Archive for September, 2009

Sep30th

Penske/Saturn Deal Is Off

AUTHOR: Ben Montedonico | IN: NASCAR | COMMENTS: None Yet

So much for Penske Racing developing a new Saturn race car.
News broke today that the Saturn/Penske/GM deal has fallen apart. General Motors will be shutting down its Saturn brand, though there is no word yet as to when. GM did say that Saturn owners can still go to Saturn dealers for service until they close. Saturn owners will be able to go to any certified GM dealership for service after that.
You can read the full story at ABCnews.com.

Sep29th

NASCAR’s CEO France Has an Idea of How the Chase Will Play Out

AUTHOR: Ben Montedonico | IN: NASCAR | COMMENTS: 6 Comments

Let the conspiracy theories begin again.
Brian France, CEO of NASCAR, told Scene Daily that he is not concerned about the television ratings drop in the first Chase race at New Hampshire. The ratings for the Sylvania 300 were a 3.2, the lowest they had been at New Hampshire since ABC took over NASCAR’s coverage of the Chase.
Still, France isn’t concerned. This is what he had to say:
“We were up in August for almost every event and up in Richmond as well, so we were a little surprised. It’s one race and I think if we keep having the kind of racing [...]

Sep28th

Joey Logano’s Scary Crash Caused By CoT?

AUTHOR: Ben Montedonico | IN: NASCAR | COMMENTS: 23 Comments

43 cars were half-way through the 32nd lap of the AAA 400 at Dover. On the backstretch, a bottleneck occurred in the middle of the pack. A bright orange car with the #20 on each of the sides and roof was knocked sideways into the turn 3 grass, washed up the track in front of traffic, hit the outside barrier, and was hit broad side.
What happened next: Joey Logano’s Home Depot Toyota barrel-rolled down the embankment. 7 times.
It was the second scariest wreck of the 2009 season, only behind Carl Edwards’ catch fence adventure at Talladega in April, and one [...]

Sep28th

PUNTE, Sportsfan Take SCS Freeroll at Dover

AUTHOR: Ben Montedonico | IN: NASCAR, Stock Car Spin Freeroll | COMMENTS: None Yet

For the first time in Stock Car Spin Freeroll history, there was a tie atop the final standings. 716 to 716. It literally couldn’t have been any closer.
Ironically, the players who tied atop the standings were also first-time winners. Both PUNTE and Sportsfan enjoyed their first W of the season. As far as who wins how many tokens, well, we’ll see if we can get the 365 Fantasy guy to explain that one to us.
Your standings at Dover:

1.
PUNTE
716

1.
sportsfan
716

3.
2ballsnostrikes
706

4.
linus
692

5.
Hamburgler
690

6.
QB1
651

7.
Hopper
580

8.
steveb43
577

9.
drphilth
575

10.
294SAMY
569

11.
samgurt
554

12.
Obamanator
533

13.
crackberry
517

14.
Boomer
455

15.
hoosierdaddy
393

I know you’re just itching to see yourself on this list, so here’s what you’ve gotta do:
-Go to www.365fantasysports.com
-Sign up if you don’t [...]

Sep28th

The “Day After” Discussion: Dover

AUTHOR: Ben Montedonico | IN: NASCAR | COMMENTS: None Yet

We’ve got several things to discuss today after Sunday’s AAA 400 at Dover. So without further ado, let us begin our second Discussion of the Chase:
With Jimmie Johnson’s dominating performance at Dover, is he now the driver to beat in the Chase?
Is Johnson’s dominance in recent years suspicious?
Can Juan Pablo Montoya or Kurt Busch, the only non-Hendrick drivers within double-digit points of the lead, spoil the Hendrick Chase party?
Will any of the Hendrick drivers ever have a mulligan?
Does the Chase even interest you any more?
After Joey Logano’s flip, does the CoT deserve any more appreciation?
Was the CoT at fault for [...]

Sep24th

The Pot(Dale Earnhardt Jr.) Calls the Kettle(David Reutimann) Black

AUTHOR: Ben Montedonico | IN: NASCAR | COMMENTS: 13 Comments

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has never made a mistake. Just ask him.
Alright, so maybe he’s willing to admit a few here and there. But if you watched Sunday’s race at New Hampshire, that initial statement may sound true.
Late in the event, Earnhardt, running fourth, got bumped in the middle of turns 3 and 4 by David Reutimann. The two were racing for position, and the contact was unintentional. What happened next was not pretty.
Video: Dale Jr. Gets Wrecked
In his post-wreck interview, Junior called out Reutimann, stating “I should have known he couldn’t hold his line,” and, “He’s somebody you just can’t [...]

Sep24th

Don’t Forget to Sign Up for SCS Freeroll at Dover

AUTHOR: Ben Montedonico | IN: NASCAR, Stock Car Spin Freeroll | COMMENTS: None Yet

It’s Thursday yet again. Time to sign up for Stock Car Spin Freeroll at Dover!
Here’s what you’ve gotta do:
-Go to www.365fantasysports.com
-Sign up if you don’t have an account(and get $6 to play with for free!)
-Scroll down on the 365 Fantasy homepage until you see “Stock Car Spin Freeroll”
-Enter invitation code “spin”
-Set your lineup
-Tell your friends!
It’s easy, it’s fun, and best of all, it’s free! Stock Car Spin Freeroll.

Sep23rd

Safety Concerns or Not, NASCAR Races Shouldn’t Finish Under Caution

AUTHOR: Ben Montedonico | IN: NASCAR | COMMENTS: None Yet

NASCAR is under the gun once again. And while, after last weekend’s finish, they ought to be, this time it’s for all the wrong reasons.
The first race of the 2009 Chase for the Cup ended under caution on Sunday. But, as you may have gotten by now(and if you haven’t, you don’t know NASCAR’s mainstream media), that’s not why NASCAR journalists are all fired up.
NASCAR media members are having conniptions because they say NASCAR did not throw the caution on the last lap of Sunday’s Sylvania 300 fast enough. They claim NASCAR sacrificed safety in an attempt to “Have an [...]

Sep22nd

2ballsnostrikes Wins First Freeroll of Chase

AUTHOR: Ben Montedonico | IN: NASCAR, Stock Car Spin Freeroll | COMMENTS: None Yet

2ballsnostrikes, Drphilth, Hopper. 2ballsnostrikes, Drphilth, Hopper. Throughout our season of Freeroll, it seems that virtually every week one of these three players ends up at the top of the standings. This week, it was 2ballsnostrikes’ turn.
The player with the best name in Freeroll topped 13 other players to earn the 100 first place tokens. In second? Yep, Drphilth. Where was Hopper? Um, Hopper didn’t do so hot this week, winding up 6th.
Your Freeroll standings at New Hampshire:

 

1.
2ballsnostrikes
704

2.
drphilth
636

3.
waylonsealy
607

4.
VicMackey
575

5.
BigAl
572

6.
Hopper
568

7.
chatterbox
558

8.
sportsfan
556

9.
294SAMY
553

10.
crackberry
517

11.
Boomer
501

12.
Obamanator
348

13.
samgurt
339

14.
linus
330

So you may be thinking to yourself, “How can I get my name at the top of that board?” Here’s what you do:
-Go to [...]

Sep21st

The “Day After” Discussion: Loudon

AUTHOR: Ben Montedonico | IN: NASCAR | COMMENTS: 1 Comment

Our first race of the Chase has come and gone. And it’s Monday, so you know what that means. It’s time for our first “Day After” Discussion of the 2009 Chase for the Cup!
A few things to talk about:
With Mark Martin’s win at New Hampshire, is this his championship to lose?
Juan Pablo Montoya was stout on Sunday. Is he a legit title contender?
Can Kasey Kahne rebound from his engine trouble at Loudon?
Talking about the race, should NASCAR have thrown the caution on the last lap, or let them race to the line?
Did Dale Earnhardt Jr. overreact after his crash?
And finally, [...]