Two Administrative Notes

1) No points will be counted towards the segment nor the overall poitns this weekend. This is an exhibition race and therefore we are just running for race wins.

2) You are picking for two races this year. Past NASCAR champions, all race winners from the 2012 season, and all winners so far in teh 2013 season are in the race. All other drivers will be in the All-Star opener. Make sure you make picks for both races.

For example, my own picks will be as follows

Sprint Showdown Opening Race

1) Aric Almirola
2) Martin Truex, Jr.
3) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

Sprint All Star Race

1) Carl Edwards
2) Matt Kenseth
3) Kasey Kahne



Here is the NASCAR.com entry list for the race. All other drivers will be in the Showdown race. The winner of that race and the fan vote into the race will run the Sprint Showdown. What that basically translates to is that Danica Patrick will run the All Star Race

http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-c...star-race.html

http://www.jayski.com/news/stats/201...tar-Race#entry


Points and Congratulatory Remarks

Although the points don't count this week, I will post them. Keane is the hottest man in MCF NASCAR Fantasy right now, winning hte last two races, with a total of three overall this year, plus holding the Segment and Overall points leads!!!

Overall:

1) Leprechaun93 1149 Leader
2) monte carlo 3831 1126 -23
3) SSmeansSuperSexy 1102 -47
4) Cowboy6622 1084 -65
5) Ricks 2006 SS 1083 -66
6) silverfish33 1054 -95
7) MnteCrloSS47 1053 -96
8) 02 Earnhardt 1050 -99
9) butch049 1038 -111
10) STUMPMI 1009 -140
11) 77GP 1005 -144
12) 03JGMonte 998 -151
13) zjerry 983 -166
14) SupplySgt 979 -170
15) RocknSS04 976 -173
16) BlazedSS 975 -174
17) carlm54stl 903 -246
18) 06MistreSS 869
19) BocaReject 180
20) DarrynSami 115
21) Lorenzo 114

Segment 2:

1) Leprechaun93 231 Leader
2) monte carlo 3831 212 -19
3) silverfish33 211 -20
4) butch049 207 -24
5) Ricks 2006 SS 203 -28
6) cowboy6622 197 -34
7) Blazed SS 188 -43
8) 03JGMonte 185 -46
9) zjerry 184 -47
10) MnteCrloSS47 182 -49
11) 02 Earnhardt 179 -52
12) STUMPMI 178 -53
13) SSmeansSuperSexy 161 -70
14) 77GP 153 -78
15) SupplySgt 146 -85
16) carlm54stl 132 -99
17) Ricks 2006 SS 129 -102

This Week

Tire management will be an issue, but a minor one. What you want this weekend is a team willing to strategize and play the gambling game. Conservative mode won't get it done. You need a Chad Knaus or a Paul Wolfe this weekend. So you want drivers and teams who work well together, manage a race well, plus you need someone who does a good job keeping up with a track as we go into the night.

Sometimes, you will also see a team pull something out of the bag. Last year, the Ford's blew engines big time. That package didn't work. Sometimes, like the year before ( When Edwards won), it works well, and that team will apply that technology in the future to win races.

CHEVROLET TEAMS

Hendrick

The Hendrick camp will all be in the race. I think Jimmie Johnson or Kasey Kahne would be a good choice. I just don't see Steve Letarte and Dale Jr taking the necessary chances or playing their cards right either. Alan Gustafson just seems to conservative. I like Kasey and Jimmie though.

Stewart Haas

Stewart has got to try something. They're mired back in teh 20's in points and that just isn't good. I woudln't be surprised to see them try something new this weekend.. but what I do'nt know. All of these cars will be in the race (including Danica, who will inevitably win the fan poll)

Childress

Harvick was unstoppable in the exhibtiion races at Daytona. Will he be that way in Charlotte

Menard and Burton will have to race their way in. Menard just seems to conservative to win the all star race, and so does Burton. Plus, Burton is in that Dale Jarrett/Ricky Rudd stage of the career and not accomplishing a lot.

Earnhardt Ganassi

Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo have been fast, but mostly on flatter tracks... I don't know if either will be a threat in the opener but they could run top 5 and contend.... I think some of the Ford's and Toyotas will be faster.

FORD TEAMS

Roush

Edwards and the Biff will both be in the race for sure. Edwards is slowly and methodically climbing through the field right now... he isn't making hard charges and doign damage to get to the front and win races. I do'nt think that attitude will win the All Star race but they might try something that works out and gets them a win in the Coca~Cola 600. Greg Biffle just isn't driving great right now so I'm not looking for much out of him.

Ricky Stenhouse will hae to race his way in. I think he will be fast in that show too.

Petty

Ambrose is in, but I don't look to see much out of him. Almirola will have to race his way in. If Almirola runs like he has on the 1.5s lately, he'll be a match for anyone.

Penske

Both cars are in the race, but without Paul Wolfe and Todd Gordon, I do'nt know how good they will be. Of course, with the crew chiefs just sitting in the shop calling the race with satelites and crap, what difference does it make?

TOYOTA TEAMS

Joe Gibbs Racing

The JGR three are on top fo the world. If Kyle Busch can not crash or have bad luck, he might win. Matt Kenseth is just on fire right now. Denny Hamlin is on the up and up and a short race with lots of breaks could be what he needs.

Michael Waltrip Racing

While their cars are fast, it seems they routinely have their wins stolen by JGR.

Clint Bowyer will be in the All-Star, but Truex and Vickers will be in the opener. They will probably both be very fast in that race too....

 

any possibility you could post whos in each race???

I have a real problem navagateing Nascars site!

 

As of now, I have not seen an entry list for either race posted. That's usually not available until Tuesday.

And I usually get it from Jayski.com


I'm going to finish the rundown later on today I hope. It just depends on how fate treats me.

 

Okay, I think I finally finished my Charlotte run down....


Time to go crash 'em up in Charlotte!!!


Big crash in 1997 at Charlotte... scanned from Greg Fielden's NASCAR Chronicle.

 

QVC car, I have that in a 1/24th diecast and a mini-hauler also...........

 

Yeah, the days before internet shopping could be annoying....

 

If Denny Hamlin has any sense at all he will sit this weekend out. Broken bones as he has said take a full year to truly heal. Charlotte is not a slow track. One hard hit and his season and possibly career is over. Race with your head Denny not your heart. If you want to make the Chase and be a champion then risking it all this weekend for a non points race is just foolish. I think we all know Denny won't be hurting if he doesn't have a chance to win any extra money and as far as learning for the next weekend... If you can't learn from the notes Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch will give you from Saturday night then your in pretty bad shape as a team. Hamlin will have plenty of practice before the 600 to know what he wants in that car. To gamble it all away on a "for fun" race seems pretty dumb to me especially when Denny rushed so hard to get back and claims to be so focused on making the Chase. He needs all the rest he can get while he can get it.

 

That pic isn't from 1997. I believe it's from 1996. Look closely at the picture and you will see no headlight decals on the Monte Carlo's. In 1997 they had headlight decals but in this picture they don't. Thus it's either from 1995 or 1996.

 

Showdown
Paul Menard
Stenhouse Jr
Almirola

All Star Race
Jeff Gordon
Jimmie Johnson
Matt Kenseth

 

Good points about Denny. as hard as pepole race in the All Star race sometimes, it is hard to see the value in racing in it. You're a bit more likely to be in a crash this weekend than in the 600.