It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for Duane Black....

These are bad times to be a JimmieJohnson/Dale Jr Hater..... the former just domianted Indy, the latter is the points leader.....

Yet at the same time, I've just landed a teaching job in some hard times in this county, and my Torino won Best Ford this previous Saturday in Durham, NC....



Points, Intro, and Congratulatory Remarks


Carl Martin has opened his points lead back up in the overall to a fairly comfortable 61 points. In the segment, a new comer, MnteCrloSS47, has a slim lead after 2 races in Segment 3....


1) carlm54stl 2144 Leader
2) JuniorCar 2083 -61
3) Leprechaun93 2075 -69
4) Cowboy6622 2050 -94
5) SupplySgt 2045 -99
6) bblackstone 2027 -117
7) 02 Earnhardt 2001 -143
8) zjerry 2000 -144
9) 03JGMonte 1978 -166
10) lougreen03 1963 -181
11) montecarlo3831 1951 -193
12) butch049 1936 -208
13) 77GP 1848 -296
14) silverfish33 1804 -344
15) STUMPMI 1769 -379
16) adgm2005 1562
17) RocknSS04 1142
18) SuperSportSteve 928
19) 01 Monte SS 908
20) Ricks 2006 SS 604
21) 06 Mistre SS 428
22) Teacher 306
23) nichols2k 293
24) MnteCrloSS47 248
25) yutzybrian 211
26) monte06ltz 92
27) Racebound2 83
28) Possum 77
29) 04chevyboy 76
30) Emily666 61
31) SS Means Super Sexy 60
32) mousehousemoparman 54


Segment 3


1) MnteCrloSS47 248 Leader
2) Leprechaun93 244 -4
3) 02 Earnhardt 239 -9
4) SupplySgt 236 -12
5) adgm2005 236 -12
6) butch049 235 -13
7) zjerry 231 -17
8) nichols2k 231 -17
9) 03JGMonte 231 -17
10) STUMPMI 224 -24
11) JuniorCar 220 -28
12) montecarlo3831 218 -30
13) bblackstone 217 -31
14) Cowboy6622 216 -32
15) carlm54stl 212 -36
16) 77GP 208 -40
17) lougreen03 208 -40
18) Ricks 2006 SS 201 -47
19) silverfish33 184 - 64




Defending Winner KidSpace, now simply known as 'Space


Pocono History

Pocono is a track that was once known for it's long, boring green runs, and in a year of long green runs and lack of cautions, that can only be accepted as a continuing fact.

However, rain is always an issue at Pocono, especially in the late summer race when heat and humidity is higher.


I've gone over the Pocono history a few times. I've pulled all the videos... I do'nt really feel like doing it again, especially when the other Pocono race was just like 6 weeks ago. So here is osmething a little different.

Both of these photos Igot from John Craft... a man who worked for Holman-Moody back in the 1960s.

The first shot is of Richard Pettys Riverside car sitting in the Petty shop in 1969. This Torino was quick with Petty behind the wheel for certain, and had he not been injured in Asheville Speedway in May, he may have won the title but he missed a few important races because of broken ribs.




And here is the Petty gang doing an engine swap on their infamous '70 Superbird the next season in teh garage area...





What a day this must have been to race in... watching a 426 hemi go into the Superbird, and in teh back ground, AJ Foyts truck gives this away as a major superspeedway, Riverside or Daytona most likely....

And in teh truck with Foyt, if you look closely, you can see a Boss 429 engine sitting in the hauler....










This Week at Pocono

It is in the name. PocoNO. As in, NO, do not watch this race. At least, that used to be the case....

I missed most of this race as I was in Richmond last month, but I should be here this time. and some people thought it was a big race with the new pavement and had a great finish between Logano and Martin....


But it is still the long straightaways and flat turns that this modern car just doesn't race well with. Until now, mayhaps?






The Favorites

I think again, they have to be the cars with the bow ties on the front. Yet this week, I think a few ovals and ram heads and some whatever that 'Yota logo is will be in the mix.

First off...

ALL THE HENDRICK CARS!!!!

Gordon won here last year, Johnson is getting into championship stride and runs well here anyway, Junior feels like this place owes him one because he was so disappointed with a 4th place run last time, and Kahne is great here too.....

There is one Hendrick related car that I just can't throw in the mix though....

Other favorites.... Biffle broke a long winless streak in '09 here for Ford and I think he will be good after that great run at Indy. Biffle was the best ford at New Hampshire and I think he will be good again at Pocono.

Also, Brad Keselowski, the emerging King of Tough, who won at Bristol twice in a row, who won here last year with a recently broken foot, who wins races in triple header weekends.... he will be tough at Pocono too!!

Then there is Dennis Hamster. Hamster is good at Pocono, but the 'Yota teams in general just seem to have a monkey on their shoulder. Kyle Busch may have broken that this weekend.



Ones to Watch

I think Carl Edwards has to be one to watch and not a favorite. I think the new team might hit stride. The car ran fast laps all day at Pocono, but just wasn't in contention because of early race issues. He is good at Pocono though!

Kyle Busch might be one to watch as he is good at Pocono, and taht 2nd at Indy might have just get him going in the right direction.

Joey Logano won at Pocono, but I feel like that team just hasn't kept up the steam. This is one of his better tracks, so we can't count him out this weekend.

Matt Kenseth is one to watch and not a favorite like his teammate. Matt just didn't have the car the alst couple of weeks on flat tracks taht Biffle had.


Then, a guy I almost want to just put in the dumpster, Tony Stewart. Tony Stewart hasn't had a great car at the last two tracks, both of which were flat. I had Pony both weeks, and he just didn't get the job done for me. I just can't trust him again.

Kevin Harvick is just quietly running along in the points and not really emerging as a strong factor for anything yet. I think he will be alright at Pocono, but just not a big contender.

Also, the 55 car and whoever drives it. Martin is good at this place, has run 2nd so many

The ones to avoid.


When we come to Pocono, everyone talks about Juan Montoya and his road course prowess, and how this track is sort of like a road course. In his better years, this was true. But Montoya has just been a disaster on the track since that jet dryer in teh 500.

And as a surprise, I'm going to throw Michael Waltrip Racing in here. I just don't see this team has just lost that early season magic and momentum that had Truex running for wins and Bowyer in contention. What a difference a month makes. Truex and Bowyer are slowsly fading in the points.....



My Picks


Alright... after 20 races this year, I just have to jump bandwagon and accept the reality around me....... I'm joining the rest of you.


1) Jimmie Johnson
2) Denny Hamlin
3) Greg Biffle

 

Here's my pick's

1) Jimmie Johnson
2) Jeff Gordon
3) Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Love the Old Pic's..

 

1) Denny Hamlin
2) brad keselowski
3) Jeff Gordon

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr
Jimmie Johnson
Martin Truex Jr

 

Jeff Gordon
Johnson
Keselowski

 

Denny Hamlin
Jeff Gordon
Kyle Busch

 

1. #48 Jimmie Johnson 2. #5 Kasey Kahne 3. #88 Dale jr. <center>

 

88-48-16

 

Here is a photo of the 2nd place man at Pocono in 1975, Richard Petty!!! This photo comes from a negative produced by Ingo Giske.

 

By request of our `Duane
I am submitting my Top 3 picks for Pocono's this Sunday (*Note;These picks will not count & are just for fun to see `if I can pick a winner)
*Space Picks*
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Mark Martin
3. Jeff Gordon

Wish everyone good luck & thanks `Duane as always for your time & dedication + Super threads & infor on NASCAR