Favorite and Least Favorite Drivers

Favorite Drivers:

• Ryan Newman (real surprise here)
• Matt Kenseth (loyal to cheese country)
• Elliot Sadler (down to earth and I love M&Ms)
• Bobby Labonte (I liked this cat even before getting into NASCAR)
• Mark Martin (Clean racer who I got to know this year)

Least Favorite Drivers:

• Casey Mears (reckless)
• Carl Edwards (His act is wearing thin)
• Jim Johnson (Too arrogant for my liking)
• Mike Waltrip (Way over-rated)
• David Stremme (see Casey Mears)

Bet On It! ~~~ Vegas Baby!

1. Tony Stewart
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Brian Vickers
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Jeff Burton
6. Greg Biffle
7. Joe Nemechek
8. Kurt Busch
9. Denny Hamlin
10. Jeremy Mayfield

NASCAR Quiz #2

Congratulations to Paul for winning the first quiz with seven correct answers. Paul will receive his prize soon. Now try these:

1. What are the thin sheets of plastic called that cover
   the windshield during a race and how many is each driver allowed to
   have?
2. Richard Petty didn't go faster than the speed of sound
   until 2001, when he hitched a ride with what famous stunt flying
   team?
3. What type of metal is a restrictor made out
   of?
4. What female driver had the best finish in the NASCAR
   Nextel Series? Do you know what place she finished in?
5. What unique thing did Alan Kulwicki (that great
   Wisconsin driver) do after winning a race?
6. What driver won the 1989 NASCAR Nextel Championship (his
   only one)? He edged out Dale Earnhardt by how many points?
7. What was David Pearson's nickname?
8. What was the nickname of the famous trio of
   drivers ... Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Neil
   Bonnett?
9. What famous Mountain Dew Driver won 12 races in
   1981?
10. What illegal activity were many of the early race
    drivers involved with?

Answers:

1. Tear-offs
2. Blue Angels
3. Aluminum
4. Sara Christian - fifth place - October 2, 1949
5. Took his victory lap the opposite direction around the track
6. Rusty Wallace edged out Dale Earnhardt by 12 points
7. David Pearson was "The Silver Fox"
8. The Alabama Gang
9. Darrell Waltrip won 12 races in 1981 (must have been all that caffiene)
10. Bootlegging

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

1. Matt Kenseth
2. Kurt Busch
3. Tony Stewart
4. Ryan Newman
5. Carl Edwards
6. Greg Biffle
7. Kasey Kahne
8. Jamie McMurray
9. Elliot Sadler

** Best Rookie Finish ~ Denny Hamlin

IF YOU LOOK CLOSE, YOU CAN SEE AMERICA'S TEAM WAVING IN THE BREEZE.

?? NASCAR Quiz ??

1. We all know who holds the record for the number of NASCAR wins. But can you name the driver who is second?
2. Mark Martin has never won a NASCAR Championship. Do you know how many times he has finished as runner-up?
3. Who won the first NASCAR Race?
4. What is Bill Elliot’s nickname and how did he earn it?
5. Which is the oldest facility on NASCAR’s regular list of racetracks?
6. Who was the first U.S. President to invite top NASCAR Drivers to the White House?
7. How many NASCAR Nextel Races per year are not shown on National Television?
8. In what year did the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series begin?
9. Which Nextel NASCAR Driver carried the torch at the 2002 Winter Olympics?
10. Who is the only driver to win three straight NASCAR Championships?
11. Denny Hamlin currently drives the #11 for Joe Gibb’s racing. Name two other famous drivers who shared this number (Jason Leffler doesn’t count)?
12. What year did Bill France, Sr. start NASCAR?
13. What does NASCAR stand for?

Answers:

1. David Pearson, a three-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion, is second on the all-time win list with 105 wins, second only to Richard Petty.
2. Mark Martin has finished as the NASCAR runner-up on four occasions.
3. Although Robert "Red" Byron only completed in three NASCAR seasons, he was the winner of the first NASCAR-sanctioned race in 1948. The next year, he became the first overall NASCAR season champion.
4. In 1985, Bill Elliot earned the nickname "Million Dollar Bill" by claiming the $1 million bonus from R. J. Reynolds for winning three of the four crown jewel races on the NASCAR schedule. Elliot was victorious in the Daytona 500, the Winson 500 at Talladega, and the Southern 500 at Darlington.
5. The oldest facility on NASCAR's regular list of racetracks is Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, which has been hosting races since 1950.
6. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter, a native of NASCAR-crazy Georgia, invited several top NASCAR drivers and officials to the White House, a first-time honor for the sport.
7. Since 1989, every NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race has been seen on national television.
8. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series began in 1995 and features specially modified pickup trucks.
9. Dale Jarrett carried the Olympic torch at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
10. The only NASCAR driver to win three straight championships (from 1976 to 1978), Cale Yarborough earned 83 NASCAR victories and 70 pole positions in a career that spanned four decades.
11. Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Todd Bodine and Terry Labonte have all driven the number 11 car.
12. In 1947, Bill France, Sr. organized a meeting of drivers and others involved in stock car racing. Fromo that meeting, came the organization known as NASCAR. The first race took place in 1948.
13. National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.

Crash Kahne

Here's a familiar site, hey Elmo. Get use to it Don.

2006 NASCAR Draft Analysis

Well, another draft is in the books. First the shocker of the year so far.....Bill gets the 5th overall pick.

Let me start off by thanking Paul for once again hosting the draft. His hospitality is second to none. He is truly the greatest and I love him!

Now, let me also say that some of the picks weren't the only things with a lot of stench that night. I've made doctor's appointments for some of you. Let's just leave it at that.

As for the first round, it didn't take long for a shocking pick to be made. Right out of the gate Paul picks Jamie McMurray, who I do believe will be at least knocking at the door again to get into the chase. But first overall.....hm....I guess time will tell. That left a proven winner, Jimmy Johnson, for the person who already has the hottest driver in NASCAR. And I don't mean hottest in the way you're thinking, Paul. If Keith gets anything at all out of another one of his drivers, he will once again be a force to be reckon with. Kelly had a no-brainer pick when she took Edwards, who I personally thought may go one or two. Elmo phoned in and picked Elliot Sadler, who could be the comeback driver of the year. Bill the Hittman wanted Sadler and couldn't believe that the little red Elmo grabbed him. So Bill took another proven winner, Mark Martin. The old man still has enough in the tank and Roush won't let him down. Then came Don...Another somewhat shocking pick here by taking Kasey Kahne. If the Martini Mixer can return to his 2004 form (or at least half of 2004), it may turn out to be a good pick....Again, time will tell. And last, but certainly not least (somehow he picked Bill's card), Toad. He must have studied hard because he took the best available left on the board, Kyle Busch. With Hendrick power behind him, I don't think you'll see a sophomore slump here.

Bottom line.......I think everyone picked a minimum top 15 driver in the first round. After that, it was a crap shoot (again in more ways than one on draft night). No real surprises in rounds two - five.

Awards:

Most surprising pick - Jamie McMurray - 1st overall pick.

Best No-Brainer pick - Tie - Jimmy Johnson #2, Carl Edwards #3.

Best Value Pick - Tie - Casey Mears (3rd round), Ken Schrader (4th round) - Both by Mr. Paul.

Worst Pick - Elliot Sadler (only because I wanted him).

Predictions:

Busch / Truck Finishing Order

1. Bill
2. Paul SR
3. Paul JR
4. Todd
5. Don
6. Keith
7. Kelly
   

** Note: I put myself #1 because I'm thirsty.

Nextel Finishing Order

1. Keith (gotta like the 1-2 punch here)
2. Bill (Solid 1 & 2....And potential sleeper 3)
3. Kelly (The lizard won't leap like last year but you can't go wrong with a premier Wisconsin Driver)
4. Elmo (Picked with his head this year.)
5. Todd (Did the best he could with the last pick. If Harvick improves and Kyle picks up from last year, he could move up.)
6. Paul (Let a couple of top tier drivers slip through his fingers at #1. Time will tell.)
7. Don (Biffle not enough to carry this team.)

Comeback team of the Year - Team Elmo (of course... Only one way to go here)

Good Luck and Good Racing!!

Pit Road Pets

100% of the Ryan Newman Foundation’s portions of the net proceeds from this book will be donated to the Humane Society of Catawba County’s capital campaign to build a no-kill animal shelter, education center, dog park and regional public low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Hickory, North Carolina. The facility will serve the region from the mountains to the piedmont of North Carolina, which encompasses the heart of NASCAR country. more>>

2006 NASCAR Predictions

10. Greg Biffle
9. Jimmy Johnson
8. Mark Martin
7. Kurt Busch
6. Dale Earnhardt, jr.
5. Tony Stewart
4. Jeff Gordon
3. Elliot Sadler
2. Matt Kenseth
1. Ryan Newman - 2006 NASCAR Nextel Champion

• 2006 NASCAR Nextel Rookie of the year - Denny Hamlin
• 2006 NASCAR Nextel Comeback Drivers of the Year - Elliot Sadler, Jeff Gordon & Dale Earnhardt jr.
• 2006 NASCAR Nextel Bust of the Year - Kasey Kahne
• 2006 NASCAR Nextel Pleasant Suprise of the Year - Dave Blaney
• 2006 NASCAR Busch Champion - Carl Edwards
• 2006 NASCAR Busch Rookie of the Year - Burney Lamar
• 2006 NASCAR Truck Champion - Dennis Setzer
• 2006 NASCAR Truck Rookie of the Year - Kyle Krisiloff