Wednesday, October 8th, 2008
Talladega proved to be just as exciting as it has always been. There was the “big one,” times two, a first time winner and of course some beating and banging.
The “big one” was multiplied times two Sunday and each was equally damaging to the two sets of drivers.
The first “big one” happened on lap 63 with Brian Vickers, the leader of the middle row of cars, who was battling for the lead with all the other cars on the frontstretch when his right front tire exploded. The explosion sent his No. 83 Toyota into the left side of Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 1 Chevrolet and many cars and drivers searching for clarity. (more…)
Posted in Column | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
Race No. 3 in the “Chase for the Sprint Cup” at Kansas Speedway was similar to the previous two races. Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards were competing for the win, Greg Biffle had yet another Top 5 finish, Kyle Busch continued to have bad luck and at least one Chaser finished poorly.
Now, I could be wrong, but it does not look as if Kyle Busch will win the Championship, as many thought at the beginning of the summer. He added yet another not so good finish Sunday. (more…)
Posted in Column | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008
The first race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup was good clean racing, for the most part, and as most years go to show, it shook up the points a bit.
Kyle Busch went into Sunday’s race as the points leader, when he left, he was 74 points behind new leaders Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson — they are tied for first.
What happened to Busch? (more…)
Posted in Column | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
With the last off weekend over, for the Sprint Cup guys, the drivers (and the fans) are on the final stretch — a 17-race showdown. Who will make it to the Chase for the Sprint Cup and who won’t? After Richmond September 6, it will be known. Most importantly, who will win the championship?
The current Chase contenders are:
•Kyle Busch: He’s been sitting on top of the charts for weeks, since Richmond in May to be exact. He currently has the most wins in the Cup series (seven), five wins in the Nationwide series and two wins in the Craftsman’s Truck series, making a total of 14 wins already this season. When the Chase starts, he’ll be seeded first, like he currently sits, but will have 70 bonus points.
•Dale Earnhardt Jr.: He has gradually and consistently made his way to the top, or as far he can get at the moment, putting himself in one of the best positions he needs to be in. (more…)
Posted in Column | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008
Rain — always a factor — played havoc on Friday’s race track activities, this time at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.
Sprint Cup qualifying was canceled moments after the rain came down. Ten cars had qualified with Greg Biffle’s No. 16 sitting on top. However, it would be Kyle Busch’s No. 18 Toyota who would “claim” the pole position, thanks to the current owner’s points standings.
The rain didn’t seem to be a problem Saturday. The Cup drivers were able to have their final two practice sessions. Greg Biffle’s No. 16 (still very fast) and Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet were the fastest. (Other track activities were able to resume as well, including an ARCA Remax race and a Craftsman Truck race.)
The LifeLock 400 started Sunday despite the possibility of rain with Busch pulling away from the pack until the first caution flag flew three laps in. (more…)
Posted in Column | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
Pocono races tend to be very uninteresting.
Anything you want to see typically happens early and maybe at the end. There isn’t usually anything “that interesting” in the middle, just a whole lot of racing. This weekend was no exception.
During Friday’s Cup practice session and qualifying, it was Kasey Kahne’s No. 9 Dodge on top. Kahne picked up his first pole of the season; he was the only driver to top 170 miles per hour around the tri-oval that is known as Pocono Raceway.
“It was perfect,” Kahne said after taking his qualifying laps.
Kahne continued to call his car “perfect” throughout both of Saturday’s practice sessions in which he was in the Top Five. (more…)
Posted in Column | No Comments »
Thursday, May 29th, 2008
Memorial Day weekend is a big racing weekend for the race fans and the drivers. There are always several races going on during the weekend, particularly on Sunday. Two of the biggest and best known races are the Indianapolis 500 in Indianapolis, Ind. and the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, N.C.
The Coke 600 is also the longest race of the year. It starts in the day with the sun blaring down upon you and ends under the lights as the cool air breaths down your neck.
I know this well; I was there this weekend.
It is typically a very interesting race; anything and everything can and probably will happen. It just takes a little longer for most things to do so. This year’s race was no exception. (more…)
Posted in Column | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008
Who would have thought there would be an All-Star main event without a single caution for debris or a wreck? Instead, there were three, the only cautions scheduled to break the race into four segments.
The Sprint Showdown (formerly the Open), the qualifying race directly before the All-Star race (officially called All-Star Race XXIV), was a different story. The 40-lap race had one scheduled pit stop after the first of two segments, but quickly the one definite pit stop turned to three additional pit stops.
Patrick Carpentier, the driver who promised to run naked if he was voted in, was the first to bring out a caution when his No. 10 Dodge got loose and spun hitting the wall. He was done and was also disqualified from the Fan Vote because his car was no longer race-ready.
When the segment restarted Carpentier’s teammate, Elliott Sadler, in his No. 19 Dodge, was the second car to bring out a caution (more…)
Posted in Column | No Comments »
Loading ...