1. JImmie Johnson: 2nd championship in a row, was "THE MAN" start to finish in the chase. He was a little to conservative for my taste all race long, but i guess i can't blame him. But if it had been me i would have been driving hard for 5 in a row.
2. Jeff Gordon: Finished the season in 2nd place, looked like he was happy with second place right from the start of the race. Jeff set a new record that is going to stand for awhile, 30 top ten finishes in one season.
3. Matt Kenseth: Matt won the race in grand finish, he had the best car all day long. He drove start to finish his way, and a great end for the run of Kenseth and Rieser.
4. Martin Truex Jr.: Finished the race 6th this past week, should have taken 4 tires the last pit stop. His team met all of their goals for this season. I think he may be able to bring DEI back next year.
VERY VERY HOT
1. Fox (Nascar) Sports: Steve and Jorge, THANK YOU, you guys gave me something to do to stay busy, and keep my mind occupied. And you forced me to look beyond my favorite drivers. Thanks a million.
2. Fox nascar bloggers: Thank you for your prayers and best wishes, you let me know i was not in this fight alone. Positive or negative comments, I loved them all, they showed i was being read and causing you to think.
NOT HOT
1. Dale Jr. : Commitment cone violation, wreck on the next restart. Finally a horrible season is over. Upward and onward to next year.
2.Homestead start time: Start it earlier or start it later, somehow take the sun out of the mix in the race. Glare from the sun caused at least 2 wrecks this past weekend.
3. Home Depot pit crew: Looks like they have been taking lessons from the #8 pit crew. They put a great driver in a bad position throughout the chase. Hope they can improve by next season.
4. ESPN broadcast crew: Guys and gal there are 43 cars on the track and some of us want to know what is going on with the other cars, not just the no. 1 and 2 cars. I know you can do a better job.
During the waining moments of last weekend's race, as Matt screamed to a great finish and Jimmie cruised to his second championship, I came to realize that in their own way each of these drivers are hot.
They have entertained us for 36 weeks, some have entertained us more then others, but they all did their very best. Thanks guys, none of us can wait for the start of the 2008 season.
1. Jimmie Johnson: 4 wins in a row and 10 for the season, no. 5 quite possible this weekend. The championship is now his to lose, he is the master of his own fate.
2. Matt Kenseth; Continues to do his magic, he provided, with the help of Jimmie Johnson, the only real old time racing we saw this past weekend. Once again this weekend he could have taken Johnson out but overcame the urge and raced clean to the end.
3. Greg Biffle; Wow, where did he come from this weekend? He ran good all race long but the last 30 laps he ran like he was shot out of a cannon. Besides anyone who raises and rescues boxer dogs has to be a good guy.
4. Tony Stewart: He overcame starting back in the pack and his crew costing him 17 positions on pit row for a 4th place finish. You can't expect to much more then that from any driver. Told you last week he was coming back, but Tony you guys got to find some better glue for those lug nuts.
5. Jeff Gordon: The last 2 weeks his car has been very sub-standard, but he has made the very best of it that he could. He held his cool and his line last weekend through some real bump and grind racing with a lousy handling car.
WHO'S NOT
1. David Regan: Keep the car on the ground David, it runs much better when the tires are in contact with the pavement.
2. Dale Jr.: Jr. should just skip next weekend and go fishing, then get on with moving over and getting started with the crew at Hendrick Motors. 9 DNF'S this season makes for a nightmare that will haunt him for quite awhile.
3. Carl Edwards: Started out the day great, won the pole and lead the first 87 laps, then things went to pot in a hand basket. Best he can hope for now is a good run next week to lead into next season.
4. Jeff Gordon Diaper Commericial: This commericial is terrible, it is demeaning and well below what should be even average advertising standards, we only had to watch it once this past weekend, but that was once to often. Surely they can come up with a better way to advertise their product.
5. Kasey Kane: Bad cars and bad luck have lead to an all round bad year. In the "TOP DRIVER DNF CONTEST" I think he comes in second with 6. Good luck next year with your new sponsor, can't quite see Kasey as the Bud Man, but we will see.
1. Tony Stewart: Started 17th and finished 11th, not an excellent finish, but considering the last couple of weeks, and being involved in a mini-pile up and a couple of near misses, it was pretty darn good. He might be down, but he's comin' back.
2. Kasey Kane: Same flat tire as Stremme, but unlike Stremme, he got all the way to the bottom, very little car damage, no wreck, no cars taken out, and no caution.
3. Kevin Harvick: Not real fast all day, but revealed better driving skills then i realized that he had, as he held on as Tony pounded on his rear end and dodged a couple of real smoky wrecks.
4. Matt Kenseth: Love seeing Matt back to driving his way and in his style. He finished second, he could have flinched and taken Jimmie Johnson out and won the race. But stayed true to his nature and stayed clean to the end.
5. Jimmie JOhnson: He has 3 wins in a row and 9 this season, Man, I hate to even think this, much less put it on paper, but he deserves the CHAMPIONSHIP and every thing that goes with it. Right now the Lowe's team is the perfect example of the "TOTAL TEAM".
WHO'S NOT
1. Ganassi Racing: They lost 2 of their 3 cars due to wrecks before half of the race was run, Montoya looked to be just riding around the track, not a very good weekend for this organization.
2. David Stremme: David, when you know you have a tire going down, get all the way to the bottom of the track, that mistake took out 2 veteran drivers, Kyle Petty and Bill Elliott, not real cool driving.
3. Jeff Burton: Brought out 2 cautions early in the race due to his car falling apart. Jeff get your car taped back together then run your race, it works better that way for everyone. Nice attempt at the chase but out early again this year.
4. Carl Edwards: Congratulations on the Busch Championship, but it looked like your cup team was resting on their laurels. How in the world do you twist a chain that is only 4 links long and has that much weight on it, not much went right on Sunday for Carl in "Big D" this weekend.
5. Jeff Gordon: He slipped to second in the Chase and the car may not have been just right all day, but there was just a little to much whine in the explanation. Also his well wishes to Jimmie Johnson seemed just a little strained also.
WHO'S HOT; 1. Jimmie Johnson: Won the race for the 2nd week in a row. The uncanny ability of his team to have things right when it counts is what keeps him HOT. Jimmie will donate last weeks winnings to The American Red Cross for the fire victims in California, HMS and LOWE'S will match that donation.
2. Jeff Gordon: Held the lead by the skin of his teeth, he drove smart till it was time to go. A 7th place finish is not super but was good enough to continue to control the chase.
3. Matt Kenseth: Raced from 42nd to 4th, not a bad day at all. He seems to have gone back to the style of driving that got him to the chase in the first place. Looked like all the problems and media focus last week was put behind him.
4. Martin Truex Jr. : Great recovery from last week, he lead the most laps and was the car to beat until the next to the last restart. Foolishness on the part of others can not be laid at Martin's door step.
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. : Proved again what a driver can do with a fire in his belly, Don't doubt that he would have won the race until the Halloween gremlins struck on the final restart. But al least the motor didn't blow up this week.
WHO'S NOT: 1. Busch Brothers: Pit problems killed both of them this week. I'm not sure how to practice choke situations, but their pit crews need to find out. Without problems they might just have finished 1st and 2nd.
2. Juan Montoya : Blew 2 tires in a very short time early in the race , then sort of rode to a 34th place finish. Another performance like this and the "Rookie Of The Year" award may not be a sure thing.
3. Denny Hamlin : Worst move of the day. If all the other teams needed fuel, what made him think that he didn't. Denny wake up and smell the gas fumes.
4. David Gilliland : Hit the wall took out Mark Martin and when home. NOt much to show for all the money spent. Denny slow down tilll you learn what your doing.
5. DEI Organization : How about this a two time NOT winner. They have managed something that no one would be proud of. They have enabled their Flag Ship driver to not finish a little over 1/4 of the races that he has entered this year.
1. Jeff Gordon: First in the standings, stayed calm as an early morning pond and smooth as glass after pit problems twice. Lead the most laps again at Martinsville again, has lead over 2300 laps there in his career.
2. Jimmie Johnson: Won the race. He showed that he is not standing in anyone's shadow, proving that Jeff isn't the only big dog at Hendrix. And now causing Rick Hendrix to have to pick his words of praise very carefully.
3. Ryan Newman: Excellent recovery from last week. He put an embarassment behind him and had a great race this past weekend. I think he will get a win before the season is over.
4. Clint Bowyer: Excellent driving ability overcame a less the well set-up car, he continues to live the impossible dream. Maybe he is to young to know he isn't suppose to do this well.
5. Tony Stewart: Man enough to admit he can't win the championship by himself, said if he didn't get help it won't happen. Great angry management on a race day where nothing went right.
6. Dale Jr.: He is still driving as hard as his car will allow for a company that hasn't cared all season. He has to be wishing this season was already over.
Who's Not
1. DEI Organization: Can't they build a car that will go "ALL OUT" through an entire race just once this season.
2. Kurt Busch: He continues to be his own worst enemy, dropped 3 spots this past weekend and there isn't much farther to fall.
3. Martin Truex Jr.: Way to many uncalled for contacts this past weekend. He looked like a graduate of the Kyle Busch School of Driving. His driving had negative influence on both Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards. He ran into everything at the track except the concession stand.
4. Robby Gordon: Brought out the first of a record number of cautions. He continues to go backwards. The second best example that in this day and age that you can't be the owner and the driver.
5. Dupont Pit Crew: A loose lug nut and a dropped catch can could have just as easily resulted in a 30th place finish rather then a 3rd place finish. Multi-tasking isn't always a good thing
Folks Cindi is under the weather and so she ask if I would cover this post for this week. With any luck at all she will be back next week and let me off the hook. Now to the point at hand.
Who's Hot
1. Southern Cindi: She made a deal with Fox sports to do this weekly post and was more concerned about getting it covered then worring about getting her tests done.
2. Turn 4 Lowes Motor Speedway: Took on 6 of NASCAR'S best drivers and beat them all.
3. Clint Bowyer: The true sleeper of the chase. He runs farther under the radar then a nuclear submarine and before this is all over he may win it all.
4. Jeff Gordon: Finally broke a 6 DNF curse, kept his head and did not panic when he had fuel problems, and last but not least he drove it like he stole it.
5. Dale Jarrett: Going out with class and style and under his own terms. He gave more to MWR then he got in return.
WHO'S NOT
1. Bruton Smith: For trying to extort zoning changes from the cities of Concord and Charlotte by threating to sell or close Lowes if he doesn't get his way
2. Greg Zipadelli: His not paying attention may have cost Tony Stewart not only last week's race but may have cost him the championship.
3. Ryan Newman: 5 poles this season and nothing to show for it but 5 more Budweiser hats. Then when he gets the lead for a win last week he gets excited and wrecks into the wall.
4. Kevin Harvick: Down 2 laps after only 47 laps, problems just keep building for this team.Things are going to have to get better to be called bad. I am begining to think that the large yellow racecar is just a moving caution sign.
5. David Gilliland: For agreeing to drive the ugliest car at the race last week. M&M's are red,blue,green and yellow. That paint job would make a cancer suvivior sick to their tummy.
Earned a surprising Bud Pole Award Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway, his first since the Pocono 500 on June 12, 2005.
HOT - Jeff Gordon - Stayed out of trouble all day Sunday, marching to the front at the right time to get his 80th career victory.
HOT - Tony Stewart - kept his nerve and didn't wreck anybody (despite many opportunities) on his way to an eighth- place finish in the UAW-Ford 500, a result which keeps him in championship contention.
HOT - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Led 31 laps and was the class of the field before succumbing to an engine failure at 'Dega.
HOT- Denny Hamlin- Was actually a part of the action this weekend, finishing fourth. A welcome change from his results in the last three races.
NOT - Kurt Busch - Failed post qualifying inspection. Doessn't he know not to get in trouble when he is on probation?
NOT - DEI and RCR - Seven combined teams, five engine problems Sunday. You do the math.
NOT - Kyle Petty - A flat tire caused him to wreck late Sunday, eliminating a good points day for himself and Dale Jarrett (whom he took out in the wreck) two good drivers who desperately need positive news.
NOT - Kyle Busch - So much for leaving Hendrick Motorsports on top.
NOT - Ken Schrader - Although it wasn't his fault that he had a right rear tire failure, his result dropped his team out of the top 35 in the owners points. As a result, he has been replaced temporarily by Bill Elliott in the No. 21 Ford.
Showed that he still had that championship fire by leading laps early, but dropped to a 35th- place finish after getting involved in a mid-race incident.
NOT - Jeff Burton
Pulled a "Sterling Marlin" by trying to fix his fender during a red flag period, forcing NASCAR drop him to the rear of the field.
HOT - Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Showed excellent driving ability once again, scoring his second consecutive top 10 finish and 12th of the year.
NOT- David Reutimann - Got collected in the Sunday's biggest crash, limped to a 31st place finish.
HOT - Tony Stewart -
Charged to the front with his usual zip and zeal from the 19th starting position before getting into an accident and finishing 39th.
NOT - Bobby Labonte - Got collected in the biggest crash of the LifeLock 400 and fell to 42nd place.
HOT - Kurt Busch - Led the most laps Sunday at Kansas Speedway (76 total) and finished 11th.
NOT - Juan Pablo Montoya
Montoya's late race spin was a fitting way to end his day, as he was not in contention at all this past weekend.
HOT - NASCAR
By electing not to penalize Tony Stewart for uttering a curse word on a live broadcast, they are allowing the championship to be determined on the track.
NOT - NASCAR -
Endangered fans at Kansas Speedway ty not calling the race during the big thunderstorm, as many stuck around instead of heading for safety.
SouthernCindi's Take: No "lame duck" driver here, had a gutsy performance to finish third at Dover International Speedway.
HOT - Jimmie Johnson
SouthernCindi's Take: Continued to stay in contention for a second consecutive championship by taking the pole, his second in three races, and finishing 14th at Dover.
HOT - Tony Stewart
SouthernCindi's Take: Displayed incredible spirit and passion throughout Sunday on his way to scoring his 20th top-10 finish of the year - which coincidentally also puts him second in the championship, only two points behind Jeff Gordon.
HOT - Kevin Harvick
SouthernCindi's Take: Had to endure even more tire problems this week, but worked through them to finish the race with a top-20 finish.
HOT - Carl Edwards
SouthernCindi's Take: Led a total of 95 laps at Dover en route to taking his 1st career win at the 'Monster Mile.'
NOT - David Gililand
SouthernCindi's Take: Nearly avoided the spinning car of Johnny Sauter on lap 12, but could only drive to a 24th place finish at the end of the day.
NOT - Paul Menard
SouthernCindi's Take: Created early fireworks by not giving Tony Stewart enough room on the tightly packed pit road, then went on to finish 21st, four laps behind.
NOT - Kyle Petty
SouthernCindi's Take: Not only did he finish 40th at Dover, but he also looked silly going after Denny Hamlin in the garage after a mid-race accident.
NOT- Kurt Busch
SouthernCindi's Take: Caused one of the biggest wrecks on Sunday at Dover (12 cars total).
NOT- Carl Edwards
SouthernCindi's Take: but then lost his momentum after his car failed postrace inspection and getting hit with a 25-point penalty.
Clint Bowyer: Earned the pole led the most laps and won the race...can't get hotter than that.
Jeff Gordon: Came in second at New Hampshire. I'll second that.
Jimmie Johnson: Can he win the Nextel Cup Championship for the second year in a row? If he continues to run like he did on Sunday, it seems like he can.
Tony Stewart: Stayed in the top-ten throughout most of Sunday, keeping the label of third hottest driver on the circuit behind Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.
Kevin Harvick: Avoided a wreck with smooth moves and fought to finish 17th Sunday.
Not
Kurt Busch: Just couldn't match the effort by his brother Kyle (who finished fourth). Engine problems caused some friction and dropped him to a 25th-place result.
Kasey Kahne: Another medicore showing one year after he was one of the best drivers in the series.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Same as always this year - leaves fans hoping for more.
Regan Smith: Looked like he was playing bumper cars on Sunday, no wonder he finished four laps behind.
I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! Jimmie Johnson's car and Gordon's COT failed inspection. They fit the template for the COT but it was found that cheating had been going on in the area between the template bars. The 24 and 48 will not be allowed to practice or qualify today. They will start dead last at Infineon on Sunday. If they can fix the cars to pass inspection today, they will be allowed to practice tomorrow. Any further penalties will be assessed on Tuesday or Wednesday. It seems that today is the first day NASCAR caught the infraction! This should be interesting in seeing what punishment the Hendricks team recieves.
HOW TO INSTALL A HOME SECURITY SYSTEM IN THE SOUTH
1. Go to a second-hand store and buy a pair of men's used size 14-16 work boots.
2. Place them on your front porch, along with a copy of Guns & Ammo Magazine.
3. Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazines.
4. Leave a note on your door that reads:
Hey Bubba, Big Jim, Duke and Slim, I went for more ammunition. Back in an hour. Don't mess with the pit bulls-- they attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up real bad. I don't think Killer took part in it but it was hard to tell from all the blood. Anyway, I locked all four of 'em in the house. Better wait outside. Cooter"
Fox's final broadcast will take place Monday at noon instead of today. As you all know, NASCAR fans usually find something to gripe about the people who broadcast our races and I am no different. But I must admit that Fox has always been my favorite. For good reason, and it's not that I like Darryl Waltrip.
Unlike the other broadcasters, I have noticed that Fox LISTENS to the fans gripes and tries their best to rectify it. No, they can't make everyone happy but they DO try and they DO listen. I don't see where a person can ask for much more.
Unlike the other broadcasters, the Fox Network started showing us the debris for cautions whenever they could. They have cut in commercials for something happening at the track. They listened to the fans and have given great broadcasts. I'd like to thank them and let them know they WILL be missed. So Fox...thank you. Till the 500 when we shall meet again!
My obsession is Nascar, always has, always will. I also enjoy sports of almost any kind, competition is just something I enjoy. I'm not a little girl, but a woman with a son that's grown and out of the house(YAY). I was blessed to be born on the southern side of the Mason-Dixon line. I love racing, I love everything to do with racing and will continue to love it till the day I die. !
