[Racer Duck]

Let me start off with sort of an apology. I didn't get much of a chance to watch the race, but caught what I could. We spent 12 hrs working on the Late Model Saturday (noon to midnight) and, except for a supper break, were in the shop all day. We did bring the 21” portable out to the shop to catch glimpses of the race, though hearing was difficult with all the noise... So, here's what I caught of the race and post race .. you'll have to fill in the rest.

Yankees and Sox – I accused my grandson of playing with the knobs, but found out (later) there was some sort of contractual thing that preempted the NASCAR pre-race. Imagine that!!! Here's hoping it happens again so that we aren't submitted to the week's rehashed tripe. I remember reading a post about the pre-race the other day and there was a good point made that they have all week to hype the race, why do they need 2 hours immediately before the race? I mean, how long does it take to do the invocation, pledge, National Anthem, holler “Gentlemen....” and watch 4 or 5 parade laps? Make the pre-race 20 minutes and we'll all be happier .. well, maybe not all: there are always those who are never happy. BTW: how many of you cheered when the Mighty Casey (A-Rod) struck out? The announcers were sure playing up the highest paid player in baseball before the final strike. Sort of let the air out of their balloons all at once when that ump said “yer out!” And then with one strike left in the game we join the race already in progress!!! What great directing by the Fox crew!!!

10 laps and a caution – this is getting monotonous. Just who is this driver that keeps loosing stuff on the track? As much as they primp and prep these cars, it should take at least a hundred miles before anything falls off!!!

Kenseth crashed??? - completely missed that one. Didn't see any replays if there were any later, either. So, what happened? Looks like it just wasn't going to be a good day for #17 as not much later after he returned to the track (and appeared to be running good) when he was collected into that Newman power steering fluid mess. And, as much as I like Ryan, what a complete boob to drive completely around the track in the racing groove dumping fluid. It's not as if he didn't know it was going on, since we all heard him tell the pits shortly after he started fogging for mosquitoes that the problem was power steering. Minus 2 points on my favorites scale to Mr. Newman.

Jr's Leading!!! Jr's Leading!!! - (jumping up and down in the announcer's booth). Gosh, you'd of thought he just won the way that crew was carrying on. Sorry guys, you'll just have to wait another week or so. Maybe he can pull an Earnhardt and out run everyone at 'Dega.

I'm gonna stop cheering for drivers! - I was really pumped that Elliott Sadler qualified 2nd and looked to be running good. But as soon as I mouthed the words “Go Sadler” he crashed! Then Blaney, who obviously needs his eyes checked, almost puts them both into the stands but must have had his cross-hairs misaligned 'cause he completely missed the #19! Not even little 'tick'! And for his screw up, they give the “Good Hands Award” to Blaney!!! What in the world are the criteria for this award anyway? This year it's completely baffled me...

Was DW at the race? - No Boogity. Then on a restart when Vickers was trying to stay on the lead lap and was sliding up in a corner, DW says Brian “hit Jr.!” Now I know my eyes aren't the best and sometimes I don't see things clearly, but I'd of swore Jr. was 2 rows back of Brian and on the inside when Brian slid up the track? Maybe DW just couldn't get going right without a Boogity or two?

Speaking of Jr – I really chuckled when they relayed that bit of radio trivia where Jr said he “wished he could set his car on fire!” talking about how the handling had gone away and how the pushing was really starting to irritate him. Then a little later, none other than Larry McReynolds said something that kind of shocked me: “can the Jr's end the race with the car better than they started?” He said he was referencing Dale Jr. and Tony Jr and called it a “defining moment.” Sad to say, I think the answer is “No!” At least so far they haven't... It's kind of like they start the race just a little off, find the handle in the middle and then loose it in the later laps. I'd like to see Jr live up to his hype, but I don't think “the Jr's” can do it together.

A Boring Race - did ya notice the announcers made a special point at 68 laps to go of pointing out there were battles for position going on everywhere on the track, from 1st to 30th. Wonder if it was a planted seed from NASCAR?

Mark Looses!!! - Don't know who decided on the right side tires on that last pit stop, but all they needed was a splash and go. What they got was a sorry pit stop and 10 seconds behind Hamlin who also took right side rubber. In his post race interview Mark said “saved a lot of gas .. some laps didn't even get wide open .. changed strategy at the end .. can't beat the cars that stay out.” That about sums it up. He might not have beat those who stayed out, but he could have been the first of those who pitted, but, as so many times happens to Mark, his pit stops leave him loosing spots. I hope someone at DEI is paying attention to this, cause more often than not, Mark leaves the pits with slow stops and they're making terrible decisions at crunch time. I know Mark likes to call his own pit stop strategy, but it ain't working...

Chad Wins!!! - No doubt about it. That race was won by Chad Knaus. All JJ did was follow directions. Chad put that strategy together in the waning moments of the race and they executed it perfectly. Kinda reminds me of Terry Labonte's last race at Sonoma...

After the checker, went back to work on the Late Model so missed most of the post race hoopla. (JJ isn't real popular in our group so no incentive to hang around.)

[PenelopePitStop]

Well, may I add this ...

Yep! I was a victim of the Sox/Yankees vs. the Cup coverage. I watched the game, then stopped with the rain delay. Later, I turned on the race. All of a sudden, it went back to the game. Was none too pleased. Then, for the last out of the game, which was inevitable, it went back to the race. Yikes! There should be some sort of arrangement in advance that if a game goes into the scheduled race time, it will be broadcast on a different channel. Moving to another channel for the final out is just silly.

Moving on ...

First, I actually thought the "driver" coverage during the race was better than what I've seen so far this year. They seemed to spread the wealth. Was it my imagination? I also thought that this race was anything but boring. I thought it was pretty interesting. Lots of lead changes I didn't notice any dominant car.

I loved the 88 vs. the 8 battle. Knowing the history of these two drivers/cars it was really fun to watch. It wouldn't have mattered to me if Jr. or Martin won. Jr. snubbing DEI, or Martin proving a DEI point.

However, I have to admit that I was disappointed at how sullen Jr. was during the post-race interview. I haven't seen a smile on the guy's face since he won the "Duel" (or whatever it's called now). I also wish he would have said something about having fun racing Martin. No such luck.

I'll probably get my head handed to me for this, but I'm going to post it anyway. I don't like the way Johnson won the race. It's one thing to conserve fuel, but during the final few laps, he was going so slow, someone could have easily run into him. It was actually dangerous from what I saw. Let's see ... let's drive an entire race at the minimum speed to conserve fuel ... in the end, we'll win! I know that's not likely, but you never know.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Well, may I add this ...

Yep! I was a victim of the Sox/Yankees vs. the Cup coverage. I watched the game, then stopped with the rain delay. Later, I turned on the race. All of a sudden, it went back to the game. Was none too pleased. Then, for the last out of the game, which was inevitable, it went back to the race. Yikes! There should be some sort of arrangement in advance that if a game goes into the scheduled race time, it will be broadcast on a different channel. Moving to another channel for the final out is just silly.

Moving on ...

First, I actually thought the "driver" coverage during the race was better than what I've seen so far this year. They seemed to spread the wealth. Was it my imagination? I also thought that this race was anything but boring. I thought it was pretty interesting. Lots of lead changes I didn't notice any dominant car.

I loved the 88 vs. the 8 battle. Knowing the history of these two drivers/cars it was really fun to watch. It wouldn't have mattered to me if Jr. or Martin won. Jr. snubbing DEI, or Martin proving a DEI point.

However, I have to admit that I was disappointed at how sullen Jr. was during the post-race interview. I haven't seen a smile on the guy's face since he won the "Duel" (or whatever it's called now). I also wish he would have said something about having fun racing Martin. No such luck.

I'll probably get my head handed to me for this, but I'm going to post it anyway. I don't like the way Johnson won the race. It's one thing to conserve fuel, but during the final few laps, he was going so slow, someone could have easily run into him. It was actually dangerous from what I saw. Let's see ... let's drive an entire race at the minimum speed to conserve fuel ... in the end, we'll win! I know that's not likely, but you never know.

I have a statement that will probably knock you off your feet Penny, but to a different opinion first. Not being a major HMS fan or a major JJ fan I in some ways see the end in a different light. They took a major chance by not coming in for a splash but at the same time I'm sure they saw right away that they all of a sudden had a major time advantage on the track. With that advantage came the ability to not drive with your foot in the carburetor. I didn't bother with the post race interviews so I can't say that I did hear anyone complain that JJ was a safety hazard on the track. I am absolutely no fan of Chad Knaus but credit needs to be given for taking a chance and getting that 10 second lead on the field. It wasn't as though he was driving at minimum speed or less. Granted there may have been cars catching up to him and he may even have been in the way but the strategy worked. Now be honest Penny and any fan of any other driver who may have pulled this one off. Wouldn't you have been ecstatic if your driver/team had done this and won ???.

Now for my startling vision. Has DW toned it down a bit or am I just giving up and accepting him ?? There are still comments he makes that, for me, are just plain stupid but he seems a little more calm and collected. Either that or I've finally mastered the technique of ignoring 99% of what he spews.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I have a statement that will probably knock you off your feet Penny, but to a different opinion first. Not being a major HMS fan or a major JJ fan I in some ways see the end in a different light. They took a major chance by not coming in for a splash but at the same time I'm sure they saw right away that they all of a sudden had a major time advantage on the track. With that advantage came the ability to not drive with your foot in the carburetor. I didn't bother with the post race interviews so I can't say that I did hear anyone complain that JJ was a safety hazard on the track. I am absolutely no fan of Chad Knaus but credit needs to be given for taking a chance and getting that 10 second lead on the field. It wasn't as though he was driving at minimum speed or less. Granted there may have been cars catching up to him and he may even have been in the way but the strategy worked. Now be honest Penny and any fan of any other driver who may have pulled this one off. Wouldn't you have been ecstatic if your driver/team had done this and won ???.

I'm not saying that what Johnson and his team did was wrong by any stretch. He won. End of story. I just didn't like the way he won. I guess I just want to see some good racing for the win as opposed to a driver nursing his car around the track and get a win due to a fuel-mileage issue. If it would have been a five-lap advantage, that would be a different story. Of course, NASCAR would have been all over that!

And yes, you're right ... sort of. If a driver that I liked won the race in the same way I would have been glad, but not ecstatic. I may be a rare breed, but how a driver wins a race means something to me. Yes, yes, even that win that Sr. got by spinning out Labonte (I think) didn't make me stand up and cheer. I don't think Sr. intentionally took out Labonte no matter what anyone says. I was glad he won, but didn't like the way he won. Alas, that isn't taken into consideration when the numbers are tallied, is it?

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Now for my startling vision. Has DW toned it down a bit or am I just giving up and accepting him ?? There are still comments he makes that, for me, are just plain stupid but he seems a little more calm and collected. Either that or I've finally mastered the technique of ignoring 99% of what he spews.

Well, well. How far you have come! I don't know the answer to that. As you know, DW has never bothered me. Besides, don't you find that all NASCAR commentators say something that is just plain stupid from time to time? Ok ... maybe not DJ ... but most.

[titans#1]

well there are some beaten and bangen on the track that isnt always being showed on t.v. thats where the debris cautions come from.

[Team Yates]

I was really pumped that Elliott Sadler qualified 2nd and looked to be running good. But as soon as I mouthed the words “Go Sadler” he crashed! [/quote from Racer Duck]

Now RD, I feel that is par for the course!! In his entire career, that has been the end results of Sadlers record, he crashed!! Again, again and again!! The least amount of his crashs he had was when he was running Yates cars!! In my opinion he has always been an also ran, except during Yates years, he was showing that he "had something" left Yates and poof, but to the also ran status. My opinion only.