Pre Indy-Post Eldora

    Well I am going to do a short one this morning and follow up tonight with a little longer version because I feel Eldora deserves a little more that the one line comment I am about to make here. So look for a longer post after the race.

    Wednesday's Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway was hyped to the max, did it live up to the hype? I have never seen a stock car race on dirt before. So did it live up to what I expected? Was it the awesome race they hyped it to be? Read later tonight to find out.

    Nationwide races for the first time at Indy..... was this a smart move? Was there any excitement? Or was it single file boring race that Indy seems to bring to the fans? Much like the races of the Cup Series? I have seen on twitter and facebook that some reporters have described it as a snoozer and think it should go back to IRP or ORP or whatever they call it now. Should the Nationwide winner kiss the bricks? I have seen that as an early morning twitter question today also? What do you think?

    Sprint Cup race in about an hour, who's going to win today? Can Juan finally break through on an oval and collect such a needed win in NASCAR? Will there be another first time winner? Or maybe a first time winner at Indy? Or will Jimmie stink up another race? Can Kyle do what he did yesterday in the Nationwide race? Will Danica even finish on the lead lap? Or not end up in a wreck as she does most weekends? Will the world of NASCAR ever stop writing stupid stories about such a non issue driver like Danica? Oh I got the answer to that one...no they wont because she is the second highest cash cow in NASCAR. Stay tuned as I reveal my thoughts and Ideas right after today's race.

                           Until later..........

NASCAR at New Hampshire

    Well a few things to report as the first practice is under way at New Hampshire. As everyone knows, it was announced "officially" that Kevin Harvick will be going over to Stewart-Haas racing in the number 4 budweiser Chevy. That left several questions that needs answered. Richard Childres has already said 3 cars next season and possible a 4th car, no names have been even speculated about, but one, grandson Austin Dillon, car number? Looks more and more like the 3 will hit the cup track again next season with Dillon behind the wheel. No sponsor announcements on that car as of yet.
    Another question was, where does this leave Ryan Newman? Well we now know, he is out at the end of the season at Stewart-Haas, again looking for a ride. Tony did say that he would do anything he could to help Ryan find another driving job, but they were not ready to start a 4th team. The stable was full with the 4, 10, and 14. Personally I think they got rid of the wrong driver, but that's my opinion only.
    So what cars are open next year in cup? Ummmm......... Right now, can not think of one that could be open. Maybe someone could convince Joe Gibbs to start a 4th team? Maybe Rousch goes back to 4? Maybe....maybe there just isn't a ride out there right this moment, but knowing Ryan is now open to talk to other teams, this might force an owner to think hard about starting another team or doing a driver switch. With it only being July, anything is possible.
    Oh and can I say this.....only 8 races left until the start of the chase? Heard that today and cant believe it. I actually went to a schedule and looked, sure enough, only 8 races left until the chase starts. Wow! With the races counting down, the 8th-15th in points are really close and anyone could get on a hot streak and climb their way into the chase. Could guys like Kasey Kahn, Jeff Gordon, and series Champion Brad Keselowski not make the chase? Let alone 3 time champ Tony Stewart he is only 6 points ahead of the 56 driven my Martin Truex Jr. Tony and Martin both have 1 win this season and either could make it under the wild card provision.

    No I didn't forget about last weeks race at Daytona. I used to be a big fan of the 2 super speedways on the schedule, not so much anymore. These races are a snooze fest if you ask me. Again like the mile and a half tracks, once the lead car clears the car beside him on a restart, its pretty much over. Its way to hard to pass. For those of you that remember the "sling shot" move of the 80's and 90's, folks those days are so long gone its pathetic. Maybe it was a little, Jimmie Johnson freaking won again, and the fact that there didn't seem to be any way to pass the guy who was in front, because as we see, blocking was key and at any cost....like blocking a driver who ended up wrecking your teammate that you left hanging to block the car that was actually going to pass you. I think the short tracks is where the racing is the best, but hasn't that always been the case? NASCAR was founded on the short tracks across the southeast, maybe its time we put them in forefront and limit the tracks over 1.5 miles. There just isn't anything exciting to talk about when it comes to last weeks race. So much so I just cant think of anything else to report other then it seemed like a let down from times past. The sad part is looking in the stands at these races, from trucks to cup, and seeing empty seats.....a lot of empty seats.

Until next time...........

RYAN NEWMAN TO RACE ELDORA

Breaking news: Ryan Newman to race at Eldora speedway, a dirt track on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule, for Turner motorsports.
Today Ryan is testing at a dirt track in north Carolina. More details later as I get them.

Kentucky bumpy

    Well how about that.....first time I really can't say....Where did he come from! Matt Kenseth wins number 4 at Kentucky Speedway, also his 4th win this season on a 1 1/2 track, um there have been 5 mile and a half tracks so I think Matt and his crew chief have figured out this car on the D shaped ovals.
    From the truck race straight through the cup race, it was a good racing weekend for NASCAR. Attendance was low, but we can probably put some of that blame on the weather. Just a little of course, these mile and a half tracks are still a tad boring.
    Ty Dillon wins his first race of the season, in what's arguably NASCAR's best racing series at the track as far as racing action. These guys and gals have to be spot on right off the truck because they don't have much time to adjust anything during the short truck series races. Ty keeps improving and showing he's not just another Dillon, or not just Richard's grandson. He's making a name for himself quickly as a top contender in NASCAR's Truck Series.
    In the Nationwide Series last weekend it was yet another Cup regular, Brad Keselowski, that went on to take the checkered flag. The Nationwide Series regulars are going to need some help if they are going to actually win races in this series. When the cup teams top drivers come down and invade the lower series it's hard for the regular drivers to compete. What can be done about it? That's the million dollar question with no real solution that anyone is willing to do. When you ask a Nationwide regular what they think of the cup boys coming down to race, what can they say, but yeah we like it. Like it or not it's reality that they will continue to race all the while the commercials NASCAR puts out sends the message that it's still a feeder series.
     On too the Kentucky Sprint Cup race. It looked like another, leader gets clean air and runs away from the pack race, well actually that's what it was. Jimmie Johnson looked to have the only car that could pull out and run away from the pack. With the tire coming off Denny Hamlin's car and damaging Hendrick teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr's and Jimmie Johnson's car, Jimmie got the better end of that deal by pushing down the hood a little therefore giving him a little right side down force help while it wrinkled the splitter of Dale Jr's car and ending his hopes of winning.
   The final caution of the day Matt Kenseth and his crew chief figured track position was key and went with fuel only to lead them to the green flag, and after a couple restart tries, he managed to keep it together and stay out front for a great win. Although Jimmie wasn't happy with Matt and his restarts, it didn't seem to bother Matt at all.
    Fire, fire......
What a crash for Greg Biffle, Brad, Paul, Austin Dillon, Dave Blaney, and Travis Kvapil. Anyone think to themselves or even maybe say it "that was a damn bone headed move by Kurt Busch!" I did asking with a few other choice words. That was an idiot move at best. Everyone knew that section of the apron has a big ol bump in it and at speed, would probably have that exact outcome. Driver after driver said it. I hope lesson learned.
    On to this weekend...Well actually I'm late so on to today( I'll get the blog for last night's race tomorrow along with tonight's race..) We know the outcome of the Nationwide race so I'll leave that for tomorrow. Cup race today should be interesting, hearing the name Dale Earnhardt Jr out of a few people at the track this weekend, he's got a bounce in his step and a smirk on his face and is in a particularly good mood. No secret he likes this track and this style of racing in this car is more to his liking. Jeff Gordon has been a name on everyone's lips too, he hasn't won a race since last season's closer at Homestead, actually he hasn't really been a contender in any race this season except maybe 1 race, strange things keep cropping up and he's had a few bad finishes. What I'm not hearing is any Ford talk, the Ford's have had a rough start to the season with no really showings except maybe Carl Edwards. Can they pull it off and grab a win away from Chevy or Toyota? We will find out in just a few hours....let the racing begin!

Until next time........