Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Hmmm... wondering how many NASCAR fans are here, besides Malcolm.  Everyone likes F1 here.  1 month left!  By the way, Earnhardt Jr wins the 500, makes the Chase, and wins it.  I predict Roush won't have such a good year.  Edwards will have his sophomore jinx, Martin has run out of gas, McMurray....ehhh,what about him.  Biffle will cool down, Kenseth lost some key team members.  Hendrick will be this years Roush, unless Busch has his jinx.  Oh yeah, going to Fontana, good times will ensue : ok:

Hello Garry! I enjoy watching NASCAR. I love restricer plate racing the most. I always watch the Talladega and Daytona races. I'm a Dale Jr. fan aswell. So cheers to him having a great year! :beer:

A bit of off track news for Dale Jr.:

Earnhardt Jr. ready for radio

By Associated Press
January 19, 2006

CHARLOTTE ? NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be branching out this year, adding a weekly show on XM Satellite Radio to his already busy racing and personal appearance schedule.

"I love racing and I love XM, so I definitely couldn't pass up on an opportunity to combine the two," Earnhardt said Thursday. "It's a perfect fit."

The show on XM's NASCAR Radio, channel 144, will debut next month. The third-generation stock car driver will discuss the latest events on the NASCAR circuit, as well as music, video games and other personal interests.

"Listeners to my new show on XM will get a real sense of who I am both on and off the track," Earnhardt said. "Thanks to XM, I'll have a national weekly radio show that allows me to speak my mind, play my music and, most important, keep in touch with NASCAR fans."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;_ylt=AmgDUWwlfbZVjaD8Y21Y8ijov7YF?slug=ap-juniorxm011906&prov=ap&type=lgns
*****************************************

I just need to get XM Rdio now.  :hihi:

plate races are the best in my opinion too.  its such good racing, passing for the lead every lap, and THE BIG ONE can take out 30 cars.  Lookin forward to hear jr on the radio.  haha, good luck with getting xm.

Earnhardt Jr all the way

Damn, Toyota is coming in next year!  they're gonna use the camry.  DAMN!

And Honda in 2008.

Nascar, the "sport" of sitting down in a car for three hours, moving only your feet and hands. Nascar, the "sport" where the goal is to waste an extremely important natural resource while going in a circle. Nascar, the "sport" where racists with an elementary school education can get sloshed and teach their kids about why their skin color makes them better than other people. Nascar, the "sport" where the ultimate ideal is Jesus driving fast, holding a beer and a shotgun. Nascar, the "sport" where kids are taught that shooting living creatures is just plain fun.

Come on, I'm waiting! Call me a hypocrit! Tell me I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about! Tell me I'm an asshole! Tell me you are not a beer-drinking hunting racist! I know you can because it's true, you're not racist, but most Na

Here's the new Toyota Camry NASCAR addition.

(http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2007toyota/2007camry-front.jpg)
(http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2007toyota/2007camry-rear.jpg)

(http://i.a.cnn.net/nascar/2006/news/opinion/01/26/dearnhardtjr_three/junior_xl.jpg)

Jr.: I expect to drive the 3

By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
January 27, 2006
11:02 AM EST (16:02 GMT)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants to drive the No. 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress. Expects to, even.

It has been discussed.

"I really think that'll happen," Earnhardt said, leaned back easily in a folding chair on the JR Motorsports shop floor. "I've informally talked to Richard, just so he knew I wanted to do that."

Easy, Junior Nation, easy... Before you run off and make the 6.7 commercial reality -- "HE CHANGED HIS NUMBERRRR!!" -- relax. Take a deep breath. It'll be a while.

"I'll drive the No. 3 car toward the end of my career if I've done what I wanted to do at DEI, and that's win championships and win races," Earnhardt said. "And I'll stick around as long as it takes to do it."

Earnhardt's devotion to Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has never been stronger. The want to see his father's vision through to fruition has fostered a new, sharper focus.

That wasn't the case six months ago.

A tumultuous 2005 season ignited a firestorm of speculation about Earnhardt's commitment to DEI. Word was he wanted out, was seeking the quickest avenue to a new racing home.

But a reunion with Tony Eury Jr., and the renewed mutual respect a year apart forged, along with Martin Truex Jr.'s elevation to the Nextel Cup Series, has reinvigorated the entire company - and Earnhardt's belief therein.

"There's been a lot of gray areas at DEI for four or five years. We've made some mistakes, so there's a lot of questions on a lot of people's minds about the future," he said. "But some things, fortunately, have happened in the last year that are putting us in position to make it right.

"What if Tony Jr. didn't want me back? What if Martin was still a year away? It'd be another awful year. But it's clicking. It feels like the gears are all meshing again.

"We have the opportunity to have harmony throughout the entire business side, and as a company become the icon we once were."

If and when that happens, if and when DEI becomes self-sufficient and no longer requires Junior's presence for perceived legitimacy, if and when Junior hoists the Nextel Cup under the DEI banner, he'll park the 8 and head to RCR to write the final chapter of his father's legacy.

For many that is necessary. For some members of the Earnhardt family, and for many of Dale Earnhardt's lifelong friends inside racing and out, closure won't come until the 3 screams down the superstretch at Daytona.

With Junior at the wheel.

But this isn't about Junior. It's not about the fans. It's not about NASCAR marketing hoopla.

It's about the passion with which Dale Earnhardt and his boys competed. It's about racing - hell-bent, pedal to the mat racing.

"It'd be good for guys like Will Lynn, guys that spent a lot of time with my Dad in his racing career," Junior said. "If I ever drove the 3, it'd have nothing to do with my personal feelings. It'd be all racing.

"It'd be all about going out on the track with the 3, with an Earnhardt behind the wheel, putting a smile on Chocolate (Myers') face and Richard's face and those guys he spent so much time with for so many years.

"It's not necessarily for anyone. If the fans like it, they like it. If they don't agree with it, they don't agree with it. That's fine. It's between me and Richard."

He'd gladly leave the particulars to Childress.

"They could do it however they saw best," Junior said. "If they want to paint it black, they can paint it black. If they don't, I don't care. I don't feel it's my decision. It'd just like to do it because I'd like to drive for Richard. He's been so good to me.

"People tend to twist that around and think I want to (leave DEI) tomorrow. I have a commitment -- not legally as much as mentally -- to do what I can to make DEI as good as it can possibly be.

"But Richard knows I'd like to do it, and he seems pretty open to it. We'd like to do it together."

http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/opinion/01/26/dearnhardtjr_three/index.html

Thats cool..I think he does need to win a championship before that though

The front grille is totally ripped off from the monte carlo, and the back and the windows are totally charger.  Geez, be original at least.

We've got the Bud Shootout and Qualifying this weekend, who do you guys like? 

Excellent Bud Shootout race on Sunday.  If there was only one lap left, Jr. would have taken it.  We've got the Gatorade Duels tomorrow, might skip school to watch them.

Im taking Jr for the win today

Awwww, one of my most despised drivers, Jimmie Johnson won.  Malcolm, did you notice how NO ONE worked with Junior?  If he had a few guys helping, that would have been HIM in Gatorade Victory Lane.

Why didn't anyone work with Jr??? I don't understand! ???  

I would think because they know hes one of the best and If i remember hearing correctly he was one of the only ones without a teammate out there

Truex just could never get up there to help, and both of their set-ups were made for hot, slick conditions.  Wasn't that mist the cat's pajamas?  At one point, I couldn't even see the cars.

Yeah the low clouds and mist kinda ruined the viewing. Did you hear that this years race was the highest rated NASCAR race ever? More viewers tuned in to this race than any other race ever.

Yeah, isn't that something?!  I can't wait until Sunday, I'm going to California Speedway!

Have a great time, Garry. :yes: : ok:

Thanks Drew!  It's going to be a crucial race for the Bud team.   If they do bad, it's going to be a loooong season aint it?

Yeah, it'll be a long season if Dale Jr. doesn't stay hot right here off the bat. Plus, he's never really been that good at Fontana, so we'll see. :-\

But keeping my fingers crossed he'll have a good race and good finish this weekend.

I wonder how the new Monte Carlo will hold up against the Fusion.  Nevermind Dodge, the Charger is a joke.  Did u hear about them using Intrepids at downforce tracks?

I'm really not sure. It's still very early and the Monte Carlo usually does well at restricter plate tracks. So we'll have to wait and see after a few races. And no, I didn't hear about the Intrepid story, but I'm not worried really about any Dodge dominance this year. :hihi:

Hendrick, Roush and Gibbs scare me. 

It seems like it's either a Roush or Hendrick car that always in victory lane these days. :rant:

I hope Junior is right when he says that he's going to win at least 6 races.

Glad to hear you had a great time at the race Garry. It was a little boring on television to me, but tracks like this one, Kansas City, Chicago, etc., etc. just aren't exciting to me. But still glad you had a great time. It would be alot more fun at the track I'm sure.  :)

The Mexico race last year wasn't to exciting either. I like the idea of a road course, just not in Mexico. And it just bugs me that NASCAR Cup has to take a week off two races into the season. Just very odd to do this to me. :-\

They should just use that week for the week after Richmond before NH to build up the Chase, don't you think that would be better?

That would be a better idea for a weekend off. :yes:

Maybe the Car Of Tomorrow will help with those tracks.  There are SO many 1.5 milers.  I don't like those tracks either.  California should add banking, like Vegas is going to after the race next week.

Yeah, something needs to be done to make these races more enjoyable. Especially now since California and Las Vegas have two races a year.

Nah, I doubt it. I think there was one Mexican driver last year for the home crowd to root for. Didn't Truex Jr. win last years race?

Yeah Truex won.  Adrian Fernandez, he used to be in CART, is going to drive the 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports.  Road courses are rather boring, I'd rather watch cars 'go in circles" :yes:

WOW! Did you guys see that Las Vegas race?  Johnson used that high line to slingshot by Kenseth on the FRONTSTRETCH!  It was a fantastic race all around.  That dummy Jr, why did he have to speed down pit road?  He threw away a sure top-15 finish and fell out of the top 10 in the standings

Yeah, I saw where Dale Jr. fell to 11th position in points. I was like what??!! :o :-\

But that was quite a race.  We can only expect it to get better in Atlanta.  Do you prefer FOX or NBC?

Honestly?....neither. :no: I always liked ESPN's coverage the best.

You know their tearing up the Las vegas track and re-doing it? Kinda like another Lowe's. :-\

Yeah, 20 degrees of banking, that track is gonna be blistering fast.  Well, ESPN is getting NASCAR back next year, albeit Benny will probably still be with TNT.  Benny and Bestwick are my favorites, but FOX's production just takes it to a whole 'nother level. 

Darn, I missed the race.  Stupid rain :crying:  Junior finished 3rd, woohoo!  I'm glad Kahne won, he's a good kid.  Maybe the Dodge teams can stop crying.

(http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2006/cup/8talladega-side.jpg)
(http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2006/cup/8talladega-front.jpg)

Earnhardt to honor father with replica car

By JENNA FRYER, AP Motorsports Writer

April 25, 2006

AP - Apr 25, 4:10 pm EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- One object in any NASCAR driver's rearview mirror that may have appeared closer than it actually was: Dale Earnhardt's black No. 3 Chevrolet.

Especially if "The Intimidator'' was gaining.

Gentlemen, start your trembling. There's an Earnhardt back in black.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will mark his late father's birthday this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway by driving a likeness of the No. 3 car his father made famous.

Junior's trademark red Chevy will be painted predominantly black, with white lettering and silver and red stripes. Junior will still use his No. 8 -- his father's No. 3 has not been on the track since his 2001 death.

"The car looks good, it's a cool way to honor my dad,'' Earnhardt said Tuesday. "It's going to be a lot of fun to be behind the wheel of that car, and see the reaction it gets from other drivers on the track.''

The tribute is part of a larger salute at Dale Earnhardt Inc., which is celebrating Earnhardt's Thursday night induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame, his overall accomplishments at Talladega and his 55th birthday, which would have been Saturday.

All three DEI cars will have the same paint scheme, which Junior views as an appropriate celebration of the seven-time champion. He seemed uncomfortable in February marking the five-year anniversary of his father's death, but birthdays bring happier memories.

"His birthday is something I do enjoy pointing out or celebrating or recognizing because that was always a lot of fun with him,'' Junior said. "When he was getting a little older we was always thinking about what his real age was. There's some things that come and go without a blink of an eye. But there are other things that come and go that you want to point out and you want to recognize and you do appreciate.''

Junior's car will be the most dramatic of the three DEI entries. After all, it's at Talladega and Daytona -- the two biggest and fastest tracks in NASCAR -- where Junior bears the closest resemblance to his father.

Dale Earnhardt was the greatest at restrictor-plate racing, especially at Talladega, where he scored 10 wins and notched the 76th and final victory of his career in October 2000.

Junior inherited the skill required to work the draft. He has five victories at Talladega and two at Daytona.

But none compare to his father's last victory, when he charged from 18th place with five laps to go to cross the finish line first.

"I was running second thinking I was in a position to try to get me a win, and I can see him and his line formed on the outside coming up, getting closer and closer,'' Junior said. "Every time I look in the mirror, he'd moved up a few more feet toward us and was coming on. So everybody was sort of in a panic mode as if, `Wait a minute now, this thing ain't playing out like we had in mind.'''

Junior said drives like that Talladega victory were the ones his father cherished.

"He would do all kinds of stuff like that, make big comebacks or big, great saves or just crazy passes,'' Junior remembered. "Everybody always said he could do a lot of things with a race car a lot of other people couldn't. He'd take pride in those things personally.

"Never would get out and jump up and down and brag about it. But when it was all said and done and over with, and everybody went home, he would take pride in doing those things. I think that comeback was one he really, really enjoyed.''

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;_ylt=AnKxolj.bkFByfiyzWmsM4bov7YF?slug=ap-nascar-earnhardt-blackcar&prov=ap&type=lgns

That is a sexy paint job.  All the DEI cars are running it, Busch and Cup.  Junior has a great shot at winning come Sunday.

Talladega Baby!!!!!!!! :yes: : ok: :beer:

Are you going?  That's your home track, isn't it?

Yes it is. But I'm not going this time. Maybe in the Fall though.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins NASCAR Nextel Crown Royal 400

(http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/spo/med/2006/05/nascar/1146985726.jpg)

May 7, 2006

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA (TICKER) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has done his best to erase the memories from a painful 2005 campaign. A long-awaited trip to victory lane certainly did not hurt.

Earnhardt ended his long personal winless drought by capturing the checkered flag Saturday night at the NASCAR Nextel Crown Royal 400.

It was the 17th career victory for Earnhardt, who had not visited victory lane since winning at Chicagoland Speedway on July 10. But the 31-year-old made a late charge to end a span of 27 consecutive starts without a victory.

"It feels great, I had a great car," said Earnhardt, who won $239,166 in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo. "I want to thank DEI (Dale Earnhardt Inc.), all the guys back home that don't get to celebrate with us."

Arguably the most popular driver on the Nextel circuit, Earnhardt struggled last season to a 19th-place finish in the Nextel Cup standings, his worst career ranking. Amidst the excitement of finally tasting victory, Earnhardt made sure to praise his crew.

"I had a great race team last year, a lot of great guys," he said. "Some of them came with us this year and we took some of the ones from my old team. When I got now is even 10 times better than that."

After trailing Kevin Harvick throughout, Earnhardt took the lead with 47 laps remaining and never relinquished it. He held off a heated field to climb two spots to sixth in the current standings.

"When I come to the track, I know I've got the best I can ask for," Earnhardt said. "I've got the people, they've got their hearts in it. This is going to really help. They need a win or something to improve their confidence."

Rookie Denny Hamlin finished second in a Chevrolet, followed by Harvick's Chevrolet and pole-sitter Greg Biffle's Ford Fusion. Kyle Busch rounded out the top five in a Chevrolet.

"I had a lot of help from guys like Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch," said Hamlin, who recorded his best career finish. "They didn't race me hard there at the end, they decided to let me go. I've got to thank them a lot for them and hopefully I get to return the favor some day."

The winner of Saturday's Busch Series Circuit City 250, Harvick had the dominant car once again Sunday. But despite leading for 272 of the 400 laps, Harvick faded late.

Series points leader Jimmie Johnson struggled in the middle of the pack throughout but had a strong finish to place 12th. He maintained his lead in the standings over Matt Kenseth, who ran 38th after battling early damage to his oil tank.

Defending race winner Kasey Kahne could not overcome engine problems and finished 34th.

Johnson owns a 55-point lead in the standings over defending series champion Tony Stewart, who finished sixth Saturday and leapfrogged Kenseth. Veteran Mark Martin, who ran 11th, is in fourth place and is in front of Harvick by 32 points.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;_ylt=AvHvHWUlb1T3hRyMcmyAAGTov7YF?slug=nascar10&prov=st&type=lgns

JUNIOR!!!!! YEAH!  He hung around in second all day, and made his move at the right time.  But Harvick was in a league of his own.  Drew, that was the best burnout of the year! :beer: :smoking:

I was hoping for a Jr./Harvick one/two finish. That would've been cool.

Dale Jr. just exploded his right rear tire during his burnout. I don't think anyone at the fab shop this week will mind fixing that back quarter panel. ;)

I'll say!  Those Crown Royal people were annoying!  And what bothered me was that when Junior was racing Harvick for first, then he backed off, he said he conceded the when for Harvick.  His daddy would never do that!

Dale Jr. apologized for getting in to Kevin. That's why he backed off. He didn't want Harvick to think he was racing him rough. I was a bit nervous on the restart when Hamlin raced Jr. down low on the final restart. i thought he was going to pass but Jr. held on to first.

The high line always prevails at Richmond!  It's kind of like the yellow line at the plate tracks!

The All-Star Challenge gets worse every year.  It's not that Jimmie Johnson wins every year, it's just that there are so many gimmicks nowadays. :'(  Let's see how June Bug does in the 600.

Garry, did you see where Michael Waltrip pretty much bought is way into the 600 tonight? To me, this is so absurb. Another thing about NASCAR that pisses me off. Michael sucks but he is still able to bribe another driver for their car so he be in the race. It should be, if you don't qualify, you don't race. Period!! :rant: :rant: :rant:

Here's the link to the story if you hadn't read it yet.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;_ylt=AlKevvI_lhHpHAUbETmiMq3ov7YF?slug=ap-nascar-charlottenotebook&prov=ap&type=lgns

There needs to be a rule change!  As much as I like Mikey, it's still wrong.  Cope deserved to be in the field.  Unlike Mikey, who has so many high profile sponsors.  Cope's primary is nothing compared to the smallest associate on Mikey's car.  And he still didn't qualify!  So many things are messed up in the sport today. :rant:

I wonder how many laps Jimmie will lead on his way to the win! :hihi:

Just imagine if Michael crashes or is out of the race very early tonight. :hihi:

 :hihi:  I think he won't last very long either, being it's a field filler car!

What did I say earlier on, Michael out of the race early and ends up finishing 41st place. :hihi: :hihi:

Good call Drew! :beer:  At least Johnson didn't win! :smoking:

Hehehe....your so right! So glad Johnson didn't win either! :yes: : ok:

Our man finished 11th, but we both know he was at least a top-10 car.  Who do you like for Dover?

Yeah, good finish for Dale Jr. Glad he had a good night. Par for the course cause he didn't move up or down in the points race. :) Harvick struggled big time though. :-\

For Dover, isn't this one of those Rousch tracks they kinda do so good at lately? I think Biffle and Carl Edwards will be strong. Kenseth too.

In other words, it's gonna be a snoozefest...  Expect a big change in the points, you know how the White Monster operates! :hihi:  My favorite Dover moment was when Dale Jr. won the first race after September 11, and he did a Victory Lap with the Stars n' Stripes.

http://store.nascar.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2347382&cp=2056638.2122443.715551

A pretty sweet paint job, if I do say so myself.

Michigan eh?  This can only mean one thing:  HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!  Junior qualified in sixth place, I think he has a good shot at winning the race in the special car.  Remember, he had a top-10 car at Michigan's sister track, California.

Thanks Garry for the info. I didn't know about the paint scheme this week for Dale Jr.

I think it does look pretty good. :yes: : ok:

I forgot to congratulate you on getting the Dover winner right! :hihi:  Here's a beer for you! :beer:

I think our boy had a good change to win on Sunday, but oh well, congrats to Kasey.  4 wins!  I would never have predicted that.  On to wine country, who do you like for Sonoma?  I'll take Jeff Gordon for the win.

Junior gets a top-10 and takes the momentum to Daytona.

Hahahaha. Well I guess with my three guesses I was bound to get close, eh? LOL. :hihi: :rofl:

But thanks. :)

I'm really looking forward to the race this weekend in Sonoma, CA. This is my favorite road course of the two that are raced each year. And yes, then it's on to Daytona for the following weekend. I'll be at the beach for the holiday weekend and all so I'll try and catch some of it. ;D :yes:

You're going to the Pepsi 400?  Cool beans, man!  :smoking:

I really love Sonoma.  My favorite part is the last turn...remember the old pit configuration?  Gilligan's Island cracked me up! :hihi:

Only 2 more races until we start hearing Mac....marry :hihi:

Nah, won't be at the race. I'll be in Seagrove Beach, Florida(Panhandle of the State). But going to try and watch it on t.v. some.

I always like these two weeks of racing in Sonoma and Daytona cause I'm usually at the beach. So it's sun & surf for me in just a little over a week now. :yes: : ok:

Sounds like a good time!

Is it me, or does Pocono really stink up the schedule?

Yeah, I've never been a fan of Pocono. Plus Pocono has races in back to back months which is way too close imo. The Michigan races are too close for me also. :-\

But at least the racing is fun to watch in Michigan... shorter lap times and 100 miles less....New Hampshire is way too close as well.

Pretty good day of racing on t.v. with F1 in Montreal this morning, Champ Car in Cleveland around lunch time, and later this afternoon with NASCAR in Sonoma. :)

A PERFECT DAY!  :love:

Let's have a go at the wine and cheese!  :hihi:

Surprisingly, a snoozer.  Sonoma has better racing than that, that was just sick!  I thought for a while that The Iceman might steal the win!  Good for Jeff though, he needed the win.

Yeah, it was pretty boring to me too. Especially after coming off my F1 high as I was already on. :)

Plus, it didn't help with Dale Jr. running in the back all day.

Seems like he was involved in every wreck that day :no:

He sure was. He was on the giving and the recieving end yesterday.

Tony the Tiger is back.  Plate racing is getting to be boooooooring.  This new package sucks.  So does NASCAR.  I absolutely abhor these late start times.  Remember when they said 4:30, they MEANT 4:30?  People are getting tired of NASCAR's BS, and it's noticeable.  The ratings have been down throughout the year, and did you see all those empty seats at Daytona?  The best seats on the front stretch were empty, and the superstretch was so empty I could see zephyrs rolling about the place.  And I HATE IT when a race ends under a caution!  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :rant:

And that there is a commercial break every 3 laps.  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You pretty much said everything I wanted to say. Well done Garry. :hihi: ;D

The only thing I'd add would be that it's got sickening about all the commercialism and sponsors recognition that's given every week. I'm so sick and tired of waiting for a driver to answer a question while he drinks his 'Coke' on t.v. I hate everything FOX Sports stands for...lol. And all the thankyous the driver gives to all his sponsors in or out of victory lane. I'm definitely one of those viewers watching less and less of NASCAR.

Gordon spins out Kenseth for the win.......Chicagoland

Busch wins whacky New Hampshire race

DW back in Martinsville!

WOW....Junior fell from 3rd to 11th in points..... :no:

I guess that's what happens when you finish LAST two races in a row.

NEXT: The Brickyard

Get well soon Benny!

(http://www.kevinharvick.com/06Gallery/Phoenix/4a.jpg)

Sweet picture!  I've always said Harvick is the king of the burnout.  Do you live in Phoenix? 

No, I'm just a huge Kevin Harvick fan. That man is on a roll! it's good to see there are a few NASCAR fans on this board!  : ok:

Being a Junior fan, I've always had loyalties towards Harvick.

Do you suppose he can return to glory at Indy?  I'm just hoping Junior finishes the race!  :hihi:

I don't know, man. Harvick qualified 10th and I think the 8 was back in 30th. They seem to struggle at anything not named Richmond, Bristol, Daytona, or Talladega.

(http://www.kevinharvick.com/06Gallery/ORP21/5a.jpg)

Sweet.  Burning down the skins at ORP.

I can't believe Johnson came back to win after his tire troubles.

Did you see the Busch race?  Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch had an epic battle.

Speaking of Kurt Busch, he's on the pole for tomorrows AMD at The Glen.

Congrats to Kevin Harvick on is win yesterday. : ok:

Yes indeed!  Great win I can't believe he passed Stewart at WATKINS GLEN!  The guy practically owns the joint. 

Bad bad luck on Kurt Busch's.

How about his little bro making up 5 laps and getting a top 10?  Great run for Shrub.

(http://www.kevinharvick.com/06Gallery/WatkinsGlen/13a.jpg)

Atta Boy Kevin!!!!!!!!

Haha, yessir!  That's gonna make for one helluva die-cast!

How do you think that 8 car is going to do this weekend?

I think he'll do good this weekend, he was good at Michigan in June, and when I went to California Speedway, he had a good car.

But it's going to be a lot hotter this weekend.  It was cold and overcast in June, gave the car tons of grip.  But the track is going to be real slick come Sunday......

Kahne is going to make his move this weekend.  :yes:

(http://i.a.cnn.net/nascar/2006/news/headlines/bg/08/19/michigan.ap/junior.t1.tall.jpg)

Junior bumps Edwards for Busch Series victory

By Mike Harris, The Associated Press
August 19, 2006
07:33 PM EDT (23:33 GMT)

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. bumped Carl Edwards out of the way on a restart in overtime and grabbed a contentious victory Saturday in the Busch Series race at Michigan International Speedway.

Edwards made a timely three-wide pass on Lap 116, taking the lead from Robby Gordon by a nose moments before a spin by Kurt Busch brought out a caution flag.

The race, scheduled to go 125 laps on the 2-mile oval, restarted on Lap 121 with Gordon -- driving a Chevrolet for Earnhardt's Busch team -- and Earnhardt single-file behind the leader. They stayed that way, and Edwards easily held off the challengers until another yellow flag came out when Todd Kluever stopped on Lap 123.

NASCAR cleared the track and set up a two-lap, green-white-checkered flag shootout that began on Lap 127.

Gordon immediately drove to the inside of Edwards, and Earnhardt moved in behind the leader. As the trio drove into the second turn, Edwards appeared to break loose and start to slide up toward the wall.

Earnhardt slammed into the rear end of Edwards' No. 60 Ford, sending him spinning down the track and nearly taking Gordon with him. That brought out the ninth and final caution of the day, freezing the field and giving two-time Busch champion Earnhardt his second Busch win in four starts this season and the 22nd of his career.

It was the 23rd win by a Nextel Cup regular in 25 Busch races this season.

Casey Mears managed to just get past Gordon, making his first start for Earnhardt's team, for second place. The furious Edwards finished 23rd.

Edwards first drove onto pit road and momentarily parked in Earnhardt's pit. Then he drove back onto the track as the field drove slowly by behind the pace car, banging hard into the side of Earnhardt's No. 8 Chevrolet.

"I didn't mean to spin him out. I don't go around wrecking people," Earnhardt said. "I wouldn't have waited two years to get back at him for wrecking me in Atlanta in 2004 pretty much the same way.

"We got a run off that corner, and Carl just got sideways and he wasn't in the gas. I guess he was pretty mad at me, but there wasn't much I could do."

Earnhardt, the most popular driver in NASCAR, was loudly booed by the crowd when replays showed on the big screens as he got to Victory Lane.
   
Asked if he saw Edwards coming off pit road, Earnhardt shook his head and said, "I had my hand out the window. He could have taken my hand off. But he didn't. Pretty stupid. That was just rude."

Edwards, who was called to the NASCAR hauler after the race, appeared to have cooled down considerably after getting out of his car.

"He just wrecked me off [Turn] 2," Edwards said. "I just wanted to make sure he knew I was mad that he wrecked me. It's racing."

Matt Kenseth finished fourth, followed by Mark Martin, who set a Busch record with his 29th career pole earlier Saturday.

Denny Hamlin was sixth, with Reed Sorenson seventh and series leader Kevin Harvick eighth. Harvick leads runner-up Hamlin in the standings by a monstrous 484 points.

http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/bg/08/19/michigan.ap/index.html

Man, that was a tough race. Jr. clearly had a run on Edwards, but, imo, should've laid off him.  It's tough to lose a race that way. I wonder if they'll suspend Edwards for a race like they did Harvick in 02.

My man Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Busch race yesterday, by wrecking Edwards....ahhh reminds me of his old man. :-*

And he was JUST edged out by Mark Martin, he finished sixth. He had the BEST car all the day, but his rear tire changer needs to find himself a new job.....

I'm wondering how hard NASCAR will come down on Edwards. Remember, he is already on probation for spinning Tony Stewart in the pits at Pocono.

I'm guessing 25 grand and 25 points.

Next time he'll have to sit out a race.

I think that's just a slap on the hand. I think he should be suspended for atleast one race. Cup and Grand National race. First spinning Stewart out in the pits and now coming back on to the track at a pretty good speed and slamming into Dale Jr.'s car. That's definitely endangerment to other drivers.

Just imagine if Edwards had it Dale Jr.'s hand with his car.

I agree that was just stupid.

"Golly gee, I sure am sorry that I cut your driving career short."

Gee willikers....

A 3rd for Junior at Bristol, a 2nd at California...if the pattern holds, he'll repeat at Richmond.

Not too much pressure this year for The Chase, there's only one man looking in, unlike past seasons.

Happy to hear Dale Jr. had a great finish. I just can't bare to watch that race to see how he does.

Not to sound cocky or anything,  but chances are he will win that race.  He has 3 wins in Richmond, and he is an excellent short track racer.  If the engine and the car hold up, he will be celebrating his playoff berth in style in Gatorade Victory Lane!  :beer:

I hope your right Garry. 8)

What a race Saturday! I'm so glad the man won!!!

(http://www.kevinharvick.com/06Gallery/RichmondSept29/9a.jpg)

Haha, you should have joined the board sooner!  Seems like right when you joined, Harvick started lighting it up.  Due your burnout pictures are just  :drool:

Here are the standings heading into New Hampshire.

2006 Chase For The Nextel Cup
1. M. Kenseth 5050
2. J. Johnson             -5
3. K. Harvick             -10
4. Kyle Busch           -15
5. D. Hamlin             -20
6. D. Earnhardt Jr.   -25
7. M. Martin             -30
8. J. Burton             -35
9. J. Gordon            -40
10. K. Kahne            45

(http://i.a.cnn.net/nascar/2006/news/headlines/cup/09/15/kharvick.loudon.quals/harvick.pole.384.jpg)

Harvick pies Hamlin, then takes pole at Loudon

The Associated Press
September 15, 2006
06:20 PM EDT (22:20 GMT)

LOUDON, N.H. -- It seems the pressure is definitely off now that the Chase for the Nextel Cup championship is ready to begin.

Kevin Harvick main objective Friday was to gain a little revenge on rookie Denny Hamlin, who hit the veteran in the face with a pie during a TV appearance 24 hours earlier.

And winning the pole for Sunday's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway was nice, too.

"The biggest goal I had was to get Denny Hamlin," Harvick said minutes after winning his first pole in more than a year. "We've been planning that all day. He got me pretty good [Thursday] on the Regis and Kelly show.

"I didn't say anything. I just waited until the opportune moment and I got even. It was pretty cool."

Payback came moments after Hamlin qualified. The youngster got out of his car on pit road and had just begun an interview with several TV reporters when Harvick stepped up with a pan filled with whipped cream and put it squarely in Hamlin's face.

That done, Harvick turned his attention back to racing. But the six-year Cup veteran is having fun on the track, too.

Harvick, who qualified easily for the 10-race Chase, got off to a solid start with his fifth career pole.

 "I think this is fun," said Harvick, who took the top spot in Sunday's race with a lap of 132.282 mph on the 1.058-mile New Hampshire oval. "Racing for a championship has to be fun."

If that is true, then the Richard Childress Racing driver should be having a ball.

He has all but wrapped up the Busch Series title already -- holding a 619-point lead on Carl Edwards with just seven races to go -- and also is one of only 10 drivers with a chance to win the 2006 Cup title.

"I think we are a favorite," said Harvick, coming off a Cup victory last Saturday night at Richmond, where the pressure was still on for a group of drivers racing to qualify for the Chase.

It's not too surprising that Harvick, who last won a pole in September 2005 at Richmond, is feeling confident right now.
   
The entire Childress team has been resurgent this season, with Harvick, third in the season points, leading the way.

"It is something that everybody feels good about," Harvick said. "All the hard work this team has put in the last year-and-a-half to make our cars better and do things better as we go forward.

"Everyone at RCR is confident and feels good about the performance of our cars. We look forward to coming to the track every week. Everybody feels good about themselves, but it is all about these next 10 weeks."

Jeff Gordon, another Chase driver, wound up second in Friday's qualifying at 131.751, followed by Penske Racing South teammates Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman at 131.483 and 131.216, respectively, and Hamlin, the first rookie to make the Chase in the three years it has been run.

Series leader Matt Kenseth qualified 25th, runner-up Jimmie Johnson was seventh and the rest of the Chase contenders were scattered through the 43-car field, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. eighth, Kyle Busch 16th, Harvick's teammate Jeff Burton 22nd, Mark Martin 26th and Kasey Kahne 33rd.

Meanwhile, Hamlin -- known as a jokester -- isn't ready to forget that pie in the face.

"It definitely ain't over," he said. "We're going to keep this going. This is a lot of fun."

Harvick had an answer for that, too.

"I am all about this stuff," he said. "If it continues, we will just keep playing the game and try to stay one notch up."

http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/09/15/kharvick.loudon.quals/index.html

I saw that live!  Harvick got Hamlin HARD!

(http://i.a.cnn.net/nascar/2006/news/headlines/cup/09/17/loudon.race.ap/lapbylap.harvick.384.jpg)

Harvick cruises, takes points lead at Loudon

By Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press
September 17, 2006
06:03 PM EDT (22:03 GMT)

LOUDON, N.H. -- Kevin Harvick turned New Hampshire International Speedway into his personal playground, dominating Sunday's race to take the early lead in NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup.

Harvick, who started from the pole and paced almost every practice session, led 196 of the 300 laps to run away with the first round of the 10-race Chase. He moved to the top of the points standings for the first time in his career, and holds a 35-point lead over rookie Denny Hamlin, who finished fourth.

"We just have to keep doing what we're doing," said Harvick, who won for the second consecutive week and fourth time this season. "If we keep winning races, we're not going to get outscored in points."

Defending series champion Tony Stewart, who did not make the Chase this season and isn't eligible for the championship, finished second.

Jeff Gordon was third to jump to fourth in the standings, the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal day for Hendrick Motorsports. Chase drivers Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson both wrecked early, finished 38th and 39th, and dropped to the back of the 10-driver championship field.

 It was yet another heartbreaking blow for Johnson, who led the standings for 22 weeks this year only to see his season fall apart with the Nextel Cup on the line. Although he has nine weeks to try to race back into contention, he knows how difficult it will be.

"Right now it looks like things are out of our control to get back in this thing right now," said Johnson, 139 points out of the lead. "I can only judge on how guys are running today, and all the Chase guys are running up front.

"I hope I eat the words I said early on when I said, 'You can't win the championship here in New Hampshire, but you can lose it today.'"

Indeed, the championship can be lost in the first round of the Chase, and it happened in each of the first two seasons of NASCAR's new title-deciding format.

Stewart, Ryan Newman and Jeremy Mayfield all were taken out of contention in 2004 following an early accident at this 1.058-mile oval. Then defending series champion Kurt Busch suffered the same fate last season when he was wrecked moments into the race.

So the tone was set Sunday, with Harvick establishing early that he's the driver to beat. The other Chase contenders held their own, with everyone but Johnson and Busch finishing in the top 16.

Busch's day went bad on the very first lap, when he cut off Jeff Green and the contact caused enough damage to his Chevrolet that he had to pit several times and dropped a lap down. A second accident 100 miles from the finish dropped him to a 38th-place finish.

Johnson, winner of the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard, had hoped to celebrate his 31st birthday with a strong run. Instead, he lost a cylinder early in the race to put his team on edge and afraid of a total engine failure. But they didn't have to worry very long: Johnson was run into the wall shortly after when Sterling Marlin swerved to avoid hitting other cars.
   

The hard hit destroyed the No. 48 Chevrolet and demoralized a team that had hoped this was finally its year to win that elusive title. As crew chief Chad Knaus slumped in his seat on top of the pit box, Johnson was coming to terms with how difficult it will be to rebound.

But Gordon thinks its too early to count out his protege.

"Sometimes I think they do better when they are angry and get behind," Gordon said.

Even if he does rebound, it will be hard for anyone to catch Harvick, who won for the third time in the past six races and second in a row.

And he proved early he's going to run hard for this title, using a risky three-wide pass of teammate Jeff Burton and Hamlin just 37 laps into the race. Hamlin was leading, Burton was second and Harvick thought he was better than both of them.

But instead of waiting for an open opportunity to get to the front, he shoved his Chevrolet in the middle of both cars to force his way to the front. The move caused Hamlin to wiggle to the outside, and could have been disastrous for all three Chase drivers.

Harvick didn't care.

"At this point, it's all about the championship and going for it and throwing caution to the wind," Harvick said. "If you look back on it, I probably wouldn't do that again."

http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/09/17/loudon.race.ap/index.html

Man, Harvick is on FIRE!  Junior's team messed up on the last run, he had a top-5 car, but he ended up 13th.

Garry, did you see the end of the Talladega race on Sunday? :rant:

That idiot Vickers!! :rant: :rant: :rant:

He wrecked his own teammate!  And 2 Chasers.  ARGH!!!!!!  :rant:

I can't believe how Junior dominated after the big one though.  Seems like McMurray and crybaby Jeff Gordon were his only competition.

By the way, Goodwrench is no more.

Congratulations to Kevin Harvick for clinching the 2006 Busch Series Championship on Friday night in Charlotte.  :)

(http://i.a.cnn.net/nascar/2006/news/headlines/bg/10/14/bc.car.nascar.busch.ap/harvick.193.jpg)

The Busch Series was a runaway this year...

Kasey Kahne won at Charlotte.