[Racer Duck]

Let's see, 110 laps times 1.99 miles per lap times 1.609 km per mile equals 352 ¼ km. Guess that's why they call it a “350” though 109 laps would have been closer...

Some might call it a fuel strategy race, but it seemed to me more of a pit strategy race, instead. And I think Kyle Petty nailed it when he said you go into this race with a pit strategy and as soon as the first caution flies your strategy is either out out the window or dead on, depending which side of your pit window you're on .. and you hope and pray following cautions fall your way 'cause it's almost impossible to make headway otherwise. For instance, Jimmy Johnson was leading the race when the first caution flag was waved, but he hadn't pitted .. he restarted from mid-pack and never recovered. On the other hand, half a dozen cars that were near the back restarted at or near the front because they had pitted. All were vying for the lead at one point or another during the remainder of the race and one of them was the eventual winner of the race.

And it was hot. They said Friday's temp hit 102F, Saturday was 99F and the race started with the air temp at a balmy 86F. Didn't hear anyone complaining about the heat at Sonoma .. maybe because they were prepared for it .. ya think? Or it could have been the wine.....

Cheers for Shrub: did you hear the cheers for Shrub as he did his corny bow after his burnout celebration? Methinks the kid has more fans that many will admit. At least on the left coast.

Where was Junior? It dawned on me at lap 40 that, to that point, other than during the parade lap prior to the start of the race, there hadn't been a single mention of Junior. Then on lap 42, as he was making a pit stop, they focused the camera on him .. for a very short time. I was shocked, especially since he'd just won at Michigan the week before. Poor Junebug. Where'd all those fawning announcers go?

What is it about Robby & road courses? Seems he's always fast, often running in the top 5, but sometime during the event he ends up in the middle of a “controversy”. I sure wouldn't have wanted to be within earshot of the pit lane hairpin turn as he coasted to a stop Sunday 'cause my ears would still be burning. 'Course if it'd been me, I'd have found a way to completely block pit road .. bet that would have gotten a me a push a heck of a lot sooner...

Speaking of Robby, did ya know he had a 1 race sponsor?: I thought it was telling that Yeley helped DLP get onto Robby's car for the race after he failed to qualify. And he hung around for the race... Mr. Yeley has gone up a couple rungs in my eyes.

Boris's luck not all bad: late in the race they were talking a bit about the Grand Marshall's dinner the night before. And it almost slipped by without notice except yours truly hears someone (I think it was Kyle, but not sure) happened to mention Boris won the cookoff!!!

He could be out, but he ain't down. What a refreshing attitude displayed by Marcos after the race. He could have been down 'cause he had a car that could have won, but he wasn't. He could have been down because he had a podium finish all but wrapped up, but he wasn't. He could have been down 'cause his first Cup start ended so badly, but he wasn't. Instead he was upbeat, graciously thinking everyone who had given him a chance to show his stuff in Cup, smiling and optimistic about the future. I for one, would love to see him get the Wood Bros ride full time in '09. He's a hard-nosed racer who gives it his all on the track, but has a wonderful way of leaving his racing trials and tribulations on the track. They can call him a “ringer” if they want, but he's the real deal. I look forward to seeing him compete in many, many Cup events, possible even winning the championship.

“Let's see, I got a flat tire, but there's only 2 laps left... might as well try to make it .. it's only 4 miles and I can hold off most of these guys...” So, the question of the day is: “Is it better to loose 15 spots running a flat tire and ultimately tearing tup the car or try to gain 12 spots in 2 laps on new tires? Either way it's a 19th place finish.” We all know what Sadler's team chose, but was it the right decision?

Rumors (some real and some imagined):

• Mears out at HMS, Martin in. Aric gets Marks old ride.
• Tony is out at JGR, will be majority owner at Haas CNC & #1 driver. Undecided whether to add a 3rd team or replace one of the current drivers...
• Tony to buy out TNT (and fire all pit reporters.)
• Gilliland & Mears being wooed by JGR for Tony's old seat.
• New race team being formed: Montoya Amborse Racing. “Don't mess with us.” They want a 3rd team, but haven't figured out how to lure Shrub away from JGR .. yet.

Commercials I'm getting sick of:

• “How far'd I go?” , Sludge on the Couch, “..and a few extra napkins.” – GTX Motor Oil
• Swinging I Beams – Toyota Tundra
• “90% of all statistics...” - DirectTV

And some I like:

• Jared as Maxwell Smart – Subway
• The New Music CD – McDonalds

Quotes:

• “Tell Juan to go .. he's a pro” - Dale Earnhardt Jr.
• “Can't wait to get away from this place.” - David Reutimann in reference to Sonoma
• “Listen up: I didn't see it, so I'm not gonna say anything .. you moron!” - Tony Stewart

Somewhere around the 2/3 mark or so in the race I mentioned to my son that if Shrub wins this race, he will completely demoralize many of the championship contenders 'cause road courses aren't really his “thing.” And, other than taking out a contract on him, they have no way to stop him.

Then after the race, Kyle Petty uttered “We don't need him focusing!” in reference to the stories that Shrub's recent bad showings was because he was trying to do too many things, but this week all he had to focus on was Sonoma and look what happened!

There are some who just put their head down and keep on pedaling, like Jeff Burton. And there are others that are currently trying to climb out of the hole they got into, like Jimmy Johnson. Those teams are more focused on their own situation and mostly oblivious to Shrub's dominance. But there are others who wonder what it's gonna take to stop him.

Though most would not “give” anyone the inside line to the Cup Championship less than half-way into the season, I will. Kyle Busch is having the kind of season that spawns championships. He's the guy they'd rather see not show up at the track, 'cause it means they will probably be relegated to fighting over the also ran trophies. It doesn't matter which of NASCAR's 3 premier series, either. And, unlike years past, though his remarks are still sometimes caustic, he seems to understand his team, the JGR organization and himself are the ones who control their destinies. And he's loving every minute of the sweet revenge...

[Lefty Noob]

As always, great stuff, Duckie. Ya know, I was actually trying to do the math about the race distance in my head on Sunday, and couldn't get it to jive either. The Save Mark 352 1/4 probably just doesn't sound cool enough. I loved hearing the bit about Yeley, too... didn't they also say something about him being a grand marshall for the weekend, too?

[Team Yates]

Many very good observations Duck!! But I must admit as I was reading, I really thought that I would be reading an additional paragraph before the end of the post. I got to the bottom of the post and still it wasn't there. I really thought that you would have given at least a sentence about the great run of David Gilliland.

Impressive, as some of the other drivers said!! Was I impressed, yes, surprised, no, at the beginning of the race, I said there's no reason in this world that he can't win at this track, and win he almost did!!
My Team Yates hat is off to you David!!!! Way to go!!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

Many very good observations Duck!! But I must admit as I was reading, I really thought that I would be reading an additional paragraph before the end of the post. I got to the bottom of the post and still it wasn't there. I really thought that you would have given at least a sentence about the great run of David Gilliland.

Impressive, as some of the other drivers said!! Was I impressed, yes, surprised, no, at the beginning of the race, I said there's no reason in this world that he can't win at this track, and win he almost did!!
My Team Yates hat is off to you David!!!! Way to go!!

Thanks TY.

Ya know, I did forget one thing: my spotlight drivers! In fact, I was trying to find the results so I could get the start/finish positions right and got side tracked...

just fyi: the names I had jotted down were Edwards, Ambrose, Robby, Gilliland, Kenseth and Montoya. If Carl can shuck the Roushkateer snakebite like Matty seems to have, he'll make the Chase very interesting. And I see where Marcos is in the 21 car this week (did I call that one or did I call it?) Robby and Juablo .. well, what can you say about them? In contention all day until a bit of wrong luck at the end. David almost blew it on one of those last restarts, but calmed down and did great! But then it's his "home track", so to speak...


Lefty, the guy off the Food Network with the white spiked hair (Guy something or other) was the Grand Marshall. He does all those TGI Friday's commercials...

[wingkey1]

Doing somewhat the echo of that noted in the initial post here regarding the Shrub:

Impressed here we were with his performance. Many positions gained without/prior to a/the caution which further helped. Many positions, and was a "gliding" look to the effort that really made it impressive.

Once able to get to the point, anyone closely watching the run lines repeatedly through the various points/corners on the track, giving attention (not easy this) to the shift and brake points through the run segments (early, mid, late - they change based on wear, weight, and other variances in a run) could see something near jaw dropping in its beauty. Avoid we do the "perfection" word, but dang.

Something it seems has to "slow" this ones success and progress. Not sure what this will be currenty, but it sure seems something has got to be out there waiting.

Till then - sure fun to watch this one. If they all raced this hard - Holy crap! (Frank Barone).

[Racer Duck]

Wing, I think your final sentence echoes my sentiments on the state of Cup (and to a lesser degree, Nationwide) racing.

It's refreshing to see a driver who, first, tries to win and failing that, gets the best finish possible, not worrying about points. When you couple that with a rare talent it makes for great viewing, though, at times boring, 'cause ya know it won't be the driver that breaks...

There are other drivers who might be able to give Shrub a run for the money, but they're bound up in points acquisition...

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

wingkey1: "Till then - sure fun to watch this one. If they all raced this hard - Holy crap! (Frank Barone)."

Wing, I think your final sentence echoes my sentiments on the state of Cup (and to a lesser degree, Nationwide) racing.

It's refreshing to see a driver who, first, tries to win and failing that, gets the best finish possible, not worrying about points. When you couple that with a rare talent it makes for great viewing, though, at times boring, 'cause ya know it won't be the driver that breaks...

There are other drivers who might be able to give Shrub a run for the money, but they're bound up in points acquisition...

Can I get an "AMEN!," Brother Duck?

I notice that you left CRS out of your first sentence? When I first read wingkey's sentence that you reference, my first instinct was to reply, "They all do race that hard. They call it Craftsman Truck Series." Holy crap!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Can I get an "AMEN!," Brother Duck?

I notice that you left CRS out of your first sentence? When I first read wingkey's sentence that you reference, my first instinct was to reply, "They all do race that hard. They call it Craftsman Truck Series." Holy crap!

you made my point. by leaving out CTS, I was highlighting those which need more hard racing and less points racing .. if NWS and Cup drivers raced as hard at those CTS guys, we'd have to find something else to complain about (the list certainly isn't short!)

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

you made my point. by leaving out CTS, I was highlighting those which need more hard racing and less points racing .. if NWS and Cup drivers raced as hard at those CTS guys, we'd have to find something else to complain about (the list certainly isn't short!)

All we need is for the truck series to get a major network TV contract, get some high-rolling company to sponsor the series and increase the prize fund seven-fold, and for the drivers of the series to start believing their own press clippings and start thinking that they are irreplaceable.

Cup used to be like CTS until RJR's Camel stuck its nose under the tent.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

All we need is for the truck series to get a major network TV contract, get some high-rolling company to sponsor the series and increase the prize fund seven-fold, and for the drivers of the series to start believing their own press clippings and start thinking that they are irreplaceable.

Cup used to be like CTS until RJR's Camel stuck its nose under the tent.

well they have SPEE... oh yeah, you did say "major network TV" didn't you... maybe UPS would sponsor a series rather than a single car?

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

well they have SPEE... oh yeah, you did say "major network TV" didn't you... maybe UPS would sponsor a series rather than a single car?

I know how we can make it better. Lets get the government involved.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I know how we can make it better. Lets get the government involved.

Our Imperial Federal Government never saw a problem that it couldn't make worse.

Most of these SUV's on the roads are too big, uneconomical and are overly expensive to operate. Instead of "SUV's" why don't we just call them "governments?"

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Our Imperial Federal Government never saw a problem that it couldn't make worse.

Most of these SUV's on the roads are too big, uneconomical and are overly expensive to operate. Instead of "SUV's" why don't we just call them "governments?"

I knew I could draw you out Bob. I just didn't know how long it would take. Obviously not long at all !!!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Our Imperial Federal Government never saw a problem that it couldn't make worse.

Most of these SUV's on the roads are too big, uneconomical and are overly expensive to operate. Instead of "SUV's" why don't we just call them "governments?"

some of those SUV's are falling on hard times. GM has announced Hummer is going the way of the wild goose... I suspect some other behemoths are also destined for the chopping block.

'course, my fav gas guzzler (the "0 to 60 in less than 4 seconds" Viper) might also fall on hard times ... which would be a shame.