Posts Tagged ‘Mark Martin’


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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Young Men’s Fancies Turn to the Developmental Series: 18-Year-Old Trevor Bayne on Pole for Nationwide Series Race at ORP

Saturday, July 25th, 2009
Something old, something new...

Something old, something new...

Contesting my recent post that NASCAR has become an old man’s game, new Nationwide Series driver Trevor Bayne, 18, will be on the pole for tonight’s Nationwide race at O’Reilly Raceway Park. If you’re keeping track, the ages of the pole winners for the three series this weekend are 20, 50 and 18 (Braun, Martin and Bayne). Strange polarization in the ages of success this weekend.

Behind Bayne, you have more young blood in Brad Coleman, Steve Wallace and Erik Darnell. Then the rest of the Top 10 is Terry Cook, Scott Lagasse, Brad Keselowski, Ron Hornaday, Brendan Gaughan and Mike Bliss.

Full starting lineup after the jump.
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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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Beer, Wine & High Spirits: Kasey Kahne Wins Toyota/SaveMart 350 at Infineon

Monday, June 22nd, 2009
NASCAR's version of Fumé Blanc.

NASCAR's version of Fumé Blanc.

Kasey Kahne held off Tony Stewart to pick up an unexpected win at Infineon Raceway. How unexpected was it? It was Kahne’s first Top 10 at Sonoma, his first Top 20 at Sonoma, his first Top 10 at any road course in Cup Series and actually his first Top 10 at any road course at any level of NASCAR.

So, yeah, if you picked Kasey Kahne to win today, you either are crazy, clairvoyant or you couldn’t decide on a pick and you paid good money to hold a double-elimination tournament between 43 liquored-up lemurs and the lemur representing Kasey Kahne won.

I dunno. It’s late. Drunk lemurs are funny. No, I’m not drunk myself. Just tired.
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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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Sonoma Fantasy NASCAR Picks (2009 Toyota/SaveMart 350, Infineon Raceway)

Thursday, June 18th, 2009
For 20 years, NASCAR-Sonoma has been the premier specialty retailer of fine home furnishings and gourmet cookware in the United States.

For 20 years, NASCAR-Sonoma has been the premier specialty retailer of fine home furnishings and gourmet cookware in the United States.

Thank you for your interest in NASCAR-Sonoma home catalog and delivery. We offer a vast array of the finest products that represent home furnishings of casual elegance and exceptional craftsmanship that brings classic design to the comforts of home.

Our hand-crafted picks come from the finest NASCAR artisans from around the world. We hope that you will find our picks to have subtle beauty and unique variations. And just in time for Father’s Day!
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2009 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Preview (Infineon Raceway)

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
Requires: MS-DOS 4.0 or higher, 10 MHz Intel compatible or faster, 640 KB of RAM. Graphics: CGA, EGA, MCGA/VGA, 16-color Tandy or Hercules. Sound (optional): Ad Lib, Soundblaster, Roland, Tandy, PC speaker.

Requires: MS-DOS 4.0 or higher, 10 MHz Intel compatible or faster, 640 KB of RAM. Graphics: CGA, EGA, MCGA/VGA, 16-color Tandy or Hercules. Sound (optional): Ad Lib, Soundblaster, Roland, Tandy, PC speaker.

I’m going to tell you a tale today: a tale of some of my early exposure to NASCAR. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, I was but a lad, late in my formative elementary school years. I remember watching NASCAR on television (on the occasions when it made network television—we didn’t have cable at the time), listening to guys like Ken Squiers, Ned Jarrett, Paul Page and Benny Parsons call the races.

Going to continue this story behind the break.
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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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Michigan Fantasy NASCAR Picks (2009 LifeLock 400, Michigan International Speedway)

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Cause I'll be rockin this party eight days a week.

Cause I'll be rockin this party eight days a week.

Sometimes I struggle with a tie-in for pick and preview posts, sometimes they just fall into my lap. NASCAR is at Michigan International Speedway this weekend, which is in Brooklyn—albeit not one of the five boroughs, but what better way to present who I feel good about racing in Brooklyn than by being inspired by the rapsmiths who created the seminal song about insomnious journey to a New York borough.

Thusly, we present our week’s Fantasy NASCAR picks: Beastie Boys Edition.
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