Our thoughts and best wishes go out to the fan who died at Pocono and the other nine who were injured

http://www.nascar.com/news/120805/po...ing/index.html

^LINK^

When the storm hit Pocono, it was fast and furious, and unlike the movie, it wasn't fun. A fan died in a lightining strike and nine others are injured.

Fans endure a lot to see these races, and it is sad that a weekend of enjoyment and after such a spectacular race had to end this way for 10 fans and their families.

Points, Intro, and Congratulatory Remarks

First off, a congrats to Mike Beck (03JGMonte) for his 3rd win of the year and his 6th of his MCF NASCAR Fantasy Career last week at Pocono!

Another congrats goes out to Carl Martin, who opened up his points lead to the largest ever held in the history our league, and it is beginning to look to me like no one will have anything for Carl Martin....

And our new comer, MnteCrloSS47 has the Segment 3 lead by a thin margin of 1 point!

Overall:

1) carlm54stl 2232 Leader
2) bblackstone 2145 -87
3) JuniorCar 2144 -88
4) SupplySgt 2130 -102
5) Cowboy6622 2127 -105
6) Leprechaun93 2126 -106
7) 03JGMonte 2098 -134
8) zjerry 2092 -140
9) 02 Earnhardt 2087 -145
10) lougreen03 2030 -202
11) butch049 2023 -209
12) montecarlo3831 2010 -222
13) 77GP 1922 -310
14) STUMPMI 1843 - 387
15) silverfish33 1804 -428
16) adgm2005 1634
17) RocknSS04 1142
18) SuperSportSteve 928
19) 01 Monte SS 908
20) Ricks 2006 SS 650
21) 06 Mistre SS 428
22) nichols2k 374
23) MnteCrloSS47 352
24) Teacher 306
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 352 Leader
2) 03JGMonte 351 -1
3) bblackstone 335 -17
4) 02 Earnhardt 325 -27
5) zjerry 323 -29
6) butch049 322 -30
7) SupplySgt 321 -31
8) nichols2k 312 -40
9) adgm2005 308 -44
10) carlm54stl 300 -52
11) STUMPMI 298 -54
12) Leprechaun93 295 -57
13) Cowboy6622 293 -59
14) 77GP 282 -70
15) JuniorCar 281 -71
16) montecarlo3831 277 -75
17) lougreen03 275 -77
18) Ricks 2006 SS 247 -105
19) silverfish33 184


Defending Winner: 'Space



The Rain Tire


One time, in Sprint Cup series competiton, the rain tires have been broken out to use. It was at Watkins Glen for a practice session back in the 90s. NASCAR claims the competition level on the cup and the stakes for the championship there were too risky for a rain tire.

So the established guys who are allegedly the best in the series and maybe the world can't race on the rain. But the 19 year olds in the Nationwide who are trying to get sponsors and trying to get a break... hell, just dump them in the rain and let them crahs, no one cares.



And before being picked up by Hendrick to run cup, Jimmie Johnson was most famous for crashing into that turn one wall at Watkins Glen....

You Tube

And they need to do something about the turn 1 turn 2 straightaway here....




This Week at Watkins Glen


The Hendrick cars are hot. We can't deny that. But if there was ever a track where that wasn't important, I think that track is Watkins Glen. It's more of an animal all its own. Weaker teams run here, and in recent years, a different little band of drivers have been dominating and performingo n these road courses. Plus, if someone screws up on that one turn, and your guy is in the wrong spot, it no longer matters anyway.

The Favorites

I think after that luck at Pocono, Jeff Gordon is one to look out for. He was getting his season turned around anyway, and now, with that win, he might very well go on a tear. Jimmie Johnson is another who has seriously improved his road racing prowess over the years and will be a factor as well.

Tony Stewart is always a favorite at a road course. Stewart has a top 5 at Pocono, and he was 2nd in Sonoma, so we have to think that Stewart will be a factor at Watkins Glen.

Brad Keselowski and the Penske team have run well lately and last year, Keselowski began showing he can run well on the road courses. I look for that Dodge to be a factor.

And an unusual favorite I am going to throw in this week.... Kevin Harvick. Harvick is underrated on raod courses, and Harvick is also good at just letting a race come to him. His abilities and patience will pay off this weekend.

I'm not making a lot of favorites this week.

The oens to watch.

I will have a lot to watch.

Marcos Ambrose is a major figure talked about everytime we go to a road course. I feel like the Glen is his better track. He will be a factor this week too. He had a shenanigan at Sonoma but I think he will be better at Watkins Glen

I think there are a lot of other underrated road course racers.

Joey Logano, for one. Logano seems to upll together good races. He went under the wing of Max Papis and leanred a lot about racing from that guy.

Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, and Matt Kenseth all seem to put together decent runs. Watch out for them!

Sam Hornish is coming off a time out of the cup and has to prove something. However, he was a major factor in a few crashes here in that video too.

Kasey Kahne has won at Sonoma, but I feel like that is his better road course.

Clint Bowyer might be a popular name to look at, but I feel that Sonoma is his better road course adn not the Glen.

Martin Truex is the same as Clint Bowyer.. .seems to do better at Sonoma.

Ryan Newman might run decent this week.

Paul Menard... maybe....

The Ones to Avoid

Everytime we come to road courses, the naem "Juan Pablo Montoya" goes around. He failed at Sonoma, he is running like crap is like 31st in points, so I just have to three words: "Don't do it."

Kyle Busch might seem tempting, but look at his luck right now... either he screws up, the shop screws up, the pit crew screws up, or the parts screw up. Nothing can go right for this man this year. Jeff Gordon's monkey jumped on Kyle Busch's back.

And... get the guns ready... DALE EARNHARDT JR is one to avoid! He has I believe 2 top 10s here, none recently, and he is coming off a bad luck weekend at Pocono. Junior ran okay to mediocre at Sonoma, nad was lucky to finish where he did after a lat erace incident. Ij ust have a hard time believing he will be much better this weekend.

Although I feel like McMurray is an underrated road course racer, the luck that team is having this year just makes him a dud this weekend. I feel like Montoya might even be pulling the team down.

Other htan that... you're usual duds of Jeff Burton, Casey Mears, REgan smith...



I'm trying a shorter run down format for this week.... feel like it may make it easier to read and understand . I might add more detail later in the week.


My Picks

I've got to do something radical, something different. I want to win a race, and I can't do it by having everyone elses picks. I'm going to take some underdogs and see what happens.... I might adjust these following some practice and qualifying.

1) Marcos Ambrose
2) Brad Keselowski
3) Tony Stewart

 

88-24-16

since i wont be able to see any practice or the race..

These r my picks...

gl ev1

 

Here's my Pick's

1) Tony Stewart
2) Greg Biffle
3) Jeff Gordon

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr
Jeff Gordon
Brad Keselowski

temp picks might change after practice.

 

Jeff Gordon
Ambrose
Keselowski

 

1. #48 Mr. Jimmie Johnson 2. #24 Mr. Jeff Gordon. 3. #9 Mr. Marcos Ambrose

 

14--48--24

 

Hi NASCAR `Member's,
Per request by our `Duane,
I shall post (guess) my no points counting picks
I hope that everyone enjoys the Race..(I love Race Courses & I think it really brings out the talents of each driver)

Space Picks
1. Juan Pablo Montoya '
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Tony Stewart ..I'm gona knock everyone outa my way...just wait & C lol

p.s. I think Marcus will do great...It all depends on racing luck/driver/team/weather etc.
p.s.s. Thanks `Duane 4 your invitation to come `out & play the MCF NASCAR Game!

 

Jeff Gordon
Kevin Harvick
Tony Stewart

 

1) Tony Stewart
2) Marcus Ambrose
3) Kevin Harvick