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Boogity, boogity, boogity! Let's go racing, boys!

Fontana, California is a 2-mile track, with WIDE lanes. In yesterday's Nationwide race, they had a few turns in which drivers were 5 wide across the track.

Big news: It's VERY overcast, so they will racing it hard, as there is every chance that the race can be called because of rain.

It's a 200 lap race; it will be official at lap 100.

In terms of picks, FOUR of us chose Bowyer and MM. Tilly and colchar differ on the C driver only; Tilly chose Bliss and colchar chose Reutimann. As it turns out, colchar and I differ only on our A group selections; colchar chose JJ, and I chose Harvick.

SO:
A list drivers who were selected include: JJ (2), Smoke (2), Blech (2), Harvick (2), and Hamlin.
B list drivers who were selected include: MM (5), Bowyer (5), Biff (2), Logano (2), Newman (2), Burton, and Jr.
C list drivers who were selected include: Reutimann (3), Almirola (2), Blaney, Labonte, Bliss, and Mears.

30 laps in: Blech led all but the first lap (Hamlin). So far, it's:
Blech, Smoke, Hamlin, Biff, JJ, Harvick, Newman, JG, Edwards, Jr
Green flag pit stops coming up.

Laps 66-71: 2nd green flag pits
Lap 83: Blech has led all but 4 laps. The other leaders have been Hamlin, JJ, and JG.
Lap 85: Smoke takes the lead
Lap 95:
Smoke, Blech (looks like he touched the wall a little), Hamlin, JJ, JG, Jr, Edwards, Newman, Harvick, Biff, MM
Bowyer 16
Burton 17
Logano 22
Reut 23
Almirola 24
Labonte 26
Mears 31
Blaney 34
Bliss 40

Laps 101-108: Green Flag Pits (3rd round of them)
Speeding penalties today so far: Kes, Yeley, BLabonte, Logano
Looks like Cassil may be going to the garage.
JG JUST earned a pit penalty... he dragged his gasman when he pulled out.
SO FAR, no yellows.
On the other hand, a few sprinkles are falling in turn 3.

85 laps to go:
Smoke, Hamlin, Blech, JJ, Jr, Harvick, Biff, Newman, Edwards, Truex, MM
Bowyer 14
Burton 17
Mears 20
Logano 24
Almirola 25
Reut 27
Labonte 28
Blaney 33
Bliss 40

So far, no yellow flags.
I know, I know...
...just sayin'.

77 laps to go: CAUTION!!
Rain drops coming down in Turn 3.
Dinger (16th) gets the lucky dog.

OH MAN...
The pits opened. Smoke was looking to come in, causing everyone else in the top ten to commit to come in...
Smoke quickly decided against coming in. Everyone else went to the pits.

Matt Kenseth picks up a penalty for an errant tire.

Still under caution with 72 laps to go
UH OH... while following the pace car, looks like JJ is smoking. He's going to have to come in. It's an oil leak. But if the rain ends the race, he'll stay in the top ten. WHAT A LUCKY BREAK... if there's no more racing.
Smoke, Blech, Jr, Harvick, Edwards, Biff, Newman, Truex, KuBu, JJ, Hamlin, MM
Bowyer 14
Burton 22
Mears 23
Logano 24
Almirola 25
Reut 27
Labonte 28
Blaney 33
Bliss 40

71 Laps to go: Everyone is getting out of their cars.

If the red flag doesn't get lifted, Ymo will barely edge Miles, with Knights, and Iowa following behind. Colchar and I follow immediately after that.

Having said that, if the rain stops and they restart the race, Tilly and colchar will fall a little more, as JJ would probably fall behind 4-8 laps because of the oil leak issue.

Lavabe wrote:If the red flag doesn't get lifted, Ymo will barely edge Miles, with Knights, and Iowa following behind. Colchar and I follow immediately after that.

Having said that, if the rain stops and they restart the race, Tilly and colchar will fall a little more, as JJ would probably fall behind 4-8 laps because of the oil leak issue.

If they go racing again that switch back to my original A List picks isn't gonna bite me right in the arse.

The race is over. It's official.

Lavabe wrote:The race is over. It's official.

I'm semi-ok with that...

Well I'm really OK with it! I had Smoke! No clue how the rest ended up!

YmoBeThere wrote:

Lavabe wrote:The race is over. It's official.

I'm semi-ok with that...

Considering that you and Miles tied for this week's victory, you should be happy with it.

And considering that you have re-gained the lead, you should be happy.
Ymo now leads Iowa by 13 pts. Iowa leads me by 60 pts. It's a tight race near me. I lead colchar by 34, who leads Tilly by 19 pts. Tilly leads JGo by 61 pts, who leads lawgrad by 27 pts. Trailing lawgrad by 56 pts is knights, and Miles is now only 2 pts below knights.

Anyone who had JJ or Smoke ought to be thrilled with the early end of the race.

I feel good that I did not blow one of my JJ selections on this race. Unfortunately, Harvick (my choice) was just starting to close when the race ended. He moved up 6 positions in the last few laps before the yellow. I wish he had a few more laps of racing.

On to Martinsville!!

YmoBeThere wrote:

Lavabe wrote:The race is over. It's official.

I'm semi-ok with that...

Congrats!

Miles wrote:

YmoBeThere wrote:

Lavabe wrote:The race is over. It's official.

I'm semi-ok with that...

Congrats!

Thanks!

Is it just me or if Smoke is this strong this early could he have the title wrapped up by the time they run The Winston?

YmoBeThere wrote:Is it just me or if Smoke is this strong this early could he have the title wrapped up by the time they run The Winston?

Umm, do they still run the Winston? ;)

Miles wrote:

YmoBeThere wrote:

Lavabe wrote:The race is over. It's official.

I'm semi-ok with that...

Congrats!

Congrats to the two of you ... the two of you tied for this week's win!

Congrats to the two winners!

Don't forget to get your picks in for Martinsville!

I wonder about this weekend's coverage. HOW many references will there be to the "paper clip" and the hot dogs?

Lavabe wrote:Don't forget to get your picks in for Martinsville!

I wonder about this weekend's coverage. HOW many references will there be to the "paper clip" and the hot dogs?

IMHO, the hot dogs dropped way down in quality when the track stopped paying people to work the concession stands and gave the stands to various community groups to do. My coworker Robin used to make the chili for the concession stand in the infield. Now they have numbskulls who don't know what they are doing.

But there will still be TONS of references to the "paper clip" and the hot dogs.

I will get to meet lots of people who are at the track on Sunday, who are in the courthouse on Monday. Job security is a many-splendored thing.