Garrett Duke

Pre-race show is on NOW on FOX...anyone else excited? Am hoping for a fun and safe race today and to see all four Hendrick boys in the top ten today...with JEFF GORDON coming home number 1. That is if it doesn't rain...RAIN RAIN GO AWAY COME BACK ANOTHER DAY! Am hoping the sun will start to shine on Daytona and on the drivers!!!!!!

Thanks Alex. I had a great time yesterday. Was great to have a chance to meet John as well as get my picture taken with him. Am so glad that he still does this and keeps the Dukes alive. Here is some more pictures from yesterday...a couple of John and a couple of The General Lee. Surprisingly they only had two General Lees...only one inside. Thanks everyone for your interest in my pictures.

Well y'all I am now back from from seeing John Schneider...Bo Duke himself. I was sooo glad that he made it to Iowa after his report of saying he was stuck in Minneappolis...though I think he just said that to worry me. Had a great day. Just went by way too fast! Anyway by the time we got there he had been there for like forty minutes so go figure we had to stand in line...for over two and a half hours. I am definately NOT complaining, it was time well spent talking to a friend and looking at the cars. (Sadly there was only two General Lees. And only one was inside for display...). Besides at Dukefest in '07 I stood in line for five and a half hours...by myself -well not exactly by myself since I was in line, but didn't know anyone or have anyone to talk to then... And both times, John made it worth the wait. He is such a nice person. I wore my '08 Duke fest shirt that I had ordered to me since I didn't go that year...it was under my Jeff Gordon coat which was unbuttoned. He noticed and pointed out and said that's from the '08 Dukefest. Got several pictures plus my picture taken with him. As for prices...it was forty dollars for a combined set (I bought two pics so I don't know how much he would have costed if I had him sign my shirt or my flyer I had thought of him signing.) An autograph alone was fifteen dollars and a pic alone was twenty-five dollars. I had him sign two pictures though and he didn't charge me any more for the second picture... Am still on cloud nine after today's meeting with John. I couldn't even remember whether or not he shook my hand or not...think he did. LOL. Here is a few of the pictures I had taken of John and one of the lone General inside the arena.

Well I haven't read or saw as of yet if John made it to Iowa or is still in Minneappolis, but since there is nothing saying otherwise on the events' page or Johns' page, I am going to assume that he is in Iowa...and will be there in TWO HOURS! Am sooo excited right now to meet my all time favorite character on the Dukes of Hazzard...again. Would love another hug from him, but just to see him would make my day...my weekend. I am now off to get ready to meet my friend to start heading up that way...I will let you know either tonight or tomorrow sometime whether or not he was there and how it went. Hoping to bring longs of pictures!

Exciting? I guess to some it could be exciting, but to me, it is worrisome. I guess what is to be, will be and I will have to make the best of it. All the same, am really hoping to see John tomorrow. Thanks for the well wishes and the crossed fingers. I am not giving up hope and until John says otherwise, I am going to see Bo Duke tomorrow afternoon. I will definately keep you posted on whether or not I will go...but hopefullly will be posting with pictures. And yeah...perhaps John could call in some of them happy endings he uses in the show for real life. Thanks Roger.

Thanks for the heads up about the money. That does seem like quite a bit...did get some money out, but looks like I might be needing some more... Ah well, sure it will be worth it. That is if I get to go... Just read on my Facebook page (through John's page) that he is currently stuck in Minneappolis - though wants to get to his peeps in Iowa. Well at least I am one of his peeps, but still will be highly disappointed if he gets snowed out. Bad enough we got all that yucky white stuff and now it is threatening something I've been excited about for awhile now. Though unless I hear otherwise, I still plan on going. Am refusing to give up hope about tomorrow. Will make sure to take as much pictures as possible and post the best ones of John. Thanks for the interest.

Well NASCAR.com has finally put up the final lineup for the Daytona 500...the top two positions were locked in with the qualifying runs on last Sunday. While the rest of the field was placed as to where they finished today. Carl Edwards won the pole and Biffle got second place from qualifying... HERE IS THE TOP TEN STARTING POSITIONS FOR SUNDAY: 1. Carl Edwards 2. Greg Biffle 3. Tony Stewart 4. Matt Kenseth 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr 6. Regen Smith 7. Marcos Ambrose 8. Jimmie Johnson 9. Jeff Burton 10. Elliot Sadler Well I for one liked the qualifying run line up better since Gordon qualified sixth or seventh but since he finished eightth today, he will now be starting sixteenth. Oh well, sometimes it seems like he does better when he starts mid pack like that. Have to say am glad to see Elliot Sadler back in a cup race...don't know if it is for the season or if it just Daytona. After not doing so well and his contract ending (I think) he dropped out last season and had just concentrated on the Nationwide Series...which he did pretty good at. Anyone planning on any big Daytona parties? I'm not ... unless hanging out with four dogs and a cat classifies as a party. HA HA. GO JEFF GORDON GO! GORDON'S DRIVE FOR FIVE IS ON IN 2012!! (Just in case y'all forgot who I am going for... )

Thanks for the photos...it is always great to see celebrities taking time out for the kids...as well as for the young at heart. Am glad you got to see Tom and get his autograph as well as your son.

Well the Gatorade Duels were this afternoon to help organize the starting line up for the Sprint Cup Daytona 500 line up. I for one missed it. I for one had to work. Sad when I get off at 2:30 and I miss both races...sad when I miss any race. :( Anyway... Tony Stewart won the first race followed by Dale Jr. Danica Patrick was in a horrible accident where it seems she hit the wall hard (I only saw pictures...my internet is too slow for video...) but she was able to walk away. She was already garaunteed a spot in the line up, so it didn't affect whether or not she would be in as it did for some. Robby Gordon was one that was able to race himself into the 500 as did Dave Blaney, Michael McDowell, and Joe Nemechek. Matt Kenseth won the second Duel. Reagen Smith finished second, JJ finished third. Am so glad the 2012 NASCAR season is about to start...THREE MORE DAYS!!!! This has been a long off season for me...am glad to see the cure to my NASCAR withdrawl within sight.

Was hoping someone would say that.

It is about time John comes back to Iowa! Last time he was here, I didn't hear about it until the Monday afterwards...and by then, well, it was too late. I am really looking forward / excited to see John Schneider...Bo Duke himself. Am sure will take plenty of pictures if anyone would be interested to see them...that is if I remember to recharge it's battery! Am guessing will not be able to do the whole Hazzard Homecoming again...so this is as close to the Dukes, I think, I'll be getting this year. Am excited for this weekend...Bo Duke on Saturday...and Daytona 500 on Sunday. It don't get better than this!!!!!!!!

Too scary for me. Think I didn't breathe until Gordon climbed out of the car. In all his twenty years in racing, that was the first time his car stopped on the hood like that. Thanks Roger...it has been a long winter. A long off season...seemed a lot longer than past off seasons...then again NASCAR had the non smart idea of pushing Daytona 500 back a week so thanks to them, I had an extra week to wait. Meaning today would have been the Superbowl of NASCAR if they went by past traditions. Haven't really heard. But if the team he is with what I am thinking, it is kinda an underdog team or an unfunded team so hopefully he will make a name for himself and for the team. He's a talented driver so it will be interesting to see what he can do with what he now has. As for what part of Georgia he is from...he is from Peachtree, GA. Don't exactly know where that is located in Georgia, but can look it up when I have time. Did know he was from Georgia though and somehow can always remember Peachtree as well.

Looks like y'all have a great time with Tom Wopat this weekend. Thanks for the photos and the updates! If things continue to go my way, it looks like I'll be seeing John Schneider next Saturday afternoon. Am looking forward to seeing Bo Duke (my favorite character on the show...) in person! YEE-HAAA!!!!!!

After looking into it a little bit, looks like Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle (First two starting positions during the qualified run) are the only two locked in for the Daytona 500. The rest will be qualified in the duals on Thursday. Will let y'all know Thursday afternoon sometime...or try to.

Well they had qualifying for the Daytona 500 today...of which I missed. But sounds like Gordon had a fast car for it though...too bad he didn't win the pole. Especially since they changed the qualifcations for getting into the Bud Shootout in 2013...now the drivers have to have at least one pole qualification for this year plus a past Shootout win to get into the SHootout next year. Looks like Carl Edwards is in no matter what now... Here will be the starting fifteen drivers of the Daytona 500... 1. Carl Edwards 2. Greg Biffle 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 4. Marcos Ambrose 5. Casey Mears 6. Jeff Gordon 7. Martin Truex Jr 8. Ricky Stenhouse Jr 9. Trevor Bayne 10. Tony Stewart 11. Mark Martin 12. Jimmie Johson 13. Aric Almirola 14. Paul Menard 15. David Ragen SEVEN MORE DAYS TIL DAYTONA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyone else excited? Last night was just the start of speedweeks...what y'all think of the racing now that it was back to old school racing? I liked it better than the two car tandem, but also worries me about the accidents. Mixed emotions here. Didn't like the two car tandem, but also want a fun and safe race as well... The Duals will be Thursday afternoon...I will be at work so I will miss them as I always do. It is where they devide the field into two sets. One set will race in the first group, the other will be in the second group. They are fun to watch if you are home at noon to watch them...which I never am. Can't recall the purpose of the duals, but I think it provides a chance to better a driver's starting position...can't recall, but will update the starting line up for the 500 if it does change the line up for the 500 race...

Here is a link to Gordon's accident...there should be more links below to other accidents of the night. Just too scary! Am so glad Gordon walked away from this horrible accident. Jeff Gordon's accident

Well the Bud Shoot out has just ended and I dont' even know where to begin. It was a fast paced race that was jam packed with wrecks. NASCAR has worked hard during the off season to put an end to the two by two racing and so now instead of doing the two by two, they are drafting in packs. Which causes bigger accidents. Every time a driver went to push on the left slide it ends in a big wreck. First wreck came on lap ten that had Michael Waltrip in flames. Took out a few drivers. Micheal then went into the booth for the rest of the night. Wasn't his night at all, his other two drivers : Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr was in a couple of wrecks of their own later on in the race. In another wreck it took out eight cars as Kevin Harvick left on fire...which also took out fan favorite Dale Jr. Gordon had a great race and led a lot of laps. Was great until right before the white flag dropped he went to move around Kyle Busch or tried moving Kyle Busch out of the way and he slid sideways and got caught up on Kurt Busch's car side ways. He then slid a thousand feet on his driver's door before rolling several times and coming to a stop on the roof. That wreck took out several good drivers as well...including Jimmie Johnson. Not my race at all! I went from being disappointed that he was wrecking to being scared to being relieved to see him walk away. Still very relieved that they have so much safety devices within the car and on the uniform. That was one SCARY wreck. Kyle Busch was sideways most of the night from going out of control, but held on to fight for the win...passing Tony Stewart right at the last second. Top five finishes: 1. Kyle Busch 2. Tony Stewart 3. Marcos Ambrose 4. Brad Keselowski 5. Denny Hamlin There ended up only being ten cars on the lead lap when the checkered flag did drop...only thirteen or so cars on track. If this is any indication of what the Daytona 500 is going to be like, we are in for a crazy ride. I am only hoping it will be better on my top three drivers...Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Jr. . .all of whom where wrecked out of the Bud Shoot out. Qualifying for the 500 will be on FOX at 1:00 ET (I think...so check your local listings to be sure on the time.).

Well y'all I got some exciting news...in just an hour and a half the Budweiser Shootout will start on channel FOX. They drew their starting positions last night...Martin Truex starts from the pole. And opposed to what I posted earlier, I will be watching the Shootout...and will make sure to post my review about it afterwards. Am so excited that the season is about to get started as Speed Weeks will start tonight... And tomorrow will be qualifying for the Daytona 500 race! Anyone else excited for the 2012 season to start?

Here is another article on it. No General at PIR

Well Brian...and everyone, hate to ruin all your excitement about The General being on track, but I bring y'all some sad news. NASCAR has stated that they will not allow Bubba Watson to drive The General on the track due to the Confederate flag. Very sad to see The Dukes and The General cut down like this due to the flag and the negative thoughts that come about it when we all know that is not why the boys put it there to begin with. . .but I guess NASCAR does have to withhold it's image if they want to attract viewers across America and not just the south. Still disappointing for this Duke and NASCAR fan. Here is the article I read it from: Bubba Watson and his General Lee. On a brighter note...eight more days til Daytona. This Saturday night will start Speed weeks with the Bud Shootout Saturday night. Sadly it is looking like I will have to miss it, but am hoping to find a way to record it to watch Sunday or so. Anyway you look at it, I will write the summary up of it the best that I can. On another sad note...Jimmie Johnson's car failed inspection with a too big C post modification. This is NOT the way I was wanting the 2012 season to start out for my #2 driver and am not happy about this, at all...though am sure JJ will prevail this. They said that they will wait to see if they will punish him or not until after the Feb. 26 Daytona race. They flew a new C post in to him today so that he could have it for practice. Gordon, Kahne, and Jr's car all passed inspections...

"Stop it Girl" New Kids on the Block

Thanks for the update Brian. Will be looking forward to seeing it on track.. BTW...only twelve days left til Daytona!

Was never a fan of her music, but still so tragic. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her famiy duing this difficult time.

Received some good Iowa NASCAR news today... Landon Cassill, who got kicked out of his ride when Kurt Busch took over his car, has finally found himself a full time ride for 2012 with a team that is yet to be named or still in the making. The team has taken over Brian Vickers' old 83 car...Vickers had been thrown out of the 83 car last year when Red Bull Racing pulled out of NASCAR (pulling both cars.) And since Vickers' old points will carry over to Cassill for the first five races of the season...and since he finished within the top 35, Cassill will be in the first five races. Meaning Cassill will be in the Daytona 500! Landon had said this will be his first full time ride in NASCAR and his first Daytona 500 race. Have to admit, that even though he is not Jeff Gordon or in the Hendrick team, was very disappointed to see Cassill had gotten kicked out of his old car for Kurt Busch. Was very excited to see he has found himself a new ride for this year...which will start in 15 more days!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well another day is probably a good thing. Hope you get feeling better real soon.