NASCAR Road Courses

Do ya like em or not?

Personally, I don't mind them. But then again, I don't really watch them either. Maybe that's why.

When I did watch the road courses, they frustrated me. I mean, yeah there is action, yippie. almost all auto racing has "action". But I didn't like so much of it, probably just like you. From the left turning, to the hills, to the the "road course experts", it's just annoying.

Now that I am older, I can appreciate the fact that these races bringing stock car racing to fans in areas that otherwise would not have seen a race, so that is nice. Also, I appreciate how drivers work hard to improve their skills in order to improve. Just think of how much time they will potentially put into learning how to drive road courses just so they can give themselves a chance to pick-up some points. just look at Kurt Bush, who I can't stand by the way. He dominated and won this past weekend in Sonoma. (apparently, I didn't watch it).

On another note.....Daytona this weekend...in the summer heat! You bet I will be watching all the races this weekend although I'm not too psyched that Tony Stewart is racing for Kevin Harvick (the most political and full of s!&# driver in NASCAR).

Jeff Gordon wins again....Lebron loses (Dirk wins)

Sunday was a big day in sports here in the U.S.

Just another Sunday race for NASCAR's top division, but then again every race is a big deal. Just ask any fan who makes their first trip to a NASCAR Cup race, or their annual trip,. every single one of them is a big, big deal.

And last night, game 6 of the NBA Finals which is a rematch of the finals from 5 years ago...when the underdog Miami Heat overcame being down 2-0 and almost 20 points in game 3 to turn around and win game 3 and the series eventually...

Both events Sunday featured a mix of veteran athletes and younger talent, great coaches, and the like. I couldn't help but think about Jeff Gordon's win and 5th win at Pocono and compare him to the basketball players who played in the finals. When Gordon came into NASCAR, he was hated....but eventually he turned that hate into love by WINNING. Lebron has yet to do this for all his haters, and their are lots of them, but he may in time, especially if he can change some of the things he does like make big plays down the stretch more consistently and curb his comments in front of cameras. as Gordon learned, winning championships is different than winning games. It takes an entire team and it is about the team through course of action, not words.

Personally I am not a Lebron hater. I don't know much about basketball and choose only to really watch college basketball. But I don't like him either. And, while I don't hate him or like him, I do want to see him win a championship because I like seeing elite players reach their ultimate goal. I enjoyed seeing Wade do it in '06 against the odds and Dirk et all do it this year against the odds. Those are the best stories, when the underdog(s) win especially when it is a collaborative effort.

That's why seeing Jeff Gordon win twice now this year is so nice to see. He is not just running up front, some things are clicking to help him actually win....and that has me thinking Championship potential. Even though Gordo is not in the top 5 in points, 2 of his 3 teammates are running well and he is too...plus he is winning. So THE TEAM is firing on all cylinders and that gives me great hope for this veteran to win it all this year. Again, I am not a huge fan of Jeff Gordon or Hendrick, but I do like him/them, and seeing him win is nice to see.

Paul Gozzo

Memorial Day; hot dogs, gasoline, freedom

Happy Memorial day to all of you and a special thank you to all who have served this great nation!

Paul Gozzo

NASCAR All-Star Race Review

The annual NASCAR All-Star Race was entertaining this past weekend. However, the racing was boring and the "segments" cut into any momentum where watching the race became fun. With these new cars, it is fun to see what ones ?"come around" after poor restarts and conversely, what ones, "fall off". On a race track where passing is scarce, it is all about a long run where guys can "catch" other guys. while I like this track and the event, I thought the race was boring to say the least and quite anti climatic. Although, Carl wrecking his car on the burnout-slide was hilarious.

I still don't think Carl Edwards will win the Championship despite his incredible season so far. I'm waiting for the Toyotas to wake up a bit and some old veterans like Biffle, who looked good Saturday, and Stewart. Oh and let's not forget Logano and Hamlin, plus Truex and Reutimann....4 guys who seasons are not going all that well who will surely start to go for it and get much more aggressive.

I'm looking forward to the summer races!

Paul Gozzo

Juan Pablo Montoya vs. Ryan Newman

Bottom Line: Juan Pablo Montoya is not nearly as good as he thinks he is. He makes mistakes and he rarely, if at all, ever points the finger at himself. Does anyone recall when he (sincerely) said, "I screwed up"? "It was my fault"...anything like that? I agree with most of those who posted on NASCAR Scene Daily who said, "there is no such thing as racing too hard." There is "give and take" yes! And, there is payback. In boxing, illegal head-butts can be masqueraded as accidental. The same is true in stock car racing and I can guarantee you that Newman will not forget this. Look at Kyle Bush in the regular season vs. The Chase. In the past, he has not had any friends in the garage come The Chase and as a result he has had some bag "luck"...or incidents involving others that hurt his chances for a Championship. This year Bush is points racing and as a result, he will not have so many enemies during The Chase. It is going to be very difficult for Juan Pablo to win on an oval as he keeps burning bridges.

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing Season 5 Different Winners

So far the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing season has been spectacular. With 5 different winners in 6 races and 7 different winners if you count the Gatorade Duals before the Daytona 500, we have seen a lot of parity in Nascar's top touring series. And close finishes too. How about the race for second place yesterday. Man Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Bush were going at it. While it appears that Kervin Harvick is in championship form like he was last year, it is too early to feel that anyone driver or team is clearly out front. Several drivers like Earnhardt and Paul Menard are driving much more consistently up front this year so far and Stewart Haas drivers Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman are driving incredibly well yet still have no victories. This bodes well for Smoke (Stewart) who usually doesn't heat up until the tracks do as the summer temperatures set in and make em slick! Oh and ole 5 timer (Jimmy Johnson) doesn't have a win yet!! Nor does his dynasty's closest chaser, last year's runner-up Denny Hamlin. (recall my prediction after Hamlin's "all we do is win" comment). While I do not know who will win it this year, I do know that the racing thus far has been terrific and it is only going to get better as some very good drivers are back in the pack and with the new points system, it will be very tough for them to make the playoffs, aka "The Chase" without a couple of victories or more. So I am looking for more gambling to occur especially at "fuel mileage" races. I hope oyu are enjoying the racing too. Send me (Paul Gozzo) a note to let me know what you are thinking.

The 2011 Nascar season....can now begin

For those of us that have a passion for stock car racing, after a couple of winter months off, it is especially nice to get all fired up for Daytona and to enjoy two straight weeks of news, coverage, and racing. After all, this is "our Superbowl". And I am not knocking it. I love watching the races at Daytona and all the excitement htey bring. I like predicting who will prosper with the changes that take place every year, and sometimes within the weeks at Daytona like they did this year. I love the history.
But......I also like stock car racing. And that means racing without a restrictor plate. So while Daytona is fun and I love starting the season there, I am equally excited to get back to more normal stock car racing this weekend withe the beginning of the rest of the season.
- I am interested in seeing if the Ford engines (FR9) really has it this year, and if so if Carl Edwards will be the man or someone else from Jack Rousch's stable.
- I am interested in seeing if Hamlin can be the JGR leader and win races like he did last year or if his teammates will emerge. We all know Kyle Bush can win races, but can he contend for a championship? And, in year 3, the pivotal year for a "new" Sprint Cup driver....will Joey Logano win some races and or make The Chase?
- I am interested in seeing if the swap at Henrick can lead to more wins...period. Not just Johnson, but Jr., Martin, and Gordon all were without wins last year.
- Trevor Bayne and the famed Wood Brothers team, will they continue to perform or was Daytona a fluke? If the FR9 engine is really that much better, they will perform and they have the guy in Bayne to do it. My guess is they will still run a partial schedule and ease Trevor into Cup but that his partial success this year, The Daytona 500 win, and the FR9 engine, will help attract a top sponsor so this team can go full time next year and make a run at The Chase. This year Bayne will go for The Nationwide Title and I think he will be right there at the end of the year.
-Also, Tony and Ryan....you know who I am talking about. They are hungry for wins, The Chase, and another Championship. I am looking for this Henrick affiliated team to be aggressive in pursuit of their goals.

More later. On to Phoenix.

Keselowski Love

With younger brother Brad having more success in his career by far, it was VERY cool to see Brad Keselowski give back to big bro Brian and push him from the rear to the front in the second Gatorade Dual yesterday at Daytona. Now they are both in the Daytona 500 !! And, another Dodge is in the race, making 4 (Kurt Bush, Brad Keselowski, Robby Gordon, & now Brad Keselowski)

This NASCAR race season is off to a great start. Lots of good stories to follow which is a nice change from "who hates who" and "who is mad at who" etc.

Gatorade Duals

It's been ten years and we miss Dale Earnhardt. The first Gatorade Dual is at 2pm. Get your haircut (like this guy!) and get ready!!

Dale Jr. on the pole: Bud Shootout

Dale was fastest in practice and got the pole for tonight's Budweiser Shootout!!

While that may make Jr. Nation happy for today, a win at any of the races this week at Daytona would make a lot of people cry in the wake of the ten year anniversary of Dale Sr.'s passing.

I am routing for ya too, Dale!! Git-it!!

Bud Shootout this weekend!

Bud Shootout Saturday night, Daytona 500 Qualifying Sunday at 1pm.....a brand new surface, a brand new season....fired up!

The early pre-practice (Friday and Saturday) call is for Jr. to win The Shootout and for Ryan Newman to win the pole!

2011 Nascar Chase pre-season call

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Tony Stewart
3. Carl Edwards
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Jimmie Johnson
6. Clint Bowyer
7. Kyle Bush
8. David Reutimann
9. Greg Biffle
10. Matt Kenseth

11. Kasey Khane
12. Joey Lagano

Paul Gozzo

Vickers is back

http://www.nascar.com/news/110110/bvickers-testing-red-bull/index.html

While it is nice to hear/read that Brian Vickers is back in a stock car....I am more interested in how his teammate does this year. For years, Kasey Khane http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/kkahne00/cup/index.html
has been dubbed a star in the making and he has performed well, but a lot of fans, and those in the garage, are left wondering, "what could Khane do if he was in good equipment...consistently?" Well we will know next year for sure as he goes over to Hendrick Motorsports http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1
But this year, we will see what he can do with some Toyota power.
http://www.toyotaracing.com/
For the past few years, since Kyle Bush started driving a Toyota, we have seen the power. So this year, we will see what happens when one of the apparently "elite" drivers steps into a Toyota. Personally (Paul Gozzo), I have big expectations for Khane who has demonstrated he can run well on super speedways, short tracks, and road courses.

My (Paul Gozzo)early call for Khane is to win 3 races, place top 5 in 8 races, top 10 in 20, and to make The Chase

Lead Chaplin leaves; Tim Griffin

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. -- 1 Peter 4:10

Tim Griffin, who spent 5.5 years working with NASCAR drivers, crew guys, and other employees, is moving on in another direction and NASCAR will miss him.


http://www.nascar.com/news/110106/tgriffin-mro-chaplain/index.html