Monday, April 26, 2010

HOT OR NOT - TALLADEGA, THE TRACK THAT SPLIT A TEAM

GREETINGS FROM SW OKLAHOMA:

FOLKS TODAY WE SAW A BETTER THEN GREAT RACE, IT WAS WELL RUN, HAD AN EXCITING ENDING, AND A VERY WELL DESERVING WINNER.. BUT MORE IMPORTANT WE MAY WELL HAVE SEEN WATCHING AS THE MINUTE SPLIT AT HENDRICKS MOTORSPORT RIPPED TOTALLY WIDE OPEN. I THOUGHT JEFF HANDLED THE WHOLE THING VERY VERY WELL, HAD IT BEEN ME, I AM AFRAID I WOULD HAVE LOOKED UP THE 48 CAR AND SHOVED HIM PLUM INTO THE PORTA POTTYS. I REALLY DON'T SEE HOW YESTERDAYS ANTICS CAN KEEP FROM SPLITTING EVERYONE AT HENDICKS INTO ONE OF TWO CAMPS, THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR THE HENDRICKS CAMP BUT MAY WELL BE A GOD SENT TO THE REST OF NASCAR. ANYWAY ON TO THE RACE AND HOW I SAW IT.

NOT:

1. THE REAR WING: THIS IS SORT OF A THROWBACK, BUT AFTER WATCHING HAMLIN SPIN ALL OVER THE TRACK, AND SEEING THE CAR STAY ON THE GROUND AND THE FLAPS WORK JUST LIKE THEY WERE DESIGNED TO DO, I HAVE TO SAY SHAME SHAME ON THE WING AND THE DUMMIE WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO EVERY PUT IT ON THE RACE CAR.

2. JOHNNY SAUTER: FIRST CAR OOUT OF THE RACE, JUST REALLY A CASE OF BEING TO SLOW AND IN THE WRONG SPOT, AND OF COURSE THE WRONG SPOT IS ANYWHERE AROUND OR NEAR "THORN" BUSCH.

3. KYLE (THORN) BUSCH: TO PARAPHRASE MIKEY WALTRIP, WHEN A DRIVER PRAPORTS TO HAV ESUCH HIGH STANDARDS AND BE SUCH A GREAT DRIVER, RUNS UP THE BUTT OF A CAR WHO HE HAS HAD TO SEE FOR A 1/4 MILE, IT IS CLEAR THAT HIS STANDARDS AIN'TT AHT HIGH AND MAYBE HE AIN'T THAT GOOD A DRIVER EITHER.

4. JIMMIE JOHNSON: JOHNSON CAN SAY THERE ARE NO HARD FEELINGS AND ALL THAT OTHER CRAP, BUT HIS ACTIONS SCREAM MUCH LOUDER THAT THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM, AND THAT PROBLEM MAY WELL HAVE DESTROYED THE BEST RACING ORGANIZATION IN NASCAR TODAY. THE WAY HE CAME HALF WAY DOWN THE TRACK AND FORCED JEFF OUT OF BOUNDS AND TO THE REAR, HE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE TO BLAME IF HE HAD WRECKED GORDON HIMSELF.

5. JOEY LAGANO: JOEY WAS HAVING A GOOD RACE BUT A ROOKIE MISTAKE CAUSED A GOOD RACE TO TURN INTO A VERY BAD RACE FOR SEVERAL DRIVERS. MAKE BUMING CONTACT BEFORE OR AFTER ENTERING A TURN NOT 3/4'S OF THE WAY OUT.

HOT:

5. MARK MARTIN: WHAT CAN I SAY OTHER THEN "OLD AGE AND CUNNING WILL ALWAYS OVER COME YOUTH AND SKILL" MARK IS THE DRIVER EVERYONE WANTS TO THINK THEY WILL BE 15 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. SADLY I THINK MOST WILL NEVER MAKE THE GRADE.

4. DENNY HAMLIN: DENNY STARTED THE RACE IN 11th AND EALY ON LOST IT AND DANCED AND SPUN ALL OVER THE TRACK AND STILL FINISHED THE DAY 4th. HE REALLY SEEMS TO BE RUNNING BETTER WITHT THE BUMBED UP KNEE THEN HE WAS BEFORE. I DIDN'T AGREE WITH HIM STAYING IN THE CAR 2 WEEKS AGO, BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT IN DOING SO HE PRESENTED HIS TEAM AN EXAMPLE AND A CHALLENGE AND THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE AND EXCEPTING THE CHALLENGE.

3. JUAN MONTOYA: JUAN JUST KEEPS COMING UP A LITTLE BIT SHORT, BUT HE WOULD HAVE MADE THE HOT LIST THIS WEEK ON THE GROUNDS OF ONE STATEMENT " I AIN'T COMING IN FOR FUEL, I'LL DRIVE IT OUT OF GAS FIRST". THAT IS SPUNK AND GRITS FROM OLDTIME DRIVING AND IT IS GOOD TO SEE FROM TIME TO TIME.

2. JAMIE MxMURRAY: SUPER RACE START TO FINISH, JAMIE STARTED 21st AND WORKED MAGIC ALL DAY LONG PRETTY MUCH GOING WHERE HE WANTED TO GO AND WHEN. IT ALSO APPEARS TAHT HE HAS BECOME " THE BEST FRIEND TO HAVE" AT THE SUPER SPEEDWAYS, ALONG WITH DALE JR. AND TONY STEWART.

1. KEVIN HARVICK: KEVIN MAY HAVE DRIVEN THE BEST RACE OF HIS CAREER TODAY, HE STARTED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE SECOND ROW, SORT OF MOVED TO THE REAR AND THEN JUST SORT OF WORKED HERE AND THERE TO GET TO THE FRONT ARRIVING THERE AT JUST THE PERFECT TIME. THE VIDEO OF HIS FINAL MOVE ON JAMIE MAY BE USED FOR YEARS TO COME AS THE "THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT" TRAINING AID FOR NEW DRIVERS. I DO WONDER IF THE FOLKS AT SHELL WHEN "OOPS" AFTER THE RACE YESTERDAY, I SURE HOPE SO.


FOLK, LIKE I SAID WE WATCHED A GREAT RACE, BUT I FEAR WE ALSO WATCHED THE BREAKING UP OF THE TOP ORGANIZATION IN NASCAR BUT ONLY TIME WILL TELL. HOPE I GOT A FEW OF YOUR DRIVERS ON THE RIGHT SIDE TODAY, BUT IF I DIDN'T SHARE WITH ALL OF US HOW YOU SAW THE RACE.

THAT'S MY OPINION - WHAT'S YOURS

GUNAQUAT

Monday, April 19, 2010

HOT OR NOT - WET AND SOGGY IN TEXAS

GREETINGS FROM SW OKLAHOMA:


WELL I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE WET SOGGY WEATHER HERE AND IN DALLAS, OR JUST THAT I WAS STARVED FOR RACING, BUT FOLKS I DIDN'T SEE A BUNCH OF GOOFS TODAY, AND SOME OF THE FEW I SAW TURNED INTO GOOD AFTER THE WRECK WITH 20 SOMETHING TO GO.

I HAVE LISTED ONLY 2 NOTS THIS WEEK AND REALLY I'M NOT SURE IT WASN'T JUST RACING GODS ACTING UP RATHER THEN THE DRIVERS FAULT OR MISTAKES ON THE PART OF THE TEAMS


NOT:

1. BRIAN VICKERS: BRIAN SEEMED TO HAVE PROBLEMS RIGHT OUT OF THE CHUTE TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS TRYING TO GET TO MUCH TO SOON OR WHAT, BUT TO SAY THE LEAST THE RED BULL WAS NOT THE BULL TO BE RIDING TODAY. HE DID MOVE UP A FEW SPOTS FROM HIS STARTING POINT, BUT WHEN YOU START 43 WHERE ELSE IS THERE TO GO.

2. DAVID REUITMANN: DAVID STARTED OUT TODAY LIKE A HOUSE AFIRE AND WAS BURNING UP THE TRACK, THE NEXT THING HE KNEW THE MOTOR OF HIS CAR WAS TRYING TO BURN HIS CAR DOWN. NOW I AM NOT SAYING THAT DAVID DID ANYTHING WRONG, JUST SAYING THAT WAS WORSE THEN BAD LUCK AND DAVID NOR MWR NEED ANY OF THAT KIND.


HOT:

THE TOP FIVE DRIVERS: DENNY HAMLIN, JIMMIE JOHNSON, KYLE BUSCH, KURT BUSCH, AND KASEY KAHNE THESE GUYS ALL DESERVE PROPS FOR THEIR ABILITY AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO TURN A BAD DAY INTO SOMETHING VERY GOOD. DENNY SHOWED A TON OF BACKBONE WORKING THROUGH THE PAIN IN THE KNEE AND WENT TO WORK. THE OTHER 4 DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF PUTTING ON AN EXCELLENT DISPLAY OF DRIVER ABILITY AND COOL HEADNESS.

THE "BIG ONE" DRIVERS: FOR WHAT I SAW THIS WEEK THE "REAL HOT" HAS TO GO TO THE DRIVERS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE BIG WRECK. LEADING THE PACK WOULD HAVE TO BE TONY STEWART FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY JEFF GORDON. ANYONE OF THOSE DRIVERS COULD HAVE POINTED FINGERS AND STARTED RUNNING THEIR MOUTHS ABOUT THIS GUY OR THAT GUY WAS AT FAULT, AND THAT COULD HAVE STARTED WITH THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN TONY AND JEFF ON THE TRACK. BUT NO ONE AND I MEAN NO ONE POINTED A FINGER OR LAID BLAME UNTIL TONY STEWART. TONY TOOK THE ENTIRE BLAME AND STATED THAT HE WAS SORRY AND WOULD GO TO EACH TEAM AND TELL HOW SORRY HE WAS. TODAY I THINK I SAW NASCAR RACE DRIVERS AT THEIR FINEST.

IF I SAW THIS RACE WRONG, LET ME KNOW, BUT ANYWAY

THAT'S MY OPINION - WHAT'S YOURS

GUNAQUAT

Sunday, April 11, 2010

HOT OR NOT - VALLEY OF THE SUN

GREETINGS FROM SW OKLAHOMA:

TALK ABOUT NOT BEING OVER TILL IT'S OVER, I'M GUESSING JEFF IS STILL SORT OF SCRATCHING HIS HEAD OVER THAT ONE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD RACE AND REALLY ENJOYED WATCHING GUYS LIKE MARK MARTIN WEAVE HIS MAGIC AND LULL FOLKS INTO THINKING HE WAS JUST PASSING TIME. I WAS SORRY FOR KURT AND KASEY. I FEEL THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAS TO BE DESCRIBED AS AN ACT OF THE "RACING GODS". ANYWAY THIS IS HOW I SAW THE RACE, AND WITH ANY LUCK I WON'T OFFEND TO MANY FOLKS.

NOT:

1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. : SON YOU GOTTA READ THE LIGHTS COMING TO PIT ROW, HITTING THERE WHEN THEY ARE CLOSED IS SUCH A ROOKIE MISTAKE AND WHEN YOUR SITTING 19TH HIT THE BRAKES A LITTLE NO NEED TO SPIN A GUY OUT, I THINK THAT IS CALLED DEFENSIVE DRIVING.

2. DENNY HAMLIN: IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT "PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL" AND TODAY DENNY HAD TO MUCH PRIDE TO USE HIS HEAD AND GET OUT OF THE CAR AND HE FELL LIKE A ROCK. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF GETTING OUT AT THE FIRST CAUTION AND TURNING THE CAR OVER TO MEARS, MOST LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE WON THE RACE BUT I DON'T FIGURE HE WOULD HAVE FAIRED TO MUCH WORSE THEN DENNY. I ALSO FAULT COACH GIBBS ON THIS ONE HE SHOULD HAVE STEPPED IN AND PULLED DENNY.

3. A.J. ALLMENDINGER: THIS LOOKED MORE LIKE HE WAS DRIVING A YOYO RATHER THEN A RACE CAR. FIRST SLOT (POLE) THEN TO 27TH THEN UP TO 15TH. I REALLY THINK THIS KID WOULD FINISH SECOND IN A ONE CAR RACE.

4. DAVE ROGERS: HISTORY CAN ONLY REPEAT ITSELF SO MANY TIMES AND TONIGHT WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. THORN'S NEW CREW CHIEF MADE A LARGE BAD GUESS TONIGHT AND THAT MAY SERVE AS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK . IF THEY GET RID OF ADDINGTON WITH 8 OR 9 WINS WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO WITH A GUY THAT MAKES THAT KIND OF BAD GUESS.

5. SCOTT SPEED: WEAR A TOGA, SHAVE YOUR HEAD, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE, YOU STILL NEED TO BE ANYWHERE EXCEPT IN NASCAR. DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A RECORD OR NOT BUT YOU DID MANAGE TO LOSE ONE POSITION EVERY 19 LAPS DURING THE RACE.


HOT:

5. JUAN MONTOYA: JUAN RAN A REALLY GOOD RACE, BUT THEN HE CAME OUT ON THE SHORT END OF THE STICK AGAIN, I AM AFRAID HE IS GOING TO GET THE REP OF RUNNING WELL BUT NEVER ABLE TO CLOSE THE DEAL ON A NORMAL STOCK CAR TRACK. I WAS REAL PLEASED TO SEE THAT JUAN DID STAND STRAIGHT AND TALL DURING THE NATIONAL ATHEM, HE IS REALLY WORKING HIS BUTT OFF TO FIT IN.

4. MARK MARTIN: THE MORE I WATCH MARK , THE MORE HE REMINDS ME OF A TURTLE ( THIS IS A GOOD THING). HE TAKES THINGS SLOW AND EASY SORT OF JUST HO- HUMMS ALONG, BUT HIS SPEED AND ABILITY ARE SO DECEPTIVE AND HE USUALLY IS ALWAYS AHEAD OF THE BUNCH AT THE FINISH. MARK HAS A WAY OF COVERING HIS HARD CHARGING THAT IS JUST OUT OF THIS WORLD.

3. JIMMIE JOHNSON: JIMME "THE KID" RAN HIS NORMAL, RUN OF THE MILL, COME FROM BEHIND, OH THIS IS BORING RACE, FIGURING THIS WAS JUST ONE MORE WIN, BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT HE NOR CHAD COULD COUNT ON OR CONTROL. THAT LAST CAUTION DID HIM IN, BUT FOLKS THIS BOY IS GONNA REWRITE A WAGON LOAD OF RECORD BOOKS BEFORE HE IS FINISHED SO LIKE IT OR NOT WE MIGHT AS WELL JUST GET READY FOR IT.

2. JEFF GORDON: EVEN THOUGH BY HIS OWN ADDMISSION HE GOT A LITTLE NERVOUS AND SPUN THE TIRES ON THE LAST RESTART, JEFF DROVE A HECK OF A RACE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT JEFF IS STARTING TO REACT IN A MUCH MORE MATURE MANNER AND SO I HAVE A FEELING MAYBE HE IS STARTING TO OBTAIN OR DEVELOP THAT ELDER DRIVER ATTITUDE. GOOD GRIEF I HATE SAYING NICE THINGS ABOUT HIM, BUT FACT IS FACT LIKE IT OR NOT.

1. RYAN NEWMAN: WHAT IS THAT OLD STATEMENT ABOUT "GOOD THINGS COMING TO THOSE WHO WAIT" WELL RYAN HAS WAITED FOR AWHILE AND TONIGHT HE SPENT MOST OF THE NIGHT WAITING, AND SURE ENOUGH GOOD THINGS CAME TO HIM. RYAN DROVE A GOOD CONSERVATIVE RACE AND IN THE END HE WAS JUSTLY REWARDED WITH A WIN. THIS SINGLE WIN MAY WELL SERVE AS THE SPRING BOARD FOR THIS TEAM TO JUMP RIGHT TO THE FRONT AGAIN AS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.

WELL FOLKS THAT IS HOW I SAW THE RACE AND I AM SURE THAT I MISSED A FEW THINGS BUT CAN ONLY SEE SO MUCH ON A 27 IN TV. WHATEVER I MISSED PLEASE FILL IN THE GAPS AND LETS MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THE GOOD, BAD AND THE UGLY ABOUT THE TRIP TO THE "VALLEY OF THE SUN".

THAT'S MY OPINION - WHAT'S YOURS

GUNAQUAT