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  *Comments on the 2009 AAA 400:*
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  1.   Kevin posted:
  09.27.2009 - 8:33 pm
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Very excited about Mark Martin, this could really be his year!


  2.   Anonymous posted:
  09.27.2009 - 8:35 pm
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I don't know who's bright idea was it to have Jimmie Johnson to tire
test hire in August, but it helped him like if he really needs it after
the spring win he had here. Any team or driver that appears to lock in
into the chase shouldn't be allowed to do a tire test in August for
chase races. I am saying that because other chase teams would be at a
disadvantage.

Jimmie's was expected to do well here even without doing a tire test.

This is Tony Stewart's best finish since he won at Watkins Glen.

A.J. Allmendinger gets his bet finish since Sonoma. Matt Kenseth first
top 5 since the spring race at Dover.


  3.   DaleSrFanForever posted:
  09.27.2009 - 8:41 pm
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What a flip by Joey. Stale Bread is probably now Soiled Bbread, if you
catch my drift.

These double file restarts are going to kill Mark's championship hopes
unless he gets more aggressive. If he isn't leading, he sinks like a
rock everytime they restart. He got lucky that they had a somewhat long
run to the end so he could finish 2nd where he belonged (Nobody was
touching Jimmie).

Kyle Busch blows a tire for a second time then slams the wall on purpose
twice after the initial hit, really damaging his car. If I were Gibbs, I
would be wondering what the hell I have gotten myself into. Between Diva
Hamlin, Tumbling Bread, and Kyle's insistence on destroying his car
everytime it isn't dominant, he has his hands full. He probably wishes
he were still coaching the Redskins and their four foot tall owner. Oh
wait, they lost to Lions today. Scratch that.

The Penske fabrication shop will have a busy week. Again. They probably
can't wait for Brad to arrive.


  4.   Bronco posted:
  09.27.2009 - 8:46 pm
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Pure domination by Johnson as he sweeps both Dover races in 2009 and
completes his second career Dover sweep. This win ties him with Awesome
Bill Elliott on the all time win list.

Stale Bread gets involved in a bizarre crash and flips 7 times, very
reminescent of the McDowell crash last year. 2009 seems be the airborne
year, more cars and trucks have flipped this year than any other in
recent memory. In the trucks Skinner went up in the air at Charlotte. In
Nationwide Nemechek flipped in the spring Nashville race, and Kenseth
rolled over at Talladega. In Cup Carl went into the catchfence, Shrub
got some major after Kahne slammed into him, and now this.

The Fords were invisible in this race despite kicking ass in this very
same race last year. My money is on both Carl and Greg going winless
this season. California, Texas and Homestead are really the only prayer
they have of winning this year.

Dave Blaney picks up his best start and park finish of the year with a
very impressive 37th place finish. This was his first top 40 finish
since the spring Dover race.

Oh ya, why is Mike Bliss doing start and parks for a team that fired him
about a month ago? Makes no sense.


  5.   Kit posted:
  09.27.2009 - 8:46 pm
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It's hilarious how the Lions were all celebrating like they won the
Super Bowl.


  6.   Mike posted:
  09.27.2009 - 8:52 pm
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Very boring race. Why in the world do New Hampshire and Dover start off
the chase? Please, take these tracks out of the chase!


  7.   rw posted:
  09.27.2009 - 9:05 pm
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If Mark Martin wins this championship I will guarantee he will retire
after 2010, since the only thing he is going to want is a Daytona 500.

To be honest as much as I really don't like Soiled-bread Gano, it's just
good to see he's ok.

Boring race other than that.


  8.   rw posted:
  09.27.2009 - 9:06 pm
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Oh almost forgot,

Regan Smith records his 2nd career DNF.

Sad to hear that in the same sentence.


  9.   DaleSrFanForever posted:
  09.27.2009 - 9:11 pm
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"It's hilarious how the Lions were all celebrating like they won the
Super Bowl."

Yeah. I would talk more trash about that, but I'm a Panthers fan so I
don't have any room to talk any trash. Tomorrow night the John Fox
Farewell Tour goes to Dallas for MNF. I don't have a good feeling about
this.


  10.   RCRandPenskeGuy posted:
  09.27.2009 - 9:25 pm
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Jimmie Johnson runs away with the win. What a boring race. At least
Martin finished second and still (barely) has his points lead.


  11.   redbyron posted:
  09.27.2009 - 10:16 pm
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the double file restarts really seem to screw the guys on the
inside.....the leader always picks the top, it seems, and the guys
behind him get a clean run....the bottom guys get bogged down in one and
two....mark does need to be more aggressive, but some of those restarts
today, he had no chance on the bottom...i do agree that it looked like
kyle hit the wall two more times on purpose, did you catch his spotter
telling him "easy!, easy!" after the last hit???? a bit surprised hamlin
didn't run better....edwards had the quietest 11th place finish you will
ever see.....a few weeks ago, someone posted that junior hasn't been the
same since the fire in that sportscar race...we all criticize his effort
and dedication, but maybe there is something to that deal with the
fire.....he wouldn't be the first guy to look at things differently
after something like that.....another nice run by montoya, i didn't
expect him to run that well at dover, this was the 1st time he has ever
finished on the lead lap there.....agree with the guy who questions why
johnson would do tire testing at dover.....like the 48 bunch needed help
at that place!!!!!


  12.   Neal posted:
  09.27.2009 - 10:18 pm
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To me, Logano's crash was more reminiscent of Carl Long's flip at
Rockingham in '04.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that Kyle was either
intentionally trying to bring out the yellow or trash the car completely
so he wouldn't have to go back on the track when he hit the wall a
second time in Turn 3.

Get on Logano all you want but at least he doesn't act like an entitled
drama queen. The same can't be said for his teammates.


  13.   BIMMERTECH posted:
  09.27.2009 - 10:33 pm
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I laughed when Logano's dad was running to the care center to check on
his investment...I mean son.

Tony Kornheiser would be a better pit reporter than Vince Welch

I think if Mark Martin finishes out of the top 5 just one time, he will
loose the championship to Johnson. It's sick how good Jimmie is in the
last 10 races.

Good to see Allmendinger have a nice top 10 finish


  14.   Anonymous posted:
  09.27.2009 - 10:35 pm
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I agree with redbyron about the restarts. It isn't just me seeing the
leader always picks the top, it seems, and the guys behind him get a
clean run....the bottom guys get bogged down in one and two.


  15.   Neal posted:
  09.27.2009 - 10:39 pm
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If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. The double file
restarts are a gimmick used to disguise the fact that the CoT platform
is a dismal failure from a competition standpoint.

Why do the cars on the bottom lane get bogged down? Two words. Aero
push. Yes, despite NASCAR's best efforts to take attention off aero push
it still exists.

While I'm ragging on the CoT, yes, Joey Logano would have walked away
from his crash if it had happened in the old car.


  16.   Dion posted:
  09.27.2009 - 10:49 pm
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WOW just saw the Logano crash, that was crazy...reminds me of Daytona or
Talladega crashes... great to see he is okay


  17.   Anonymous posted:
  09.27.2009 - 11:07 pm
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I think the place a driver can gain ground on Johnson could be
Talladega. Jimmie only has 6 top 10's there in his 15 starts there.

The other thing that could really hurt Jimmie is if a race is down to
fuel mileage. I think fuel mileage could play a factor in one of the
cookie cutter chase races. Fuel Mileage decided on who won at the two
Michigan races this year, who says it wouldn't happen again.

Fuel Mileage played a factor for Carl Edwards winning a couple chase
races last year, so it is possible to happen this year.


  18.   18fan posted:
  09.28.2009 - 1:07 am
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This was the first race I didn't watch at all. I caught a brief part of
Kyle's crash, but I can't judge because it was after he smacked the wall.

Jimmie Johnson will win the championship unless somebody takes him out
at Talladega. Count on that. He also sweeps Dover for the second time
and ties David Pearson for wins at Dover with five.

Kurt Busch will be a factor for a top 5 points finish.

I think it will be between Martin, Johnson, Montoya, Busch, and maybe
Stewart and Hamlin can work their way back in it.

Mark Martin needs to learn how to restart or he's not gonna have a shot
if he keeps getting dominated on restarts by Jimmie.

Jimmie Johnson will most likely finish top 5 in every race because he
will win Fontana and Martinsville, and probably Phoenix.

Juan Montoya will be eliminated from championship contention with one
bad run.

Kurt Busch seems like the biggest threat to the Hendrick cars, but the
Pat Tryson thing will hurt him after about six races.

Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin will be factors depending on which of them
shows up. Tony can be competitive if he runs like he did mid season.
Denny Hamlin will self implode like he does every year.


  19.   rw posted:
  09.28.2009 - 1:15 am
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Speaking of the outside but correct me if I'm wrong isnt there a rule
that you can pass on the outside coming to the green prior to restart?


  20.   John Royal posted:
  09.28.2009 - 1:54 am
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Kansas, Fontana and Charlotte coming next. Jimmmie Johnson just nailed
his fourth championship.


  21.   CarlEdwards99 posted:
  09.28.2009 - 2:11 am
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my prediction I made last month that this would be a battle between the
5 and 48 for the championship and that the 14 peaked to early is looking
good so far, which is even a surprise to me with my prediction history

I maybe a Martin homer for saying this, but today was the kind of day
that wins the championship. You win championships by grinding for the
tough points. Sure Martin may of had the 2nd best car, but that was on
the long run and he kept starting on the inside on restarts losing
positions. Despite that, the 5 team was able to grind and get a well
deserved 2nd place.

the 5 and 48 have been very even as of late, they will both have there
days in this chase, but it's about who can grind and "steal" points and
Martin has been able to steal points the first 2 weeks.

That's not to say the 48 isn't the favorite, because they still are as
of now


  22.   Roushketeer posted:
  09.28.2009 - 7:20 am
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I thought that this was a Boring race except for Joey Logano's crash.


  23.   Cornys posted:
  09.28.2009 - 8:17 am
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Mark Martin might have a chance is he keeps this up, but the way that
Johnson is going I don't know.... yeah pretty boring simply because
Johnson went to the tire test.... that is about a half stupid idea to
take him to that...

Mark and Jimmy will be right there next week in Chicogoland results have
anything to say about this week (Very similer tracks)

Glad to see Joey is all right.

I need to fix my fantacy line-up though I see... I didn't do worth crap. lol

Can't wait until next week though.


  24.   DaleSrFanForever posted:
  09.28.2009 - 1:57 pm
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"the double file restarts really seem to screw the guys on the
inside.....the leader always picks the top, it seems, and the guys
behind him get a clean run....the bottom guys get bogged down in one and
two"

I noticed that too. I think NASCAR needs to only have the double file
restarts on the bigger tracks. At Martinsville, it will screw the guys
on the outside. Whoever has to restart 2nd will lose positions
everytime. The 3rd and 5th place runners will be in the catbird's seat.

" few weeks ago, someone posted that junior hasn't been the same since
the fire in that sportscar race...we all criticize his effort and
dedication, but maybe there is something to that deal with the fire....."

That could be a possibility. Plus there's the fact that his father and
grandfather died in their 40s. Whatever the deal is, he so far behind
his other 5 teammates it is kinda sad. You would think as safe as the
COT is he wouldn't worry as much, but the mind is a funny thing. As
somebody who has battled anxiety related mind issues let me tell you, it
can cripple you.

"Get on Logano all you want but at least he doesn't act like an entitled
drama queen."

That is true. I think he has handled his situation really well which is
really amazing considering he is only 19 years old. My anger just comes
from all the hype surrounding him, which isn't his fault. It is like the
story has already been written about him becoming a superstar with a
high profile sponsor, so the media and NASCAR have to hype up his
performances as much as possible and give him artificial help (the
rigged All Star Fan Vote, throwing the caution and red flag early at
Loudon). And yeah, compared to his teammates, he is a teenage Mark
Martin. Hey Denny, way to back up your trash talk: Get lapped twice. I'm
gonna start calling him Denny Harvick.

"The double file restarts are a gimmick used to disguise the fact that
the CoT platform is a dismal failure from a competition standpoint."

I totally agree. But when you consider how much input Brett Bodine has
had in that car, it shouldn't be a surprise.


  25.   DaleSrFanForever posted:
  09.28.2009 - 2:01 pm
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"Kansas, Fontana and Charlotte coming next. Jimmmie Johnson just nailed
his fourth championship."

Plus Martinsville and Charlotte (although he hasn't been quite as
dominant with the COT there). And Phoenix where he has won a lot at. The
48 team just has no weaknesses except fuel mileage, and I have a feeling
that if it ever comes to that in this cha$e, they will play it right.
They are just a bulletproof team. I look for him to go into Talladega
with about a 150 point lead, so even if he does get crashed, he can
still make it up at Texas and Phoenix.


  26.   Roushketeer posted:
  09.28.2009 - 2:37 pm
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I hope that Mark Martin wins the championship this year.


  27.   Talon64 posted:
  09.28.2009 - 4:39 pm
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In 2005 Jimmie Johnson finished 8th at Loudon and won at Dover to take
the points after 2 races. But a 31st at Talledega and 16th at Atlanta
put him 2nd in points heading into Homestead where he wrecked and
finished 40th to finish 5th in the standings. So despite a similar start
to the Chase this year I'm still hoping that Mark Martin, Smoke or JPM
can beat him.

And after a terrible run at Dover I retract my prediction of Denny
winning the championship.


  28.   18fan posted:
  09.28.2009 - 6:24 pm
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rw,
The rule that you can pass on the outside on restarts was eliminated
with the double file restart rules. Now every restart is like the start
of the race, when you have to stay inline until the start finish line.

Talon,
The 48 team is much better now than they were in 2005. I don't expect a
collapse this year.


  29.   redbyron posted:
  09.28.2009 - 6:32 pm
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getting back to the junior thing......
after that wreck, i remember he said something to the effect that "my
dad got me out of that fire"......
whether that is true or not, he obviously believes it....
i agree with sr. fan that the mind can cripple one....
in 1973, or thereabouts, bobby issac was running at 'dega, came into the
pits, told his crew that he "heard voices telling him to park this thing
immediately", got out of the car and never drove there again....true
story....
i really feel bad for him, because he comes across as a good guy, a guy
you could kick back, have a beer and hang out with, but something is
terribly wrong there......
when the whole thing came out a few months ago, and i saw "nascar driver
flunks drug test" across the bottom of the screen on espn, i almost
thought it was gonna be him....


  30.   18fan posted:
  09.28.2009 - 6:39 pm
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This was probably the worst weekend of racing I've ever seen at Dover. 6
lead changes in this race and 4 in the Nationwide race, and one of the
four was on the track and not during green flag pit stops.


  31.   DaleSrFanForever posted:
  09.28.2009 - 6:47 pm
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"And after a terrible run at Dover I retract my prediction of Denny
winning the championship."

Yeah, Saturday proved he doesn't have anywhere near the maturity needed
to win the ultimate prize. If he would have kept the attitude he had
during his rookie year, he could be a champion considering the awesome
equipment he drives. But he let success and fame go to his head, and
until learns a little humility he will be sunk.

But don't worry about the bad prediction. At the beginning of the season
I predicted Carl would run away with the championship and win at least 7
races. Oops.


  32.   Talon64 posted:
  09.28.2009 - 7:35 pm
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I still think Denny will finish top five in the standings and win a race
in the Chase. After tanking 12th in 2007 and 8th last year that would be
a great result for him. Unless I'm jinxing him with my predictions. lol

Speaking of Carl, what's happened to Roush? The only Roush guy to show
anything during the race was Kenseth and he's outside the Chase. Carl's
finished outside the top ten the last 5 races and Greg was only 13th.
McMurray was running in the top 10 but I forget what happened to put him
6 laps down, and Ragan was as out to lunch as he's been all year. At
this rate Carl will have his 2nd winless year in 5 full seasons in Cup
and Greg will have his first winless year in all 7 seasons he's competed
full time.

Ryan Newman hasn't had a top five since June but he's on a 5 race top 10
streak and looks to be hitting a peak at the right time.

Mark Martin is on a 5 race top five streak, the longest streak he's had
since 7 straight top fives in 1998 that included a win and 5 second
place finishes.


  33.   calegale posted:
  09.28.2009 - 9:10 pm
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Marcos Ambrose got his first top 15 since the third place at Bristol. I
know McMurray lost two laps when he tried to short pit under green and
then a caution came out right after he pitted. I'm not sure how he still
lost four more laps, it looked like he had a top 15 car before losing
the first two laps. Richard Petty Motorsports has two cars finish in the
top 10 for the first time since Sonoma. Brian Vickers was virtually
invisible most of the race, he might be a sleeper pick to win at Kansas.


  34.   Kit posted:
  09.29.2009 - 1:35 am
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"Speaking of Carl, what's happened to Roush?"

Micromanagement.


  35.   Kit posted:
  09.29.2009 - 1:43 am
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redbyron,

In Isaac's defense, he did die of a heart attack four years later. He
might have interpreted heart fluctuations as voices in his head.

"a few weeks ago, someone posted that junior hasn't been the same since
the fire in that sportscar race"

You know, he may have a point. I've never thought about that. He didn't
have good seasons afterwards but that was masked by the poor performance
of DEI in general. But I mean, DEI in '05 was probably on the same level
as RPM today, and look at what Kahne as done.

It is a good possibility that the fire really screwed him up. I think it
was a bigger deal than what he and other downplayed it to.

At this point, I'm not quite sure Jr. is ever going to be the same
driver he was in '04. His problems are with him, not the team.


  36.   Bronco posted:
  09.29.2009 - 9:04 am
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"a few weeks ago, someone posted that junior hasn't been the same since
the fire in that sportscar race...we all criticize his effort and
dedication, but maybe there is something to that deal with the
fire.....he wouldn't be the first guy to look at things differently
after something like that....."

I disagree completely. In the year his father died, he won 3 races and
finished in the top 10 in points. And just a month or two after the
Sonoma fire, Dale Jr won in dominating fashion at Bristol and backed it
up later with wins at Talladega and Phoenix, and he made a pretty strong
run at the championship. So he's a lot tougher mentally than some people
give him credit for.

I personally believe that Dale Jr's struggles this season are due to bad
luck, and his equipment, or a lack thereof. He isn't a perennial top
five driver like his teammates, but he sure as hell isn't a 20th place
driver either. It's the same deal with other struggling drivers like
Harvick, Ragan and Labonte, they're capable of doing much better but
their teams are struggling big time.

Drivers don't just forget to how to drive over the offseason.


  37.   Anonymous posted:
  09.29.2009 - 1:55 pm
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Dale Jr.'s driving style changed in cup around 2005 or 2006. He became
even more of rim rider than he was before the crash. I saw Dale Jr. race
at the Milwaukee Mile back in 1998 and 1999. I recalled Dale Jr. being
more of a bottom feeder when first raced in Nascar than he is now as a
result

Dale Jr. in the past said that he races up there because when he hit the
wall, the hit would be as bad.

I remembered Dale Jr. got hurt in 1999 at Milwaukee Mile with a hipped
shoulder blade.

Dale Jr. before that fire suffered a concussion at California Motor
speedway back in 2002 from Kevin Harvick's wreck.

The fire might have broke the camel's back mentally for Dale Jr when he
had time to think about it during the off season besides getting a new
crew chief. The fire that Dale suffered burns from was 3rd different
type of injury since 1999.

Dale didn't have the time to think about the burns and past injuries
during cup season in 2004.

Dale won 3 races since 2004 and finished in the top 10 3 times in
points. The catch is Dale still could shows signs of being affected
mentally or physically despite those stats by doing stuff like changing
his driving style.

That is something possible because Dale though he saw his dad pull him
out of a burning race car despite the fact his dad died.

I remember back in 2005 or 2006 Kenny Wallace saying Dale Jr. has
changed his driving style. The panel on speed avoided continuing on what
Kenny said.


  38.   Anonymous posted:
  09.29.2009 - 1:57 pm
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Take a look at Ernie Irvan. He finished in the top 10 in points in 1996
and 1997 and had 3 wins after his near death experience at Michigan in
1994. The catch is Ernie wasn't the same driver before the crash.

What happened to Ernie proved that a driver can finish top 10 in points
and win races, but is still possible not being the same driver.

That means Dale Jr. was capable of doing well, but it doesn't tell the
whole story.


  39.   Anonymous posted:
  09.29.2009 - 1:58 pm
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I might before by typing" I remembered Dale Jr. got hurt in 1999 at
Milwaukee Mile with a hipped shoulder blade" was I remembered Dale Jr.
got hurt in 1999 at Milwaukee Mile with a chipped shoulder blade.


  40.   Kit posted:
  09.29.2009 - 2:42 pm
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"I personally believe that Dale Jr's struggles this season are due to
bad luck, and his equipment, or a lack thereof."

Then you have no idea what you are talking about, which is typical for
you. Let's take a look at Dale Jr.'s teammates:

Mark Martin: 1st in the Chase
Jimmie Johnson: 2nd in the Chase
Tony Stewart (satellite team): 5th in the Chase
Ryan Newman (satellite team): 7th in the Chase
Jeff Gordon: 8th in the Chase

Let's now look at teams who should have worse equipment than Dale Jr.:
Juan Pablo Montoya: 3rd in the Chase
Kurt Busch: 4th in the Chase
Brian Vickers: 10th in the Chase
Kasey Kahne: 12th in the Chase
David Reutimann: 16th
Clint Bowyer: 15th
Jeff Burton: 18th
Casey Mears: 19th

Oh, then we have Moldy Bread at 20th, ahead of Junior.

Bad luck doesn't put give you consistent 20-30th place finishes week-in
and week-out in a Hendrick car. During races where he was not involved
in any wrecks, his finishes were still poor compared to his teammates.

"So he's a lot tougher mentally than some people give him credit for."

Yeah, that's why he hasn't done jack shit since 2004.

"It's the same deal with other struggling drivers like Harvick, Ragan
and Labonte, they're capable of doing much better but their teams are
struggling big time."

You have to be a complete fool to compare Dale Jr.'s struggles with
Labonte's. LABONTE ISN'T IN A HENDRICK CAR! How in the hell can you
compare a driver with the best team in the sport to a driver who is
driving in a car one step above a start & park?

Harvick is an underachiever and only so much can be blamed on RCR.


  41.   Smokefan05 posted:
  09.29.2009 - 5:06 pm
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Post #38 i agree. I have noticed Jrs. change in driving style. He has
gone from a agressive style too a conservative style. He rim rides 95%
of time. At most tracks that is not the fastest way around. Michigan,
Atlanta are a few places where it CAN be the fastest way around. Mark is
a "old school" guy and he can get the COT to work for him. Jr. can't for
some reason. Jr. should start trying the "new school style" again. It
got him far in the past.


  42.   redbyron posted:
  09.29.2009 - 6:58 pm
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bronco
i wasn't saying that jr isn't mentally tough.....he did run well after
sr. died, but when you yourself have a near death experience {his
words}, maybe it changes the way you look at things, thats all. i
watched the tape from from his first win, at texas, and he didn't run
anything but that bottom groove. granted, the cars are different, but 2
laps into a race, and he's up at the top. his driving style has changed,
only he knows why....i was just pointing out that his career has not
been the same since that fire.....ernie irvan, neil bonnett, steve park,
jerry nadeu, bobby allison, ricky craven, all had injuries and were
never the same, but i think head injuries are different......


  43.   Anonymous posted:
  09.29.2009 - 7:20 pm
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My point on mentioning Ernie Irvan was the fact a driver can get a top
10 in points and win races despite not being the same driver. I am sure
it the same way with a driver from a mental standpoint.


  44.   DaleSrFanForever posted:
  09.29.2009 - 9:12 pm
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"Dale Jr won in dominating fashion at Bristol and backed it up later
with wins at Talladega and Phoenix, and he made a pretty strong run at
the championship. So he's a lot tougher mentally than some people give
him credit for."

That's the thing about mental issues, they don't usually crop up
immediately. Initially you are just in shock, and it isn't until the
reality sets in that you become affected. Myself, for example, when I
was 18 my best friend died in an ATV crash. Initially, despite being
very sad, it didn't really affect the way I went about my life. But a
few years later I noticed I would get very anxious while driving even in
a normal street car. It just snowballed and snowballed into full blown
panic disorder. My aunt went through a similar situation when one of her
friends at her church died in a car wreck. Obviously it is a mental
predisposition, but something triggers it. The fire may have triggered
it and it showed up later. Whatever the deal is, it is like Kit and Red
Byron have been saying. It can't be the equipment when everything else
with a Hendrick anything in it (including Brad Keselowski at Talladega
in a start and park car with a HMS engine and chassis) is kicking ass.
He really needs to be evaluated.

"The catch is Ernie wasn't the same driver before the crash."

I don't think Ernie was scared after he came back, it is just he had
such a bad physical injury to the brain it really affected him. He tried
to run on the edge after his comeback, but he just didn't have the same
response time because his brain was damaged. It was a physical issue,
not a psychological issue. Besides, if you remember, before the crash
Ernie wasn't exactly Mr. Consistency (although he improved greatly once
he hooked up with RYR).


  45.   18fan posted:
  09.30.2009 - 12:40 am
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Ernie could have been more competitive in his last year and a half if
RYR hadn't dumped him.


  46.   Kit posted:
  09.30.2009 - 2:23 am
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Ernie Irvan is so much of an extremity that I don't use him as a case
example for other drivers. The guy won a race when he was supposed to be
dead.


  47.   John Royal posted:
  09.30.2009 - 2:57 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

I never knew Jr said something like that of his father after that fire
at Sonoma. Anyway, I personally believe that when drivers are starting
to hear voices or feeling/seeing dead people, their career behind the
wheel is over. Such things are indication that drivers takes racing
stress very emotionally and that fear has hold of them.

Dale Jr should get out of the car, I don't think he is mentally strong
to take any hits anymore. Let Keselowski in!


  48.   Neal posted:
  09.30.2009 - 9:48 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Here's my take on Dale, Jr. I think he has the talent to win races and
maybe even win a championship or two, but with talent you also need
drive, and Jr, to me, has just gotten lazy. Why bust your ass when you
already have more money than you'll ever need?

Junior could walk away from racing right now and if he's invested right
never have to work a day in his life again.


  49.   DaleSrFanForever posted:
  09.30.2009 - 12:26 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

"but with talent you also need drive, and Jr, to me, has just gotten lazy. "

I think that's part of it too. He has never had the drive that the
greats all had. I remember when Bobby Labonte beat him at Pocono one
year Jr said "I guess Bobby just wanted it more". What the hell? Nobody
should ever want it any more than you.

"Ernie Irvan is so much of an extremity that I don't use him as a case
example for other drivers. The guy won a race when he was supposed to be
dead."

Yeah, I remember after his accident, I really didn't think he was gonna
make it. For him to win 3 times after such a serious injury shows just
how good he really was. At about 60% of his original capacity he could
still win on the top level occasionally.


  50.   Dodge posted:
  09.30.2009 - 2:23 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

When Ernie got his first win since his comeback at New Hampshire, I was
there and the whole place went crazy when he climbed out. We had already
left our seats for the exits but you could tell what was going on by the
fans and the PA system.


  51.   Bronco posted:
  09.30.2009 - 2:47 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

"I think that's part of it too. He has never had the drive that the
greats all had. I remember when Bobby Labonte beat him at Pocono one
year Jr said "I guess Bobby just wanted it more". What the hell? Nobody
should ever want it any more than you."

Wrong. I know the race that you're talking about, it was the 2001
Pennsylvania 500 when Bobby passed Dale Jr with 3 or 4 laps remaining. I
actually posted that race on YouTube some time ago, so watch the post
race interviews and tell me when Dale Jr said "Bobby wanted it more". He
said he "He had a better car and deserved to win", but that's about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAoxeShimN0


  52.   18fan posted:
  09.30.2009 - 5:26 pm
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Bronco,
Is your youtube name m140m?


  53.   Bronco posted:
  09.30.2009 - 6:30 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Yes it is 18fan. Subscribe if you like.


  54.   18fan posted:
  09.30.2009 - 8:12 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

I already have.


  55.   Talon64 posted:
  10.01.2009 - 8:27 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

So how long do you think Kurt Busch can keep up the good runs until
Tryson's Sunday CC status starts to hurt them? Or will Tryson even
survive the rest of the season? I'd think once the performance dips they
need to get him off the pit box and try out someone else as a possible
candidate for the 2010 CC position.


  56.   18fan posted:
  10.01.2009 - 11:15 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

48 and 5 cars were too close on tolerances. This proves whoever says
Hendrick Motorsports has become the best team through hard work is
right. Hard work to make illegal cars, that is. Most of the recent rule
changes in NASCAR are because of Rick Hendrick cars. Not to mention
having NASCAR in his back pocket and that he's a tax fraud.


  57.   RCRandPenskeGuy posted:
  10.02.2009 - 12:12 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

"So how long do you think Kurt Busch can keep up the good runs until
Tryson's Sunday CC status starts to hurt them? Or will Tryson even
survive the rest of the season? I'd think once the performance dips they
need to get him off the pit box and try out someone else as a possible
candidate for the 2010 CC position."

I can't help but think Kurt got himself in this position. I can't
imagine Pat loving Kurt griping over the radio almost all the time.


  58.   Bronco posted:
  10.02.2009 - 1:11 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Thanks for subscribing 18fan. What is your user name on YouTube?


  59.   Anonymous posted:
  10.02.2009 - 9:29 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Nascar found issues with the 5 and the 48 team concerning the tail. The
5 car barely made tolerance concerning the tail.

The 48 car didn't make tolerance concerning the tail. NASCAR claims it
was .006 over the tolerance for the tail.

The source is
http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/10154946/Hendrick-avoids-penalty-despite-inspection-issue .

The two cars wouldn't be back in the track. I wonder the 5 and the 48
teams had plans of using the cars at Phoenix or any other track in the
chase before Nascar said not to bring them back to the track.


  60.   Anonymous posted:
  10.02.2009 - 9:37 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

The 48 not passing tolerance proves that Nascar made a mistake of giving
Hendrick a project for fuel injection a few months ago.


  61.   18fan posted:
  10.02.2009 - 10:30 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Kyle1851. This is further proof that Hendrick has NASCAR in his back
pocket because of the tolerance issues and also that his cars always get
to do tire tests when they don't need them.


  62.   Kit posted:
  10.02.2009 - 7:34 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

"The 48 not passing tolerance proves that Nascar made a mistake of
giving Hendrick a project for fuel injection a few months ago."

If that doesn't show favoritism, I don't know what does. Giving the best
team in the sport the jump on the fuel injection system is a clear
indication that NASCAR no longer cares about fair competition. Gone are
the days where the best drivers on the track had a shot at winning.
Nowadays, the best drivers on the track only have a good shot at winning
races and titles if they drive for Hendrick.


  63.   Bronco posted:
  10.02.2009 - 8:41 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

"The 48 not passing tolerance proves that Nascar made a mistake of
giving Hendrick a project for fuel injection a few months ago."

Um, who said anything about the 48 and 5 not passing tolerance? NASCAR
told them that they were very close to failing the inspection, but the
bottom line is the cars were legal. I read somewhere the tolerance
difference was essentially about two sheets of paper. A crew chief's job
is to work with the given rules to build the best possible car for each
race so I see this being a cheating issues. Crew chiefs have been
pushing the envelope for years, that's been a backbone of NASCAR for a
long time.

Now I disagree with NASCAR giving one team a headstart on a new
technology for sure. Just another way NASCAR is ruining the competition.


  64.   Smokefan05 posted:
  10.02.2009 - 9:50 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

NASCAR HAD to spell it out for people how close they were too failing
inspection. Now they opened a can of worms.

And doesn't anybody remember the T-rex car the Jeffy and Ray had? NASCAR
told them not to bring that monster back to the racetrack. So this isn't
the first time NASCAR has told a team/s not to bring a car/s back to the
track.


  65.   DaleSrFanForever posted:
  10.03.2009 - 4:09 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

"This is further proof that Hendrick has NASCAR in his back pocket"

Exactly. The same thing happened at the same track at the same event in
2005 with the same two cars (#5 and #48). NASCAR let that one slide too.
Yet they fine independent Carl Long TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!!!!
Brian France, Mike Helton, Jim Hunter, John Darby, Brett Bodine, and
that guy who does the drivers' meetings whose name I can't remember:
Kiss My Ass!!!


  66.   Cam posted:
  10.03.2009 - 4:38 pm
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So many drivers get crap treatment at their team so their teamates win
Example

Roush = Mcmurray
Stewart Haas = Newman (No surpises there)
Childress = Mears
Red Bull = Speed
Gibbs = Logano
Petty = Sadler & Allendinger

Only Hendrick give no prefences, yet Dale Jr still sucks


  67.   Bronco posted:
  10.03.2009 - 6:35 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

"Brian France, Mike Helton, Jim Hunter, John Darby, Brett Bodine, and
that guy who does the drivers' meetings whose name I can't remember:
Kiss My Ass!!!"

I think his name is David Hoots, and he's another dumbshit turd as far
as I'm concerned.

Actually with Carl Long, his engine was slightly oversized, but he
changed it prior to running the Showdown, which itself is a non-points
event so why the dumb penalty???


  68.   rw posted:
  10.03.2009 - 6:41 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

I think Martin would really like a Pocono win along with the 500 win and
championship rw..more secondary though


  69.   DaleSrFanForever posted:
  10.03.2009 - 9:14 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

"I think his name is David Hoots, and he's another dumbshit turd as far
as I'm concerned."

Yeah, that's the guy. So David Hoots: Kiss My Ass.

"Actually with Carl Long, his engine was slightly oversized, but he
changed it prior to running the Showdown, which itself is a non-points
event so why the dumb penalty???"

Because the NASCAR suits are insecure people who have to pick on the
little guys to feel better about themselves.


  70.   Anonymous posted:
  10.05.2009 - 9:08 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Come on Cam. "Hendrick is the only team that gives no prefences." Did
you see the 25 all those years?


  71.   Cam posted:
  10.10.2009 - 3:52 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

True, but look at 2004. Vickers is a good driver, but not as good and
Gordon, Johnson or Labonte. If they had someone from Roush like Kenseth,
Edwards or Busch they would have had the dream team.


  72.   CBASS posted:
  02.04.2013 - 7:14 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

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  73.   LASTCAR posted:
  04.24.2013 - 12:56 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

Tony Raines picked up the 7th last-place finish of his career in
Sunday's AAA 400 at the Dover International Speedway when his #37 Long
John Silver's Dodge fell out with overheating problems after completing
13 of the race's 400 laps.

On Friday, Raines qualified 42nd at a speed of 151.547 mph, but was
again forced to change engines and start 43rd as a result. During the
opening green-flag laps, Raines pulled behind the wall on lap 13, 12
laps before NASCAR threw a competition caution on lap 25. Joey Logano,
the Daytona 500 last-place finisher, was then involved in a vicious
wreck on the lap 31 restart and finished 42nd. Last-place leader Dave
Blaney failed to crack the bottom five; his transmission problem did not
take him out of the race until he completed 74 laps, and he finished 37th.

The race marked the first time Tony Raines has ever finished last in
consecutive races. It is also the first time a car #37 has ever finished
last in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover. With eight races
remaining, Raines still needs to finish last in at least five of them to
score the most in 2009.

2009 RANKINGS
1st) Dave Blaney (8)
2nd) Tony Raines (4)
3rd) Mike Bliss, Patrick Carpentier, David Gilliland, Joe Nemechek (2)
4th) Tony Ave, Todd Bodine, P.J. Jones, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte,
Joey Logano, Mark Martin, Mike Wallace (1)

Visit http://brockbeard.blogspot.com/ for more.


  74.   Big Mac Fan posted:
  11.13.2015 - 4:23 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

"Harvick is an underachiever and only so much can be blamed on RCR."

Isn't it always great reading older comments and looking at how wrong
they ended up being?


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