Posts Tagged ‘David Stremme’


Indiana Johnson and the Speeding Ticket of Doom: Jimmie Johnson Wins the Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

*smooch*

*smooch*

Jimmie Johnson won the Brickyard 400 at Indy but that wasn’t the big story if you followed the crowds online. A late-race speeding ticket given to Juan Pablo Montoya who had dominated the race up to that point ended his shot at a win.

That has a lot of people calling foul for some reason, including Kyle Petty. I don’t really see why though. Montoya was angry and swore he didn’t do it, but basically it’s his word versus two electronic scoring monitors. That wouldn’t overturn a speeding ticket in any court of law that I’m familiar with.
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Mark Martin Is on the Pole for Indianapolis; NASCAR as a Whole Would Like You to Get Off Their Lawn

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

Older Dominion

Older Dominion

Mark Martin has won the pole for this weekend’s Cup race at Indy, continuing the surprising resurgence of over 50 drivers in the sport this year. This, of course, comes on the heels of Ron Hornaday’s fourth win in a row in the Camping World Truck Series last night.

And on top of Mark Martin qualifying on the pole, Bill Elliott, 53, turned in a great performance qualifying fourth.

It’s an old man’s game this year.

Behind Martin, Juan Pablo Montoya, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Bill Elliott, David Reutimann, Brian Vickers, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Reed Sorenson and Clint Bowyer rounded out the Top 10.

Full starting lineup after the jump.
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2009 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Preview (New Hampshire Motor Speedway)

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
Actual size.

Actual size.

This week, the NASCAR journey takes everyone to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. New Hampshire is the smallest state that NASCAR operates in (area and population), but despite it’s diminutive size, it actually hosts two popular races annually. (Being in the furthest reaches of “Greater Boston” helps.)

But, see, that’s the problem, New Hampshire just doesn’t give you much in the way of journalistic hooks. So, everybody trots out their “B” material like “Tony Stewart Is Rock Solid in the Granite State” or every four years, you can trot out a New Hampshire primary hook. So, in the interest of public service, here are a few alternate headlines that journalists could take a stab at this weekend at New Hampshire:

Danger: Joke Being EjectedOkay, admittedly these are terrible. It feels more like a poorly-done “Before & After” category on Jeopardy! after the writers phoned it in on a Friday after a six- or seven-martini lunch. (”What is e.e. cummings Turbo Diesel?”)

How about we skip to the preview?

(See? This is what I meant! I can’t force “B” material to transmogrify into “A” material!)
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Brian Vickers on the Pole for 2009 Toyota/SaveMart 350 Race at Infineon Raceway (Sonoma)

Friday, June 19th, 2009

Five more of these and I'll be able to make some stylish curtains out of them.

Five more of these and I'll be able to make some stylish curtains out of them.


Brian Vickers is on the pole at Infineon Raceway. Did you know that this is actually his fourth pole position on the year? Doesn’t really seem like it, does it? If he picks up one more, he’ll actually have won more poles this season than he’s earned in his entire career up to this season. Go figure.

Kyle Busch sits on the outside of Row 1. He’s followed by Marcos Ambrose, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex, Jr., Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler, Boris Said and Matt Kenseth.

Overall, it’s an up-and-down day for Red Bull Racing. Vickers may have been on the pole, but Scott Speed ended up with his third DNQ on the year, putting him further out of reach of that elusive Top 35 in owners points. However, he may end up getting seat time in Joe Nemechek’s ride again (he obviously won’t pick up any owners points for that though). We’ll know more on that soon.

Full starting lineup after the jump.
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Running on Empty? Hardly! Mark Martin Wins 2009 LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway

Sunday, June 14th, 2009
Raise your hand if you're Ensure.

Raise your hand if you're Ensure.

Nearly out of gas, Mark Martin won the LifeLock 400 at Michigan, making it to the end as other drivers fell away in the final laps. But Mark is hardly “running on empty,” picking up his third win over the age of 50, but unlike the song (back in ‘65, Mark was, well, seven, not seventeen), Mark seems to know exactly where he’s headed. Although the part about “I don’t know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels,” probably fits just fine.

We’ve joked about Martin in the past and about how he’s trying to be something of a second Harry Gant, but Martin looks to be serious about it. Gant had eight wins in his 50s and now Martin has three. The question we jokingly asked before, we ask once again more seriously: can Mark Martin beat Harry Gant’s record for wins over age 50?
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Brian Vickers on the Pole for LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway

Friday, June 12th, 2009
To 'eBay?' That sure is a popular name today.

To 'eBay?' That sure is a popular name today.

Brian Vickers is on the pole for the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway. It’s been a big week for Vickers, as he also just signed a new contract to stay at Red Bull Racing (not to mention a pit stop in Times Square). Michigan is a good track for Vickers and I think he’s a solid Top 10 pick.

Behind Vickers, you have Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Reutimann, Kurt Busch, A.J. Allmendinger with a solid run in 6th, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer and, no this isn’t an error, John Andretti in 10th.

Click below for the full starting lineup.
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NASCAR Link Roundup for June 5, 2009

Friday, June 5th, 2009

It’s the Friday edition of NASCAR link roundup:

Catching Up: The Long Memorial Day Weekend

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
I'm in way over my head here...

I'm in way over my head here...

I’d like to extend a special thank you to our patient readers. The biggest racing weekend of the year, and I was spending time launching Twitter Motorsports and then when the Coca-Cola 600 was postponed until Monday, I was annoyed because, well, yesterday was the second anniversary of the beginning of wedded bliss for myself and Mrs. Restrictor Plated and we already had plans for the day.

But, you can’t do anything about the weather. So, in lieu of having to bang out five posts from all the activity over the weekend, I’ll summarize everything for you that you need to know about what’s happened between Saturday and today.
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Kirk Shelmerdine Is on the Pole for the Sprint Showdown

Friday, May 15th, 2009

Everyone's taking crazy pills!

Everyone's taking crazy pills!

I had to write a post for this because I don’t think I’ll ever be able to write this ever again, but Kirk Shelmerdine is on the pole for tomorrow night’s Sprint Showdown at Charlotte. See, Sprint Showdown qualifying was washed out, but rather than set the field by something meaningful, NASCAR (in their usual infinite wisdom) decided to set the field by qualifying draw. So, you’re starting Top 10 will be Shelmerdine, Carl Long, David Stremme, Dave Blaney, Scott Riggs, Martin Truex, Jr., David Ragan, Sam Hornish, Jr., Max Papis and A.J. Allmendinger.

However, Shelmerdine and Long won’t enjoy it long. Shelmerdine is going to the back for missing inspection and Long will go to the back for an engine change.

Detangling Charlotte’s Web: Your Guide to the Sprint Cup All-Star Race

Monday, May 11th, 2009

NASCAR 2009 All-Star Race Logo

This has been a rough few weeks for the NASCAR family: first we lost David Poole, then we lost Kevin Grubb and then Jeremy Mayfield was suspended for violating the substance abuse policy. So, it’s nice to come off of that and have a week that is strictly all about fun. It’s a home exhibition game for the NASCAR family: All-Star Weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

However, NASCAR’s definition of fun entails all sorts of rules and regulations, pursuant to NASCAR Rulebook Section 13-7-J, “Regulation of Mirth and Merriment,” which requires that fun be “distilled” down to a format that only an mid-level IRS bureaucrat could love. But we fight the power and explain everything to you so you’re prepared for this weekend’s festivities.
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