February has arrived which means NASCAR is back! Each week I'll be doing a rundown of the weeks race, providing a recap of the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly. So without further ado, let's get started!

DUEL ONE PRE-RACE

- Am in shock that Jimmie Johnson's hair is not perfectly coiffed prior to putting helmet on.
- Kenny Wallace looks nervous. Am nervous for him.
- Am not sure how I feel about new NASCAR Gatorade commercials. The cars & drivers look like cut outs. Not impressed. Am wishing for "how bad have you got it" to come back.
- Am loving the ADIDAS sponsorship for Dale, Jr. When will Nike follow suit?
- Favorite Valentine, DW? Really?
- Am jealous of DW's spot on the flag perch.
- DW's enthusiasm is contagious.
- Giggle as Jimmie Johnson goes to the rear due to Engine issues.
- Am wishing I was in Daytona as opposed to watching on TV.
- Boogity - Boogi - Really, can't we come up with a new phrase?

DUEL ONE

Lap 1:
- DW is on the mic yelling that he wants to remain on the perch until the cars pass at full speed.

Lap 2:
- DW is screaming as though he has been launched into space.
- DW is refusing to get down.

Lap 3:
- the DW show is over.
- Brian Vickers spins, manages to not hit anything. Surfs over concrete and makes his way to pits.

Lap 5:
- Am shocked Dale, Jr's name has not been mentioned yet.

Lap 8:
- Front row Joe is in 2nd. Driving for a team out of Denver, CO! Who knew Denver was a hot spot for NASCAR?

Lap 10:
- Kurt Busch is having issues. I'm pretty sure his exact quote was "I, uh, think our engine's done for the day."
- No caution.

Lap 12:
- Dale, Jr's name finally announced.
- Announcers state obvious about "fast lane" being "fast lane." Because "fast cars are in it." Really?

Lap 16:
- Shake my fist at TV and get really nervous. The 5 is behind the 19. Am anticipating an intentional wreck by the 5.
- Remember Kyle Busch no longer drives the 5. Instantly relieved and no longer nervous.

Lap 18:
- Kurt Busch being interviewed. Prepare for cry baby whining about car issues.
- Am impressed with Kurt Busch's calm demeanor. Marriage (or chamomile tea) seems to have really relaxed him.

Lap 19:
- Dale, Jr takes the lead. All is right in the world according to Junior Nation.

Lap 21:
- Elliott Sadler has his eyes on Jr.
- Sadler off the pace just as he was in position to take the lead. Sad.
- Wondering if there are enough yellow/blue cars on the track.

Lap 28:
- Hating the NASCAR color coding process for who's in and who's out.
- Seriously, get that graphic off my screen!
- Sadler officially has the "worst tire shredding" to date. Lucky him. Growl.

Lap 30:
- Announcers are officially jinxing drivers upon discussing them.
- Am wondering why Red Bull chose to do identical paint schemes on their cars. Yawn.

Lap 31:
- Vickers pits, heads back onto the track.

Lap 32:
- Green flag pit stops.
- Love Carl Edward's crew for helping out Boris Said's chance at getting into the 500.

Lap 36:
- Junior & leaders in the pits.
- Looks like Newman was out first.

Lap 38:
- Pit stops are completed. Jimmie Johnson leads.
- Oh, calm down - Junior's in second.

Lap 39:
- Elliott Sadler not only back on lead lap - in the top ten! Yay!

Lap 44:
- Junior on his own. As in, has no help.
- Junior nation holds breath.

Lap 46:
- Newman takes lead. Announcers channel their inner Seinfeld with a "Helloooo Newman." How original.

Lap 50:
- Junior back in the lead. Normalcy resumes in Junior Nation, and fans can breath again.

Lap 52:
- Kenny Wallace up on the wheel trying to race into the 500. I can only imagine the ridiculous amount of excitement racing through his veins.
- Jimmie Johnson peaces out of the race. Starts on the poll no matter what.

Lap 54:
- Sadler hits the wall. Tire surface falls off. Boo hiss.
- Caution.
- Right side of Sadler's car is a mess. Does not bode well for Sunday.

Lap 58:
- Kenny Wallace in 5th. Love it.
- Sorenson in 2nd. Who knew?
- Biggest race on track is between Nemechek & Vickers for transfer spot.

Lap 59:
- Junior pulls away.
- Junior takes the checkered flag.
- Kenny Wallace & Brian Vickers successfully race into the 500.



DUEL ONE POST RACE

- Junior looks thrilled. Needs sunglasses.
- First time in history the Wood Brothers #21 won't be in the Daytona 500.
- Vicker's "embarassed" by qualifying run, and spin on lap 3. Forget being embarrassed - be grateful to even being in the race.
- Vicker's drinks from biggest Red Bull bottle ever. Hilarious.
- Wallace family reunion 08! Kenny Wallace is ecstatic.
- Kenny's new favorite word: "Helluva."
- Forgot how much I love Wallace's random commentary.
- Am seriously confused by Tony Stewart's DirectTV commercial. Long hair, leather jacket, tucked in shirt...who is this guy?

DUEL TWO PRE-RACE

- Boo! Hate that Dale Jarrett has to race his way into the 500.
- Why is Jeff Hammond Orange?
- Steve Byrnes just asked Jarrett if he "has any emotions right now." Uhhhhh, really?
- Jarrett looks to refrain from stating the obvious that of course emotion is involved. Gives a neutral answer as opposed to taking microphone and hitting Steve in the head with it. I would have hit him with the mic.
- Am thinking Jeff Gordon's daughter is the cutest thing ever.
- Thinking there is more pre-race than actual racing.
- Wondering who's idea it was to keep Jeff Burton's car orange with the ATT logo on it? Does anything else think this clashes?
- Am NOT a fan of Kyle Busch driving the happy and colorful M&M's car. NOT a marriage made in heaven.

DUEL TWO

Lap 1:
- Reutimann black flagged 30 seconds into race for jumping past Waltrip at the start. That's no fun.

Lap 2:
- These French-Canadian drivers sure do have interesting last names. Just wait until their names get countrified! That should be awesome.

Lap 3:
- Dear NASCAR - enough with the smoky background while showing replays. It's terrible and distracting. Stop it. Thanks.

Lap 5:
- Wondering how long it will take to get used to Kasey Kahne driving the #9 Budweiser car. Not as bad as Busch & M&M's, but another marriage not made in heaven.

Lap 7:
- Busch all over Burton. Growl.

Lap 8:
- Burton having issues. Off to the pits. Sad.

Lap 12:
- Blaney challenges Waltrip for lead.
- Blaney hung out to dry.
- Waltrip falls to the apron while trying to fall in front of Blaney to conduct the inside train.

Lap 14:
- Caution.
- Ugly wreck including car spraying confetti upon impact.
- McMurray, Villeuve, Barrett & Franchitti involved. Pretty sure all are done for the day.




Lap 19:
- Everyone & their Mom on pit road.
- Waltrip thinks he has a car that can win the Daytona 500. Begs pit crew not to screw it up.
- Blaney stalls car. Oops.
- Kennseth out first.

Lap 21:
- Longest. Caution. Ever.

Lap 22:
- Um. Ken Schrader's car is giving me a headache. I don't think there are enough colors plastered on the car.

Lap 23:
- Finally back to green flag racing.
- Waltrip cuts Kennseth off for the lead.
- Kennseth does not look pleased.

Lap 24:
- Blaney is smoking.
- Caution. Ugh.
- Blaney is leaving an awesome mess in his path as he heads to the pits.

Lap 26:
- Boris Said looks like the most nervous man in NASCAR.

Lap 28:
- Sigh. Red Flag.
- Yawn
- 8 minutes later...
-...back to racing! yay!

Lap 29:
- Greeeeeeeen Flag!

Lap 30:
- Am thinking Harvick may be one to watch. He's quietly lurking, and I love it.
- Mikey is being hung out with no help.

Lap 31:
- Kyle Busch has made his way to the front. Gross.

Lap 33:
- Am wondering why drivers/crew chiefs turned announcers didn't take a basic broadcasting course before unleashing their commentary on the world.

Lap 34:
- Gibbs controls the top two spots. Stewart lolly gagging somewhere in the middle. Wonder if Stewart ever uses the term "lolly gag" in his daily life. Doubtful.

Lap 37:
- Hamlin dives down in front of, guess who?? Harvick!
- Hamlin goes back behind Busch to 2nd. Apparently over Harvick.

Lap 38:
- Stewart is making his grand appearance, showing up in 4th.
- Am surprised at the lack of coverage of Roush/Fenway Racing. Also have yet to hear the term "cat in the hat." Strangely bizarre to not hear those words uttered yet.

Lap 40:
- View from Tony Stewarts car shows blinding glare. Does not look fun.

Lap 41:
- Harvick is marching forward...announcers don't seem to notice.

Lap 42:
- Announcers finally notice Harvick.
- Harvick takes lead. Whoo hoo.

Lap 43:
- Mark Martin is behind Harvick. It's like last years 500 all over again. Except Martin is driving a black #8. Something isn't right with that statement.

Lap 47:
- Mikey is doing an awesome job as a team owner helping out Jarrett. How nice of him. I wonder if they're all BFF off the track.

Lap 49:
- Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon blow by Harvick. Harvick gets no help - hung out on the high side. Bleh.

Lap 52:
- Things are looking dicey & desperate on the track. Eek.

Lap 53:
- Dear NASCAR, Seriously, ENOUGH with the background graphics!!! Horrible decision.

Lap 54:
- Rude Kyle Busch gets into Kasey Kahne. Leaves love tap on side of car. How appropriate for Valentines Day.

Lap 55:
- the 10 is having issues and is grazing the wall every, other turn. Neat.

Lap 56:
- Just noticed Stewart is leading. Not surprising one bit.

Lap 57:
- the 10 hits the wall and finally does enough damage to cause a caution.
- Ridiculous. His crew should be penalized for telling him to stay out knowing he was having issues with his car. How selfish of the team.
- NASCAR needs to look into that because it just #### up the guys who were actually in contention to win.
- L-A-M-E.
- Trail of junk is left behind the 10 as he makes his way to pit road.




Lap 58:
- "Overdrive" is necessary. Great.
- Red Flag. Bleh!!!
- Jeff "Orange" Hammond says "right quick" on national television. Sigh.

Lap 60:
- Stewart hung out to to dry by Gordon. Harvick attempts a rescue.
- John Andretti flying by everyone to race his way in.
- Denny Hamlin wins. First Toyota win in Sprint Cup.
- Dale Jarrett & John Andretti race their way in. Nice!
- Hamlin & Stewart commence love fest on radio.



DUEL 2 POST RACE

- Jarrett looks elated. Refers to himself in the 3rd person.
- John Andretti looks surprised at himself.
- Post race coverage cut short - boo!!

So that's it. A somewhat exciting couple of Duels. Should be a great race on Sunday. See you then!