NASCAR Nextel Cup UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at LVMS - Sunday 3/11/07 - Fox 4:30pm/et

NASCAR.com / Jayski.com | March 6, 2007 | NYTexan

[pax_et_bonum]

You know the rules: When ya mention BBQ, pics are mandatory!

BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ

:-P

[NYTexan]

Marlin Says Las Vegas is "A whole different place"
Tuesday, March 6, 2007

According to Sterling Marlin, driver of the No. 14 Waste Management Chevrolet, Las Vegas Motor Speedway isn't the same track it was when he picked up his ninth-career win there in 2002. The speedway recently underwent dramatic track changes and is adjusting to new rules NASCAR will enforce for Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 Nextel Cup race.

"It's like being at a whole different place," said Marlin, who visited Las Vegas with his Ginn Racing team for a two-day test session in January. "They've added a ton of banking, resurfaced the track and made teams go a whole lot faster. It will be interesting to see how things shake out this weekend."

In addition to the physical changes to the track, NASCAR has mandated a smaller fuel-cell and a new tire compound for Sunday's race. With so many changes slated for NASCAR's third event of the season, Marlin is predicting an exciting event and an unpredictable finish.

"When we tested in Vegas earlier this year it was incredibly fast -- some teams thought it was too fast," explained Marlin, the only driver to visit victory lane at Las Vegas who didn't drive for Roush Racing or Hendrick Motorsports. "But it's a lot of fun. It will be interesting to see how things work once there are 43 cars on the track running side-by-side and going that fast."

Marlin, who has earned 10 career Nextel Cup wins (the last was at Darlington, S.C., two weeks after he won at Las Vegas in 2002), has competed in each of the nine Cup events Las Vegas Motor Speedway has hosted, posting a string of top 10s in 2001 (3rd), 2002 (1st) and 2003 (8th).

Marlin continued, "We've had stronger performances this year than our results indicate. Our race cars have been good-- we just haven't gotten the finishes we deserve. A strong finish with our Waste Management Chevy would get us moving in the right direction and I know we're capable of it."

Last year at Las Vegas Marlin started 31st, finished 36th. After fighting an ill-handling racecar throughout the event, Marlin looked to be closing in on a top-20 finish before the engine on his machine expired 12 laps short of the finish.

[pax_et_bonum]

Well, I peeked!

I peeked, too.

[NYTexan]

Thanks LUV, it was all yer tutelage!

[NYTexan]

OK then, you're gonna be real busy with the grill this week!

(just TRY not ta burn anything!)

[LasVegasMac]

Thanks for the thread, looks great!

Old google pic of track....looking for a new one to show the new seating and movement of pit road.....

Anyway, if you need to get in touch I'll be in the Richard Petty section Fri / Sat / Sun. If I'm not there, look in the Neon Garage area, upper level. If I'm not there, look for the closest beer booth! lol

Can't wait!

and at least it won't be snowing this year!

[luvie]

It was my pleasure to help in any way I could. You all have such a good time with the races!

WCG...ya ready for some fun in the Big D? :D

[NYTexan]

LOL, have a great time!

We'll be watching for ya on the Tee-Vee.

[luvie]

LOL!

These guys know how to have fun!

[pax_et_bonum]

No, I just LIKE barbeque.

Grilling is too hazardous for me.

My microwave popcorn success rate is around 40%.

The 60% is very stinky and flamey.

[SouthTexas]

Got it! Great job!

[tubebender]

My wife makes great popcorn by putting some kernels in a brown paper lunch sack and closing it and nuking it. Then she puts it in a warmed bowl and pours melted butter over it and a little salt.

Don't put too much corn in the bag. Where can we get coconut oil or is it palm oil the theaters use?

[NYTexan]

STANDINGS

2007 Official Driver Standings: Auto Club 500

Auto Club 500 | California Speedway | Race 2 of 36

RANK	+/-	DRIVER	POINTS	BEHIND	STARTS	POLES	WINS	TOP 5	TOP 10	WINNINGS
1	+1	Mark Martin	335	Leader	2	0	0	2	2	1,342,120
2	+1	Jeff Burton	330	-5	2	0	0	2	2	1,038,660
3	+5	Jeff Gordon	309	-26	2	1	0	1	2	652,508
4	-3	Kevin Harvick	307	-28	2	0	1	1	1	1,700,250
5	--	David Ragan*	270	-65	2	0	0	1	1	659,425
6	+11	Clint Bowyer	264	-71	2	0	0	0	1	395,375
7	--	Joe Nemechek	259	-76	2	0	0	0	1	392,458
8	+2	J.J. Yeley	251	-84	2	0	0	0	0	433,499
9	+14	Kyle Busch	239	-96	2	0	0	0	1	434,383
10	-1	David Stremme	236	-99	2	0	0	0	0	385,608
11	-5	David Gilliland	235	-100	2	1	0	0	1	604,078
12	+28	Matt Kenseth	232	-103	2	0	1	1	1	651,415
13	+2	Johnny Sauter	224	-111	2	0	0	0	0	350,125
14	--	Robby Gordon	218	-117	2	0	0	0	0	359,175
15	+22	Jimmie Johnson	216	-119	2	0	0	1	1	566,197
16	-5	Elliott Sadler	216	-119	2	0	0	0	1	550,823
17	+8	Greg Biffle	211	-124	2	0	0	0	0	425,475
18	+10	Denny Hamlin	209	-126	2	0	0	0	0	432,975
19	+17	Kurt Busch	196	-139	2	0	0	0	1	505,899
20	-2	Juan Montoya*	191	-144	2	0	0	0	0	419,958
21	+18	Tony Stewart	186	-149	2	0	0	0	1	698,092
22	+13	Ryan Newman	181	-154	2	0	0	0	0	444,408
23	-3	Bobby Labonte	179	-156	2	0	0	0	0	421,872
24	-5	Casey Mears	173	-162	2	0	0	0	0	366,500
25	-9	Sterling Marlin	170	-165	2	0	0	0	0	370,113
26	-2	Carl Edwards	170	-165	2	0	0	0	0	365,583
27	-1	Ricky Rudd	167	-168	2	0	0	0	0	409,324
28	-7	Dale Jarrett	164	-171	2	0	0	0	0	376,050
29	-25	Mike Wallace	160	-175	1	0	0	1	1	615,658
30	-18	Reed Sorenson	158	-177	2	0	0	0	0	383,796
31	--	Tony Raines	158	-177	2	0	0	0	0	362,083
32	-10	Kasey Kahne	150	-185	2	0	0	0	1	563,065
33	+8	Kyle Petty	139	-196	2	0	0	0	0	352,958
34	--	Brian Vickers	134	-201	1	0	0	0	1	161,158
35	-1	Jeff Green	128	-207	2	0	0	0	0	365,633
36	-7	Jamie McMurray	122	-213	2	0	0	0	0	352,608
37	-24	Boris Said	121	-214	1	0	0	0	0	307,375
38	-11	Martin Truex Jr.	118	-217	2	0	0	0	0	395,975
39	-6	Ken Schrader	113	-222	2	0	0	0	0	413,178
40	-10	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	110	-225	2	0	0	0	0	480,166
41	-3	David Reutimann*	107	-228	2	0	0	0	0	342,541
42	-10	Dave Blaney	107	-228	2	0	0	0	0	356,627
43	--	Paul Menard*	103	-232	1	0	0	0	0	107,958
44	-2	Scott Riggs	67	-268	2	0	0	0	0	391,058
45	--	John Andretti	61	-274	1	0	0	0	0	80,150
46	-3	Michael Waltrip	-27	-362	1	0	0	0	0	269,708

* Denotes Rookie

[WestCoastGal]

I Luv thanks for posting to me. Sometimes I feel invisible here.

I will be there............with one exception..........my daughter is having a difficult pregnancy and I may have to go to California. She is due the end of April, first of May but Doc says she may have to spend the next few months in bed. Ugh.

That trip will be difficult for me since I HATE to fly, [actually haven't flown since 9-11] but driving alone for that distance would be worse I think. I'm not sure yet.

[Quilla]

Thought you might find this interesting. ;-)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet) and Richard Petty will be immortalized in wax this weekend when Madame Tussauds Las Vegas unveils full-size wax figures of the drivers. The unveiling will take place Friday at 2 p.m. in the Neon Garage, where the figures will stay for the weekend. After the weekend, the figures will move to The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino where they will join figures of Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon.

Source.

[luvie]

You SHOULDN'T feel invisible! You probably know more about the races than all the guys put together! LOL! Especially where Jr. is concerned.

I hope you can make it and I pray that your daughter's pregnancy goes as it should and she doesn't have any more trouble.

I want to see you again! :D

How's the pup?

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks Quilla I can't wait to see that one!!

Fathead.com also has driver images and cars now too in case you have an empty wall. LOL

[NormsRevenge]

hope all goes well with daughter..

Nextel Cup stars need to raise game

MIKE HARRIS, AP Auto Racing Writer

This is not the kind of start to the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season that Dale Earnhardt Jr. envisioned.

Heading into Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Earnhardt has failed to finish the first two Cup races of the season and is 40th in the points, two spots behind Dale Earnhardt Inc. teammate Martin Truex Jr.

"We're not happy about it, but we're keeping our heads up," Earnhardt said. "We've had some rough starts before and came back strong. We were 38th in the points after two races in 2003, and we came back to finish third.

"It seems like we always get better as the year goes on. Don't forget, we had back-to-back last-place finishes in the middle of the summer last year and dropped out of the top 10 in points, but we fought back into the Chase when we needed to."

Still, Earnhardt can't be feeling comfortable after crashing out and finishing 32nd in the Daytona 500, then winding up 40th with a blown engine at California.

"We found out what caused the engine failure at California, and our guys have been busting their butts to make sure we don't have that problem again," Earnhardt said. "The most positive thing we took from California is that we had a car that was really fast."

Earnhardt is not alone among NASCAR's stars who have struggled at the start of this season.

Defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, usually a fast starter, is 15th in the standings. Perennial contender Greg Biffle is 17th and two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart is 21st, 149 points behind surprising series leader Mark Martin.

It appeared Stewart turned things around in California with an eighth-place run after finishing last at Daytona. But he is looking at the Las Vegas race as a pivotal one, particularly since the 1.5-mile LVMS oval has been reworked with higher banking and reconfigured turns, making it a much faster track.

"These early races teach you very quickly where your program is compared to the competition," Stewart said. "If your cars are good, you'll run well at California, Vegas, Atlanta, Texas and so on.

"Everybody wants to know where they stack up and shake out right now. If you can get off to a good start, it shows that your program is really where it needs to be. This is a huge week."

It's also the third of five races in which last year's car owner points determine the 35 entries guaranteed starting spots and those that must get in on qualifying speed.

The new Toyota teams are keeping a close eye on those numbers.

Right now, the only Toyota drivers guaranteed a spot in the lineup each week are Dave Blaney, whose Bill Davis Racing No. 22 entry was among the top 35 last year, and Dale Jarrett, who has made each of the first two races with the former Cup champion's provisional. And that could change soon.

Under a new NASCAR rule, Jarrett only can use that provisional to make the lineup four more times in 2007, while Blaney is 42nd in the points so far, with three races until the current top 35 goes into effect.

Jarrett, the 1999 Cup champion, has gotten off to a decent start and is 28th in the points going into Las Vegas. Michael Waltrip Racing teammates Waltrip and rookie David Reutimann are not in such good shape, though. Waltrip, who failed to qualify at California, is 46th in the points, while Reutimann is 41st.

Blaney's teammate, Jeremy Mayfield, has yet to qualify for a race this season. Neither has rookie A.J. Allmendinger, who drives one of two Toyotas for the new Team Red Bull. His teammate, Brian Vickers, raced at California, finishing 10th and moving up to 34th in the points.

"It's not time to panic yet, (but) it almost is," said Waltrip, who has bitten off a huge chunk as a new team owner with a new manufacturer. "We're going to make a few subtle changes and ramp up everything we do. Hopefully, we'll show some steady improvement. We haven't done a good job at the racetrack.

"We have a lot to do. Toyota needs to continue to work their rear ends off on their end and we're going to continue to work our rear ends off on our end. That's how we're going to be successful. Work real hard, learn from and not dwell on mistakes, keep our head down and keep digging."

Stewart, who failed to make the Chase last year and is eager to see improvement this season, said you can't go into races this early in the year thinking about points.

"As a team, you can't let it be a distraction," he said. "We have to go out and run every lap as hard as possible and not worry about it. This team has always performed well when the pressure is on, and I expect nothing less this week."

[NormsRevenge]

Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. walks through the pits before the NASCAR Auto Club 500 in Fontana, Calif., in this Feb. 25, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

[WestCoastGal]

Post #30 is invisible......did anyone figure it out??