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Bump-Draft Blog Index
September 2007
September 28, 2007
Kansas picks

Based on the stats that I shared in yesterday's post, I am going to go with Tony Stewart for the win.

Another possibility in my mind, and only because the team is just on fire and Kansas happens to be his home state, is Clint Bowyer.

On a different note...

Yesterday, "racefan" posted a comment regarding online chats with former Daytona 500 winners. (thank you, I had seen it but glad you mentioned it) Here is the schedule and information on how to do it.


Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 09:27 AM
Comments (12) | Permalink

September 26, 2007
Some Kansas stats

I get so much NASCAR information that crosses in front of me every day. It is difficult to decide what information, if any of it, you would want to read, hear or see.

So yesterday when I received a stats and facts sheet from NASCAR, my immediate thought was, this is kind of interesting and I wanted to share it with you. What I like about this one in particular is that everything is in one place right under my nose going into this weekend's race at Kansas Speedway.


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1 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) The File: • 36 years old, Vallejo, Calif., 79 career wins • Four wins, 16 top; fives, 22 top 10s this year • Six poles • Average finish of 8.1 this season • Led 18 of 28 races for 1,033 laps Kansas Speedway Outlook: • Two wins, three top fives, four top 10s • Average finish of 11.5 • Finished 39th last season • Led two of six races for 169 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-best Average Running Position of 8.7

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2 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet) The File: • 36 years old from Columbus, Ind., 32 career wins • Three wins, 10 top fives, 20 top 10s • Average finish of 11.8 • Led 18 of 28 races for 929 laps Kansas Speedway Outlook: • One win, three top fives, five top 10s • Average finish of 6.5 • Won Kansas race last season • Led two of six races for six laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 568 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

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3 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) The File: • 28 years old from Columbia, Mo., seven career wins • Three wins, eight top fives, 12 top 10s • Average finish of 12.8 • Led 11 of 28 races for 428 laps Kansas Speedway Outlook: • One top fives, two top 10s • Average finish of 10.3 • Finished sixth last season • Led two of three races for eight laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 6,111 Laps in the Top 15, fifth-most

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4 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) The File: • 32 years old from El Cajon, Calif., 29 career wins • Six wins, 14 top fives, 17 top 10s; two poles • Average finish of 12.8 • Led 16 of 28 races for 967 laps Kansas Speedway Outlook: • Three top 10s; one pole • Average finish of 13.8 • Finished 14th at Kansas last season • Led three of five races for 126 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-high 731 Fastest Laps Run

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5 – Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet) The File: • 22 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins • One win, eight top fives, 16 top 10s • Average finish of 13.2 • Led 14 of 28 races for 295 laps Kansas Speedway Outlook: • One top 10 • Average finish of 21.7 • Finished seventh last season • Led one of three races for 64 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Fifth-fastest average Green Flag Speed

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6 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet) The File: • 28 years old from Emporia, Kan., one career win • One win, three top fives, 13 top 10s; two poles • Average finish of 14.2 • Led 10 of 28 races for 306 laps Kansas Speedway Outlook: • One top 10 • Finished ninth last season, his only Kansas start • Led 43 laps in his one Kansas race Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Sixth-best Closer – 34 positions improved over the last 10 percent of races

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7 – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) The File: • 27 years old from Mayetta, N.J., one career win • One win, six top fives, 11 top 10s • Average finish of 15.2 • Led 11 of 28 races for 351 laps Kansas Speedway Outlook: • Finish 11th last season, his only Kansas start Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-high 2,454 Green Flag Passes

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8 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet) The File: • 40 years old from South Boston, Va., 19 career wins • One win, seven top fives, 13 top 10s • Average finish of 13.3 • Led six of 28 races for 28 laps Kansas Speedway Outlook: • One top five • Average finish of 16.8 • Finished fifth last season • Led three of six races for five laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 1,383 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green flag conditions), fifth-most

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9 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) The File: • 31 years old from Bakersfield, Calif., 11 career victories • One win, four top fives, 11 top 10s • Average finish of 15.7 this season • Led nine of 28 races for 251 laps Kansas Speedway Outlook: • One top 10 • Average finish of 17.8 • Finished 15th last season • Led two of six races for 49 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-best Closer – 52 positions improved over the last 10 percent of races

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10 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford) The File: • 35 years old from Cambridge, Wis., 15 career wins • One win, eight top fives, 17 top 10s • Average finish of 12.8 • Led 15 of 28 races for 480 laps Kansas Speedway Outlook: • One top five, two top 10s; one pole • Average finish of 20.0 • Finished 23rd last season • Led two of six races for 85 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-high 7,722 laps run on the lead lap

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11 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) The File: • 29 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., 17 career wins • Two wins, five top fives, 10 top 10s • Average finish of 15.9 • Led 16 of 28 races for 671 laps Kansas Speedway Outlook: • Two top 10s • Average finish of 20.8 • Finished 25th last season • Led two of six races for three laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-high 1,480 Quality Passes

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12 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet) The File: • 26 years old, Chesterfield, Va., three career wins • One win, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole • Average finish of 13.3 • Led 14 of 28 races for 799 laps


I'll be back tomorrow with my picks for this weekend's LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 01:20 PM
Comments (5) | Permalink

2008 Cup schedule and penalties for Carl Edwards

The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule has been announced:

Feb. 9: Budweiser Shootout at Daytona – Daytona International Speedway*
Feb. 17: Daytona International Speedway
Feb. 24: California Speedway
March 2: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 9: Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 16: Bristol Motor Speedway
March 30: Martinsville Speedway
April 6: Texas Motor Speedway
April 12: Phoenix International Raceway
April 27: Talladega Superspeedway
May 3: Richmond International Raceway
May 10: Darlington Raceway
May 17: NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge – Lowe’s Motor Speedway*
May 25: Lowe’s Motor Speedway
June 1: Dover International Speedway
June 8: Pocono Raceway
June 15: Michigan International Speedway
June 22: Infineon Raceway
June 29: New Hampshire International Speedway
July 5: Daytona International Speedway
July 12: Chicagoland Speedway
July 27: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Aug. 3: Pocono Raceway
Aug. 10: Watkins Glen International
Aug. 17: Michigan International Speedway
Aug. 23: Bristol Motor Speedway
Aug. 31: California Speedway
Sept. 6: Richmond International Raceway
Sept. 14: New Hampshire International Speedway
Sept. 21: Dover International Speedway
Sept. 28: Kansas Speedway
Oct. 5: Talladega Superspeedway
Oct. 11: Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Oct. 19: Martinsville Speedway
Oct. 26: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Nov. 2: Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 9: Phoenix International Raceway
Nov. 16: Homestead-Miami Speedway

*Non-championship points events; tentative, subject to change

New Hampshire International Speedway will again be the start of the 10-race Chase for the championship and Homestead-Miami Speedway will be the final race of the series and where the Nextel Sprint Cup Series driver will be crowned champion.

---

Penalties

The penalties should be of no surprise... Carl Edwards was docked 25 driver points. Jack Roush was docked 25 owner points and Bob Osborne, crew chief, was docked $25,000 for the car being too low in the right rear at the post-race inspection.

Roush Fenway Racing president, Geoff Smith, released this statement about the penalties:

"We have the misfortune of violating a rule which makes no sense. It was promulgated to address restrictor plate races, not downforce races. I say misfortune because we are being penalized for a violation that actually impaired the car's performance.

"We intend to appeal the unfair assessment of the point's penalty. What is unfair is that Carl is receiving a penalty that is 250 percent greater in its effect than a similarly assessed penalty against a non-'Chase' driver. 'Chase' drivers are competing for a total of 1,950 points. All drivers competed for 5,070 points in the first 26 races. Do the math. The net effect is that a 25 point penalty falls unfairly hard on a 'Chase' contender. That's simply not right. To equalize the penalty impact on all competitors not more than 10 points should have been taken from a 'Chase' contender."

So what do you think?

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 11:25 AM
Comments (4) | Permalink

September 24, 2007
Demolition Dover

This wasn't the race for a lot of the guys in the Chase and apparently that includes Carl Edwards. He failed post-race inspection. Penalties will be doled out a little later this week. His car was found to be too low in the right rear. He will retain the victory but will likely be docked some points. He could be docked as much as 25 points.

On a different note, Edwards gave his trophy received from yesterday's victory to a young boy in New York who has cerebral palsy. Just another reason to love cousin Carl.

Others in the Chase weren't so lucky:
Kevin Harvick - finished 20th, he couldn't keep tires on his car
Kurt Busch - With about 20 laps to go, he went up hit the outside wall hard. That wreck collected a dozen or so other cars. Busch finished 28th.
Matt Kenseth - After leading the most laps, he blew up. First engine in 2007 to die, just bad luck. He finished 35th.
Denny Hamlin - Finished 38th, involved in a wreckwith Kyle Petty that he himself caused.

A few other observations:
Tony Stewart - Finished 9th. All I have to say is that he never should have finished there. His car was like a brick all day.
Clint Bowyer - Despite starting last, he finished 12th. He had a hell of a car yesterday. Unbelievable. He would have finished better had he not been the victim of the wreck with Denny Hamlin and Kyle Petty.
Jeff Burton - was probably the luckiest man in the Chase yesterday. He was like a cat with nine lives. It seemed all day long he would just go down a lap or come real close to being passed by the leader and a caution flag would wave due to debris on the track or a wreck.

And finally...

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How about Juan Pablo Montoya?! He finished 10th and didn't wreck anyone or himself as was predicted by some of you.

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 09:31 AM
Comments (5) | Permalink

September 21, 2007
Dover pick

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We're off to the one-mile track of Dover International Speedway this weekend. Six of the Chase drivers finished in the top-ten here in June for the Autism Speaks 400. Martin Truex Jr. won and dominated most of the race.

Clint Bowyer finished in the 8th position. Could he possible get back-to-back victories? I think he can pull it off. I certainly think after last weekend's victory at New Hampshire International Speedway, he must have a MAJOR confidence boost, so my pick this weekend is going to be Bowyer.

Here's the schedule of this weekend's events at the Dodge Dealers 400 in Dover.

On a different topic, I am having a real hard time getting used to fact that Kasey Kahne is going to be the Bud man of racing. Budweiser is going to have to work really hard to get him to fit that image in my mind of what a Bud guy should look like. Maybe, just maybe, if he grew a little 5 o'clock shadow on his face (if he can) it would help.

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 09:45 AM
Comments (18) | Permalink

September 19, 2007
Junior to drive the No. 88

Today's announcement from Dallas of what number Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be driving and his primary sponsors are official.

His new car number will be 88 and his primary sponsors: Amp Energy Drink and the National Guard.

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It really didn't matter to me what his number or primary sponsors were going to be. I am just glad that this drama is over.

---

Budweiser sponsorship -is going to Kasey Kahne. Honestly, I had not seen this before so I had to share it with you. This is from a press conference when Kahne was announced as the new driver for Budweiser. It has got to be the hokiest thing I've ever seen. He looks completely scared out of his mind.


Now I have absolutely nothing against Kahne but I must say he doesn't fit the Budweiser image to me. I would peg him to be more of a Bud Light man, to be perfectly honest.

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 02:45 PM
Comments (11) | Permalink

September 18, 2007
Dale Jr. announcement

The long-awaited Dale Earnhardt Jr. announcement regarding his number and main sponsor is being made tomorrow from Dallas.

Rumor has it that he will be driving the No. 88 and his primary sponsor will be Mountain Dew.

Did anyone see the pre-race show on television on Sunday? Apparently, Ken Schrader pretty much spilled the beans on live television. He pointed to the Mountain Dew that he was drinking when asked who Junior's main sponsor would be (or so I'm told). Did anyone see that?

Budweiser will now be Kasey Kahne's primary sponsor for 2008.

Yesterday I had mentioned that I thought Sunday's post-race interviews with Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart at NHIS were hilarious. Here is the audio...

Click here to listen to audio

I will warn you that the entire audio is 27 minutes long. Around the 9 minute marker is where I think it starts getting pretty funny. Enjoy.

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 01:15 PM
Comments (3) | Permalink

September 17, 2007
A couple thoughts of the weekend at NHIS

Brace yourself, this is a long one…it was a fabulous weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway. The highlight of my weekend, of course, was meeting Boris Said.

All in all, I felt much more comfortable with things than the first time I came in June. A lot of the same faces and this time I knew where I could and couldn't go. I learned this time around that I have to be careful vocalizing my happiness about drivers making the field (Boris).

The race: I was really glad to see Clint Bowyer win his first Cup race. He dominated that entire race.

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A journalist friend of mine asked me why I don’t blog during the race and immediately following the race. To me, it would be like a die-hard Patriots fan watching a game and having someone talk in their ear. But in this case, I’m a die-hard NASCAR fan and I just can’t seem to focus or concentrate on anything but the race. I do think that journalists are trained to do so but I am not.

And the reason I don’t blog after the race? Well after waking up at 4 a.m., I was completely beat. Immediately after the race the top three finishers head to the media center for questions from the media. Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart were there when I walked in after making my way down from the press box.

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That had to be the funniest interviewing session ever. OK, I’m going to say it …this weekend, I may have actually turned a corner and now might like Tony Stewart. He is a wise-ass to the media, but he is REALLY funny about it. And in this post-race interview session, he and Gordon just played off one another. It was the best. I'm going to try to get the audio so you can hear it for yourself.

The traffic: Thursday, Friday and Saturday is relatively smooth sailing in and out of the track. The traffic is completely dealable. Sunday is a different story. I know I told you that I arrived at the track on Sunday morning, dark and early, at 5:30 a.m. and even at that hour, there was already a bit of traffic. After the race is a different story.

I put my “patience cap” on and left the media center at around 7 p.m. to make my way back to my hotel room in Manchester. (The tunnel access to the media center is closed for an hour after the completion of the race) I breezed out of the infield with hardly any traffic and then I hit Route 106. It was almost at a complete stop. I thought there had to have been a wreck somewhere.

I give New Hampshire a ton of credit. They shut that road down to through traffic. The entire road becomes a 3- or 4-lane road leaving the racetrack. It does move along, just slow. Now if only they could do something about those impatient idiots who are granted a drivers license.

There was a wreck on I-93 South. So what normally would take about 40 minutes to get back to the hotel room took 2 hours because (and I’m assuming) someone was a moron and wasn’t paying attention.

It's going to be real hard to focus on my other duties at work on Tuesday. I am already feeling like I am ready to go to another race and see what other tracks look like and how they operate and all that. I think I may be turning into an addict.

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 04:17 PM
Comments (7) | Permalink

September 16, 2007
My pick for the race and more pics...

Getting up at 4 a.m. is starting to catch up with me. I am glad the race is getting started. I'm sitting up here in the Press Box, as I did for the June race here at New Hampshire International Speedway.

I think I'm going to go with Jeff Gordon for the win today.

Here's a few more pictures taken this morning and a couple of the pre-race festivities.

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That's all for today ... enjoy the race!


Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 02:07 PM
Comments (0) | Permalink

Looking back while waiting for THE race

It's way too early in the morning. I am certainly not awake yet. When I walked in to the media center here at New Hampshire International Speedway, I hadn't even had my first cup of coffee because everything was closed when I left the hotel. I love racing but this early stuff is for the birds. And if you want to beat the traffic, you've got to be an early bird. I am a bit cranky to say the least.

I had honestly thought about leaving yesterday afternoon and going back to the hotel room. Because of the weather, all the Cup drivers had packed up for the day.

Then I decided to make my way up on the hill by the big flag poles on the backstretch to enjoy some time with friends as a fan instead of working. I did snap a few pictures up there though. (I don't typically go anywhere without a camera while I'm here.)

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Snoozing during the truck race ... yup this pretty much sums up my thoughts on that race.

Here's a few other pictures from up there ...

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There are just rows and rows of RVs and motor homes.

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Police patrol

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These gals don't really care about the racing.

As for beverage pong this weekend ... didn't do it. I just didn't make it up to Frontier Land to give it a try. Maybe next time.

Now the long wait begins for the Cup race.


Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 05:50 AM
Comments (0) | Permalink

September 15, 2007
I'm going stir crazy...

I walked outside the media center and saw all these people gathered down by the entrance and wondered which driver was standing there. As soon as I turned the corner ...

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I'm not really sure what that was all about... They walked through the pits and I heard someone say they were heading to the Cheerios hauler. That's all I know about that.

The rain has stopped. The dryers are on the track. Final practice for the Cup cars has been canceled because of the weather.

Here's a few more pictures from this morning ...

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This is Carl Edwards that everyone is gathered around.

All for now. I'm getting a little stir crazy. I'm going to grab some lunch and go take a walk. Be back later.

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 12:15 PM
Comments (6) | Permalink

It's raining...

It's pouring at the moment. Practice for the Cup cars was supposed to begin at 9 a.m., but that's not happening.

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It's supposed to clear off here in the next couple hours, or so they say.

When I walked in this morning, the media director, Fred Neergard, pulled me aside and had a chat with me regarding something I said here in the media center yesterday. Apparently, some folks talked with him about a comment I made out loud when Boris Said made the field because of John Andretti being disqualified when the post-qualifying inspection determined that his car was too low.

So I guess it's a really good thing that I didn't sport that wig yesterday, huh?
The journalists in here surely would have had a field day with that one. I am first and foremost a fan. I'm not a journalist but I guess I need to learn quickly the "rules" of working in a media center.

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 09:32 AM
Comments (1) | Permalink

September 14, 2007
There IS a Racing God!

Boris Said IS IN THE RACE ON SUNDAY!!!
The 49 car was disqualified because it was too low in post qualifying inspection! I am absolutely thrilled!

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And here are a few other pictures that I took while qualifying was taking place...

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John Andretti

Okay, I have absolutely NO mercy! I nabbed Andretti when he came out of the portapotty on pit road and had my picture taken with him. The only reason I'm not posting it is because it is an absolutely hideous picture of me. I'll keep it for sure but I don't think I care to share it.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Honestly, I was standing there on pit road and all of the sudden you could hear fans cheering and screaming. I just knew it had to be Junior based on all the commotion. And sure enough, it was.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr.

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Kevin Harvick and team


And lastly...here you go racefan....I was able to get a couple shots of Smoke during practice. I hope you enjoy these...

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That's it for me today. I will be back bright and early tomorrow.


Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 05:35 PM
Comments (4) | Permalink

Could it get any better?

If NOTHING else works out the way I want, I will be a happy woman because I met Boris Said.

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I HATE pictures of myself, but am so completely proud of this one with Said. The only thing that will make me happier is WHEN he makes the field for Sunday's race.

I must say that now that this is my second Cup race I feel like I am taking the same pictures as last time. But here are a few snapshots as I walked around the garage area.


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Ricky Rudd

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Kyle Busch

And here's a couple from the media center:

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Dale Earnhardt Jr.

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Jeff Burton


All for now, be back later with more pics. Gotta go grab some lunch...

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 11:18 AM
Comments (7) | Permalink

Getting settled

It is 9:30 and I am just getting settled in here at the media center at New Hampshire International Speedway. I am kind of playing musical chairs today as I don't have my own spot to call my home until tomorrow...

Even with good old mapquest directions, I managed to get a little turned around on the way back to the hotel last night.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is supposed to be making his way to the media center for a press conference.

There's not a cloud in the sky this morning. Thank god! Looks like Boris Said will get his chance at qualifying without weather being a factor.

All for now, will be back in a bit with pictures. Things are just starting to come to life now.

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 09:30 AM
Comments (0) | Permalink

September 12, 2007
The travails of your blogger

Traveling-- First, I'm not a huge traveler so there's a little angst when I get ready to head out by myself to New Hampshire International Speedway. I must confess both last time and this time I have printed out directions on Mapquest from my house to the hotel, from the hotel to the track, from the track to the hotel and finally from the hotel back home.

I follow those directions to a T. And even doing so, I managed to get turned around each time I left the track to go back to the hotel. This is absolutely ridiculous, but true. This time, I NEED to master that route.

Extra Curricular Activities-- When I went to NHIS in June, it was suggested that I stay away from this place called "Frontier Land" or at the very least not go up there alone at night. So naturally, my first thought was I HAVE GOT TO GO THERE! I am one to go against the grain whenever possible.

So when I got an email from someone inviting me to play "beverage" pong, there was NO way I was going to decline. (Hi boss, this will be on my own time.) I have never played but am very much looking forward to this. I'm a bit on the wild and crazy side, so I should fit right in.

Have you ever played? Is there something else you would suggest that I should see or experience up there in "frontier land?"

Boris Said-- Have I mentioned that he will be going?! Does anyone know if you can buy those wigs at the track? It's all about Boris for me this weekend.

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 09:31 AM
Comments (7) | Permalink

September 11, 2007
Boris Said !!!

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I was catching up on some reading last night when I read on my pal Travis' blog that Boris Said will be trying to qualify in to the Cup race in New Hampshire this weekend.

Imagine the smile on my face. That little tidbit of information made my day. I may even have to sport one of those wigs in support of him.

You can bet that I will be ALL over the pits trying to get pictures of him. This is just going to be the coolest thing. It just added a whole new level of excitement for me heading down to NHIS.

Just think about it for a second... He has only had four starts in the Cup series this year. That poor excuse of a driver, Michael Waltrip, has had eight starts and is ONLY 20 points ahead of Said.

I think Teresa Earnhardt should have considered Said the next driver to drive the No. 8 car. People love him. I, for one, would have rooted for him each and every week.

If I had to choose which driver I would want to see in the race between Ward Burton and Boris Said...it would be Boris, hands down. Go Boris!

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 09:29 AM
Comments (4) | Permalink

September 10, 2007
Richmond thoughts

I thought the racing at Richmond was actually pretty good. Maybe it was the whole points saga and where Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch were, I don't know. Honestly, for a little while, I thought Harvick was going to be out and Junior was going to be in. He had what appeared to be a solid finish brewing until he blew yet another motor.

The fat lady is now singing and Junior is not in the Chase.

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Jimmie Johnson won at Richmond.

Here are the point standings after the completion of the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond Motor Speedway.


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The Chase officially starts this coming weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway. I am heading down there on Thursday for the weekend events.

I will be updating the blog a few times a day with images that I have taken. So if there's anything or anyone you would like to see, please let me know and I will try my best to get some images for you.

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 10:58 AM
Comments (10) | Permalink

September 07, 2007
Richmond picks

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Honestly, I'm glad that Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 is the last race to determine who's in the chase. I think this race may be a little more exciting than the past few, or at least I'm hoping it is.

It's down to three drivers fighting to stay in or get in to the top 12 in points. All three of these drivers, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick all have solid finishes here. It would take a small miracle for something to happen in order for Junior to get in to the 12th position in points. Junior is 128 points behind 12th-place Harvick and 141 points behind 11th-place Busch.

Well, actually, he needs to finish no worse than fifth AND must lead the most laps, BUT in that scenario, Harvick would need to finish 43rd. If Junior gets lucky enough to win, AND lead the most laps, AND have Harvick finish 33rd or worse and/or Kurt Busch finish 37th or worse, he'd be in the Chase.

All these scenarios are just way too darn complicated for me to wrap my brain around. In any event, it should be a pretty good show to watch.

My picks? Any one of the three drivers I have just mentioned. Those are my picks for this weekend. Enjoy.

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 09:50 AM
Comments (3) | Permalink

September 06, 2007
This and that

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The days of seeing the Coors Light sponsor on the 40 car are numbered. It is going to be really weird watching a race without them as the sponsor on that car. Coors Light has sponsored the car for 14 years.

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Ricky Rudd made his 900th career start last weekend in California. He is going to have to sit out this coming weekend though due to a separated left shoulder sustained from a wreck at Fontana. Kenny Wallace will be the sit-in driver at Richmond.

Surprise, surprise...Joe Gibbs Racing officially announced yesterday that they will be going with Toyota Camrys in 2008. I think if anyone can make Toyota work, it is JGR.

And finally, who's going to Loudon? I am and I am really looking forward to it. I don't think it will be as boring as the last couple races have been.


Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 09:40 AM
Comments (2) | Permalink

September 04, 2007
Fontana thoughts

Did anyone watch the Dale Earnhardt Jr. 500? Seriously, like any other Junior fan, I would love to see him be in the Chase. But even being a fan, I have my limits. It is getting old.

Whether it's talking about him changing his number or him being on the bubble of the Chase... It seemed that if Junior wasn't in the main view he was in the split screen or we were in his in-car camera...uugh!

johnson3.jpg

Jimmie Johnson won at California, his fifth victory of the season. Here's the rundown.

I'll admit I fell asleep toward the end of the race and had to watch the taped version of it in the morning. When I fell asleep, Kyle Busch was leading the race and I was thinking to myself, I will vomit if he wins this race. So I was almost relieved to see that Johnson had won when I checked in the morning.

Here are the point standings after the completion of the AQUOS 500.

Speaking of Kyle Busch, what about him letting the cat out of the bag about Gibbs move to Toyota??? He has so much to learn. Honestly, I really think he should've known better than to take it upon himself to let the media know.

And on a different note, tonight is the airing of "Dale the Movie." It's airing at 8 p.m. on CMT. It looks like it is going to be a pretty good movie. I'm going to watch it. Will you be watching it?

Posted by Jennifer Lizotte at 08:47 AM
Comments (12) | Permalink

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Jennifer is the newsroom
administrative assistant and executive
assistant to the editor for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. She is married, lives in Pownal with her husband and son, and has been following NASCAR for many years.

About this blog:
I am hopeful that this will be a place where people can air their two cents' worth about a race, catch up on the gossip and share their opinions on the rules and regulations of NASCAR. I have always felt that there has been a need for such a place in Maine and that this blog helps to fill the void.



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