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


NASCAR - Chase Race #10 - Miami

 

 

Homestead Miami proved to be a great race for the finale of the season. With only 3 cautions, the green flag racing was good. The last caution coming on lap 154 and the last green on 162, leaving 103 laps and one more pit stop for everyone, pit strategy was critical. Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer running 1st and 2nd with a hand full of laps left took the chance that they saved enough gas to make it to the end. Bowyer never caught up with Gordon and Gordon gave Hendricks his first Miami win... Jimmie Johnson had problems towards the end of the race, sending him to the garage and ending his chase for his 6th Championship.

 

Congratulations Jeff Gordon!!! Staying out of trouble and just staying in the hunt til end and not pitting and pushing the fuel mileage limit to take the checkered flag... Having a few times racing Bowyer, you both acted like true racers, just proving that every once in while stuff happens, and that is just a part of racing.

Top Ten Recap:

1. Jeff Gordon - started 15 - up 1 positions to 10th

2. Clint Bowyer - started 6 - up 2 positions to 2nd

3. Ryan Newman - started 19 - remains in 14th

4. Kyle Busch - started 8 - remains in 13th

5. Greg Biffle - started 13 - up 2 positions to 5th

6. Martin Truex Jr. - started 7 - down 1 position to 11th

7. Aric Almirola - started 5 - up 2 position to 20th

8. Kevin Harvick - started 23 - remains in 8th

9. Kurt Busch - started 26 - remains in 25th

10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - started 16 - remains in 12th

 

Chase for Championship:

1. Brad Keslowski - finished 15th

2. Clint Bowyer - finished 2nd - up 1 position

3. Jimmie Johnson - finished 36th - down 1 position

4. Kasey Kahne - finished 21st - down 1 position

5. Greg Biffle - finished 5th - up 2 positions

6. Denny Hamlin - finished 24th - down 1 position

7. Matt Kenseth - finished 18th - down 1 position

8. Kevin Harvick - finished 8th

9. Tony Stewart - finished 17th

10. Jeff Gordon - WINNER - up 1 position

11. Martin Truex Jr. - finished 6th - down 1 position

12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 10th

 

 

Congratulations to Brad Keslowski, our little polack, great racing to win your first Sprint Cup Championship.... Way to go!!! Joining Jeff Gordon in winning a championship in just your 3rd full season.


Next Race - Daytona International Speedway - The Shootout - Saturday - February 16, 2013 - TBA -
90 Days and counting
Banquet - Las Vegas - November 30, 2012 - 8 pm on Speed Channel

Have a Nice Night
Take Care
Barbara

NASCAR - Chase Race #9 - Phoenix

NASCAR - Phoenix - First thing I must say about this race is NASCAR was very inconsistent in throwing the yellow flag. Two miscues in the throwing of the yellow flag late in the race cost a lot of teams wrecked race cars. No flag was thrown when Jeff Gordon hit the wall and put parts over the track, that flag could have preventing Jeff from wrecking Clint Bowyer. Then during the green, white checkered run, they again failed to throw the yellow when Danica Patrick got spun by Jeff Burton on the front stretch as the leaders took the white flag, getting as low as she could on the track the officials still let them race for the checker even though the track was covered with oil, wrecking cars as they crossed the finish line. Ryan Newman who finished 5th sat in the middle of the track, wrecked, just pass the finish line. Jeff Gordon admitted openly that he was after Clint Bowyer, said he had had enough and reached his limit. Both teams are on hot seat right now as to what NASCAR is going to do about the fighting incident. Personally I don't think anything should be done, let them race and fight. They certainly are not going to lose any fans from it, probably going to gain a few.

Congratulations Kevin Harvick!!! Where did he come from? is back. Staying out of trouble all race and playing some pit strategy Kevin drove the #29 Bud car home with just a little bit of gas left.
Bring him up 3 positions to 8th place in the points. Was a tough race for the Chasers today only 5 of the 12 finished in the top ten. Jimmie Johnson blew a tire and hit the wall, finishing in 32nd., Clint Bowyer was wrecked by Jeff Gordon, who wrecked himself also. Clint finishing 28th and watched his championship hopes die. Jeff Gordon finished in 30th. Martin Truex Jr. had engine problems very early in the race finishing 43rd. Tony Stewart hit the wall giving him a 20th place finish. Matt Kenseth just muddled his way to 14th and Dale Earnhardt Jr. just couldn't find the right set up finishing 21st.

Top Ten Recap:
1. Kevin Harvick - started 19 - up 3 positions to 8th
2. Denny Hamlin - started 3 - up 2 positions to 5th
3. Kyle Busch - started 1 - remains in 13th
4. Kasey Kahne - started 4 - up 1 position to 3rd
5. Ryan Newman -started 12 - remains in 14th
6. Brad Keslowski - started 14 - up 1 position to Leader
7. Greg Biffle - started 20 - up 3 positions to 7th
8. Kurt Busch - started 6 - remains in 25th
9. Paul Menard - started 7 - remains in 16th
10. Mark Martin - started 10 - remains in 26th

Chase Championship Race:
1. Brad Keslowski - finished 6th - up 1 position
2. Jimmie Johnson - finished 32nd - down 1 position
3. Kasey Kahne - finished 4th - up 1 position
4. Clint Bowyer - finished 28th - down 1 position
5. Denny Hamlin - finished 2nd - up 2 positions
6. Matt Kenseth - finished 14th - down 1 position
7. Greg Biffle - finished 7th - up 3 positions
8. Kevin Harvick - WINNER - up 3 positions
9. Tony Stewart - finished 20th - down 1 position
10. Jeff Gordon - finished 30th - down 4 positions
11. Martin Truex Jr. - finished 43rd - down 2 positions
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 21st

Again this week every position in the chase changed, with the exception of Dale Jr. This is going to be one hell of a finish in Miami next week. Don't miss it.

Final Race: Homestead-Miami Motor Speedway - Ford EcoBoost 400 - November 18, 2012, 2pm est

Have a Wonderful Week
Take Care
Barbara

NASCAR - Chase Race #8 - Texas

Texas was an exciting race, green flag racing and cautions in clumps. Brad Keslowski gave it everything he could, opting for two tires at the end of the race put him up front but with three restarts within 40 laps and two of the them coming within the last 10 laps he just couldn't hold up to Johnson's 4. The last 10 laps proved to be nail biting and exciting, Keslowski trying to hold off Johnson for first place, leaned on Johnson hard, rubbing and racing, but when the choice came to wrecking Johnson and maybe himself, Brad opted to race clean and came in second behind Johnson and dropping another 5 points to 7 points back from the top spot.

Congratulations Jimmie Johnson!!! Starting from the pole, leading the most laps, dominating most all the race, and finishing top seed to top it all off. Extending his points lead to 7, the next 2 races are crucial. They should be very exciting racing, with the points lead so close, there is no room for error on either teams part.
Denny Hamlin's luck has run out, with a 20th place finish, his hopes are pretty much diminished. Kasey Kahne had a strong running car, but a late race flat tire. rendered him a 25th place finish.

Top Ten Recap:
1. Jimmie Johnson - started 1 - remains Chase Leader
2. Brad Keslowski - started 8 - remains in 2nd
3. Kyle Busch - started 3 - remains in 13th
4. Matt Kenseth - started 10 - up 3 positions to 5th
5. Tony Stewart - started 21 - up 2 positions to 8th
6. Clint Bowyer - started 4 - remains in 3rd
7. Dale Earnhardt - started 19 - remains in 12th
8. Kurt Busch - started 18th - remains in 25th
9. Kevin Harvick - started 23 - remains in 11th
10. Greg Biffle - started 2 - down 1 position to 10th

Chase for the Championship:
1. Jimmie Johnson - WINNER
2. Brad Keslowski - finished 2nd
3. Clint Bowyer - finished 6th
4. Kasey Kahne - finished 25th
5. Matt Kenseth -finished 4th - up 3 positions
6. Jeff Gordon - finished 14th
7. Denny Hamlin - finished 20th - down 2 positions
8. Tony Stewart - finished 5th - up 2 positions
9. Martin Truex, Jr. - finished 13th - down 2 positions
10. Greg Biffle - finished 10th - down 1 position
11. Kevin Harvick - finished 9th
12. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - finished 7th

Next Race - Phoenix International Speedway - AdvoCare 500 - Sunday, November 11, 2012 - 2pm est.

Have a Wonderful Week!!!
Take Care
 Barbara

NASCAR - Chase Race #6 - Kansas

Chase Race #6 Kansas - coming down to the wire with just 4 races left, points are getting tight and every lap counts. Brad Keslowski finished ahead of Jimmie Johnson but only by one position and because Jimmie lead a lap and Brad did not, Brad did not make up any ground lose last week at Charlotte. Kansas was littered with a record 14 caution flags, due mostly to popped tires causes cars to go into the wall, at the same time the race has some long green flag runs. The leader, whoever it was, seemed to pull away from the rest, clean air worked the best. Proven by Jimmie Johnson when he got caught on a yellow flag after making a green flag pit stop. Rendering him to the back of the pack and thus spinning out and damaging his car, even though this did not stop him or his crew to stay on the lead lap and still finish in the top ten.

Congratulation Matt Kenseth!!! A win truly deserved, after having trouble a couple of times during the race, the last time scraping the wall with just 47 laps left to race. Great driving. Martin Truex Jr. had a strong car, coming up fast just not enough laps left to catch you. Kasey Kahne had the fastest car at the end of the race but lost spots during the caution when he shut his car off and had trouble getting it restarted losing  4 positions and not able to make them back up. Greg Biffle had trouble again this week, being one of the cautions after popping a tire and hitting the wall hard. Greg was the only chaser, besides Dale Earnhardt Jr. to finish lower than 13th. Dropping him 5 positions in the points to 11th.
Dale Jr.  who sat out again this week after suffering a concussion at Taladega two weeks ago, seems to be on the mend and is scheduled back at Martinsville next week, pending tests be done on Monday and Tuesday.
Even though you didn't hear much about them during the race two drivers not in the chase made a great showing today. Paul Menard had a strong 3rd place finish and Regan Smith, subbing for Dale Jr. finished in 7th after starting 39th, good going Regan!.

Top Ten Recap:
1. Matt Kenseth - started 12 - up 2 positions to 9th
2. Martin Truex Jr. - started 16 - up 1 position to 6th
3. Paul Menard - started 14 - remains in 16th
4. Kasey Kahne - started 1 - remains in 5th
5. Tony Stewart - started 33 - up 1 position to 7th
6. Clint Bowyer - started 3 - remains in 4th
7. Regan Smith - started 39 - remains in 23rd
8. Brad Keslowski - started 25 - remains the Leader
9. Jimmie Johnson - started 7 - remains in 2nd
10. Jeff Gordon - started 19 - up 1 position to 8th

Chase for the Championship:
1. Brad Keslowski - finished 8th
2. Jimmie Johnson - finished 9th
3. Denny Hamlin - finished 13th
4. Clint Bowyer - finished 6th
5. Kasey Kahne - finished 4th
6. Martin Truex Jr. - finished 2nd - up 1 position
7. Tony Stewart - finished 5th - up 1 position
8. Jeff Gordon - finished 10th - up 1 position
9. Matt Kenseth - WINNER - up 2 positions
10. Kevin Harvick - finished 11th
11. Greg Biffle - finished 27th - down 5 positions
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Did not start

Next Race - Martinsville Speedway - Turns Fast Relief 500 - Sunday, October 28, 2012 - 1pm est

Have a Wonderful Week!!!
Take Care
Barbara