Sunday, September 20, 2009

HOT OR NOT: CHASE INTRODUCTION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

HOT OR NOT: CHASE INTRODUCTION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Sunday, September 20, 2009, 09:14 PM EST [NASCAR]

GREETINGS FORM SW OKLAHOMA:

FOLKS WITH THE START OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE THIS WEEK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE , I THOUGHT I MIGHT ATTEMPT TO LIMIT THIS ISSUE OF HOT OR NOT TO THE 12 CHASE DRIVERS. I HAVE TO ADMIT I DIDN'T SEE ALL OF THE RACE, TO SAY THAT IT WAS SORT OF HO-HMM IS MORE OR LESS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THIS IS HOW I SAW THE RACE AND I HOPE THAT AT LEAST ONE OR TWO OF YOU SAW IT THE SAME WAY.

NOT:

1. KASEY KAHNE: KASEY STARTED IN THE 11th SLOT AND FINISHED 38th, A BLOWN ENGINE TOOK HIM OUT OF THE RACE VERY EARLY. I WILL NOT LAY THE BLAME ON KASEY OR THE ENGINE DEPT. FOR HIS POOR SHOWING, BUT AT THE FEET OF OWNERS WHO ARE CALLUS AND UNCARING AS TO TELL PEOPLE THEY WILL NOT HAVE A JOB IN 2 MONTHS OR TELL A DRIVER HE HAS TO DRIVE FOR NO SALARY OR HE AND HIS CREW CAN PACK IT IN.

2. CARL EDWARDS: CARL HAD A GOOD STARTING POSITION AT 5th , BUT WHEN THE FLAG DROPPED IT SEEMED THAT ALL HE COULD DO WAS DRIFT BACKWARDS, LIKE CARL I WON'T USE THE BROKEN FOOT AS AN EXCUSE, I THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG AT THE ROUSH RACING HOUSE THAT HAS TO BE FIXED OR THEY WILL BE IN EVEN WORSE SHAPE NEXT SEASON THEN THEY ARE NOW.

3. JEFF GORDON: JEFF STARTED 10th AND FINISHED 15th WHICH REALLY ISN'T ALL THAT BAD, BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT HE ALSO DROPPED FROM 6th IN THE CHASE TO 10th IN THE TOP 12 IT SURE LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE A REAL DEEP HOLE TO CLIMB OUT OF. JEFF NEEDS TO BE UP ON THE WHEEL FROM THE GET-GO NEXT WEEK AND START CLIMBING TOWARD THAT BIG TROPHY.

4. TONY STEWART: I THINK ALMOST THE SAME THING CAN BE SAID ABOUT TONY THAT I SAID ABOUT JEFF. HE WAS THERE AND THERE AND THEN HE WASN'T. I'M SURE THAT A MESSED UP AXLE COVER DIDN'T HELP BUT THAT IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF NOT QUITE PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAIL BEFORE A BIG RACE.

5. BRIAN VICKERS: BRIAN HAD A GOOD RACE, BUT HE HAD NO UPWARD MOVEMENT IN THE CHASE STANDINGS, IN SUCH A SHORT SEASON IF YOU ARE NOT MOVING UP OR ARE JUST STANDING STILL THEN YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE MOVING BACKWARDS. I THINK BRIAN WILL FINISH THE SEASON WELL BUT HE IS GONNA HAVE TO HUSSLE STARTING WITH THE RACE AT DOVER NEXT WEEK.

6. GREG BIFFLE: GREG DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD CAR ALL DAY SO THE FACT THAT HE FINISHED 9th MAY SAY MORE ABOUT WHAT OTHERS DIDN'T DO THEN WHAT GREG DID DO. GREG'S CAR PROBLEMS ARE JUST ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM AT ROUSH RACING THAT HAS EFFECTED ALL OF THE CARS IN THAT STABLE THIS SEASON.

HOT:

1. MARK MARTIN: I DO BELIEVE THAT IT WS LAST WEEK THAT I SAID " OLD AGE AND TALENT WOULD OVERCOME YOUTH AND SPEED". MARK STARTED 14th AND WON AGAIN, OUT LASTING THE BIRTHDAY BOY ON THE FINAL RESTART. MARK IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE THAT LOYALTY TO A TIGHT KNIT GROUP USUALLY PAYS OFF IN THE END, ALL THE CREDIT GOES FROM HIM STRAIGHT TO HIS CREW AND CREW CHIEF.

2. JUAN MONTOYA: JUAN STARTED ON THE POLE AND STAYED THERE A GOOD PART OF THE DAY BUT ON THE LAST RESTART HE GOT OUT-TALENTED AND HAD TO SETTLE FOR SECOND. THIS IS NOT A BAD FINISH FOR HIS FIRST CHASE RACE IN ONLY HIS 3rd YEAR IN NASCAR. WATCH HIM FOLKS HE IS COMING HARD AND WILL BE CLOSE AT THE END.

3. DENNY HAMLIN: DENNY STARTED 4th AND FINISHED 3rd WHICH LOOKS LIKE HE JUST RODE AROUND AND THEN MOVED UP ONE SPOT, BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE AT ALL, THE FED-EX TEAM SHOWED GREAT TALENT AND COOPERATION THRU OUT THE RACE TO SHOW THAT DENNY WAS RIGHT WHEN HE SAID THE #11 WAS THE CAR AND TEAM TO LOOK OUT FOR. FOLKS DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THIS TEAM DOESN'T TAKE IT ALL.

4. JIMMIE JOHNSON: JIMMIE STARTED 16th AND FINISHED 4th, NOT AS GOOD AS WHAT WE NORMALLY SEE FROM THE 48 TEAM, BUT NOTHING SURPRISING AT ALL. I HAVE COME TO THINK THAT YOU COULD START THE 48 3 LAPS DOWN AND DEAD LAST AND HE WILL STILL BE IN THE TOP 3 WHEN THE RACE IS OVER. THE JIMMIE AND CHAD HORSE AND PONY SHOW HAS NOT YET BEGUN TO SHINE AND THAT 4th CAHMPIONSHIP IS NOT OUT OF SIGHT EITHER.

5. KURT BUSCH: IT HAS BEEN SAID " WHAT DOESN'T BREAK YOU ONLY MAKES YOU STRONGER" OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT. KURT AND THE BREW CREW ARE PERFECT EXAMPLES OF THIS , THE HOOPLA ABOUT TRYSON COULD HAVE DONE THIS TEAM IN, AND MAY BEFORE THE SEASON IS OVER, BUT TODAY THEY WORKED WELL AND GOT A 5th PLACE FINISH AND MOVED UP 2 SPOTS IN THE CHASE TO 5th.

6. RYAN NEWMAN: THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST TIME TO OUTSHINE YOUR BOSS, BUT RYAN CERTAINLY DID A GOOD JOB OF IT TODAY. HE STARTED 18th AND DROVE SAFE AND SOUND TO A 7th PLACE FINISH. RYAN MOVED UP 3 SPACES IN THE CHASE AND NOW HIS BOSS CAN CHASE HIM FOR AWHILE. I DON'T THINK WE WILL SEE THE SLOGAN OF THE FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION, "FOLLOW ME" ON THE BACK OF RYAN'S CAR ANYTIME SOON, BUT WOULDN'T IT BE A HOOT IF WE DID.

FOLKS THIS IS HOW I SAW THE CHASE RACERS DOING IT TODAY, I HOPE AT LEAST A FEW OF YOU SAW SOME OF THE SAME THINGS I DID, IF NOT MAYBE WE WILL SEE THINGS CLOSER NEXT WEEK AT DOVER, HAVE A GOOD WEEK AND BE SAFE.



THAT'S MY OPINION - WHAT'S YOURS

GUNAQUAT


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Sunday, September 13, 2009

HOT OR NOT: DEEP IN THE HEART OF DIXIE

HOT OR NOT: DEEP IN THE HEART OF DIXIE
Sunday, September 13, 2009, 01:16 PM EST [NASCAR]

GREETINGS FROM SW OKLAHOMA:

DIXIE, THE LAST TRUE FORTRESS OF THE TRUE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE, SERVED AS A VERY FITTING PLACE FOR THE END OF THE REGULAR NASCAR SEASON. THE WEATHER WAS EXCELLENT, THE RACING WAS EVEN BETTER, THE FANS WERE TRULY SOUTHERN CORDIAL, AND THE HOMETOWN BOY FINALLY OVER CAME THE HURDLES AND JINX TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE FIRST FOR THE WIN AND SECURE A 4th PLACE START IN THE CHASE. HERE IS THE WAY I SAW THE RACE AND I HOPE YOU DID TO, WELL AT LEAST IN A FEW WAYS.

NOT:

1. SCOTT SPEED: IN THE WALL AGAIN IN ABOUT THE FIRST 6 LAPS, HE STARTED 20th AND FINISHED 36th, I GUESS THAT IS ABOUT HIS NORMAL NUMBER OF PLACES TO MOVE AND IN THE SAME DIRECTION, I HAVE NO IDEA WHY I AM SURPRISED. HE HAS TO BE THE WORST ROOKIE CANDIDATE TO COME DOWN THE PIKE IN A LONG WHILE.

2. MATT KENSETH: MATT JUST DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO DO ONE THING RIGHT LAST NIGHT, HE PITTED WHEN HE WASN'T EXPECTED THEN WENT IN TO THE WRONG BOX, BUT I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON PURPOSE. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE START MATT WON'T MAKE THE CHASE, LIKE THE "MIGHTY CASEY" MATT HAS STRUCK OUT AND THERE IS SADNESS IN MUDVILLE TONIGHT.

3. TONY STEWART: JUST WORKING TO HARD AND OVER DRIVNG, PIT PROBLEMS. THINGS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR THE OLD SPICE GUY RIGHT NOW. IT IS REALLY LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE A CASE OF PITTING TO EARLY.

4. PENSKE RACING: THIS WAS THE WORST TIME TO ANNOUNCE THAT PAT TRYSON IS LEAVING, JUST ONE MORE THING TO DISTRACT KURT AND THE CREW TO DEAL WITH. IF KURT HAS PROBLEMS DURING THE CHASE THEN THEY MAY BE BECAUSE OF A CREW CHIEF WHO IS DISTRACTED OR MAYBE NOT, EITHER WAY THAT IS WHERE THE BLAME WILL GO. WHEN THEY FOUND OUT HE WAS LEAVING, THE NEXT WORDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN "SO LONG" AND STARTED FROM SCRATCH RIGHT THEN. IF YOUR GONNA MAKE A CHANGE DO IT AND DO IT NOW AND GET ON WITH IT.

5. MARTIN TRUEX JR.: MARTIN STARTED 2nd TONIGHT AND ALL HE DID WAS GO BACKWARDS ALL NIGHT LONG. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS THE CAR OR IF THEY HAVE JUST SAID
HE'S LEAVING, SO JUST LET HIM SINK". I THINK THAT MIGHT REALLY BE THE CASE CAUSE HE IS REALLY A PRETTY GOOD DRIVER.



HOT:

1. DENNY HAMLIN: DENNY FINALLY BEAT THE JINX AND TURNED IN A TOTAL SHOW TONIGHT, HE STARTED GOOD, LEAD THE MOST LAPS, AND THIS TIME HE CROSSED THE FINISHLINE THE WINNER. IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE DENNY PUT IT ALL TOGETHER IN HIS MORE OR LESS HOMETOWN.

2. KURT BUSCH: KURT STARTED THE RACE IN 13th AND BETWEEN THE GREAT WORK OF HIS TEAM IN THE PITS AND HIS EXCELLENT DRIVING HE FINISHED SECOND AND SECURED A GOOD SPOT IN THE CHASE. THE ANNOUCEMENT OF THE CREW CHIEF LEAVING DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE HAD AN EFFECT AND WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT IT CONTINUES.

3. JEFF GORDON: JEFF RAN A REALLY GOOD RACE, WHEN HE GOT BANGED AROUND A LITTLE HE HELD HIMSELF IN CHECK AND PAID ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF, LIKE FINISHING WELL AT RICHMOND AND SECURING A HALF WAY GOOD SPOT IN THE CHASE. HE STARTS 6th BUT THAT ISN'T NEARLY FAR ENOUGH BACK TO HAMPER HIS ABILITY TO WIN THE CHASE.

4. MARK MARTIN: I HAVE SAID ALL SEASON THAT "OLD AGE AND TALENT WILL OVERCOME YOUTH AND SPEED EVERYTIME" MARK DROVE HIMSELF A PERFECT RACE AND FINISHED 4th MOVING HIMSELF RIGHT INTO THE LEAD AS THE CHASE STARTS NEXT WEEK.

5. BRIAN VICKERS: THE RACE TONIGHT HAS GIVEN US A NEW FACE IN THE CHASE THIS YEAR. IN YEARS PAST BRIAN HAS BEEN NO MORE THEN A PAIN IN THE SIDE OF OTHER DRIVERS, BUT THIS YEAR HE HAS PROVEN TO BE A VERY GOOD DRIVER AND A A VERY DETERMINED DRIVER, CONGRATS TO BRIAN VICKERS.

COWBOY AWARD:

I WAS SO WAITING FOR "THORN" BUSCH TO EITHER THROW HIS LITTLE TEMPER TANTRUM OR STALK AWAY FROM THE MEDIA, IN HIS NORMAL FASHION, SO I COULD PUT HIM ON THE NOT LIST ONE MORE TIME, BUT ALAS KYLE WAS REALLY VERY GRACIOUS WORKING WITH THE MEDIA, GIVING ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AND GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT WAS DESERVED. HE TOOK AS MUCH BLAME AS HE HANDED OUT FOR THE OFF AND ON SEASON. THIS KID IS BECOMING A MAN, I THINK, AND FOR THAT I SALUTE HIM.

THAT'S HOW I SAW THE RACE AND I SORT OF HOPE YOU DID ALSO, NEXT WEEK WE START ALL OVER AND OF COURSE THE "OLD MAN" WILL BE LEADING THE WAY.



THAT'S MY OPINION - WHAT'S YOURS

GUNAQUAT

Monday, September 7, 2009

HOT OR NOT : THE NIGHT IS RIGHT
Monday, September 7, 2009, 02:28 PM EST [NASCAR]

GREETINGS FROM SW OKLAHOMA:

WELL FOLKS I PICKED THE TITLE BEFORE I WATCHED THE RACE, CAN'T SAY IT WAS BORING, BUT TO ME IT REALLY DIDN'T LIVE UP TO THE HOOPLA BEFORE HAND.

I AM NOT SURE WHAT I WAS EXPECTING BUT THERE REALLY DIDN'T SEEM TO BE THE EXCITEMENT THAT IS SO NORMAL AT ATLANTA AND AT A NIGHT RACE. YOU WOULD THINK IF YOU COMBINED THE TWO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A WHIZ-BANG THING AND MAYBE TO ALL OF YOU IT WAS, BUT FOR ME THE WATKINS GLENN RACE WAS A BETTER RACE AND YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT ROAD-RACES.

ANYWAY THIS IS HOW I SAW THE RACE AND I REALLY HOPE THAT A FEW OF YOU AGREE.

NOT:

1. NASCAR ORGANIZATION: THEY SCHEDULE A RACE AT NIGHT, WHERE THERE HASN'T BEEN A FULL NIGHT RACE BEFORE AND THEN DO NOT ALLOW ANY PRACTICE TIME AT NIGHT FOR PRACTICE, LOOKS LIKE THEY COULD HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A TON OF PROBLEMS, BUT MAYBE NOT

2. DAVID STREMME: I THOUGHT DAVID WAS GOING TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH A RACE WITHOUT HITTING SOMETHING OR SOMEONE, BUT HE JUST COULDN'T DO IT. HE SMACKED BOBBY LABONTE WITH ABOUT 30 LAPS TO GO, JUST SO HE COULD KEEP HIS STRING IN TACT. HE HAS ALREADY LOST HIS RIDE FOR NEXT YEAR SO I SUPPOSE HE FIGURES IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO TRY TO IMPROVE NOW.

3. RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING: THIS ORGANIZATION HAS TOTALLY " FALLEN FROM GRACE" AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY. THE LAST 2 OR 3 YEARS AT LEAST 3 OF THE GUYS FROM RCR HAVE MADE THE CHASE BUT THIS YEAR THERE WILL NOT BE A ONE. BOWYER WAS THEIR BEST SHOT AND HARVICK TOOK CARE OF THAT LAST WEEK. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR.

4. #14 TEAM : THE STEWART - HASS BOYS SEEM TO HAVE TAKEN A VACATION FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS. IT IS RALLY A GOOD THING THEY HAVE SUCH A COMMANDING LEAD, THIS IS THE 3rd RACE IN A ROW WHERE A SMALL LAPSE HAS COST THEM, A DROPPED LUG NUT TOOK TONY OUT OF THE TOP 5 AND ENDED UP GIVING HIM AN 11th PLACE FINISH. THIS IS NOT SHABBY BUT WHEN FANS GET USED TO SEEING TOP 5's EVERY WEEK 11th AIN'T SO COOL.

5. CARL EDWARDS: A RUPTURED OIL COOLER EARLY IN THE RACE PLACED CARL IN THE CATCH-UP ROLE ALL NIGHT. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS TRAILING CARL WAS A STREAM OF OIL AS HE HEADED TO THE GARAGE, HE CAME BACK DOWN 23 LAPS AND FINISHED 37TH. THIS WAS NOT THE NIGHT TO BE RACING FOR THE AFLAC CANCER CENTER.



HOT:

1. MARK MARTIN: THE ELDER STATESMAN OF NASCAR JUST KEEPS ON KEEPING ON. MARK STARTED 7th AND BOBBED AND WEAVED HIS WAY THROUGH THE SLIPPIN AND SLIDIN' TO A 5th PLACE FINISH. HE IS STILL RIDING IN THE 10th PLACE SLOT IN THE CHASE AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HE WILL STAY THERE OR MOVE UP BY THE END OF NEXT WEEKS RACE.

2. DAVID REUTIMANN: I GUESS DAVID HAS DECIDED TO NOT LISTEN TO TO THE FOLKS WHO KEEP SAYING HE SHOULD JUST LAY DOWN AND BE QUITE. DAVID PROVED ONCE AGAIN THIS WEEK THAT WHILE MWR MIGHT BE DOWN, THAT HE IS NOT DOWN AND NOT ABOUT TO "GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT". DAVID WILL BE UP ON THE WHEEL, GOING FOR BROKE RIGHT UP TO THE FINAL CHECKERED FLAG AT HOMESTEAD.

3. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: I REALLY DON'T LIKE THIS GUY, BUT HE IS DOING SO WELL AND BECOMING MORE AND MORE OF A THREAT EVERY WEEK. WHEN THE CHASE STARTS I EXPECT TO SEE JUAN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT AND MAYBE AS HIGH AS THIRD OR FOURTH WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS.

4. KEVIN HARVICK: IT IS SO GOOD TO BE ABLE TO PUT KEVIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS LIST FOR A CHANGE. HE DIDN'T HAVE CAR PROBLEMS TO CONTENT WITH , OR MAYBE THE "COME TO JESUS" MEETING THAT WAS HELD AT RCR THIS WEEK DID SOME GOOD, I REALLY DON'T KNOW BUT IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE KEVIN ROLLIN' LIKE AS IN DAYS OF OLD.

5. KASEY KAHNE: IT LOOKED LIKE MR. KAHNE WAS MORE THEN ABLE TO READ HIS CAR AND IT'S ABLILTIES LIKE A BOOK LAST NIGHT. HE KNEW THAT TO WIN HE HAD TO BE AT LEAST IN SECOND AND PRAY FOR A LATE RACE, SHORT DISTANCE CAUTION, AND I GUESS HIS PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED. WITH LESS THEN 15 LAPS LEFT HE PASSED KEVIN HARVICK LIKE MOSES CROSSED THE RED SEA AND TOOK THE CHECKERS. CONGRATS TO KASEY AND THE BUD CREW, ON A WELL RUN SMART RACE.

WELL FOLKS THAT IS HOW I SAW THE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN LAST NIGHTS RACE. NEXT WEEK IT IS ON TO RICHMOND AND MAY THE BEST GUYS WIN, AND THE REST BE SAFE. I HOPE SOME OF YOU SAW THE RACE THE WAY I DID, BUT EITHER WAY

THAT IS MY OPINION - WHAT'S YOURS

GUNAQUAT