2012 WSBK Imola Day One round-up

After a long, five-week break since the first round of the season at Philip Island, World Superbikes is back in Europe. Imola was previously kept until the end of the season, but in 2012, it's been moved forward to the the second round, making it hard to compare the results with previous years, although the unusual warm weather would have thrown the usual estimates into the fiction category anyway. Perennial qualifier Jakub Smrz may well be the top qualifier of the day, but that was a last-gasp dash on the Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati for the flag that put him at the top of the leader board that was dominated throughout the qualifying session by the big green Kawasakis of Tom Sykes and Joan Lascorz.

Race results and championship standings

2012 WSBK Imola QP1 Results: Smrz beats the on-form Kawasakis

round_number: 

2

2012

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/MBu_67-gkC8/2012_wsbk_imola_day_one_round_up.html

Jack Brabham† Bill Brack Ernesto Brambilla Vittorio Brambilla

The two Kimi Raikkonens

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/03/the_two_kimi_raikkonens.html

Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews

Fireball Cup: Jeff Gordon leads a still-tame competition

Catching up with our year-long Fireball Cup competition, recognizing excellence in the field of NASCAR brawling. And through five races, it's been a pretty damn boring season, frankly. We could use some more anger and fist-throwing; everybody's just too darn calm these days.

Recall our rules, which can and do change on a whim:

? Verbal/Twitter exchange; slightly aggressive driving leading to issues: 1 point
? Bumping cars in an aggressive, making-a-point fashion: 2 points
? Spin, non-critical: 3 points
? Spin, critical: 4 points
? Out of car, punches thrown: 5 points

Fireball Cup stats, Bristol and California:

Jeff Gordon: 1 point for jawing at Dale Earnhardt Jr. over a flat tire. (Bristol)
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: 1 point for overly aggressive driving that knocked out Gordon. (Bristol)
Kevin Harvick: 1 point for threatening to put Tony Stewart in the wall. (California)

So that gives us the following standings:

Jeff Gordon, 4 points
Dale Earnhardt Jr., 3 points
Kevin Harvick, 1 point
Matt Kenseth, 1 point
Joey Logano, 1 point
Ryan Newman, 1 point
Danica Patrick, 1 point
David Ragan, 1 point

With Martinsville on the horizon, we should have plenty more opportunity to add to these totals. Come on, guys! Step it up!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/fireball-cup-jeff-gordon-leads-still-tame-competition-141452239.html

Alberto Ascari Peter Ashdown Ian Ashley Gerry Ashmore

Create-a-caption: Buy the car, we throw in Tony Stewart

Oh, this is a good one. Plenty of opportunity for fun here, as the rain rolls in and Tony Stewart nears victory at Fontana. Have your say on this particular photo, friends. And after the jump, check out what your fellow commenters had to say about Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano staring longingly into the distance.

Jason:
BK: I'd have thought those F-16's would have taken the 42 car.
Logano: Man I can't believe Montoya took them down, how the heck did he do that?

Larry Dickman:
@Kes: So how did you get pair of Shrub's underwear?
Toast: I just waited for Coach to start talking to him and snuck into his motorhome.
@Kes: I can't believe they have M&M's on them.
Toast: Well they sure do look good up there on that flagpole.
@Kes: I owe you a Miller Lite.
Toast: Nah, I'm still not old enough.

N88Car:
Jet Ski: "Twittered her,....Twittered her,....Twittered her.....Twittered her."........
Toast: "Dude!...Your account gets around!"

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/create-caption-buy-car-throw-tony-stewart-160643585.html

Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia

More qualifying frustration for Rosberg

For the second Saturday in a row Nico Rosberg has compromised his grid position with a scrappy lap in qualifying. Despite showing impressive speed at times over the weekend, the Mercedes driver will start only seventh in Malaysia ? and … Continue reading →

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/03/24/more-qualifying-frustration-for-rosberg/

George Connor George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard

Drivers want drivers? meetings to be meetings about, you know, driving

So has NASCAR become just a bit too fan-friendly? That seemed to be the consensus among drivers asked to comment on the open-to-the-public drivers' meeting last weekend at Las Vegas.

The drivers' meeting takes place a couple of hours before the green flag, and it's a place for drivers and their crew chiefs to learn about whatever little quirks and idiosyncrasies of the track and rules that may now exist. Topics involve matters of pit road speed, merging onto the track, the role of the double yellow lines, and so forth. Not exactly the most thrilling subject matter, but the meetings often turn into "find your driver" photo-fests ... especially when they're open to the public.

"I like the drivers' meeting to be with the drivers and the crew chiefs, and about the race," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. "It has become less and less about that. It has to be cool for a fan to be able to have that kind of access. I think there is probably a way to give them that kind of access without going to the lengths that they went to at Vegas. I couldn't see those video screens. I really couldn't pay attention to what was going on. So, the meeting to me didn't serve its purpose."

"The drivers' meeting needs to be more intimate," Jimmie Johnson agreed. "It needs to be an area where drivers, crew chiefs and NASCAR officials can talk about some things ... I just feel like that is what that meeting is for; we need an opportunity to sit there and have open communication weekly. With all the eyes, it limits that ability."

Tony Stewart, naturally, took the opposite view. "I think it's kind of cool," he said. "It allows the fans to also know what the rules are too ... You don't get to sit in pregame meeting with football teams or basketball teams and all that so I think that's a pretty cool deal."

By all accounts, the fans behaved at the Vegas meeting. Of course, heaven only knows what might happen if a too-sauced Talladega fan gets an eyeful of what goes on. Could be quite the howl ... if he can stay awake long enough.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/drivers-want-drivers-meetings-meetings-know-driving-212014430.html

Tommy Byrne Giulio Cabianca Phil Cade Alex Caffi

Create-a-caption: Buy the car, we throw in Tony Stewart

Oh, this is a good one. Plenty of opportunity for fun here, as the rain rolls in and Tony Stewart nears victory at Fontana. Have your say on this particular photo, friends. And after the jump, check out what your fellow commenters had to say about Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano staring longingly into the distance.

Jason:
BK: I'd have thought those F-16's would have taken the 42 car.
Logano: Man I can't believe Montoya took them down, how the heck did he do that?

Larry Dickman:
@Kes: So how did you get pair of Shrub's underwear?
Toast: I just waited for Coach to start talking to him and snuck into his motorhome.
@Kes: I can't believe they have M&M's on them.
Toast: Well they sure do look good up there on that flagpole.
@Kes: I owe you a Miller Lite.
Toast: Nah, I'm still not old enough.

N88Car:
Jet Ski: "Twittered her,....Twittered her,....Twittered her.....Twittered her."........
Toast: "Dude!...Your account gets around!"

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/create-caption-buy-car-throw-tony-stewart-160643585.html

David Clapham Jim Clark† Kevin Cogan Peter Collins

2012 Formula 1 season ? Time to get in the mood!

The 2012 Formula 1 season gets underway this month and here are some videos to get you in the mood. While you are here, why not check out which drivers are under pressure in 2012? Enjoy these videos! More to come! [There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/xSwIN6xZSvM/2012-formula-1-season-time-to-get-in-the-mood

Ian Ashley Gerry Ashmore Bill Aston Richard Attwood

Williams begin ?beginning of a rebuilding process?

If Ferrari fans thought that their team had perhaps not lived up its name last season then they should talk to fans of Williams. The team that dominated in the early 90?s winning multiple World Championships managed to score only five points last season. Five. It?s a sad fall from grace and one, that at [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/E6B6tv0XDjM/williams-begin-beginning-of-a-rebuilding-process

John CampbellJones Adriбn Campos John Cannon Eitel Cantoni

French GP rumours

France’s Prime Minister Fran�ois Fillon will be visiting the Paul Ricard circuit shortly but this is not a sign of an announcement regarding a return for the French GP. Fillion says that he has received a draft contract from the Formula One group but negotiations are still taking place, while the Belgian GP (with which [...]

Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/french-gp-rumours/

George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard Piers Courage

Gearing up for the new F1 season

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jakehumphrey/2012/03/gearing_up_for_the_new_f1_seas_1.html

George Amick Red Amick Chris Amon Bob Anderson

Trackside shares the ?LUV with Word Butcherers...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/9ZPo9HKug2M/trackside-shares-luv-with-word.html

George Abecassis Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams

Adam Parr resigns from Williams

Williams boss Adam Parr has tended his resignation and will leave the company on March 30. The team says that Nick Rose, already a Non-Executive Director of WGPH, has been appointed Non-Executive Chairman. No explanation has been given other than … Continue reading →

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/03/26/adam-parr-resigns-from-williams/

Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison

Video: Who?s staying, who?s going from the Chase picture?

We're only five races into the season, but there's a saying: "Get to five, Chase hopes alive." OK, we just made that up, but it COULD be a saying. Anyway, the top 10 is stuffed with drivers who haven't been there lately, and quite a few well-known names ? Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne ? are on the outside looking in. Who's staying, who's going? Your favorite Yahoo! Sports Jays, Hart and Busbee, are here to discuss the ins and outs of the Chase prospects. Have your say in the comments below.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/video-staying-going-chase-picture-131130414.html

Fred Agabashian Kurt Ahrens Jr Christijan Albers Michele Alboreto

2012 IRTA MotoGP Jerez Test Day 2 Press Release Round Up

Press releases from the MotoGP team after the washed-out second day of testing at Jerez:

Year: 

2012

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/xiE4Zlu1iAQ/2012_irta_motogp_jerez_test_day_2_press_.html

Slim Borgudd Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais

Hinch In At Andretti

Source: http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2012/01/hinch-in-at-andretti.html

Eric Brandon Don Branson Tom Bridger Tony Brise

INDYCAR Bolstering Engine Staff

Source: http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2011/12/indycar-bolstering-engine-staff.html

Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever Andrea Chiesa

INDYCAR Bolstering Engine Staff

Source: http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2011/12/indycar-bolstering-engine-staff.html

Julian Bailey Mauro Baldi Bobby Ball Marcel Balsa

Introducing the Team Peugeot Cobra TC2000

We live days of presentations and announcements in regard to the national auto racing. The most popular and important categories of motor sport in Argentina are outlining their strategies and are showing their weapons to achieve their different goals on the track, victory and glory. In this case we show the picture of the formal [...]

Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/178-introducing-the-team-peugeot-cobra-tc2000.html

Gerry Ashmore Bill Aston Richard Attwood Manny Ayulo

Kasey Kahne sets off big wreck, takes out big names

Shades of the early wreck in the Daytona 500! Barely 20 laps into the Food City 500 at Bristol, Kasey Kahne didn't quite clear Regan Smith, setting off a chain reaction that collected several more of the biggest names in the sport. Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Marcos Ambrose all suffered damage, with Busch, Edwards and Kahne all seeing their very real chances of winning the race go up in a haze of smoke and blue foam.

Kahne, in particular, is in a lot of trouble standings-wise now. In his first season at Hendrick, the heralded driver has crashed out or brought home poor finishes week after week, and even though we're not out of March, he's already in a win-to-get-in situation with the Chase. The wild card may be his only option if the season isn't to be a total bust.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/kasey-kahne-sets-off-big-wreck-takes-big-193607836.html

Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler

Power Rankings: Greg Biffle ascends to the mountaintop

It's a new season, and that means a new year of Power Rankings. Each week throughout the season, we'll size up who's rising and who's falling, based on current standings, behind-the-scenes changes, expected staying power, recent history and general gut feelings. It is not scientific, nor is it meant to be. And remember, whoever your favorite driver is, we're biased against him and like someone else better. So let's begin with a guy we haven't seen around here lately ...

�1.Greg Biffle: In the first three races, Greg Biffle has finished third, third and third. That's halfway to the apocalypse! If Biffle keeps this pace up over the whole season, he'll finish ... well, he'd probably win the championship. Which would be weird if he did that never finishing higher than third. But we'll have to deal with it when the time comes, won't we? Last week: 3.

�2. Denny Hamlin: You know that Hamlin was loving it when Darian Grubb notched a win before Tony Stewart did. So what does Stewart do? Comes back and wins the next week! Dammit! Stewart has to be like the guy who says he can do anything better than you, and then goes out and does it. Those people stink. Last week: 1. �

3. Tony Stewart. If you had to pick one driver to win a race for you because your life depended on it ... well, you'd probably be trapped in some weird old '80s movie where strange plot contrivances like that were a way of life. But if I was, I'd go with Stewart, and I'd up the ante by saying that nobody respects him and everybody's counting him out and all that business. The guy gets motivated by that kind of talk. Which is good when your life is on the line. Last week: 7.

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: I have to admit, one of the great pleasures of this business is watching when people who are rabidly, completely unhinged in favor of (or against) one driver see that driver's fortunes running in the opposite direction than they want. What do you think the haters were thinking when Junior was ticking off laps three seconds ahead of the field? Of course, they got their satisfaction a few laps later, but still ... nothing like seeing a little comeuppance. Last week: 5.

5. Kevin Harvick: A friend of mine who's not a NASCAR fan decided to go for Harvick this year because he's got a baby on the way. Extra motivation and all that. I beg to differ; if you're a parent, you'll do ANYTHING YOU CAN to avoid the messiness of taking care of an infant. So when lil' Cupcake arrives, expect to see Harvick willing to drive the car even if it's on fire to avoid taking it to the garage. The more time on the track, the less time spent changing diapers. Just saying. Last week: 4.

6. Matt Kenseth: We have an early nominee for "most striking paint scheme of 2012" with Kenseth's Zest ride on Sunday. I thought it looked like mouthwash; others compared it to toothpaste. Bottom line: that's a blue you don't find in nature. Still, the wall at Vegas is now Zestfully clean after that end-of-the-race rub. Last week: 2. �

7. Jimmie Johnson: There was a time when Johnson would have run down Stewart like a leopard on a baby gazelle in one of those nature videos. But now, Stewart is the master. It's like "Star Wars," which would make Stewart Vader's son, except that Stewart is older and has already won ... you know what, I've tortured enough metaphors this entry. Punching out and moving on. Last week: 10.

8. Carl Edwards: It's now been over a year since Carl Edwards' last win. O-for-36! What a failure! He's got nothing left! Though if history is any guide, Edwards will grab wins in bunches ... even if they come too late to do him any good in a given season. And he can always go back to Nationwide and beat up on the kids if he needs to get some flips out. Last week: 9.

9. Kyle Busch: Did you catch Busch's coldblooded murder of the orange cone late in the race? We couldn't believe they kept showing that in such graphic detail. Absolutely no regard for the victim's family there. Fox Sports: heartless. Also, isn't it about time we started mandating safety equipment for cones? Last week: 6.

10. Martin Truex Jr.: You gotta feel a bit sorry for MTJ. After all, he's by no means the most famous Junior in NASCAR, so we can't call him that. And Mark Martin is the first "Martin" everybody thinks of. Which leaves Truex, which sounds like an antifungal cream, and one that would be sponsoring Carl Edwards if it even existed. So we need a nickname for this guy, pronto. Get on it, people. Last week: 8.

11. Mark Martin: OK, everybody admit it. We all love Mark Martin. Everybody does. Seriously. No ill will for the guy at all. But haven't you wanted to ram a slow elderly driver in the rear bumper the way Junior did? Bet that felt goooood. I tried it this morning and all I got was a ticket and a lawsuit from this old woman. "Whiplash" my eye. She wasn't even going fast enough to crack a whip. Save me, Junior! Last week: 11.

12. Joey Logano. The yellow Dollar General ride confused a few people Sunday, but not as many as the position in which Logano ran early in the race. Sure, he faded to around the 20s fairly fast, but it's been a decent enough season so far for Sliced Bread. Not decent enough to get him a better nickname, but still. �Last week: NR.

Lucky Dog: Jamie McMurray. Zoolander returns! Time again for everybody's favorite frosted-tip/Ricky Bobby bird victim driver to return to the spotlight. A good solid run Sunday was anything but pathetic, and McMurray will need much more of that to hang onto his seat at Ganassi after this year.

DNF: Kurt Busch. Another week, another wrecked Phoenix Motorsports car. Kurt's certainly creating enough ashes for this phoenix to rise from, that's for sure.

Next up: Bristol! Fighter jets in a toilet bowl! Skittles in a gymnasium! Something like that. Anyway, send your comments to us via Twitter at @jaybusbee, via email by clicking here, and via Facebook. Go!

�

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/power-rankings-greg-biffle-ascends-mountaintop-153649898.html

Tony Crook Art Cross Geoff Crossley Chuck Daigh

Perez is first Mexican on the podium in over 40 years | 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix stats and facts

Perez is first Mexican on the podium in over 40 years is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Sergio Perez is the first Mexican driver to score a top-three finish in F1 since 1971. Here's all the stats and facts from Malaysia.

Perez is first Mexican on the podium in over 40 years is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/03/26/2012-malaysian-grand-prix-stats-facts/

Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels Edgar Barth

Gearing up for the new F1 season

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jakehumphrey/2012/03/gearing_up_for_the_new_f1_seas_1.html

Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris

2012 Malaysian Grand Prix fastest laps | 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix

2012 Malaysian Grand Prix fastest laps is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

The lap times from the Malaysian Grand Prix reveal some great driving by Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton.

2012 Malaysian Grand Prix fastest laps is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/03/25/2012-malaysian-grand-prix-fastest-laps/

Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison Fernando Alonso

2012 Malaysian Grand Prix in pictures | F1 pictures

2012 Malaysian Grand Prix in pictures is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Pictures from an exciting and unpredictable Malaysian Grand Prix, won by Fernando Alonso.

2012 Malaysian Grand Prix in pictures is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/03/25/2012-malaysian-grand-prix-pictures/

George Abecassis Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams

Jimmie Johnson is also a better photographer than you

Here's a photo taken by none other than Jimmie Johnson himself as he approached Bristol on Friday morning. Lovely view, yes?

Johnson said later that his attraction to photography dates back to when he was a kid taking disposable cameras to race tracks. It crystallized into an obsession during a mid-2000s safari, and like all dads, Johnson is now a camera freak. His tools of choice are an iPhone and Instagram; follow him on Instagram at jimmiejohnson.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/jimmie-johnson-better-photographer-152058387.html

Don Branson Tom Bridger Tony Brise Chris Bristow

Fernando Alonso: ?The goal was not to lose many points to the leaders?

Fernando Alonso turned the form book upside down with his brilliant victory in Malaysia ? but the Spaniard insists that it doesn?t change the fact that Ferrari is well off the pace in normal conditions this year. In a car … Continue reading →

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/03/26/fernando-alonso-the-goal-was-not-to-lose-many-points-to-the-leaders/

Alex Blignaut Trevor Blokdyk Mark Blundell Raul Boesel

Power Rankings: Flatline takes the high line

It's a new season, and that means a new year of Power Rankings. Each week throughout the season, we'll size up who's rising and who's falling, based on current standings, behind-the-scenes changes, expected staying power, recent history and general gut feelings. It is not scientific, nor is it meant to be. And remember, whoever your favorite driver is, we're biased against him and like someone else better. We continue with a guy who's familiar with the front of the pack...

1. Matt Kenseth: This NASCAR season is doing everything it can to turn conventional wisdom on its head. Think the sport's in a rally? Psyche! Here's one-third-full Bristol stands! Think that it's only Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart that deserve the spotlight? Psyche! Here's a guy who has trouble getting a full-year of sponsorship nearly winning his second race of the year! Up is down! Black is white! Last week: 6.

2. Greg Biffle: The Biffster's streak of third-place finishes stopped at three, but no harm done. He held down the pole at Bristol, and while he wasn't able to sustain for the whole race, he certainly seems a lot more legit this year than he has in recent seasons. Of course, "start fast, fade to midpack" can be applied to a whole season, too. Uh-oh. Last week: 1.

3. Kevin Harvick. Harvick got caught up in the monster HurriKahne wreck early in the race, yet his crew worked him up so fast that he was able not only to stay in the race, but stay on the lead freaking lap. That's impressive. I'm going to take my car over to the 29 shop, see if they can give me a little automotive makeover before Richard Childress sees me and takes off his watch. Last week: 5.

4. Tony Stewart: A few years back, I postulated the idea of Good Tony and Evil Tony, Good Tony being the go-along, get-along good sport and Evil Tony being, well, evil. Not sure which one it is that's the race winner, but both of them seem to show up with regularity, sometimes even in the course of a single race. Wouldn't you love to have a scanner to hear what goes on in that guy's head? Last week: 3.

5. Martin Truex Jr.: Other Junior is putting together his best season yet. We know that. What we want to know is, how large is Michael Waltrip Racing's ad budget? Seriously, between the horror that is the "Napa Know How" commercials, the awkward Mark Martin-Mikey "Odd Couple" ones, and the new Clint Bowyer Five-Hour Energy ones where he apparently darts from activity to activity like a caffeinated ferret, Waltrip is definitely winning the public-exposure war. In an ad sense, I mean. Last week: 10.

6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior: great race ruined by a last-second pit-road penalty. Isn't that the story of his career? Not sure what else to say about Junior right now, and since we'll be talking about the Junior/Gordon incident later, let's do this: What can Junior do to liven up his press conferences? Seriously, the guy seems bored out of his skull, and I can't say I blame him. So what should he do? I think he ought to conduct each conference in a different accent. And you? Last week: 4.

7. Denny Hamlin: Did you catch Denny Hamlin's "Teach Me How To Dougie" moment at Bristol on Sunday? No? Check it out here. (We'd embed it, but that'd be kind of illegal, rights issues and all. And I don't feel like getting fined.) Anyway, we can goof on Denny all we like, but he had the guts to do that in front of grandstands filled with at least 200 people. So, you know, good on ya, Denny. Last week: 2.

8. Brad Keselowski: Old-school race fans love to gripe about how awful it is that these kids are tweeting their Facebooks and whatnot, but I guaran-damn-tee you that if Facebook and Twitter were around when Dale Senior was running, he'd be all over it. That guy was a master marketer. And I'm frankly a little surprised we haven't seen an Intimidator Twitter feed pop up yet. (That would be what's known as a "hint.") Last week: NR.

9. Jimmie Johnson: It was like Bizarro World at Bristol on Sunday. Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards? Out of the race! Jimmie Johnson? An utter nonfactor! What's going on this season? Making things a heck of a lot more exciting around the NASCAR circuit, am I right? Me, I�am excited for California! Last week: 7.

10. Kyle Busch: You ever wait tables? I used to hate going into work, being there for a dead hour or two, and THEN having people show up. It was like, crap, I was all wound down and I have to work now? I wonder if that's how the guys who get wrecked early feel. Screw it, I'll get home and watch the end of the race on TV. What? You've got it running? And I'll only be 103 laps down. Oh, great. Fire it up. Last week: 9.

11. Carl Edwards: The next time I interview Edwards, I'm going to see if he can get a relevant sponsor mention in with every question. Seriously. I'm going to ask him about ancient Roman history, Kony 2012, "The Walking Dead," the new Van Halen album, Rick Santorum and whatever else I can think of. And I bet he'll work in a Subway or Frosted Flakes reference to every answer. Last week: 8.

12. Jeff Burton. The Senator, everybody! The one senator that any of us could stand to be around for any length of time! It's always good to see Burton run well; we're not supposed to root for anybody, but we do root for good stories ... and Burton makes for a good story every time he's up front, if only because he'll give you a good quote about any subject under the sun. Last week: NR.

Dropping out: Mark Martin, Joey Logano.

Lucky Dog: Brian Vickers. No doubt. You come off a three-week layoff (NOT as a result of being kicked out of NASCAR, no matter what Michael Waltrip might tell you) and you lead laps and bring the car home in fifth? That's not bad, VapoRub. Not bad at all.

DNF: Kasey Kahne, who's damn close to getting this award named after him. Kahne is now only a handful of points ahead of Vickers ... who's run three fewer races than him. That's not so good.

Next up: Fontana! Five-wide racing! What could possibly go wrong? Anyway, send your comments to us via Twitter at @jaybusbee, via email by clicking here, and via Facebook. Go!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/power-rankings-flatline-takes-high-line-134214931.html

George Connor George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard