The Biff set a new track record on his way to winning the pole for the Saturday night race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mark Martin, who also beat the old track record, will join Biffle on the front row. In recent years, Charlotte has been known for long green flag runs so fuel strategy and fuel mileage could play a major roll in the race and nobody is better at fuel mileage than points leader Brad Keselowski. I don't know about you other race fans out in the blogospherer, but I hate fuel mileage races. A race winner should not be determined by who will or won't run out of fuel. The race should be decided on speed. There is a simple solution to the problem. Either make the race 5 laps longer or 5 laps shorter. That way either everybody will have enough fuel to finish the race or they will all have to stop for fuel. That is a pretty simple solution.
Dale with a "friend" the night before Talladega.
The NACAR silly season has already started. There will be some familiar faces in unfamiliar surroundings. Kurt Busch will be in the 78 for the rest of this season and A.J. Allmendinger makes his return in the 51 car. Regan Smith will be in the 88, subbing for a concussed Dale Jr. The story is that Jr. suffered an undiagnosed concussion following a crash in a tire rest at Kansas on August 29 and it was reaggravated after the Talladega crash last Sunday. However, I have conducted an investigative report and have found the true cause of Dale's concussion.
Dale with a "friend" after the race. Notice Jr.'s head slamming the headboard. Concussion!
Also, NASCAR will be keeping close tabs on A.J. Allmendinger this weekend after this photo surfaced.
Okay here are your picks and the qualifying points:
Tony Stewart caused a 25 car pileup in turn four on the last lap of the race in Talladega on Sunday. Even though the 14 caused the wreck, it is just a product of racing at Talladega. In fact, the other drivers were not necessarily upset with Stewart, but they were upset with NASCAR. The current rule package that NASCAR has in effect was the real cause of the crash. Cars can't stay tucked in behind each other for long because of the small grill openings that NASCAR dictates. The drivers don't mind the pack racing. What they mind is always having to stick the noses of their cars out to get clean air. This makes them loose as well as the cars around them and thus you get this crazy racing. NASCAR really needs to change the racing package. One bit of good news is that NASCAR will be making some much needed changes in the qualifying format for next year. The "top 35" rule will be done away with starting in 2013. Currently, the rule states that any car that is in the top 35 in owner's points, is guaranteed to have a starting spot in that week's race. NASCAR hasn't yet said what the new rules will exactly be, but I would assume that they are trying to make qualifying more meaningful. The one major hurdle for NASCAR will be how to handle the sponsors. Say for example, that the new rule states that the top 43 cars in qualifiyng will make the race, no matter where the car stands in owner's points. Let's say that the 88 crashes in qualifying. How will Amp Energy like it if their 20 million dollar investment is not in the race. It will be interesting to see how NASCAR handles it. Now on to this week's race. The Chase moves to another one of the, seemingly endless, 1.5 mile speedways. This Saturday night the race is at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Charlotte is a fact track and is taxing on the engines, so the engine package is especially important. The Hendrick cars (and the 14 who uses Hendrick engines) are always strong at Charlotte, in particular the 48 and the 5. Rousch teamates Biffle and Kenseth are very good at Charlotte and combined have led the most laps in the last four races. All three Joe Gibbs cars have been strong the last 2 years. The Penske Dodges have struggled here lately but Keselowski is on quite a roll and should have a good finish. The 29 of Kevin Harvick has been the only RCR car that has had recent success at Charlotte. The MWR cars have struggled a bit at Charlotte this year. As for the rest of the field, it's anybody's guess. This week the qualifying time is a little different. I will need your picks by 6 P.M. on Thursday. Repeating, 6 P.M. on Thursday.
Here are the results for the race, segment and for the year:
Week-Jeff 197, Brian 175, Toby 174, Chuck 162, Al 161, Norb 159, Neil 158, Michael 156, Jim 156, PT 155, Bauman 150, Cosmo 134, Brent 134, Terry 133, Freddy 129, Matt 103, Joe 94
Segment-PT 704, Jim 701, Al 693, Neil 690, Brian 683, Michael 675, Chuck 674, Bauman 667, Toby 664, Jeff 659, Norb 649, Freddy 638, Brent 634, Cosmo 612, Terry 602, Joe 596, Matt 578
Year-PT 5299, Cosmo 5138, Freddy 5135, Chuck 5030, Michael 4998, Brent 4931, Toby 4901, Al 4861, Joe 4817, Matt 4807, Norb 4781, Jim 4777, Brian 4715, Bauman 4700, Terry 4699, Neil 4603, Jeff 4512
Okay enough with the serious. It is time for another world tour. Due to the fact that the blog has been viewed now in Brazil, we shall tour that beautiful land.
Carnival in Rio. This is my favorite carnival ride.
Brazil has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world
Anaconda caught in Brazil. I would crap my pants.
Mrs. Tom Brady, Gisele Budchen, is from Brazil. What is she doing with him?
Hanging out, literally, at the beach.
Tom Brady's reaction when he found out Dale Jr. was dating Barishnykoz
When Adrienne first showed up for the beach volleyball class, the instructor told her to pick her seat.
The tapir is a 200 lb rodent that roams the wetlands of the Amazon Basin. A favorite food of the anaconda and cayman.
Not the real thing. Only sand sculptures on a Brazilian beach. I know cause last time I was in Brazil I got sand fleas in place not meant for sand fleas
Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio.
This is Freijoada. The national dish of Brazil. It contains beans and pigs ears and snouts and some beef parts. Yummy!
I swear I am liking soccer more and more. This soccer fan is into astronomy. She is pointing out the constellation aerola.
Two time Indy 500 champ Helio Castroneves is from Brazil. He should drink the milk from the soccer astronomer girl
Another excited soccer fan. As you can tell she likes to blow.
Brazilian model Lima. She is the breast model I have ever seen.
The slums of Sao Paulo. Looks just like East St. Louis.
Singer, Shakira is from Brazil
as is soccer star, Ronaldo
Family bath time in the rain forest.
Paula Abdul is of Brazilian decsent.
The Brazilian Womens Soccer team goalie made an incredible save. Then. timeout was called to deodorize the ball
Girl reacts to getting her first Brazilian Wax job
This is not a Brazilian wax but it is funny as hell. Steve Carrell actually was waxed for this scene. Very foul language so don't listen with children around.
Remember last year when Kasey Kahne put on his Facebook page that he hates when women breast feed in public. Kahne caught lots of flack for that post. Well why then, would he wear a cap that makes his head look like a big white boob?
Okay, the field is set for Talladega. This is one of those rare tracks where you can win from any starting position. There is a good chance that one of the favorites to win the Cup Championship will have some kind of incident during the race. The Hendrick cars look like they have a lot of horse power under the hood. The RCR cars didnt have a very good qualifying, but they usually dont at Talladega. But they always seem to run well and avoid "the big one". Same could be said for Joe Gibbs Racing. Rousch/Fenway Racing has been struggling lately and I don't know what to expect from them. The two Stewart/Haas drivers had good qualifying runs and they use Hendrick engines so they will have plenty of power, but the 39 has struggled recently at Talladega and the 14 has been in a funk lately. Both Penske drivers qualified well, and if Brad Keselowki can get through Talladega unscathed, the Chase will be his to lose. Okay here are the picks and qualifying results.
The top 15 in qualifying were: 5, 39, 15, 14, 16, 24, 99, 21, 56, 22, 55, 88, 18, 20, 17
I have to work tomorrow, so I am recording the race. Don't ruin it for me. Oh, I almost forgot, the blog as had hits from some new countries this week. You can now look forward to tours of Australia, Taiwan, Brazil, Belgium, Guatamala and Belize. Six races left and six tours so it will work out perfectly.
Brad Keselowski has won two of the first three races in the chase. Clearly he is a serious threat to win the championship this year. In theory, all of the chasers still have a chance to win the Sprint Cup Championship, but in reality I think it is down to Keselowski, Hamlin or Johnson. The best thing for NASCAR would be for Keselowski or Hamlin to win it. The fans are getting tired of a little Johnson. So is my wife for that matter. But that's beside the point. Anyway, this week's race is the wildcard. Talladega baby!!! Anything can happen at that place. It could really change the standings in the Chase and the standings in our league. I need your picks by 11 A.M. on Saturday. Good luck to you.
Week-Jim 196, Brian 195, Toby 191, Chuck 190, Michael 187, PT and Al 185, Freddy and Neil 183, Jeff 181, Terry 180, Bauman 178, Joe 172, Norb 164, Cosmo 162, Matt 159, Brent 146
Segment-PT 549, Jim 545, Al and Neil 532, Michael 519, Bauman 517, Chuck 512, Freddy 509, Brian 508, Joe 502, Brent 500, Toby and Norb 490, Cosmo 478, Matt 475, Terry 469, Jeff 462
Overall-PT 5144, Freddy 5006, Cosmo 5004, Chuck 4868, Michael 4842, Brent 4797, Toby 4727, Joe 4723, Matt 4704, Al 4700, Norb 4622, Jim 4621, Terry 4566, Bauman 4550, Brian 4540, Neil 4445, Jeff 4315
Unless some people from different countries view the blog, our tours of the world are almost over. After today's tour, we only have two countries left to tour. This week we are going to Latvia. I must admit that this tour was a little tougher to conduct. So before the tour begins a quick lesson on Latvia.
The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 28% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004. Latvia is in Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania. The ethnic makeup consists of Latvians, Russians, Poles, Belarus and Finns. The main religions are Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Catholic and other Protestant religions. Latvia has second lowest life expectancy in Europe. In part, this is due to the "Obamacare Style" healthcare system. People have to wait for weeks to simply get a doctor's appoinment and many people are beyond saving by the time they get to see a healthcare provider. It is what we here in the good old U S of A have to look forward to. Let the tour begin.
Latvia has a large population of beaver
Latvia Has a large population of beaver
Latvia also has a large porn population like Ines here
Peter Falk is of Latvian heritage
Porn star Angelica
Traditional Latvian dress
Like Amsterdam, prostitution is legal
Porn star Drzoda
Like Amsterdam, Latvia has several hookah bars
LPGA golfer Natalie Gulbis is of Latvian heritage
Fahion model Butane. She is hot
Though born in St. Louis, Buddy Ebsen is Latvian
Porn star Inga
Latvia has numerous strip clubs and massage parlors
Porn star Yanna
Porn star Brita. I wonder if the Brita Co. filters their water thru her panties? You like the water smooth or chunky?
Ballet dancer Barishnykov. He is currently dating Dale Jr.
I told you Latvia has a large beaver population
More Natalie Gulbis. This pic does something for my putter
Here is Latvia
Potatoes are a staple of their diet. I think I'll pass
Another nameless porn star, not that they need names, just holes.
I am thinking about planning a Latvian vacation now. Legal drugs, legal prostitution, numerous strip clubs and massage parlors. Sounds like paradise.
This is the only clip I could find about Latvia. It is a quick so listen carefully
A continuation of the last clip. This is all I got for Latvia.
