Matt's Thread of Racing...

[NewYorkSpider]

Back from the Glen. Had a blast camping up there. Went to Trackside on Speed Friday night. Got Jeff Hammonds autograph. I'll post some picks either tonight or tomorrow.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Here's a few photos that I have uploaded. I'll post more tonight.


Clint Bowyer's #33 Cherrios Chevrolet

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Dale Earnhardt Jr's #88 National Guard Chevrolet

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Sprint Cup Trophy

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[El_Citrus]

Looks like it was an awesome time, NYS! I'm jealous, I have to admit. From where you were sitting, you may have gotten a good view of Stewart wrecking Boris Said.

Anyway, I feel great for Montoya that he won (even though he comes off as a prick sometimes with how unenthusiastic he is about his wins), but my heart breaks again for Marcos Ambrose. He would have won that race if not for those bad set of tires.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Yeah, Boris Said wrecked right in front of us. Didn't get a picture of that though. Here's a few more photo's of where we were sitting. I did get a picutre of the officals fixing the fence. I'm gonna try to get some videos posted on YouTube.

This is going into turn 2 heading up into the S's

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Looking towards turn 1

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Anyway, I feel great for Montoya that he won (even though he comes off as a prick sometimes with how unenthusiastic he is about his wins), but my heart breaks again for Marcos Ambrose. He would have won that race if not for those bad set of tires.

I'm glad Montoya won, although I wished it was Ambrose, too. Clint Bowyer having troubles really tightend up that 12th place spot.

 

[El_Citrus]

Watching all 43 race up through those S's must have been a tremendous sight. Again, jealous. You should have gotten into the Nationwide race and witnessed that huge pileup firsthand.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

We actually did attend the Nationwide Race, but we got there with so many laps to go. When we were just getting there, we heard a bunch of people cheering and saw a lot of smoke. We finally got up to our seats and I snapped this photo.

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[El_Citrus]

NICE! If only you'd gotten there a few minutes earlier. You definitely got great seats, since that was the best spot on the track all weekend.

In other news: Kasey Kahne will be in a Red Bull Toyota next year. I'm sure he'll have fun with another season of no wins. Scott Speed, unless Vickers isn't cleared to race next season, gets to find himself a ride. Maybe the 47 JTG Toyota?

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Here's the video I uploaded last night.

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I think Kahne could do well with Red Bull. They have the speed in those race cars, they just don't have talented drivers. Vickers has made the chase before with them. I'm sure Kahne could do about the same.

 

[El_Citrus]

That had to sound truly awesome in person.

As for Kahne and Red Bull. Yes, Red Bull has the cars, but even then, I doubt they're putting out better cars than RPM, and this is just a place holder for one year anyway, so why pu this heart and soul into it? They're not putting out better cars than RPM, who Kahne managed to win 2 races with last year, and none this year while dealing with contract issues and signing with Hendrick. He may give Red Bull their first ever Cup win, but I don't see it happening.

 

[Soundwave]

I can't tremember for sure but didn't Vickers win at Michigan last year with the Red Bull Toyota?

 

[El_Citrus]

I stand corrected. I can't even remember that race that he won at Michigan. I'm honestly trying to remember anything about that race and nothing's coming to me.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

But you have to look at Red Bull Racing over the years. They've been competitive from '08 to the first quarter of 2010. Vickers was around 12th place before his illness.

I STRONGLY believe that Kahne could make the chase with that race team. While Vickers race win came on fuel mileage, they've been in contention to win races. Kahne is great on mile and a half race tracks. It's the same place where Vickers has done well. Scott Speed has always qualified well for races, I just don't think he has the talent week in and week out.

 

[El_Citrus]

Kevin Harvick is quickly putting together the wins to stay competitive during the Chase. Gordon is going to suffer despite being 2nd in the points right now. Budweiser must be happy to see Harvick mounting so many wins this season.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I really think this is going to be the best Chase for the Championship to date. Harvick is running well every week and people like Stewart, Edwards and Biffle continue to improve. Then you have Hamlin and Gordon who put together consistent finishes. You can say Harvick is the clear favorite to win the championship, but there are gonna be other players before it's all said and done.

 

[El_Citrus]

Gordon is going to get massacred when the Chase is reset because he has no wins. I would say that Johnson is still the favorite, since he always steps up his game by about three whole levels during the Chase, while Harvick is looking strong and Hamlin is lurking right on Johnson's heels.

I think something to watch will be if Jamie Mac can get into the Chase. He could be a dark horse to contend with if he gets in.

I wonder if Newman will give Logano a little bump and run at Bristol this weekend.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

While Gordon would be 50 points behind, a win to start the chase would put him in contention. I think people read too much into the bonus points drama. Yes, it's nice to have those extra points, but it doesn't mean you can't win the championship. Take Clint Bowyer for example in 2007. Was 60 points behind Jimmie Johnson and he ended up winning the race. He was only 15 points behind after New Hampshire.

I would love for McMurray to get in the chase(sorry Martin fans). That would complete a dream season for him to be able to race for the championship.

As for Newman, I don't think he'll be that aggresive around Logano during Bristol. If Newman wrecks him, them Logano could come right back out and wreck him. Not what Newman wants to see when he's 100 points out of the chase with 3 races to go.

 

[El_Citrus]

True, but we'll see how Gordon's mentality is heading into the Chase. This year has been "So close, yet so far" for Gordon. It's true that guys like Kyle Busch can win 8 races and plummit during the Chase and Clint Bowyer can win his way to the top, but Gordon has to get that breakthrough win out of the way this season before the Chase, or I don't see him winning any races this year....Man, my brain is out of it this evening.

I'm surprised Roush has three drivers still in the Chase. Kenseth and Edwards have been flirting with the lower end of the standings, so it's possible Martin and McMurray could make it in, though only one is likely going to do so, and Martin has been underwhelming all year.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I think the top 11 are pretty much secure unless they have a major collapse. The three Roush drives all finished 3rd, 4th and 5th in the last Bristol race. Carl Edwards is actually my pick for this Saturday night.

 

[El_Citrus]

I'd say Tony Stewart would be my pick. He finished second during the spring race, and is always hot during the summer months.

 

[BlackLantern]

who??

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I'm hoping Bowyer has troubles at Atlanta in a few weeks so the race at Richmond is something to watch. If you look at the Standings, a bad race by Bowyer would put 5 other drives in contention for a chase spot. McMurray is inching ever so close to that final spot.

 

[El_Citrus]

I hate to wish a bad race on anyone, but Bowyer have a bad race, as you said, would give us a Richmond race really worth watching. I'm rooting for McMurray.

I hope that Kesolowski is allowed to pay Kyle back at some point for the wreck at Bristol. It always seems like he's the one getting wrecked, and then can't retaliate because he'll be the one getting fined (And the initial contact before that wreck in the Nationwide race wasn't even Brad's fault!).

You've gotta love Bristol allowing drivers to say what they want during introductions, since we can now get gems like "I'm Brad Kesolowski...and Kyle Busch is an ass!"

 

[BlackLantern]

thats childish

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I hate to wish a bad race on anyone, but Bowyer have a bad race, as you said, would give us a Richmond race really worth watching. I'm rooting for McMurray.

I agree about McMurray. The reason why I would like to see him in the chase is because he has 2 wins, while Bowyer has none.

I hope that Kesolowski is allowed to pay Kyle back at some point for the wreck at Bristol. It always seems like he's the one getting wrecked, and then can't retaliate because he'll be the one getting fined (And the initial contact before that wreck in the Nationwide race wasn't even Brad's fault!).

There's always next year. If I were Brad, I would get him when he least expects it.

You've gotta love Bristol allowing drivers to say what they want during introductions, since we can now get gems like "I'm Brad Kesolowski...and Kyle Busch is an ass!"

I lost it when I saw that. Then A.J Allmendinger(sp?) comes out and says "I hope I'm in front of Brad and Kyle when this goes down".

 

[El_Citrus]

And then Stewart got on the mic after AJ and said "I hope I'm behind them so I can watch it happen."