NASCAR Pop Secret 500 ***FONTANA*** California Speedway on Sunday 9-5-04 4PM PST on NBC

Nascar.com ^

[WestCoastGal]

NASCAR***POP SECRET 500 ***UNDER THE ***LIGHTS***

CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY ***FONTANA***

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2004 4PM PST

CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY

Events: NASCAR Cup "Finish Under the Lights" POP SECRET 500

Sunday, September 5th, 250 Laps (500 Miles)
Posted Awards - $5,796,554; First Place - $219,515

Qualifying Friday, September 3rd on Speed at 3pm PDT

NASCAR Busch Series TARGET HOUSE 300...Saturday, September 4 NBC - Live 12:00 p.m. (PDT)

150 Laps (300 Miles)

Posted Awards - $1,434,769; First Place - $86,360

Events: POP SECRET 500
NASCAR Cup Series
When: Sunday, September 5
Television: NBC - Live 4:00 p.m. (PDT) Local - KNBC Ch. 4

FREE REPUBLIC CANTEEN

THIS THREAD IS DEDICATED TO THE TROOPS WHO ARE PROTECTING US PRESERVING LIBERTY AND FREEDOM FOR ALL, GOD BLESS AMERICA.

[WestCoastGal]

Track: 2-mile, D-Shaped Oval; 75-feet wide with a 15-foot apron

Front Stretch 3,100 FEET

Back Stretch: 2,500 FEET 14 DEGREE BANKING

11 DEGREE BANKING IN THE TRI-OVAL

Pit Road: 2,200 feet long with 44 individual pit areas

Garages: Three garages with 100 spaces

Grandstands: 92,000

Infield RVs: 1,800 Infield RV spaces

[WestCoastGal]

FONTANA , Pit Road looks like rush hour on the 405

&^&

[ZGuy]

Come in from the north via 210 - avoid the backup on the 10!

[WestCoastGal]

Some fun history and incidents from the Winston Cup Era......

---

"I don’t even know why I’m going to watch it. I know he is going to win. He has gotten so smart sitting in the (TV) booth. It’s obvious that nobody else will stand a chance with all the knowledge he has gained."
Terry LaBonte, referring to Darrel Waltrip, who was about to run the truck race at Martinsville
(I thought that I was the only one that felt that way)

"The doctor just told me that the first time I came back it was a full-fledged miracle. He kind of explained to me how many miracles can you have. That kind of woke me up."
Ernie Irvan, announcing his retirement
(A lot of us are glad that you got your miracle Ernie)

"I’ve got some really good words for him. Unfortunately, I can’t say them on TV. I wish I had something I could’ve shot at him."
Ward Burton, referring to Dale Earnhardt Jr. after the two had a meeting of the metal at Bristol
(Umm, like maybe your 12-gauge?)

"There is ‘fast’ and there is ‘fast fast.’ Bristol is definitely ‘fast fast.’ "
Joe Nemechek
(I wonder if he refers to track speed or wreck speed)

“No, I… I mean, first off, you look in the mirror and you see it. And then you see it, you're sitting in there in your little cocoon, and the fire starts wrapping around. And it's like, OK, as soon as this thing gets stopped, now would be a pretty good time to get out.”
Ken Schrader, referring to a fiery wreck at Pocono
(Yep, and quickly too)

“It’s basically the same, just darker.”
Alan Kulwicki, commenting on the difference between racing on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon
(Sometimes simple questions deserve simple answers)

"When you pull into victory lane it makes you feel good that you just ruined their day."
Jeff Gordon, discussing the boo birds in the grandstands
(If that’s the case, he’s ruined a lot of days)

“I guess it (the championship) will sink in once I see my daddy's eyes next week."
Dale Earnhardt Jr., referring to his Busch Series Championship
(We wish that you could still see them June bug)

"Bottom line: We’re out here in the da** desert blowing tires."
Kenny Wallace at Phoenix, obviously not enthralled to be there
(Hey, at least you weren’t sitting up on Rattlesnake Mountain)

“I recall several funny incidents, considering that no one got hurt, particularly at Darlington. We were there for the first Southern 500 in 1950. It was miserably hot as usual on Labor Day, and I’d never driven 500 miles. I thought what a treat it would be to have something cool to drink in my thermos bottle, located behind the seat and fitted with a rubber hose for sipping. So I filled mine with tomato juice. I wrecked early. I wasn’t hurt, but the juice splattered all over me. The first person to the car looked inside and saw me covered with what he thought was blood. ‘Gawd, get an ambulance,’ he exclaims, ‘Baker’s done cut his head off!’"
Buck Baker
(Gee, and it sounded like such a good idea. Wait ‘til you see the follow-up)

“Another time, at Hillsboro, North Carolina, I put beer in my thermos. After a few laps, the beer, jostled by the bumpy ride, foamed and the top came off the jug. The inside of the car looked like a washing machine. I had to explain that one to Bill France”
Buck Baker with the rest of the story
(I guess he wasn’t familiar with NASCAR’s “zero tolerance policy)

“This story has been told countless times, but not very accurately. I don’t know whether it’s worth wrecking the myth that surrounds it. Most versions have me driving my Chevelle racecar out of Daytona Speedway while the gas tank was laying on the ground. There was an argument over fuel, and I did drive the car from the track to my garage with no gas tank. Whether or not I had a gas tank didn’t matter, because that car had an illegal 11-foot fuel line with a 2-inch hole in it that held 6 gallons of gasoline. I could have driven to Jacksonville 90 miles away with the fuel in the line. The incident prompted NASCAR to change the fuel line opening to 3/8 inch.”
Of course, that is the legendary Smokey Yunick, telling his side of one of the “legends” of NASCAR
(This guy makes today’s mechanics look like monkeys in comparison)

“At a dirt-track race in Savannah, Georgia, in 1953, I had two Hudson Hornets for Herb Thomas and Dick Rathmann. Thomas won the pole, but Dick was having problems. I kept telling Dick he was lifting too late in turn 3. Finally, he gave me his helmet and said to show him. We climbed in the car. He had no seat, helmet, or harness. I told him to touch me when we got to the point where he lifted going into (turn) 3. We went into the turn wide-open, and he never touched me. We spun around the biggest telephone pole I’d ever seen and left the doors handle on the driver side sticking in the pole. The only thing Dick said was ‘Don’t stall it.’"


Back in 1991, Michael Waltrip set about earning a little piece of fame that no one really wants. It was during a practice session at Bristol Motor Speedway, when he lost the car and headed for the wall. What he hit was not a wall. At that time, Bristol had an iron gate that swung open to allow emergency vehicles and infield traffic to exit the track. (Actually, I think it still does) Mikey’s car caught the edge of that gate, and the result was phenomenal. The gate survived nicely, but Mikey's car was torn and twisted into something unrecognizable. Big brother Darrell came really close to breaking the 4-minute mile getting to that car, totally prepared for the worst. Lifting away the torn roof, he was treated to the sight of Mikey, standing on the ground since there was no floor left, asking sheepishly "What's the matter?" Mikey managed a self-evacuation from the car through what had once been the engine compartment, and to the amazement of doctors and fans, was unhurt. That car is on display at Bristol right now, on loan from the Motorsports Museum at Talladega.

A couple of years ago, “tough guy” Jimmy Spencer was asked in an interview what his favorite Holiday might be. His answer belies that tough guy image and speaks to the Jimmy Spencer that some of us love.
“I have a lot of them. I think Easter's a pretty neat day, but I look forward to Christmas day…I do. I know the good Lord sent Jesus down and he was born, but it won't be long now that Christmas won't mean the same to me with my kids being gone. To watch my kids' faces growing up… the memories and the pictures and watching them with pride with the things you had gotten them. Believing in Santa Claus…I still believe in Santa Claus. That day, when you see a child see Santa and the excitement he has coming down the steps on Christmas morning. Then, the older they get they realize that Christmas is for Jesus. It's life, and then they get old. But you can never turn back time; you've just got the memories.”

[Fierce Allegiance]

Good start on running your first thread. Thank you for running this weeks thread. Done packing yet?

[So Cal Rocket]

Speedway targets West Nile
Associated Press
9/2/2004

FONTANA, Calif. - Crews sprayed pesticides Wednesday around the California Speedway to help prevent an outbreak of West Nile virus among the thousands of fans expected to attend a NASCAR race this weekend.

Local officials decided to spray for mosquitoes because Sunday's race - the Nextel Cup Pop Secret 500 - will be at dusk, when the insects are active. The city of Fontana has been one of the most severely affected in California during this year's outbreak of the virus.

[WestCoastGal]

PING TO ALL FROM THE BUD HOME PIT CREW!!

[Moose4]

I'll refrain from a sour-grapes mention that this race REALLY belongs an hour down the road from me at Darlington, where it was a tradition for fifty years.

It's great to see SoCal really getting into NASCAR...but Fontana ain't The Lady In Black. And never will be.

That having been said...I still want Rusty Wallace, before he retires, to punch out Tony Stewart. :)

}:-)4

[WestCoastGal]

Thank you, a little organizing ahead of time for the thread helped!

Almost done packing, I can't believe it. (of course there's always those odd things that don't go in boxes that are left over.....(shhhhh don't tell ChefKeith)

[WestCoastGal]

That's a good back way in, thanks!!

I wish I was going.

[cjshapi]

You're right. This race should be in Darlington. The Southern 500/Labor Day weekend will always be linked in my mind. Doesn't matter what the official name of the race was.

Apparently tradition is only for us dinosaurs. I'm just happy I'm not working and Bill Elliott is racing.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Sunday night under the lights! So I can go to my local dirt track (3 hours away) and still see the NASCAR race. we got rained out last week, but we managed to catch the heat races. My 8 year old twin daughters were absolutely beaming to see the modifieds 3 wide and sideways at full speed around the corners. The cheap wednesday show at the local (1/2 hour away) asphalt track will never cut it again for them.

It sure would have been nice for nascar to hold the Darlington tradition, but it is all about the audience and the cash. "Progress" never comes without some hurt feelings.

Hopefully, i can be on the thread with y'all sunday. It sure beats just reading it come work monday morning.

Now, for the FFRL picks, it seems like the only way to do well is to justroll the dice. i got crushed last week by going with the experienced guys, rusty, ricky and mr. excitement. did fine the 3 weeks previous when i was on vacation and just let my Brickyard picks stay plugged in.

[WestCoastGal]

Anyone planning on going should bring some sort of insect repellant.

Should be in the mid 90's over the weekend cooling off somewhat in the late afternoon, but not much.

[Pete'sWife]

In local news, our points chase ends this Saturday night. Out of six divisions, only two have been settled. A good friend is in contention in two divisions (small block modified, big block modified).

It's going to be a very, VERY exciting evening!!!

[WestCoastGal]

I really hated to see that happen to The Lady In Black.

We will have a very special night of Darlington memories planned for the race in November.

ChefKeith will be hosting and it will be party time!!

[WestCoastGal]

Types of Racing Thread Posters (Not FR with a few exceptions)Do you see yourself here?

ChefKeith and I are guilty of #7 (flirting)

And I could be guilty of #3 except I would never walk out of a race just because Jr wasn't winning! That's a Die Harder I guess.:

LOL

---

Number One - The Fly By

Every board has these incredibly deep-thinking, thoughtful posters. They tell you many things you did not know like (insert driver name) sucks, (insert car make) sucks, (insert track) sucks. What would you do if you did not know all of this suckiness? They also let us know many drivers' sexual preferences. I wonder if they think anyone cares what they think. Probably not.

Number Two - The Purist

You have to have a few of these around. You know them because they constantly discuss Formula One and feel that any burnouts or displays of excitement other than a victory lap are crass. I swear they must sit in a leather chair smoking a pipe and mimic Frasier Crane as they pontificate on their ideals of auto racing. They never would be caught uttering "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity"

Number Three - The Die Hard

These folks have it really bad. Their driver does no wrong and says no wrong. If their driver is not winning then by golly the race stinks and they have no interest and are known to walk out of a race when their driver is not in a position to win. Their homes are filled to the brim with their favorite driver's memorabilia almost like their souvenir truck overturned and fell into their home. They also can rattle off their driver's statistics like it is their phone number.

Number Four - The Newbie

These poor folks stumble onto a NASCAR board and are overwhelmed by the information thrown at them. They get pummeled by all of the other types and usually are shell shocked then realize that if they are to succeed they need to transfer to another category….Fast!

Number Five - The Conspiracy Theorist

Everyone has to have two or three or five of these. They firmly believe Mike Helton sits at the races and directs race outcomes based on ratings or preference. They sit in their cyber-corner muttering under their breath about the latest ploy by the forces of evil to control their beloved sport. They sit mesmorized waiting for the In-The-Knowers to confirm their darkest thoughts and crow endlessly when they feel they are proved correct.

Number Six - The Hardliner

Everything twenty years ago was better than anything today. The races were better, the drivers more colorful, the cars more realistic. They will wax on and on and on in a poet trance about the good ole days. Places most people did not even know had racetracks are usually their favorite places. Most posts start out with "Well back when…" The Hardliner and Purist usually get along well.

Number Seven - The Off Topic Brigade

Who wants to talk NASCAR when you can discuss anything else? Politics, religion, flirting, food…you name it they discuss it. Sometimes when they are really good they can get all subjects into one post. Usually these people annoy the Hardliners, Purists and Know-it-Alls and really do not care.

Number Eight - The "In the Knowers"

I love these people. They come on to a message board and are secretive of their name and their employment but they assure you that they are muy importante (very importante for those of you not cramming for the Mexico Busch race). They scour Jayski then reword things to make it seem like they have knowledge others do not. They always refuse to tell you where they work and what they do and they always have first hand knowledge of "The Call" (see Conspiracy Theorists)BC.

Number Nine - The Know-it-Alls

These posters are pretty self explanatory - anything and everything they are experts about. They can read minds, predict the future and will take credit for just about everything. They make sure everyone knows they are the smartest people on the board and if anyone disagrees with them, well heaven help them.

Number Ten - The Industry Types

Usually they come onto a board with all of the best of intentions and are driven off in a matter of weeks. The Know-it-alls mock them, the Conspiracy Theorists and In-the Knowers annoy them. Finally they just decide that it is not worth it and just go away. The In-the-Knowers rejoice!

[Bobby Chang]

Especially when NASCAR gave Florence-Myrtle Beach (for years Darlington has been a Florence suburb) the Crunch Time Showdown race for what is now the penultimate race with the possibility of making it the final race of the year -- a "Rose Bowl" Grandaddy of them All for the Championship -- and then here goes Johnnie Cochran to say, "Oh no we're not giving the championship game to the sport's Lambeau Field -- we're taking away that one" to please an NAALCP Boycott of South Carolina, and used a Jackpot Jury to strip Florence of the Southern 500 in favour of Fort Worth next year, to please his arrogancy the NAALCP.

The irony was NASCAR took Darlington from Two Before The Chase to The Penultimate Showdown, and Andrew Gurtis said it would only intensify the classic in its Put Up or Shut Up date. Then some idiot with the NAACP worked with Ferko and a Jackpot Jury to strip the race away.\

West Virginia State Supreme Court Justice Richard Neely candidly described one of the reasons behind this phenomenon in a recent book: "As long as I am allowed to redistribute wealth from out-of-state companies to injured in-state plaintiffs, I shall continue to do so. Not only is my sleep enhanced when I give someone's else money away, but so is my job security, because the in-state plaintiffs, their families, and their friends will reelect me....It should be obvious that the instate local plaintiff, his witnesses and his friends, can all vote for the judge, while the out-of-state defendants can't even be relied upon to send a campaign donation."

That's what happened in F-MYB. Especially if fans get the Southern 500 back in 2006 as the Prime Time Showdown with Fox and NBC alternating a 5:30 PM start race where the Nextel Cup is on the line.

[WestCoastGal]

We'll look forward to hearing all the details from the dirt track races.

As for the league picks, it gets harder as we plod forward with less picks of the good drivers already almost used up and garaged. ;-(

[hoot2]

dirt...water...n just a little "driving room"...

[WestCoastGal]

Have a wonderful time.......let us know what happened!!