[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

YATES 8's In '08!!!!!!!

TY, where the hell have you been.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

YATES 8's In '08!!!!!!!

Hey TY .. Nice to see you again. Less than 6 weeks to go and we can get all fired up again. Hope the job has kept you so busy that you've been to tired to stop in and see us. We all miss you.

[thunderfoot]

Originally Posted by lilsexy08

That is my man, well I wish. He is going to win the championship and he is still going to be the sexiest driver!

But he's getting old and fat!

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by thunderfoot

But he's getting old and fat!

YIKES! I'm standin back. Everyone has targets on their backs now.

[Jeffrey4318]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Well, it's about that time of year again... So, after thinking about things I've heard and have seen, reading some tea leaves and visiting a direct descendant of Marie LeBeaux, over in N'Awlins, here's my guess as to what 2008 holds in store:

Playoffs

1. Junior I think the affect DEI had on him was immense. My bet is that this year we'll see a totally different Junior and with Hendrick $ and technology behind him, watch out!
2. Jimmy Johnson He'll try hard to make it a three-peat.
3. Kurt Busch Penske is getting its act together. Kurt has matured and I think he'll be a major player this season.
4. Carl Edwards He may not be this high but he'll be in the playoffs.
5. Matt Kenseth I don't think not having Robbie on his pit box will have that much of an affect.
6. Jeff Gordon He will be at least this high and will be in the playoffs.
7. Ryan Newman He now has Roy McCauley, another college educated engineer, and Penske showed a lot of improvement with the #12 in the last third of the season. I think Ryan will continue into '08.
8. Kevin Harvick It'll be just another year for "Easy Money." He'll win some and lose some.
9. Tony Stewart I see lots of turmoil here. The only thing saving Tony is his desire to race to win and he DOES NOT want to endure another 2006.
10. Clint Bowyer He has the talent and the confidence and he's one of the most consistent drivers out there.
11. Kyle Busch He feels he has something to prove. He'll create some more controversy but, at week 26 he'll be there.
12. Casy Mears With HMS machines, Junior as a garage mate and Alan Gustafson as a crew chief, how can he miss?

Drivers Who Could Easily Make the Playoffs
Martin Truex, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Juan Pablo Montoya and Bobby Labonte, Reed Sorenson

Teams Who Will Fight to Be In The Chosen
#00 - MWR - Driver unknown
#10 - GEM - Patrick Carpentier
#21 - Wood Bros - Driver Unknown
#27 - BDR - Giles Villeneue
#40 - Ganassi - Dario Franchitti
#45 - Petty - Kyle Petty
#49 - BAM - John Andretti
#66 - Hass CNC - Jeremy Mayfield
#70 - Hass CNC - Mark Riggs
#78 - Furniture Row - Joe Nemechek
#96 - HOF - J.J. Yeley

Rookie of the Year
Regan Smith No one is giving this kid any consideration. Remember, he's got stock car experience, he has Cup experience and he's one of The Chosen for the first six races.

I guessed right about Junior leaving DEI and them having twelve in the chase last season. Let's see if these cause some discussion:
Hamlin Splits with JGR
Denny just isn't feeling the love at Gibbs anymore. he's frustrated with his last Playoff performance and changing to Toyota and getting Shrub as a team mate won't help things. I think we'll see news about a swap with another big team sometime next season.
Tony Stewart Soap Opera
Tony will delay and delay signing a new contract. Finally, he'll agree to running a part time schedule in 2009 or he'll just leave NA__AR altogether. Reason: What does he have yet to accomplish? Plus his public embarrassment after the spring Phoenix race when he called out NA_+AR on their phony cautions still weights on him. His "sit in the booth to see how things were really done was a humiliation tactic only. I think Tony is ready to runs some big Cup races, run a lot of IRL (IRL needs a name driver and will probably kiss Tony's rather sizable posterior in order to get him) and manage his race tracks.
Bruton Names a Successor
Bruton will be 81 next season. He sees the inevitable and will begin to set his house in order. I think he will announce that Texas President, Eddie Gossage, will take over when Bruton calls it quits. (Bruton might die someday, but it'll be on HIS terms)
Brian Loses some Power
Lease France Kennedy will assume a bigger and more visible role in the running of ISC/NA__AR.
NA__AR Loses Two Teams
Before October, BAM Racing and Furniture Row Racing will be history.

Should It Happen
Next season's biggest continuing story will be Junior's lack of success IF that were to be the case. If he does fail, look for Tony Eury Jr. to fall upon his sword quite noisily.

Anyone else see things differently?

I do not see the Hamlin prediction happening. Shrub and him are best friends so I highly doubt Shrub runs him off. If anyone leaves Gibbs I think like others it will be Tony. Although I see it happening after the '09 season. I think he will honor his current contract.

Some Predictions of mine:

1. I think this season is the final season for Bobby and the PE project. Bobby has been flirting too much with RCR equipement that I think with the success he will have in the Nationwide series he will leave. PE wont be able to produce once more and he will see the grass is greener on the other side. Possible 4th RCR car?

2. Towards the end of the '08 season starting full time in '09 KHI is going cup racing with RCR equipement. I think he will sign a former Champ to drive his car. Possible B Lab if the 4th RCR rides doesn't come through, or I could see him convince Dale Jarrett to come out of retirement for a year.

3. Jr. will win a race or two, but it wont be till the end of the year. He will have a mediocore year just barely squeaking into the chase. Once in the Chase he will win once but not do much.

4. Yates will be back down to one team at the end of the year, with a chance of closing the doors at the end of the year.

5. Wood Brothers will be searching for sponsors at the end of the year when both Little Debbie and Air Force annouce they will not return. Little Debbie will go be an associate sponsor for a Rousch team and Air Force will focus on the Nationwide series.

6. Despite another hard faught year of running mid pack Robby Gordon will in fact add a second team towards the year.

7. Jeff Gordon will announce his 4 year plan. He will be done and retired after the 2012 season.

8. Jimmy Johnson will win some this year but will not be in the top 3 in points.

9. After a decent season out of Mears (wins 2 races), subpar season from Jr (maybe a win or two, but no big splash), and a good, but not great season from Johnson Hendrick decides to change it up a bit. Knaus will take over for Jr, Eury Jr for Mears, and Darrin Grubb will take over for Johnson.

10. Nascar will finally start listening to the fans and implement a rule that will limit Cup drivers from entering in NWS races.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4318

I do not see the Hamlin prediction happening. Shrub and him are best friends so I highly doubt Shrub runs him off. If anyone leaves Gibbs I think like others it will be Tony. Although I see it happening after the '09 season. I think he will honor his current contract.

Some Predictions of mine:

1. I think this season is the final season for Bobby and the PE project. Bobby has been flirting too much with RCR equipement that I think with the success he will have in the Nationwide series he will leave. PE wont be able to produce once more and he will see the grass is greener on the other side. Possible 4th RCR car?

2. Towards the end of the '08 season starting full time in '09 KHI is going cup racing with RCR equipement. I think he will sign a former Champ to drive his car. Possible B Lab if the 4th RCR rides doesn't come through, or I could see him convince Dale Jarrett to come out of retirement for a year.

3. Jr. will win a race or two, but it wont be till the end of the year. He will have a mediocore year just barely squeaking into the chase. Once in the Chase he will win once but not do much.

4. Yates will be back down to one team at the end of the year, with a chance of closing the doors at the end of the year.

5. Wood Brothers will be searching for sponsors at the end of the year when both Little Debbie and Air Force annouce they will not return. Little Debbie will go be an associate sponsor for a Rousch team and Air Force will focus on the Nationwide series.

6. Despite another hard faught year of running mid pack Robby Gordon will in fact add a second team towards the year.

7. Jeff Gordon will announce his 4 year plan. He will be done and retired after the 2012 season.

8. Jimmy Johnson will win some this year but will not be in the top 3 in points.

9. After a decent season out of Mears (wins 2 races), subpar season from Jr (maybe a win or two, but no big splash), and a good, but not great season from Johnson Hendrick decides to change it up a bit. Knaus will take over for Jr, Eury Jr for Mears, and Darrin Grubb will take over for Johnson.

10. Nascar will finally start listening to the fans and implement a rule that will limit Cup drivers from entering in NWS races.

Excellent predictions, Jeffery.

I don't see Bobby going to RCR. Bobby has always liked to see things build (The Labonte's investing in a Slim Jim Pro team in order to bring david Green along, for example) and he's developed some sort of strong bond with the Petty's. My bet is that he'll stay but I could well be wrong.

I agree that Kevin and his wife see Cup ownershiop as a long term goal. But I don't think he's quite ready yet. I think he's still three-four years away from forming a Cup team on a full time basis. I do think that he'll have a car in a Cup race within the next two years, though.

Unfortunately I think your Yates and Wood Bros predictions are pretty much right on. It'll be a rotten shame to see two iconic teams go but I thought the exact same thing about Bud Moore and Junie Donlevey. Thank you very much, mega-teams!!!

I don't think Robby will form a second team; I think he'll merge or foprm one of these "Agreements" with another existing team. He might make Roush's 9th or 10th team?

Knause leaving Jimminy for Jr.? Now there's an interesting thought. That might be a topic of discussion for a week or so? <VBG>

[lilsexy08]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

YATES 8's In '08!!!!!!!

Team! Hey how are you! Guess what I saw this on tv and thought of you since you bought this up last year! Remember Monkeybone! Their was a movie on last night called Monkeybone! LOL!

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4318

2. Towards the end of the '08 season starting full time in '09 KHI is going cup racing with RCR equipement. I think he will sign a former Champ to drive his car. Possible B Lab if the 4th RCR rides doesn't come through, or I could see him convince Dale Jarrett to come out of retirement for a year.

I can see the Harvicks getting a cup car going. And I would not be surprised if Bobby drove for them.

[Team Yates]

Originally Posted by Quality88

TY, where the hell have you been.

Hey Q, I know it's been awhile!! I haven't seemed to be able to find a "good" time to join in with everybody. I'm trying to work on that - I need to set aside some time to sit at the computer and chat with everybody. I missed you!! How's married life treating you?

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Hey TY .. Nice to see you again. Less than 6 weeks to go and we can get all fired up again. Hope the job has kept you so busy that you've been to tired to stop in and see us. We all miss you.

What's up LSC? I can't blame it all on the job!! But I'd like too!! It has taken up some time - just trying to learn and keep it altogether without 2 many mistakes, and keeping all the customers happy!! Plus, I was sent to school for several days, and then of course, the holidays filled with family visits - it has been so hectic - I haven't even gotten near the computer after work - I'm on the computer at work all day. Kicker is - I'm not online!! You will see more of me shortly, I plan on setting a certain amount of time aside to be here!! I miss you as well!!

Originally Posted by lilsexy08

Team! Hey how are you! Guess what I saw this on tv and thought of you since you bought this up last year! Remember Monkeybone! Their was a movie on last night called Monkeybone! LOL!

Yo lilsexy!! Freakin' go figure!! Only YOU could find a movie named Monkeybone!! So, was it starring you, Smoke and Stewie?!?!? Remember, keep it in control!!!!!!!

[lilsexy08]

Yea! LOL! Seriously though I didn't read the info to see what it was even about I immediatly thought of you! LOL! So glad to see you back on GTG hardly see yea! Been busy at work so I have two computers at my desk now one for my personal stuff and one for work i need to keep up!

[thunderfoot]

Originally Posted by lilsexy08

Yea! LOL! Seriously though I didn't read the info to see what it was even about I immediatly thought of you! LOL! So glad to see you back on GTG hardly see yea! Been busy at work so I have two computers at my desk now one for my personal stuff and one for work i need to keep up!

Lil are you being a naughty girl and using the internet at work for personel gain?