Points and Congratulatory Remarks

First off, the big man of the week is Keane, Leprechaun93, who won an exciting finish at Talladega. As a result, he took the Overall points lead by a slim 2 point margin.

By winning Talladega, Keane also leads the Segment points, which is still very young at one race old....


Overall

1) Leprechaun93 1020 Leader
2) SSmeansSuperSexy 1003 -17
3) monte carlo 3831 999 -21
4) Cowboy6622 980 -40
5) Ricks 2006 SS 954 -66
6) 02 Earnhardt 943 -77
7) silverfish33 941 -79
8) MnteCrloSS47 940 -80
9) butch049 916 -104
10) 77GP 910 -110
11) 03JGMonte 904 -116
12) STUMPMI 900 -120
13) zjerry 896 -124
14) RocknSS04 887 -133
15) SupplySgt 873 -147
16) 06MistreSS 869 -151
17) BlazedSS 853 -167
18) carlm54stl 808 -222
19) BocaReject 180
20) DarrynSami 115
21) Lorenzo 114

Segment 2 Points

1) Leprechaun93 102 Leader
2) silverfish33 98 -4
3) zjerry 97 -5
4) cowboy6622 93 -9
5) 03JGMonte 91 -11
6) butch049 85 -17
7) monte carlo 3831 85 -17
8) Ricks 2006 SS 74 -28
9) 02 Earnhardt 72 -30
10) STUMPMI 69 -33
11) MnteCrloSS47 69 -33
12) Blazed SS 66 -36
13) SSmeansSuperSexy 62 -40
14) 77GP 58 -44
15) SupplySgt 40 -62
16) carlm54stl 37 -65


This Week at Darlington

I have to be honest: when I was a kid, I didn't like Darlington. I hated it on the video games, I didn't think it provided good action, and I actually didn't care when it lost a race in 2004. Now, I regret those days. Darlington has become one of my favorite tracks... I absolutely love this place!!!

500 miles here is a long way... it feels like a 600 mile race because the speeds just aren't what they should be at this track, plus, it's so many laps!

Here, of course, the groove is generally right up against the wall. But we saw guys like Jimmie Johnson brushing the apron last year and Johnson won this thing in dominating fashion for that Hendrick #200 last year.

The trick this week is a team with solid cars, crew cheifs, and drivers. You want a team that can manage the transition from day to nigth and keep up with the track as it cools into the evening.

CHEVROLET TEAMS

Hendrick

Hendrick hasn't shown the domination on some of these tracks I would hope they would, but I think a turnaround is in order. And they haven't been bad... just not as dominant as the Gibbs Toyotas. Some of those guys have juts been too good to deny. An all HEndrick team wouldn't be a bad card to play this weekend.

Jimmie Johnson is so good at Darlington. I think it's a long shot to bet against Johnson, in fact.

Kasey Kahne is good at Darlington and Kahne is also good at managing thse day to night races. I think you have to watch for Kahne.

Jeff Gordon has more wins here than any active driver and is almost in DAvid Pearson territory at this place. The last two years haven't been too good to him at Darlington and he seems to be on another bad luck train this year.

Dale Jr... meh. I told you guys not to pick him at Talladega.

Stewart Haas

I think something is just out of order and on a tight, techincal track like Darlington, you can't bet on a team that is behind the curve.

Childress Racing

I thin kthe patience vs. aggression level may fit the Harvick style well.... but Menard and Burton are probably going to fall by the wayside. As good as Menard has been, I think this is the point in the year where he begins to fall apart...

FORD TEAMS

Roush

Carl Edwards really should have had this in 2011 but Regan pulled one over on him. Greg Biffle has won here twice, but I think the only Roush car with luck right now is Edwards. I think Edwards is good at this place and has even been coached by Pearson on how to drive this place. Watch out...

Penske

Brad Keselowski is really good at this track. His Ford team is turning a corner and I don't know what happened at Talladega after the rain delay... but they've been doing alright so we'll see how it goes.

Something else to consider for Penske is that they may be without many of their engineers, car chiefs, and crew chiefs. For this reason and this reason only, I will personally not pick a Penske car until we get to a more traditional track like Charlotte in a couple of weeks. I think the transition this track will see, plus how technical the place is anyway, will play havoc on the teams.

TOYOTA TEAMS

Do you still trust those engines? Darlington is a tough place on an engine. It sees a lot of difference in speed with the straightaway coming off 4 seeing slow speeds, maintaining al ot of speed through 1 and 2, and running 190 down the back stretch into 3... cars run 50-60 mph difference in speeds here, which plays havoc on RPM's. That constant transition is tough on an engine.

Joe Gibbs Racing

Without a doubt, Matt Kenseth might run away and dominate this thing. But you have to refer to my statement on Toyota engines. For two years, they have had bouts with engine problems... so I think it's hard to bet on a Toyota.

Kyle Busch just seems too aggressive to win. If his set up is perfect, he might dominate and win... but if not, or if he gets behind for a bit, I think Busch might over drive the car.

Dennis Hamster is going to be back but I'm not picking him because of his back injury and the engine package. With Hamlin out so long, he may do something like miss his pit box or experience pain that keeps him down... even though I think Hamlin ahs the best average finish here too.

Michael Waltrip Racing

I think Truex and Bowyer will run alright, but one of them is so good on "cookie cutterS" and they otehr is better on the extremes (restricter plates or short tracks)... so for that reason, I stay away from MWR. Mark Martin might wreck havoc on everybody though...

My Picks


I've got to reverse last week... two Chevy's and a Ford for Darlington!! I need good points weeks and a chance at a win to take the points lead and begin working on trying to win Segment 2....

1) Jimmie Johnson
2) Kasey Kahne
3) Carl Edwards



Take a Ride around Darlington with me!!!


This is hte "fast set" here...






This is a slower set of laps.. .but with a lot of classic cars on the track with us and some passing on my part.... plus, my mom recorded this set and just didn't know how to stop record.... and you can take a tour of the infield....



If you want to watch my "power move" on the front stretch, fast forward to 6:30



The roll off...



Images...






This one is a profesionall photographers shot I found on the internet from the event...

 

Probably the only one other than a road course where I'm not picking Jr. He hasn't finished in the top ten at Darlington since his first year with Hendrick. With the luck I have this year though, Jr will probably end up winning the thing since I'm not picking him. Also making a rare move and taking an lineup with only one make (Chevy).

Johnson
Kahne
Harvick.

 

Here's my picks

1) Jimmie Johnson
2) Brad Keselowski
3) Dale Earnhardt Jr.

 

Jeff Gordon
Jimmie Johnson
Brad Keselowski

 

Johnson
Kenseth
Keselowski

 

Dale Jr
Jimmie Johnson
Martin Truex Jr

 

Classic NASCAR Photo of the Day!!!


HEre is a photo of Darlington back in 1951. The high banks on teh outside were initially intended to catch a car that got out of control without it hitting the wall. In response, the west caost guys who were running Oakland and Riverside said the best way around would be on the banking up against the wall... and the rest is history....

 

Jeff Gordon

Kyle Bush

Jimmy Jonson

 

Jimmie Johnson
Kasey Kane
Jeff Gordon

 

Everyone who picked Matt Kenseth at Kansas will get some points back.

Kenseth's penalty was reduced to 12 points... which means members who chose Kenseth will get a 38 point increase in their points.

I don't know as of now if this will affect our Segment 1 winner.