NASCAR's Turn 5: FONTANA 4 wide RACING!!!!

[Bobby Diehl]

It's that time again FONTANA. If you like racing 4 wide FONTANA is the place!
Here's theTV Schedule:

NEXTEL CUP
Practice - 3 p.m. ET Friday SPEED
Qualifying - 7 p.m. ET Friday SPEED
Practice - 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday SPEED
Practice - 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday SPEED
Race day 2:30 FOX

Who's your pick???

What will it be Chevy, Dodge, Ford, or Toyota?

Here's the points:
1 -- Greg Biffle 157 Leader 4 1 0 3 3 1,310,410
2 -- Kevin Harvick 148 -9 4 0 0 1 2 951,309
3 +2 Matt Kenseth 145 -12 4 0 1 2 2 2,053,260
4 +4 Martin Truex Jr. 139 -18 4 0 0 1 2 957,834
5 -2 Denny Hamlin 137 -20 4 0 1 2 2 1,263,130
6 -2 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 137 -20 4 0 0 1 2 1,429,080
7 -- Tony Stewart 130 -27 4 0 1 1 1 1,164,690
8 +6 Clint Bowyer 126 -31 4 0 0 1 2 764,244
9 -- Joey Logano 126 -31 4 0 0 0 2 677,253
10 +1 Paul Menard 123 -34 4 0 0 0 3 755,240
11 +12 Jimmie Johnson 121 -36 4 0 0 2 3 935,167
12 +3 Jeff Burton 120 -37 4 0 0 1 2 998,215
13 -- Ryan Newman 118 -39 4 0 0 1 1 852,308
14 +7 Brad Keselowski 113 -44 4 0 1 2 2 819,335
15 -9 Carl Edwards 107 -50 4 1 0 1 2 872,679
16 -4 Kyle Busch 99 -58 4 0 0 0 1 950,135
17 -7 Mark Martin 97 -60 3 1 0 0 2 513,243
18 +6 Juan Montoya 96 -61 4 0 0 0 1 707,179
19 +6 Jamie McMurray 94 -63 4 0 0 0 2 730,012
20 -1 Regan Smith 94 -63 4 0 0 0 0 691,273
21 -5 Bobby Labonte 92 -65 4 0 0 0 0 639,427
22 -- Aric Almirola 88 -69 4 0 0 0 0 695,009
23 -6 Jeff Gordon 85 -72 4 0 0 0 1 767,072
24 -6 Marcos Ambrose 82 -75 4 0 0 0 0 740,822
25 -5 Dave Blaney 76 -81 4 0 0 0 0 535,803
26 +4 AJ Allmendinger 72 -85 4 0 0 0 0 740,065
27 +2 Kurt Busch 70 -87 4 0 0 0 0 620,319
28 -- David Ragan 66 -91 4 0 0 0 0 584,995
29 -2 David Gilliland 66 -91 4 0 0 0 0 564,370
30 +3 David Reutimann 62 -95 4 0 0 0 0 552,450
31 -- Casey Mears 60 -97 4 0 0 0 0 572,552
32 -6 Kasey Kahne 57 -100 4 1 0 0 0 613,298
33 -1 Landon Cassill 54 -103 4 0 0 0 0 637,470
34 +3 Brendan Gaughan 49 -108 3 0 0 0 0 270,790
35 -- Travis Kvapil 47 -110 3 0 0 0 0 280,868
36 -2 David Stremme 44 -113 4 0 0 0 0 536,230
37 -- Brian Vickers 40 -117 1 0 0 1 1 98,535
38 +1 Michael McDowell 34 -123 4 0 0 0 0 524,864
39 +1 J.J. Yeley 33 -124 3 0 0 0 0 260,242
40 -4 Terry Labonte 27 -130 1 0 0 0 0 316,150
41 -3 Tony Raines 25 -132 1 0 0 0 0 317,676
42 -1 Ken Schrader 25 -132 2 0 0 0 0 189,615
43 -1 Josh Wise* 11 -146 3 0 0 0 0 230,867
44 -1 Robby Gordon 6 -151 2 0 0 0 0 332,500
45 -1 Scott Riggs 5 -152 2 0 0 0 0 145,025
46 -1 Timmy Hill* 2 -155 1 0 0 0 0 79,780
47 -1 Trevor Bayne 0 -157 2 0 0 0 1 396,065
48 -1 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 0 -157 1 0 0 0 0 353,063
49 -1 Mike Bliss 0 -157 1 0 0 0 0 80,800
50 -1 Elliott Sadler 0 -157 1 0 0 0 0 305,788
51 -1 Joe Nemechek 0 -157 4 0 0 0 0 512,663
52 -1 Danica Patrick 0 -157 1 0 0 0 0 281,715
53 -- Reed Sorenson 0 -157 1 0 0 0 0 80,720
54 -2 Michael Waltrip 0 -157 0 0 0 0 0 38,982
55 -2 Robert Richardson Jr. 0 -157 0 0 0 0 0 24,913
56 -2 Bill Elliott 0 -157 0 0 0 0 0 24,888
57 -2 Mike Wallace 0 -157 0 0 0 0 0 18,175
58 -2 Kenny Wallace 0 -157 0 0 0 0 0 24,838

Who's your pick???

What will it be Chevy, Dodge, Ford, or Toyota?

GOoooo NASCAR GOooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ancrdave]

Just going thru some things here today and found out this year is the first time since 1986 that the first four races were won by four makes of cars...

Daytona - Matt Kenseth - Ford
Phoenix - Denny Hamlin - Toyota
Las Vegas - Smoke - Chevy
Bristol - Brad Keselowski - Dodge

In 1986, the first FIVE races were one by FIVE different makes...

Daytona - Geoff Bodine - Chevy
Richmond - Kyle Petty - Ford
Rockingham - Terry Labonte - Oldsmobile
Atlanta - Morgan Shepherd - Buick
Bristol - Rusty Wallace - Pontiac

[Winger]

Yeah, I saw that also. But in 1985 it was basically Ford and GM. GM had the 4 makes but essentially the same car. Ford was it's only competition. Dodge wasn't in the game at that time. No one ever thought a foreign manufacturer would be in Nascar. The nice thing about the 1985 cars was they looked pretty similar to the cars you bought from the showroom. They had started to evolve to more specialty designed vehicles though, with the realization of the importance of aerodynamics.
Now we have 4 different manufacturers involved in the sport. They all use the same basic design. Each has it's own specially designed engine and special decals to put on the cars so we can tell them apart.

[Bobby Diehl]

Your right!!!

The COT car realy got out of controll as far as the cars we drive today. BUT GET READY FOR 2013. The new cars sure look HOT HOT HOT. Can't wait for the Chevy and Toyota. WINGER 5 wide to racing.

I am going out of my mind. But, I think Kasey READY!!!!!
Who's your pick????

[Winger]

Bobby, I hope you're right. It started going bad quite a while before the COT was instituted. They already had the template rules and the cars had the same basic body back then. The COT actually integrated some safety features into a new package and that was good. Unfortunately, Nascar got stricter on their templates, rule interpretations, instituted strict censorship, and a points system that is not a Season Championship by any means. I think Nascar only has five rules and one of them is the "actions determined to be detrimental to stock car racing" that is almost always used to penalize someone. No one knows what the other four rules are because they aren't needed. They also have drivers that have to fit a certain image and bring sponsors to the sport. They have teams with guaranteed starting spots, and teams trading or selling their numbers and points. Wouldn't it be just a little more exciting to watch your favorite driver have to qualify to race? I became a David Reutimann fan quite a few years ago. The first year he drove for MWR, he wasn't a guaranteed starter and I actually watched qualifying on some occasions to see if he got in the race on speed. Then I would keep track of his points positions to see if he would qualify if qualifying got rained out. Imagine all the drivers being in the same boat. It might make qualifying more interesting and meaningful.
I use to be a pretty big Nascar fan. I've found I don't watch it much any more. It wasn't a conscious decision. I started by having the race on TV and then doing work while the race was on. I subscribe to the Nascar track pass and I kept track of the race and listened to drivers scanners while working. It's got so I have the race on TV and may not watch it at all. I don't find it exciting any more. Nascar needs to do something to bring the excitement back for people like me. Maybe they should do away with time trials and run heat races on the same day as the main race. Imagine, two 75 lap heat races and then the main event right after. Give the teams 15 minutes to work on their cars before starting the 300 lap main event. Imagine all the commercials they could fit in between the heat races and the main event. LOL
I do hope next years cars are close to what has been previewed. I'm afraid Nascar will mandate changes so the cars are equal. I'd rather have Nascar tell the manufacturers they can build the car as long as it fits a certain set of specifications and fits the template of an actual production car with a minimum production line run of, say, 10,000 vehicles. If a company can build a car that meets those specs and they find something that makes them faster, great. Now the other manufactures should need to catch up, like they use to. But in the recent past, if a team found an advantage, Nascar would penalize them. For example, the latest 48 team debacle.
Just some thoughts.

[Bobby Diehl]

TOYOTA front row.


If your a Toyota Fan your a HAPPYcamper. Here's the line up.
1 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express 186.403 38.626 Leader
2 18 Kyle Busch Toyota Interstate Batteries 185.533 38.807 -0.181
3 55 Mark Martin Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine 185.533 38.807 -0.181
4 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M 185.510 38.812 -0.186
5 5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet Quaker State 185.510 38.812 -0.186
6 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet U.S. Army 185.328 38.850 -0.224
7 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches 185.199 38.877 -0.251
8 20 Joey Logano Toyota Dollar General 185.195 38.878 -0.252
9 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Office Depot / Mobil 1 185.185 38.880 -0.254
10 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's / Jimmie Johnson Foundation 185.123 38.893 -0.267
11 15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 5-hour Energy 185.052 38.908 -0.282
12 99 Carl Edwards Ford Subway 185.000 38.919 -0.293
13 56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota NAPA Auto Parts 184.724 38.977 -0.351
14 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Diet Mountain Dew / National Guard 184.530 39.018 -0.392
15 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Ford EcoBoost 184.322 39.062 -0.436
16 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Allstate 184.068 39.116 -0.490
17 2 Brad Keselowski Dodge Miller Lite 184.044 39.121 -0.495
18 10 David Reutimann Chevrolet Accell Construction 183.913 39.149 -0.523
19 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Caterpillar 183.744 39.185 -0.559
20 30 David Stremme Toyota @TheNASCARFans 183.397 39.259 -0.633
21 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Drive to End Hunger 183.379 39.263 -0.637
22 78 Regan Smith Chevrolet Furniture Row / Farm American 183.052 39.333 -0.707
23 51 Kurt Busch Chevrolet Phoenix Construction Services 182.681 39.413 -0.787
24 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Target 182.560 39.439 -0.813
25 22 AJ Allmendinger Dodge Southern California AAA 182.542 39.443 -0.817
26 47 Bobby Labonte Toyota Charter 182.445 39.464 -0.838
27 27 Paul Menard Chevrolet CertainTeed / Menards 182.366 39.481 -0.855
28 43 Aric Almirola Ford Medallion Financial 182.094 39.540 -0.914
29 9 Marcos Ambrose Ford Dewalt 182.007 39.559 -0.933
30 26 Josh Wise* Ford Morristown Driver's Service 181.087 39.760 -1.134
31 83 Landon Cassill Toyota Burger King / Dr Pepper 180.850 39.812 -1.186
32 98 Michael McDowell Ford Curb Records 180.610 39.865 -1.239
33 13 Casey Mears Ford GEICO 180.542 39.880 -1.254
34 36 Dave Blaney Chevrolet Tommy Baldwin Racing 180.433 39.904 -1.278
35 23 Scott Riggs Chevrolet North Texas Pipe 180.356 39.921 -1.295
36 249 J.J. Yeley Toyota America Israel Racing 180.298 39.934 -1.308
37 33 Brendan Gaughan Chevrolet South Point Hotel & Casino 179.609 40.087 -1.461
38 34 David Ragan Ford Front Row Motorsports 179.466 40.119 -1.493
39 119 Mike Bliss Toyota Humphrey Smith Racing 179.296 40.157 -1.531
40 93 Travis Kvapil Toyota Burger King / Dr Pepper 178.864 40.254 -1.628
41 38 David Gilliland Ford 1-800LoanMart 178.602 40.313 -1.687
42 32 Ken Schrader+ Ford U.S. Chrome / 1 Less Than 2 Ltd. 178.333 40.374 -1.748
43 74 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet Turn One Racing 179.131 40.194 -1.568

Did Not Qualify
44 7 Robby Gordon Dodge Speed Energy 178.470 40.343 -1.717
45 87 Joe Nemechek Toyota AMFMEnergy.com / Pellet & Wood Stoves 178.443 40.349 -1.723
46 37 Timmy Hill* Ford Poynt.com 177.936 40.464 -1.838

Feel bad for Joe Nemechek. First time he didn't make the Show.

[Bobby Diehl]

WOW what a Nationwide Race!!!

CONGRAT's Joey Lagano!!!! Hope he does it again TODAY!!!!



P(M)S:
Professor OSMOANE J........ just another FAST KID!
Go catch a Cab. Oh Aric busy racing at FUNTANA (just an old student asst for three year.......) He came into class with a lot of smarts...... When you Teach you get all kinds. He had a 4.5+ GAP (that's Grade Point Average). Any more questions?????
GOoooo NASCAR GOoooo........
Back to no class DING!

[Benny The Mule]

Logano and Almirola are proof even a blind squirrel can find a nut.

And Fontana sucks...........bring more short track to the schedule...........I could teach my grandma how to be competitive there, it doesn't take THAT much talent.

[Bobby Diehl]

Your Grand Mom would be hella driver or....

You would be a hell of a TEACHER!!!!!!! Side by side 5 wide at times. Then side ways at 200 mph and not crashing. That takes talent and Balls. I don't know if your Grandma could make the field. Heck Front Row Joe didn't make it for the first time in along time. Keep your panties on another week. Than the speeds are around 130 mph. "Martinsville, yes it's a short track. But, even that still take balls......

[Benny The Mule]

Woo-hoo, 24th and 25th..........where do i buy my t-shirts.

[Winger]

[SIZE="7"] He came into class with a lot of smarts...... When you Teach you get all kinds. He had a 4.5+ GAP (that's Grade Point Average). Any more questions?????![/COLOR]

He got a 4.5 GPA out of a possible high of 4.0. Don't even get me started on the educational system. It now gives extra points for showing up to class. A perfect example of why our kids rank so low compared to other nations. Sorry if this offends you because you're a teacher, but it's the truth. BTW, that should be GPA not GAP but it a perfect example of ------- I won't say it. Just be glad he didn't put the left front tire on the right rear. LOL

[RSB]

He got a 4.5 GPA out of a possible high of 4.0. Don't even get me started on the educational system. It now gives extra points for showing up to class. A perfect example of why our kids rank so low compared to other nations. Sorry if this offends you because you're a teacher, but it's the truth. BTW, that should be GPA not GAP but it a perfect example of ------- I won't say it. Just be glad he didn't put the left front tire on the right rear. LOL

Benny, I agree 100%. Not that it really means anything!

(GAPS) LOLOLOLOL!!! They have to give weighted GPA's now because the system allows the not so smart kids to take classes that someone with a 80 I.Q could pass. A "weighted" GPA has to be used so we will know who the best students really are. Ooh, did I just end a sentence with a preposition? Bobby? LOL!!