonte So excited for the All Start...about to do the driver introduction. Love the All Star driver introdcutions! #can'twait!

One of my favorite NKOTB songs...

Well the Sprint Cup Showdown (the race to get into the All Star race) will start at 7:00 EST on SPEED (not FOX) and the All star race will be starting at 9:00 EST...once again on SPEED. The All Star race will be seperated into five different segments. First four segments will be twenty laps. The fifth segment will be ten laps. The winner of the race will get a million dollars. Here is the link of the article I got it from if you want more information : All Star Race info. I pretty much summed up what Yahoo NASCAR editor Jay Hart had said during the two minute video that is half way down the screen. I love his pick to who wins tonight's race...JEFF GORDON. Here is the qualifying order of the race: 1. Kyle Busch 2. Ryan Newman 3. Denny Hamlin 4. Greg Biffle 5. Kevin Harvick 6. Jimmie Johnson 7. Paul Menard 8. Jeff Gordon 9. Tony Stewart 10. Regan Smith 11. Trevor Bayne 12. Clint Bowyer 13. Carl Edwards 14. David Ragen 15. Matt Kenseth 16. Mark Martin 17. Kurt Busch 18. Marcos Ambrose 19. Brad Keselowski 20. Kasey Kahne Those are the ones that were gauranteed a spot in the All Star race due to a win last year or one this year. A lot of new comers to the All Star race this year with the first time winners last year. 21. will go to who ever wins the Showdown race 22. will go to who ever comes in second in the Showdown race 23. will go to the fan voted driver (Most likely JR unless he comes in first or second in the Showdown race tonight. . .) Don't know about y'all, but I am excited for the Showdown and the All Star race and to see who will win and how it will shape up. Y'all surprised?

They will be racing under the lights Saturday night in Charolette where there will be NO points on the line...every driver will be going for the million dollars that the winner will recieve. IT'S THE ALL STAR RACE!!!!!!!!! So with that said, the race will be different. They got the pit crew challenge tonight. Be interesting to see which team has the fastest pit crew...if I had to guess, I'd go with Kyle Busch. He has an awesome crew working for him. (Though in my opinion, Jeff Gordon has the best crew! HA HA) Also, there will only be 20 or so cars in the race...read somewhere that the rules have changed this year so I will have to read up on that tomorrow when I have a faster computer and more time to read things. But in the past there was a certain amount of drivers that qualified...drivers who won a race the year before, perhaps a pole. Something like that. There will be a shorter race before of the drivers who are not eligable for the All Star race and the first two drivers will drive their way into the race. And then there is one driver that the fans vote in...and since Jr didn't win a race this year (as of yet) or last year, if he doesn't get first or second in the pre race...you can assume he will be the fan voted in driver as he was last year. Or at least, I am assuming he will be the fan voted driver... I don't have the list of drivers as of now...can think of a few of them that will be on the list, but don't have an actual list to type up. I will look that up and post it tomorrow. I should write this up tomorrow for you all, but felt like posting something NASCAR. So here is my pre-pre race write up. HA HA. Sorry for not more information, but as I said, will do more research and add on here tomorrow night or Saturday morning sometime when I have more time and a faster internet connection. Dial up is too slow and four am comes too early.

Well NASCAR has came back with their verdict for Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman's crew. Kurt Busch has been fined $50,000 and put on NASCAR probation until July 25. Ryan Newman's crew cheif has been put on probation until June 27 and another crew member of Newman's has been fined five thousand dollars and put on probation until June 27th (for not complying with a NASCAR official). Glad NASCAR saw Kurt Busch's part in it...no need to be throwing such tantrums on track like that. Understand Newman's crew being upset as they were, so feel like that was kinda uncalled for. But at least they got the light end of the deal...people could have gotten hurt with Kurt driving like that. My two cents worth on the whole ordeal...

I thought you use to like JJ Roger...what happened? LOL. Though would be nice for Jr, his fans, for me, and for NASCAR if Jr would win. HA

Well...some light has been shown over what the fight between Newman's and Kurt Busch's crew was about. It wasn't over what happened on track, but how Kurt had peeled through pit road and through Newman's pit stall...and hit Newman on pit road. Understand Kurt being upset and all, but really feel that was uncalled for and understand why Newman's crew was upset. Here is the latest article I had just read on the incident: Ryan Newman's crew vs. Kurt Busch. NASCAR has stated that if they feel like punishments are due they will be handing them out later this week. Personally, I really hope they will look beyond the fight if they do hand out punishments and look at why Newman's crew was upset. Not condoning them fighting with Kurt's crew, but they do have valid reason to be upset, I feel.

Well the Darlington race has just ended and JIMMIE JOHNSON has just won teamowner, Rick Hendrick, his 200th win! But boy that was a nerve wrecking finish with the caution that was brought out with Kurt Busch hitting the wall and taking Ryan Newman with him. Though I am kinda jumping ahead in this... Darlington has earned several stripes today as drivers bounced off the wall all night. Starting with Jeff Gordon. Another hard race for Jeff Gordon. He was in the top ten when his tire got cut, he got it fixed and five laps later it went flat again. He took it to the garage for 28 laps...and finished 35th. Am very disappointed with Gordon's finish, but am so happy JJ won. Rather it be Gordon, but if not Gordon, let it be JJ. (My biased opinion, of course.) Kyle Busch had a strong race as had Biffle who went back and forth. Tony Stewart finished third and was a strong threat at the end despite having a clutch issue. Though there was a few cautions, not the amount of cautions and accidents that Darlington is known for. Though that seems to be the trend as of late. As Darrell Waltrip has pointed out, thus far, everyone is playing nice. No rivalries. No fighting. Which is probably for the best though NASCAR likes it because it gains popularity with it. Here is the top ten finishes: 1. Jimmie Johnson 2. Denny Hamlin 3. Tony Stewart 4. Kyle Busch 5. Martin Truex Jr 6. Matt Kenseth 7. Carl Edwards 8. Kasey Kahne 9. Marcos Ambrose 10. Joey Lagano PS:Tony Stewart just said during his pre race interview that he ran out of gas on the last lap. Surprising since he pitted three laps closer to the finish of the race than Johnson who stayed out. Well I just posted about no fighting...well Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch are now fighting with each other. One of Ryan's crew pushed an NASCAR official! Ironicly Kurt and Ryan seemed to be in agreement with each other with what had happened on the track...guess their crew don't feel the same way. Well DW got what he want...some fighting. A year after Harvick and Kyle Busch got into it. Found it kinda interesting when during the pre race show they tried asking Harvick about Kyle and he stated that he don't talk to Kyle nor talk about Kyle. Someone still seems upset... Next race will be next Saturday night on SPEED...will be the ALL STAR race. No points are online but the winner will be taking home a million dollars. Y'all think there is any chance they'd share some of that money with me? LOL

Very small Duke connection for tonight's race. Denny Hamlin has Cale Yarborough paint scheme tonight. Cale was taking pictures with Denny during the pre race show...Cale was on two Dukes of Hazzard episodes. Not a Hamlin fan, but thought that was neat.

Jesse Duke slowly hangs up the phone to slowly walk over to the kitchen sink to turn the cold water on and for a long time he watches the water stream down the drain. His mind filled with the little info Cooter had shared over the phone and more on the troubles that has currently plagued his family. Closing his eyes he falls back onto the only line of defense he currently knows and he starts to pray heavily for his boys. For Gordon. For a solution to their problem. "Amen," he finishes as he opens his eyes before he places his hands into the now icy cold water. Sighing heavily he splashes a couple of handfuls of water over his face before turning the water off and grabbing the towel to dry his face off with. Turning around he slowly walks into the living room, feeling lost as he awaits for his nephews to return home. "Was that the boys?" Daisy asks, coming out of her room. Concern a lit in her soft eyes. Jesse slowly shakes his head. "Only Cooter," Jesse states giving Daisy a small comforting hug, "to say they are on their way home. We've waited this long for them to come home, don't know why they bothered with having him call and tell us. What's an extra few minutes to wait? Since we have to wait anyway." She flashes a small smile. "That's the boys for you. Probably Luke's idea," she states as she sits down in the chair, "I'm worried Uncle Jesse." "Worried? 'Bout what?" Jesse asks as he forces him down into the couch, "There's no need to be worried. The boys are as of yet not in trouble with the law and that is a good thing. They're just working on clearing Jeff's name." "Exactly. You know how much Bo looks up to him...he's going to be crushed if Gordon goes off to jail. Only other person he looks up to more than Jeff, is Luke," she responds, "I'm surprised Bo's been able to stay as calm as he has so far..." Jesse hears himself give a sarcastic laugh. "I doubt Bo has been very calm. Perhaps to us he has been, but I bet you ask Luke, he'd tell you something else," Jesse goes silent as he hears a car pulling up, "I assume they're here by the sound of things. Cooter wouldn't answer my questions...he says the boys will fill us in on their progress and what is going on." Daisy nods silently as they both slowly stand up to go greet Bo and Luke. "I just hope they got some good news," Daisy says, hanging her head.

Hamilton has had a great week. Hopefully he will keep it up...only thing better is if he'd play for the Cubs. Think Josh is a great guy and had felt incredibly bad for him last year...that had to have been hard on him. On another baseball note....the young sensation from the National's, Bryce Harper, has seemed to have learned a valuable and painful lesson as to never hit anything other than the ball with the bat. He got mad in the eightth inning and hit the dug out wall with his bat. Well the bat took vengence on him and went back to hit him in the face...left him with a big ol' lump over his eye and a bloody face...and ten stitches above the eye where he cut it open. OUCH.

NASCAR Sprint Cup is racing TONIGHT at 6:30 EST on FOX. Greg Biffle will be taking the checkered flag from the pole followed by Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne. They are racing at Darlington.

LOL Hoss. Thanks...knew someone would throw that in my face. Is that all you gained from my post? KHEE!

I think that was awesome and it couldn't happen to anyone better than him. I still feel bad for him for what had happened last year...hopefully he'll have a great year this year. Just not against the Cubs. HA HA.

I was really hoping for a win from Gordon for my birthday or at least a storng finish. And for some reason, he didn't give it to me. Nor did Johnson. Don't know what I did to upset them so much that they decided not to even finish the dang race. Very disappointing gift they brought me. As for your question, Roger, I don't know for sure but do have an opinion on it. My opinion agrees with Hoss. I think it has to do with all the popularity she has (or the popularity of her name...) and are hoping she will bring that popularity as in more viewers to NASCAR. They suspend her they are probably figuring on they would upset quite a few of them. NASCAR upsets me in that figure when it comes to punishing drivers. They seem to be so lopsided. I know they have a rule book that they quote numbers and such out of when they dish the penalties out, but I don't think they go by that. In my opinion, it goes by who the driver is whether or not they will punish them. My opinion, of course...but do have a few scenerios that kinda back it up. This kinda reminds me of several years ago... Think it was about the beginning of the new point system with the chase, when during a Busch Series (now Nationwide Series) race Tony Stewart got into an arguement with one of the drivers (want to say Kurt Busch, but not a hundred percent sure on that). Doesn't really matter. But Tony punched the other driver. NASCAR talked about parking him for the Cup race, but didn't because it would ruin his chance at getting in the chase or at the championship. Which would make his fans upset. To me, that shouldn't come into play whether or not they punished him in that matter or not. It should go as to what they did as to what punishment they hand out and not to who it is or what position in points they are. Guess I understand the fan part...if they parked Gordon, I'd be upset. But I'd also be upset that Gordon would do something to ask to be parked... As I said, I don't have any factual facts to back up what I said, but felt all along that they have declined punishment due to her namesake and her publicity. Which, as I stated, is not right. Not fair. What she did was wrong and could have hurt Sam or other drivers as well as hurt his car further than it already is. Don't know how Danica raced in Indy. I don't really know much about Indy nor followed her there, but it would be interesting to see if she is known to have such fits or if it is a one time thing. Hopefully it is a one time thing...going at the speeds they going...even in a cool down lap...there is no room for such acts. By anyone.

Hoss - Sorry you couldn't get my video. Didn't even think of that. I am glad I am not the only one to view it like that. I feel like she was way out of line. Know NASCAR had talked about handing out punishments on Monday, but it looks like they changed their mind about that. I understand nudging him back to say she didn't appreciate that, but that was more than a nudge. I have seen Cup drivers hit the other driver in the rear to show their displeasure, but wrecking like that was uncalled for. I also got that impression from her interview or thought that perhaps she was trying to fit in by her attitude. But I could be wrong about it.

Funny I just got done writing my last post when my uncle sent me this link of the incident and the interviews. Can't say I am too impressed with Danica with what I saw or her attitude during the interviews. Danica Patrick and Sam Hornish Jr. Glad I finally saw what had happened and to me it looks like, just like Sam said, his tire blew and he was sent up the track in front of Danica. At least, that is how I saw it. Understand Danica being upset, but I am willing to bet that Hornish Jr wasn't very happy his tire going out on the last lap like that either. Uncool that she would wreck him after the race for something he didn't do on purpose. Ah well, that's Talledega. Lots of emotions at going 200 MPH...(this was in the Nationwide Series race Saturday..) Interesting to see how she will do in a Cup car on Saturday night...hopefully better than her Daytona debut in February where she wrecked on the fifth lap with Jimmie Johnson...