Motorsports FanHouse http://motorsports.fanhouse.com Motorsports FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif Motorsports FanHouse http://motorsports.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Fanhouse Warmup: Aaron's 499 at Talladegahttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/27/fanhouse-warmup-aarons-499-at-talladega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/27/fanhouse-warmup-aarons-499-at-talladega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/27/fanhouse-warmup-aarons-499-at-talladega/#commentsFiled under: ,


What: Aaron's 499
Where: Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Ala.
When: Sunday April 27th 2:00pm/ET FOX
Distance: 188 laps, 500.08 miles (The 499 mile mark is somewhere on the backstretch on lap 188)
Weather: Showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
2007 Winner: Jeff Gordon
Predictions: Keep Reading

Top Weekend Stories from Talladega Superspeedway
Kevin Lepage Might Have Made Dumbest Move, Ever
Dario Franchitti Out After Nationwide Crash
Tony Stewart Secures First Talladega Win
Joe Nemechek Will At Least Start First Sunday
Little Bit of 'Dis, Little Bit of 'Dat from Talladega

"Boo" That Man! "Boooooo!" - Excuse my cheesy high school basketball anti-referee chant, but it surely rings true after the tremendous mistake made by Nationwide Series driver Kevin Lepage in Saturday's Aaron's 312 Nationwide Race.

Lepage simply pulled up in front of the pack and caused a 16-car mess. There's truly no other way to describe it.

For more about this, check out the post listed above.

Does "Front Row" Joe Nemechek's Nickname Make Sense? - Heck no it doesn't.

For some reason, a guy that has won 10 career poles in the Sprint Cup Series has a nickname that has had staying power for at least the past 10 years. "Front Row Joe" refers to any time that Nemechek finds himself starting from the point in a NASCAR race.

He'll start Sunday from the pole after laying down a surprising qualifying lap.

Let me restate those statistics. Nemechek has 10 career poles. Ten. Diez. Nine plus 1.

Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 65 career poles. Of course, numbers don't mean anything, right?

Rain, Rain Stay Away - It appears that the entire Southeast is getting a little bit of soaking this weekend, which naturally makes sense.

The region has been decimated by a drought and so naturally, when NASCAR comes to town, the rain follows suit.

As of this morning, there were plenty of gaps in the radar that could facilitate getting the race in on Sunday. Two things are going against that fact though if there indeed is any rain at the track including the fact that its a huge 2.66 mile track and that there are no lights.

At what point do tracks make that investment into a lighting system just as an insurance policy? Just a thought.

FanHouse Predicts Your Aaron's 499 Winner

If I was going with the easy way out, I'd just lay down the names of Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Tony Stewart and tell you that picking those three would guarantee you a 70% chance at victory.

But then again, Kevin Lepage was in the area of the racetrack just 24 hours ago.

For my pick this week, I'm going to roll with a guy that's had a solid Talladega weekend already. Earlier this season, he made the driving mistake of a career after losing the Daytona 500 in the final two miles while leading.

He's won both Nationwide restrictor plate races in 2008, and one of those yesterday was his first ever win at Talladega.

And, oh yeah, he's got some issue with a contract situation.

Tony Stewart will Sunday's (or Monday's) Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Enjoy the race.

Fanhouse Warmup: Aaron's 499 at Talladega originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Aarons499DaleEarnhardtJrJeffGordonTalladegaSuperspeedwayTonyStewartGeoffrey MillerSun, 27 Apr 2008 11:20:00 EST Stewart Takes First Career Talladega Winhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/26/stewart-takes-first-career-talladega-win/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/26/stewart-takes-first-career-talladega-win/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/26/stewart-takes-first-career-talladega-win/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Whether it was the threat of rain, Dario Franchitti's grinding wreck, or Kevin Lepage's horrendous move, Saturday's Nationwide Series Aaron's 312 was a fun ride all the way to Tony Stewart crossing under the checkers for his first time at Talladega Superspeedway.

Stewart, who led a race-high 80 laps from the pole, has never won at Talladega in either the Nationwide or Sprint Cup prior to Saturday's race.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. mounted a terrific challenge from second-place off of turn 2 on the last lap after hanging off of Stewart's bumper to get a run on the No. 20. Junior's No. 5 entry pulled alongside Stewart's Toyota on the backstretch, but the help Earnhardt Jr. had behind disappeared and Stewart pulled back in front.

Earnhardt Jr. finished 6th.

David Stremme grabbed second in the final lap shuffle with Bobby Hamilton Jr. third, Jason Leffler fourth, and Mark Green fifth.

Several of the races top contenders were taken out in the race's biggest crash with 47 laps to go after Kevin Lepage made a bonehead move coming off pit road, including Kyle Busch who was going for four wins in-a-row in the series.

Dario Franchitti is questionable as of now if he will start Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Talladega after injuring his ankle during an early race crash.

Stewart Takes First Career Talladega Win originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Aarons312Aarons499DaleEarnhardtJrDarioFranchittiTalladegaSuperspeedwayTonyStewartGeoffrey MillerSat, 26 Apr 2008 18:35:00 EST Kevin Lepage States Case for Idiot of the Yearhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/26/kevin-lepage-states-case-for-idiot-of-year/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/26/kevin-lepage-states-case-for-idiot-of-year/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/26/kevin-lepage-states-case-for-idiot-of-year/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Preface: The hardest part of this post was coming up with headline. Everything from "Kevin Lepage's $4 Million Mistake" to "Kevin Lepage Proves Worthlessness" to "Kevin Lepage Nominates Himself for Darwin Award" were all considered. Got an idea? Leave a comment.

As the headline stated, Kevin Lepage made a mistake that most normal human beings don't make when they travel down the highway everyday in Saturday's Nationwide Series event at Talladega Superspeedway.

Also unlike most human beings, Lepage's crash took out no less than 16 race cars from the lead pack. Most amazingly, though, Lepage failed to take any responsibility for the wreck.

The melee began when Lepage had to pit for a loose wheel. Upon coming off pit lane, Lepage's spotter told him that the field was coming out of the tri-oval and that he should stay low. Low for Lepage must have meant right in front of the entire pack as it barreled into the corner at full speed with Lepage still well off pace.
The first few leaders got past Lepage, but when the 3-wide section of the pack caught Lepage's No. 61, Carl Edwards was leading the bottom lane. His No. 60 slammed into the rear of Lepage's car, launching Edwards skyward with 47 laps to go in the event.


The initial impact bottled up the entire pack, causing the day's first "Big One" as cars bounced off the wall and each other. Drivers taken out in the wreck included Brad Keselowski, Patrick Carpentier, Kyle Busch, Stephen Leicht, Reed Sorenson, Steven Wallace, Cale Gale, Kelly Bires, Marcos Ambrose, Edwards, Lepage, and David Reutimann.

Carl Edwards seemed to have been shaken the most by the incident during his interview with ESPN:

"I think [Lepage] just pulled up right in front of the of field and 'Good Afternoon!'", said Edwards. "I'm glad I didn't get hurt there, that I didn't get a roll bar through the floorboard."

"This whole restrictor plate deal is a spectacle, but that could have killed someone."

All because of a stupid, stupid mistake by Lepage and Lepage only. On an ESPN replay, his spotter could be told telling him all of the information he would need about the status of the pack at Talladega. In other words, the incident -- which likely tore about over $3 million worth of race cars -- is all on the Vermont-driver's shoulders.

Lepage is no rookie to NASCAR racing. The 45-year-old made his first Nationwide Series start in 1986 and found himself driving for Roush Racing in the late 90's. Since then, he's been running his own team or driving for various other low budget operations.

Apparently, there's a reason for that.

Think the report on Wikipedia that NASCAR plans to test Lepage for drugs is true? I'm suspecting not, but something needs to be done. Fines, suspensions, drug testing, revoking his NASCAR license -- I say its all on the table.

Mistake or not, that's not a move that can be allowed on a NASCAR race track.

Kevin Lepage States Case for Idiot of the Year originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Aarons312Aarons499KevinLepageNASCARCrashesTalladegaSuperspeedwayGeoffrey MillerSat, 26 Apr 2008 17:20:00 EST Franchitti Transported to Hospital After Crashhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/26/franchitti-transported-to-hospital-after-crash/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/26/franchitti-transported-to-hospital-after-crash/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/26/franchitti-transported-to-hospital-after-crash/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

UPDATE: Team owner Chip Ganassi said that Franchitti is currently undergoing X-rays on his ankle. Larry Gunselman was also later transported to the hospital.

Original: Sprint Cup Series driver and 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti was helped to a waiting ambulance after being involved in a drivers-side impact Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway during the Aaron's 312 Nationwide Race.

The impact occurred after Franchitti cut down a rear tire on his No. 40 Chip Ganassi Dodge entering turn 3 on lap 10. Franchitti's Dodge snapped sideways and brushed the nose into the side of Nationwide point leader Clint Bowyer.

The No. 40 then slid down the track -- nearly to a stop -- when Larry Gunselman plowed into his left side.

From video replays, I can't understand how Gunselman didn't slow down any more than he did. There was no tire smoke and no last second attempt to swerve out of the way.

Had Gunselman missed Franchitti, Dario's car likely could have continued in the race. Instead, he hobbled to the ambulance in obvious pain.

As Franchitti's car was being towed back to the garage, the drivers side of the car was deeply mangled and the roll cage had been pushed in significantly towards the cockpit. The image makes the announcement last week of the Nationwide Series adopting the Car of Tomorrow platform in mid-2009 seem like its too far away.

The new race car -- currently campaigned in the Sprint Cup Series -- has a number of safety features to help drivers in such impacts including the drivers seat moved more towards the middle of the car and a large foam block built in between the roll cage and the outside sheet metal.

Franchitti qualified 43rd for Sunday's Sprint Cup Aaron's 499.

Updates on Dario's condition will be posted when available.

Franchitti Transported to Hospital After Crash originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Aarons312Aarons499ChipGanassiRacingDarioFranchittiNASCARCrashesTalladegaTalladegaSuperspeedwayGeoffrey MillerSat, 26 Apr 2008 15:50:00 EST Sprint Cup Uses Impound Sked for Talladegahttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/25/sprint-cup-uses-impound-sked-for-talladega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/25/sprint-cup-uses-impound-sked-for-talladega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/04/25/sprint-cup-uses-impound-sked-for-talladega/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Don't be looking for Sprint Cup qualifying results Friday afternoon from Talladega Superspeedway in preparation for Sunday's Aaron's 499.

Instead, NASCAR will continue a format it started 2 years ago at the 2.5-mile restrictor plate track by qualifying for Sunday's race on Saturday morning.

Friday, Sprint Cup teams will hit the track for the first time at 2:30pm/ET for an hour long practice session. Final practice will then get underway at 4:05pm/ET and run until 4:55pm/ET.

Saturday morning, qualifying will roll off at 11:15am/ET with each driver taking two laps around the tri-oval. Once a car has completed the run, it will then move to impound where teams will have virtually no chance to make any significant changes to the car.

The process will also be used to the Nationwide Series as they will qualify Friday afternoon following Sprint Cup final practice.

NASCAR moved to adopt this weekend strategy a few years back for a number of tracks, but soon changed back to the traditional practice-qualify-final practice schedule for many events. Restrictor plate tracks have generally kept the schedule -- except for the Daytona 500's long, drawn-out process -- because the way teams qualify is no where near the way they'll race.

All in all, its a cost-saving measure, and makes qualifying interesting to see which teams may push their cars a little over the edge in qualifying to be guaranteed a spot in the race, though it may cause problems during the 500 mile race.

Rain could play some factor in the weekend activities as thunderstorms have a 70 percent chance on Saturday and a 60% chance on Sunday.

Sprint Cup Uses Impound Sked for Talladega originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Aarons499DaleEarnhardtJrNationwideSeriesSprintCupTalladegaSuperspeedwayGeoffrey MillerFri, 25 Apr 2008 11:55:00 EST Top 8 Spectacular NASCAR Crashes of 2007http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/11/20/top-8-spectacular-nascar-crashes-of-2007/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/11/20/top-8-spectacular-nascar-crashes-of-2007/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/11/20/top-8-spectacular-nascar-crashes-of-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's been quite a year for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, and with that comes a nice collection of crash clips splashed across the ends of the internet.

NASCAR rolled out the Car of Tomorrow for part-time use in 2007 in anticipation of full-time use in 2008 with safety as a top priority. That was indeed a good idea because even though the now-defunct body style was a mostly safe model and the tracks keep adding SAFER barriers, one thing is still the same.

The drivers are still crashing, and crashing hard.

From the last-lap pile-up during the season-opening Daytona 500 to the Chase-changing crash at Dover in the fall, here's a look back at the biggest hits from the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Season.

Enjoy.

Click on the video to watch full size.

Dover Fall Race
Kurt Busch Starts a Mess
 Daytona 500 Finish
Harvick Wins, Bowyer Flips

Click for more NASCAR crashes after the jump.
Nextel Open Start
Juan Pablo Gets Loose on Lap 1
 Coca-Cola 600
Johnson Loses a Tire, Starts Big One
Camping World 300
Brad Keselowski Pounds the Wall in California Speedway
 Aaron's 312
Kyle Busch takes a wild ride at Talladega Superspeedway
Auto Club 500
David Reutimann Scares the World
 Coca-Cola 600 Part II
Jeff Gordon Grabs Air at LMS

%Gallery-7156%

Top 8 Spectacular NASCAR Crashes of 2007 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Clint BowyerClintBowyerCrashesDavid ReutimannDavidReutimannJamie McMurrayJamieMcmurrayJeff GordonJeffGordonJimmie JohnsonJimmieJohnsonKevin HarvickKevinHarvickKurt BuschKurtBuschKyle BuschKyleBuschMark MartinMarkMartinNASCAR Season ReviewNascarSeasonReviewGeoffrey MillerTue, 20 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST Villeneuve's Super-Hyped, Unevenftul Debuthttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/08/villeneuves-super-hyped-unevenftul-cup-debut/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/08/villeneuves-super-hyped-unevenftul-cup-debut/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/08/villeneuves-super-hyped-unevenftul-cup-debut/#commentsFiled under: ,

For as much hype and nervousness as there was surrounding Jacques Villeneuve's debut in Nextel Cup, he was hardly noticeable on the track during the race--and at Talladega yesterday, that was a good thing.

Villeneuve's goals for his debut were to stay out of trouble ... Check. And not make enemies ... Check.

Not only did Villeneuve not make enemies, he made one move that might have even gained him some respect: moving to the back of the field for the start after qualifying 6th.
"It was the logical thing to do. Our car was set up for qualifying and we didn't know how it was going to handle. Starting from the front or the back doesn't really change anything. I had more to learn from the back, anyway. Also, it was to show respect to all the guys fighting for the 'Chase.' I was thankful for them allowing me to race here, which is really special to me. It was just a way of saying 'thank you.'"
The experienced open wheel driver got some good practice time working with his crew and came off with a respectable 21st place finish, proving he can handle a 3 ton hunk of junk as good as most of 'em. Well done, sir.

Villeneuve's Super-Hyped, Unevenftul Debut originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jacques VilleneuveJacquesVilleneuvetalladega superspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayUAW-Ford 500Uaw-ford500tallglassofmilkMon, 08 Oct 2007 11:08:00 EST Talladega Was Talladega, But...http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/08/talladega-was-talladega-but/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/08/talladega-was-talladega-but/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/08/talladega-was-talladega-but/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Jeff Gordon's pass for the win? Exciting.

Two and Three-wide racing? We saw it.

Drivers facing trepidation and twittling thumbs for about 180 of the 188 laps ran during Sunday's UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway? That just wasn't cool.

The NASCAR Nextel Cup series put on a decent show Sunday, but decent doesn't fill seats. The Car of Tomorrow big track debut wasn't horrendous, but it wasn't magical either.

For much too long Sunday, it was obvious drivers were scared to be aggressive or dice for the lead. Single-file packs and drivers purposely staying at the back of the pack to avoid trouble just doesn't cut it at this level.

Jeff Gordon managed to pull off the race win by sailing through the draft after a restart with eight laps to go but for a large majority of Sunday's race, Gordon rode around at times five to seven seconds behind the leader with teammate Jimmie Johnson and other Chase contenders.

That's not racing. That's riding.


Gordon didn't much enjoy it either.
"It was terrible," Gordon said. "It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do in a race car. I like to think that I've got pretty good patience, but that's beyond patience. There's just nothing fun about that, but I knew it was a smart thing.

"I've never yawned in a race car in my life and I yawned back there."
Think the Car of Tomorrow needs some work before Daytona? You better believe it.

Thankfully, though, NASCAR has time and plenty of information now under their belt to figure out to make the new body styles draft better together and handle with more driver input.

Hopefully they'll take the time to figure that out.

Talladega Was Talladega, But... originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Hendrick MotorsportsHendrickMotorsportsNextel CupNextelCupTalladega SuperspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayUAW-Ford 500Uaw-ford500Geoffrey MillerMon, 08 Oct 2007 08:40:00 EST Gordon Leads One Lap, Scores 80th at 'Degahttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/07/gordons-leads-one-lap-scores-80th-at-dega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/07/gordons-leads-one-lap-scores-80th-at-dega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/07/gordons-leads-one-lap-scores-80th-at-dega/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Jeff Gordon's 80th victory didn't look like it would happen Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway with 30 laps to go. It didn't even seem possible with 10 laps to go.

But a few aggressive moves and a bunch of luck later, Gordon found himself leading just one lap in the UAW-Ford 500. That lap, though, was the only one that mattered.

After a dismal qualifying run on Saturday due to the team focusing on setting up the car for race trim, Gordon began the day in 34th and would fall back to as low as 39th at some points. The move to the back was intentional, as he was joined by teammates Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears for much of the day and a handful of other drivers competing in the Chase for the Nextel Cup - all of them hoping to avoid the notorious Talladega "Big One".

That, and a penalty for running over an air hose, kept the four-time champion out of the largest pile-up of the day that involved ten cars including Chase contenders Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch with 44 laps to go.Gordon's surge to the front came after a late caution caused by a blown right-front tire on Michael Waltrip's No. 55 that caused a four-car wreck in turn one. With eight laps to go on the restart, Ryan Newman led Kurt Busch and Juan-Pablo Montoya.

With six laps remaining, Newman continued to lead when storm clouds of Hendrick Motorsports began to combine as Gordon, Johnson, and Casey Mears all lined up in the bottom line, threatening to rain on Newman's parade.

Johnson took the lead with five laps to go with Gordon in tow. Newman and Busch powered back on the outside as Stewart shuffled Casey Mears to the back of the line to get in the tire tracks of Gordon. At the white flag, Johnson still led as Stewart drove to the outside of Busch and Newman. Off of turn two, Stewart had a sizeable run on the outside that Gordon headed off by sliding in front of the No. 20. The ensuing bump draft propelled Gordon to the lead around the No. 48, and he would slide back in line in front of the No. 48 until crossing the line with the checkers in hand.

Gordon's victory put him four points ahead of Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson in the unofficial point standings. Clint Bowyer now sits third (-58), Tony Stewart fourth (-149) and Kevin Harvick fifth (-197).

Gordon Leads One Lap, Scores 80th at 'Dega originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>ABC SportsAbcSportsburnoutCasey MearsCaseyMearsChase for the Nextel CupChaseForTheNextelCupHendrick MotorsportsHendrickMotorsportsJimmie JohnsonJimmieJohnsonNextel CupNextelCupTalladega SuperspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayTony StewartTonyStewartUAW-Ford 500Uaw-ford500winGeoffrey MillerSun, 07 Oct 2007 19:49:00 EST Toyota Is Qualified to Run the COT in 'Degahttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/06/toyota-is-qualified-to-run-the-cot-in-dega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/06/toyota-is-qualified-to-run-the-cot-in-dega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/06/toyota-is-qualified-to-run-the-cot-in-dega/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Holy crap! Michael Waltrip, meet Pole.

Waltrip's fourth career pole was his first of the season. It's the second Bud Pole Award of the season for Toyota, which has five of its cars starting in the top 10 in tomorrow's UAW-Ford 500. All five were go or go home cars. All five do not typically run out front of the field. Five more things to weigh on the minds of the Chase drivers, not one of whom qualified in the top 10.

Talladega's top-qualifying rookie, David Reutimann, secured a career best spot in fifth and his Michael Waltrip Racing teammate Dale Jarrett qualified 8th but will start 43rd because of some rule that I forget. This is the third consecutive week all three MWR drivers made the show.

The team's season is finishing much better than it started. Reutimann is close to re-signing and Jarrett says he knows his fate, the rest of us will find out on Thursday. Hmmm ... Broadcasting?

Dave Blaney and Brian Vickers start 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

A.J. Allmendinger qualified his Toyota in the ninth overall position, but the top 10 finish wasn't good enough to make the race. Could he have worse luck?

It's pretty messed up that a full-time team qualified in the top 10 but won't get to race. Especially when a team that hasn't run all year gets to race--and with a first-time driver no less. But Jacques Villeneuve qualified his Toyota 6th! Since NASCAR has allowed him to qualify, it's hard to argue now why he shouldn't he be allowed to race, too.

UAW-Ford 500 Lineup

Does the Top 35 Rule Need Tweaking?
What if all cars have to qualify straight-up on time with no guarantee every week? If applied this week, it would mean that championship contenders Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick would not be in the field. I don't think that's the answer, but I certainly wouldn't argue with a guarantee for the top 10 qualifiers and the top 25 in owner points. In a 43-car field, with sometimes over 50 teams attempting to qualify, 35 is too many guaranteed spots on points alone--many of which are reserved for mediocre teams. Some regard needs to be given to the cars with the fastest speeds.

Toyota Is Qualified to Run the COT in 'Dega originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 06 Oct 2007 16:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>tallglassofmilkSat, 06 Oct 2007 16:58:00 EST Fanhouse Power Rankings: Talladega COThttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/06/fanhouse-power-rankings-talladega-cot/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/06/fanhouse-power-rankings-talladega-cot/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/06/fanhouse-power-rankings-talladega-cot/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Why do I get the feeling that just finishing on the lead lap in this weekend's Nextel Cup race at Talladega will be considered a major feat?
80561. Jeff Gordon - I'd bore you with stats, but that would be incredibly boring. Almost as boring as having Gordon at the top of the power rankings every week.
80742. Jimmie Johnson - Ditto. The only thing keeping these two out of victory lane is "The Big One." Or any number of little ones.
3. Tony Stewart - Please let him finish in the top 3. Please let the media ask him stupid questions. Pleeeeaaase.

Everything after that is a crap shoot. Nobody has an advantage when it comes to staying out of trouble at Talladega in the COT.

8081Purposefully unranked for good luck. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - One of the few active drivers who knows how to find victory lane here, but Fanhouse power rankings have a way of lessening a driver's chances to win. Junior has predicted his own victory tomorrow. We don't want to get in the way of that.
80564. Kurt Busch - Strategy: Don't wreck Stewart.

82855. Kyle Busch - Strategy: Wreck Dale Earnhardt Jr.

74536. Kevin Harvick - Strategy: Stay out of trouble.

80567. Matt Kenseth - Strategy: Dodge the Ford layoffs.

8. Carl Edwards - Strategy: Stay out of trouble.

9. Jeff Burton - Strategy: Make Nationwide a good neighbor.

808110. Ryan Newman - Strategy: Be the first Penske driver to win a plate race.

8056Long shot. Denny Hamlin - He's not great when restricted, but I picked him as my favorite to win the Chase so he better drive the wheels off that COT like he knows he can.

Fanhouse Power Rankings: Talladega COT originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>new hampshire international speedwayNewHampshireInternationalSpeedwaysylvania 300Sylvania300tallglassofmilkSat, 06 Oct 2007 14:19:00 EST Knaus Unhappy with NASCAR Cookie Cuttershttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/05/knaus-unhappy-with-nascar-cookie-cutters/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/05/knaus-unhappy-with-nascar-cookie-cutters/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/05/knaus-unhappy-with-nascar-cookie-cutters/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Reports from Talladega indicate that Nextel Cup inspection for the Cookie Cutter UAW-Ford 500 went off without a hitch.

Points leading crew chief Chad Knaus indicates that is because NASCAR gives everybody wings, but doesn't let teams spread them and fly:

"They don't want somebody to think somebody has an advantage on them, which is kind of against the way the sport was built. Last I checked it was our job to build the best race car."

These are his comments after NASCAR passed out mandated "side plates and wickers" for the COT wings, evidently eliminating one of only two ways crew chiefs could adjust the already restricted air flow.

"They say those are supposed to be the tools they're going to give us to work with. Now they've taken those tools away and there is nothing to work with."
Apparently, there will be even less to work with by the time the drivers take the green flag. NASCAR is expected to suck even more life out of the cars by changing the restrictor plates, too, to slow super speed at the super speedway.

Not surprising. Nor is NASCAR's new motto:

We're NASCAR. Our half-baked ideas burn the competitors' buns.

Knaus Unhappy with NASCAR Cookie Cutters originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>chad knausChadKnaustalladega superspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayuaw-ford 500Uaw-ford500tallglassofmilkFri, 05 Oct 2007 11:53:00 EST NASCAR's 2008 Talladega Fall Free-For-Allhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/03/nascars-2008-talladega-fall-free-for-all/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/03/nascars-2008-talladega-fall-free-for-all/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/10/03/nascars-2008-talladega-fall-free-for-all/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This week, 17 drivers will compete for 8 non-guaranteed spots in the debut COT super speedway race--many of them with little to no experience on a super speedway.

Did I mention the UAW-Ford 500 is a race in the Chase to the Championship? Did I mention this is the first COT race at a super speedway. Did I mention this is too many unpredictables?

As previously mentioned, former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve will attempt to enter the #27 Bill Davis Racing Toyota. Not only would it be his first time on a super speedway, but it would be his first ever in a Cup car.

I'd rather see Ricky Bobby behind the wheel--at least he's got some experience in a stock car.

Penske Racing's IndyCar driver Sam Hornish Jr. will make his third attempt to qualify for a Nextel Cup event after failing his two previous attempts (Loudon, Dover). Should he happen make it into the field at Talladega, it will be his first drive around the track in a NASCAR series.

Aric Almirola is DEI's chosen one this week to drive the #01 car. He's guaranteed a starting spot--it will be his first Cup event at a super speedway, but at least he's been around the track a few times in a truck and Busch car.

Boris Said will also be in the field--or at least he'll try to be--in the #60. He also has limited experience, but I worry about him less.

With the exception of Almirola, all of the above drivers will be competing with the usual suspects for a spot on the starting grid: David Reutimann, Ward Burton, Sterling Marlin, Scott Riggs, Dave Blaney, Jeremy Mayfield, Kevin LePage, Dale Jarrett, John Andretti, Michael Waltrip, Joe Nemechek, Brian Vickers and A.J. Allmendinger.

At least they're not unveilng Dario Franchitti at the Cup race, too.

What happens in Talladega, doesn't stay in Talladega. It carries through the rest of the season. I think we can predict with some certainty that the results of the UAW-Ford 500 could wreak havoc on the Chase standings and adversely affect some drivers' chances to pull of a championship. But, so far, what hasn't?

NASCAR's 2008 Talladega Fall Free-For-All originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>talladega superspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayUAW-Ford 500Uaw-ford500tallglassofmilkWed, 03 Oct 2007 11:47:00 EST Villeneuve to Attempt 'Dega, Worries Manyhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/09/29/villeneuve-to-attempt-dega-worries-many/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/09/29/villeneuve-to-attempt-dega-worries-many/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/09/29/villeneuve-to-attempt-dega-worries-many/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Former Formula One champ Jacques Villeneuve got NASCAR approval this week to attempt his first Nextel Cup race next weekend at Talladega.

That approval went over like a lead balloon in the Nextel Cup garage on Friday -- as it should have. Villeneuve will now get to attempt with Bill Davis Racing and potentially race in one of the toughest races of the year at Talladega.

The race is tough for a variety of reasons -- ranging from the 3- and 4-wide racing, the constant mental strain, it's key placing in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, and coming this time, it's the first time any Nextel Cup driver will pilot the COT on a restrictor-plate track in race conditions.

Sounds like a great place to tryout a Cup car, eh?

With that in mind, NASCAR approved a guy who has stock car experience that includes one Craftsman Truck Series event and testing at Talladega a few weeks back.

Point leader and 4-time champion Jeff Gordon was the most outspoken on Villeneuve's sudden approval.
"You want to go run a race, go run Atlanta," Gordon said. "Go to some mile-and-a-half tracks. I'm very, very surprised that that was approved for the first Cup race."

"Yeah, he did a nice job [at last week's Las Vegas truck race], but he wasn't really in contention - he wasn't really in the thick of things," Gordon said. "He just didn't bounce off anything, which was really good. But I think you need to get him some experience in something else before you go stick him in a Cup race, especially when it's so crucial for the championship."
Knowing how not outspoken Gordon typically is, I'd say those words have some serious merit and that they don't reflect on Jacques as a person, but rather his experience level.

F1 champ? Great. Indy 500 champ? Great. Talladega Superspeedway in a Cup stock car with the championship on the line and not a lick of race experience?

Recipe for disaster, I say, for any driver on any level.

Villeneuve to Attempt 'Dega, Worries Many originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 29 Sep 2007 07:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bill Davis RacingBillDavisRacingJacque VilleneuveJacquesJacqueVilleneuveGeoffrey MillerSat, 29 Sep 2007 07:05:00 EST Speeds Similar in Talladega COT Testhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/09/10/speeds-similar-in-talladega-cot-test/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/09/10/speeds-similar-in-talladega-cot-test/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/09/10/speeds-similar-in-talladega-cot-test/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Two days after wrapping up the weekend on Saturday at Richmond, the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series teams headed to Talladega Superspeedway for two days of Car of Tomorrow testing.

The Cup boys will race the COT's for the first time on a superspeedway during the Chase on October 7 for the UAW-Ford 500.

Denny Hamlin led the single-car run times Monday morning with a speed of 189.560 mph. In the afternoon, Johnny Sauter hit a top one-lap drafting speed 196.165 mph to lead that session.

Jimmie Johnson seemed a little worried about racing at Talladega with the new COT and the way that bumpers line up perfectly with each car.
"The cars line up better, and you can get away with a lot more pushing and shoving," Johnson said.

"The cars have a lot of downforce and are comfortable to drive, so I think that will lead to a little bit more aggressive driving."
Hamlin, though, seemed pretty stoked about the October race.
"I think you're going to see a very similar race to what the truck races are," Hamlin said.

"Everyone would argue that the truck races are probably the best superspeedway races, simply because guys can just pull out and pass at will."

My bet? You'll see a darned exciting race in October.

Speeds Similar in Talladega COT Test originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Denny HamlinDennyHamlinJohnny SauterJohnnySauterNASCARTalladega SuperspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayGeoffrey MillerMon, 10 Sep 2007 19:34:00 EST The Decade's Worst NASCAR Paint Schemeshttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/06/06/the-decades-worst-nascar-paint-schemes/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/06/06/the-decades-worst-nascar-paint-schemes/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/06/06/the-decades-worst-nascar-paint-schemes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

FanHouse's friends at AOL Sports are compiling a list of the worst uniforms ever. Because they're our friends and the subject matter lends itself to hilarity, we thought we'd join in the fun. We don't get too see too much of the drivers' uniforms in NASCAR, so we set our designs on their cars. Here's our look at the worst paint schemes in recent history.

Dale Earnhardt #3 GM Goodwrench Service Chevrolet Peter Max paint scheme
The Winston @ Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 20, 2000

I don't consider myself to be a connoisseur of fine art, but I'm down with the work of cosmic art innovator Peter Max--even have a signed print of my own that hangs behind me as I write this. But Max's rainbow hippie designs proved to be a little too psychedelic for a stock car

2007 again drove home the point that rainbow pastels should not come in contact with a race car:

David Reutimann's #99 Aaron's Dream Machine
Aaron's 312 @ Talladega Superspeedway on April 28, 2007
Then there are the not-so-pretty colors:

Jeff Gordon's #24 DuPont / Nicorette Chevrolet
UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 12, 2006

Green flames? Yeah ... ok. Looks more like seaweed--the fake kind you put in aquariums. Either way, it's not screaming "Quit smoking right now." This one is no better. Ryan Newman's #12 Alltel MyCircle Dodge and Jeff Burton's #31 Prilosec OTC schemes are worthy rivals.

2005 saw Bobby Labonte get several coats of bad paint, Greg Biffle get greedy and Robby Gordon reveal his fruity side. Also, Jesus got the shaft. And who's bright idea was this?

In 2004, Dale Jarrett went on an aesthetically challenged golf outing with Arnold Palmer.

Ken Schrader's #49 1-800-CALL-ATT Dodge Carrot Top Paint Scheme
Several spring races in 2003

Almost as frightening as the real thing.

Derrike Cope's #37 MNR / Poison Ford
Pennsylvania 500 @ Pocono Raceway on July 28, 2002

Unfortunately, that picture doesn't really do it justice. Here's another. Also, check the sim paint to fully appreciate it's hideousness. While you're at it, go ahead and throw the rest of Cope's paint schemes onto this list.

Also on the list, every last incarnation of Jeff Gordon's rainblow #24 paint schemes and Ken Schrader's #49 Schwan's. No offense to the sponsor, but like rainbows, birds just don't belong anywhere near racecars.

That's just this decade, folks, when the creativity has really picked up. There have been countless more paint casualties along the way. Please share your picks!

The Decade's Worst NASCAR Paint Schemes originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 04:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>aaronsdale earnhardtDaleEarnhardtdavid reutimannDavidReutimannderrike copeDerrikeCopedupontlas vegas motor speedwayLasVegasMotorSpeedwaylowes motor speedwayLowesMotorSpeedwaynicorettepaint schemesPaintSchemespocono racewayPoconoRacewaytalladega superspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayworst uniformsWorstUniformstallglassofmilkWed, 06 Jun 2007 04:30:00 EST Talladega Officials Won't Spoil Beer Throwing Traditionhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/05/03/talladega-officials-wont-spoil-beer-throwing-tradition/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/05/03/talladega-officials-wont-spoil-beer-throwing-tradition/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/05/03/talladega-officials-wont-spoil-beer-throwing-tradition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ya-Ya Trackhood

In an honorable display of solidarity, Las Vegas Motor Speedway has jumped on the "Ban The Bad Talladega Fans" bandwagon and will not allow the trashy offenders to purchase tickets to any events at the track.

Ooooooooooooh. I guess they'll have to ask their friends put the tickets on their credit cards.

That'll show 'em.

No Change In Policy

I hardly expect NASCAR to cancel a race at Talladega. But I would like to see somebody to do something that get will the fans' attention.

It is a serious safety issue that no one seems to want to take seriously.

Talladega officials aren't even seriously considering banning cans:

"At the moment, we're not expecting to make any significant changes to our policies in terms of whether guests can bring in their food and beverages. That's a unique tradition that exists in our sport. There's no other sport that allows you to do that."
No mention of a safety issue. I wonder ... if the track acknowledges a safety concern, does that make them potentially liable for any future incidents? Is there a lawyer in the Fanhouse?

I hate to see the fans lose the BYOB option, too. But in Talladega they've proven repeatedly they can't handle the responsibility.

Isn't it a little irresponsible to be putting tradition before safety at this point?

Talladega Officials Won't Spoil Beer Throwing Tradition originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 03 May 2007 06:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>las vegas motor speedwayLasVegasMotorSpeedwaytallglassofmilkThu, 03 May 2007 06:30:00 EST No Pedestrians Allowedhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/05/02/no-pedestrians-allowed/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/05/02/no-pedestrians-allowed/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/05/02/no-pedestrians-allowed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It must suck hard to be running in the sixth position with two laps to go and end up with a DNF in 28th--especially when it might be your own fault for going three wide like a mad-man in a green/white-checker free-for-all.

I can hardly blame Tony Stewart for storming the track wanting to get in someone's face. Ok ... he probably should have watched the replay first so he was sure about whose face he wanted to get in, but that's another matter altogether.

I've been waiting to see if Stewart, who was just put on probation last week, would be assessed a fine or penalty, but penalties were announced this morning and Stewart's name was not on the list.

But .... but ... previously drivers have been fined for entering the track on foot during a race, right?

Right. Sort of.

Robby Gordon received a fine of $25,000 and loss of 25 driver and owner points for his entry into a live race field when he threw his helmet at Michael Waltrip at New Hampshire International Speedway in 2005. [Video]

Last year, Kyle Busch received a $50,000 fine and 25 point penalty for disobeying a NASCAR official, entering the track and throwing his H.A.N.S. device at Casey Mears.

So, is the only difference is that Stewart didn't throw anything? I was under the impression it's against the rules to "enter the race surface without authorization," but since I don't have a copy of the official NASCAR rule book, I can't really look it up.

So ... naturally I'm curious ... did NASCAR give Stewart a break?

No Pedestrians Allowed originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 02 May 2007 20:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>tallglassofmilkWed, 02 May 2007 20:05:00 EST Shake 'N Bake, Cheechoo!http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/05/02/shake-n-bake-cheechoo/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/05/02/shake-n-bake-cheechoo/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/05/02/shake-n-bake-cheechoo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Florida had the rats. Detroit still has the octopus. The San Jose Sharks? They've got the Ricky Bobby.

Sharks coach Ron Wilson has often used film clips and quotes for various forms of team motivation. During the preseason, the Will Ferrell racing comedy "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" became his latest obsession, as the Sharks started tossing around lines about being "jacked up on the Mountain Dew" and the mantra "W.E.P.," as in "We Piss Excellence." The "Talladega" references were dormant for most of the season but came roaring back for the playoffs with a new tradition: The skater who has the best game is given a stylish Wonder Bread hat, just like the one good 'ol Ricky Bobby wears in the movie, and faces the throngs of media wearing it. (Wow, good thing this isn't the NFL.) Jonathan Cheechoo was given the hat after scoring the winning goal in the Sharks' Game 3 victory over the Red Wings. Michael Farber of SI.com has a great review of Wilson's cinephile history and San Jose's Ricky Bobby trends.

So why haven't the Sharks gone into marketing overdrive, with Wonder Bread ThunderStix and the like? I spoke with Sharks senior director of communications Ken Arnold, who told me that there has been discussion within the organization on how to capitalize on this new "Wonder Bread" tradition. But there's one very serious obstacle in the way: Wonder Bread and Interstate Bakeries Corporation do not sponsor the team, so free promotion of their brand might not sit well with the companies that do. Obviously, Ron Wilson didn't meet with corporate communications before he decided to motivate his players.

Arnold said the "Wonder Bread" motif has yet to catch on with Sharks fans, but then again we're only in the second round of the playoffs. In fact, with all of these sponsorship hurdles, it may be up to the fans to take this tradition to the next level: While Wonder Bread hats might be hard to find, Wonder Bread isn't. Now what if a few packaged loaves found their way onto the ice at the Shark Tank after every San Jose goal...

It's time to Shake 'N Bake, Sharks fans. As the great Ricky Bobby once said, "If you ain't first, you're last."

Shake 'N Bake, Cheechoo! originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 02 May 2007 18:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Greg WyshynskiWed, 02 May 2007 18:01:00 EST 14 Clueless, Classless Idiots 'Banned' From Talladegahttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/05/01/14-clueless-classless-idiots-banned-from-talladega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/05/01/14-clueless-classless-idiots-banned-from-talladega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/05/01/14-clueless-classless-idiots-banned-from-talladega/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


After Jeff Gordon won Sunday's Aaron's 499 at Talladega, we saw how a bunch of collective idiots on the front stretch made it rain. Not in a Pacman Jones or Dontrelle Willis style, but with anything and everything they could find in their general vicinity. Everything from coolers to beer cans to chicken bones was said to have been tossed on the speedway.

14 of those idiots were dumb enough to get caught be speedway security. And they, in Talladega's mind, have been banned for life from buying tickets. The morons were also charged with disorderly conduct and had to post bail from the track's temporary jail.

However, notice that there is no stopping them from buying tickets from a 3rd party.

Is that the most that speedway officials could do? After all, this guy was banned from Shea Stadium for 3 years for flashing the Braves and a fellow New Yorker was banned from Yankee Stadium for life for jumping onto the net. It appears that those folks would be trespassing if caught there again, so why can't they set that precedent in Alabama?

I hate to believe it for such a great show that NASCAR puts on for the fans at Talladega, but the track really doesn't deserve a single date at this point. Sure, a few are ruining it for all in this situation, but is it really hard for fans to police themselves? Is it that hard not to act like a caveman at the race track?

An ultimatum is necessary -- quit throwing garbage or NASCAR will forget about you like yesterday's trash.

Talladega needs to ban bottled and canned beverages from both the track concessions and being brought in from the outside. The fans there (and Phoenix, and any other race track that has shown this type of behavior, for that matter) have ruined one of the great parts of attending a NASCAR race -- bringing your own food and drink.

The NASCAR Nation likes to brag about having the most loyal and best fan base in sports, but right now, I've got to say I'm embarrassed to be grouped in with people that have no respect for the dedication, work, and perseverance that the drivers and teams that pay to see exhibit.

NASCAR fans are better than that -- let's weed the idiots out.

Previously on NASCAR FanHouse
NASCAR Punishes Talladega, Takes Away Second Date
Talladega Boss: Show Respect or Pay the Price

14 Clueless, Classless Idiots 'Banned' From Talladega originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 01 May 2007 20:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jeff GordonJeffGordonNASCARNextel Cup SeriesNextelCupSeriesTalladega SuperspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayGeoffrey MillerTue, 01 May 2007 20:36:00 EST