Nascar

[Garrett Duke]

Danica Patrick returns to NASCAR's Nationwide Series race after a couple months of absence, says her goal is to get a top fifteen in today's race. I watched a few minutes of the race a little while ago and she was 36th and two laps down from everyone else. Brad Keselowski was leading with Kevin Havick behind him. Looks like she has some work cut out for her today if she is wishing to get a top fifteen. Anyone else been following her or the Nationwide Series here? I haven't really been watching her nor do I really watch the Nationwide Series due to time and forgetting about it. But I do generally hear who wins or if anything "big" happens in the race as well as hear where Patrick finishes out in the few races she has raced so far this year. They said that her highest finish was in the thirties so far this year. So with that in mind, maybe a fifteen top finish is a too high of a goal to start out with. I don't know. Am not a big fan of her's, but I think that is because of all the publicity she has gotten in the series...hopped on and watched a few minutes of the race today and that is all they were talking about...was her. If that was anyone else in 36th spot they may mention it, but wouldn't go on and on about them. But don't find that too surprising since she seems to bring a lot of attention no matter where she is running. My opinion is, is that the announcers and the media need to stop putting all their attention onto one person. That goes for Sprint Cup as well. They seem to follow the drivers that are the hottest or doing the best...especially on certain channels over some others. It use to be Jr that they followed, then Stewart, then Kyle Busch and a little on Jimmie Johnson as well. No matter where they were running, that was who they were following. Maybe it is just me that feels that way, but that's how it feels to me.

Anyway that is my two cents worth. For Danica's sake, I hope that she will be able to learn the sport and to become good at it. I think she is a good Indy driver and she has a big name which is why she is getting all the attention she is getting.

[Garrett Duke]

Well, did any of you catch the Loudon race yesterday for the Sprint Cup Series? I was sure to watch it. That surprise any of you? LOL. As a whole, it was a pretty good race and for the most part a pretty clean race. There was a couple of instances of events that weren't so clean, but it was a lot more clean than what Sonoma had been where everyone left upset at one another. Was relieved not to see any retaliation from last week's race come yesterday to Gordon or to anyone else.

I know NASCAR is trying to get more viewers and more fans back that they lost over the years and one way they are trying is by this year have the attitude of have at it boys. In other words, the drivers are to police themselves. Guess they had a lot of complaints of them stepping in and stuff like that - fans wanted it to be like it had been. Which it does make it more interesting and exciting at times. But between that new prospect of the sport and the double file restarts as well as the green-white-checkers rules that NASCAR has implanted within the past year, year and a half it has caused a lot of hard racing which has left a lot of drivers with hot tempers and agrivated at one another. A lot of teammates upset at eachother this year and so forth and the season is only half over! (Sorry for getting sidetracked! LOL. Just commenting on why I think all this fighting and everyone getting upset had started from.)

Anyway, Loudon yesterday. Was a good race and it even helped me in my fantasy team (which I thought I was doing horrible at!) But Jimmie Johnson (who I didn't have on my fantasy team for Loudon) won his fifth race of the season yesterday with Tony Stewart coming in second, Kurt Busch third, Jeff Gordon fourth, and Kevin Harvick fifth. (The top five drivers of the race.) Dale Earnhardt Jr had a pretty good race to finish eightth at yesterday. They made a statement yesterday how the past few races Earnhardt has gotten better and it has been tracks he is normally not as good on. Well Saturday night's race is Daytona and Jr is known to be good at Daytona so it will be interesting to see if he can keep it up on a track he is good at and see what he can do. Am glad to see him progressing. (He is now three points out of the top twelve!)

Here is the points after yesterday's race:

1. Kevin Harvick

2. Jimmie Johnson (-105)

3. Kyle Busch

4. Denny Hamlin

5. Jeff Gordon

6. Kurt Busch

7. Matt Kennseth

8. Jeff Burton

9. Tony Stewart

10. Greg Biffle

11. Mark Martin

12. Carl Edwards

and again...Jr is 13th and only three points behind Edwards.

Had to feel bad for Jeff Burton yesterday...was leading at the end of the race, but didn't go in on the last caution (at that point. It was towards the end of the race and they just pitted not that long ago. Everyone did.) So Burton stayed out, but Johnson and everyone else went in and got fresh tires and gas so when they got out there, Burton was pretty much a sitting duck. He finally lost control of his car and spun him and Kyle Busch out. He had it won, I think, until then. Burton is another driver I feel that is like Jeff Gordon where they have a good car and has the desire for the win, is competive, yet the win just keeps eluding them due to one reason or another. They get close yet never get it yet this season.

Anyone else watch the race? What y'all think of it?

[RogerDuke]

Thanks, as always, for the update Garrett. I didn't see even a minute of the race but it's always nice to log in and see your analysis.

I think it's interesting that everyone pays so much attention to Dale Jr no matter how bad he's doing. At least he finished in the top 10 this time.

Here's a question for you. What's it going to take for him be one of the elite drivers again?

[Garrett Duke]

I always find that kind of ironic as well, but then again, Dale Jr has been voted as the most popular driver for the past seven years now. The announcers and the media don't talk about him half as much as they did when he was winning so much and was doing great behind the wheel. Back then, that was all you heard about, Dale Jr. It got old real quick and found myself not liking Jr at all. But now I have to say, he's my third favorite driver.

I think with his name and who his father is, Dale Jr will always be well talked about and followed no matter where he is at in points or on the track. Which is kinda sad for the other drivers who may be deserving of that attention. Kinda like Danica Patrick and all the attention she is getting in the Nationwide Series race when she has yet to finish better than thirty-one in her several starts. Who else would get that much attention driving like that?

As for what it will take for him to join the elite once again, I think he needs to continue to finish strongly within the top ten or five as he has in the past couple of weeks. He needs to start winning once again. I still don't understand why he hasn't done that yet. Driving for Hendrick he has the best cars under him with the best engines under the hood with the best equipment and all that. Just like Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. Then again, Mark Martin drives for Hendrick and he has done nothing this year. In fact, am surprised to see Martin in the top twelve as of now.

As for Jr. he needs to find whatever is missing in his team or within him that is making him come up short. Perhaps him and Lance McGrew need to get on the same page or better communications. Lance McGrew seems to be a pretty good crew cheif, but also have heard Jr talking pretty harshly to McGrew when he got upset or frustrated with the car. I think Jr is a good driver and he has it in him to win, we've seen him do it week in and week out for awhile there. He had a pretty bad accident a few years ago that I heard was a lot like his dad's accident, so maybe he still has that fear within him that is holding him back. Whatever it is, he needs to figure it out, deal with it. Perhaps he needs that one win to boost his confidence, his teams confidence to point him in the right direction.

[Garrett Duke]

Well, I don't know how many if anyone reads all my ramblings here, but I guess I will continue with them until someone tells me to shut up. LOL.

Well the Cola 400 is Saturday night...another night race. Khee...am excited for it. Then again, I look forward to every race. But as I posted earlier, I like night races. Not only does it give me an entire day on Sunday to do something or nothing, but they are also racing under the lights. Which is different than normal. It is also Daytona...hopefully they got the track repaved or fixed from the Daytona 500! Last thing anyone wants is to be dealing with pot holes as they did at the 500. I think they said they were going to repave the entire track after this race, so the next Daytona 500 they'll get a fresh track to race on.

Not only am I having a hard time grasping that it is already July, but even more so having a hard time believing that the NASCAR season is already half over. I try to be optimistic to see that they still have half a season left, but still, it also means it is also half over. Perhaps I'd feel better if Gordon had a win or two to his name for this year or if he was being more competitive as he was at the beginning of the season. He is fifth in points, which is good, but don't feel as if he is championship caliber as of yet this year. Hopefully I am wrong. I am sure a lot of people are looking forward to the season to be over with and consider it to be a long season. But to me, it can't be long enough. LOL. December through Janruary has got to be the longest months for me! (Y'all think of why? LOL) It also means that we only have around seven races left until the chase starts. . .

Anyway, they're racing at Daytona again on Saturday night. Dale Jr, Gordon, and Stewart are a few drivers that is known to be good at this track. Tony Stewart won the race here last year (he seems to get better as the weather gets warmer.) So it will be interesting to see where all our "favorite" drivers will end up on Saturday night.

[RogerDuke]

Please don't shut up...I read them...LOL

Also, I got my NASCAR "expert" I was telling you about to read your posts.

I wasn't surprised to learn that you really know your NASCAR. (I already knew you did but you should feel complimented that my "expert" thinks so too)

Now, if I can only get him to start posting here. I told him he doesn't have to be a Dukes fan to be a HazzardNet member.

I'm learning a lot about NASCAR from him. Today I learned it takes more than a lap to get up to top speed on the races where they use the restricter plate.

[Garrett Duke]

Well, I am honored to hear that your expert thinks I know my NASCAR. So when do I get classified as a NASCAR expert? LOL Seriously, I do find it an honor to hear that and did make me feel good. Now if only you can get him to sign up here...

Race starts at 7:30 tonight...am excited for it. Restrictor plate racing is always fast and exciting. Daytona is always fast and exciting. Dale Earnhardt Jr won the Nationwide Series race last night at Daytona. Wish I could have seen it. He drove his dad's old car. The highlights at the end of the race looked pretty exciting. Hopefully he can carry the momentum into tonight's race...he can come in second after Gordon. LOL.

Any of you get to watch it? Tony Stewart won last year (think I may have said that already). They'll have some pretty good fireworks at the end if I remember right. Hopefully it will be a fun and safe race and all our drivers will have great finishes!

[Garrett Duke]

Wow! Did anyone watch last night's race at Daytona? What an action packed race...no one could have said that it was boring, because it was anything but boring. Then again, I can say that, because Gordon missed getting wrecked out by all the accidents that had occured durring the last half of the race. If he was, I might feel differently. Only half the field was able to finish the race after all the accidents...especially after the big one that involved twenty cars! Gordon just missed that as he swerved and drove around it on the apron of the track - it started right before him. But it took out Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and a lot others. Mark Martin was involved, in fact when he pulled his car to the pits, his car caught on fire and a couple of crew members from Jimmie Johnson's pit crew pulled him out. Jeff Burton and Kurt Busch getting together was what started it several car lengths ahead of them.

Juan Pablo Montoya got into race leader Kyle Busch (another accident) to take out Kyle Busch...Kyle went up the track as Juan went down and they connected to spin Kyle into the wall and out of the race. Kyle was mad and had a few sarcastic remarks afterwards for the media.

Sadly my fantasy team didn't fare so well since I only had one driver (Dale Earnhardt Jr) that finished the race. Oh well I guess. LOL. They had over 45 lead changes throughout the race...Gordon led several laps and was in the lead with only a few laps remaining but lost the lead. He ended up finishing third, Kasey Kahne second, and Kevin Harvick won his second race of the season.

Here is the top ten that finished

1. Kevin Harvick

2. Kasey Kahne

3. Jeff Gordon

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr

5. Jeff Burton

6. Carl Edwards

7. Kurt Busch

8. Reed Sorenson

9. Mike Bliss

10. Scott Speed

(Several of those drivers were involved in accidents as well...)

Here is the unofficial points as of now:

1. Kevin Harvick

2. Jeff Gordon ( -212...am excited about him climbing three spots in points since last week. He was really competitive last night. Looking more like the old Jeff Gordon. )

3. Jimmie Johnson

4. Kurt Busch

5. Denny Hamlin

6. Kyle Busch

7. Matt Kennseth

8. Jeff Burton

9. Tony Stewart

10. Greg Biffle

11. Dale Earnhardt Jr (finally in the top twelve!)

12. Carl Edwards

Would love to hear what everyone else thought of the race last night and of the fireworks. Would have enjoyed it better if Gordon got the win he is deserving of (my opinion, of course), but am glad with third and that he was able to finish the race. There was a lot of good race cars out there that got taken out of the race...McMurray and Allmindinger to list a couple of them. I thought it was a fun and exciting race once it got started since it was rain delayed for a while last night, then went into over time with a green-white-checkered finish - they were still wrecking each other when the race finished. It was a crazy race, but a good one for a hand ful of drivers. That will be the last race on the old track, they are starting to repave Daytona starting on Monday so come February they'll have a new track to race on. Also enjoyed Darius Rucker's performance before the race as well. What y'all think?

[RogerDuke]

Thanks for the update.

Was that Dale's best finish so far this year?

[Garrett Duke]

Dale Earnhardt Jr finished second in February at the Daytona 500 which is his best finish of the season so far in the Sprint cup Series. (which was the same track they were on yesterday).

[Garrett Duke]

Well this weekend's race is another night race at ChicagoLand Speedway in Joliet Ill and I am once again excited and am looking forward to it! (I surprised ya, I know I did! ) But am even more so since ChicagoLand is the closest track to where I live (five hours away!) and is a track that I have been to before...once. Sadly though, it wasn't for a race. I have yet to go to a race, though would love to go to one! My grandpa took me and my cousin to ChicagoLand Speedway several years ago and gave us his two tickets to ride in one of Richard Petty's Driving Experience cars! I was so excited and would love to do that again. Went three laps around the track in Dale Jr's old Bud car (my cousin got to ride in Stewart's old Home Depot car) going as fast as they do (my cousin asked his driver and he said he went 200 mph) and close to the wall and everything! It will be a day I will always remember, that is for sure. So for that reason, ChicagoLand Speed way is one of my favorite tracks (like Bristol is for I've been there for Dukefest before).

Not much news so far...sounds like the president or vice president is talking about some pretty big changes for the chase next year, though don't know what as of yet. Am hoping them to be good ones. Ones that will better it. I am not a big fan of the chase, but I am willing to bet that I better grow to like it or accept it, it will be here for the long haul I have a feeling. I think the concept is good, just don't like how they do the points and the wins. They make it so that you need to win all the time to win the championship, which is what they all want to do, to win, but I think there is a lot to be said when I driver can string along a series of top five finishes and so forth as well. Sad when you go into the chase leading the field by four hundred points only to be sent down to second or third in the chase due to someone else having more wins than you. All of my opinion of course.

This season seems so far seems to be a year for drivers to be upset at one another. I don't remember a year where so many drivers left upset at one another...especially team mates! Sure it has to do with their new "boys have at it" attitude and the double file restarts and so forth, but it seems like every race someone is upset at another. AJ Allmindinger got upset at his car owner Richard Petty when Petty tried talking to him after AJ's accident. Kyle Busch got upset at Juan Pablo Montoya after his incident. Only to add on to the list of upset drivers. Guess it gives the media plenty of things to talk about. I am just glad that it is no longer them talking about Jimmie vs Jeff or the people Gordon got upset at Sonoma a few races agao...guess it helps distance that. LOL.

Well I am sure I bored y'all to death now with my babbling, but felt the need to post something here. Mid week I always seem to feel like talking about the next race or something associated with NASCAR.

[RogerDuke]

You never bore me Garrett. I get my NASCAR info from two sources and you're one of them!

[Garrett Duke]

Thanks Roger!

Well I actually do have some NASCAR news today...some may consider this good and others will consider it bad. LOL. Jimmie Johnson's wife, Chandra, gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday (mom and baby are doing fine). She was due on Saturday when Jimmie is suppose to be driving at ChicagoLand and if she gave birth on Saturday he would have had Aric Amerilo (Sp? LOL) drive for him. But since she was born on Wednesday, Jimmie will be racing on Saturday. They have yet to either put out a name or pick out a name, don't know which. If they come out with it, I'll let y'all know. I am looking forward to seeing pictures as well as to learn her name!

They are saying there is a baby boom in NASCAR this year. Elliot Sadler and Carl Edwards' wives gave births to their first child (Sadler - a boy, Wyatt. Edwards - a girl -Anne). Now Johnson's wife gave birth to their first child. Ingrid - Gordon's wife, and Montoya's wife is due in August (Gordon's second child - suppose to be a boy - and Montoya's third child), and Jamie McMurray's wife is expecting their first child later this year as well.

I for one am glad and excited for Johnson...one that he is now a father. He will make a great dad I am sure. Plus glad to see that he will be racing on Saturday night. I am sure Aric would do a decent job in the 48 car, but it would just be wrong to see someone other than Johnson driving it. I am highly hoping that Ingrid will give birth during the week as well so that Gordon will be as lucky to be drive every race this year. Know in '07 he had Mark Martin on reserve for when Ella was born, but I think she was born on a wed or thursday as well and he weas able to race. So hopefully he can have the same luck twice - to have a healthy and happy child and be able to race. It would be even more wrong to see anyone other than Gordon drive his 24 car!

Can't be more exciting than this...new babies and NASCAR! (Sorry, had to say it since I do work at a day care! LOL)

[Garrett Duke]

Well the ChicagoLand race has just finished and have to say that it was kind of an up and down race for me. Up because Gordon scored his nineth top five finish of the season by finishing third and down because Johnson finished I think 25th after getting spun out earlier on in the race. Not a whole lot of excitement with wrecks or anything like that...think they only had three cautions and one was for debri (which was on the apron of the track, so don't know why they had to throw a caution for that...). Anyway, Johnson had the most dominant car out there at the beginning of the race, he took the lead of the race right away and led a lot of laps. Then, he missed pit road which slowed him down and gave the lead back to Jamie McMurray who won pole of the race.

After a caution, Martin Truex Jr. got too close to Jimmie Johnson to spin Jimmie out. Jimmie got control and was able to stay on the lead lap only to run into the wall a couple of times and then later on had tire problems.

Points leader Kevin Harvick had a rough race and had to go to the garage for sixteen laps as they attempted to fix something to deal with the gas.

The other accident was when Bill Elliot spun to hit the wall, Robbie Gordon who was trying to avoid him, ended up locking his tires and running into Elliot, which got them both airborne for a second. A pretty hard hit to both of them.

Gordon raced up to lead a few laps of the race, but was raced down by David Reutimann and later passed by Carl Edwards. David Reutimann...who drives for Michael Waltrip...won his second race of his career. His first win came last year at Charolette at a rain shortened race.

Here is the top ten finishes:

1. David Reutimann

2. Carl Edwards

3. Jeff Gordon

4. Clint Bowyer

5. Jamie McMurray

6. Kasey Kahne

7. Jeff Burton

8. Denny Hamlin

9. Tony Stewart

10. Paul Menard

Here is the unofficial standings:

1. Kevin Harvick

2. Jeff Gordon (-103)

3. Jimmie Johnson

4. Denny Hamlin

5. Kurt Busch

6. Kyle Busch

7. Jeff Burton

8. Matt Kenseth

9. Tony Stewart

10. Carl Edwards

11. Greg Biffle

12. Clint Bowyer

13. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-15)

Well, sadly to say, there is no race next week - they get next week off. Though I am sure they all are ready for a break (especially Johnson with his new daughter), but don't know if I'm ready for one. LOL. Guess I'll get one whether I like it or not. Indianapolis will be the next race which will NOT be on TNT...the races will now be broadcasted on ESPN until the start of the chase of which the races will be on ABC (so everyone w/out cable can start watching them again.)

I like Kyle Petty and Larry McReynolds who are on TNT. The other broadcasters are OK (all that is my opinion.) But am glad to see the change in broadcasting. Perhaps I am just imagining things here, but to me, on TNT, it seems to be more commercials than there is the race. Which is very frustrating to me. On Fox, they had way less commercials than TNT and am hoping that ESPN will not have as many commericals as TNT seem to have. (Personally, I wish the races would just stay on FOX. I just like their coverage and announcers better than the others. Though doubt that will happen. Once more, all of my own sorry opinion. )

Anyone else get to watch the race tonight? If so, what you think? Good to see the under dogs win every once in awhile like David Reutimann. Carl Edwards got his highest finish at second tonight...his second top five of the season. Gordon gained on Harvick, though still remains winless of the season - wins he needs to win the championship. And Bowyer is looking strong so far as well. McMurray has gotten his fifth top five finish of the year (last year he only scored one top five!) which is great. Kyle Busch who won the Nationwide Series race last night finished seventeen and wasn't really mentioned at all during the race due to being towards the back as was his brother who was at least a lap down at the end of the race.

Now we have seven races left until the chase starts. . .

[Garrett Duke]

Well Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra, have now given their baby girl another name, other than Baby J that they've been calling her. Their daughter's name is: Genevieve Marie Johnson. Which is a pretty name and unique. Am looking forward to see pictures...has to be a cute little girl. Wish Jimmie and Chandra congratulations on their little bundle of joy. Sure Jimmie is glad for a week off to catch up on sleep (hopefully, though unlikely. ) and to be with his girls as much as possible.

[texasdaisy09]

Yeah have ya'll noticed the initals for the little sweetie, Garrett? They happen to be GM. Cool huh? There's a link to a pic of the little angel on the Yahoo homepage. After you click on the story of her initals scroll down and you'll see it. Congrats to them!! God bless

[RogerDuke]

Hmmm, I've never even heard of that feller who won.

Poor Garrett, no race this weekend coming up, whatever will you do? I suppose you'll be on the HazzardNet more often.

Congratulations to all the new fathers in NASCAR.

Thanks again for the updates, Garrett.

I haven't been following the races much the last 3 weeks. I plan on getting more into it when the Chase starts.

[Garrett Duke]

David Reutimann drives the 00 car and he races for Michael Waltrip (Darrell Waltrip's younger brother.). If you seen that Toyota commercial with Denny Hamilin with the boy making a love car for NASCAR...David Reutimann at the end of the commercial is the one that says "I love love." Don't know if that helps you any...LOL This is his second win and he normally runs mid pack which is probably why you don't know who he is that well.

I am going to be soooo lost this weekend without a race to watch, don't know what I'm going to do. I can't believe NASCAR would take a week off like this...that they would do this to me! What'm I suppose to do now? Oh well at least it is only a week (though it'll seem a lot longer than that, I assure you.) instead of three months like the off season. Hopefully I can find a Cubs game to watch to replace the race, but still not the same.

You skipping out on the races until the chase, Roger? You're going to miss out on Indianappolis in two weeks? Think of all the excitement you are missing out. Guess that's only seven races your missing out on, but you know what they say? You miss a lap, you miss all the excitement. (Ok it goes something like that, can't think of it exactly.) Ah not to worry, I'll be more than glad to keep y'all up to date on the races. (Sorry to give you a hard time, Roger...had to do it. Please don't be mad at me. )

TXDaisy - I never noticed the initials before seeing the article heading that stated that. I wonder if Jimmie had that planned or if it is just coincidence. Guess the article states that Jimmie said it was coincidence...Thanks for letting me know about the photo! She is a cutie! I wonder if Jimmie will do what Jeff does with Ella (and hopefully his son when he is born...) where he keeps a photo album online on his site of pictures of Ella (his 3 year old daughter). Would be neat if Jimmie would do the same with Genevieve...though would understand why if he doesn't. Just would be neat if he did...

You are welcome...thank you for allowing me to give my NASCAR reports. NASCAR is one of the very few things I know about so I enjoy talking/watching it and so forth.

[RogerDuke]

Well you could always watch the NASCAR related Dukes episodes like "Undercover Dukes" and the two Cale Yarborough episodes to name a few.

[Garrett Duke]

Ooooh good idea, Roger. Sadly, I haven't seen an Duke ep in a loooonnnnnnnnnggggggggg time. So I could get some racing in and the Dukes all at the same time. NOw if only I can remember to do it...lol.

[Garrett Duke]

Guess what, Roger? Five more days until Indianapolis! LOL. (Wait until the off season when my countdown officially starts. LOL) Want another fact...Jeff Gordon won the inaugural race at the Indianapolis for the Sprint Cup in 1997! Last year Juan Pablo Montoya (who is use to be a Formula one driver and had won the Indy 500 once) led most laps, but got caught speeding on the last pit stop and got penalized a drive through pit lane which is the customary penalty for speeding on pit road and Jimmie Johnson ended up winning the race. Should make for a good race on Sunday!

Before I forget to mention, don't go looking for the race on TNT on Sunday. It will be shown on ESPN starting Sunday until the chase starts. Once the Chase starts, the races will be on ABC until the end of the season. So it will be on ESPN 1:00 EST (I think) on Sunday. Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace will be a couple of the announcers on that channel.

Edited July 19, 2010 by Garrett Duke

[RogerDuke]

Congratulations Garrett, you've hit the big time!

It looks like your NASCAR thread is so popular, our Supreme Superior Commander has given it a special place on the HazzardNet.

Way to go Garrett!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Garrett Duke]

Thank-you Roger for your excitement! I was surprised to see this thread while going through here and am very excited about it! More room to talk about NASCAR!!! Though, I don't know if I would consider the NASCAR (or nascar) thread to be all mine to begin with. Think of it to be our thread.

Thank-you to the Supreme Commander for this thread/forum to be dedicated to the world of NASCAR! As stated above, was and am excited to see this.

I am glad to see the NASCAR thread be that popular and that I didn't or haven't bored everyone to death with my NASCAR ramblings. As I often say, once I get started talking about NASCAR, I can talk forever about any little thing containing NASCAR. HA HA. Just think of all I can talk about now...hmmm, where to start? Thanks again!

[Skipper Duke]

On 6/17/2010 at 5:30 PM, Garrett Duke said:

General Lee Girl...I thought you may like it that your boy Hamlin won. Can't say I was too happy about it, but at least someone was. LOL. Glad he won for ya.

Roger - I don't believe I have watched that special feature...I'll have to find the time or make the time to do so. That would be interesting to hear and to see. Interesting to hear they like sliding in the dirt over concrete, wonder what the current drivers feel about that. Know a lot of them have dirt track history and what not.

I am looking forward to Sonoma this weekend...just read an article on NASCAR.com on how Gordon and Stewart has gained the most points at this track and how Gordon has led the most laps here. Am hoping that he will lead the most laps come Sunday as well. Know you like Johnson, Roger, but I am really hoping Gordon can slide on by him. I like Johnson as well, but am getting tired of getting beat by him year in and year out. It's about time Gordon gets a win and another championship...you know the year his daughter, Ella was born, Gordon won six races. His wife is about to have a son in August here...he needs to start his winning streak going again. LOL. (Then again, Johnson's wife is going to have a baby in July as well...)

Hope you all get to watch the race this Sunday...road races aren't as fast as the normal races so they don't tend to be as exciting or what not, but I like them just because they are different and the fact Gordon is good at 'em helps as well.

Cousin Garrett Duke... I guess we know what the drivers are doing during the off race season lol. Making babies haha.