THE COCA-COLA 600: Sweet Sweep

Kurt Busch, has swept the All-Star weekend at Charlotte. Last weekend's All-Star race, and this weekend's Coca-Cola 600. I'm telling you, this Miller Lite team is a legit title contender. What a strong run!!

Jammie McMurray, another team that's running strong, finished Second, and if not for a late-race caution brought out by a Marcos Ambrose spin, probably would have won it. Big Mac was strong on the long runs, not so good on the short ones, and of course, the caution came out with 20 to go. End of race.



There were some pretty exciting moments, like when Jimmie Johnson, spun and crashed all by himself, basically ending his night. I hate to say it, but I was loving that. I'm glad he wasn't hurt, but I did pick him to win. Maybe I cursed him, and should pick him more often.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., actually led ten laps of this race. But, thanks to another stupid call by Crew Chief Lance McGrew, wasn't a factor in the finish. Jeff Burton was running strong until contact with Kyle Busch cut his left rear tire with just a handful of laps to go. That's sad, because that team is slogging it's guts out, and doesn't have much to show for it.

I can't write much more, as it will spoil this week's edition of the RJ's. So here we go:

THE WHAT THE @#$& DO YOU MEAN I NEED TO SAVE FUEL? AWARD: Jeff Gordon's Crew Chief, Steve LeTarte. With over 74 laps to go, he told his driver to start saving fuel. Uh, Steve? The pit window at Charlotte is 50-54 laps. Kinda jumped the gun there, don't you think?

THE WHAT THE @#$& DO YOU MEAN FOUR TIRES? AWARD: For the second week in a row, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s Crew Chief, Lance McGrew. He had to pit under Green, and should have taken two tires, and left himself an option for the late race caution that you KNEW was coming. Instead, he put Junior a lap down, again. Nice call, Dumb ass.

THE WHAT THE @#$& HAPPENED TO HIM? AWARD: Matt Kenseth. He ran in the top five most of the night, and then just went away. We heard nary a word, about why, on the telecast.

THE IT'S ABOUT @#$&ING TIME AWARD: Jeff Burton. He got SERIOUSLY in Kyle Busch's face on pit road after the race to let him know he was racing like a jerk. If you ever see Burton put his finger in another driver's face and proceed to chew him out, you KNOW, the other driver has done something wrong. I wish Burton had gone all the way and whipped his punk ass. Someone needs to.

Well, that's about it for Charlotte. On to Pocono next week, so break out the energy drinks. You're gonna need them.

Hope you all enjoyed the race, and had a great Memorial Day Weekend. God Bless America, and our troops, Past and Present, and God Bless You all.

Courtesy Shout Out:  Photo courtesy of Yahoo! Sports.  Video courtesy of NASCAR.com.

Coca-Cola 600 Blog

Hey Gang:

My blog on the 600 will be posted ASAP. I've encountered a delay in photos and videos that I'm authorized to legally use. Sorry for the delay, but I promise, I didn't do it!!!

Thanks,
Ross

CORRECTION: Fox On The Run

TNT will torture us with six weeks of coverage, and not four. The article has been corrected. Sorry for the typo.

NATIONWIDE: Kyle Busch, Wins Again.......Ho, Hum

At the TECH-NET Auto Service 300 Nationwide race at Charlotte today, it looked like Kyle Busch's day was over before it even got started.  An unscheduled pit stop put him a lap down early, then he got busted for speeding on pit road and, WHOOPS, make that two laps down.

Surprisingly, Busch remained calm and simply said, 'Let's Do This.'  And then, he did.  Love him, or hate him, after a performance like that, all you can say is, "Wow."  Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Ryan Newman, and Kevin Harvick, rounded out the top six. 

Busch, will be stepping aside in his Nationwide car to concentrate on his Cup team.  He said that having to do so was, 'a bummer.'  Brad Keselowski said, 'I'm going to miss him.  We bring out the best and worst in each other.'

The Big Daddy Marathon, The Coca-Cola 600 tomorrow night at 5:15 P.M. Central Time.  By the way, for a screaming, smart-ass good time, chat live during the race with Yahoo! Sports' Jay Hart and Jay Busbee. Just go to the sports page on Yahoo! and log in. It's free and It's a blast! I know earlier in the week I picked Jimmie Johnson, but don't be a bit surprised if you see Jeff Burton hoist the hardware.  We'll see you here in Victory Lane after the race, and of course, we'll have this week's RJ's.  Enjoy the race, and remember Our Veterans, on this, their special weekend.

Courtesy Shout Out: Video courtesy of NASCAR.com. Mark Long, of the Associated Press contributed to this blog.

It Ain't Over, 'Til It's Over

If you think that the Dust-Up at last week's All-Star Race is over between Kyle Busch (L) and Denny Hamlin, I have just one question for you:  What rock have you been living under?



 Both drivers say that they will move on from the incident and that all is well, but what else do you expect them to say?  Hey, Coach Gibbs, I'm gonna wreck that guy every single chance I get?  Not likely.  Busch was unapologetic for his 'I'm going to kill him' remark on the radio, saying it was just in the heat of the moment.  Someone could have taken that as a literal threat and he could have been in serious trouble.  I wonder if the Coach pointed that out to him?  I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation.

And let's not forget, that neither driver is much on forgetting when they feel they've been wronged.  Denny Hamlin waited almost a whole season before "settling" his feud with Brad Keselowski last year.  Sometimes, even if you have to wait for the right time, revenge can be sweet.  But let's look at the big picture here:

Kyle Busch sits second in championship points.  Denny Hamlin is fifth.  Both drivers are at the top of their game, and barring a really weird happenstance, will compete for the title this year.  But can they do it with bad blood between them all year?  My guess, is probably not.  But if they are in the hunt at the final race at Homestead, wouldn't it be interesting to see them running 1-2?  I don't think there would be a lot of give and take there.  The Coach, had better get this one settled ASAP, or he's not gonna have anything except a bunch of torn up race cars, and two pissed off drivers.

This weekend is a dream for racing fans.  The Indy 500 and then the Coca-Cola 600.  If you don't see Hamlin, Busch, or Jimmie Johnson in Victory Lane, don't be a bit surprised if it's Jeff Burton.  He's running strong, and it's been a long, long time since he's won.

Have a super Memorial Day weekend, enjoy the race, and please don't forget the real reason of the Holiday, to remember those who've fought and died for, and served and are currently serving our Country.

We'll see you after the race with this week's edition of the RJ's.

Credit Shout Out:  Photo courtesy of From The Marbles on Yahoo! Sports.  Video courtesy of NASCAR.com.

Reader Poll

OK, Gang, I'm going to take a little survey here, and I would really appreciate your feedback.

Do you want Victory Lane to be strictly NASCAR, or would you like us to touch on some other sports as well?

Please leave your vote in the comment box, and only one vote per reader, please.

Thank You!!!
Ross

FOX On The Run

In doing my preparations to cover this weekend's Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, it occurred to me, that this is the last race of the year that we'll get to see on FOX.  That makes me pretty sad, as I've stated before, I believe that they have the best NASCAR coverage of all the networks, bar none.

Mike Joy, is flat out the best play-by-play announcer the sport has ever seen.  The only one that comes even close is Alan Bestwick.  How he (Bestwick)  got pulled out of the booth and put in the Pre-Race show on ESPN/ABC is an absolute mystery to me.  Joy, should be in the Hall of Fame one day.  He is that good.  One thing I won't miss about FOX's coverage is Larry McReynolds interrupting all the time with a point that has no validity whatsoever pertaining to the action on the track.  Or him yelling Caution is Out, fourteen times.   We see it already.

I will miss Boogity, Boogity,  Boogity!!!  and DW's unique insight to the sport.  I will not, in any way, shape, form or fashion miss Digger.  He does the Mexican Hat Dance on my last raw nerve.

Now we get six weeks of coverage from TNT.  I'm just gonna flat-out say it.  Their coverage sucks.  Then we get ESPN/ABC for the remainder of the season.  How did that network get the entire Nationwide Series and then the entire chase in Cup?  Check your bank accounts, folks.  It's all about the cash.

Rusty Wallace has a legitimate place on telecasts.  But he should be the driver's guy, and not allowed anywhere near the booth.  I honestly have no idea, what Brad Daugherty, a former NBA Superstar who had the money to buy a Nationwide Team, is doing on the pre-race show.  Just because you can afford it, don't make you an expert on it.

So, we will have to say goodbye to FOX after this weekend's race.  But I'll have to tell ya:  As much as I love my NASCAR, as far as TV coverage goes, I already can't wait for next year's Daytona 500, when FOX won't be on the run anymore.

Go To The Head Of The Class

The inaugural class of NASCAR's newly-opened Hall of Fame were inducted today in Charlotte, N.C. in a moving three-hour ceremony.  Scores of NASCAR stars, past and present, were on hand to witness the occasion.  There was laughter, tears, memories, and stories for everyone.  The Class of 2010 featured:

Bill France, Sr.
Bill France, Jr.
Richard Petty
Junior Johnson
Dale Earnhardt, Sr.

It was really nice to see The King and Kyle Petty put aside their differences for the occasion.  Family is important to Kyle, and I can think of no one more fitting to introduce The King, in his rightful place in this shrine.  As usual, The King signed about a million autographs and gave credit to everyone in his life for his success, except himself.  Typical, honest, and a great example for future inductees to follow.

But the story of the day, belonged to Dale Earnhardt, Jr.  He told of the first time he faced Cup-like competition, racing against his Father in Japan:

"I moved up in front of him on the track.  I only needed about two inches to clear him, and I misjudged it.  Dad then pushed me all the way down the front stretch, with my rear tires off the ground.  It was then, that I met the Intimidator."  (Raucous laughter here)  "He let me go, but I spent the rest of the day running from him like I'd had an "F" on my report card."







I still disagree with Teresa Earnhardt, being a part of this.  She all but destroyed what Dale Sr. built for his children.  But it was really cool to see all of Dale Sr.'s kids, speak on his behalf.  The France family was well-represented by Lisa France Kennedy and Brian France.  You could tell that they were very honored and moved to be there.

Junior Johnson, was well, Junior Johnson.  He told old war stories and was  as much comic as he was deserving Stock Car Legend.

So, as Mike Joy said, "The Mount Rushmore" of NASCAR, is finally in it's place.  They are all very deserving, and make me proud to call myself a NASCAR Fan.

Congratulations to The Class of 2010 and their families.  But above all, Thank You, for all that you did and continue to do.

Credit Shout Out:  Photo and Video courtesy of NASCAR.com

A Million Reasons To Smile

Normally, my writings are posted as soon after the race as possible. The reason this writing is so late, is that I couldn't think of much to write as the All-Star race was nothing short of b-o-r-i-n-g.

At least until the last couple of laps.

JGR Teammates, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin, were battling for the lead. Hamlin moved up the track, and the sudden disruption of air sent Busch slamming in to the wall. Busch, as usual, wasn't happy, ranting over his radio, "Somebody better keep me away from Danny Hamlin after this race. This is all his expletive fault." Whereupon, Busch drove to Hamlin's hauler and not his own, to wait for Hamlin. A long conversation ensued with Owner Joe Gibbs serving as referee. Hamlin, afterward, spoke to the media. Busch, big surprise, did not.

The eventual winner in all this: None other than Kyle's big brother, Kurt. If that team's momentum keeps up in the next few weeks, you're gonna have to count them as legitimate Cup Contenders. Oh Yeah, the payday was a little over a million bucks, or about ten grand a lap. Not a bad night's work. Now, on to this week's edition of the RJ's, which will be thin, as the race overall was pretty dull:

THE HOW THE #$%@ DID HE GET VOTED IN AWARD: Carl Edwards. Nothing against Cousin Carl, in fact I like him, but let's face it: He ain't exactly been setting the woods on fire this year. Jeff Burton, on the other hand, has, and wasn't even close to getting voted in. That's just a flat out shame.

THE WHAT THE #$%@ DO YOU MEAN HE'S MY TEAMMATE? AWARD: This one's a tie between Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. They sure didn't race each other like teammates, but a million bucks will make a guy do strange things.

THE CLASS ACT OF THE NIGHT AWARD: Joe Gibbs. By allowing his five-year old Grandson, Taylor, who is in remission from Leukemia, to pray the invocation, he showed again, just what a class act he is. The boy’s leukemia has been in remission for three years. His family, led by father and Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs, planned a celebration Sunday at the dragstrip next to Charlotte Motor Speedway. Taylor Gibbs yanked the mike from his grandfather, paused briefly, looked down at his feet, and gave a prayer that included a special shout out to JGR drivers Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano.
“And I pray for all the race car drivers—Kyle, Denny and Joey the most— to win the most and to win a lot. And I pray for the other drivers to win sometimes,” he said. “And I pray for the people in the hospital. I don’t want them to get sick.”


THE BOORISH ACT OF THE NIGHT AWARD: The Miller Lite Pit Crew. During driver introductions, they doused the fans with BEER! Hey, you idiots, there were CHILDREN in that crowd, and you set about as bad an example as any I've ever seen.

THE WHAT THE #$%@ WAS THAT AWARD: To whoever that screaming heifer was that BUTCHERED The National Anthem. That was nothing short of a disgrace.

Back at Charlotte next weekend for the Coca-Cola 600. NASCAR's marathon. It ought ta be a dandy, especially if KyBusch and Hamlin are contending for the win late.

My Pick: (Swallowing REALLY HARD) Jimmie Johnson. I'm sick of seeing him win, but he's proven in the past that this is really his house.

Enjoy the race, and we'll see you in Victory Lane later this week!

Credit Shout Out:  Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports.  Mike Cranston of the Associated Press contributed to this blog.

BREAKING NEWS: The Fans Have Spoken

Cousin Carl Edwards has been selected by the fans as the final participant of the 2010 All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Green Flag in Six minutes.

BREAKING NEWS: Showdown

Martin Truex,Jr., has won the Showdown race at Charlotte. Greg Biffle, was second, and both drivers transfer in to the All-Star race. The fan vote will determine the final entry.

Burn-Out Correction

Joey Logano has won the burn-out competition at Charlotte. The Showdown race is at 6:15 PM CDT.

Light 'Em Up!!!!!

The Burn-Out Competition is happening right now at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of All-Star Weekend. Jammie MacMurry is in the lead, Joey Logano is second, Clint Bowyer is third, Ryan Newman fourth, and Kyle Busch has been disqualified for hitting the wall. Catch it live on SPEED Channel.

Showdown Qualifying May Still Happen; All-Star Qualifying A Wash

With All-Star Qualifying already a wash at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the rain has finally stopped and jet-dryers are currently on the track to try and permit the last four Showdown runners to get thier licks in at the pole position.

The purpose of the Showdown is to try and earn a spot in the main All-Star race, if they have not already done so.  The way that is done is to be a past Cup Champion (Ten Years). to have won a pole or a race Since 2009, or be a former All-Star Race Winner.  The final participant in the Big Show will be determined by a fan vote.

Credit Shout Out:  Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com

All-Star Qualifying Rained Out, Busch On Pole

Charlotte, N.C.

Qualifying for tomorrow night's All-Star Race has been cancelled due to rain.  Kurt Busch, will sit on the pole as a result of a draw.  Joey Logano, will start Second.


Credit Shout Out:  Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com

All Star Practice: Rain, Rain, Go Away

Rain has delayed Shootout Qualifying for the All-Star Race Weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  Here are the current standings, with four cars to run once the rain gets out of the way, BUT, the forecast at the track is calling for Thunderstorms all the way through Wednesday.  Maybe we'll get lucky and get it in.

FIN CAR DRIVER MAKE SPONSOR SPEED TIME BEHIND


1 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 184.710 29.235 Leader

2 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M's Pretzel 183.480 29.431 -0.196

3 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet Tornados 183.119 29.489 -0.254

4 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 183.032 29.503 -0.268

5 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet Delphi / GoDaddy.com 182.952 29.516 -0.281

6 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Pennzoil Ultra 182.710 29.555 -0.320

7 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite / Vortex 182.630 29.568 -0.333

8 12 Brad Keselowski Dodge Penske Racing 182.494 29.590 -0.355

9 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Dale Jr. Foundation / National Guard / Amp Energy 181.616 29.733 -0.498

10 00 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine 181.099 29.818 -0.583

11 9 Kasey Kahne Ford Budweiser 181.062 29.824 -0.589

12 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet Nat'l Wild Turkey Federation 180.929 29.846 -0.611

13 83 Casey Mears Toyota Red Bull 180.675 29.888 -0.653

14 20 Joey Logano Toyota The Home Depot 180.397 29.934 -0.699

15 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Office 180.367 29.939 -0.704

16 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Burger King 180.174 29.971 -0.736

17 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Crown Royal Black 178.968 30.173 -0.938

18 71 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet TaxSlayer.com 178.300 30.286 -1.051


Credit Shout Out:  Photo Courtesy NASCAR.COM

Victory Lane Is Changing

Hey Gang! I am very excited to tell you about some changes that are coming to Victory Lane!!! First, we have obtained permission to use photos and videos, which should spice things up a lot!!! Also, we will be having polls, of course the up coming mailbag, and we're working on possibly getting a live chat going as soon as we can get enough followers. So please spread the word to all your friends and let's get this thing going and have some fun this Summer!!!!

Thanks,
Ross

BREAKING NEWS: Vickers Out For Remainder Of Season

The future of Brian Vickers, at least for the foreseeable time, was put to rest at a news conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway today, when the Red Bull team announced that Mr. Vickers is done for the season.

Vickers, 26, is suffering from blood clots in his legs and around his lungs. He is 'responding well' to treatment according to his doctors and his team. Casey Mears will continue to drive the 83 car 'for the foreseeable future' according to Team Red Bull.

But don't kid yourself. There's a lot more to this story than that. For example, Vickers is only 26 years old. And blood clots are nothing to fool with. They can kill you if left untreated. Sometimes, they can kill you when they're treated. His (Vickers) doctors have stated that blood clots are not uncommon, even in physically fit 26 year old young men. It's a shame that Mr. Vickers has to deal with something of this magnitude in his young life, but, when he comes through it and gets back behind the wheel, it just might make him appreciate what he has all the more, and make him a better person and driver than he already is. Pray for him. He's gonna need it.

The other side of the coin is Casey Mears.

Many "experts" have said that Mears has not been the success that everyone thought he could be because of 'sub-standard equipment.'

Buffalo Bagels.

He had just about the best you can get at Hendrick, and at RCR and still didn't get the job done. But now, he's got a second chance to show what he can do in good stuff. I mean, you can hardly call a car that made the chase last year (the 83) sub-standard equipment. Even an un-named Hendrick driver didn't do that (make the chase) last year.

I wish the best to both of these young men, as they fight their respective battles. Maybe for once, we can see two good guys win.

Credit Shout Out: Photo courtesy of Getty Images and Yahoo! Sports.

Reminder

Just a reminder, folks, that when we get enough followers, we're going to start a Monday Mailbag, where you can rant, rave, ask questions or simply bitch about the week's race, or anything NASCAR. Email your say to me at RJDaDJ@yahoo.com. Letters with Names and Locations stand a much better chance of getting published. IE: Your Name, Anytown, USA.

As always, feel free to comment on any writing in the comment box below each piece. Please spread the word to your friends, and let's get this thing going!!

Thanks,
Ross

Top Dogs

Here are the top 12 drivers in the race for the chase as we head to Charlotte this weekend for a non-points all-star race:

2010 Standings Behind
1. Kevin Harvick (29) -
2. Kyle Busch (18) -69
3. Matt Kenseth (17) -126
4. Jimmie Johnson (48) -131
5. Denny Hamlin (11) -150
6. Jeff Gordon (24) -163
7. Greg Biffle (16) -187
8. Jeff Burton (31) -199
9. Kurt Busch (2) -237
10. Carl Edwards (99) -281
11. Mark Martin (5) -293
12. Martin Truex Jr. (56) -334

You will note, that NASCAR's Most Popular Driver for the last eight years, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is conspicuously absent. He's way off the pace in 16Th place. It's not time for that team to push the panic button: It's time for them to jump up and down on it. Don't be surprised if Crew Chief Lance McGrew is looking for work before the end of the season.

Do us all a favor and vote Jeff Burton in to the All-Star race. He's a class act and deserves it. Enjoy the race, and of course, we'll have this week's edition of the RJ's afterward.

NATIONWIDE: Another Saturday Sedative At Dover

Author's Note: My apologies for being late with my Nationwide piece. I had a small personal issue to address, but it's all good, so here we go:

Kyle Busch pretty much gave us all a Saturday Sedative, as he ran away with his fourth Nationwide win of the year. No one even came close to touching him. What a snooze. But, we all got woke up with 20 something laps to go, when on a restart, Denny Hamlin got in to the back of Second place Clint Bowyer, and spun him out, triggering a nine-car melee and an eleven-minute Red Flag as the mess was cleaned up. Then we went back to caution, and Mr. Bowyer showed Mr. Hamlin his displeasure by promptly driving out of the pits and straight in to Hamlin's car. Retaliation. Love, love, LOVE IT!!!!

Hamlin, who is no stranger to dust-ups with other drivers, (See last year with He and Brad Keselowski) surprisingly took it in stride and said, 'I don't blame him. I'd have been upset too. It's just a racing deal, and sometimes you have to expect that kind of payback. Clint and I will move on and be just fine.'

Bowyer's response, was surprisingly similar. Bowyer, who replaced John Wes Townley in the Nationwide series six races ago, said: 'We've had a frustrating year. We've come home with some torn up race cars. It was just a reaction, and Denny and I will be fine and move on.'

I am surprised at the lack of coverage on the incident. When it occurred, Bowyer, was promptly parked by NASCAR and called to the Bad Boy Hauler. Not a peep on what was said or possible penalties since. Frankly, I hope that NASCAR lets them settle it on the track, where it belongs. This "Have At It Boys" policy, is the best thing that NASCAR has done for us fans in years.

But, I really think that this is the end of it with the two drivers. I really do believe that they will move on.

Of course, somewhere in the hills of Tennessee, I believe that there is a pig that can really whistle.

DOVER: The Monster Mile Took A Nap Today

With very few exceptions, The Autism Speaks 400 was, well.......DULL!!

I was shocked to see only five caution flags all day. I'm not sure if Sam Hornish, Jr. was responsible for all five or not, but you can bet he was close. That guy spreads more paint that Michelangelo ever thought about. Kasey Khane, was poised to run for his first win of the year, and broke a shifter. Juan Pablo Montoya broke the same part, an axle, I think, TWICE. Kevin Harvick, left as the points leader, despite running at a track that he himself admits,'is not one of our best.'

Kyle Busch won again. Jimmie Johnson got busted for speeding on pit road late in the race and fell to fourth in the championship standings. Dale Earhardt, Jr. finished eight laps down and fell to 16th. I hate to say it, but it looks like Junior's season is done before it ever got started. Now, on to this week's edition of the RJ's:

THE WHAT THE &$#! DO YOU MEAN I WAS SPEEDING AWARD?: Jimmie Johnson. To be honest, it was a really close call as to whether he was or not, but it had me ROFLMAO. He hasn't won in seven races, which is just fine with me, but could this be the end of NASCAR as we know it?

THE WHAT THE &$#! DO YOU MEAN I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? AWARD: Larry MacReynolds of FOX. He actually called that Brian Vickers was in the 83 car. Uh, Larry Mac? He (Vickers) just got out of the freaking hospital Friday. Pay attention to the race, please.

THE I'M GLAD WE DIDN'T SCREW UP ON PIT ROAD AGAIN AWARD: Jeff Burton. Strong second place finish. That team deserves it. If the fans don't vote him in to the all star race, it will be nothing short of a travesty. What a gentleman, clean racer, and good ambassador for our sport.

THE WHERE THE &%#! DID HE COME FROM AWARD?: David Rueitiman. MWR racing needed that top five, badly. Didn't hurt his request for a long-term contract, either.

THE WHAT THE $#%! HAPPENED TO HIM AWARD?: Jeff Gordon, who has been so impressive all year, finished 11th. He was never really a factor. Wonder why?

THE ALL THINGS PAINTED FEAR ME AWARD: Sam Hornish, Jr. He brought out two of the five cautions, that I know of. If were paint at a race track, I would just peel myself off the wall to get away from this guy. With his sponsorship gone next year, I would not be a bit surprised if he is too.

THE I THINK I AM GONNA BARF AWARD: Kyle Busch. It's as old seeing this punk win as it is seeing Jimmie Johnson do the same. He just rubs me the wrong way.

Well, that's it for Dover. On to Charlotte next weekend for the All-Star race.

My Pick: Jeff Burton. The fans, WILL do the right thing and vote him in, and he'll thank 'em just like Kasey Khane did: With a win.

Should be a dandy. We'll catch you in Victory Lane later on this week!

Today, Was MY Day!!

This is an open letter to all persons who've made fun of me and my sport over the last forty years:

You called us uneducated, moonshine-running, beer swilling rednecks. We took it in stride.

You laughed at us, saying our heroes weren't athletes and all they did was turn left. We never said a word about your favorite pitcher, or quarterback.

You thought we all had the IQ of a Turnip Green. We never said a word.

Then, we started to catch on to the rest of the world. You said, it would never last. We never said a word.

Then, you all started to jump on the bandwagon that we'd been on for years. We welcomed you with open arms, and never said a word about how you'd wronged us in the past.

Today, MY Hall of Fame opened. The NASCAR Hall of Fame. The most technologically advanced, fan-friendly and interactive Hall of Fame in the world. This time, I'm going to say something:

For all of you who thought we couldn't do it, Here's an invitation:

Kiss my flabby, PROUD redneck ass.

Things That Make You Go....Say WHAT?

There have been quite a few things in the NASCAR season so far that have made me say just that very thing. The latest, is Old Spice ending it's eleven-year association with Tony Stewart. That one, left me with my jaw dragging the ground.

Kevin Harvick, still remains unsigned, not to mention unsponsored for next year at Richard Childress Racing,or anywhere else for that matter. Shell-Pennzoil leaving his team for Kurt Busch was not the smartest move that company has ever made. The man has lead the championship points for the majority of the season. How do you leave him unsigned? RCR and Harvick, both say that a deal is close. Childress better hurry up. I think there are a lot of teams out there who would unseat a driver, to nab a talent like Harvick.

Jimmie Johnson, is not only not winning races, (Thank God) he's already got more DNF's this year than the last three combined. I've been telling you that the law of averages was going to bite him sooner or later, and it looks like I was right. Don't count him out of anything just yet, but it's sure looking like it's not gonna be as easy for him this year, as in years past.

Atlanta possibly losing a race to.....KENTUCKY??? Don't get me wrong, Kentucky is a great race track. But why would you take a date away from Atlanta, one of the fastest and exciting tracks on the circuit, and leave two dates at California, which are my two "Sedative Sundays" as I call them, where the racing is just flat-out boring? I don't get it. Take one of the snoozers (or both of them) from California and let Kentucky have them, and leave Hot-lanta alone. The racing there is just too damn good for them to lose out.

Fed Ex pulling out of the Orange Bowl, yet, sticking with Joe Gibbs Racing. No head scratcher there. Smartest thing Fed Ex could have done.

A new, more mature Kyle Busch? To quote Colonel Sherman T. Potter from M*A*S*H, "MULE MUFFINS!!!"

Ryan Newman running very well at Stewart-Haas Racing (no surprise) yet Tony Stewart can't get it together. (BIG surprise) It's pretty bad when a driver (Stewart) admits he's not running well and has, 'no idea why.'

And the one that really made me choke on my beer was Miller Lite leaving Kurt Busch to sponsor.....BRAD KESELOWSKI? This punk doesn't even need a strong mouthwash, much less a beer. (Did I say A beer? Shame on me. Nobody drinks A beer, that's why they come in six-packs.) Busch was a fabulous spokesman for that company and they're going to regret that bone-head move.

Stick around gang. We're only a third in to the season, and this can only get better.

A Saturday Night Date With The Lady In Black....And She Didn't Want To Dance

What can I say? Great race!!!! Denny Hamlin gets his first Nationwide/Cup sweep of his career, Jimmie Johnson, not only didn't win but didn't finish, and Kyle Busch didn't win or finish second. Life is good.

There's not a lot you can say about the Cup race at Darlington. It was Darlington. The Lady In Black was in no mood to dance, and she showed it. Bobby LaBonte, a former champion, wrecked twice, that I know of. Sam Hornish, Jr., hit the wall so many times I lost count. Jeff Gordon, lost again. Jeff Burton, got plain screwed. I understand NASCAR's policy of leaving pit road with equipment. A wrench stuck in a car, or a gas catch can will do a lot of damage to another car at 185 MPH. But a freaking air hose? GIMME A BREAK!!!!! It's a piece of RUBBER!!! It's on the ground. Who gives an expletive if it gets run over or not? It can't hurt expletive on the track, so why kill a guy's chance to win the race over it?

Denny Hamlin won, Jammie MacMurray was second and Jeff Gordon was fourth. Dale Jr., was not a factor, again, big surprise. Now, on to this week's RJ'S:

THE WHAT THE &%*$ DO YOU MEAN I GOT PENALIZED AWARD?: Jeff Burton. See above. NASCAR screwed him out of a win. Period.

THE WHAT THE &^#( DO YOU MEAN I GOT BEAT AGAIN? AWARD: Jeff Gordon. It wasn't his fault that another driver pitted at the same time he did.

THE OH S%&T, I'D BETTER INVEST IN A PAINT COMPANY AWARD: Sam Hornish, Jr. He took so much paint off the Darlington walls and his own car, I bet he wishes he had stock in DuPont. There could be a case argued for Hornish sharing this award with David Regan, who abused just slightly less paint than Hornish.

THE WHAT THE &*$( DO YOU MEAN FOUR TIRES AWARD: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s crew chief Lance McGrew. He put on four tires at the waaaaaayyyy wrong time of the race and put Jr. a lap down, from which he never recovered, as far as being a factor to win. He did however, drive his ass off and salvage a decent finish and is now in the top 12 in championship points. But McGrew, still made a stupid, stupid call at that point in the race.

THE THANK GOD THERE WASN'T A RAIN DELAY AWARD: That's two weeks in a row that rain hasn't been a factor in a race. Mother Nature gets this one.

THE I WISH HE WOULD SHUT THE &$#@ UP AWARD: Larry MacReynolds. He knows his cars. He can provide great insight on the technical stuff of a race. But he has NO business in the broadcast booth. The only things he can say, are what someone else has already said. Or repeat sixteen times, CAUTION IS OUT!!! We see it already. With over three hundred laps to go, he actually made the statement, "if we go caution free the rest of the way." At DARLINGTON. Shut the %$#@ up, please.

THE THANK GOD HE DIDN'T WIN AWARD: Tie. Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson. I'm sick of that.

My Pick for Dover: Mark Martin. Experience and patience will pay off at this place.

That's about it, folks. Same old same old. On to Dover next week. The Monster Mile. Hope you enjoyed the race, and Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms!

NATIONWIDE: The Lady In Black, Was In A Foul Mood

Friday night's Nationwide Series race at Darlington, lived up to the track's reputation, but the race itself, was pretty predictable. Denny Hamlin dominated, leading 111 of 147 laps, and Kyle Busch, finished second again. The record for Nationwide Race Cautions at Darlington is ten. Tonight, we came close with nine, but the race still moved on at a pretty good clip. Overall, I'd give the show a B grade.

It got a little boring watching someone dominate the race as Hamlin did, but it was a hell of a lot of fun to watch Darlington do her stuff. The Lady In Black, does not discriminate when she rears her ugly side. Veterans, rookies, it doesn't matter. Ask Justin Allgier, Greg Biffle, Steve Arpin, Mike Bliss,Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., or Matt Kenseth. Allgier and Kenseth twice each. There was really only one accident caused by contact. The rest? Blame the Track Too Tough To Tame.

To quote Harry Houge from Days Of Thunder, 'Tires, is what wins a race.' That is normally the case at Darlington, but not so tonight. Denny Hamlin ran ninety-something laps on his left side tires. Two tires worked. I never thought I'd see that at Darlington. Maybe there is something to this resurfacing thing.

Kyle Busch was his usual self on the radio. All week I've been reading about how he's more patient and mature. The race wasn't two laps old and he was already complaining. During one caution, he raved on the radio, and I quote, 'I hate this freaking race track.' Doesn't sound much more mature to me. He also stated on the radio that 'we just lost this race. Great. Thanks alot.' If I'd been on his crew, I'd have told him to change his own damn tires and see how far he gets. He still has a lot of growing up to do.

Congrats to Jammie McMurray for a solid third place run for JR Motorsports. I'm telling you all now: He is the real deal. Hamlin's Mom was at the track for Mother's Day weekend and got to be with her Son in Victory Lane. That's a feel good story in itself. Cousin Carl Edwards got a top five. That team sure needed that. Jason Leffler, a Nationwide regular, actually finished in the top 5. That was nice to see.

The Cup guys get their shot tomorrow night. And I'm pretty sure that The Lady In Black will be in a foul mood again. She usually is on race day, but that's part of her charm. Kevin Harvick, had better pray for his points lead. He doesn't run too well here. Jeff Gordon is my pick to win. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., had better do some praying too, if he's going to save his season. This is the worst place he could be in a must-run-well situation.

Enjoy the race, and we'll see you here tomorrow night afterward, and we'll have this week's edition of the RJ's.

Some Athletes Can Be Real Idiots

I absolutely do not understand it. You get paid millions of dollars to do what most only dream about. You have money, fame, accolades, adoring fans and so much more. Then you have to go and do something stupid. Jeremy Mayfield driving 200 MPH on Meth. And now, Hall of Fame Linebacker Lawrence Taylor, is charged with raping a 16 year old girl in a cheap motel room in New York. Do WHAT?????


LT has been no saint in the past. His troubles with drugs are well-publicized, he's been on Federal Probation for tax fraud, and he's had child support issues. But THIS, is inexcusable on any front. In fairness, we have yet to hear LT's side of the story, and he's innocent until proven guilty, but let's be honest here. You don't just accidentally get charged with 3rd Degree Felony rape. No matter what the outcome of this mess, LT's rep is history. No one will ever take him seriously again, and that's sad, because he was one of, if not the best to ever play his position.

What the hell was a 51 year old man doing in a cheap motel room with a 16 year old girl and a bottle of booze, even IF nothing happened? When you're a public figure, and a role model, you shouldn't even put yourself remotely near any situation like that. Why do they do it? The temptations, I suppose, but the main reason is that the powers that be are way too soft on them because they are celebrity athletes. If that had been an average Joe Blow in that room instead of a Hall of Fame linebacker, he'd be under the jail with no chance of bail. We need to start cracking down on these idiots and let them know that we won't tolerate that kind of behavior because of who they are.

If LT is found guilty, he should be kicked out of the Hall of Fame, forfeit all future retirement payments, and be forced to get a real job like the rest of us. It's high time we put these overpaid children in their place.

Please, understand. I am not condemning just Lawrence Taylor, but every single stupid athlete/celebrity that has put him/her self in this position. LT is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and despite the circumstances, deserves the same shot at justice that anyone else would get. I am no lawyer, and certainly no one to judge, but true or not, to even be associated with an allegation of this magnitude is pretty stupid when you are a high-profile person. I wish Mr. Taylor the best if he's exonerated. I wish him the absolute worst of humiliations, if he's guilty. Fair is fair.

ME?!?! A Jeff Gordon Fan?!?!?!

OK, time for blunt honesty here. I have never been a fan of Jeff Gordon. I got as sick of seeing him win in the "Glory Days" as I am of seeing Jimmie Johnson win today. But, you gotta give the devil his due. It must be really tough, seeing your teammate, not to mention, employee, dominate the sport like Gordon has had to witness Johnson doing. Then, having to put up with getting roughed up on the track by him while he steals your thunder. But, no more.

We're seeing a new, or perhaps the old, Jeff Gordon this year. The fire is back in his eyes. He's speaking his mind, both verbally, and with his front bumper. And I for one, am damned glad to see it. Case(s) in point:

Matt Kenseth punted him up the track at Martinsville, and Gordon didn't like it and cut him off. After the race he flat out stated that there was no way Kenseth was going to win that race.

Jimmie Johnson, raced him way too hard at Texas and cost them both the win. Then, the very next week at Talladega, Johnson, in what he admitted was a stupid move, cut Gordon off. Gordon flat out stated, that he was "pissed" and "didn't know what his (Johnson's) deal was. I LIKE that.

Gordon is this year, racing with a "Don't Start None, Won't Be None" attitude, with the proviso that "If you mess with me on the track, you're gonna get it back two or three fold." Again, I LIKE that. Gordon has finished second or had races simply taken away from him this year so many times, I've lost count. You almost gotta feel sorry for the guy. You could see the hurt in his eyes when Richmond was stolen from him and he finished Second, yet again. But with the fire in his eyes this year, he's gonna get one. Or several. And I (can't believe I'm saying this) will be glad to see him do so.

So, Mr.Gordon, while I'm not a fan, you are a four-time champion, and you're acting like it this year. Keep up the great work, and you're going to win. You might even gain a new fan.


Man, being a fan of Dale Jr., Tony Stewart, Mark Martin and The Late Dale Sr, that piece was really painfull to write. LOL But, a writer must be objective, and the man (Gordon) is starting to earn my respect.

The Great Rossini And His Crystal Ball

Hi Gang. Thanks for checking in again at Victory Lane. As a public service, I, Ross Jackson, will step in to a phone booth, put on my cape, whip out my crystal ball, become The Great Rossini and make my daring predictions for the remainder of the 2010 NASCAR Season. May I have absolute silence, Please. (I know, many times I often get it)

Tony Stewart, won't make the chase. (Sorry, Smoke) He's just too far off this year.

Jimmie Johnson, WILL make the chase but will not win it. The law of averages will bite him sooner or later.

My twelve drivers that will make the chase:

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Kevin Harvick
4. Kyle Busch
5. Denny Hamlin
6. Kurt Busch
7. Mark Martin
8. Greg Biffle
9. Matt Kenseth
10.Jeff Burton
11.Joey Lagono
12.Martin Truex, Jr.

DARK HORSES: Clint Bowyer, Kasey Khane, Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

THE WINNER: Honestly, your guess is as good as mine.

Mark Martin, team player that he is, will vacate the 5 car a year early to make room for Kasey Khane, form a Hendrick satellite team as owner/driver, and make the chase again in 2011.

Brad Keselowski, will bomb as a Miller Lite spokesperson in 2011. Miller Lite will move to Stewart-Haas and they will form a third team. Who will drive? Don't be shocked if it's an up and coming Nationwide hot shot.

Budweiser will go to Hendrick and stay with Khane.

I hate to say it, but I really believe it. Richard Petty Motorsports, will fold at the end of this year. That leaves Elliot Sadler, AJ Almendinger, and Reed Sorenson out of work.

And last, but not least:

I will most likely be proven totally wrong on all predictions.

The opinions expressed are mine, and mine alone, and are for entertainment purposes only. Please don't wager hard-earned money thinking that I'm some kind of expert.

Mr. Baseball Is Doing Well

Mr. Baseball, Bob Uecker, is doing well, 24 hours after some pretty major heart surgery. He's in ICU, but he can sit in a chair and is breathing on his own. Thank God. The Game, needs him. Best wishes, Sir, and we look forward to seeing you back in three months or so!!!

Richmond Cup Race Gets a B Minus

What a strange night at Richmond International Raceway. It was a pretty decent race, but man, one of the strangest things I've ever seen happen during a race, happened tonight. We're used to seeing five or six cars lose some set up during the race, but EVERYONE, and I mean almost at the exact same time, just went away. Almost every car on the track was running IDENTICAL SPEEDS. Therefore, no one could pass, no one could race, the guys were just hanging on for dear life. While FOX did an excellent job of mentioning this in their coverage, none of the "experts" even attempted to allude as to the cause of this phenomena. It was most likely the temperature change, but they could have at least told us that, and speculated as to why it hit EVERYONE at once.

In case you missed it, Kyle Busch won again. YAAAAAAAWN. Jeff Gordon finished second again. This is not a recording.

Now, a new feature: I'm going to hand out my awards, good and bad, for every race for the remainder of the season. I'm going to call them the RJ's (clever, huh?) until someone emails me with a better idea. And Yes, You will get your credit. So, without further adieu, here are the RJ's for the race that was Richmond:

THE WHAT THE $%&# DO YOU MEAN I FINISHED SECOND AGAIN? AWARD: Jeff Gordon. Man, this guy has had strong cars all year long, and he's mad and he's hungry. That makes him very dangerous to his fellow competitors at Darlington next week, where he runs very, VERY well.

THE IF IT WEREN'T FOR BAD LUCK I'D HAVE NO LUCK AT ALL AWARD: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. He's racing around, minding his own business when some incidental, and unintentional contact caused him to cut down a tire, make an unscheduled pit stop and finish three laps down. He was having a solid, rebounding season up to this point. I hope he doesn't let this setback derail the tremendous progress he and that team have made.

THE FEEL GOOD STORY OF THE RACE AWARD: Jeff Burton leading forty-something laps and finishing 4th. It was good to see "The Mayor" running well again. The whole RCR gang has stepped it up this year and they are going to win some races.

THE I THINK I'M GONNA BARF AWARD: Seeing Kyle Busch in Victory Lane again. I don't know him personally of course, but there is something about him as a driver that makes me want to walk in front of a speeding bus.

COOLEST PAINT SCHEME OF THE RACE AWARD: Kasey Khane, running the retro scheme that Darrell Waltrip won the championship with 25 years ago. D.W. kind of embarassed himself when he asked Khane if he won the race, if he could join him in Victory Lane. Khane was gracious, and said Yes. What was he supposed to do being put on the spot on National television? Tell Him, Hell, No. Keep your old, retired ass in the booth where it belongs! Just a joke D.W. You bring more to the race than anyone, with the exception of Mike Joy.

THE DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME AWARD: Kevin Harvick. After a strong start to the season, and then a two or three week drop off, he's back on top of the point standings. What do you want to bet that if he keeps this up, the wondering where he's going to race next season stops by the time the chase starts, and he's got a long-term deal at RCR, HMMMMMMMM?

THE HEARTBREAK AWARD: Mark Martin. After what he accomplished last year, it's sad to see him having the year he's had so far. I'm not giving up on him, it's just sad to see such a class act run in to so much garbage that's not even his fault. But I will have to put his Pit Road speeding penalty on him, though.

THE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE &%#@ YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AWARD: I'm gonna have to be fair and give this one to..........ME. I picked Tony Stewart to win, and he finished 24th, one lap down. Don't base your fantasy picks on me, gang.

Well, that does it for Richmond. On to Darlington next week. The Track Too Tough To Tame. The Lady In Black. The Darlington Stripe. This joint never fails to put on a great show. It's the first Superspeedway in NASCAR history. It's special. And it's Saturday night under the lights again.

My Pick: Jeff Gordon. He wants it. And even though I'm not a fan, he deserves it. He's worked way too hard to get his old magic back to finish second again.

Hope you all had a super weekend and enjoyed the race. We'll talk to you later this week.