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Who Is In, Who’s Out

Posted by Penni On July - 23 - 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. Read the rest of this entry »

Race Reviews

It’s A Done Deal For Tony Stewart

Posted by Penni On July - 16 - 2008

As the revolving door of NASCAR spins, there is at least one door that is closed in order for a new door to be opened.

Tony Stewart made it official Thursday. He’ll be part owner (50 percent) of HAAS CNC Racing and he’ll drive for his new team, Stewart-HAAS Racing when this season is over. This also meant he’d return to Chevrolet.

The announcement had been inevitable since all the talk was started, but more when Joe Gibbs Racing announced Wednesday that they would let Stewart out of his contract after the current season. Stewart’s contract was signed until the end of 2009.

During Thursday’s press conference, the worried, or rather disgusted look that was apparent on Stewart’s face since the middle of March was gone. He smiled and chuckled as he made the announcement. Read the rest of this entry »

Race Reviews

A Night Full Of Fireworks

Posted by Penni On July - 9 - 2008

The Fourth of July weekend is full of food, fun and fireworks.

To a race fan, the Fourth means all this and more. It means NASCAR makes it way back to Daytona for the annual Pepsi 400. However this year, with Coca-Cola taking over as the ‘Official Cola of NASCAR’ the Pepsi 400 was renamed the Coke Zero 400.

It also means any driver has the best possibility to win under the lights. Of course there are the drivers that excel at Daytona International Speedway, but there are always those drivers, or that driver, that surprises even their biggest fan(s).

Who were you rooting for too win Saturday night? Read the rest of this entry »

Race Reviews

Disappointments, Anyone?

Posted by Penni On July - 2 - 2008

Loudon, N.H. last weekend was the site for the first race in the “Race to the Chase” — the 10 races leading up to the final 10 races — the “Chase for the Sprint Cup.”

The “Chase” begins in Loudon also — in Septemeber.

Both races there tend to be either boring from start to finish or boring with a little excitement toward the end. This first race to the Chase was pretty much the first option. It had no real excitement but was filled with lots of disappointments from beginning to end.

It wasn’t totally without surprises.

Surprise number one came when Patrick Carpentier qualified his No. 10 Dodge on the pole position for Sunday’s Cup race. Read the rest of this entry »

Race Reviews

Running On Empty

Posted by Penni On June - 18 - 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. Read the rest of this entry »

Race Reviews

In Dominating Fashion…

Posted by Penni On June - 11 - 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. Read the rest of this entry »

Race Reviews

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