NASCAR 2011

[Lavabe]

Laps 71-77 Scheduled Green Flag Pitting
They're going about 25-30 laps between pit stops. Hamlin is one of the last to go in. Hamlin and JJ had slow pit stops. Lost 3-5 sec with loose lug nuts.
Hamlin is not shifting (clutch issue) , so he's actually going longer between stops than most.

JPM takes the lead, given the issues that Hamlin had.

[Lavabe]

Lap 90 of 200: Kes, down a lap after coming for a vibration, STILL has the issue. Still running, but way down.
Edwards is still in the garage.

No yellows since the debris cautions/competition yellow back in Lap 18.
Sun starting to come out.
Hamlin shifting again.
Lap 94: Running order: JPM (by 3.2 secs), Hamlin, JG, Kurt, JJ, Kahne, Jr, Harvick, Bleck, Newman, Smoke, Biff, Kenseth, Bowyer, Ambrose, Logano.
C listers: 17 Menard, 19 Ragan, Smith 20, Labonte 30
Hamlin WAS down by 6 secs.
Laps 95-103: Green Flag Pitting
Burton early to pit.
Vickers speeding penalty. When he came to serve the pass through penalty, he was caught speeding AGAIN!!

[Lavabe]

94 laps to go
Order: JPM (5.3 secs), Hamlin, JG, Kurt, JJ, Kahne, Jr.
Biffle brushed the wall. Jamie Mac has some smoke.
No yellows.

[Lavabe]

89 laps to go: Debris Yellow
Dinger gets the Lucky Dog.

[Lavabe]

UGH!!!
JPM's crew does what can only be described as a stupid move... he takes TWO tires on the yellow pit stop. Everyone else takes four. What this means is that he didn't lose his lead, but on the restart, he will have little advantage, and will have a slower speed because he did not take all four tires.

Why did he go with 2? Just to avoid losing his lead position. SILLY!!
On the restart, JPM loses his lead in the first 1/3 lap.

[Lavabe]

74 laps to go
Order: Kurt, JG, Hamlin, JPM, Smoke, JJ, Blech, Newman, Jr, Kahne, Harvick, Ragan, Biff, Kenseth, Menard, Logano
Dinger 18, Smith 20, Kes 22, Burton 24, Vickers 26 Labonte 28 (down a lap).
Ambrose out with no clutch.

[Lavabe]

60 laps to go
Order: Kurt, JG, Hamlin, JPM, JJ, Blech, Newman, Smoke, Jr, Harvick, Biff, Kenseth, Ragan, Logano, Kahne
Menard 17, Dinger 18, Smith 19, Kes 20, Burton 24, Vickers 26 Labonte 27 (down a lap).
Smoke lost 3rd gear. It may be a matter of time.
Green flag pits begin.

[Lavabe]

50 laps to go: All green flag pitting done
Very cloudy weather again
Order: Kurt (1.6 sec), JG, Hamlin, JPM, JJ, Blech, Newman, Kenseth, Harvick, Jr, Smoke, Truex, Biff, Kahne, Ragan, Logano, Reutimann, Menard Smith, Kes, Bowyer
Others: Dinger 23(down a lap), Burton 25, Vickers 26, Labonte 28 (down a lap)

[Lavabe]

45 to go : Yellow Debris caution
All in the pits.
PROBLEM: Hamlin comes out of pits with a flat. Re-enters the pits. Drops to 21st.
JPM does ANOTHER 2 tire stop for position.

[Lavabe]

Ugh... wireless went out.
Let me summarize what happened:
44 laps: Hamlin VERY loose, as the tires are not 100% for them.
30 laps to go: Biff spins out. No caution. Lost ground.

26 laps to go: People are pitting. JPM first to come in. They MAY have enough gas to go.
Hamlin has partial brakes, but is 14th or so.

[Lavabe]

Router Problems stink.
Order of finish:
JG, Kurt, Blech, JJ, Harvick
Jr, JPM, Kenseth, Newman, Truex
Logano, Kahne, Reutimann, Menard, Smith
Bowyer, Ragan, MM, Hamlin (led most laps), Burton
Smoke, Vickers, Kes, Cassill, Dinger
Blaney, Biffle, Labonte, Gilliland, Mears
Bliss, Lally, JamieMac, Ambrose, Hornish
Raines, Edwards (did complete the final lap after doing 15 minutes of in booth discussion), and the start & parkers.

JG dominated the last 15 laps or so. GOOD runs from the Busch brothers.

[Lavabe]

Looks like Ymo will win this week's picks, moving him into first place ahead of knights.
I'm mired in third, having gained ground on knights, lost ground on Ymo.
Usul is still in fourth.
Tilly should now be in fifth, over colchar.

Ymo is now pulling ahead. Congrats to Ymo. It's time for us to catch him!

[YmoBeThere]

I was able to watch the end of the race after getting in from a car show. I drove too fast on the way home, I was listening to the race on the radio.

[Lavabe]

Tilly will be doing a happy dance... Blech's car failed post-race inspection. He'll be facing a fine and a points reduction.

[DevilWearsPrada2.0]

Thanks for the recap on the race. I didnt get to see the race. Glad to See Jeff Gordan, winning again! Is JG, considered one of the older drivers now?

[Lavabe]

Thanks for the recap on the race. I didnt get to see the race. Glad to See Jeff Gordan, winning again! Is JG, considered one of the older drivers now?

JG is 40. He's not really one of the elders, although he was sort of a mentor to JJ. He did sort of mentor Trevor Bayne in the Daytona 500 this year. FWIW, Tony Stewart is also 40. Jeff Burton is 44 ish. Bobby Labonte races weekly, and is like 47. Mark Martin (52) is definitely the elder statesman most weeks.

Boris Said (road course specialist is 49). Michael Waltrip (restrictor plate racer) is 48. Awesome Bill Elliot also races every now and then.

Having said all of this, I vaguely recall reading that Geoff Bodine may race a few times this year. He's like 60-ish.

[DevilWearsPrada2.0]

Thanks for the updates. My Dad always followed local, Richard Petty. My cousin and Rebecca (RP's daughter) are best friends. After Richard Petty retired, I followed Jeff Gordon. But when my Dad passed away, I lost my interest in the sport. Although, I generally know who has won the race, and the standings. I know JG has mentored several new and young drivers.

The races are all over the US. And the season goes from Feb - Nov. Thats so long. But I know, it is about the sponsors, money and pulling in more fans across the United States.

Thanks for all the updates about Nascar.

[YmoBeThere]

JG is 40. FWIW, Tony Stewart is also 40.

1971 was a good year.

[DevilWearsPrada2.0]

JG is 40. FWIW, Tony Stewart is also 40.

1971 was a good year.

Jeff Gordan and Tony Stewart have certainly been Nascar Stars during their careers. Both adding excitement, and YOUTH, when they began their racing careers. Jeff, always mild and meek and more humble. While Tony, was more dramatic in his ways. WOW! I cant believe the are both 40 years old. Time and years literally fly by, and certainly FLY with high speed on the Race Track!!!!

THANKS for the updates!!!

[Lavabe]

Congrats to the new class of NASCAR's Hall of Fame: Waltrip, Cale, Inman, Richie Evans, and Glen Wood.