So who won what championship in the 2006 season..
First up is NASCAR, starting with the Craftsmen Truck Series, at the season finale on Friday night in Homestead, Todd Bodine scored his first Truck Series championship and brought home the first NASCAR championship for the Bodine family. For the NASCAR Busch Series, this season was no contest with Kevin Harvick clinching the 2006 Busch Series championship four races before the finale in Homestead in a huge domanating fashion.

Finally, the Nextel Cup Series and The Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship saw a shoot out down to the final laps this evening at the Homestead finale with Jimmie Johnson clinching the 2006 Nextel Cup Series Championship. The Unofficial Top 11 drivers in points were: 1. Jimmie Johnson 2. Matt Kenseth 3. Denny Hamlin 4. Kevin Harvick 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6. Jeff Gordon 7. Jeff Burton 8. Kasey Kahne 9. Mark Martin 10. Kyle Busch and the million dollar bonus for 11th goes to Tony Stewart.

For all you NASCAR Nextel Cup Series fans, the 2007 Daytona 500 is just 91 days away.

In Formula One, Brazil played host to the season finale were it was Fernando Alonso becoming the yet again the youngest-ever champion for the second straight year. The 2006 Formula 1 Season will mark the end of Michael Schumacher's Formula 1 career and the youngest-ever champion Fernando Alonso taking the top spot going into the unknown (rules wise) 2007 Formula 1 Season.

Looking ahead to the two rivals in open wheel racing, the IRL Indy Car Series crowned Sam Hornish Jr. the 2006 IRL champion in a tie breaker for the most victories over Dan Wheldon back in September at the finale and in the Champ Car World Series, in no surprise here, Sebastien Bourdais clinched his 3rd consectutive Champ Car Championship down-under in Austrilia over Justin Wilson and A.J. Allmendinger.

In the Sports Cars two series, the Grand American Rolex Series, Jorg Bergmeister clinched his first daytona prototype championship and in the GT Series, it was Andy Lally and Marc Bunting in the #65 TRG Pontiac GTO.R. clinching the 2006 GT Championship.

In the American Lemans Series, the four champions were: In LMP1 was Allan McNish and Dindo Capello in the domanate winning Audi, LMP2 had Sascha Maassen and Lucas Luhr in a Penske Racing Porsche, GT1 had Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in a Chevrolet Corvette and for GT2, Jorg Bergmeister in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.

Finally, (at least in what I covered/watched this season) the NHRA, three of the four points championship went down to the finale race with Top Fuel being rated as the come from behind victory in NHRA history as Tony Schumacher grabed the 2006 NHRA Top Fuel Championship, as he had to win the race and set a national ET record to win the championship over Doug Kalitta. In the Funny car Division, after beating Ron Capps in round 2 at the finale in Pomona, John Force clinched his record 14th NHRA Funny Car Championship over his teammate Robert Hight. In the Pro Stock Cars, Jason Line beat out his boss Greg Anderson for the 2006 Championship and in Pro Stock Motorcycles, Andrew Hines took the 2006 Championship.

Well, thats it for the 2006 Motorsports Season, Congraduations to all of the champions.

For the last time, See Yeah!
By Brian Vermette, RaceDriven.com

By Brian Vermette, Racedriven.com.

That title begs the question in two different Motorsports Series.

In the NHRA, this past weekend in Pomona was the season finale and along with that, two divisions still had points championships still yet to be crowned, the first one was in the Funny Car division with a three-way fight beteen John Force, Force's teammate Robert Hight and Ron Capps. This championship came down to if John Force won two rounds, then he would became champion. In round 2, the biggest matchup was John force vs. Ron Capps, if John wins, he clinches and he did just that, he clinched the 2006 NHRA Funny Car Championship, his 14th NHRA Funny Car Championship. With the championship already decided, it was time to race and would you have know it, John Force ended up winning the event.

In the Top Fuel Division, the same outcome for the points leader Doug Kalitta would be challeging one with second in points Tony Schumacher coming hard. For Tony Schumacher to win the championship in a come from behind fashion, he had to win the event and set a national ET record. Believe or not, Kalitta went out in round 2 and that ment that Tony Schumacher still was in the championship fight. All he had to do was win all of the racing (event) and set a national ET record...and in one of the biggest come back victories in history, Tony schumacher won the 2006 NHRA Top Fuel Championship with a record pass of 4.428 at 327.98 mph.

For the second year in a row, the NHRA series has had there championships go down to the finale and in two cases, down to the winner takes all. Next year, the NHRA will adopt a NASCAR style 8 race championship showdown. (Read more on the NHRA Showdown..)

Now in NASCAR, coming out of Phoenix following yet another domanating performance by Kevin Harvick as he swept both of the 2006 Nextel Cup Phoenix races with Jimmie Johnson finishing in 2nd place yet again, the points championship has a more open picture, there are still five contenders mathamatically in the hunt for the 2006 Nextel Cup Championship with the points leader Jimmie Johnson having a 63 point lead over Matt Kenseth. Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin in 3rd and 4th are tied with 90 points back and in fifth is Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 115 points behind.

Now thinking about the idea of any of the five contenders could win the championship in homestead, it makes me wonder why some are giving the championship away to the points leader Jimmie Johnson before the checkered flag has flown. Looking back at the NHRA's Top Fuel Championship battle that had a come from behind championship winner, we might not all be so quick to say that the Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship is over.

Looking ahead to next weekend in Homestead, if Jimmie Johnson can finish 12th or better, then he will become the 2006 Nextel Cup Champion regardless of what the other contenders do, and that will cap off an already winning season for the #48 team.

See Yeah! - Championship Edition next week after Homestead.

Looking for a free Image Hosting Service for all my web needs, but for now,
To look at the #48 Chevrolet Impala SS, Click Here 

Going beyond the Nextel Cup racing from Atlanta and the Chase for the Nextel Cup Series, NASCAR fans were shocked on friday when Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet unveiled the all new Chevrolet Impala SS that was shown off in the #48 Lowe's Chevy colors for Jimmie Johnson. Chevrolet will now run the Monte Carlo SS on the current car for 2007 and 2008 and the Impala SS on the COT starting at Bristol next year. There is also talk about Dodge doing the same with the Dodge Avenger, no confirmation...we will all know when Dodge makes there announcement.

Now in all fairness, I have writen about the COT a couple times before, but with all of the talk going around and some drivers and teams coming out publically and saying what they think of the Car of Tomorrow including this article on NASCAR.com and another article on Motorsport.com, this issue deserves at least one more blast from me. Now my readers know what I already think of the COT, its ugly, its also begining to remind me of an IROC (granded I like the look of the IROC cars for only 12 of them) or TRAC car crossed with an Grand-american Rolex car. Its rear spoiler and front spliter is not what NASCAR's fans are use to seeing on track, but all NASCAR fans really want or at least me is a racecar that looks similer to the street verison with the safety and technology features of the COT, thats it. Its an R/T racecar model of the street verison.

My Closing Statement: To everyone in the NASCAR community, for NASCAR to really understand were its drivers, teams, owners, and fans are coming from on this COT issue, NASCAR will have to see this car in action starting at Bristol in order to fully understand just what we all are talking about, I will say that the 2007 Nextel Cup Season will be one for the record books and beyond, it will be a season of testing this COT in race format to see it all unfold...we are all going to have to live with it, unless the heads of NASCAR say otherwise, but I will say that after Bristol, things will start to be come clearer with every passing COT involved race, its NASCAR's show,

Now what about cost, safety and how do we get it to look better and create better/safer racing?

Thats all

Racedriven.com previous articles on the COT:
1. January - "NASCAR: Car of Tomorrow in 2007?"
2. Late August - "NASCAR's Car Of Tomorrow final version coming at you"
3. Late October - "Half-way home in the Chase for the Nextel Cup and more on the COT"

Thats it for me, any thoughts?
This is Brian Vermette from Racedriven.com, See Yeah!

As far as Formula 1 racing goes, I have not been a fan for that long (meaning watching every event and even getting up to watch them live on TV), I started watching F1 sometime before the first United States Grand Prix, so when the question came up last Sunday night on WindTunnel, who is the greatest Formula 1 driver in history, I really had no one to compare to the 7-time champion Michael Schumacher too. But from the way the comments went on WindTunnel, most F1 fans would say the Schumacher is the greatest of all time. He was willing to what it took to win.

This question was asked just hours after the 7-time champion competed in his last formula 1 race of his career for Ferrari, but just like in most of the races this year, Michael Schumacher didn't go quiety, but for Schumacher who was chancing his 8th world championship, Michael had a hard task to over come with his rival Alonso having a 10 point lead and for Schumacher to win, he must have won the race..Alonso would have had to finish outside the points to create the tie an the tie breaker would have come down to victories this season.

But during the sundays race, it was not to be, not the championship and not the victory. It would have been interesting to see Schumacher win in his final race and at least have a chance at the championship, but between Alonso running in the top 4 and finsihing in the second position and Schumachers bad luck with trying to pass another competitor, creating a flat tire, he just missed out, but in my opinion, that didn't stop Schumacher from showing that he is still the greatest driver out there when he had to make up all most a lap on the entire field, he kept setting fast lap after fast lap and driveing like he stole that car an d ended up finshing 4th, what a finish to an amazing career. We will miss Michael Schumacher in Formula 1, despite whether you liked or hated him, he was impressive to watch in pure domanating fashion.

As for the crowning of a champion, for Fernando Alonso, he showed the entire world that he is one of the best Formula one drivers on track today, to be one of the best, you must beat the best and he did just that, for the second straight year, Fernando Alonso became yet again the youngest driver to every win the World Championship in F1 history and he did it by beating Michael Schumacher. In my book, in 2007, Fernando Alonso will be the one to beat in F1, hands-down.

So after teh checkered flag dropped, it was Ferrari finishing 1-4 with Massa picking up the victory from pole and Renault picking up the 2006 World Championship with Fernando Alonso and the 2006 Constructors Championship, what a way to end the 2006 F1 season, next year, Fernando Alonso will be racing for McLaren-Mercedes, what will that be like.

Well thats it for Formula 1

See Yeah!

With just five races to go in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, Last Saturday night's 500 miler at Charlotte (Lowe's) Motor Speedway showed that no driver is out of this championship yet even if you are 200 points out.

For Kasey Kahne, last Saturday night showed that he is still the one to beat on 1.5 milers and bigger and that he is not out of this championship by no means. With that for the second straight week, Kahne, who has finished 2nd at Talladega and won last Saturday nights Charlotte race has brought himself to just over one race out in the championship.

On the flip side of that was Jeff Gordon who had troubles during the race and yet again finishing well down in the standings, now finds himself 10th -216 points out of the lead, but still in the hunt. But surprisingly, No one driver has yet taken off with this championship points lead and it appears that no one will.

For all ten of these drivers, the championship chase is not over, one bad finish for the points leader like what happened last week at Talladega and one good finish or even a victory by another chaser could result in as much as 156 point swing. Its still too early for anyone to say that they are out of this championship hunt, but if Jeff Burton continues with top 5-10 finishes for the remainder five races, only to top 5 in points will have any shot.

Point Standings and finishing position in last Saturday night's race in Charlotte:
1. Jeff Burton Leader and finished 3rd
2. Matt Kenseth -45 -- 14th
3. Kevin Harvick -89 -- 18th
4. Mark Martin -102 -- 30th
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -106 -- 4th
6. Denny Hamlin -137 -- 28th
7. Jimmie Johnson -146 -- 2nd
8. Kasey Kahne -160 -- Winner
9. Kyle Busch -195 -- 6th
10. Jeff Gordon -216 -- 24th

Going beyond the Chase and looking toward 2007, the Car of Tomorrow continues to make noise with another test session this time down at Homestead Motor Speedway. This test has 56 COT cars testing between Monday and Wednesday. Most of the Nextel Cup teams have COT's already made and now there is talk about several teams asking NASCAR to consider debuting the COT superspeedway program, a little early at the spring Talladega race instead of the fall Talladega race. It seems that with the repaving of the Talladega superspeedway, it has made the track very different from its sister track Daytona and that now teams must build all new cars for just that one race.

I like this idea too, its at least $150,000 per car plus labor to build and for some of these car owners, triple to five times that amount. Don't forget the backup car as well. I hate to say this, but a couple of weeks ago, Jeff Gordon made the comment that he would rather wait until 2008 and just run the COT and I still agree with that.

See Yeah!

By Brian from Racedriven.com

With all of the close championships in Motorsports that are going on rightnow, it was only fitting that last Sunday night's WindTunnel on SPEED would get in on the subject too with there question of the week. But after hereing a comment in the late stages of the show, I decided to add a little bit more to it, so the question is:

Which championship fight is more exciting - Alonso vs Schumacher in Formula 1, Force vs Capps in NHRA's Funny Car or The Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship in NASCAR.

The idea of picking on over anyother is not the easiest thing for a Motorsports fan to do, but what is really going on in each series...

In Formula 1, on Sunday before WindTunnel, in an article I touched on this championship battle and the Chinese Grand Prix that resulted in a tie in the championship between Alonso and Schumacher. Basically, this fight will come down to the line with just two races to go. Read more...

Mean time in the NHRA, each of the four top series has a big battle going on among the top runners, but the most talked about and watched for that matter has been in Funny Cars with John Force, Ron Capps and Robert Hight battling it out with Force leading Capps by just 1 point and Force's teammate Hight who has been on a teir as of late winning two of the last three event closing the gap up to just 35 points back. Last years championship came down to the final race with Gary Scelzi winning over John Force. This year, the three way fight will likely yet again go down to the final event in Pomona.

No predictions here on this fight, but I have been trying to watch these events a much as possible for not only the simple reason of I am getting to like it, drag racing, but I have been a fan of John Force and John Force racing since before I meet him at Racearama in 1996, when I got his autography, he was so full of life them, and he still is today. He can get the the job down, no doubt and these John Force Racing teams are the best in Funny Car.

Finally, the Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship in NASCAR with a 10-race 10 driver championship battle that if you have been keeping tabs on, no one is yet out of this. Really it is to early to predict a winner, but that has never stopped me with my early top driver finishing order prediction that I created just after the first chase race at New Hampshire. I predicted Kasey Kahne would win the championship because of his results on the final 9 races to go and those tracks over Kevin Harvick, but rightnow, its his teammate Jeff Burton not only returning to his winning ways when he won at Dover, but has taking an early points lead of 69 points over the very impressive rookie Denny Hamlin and 1 more point back over Mark Martin. The top three are only seperated by 70 points with just 7 races to go and unpredictable Talladega Superspeedway is up next were "The Big One" might appear.

My final 10 driver finishing order predictions..Read Here

In the past and now I have no love lost for Talladgea racing, but I try to keep an open mind, its only 2 races a year. With three races to go, the chase picture might look a lot clearer to some, but who knows. I hope in away I am wrong with my prediction of the top finishing order, because I am a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan and he is down, but not out by any means. The #8 Budweiser Chevy is a championship caliber team,...its all about the results, like its said..you don't have to win a race in the final 10 races to win the championship.

With all that said...he's my answer, it's The Chase For the Nextel Cup Championship in NASCAR and if that was a surprise to you, then you are not a repeat reader of Racedriven.com, I have a big NASCAR fan since the early 90's..and I'm still here. However I will say that the NHRA Funny Car Championship has gotten interesting too,, but since I go to NASCAR events at New Hampshire,its still number 1. Check out all three of these championships, its all there.

A couple of things that caught my eye from the Nextel cup race last weekend in Kansas, Congrads to Tony Stewart on winning the race in a no fuel move to win, but speecking of fuel, the quote of the week had to come in the closing laps when a NBC pit reporter said.."The fuel is in the tank in the trunk of the car" said after Jeff Gordon's fuel pump gave out and he was behind the wall, I'm out..

See Yeah!

One of the biggest questions in NASCAR is how to update the current points system used in all three of NASCAR's top racing series including the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The idea of completely rebuilding the points system is not needed at all. This 35 year+ old system is just fine with a couple of needed tweeks to still give drivers the chance of winning the championship even if they have a couple of bad races. The current system rewards drivers on consistance, not victories, the points system needs to do both.

One other problem, at any given NASCAR race is after a wreck happens, those drivers involves enter back in the race to pick up a couple of positions for the points in turn making a giant mess for the leaders to get through and sometimes resulting in more wrecks, case in point, Talladega.

So after taking in to account all of these factors and a couple more and using the current 2006 points system as a model, this is what I have come up with.

Here we go.....

This points system would still be used through the entire 36-race schedule including the Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship.

The winner of each NASCAR race receives 170 points. The runner-up in each event scores 150. From there, the point total declines in five-point increments for places three through five, points awarded drop four points per driver for positions six through 10 and three-point increments separate drivers' points for finishers in 11th through 32nd.

The 33rd to 43rd or last-place driver, gets 42 points each.
(Hopefully this keeps wrecked cars off the track and if a driver has a bad race, they don't loss as much.)

Bonus Points:
5 - leading a lap
5 - leading the most laps
20 - winning a race
20 - winning the 26-race points standings going into the 10-race chase.
(Instead of a 5 point lead over 2nd place in the chase, it would be 20 point lead.)

The winner of a race would receive 20 bonus points. If the winner lead the most laps than 5 more bonus points for a total of 25 points.

As for reseting the points for the 10-race chase, that would basically stay the same with one change. The points leader after the final 26-race (Richmond Race in 2006) would receive 20 more points over second place, which is the same for winning a NASCAR race.

What's Next!

Comments?

By Brian from Racedriven.com
See Yeah!

Revised on Friday, Sept. 22, 2006 at 3:31PM ET.

Revised, after a couple of comments on this Foxsports Blog "Racedriven Overdrive", I wanted to restate something on this list. I pick Kasey Kahne as my "dark horse" to win the championship. He will have to go through Kevin Harvick who is on a tear and is the points leader as of now (Friday Afternoon).

What will the year-end finishing order be for the ten drivers in NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup.

1.. 9 Kasey Kahne "dark horse" to win
2. 29 Kevin Harvick "current points leader"
3, 24 Jeff Gordon
4. 11 Denny Hamlin
5. 17 Matt Kenseth
6. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. "My favorite driver"
7. 6 Mark Martin
8. 31 Jeff Burton
9. 48 Jimmie Johnson 
10. 5 Kyle Busch

Why? Starting at the top, When it comes to the final 9 racetracks, Kasey Kahne has the upper hand, he runs good/has won on Atlanta, Charoltte, Texas, Kansas, Dover and I will even through in Talladega, he just have to finish good in the remainder of the tracks. Kevin Harvick has been on a tear as of late, the question is will it continue. Jeff Gordon has millions in front of him, so he will take off. Denny Hamlin is a wild card, with some good finishes and very impressive, he's the rookie, no one knows just what this kid can do. Matt Kenseth shows top 10 results. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a good team to do it, but still is having a little trouble finishing, but sometimes he doesn't, not to mention a huge fan base including me behind him. Mark Martin and Jeff Burton are in this, but are having trouble finishing. Jimmie Johnson has lost his wind in his sail and Kyle Busch, well, who knows, its a 146 points back.

Remember two things:
1. Don't count out anyone in this chase.
2. I am a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan and I want him to win the championship, the list above including picking Kasey Kahne to win, is based on the final 9-races left in the chase for the championship.

This was a difficult list to make with just 9-races to go, what does everyone think?

There is more postings at Racedriven.com,

By Brian from Racedriven.com
See Yeah!

By Brian from Racedriven.com

Last night, the 400 at Richmond International Raceway was one for championship, the final race to determine which drivers will be in the Chase for the Championship and who was going to the lone driver out.

The focus for the broadcast crew was mostly on the points contenders, this race, every driver must finish in or better than a certain position to lock in the chase. Most of the points contenders had trouble in one way or another, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had raced his way up through the field before a brake problem put him on the bubble on whether or not he would make it in. Dale Jr's key position was 16th, other points contenders had similar brake problems during the race too, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton to name a few. Jeff Gordon found himself outside the top 30 and 1 lap down with cooked brakes, but found himself still in the hunt.

A good day was for Mark Martin who ran in the top 10 most of the night finishing 5th, but two contenders, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick battled back and forth all night long for the top spot with Kevin Harvick passing Busch for the lead coming down for the white flag, Kevin Harvick would go on the sweep both the Busch Series and the nextel Cup races at Richmond.

At the end of the night, it would come down to Kasey Kahne in his Dodge vs. Tony stewart. The question was in someway answered by only 16 points differences with Kasey Kahne gaining enough positions to make the chase and the lone driver out was Tony Stewart. This will be the first time in so many years that Stewart will not finish in the top 10 in points. Saddly, Stewart will not defend his championship.

Going in the first chase race next weekend in Loudon, New Hampshire, it will be Matt Kenseth with the points lead followed by Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, the rookie Denny Hamlin, in 6th is Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon and in 10th with 45 points back will be Kasey Kahne.

This time around, I really have no predictions on who is going to win the championship, all I can say is, it will be the driver with the most consistent finishes throught these 10 races going into Homestead. A couple of drivers to look at, Kevin Harvick, who is all but clinched the 2006 Busch Series championship and has been on a roll as of late, Mark Martin could be a wild card as he could be in his last full time Nextel Cup season, or one of the young guns, Denny Hamlin or Kyle Busch. Who really knows at this point. I will as always be pulling for my favorite driver Dale Jr. to win his first Cup championship.

What a lineup compared to last year, four-five drivers that made the chase in recent years, this year are no where to be found including the Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards among others.

One final note, this will also be the last time this style of car will be run in loudon, as the Car of Tomorrow will be making its mark its next June/July.

Well see Yeah next week at NHIS.

By Brian from Racedriven.com

Before I get to the Race for the Chase, the Sharpie 500 won by Matt Kenseth, something caught my eye during the closing laps of the race, Riggs was racing the Jeff Gordon for 4th position and Riggs asked his spotter to ask Gordons spotter to ask Gordon to move over and let him by because he was faster...when did racing become asking the person ahead to move over for position instead of racing for it...you want that position, race for it, no gifts here and certainly not in the closing laps of any race.

Following the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Sharpie 500 last night, the Race to the Chase has gotten tighter with just two races to go. On the TNT broadcast, the announcers kept saying that this race was the wild card, don't think that for a second, every race is a wild card, anything can and will most likely happen in the final two races. California Speedway is D-shaped 2 mile oval similar to last weeks Michigan race and Richmond is a 3/4 mile short track filled with action, both with unknown results and under the lights racing.

Right now as it stands, from 4th place #5 Kyle Busch to 10th place #6 Mark Martin is only 48 points difference. The only two drivers going in to California in the points standings that are (somewhat) safe, is the points leader Jimmie Johnson and second place & winner of the last two cup races Matt Kenseth who has both clinched a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. But some of NASCAR's biggest names have found thereselves on the bubble including 7th place Jeff Burton, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. to 10th place Mark Martin.

The picture for these bubble contenders is not as dark as some may put it, unless Greg Biffle and/or Carl Edwards who are over 251 points out of 10th get lucky with bad luck on the other contenders part, the race is down to Kasey Kahne in 11th place vs. 3rd to 10th in the points. Kahne is 90 points out of 10th place and could make that difference up in the last two races.

Where these drivers finish in the final two races and every bonus point could be the key to being in the chase after Richmond or not.

Final Thoughts on Bristol:
As always, I look forward to the two Bristol races among others every year including racing under the lights, and the racing this time didn't disappoint with Mark Martin dominating the Wednesday Nights Truck race and Matt Kenseth sweeping both the Busch and Nextel Cup race.

Bristol needs to change the Busch race from 250 laps to 300 lap race like they did in the spring race. As for the Cup race, I believe both races should be under the lights or the race ending under the lights. Night racing seems to bring out something in drivers...action. Only a thought.

Now its on to the labor day weekend race, California Speedway for the 500.

The Car of Tomorrow:
NASCAR Performance touched on several different aspects of the COT and did a great job in the process, but the fact remains, according to NASCAR, the COT is the 2007 and beyond car for the Nextel Cup Series starting at Bristol in 07 and at select races until 2009 season. Now how do we get it to look good and create better/safer racing?

See Yeah!

First up, last Friday night at the newly renamed O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis (I would have prefered IRP by O'Reilly), the NASCAR Craftsmen Trucks Series was in action for there 200 lap sprint race with Rick Crawford holding off Denis Setzer and the master Ron Hornaday Jr. to grab the victory. This truck race also showcased a new racing grove, the very bottom of the corners below the yellow line just about to the grass, for anyone who could get there truck to handle down there including the winner, made short order of the lap traffic.

Last night (Saturday), the Busch Series was in action with another 200 lap sprint race, were history would repeat itself for two drivers, Denny Hamlin make the call that didn't get him the track position at the end, Hamlin found himself in the back on one of the final restarts were in the closing laps, he used the outside grove next to the wall to make up over 10 positions passing cars to finish 8th instead of outside the top 20.

But the night belowed to Mr. Busch Series himself, Kevin Harvick who added to his huge points lead by grabbing another victory..Harvick made real short-order of traffic by using the lowest grove on track. Now Harvick has a 374 point lead...

This Busch race needs at least 50 more laps. How about the Kroger 250?

On to the Sunday, the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard for the Nextel Cup Series, 160 laps, Jeff Burton grabbed the pole yesterday during qualifying with his RCR teammate Clint Boywer starting 2nd. During yesterdays (and Fridays) practice sections, tire ware was a huge problem with tires only being able to go about 9 - 15 laps total per set, would that come into play Sunday?

Green Flag in the AllState 400 at the Brickyard were NASCAR had two caution flags set for just after lap 15 and around lap 40, but the first caution cameout for Elliott Sadler on lap 2 when he lost it in turn 2 putting hime into the wall and ending his day. Jimmie Johnson also blow a left front tire, but he would recover and Jeff Gordon broke a front swaybar putting him laps down to fix that and all this before lap 10.

The tire problem really didn't show up too much thought the 160 lap race. Jeff Burton showed the way early on and thoughtout, he would struggle to find the ballance on his racecar. The race played out just like your average Nextel Cup race, slow but steady with lots of pitstops to control the any tire issues.

The bold moves of this race would come on the last caution were pit stragory would come into play, Kyle Busch and Dale Eanhardt Jr. rolled the dice by staying out and Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth took on 4 tires. I don't really know where Jimmie Johnson came from, towards the end of the race, he just fought his way to lead and after getting by Busch and Dale Jr., Jimmie Johnson cruised to his first Brickyard victory. What a drive for the 48 team, coming back from a blown left front tire to win, were have I heard that before...

Note: Dale Jr finished 6th.

Final Thoughts: I always look forward to the Indianapolis trip to both the short-track at Raceway Park at Indianapolis and the Brickyard itself. all three races were good to watch, no sleepers here, just good side-by-side racing with lots of passing. Tire problems at the Brickyard really didn't play a part in the final outcome, Goodyear and NASCAR both said the tire ware would be better and it was.

I felt bad for Michael Waltrip, not qualifying for the Brickyard 400, but his MWR #00 with Bill Elliott did make the 400, I will end this column with a question:

Question: With Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) along with BDR changing over to Toyotas in 2007 and MWR currently running one Chevy Monte Carlo for the #00 already, why don't he change his NAPA Dodge over to a Chevy Monte Carlo SS?

Just a question from this NASCAR fan, Mikey needs to get ready for 2007 and getting into the top 35 in points is a must...anyway, next up, Watkins Glen for both the Busch and Nextel Cup Series.

See Yeah!

Link: My previous post with comments on the 2007-2014 TV package...

I have been thinking about this subject and I pose this question to all NASCAR fans.

Question: Should NASCAR fans be concerned about the ABC (including ESPN) new TV deal for 2007 and beyond after this past weekends IRL IndyCar Series Michigan race ran over time and ABC cut off East Coast fans at 6PM for local news?

First: For people who didn't watch the IRL Michigan race this past weekend, there was a 2.5 hour rain delay and around 6pm East Coast time, the race was set to go green, but ABC said that West Coast would be able to watch the race, but the East Coast fans would be cut off. The entire race was later televised on ESPN2 at 12:15am for East Coast fans and again the next day. Note: This has happened before a couple years or so ago at Pikes Peak when rain came in to play, but that race was in the middle and ABC cut east coast fans off for local news...race won by Gil deFerran in a Penske Indy car.

In my opinion, YES, if ABC does this for an IndyCar race, then they most likely will do this to any sporting event including a high rating NASCAR event. No fan should be cutoff just because there game or race goes into over time.

A couple of things to remember:
One, the networks in 2007 have asked for a later start times for the NASCAR events including the Nextel Cup Series races for better ratings on the West Coast, that flurts with darkness at the racetrack and not much time to get the race in.
Two, Nextel Cup races most likely always go over there time limit, not just for over time, but races take 3 to 4 hours to complete even without delays...cautions breed cautions during a race.

The simple thing is that no NASCAR/Sports fan wants to be cut off, the past couple of years, fans have enjoyed there races being televised live and the networks staying no matter how long the race runs over time, including going until 12:30-1am in some cases. These networks pay enough for these TV packages and already add more than enough commericals during them, now ABC might pull this...hopefully they at least move it to another network, but that cuts of non-cable/dish customers, what's next...

Also, It was reported on Thatsracin.com that NBC has changed the start time of this season's Nextel Cup Series finale in Homestead from the evening for the race to start in the day and end under the lights to 2:30pm and that the race must be completed by 7pm, because it interfears with there Sunday night NFL game...sorry, no racing under the lights and what happens if the race goes past 7pm?

Well thats my take...See Yeah!

Pictures of Tony Stewart's #94 Modified are at Racedriven.com.

This NASCAR fan's view at NHIS from behind the fence.

This past Saturday I got the chance to take a day trip to New Hampshire International Speedway to take in the days action. After a three hour car trip up from Massachusetts and getting there for 10:30am or so, I sat through the final practice section for the Nextel Cup Series. Beyond that, I watched a little of the Busch Series qualifying for the Busch 200, but the time it was over, I didn't not even know most of the line beyond who took the pole.

Once 1pm come around, those grandstands were packed..

The main event and the real reason that I went up to NHIS was the Whelen Modified Tour, anytime I get the chance to watch the modifieds in action at NHIS I will grab at the chance to and this time for the New England 100, I was not disappointed, the Modifieds put on a incredible show from start to finish. This past Saturday's 100 laper had a bonus in it, two Nextel Cup drivers, Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart, qualifyied mid-pack in a 42 car field. This was a great race almost from the begin for the regulars, Carl edwards climbed up to fourth or fifth before a earlier wreck with the wall somewhere out of view of my seat sent Edwards to the garage and retired from the field, he would finish 39th. For Tony Stewart, I watch him come up through the field twice after a two mid-race pitstops, with just under 10 laps to go, stewart was battling for second and trying to go for the lead when going into turn 3, he got hit and ended up in the grass and on the aprin to save his car, Stewart would end of finishing in the 9th position, but the race would come down to the regulars, just when the fans would see an incredible race for the victory, the caution flag came out and the race ended under under the yellow flag. What a shot in the air for the racing fans, no one in the grand stands was happy with that at all. It was announced that RON YUHAS had won the race and he even went to victory lane, but later on, it was JOHN BLEWETT, III being declaired the winner of the New England 300.

Official Results: 1. JOHN BLEWETT, III, 2. JAMES CIVALI, 3. REGGIE RUGGIERO, 4. ED FLEMKE, JR, 5. MICHAEL STEFANIK, one note, TED CHRISTOPHER finished 7th.

Again, the modifieds was the race that I wanted to see and for the most part except for ending the race under the yellow, the modifieds was great to see...see yeah in September.

As for the real main event to lots of people, the Busch 200 was up next, for the bUsch race, I didn't find this race as good as I found the modified race, sometime during the race, it was just boring with follow the leader as the Nextel Cup guy domanated the race. Kyle Busch, who started on the pole, got bowed during the introductions, lead in the early laps, before giving up the lead to Clint Bowyer, Bowyer lead through most of the race until he got caught out pitting under green with the caution coming out just a couple of laps later. the real action was in the final laps with Carl Edwards leading with 2 laps to o and Mr. Busch Series Kevin Harvick tried to close the gab, but just ran out of laps and Carl Edwards got redemption from crashing out of the Modified race as he held on to get the victory.

For both my father and I, the day was not over, we left the grand stands right after the checkered flap waved to go home, I was dead on my feet, 90+ degree temperatures, humid and partly to mostly cloudy, we still got roasted, of course we sat in the grand stands from 1pm (the start of the Modified race) until 5:30, when the Busch race ended.

Here's the low...the NHIS parking, we parked behind the backstraight around turn 3 and the traffic getting out was horrible, we idealed in the parking lot moving a 10th of a minute for 1.5 hours to 2 hours to squize out one gate two cars wide. This was a nightmare...NHIS needs to fix its parking, getting into the speedway along route 106N was bad enough on a two lane blacktop squeezed one more lane using the breakdown lane, but the parking, coming in, was lots of NHIS employees parking cars, but on the way out, there were no NHIS employees helpping us leave. I turned a great day trip into hell and we still had a three hour drive home. When I go in September, we will find a different place to park...that simple.

See Yeah!
By Brian from Racedriven.com

I have been thinking about this question for a month or so now since a WindTunnel on SPEED question of the week caught my interest, it was put "Should all major American racing series make the transition to ethanol?", because of the IRL Indy Car Series will be running ethanol in 2007, but I think that this question should go alot further then just ethanol.

With Audi's impressive and history making victories at both the 12 hours of Sebring and the historical and one of the toughtest races in the world, the 24 hours of LeMans in there two Audi R10 TDI 5.5L twin-turbo diesels becoming the first diesel car in the world to win a major sports car race, the idea of using alternative fuel in all major American racing series such as Diesel which gets better fuel economy and more horsepower/torque, ethanol which does give basically the same amount of power compared to gasoline and is renewable is a great idea instead of using gasoline, plan and simple.

There is a couple of things to remember, whatever fuel that is used in Motorsports, is trucked or piped in to the speedway a head of time and is held in tanks until needed. Motorsports has the technology to use alternative fuels because everything is there, unlike street use.

Thinking about it, this option is a good idea because it free's up a large amount of gasoline for consumers to use in there cars, face it, for the next 10-20 years or so until a better fuel can be found and developed including hydrogen, gasoline is the main fuel for street use all over the United States and beyond.

One that note, I will say one thing, diesel vehicles are starting to make a come back, but with stricter government standards, automakers still have to continue finding a cleaner way to run these vehicles and in 2007, Jeep will introduce one new cleaner diesel in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but stop making the Jeep Liberty CRD (Diesel), that still leaves gasoline.

That's my thoughts - simply put, alternative fuels (Diesel, ethanol, Hydrogen and etc.) should be used in all major American racing series and gasoline should be used for consumers to drive there cars everyday on the street for now.

What's your thoughts?

See Yeah!

If the first 8 races of the season is any clue, NO!, well...we have seen stranger things happen in Formula One before, there is only one or two drivers in the lineup that come to mind who might have an outside chance of becoming a contender and challenging him for a multi-victories, let along the championship, Michael Schumacher/Ferrari with 2 victories this season and maybe Raikkonen/McLaren.

But for Fernando Alonso, After winning an impressive champion last year and becoming the youngest champion in Formula 1 history, Alonso aims for a second straight championship and with eight formula one races in the books, Alonso is well on his way with five victories in Bahrain, Australian, Spanish, Monaco and earlier today's British Grand Prix along with a couple of second place finishes to boot.

The headline on Formula1.com for earlier today's British Grand Prix reads "Alonso cruises to first British win", that headlines doesn't even begin to describe that grand prix, let along the 06 season, in the British GP, Alonso lead from pole to checkered flag with no one coming anywhere close to challenging him for position at all, it was a fight for third-fourth on back..

So, will Fernando Alonso be challenged at all this season for the championship or does he have the winning formula for the 2006 Formula One championship, with 10 races in the 2006 Formula One Season left, it is still too earlier to just award him the championship and don't count out the rest of the top 5 in points,

Top 5 Points (After British GP)
F.Alonso - 74
M.Schumacher - 51
K.Raikkonen - 33
G.Fisichella - 32
J.Montoya - 26

One Note: It was brought up in the CBS broadcast (which was taped delayed again...) reminding us that Alonso has signed a multi-year contract for 2007 and beyond to go drive for McLaren and with McLaren's performance...one must think..but I will say, he will continue his winning formula next year and for years to come in just about any ride (Ferrari or McLaren), its not just the car or driver, its the entire team's (car, crew, crew chief, owner and etc) communications and chemistry that makes a championship caliber team, along with some luck.

See Yeah!