[Lefty Noob]

Who here watched the Casino Arizona 150 - I imagine a lot of you, right?

I didn't, but reading the post-race quotes, it must've been one hell of a show. I mean, check this stuff out.

* Mike Skinner got passed by Bill Davis Racing teammate Johnny Benson Jr. near the end of the race, prompting Skinner to say, "I guess we're not a team. I don't know. I thought he was taking care of me. I don't know. I don't know how to comment on that. We're one team; just the 5 team. I don't know how many teams I have to race against, now."

* Mike Bliss, who was battling with Ron Hornaday behind race winner Kyle Busch near the end of the race, said, "I just wanted a chance to run into the 51 (Busch)."

* After the race, Busch must've been asked about the CTS points race, because the AP quotes him as saying, "They can worry about their points race, I just take their wins away."

This must've been one heck of a contentious race, eh?
Kyle Busch captures crash-filled Casino Arizona 150 - NASCAR - Yahoo! Sports

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Who here watched the Casino Arizona 150 - I imagine a lot of you, right?

I didn't, but reading the post-race quotes, it must've been one hell of a show. I mean, check this stuff out.

* Mike Skinner got passed by Bill Davis Racing teammate Johnny Benson Jr. near the end of the race, prompting Skinner to say, "I guess we're not a team. I don't know. I thought he was taking care of me. I don't know. I don't know how to comment on that. We're one team; just the 5 team. I don't know how many teams I have to race against, now."

* Mike Bliss, who was battling with Ron Hornaday behind race winner Kyle Busch near the end of the race, said, "I just wanted a chance to run into the 51 (Busch)."

* After the race, Busch must've been asked about the CTS points race, because the AP quotes him as saying, "They can worry about their points race, I just take their wins away."

This must've been one heck of a contentious race, eh?
Kyle Busch captures crash-filled Casino Arizona 150 - NASCAR - Yahoo! Sports

I was just getting ready to author a thread on the race, Lefty.

You should seriously consider watching the Cup primadonna's if there is nothing better to do but try never to miss a CTS race. It has all the thrill and action of what NA__AR once was without the glitz, glam and the total B.S. we see on Cup Day. (Or it usually doesn't, but Harvick proved that statement isn't always correct last night.)

Benson did pass Skinner in the final fifteen laps to take four points Skinner needed in a close points race. (I think the difference is around 30 points now, and THAT is without a funky, phony Playoff system!!??)

What makes Schrub's win so special is that he's won two of the last three races and almost won the third one, in a truck that is woefully underfunded and runs a part time schedule? (Billy Ballew Racing - The teams didn't even have uniforms for the pit crew and the crew chief!?)

Harvick, who was Hornaday's (in a tight points race with Mike Skinner for the championship) team mate - and proxy car owner - last night, brought his Cup attitude to the race. His pit was directly in front of Skinner's and, during a crucial pit stop, he drove through Skinner's pit en route to his own. Skinner's crew was coming over the wall to service Skinner who was coming in behind Harvick. Though Harvick did have the legal right to cross Skinner's pit, he did so close to the wall and caused Skinner's crew to have to step back, thus throwing their timing off and causing Skinner to have an almost 30 second pit stop.

Technically it was a totally legal move by Elaina's hubby but, in my mind's eye, it sure was chicken-poopy! It makes me wonder if anyone ever beat the snot out of that jerk when he was running late models at Irwindale? If they did, he sure didn't learn much.

IRT Benson's passing Skinner, he was faster!!! Skinner never caught him after the pass. Also, Benson is in a hard race for 3rd in points with The Onion. Team racing... B.S. Way to go, Johnny!

All-in-all, it was another very good CTS race. With CTS, that's par for the course. If you don't watch CTS you're missing the consistently best racing in NA__AR.

[SteelPhoenyx]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

* Mike Skinner got passed by Bill Davis Racing teammate Johnny Benson Jr. near the end of the race, prompting Skinner to say, "I guess we're not a team. I don't know. I thought he was taking care of me. I don't know. I don't know how to comment on that. We're one team; just the 5 team. I don't know how many teams I have to race against, now."

Ugh, to use a cliché... somebody call the wahhhhmbulance! Skinner was acting like a big baby after the race. Could've given Kyle Busch a run for his money in the amount of whining he's done in the past.

Kyle Busch just proved that it doesn't take a lot of bucks to win a race if the driver is any good. Kid may be a tad annoying at times, but gotta give him props for winning. I understand he doesn't take any money to run the truck race.

The 00 hit the inner wall hard enough to break it... and the driver walked away!

Good hard racing overall, I enjoyed the hell out of it.

[Racer Duck]

Skinner's a cry-baby. I never cared much for him and am not sorry for him. I don't care for Hornaday either so I don't have a dog in this hunt.

Skinner points raced the whole race .. he deliberately chose not to contest positions with other drivers during the race and relied on Benson to "protect" his rear. As a result he was generally running around 10th during the race and I believe his crew mimicked his effort, i.e., only do what is necessary to finish. Had he been his normal charging self, his results might have been better.

"Roudy" generally drives the wheels off the truck when he gets a chance to race CTS and did not disappoint this race. I think his remarks, though badly worded, are right on: he was there to win the race and was unconcerned about points and how his finish affected the points championship.

Bliss said in post-race interview he "had a plan" for overtaking "Roudy" Busch after the last restart, but he muffed the restart...

Also, I noticed a "CTS Raider" will be in sunday's race: Johnny Benson starts 30th. Mikey would have qualified for the race if not for Benson Turn about is fair play, I guess...

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Also, I noticed a "CTS Raider" will be in sunday's race: Johnny Benson starts 30th. Mikey would have qualified for the race if not for Benson Turn about is fair play, I guess...

In the case of Mikey I'd say the phrase, "No harm; no foul," is germane.

[jks812]

Is there any bigger cry baby in the trucks than Skinner was? I think he was wrong saying that Harvick put his crew's lives in jeopardy cause he almost hit his jackman. No he didn't. I've seen them pull through the stall behind them many many times getting into their's. Then he cries about Benson passing him. I understand they are teammates, but does that mean that Benson can't ever pass him. Oh well Benson was faster, why should he stay behind him.
Then we have Kyle winning for a small and under funded team. I think that was great. Although I wouldn't have minded seeing Bliss win it.
The trucks are always the best race of the weekend. They start at the green flag running wide open like it's the last lap and they never just ride around the track, like the cup drivers do. They are wide open from start to finish. Thats why I can miss a cup race and don't care, but hate to have to miss a truck race.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Also, I noticed a "CTS Raider" will be in sunday's race: Johnny Benson starts 30th. Mikey would have qualified for the race if not for Benson Turn about is fair play, I guess...

Isn't Johnny one of the drivers rumored to maybe drive for Mikey next year? I like Johnny and would like to see that happen.

[SteelPhoenyx]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Skinner's a cry-baby. I never cared much for him and am not sorry for him. I don't care for Hornaday either so I don't have a dog in this hunt.

Cheer for Justin Marks. He'll be starting his full rookie season in 08. Ran his third truck race last night, and even though he's been starting in the back half of the field, he's managed to finish a few spaces ahead of where he started. Finished 5th overall in points in the ARCA series this year. Landed a ride with Germain Racing for the rest of this year and next year. Should be interesting to see how he does.

[Bob Tanner]

It's great to see so many people appreciate the CTS. We may have some different views about the drivers and teams (though I haven't seen much of that in this thread), but we all seem to agree that the trucks uniformly put on a better show than the Cup Series does.

If people don't watch it, it's their loss. The CTS reminds me of the big-purse races the local tracks put on 2-3 times each season, where the best local drivers and the better driver from surrounding tracks and surrounding states come to try and take home some cash.

Speaking only for myself, I feel that CTS is what professional stock car racing should be all about.

[LSC9901]

I don't want to get off topic to much other than to say that when next years season starts I am going to try and focus some threads on CTS. There does seem to be a following in the series among us so it would be nice to have a thread or two to gather in and enjoy the sport that is being destroyed in the upper classes.

[Nevadastars]

That was another great CTS race last night. I was really dissappointed with Skinner doing his best JG impersonation after the race though. I hope Hornaday takes the title. I remember seeing him race at Stockton, Ca, Bakersfield, Ca and Colorado Nat'l, in 92, the year he won the Southwest Tour Championship. In fact I still have one of his T-shirts when he was still called Ron Hornaday Jr.

[SteelPhoenyx]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I don't want to get off topic to much other than to say that when next years season starts I am going to try and focus some threads on CTS. There does seem to be a following in the series among us so it would be nice to have a thread or two to gather in and enjoy the sport that is being destroyed in the upper classes.

That would be fantastic! The more I watch CTS, the more I like it! I like that it is not the big Dog & Pony Show that NNCS is, and they actually focus on the RACING. Even Mikey isn't annoying to listen to by contrast to the clowns in the booth for the Cup races lately. (Actually, I find Mikey entertaining).

Back to the subject...

What really disappointed me about Skinner was I had just posted about how my respect for him had risen a bit on another forum. Reason being was he had wrecked out during a race, and rather than waiting in the truck or pacing around, he was under the truck with a hammer working on some of the body panels while the rest of the crew focused on other things. So he was able to get out and finish the race. After he did his crybaby act at the end of last night's race, well my respect level dropped back down a couple notches. I kinda find myself in the same fix with Kyle Busch.

Oh yeah, Justin Marks drives the 03 (often listed as the 103, but there's just 03 on the truck). Truck was black & green with yellow numbers last night. Got the lucky dog at one point.

[Racer Duck]

guess I need to mention the kid from my corner of the world who's in CTS now: Bradley Reithmeyer (#49) - same number he raced in SLM (he was ROMCO champ a few years ago) and that his dad, Keith, raced. (Keith is one of the best natural driving talents I've ever seen on short tracks in Texas.) I believe the truck Bradley's in is the new one his sponsor had shipped to his dad and told him to "make it work." Keith put every penny he could scrape up into brakes, shocks, springs, etc. and told Bradley the well was dry, go win some money.

His last two outings (out of 4 total this year) were at Bristol (20th) and Phoenix (26th) for Trotter Racing (Tracy Trotter) .. his winnings totaled about $16K and he finished on the lead lap in both races.

certainly can't ask for much more than that from a rookie running a limited schedule for an underfunded team while staying a full-time student at Texas A&M (where he has an academic scholarship)...