Category Archives: Racing

Jimmie Johnson Wins The 2013 Daytona 500

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Jimmie Johnson Wins Daytona 500Don’t get me wrong; I like Jimmie Johnson, but Dale Earnhardt, Jr just missed out on the win, and Jeff Gordon finished 20th.

This was Johnson’s second Daytona 500 win.

Last year, the five-time champ wrecked on Lap 2 of the Daytona 500. This year, making his 400th career start, Johnson outpaced the entire field and won convincingly, holding off challenges from Brad Keselowski and Greg Biffle. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second. Mark Martin came home third.

The 55th Daytona 500 made history days before the green flag flew. Danica Patrick delivered on a measure of the hype surrounding her by becoming the first woman to ever qualify for the pole in a Sprint Cup race. While she couldn’t initially capitalize on her leading position — Jeff Gordon passed her almost immediately — Patrick remained close to the front for most of the day. When she took the lead on Lap 90, she became the first woman ever to lead a lap under green at the Daytona 500. She entered the final lap in third place, and would go on to finish eighth.

An eighth place finish for Danica is nothing to sneeze at. That said, let’s see what she can do on the mile and a half tri-ovals. If she can succeed there, I’ll be more impressed.

This week’s Fantasy Stats are below the fold.

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Danica Patrick Takes The Pole

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Danica Patrick Takes Pole Position For Daytona 500And she loves it. She really loves the pole . . . position.

Okay, snark aside, this is a pretty big deal. Not simply because she’s the first woman in Sprint Cup history to do so, but because she was faster and better than a slew of other drivers.

Nascar racing driver Danica Patrick has become the first woman to take pole position at the Daytona 500 race in Florida. Patrick, 30, also became the first woman to become the pole-sitter in any Nascar top division event – the latest in a long line of achievements for one of the most prominent women in motorsports.

Patrick posted a qualifying lap of 196.4mph in her number 10 Chevrolet, completing the 2.5mile-long route at the Florida superspeedway in 45.817 seconds yesterday.

She will line up alongside four-time Nascar champion Jeff Gordon on the front row of the grid this Sunday, for the first race in the 2013 Sprint Cup Series.

Look, as a NASCAR fan, I know she probably has no chance of winning – hopefully Gordon will do that – but like her or hate her, Patrick’s feat is good for the sport.

Drivers, Start Your Engines

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Daytona 500

Since it’s Super Bowl Sunday, traffic here will be light all day. So, I figured it was time to post this year’s Fantasy NASCAR League info for those interested.

You can find the link by clicking here. When you sign up – it’s free – you’ll look for Join A Custom League. You’ll need a Group ID# and a Password.

For us, the info is as follows:

Group ID# – 8419

Password – gordon

If you’re interested, you need to join by February 24th. If not . . . not.

Danica Patrick’s Tri-Oval Is Now Open

Danica Patrick dropped her spoiler and announced she has filed for divorce.

I suspect the decision had to do with one of the following. Either hubby found some spring rubber in Danica’s trailer, or she got sick of her husband’s camshaft. Bottom line: she is now free to be bump-drafted.

Danica Patrick and her husband are divorcing after seven years of marriage. Patrick announced the split with Paul Hospenthal on her Facebook page Tuesday.

“I am sad to inform my fans that after seven years, Paul and I have decided amicably end our marriage,” she said. “This isn’t easy for either of us, but mutually it has come to this. He has been an important person and friend in my life and that’s how we will remain moving forward.”

Dollars to donuts says she’s banging a fellow NASCAR driver. You heard it here first.

Dover And Dover Again

Yesterday, me, my friend Bill, and My two oldest sons took our annual trip to Dover International Speedway. We were there to see the NASCAR Nationwide Series battle it out on the one-mile oval. It’s a trip we’ve been taking for a few years now, and one that the kids absolutely love. Here were some of the highlights.

While walking to the track, a golf cart driven by hot babes pulled up to me. She asked me, “Hey, do you feel lucky today?” I said, “I always feel lucky,” but I was expecting her to reply with, “But you’re a loser,” and drive away. Instead, she responded, “You and your son are Denny Hamlin fans. right?” (Hamlin is Erik’s favorite driver, and we were both wearing a hat/shirt with Denny’s number on it.) I said we were and she handed me this; a 1:24 scale die-cast car.

She then loaded Erik and I up with a drawstring backpack, stickers, a photo of Denny and his car, and a few other goodies. When we got over the shock – Erik was just standing there with a huge smile on his face – I said thank you about a thousand times before the girls drove away.

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Rubbin’s Birthin’

A New Hampshire woman pulled a Ricky Bobby last weekend when she delivered a healthy baby girl . . . in the New Hampshire Motor Speedway parking lot.

Rumor has it the baby was christened with a 21-beer salute. Pabst Blue Ribbon, of course.

A woman and her baby are doing fine after the woman gave birth in the New Hampshire Motor Speedway parking lot.

Shawna Arnold began going into labor Friday and she and her boyfriend began driving to a hospital. But when she realized she was about to give birth on the way, they made a pit stop at the racetrack parking lot in Loudon. Arnold [says] she and her boyfriend delivered the baby, named Katie, in their car. An EMT at the track then came to help, and the couple and the baby were taken to a hospital.

Speedway General Manager Jerry Gappens has awarded the baby two tickets to NASCAR races for the rest of her life.

In 20 years, Baby Katie will most likely conceive her child in the same parking lot.

86 The Rumors Of His Demise

Jeff Gordon is back in the title chase! The race was rain-shortened, as is usually the case in Pocono. It’s why we go to Dover every year now instead of the mountains. Now look what I missed.

Even for a sport built on conspiracy and back-room dealing, Sunday’s Pocono race was an all-timer. I mean, look: you had Jimmie Johnson, fastest car in the field, “mysteriously” losing grip and taking out not just himself but Roush Fenway drivers Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle, as well as Pocono master Denny Hamlin. End result? Dale Earnhardt Jr. holds onto the points lead. Then you had rain coming at exactly the moment Jeff Gordon took the lead…yeah, that’s just too much of a coincidence.

Or, you know, maybe things just broke that way, and Jeff Gordon was the lucky guy in the right place at the right time. You believe what you want to believe.

I believe that he’s the best driver of all-time, but I’m biased.

Stat-A-Tat-Tat

It’s been a while since I posted our fantasy NASCAR stats, and since a few managers have already given up, I figured I’d remind them the league is still active. (Or embarrass them with their league standings.)

A few thoughts:

1. 78-MAT has led from day one. We hate you, MAT. We really do.
2. My friend Bob and his son Jeff are starting to really gain in the standings. Again, hate them.
3. Enjineer and Jim are in a nice battle for third place. Good and tight, like my pants.
4. Kyle (Rainbow Monkeys) is in 8th… beating me.
5. I’m in 10th, sucking as always.
6. Jack and Roger are in 11th and 12th. Nice to have guys suck worse than me.

If you’ve slacked with your team, no worries: the season ends in November.

Dario Franchitti Wins The 2012 Indy 500

Awesome. It’s his third win at Indianapolis.

Dario Franchitti won his third Indianapolis 500 under caution on Sunday. The 2012 Indy 500 finish provided wild video with Takuma Sato — running right with Franchitti — wrecking at the end in an attempt to pass for the lead. It was a terrific end to a wild day of racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

How crazy was this race? With 20 laps left, the field had already broken the record for most lead changes in 96 years of Indianapolis 500 history.

There was the last of seven cautions late caution after Marco Andretti crashed on Turn 1. But it went green back to green flag racing with six laps left just in time for a sprint to the finish.

While his wife, Ashley Judd, is a libtard dolt, Dario appears to be a decent guy and a damned fine race car driver. It was good to see him win again.

NASCAR Bows To The Hippie Contingent

In a move that will probably annoy its base, NASCAR is going “green,” by using a methanol fuel mix in 2013.

Of course, the racing series will beat its fans over the head with the green message, while conveniently ignoring the fact that their stock cars get about two miles per gallon.

NASCAR announced Saturday it will race with E15 fuel in its three national touring series in 2011. Sunoco Green E15 is a 15-percent ethanol blend using American-made ethanol from corn grown by American farmers.

Awesome! Let’s take corn that could feed the hungry and use it to make fuel.

“NASCAR is committed to being an environmental leader, and the sport has taken steps over the years toward conservation by introducing measurable, best-in-class initiatives in recycling, alternative energy, and carbon mitigation,” said Brian France, chairman and CEO of NASCAR.

“The transition to Sunoco Green E15 takes our long-term sustainability strategy to the next level. E15 is good for racing, good for the environment and good for America. While fueling the same racing that thrills our fans, American ethanol creates jobs in the United States, helps foster energy independence, and continues the greening of our sport.”

NASCAR will be an environmental leader when they start racing solar cars. Until then, Brian France needs to STFU. His grandfather must be rolling over in his grave.