NASCAR - Phoenix Subway Fresh Fit 500

Phoenix Racing wasn't so bad. A lot better than last week. There was racing to be found.  A few cautions at the beginning and middle of the race and just one more coming with only 3 laps to go. Carl Edwards broke a 70 race winless streak and lead 122 laps, catapulting him into 11th in the Race for the Chase. Did not forget how to do his back flips either. The mile track seemed to be a little better for these Generation 6 cars. A few popped tires caused most of the cautions. The cars seem to come apart quite easily as proved again this week with the Danica Patrick wreck... She blew a tire and David Gilliland ran up over her and both cars seemed to just break apart. This may be what NASCAR needs to look into also.

Congratulations Carl Edwards!!! You held your own the last few laps of the race even though the threat of running out gas loomed in the back of your mind. Good to see that signature back flip. You still got it. I enjoyed watching the race today, there was a lot of passing and some good racing. It could get just a tad bit better, with a little more bumping and pushing but I will always enjoy racing.

Top Ten Recap:
1. Carl Edwards - started 15 - up 19 positions to 11th
2. Jimmie Johnson - started 3 - remains in First
3. Denny Hamlin - started 8 - up 9 positions to 4th
4. Brad Keslowski - started 11 - up 1 position  to 3rd
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - started 21 - remains in Second
6. Clint Bowyer - started 13 - up 5 positions to 5th
7. Matt Kenseth - started 9 - up 15 positions to 18th
8. Tony Stewart - started 6 - up 14 positions to 23rd
9. Jeff Gordon - started 5 - up 11 positions to 8th
10. Jeff Burton - started 20 - up 13 positions to 15th

Race for the Chase Recap:
1. Jimmie Johnson - finished 2nd
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 5th
3. Brad Keslowski - finished 4th - up 1 position
4. Denny Hamlin - finished 3rd - up 9 positions
5. Clint Bowyer - finished 6th - up 5 positions
6. Greg Biffle - finished 17th
7. Mark Martin - finished 21 - down 4 positions
8. Jeff Gordon - finished 9th - up 11 position
9. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - finished 16th - up 2 positions
10. Aric Almirola - finished 15th - up 2 positions
11. Carl Edwards - WINNER - up 19 positions
12. Marcus Ambrose - finished 18th - up 5 positions

Positions change a lot the first few races of the season. Only 3 positions remained the same this week, Jimmie Johnson in first, Dale Earnhardt Jr. in second and Greg Biffle in 6th.
Danica Patrick finished 39th dropping her out of the top ten down 15 positions to 22nd
Ryan Newman finished 40th dropping him out of the top ten down 15 positions to 20th
Michael McDowell lost the most, not racing he dropped 18 positions to 26th

Next Race - Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Kobalt Tools 400 - March 10, 2013 - 4pm est

Have a Wonderful Week!!!
Take Care!!!
Barbara

NASCAR - Daytona 500

The 55th running of the Daytona 500. February 24, 2013. Danica Patrick makes history twice. The first woman to be on the pole for the Daytona 500. And leading the 90th, she became the first woman to lead a green flag lap.  She proved to all it just wasn't a fluke that she earned that pole position, staying up front all day, she showed how she can run with the big boys. Finishing a respectable 8th she should be proud, she is going to be scrutinized all season, being the first woman to show she can drive a car very, very fast. Go Danica!!! keep it going...

The Generation 6 cars made their debut in the Great American Race today. Nice to look at good the see the personalities of the different manufactures come out, but as far as the racing part goes, the race was pretty boring, everyone was running single file for most of the race. The top line seemed to work the best and that's where everyone stayed. Two "big" ones took out a few favorite contenders, including Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick. Brad Keslowski was "injured" a bit in the first wreck, but put the car back together with 200 mile an hour tape, never losing a lap. Between lap 179 and 190, Keslowski and Johnson actually raced side by side with two lines racing each other, the best part of the race. A caution on lap 190, for debris showed Jimmie Johnson in the lead, giving Johnson the outside lane on the restart

Congratulations Jimmie Johnson !!!

With just 8 laps to go, Brad got in the outside line and everyone stayed there until the last lap, when Dale Earnhardt Jr. running 4th, went for it.
Jimmy Johnson held off Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win his 2nd Daytona 500 in his 400th start, joining 5 others in the history of nascar to win in their 401st0th start.
Dale Earnhardt - 1992 - Charlotte, NC
Dave Marcis - 1982 - Richmond, VA
David Pearson - 1973 - Dover, DE
Richard Petty - 1968 - Asheville, NC
Lee Petty - 1960 - Pittsburg, PA

Top Ten Recap:
1. Jimmie Johnson - started 9th
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - started 19th
3. Mark Martin - started 14th
4. Brad Keslowski - started 15th
5. Ryan Newman - started 34th
6. Greg Biffle - started 5th
7. Regan Smith - started 40th
8. Danica Patrick - started 1st
9. Michael McDowell - started 38th
10. J.J. Yeley - started 41

Race for the Chase:
1. Jimmies Johnson - finished 1st
2. Dale Earnhardt - finished 2nd
3. Mark Martin - finished 3rd
4. Brad Keslowski - finished 4th
5. Ryan Newman - finished 5th
6. Greg Biffle - finished 6th
7. Danica Patrick - finished 8th
8. Michael McDowell - finished 9th
9. J.J. Yeley - finished 10th
10. Clint Bowyer - finished 11th
11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - finished 12th
12. Aric Almirola - finished 13th

In case you don't know Regan Smith is running for points in the Nationwide Series, that is why his 7th place finish is not recorded in the Race for the Chase.

Need more racing guys, there is a reason they are called races, you are suppose to race not just follow the leader around the track. Let's up the Generation 6 cars are more racey at Phoenix.

Miraculously all the spectators that were injured in the horrendous crash in the Nationwide Race have been reported to all be in stable condition. Our thoughts and prayers are with them for a speedy recovery.

Next Race: - Phoenix International Raceway - Subway Fresh Fit 500 - March 3, 2013 - 3pm est.

Have a Wonderful Week
Take Care
Barbara



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NASCAR - Daytona 500 Pole

First Woman on the Pole for The Daytona 500
Danica Patrick 2013

Danica Patrick took the pole position for the 2013 Daytona 500, posting a 196.43mph lap. Jeff Gordon took the outside pole with 196.29mph run. Danica is also the 4th rookie to take the pole.
Congratulations Danica!!!
The Dual 150's are Thursday, February 21, 2013. The line ups are are follows:

Dual #1 - 2:00pm                        Dual #2 - 3:30pm
#10 - Danica Patrick                   #24 Jeff Gordon
#21 Trevor Bayne                       #39 Ryan Newman
#14 Tony Stewart                       #5  Kasey Kahne
#11 Denny Hamlin                     #18 Kyle Busch
#22 Joey Lagano                         #20 Matt Kenseth
#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.                #17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
#42 Juan Pable Montoya            #27 Paul Menard8
#13 Casey Mears                        #33 Austin Dillion
#99 Carl Edwards                       #15 Clint Bowyer
#56 Martin Truex Jr.                  #31 Jeff Burton
#48 Jimmie Johnson                  #1   Jamie McMurray
#2   Brad Keslowski                  #9   Marcos Ambrose
#29 Kevin Harvick                    #43 Aric Almirola
#16 Greg Biffle                         #55 Mark Martin
#38 David Gilliland                  #34 David Ragan
#26 Michael Waltrip                 #35 Josh Wise
#78 Kurt Busch                         #98 MichaelMcDowell
#95 Scott Speed                        #32 Terry LaBonte
#51 Regan Smith                      #7  Dave Blaney
#47 Bobby LaBonte                 #36 JJ Yeley
#83 David Reutimann              #93 Travis Kvapil
#87 Joe Nemechek                   #19 Mike Bliss
#52 Brian Keslowski

Have a Nice Night
Take Care
Barbara




NASCAR - Sprint Unlimited

2013 NASCAR Season has begun...

The "Sprint Unlimited" formerly the "Bud Shootout" and "Busch Clash" was action packed. Just 15 laps into the race 6 cars were involved in a crash. Tony Stewart in the process of blocking Marcos Ambrose got a little squirrely but managed to save his car, but caused the cars behind him to check up and wreck. Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, and Mark Martin were involved. Terry LaBonte left the race after just 3 laps. Tony took he first segment. The lead changed numerous times throught the last two segment. Matt Kenseth seemed to have the car to beat, but no one else had a car to keep up with him to stay behind him to push. Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt rubbed a little during the second segment, leaving Dale Earnhardt in the back of the back, finishing 8th after losing his aero-dynamics. Kevin Harvick ran a clean persistance race, holding off Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart by blocking all the way to the finish line. He won the second segment and the final lap was his... Great racing.. just the one caution. made for good racing the first race of the season...
Congratulations Kevin Harvick!!! Looking Good...

Final results:
1. Kevin Harvick #29
2. Greg Biffle #16
3. Joey Lagano #22
4. Tony Stewart #14
5. Matt Kenseth #20
6. Aric Almirola #43
7. Kasey Kahne #5
8. Dale Earnhardt #88
9. Martin Truex Jr. #56
10. Juan Montoya #42
11. Marcos Ambrose #9
12. Carl Edwards #99
13. Kurt Busch #78
14. Jimmie Johnson #48
15. Denny Hamlin #11
16. Kyle Busch #18
17. Jeff Gordon #24
18. Mark Martin #55
19. Terry LaBonte #32

Now I have give my opinion of the new format on NASCAR.com website... IT SUCKS!!!... They need to go back to the old one... Very hard to find stories and results of races.. not sure what they are going for, but it just needs to simple... not flashy...

Next race is the start of the Race for the Chase.... but before the race we have Qualifying on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 1pm est., the Dual 150's, Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 2:30pm est
Daytona 500- Daytona International Raceway - Sunday, February 24, 2012 - 1pm est.

Have a Nice Night
Hope you come back tomorrow
Barbara