NASCAR OFFICIAL OFF SEASON WITHDRAWAL THREAD 5

Various | 11-21-08 | Me~Jr & Rocky

[WestCoastGal]

This forum is to help us get through the off season by posting news, silly season rumors and anything else devoted to Nascar Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson and the 48 team on winning the championsip for the third time. *** ***

[Brad’s Gramma]

I’m bizzy right now.

[glock rocks]

Climate change, Tork. Cheer up, I’m sure it’ll broach the Sierras and dump in the basin. What’s another foot or two between friends?

[glock rocks]

4550 ft is high places??

[tubebender]

Just slightly more than 87 feet on the estate or Broadway property at 12 feet...

[glock rocks]

Well, granted, we don’t have tsunami evac route signs here...

[Brad’s Gramma]

Stop!

LOL!!!!!

JUST STOP!!! LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!

[tubebender]

Hey Glock...We got a live one

[Brad’s Gramma]

Prove it.

[WestCoastGal]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogbIPfVc-5s&eurl=http://members3.boardhost.com/dalejr/msg/1230428722.html&feature=player_embedded

[GRRRRR]

Oh Hi Kids...somebody made me drink tequila.

Christmas is still here, got lots of books to read; Vince Flynn among others. Daughter and the BF TRIED to fly out of Chicago on Southwest the other night in the flog, but got cancelled. Lucky BF has a black AmEx so they rented a car to fly home to Denver. 15 hrs later...safe arrival!

From 13 degF on Christmas Eve to 62DegF on Saturday back to below zero today...Just WHO? is in charge of the Rove Weather machine lately???

SIX? Weeks to Daytoner?

Happy New Year!!

[glock rocks]

Hey Glock...We got a live one

Prove it.

Hmmm... with the blue hair and fixed and dilated eyes, that might present a challenge.

[tubebender]

You got mail...

[Brad’s Gramma]

oh no you don’t mister......

[tubebender]

He is not answering his phone?...

[Brad’s Gramma]

He’s been arrested or something.
;)

[WestCoastGal]

December 18, 2008 - Thursday

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Adventures

By Ben Braden

With winter in full swing here in the Rockies and the scheduling book for Burandt’s Backcountry Adventures looking as thick as a Stephen King novel, Slednecks own Chris Burandt found time to schedule in a fairly high profile client…

Last week Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family made a trip to Aspen and called upon the best backcountry rider in the world to show them what exactly a backcountry adventure was all about. The crew included Dale Jr., his mother Brenda Gee, his step father Willy, his brother Kerry, his two sister's Kelley and Taylor, along with many other in-laws, cousins, and friends.

We started the morning by meeting the crew at their hotel in. Dale Jr. fit right in with his full Colorado mountain man beard! We spent a few minutes meeting everyone and then realized that this was going to be the largest crew of people that we've ever taken out on a ride. We had 27 people with us that day! With four Suburbans full of people, and five pickup trucks with sleds in tow, we headed up the mountain.

Knowing Dale Jr's ability to handle horsepower, Chris decided to put him on a Burandt Backcountry Edition RTR 800 turbo. Instantly Jr's face was nothing but smile's when he saw what we had set up for him. His reply was a simple, but comical “look at that, it's got my name and number on it”, in his North Carolinian accent.

When we made our first stop to do a head count everyone was stoked! We made our way to the summit and found an open meadow with fresh powder waiting to be tracked up. Within seconds we had at least half of them stuck. However, within another 30 to 45 minutes of practice, everyone had learned enough to rival some of the Rockies native backcountry riders. We knew the Earnhardt's would be fast learners!

With every stop that we took to gather up people we would get a comedic commentary of what had just taken place by someone in the Earnhardt family. Kelley Earnhardt had a great story about ripping through the trees and loosing the cameraman off of the back of her sled and never even slowing down or looking back. Forget the cameraman, he was not important at that moment. Another good one was Jr. explaining how the sled picked the ski's five feet off the ground when he stabbed the throttle. By the end of the day each and every one of them was completely stoked on how the day went.

All in all we can add one more group of satisfied customer's to the list of clients of the Burandt’s Backcountry Adventure's. There are still a few open spots to book your trip….. Check the web site for available dates: Burandtsbackcountryadventure.com

[WestCoastGal]

Mixed Reactions to Bud Shootout Changes: How do drivers feel about the decision to change the rules governing next year’s season-opening Budweiser Shootout exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway? Well, it depends whether you’re in or out. Michael Waltrip, who finished 11th in the 2008 Shootout, would have needed to win a pole in the last 12 races to make the field in 2009 under the current rules. Instead, with the decision to include six teams from each of the four manufacturers, there’s an excellent chance for two of Waltrip’s team cars to make the field next February. Carl Edwards, who missed the 2007 edition because he failed to win a pole the previous year, thought he secured a spot with his run last week at Bristol. It turns out that he’s one of five Roush Fenway Racing drivers who will represent Ford in the 2009 Shootout. Edwards is in favor of the new rule. On the other hand, 2008 pole-winners Paul Menard and Joe Nemechek find themselves on the outside looking in. For Nemechek’s Furniture Row Racing team, the change was a huge blow. Nemechek said someone like Boris Said, who only runs a limited schedule, no longer gets additional benefit from winning a pole.(NASCAR.com)

AND: Ryan Newman says it does seem odd that Daytona International Speedway executives don’t want the defending Daytona 500 winner in their season-opening Bud Shootout next spring. Since Newman and new teammate Tony Stewart will be leaving their current teams at the end of this year and driving next year for a new team, they both will be ineligible for the Shootout. Ironic, since the Daytona 500 this year was Stewart-versus-Newman. Adding more irony: Joey Logano, who has yet even to run a Cup race, will be in the Shootout, in Stewart’s Toyota. And even more irony: David Stremme, who will likely be taking Newman’s ride with Roger Penske, would be in the Shootout instead of Newman. Stremme, whose only Cup run this year was at Talladega in April, where he finished 28th, has never won a Cup event. Newman has 13 career wins. “The new Shootout doesn’t seem to be about drivers, but about manufacturers,” Newman says. “It’s a changed race all the way around. (Winston Salem Journal)
AND: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he has no problem with the changes in the qualifying rules, but he has a big problem with a long final segment. “Fifty laps is forever on that track,” Earnhardt said. “It would be a lot more exciting for the fans and a lot more fun for us if we only did 10 laps at the end.” #11-Denny Hamlin, who won the race as a rookie in 2006, said he agrees with Earnhardt. “Only racing 10 laps at the end would be way better,” Hamlin said. “The tires go away pretty fast at Daytona, but they still would have a lot of grip for just 10 or 15 laps. We could really go all out and the racing would be a lot closer.”(ESPN.com)(8-30-2008) Comment here

[WestCoastGal]

The 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona will have a new format that puts more emphasis on the series’ four manufacturers – and the same star-power appeal that has become a season-opening tradition for the Sprint Cup Series and its fans. The 31st annual season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway will be held on Saturday night, Feb. 7, with a field of 24 cars representing the top teams from Chevy, Dodge, Ford and Toyota that will showcase the close competition in NASCAR’s premier series. That lineup will consist of the top six teams from each manufacturer, based on the final 2008 car owner points [NOT driver points]. The race distance will be increased from 70 laps to 75 (187.5 miles) on the 2.5-mile tri-oval. The race will have two segments, of 25 and 50 laps. Both green- and yellow-flag laps will count. Between segments, there will be a 10-minute pit stop at which time teams will pit and may elect to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Crews will be permitted to work on cars and will be allowed to perform functions they would do on a normal pit stop in a regular Sprint Cup event. All work must be performed on pit road or in the garage. Changing of springs, shock absorbers or rear-ends will not be permitted. Starting positions will again be determined by a blind draw, at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party on Thursday night, Feb. 5, on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4. The Budweiser Shootout – a “non-points” event for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitors – was first held in 1979, and originally known as the Busch Clash. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won this year’s shootout.(NASCAR) as things stand after Bristol, these are the 24 drivers (based on current CAR OWNER points) Chevy: #88-Earnhardt Jr, #48-Johnson, #31-Burton, #29-Harvick, #24-Gordon, #07-Mears Dodge: #9-Kahne, #12-Penske Racing, #2-Busch, #19-Sadler, #42-Montoya, #43-Labonte Ford: #99-Edwards, #16-Biffle, #17-Kenseth, #6-Ragan, #26-McMurray, #28-Kvapil? Toyota: #18-Busch, #20-Logano, #11-Hamlin, #83-Vickers, #44-Waltrip Racing, #55-Waltrip. So no #14-Stewart, #39-Newman, #33-Bowyer?

[WestCoastGal]

---

2009 DRIVER CHART

based on the current 2008 car owner points [NOT driver points]

lineup will consist of the top six teams from each manufacturer

thru Homestead 11-16-2008

Chevy
	Car#	Current Driver	2009 Driver	Team	Owners Points Standings
1	48	Jimmie Johnson	Jimmie Johnson	Hendrick Motorsports	1-x
2	29	Kevin Harvick	Kevin Harvick	Richard Childress Racing	4-x
3	07	Clint Bowyer	Casey Mears	Richard Childress Racing	5-x
4	31	Jeff Burton	Jeff Burton	Richard Childress Racing	6-x
5	24	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon	Hendrick Motorsports	7-x
6	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Hendrick Motorsports	12-x
7 out	8	Mark Martin/Aric Almirola	Aric Almirola	Dale Earnhardt Inc	14
8 out	1	Martin Truex Jr.	Martin Truex Jr.	Dale Earnhardt Inc	16
Dodge
	Car#	Current Driver	2009 Driver	Team	Owners Points Standings
1	9	Kasey Kahne	Kasey Kahne	Gillett Evernham Motorsports	15
2	12	Ryan Newman	David Stremme	Penske Racing	18
3	2	Kurt Busch	Kurt Busch	Penske Racing	19
4	43	Bobby Labonte	?	Petty Enterprises/GEM?	22
5	19	Elliott Sadler*	Elliott Sadler	Gillett Evernham Motorsports	24
6	10	AJ Allmendinger	Reed Sorenson	Gillett Evernham Motorsports (B)	37
out	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Juan Pablo Montoya	Chip Ganassi Racing (A)	25
out	41	Reed Sorenson	?Bobby Labonte	Chip Ganassi Racing (A)	33
out	7	Robby Gordon	Robby Gordon	Robby Gordon Motorsports (B)	34
Ford
	Car#	Current Driver	2009 Driver	Team	Owners Points Standings
1	99	Carl Edwards	Carl Edwards	Roush Fenway Racing	2-x
2	16	Greg Biffle	Greg Biffle	Roush Fenway Racing	3-x
3	17	Matt Kenseth	Matt Kenseth	Roush Fenway Racing	11-x
4	6	David Ragan	David Ragan	Roush Fenway Racing	13
5	26	Jamie McMurray	Jamie McMurray	Roush Fenway Racing	17
6	28	Travis Kvapil	Travis Kvapil	Yates Racing	23
7 out	38	David Gilliland	David Gilliland	Yates Racing	28
8 out	21	Elliott/Ambrose/Wood	Bill Elliott	Wood Brothers Racing	40
Toyota
	Car#	Current Driver	2009 Driver	Team	Owners Points Standings
1	11	Denny Hamlin	Denny Hamlin	Joe Gibbs Racing	8-x
2	20	Tony Stewart	Joey Logano	Joe Gibbs Racing	9-x
3	18	Kyle Busch	Kyle Busch	Joe Gibbs Racing	10-x
4	83	Brian Vickers	Brian Vickers	Red Bull Racing	20
5	44	David Reutimann	David Reutimann (will run #00 in 2009)	Michael Waltrip Racing	26
6	55	Michael Waltrip	Michael Waltrip	Michael Waltrip Racing	29
7 out	22	Dave Blaney	?Dave Blaney	Bill Davis Racing	31
out	7	Robby Gordon	Robby Gordon	Robby Gordon Motorsports (B)	34
8 out	47	Marcos Ambrose	Marcos Ambrose	Michael Waltrip Racing	36

* Correction to #19 Sadler replaced by Allmendinger

[WestCoastGal]

• 2009 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES SCHEDULE
  Date Site
  Feb. 7 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, Daytona International Speedway*
  Feb. 15 Daytona International Speedway
  Feb. 22 Auto Club Speedway
  March 1 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
  March 8 Atlanta Motor Speedway
  March 15 OFF
  March 22 Bristol Motor Speedway
  March 29 Martinsville Speedway
  April 5 Texas Motor Speedway
  April 12 OFF - Easter
  April 18 Phoenix International Raceway
  April 26 Talladega Superspeedway
  May 2 Richmond International Raceway
  May 9 Darlington Raceway
  May 16 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Lowe’s Motor Speedway*
  May 24 Lowe’s Motor Speedway
  May 31 Dover International Speedway
  June 7 Pocono Raceway
  June 14 Michigan International Speedway
  June 21 Infineon Raceway
  June 28 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
  July 4 Daytona International Speedway
  July 11 Chicagoland Speedway
  July 18 OFF
  July 26 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  Aug. 2 Pocono Raceway
  Aug. 9 Watkins Glen International
  Aug. 16 Michigan International Speedway
  Aug. 22 Bristol Motor Speedway
  Aug. 30 OFF - last off weekend
  Sept. 6 Atlanta Motor Speedway
  Sept. 12 Richmond International Raceway
  Sept. 20 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
  Sept. 27 Dover International Speedway
  Oct. 4 Kansas Speedway
  Oct. 11 Auto Club Speedway
  Oct. 17 Lowe’s Motor Speedway
  Oct. 25 Martinsville Speedway
  Nov. 1 Talladega Superspeedway
  Nov. 8 Texas Motor Speedway
  Nov. 15 Phoenix International Raceway
  Nov. 22 Homestead-Miami Speedway
  * – Denotes non-points event.
  (NASCAR PR)(8-19-2008)
  
  major date changes in red above