Bring It On!

Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond Virginia!

 

Boy what a battle on the track with this race!!!   It was a sit at the edge of your seat with this one as the driver’s really race for the chase!

 

For Earnhardt, it's the beginning of the end of one chapter of his career, his long association with Dale Earnhardt Inc., which concludes with the season's final event.  His move to Hendrick Motorsports is now but 10 races away.   There is no longer a championship, a big picture, to compete for.   There are only smaller goals, and a finite amount of time, before this new episode of his life opens to the world.   With six laps remaining and Earnhardt running third, Jr met with an unfortunate engine blow giving him a DNF that left Earnhardt 198 points shy of the Chase!

 

Jimmy Johnson is the driver no one wants to get hot, but the defending series champion and his No. 48 Chevrolet are heating up at just the right time.   The Victory was Johnson's second in a row and sixth of the season.   He'll start with a 20-point lead on Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon when the Chase begins September 16 at New Hampshire International Speedway.   Jimmie Johnson will lead the pack when the Chase begins.   Gordon still a driver to beat Chase and season schedule.

 

Tony Stewart's Chevrolet finished second 3.007 seconds behind. The Ford of rookie David Ragan was third, with Gordon's Chevrolet in fourth. Johnny Sauter posted a career-best finish of fifth in his Chevrolet.

 

Local favorite Denny Hamlin ended up sixth.   Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch and J.J. Yeley rounded out the top 10.

 

There were 15 lead changes among 12 drivers, and 12 caution periods that included two red flags gobbled up 70 of the 400 laps. Johnson's average speed was 91.813 mph.

 

So there you have it!    What did you think about the race?

 

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP

WELCOME

HI,  I'm Di (aka) di8828 and I'm a blogger here at FOX.    It was suggested to me that I should push this as a regular basis kind of game and I agreed and thought it would be a great idea so thanks Daytona Frank!!!    So here I am and I shall be your host for this new game to play with all fellow bloggers here so here we GO......with Di's NFL "Lets-Pick'em"

 

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?????

It's the last of Pre-Season, Do you know your FOOTBALL?    Well, prove it and take the challenge!!!   Let's see just how well you know your FOOTBALL by picking the teams from the schedule list below and show me how well you know your games and teams!    My picks are bold and underlined, so which do you disagree with on my picks given?   Let me know and have some fun with "Let's Pick'em" so BLOG ON with FOOTBALL here at FOX and let's get this party started!   Let's Get-R-Done!!!!

 

AUG. 30

Buffalo at Detroit

N.Y. Giants at New England

N.Y. Jets at Philadelphia

Washington at Jacksonville

Cleveland at Chicago

Dallas at Minnesota

Green Bay at Tennessee

Houston at Tampa Bay

Kansas City at St. Louis

Miami at New Orleans

Pittsburgh at Carolina

Arizona at Denver

Oakland at Seattle

San Francisco at San Diego

 

AUG. 31

Baltimore at Atlanta

Indianapolis at Cincinnati

 

Go Ahead and make your challenge picks!!!   Let's have some fun!!!

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP

NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol Tennessee, which is also my home town and one of the biggest things that happen for the NASCAR  hillbilly fans there.

 

It was the first Nextel Cup race on Bristol's repaved racetrack, and the new concrete contributed to thrilling races for the Truck Series and Busch Series earlier in the week. Everyone expected the same results for the Cup event, but it was slow in developing as the race began with 126 uneventful parade laps.

 

Then Johnny Sauter spun into the wall to bring out the first caution, and Kahne had to use a spectacular move to avoid plowing into him as he passed by the accident scene.

 

Racing soon resumed until Denny Hamlin's motor exploded in a puff of white smoke to bring out the second caution. Hamlin, a threat to win here in March, thought he could have contended had his engine not failed. Regardless, he was confident of his championship hopes.

 

The racing finally heated up from there, as a frustrated Jimmie Johnson nudged the lapped car of Aric Almirola as he tried to pass. It sent Almirola into A.J. Allmendinger and brought out the third caution of the race.

 

A sense of urgency seemed to soon take over, as drivers turned it up a notch and began racing side-by-side for position. It set up a fabulous chase between Edwards, Earnhardt and Kahne with 166 laps to go, as the three jockeyed for the lead.  Kahne started from the pole and was looking for his second win in as many nights -- he won Friday night's Busch Series event -- and it looked early as if he'd get it as he led 305 of the 500 laps.

 

They went inside and out in a three-wide battle for the lead that was hampered by Michael Waltrip's lapped car. Edwards finally prevailed, taking Earnhardt with him as they sliced past Kahne.

Edwards then pulled far away and wasn't challenged over five restarts in the final 125 laps.

 

Edwards passed Kasey Kahne for the lead with 166 laps to go and wasn't challenged the rest of the way as he drove to his second victory of the season.

 

Beating Kahne to the line by 1.405 seconds, Carl Edward’s takes the checkered flag for the WIN to Victory Lane, then did his trademark backflip on the finish line to celebrate with his team mates.  Carl Edwards picked up another 10 bonus points to use in his pursuit of the Nextel Cup title with a dominating victory at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

Trivial Question:   Which NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers have the most wins at Bristol Motor Speedway?     Answer: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson (four wins each), Tony Stewart (three).

 

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP

Make Your Picks with NFL Pre Season Games

Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL!!!    How well do you know your football?    Let’s see how you fair during Pre Season Games with your picks then just for fun.........

 

August 24    Ten vs Buf                   Ten

Friday           NE vs Car                   NE

                     STL vs Oak                STL

August 25    Det vs Indi                   Indi

Saturday       TB vs Mia                    Mia

                     NYJ vs NYG              NYG

                     San vs Chi                   Chi

                     Bal vs Was                  Bal

                     Dal vs Hou                  Dal

                     Min vs Sea                  Sea

                     Cle vs Den                  Den

                     SD vs Ari                    Ari

August 26    Phi vs Pit                     Phi

Sunday

August 27    Cin vs Atl                    Atl

Monday

 

 

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP

Nextel Cup Racing Centurion Boats at the Glen Sports from Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, NY

 Road courses are always a challenge for NASCAR drivers where anything and everything can happen on the track with these drivers and race strategy is the key for this race track.   Tempers can really become flared up and so it did with this race!

 

Boris Said, an awesome road course racer, did not get to qualify for this race so Bill Elliott offered Boris his #21 car for this race.   Boris was grateful for this offer and so drove the #21 car in the race hoping to show a great gratitude by racing for a win.

 

With 15 laps to go a big wreck happened with major flaring of tempers between #42 Montoya and #29 Harvick shared angry words, threats, and actions with each other!  Once Montoya grabbed Harvick’s helmet it became more intense….like two Darf Vader’s having it out face to face!  Following an interview of what happened; Harvick not only takes a hit on points but may have added to the fire by fully admitting on the air that he wanted to kick Montoya’s Ass!   Looks like a possible fine for Harvick!

 

So far close to a million dollars in fines has been collected by NASCAR and the talk of donating it to charity may become a reality.

 

Following that crash, the race was Red Flagged holt on the race leaving the drivers sitting for a while giving drivers time to cool off and clean up of the track leaving 35 car left on the lead lap!  Harvick’s crew works hard to getting him back on the track to try and save him on points and gets back into the race on the 13th lap with Jeff Gordon leading the pack with team mates Stewart & Hamlin fighting for Gordon for the lead position.   Montoya joins back in on the racing as well but doing this as a solo without a crew chief, but showing six laps down his car looses power having to be pushed off the track again and not able to finish the race today.

 

Jeff Gordon spins around losing his position with 2 laps to go giving Stewart the lead and Edwards fights him for the lead…Stewart trying to make his 3rd win in 4 races battles Edwards for the win…Edwards spins off the track on the last lap and Stewart TAKES THE CHECKERED FLAG WITH THE WIN at Watkins Glen and heads to Victory Lane!!!

 

This was an exciting race, full of action in many different ways!   Just like I said, anything and everything happened today with this race showing road rage in the track!!!

 

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP

NASCAR RACING

August 05, 2007

Pocono Nextel Pennsylvania 500 Sports Race at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond Pa

“What a race track for racing with it’s leaning triangle shaped driving style for racing”

 

Trivial Questions:

Which driver was able to walk away from a fatal wreck at Pocono?    Answer:  Davy Allison!

Which driver has the most lead laps at Pocono?   Answer: Jeff Gordon leading 168 laps in 1998.

 

Will Tony Stewart win his three in a row races and join the list of three other Nextel Cup drivers?  The “Here Kitty, Kitty” turns to Kitty Litter for Tony with this race!   Sorry Tony!!!

 

Earnhardt, while trying to break a 46 loosing streak, takes the lead at lap 56 with Kurt Busch trailing behind continuing to lead the race till Kurt Busch takes the lead back from him with 41 laps to go in the race.

 

Pit stops for some drivers gained positions for these drivers.   Pit crews earns deserving points for the great jobs they did for their teams!

 

David Ragan spends out bringing up a caution just following the scheduled pit stops; luckily Kyle Busch just misses him in the spin out while Kyle continues to have problem and bad luck going for him turns with some good luck dodging Ragan.

 

With 29 cars on the lead lap, the chase for the race begins with thoughts of a caution for fresh news ties and strategy…..be careful what you wish for….Caution called with a chain reaction crash when Carl Edwards got into the 41 Sorenson with 19 laps to go in the race that 5 car crash.

 

As the chase continues Kurt Bush and Earnhardt leads with the restart when the chase for the race goes full force.   Denny Hamlin gives his all working his way up to join the lead chase trailing behind Earnhardt.

 

With 52 races since his last win to Victory Lane….Kurt Busch takes the Win at Pocono!!!

 

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP

The Busch Race ends with Harvick is declared as the winner out of three claims. So what caused this to happen where three drivers say and claim the victory?

By Jenna Fryer

MONTREAL -- Kevin Harvick held off hometown star Patrick Carpentier to win the inaugural Busch Series race in Canada on Saturday, but Robby Gordon defiantly tried to claim the victory in a controversial finish that thrilled the crowd and infuriated NASCAR.

Marcos Ambrose was headed toward what would have been his first NASCAR victory when Gordon passed him after a restart with four laps to go as several cars crashed behind them. Gordon was out front for mere seconds before Ambrose nudged him from behind to send him into a spin as Ambrose reclaimed the lead.

Gordon was stuck idling on the historic Circuit Gilles Villanueva as the field roared by him under caution. When he recovered, he raced back to the front and gave Ambrose a retaliatory bump, then tried to move into the first position behind the pace car.

Confusing ending!!! Three drivers did burnouts as the final laps of Montreal's inaugural Busch race left most viewers speechless.

Gordon believed he was in first -- and at worst, second -- when the caution waved. But NASCAR said the spin left him unable to maintain his position and ordered him back to 13th.

He refused to drop back, and was in the second position behind Ambrose when the race resumed with three to go. NASCAR immediately stopped scoring him, but Gordon continued to race on.

Gordon knocked Ambrose out of his way and moved into the unofficial lead, but NASCAR refused to acknowledge him and waved the black flag every time he sped past the flag stand.

Andy Pilgrim was behind Gordon but ran out of gas, putting Harvick into the lead with Montreal native Carpentier right behind him. Carpentier made an attempt to get past Harvick, but when the move failed, he faded back and never mounted another challenge as Harvick rolled to the win.

But Gordon was also celebrating, doing victory burnouts on the track at the same time as Harvick.

"I won the race," Gordon said after exiting his car.

NASCAR officials left the scoring tower and went straight to their office, where Gordon met those minutes after climbing from his car. He left the meeting with a copy of the rule book, but he was still seething.

"You always go back to your position if you get spun out, and [Ambrose] spun me under the caution," Gordon said. "They told me originally to go back to second place, and I went back to second place. Then halfway around the last [caution] lap, they said to go back to 13th place or 14th place, something like that.

"I was never running 13th or 14th, so I don't know what to say."

NASCAR president Mike Helton and Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition, declined to comment when they left their office after the meeting with Gordon. The executives headed straight to Pocono, Pa., for Sunday's Nextel Cup event, and there was rampant garage speculation that Gordon will be suspended from the event.

Max Papis finished third, Canadian Ron Fellows was fourth and Stephen Leicht rounded out the top five. Ambrose, who should have won, wound up seventh.

The wild ending capped a brilliant weekend for NASCAR and Stock Car Montreal in their first partnership. A crowd of 68,150 began packing the grandstands hours before the race, and event organizers said the walk-up crowd was the best the circuit has ever drawn.

Although the annual Formula One event draws upward of 100,000 fans, organizers were ecstatic with their two-day total of 129,473 because no one was certain how the open-wheel crazed nation would accept the full-bodied stock cars.

"This has been better than we could have dreamed for," general manager Martin Spalding said.

NASCAR chairman Brian France agreed, as he and top series officials spent Saturday mingling and marveling over the reception.

"They have run big events here before, so we expected it to be an organized, well-done affair," France said. "And it has been."

This is NASCAR's second international trip -- the Busch Series has raced in Mexico City since 2005 -- as France tries to promote the brand on foreign soil. It helped tremendously that Carpentier and Fellows, two fan favorites, were in contention for the win and the crowd roared with approval every time they passed by.

"I could tell it was [Carpentier] behind me because the grandstands were waving everything they had at him," Harvick said. "I knew it wasn't for me."


Did you Watch or Record the race? On that could go down in the heat of history!!!

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP

NASCAR racing with the Allstate 400 at Brickyard Sports from Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana was a fight to the finish!   This Track is the Holy Grail for the Indiana people.

 

One of the competitor drivers was Jimmy Johnson whose car catches on fire eliminating him from the race along with singed eyebrows.

 

Another of the big competitor drivers to beat with the race was Earnhardt who was giving his all, making him a tuff competitor, but unfortunately lost his engine with 25 laps to go taking him out of the race completely.     Most Unfortunate Luck for Dale and his fans!!!!

 

The battle between two good friends off the track, Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick gets pretty intense during the last 10 laps of the race which also gave the race some real excitement.   Tony’s mentioned statements while driving was “Here Kitty Kitty” as he gave them all a run for the win becoming victorious at the BRICKYARD!

 

#20 Tony Stewart takes another win throughout his career on one of his most favorite tracks with NASCAR racing!!!!   He did it his way!!!    Tony the Tiger does it again!!!

 

WHAT A RACE!!!!

 

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP

Indianapolis Motor Speedway NASCAR Busch Race

Jason Leffler's second career NASCAR Busch Series victory was much more memorable than his first.

Leffler took the lead from Greg Biffle with two laps to go in the Kroger 200 on Saturday night and raced to his first Busch win in three years -- and Toyota's first victory ever in the series.

Biffle led on Lap 191 before a caution brought the field together at O'Reilly Raceway Park. Leffler took the lead on Lap 197, then jockeyed with Biffle for a while before finishing strong.

Biffle, who led the most laps with 94, hasn't won this season and had only one top-five finish in 18 starts before Saturday's race. He said he was happy with the high finish, but he struggled with the car.

Leffler didn't lead until the final laps but Leffler charges late at ORP winning his second NBS race and also makes history with Toyota’s first NASCAR Busch Series Victory.
CONGRADULATIONS JASON!!!!!

Did you catch the Race?

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP

Daytona is another word for SPEED.........

In 1936, the precursor to today’s Daytona 500 was born on a course that went down 1.5 miles of highway, then turned and came the same distance back up the beach.    Daytona International Speedway opened in 1959, but daring men have tested the limits of man and machine in Daytona Beach, Fla., for more than a century.     William H.G. France, a mechanic and racer who’d moved south from Washington, D.C., eventually took over the job of running the beach races on the second of two courses used for those events. In 1947, he presided over a meeting at Daytona’s Streamline Hotel where NASCAR was born.

When drivers gathered for the first Daytona 500, it was an eye-popping experience. Drivers were more accustomed to half-mile dirt tracks and saw the 1.366-mile paved track at Darlington as vast.    A trip around Daytona International Speedway was 2.5 miles. From Turn 1, Turn 3 looked like it was in a different county.

Daytona International Speedway renovated its infield before the 2005 Daytona 500 to add a "Fan Zone" that allows fans to buy tickets giving them one of the best up-close views of a NASCAR garage and other special amenities.

In 1998, in his 20th try, seven-time Cup series champion Dale Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500.    But three years later, on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, Earnhardt died in a Turn 4 crash in a moment that changed the sport forever.

During the Pepsi 400 Weekend, race fans will get a sneak preview for the 50th running of the Daytona 500. Former Daytona 500 champions including 2007 winner Kevin Harvick, 1980 winner Buddy Baker, 1960 winner Junior Johnson, 1990 winner Derrike Cope and 1970 winner Pete Hamilton will participate in a special ceremony at the Daytona 500 Experience Friday, July 6 at 11 a.m. Harvick will have his hands, right foot and signature immortalized in cement for the Daytona 500 Champion's Walk of Fame while former Daytona 500 champions Baker, Johnson, Cope and Hamilton will have their right foot immortalized in cement for the Goodyear Heritage of Daytona exhibit.

On Saturday, July 7 in the NEXTEL FANZONE, Daytona 500 champions, including seven-time winner Richard Petty, three-time winner Bobby Allison, 1989 winner Darrell Waltrip, 1991 winner Ernie Irvan, Johnson and Hamilton, will participate in question-and-answer sessions with race fans.

Now the Pepsi 400 Weekend is finally upon us....Besides the exciting thrill of racing that will come with the tripleheader of races - Thursday's Brumos Porsche 250, Friday's Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo and Saturday's Pepsi 400, there are several key storylines and activities that race fans should keep their eye on.    What a weekend schedule for feeling the need for SPEED!    

I don't know about you but people "I Feel the need, the need for SPEED"    So..... "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines"

"Daytona International Speedway Racing Fans in the Stands"....Do you feel the need...the need for SPEED?

Will you be at the Pepsi 400 weekend of racing?

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP

Community sports may be a past time within communities these day because of all the changes going on throughout.   We use to have softball teams playing against one another every weekend and was a great way to have families get together for a little competition between Bithlo and Chuluota.   Our get together and sport was played at the Bithlo Elementary School during summer break on their baseball field.   This was many years ago now and I can't help but wonder if things like this are still going on around other areas.

It seems sports competition has been the past time event among families and friends, rather it be softball, volleyball, or bowling!   So what has happened to change this now?   It was an excellent way to get exersize, be with friends, make new friends, and a great reason to get out and have some pure down right inocent fun along with your surrounding communities!   It is something I must say have missed and wish I could get back into it but now with my own business it seems the time to have to do these kind of things have now become that past time with my 6 to 7 day's a week schedule.   If only I could again I would!

So I would like very much to know if anyone out their still has some sort of community sports a going on out there still.   Did you or have you now have a family sport competition within your community?

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP 

Nextel Cup: Toyota/Save Mart 350 from Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, Covered by TNT

This track isn’t your usual left turns; it goes both ways with Left and Right turns. “As you know…brake-gas-brake-gas-clutch brake gas-brake-gas”…you know the drill! Fuel was another issue to the end of this race…Montoya takes the lead with 7 laps to go for the first time this season and looking for his first win in Nextel Cup series but again fuel is in the question to complete the race to the win. And number 42 Montoya WINS for the very first time to Victory Lane!

There are those NASCAR fans who think this kind of track racing and the track in Mexico City, they feel it is not NASCAR and this track should be eliminated from NASCAR. The reasons for this opinion with those fans vary. “It is still racing….it is also a different challenge in driving and racing with a different kind of battle for the drivers”

But some just does not care for Road Races over the usual Left turn tracks and thinks it’s a waste of talent with driving….”HELLO…wouldn’t it be a talent to be able to go both ways as a change to the usual same o same o!” “I can not understand for the life of me WHY they would think like that!”

Trivial Question…Who is the only driver to complete in every race this season through to the last lead lap?
Answer…Juan Pablo Montoya

How do you feel about the different track styles of racing in NASCAR?

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP

That's right...Dale Jr has signed on the dotted line carring Sony Electronics as a new Sponcer with Hendricks Motor Sports for next season!

I can't Wait.......but since I must, I must wait, I will at least want that Preview of his next years Ride To Drive!!!

Budwiser is out...and Sony is in!

What do you think?

The NASCAR Nextel Cup: Citizens Bank 400 at the International Speedway in Brooklyn Michigan was a beautiful day for racing and boy what a race!!! Full of excitement along with it’s share of wrecks…Bing Bang Booms…and frustrations among the Drivers with other drivers and of course their Pit Crews!

Tires were an important factor on this trac and the drivers and crews really handled their share of troubles along with dealing with fuel towards the end of the laps to finish the race. Jimmy Johnson, while running in the top 10, unfortunately ran out of fuel with only 8 laps to go putting him a lap down.

Carl Edwards hasn’t won in the last 52 races with any victories but he led the final laps with Truex Jr trailing behind him giving him a race for this Michigan win…And with his 5th career win.....Carl Edwards takes the checkered flag!!! A come back for Carl Edwards’s with another Win to Victory Lane (along with his flip of course)!!!


Trivial question: Who was the only NASCAR driver to win both the first and last races in Michigan?

Answer: My All Time Favorite Driver and Always in my Heart, none other then....Davey Allison 1987!!!

Are you a NASCAR Fan...Who is your Favorite Driver? That's all this NASCAR Fan would like to know!!!!

HERE'S SOMETHING FOR ALL YOU NASCAR FANS! By David Caraviello, NASCAR.COM June 12, 2007 Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., racing together as teammates -- it's a powerhouse combination of megawatt marketability that will become reality at Hendrick Motorsports next year. Earnhardt has scheduled an 11 a.m. ET news conference at his JR Motorsports shop in Mooresville, N.C., during which he will announce his plans for next season, according to a team spokesman. Sources have indicated to NASCAR.COM that those plans center on Hendrick Motorsports, the most successful organization in Nextel Cup this season, with 10 race victories in 14 starts. Junior leaving DEI Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of this season. Complete Coverage, click here Sources also told NASCAR.COM that Earnhardt will replace Kyle Busch, who will not be in Hendrick's No. 5 car next season. A Hendrick spokesman declined to comment, while a JR Motorsports spokesman would confirm only that Wednesday's announcement concerned Earnhardt's plans for 2008 and beyond. Earnhardt has been looking for a new ride since he announced his plans to split from Dale Earnhardt Inc when his contract expires at the end of this season. Hendrick, with six total championships on NASCAR's premier series, fits with Earnhardt's desires to drive for a contender and to continue to pilot Chevrolets. The Hendrick team also had ties to Earnhardt's late father, who shook down the first car the organization ever built, and was behind the wheel when team owner Rick Hendrick recorded his first NASCAR victory in a Busch race at Charlotte in 1983. Earnhardt Jr.'s car sponsor, Budweiser, also appeared on Hendrick cars in the mid-1990s, but indications are that the beer company may not follow its new driver to his new team. Earnhardt has only a personal services deal remaining with Budweiser for next season, opening the possibility that he could step into the same Kellogg's-backed car that Busch drives now. The Sporting News Wire Service reports that the Budweiser brand that sponsors the No. 8 DEI car will not be involved in Wednesday's news conference in any way. Nor has Budweiser been part of Earnhardt's negotiations with potential new employers, according to Anheuser-Busch spokesperson Brian Eaton. Earnhardt and his manager, sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, have spoken with a number of unspecified team owners since the driver's impending departure from DEI was announced May 10. Three Chevy teams -- Hendrick, Richard Childress Racing, and Joe Gibbs Racing -- emerged as frontrunners, with Ginn Racing lurking as a dark horse. But Childress, owner of the team that fielded cars for Earnhardt's father, was on a hunting expedition Tuesday in New Zealand, and not expected to return until the end of the week. The Gibbs team has expressed unease with the presence of a beer sponsor, as well as the idea of a rapid expansion to a fourth team. Team president J.D. Gibbs is also out of the office this week on vacation, according to his assistant. The addition of Earnhardt leaves Hendrick with a 2008 lineup that also includes four-time champion Gordon, reigning Nextel Cup champ Jimmie Johnson, and Casey Mears, who won his first race on NASCAR's premier circuit last month at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Now add to that mix the sport's most popular driver, with 17 career race wins, three career finishes inside the top five in final points, and a legion of devoted, red-clad fans. As recently as last month, any potential marriage between Hendrick and Earnhardt seemed unlikely. Hendrick's team is already at NASCAR's impending four-car limit, and has four drivers under contract beyond this season. Asked by reporters whether his team could accommodate Earnhardt, Hendrick said there was "no room at the inn." But now, apparently, there is. The impending departure of Busch, a four-time Nextel Cup race winner whose contract expires after the 2008 season, will make teammates out of Earnhardt and Gordon, the two biggest names in the sport, in an alliance made in marketing heaven. ________________________________________________ I Want to share this with everyone who is a NASCAR Race Fan like I am! So...What do you think? Dangerous combination Smart move with Busch! BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP