No 'shine in California

Ugh---I knew it was going to be bad yesterday for Tony when my husband forgot there was a pan of hot grease on the stove--smoke filled out apartment and well we spent the next 20-30 minutes outside with our two cats waiting for the smoke to clear so we could go back and not get a lung full of smoke--thanks honey!!!

Anyhow--Tony's day started off good, but that's not how it ended up. There was problem on one of his pit stops--one of his guys got his hand caught up in the tire well....ouch! I hope he is ok. Then a left front tire went down so he had to make unscheduled pit stop which put him off sequence with the rest of the field. Then he blew an engine. You know it is bad when you see smoke from Smoke's car. He finished 43rd. I was not pleased with the results. There was a bright side to this weekend...I am eighth in the Pick Em contest on www.smoke.com I bet quite a few people were hit hard with yesterday's result. I picked Tony to finish 12th (its about where he finished last year) and he finished 43 which meant I ended up with 31 points. Object of said contest--be the one with the lowest point total--last week I hit it right on the head. I picked he would finish 5th and he did. But I didn't guess the race winner last week. I thought I had this week's winner nailed, Greg Biffle, but he too followed in Tony's oil tracks--blown engine.

The weekend wasn't a complete waste Mark Martin won his second truck race in row. It was like deja vu. Mark in the lead with Todd Bodine and Ted Musgrave behind him as well as the green white checker. Congrats Mark!

So--what was I left with---Matt Kenseth winning the race. Funny how the racing karma comes to bite you in the butt. I didn't care as long as Jimmie didn't when. I sort of made a deal with my husband that if Jimmie won I would wear a Jimmie t-shirt. Of course, if you know my husband he would have made me where it in public---where everyone could see. Thank you Matt!

The boys will be in Vegas week after next--taking a weekend off.

More on Daytona

I would like to take this time to say thank you Jimmie for dedicating your win to all the 48 haters. I haven't had anything dedicated to me in awhile and you know what I feel warm and fuzzy all over---NOT!

I don't consider myself a "hater"...I just don't like you. I don't like the fact that your crew chief has to "modify" your car to make it go better. Does he not any kind of faith in your abilities? You do have some because you wouldn't be at this level of NASCAR if you didn't. You did win the Daytona 500 and that is an achievement only a select few can claim.

Punishment was handed out to Knaus. He was suspended for the next 3 races (California, Vegas, & Atlanta) and fined 25,000. No driver points or owner points taken away. Oooohhh--i bet the other teams in the garage are running scared. But yet Terry Labonte and his team were docked owner and driver points for their rules violation. Knaus is a repeat offender. It was this time last year that he was caught with "cheating". Ugh!!!! Does NASCAR have some kind of system when it comes to punishment? Are there guidelines? I am sure there are, but it seems they are very erratic and vague. I mean come on--Junior was docked driver points and fined for saying "S***" on national TV. It wasn't like he planned to say the word during the post race interview...it just comes out. Sometimes that happens to me when I am talking to someone.

Should Tony have been given a stiffer penalty for his 2-car communication seminar with Matt K.? Perhaps--tail of the longest line at Daytona isn't really punishment since Tony worked his way to the front pack. Yes--he should have been parked for a lap. Tony would have made it up. He had to come back to pit road after he ran over his jack during a pit stop.

It will be interesting to see how Jimmie will perform this weekend at California and the next few races where race time adjustments can make or break you.

Good luck boys!!!!

Daytona

Whew--what a wild ride it was yesterday for the #20! Tony was among the favorites to win the 500, however it was the case this year. Tony started mid pack yesterday, but I wasn't too worried. He always managed to find his way to the front. But those pesky other drivers weren't helping him either. First up...Jeff Gordon. It's hard to be mad with this incident. This involved both of my "boys" and I feel both were to blame for this one. Next up Matt Kenseth. I didn't see what Kenseth did, but Tony just wouldn't go after someone unless there was a reason. I was not a fan of Kenseth before now and he sure isn't winning me over now. If you can't run with the big dogs---stay in the pits. Then finally there was Kyle Busch--the little shrub. Was this payback from the Shootout Shrub? Tony received his penalty for the Kenseth run in and also for running over his jack in the pits. By the way Tony finished 5th. Jeff finished 27th, Matt 17th, Shrub 26th. Now who is laughing---I am upset that Jeff didn't finish higher than he did because he did a great job trying to come back, but a late crash just killed a good finish.

I was not happy who won the Daytona. I make no bones about my hatred for Jimmie Johnson (and yes I know Jeff is part owner). This cheating was blatant and how ironic that Chad Knaus wasn't the winning crew chief. I hope they suspended him for the same amount Kevin Harvick's crew chief got last year. I do think NASCAR needs to look at repeat offenders and hit them where it hurts.

Other excitement from Daytona weekend---Mark Martin won the truck race and Tony won the Busch race--YEA!!! so it wasn't a complete wash for the weekend. Note to Kenseth--you did win the IROC race---build that bridge Matt.


HEY JIMMIE---DID YOU PASS DAYTONA 500 POST RACE INSPECTION????


And my shout out this week goes to: Sam Hornish (Indy Racer)--thanks for bumping Mark Martin during the IROC race--ya took out Mark and almost Tony! What a joy you must be to run against in the Indy circuit. That's ok--Race #2---is in TEXAS!!!



And of course...I just can't do it...i can't congratulate Jimmie. Sorry! How was the view of the race from your set Chad??? I bet it wasn't as good as Jimmie's.

Rufus

Congratulations Rufus!

Rufus, a colored bull terrier, won Best in Show at the 2006 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last night at Madison Square Gardens.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Here's a clip of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby which opens August 4, 2006 according to this site. The official movie website is still under construction.

I don't know if I will go see it in the movie theatres. Going to the movies has gotten so expense--you practically have to take out a loan just to buy a coke and some popcorn.

I will probably wait until it comes out on video.

Some it looks funny, but I just don't know.

Bud Shootout

Wow!! Was that race exciting or what? Denny Hamlin--rookie--winning the Shootout in his first try. I was all excited Saturday because it meant the NASCAR season was beginning--but thanks to mother nature---the race was postponed to Sunday. There was quite a bit of beatin' and bangin' going on towards the end of the race, but it was great racing.

I was a little disappointed Jeff G. wouldn't be able to finish the race--car ended up with terminal damage. What a save by Mark Martin after being bumped by Kyle Busch. Kyle was driving a little too aggressive for my taste--and then he got into Stewart, now I really don't care for the boy (of course I never have been a fan of either of the Busch brothers). I, too, was upset at NASCAR for penalizing Carl Edwards. I agree with the first call (driving below the yellow line)--that was clear he improved his position, however the second time he was trying to avoid a wreck. Come on NASCAR---would you rather have had a 3-4 car wreck or someone using their better judgement to prevent one? UGH!!

And I see Chad Knaus may get suspended again..what was Jimmie's qualifying lap DQ'ed for this time? Illegal altered rear window discovered in post race inspection? Gee--haven't we seen Chad try something to circumvent the rules before??? We shall wait and see what NASCAR will do.

And how 'bout Jeff Burton--qualifying first for Daytona 500 and Jeff G. also on the front row--congratulations. It is hard to believe it has been 5 years since NASCAR lost Dale Earnhardt (#3). I think he would have loved yesterday's shootout.

The Dual 150s begin Thursday--can't wait--hopefully Tony will improve position. But it's not about where you start--but where you finish that counts.

Good Luck boys--Daytona is only 6 days away.