Friday, April 16, 2010

Right Sides Only

This Sunday finds the Sprint Cup boys deep in the heart of Texas. Texas, where the stars are big and bright. Where the tumbleweeds tumble. Where the hats hold ten gallons, of water. Where they recently blew up a football stadium because it had a hole in the roof. Where someone shot JR, no, not him.

Your Hired

Hendrick Motorsports announced this week that they have signed Kasey Kahne to a contract, and that he will take over the #5 ride in 2012 after Mark Martin leaves it. Yes, leaves it. I can't say *retires* with that guy.

Interesting that Kahne signed a deal that's almost two years out. He will leave RPM at the end of this year ---maybe earlier with their financial situation--- then HMS will find him a one year deal with one of their racing appendages. Maybe JR Motorsports, or maybe Stewart-Haas Racing.

Hendrick could also have him in one of their cars in 2011. Martin might be persuaded to go to one of those satellite teams or, there are rumors that Dale Earnhardt Jr might ask for his release and go to another team. No doubt Hendrick would do it for Jr, even with all his tee shirt sales. Of course, Budweiser or another huge sponsor would have to come with Kahne to replace Jr's sponsors.

Your Fired

Aric Almirola lost his ride in the Phoenix Racing #09 this week, and Mike Bliss jumped in it before the seat was cold. Bliss left Tommy Baldwin Racing to return to Phoenix Racing, for about the fifth time. Johnny Sauter takes over in the TBR #36. Also this week, Kelly Bires was unassed from the seat in the JR Motorsports #88 NNS Chevy. He and crew chief, Tony Eury Sr, did NOT get along. Eury Sr is related to JRM's top execs, so guess who had to go.

Messin' With Texas

Sunday's race will be Tony Stewart's 400th Cup start. He has two championships and 37 wins in the series dating back to 1999 when he was the Rookie of the Year.

Charley Pride will perform the National Anthem on Sunday. Texas, always on the cutting edge of the music biz.

Ten years ago, rookie Dale Earnhardt Jr won his first Cup race, right here at TMS. Anyone remember when he won his last Cup race?

Jeff Gordon won this race last year. He has won on every Sprint Cup track except Homestead.

Carl Edwards has won three times at Texas. He hasn't won anywhere in over a year.

Four drivers have appeared in every Cup races at TMS, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, Mark Martin, and Jeff Gordon. Who, of the four, has not won a race there?

In The Tunnel

Shirtless bicyclist, and Carl Edwards' hero, Lance Armstrong is testing aerodynamics in a wind tunnel in Race City, USA, Mooresville, NC. The facility is located in Mooresville due to it's close proximity to most of the NASCAR race teams, and it usually serves as a race car testing facility, although Bodyne bob sleds have been tested there also.




16 comments:

  1. You forgot Bobby Labonte's ride this week is being sponsored by the governor's re-election campaign(insert political joke here- although there are those who would say that Governor Perry is a political joke).

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  2. And speaking of water-

    it's been raining in Lubbock for the past 36 hours. All this water is expected to head for Dallas for the weekend. Chance of rain Saturday and Sunday 70%.

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  3. Texas...where Jerry Jones keeps getting smashed and believing HE is the Dallas Cowboys. Schmuck.

    JR - Fuel mileage @ Michigan. It was last decade(00's). JR Nation thought the dynasty was re-born.

    Of course it's Labonte who has never won there....damn him....Corpus Christi probably doesn't even acknowledge that he was born there anymore.

    Hope your weekend is fruitful and they all go down smooth, Gene.

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  4. Maybe Almirola ends up being a lifer in the Truck series. I doubt a real great ride will open up for him anytime soon.

    Martin sounded like he is going to race in 2012, but he was also happy that Hendrick found someone to take his place in the #5.

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  5. Speedy....More rain? We can't even go two races in a row without it? 36 hours straight? I don't think TMS could handle that much water. lol

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  6. Moseby...Jones ran off two football geniuses, JJ and Tuna, because he thinks he is smarter than they are. As a money making business man, yes. But, not even close in football success.

    It will be nice to see Bobby have one more good run.

    I was on a booze cruise in Charleston Harbor last night...pretty fun!

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  7. JM... I like Double A. Right now he seems to be racing too tentative... trying to protect his ride, I guess. I think he could compete in decent equipment, but, you're right, that won't happen.

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  8. I'd really like to see Kahne get into a Hendrick car next year. Junior will probably flock next to either his own team or to Stewart-Haas...

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  9. Gene, good RSO as usual. As much as it pains me to agree with DW, I must when he says that Kahne in HMS equipment can contend for championships. He'll certainly be in contention to win more races at HMS. Brilliant, genius move by Rick Hendrick in hiring Kahne to run the #5 car in 2012. My guess is that JR will ask for his release after the season. It's just not working for him at Hendrick.

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  10. Well Mr Smoke got the pole so you know what that means...only way to go is backwards! LOL Even more surprising is ole Sammy on the outside pole.

    Kinda sick of talking Kahne already...I have such a short attention span these days - thanks twitter!

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  11. So will someone grab Kelly Bires now? Maybe an underlying factor behind Brad K. leaving was old man Eury, SR! My sister says she dreams about once a month that she is giving Dale,JR. motherly advice about what to do with his career, like ditch the FAMILY!lol

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  12. Gonger...Would love to see KK get in the 88 next year... just to see if it's lack of results is due to the car or the driver. LOL

    Jon...Wow, DW's going out on a limb... predicting that going to HMS is a good move. It should be, but DW (and almost everyone else) thought Jr would contend for titles at HMS also. Is Kahne really that much better a driver than Jr? Comparing their records, I don't think so.

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  13. Kris...this is Sam's kind of track. He's my go-to driver in the C Tier on Yahoo Fantasy.

    Kahne: lots of run for something that won't happen for a couple of years.

    ATH...well, Junebug has already ditched his step-mother and cousin. Look where that's got him. lol

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  14. How about Junior being the odd man out at HMS after 2012 when his contract is up?

    Love the yellow rose of Texas hospitality. Not many places more kind in offerings of food and beer with refusing to cash. They have some great tailgates with my fav kind of BBQ sauce on the ribs.

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