Def Secy Rumsfeld at Richmond Nascar Race - Live Thread (on TNT at 7pm EDT / 4 pm PDT)

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[WestCoastGal]

NASCAR CHEVY ROCK & ROLL 400

***Richmond Int'l Raceway***

[WestCoastGal]

LENGTH: Three-Quarter Mile, measured 15 feet in from retaining wall.

SHAPE: "D" Shaped Oval

WIDTH: Constant 60-foot width with 10-foot apron.

88888888888888888888 ~~~WINNER MAY 2004~~~88888888888888888888

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

[WestCoastGal]

9-11 TRIBUTE.....NEVER FORGET

CLICK HERE (Slow loading without cable modem)

Please take a few minutes to watch and listen to this collection of pictures and sounds of what happened on 9-11. Please say a prayer for those souls who were murdered on that day by the terrorscum.

This thread is dedicated to those who died on 9-11-01 and to our men and women in the military who are in harms way every day protecting us from these butchers. They keep us safe, they protect us, some gave the ultimate sacrifice for us so that we have the freedom to enjoy our lives each and every day. We will remember them always, we will never forget!!!!

FREE REPUBLIC CANTEEN

[WestCoastGal]

Broadcast

Date

Time

Event

09|08|04

12:30 p.m.

Team haulers enter

09|08|04

2 p.m.

Garage opens

09|09|04

6 a.m.

Team haulers enter

09|09|04

7 a.m.

Garage opens

09|09|04

9 a.m.

Spotters meeting

09|09|04

9 a.m.

Mandatory rookie drivers meeting

09|09|04

9 a.m.

Drawing for qualifying order

09|09|04

10 a.m.

Kroger 200 practice

09|09|04

11 a.m.

Mandatory rookie drivers meeting

09|09|04

11 a.m.

Drawing for qualifying order

09|09|04

11 a.m.

Spotters meeting

09|09|04

Noon

Emerson Radio 250 practice

09|09|04

2:05 p.m.

Kroger 200 Bud Pole qualifying

09|09|04

3:30 p.m.

Emerson Radio 250 Busch Pole qualifying

09|09|04

5:45 p.m.

Mandatory drivers and crew chiefs meeting

09|09|04

6:15 p.m.

Emerson Radio 250 final practice

09|09|04

7:15 p.m.

Kroger 200

09|09|04

7:30 p.m.

Kroger 200

09|09|04

8:30 p.m.

Kroger 200

09|10|04

5:30 a.m.

Team haulers enter

09|10|04

7 a.m.

Garage opens

09|10|04

10:20 a.m.

Mandatory rookie drivers meeting

09|10|04

10:20 a.m.

Drawing for qualifying order

09|10|04

10:20 a.m.

Spotters meeting

09|10|04

11:20 a.m.

Chevy Rock and Roll 400 practice

09|10|04

1 p.m.

Garage opens

09|10|04

1 p.m.

Garage opens

09|10|04

2 p.m.

Live From the Track with Claire B. Lang

09|10|04

3 p.m.

Chevy Rock and Roll 400 Bud Pole qualifying

09|10|04

3 p.m.

Chevy Rock and Roll 400 Bud Pole qualifying

09|10|04

5:45 p.m.

Mandatory drivers and crew chiefs meeting

09|10|04

6 p.m.

Chevy Rock and Roll 400 final practice

09|10|04

7 p.m.

Emerson Radio 250

09|10|04

7:45 p.m.

Emerson Radio 250

09|10|04

8 p.m.

Emerson Radio 250

09|11|04

1:30 p.m.

Garage opens

09|11|04

5:30 p.m.

Mandatory drivers and crew chiefs meeting

09|11|04

6 p.m.

Chevy Rock and Roll 400

09|11|04

7 p.m.

Chevy Rock and Roll 400

09|11|04

7 p.m.

Chevy Rock and Roll 400

[WestCoastGal]

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will be attending the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Nextel Cup event and participating in prerace ceremonies at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday night. RIR officials confirmed a formal announcement will be made today concerning the race, which is being held on the third anniversary of Sept. 11. Rumsfeld, who is attending his first NASCAR race, will become the second member of the Bush administration welcomed at a Cup race this year. President Bush gave the command to start engines at the season-opening Daytona 500.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(9-8-2004)

[WestCoastGal]

One More Race to get in the 'Chase': With one race remaining, there is still time to secure a place in the final top-10 before the race for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup begins in earnest in two weeks at New Hampshire. As much as 156 points can change within one race, based on the difference of a first-place finish leading the most laps (190 points) as opposed to a 43rd-place finish (34 points). All of the top-15 points positions following California are separated by less than 156 points, meaning all of those positions conceivably can change hands at Richmond International Raceway.

As a result of their finishes in the Pop-Secret 500 at California Speedway, two more drivers have clinched a spot in the Chase for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, They join Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. who clinched at Bristol:

Drivers Locked in the Chase / Points ahead of 11th

Jimmie Johnson 449

Jeff Gordon 399

Dale Earnhardt Jr 333

Tony Stewart 271

Matt Kenseth 220

Elliott Sadler will be assured a spot in the final top-10 if he starts at Richmond because he is more than 156 points ahead of 11th-place Jamie McMurray. The rest of the top-10, Kurt Busch [needs to finish 42nd or better at RIR], Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, and Mark Martin, all could lose their top-10 ranking at Richmond.

The only drivers mathematically still eligible for a spot in the Chase for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup:

Pos Driver Ahead of 11th

7th Kurt Busch 153

8th Ryan Newman 45

9th Kasey Kahne 34

10th Mark Martin 25

Pos Driver Behind 10th

11th Jamie McMurray 25

12th Bobby Labonte 36

13th Dale Jarrett 43

14th Jeremy Mayfield 55

15th Kevin Harvick 56

Seven drivers in the top-10 in points changed positions at California Speedway.

A total of $970,103 will be paid to the driver who finishes 11th in the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, an increase of more than $400,000 over one year ago. That includes a $250,000 bonus, which will be paid to the 11th-place finisher [at the end of the year]. Additionally, the 11th-place driver will also join the top-10 drivers on the stage at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Awards Banquet in New York in December.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(9-6/7-2004)

Points to be reset...if there are more then 10 then.....: After this week's race at Richmond, those eligible for the championship chase will have their points reset. The points leader after Richmond will have a point total of 5,050 with each position after dropping by five points so that 10th place has 5,005 points. If there are more than 10 drivers, the 11th-place driver will have his total reset to 5000. If there are any other drivers who qualify, they also will be at 5,000 points, what happens to the rest of the drivers? Their points are scored the same, and for the rules and some info on the Chase, see my .(9-7-2004)

The Longest Line Rule: NASCAR officials reaffirmed in the drivers meeting that the car that gets its lap back [Lucky Dog ] in a restart must start at the tail end of the longest line. That car can move up before the restart only if other cars ahead pull to the bottom of the track in a sign for series officials that they're letting the car by.(9-7-2004)

[WestCoastGal]

Ping for the last race before the 10 race chase for the cup. Who will be in and who will be out? Don't miss it!!

[ChefKeith]

DANG IT BABY!!! Why don't You just hang the bar that the rest of Us thread posters are supposed to reach up on the ISS???

I Love You, 4 days to go...

[Fierce Allegiance]

Nice work!. Thanks for hosting again this week.

Hope they can dry Richmond up in time. They have been getting it good lately.

[WSGilcrest]

Rank	Team	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	Total
1	Rainbow Freeping Warriors	247	332	234	304	230	277	315	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6916
2	Wheels of Cheddar	212	323	313	310	342	228	255	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6886
3	20 Wins Again	288	217	202	294	248	252	282	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6791
4	bosco24	286	301	252	130	262	240	306	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6770
5	Thundering Herd of Turtles	306	202	252	252	288	242	219	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6754
6	JuniorsDreamTeam	223	285	306	276	276	271	189	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6734
7	fnord not ford	258	345	274	310	292	211	259	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6702
8	Norms Bar&Grill	281	264	354	312	214	289	276	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6678
9	Ward Burton's Translator	269	280	336	264	226	258	255	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6583
10	Bubba Q Racing	235	292	318	264	316	222	244	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6542
Theoretical Cutoff Point
11	Rexford's Rollers	323	295	294	208	192	240	243	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6470
12	weaken wariors	261	207	320	270	216	294	294	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6377
13	Dog Gone has fender damage	227	276	216	148	200	236	244	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6342
14	CarolinaGoldenKnight	318	263	281	210	234	213	318	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6340
15	Deadeye Racing	303	264	346	294	304	270	299	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6301
16	rednek's road apples	260	292	228	280	216	220	207	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6278
17	puny human number one	288	230	279	224	324	220	336	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6277
18	Elmo's socks	256	220	205	172	212	172	192	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6275
19	HersheyKiss	264	291	367	256	276	264	263	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6272
20	Dog Breath Racing	316	272	270	272	202	190	303	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6245
21	Fierceallegiance	152	320	323	250	316	158	311	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6223
22	Speed Stars	255	279	280	344	266	173	211	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6197
23	Benders de Fenders	314	230	216	262	292	219	328	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6148
24	cpprfld1	183	246	298	130	236	269	311	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6129
25	siouxland racing	265	355	260	194	256	220	290	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5987
26	Good Year Destroyers	269	186	180	146	284	272	255	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5919
27	Bodine's Secret Sponsor	212	329	350	178	110	70	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5912
28	firewallfoward	263	281	199	146	324	260	240	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5863
29	FR-Drago-Go#6!	270	282	204	196	86	285	259	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5826
30	Budman Racing	256	303	231	180	268	192	331	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5810
31	burning08	310	219	214	274	162	254	225	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5806
32	Seaside 3 wide sideslide (FBD)	185	331	189	126	268	254	181	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5591
33	Colonie TwinEngines	176	145	39	0	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5091
34	Dead snake driving	226	172	229	242	116	132	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4820
35	Afronauters	76	110	34	52	68	48	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3755
36	Maui No Ka Oi	88	90	38	92	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3503
37	countrydummie's boys	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3396
38	Godspeed Racing Team	100	53	82	82	90	81	81	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3365
39	Harvick's Rescue Rangers	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3157
40	Speedy	91	20	52	52	68	49	56	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3047
41	Marengo Short Tracks	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2884
42	Uzimati Racing	0	10	13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2604
43	Zionists	6	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2441
44	Bonforte Motorsports	5	0	0	0	0	0	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2327
45	Rodney King's Team	5	0	74	0	0	0	45	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2028

[flutters]

Thanks for the ping WCG. Again, the thread looks great. I love the tribute to 9/11. I think it's cool that Rumsfeld will be at the race. The prerace show is going to be awesome.

I'll be able to join the thread this weekend (as long as unexpected company doesn't show up).

In the race for the chase, I'm happy with the top 10 as it stands...three Roush drivers. Although, I wouldn't mind seeing McMurray & Labonte make the cutoff. The little evil side of me giggles that Harvick is out.

Don't forget the IROC SERIES is on the Speed Channel tonight at 7:30 p.m.!!!

[glock rocks]

Updating Doppler...

[WestCoastGal]

In case you weren't all confused enough on this points race for the championship.........here are a few more tidbits of info on the "you're either in or you're out scenario."

---

CONTENDER SCENARIOS:
15) #29-Kevin Harvick....has to gain 56 points on tenth place OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 80 points, Jeff Gordon by 30 points, and lose 36 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.

14) #19-Jeremy Mayfield....has to gain 55 points on tenth place OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 79 points, Jeff Gordon by 29 points, and lose 35 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.

13) #88-Dale Jarrett....has to gain 43 points on tenth place OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 67 points, Jeff Gordon by 17 points, and lose 49 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.

12) #Bobby Labonte....Has to gain 36 points on tenth place OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 60 points, Jeff Gordon by 10 points, and lose 56 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.

11) #42-Jamie Mcmurray....Has to gain 25 points on tenth place OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 49 points, lose by one point or less to Jeff Gordon, and lose 67 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.

10) #6-Mark Martin....Has to lose 24 points or less to five contenders OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 24 points, lose 26 points or less to Jeff Gordon, and lose 92 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.

9) #9-Kasey Kahne....Has to lose 33 points or less to five contenders OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 15 points, lose 35 points or less to Jeff Gordon, and 101 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.

8) #12-Ryan Newman....Has to lose 45 points or less to five contenders OR Has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 4 points, lose 46 points or less to Jeff Gordon, and 112 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.(9-9-2004)

---

YIKES????

[tubebender]

Good morning WSG. Lots of useful info here and a night race to boot. That leaves Sunday open for Mrs Bender and I to enjoy the local home garden tour with a detour to a casino.

As a little footnote to history, both of our Grandkids were born on 9/11 four years apart. Needless to say the party was canceled on 9/11/01...

[MoJo2001]

I'm excited for this one. My hubby and son will be attending Friday and Saturday. This will be the first NASCAR event for my son. I'm not sure I got good tickets, but I think they'll still enjoy it.

[WestCoastGal]

Sounds like a lot of fun and a great race to be at in person.

Hope everything has dried out now and the weather cooperates.

[WestCoastGal]

Should be great fun!!

So you all have those casinos up there too. We have about 8 here now, all indian with one owned by the Trumpster.

[MoJo2001]

Well, I think the worst of the rain will be through by tonight. The hubby was worried about that, but things should be okay. Today I have to find the little carry seats for the bleachers. I'm hoping Wally World (Walmart for everyone else) has them. If not, I don't know. UGH!!

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks flutters!

Poor Happy, he says now he doesn't have to look over his shoulder but the guys in front of him do. It's a go for broke night according to him. Look out!!

Remember last year when he and Rudd and their teams got into a cussing and shoving contest on pit road after the race with Kevin's guys walking over the top of RR's hood?

Yep both IROC and truck race on tonight. (Tony Stewart racing in trucks) 3 days of racing. Yippee!! ;-)

[WestCoastGal]

NOTE ON TV COVERAGE.

Not surprising, TNT will be all over the deciding race Saturday night.

At 7 p.m. ET, the prerace show from Richmond will feature interviews with each of the nine drivers that are going after the final four spots in the Chase. In addition, the on-air bunch will take a look back at how those involved in the battle got to where they are.

After the field is determined, TNT will present "The Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship Preview Show," a look at the championship field and a look ahead to the final 10 races of the season. That show will run from shortly after the checkered flag until midnight ET.

[Dead Corpse]

As long as Jr. finishes ahead of Jeff Gordon, I could care less who wins the Cup, or even this race. Johnson is one of the good guys, even if little E is a favorite in our house.

[NormsRevenge]

NASCAR Top 10: Richmond

September 7, 2004

The following is a glance at the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Top 10 in the championship entering Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway (7 p.m. ET, TNT), Race 26 of 36 on the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series schedule.

This is the final race that will determine which drivers will be part of the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup over the course of the final 10 races. The drivers who are in the Top 10 in addition to any within 400 points of the leader at the conclusion of the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 will vie for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series crown.

In addition to the series championship, there also will be competition for an enhanced 11th-place points finish over the final 10 races. This year 11th place will pay nearly $1 million; the 11th-place finisher will join the Top 10 at the NASCAR Nextel Cup Awards Ceremony in New York City.

• No. 1 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet). Team: Hendrick Motorsports. Points: 3482. Previous ranking: 2. Johnson finished 14th in Sunday's Pop Secret 500 at California Speedway, but the performance was enough to allow him to regain the No. 1 ranking from Hendrick teammate Jeff Gordon. Johnson, who spent the previous two weeks at No. 2, moved from 24 points down to 50 ahead of Gordon, who finished 37th, and was the only driver among the top five in the points to finish among the top 15 in Sunday's race. It marks his ninth week overall at No. 1, tying Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the most weeks at the top position. Johnson, who already has clinched a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup, has just one top-10 finish in five career starts at Richmond, but it did come in his most recent appearance earlier this season. It was a strong effort overall as he qualified fifth and led 91 laps en route to a runner-up finish to Earnhardt Jr. Also, he has finished inside the top 20 in his last four visits. He has been solid on the qualifying side with top-10 starts in three of his last four appearances, including a Bud Pole in September of 2002.

• No. 2 -- Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet). Team: Hendrick Motorsports. Points: 3432 (-50). Previous ranking: 1. Gordon finished 37th at California due to an engine problem and the performance cost him the No. 1 ranking he had held for the past two weeks. He fell to No. 2, 50 points behind Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson, as a result of his worst finish in the last 10 races, but already has clinched a berth for the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. Gordon will look to regain the No. 1 ranking at Richmond, where he owns an outstanding record that is buoyed by a pair of wins and 15 top-10 finishes in 23 career starts. His victories came in March of 1996 and again in September of 2000. The last win kicked off a current run in which he has posted top-10 finishes in five of his last eight appearances, including the last two. He led 126 laps and finished 10th in this race last season and followed with a sixth earlier this year. He has led laps in 16 of his 23 starts, including his last three. Gordon has been an exceptional qualifier at Richmond with four Bud Poles and 18 top-10 starts, including six of his last seven.

• No. 3 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet). Team: Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Points: 3366 (-116). Previous ranking: 3. Earnhardt Jr. finished 34th due to an accident, but was able to maintain the No. 3 ranking for the sixth consecutive week and already has clinched a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. He is one of four drivers to be ranked among the NASCAR Nextel Cup Top 10 all season and currently trails No. 2 Jeff Gordon by 66 points and No. 1 Jimmie Johnson by 116. Earnhardt Jr. is a two-time winner at Richmond and has registered seven top-10 finishes in 10 career starts. His victories came in May of 2000 and earlier this season in the May race. He has been strong of late with top-five finishes in three of his last four visits and four of his last six, although one of the misses was a 17th in this event last season. He has led laps in his last three appearances, including a personal-best 115 en route to his win earlier this season.

• No. 4 -- Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet). Team Joe Gibbs Racing. Points: 3304 (-178). Previous ranking: 4. Stewart finished 18th at California, but remains at No. 4 for the fifth consecutive week and has clinched a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. He has closed to 62 points of No. 3 Dale Earnhardt Jr. and has been ranked among the top five for the last nine weeks in a row. Stewart is a three-time winner at Richmond and has posted seven top-10 finishes in 11 career starts overall. However, he has struggled of late as he has finished 27th or worse in three of his last four visits. He bounced back in his most recent appearance, finishing fourth in May. He has led laps in seven of his starts, including three of the last five.

• No. 5 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Power Tools Ford). Team: Roush Racing. Points: 3253 (-229). Previous ranking: 5. Kenseth finished 22nd at California, but remains at No. 5 for the fifth consecutive week and has clinched a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. The performance ended his streak of top-10 finishes at three and marked just the second time in the last eight races he has finished outside the top 15. He trails No. 4 Tony Stewart by 51 points while No. 6 Elliott Sadler, Sunday's race winner, has closed to 49 points of his position. Kenseth has been on a roll at Richmond as he heads into this weekend carrying a streak of five consecutive top-10 finishes at the .75-mile oval. The tear is highlighted by a victory in September of 2002 when he started 25th and led 134 laps en route to the win. Overall, he has six top-10 efforts in nine career starts, including fifth in his most recent appearance in May. Interestingly, he has not benefited from strong qualifying at Richmond as he has started among the top 15 just once (7th, May 2002).

• No. 6 -- Elliott Sadler (No. 38 M&M's Ford). Team: Robert Yates Racing. Points: 3204 (-278). Previous ranking: 7. Sadler won Sunday's Pop Secret 500 at California Speedway for his second victory of the season and third of his career. Sadler, whose other win this season came at Texas, needs only to start Saturday night's race at Richmond to lock in a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. The win was his career-best seventh top-five effort of the season and allowed him to improve one position to No. 6 as well as close to 49 points of No. 5 Matt Kenseth. Sadler will look to build off his 12th-place finish at Richmond earlier this season. It was a personal-best effort at the .75-mile oval and ended a three-race skid there where he finished 34th or worse. Overall, he has finished just twice among the top 20 in 11 career starts.

• No. 7 -- Kurt Busch (No. 97 IRWIN Ford). Team: Roush Racing. Points: 3186 (-296). Previous ranking: 6. Busch finished 11th at California to narrowly end his streak of consecutive top-10 finishes at four and drop him a position to No. 7. Busch, who spent the last two weeks at No. 6, fell 18 points behind No. 6 Elliott Sadler. He only needs to start Saturday's race at Richmond and finish 42nd or better to clinch a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. Busch, however, has struggled at Richmond, with just one top-10 finish in seven career starts. That effort came in the May event of last season when he started seventh and finished eighth, both personal bests. Busch has started outside the top 20 in six of his seven appearances at Richmond and has finished 24th or worse in four of his last six starts. He started 23rd and finished 31st in his most recent appearance in May.

• No. 8 -- Ryan Newman (No. 12 ALLTEL Dodge). Team: Penske Racing South. Points: 3078 (-404). Previous ranking: 10. Newman finished fifth at California to jump from No. 10 to No. 8 in the rankings. The effort was his second consecutive top-five finish and it allowed him to move 11 points ahead of No. 9 Kasey Kahne and 20 ahead of No. 10 Mark Martin. Although he is at No. 8, he will have to fend off several drivers at Richmond, including as deep as 15th-ranked Kevin Harvick who is just 76 back. The good news for Newman is that he has been outstanding at Richmond. He has three top-two finishes, including a victory in this event last season, and has finished outside the top 10 just once in five career starts. He has led laps in all five starts and has started among the top five on four occasions. In his most recent appearance in May, he qualified second, led nine laps and finished ninth.

• No. 9 -- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 UAW/Dodge Dealers Dodge). Team: Evernham Motorsports. Points: 3067 (-415). Previous ranking: 11. Kahne, the Raybestos Rookie of the Year leader, finished runner-up at California to slide back into the NASCAR Nextel Cup Top 10 following a one-week absence. He improved from No. 11 to No. 9 with his fifth runner-up performance of the season. It also was his fourth top-five finish in the last six races as he charges for a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. He trails No. 8 Ryan Newman by just 11 points, but has No. 10 Mark Martin only nine behind him, No. 11 Jamie McMurray 34 back, and No. 12 Bobby Labonte at 45 back. He struggled in his NASCAR Nextel Cup debut at Richmond in May, starting 39th and finishing 28th, and will need to rebound to secure a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup.

• No. 10 -- Mark Martin (No. 6 Viagra Ford). Team: Roush Racing. Points: 3058 (-424). Previous ranking: 12. Martin finished third at California to move into the NASCAR Nextel Cup Top 10 for the first time this season. He improved to No. 10 following two weeks at No. 12 and makes his first appearance in the Top 10 since being ranked No. 4 following Rockingham in February of 2003. The recent run continues his dramatic bid in the final weeks where he has posted four top-three finishes in his last six races to move from No. 15 to his current standing. He finds himself right in the middle of the showdown at Richmond, having the ability to improve his standing with a strong effort or fall quickly out of the Top 10 with a mediocre one. Martin is just 20 points behind No. 8 Ryan Newman and nine in back of No. 9 Kasey Kahne, but has five drivers within 56 points of his position. No. 11 Jamie McMurray is 25 back, No. 12 Bobby Labonte is 36 back, No. 13 Dale Jarrett is 43 behind, No. 14 Jeremy Mayfield is 55 back and No. 15 Kevin Harvick 56 behind with one race left to determine the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup participants. Martin will have experience and history on his side as he has recorded 20 top-10 finishes in 37 career starts at the .75-mile oval. Among those 20 top-10s are 11 top-five performances, including a victory in February in 1990. He has four top-10 finishes in his last five visits, including a seventh in his most recent appearance in May. He also has finished inside the top 20 in his last eight starts at Richmond.

[WestCoastGal]

TONY STEWART AND SARAH EVANS DUO IN THE TRUCK RACE TONIGHT.

[Pete-R-Bilt]

Tony behind the wheel and her on the hood?

[ChefKeith]

?Girl Toys????;)

[ChefKeith]

On his lap? < / bad boy >

[WestCoastGal]

I'm guessing Tony behind the wheel. ;-p

Also the IROC race starts in 10 minutes on Speed.

JJ and the rest of the drivers sure do look funny in those purple fire suits.

CK toys? KISS will be on the #6 truck #2 Busch car and #29 Cup car this weekend.

[WestCoastGal]

Harvick & Newman will start in the back as the series points leaders

So, now I know where the nose against the wall burnout comes from.......The Dude Lasoski did one that way. He says if he wins tonight he will put the rear against the wall and do a burnout in reverse to be different.

Harvick is half way through the field already Newman from the back to third!!

Sharp
Kenseth
Newman
Busch
Dixon
Harvick
JJ
Kvapil
Kinser
Castroneves
Yeley
Lasoski

[tubebender]

#17 driven by a Mind Numbed Robot???

[steveegg]

That thump you felt was a hunk of cheddar :-(

Oh well; at least I've got a lineup of hungry drivers to go for this weekend.

[steveegg]

Hey, hey, hey; he's my Mind Numbed Robot ;-)

[Bobby Chang]

Donald Rumsfeld (Nextel Walkie-Talkie Beep) Gets It Done.

Saturday, he's at the Chevy Rock and Roll 400.

Now that's real America. Rumsfeld. The United States Armed Forces Gets It Done!

Three Years Since the Atrocities

Defeating the Taliban from Power in Afghanistan. Done.
Defeating and Dethroning Saddam Hussein. Done.

[ChefKeith]

Canteen Info Link, (remember the dixie chimps)

[WestCoastGal]

For Dale Jr. fans, a new scent-sation
Nextel Cup superstar pitches a cologne and is a hit with the ladies
BY JOHN MARKON
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Friday, September 10, 2004

The guy selling the $72 bottles of cologne was, of course, the last guy who'd ever need it.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is young (29), single, rich and often seen behind the wheels of some of the world's fastest cars.

You get the feeling he'd be popular with women even if he perfumed himself daily with unfiltered 30-weight motor oil.

Earnhardt's status as the face and focus of stock car racing's popularity surge was confirmed yesterday at Short Pump Town Center when about 400 people turned out to watch him autograph boxes of cologne for another 400 people who had actually purchased the product.

The crowd was probably two-thirds to three-quarters female, even though Earnhardt was pitching Drakkar Noir, a men's cologne. Women making the purchase and securing an autograph ranged in age from suburban matrons and grannies to Annabella Bara of Dinwiddie, described by her mother, Kai, as "the world's youngest Dale Jr. fan."

She could have been right. Annabella is 3 years old.

Mom: "Bella, who's your favorite race driver?"

Bella: "Dale Junior."

Mom: "What's his car number?"

Bella: "Eight."



Bella knew that Earnhardt had "caught on fire" when he was burned in a midsummer accident and that one of his races can end with a crash as well as a win.

"For someone who's 3," Kai Bara said, "she really does understand racing."

When she's slightly older, Bella may have some clues on the secret to Earnhardt's phenomenal personal popularity, a topic even Earnhardt says he doesn't quite comprehend.

"I think it starts with my family name, of course," he said. "I started in racing with a lot of things and a lot of built-in fans already in place. For those fans, I've always tried to talk and act in ways they'd expect an Earnhardt to talk and act."

The senior Dale Earnhardt, a seven-time NASCAR points champion, died on the track on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Memories are still fresh enough that the "Jr." is never dropped off the son's name, even though it's no longer needed to distinguish between the two.

Earnhardt's father was one of NASCAR's most popular but most polarizing figures. Fans either seemed to love or revile him. The son's appeal seems far more universal.

"I'm one of those carry-over fans," said Robin Pierce of Glen Allen. "So many of us were so brokenhearted when Dale Sr. died. It was only natural to keep rooting for the Earnhardt family."

Pierce was happy to hike up her jeans and show Earnhardt (and The Times-Dispatch) a tribute tattoo she had placed halfway up her right calf honoring Dale Sr.

"I think women understand and respond to the family connection," she said. "It's more than just good looks. If I had to tell the truth, Tony Stewart's probably a little better-looking than Dale Jr. . . . Oh, gosh, you're writing that down! I hope Dale doesn't see it."

Stewart, however, couldn't have drawn yesterday's crowd. The line for Earnhardt's autograph snaked through most of the first floor at Hecht's, beginning in men's furnishings and continuing through electronics, fine china, crystal, silver, small appliances and junior boys.

Sixteen-year-old Amanda Coates of Prince George was halfway between the line's start and finish and had her own theory on Earnhardt's appeal.

"Hey, he's hot, it's as simple as that," Coates said. "He's a good-looking guy in a fast car. What's not to like about that? He's also not married, so you can have fantasies about him without feeling guilty."

Then there was Tanya Shepherd, a dental assistant from Midlothian who was catching hate and envy vibes from some of the others in line. Shepherd came to the store wearing a custom Earnhardt racing jacket and won one of yesterday's door prizes, giving her two custom Earnhardt racing jackets.

"It's more than sex appeal," she said. "I'm married, have two kids and wouldn't change it for the world. I'm also a big Dale Jr. fan."

One thing Earnhardt's fans seemed to appreciate - and the one thing Earnhardt admits he does with an eye on retaining his popularity - is his willingness to treat just about any question seriously, as long as its source was a fan.

Yesterday, he answered everything up to "Boxers or briefs?" including a thinly disguised double-entendre about his shoe size ("Eleven . . . probably bigger than average."

"If I sense a barrier between me and the fans, I try to take it down," Earnhardt said. "If I wasn't myself, I think the fans would smell something fishy."

Even at $72 a bottle.


This story can be found at: http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031777852612&path=%21sports&s=1045855934844

[WestCoastGal]

Cams should be back on shortly, refresh your page to update.

[WestCoastGal]

"DID I WIN"??????? YES

---

Posted on Thu, Sep. 09, 2004


Kenseth wins third-round IROC event

By DAVID POOLE

The Charlotte Observer


RICHMOND, Va. - It took Matt Kenseth just more than five laps to take the lead in Thursday's International Race of Champions series event at Richmond International Raceway. From there, the remainder of the 90-lapper was little more than a formality.
Kenseth pulled away to score his first victory in a series that pits drivers from various racing series against each other in identically prepared cars.

"Once I got in front I knew, I would have to make a mistake to lose," Kenseth said. "If all the cars are the same speed, the car in front has a definite advantage. Even at a track like Richmond getting the clean air helps."

Thursday's race at the .75-mile track was the first ever for IROC on a short track, and NASCAR Nextel Cup Series drivers took the first five positions with Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick lined up behind the winner.

Newman, who won the IROC opener at Daytona this year, came into the third of four races tied with Harvick for the lead, but Thursday's results left Newman with 50 points, four more than Johnson and Kenseth with Harvick seven points behind the leader. The series will conclude Oct. 30 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Kenseth came into Richmond ninth in the standings after finishing last at Texas following a crash. By winning and leading 85 laps Thursday, however, he moved all the way up into the tie for second.

"We were so far behind, I hope this gets us back into it," Kenseth said. "My car drove really good. ...But it was a lot different driving these cars here than I thought it would be. I thought you'd be able to drive into the corner really hard.

"You had to let off the gas really early and let the car roll a long time. Then, before you got to the center of corner you were slamming it wide open. It was a lot like running on a bigger track, you had to keep the momentum up."

Following a scheduled yellow after 60 laps, Kenseth pulled away as Newman and Johnson staged a side-by-side battle for second that lasted three full laps. Newman got the spot, and Busch later won a similar door-to-door duel with Johnson to get third.

"We raced clean and had a lot of fun," Newman said. "I don't think I ever touched anybody or anybody touched me. We were a little worried about tearing up some cars."

Scott Sharp had the best finish, sixth, among non-Cup competitors.

World of Outlaws driver Danny Lasoski, who won the race at Texas, finished 10th Thursday and has 37 points, sixth overall and tops among non-Cup drivers.

[WestCoastGal]

My reasons for picking Mark Martin for JDT this weekend

---

Roush Racing Fast Facts

-Mark Martin finished third at California, his third top-three in the last four races, to jump inside the top-10 for the first time in 2004. The team has posted four top-three finishes in the past six races as they head into Richmond. Martin needs a finish of third or better to guarantee his spot in the final 10 race run.

-Martin is currently nine points out of ninth place and 20 points outside of eighth. Martin, who trailed 10th by 123 points and was in 15th place just four races ago, is currently 25 points ahead of 11th and 56 points ahead of 15th. In addition, Martin is only 424 points outside of first place, 24 points outside the point cutoff.

-Martin is no stranger to Richmond, winning the pole and finishing seventh in his first race there in 1981. He's won once in the Cup car, while taking home five victories in the Busch series. He has finished in the top seven in four of the last five there, including a seventh-place finish last spring. The team tested last week at Richmond and were pleased with the results of the test session.

-Martin will again run the reverse paint scheme this week at Richmond. Martin has run the night race scheme in seven races this year (counting the All-Star event), recording top-10 finishes on five of the seven occasions, including a victory at Dover.

-Martin will run the No. 9 Pennzoil Ford in Friday night's Busch race at Richmond. It will be Martin's 22nd Busch start at Richmond, where he has five wins, 13 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes.

-Martin has won 24 percent of the Busch races he's entered at Richmond and finished inside the top-10 81 percent of the time.

-Martin will be going for his Busch Series record extending 46th win in the series at Richmond Friday night.

[WestCoastGal]

Robby Gordon out of the #31 at end of 2004? #31 Cingular Chevy driver Robby Gordon seemed to indicate Thursday this would be his final year with Richard Childress Racing, although he left open the possibility of a return.

When asked at Richmond International Raceway about the plans for his Busch Series team next year, Gordon replied: "How do you say it in a nice way? Those are the only plans I do have are the Busch plans. We were sitting here in fourth (in points) this season when Richard asked me to slow down the Busch program and focus on the Cup deal."

Gordon, who has three Cup wins in his career, said he has had good runs in Cup this season, only to see them turn sour by bad luck. "We've had flat tires, other things have happened and got wrecked. I plan to run the (Busch team) in 24 races next year and if I don't get anything else, we'll fill the rest of the races with another sponsor."

Asked later if he was certain he was leaving RCR, Gordon said, "We have been consistently the best car in the camp quite often, so I wouldn't say I won't be there.

I've had a good relationship with Richard and we'll see what happens. If I could do my own deal, that's probably what I would do." Gordon ran his own Cup team briefly in 2001, but he never completed the whole season.

He started up his own Busch team this season operated out of a new shop and has had good results, with three top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 19 starts. Gordon's Cup team is 19th in points, with two top-five and five top-10 finishes. All three of his career wins have come with RCR. (ThatsRacin.com)(9-9-2004)

[WestCoastGal]

GREAT STORY ON CHASE FOR THE CUP

First practice up:

24
31
21
1