NASCAR DAY & NIGHT RACING ~ FONTANA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 2 SUNDAY - 8PM ET ON ESPN

Nascar Jayski Infield Parking | 08-28-07 | WCG - JACK -JUNIOR

[WestCoastGal]

WELCOME
FREE REPUBLIC NASCAR RACING LEAGUE

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The Sharp AQUOS 500

CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY - FONTANA





Race: September 2, 2007 - Scheduled Green Flag: 8:15pm/et ESPN

TV: ESPN

NASCAR Countdown: ESPN - 7:00pm/et

Practice Dates/Times/TV

Practice: Friday, August 31, 2:30 - 4:00pm/et TV-SPEED; and Saturday, September 1, 7:00 - 7:45pm/et TV-none

Happy Hour Practice: Saturday, September 1, 8:10 - 9:10pm/et on TV-SPEED

Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-43, Friday, August 31 at 6:10pm/et, TV-SPEED, re-air at 1:00am/et;

[SouthTexas]

I leaned more to the latter. Don't think my wife, ex or not, would let me near her if she was giving birth. LOL

If any more comes out, I'll let you know.

[LasVegasMac]

IROC was boring.

Never read the rules / reasoning behind the purpose, eh?

It was a racing event, designed to honor the Champions from different backgrounds.

The cars were the same, you can't change them as far as setup.

That leaves the ability of driver vs driver.

What's not right with that?

[SouthTexas]

Yeah I knew the rules and I liked most of the drivers.

The racing was still boring. That's just my opinion, no offense intended.

[LasVegasMac]

The racing was still boring. That's just my opinion, no offense intended.

Boring? Yeah, just like Bristol was and this weekend is going to be! lol

Absolutely no offense taken, perhaps I came across too strong in my first response, my bad.

The thing I liked most about IROC was the drivers from "other than Nascar" vs the 'Boys', know what I mean?

As a counter-point, perhaps, to make my point, last year on Speed "Track Side Live" they had Jimmy Johnson, as the current Cup champ on as a guest.

The other guest was John Force. John was on first, then they brought JJ on.

And Darrel Waltrip said to JJ, "JJ, not to take anything away from your'e recent Cup title, but this guy has won 17 titles..."

Later, someone asked John Force if he would ever like to drive a Cup car, "Oh, hell no. The straights would be ok but the first turn I'd be in the wall...."

I wish I would have taped that interview with him....classic stuff.

But my point is the drivers like Steve Kinser....the others....

Where else did you get to see a gathering of "Champions" in the racing world? The Best of the Best.......??????

No, this event will be missed by all. Some were fortunate enough to watch.....

Just me, ok?

[SouthTexas]

I've always been a John Force fan! All I saw was the highlights of that show, would love to have it too.

Like I said, I liked the drivers and I respect each one in their own discipline. Just never got into a race with all the cars being the same, my major problem with COT. It takes the inventiveness and experimentation out of the equation, which IMO, is a major part of racing. :)

[LasVegasMac]

Just never got into a race with all the cars being the same, my major problem with COT.

But that was the whole intent in the IROC series, all hardware being equal...the only difference left is driver skill....

And Nascar told you that the COT would level the playing field...remember that?

Right.

$$$ took all that away.

There is a NCTS race here later this month (it's almost Sept), I have 4 tickets. About the only real racing left, IMO.

[WestCoastGal]

I didn’t think it was boring, it was different.

The race setup was good, short, one pit, reverse the order, only about 6 races per year.

I just liked the different champions from all types of racing competing against each other.

And, so far I do’t like the COT :) That’s a whole new ballgame.

[WestCoastGal]

Wow, that was a catch!!

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks to Jr for pointing this out....

Rudd will be second to reach 900 Cup starts
By MIKE FINNEY, The News Journal

Posted Thursday, August 30, 2007
Ricky Rudd will become the second driver to start 900 Cup races when he lines up at California Speedway on Sunday.

Rudd, the series’ active starts leader, sits only behind Richard Petty (1,185) on the all-time list.

“This is a record that just kind of sneaks up on you,” Rudd said. “I started out as one of the youngest guys in this sport and now I’m one of the oldest guys out there still racing.

“It’s a real honor to be able to have this kind of longevity with a long and fruitful career.”

Rudd recently announced he will retire after this season, a year in which he returned following a year away.

---

Great run Ricky!!

[SouthTexas]

I'll take that as a "don't". :)

I think Nascar is headed towards an IROC series with all their rules and templates. Let them tilt the wing a little more, tweak the shocks and springs, fill the intake with gelled nitro...OK, that may be a bit much, we'll leave the nitrous for the drag strip. ;)

Far too much of the PC crap for my blood.

[WestCoastGal]

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree............That is eerie...I can't tell you how many times I've heard Jr say this same exact thing!

---

He could go back and forth with his moods. I gave him lap times on the headset during a race in 1997, and he screamed at me, “Stop giving me those damn lap times! Leave me alone! I’m doing the best I can.” Then, a few minutes later, he complained, “Am I all alone here? Are you gonna talk to me?”

"The Dale Earnhardt I knew" With Larry McReynolds, Dale Jarrett, Brian Williams, Terry Bradshaw, Humpy Wheeler, Kix Brooks.

[WestCoastGal]

Get a clue Hambone.........RUN..

NASCAR’s newest fan, Paris Hilton, also came out to celebrate with the boys and appears to have hit it off with Hamlin this time around after not having much luck with Kasey Kahne. The driver and heiress posed for obligatory photos before taking a seat to get to know each other better.

I don’t have any details about how their evening ended, but I know it wasn’t with Hamlin telling Hilton “I have a girlfriend.” The driver, who has recently been freed to fully embrace his playboy tendencies since closing the book on an 8-year relationship, is giving Dale Earnhardt Jr. a run for the money for NASCAR’s Most Eligible Bachelor title these days.

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/category/nascar/

[SouthTexas]

Sort of like "run Forrest run" eh?

She could finance a team though....

[af_vet_rr]

Hard to believe considering the trouble toyota has had this year.

I'm going to step on some toes when I say this, but the problems are not necessarily Toyotas'.

There was the issue of the difference between the Toyota engines used in the Truck and Busch/Cup series (which was NASCAR's fault, and they admitted as much), but those are going away for 2008.

Larry McReynolds created a Toyota truck team that was competitive, out of thin air. There have been Toyota teams running Cup this year that have done well.

The problem is, the most high profile Toyota team is the Waltrip team. I think there's been some poor management going on there. Michael's driving reflects that - he's pretty been erratic on the track here and there, not to mention that weird thing with him crashing on his way home earlier this year. He seems like he's stressed, and I've read that Toyota was angry with those folks, and normally you don't get angry with somebody in a situation like that, unless you believe that your end is covered, and they aren't living up to what they said they'd deliver.

I think it's a good move for JGR (and for Tony), because now Gibbs/Stewart/etc. are going to be the top team for a manufacturer - something they weren't getting from GM (at best they were third on the totem pole running a Chevy, behind Childress and Hendrick).

Gibbs will have the TRD fully behind them, and I don't know much about the Waltrip operation, but I think Gibbs has one of the best engine shops around, and I think that will make the difference.

Joe Gibbs is not one to jump into this lightly, and Stewart probably knew before he signed his contract extension.

I think it's going to be good. It comes at an interesting time, what with the transition to the CoT (which I still dislike).

[WestCoastGal]

Big potty mouth spilled the beans today himself......

Kyle Busch confirms Gibbs’ move to Toyota
SCENEDAILY - 3:31PM ET FRIDAY AUGUST 31, 2007 - BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT

Toyotas after this season. KEVIN C. COX / GETTY IMAGESFONTANA, Calif. - Kyle Busch confirmed that he has been told that Joe Gibbs Racing will race Toyotas next season.

Busch, who will leave Hendrick Motorsports after this season to join JGR, said he is comfortable with the switch, which is expected to be announced next week by the team.

“I feel fine with it,” Busch said when asked what he thought of the team’s move to Toyota from Chevrolet. “I think it’s something that’s going to take Joe Gibbs Racing hopefully a step forward and in the right direction. They’ve got a great repertoire for being able to produce winning race cars year in and year out and championship-contending teams, so I think that they’re going to be just fine and this is a business decision that they’ve done right.”

Toyota entered Nextel Cup competition this season but its teams have struggled to make races. JGR - with Busch, Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin - will become the premier team in a stable that likely will include existing Toyota partners Bill Davis Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Team Red Bull.

The biggest struggle has been in the engine department, where Toyota teams have had trouble with getting up to speed as quickly as its competitors.

Mark Cronquist, the team’s head engine builder, is expected to spearhead the work on the engine.

“I’ve met with him a few times in our meetings and our discussions,” Busch said. “He’s a really cool guy. Actually, when we were talking about Toyota, they brought him in because I had a bunch of questions about the motor.

>>>>>>”They’ve got a lot of questions in that area. ... They’ve got the ... top-end power but don’t have bottom-end. They’ve had not too many reliability issues, but a couple still. ... Mark [said] to me they feel like their package that they’ve had in the Chevrolets, especially with the new R07, that they can translate that into the Toyota and hopefully have a pretty good piece come January.”

JGR has been a General Motors team since its first season in 1992.

http://www.scenedaily.com/stories/2007/08/27/scene_daily56.html

[WestCoastGal]

How sad is this????

Tony Gibson, Jr’s Car Chief says...they will only run about 75 laps in practice total because there have been too many engine failures and they are taking no chances.

BYW the 01 already blew up!

[WestCoastGal]

I take back what I said about Yates. I don’t know where the reporters are getting their info, but the prior stuff about Yates giving Hendrick the 38 was false.

Doug Yates confirmed his team has been approached by a representative of Hendrick Motorsports about securing the #38 for Dale Earnhardt Jr. next year, but if Yates gets his way, there will be no such transfer. Earnhardt recently was denied the opportunity to take the #8 from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to Hendrick and now is considering other number options. The #38 currently is being used by David Gilliland. “Dale Jr., since he can’t have what he wants, he might want the 38,” said Yates, president Yates/Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing. “They’re asking for the 38, and the 38 and 88 are our numbers. It’s almost a little strange. It’s like somebody asking if they can take your girlfriend or your wife out. We feel we’re going to have the 38 and 88 [next year].” While Yates said he is not interested in parting with the number, doesn’t everything in the sport have a price tag? “That’s my dad’s side of it,” Yates said, referring to his father, Robert Yates. “But for me, these are our numbers, and we’re set with them.”(ESPN.com)(8-31-2007)

[WestCoastGal]

"She could finance a team though....

Pitcrewed by rehab rejects?

There's a another one with Jeff/Ingrid and her....but it's got the G logo.

LINK

[WestCoastGal]

AND, I saw one on TV today with her and Mikey Helton. Ewwww

[WestCoastGal]

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Qualifying Order:

Sched Qual Pos	Car#	Driver	Manu	Final Practice Speed	Prac Speed Rank	Owners Points Rank
1	40	David Stremme	Dodge	176.155	31	22
2	07	Clint Bowyer	Chevy	178.421	5	9
3	01	Aric Almirola	Chevy	168.634	46	13
4	6	David Ragan #	Ford	175.050	38	26
5	42	Juan Pablo Montoya #	Dodge	176.164	30	19
6	10	Scott Riggs	Dodge	176.471	27	37
7	49	John Andretti	Dodge	177.602	15	47
8	1	Martin Truex Jr.	Chevy	179.051	2	11
9	41	Reed Sorenson	Dodge	176.345	28	28
10	7	Robby Gordon	Ford	175.293	37	23
11	20	Tony Stewart	Chevy	176.605	24	2
12	11	Denny Hamlin	Chevy	178.509	4	3
13	8	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevy	178.284	10	14
14	96	Tony Raines	Chevy	175.503	35	25
15	22	Dave Blaney	Toyota	177.655	14	35
16	00	David Reutimann #	Toyota	176.527	26	40
17	99	Carl Edwards	Ford	178.399	6	5
18	18	J.J. Yeley	Chevy	178.394	7	21
19	21	Bill Elliott	Ford	175.811	33	36
20	26	Jamie McMurray	Ford	176.531	25	20
21	31	Jeff Burton	Chevy	177.196	19	7
22	5	Kyle Busch	Chevy	177.905	12	8
23	12	Ryan Newman	Dodge	178.891	3	15
24	55	Michael Waltrip	Toyota	174.292	42	46
25	88	Ricky Rudd	Ford	174.482	39	32
26	24	Jeff Gordon	Chevy	177.022	21	1
27	45	Kyle Petty	Dodge	174.195	44	34
28	36	Jeremy Mayfield	Toyota	174.237	43	44
29	29	Kevin Harvick	Chevy	177.721	13	10
30	2	Kurt Busch	Dodge	178.355	8	12
31	9	Kasey Kahne	Dodge	178.341	9	24
32	83	Brian Vickers	Toyota	177.436	17	39
33	4	Ward Burton	Chevy	174.326	41	43
34	16	Greg Biffle	Ford	177.148	20	16
35	78	Joe Nemechek	Chevy	177.585	16	45
36	70	Johnny Sauter	Chevy	170.827	45	33
37	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevy	180.158	1	6
38	38	David Gilliland	Ford	176.211	29	30
39	43	Bobby Labonte	Dodge	174.351	40	18
40	84	AJ Allmendinger #	Toyota	177.218	18	48
41	19	Elliott Sadler	Dodge	178.011	11	27
42	44	Dale Jarrett	Toyota	175.494	36	42
43	66	Jeff Green	Chevy	176.639	23	31
44	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	175.798	34	4
45	25	Casey Mears	Chevy	176.869	22	17
46	15	Paul Menard #	Chevy	176.104	32	29

Drivers in RED will be required to qualify on time/speed, not in top 35

Drivers in MAROON will be required to qualify on time/speed, not in top 35
BUT has a past champions provisional available if needed, only one is used, so if there are two or more past champs
the driver who has won the championship most recently, gets the spot.