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Friday
The Tattletale Issue
Let me just say this first: I don’t care that somebody threw the Penske guys under the bus. There, I said it. (Cue the “you work for Hendrick” trolling in 3…2…1…) Last week, after both Penske cars were busted by NASCAR at Texas for some creative rear-end components, Jenna Fryer wrote that NASCAR may have [...]
Thursday
If you weren't named Carl Edwards, leading laps was a treacherous proposition at Bristol
If you led during Sunday's race at Bristol won by Carl Edwards, there was a good chance you were going to have a significant issue.
12 drivers got a bonus point for officially leading a lap in the twice-rain-delayed race and eight of them had problems that significantly derailed their chances of winning. Those problems, coupled with intense side-by-side racing, made the battle around the half-mile track very enthralling despite the two delays, including one of almost three hours and 20 minutes.
Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski all spent time at the front of the field and all were either caught up in a crash or had an equipment failiure.
Harvick's issue was the most spectacular. His car started trailing white smoke and just a couple laps after the problem appeared and the smoke intensified, he hit the wall on lap 452. Harvick, who had led 28 laps, was able to steer his car to the garage, but as he came to a stop, a fire erupted underneath the hood of his car. The suspected cause? A possible problem with the oil line from tire rubber. Harvick finished 39th.
McMurray and Keselowski were caught up in the aftermath of Harvick's crash, as they were apparently unable to slow down from the oil that was dropped onto the track and Keselowski crashed into McMurray. While Keselowski's crew ripped the hood off his car and kept him on the track, McMurray was forced to go to the garage for repairs. He finished 38th while Keselowski salvaged a 14th place finish.
Kyle Busch spun into the wall on lap 395, much to the excitement of a fan who happened to be near the accident scene. Busch, who had led 73 laps and won Saturday's Nationwide race, ended up 29th. At the same time as Kyle Busch's problem, Kurt Busch, who led 28 laps, had a problem with the left front tire on his car. He finished 35th.
Kenseth was in second place on lap 157 when Danica Patrick and Cole Whitt crashed ahead of him. He and leader Kurt Busch slowed down for the crash but as they slammed on the brakes, Timmy Hill didn't slow down nearly as fast behind them. Hill slammed into the back of Kenseth's car, significantly damaging the rear of his car.
Kenseth's crew was able to get the car fixed up and he drove his way back through the field and even led at one point. But his car then had a couple of laps where Kenseth felt like a tire was going down and he got loose and in a subsequent corner, into the wall. He finished 13th.
Logano and Johnson had their issues in the race's first 124 laps before the three-hour-plus rain delay. Logano, who led for 12 laps early after starting fourth, saw the power steering fail on his car. He wrestled his No. 22 until the rain delay, and when the race restarted, his team immediately fixed the issue and he rejoined the race three laps down. Johnson was three laps down after his right-front tire unraveled right before the rain hit on lap 119. Johnson had led 44 laps prior to the incident, thanks to a left-side-tires only pit call earlier in the race. Johnson finished 19th while Logano finished 20th.
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Piero Carini Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto
Wednesday
The Chrome Horn Podcast: Episode 2, Phoenix I
Join Nick Bromberg and Geoffrey Miller for our post-Phoenix podcast. We chat Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, pre-Vegas, and even set an over/under for gambling references during Sunday's race broadcast. What's yours?
Click here to download the podcast or here to listen to in your browser. And we're on iTunes! Find us in the Podcast section right here and subscribe. Listen!
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Slim Borgudd Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais
Tuesday
Things that don?t get noticed immediately
Formula 1 has tried for many years to give a professional impression with its use of car liveries. Back in the 1950s the cars were painted up in national colours. The advent of sponsorship led to some real Spanish omelettes and then gradually the teams were convinced to smarten up and present the same basic […]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/things-that-dont-get-noticed-immediately/
Monday
Happy Hour: Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 500 and Austin Dillon
Throughout the week you can send us your best questions, jokes, rants and just plain miscellaneous thoughts to happyhourmailbag@yahoo.com or @NickBromberg. We'll post them here, have a good time and everyone's happy.
We're back! And we have some great material for our first in-season Happy Hour. The Madison Rising edition didn't count, we just had some emails that were too good to share. Let's get to it. This is going to be good.
I think they did an awesome rendition of the National Anthem! It showed lots of emotion, and pride . I enjoy country and old music for my favorite music, but I thought this was great! It even sent a chill down my spine. I believe all the soldiers who fought, and those that gave their lives would be proud of Madison Risings rendition of the National Anthem. Thank you! - Nan
Sorry, I had to publish one more. No more Madison Rising forever and ever and ever. And no. Just, no, Nan. No.
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Is the NASCAR glass half empty or half full coming out of Daytona? Junior wins, Junior tweets, etc. great for sport, ( As was Trevor Bayne, Wood Bros. win if i recall), or very low ratings,low secondary market resale ticket prices etc. bad for sport. And as a side question, how much did NASCAR luck out by the veto of the Arizona law and the questions that would have brought this weekend. Thanks, keep the good work going. - Brian
This was the best possible PR outcome for NASCAR that didn't involve a certain female driver in a lime green car. The No. 3 on the pole and then Earnhardt Jr. winning? That's a nice lift. But the million-dollar question is how long it will last. Are more people going to tune in at Phoenix because Junior won? And if they do, are they going to be bored to tears with what we're all expecting to be a one-groove racetrack?
TV ratings were down for the 500, but that's some overrated talk. The race had an over six-hour rain delay. How many people have the ability to put their Sunday afternoon and evening into a NASCAR race, even if it's the Daytona 500?
NASCAR is just like the NFL when it comes to the Arizona bill that was vetoed by Gov. Brewer Wednesday. It allows the focus to be on the racing and not the inevitable "What do you think about this?" questions that would have followed had it been passed. The NFL was in a tougher spot though. Threatening to move the Super Bowl can't be empty talk.
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Brian France mentioned that it could be a possibility if Fox and the track agreed to it. I could see it happening if NASCAR wanted to move it back to President's Day weekend. With a holiday that a lot of people have off on the following day, it'd be a way, a la the Coca-Cola 600 and the Atlanta race, to have a Sunday night race.
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Well, it certainly can't be extremely beneficial from a "getting prepared for Phoenix" perspective, but from an "attention for the sport" one, it is. And I think everyone who wins the Daytona 500 realizes that and it's a worthy tradeoff.
That said, I don't think we're going to be wondering if the media obligations affected Junior and team's performance at Phoenix at all.
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So excited about Jr?s win but it has nothing to do with that sissy punk Dillon and the 3 car. Him and his granddaddy are LIARS and trash. Shut up about them nobody gives a (blank) about them. That had nothing to do with Jr. Dillon caused 2 wrecks that night and he was at the back where he belongs. He will always be there!! He an RC are (blank). Trying to ride now on Jr?s win. Quit trying to shove him down everybody?s throat. Congrats DALE EARNHARDT JR.!!!!! - Marilyn�
Which leads us to this...
I saw a video{taken right after the 500} of one of the drivers talking angrily about Dillon causing wrecks and his path to Sprint Cup competition. Being spoon fed I believe. Who was that driver and where is that video? I haven?t seen or heard about it since that early clip. - Kent
Which leads us to this...
Can you explain the animosity for Austin Dillon? I know many people think he got his ride because of his grandfather. Okay, maybe he did. No doubt NASCAR's most popular driver no doubt started by sweeping his dady's garage for $2 an hour and had to buy his first race car and pay for all his racing expenes on his own, and being the son of Dale Earnhardt Sr. was of no help to him. Nor did Paul Menard get a ride because of his relationship to the car owner, and being the son of Richard Petty did nothing for Kyle Petty. Nope, no one else in the history of NASCAR ever benefited by being born into the right racing family. I now understand: Austin Dillon is evil because he got his ride because he's Richard Childress' grandson. Got it. - Paul
There's going to be a minority of folks who will be so pro-Earnhardt forever that they'll feel no one else can drive the No. 3. But it's Richard Childress's car and Dillon has been using the number since he entered the Camping World Truck Series. It was inevitable, and the inevitability is here.
Paul, the clip was of Kevin Harvick, when he delivered his parting shot to the Dillons and Richard Childress Racing at Martinsville before his departure at the end of the season.
Dillon has legitimate racing talent, and anyone who thinks differently is crazy. You don't win a Nationwide Series title simply because you have fast cars. So what if he didn't win a race. With the way that the Nationwide Series is currently set up, it's hard for a Nationwide regular to take the checkered flag. Plus, he's also got a Truck Series title too. He's the odds-on favorite to become the first driver to win all three NASCAR national series championships. Yes, even over Greg Biffle at this point.
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Thursday
Happy Hour, Special Edition: The best Madison Rising emails
Throughout the week you can send us your best questions, jokes, rants and just plain miscellaneous thoughts to happyhourmailbag@yahoo.com or @NickBromberg. We'll post them here, have a good time and everyone's happy.
We'll kick off our last pre-Daytona Happy Hour with the best emails we got in reaction to the anthem that Madison Rising performed before Saturday's Nationwide race.
Predictably, they were defensive. Very defensive. Few things bring out vitriol like things that involve and invoke patriotism and its variations.
Some people don't know talent and patriotism when they see it. Your idiotic comments about Madison Rising's performance at Nascar shows YOU have no class. That is the best rendition I have ever heard. Not only was it truly from the heart it was very touching. The lead singer served this country and is proud of it. Your comments are obviously coming out of your ass as you know not what you are talking about.
- Cathie
Score one for Madison Rising.
Nick just read your article on Yahoo regarding Madison Rising singing the national anthem. Why write a grade school article and bash them on their patriotic rendition. Even if you didn't like it, isn't pride in your Country worth something?
I am convinced that you're an America hating liberal that was abused as a child and now feels inadequate as a man and wants to take it out on the good people. Please leave America. Too many idiots like you are destroying us.
- Larry
Yeah ...
I just finished your article on Madison Rising and have to say I was quite disappointed.
I am a fifty-something who believes strongly in God and Country and especially enjoy Madison Rising. They combine their love of God and Country with their love of rock music. I applaud them for spreading a positive message, unlike most music today.
What struck me as funny was the way you mentioned that the drivers were "about to explode with laughter". You must have misunderstood because it is my understanding that NASCAR drivers, as well as fans, are extremely patriotic. Maybe they were smiling because they actually liked the music and the message.
Your insinuated snarky tone when mentioning the lead singer holding the American flag is what bothered me most. If you had done 5 minutes of research on Dave Bray, you would have learned he served in the Navy and comes from a military family. If anyone has a right to hold the flag, it's someone who has served our country! But I'm sure that is something that you wouldn't and don't understand.
With all aside, it was your article and you are entitled to your opinion. However, I think you are in the minority.
- Gina
I'm not sure songs bashing anti-war protests, something allowed to all of us via the First Amendment or saying that our country's First Lady lacks class are "spreading a positive message," but to each their own. Also, drivers were laughing. Because that was such a caricature that it was funny.
(Also, it's worth pointing out that they have a song supporting the Second Amendment. Which, when juxtaposed with the protest song mentioned above, is fun to note.)
You wouldnt know a patriotic natl. anthem if jumped up and bit you on the ASS!!! Im 75 yrs. old and a veteran and if you see their video of the NATIONAL ANTHEM and think thats not PATRIOTIC YOU are as UN AMERICAN and DUMB as a BAG of ROCKS ! That goes for KesLOSER TO !!!
- David
If a national anthem ever comes close to biting any of us in the rear, we are in serious trouble.
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Wednesday
Kimi Raikkonen: ?I?m sure we can only get better from here??
Kimi Raikkonen left Australia with seventh place to his name after Daniel Ricciardo’s exclusion gifted him a place, but it certainly wasn’t an easy weekend for the Finn on his comeback to Ferrari. A crash in qualifying was just one … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/03/17/kimi-raikkonen-im-sure-we-can-only-get-better-from-here/
Marco Apicella Mбrio de Araъjo Cabral Frank Armi Chuck Arnold
The BMW M2 Coupe Continues Developing
The BMW M2 Coupe will become a reality sooner or later , it’s something I assumed. The M235i is a very fast car but from Munich took a long time that the incursion of this new nomenclature was to give way to something else does . Something that marked the beginning of the history of […]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/661-the-bmw-m2-coupe-continues-developing.html
Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen
Tuesday
Monday
2014 Jerez Moto2 Test Day 2 Times: Nakagami Leads As Luthi And Cortese Challenge
Takaaki Nakagami has topped the timesheets on the second day of the final Moto2 test at Jerez. His advantage is slim, though: the Idemitsu Team Asia rider was just fifteen hundredths quicker than Tom Luthi on the Interwetten Paddock Suter, the Swiss rider holding off former Moto3 champion Sandro Cortese. Cortese had a very strong day on the Intact GP Kalex, ending the day in 3rd, and over a tenth ahead of Johann Zarco on the AirAsia Caterham.
Luis Salom continues to make a strong debut in the Moto2 class, grabbing 5th spot a third of a second behind Japanese veteran Nakagami. Fellow Moto2 rookie Maverick Viñales struggled again on Wednesday, managing only the 14th best time, more than eight tenths behind Nakagami. Reigning World Supersport champion Sam Lowes skipped the second day of the Moto2 test, choosing to rest a painful wrist. A tendon inflammation had flared up overnight, he told British site Bikesportnews.com, and he decided to sit out the test, hoping to ride on Thursday.
The test concludes on Thursday, and with it preseason testing. The only concern will be the weather, as light showers are forecast for the afternoon.
Times:
Sunday
Saturday
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
2014?s Drivers Assessed (Part Two)
New regulations and surprising testing results have thrown the regular form book into the fire ahead of the Australian Grand Prix this weekend. The big names will be expected to fight it out for the honour of being crowned World Champion at the end of the year ? but pre-season struggles indicate that if Sebastian [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/wi__TjdtdVM/2014s-drivers-assessed-part-two
Tuesday
2014 Season Preview: No. 6 Matt Kenseth
Welcome to From the Marbles' 2014 season previews. Here's how we think the Chase will shake out in this first year of 16 drivers and eliminations. Will we be right? Unlikely, but it's fun to think about our soothsaying possibilities until the green flag waves for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 23.
Driver: Matt Kenseth
2013 Finish: 2nd
2013 Highlight: Pick a win, any of the seven wins. Looking back, the "career year" questions about Kenseth's 2013 are fascinating. Here's a guy with a Cup title to his name and we're wondering if a second-place finish in the points standings was a career year. (Side note: the presence of this discussion is another reason why NASCAR needs to reward winning more.)
Entering 2013, the most laps Kenseth had led in a season was 1,132, which happened in 2006. He obliterated that last year, leading 1,783 laps. A possible reason? Kenseth had far fewer cars to pass to get to the front. In 2012, his average starting position was 13.3, the best of his career. In his first year with Joe Gibbs Racing, it jumped all the way to 8.7.
2013 Lowlight: Phoenix, but it's only a lowlight because of the man he was racing for the championship. Most other years, Kenseth has a chance to recover from the mistake and we've got ourselves a fight to the finish. But it was Jimmie Johnson. That wasn't happening.
Why is Kenseth here? Can the Joe Gibbs honeymoon continue? We feel that reality may set in, but it's a reality that's better than 30+ teams in the garage. Kenseth won't win seven races again, but he'll win multiple ones. Making the Chase won't be an issue at all.
How could Kenseth not be here? The year-after-second-place slump escalates to epic proportions and Kenseth assumes the role of Denny Hamlin 2013 at Joe Gibbs Racing and struggles mightily. If it seems quite farfetched to you, don't feel bad, we think so too.
However, if Hamlin and the No. 11 are back to full-strength, it will be fascinating to see if JGR can sustain three top-level teams. The last time that all three JGR teams made the Chase was in 2008, and they finished eighth, ninth and tenth.
Best Winter Olympic event: Matty Ice is from Wisconsin, so he can handle the cold weather. However, ice fishing and watching Packers games outside are not Olympic events. We'll go with the slalom. Kenseth seems shifty enough.
Worst Winter Olympic event: Does Kenseth look like a ski jumper to you?
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Monday
Sunday
Landon Cassill was hit by a car while riding his bike in Daytona
After racing his way into the Daytona 500 in the second Budweiser Duel on Thursday night, Landon Cassill revealed that he was hit by a car while riding his bike in Daytona on Saturday night.
"Unfortunately, it was the motorist's fault. I mean, I blame myself a lot for the position I put myself in. I was in the bike lane and had the right-of-way," Cassill said." It's really not funny, I could have gotten really hurt." (He said that with a smile)
"But yeah, I was in a bike lane. The woman was trying to cross the road from a side street and cleared herself to the right, kind rolled the stop sign I believe. T-boned me really. Destroyed my bike. Face plant, blood. But I made the Daytona 500 and she doesn't know that."
The bike accident came up when Cassill was asked about bruises on his face. He said that he was checked out and released from a hospital following the accident and was approved to qualify his car on Sunday by NASCAR's medical team.
Driving for Hillman Racing, Cassill didn't have the benefit of many owner's points or a good Sunday qualifying speed to fall back on if he didn't finish in the top 15 of his Duel race. It was no worry. He finished ninth and will start 18th in the Daytona 500.
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Fred Agabashian Kurt Ahrens Jr Christijan Albers Michele Alboreto
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