LET'S GET READY TO BOOGITY!!
PRE-RACE AT 2PM ET
Posted on 02/15/2007 4:39:06 PM PST by WestCoastGal
It's TODAY!
FRL Picks: DONE
RIBS: Rubbed and Ready
TV Room: Set up
LapTop: Connected and OnLine
Wifey: Rooting for MikeyW 55
Today, FOUR TIME Champion, Jeff Gordon sets off on his 15thYEAR of Nascar competition.
His 75 Career wins places him in 7th place on the all time winners list. His next win ties him with the Intimidator, Dale Earnhardt Sr. These two stats alone make Gordon one of the Greatest Nascar Drivers ever. Ten more years of racing and 40 more wins will put the 24 car driver behind The King, Richard Petty in all time wins.
Gordon has 31 more wins than the next "active" driver - Bill Elliott at 44 and you have to go all the way down to 20th place on the all time win list to get to a driver who isn't 'semi-retired' in Tony Stewart with 29 Career wins. Media and Fan Favorite, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has logged only 17 trips to the Nascar Winston/Nextel Cup winner's circle during his 8 years, but his time may well come if he gets his ownership saga taken care of.
Is Gordon becoming one of the "Old Guard" in the downside of his career? He turns 36 this August 4th and he and his wife Ingrid are expecting a baby girl this summer. I'd say Jeff is just now coming into his best.
From 1996 to 1998 Gordon won 33 races and won the Winston Cup in 1995, '96 '97 and 2001. His wins per season have certainly decreased, however, the incredible growth of Nascar and the technology grew along side him. Today, there are two dozen superstar caliber racers and the competition is fierce.
Can Gordon win two or three more Championships and equal the Greatest Drivers like Petty, Pearson, Allison; Waltrip and Yarborough and #3? Who knows, but I expect Jeff to be driving for another 10 years, until he's got enough saved up to pay for college for his daughter and buy out Hendrick Motor Sports(?)!~
Reporting for the Grimey Pits Nokia Racing Team, I'm Goggles Paisano! Let's go RACIN'!@
Yeee Hawww...
French Toast and SPAM!~
TRIVIA - WHO Ran the SPAM Car back in 1998?
No clue. LOL
I always do!
Wake up Don-o! last chance.
I've mucked it all up. Somehow, I got the Tar Smokers in there twice.
Can y'all see me?
Looks like the wind isn't going to die down. Should be interesting going into turn two.
One picture doesn't tell the whole story. I've read lots of comments here and on some racing websites where the almost unanimous opinion is that Teresa should just move over so Jr. can take control of DEI or Jr. is going to go elsewhere.
Personally, I just wish Jr. would just shut up and drive. DEI was built by Dale Sr. and Teresa. Dale's wishes was that she would be in charge. She has had a lot on her plate since his death, including the whole grieving process which anyone who has gone through it will tell you how it will shake you to your core and take you off your game. And most didn't have to relive a loved one's death over and over again in a court battle like she did. None the less, she has kept it together and DEI is still major player. I'm sure she has learned from her mistakes and DEI is poised for a very good season.
Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't think Dale Sr. would ever have left RCR. He was old school loyal. Can't say the same for Jr. about his family's business, the one that has given him a very comfortable life, great cars to drive and a great support network around him. And, Teresa in taking control of the family business, presumably as was Dale Sr. will, has allowed JR the freedom and mental and emotional focus to drive, to be an advertising icon, run his own Busch team and to do all the things drivers are supposed to do...like win races.
Jr. may be the greatest businessman that's ever been or he might not be. He does have a talent for driving. I just wish he would keep his squabbles with him step mom out of the press. He may be "his own man" and has "stepped out of his father's shadow" as so many in the racing press like to say, but I wish he would try to find some of his father's loyalty for the people who got him where he is and continue to support him and build on last year's progress and win races.
Yep, see ya there TWO TIMES Baby..
Just play one and figure out how to delete the other later...?
So what time for the green flag?
At least you are in!
After 3:30 this afternoon.
As for the flow of the race, I predict a wreckfest. Record 13 cautions, 2 big ones (laps 12 and 176).
GO TONY GO!
I liked that Racer's Prayer, very nice. Thanks for posting.
Today is it!
and I'm ready! Nascar Hot Pass, PitCommand...
Think I'll have to throw a couple racks-O-ribs on the smoker....
Mornin' WCG,
If the Caution pool is open put me in for 12.
Gotta run, BBL for the flyover
300
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