ALL HAIL JJ

So he's won 4...what does the next season bring to NASCAR? I think the economy will be a huge issue and a few more empty seats at tracks around the country...

Enjoy the winter!

JJ WINS AND MOVES CLOSER TO HISTORY...

#48 takes Phoenix and is now ready to take an unprecedented 4th straight title...they make it look easy...
The Denny Hamlin/Brad Keslowski ongoing tiff brings some juice to the table...but, I'm ready for the season to end...need a break....

HALL OF FAME...

I've got no problem with the first class in the Hall of Fame, but, it's a shame Pearson won't be in it....he deserves it...
I'd like to see them separate the drivers and others as other halls do....this would make it more fair for both drivers and those who need to be recognized for their contributions.

IT'S OVER.;....

Another victory at his house...3 wins in first 5 Chase races...folks, I'll say it now...it's over...JJ wins his 4th in a row...
Gotta give loads of props to the #48 team...they own the Chase....it's not even close...

On to Martinsville...where they have dominated...again....sigh...

BTW - things are going awful for Junior....it's borderline embarrassing....

SMOKE SCORES IN KANSAS!

Tony Stewart gets back in the Chase with a big two tire stop and runs
away with the win in race 3 of the Chase. Mark Martin keeps the lead
over JJ.

The big news is the possibility Danica might race in some events next
year for Junior's team with Go Daddy as sponsor. The hot rumor is she
might replace Mark Martin in the 5 car down the road....

JJ SERVES NOTICE!

Jimmie Johnson let everyone know he's still the man to beat with an
impressive win at Dover. He wants that unpresidented 4th championship
in a row. Mark Martin still leads the Chase, but JJ and the 48 team
are coming into a stretch of tracks they OWN!

One tidbit....any fall Dover winner has not won the Chase yet...

Tripp

Sent from my iPhone...which accounts for the shortness and
brevity...big fingers and a small keyboard don't mix...

CHASE WEEK 1....

Mark Martin held off JP Montoya and K. Busch to take round one at NHIS. An entertaining end to what was a somewhat dull race, as they usually are at New Hampshire. Feel bad for Junior - had a good run ruined by the #00....

What's up at RPM? Sorensen running for free - Kahne blows an engine and is last in chase - who's in charge with the merger with Yates? Rumors are George Gillett is looking to sell and get out of this fiasco...somewhere Ray Evernham is laughing.....

Dover is next in the Chase.....BTW - Martin Truex has a couple of events in AC to raise money for his foundation...check it out at http://martintruexjrfoundation.org/

TRUEX GETS A CREW CHIEF

One quick note...when he climbs into the #56 NAPA car next season,
local fav Martin Truex will have Pat Tryson on the pit box. He's been
Kurt Busch's crew chief and had been at Roush/ Fenway.
It will split the Truex/Kevin 'Bono' Manion pairing which won 2
Nationwide titles, but has struggled lately.

Tripp

Sent from my iPhone...which accounts for the shortness and
brevity...big fingers and a small keyboard don't mix...

NASCAR IN NYC

This Thursday, the Chase drivers are headed to the Big Apple for a luncheon and events to promote the 'playoffs'. Might want to check it out....

LET THE CHASE BEGIN...

A wild Saturday night in Richmond....Denny Hamlin with another win, but his teammate, Kyle Busch OOC along with Matt Kenseth (Out of the Chase). Brian Vickers climbs from 13th to 12th and is in the championship hunt. Who will win? The next 10 races will decide...I'll still take Tony Stewart...

KYLE BACK ON TOP!!!

#18 wins at Bristol....very good race...typical Bristol...The Chase standings are really tight...

A week off before a very interesting Atlanta race....at night on Labor Day Sunday.....

HAD ENOUGH OF KYLE BUSCH?

Man, he's such a baby...this little run-in with Vickers after Michigan Nationwide race was classic baby Busch...thought Vickers response with great..."Didn't know it was the Kyle Busch show"....
Kudos to Brad Keslowski...Man, is he making a statement about getting a Cup ride....

POCONO....

The rain delayed 2nd race at Pocono gives Denny Hamlin a win...to be quite honest, it was a great race...Gotta give props to the #48...they battled back from 3 laps down to finish on the lead lap in 13th....never give up....Dale Jarrett did that in the Brickyard 400 in '99...
Off to the Glen!

A NOT SO BRIGHT FUTURE....

Gotta give props to my man Dale Jarrett...he made a very telling statement Sunday in predicting less that 43 car fields come Chase time. Only 43 are entered in Pocono this week....
One other point to ponder....just got an offer for tickets to the Lowes Chase race - Buy 2, get 2 free....that doesn't sound like things are going well, does it?

JJ AT INDY, JPM MAD AS HELL...

Jimmie Johnson pulls off a win over Mark Martin and Juan Pablo Montoya is mad - but he got nailed by two timing loops as being too fast (much like Mayfield, one - there's a question, two - not as much)...Indy was a good day this year - no tire issues, a clean race and an ESPN broadcast which kinda was boring...

A return to Pocono this week - lets see what lies ahead....

EMPTY GRANDSTANDS....

It's becoming clear that tracks are having trouble selling tickets...and one wonders where it's the economy or the rather high prices....or overexposure. Two races at some tracks are welcome and draw well, but if Daytona is any indication, we could see alot of empty seats at alot of tracks the second time around....and if that happens, the folks in Kentucky, Nashville and other places without Cup races will be howling for a date...this story will be ongoing as we head to 2010 and the schedule...don't be surprised if there's a delay in that announcement....

HARVICK NOT HAPPY

Rumors continue to swirl that Happy Harvick ain't happy at RCR and wants out of the final year of his contract to race with Tony Syewart's team...Stewart and Harvick race together in Harvick's #33 nationwide team....but then the question becomes - is Danica on the SHR radar? Silly season is off and running.....

MAYFIELD FAILS AGAIN...

In this game, two strikes and you are out! The news of the second failed drug test really seals his fate...even though he's fighting it, he's either really dumb and took the same combo of medications again or as his stepmom says, he's a meth-head....either way, Jeremy is done...so sad...

TRUEX TO MWR #56 NEXT YEAR...

It says more about how far Michael Waltrip Racing has come in a short time and how competitive they are that our native son is taking the reins from Michael. Truex was the biggest name available and his departure leaves many questions at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing... Good move for Martin!

CHICAGO...MY KIND OF TOWN...

For Mark Martin, it was...another win for the #5 bunch...he's looking like a strong candidate for the Chase....
Now, a week off before the last stretch of the schedule to the end of the season...

HALL OF FAME NOMINEES....

The list just released is impressive - the people who made the sport what it is - while I have no doubt all will eventually make it - here's my five picks for the first class:

1) Dale Earnhardt - a no-brainer - without him, the TV deal would have never been completed and the sport would not be as popular
2) Bill France, Sr. - deserves his own wing...enough said!
3) Richard Petty - see above...
4) Junior Johnson - a winner as a driver and owner for many years - one of the true legends.
5) David Pearson - would have won more races & championships if the Wood Brothers had run full seasons....deserves to go in with Richard....
Also considered - Bill France, Jr.; Lee Petty; & Benny Parsons

I'll be surprised if these aren't the five who are first, -- the first three are locks, the last two could be in the 2nd class.

http://www.nascarhall.com/ is the link to the hall website where you can vote on the first class to enter....

IT'S BEEN AWHILE....

Yeah, I know...been trying to make some changes in my life (or lack thereof) and I've let things go....
First, Tony Stewart gets his first win as a car owner...and leads the points race - not too shabby...
The Michigan race was a hoot - the last lap was great - My kingdom for a quart of fuel! Nice to see Mark Martin doing well....
Double-file restarts - an interesting twist...gives a different look at strategy...
The King goes back to victory lane - although not his own team, but still good to see...
Bill Weber bounced from TNT broadcasts - what did the guy do? No one is saying, but he had to do something realllly bad....I doubt he'll be back on next year...

Daytona...halfway home....get ready for some fun!

SMOKE WINS!!!!!!

Tony Stewart could be on his way to winning a championship as an owner/driver...Saturday's win in the All-Star race was huge....he and Ryan Newman could be the story of the rest of the season....Next Sunday will be interesting...the longest race of the year makes for interesting viewing.....

MARTIN AGAIN!!!!

Just after announcing he will return to the #5 car full-time next season, Mark Martin stamped his name on the list of drivers vying for the Chase with a 2nd win on the season at Darlington. Jimmie Johnson rebounded from what for most teams would be a horrible weekend to finish second...

Next up is the All-Star race....

JEREMY MAYFIELD...WHAT WAS HE THINKING?

He made the Daytona 500 when no one else thought he could...he made Richmond last week, but struggled. He's had his ups and downs as a driver, but tonight - he's had perhaps the biggest obstacle to overcome...he's been busted as the first driver under the new drug testing policy....

He's a big boy and knew what he was doing...he now has a scarlet letter that he may never remove...in a week that saw Kevin Grubb take his life after an indefinite suspension, Mayfield become the first to get nailed for drug...what a shame....

BIRTHDAY BOY TAKES PRIZE

Kyle Busch scroes his third win of the season in a very entertaining Saturday Night Special from Richmond. Very enjoyable race with lots of twists and turns...Tony Stewart has certainly gotten off to a great start as driver/owner....

I have to wonder if Rick Hendrick doesn't wonder about his decision to cut Kyle loose in favor of Casey Mears...

On to Darlington....

WALL STADIUM & INDY TIRES

A couple of notes...

Wall Stadium is back...after no racing last year, the Jersey Shore legend is back with a limited schedule and at least a glimmer of hope for the future...

The Indy Tire test for Goodyear - not good news. The same issue from last year...Now, I wonder, what are they going to do? 10 to 12 lap segments...not the way to run one of the sport's top races....

MARTIN WITH A POPULAR WIN!!!

Mark Martin takes the checkers in a very popular win in Phoenix...gotta give him his due...the #5 team is coming together....another dismal finish for Junior...and the little incident with Casey Mears not helping matters...
It's off the Talledega - who knows what can happen!!!!!

GORDON WINS!

Jeff Gordon gets off the snide and gets a win at Texas, a track he's never won at. Interesting race given the long green run at the beginning and the weather conditions....

Alot has been said already this year about the importance of pit stops and the crucial last one a.k.a. the Money Stop....Carl Edwards knows it now....Kyle Busch, too after a Nationwide race....

Richard Petty Motorsports will try to run the Indy 500....There's an interesting development....the IRL needs some positive news given the lack of names and one driver facing prison for tax evasion...their TV schedule is a joke with ABC only carrying 5 races including Indy...I didn't even know there was a race last weekend until it was over....

A week off for Easter, then Phoenix on Saturday 4/18.....Enjoy...

JIMMIE AT MARTINSVILLE!

#48 gets his act together and wins at Martinsville...a good day for Hendrick....

What has happened to Roush? They are struggling...maybe Texas will be good to them....

The Junior Nation is getting a bit impatient....the #88 better start producing or they will be very unhappy....

BUSCH BROTHERS WIN LAST TWO

I apologize for my hiatus...didn't realize I hadn't commented on the Atlanta race and enjoyed the week off...

Kurt Busch in Atlanta and brother Kyle in Bristol win races and now we move to the 2009 version of the points...it's gonna be interesting to see if the early season wonders can keep it going...

Two poles in a row for Mark Martin...he's still got it....but, way back in the points....

Notice Junior in major damage control after stories blaming his problems on Tony Eury, Jr....wonder what Rick Hendrick is thinking?

Martinsville will be another interesting race...can JJ turn his season back around with a win?

KYLE WINS AT HOME...

The young Busch brother takes the flag at Vegas...nice win at home for him....

Did you notice how Fox stayed with the race till 8:30 and had a nice post race show, too? If this was ABC, they've have dumped out at 8 for Extreme Home Makeover...I wonder if TPTB at NASCAR took notice?

Engine woes continue to plague several top drivers...it's only gonna get worse at Hotlanta.....

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

#17 wins again...nice job by Kenseth and the Killer B's....#24 looks like he's back and how bout Rowdy Busch - 2 firsts and a third...not a bad weekend....

I thought Fox did a great job with this one and running the race at night against the Oscars - will be curious to see the ratings...but, the race ended just as the Oscars were giving the Best Supporting Actor award to Heath Ledger....wonder how many folks bolted the post race for that?

Vegas baby!

THE JUNIOR ISSUE...

Kenseth wins the 500 in a rain shortened affair...I have no quarrel with that...

I do have a problem with Junior not getting anything for the accident a day after NASCAR parked Jason Leffler for 5 laps for a one car wreck in the same instance...This is something which has always bothered me and others about the rules....selective enforcement. Now I wonder, did they call the race to give fans something to complain about to kinda hide the Junior issue?

One more thing...Start the race earlier!!!!!! a 2p start would have gotten us close to finishing before the rain...this West Coast bias for races is stupid....

BUD SHOOTOUT...

A nice taste of what's to come...Harvick wins after having two problems...Junior wrecks, disappointing those looking for a repeat of last year...

Qualifying was interesting too...Tony Stewart has his ducks in a row with his new team...both cars in now...Nice to see the #21 make it on time too...Wood Brothers are an important link to the sport's past....

A good article on this season from ESPN's Ed Hinton...click here. An interesting take...and spot on...

Duels Thursday....

JOHNSON CUTS FINGER...

Another example of why you don't play with knives...Jimmie Johnson sliced a finger trying to cut a hole in his driving uniform this weekend and had to have surgery. Now, this is not supposed to be an issue at Daytona...but, I'm sure there will be reports and updates every day....

Can we go racing yet?

FOX PROMO FOR DAYTONA 500

Saw the first promo for the race...let the countdown begin...

SOME NEWS AND NOTES...

Petty merging with GEM...with as far as Petty Enterprises has fallen, it's the only way to keep one of NASCAR's legends in the game...the economy would have left the King behind....

Reports are Elliot Sadler is suing to get either his ride for '09 or full payment of his contract with two seasons left to pay...wonder what his chances are of landing a ride this season...

ESPN says Marty Reid will take over Nationwide Series announcing in the 2nd half of the year...smart move...but still leaves Jerry Punch in the booth.

I'm starting to get an itch...Daytona coming soon.....BTW - you can tell my church is run by non-race fans. They've scheduled a Deacon's Nursing Home visit for...you guessed it...Sunday February 15 at 1:45...what are the chances I'll be there for that one. They also scheduled Homebound communion visits for February 1st but moved them from 2p to 1p...so we'll have plenty of time before the game....Sigh...