(photo by Leon Hammack)

The Lennox Industrial Tools 301 is now in the record books.  Like last year’s June race, the weather played a very significant roll in the outcome of the race!  Like last year when the “Blue Duece” driven by Kurt Busch, aka ELB (Ears Laid Back) waited for the race to be called because of the rain, the #20 Home Depot Toyota driven by Joey “Sliced Bread” Logano, too, waited for the race to be called.

For the full story join me at my new web site: www.workingonmyredneck.com

As I have stated previously, now that I have the new web site up and running this web site will be directed more towards our NASCAR fantasy league interaction.

COMMENTARY:

As I was watching the replay of the big accident at Louden on the restart at lap 174, several thoughts occurred to me.  While it is a given that TLVW can drive the wheels off of anything that he straps himself into, it appears that his “patience tank” is completely empty!  As long as he is out front of the pack, it never comes into play with this driver.

However on Sunday, with ol Kylie stuck back in mid pack for the restart, the driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota was the instigator of the “The Big One” at Louden!  As the green flag flew for the restart on lap 174, Dale Jr. in the #88 National Guard Chevy, spun his tires as he hammered the “loud pedal”.  That backed up a couple of rows of cars, but TLVW gassed it up big, stuck his nose into a spot that maybe only a fly or gnat could fit into, and tried to make it three wide prior to the start/finish line!  As that small hole closed back up, ol Kylie got into the #1 TomTom Chevy of Martin Truex, Jr.’s left quarter panel turning him hard right, and sending him head-on into the outside retaining wall.  Ol Kylie’s impatience resulted in collecting several drivers, thoroughly blocking the racetrack!

I think that I have just figured out why TLVW continuously sticks his nose into places that you know that won’t work on the race track.  I think his near vision is grossly impaired!!  Probably if he were to go to an opthamologist to get a thorough eye examination and glasses, he will see that his nose just won’t fit into some of  those tight spots he insists on getting into.

What is your take?

It has 16 years since a driver 50 years old won a Cup race!  Back on March 20,1993 Morgan Shepherd won his last Cup race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.  Saturday nightg Mark Martin won the Subway Fresh Fit 312.   It was Martin’s first win in 97 races, Kansas Speedway in 2005.  The Hendrick Motorsports #5 Kellogg’s Chevy not only won the race, but also led the most laps-157  leading the race 5 different times!!

The Saturday night race was somewhat typical of a day into night race.  There is usually a car that dominate the day portion, a car that dominate in the transition period and a car that dominates the night part of the race.  The first part of the race Mark Martin really dominated everyone.  During the sun-dark transition period, Kurt Busch was the hot rod to beat.  However, when the chips were on the line, Martin’s team resurrected  themselves by tuning all night on that car, which allowed it to get back to the front of the pack. 

Even though Martin is 50 yerars old, he is as physically fit as any of the “young bucks” he races against!!!  Additionally, we do know that NOTHING will make you feel younger than winning a Cup race when people thought that you were way past your prime!!!!!! 

TAKE THAT JACK ROUSH!!!

COMMENTARY

Next week is Talladega Superspeedway!!!  Off in the distance I can faintly hear, Lynard Skynard tuning up!!!!  Need I say any more????? 

Talladega is one of captainblowdri’s three most favorite tracks, the other two tracks are Daytona International Speeedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.  As a spectator, the racing at Talladega, Daytona, and Atlanta keeps you on the edge of your seat or recliner throughout the entire race.  There is just some unique  quality to those tracks that are not at the other tracks that NASCAR  races.

Talladega has a destinctive start-finish line placement.  Unlike Daytona with the start-finish line in the middle of the tri oval, Talladega put the start finish line after the the tri oval near the pit road exit point.  That adds to the excitement running for the checkered flag!!  This race reminds me of 43 bees swarming trying to find the hive!!  But there is always one bee that gets in a hury and causes the rest to get all balled up!!!  Therein…..THE BIG ONE!!!!!

So let’s get out our restrictor plate, dust it off, bolt it on, and LET’S GO RACIN’ BOYS!!!!

As  always, I looked it up  so that you wouldn’t have to!!!

We are approaching the one quarter point of the 2009 season and some teams are flying high, and some are still in the holding pattern waiting for their approach clearance!! 

It is no surprise that two of Hendrick Motorsports teams are first and second in the standings.  The teams of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have performed up to their early season’s expectations.  The #24 Dupont Chevy finally broke their winless streak of 47 races by winning at Texas!  Even without that victory, Jeff Gordon has been finishing in the top 5 ,week in and week out, in the early part of the 2009 season.  The Lowe’s # 48 Chevy is just now starting to hit on all 8 cylinders, hey look out they are coming on strong!! 

The two Joe Gibbs Racing cars, #11 FedEx Toyota driven by Denny Hamlin and the #18 M&M’s Toyota driven by TLVW, aka ol Kylie Busch are steadily plotting their course pointing towards the front, as well.

Two of “The Roushcateers” are holding up their end for the Ford’s.  The #99 Scott’s Ford piloted by “Cousin” Carl Edwards has been very consitent in scoring top 10 finishes so far this season.  The #17 DeWalt Ford Fusion of Matt Kenseth also has been a force.  After Kenseth’s red-hot start of back-to-back victories, he has settled down into a steady performer.

There are a couple of suprises at this juncture of the season.  The #14 Stewart-Haas Chevy  driven by Tony Stewart, aka “THE SMOKER” is sitting in 5th place in the satndings!  Even though it is THE SMOKER  driving this car, it is a new team in essence!  This reporter didn’t figure this team “to be in hunt” at  all this season!

Additionally, there is great surprise that the Richard Childress Racing #33 General Mills Chevy driven by Clint Bowyer, is anywhere near the top of the standings!!  This team is truly a brand new, startup team!! 

Still another surprise, as compared to where he finished last year, is the Penske Racing #2 Miller Lite Dodge of Ears Laid Back, aka Kurt Busch.

The Michael Waltrip Racing #00 Aaron’s Dream Machine piloted by David Reutimann has come from nowhere to  land firmly in 11th place.  That is quite a leap from last years position of thirty-something!!

Missing from the top twelve is the most popular driver of NASCAR, none other than Dale Earnhardt, Jr.  What is happening to the Hendrick Motorsports #88 AMP/Natonal Guard Chevy???  What seems to be going on with that team?  Does anybody have a clue??

For those teams “flying high”, they really must stay focused knowing that they have a target drawn on their backs by the teams stuck in that holding pattern I alluded to in the beginning of this article.  For those teams still in the holding pattern, it is time to exit the holding pattern and make that perfect landing beginning at Phoenix this weekend!!  They can not afford to stall out now! 

As always it is time to tie the picture together with the article.  If you haven’t figured it out, the F-15 Eagle “is flying high”!  The picture was taken at the March race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  For those of you who have never been to LVMS, the track is located about a mile to the northwest of Nellis AFB.  So while you are at LVMS, you get a great air show from all the fighters that transit through the air base.   Also, the USAF Thunderbirds precision demonstration team winters there, too.  So you also get a glimpse of the boys doing their practice show in preparation for their annul tour!! 

We live in fame and die in flame!!!   GO USAF!!!!

THE STORY LINES:

1.  KURT BUSCH LEADS 235 OF 330 LAPS:

2.  TRUEX PASSES KIDNEY STONES SAT. NIGHT:

      (foxsports) (AMS pit notes)

3.  NASCAR CREATES FORMULA FOR SETTING RESTART 

      ZONES:

4.  NASCAR SCRUTINIZING “START & PARK”:

5.  FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY @ NASHVILLE OFFERS TESTING:

      (middle tenn. racing news)

 6.  OL KYLIE (TLVW) WINS THE TRUCK RACE:

This is the second time in as many years, that the Busch Brothers, ol Kylie aka TLVW and Kurt aka EARS LAID BACK (ELB), have won successive races at the Cup level.  To say that the “Blue Duece” was thoroughly dominating at Atlanta Sunday, was a huge understatement!  Kurt Busch led 235 of the 330 laps of the race!! 

In the off season, NASCAR granted Dodge a new engine and some modifications on their nose cone.  It appears that the new nose and the new Dodge engine are paying dividends for Penske Racing.  FYI, Penske is the only Dodge team currently using the new Dodge engine, Richard Petty Motorsports is still using the old engine. 

The #24 National Guard Chevy of Jeff Gordon ran up front all afternoon, as well.  But in the end neither he, nor Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, and Brian Vickers had anything for “The Blue Duece”!

Kurt (ELB) was even more dominating in the Cup race, than ol Kylie (TLVW) was in Saturday’s Truck race.  TLVW  showed those boys the fastest way around AMS on Saturday.  On the last restart, TLVW  was leading them to the green, but only had two gears 1st and 4th left in the trannie.  So he dropped back as far as 9th with 8 laps to go.  But he roared back to the lead with 3 laps remaining and won the race!!

COMMENTARY:

This just in from the definition of tough!  Saturday evening Martin Truex, Jr. was taken to the hospital with lower back and abdominal pains.  Around 10pm Saturday evening, he passed a kidney stone, and by 1pm Sunday he was sitting in his race car ready to go 500 miles!!  He was not allowed to take any pain medication and race.  Now that is TOUGH!!!!

NASCAR has finally come up with a policy for the restart zone at all the race tracks.  They have been toying with the idea for the first four races of the season.  Now they are going to double the speed on pit road,convert that to feet, and that is the restart zone.  For instance, if the pit road speed is 55 MPH, then the restart zone would be 110 feet prior to the start/finish line. 

What is wrong with what has worked for 60 years??  The leader sets the pace and GASSES WHEN HE IS READY!!

Lastly, NASCAR is looking closely at “start and park”.  This reporter is holding out on judgement on this subject pending further evidence and discussions.  However, your opinion is invited!

 AGAIN, I LOOKED IT UP SO THAT YOU WOULDN’T HAVE TO!!

Here is another poll that I encourage you all to weigh in on.