[simple simon]

Here are the Starting Grids for the 2008 Gatorade Duel 150's

Race 1
1Jimmie Johnson48Chevrolet187.075 mph
2Joe Nemechek78Chevrolet186.498 mph
3Casey Mears5Chevrolet186.054 mph
4Boris Said60Ford185.893 mph
5DaleEarnhardt Jr.88Chevrolet185.479 mph
6Brian Vickers83Toyota185.475 mph
7A.J. Allmendinger84Toyota185.422 mph
8Scott Riggs66Chevrolet185.193 mph
9Ryan Newman12Dodge185.143 mph
10Regan Smith01Chevrolet184.964 mph
11Kenny Wallace87Chevrolet184.953 mph
12Jeremy Mayfield70Chevrolet184.612 mph
13Kurt Busch2Dodge184.540 mph
14Elliott Sadler19Dodge184.521 mph
15Carl Edwards99Ford184.487 mph
16Paul Menard15Chevrolet184.415 mph
17Martin Truex Jr.1Chevrolet184.275 mph
18Reed Sorenson41Dodge184.264 mph
19Juan Pablo Montoya42Dodge184.241 mph
20Sam Hornish Jr77Dodge184.226 mph
21Clint Bowyer07Chevrolet184.106 mph
22Bill Elliott21Ford184.091 mph
23Bobby Labonte43Dodge183.857 mph
24Kyle Petty45Dodge183.374 mph
25Sterling Marlin09Dodge183.326 mph
26J.J. Yeley96Chevrolet182.994 mph
27Carl Long08Dodge180.796 mph

Race 2
1Michael Waltrip55Toyota186.734 mph
2David Reutimann00Toyota186.463 mph
3Dave Blaney22Toyota186.120 mph
4Travis Kvapil28Ford185.958 mph
5Denny Hamlin11Toyota185.947 mph
6Jeff Gordon24Chevrolet185.858 mph
7Patrick Carpentier10Dodge185.766 mph
8Tony Stewart20Toyota185.651 mph
9David Ragan6Ford185.594 mph
10Matt Kenseth17Ford185.517 mph
11Jacques Villeneuve27Toyota185.452 mph
12Mark Martin8Chevrolet185.429 mph
13David Gilliland38Ford185.410 mph
14Dale Jarrett44Toyota185.345 mph
15Greg Biffle16Ford185.071 mph
16Jamie McMurray26Ford185.010 mph
17Robby Gordon7Dodge184.850 mph
18Kasey Kahne9Dodge184.828 mph
19Eric McClure37Chevrolet184.828 mph
20Kyle Busch18Toyota184.809 mph
21Kevin Harvick29Chevrolet184.589 mph
22Ken Schrader49Dodge184.483 mph
23Dario Franchitti40Dodge184.351 mph
24Jeff Burton31Chevrolet183.884 mph
25John Andretti34Chevrolet183.673 mph
26Stanton Barrett50Chevrolet183.326 mph

[simple simon]

look at Boris Said starting 4th in Race 1 ..... very nice

when (if ever) will he get a full-time ride ?

[Phils20]

I think he deserves a host myself. But I think in these days, it is going to be tough. It seems that younger drivers and open wheel drivers are the wave for now.

And that is not a bad thing. I love seeing Boris in the races, however, and a win, especially on an oval, would sure bump up his stock! I'd really enjoy seeing that. He isn't a NASCAR robot, I'm sure he victory lane celebration would be one for the ages, as opposed to todays scripter BS!!

[PenelopePitStop]

Riddle me this, Batman: Why the heck are Johnson and Waltrip running? They are locked in at 1st and 2nd for the 500, right? What's the point? Why risk damaging the car? What if they have to go to a backup?

Strange ... I've been following this for years, but never thought of the question! GTG has created a monster!

[The Dude]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Riddle me this, Batman: Why the heck are Johnson and Waltrip running? They are locked in at 1st and 2nd for the 500, right? What's the point? Why risk damaging the car? What if they have to go to a backup?

Strange ... I've been following this for years, but never thought of the question! GTG has created a monster!

I was wondering this myself. Practice perhaps?

[bob101]

To block and bump draft for DJ.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by simple simon

look at Boris Said starting 4th in Race 1 ..... very nice

when (if ever) will he get a full-time ride ?

He's quick, witty, and knows how to merchandise. It will always be a mystery why no one has picked him for a ride. Same goes for Brendan Gaugh.

Did you know that Boris started as a businessman? He didn't begin racing until he was 25. After college he started a popcorn company (Big B's Popcorn) and was successful enough that he sold to a larger company. (Kraft?)

[tbalt]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Riddle me this, Batman: Why the heck are Johnson and Waltrip running? They are locked in at 1st and 2nd for the 500, right? What's the point? Why risk damaging the car? What if they have to go to a backup?

Strange ... I've been following this for years, but never thought of the question! GTG has created a monster!

They are required by Nascar to at least start in the duels.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Riddle me this, Batman: Why the heck are Johnson and Waltrip running? They are locked in at 1st and 2nd for the 500, right? What's the point? Why risk damaging the car? What if they have to go to a backup?

Strange ... I've been following this for years, but never thought of the question! GTG has created a monster!

I have an answer. And this is a change that I never heard of but I swear it's true...

The Twin 150's are now lined by two different methods.

First Race: The first race is made up of drivers in the odd numbered Chosen 35 positions (1,3,5,7 etc., etc.) in order of qualifying speed.
It is also made up of drivers NOT in the Chosen 35, by qualifying speeds (fastest, third fastest, fifth fastest, etc., etc)
These two groups are merged and lined up by qualifying speeds.

Second Race: Exactly like the first EXCEPT replace the word "odd" with even and examples in parenthesis even numbers.

I didn't think they could made the Chosen 35 Rules and qualifying for the 500 any more confusing than they were but, guess what; they did!

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Riddle me this, Batman: Why the heck are Johnson and Waltrip running? They are locked in at 1st and 2nd for the 500, right? What's the point? Why risk damaging the car? What if they have to go to a backup?

Strange ... I've been following this for years, but never thought of the question! GTG has created a monster!

To answer your question,you can't give up 60 laps in race trim to other teams.They will learn and dial in their cars,leaving your car out in the cold.

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I have an answer. And this is a change that I never heard of but I swear it's true...

The Twin 150's are now lined by two different methods.

First Race: The first race is made up of drivers in the odd numbered Chosen 35 positions (1,3,5,7 etc., etc.) in order of qualifying speed.
It is also made up of drivers NOT in the Chosen 35, by qualifying speeds (fastest, third fastest, fifth fastest, etc., etc)
These two groups are merged and lined up by qualifying speeds.

Second Race: Exactly like the first EXCEPT replace the word "odd" with even and examples in parenthesis even numbers.

I didn't think they could made the Chosen 35 Rules and qualifying for the 500 any more confusing than they were but, guess what; they did!

Been that way for quite awhile but only at Tona.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by PettyBlue

Been that way for quite awhile but only at Tona.

I missed the change. The last I knew was odd qualifiers started the first race; even the second. It was simple to understand.

[Bassdogs]

With the top 35 rule, the duals are nothing more than a "live fire" practice for most of the teams. Since they are putting their "500" car on the line in these races, I think __SC__ has created a disaster waiting to happen. Go or Go home cars racing for one of the final spots in the big one, and 38 or 39 others wanting to make sure they don't trash their meal ticket during this last "practice". Oh well we've already chewed up the top 35 rule, but just thought this is another nuance that it has created.

[bob101]

Grids especially in race #1 are all fubar now. Hendrick replaced all it's motors and lease motors today so big shakeup in the lineup.

[bears9]

The first duel is loaded, with most the Hendrick guys, I think Jr wins that one.

The second duel isn't as great but still has talent. I'll take Stewart in that one.