[WestCoastGal]

LastCowboys.com writer on suicide watch after Busch wins title

By Clint Newlin
LastCowboys.com Staff Writer

I’d like to start by congratulating Kurt Busch on becoming NASCAR’s 2004 Nextel Cup champion, the first Cup championship of his young career and the second consecutive Cup championship for car owner Jack Roush. This will also go down in the NASCAR history books as the closest championship of the modern era.
I’d also like to congratulate Greg Biffle for winning the Ford 400, his second victory of the season and the third of his Cup career. Jimmie Johnson (second place), Jeff Gordon (third place), Mark Martin (11th place) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (23rd place) also deserve an atta boy for their valiant efforts throughout these last 10 races.

Of course, none of this would even be possible if it weren’t for the vision of Brian France. Brian France, drunk on a lethal mixture of shortsightedness and haste, has turned Kurt Busch into a Nextel Cup champion. "The same Kurt Busch who would have finished the 2004 season 247 points behind in fourth place under the old format," you ask?

Yes....that’s the one.

Before you starting typing your e-mail to me, detailing Busch’s accomplishments or employing some trite, overused phrase like ‘….don’t watch it if you don’t like it,’ or ‘….quit living in the past,’ let me inform you that my campaign of disdain for the Chase format has nothing to do with resistance to change. If the new format didn’t have so many obvious flaws, I wouldn’t loathe it so much. And as far as the not watching it part goes….get real….it’s not the racing or the drivers that I hate.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to write a review of the Ford 400 at this time. You see….I have been placed on suicide watch since Kurt Busch won the championship. They have put mittens on my hands and taken my shoestrings to keep me from harming myself. This also prevents me from being able to use a lighter or matches to set fire to all of the Sharpies in my house. Geesh….stand out in your front yard crying like a newborn and urinating on a 1:24 scale #97 diecast, and they label you a head case!

I really don’t think I can write anymore until after I’ve had a chance to medicate myself and sleep it off. Until Monday morning….be strong.

[WestCoastGal]

PING

[horizondb]

I sympathize with you. I am not happy with the new points system either.

Biffle was the class of the field. If it wasn't for that one bad stop we would have lead nearly every lap.

[steveegg]

Looking back through Jayski's site (in last week's news), it seems NASCAR's looking at killing the lucky dog next year. There was an article in USA Today last week when a NASCAR bigshot said that the pardon process created confusion among the fans and competitors.

[SheLion]

Primetime line-up set for ’05 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona
Order tickets by calling 1-800-PIT-SHOP or logging onto www.1800pitshop.com

Twenty-one drivers are eligible to compete in the 27th running of the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, including nine former winners, four newcomers, and reigning NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion, Kurt Busch.

Busch earned his spot in the starting field by winning the Bud Pole Award in the last race of the 2004 season.  The ’05 Shootout will mark his third start in the non-points paying race, which is set to take place Saturday, Feb. 12 and will officially kick off the NASCAR portion of Daytona Speedweeks.

Making their Shootout debuts will be Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Casey Mears.  They will join an impressive list of past Shootout champions, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003), Tony Stewart (2001, 2002), Dale Jarrett (1996, 2000, 2004), Mark Martin (1999), Rusty Wallace (1998), Ken Schrader (1989, 1990), Bill Elliott (1987), Terry Labonte (1985) and Geoffrey Bodine (1992).

Furthermore, the 2005 Budweiser Shootout will kick off three farewell tours for retiring drivers: Rusty Wallace’s “Last Call” Tour, Mark Martin’s “Salute To You” Tour, and Terry Labonte’s “Shifting Gears, Texas Style” Tour.

Tickets to the Budweiser Shootout can be purchased by calling 1-800-PITSHOP, or by logging onto www.1800pitshop.com.

The complete line-up of eligible drivers for the 2005 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona:

Name (Bud Pole Awards / Shootout eligibility)
1. Ryan Newman, 8 (Rockingham, Bristol , Loudon, Richmond , Charlotte , Martinsville , Atlanta , Phoenix )
2. Jeff Gordon, 6 ( Martinsville , Michigan , Sonoma , Daytona, Chicago , Bristol )
3. Kasey Kahne, 4 ( Las Vegas , Darlington , California , Pocono)
4. Jeremy Mayfield, 2 ( Dover , Dover )
5. Casey Mears, 2 (Pocono, Indianapolis )
6. Joe Nemechek, 2 ( Talladega , Kansas )
7. Brian Vickers, 2 ( Richmond , California )
8. Greg Biffle, 1 (Daytona)
9. Kurt Busch, 1 ( Homestead )
10. Jimmie Johnson, 1 ( Charlotte )
11. Bobby Labonte, 1 ( Texas )
12. Ricky Rudd, 1 ( Talladega )
13. Dale Jarrett (Shootout winner in 1996, 2000, 2004)
14. Tony Stewart (Shootout winner in 2001, 2002)
15. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Shootout winner in 2003)
16. Mark Martin (Shootout winner in 1999)
17. Rusty Wallace (Shootout winner in 1998)
18. Geoffrey Bodine (Shootout winner in 1992)
19. Ken Schrader (Shootout winner in 1989, 1990)
20. Bill Elliott (Shootout winner in 1987)
21. Terry Labonte (Shootout winner in 1985)


Anheuser-Busch’s 12 U.S.-based breweries and network of more than 700 wholesalers reduce delivery time and ensure that fresh beer is in retail accounts shortly after packaging.  As it reads on every beer package, Anheuser-Busch beers including Budweiser are at their peak of freshness and taste within 110 days from their “Born On” date.