Texas Motor Speedway

Countdown: Samsung mob!le 500 2010

-=KE5WDP=-{"Too nice to be Ike"} — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:54:54 GMT

Bounty on Johnson

Jason — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:07:45 GMT

Im gotta a proposition for Eddie and all the other track promoters. Put a bounty on Jimmie Johnson. After 4 straight years of hearing JJ and now all this Superman talk I think NASCAR should be able to change it up next year without changing the horrible points system.

So here is how you do it, after Daytona next year, you offer 20,000 to 3 randomly drawn driver that can beat JJ. But there are some rules. JJ must finish on the lead lap and if all 3 beat him then whoever is highest in points at the days end gets the money. And im talking about cold hard cash not a novelty check. And if he goes 5 races with nobody cashing in then JJ gets the pay day.

So what do you guys think? I think it would help the sport sell seats and its something that is promotable. They do it at short tracks all the time when somebody is kicking ass.

How to Fix NASCAR

-=KE5WDP=-{"Too nice to be Ike"} — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:21:15 GMT

How is it every time I turn on the radio, all I hear is people trying to fix Nascar? Is it that bad? The media tells us that its not bad, but who listens to the media? These races are BORING. If the 48 didn't wreck last Sunday at the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, the race would be a snoozer. How is it that the ratings are on a decline at the same time that races appear to be just flat out dull? Some would say, blame it on the COT. Others would say, blame it on the so called Cookie cutter tracks. Others say its the economy. Just blame it on Nascar.

The Matt Kenseth rule (the chase) started in 2004. Since then the champions were Kurt Busch, Tony, Jimmie, Jimmie, and Jimmie. Make since that the ratings were going downhill by Jimmie 2006? Its been on a steady decline since. Blame it on the chase. The Matt Kenseth rule makes a lot of since to me. You are not supposed to have one team running away with it. Well...... One team has been running away with it for 3 years in a row. It would appear that the same team is doing it again in this 2009 season. Its so bad that the 24 fans don't want Jimmie to run away with it. Of coarse you can say that this is the first year in several years that the 24 team is in contention. If Jeffie Jordon was 15th in points, would they have been cheering when the 48 wrecked at TMS? Doubtful.... The Matt Kenseth rule is not the problem. It only helps Nascar.

These races are a "follow the leader, get in line and ride" type of races. Why do they do this? Are they going to fast? Does TMS need to flatten the banking in the turns? Sounds like a good idea, but we all know Bruton and Eddie will never do that. They shouldn't. The "twisted sister" (old car) ended up to appear to be boring themselves. But if you think about it, the last race at TMS with the "twisted sister" Jimmie and Matt were side by side for the lead with 5 laps to go. Blame the lack of interest on the COT??

The point of the COT is to make the cars safer and to punch a bigger whole in the air. It was supposed to make racing better. FAIL!!!!! They made them safer alright, but the races have been awful. I have been biting my tongue about these COTs. I have tried to give them a chance. But they SUCK!!!! Drivers have complained about their inability to turn the car. They almost have a top heavy feeling. How is it that they brought out a completely new car but the tire size is the same? Shouldn't they have wider tires? Maybe Nascar changing that would help.

Nascar needs a spark. Maybe it needs Dale Earnhardt Jr to win. If that's what it takes, then by God I want him to win. I see a lot of empty seats at these tracks. We can blame that on the economy. There is no doubt in my mind about that. But if people are not at the track or at work because of the sky high unemployment, shouldn't they be at the house watching these races? That would mean ratings would be up, right??? Well, there not. If you ask me, the "Super Team's" dominance makes it harder and harder to watch.

Not only that, but look at these you kids. Outside of Kyle Busch, these kids are just puppets. They say what they are told to say. They race they way they are told to race. Maybe these drivers are just not racing hard enough. They know that if they make any contact with another car or the wall, it would kill their car. Or will it? That was a bad characteristic of the "twisted sister", but not the COT. I remember seeing Denny Hamlin smacking that wall in turns 3 and 4 on Sunday. Where did he finish? Second. The car is just fine.

What needs to happen? Nascar needs to stop making these stupid rules on the drivers and let them drive. Talladega sucked!!! Who wants to see that crap??? All because of your very own Nascar in its ways to make it "safer". Ask Ryan Newman and Marky Martin if Dega was "safer". Nascar is screwing things up.

How does Nascar fix this mess? You tell me.

Let me add this. If the Matt Kenseth rule was not in place, this is what the points would look like:

UNOFFICIAL Sprint Cup CLASSIC - the OLD way - Driver Points Standings
[after Texas, race 34 of 36]:
pos, car#, driver, points, behind
1) #14-Tony Stewart (X), 4895
2) #24-Jeff Gordon (X), 4802, -93
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson (X), 4801, -94
4) #5-Mark Martin (X), 4475, -420
5) #11-Denny Hamlin (X), 4446, -449
6) #2-Kurt Busch (X), 4438, -457
7) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya (X), 4312, -583
8) #16-Greg Biffle (X), 4299, -596
9) #39-Ryan Newman (X), 4245, -650
10) #18-Kyle Busch, 4183, -712
11) #9-Kasey Kahne (X), 4158, -737
12) #17-Matt Kenseth, 4151, -744
13) #99-Carl Edwards (X), 4137, -758
14) #33-Clint Bowyer, 4078, -817
15) #83-Brian Vickers (X), 3975, -920
16) #00-David Reutimann, 3969, -926
(X) a chase driver.(11-8-2009)

I'm just sayin.........

Thinkin' 'bout a lil' Homestead road-trip...

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:07:38 GMT

Ok, so I just joined here, just attended my first race ever last sun, so y'all don't know me, but...

Especially if JJ doesn't do so hot in Phoenix, such that the last race in Homestead/Miami is really worth watching, I'm seriously considering a road-trip. If it was just for the sunday race, I'm flexible, but thinkin' 'bout aiming for leaving ~10am sat, drive all night, arriving ~8:00am (~22hr drive-time), arriving just in time for bloody-marys & steak-&-eggs for breakfast, maybe time for a a lil' nap on the beach, splitting parking fee if any, possibly crashing on beach after, driving back asap. I'm a serious driver, no drinking in-transit, there or back, if it's my vehicle I may well drive the whole way. If taking mine (in excellent condition, recently thoroughly serviced) it's 'only' a plain ol' F-150, so me +2 max, split gas equal. If it's somebody else's vehicle, then would, of course, split gas fairly & contribute drive-time as wanted/needed. If others wanna do a 2-day & see the Nationwide &/or 3-day full NASCAR trifecta, then that can be worked out, though I'm (in general) a cheap SOB & would look to camp on the beach or somesuch vs. an expensive hotel. If interested, take a look at the ticket prices:

http://www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com/Tickets-Events/Events/Ford-Championship-Weekend/Ford-400/Single-Day-Ticket-Pricing.aspx

& gimme a holler'. [I'm a sober driver, non-smoker, don't 'do' anything but a somewhat/relatively reasonable amount of alcohol, & mostly beer at that. Pretty much anything but %$#&* rap-crap goes for tunes.]

Will need to know early week while tickets are still available at a somewhat reasonable price. I'll probably be aiming for the lowest-price tickets, but let's talk about it.

w ( nonof_urbiz@sbcglobal.net )

Do we know yet who won contest?

Debbie "Don't Eat Pets" — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:46:56 GMT

I sure did want to go to Vegas, hahahahaha

Homestead-Miami Picks

-=KE5WDP=-{"Too nice to be Ike"} — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:20:13 GMT

come on Daytona.......

Choke Report from Over88ted

-=KE5WDP=-{"Too nice to be Ike"} — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:20:45 GMT

Earnhardt Jr. Finishes 28th at Pocono

August 3rd, 2009 - Long Pond, PA

Dale Earnhardt Jr. hung around and hung around before falling in the last ten laps and ultimately finishing 28th in the Pennsylvania 500 today at Pocono Raceway.

Earnhardt started the race in in the 22nd slot and spent the entire race jockeying through the mid twenty positions before his team took a risk on a "fuel only" pit stop with 38 laps to go. That move bumped junior into the top five and he actually hung around the top ten until lap 190. That's when he pulled a "Junior" and slammed his number 88 into the wall, ending his hopes for respectability.

As Earnhardt raced around Pocono in the rarified air (for him) of the top ten you knew he would do something to mess up his chances and of course, he did and dropped like a rock. Again, Junior was the Hendrick driver that finished furthest back for the "Superteam" even though Jimmie Johnson struggled with engine problems all day and fell to three laps back before making a miraculous run and finishing 13th.

Junior is the only Hendrick Motorsports driver that is not in the running for the Chase to the Sprint Cup and with just fifteen races left in the season the Amp Energy #88 team has more questions than answers. Obviously the firing of Tony Eury Jr. hasn't made a difference (surprised?) as the team has dropped even farther in the Sprint Cup points standings to 23rd. For those of you paying attention, that's the bottom half of the standings. With great sponsorship, unlimited resources and a new crew chief there is only one place to lay blame: The driver.

The were more Junior Sucks t-shirts littering the crowd then at any race this season today and they got to see a terrific race with Denny Hamlin holding off emerging Juan Pablo Montoya for the win with Clint Bowyer, Sam Hornish Jr.a and Kasey Kahne rounding out the top five. Hamlin was very emotional after the win acknowledging that his grandmother had passed away this past week.

Sprint Cup moves to the Watkins Glen road course next week so it should be interesting to see what adjustments the #88 team makes in an effort to crack the top twenty.

Which driver has led the most Sprint Cup laps @ TMS?, NW?, all 3 total?

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:21:18 GMT

Ok, here's one for you long-timers &/or trivia/stat-buffs here:

A TV commentator said during last sunday's Dickie's 500 that Matt Kenseth had led either the most Sprint Cup laps @ TMS, or had led the most NASCAR laps altogether @ TMS; I'm pretty sure it was the former.

However, after Kyle Busch's domination, leading--if I remember correctly--67% (?) of all last weekend's laps, I wonder if he's the new TMS lap-leader.

So, those are the questions, (which I couldn't find the answers for both here @ TMS.com & @ NASCAR.com); including last weekend's races:

Which driver has led the most Sprint Cup laps @ TMS?

Which driver has led the most Nationwide laps @ TMS?

Which driver has led the most total NASCAR (Sprint, NW & Truck) laps @ TMS?

thanx!, <evil grin>

TMS Nation Youtube Video

-=KE5WDP=-{"Too nice to be Ike"} — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:01:52 GMT

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Thanks for all the photos!!! Hope you enjoy. Music by Starflyer 59

..... and I'll be the first at the pay window!

Tom Murphy — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:28:57 GMT

Man - I wish I was going to be at Homestead next week.

Looks like Denny has had enough of the Bulldozer - and plans on collecting on some past due paybacks next week.

Jason Ratcliff said it best - "I'm not sure what is wrong with the young man, but he wrecks someone every week. He's going to end up getting hurt, because someone is going to pay him back at a high speed track - and we don't need someone getting hurt".

It was obvious that his intention was to wreck Denny towards the end of the race. Yes, Denny got into him on the restart, but Brad had already gotten back into Denny - but he couldn't leave it there. He had to intentionally punt him.

Expect the 88 Nationwide to be on a hook next week - and most likely some fisticuffs in the pits.

However, until someone teaches him the HARD WAY that they aren't going to let him continue to do it - he will continue.

Happy it's going to be Denny doing it!

Can you believe....

-=KE5WDP=-{"Too nice to be Ike"} — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:31:07 GMT

That there is only 2 more races to the 2009 season???? This year flew by quickly!!!

You know Marky Martin has a good chance of winning this championship!!! Who would have thought that a week ago??? Leave it to Texas Motor Speedway to shake things up and make this chase more interesting again. Martin won Phoenix in the Spring. I think he can win again. With a lil luck, he can at least cut down the points lead to -40. Going into Homestead, that I believe is doable.

Plus, I really don't wanna have to wear a 48 shirt in April.

Jimmie Wins!!!!!

Debbie "Don't Eat Pets" — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:28:06 GMT

Congrats Jimmie and Susan and Burton comes in second!!!!!!!!!

OT: Sprint Cup at Phoenix

-=KE5WDP=-{"Too nice to be Ike"} — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:05:52 GMT

.......

Phoenix Picks

-=KE5WDP=-{"Too nice to be Ike"} — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:43:40 GMT

After Texas, this race will be very interesting to watch.

Marky Martin

Smoke

Shrub

Jeffie Jordon

Tool

Lack of local TV media support

Ken — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:58:43 GMT

I guess I expect too much! The DFW local media-news is giving the Cowboys/Eagles game more coverage than the races at TMS this weekend. We are in the final races of the Chase to the Sprint Cup and I haven't heard any stories on TV yet. My blood pressure goes up race weekend from the excitement, but my blood boils when we (TMS race supporters) don't get appropriate coverage.

I heard channel 5 on Wednesday morning mention the incoming traffic due to the races, but that was all. Our local newspaper cuts our best sports writers from their jobs and now we get lousy information and publicity from our media.

We have one of the best race track facilities in the country, and Eddie is absolutely the best at promoting, supporting, and selflessly working this year. Even though I lost my job, I will do what I can to support him and our track.

Heard you all missed me I"M BACK

Checkered Past (Lisa) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:40:19 GMT

Just wanted to say Hi to everyone .... sorry I have not had an active ID for about 3 weeks now.... but I am back on.... Watch out Ike ha ha ....

Just wanted to say, I hated that I could not chat w/ you guys, but I was so glad to meet a lot of you out there ... I love having a face with the name ........ Wish I could have met more of you or even have spent more time @ Susan's area, but I had my own group to entertain .... my work is never done ha ha .... I hope you all had a good of time as I had ..... so much to do and see out there and lots and lots of "private jokes" were made ......

I think this was said before in an earlier discussion this week, but that was by the the best race I have seen at Texas .... there was so much action, and the chase got closed up a bit, giving Mark Martin the chance to possibly get up there and win ! ...... That has always been a "class act" facility, but the races aren't always exciting because they get too spread out and don't get to race each other as much ..... Except for the "bump on the logs" we sat next to at Sunday's race, my friend, Sarah, and I had a blast, we cheered, we sang, we high fived and hugged (and that was all on the 3rd lap)

Any way I hope everyone made it home safe and sound and has caught up on their rest !!!

love you all

NW Team of Busch Docked Points

TCoats #24 & Hendrick Fan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:58:18 GMT

Now I caught the tail end of the announcement on Sirius. Gibbs was docked owner points, and Kyle was docked 25 driver points.

I do not know for what infraction(s).

Nascar Wives

Darlene — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:52:14 GMT

This was on ESPN before Sunday's race... hope the link works.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4626629

Think it was before Dega's race...... I missed it cause they showed it before I got in from Church, so just thought some of you might have missed it and like to see it.

How soon will Samsung 500 (Sun, Apr 18, 2010) $20 tickets sell out?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:53:40 GMT

Just attended 1st race last sun, & want to go again in april, but can't afford better than the cheap seats...

...so, from the vantage point of experience, approx. when would y'all guess the $20 seats will sell out?

thanks, w

(I tried to get a ticket today, responding to the email from TMS/Ticketmaster, but had website issues, & have notified all involved, including another thread in, "Website Support & Assistance", "TMS/Ticketmaster reCAPTCHA not working; also Opera issue")

Kyle Busch

Randy & Ronda — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:02:56 GMT

I know that this will probably make some of you angry... But I hope that Kyle Busch wins Truck, Nationwide & Sprint cup this weekend

God Speed Kyle

Carnage

-=KE5WDP=-{"Too nice to be Ike"} — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:36:30 GMT

"Meet and Greet" Schedule

-=KE5WDP=-{"Too nice to be Ike"} — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:12:49 GMT

When where and how?

Dickies 500 Driver Appearances Thread

-=KE5WDP=-{"Too nice to be Ike"} — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:16:39 GMT

I know some of you like your stuff scribbled on. We had a thread for the Samsung 500 for driver appearances. I thought for sure someone would start a thread for the upcoming Dickies 500. Guess I am the one to do it this time. I will start with what is on the TMS website.

Joey Logano
Date: November 7, 2009
Where: Speedway Children's Charities Track Walk
Time: 30 minutes at the conclusion of the O'Reilly Challenge
Details: Your day doesn't have to end at the checkered flag... Walk The Great American Speedway® with NASCAR driver Joey Logano to benefit Speedway Children's Charities - Texas Chapter. Click here for more information.

Jeff Gordon
Date: November 8, 2009
Where: Time Warner Cable Pit Stop Pavilion, Village of Champions
Time: TBD
Details: Experience Texas Sized Hospitality like never before prior to the 2009 Dickies 500 with elite access to The Village of Champions by purchasing an exclusive pass to the Time Warner Cable Pit Stop Pavilion with Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon. For more information, please click here.

The Bluest Eyes In Texas (Motor Speedway) Are Haunting Me Tonight

Kara Martin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:30:09 GMT

The bluest eyes in Texas are haunting me tonight, for that matter so are the browns, greens, grays, and hazels.

Let me preface this by saying this one is all about me folks.

I planned on being trackside today, reporting from my home state.

It was all arranged perfectly, or so I thought. The plan was put into motion three months ago. Tickets were purchased, accommodations were made and a family reunion of sorts was set.

Although I live in Washington DC, I hail from Texas and it will always, ALWAYS be home. My extended family is scattered about the Lone Star state, so there are endless reasons to visit, but this one was going to be special.

When I told my family of my plans, it sounded like the a perfect excuse to rally the troops. My father made arrangements to fly in from North Carolina and my mother traveled from Virginia to be there.

I’d planned on shacking up with my aunt and uncle, spend a few days with relatives near and far then head off to Texas Motor Speedway with my cousins.

It was a trip that I’d been looking forward to for months.

So then why am I shivering on the “coldest night of the season” in the Nation’s capital when I should be basking in the Texas sun?

Unlike mainstream media, those of us who write as part of NASCAR’s Citizen Journalist Media Corp are unique in the fact that many of us have not quit our day jobs yet.

My alter-ego deals day in and day out with the sick and injured in a busy ER. Right now H1N1 Swine flu is our business and business is good, too good in fact…and that’s bad!

Selfishly, very bad for me.

Thanks to the pandemic, a policy was recently enforced within our hospital. We as staff members are on a permanent “on-call” status throughout the winter months.

No matter where we are in the world, if we get the call to come in, we have 48 hours to make it back to work.

Not only has H1N1 affected my working environment, but my personal livelihood is now suffering and that ain’t cool!

This weekend when I should be hearing the roar of the engines, I will be listening to the drone of cardiac monitors and screaming children. In lieu of the scanner, I will be wearing a surgical mask, and instead of making my way through a crowded media center, I will be dodging germs in a congested waiting room.

Sigh…there’s always next year right? You betcha!

The Swine flu should be a distant memory by Apr. 18, 2010; life as I want it to be will be and I’ll be headed “home” in the springtime without the threat of illness in the air.

So to Tony, Dale, Jimmie, Jeff, Juan, and all the rest, while I know it will be hard, have a great race this weekend without me.

God be with our Nation, the brave Military, their family and friends who were affected by the tragedy at Ft. Hood this week.

God Bless Texas.

To all my Texas friends who I hoped to meet up & hang out with, I am missing you most! See you in the Spring for sure! The Swine can't get me then, have a cold one for me! =)

First time at TMS

RedBull83 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:03:00 GMT

So I got tickets for me and the wife for all three races sitting in great seats, and ordered out pit passes this morning. What I'm wondering, as I am a disabled vet, how is handicap parking? Also, what should I know about having the pit passes, like where I need to pick them up and etc. .. I'm looking forward to three great races, this isn't my first NASCAR race, growing up in Virginia I used to go to Richmond and Martinsville all the time, and have been to the Daytona 500, went the year Jr. won. My wife however has never been to a NASCAR race, well she's been to a Camping World series west race in Kyle, but that's it. Also, I saw that Ryan Newman will be signing autographs tomorrow night, does anyone know if I will have to get a ticket to be able to meet him or what. I'm not really too interested in the autograph part as I already have some stuff signed by him, the reason I want to meet him is I have an "Infidel"ACU tab that was on my uniform when I was injured in Iraq that I want to give to him.