the bud shootout is only 25 days away!

first 2013 car unveiled today...

http://www.sbnation.com/nascar/2012/1/24/2730686/2013-ford-fusion-nascar-sprint-cup-series-pictures-videos

1/24/2012 4:42:43 PM

maaaaann

Go fast, turn left!



[Edited on January 24, 2012 at 4:52 PM. Reason : This is The Dinger's year!]

1/24/2012 4:45:32 PM

it's gonna be a good year for the texaco havoline, tampax, combos, remax real estate, dollar general, o'reillys auto parts, cialis ford fusion.

1/24/2012 4:59:30 PM

http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Poll_Kurt_Busch_one_of_the_most_disliked_athletes_in_sports.html

2/10/2012 6:41:33 AM

Check out this sweet ride
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2012/49cup.htm

2/10/2012 8:42:29 AM

i can't tell any of the drivers apart anymore. they're all just clones i'm pretty sure.

2/10/2012 10:04:01 AM

^for 10 races this year there will be 2 hispanics and women in the race fwiw

^^ i like the paint scheme. interesting that the guy paying for it is a southern baptist





[Edited on February 10, 2012 at 10:29 AM. Reason : g]

2/10/2012 10:26:14 AM

well obviously i can tell juan pablo montoya and danica patrick apart from the rest, but the likes of:

kurt busch, kyle busch, denny hamlin, carl edwards, kasey kahne, trevor baine, dickface mcgoo, etc, etc

i couldn't tell apart to save my life.

nascar needs fat drivers again.

[Edited on February 10, 2012 at 10:38 AM. Reason : .]

2/10/2012 10:38:30 AM

I think the season will be like last year. The deterioration at the bottom of the grid will crawl ever more into the midfield, leading to less competition throughout the field, meaning the series becomes more top-heavy. Sigh...I saw this in Indycar years ago, it's not a pretty process.

People will be sick of Danicamania after Daytona is over. Danica I think has a good chance of winning the Nationwide title because she'll have by far the best-funded car in the series as you see teams like Roush for example unable to get full season sponsorship for their flagship car there. That said, she will boost Saturday crowds and Sunday crowds when she's in the Cup race.

Interested to see how Kurt Busch gets along with Phoenix Racing (a backmarker usually).

No announced rookies as of yet other than Josh Wise on a fringe team, so unless you're Danica no one's been able to get money behind or take a chance on anyone new.

the proper full-time teams (no start-and-parkers), by my count 31

#1 - Jamie McMurray - Earnhardt Ganassi
#2 - Brad Keselowski - Penske
#5 - Kasey Kahne - Hendrick
#9 - Marcos Ambrose - Richard Petty
#10 - Danica Patrick (10 races), David Reutimann (26 races) - officially Tommy Baldwin so Danica does not potential DNQ, but this will be effectively a Stewart Haas car, at least when Danica's driving, when Reutimann's in the car it's probably going to be more a Tommy Baldwin operation
#11 - Denny Hamlin - Joe Gibbs
#14 - Tony Stewart - Stewart Haas
#15 - Clint Bowyer - Michael Waltrip
#16 - Greg Biffle - Roush
#17 - Matt Kenseth - Roush
#18 - Kyle Busch - Joe Gibbs
#20 - Joey Logano - Joe Gibbs (hasn't his star dropped off?, contract year)
#22 - A.J. Allmendinger - Penske (the guy that gets to take advantage of Kurt Busch being a b*tch)
#24 - Jeff Gordon - Hendrick
#27 - Paul Menard - Childress (ride buyer)
#29 - Kevin Harvick - Childress
#31 - Jeff Burton - Childress
#32 - Ken Schrader, Terry Labonte, et al - FAS Lane (shoestring operation, one of the worst teams that attempt to finish all races)
#34 - David Ragan - Front Row (I hate David Ragan, how the f*ck does this guy get rides? he finished almost every year in the 20s when the field's depth is worse than it's ever been IN A ROUSH CAR, he drops down to Front Row, like the #32 above one of the worst teams that attempt to finish all races)
#38 - David Gilliland - Front Row
#39 - Ryan Newman - Stewart Haas (don't expect it, but it'd not surprise me if this is Newman's last year with Stewart)
#42 - Juan Pablo Montoya - Earnhardt Ganassi
#47 - Bobby Labonte - JTG Daugherty
#48 - Jimmie Johnson - Hendrick
#51 - Kurt Busch - Phoenix (how the mighty have fallen, shows how a great driver in this climate still needs a sponsor to put money behind him)
#55 - Mark Martin (25 races), Michael Waltrip (5 races), someone else - Michael Waltrip (remember when Martin retired a few years ago with Rusty Wallace?)
#56 - Martin Truex - Michael Waltrip (I've always thought of Truex as little more than a glorified midfielder)
#78 - Regan Smith - Furniture Row (scrappy team based in Denver, Colorado)
#88 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Hendrick
#99 - Carl Edwards - Roush

#6 - Ricky Stenhouse - Roush (part-time, who Roush is grooming to sometime put in the top series)
#7 - Robby Gordon - Robby Gordon (part-time)
#13 - Casey Mears - Germain (best of the second tier or worst of the first tier, take your pick, they did park in races last year which is why I don't put them up there)
#21 - Trevor Bayne - Wood Brothers (part-time, defending champs of the Daytona 500...and then didn't accomplish much else the rest of the year, showing what a clusterf*ck of a race Daytona has become)
#23 - Robert Richardson - R3 (they're on the full-time list at Jayski but I'm highly skeptical, Richardson will definitely run Daytona as he has in past years for Front Row, ride buyer)
#30 - David Stremme - Inception
#33 - various drivers - Childress (part-time, mention it because you'll see at some point Childress' grandson Austin Dillon attempt a few races)
#37 - Josh Wise - Gunselman (as of now the only guy going for Rookie of the Year, which shows how new talent development the past few years has dropped, Wise is a good racer that comes out of USAC)
#49 - J.J. Yeley - America Israel (very highly skeptical on this operation actually running all year)
#83 - Landon Cassill - Rob Devine (this is the remnants of the Red Bull team and Devine was co-owner of the #71 TRG operation that ceased its NASCAR operations after the end of last year, this team may not last the year)
#87 - Joe Nemechek - Nemco
#93 - Travis Kvapil? - Rob Devine (supposed 2nd car of the #83 operation)
#98 - Michael McDowell - Phil Parsons (a merger of the start-and-park #46 Whitney team and the start-and-park #66 and #77 Prism teams, plus a rename to reflect the owner of Prism)

[Edited on February 10, 2012 at 11:44 AM. Reason : .]

2/10/2012 11:18:25 AM

Harvick's with Childress, not Hendrick, I believe.

Also, I will continue to put on for the 78 ride.

[Edited on February 10, 2012 at 11:34 AM. Reason : foo]

2/10/2012 11:34:18 AM

^ thanks, faux pas on my part

I like the 78 operation for what they are. They do a good job with a limited budget and Smith is a competent racecar driver that occasionally is in the top 10.

2/10/2012 11:40:44 AM

Quote :

"(part-time, defending champs of the Daytona 500...and then didn't accomplish much else the rest of the year, showing what a clusterf*ck of a race Daytona has become)"

also he had lyme disease.

2/10/2012 11:44:56 AM

Quote :

"Danica I think has a good chance of winning the Nationwide title because she'll have by far the best-funded car in the series as you see teams like Roush for example unable to get full season sponsorship for their flagship car there. "

no way. she only has one top 5 in her life in nascar and that was on fuel mileage. She still cant finish a race on the lead lap without getting a lucky dog or wave around

2/10/2012 3:36:56 PM

Quote :

"no way. she only has one top 5 in her life in nascar and that was on fuel mileage. She still cant finish a race on the lead lap without getting a lucky dog or wave around"

neither can Junior

^ Cup guys aren't eligible for points, of the Nationwide regulars she'll have by far the best-funded car, half the grid is complete shit, and even Roush is saying he won't run Stenhouse the full season because he can't find money. Ditto Junior's and Wallace's teams. NASCAR's rules changes combined with the recession has made the series have zero depth. You're telling me she can't beat out the likes of Elliott Sadler for the Nationwide title when she'll undoubtedly have a superior car? If I had to place a bet I'd say Allgaier but she has a good shot after him.

Here's your Nationwide top 10 from 2011:

1.Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 0 (probably not running the full season which takes him out of contention)
2.Elliott Sadler -45
3.Justin Allgaier -117 (changed teams, Hornish now in the Penske car)
4.Aric Almirola -127 (not in the series)
5.Reed Sorenson -160 (not in the series)
6.Jason Leffler -194 (not in the series)
7.Kenny Wallace -259 (yes, Kenny Wallace was 7th! the 2011 Nationwide Series everyone!)
8.Brian Scott -275
9.Michael Annett -278 (RWI closed operations, Annett at Richard Petty now)
10.Steve Wallace -301 (RWI closed operations, not in the series)

[Edited on February 10, 2012 at 4:05 PM. Reason : .]

2/10/2012 4:01:20 PM

Quote :

"You're telling me she can't beat out the likes of Elliott Sadler for the Nationwide title when she'll undoubtedly have a superior car?"

yes, sadler had 12 top 5's last year and got a top ten 70% of the time. she cant keep up with that

2/10/2012 4:53:58 PM

she still hasn't done the equivalent of a full season in stock cars, yet is going against guys with 10-15 years in them at a national level. No wonder she is getting fewer top 10 finishes.

Also, JRM/Hendrick Nationwide cars are fourth best behind KHI/Childress, Roush, and KBM/JRG stuff.

2/11/2012 10:04:59 AM

Women can't drive. They've drove in nascar before and failed. She'll fail too. She wasn't even that good in indy cars.

2/11/2012 10:37:10 AM

holy crap. Listening to a Dale Jr. interview makes my ears bleed

lmao, they just asked him how Danica Patrick is, and he said, "well ya know, shes a good guy, ya know"

mixed in with about 15 umms.

[Edited on February 16, 2012 at 2:27 PM. Reason : sdf]

2/16/2012 2:26:42 PM

maaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnn

2/16/2012 3:03:21 PM

i could drive a car and turn left maaaannn.

2/16/2012 3:11:54 PM

fiddyfigh
fiddyfigh

2/16/2012 4:20:39 PM

Quote :

"Top 10 little-known reasons you’re in this year’s Budweiser Shootout: 10. Only living person able to name all 19 previous winners of the event. 9. Made at least one start on the original Daytona Beach & Road Course. 8. Family owns season tickets to Busch Gardens. 7. You just won six Grammys. Or used a fishnet as part of your wardrobe. 6. Once toured Daytona facility as part of track’s “Daytona 500 Experience” package. 5. Financially able to purchase points from any team previously in the top 25 – in any series. 4. Only driver with new uniform from Stella McCartney Miracle Dress line. 3. Your supermodel wife threatened to bash teammates via Twitter if you’re not awarded starting spot. 2. You agreed to legally change your name to Bud Weiser. 1. Earned automatic bid as defending Daytona 500 cornhole champion."

2/16/2012 10:04:58 PM

Daytona entry list:

the 36 guaranteed starters (since Labonte is a previous champion):

#1 Jamie McMurray Chevy Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Teresa Earnhardt
#2 Brad Keselowski Dodge Miller Lite Roger Penske
#5 Kasey Kahne Chevy Farmers Insurance Linda Hendrick
#6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (i) Ford Ford EcoBoost John Henry
#9 Marcos Ambrose Ford Stanley Richard Petty
#10 Danica Patrick (i) Chevy GoDaddy.com Tommy Baldwin
#11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express J D Gibbs
#13 Casey Mears Ford GEICO Bob Germain
#14 Tony Stewart Chevy Office Depot / Mobil 1 Margaret Haas
#15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 5 Hour Energy Rob Kauffman
#16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M Jack Roush
#17 Matt Kenseth Ford Best Buy John Henry
#18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M's Brown Joe Gibbs
#20 Joey Logano Toyota Home Depot Joe Gibbs
#22 A.J. Allmendinger Dodge Shell / Pennzoil Walter Czarnecki
#24 Jeff Gordon Chevy Drive to End Hunger Rick Hendrick
#27 Paul Menard Chevy Menards / Peak Tom Pumpelly
#29 Kevin Harvick Chevy Budweiser Richard Childress
#31 Jeff Burton Chevy Caterpillar Richard Childress
#32 Terry Labonte [PC 1] Ford C & J Energy Services Frank Stoddard
#33 Elliott Sadler (i) Chevy Kroger / General Mills Richard Childress
#34 David Ragan Ford Scorpion Truck Bed Liners Bob Jenkins
#38 David Gilliland Ford MHP - Power Pudding Pak Bob Jenkins
#39 Ryan Newman Chevy U.S. Army / Quicken Loans Tony Stewart
#42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chevy Target Chip Ganassi
#43 Aric Almirola Ford Smithfield Helping Hungry Homes Richard Petty
#47 Bobby Labonte Toyota Kroger / USO Tad Geschickter
#48 Jimmie Johnson Chevy Lowe's Jeff Gordon
#51 Kurt Busch Chevy Hendrickcars.com James Finch
#55 Mark Martin Toyota Aaron's Bill Jenkins
#56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota NAPA Auto Parts Michael Waltrip
#78 Regan Smith Chevy Furniture Row CSX Play It Safe Barney Vissar
#83 Landon Cassill Toyota Burger King Thomas Ueberall
#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy Diet Mountain Dew / National Guard Rick Hendrick
#93 David Reutimann Toyota Burger King Thomas Ueberall
#99 Carl Edwards Ford Fastenal Jack Roush

(if Terry Labonte qualifies for the race, Bill Elliott will be in the field, who I think will make it in bold, remaining two have no clue)

#09 Kenny Wallace (i) Toyota American Ethanol Robby Benton
#7 Robby Gordon Dodge MAPEI / Speed Energy Robby Gordon
#21 Trevor Bayne (i) Ford Motorcraft / Quick Lane Glen Wood (so in theory the defending champion may not qualify)
#23 Robert Richardson Jr. (i) Chevy North Texas Pipe Robert Richardson Sr.
#26 Tony Raines (i) Ford MDS Trucking Bob Jenkins
#30 David Stremme Toyota TBA Timothy McSweeney
#36 Dave Blaney Chevy Ollie's Bargin Outlet Allen Heinke
#37 Mike Wallace (i) Ford Poynt.com Larry Gunselman
#40 Michael Waltrip Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine Mike Hillman
#49 J.J. Yeley Toyota American Isreal Racing Jay Robinson
#87 Joe Nemechek (i) Toyota AM FM Energy Andrea Nemechek
#97 Bill Elliott (PC2) Toyota TBA Andrea Nemechek
#98 Michael McDowell Ford K-Love Dusty Whitney

2/17/2012 12:52:14 PM

chad is still cheating...

http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/NASCAR_confiscates_part_from_Jimmie_Johnsons_car_at_Daytona.html

2/17/2012 5:20:00 PM

some call it cheating. others call it being innovative.

2/17/2012 5:44:21 PM

at first i was like



Then i was like

2/17/2012 10:24:31 PM

yeaa we're doin' it...

2/17/2012 10:33:43 PM

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnn

2/17/2012 10:44:26 PM

I seriously hope that last guy died of alcohol poisoning

I've had a lot of booze in my life and never gotten that bad off. People can't handle their liquor.

2/18/2012 12:39:15 AM

http://www.maxim.com/girls-of-maxim/the-cope-twins

2/18/2012 9:26:39 AM

favorite paint color: jewish racing gold

2/18/2012 12:04:31 PM

Quote :

"The 82-lap race—including seven laps of overtime—featured four wrecks. Three of them were multicar pileups that wiped out most of the field, including many of the top contenders. Of the 25 cars, only three didn’t suffer some kind of damage. Only 13 cars were on the track for the final green flag. Is that really what NASCAR and its fans want to see in NASCAR’s biggest race? "

cant wait to see the 10 surviving cars battle for the win in the 500

2/19/2012 6:50:20 AM

I stopped following nascar, but my wife was out of town so I was relegated to flipping through the idiot box and saw the Shootout or whatever the fuck it is was going on last night.

I missed the first part of the show but they kept referring to overheating and changes made that prevents people from getting away from the pack.

What was that all about?

[Edited on February 19, 2012 at 9:20 AM. Reason : a]

2/19/2012 9:20:46 AM

Quote :

" Is that really what NASCAR and its fans want to see in NASCAR’s biggest race? "

That's exactly what I want to see, wrecks and lots of them. Better than pairs of cars driving around.

2/19/2012 10:27:10 AM

^^
http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Crew_chiefs_preparing_cars_but_anticipate_more_changes_to_Daytona_rules.html

2/19/2012 11:29:07 AM

congrats to Trevor Bayne, Tony Raines, David Stremme and Terry Labonte for locking in their spot in the 500

2/19/2012 4:25:35 PM

time to dominate my fantasy nascar league for the third year running without knowing dick about it

2/19/2012 4:57:02 PM

Fantasy Nascar? Seriously??

2/21/2012 6:21:54 PM

Quote :

"Is that really what NASCAR and its fans want to see in NASCAR’s biggest race? "

It's what it's been for years. It's why a nothing car and driver like the Wood Brothers' #21 driven by Trevor Bayne can win (and why a driver lacking all talent whatsoever in David Ragan won the Firecracker in July).

If the Twins are likewise crashfests (they usually aren't, probably due to guys knowing they're in the field being conservative), you'll see on Sunday guys run around in 30th until the last 100 miles.

[Edited on February 22, 2012 at 9:00 AM. Reason : /]

2/22/2012 8:59:34 AM

there will be a kenny mother fuckin powers car in the NW race saturday




and a quote from kenny:

The name and likeness of Kenny Powers have long been associated with victory and success. It's pretty obvious why somebody would want to put a giant picture of my face on a tastefully decorated stock car.

"Best of luck to our driver, T.J. Bell. If he doesn't win first place at Daytona, they must not have made that picture of my face big enough."

[Edited on February 22, 2012 at 6:27 PM. Reason : a]

2/22/2012 6:26:24 PM

lol at michael waltrip. You can't jump from flat to >20 degree banking and not expect it to spin out. Good heavens.

2/23/2012 3:09:07 PM

If this were 10 years ago, Danica Patrick would be dead right now.

2/23/2012 3:27:16 PM

Crash video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wtzioHXq8I

2/23/2012 4:07:19 PM

If this were 10 years ago, Danica Patrick would be dead right now at home cooking dinner.

2/23/2012 5:18:48 PM

Quote :

"Fantasy Nascar? Seriously??"

I know, it's pretty lame.

2/24/2012 1:49:56 AM

Always been a fan of Robby, in an era of guys being bashful toward going outside their comfort zone he's driven everything and won in most everything he's competed in. Apparently Mikey has said he won't buy the spot (since Robby's car is a Dodge and Waltrip is Toyota-man).

http://www.frontstretch.com/bkeith/37296/

Quote :

"Daytona 500 Reality Anything but a Dream for Robby Gordon Bryan Davis Keith · Thursday February 23, 2012 For years now, Robby Gordon has been an obstinate, stubborn presence on the NASCAR circuit, an independent owner/driver that defied NASCAR’s business model when he went his own way after splitting with Richard Childress Racing after 2004. Thursday, he made it work yet again, as those same personality traits propelled the No. 7 car into the Daytona 500. Despite having heavy smoke pluming from the car starting on lap 1 (Gordon would later note that oil, having seeped into the foam around his radiator tray was responsible), he didn’t pit, opting to ride it out even with the seeming threat of engine or tire failure looming. Despite the car running hot enough for him to radio concerns to his team during the race’s midsection, he pressed onward. And despite running on the very outskirts of the pack draft with only two laps to go in his Duel race, fellow go-or-go-homers Trevor Bayne and Michael McDowell both working together and ahead of his Dodge, Robby Gordon kept the pedal to the floor…and got his car into the show. “Making the Daytona 500 is the big event for NASCAR racing,” Gordon told the press in the media center following the Duel. “We’re not comfortable doing it [racing underfunded] but it’s working. We’re still racing, putting ourselves in a position to win races. We just made the Daytona 500, so I’m really, really proud of the guys that are working at the shop.” All 10 of the guys. Including the receptionist/parts/merchandise sales lady. The driver went further, talking about how a big chunk of the dollars the team would be winning upon starting Sunday’s race would be going towards buying a Penske engine to allow the team to race competitively in the 500 (the myriad of overheating issues had the owner/driver concerned about the car’s current Arrington power plant). Yet after what could only be described as “a heartfelt speech” on Twitter, Gordon left the media center podium, then proceeded to remark to a number of writers that his “hard-earned” spot was up for grabs… and he knew just who should take it. Almost instantly, the No. 7’s spot in the Great American Race was being propositioned to one Michael Waltrip, who missed the 500 after spinning himself trying to blend back onto the track following a pit stop. “Everything’s for sale,” Gordon reportedly reiterated in the garage following his time in the media center. Robby Gordon’s qualification for the Daytona 500 quickly went from a matter of celebration to a matter of business this Thursday afternoon. Many fellow media members reacted with shock and awe. Blount called the remarks a departure from the “heartfelt speech” he’d coined on Twitter. Lewis Franck tweeted he had never seen somebody so unhappy to make the Daytona 500. The mood regarding Gordon’s qualifying went from success story to sour in a heartbeat. Like it or not, Gordon’s NASCAR reality isn’t a happy one, in or out of the 500. Sure, on paper it’s great. A chance to run for stock car racing’s biggest trophy at best, at worst a guaranteed payday of over a quarter million dollars. But take away half of that payday right off the bat, just to pay for a Penske engine to allow the No. 7 to attempt competing in Sunday’s 500. Gordon is also driving for a single-car operation, one of only three Dodges in a 43-car field, and a racer that hasn’t scored a top 10 on a plate track since 2008, and the odds of scoring a Cinderella result temper quickly. After all, who can forget last year’s Dodge story of the Duels, Brian Keselowski? He made the 500, only to be swept up in a wreck early and fail to qualify for a single Cup race the rest of the 2011 season. Making the 500 does not turn a pumpkin into a carriage indefinitely. “It’s not like you keep the money at the end of the day in this sport,” remarked Gordon. In fact, earlier during Speedweeks he claimed the amount of out-of-pocket costs he’s made since becoming a car owner again, in 2005 have been rather significant. The truth is, times are as tough as they have ever been for the independent team in NASCAR. And this is a fight that Robby Gordon has been fighting for over half a decade now, a battle that’s clearly taken a toll. An overly aggressive firebrand during his time at Richard Childress Racing, the Gordon on display for the media on this Thursday was considerably more subdued, hardened, even weathered. The defiance that has long characterized Gordon was still there…just subtle. Gordon took time to note in his opening remarks that he had major reservations with NASCAR’s past champion’s provisional system (“I guess I should hire Kurt Busch and I could put my other car in the show, too,” he quipped). He used profanity when speaking in the media center and scoffing at the 40 hour work weeks some NASCAR team members work (“shit, my guys work a half day every day”). And he closed his remarks by standing up and remarking “I’m proud to be here [racing NASCAR], proud to be racing the Daytona 500, thank you” in a manner that lacked any real form of sincerity. There are those out there that would say that same attitude, that almost confrontational demeanor is evidence that Gordon has done himself no favors throughout his career. But Gordon’s never been done any favors by this sport, either. He’s seen his team raked over the coals for a technical violation that Hendrick Motorsports wouldn’t bat an eye at (see the 2008 Daytona 500). He’s been parked for doing things on track that Kyle Busch is lauded for (remember Montreal 2007 anyone?). And again, he’s played David in Goliath’s arena for years now. Making the Daytona 500 may be among NASCAR’s ultimate dream accomplishments. But no matter the profession, no matter the individual, there comes a day when the dream has to end and reality has to set in. That day has long past for Robby Gordon. He’s not going to win the 500 on Sunday. His race team is not suddenly going to become competitive. Gordon has accepted this reality, banking his future not on his race team, but on a fledgling energy drink company. So who can blame Gordon for being so willing to put a price tag on his new, most valuable asset? After all, buying rides at Daytona is nothing new (see Roush Fenway Racing and Paul Menard buying out five Nationwide Series teams to make the NNS race back in 2010), and the Waltrips certainly aren’t bashful about buying spots either (who can forget Michael buying Derrike Cope’s car for the 2006 Coca-Cola 600?). “We’re in a bad state right here,” said Gordon of his race team. “It’s tough. It’s really, really tough. We don’t have anyone on the hook [for sponsorship].” It’s not a feel-good story. An independent owner/driver makes the Great American Race, and in a span of an hour his reaction goes from an emotional outpouring (“Damn I love you guys!” Gordon exclaimed) to selling a spot in the world’s biggest stock car event. That’s the reality of the Robby Gordon saga. A driver that was willing to do what so many before him did, putting his name, money and talent on the line to race with the big boys, a driver that’s always been himself on and off the race track, a driver that’s maintained a healthy defiance in an era where both his attitude and his business model aren’t supposed to work. All of that, reduced to an auctioneer for yet another Waltrip who can’t hang up the helmet."

2/24/2012 9:10:31 AM

Danica wins the pole for the NNS race tomorrow.

2/24/2012 5:37:58 PM

^too bad she wont be able to stay on the lead lap at Phoenix next week....

2/25/2012 11:07:20 AM

the announcers are killing me right now talking about people getting on danica's bumper and her bumper being rounded off and guys pushing danica from behind

2/25/2012 1:46:41 PM

When she wrecked the other day the announcers were all like "wow, she is so talented to be able to let go of the wheel before she hit the wall."

.......are you fucking serious

2/25/2012 1:56:18 PM