We'll overlook the People's Pigskin's prediction about Dario Franchitti winning Sunday's Indianapolis 500 (except to wonder what they say about monkeys and typewriters). For now, we have to thank two groups: those who put themselves in harm's way for our country, and those of you who voted on the People's Pitstop lineup for Sunday's Coca-Cola 500 in Charlotte.
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team managed to score 300 points this weekend. That leaves us with a season total of 3,385, lifting us to 83,329th place overall in Yahoo Sports and lifting us 20 spots in the Fans of From the Marbles league to 102nd place. Here are the detailed results.
Tony Stewart. Started 26th, finished 15th, 1 lap led and 72 fantasy points. Maybe Smoke was distracted by concerns about what will happen to his monkey.
Kevin Harvick. Started 23rd, finished 11th, no laps led and 70 fantasy points. Yes, Happy Harvick retained his lead in the NASCAR Sprint Cup points race, but fans of the People's Pitstop should know that he is eligible to start for us only twice for the rest of the season.
Ryan Newman. Started 1st, finished 9th, 11 laps led and 94 fantasy points. That includes 10 points for starting on the pole and another 10 points for leading at least one lap, making him easily our star of the week.
A.J. Allmendinger. Started 18th, finished 14th, 0 laps led and 64 fantasy points. Notice that all four of our drivers finished within six spots of one another this week. (Good thing they didn't all wreck being so close together.)
This week, NASCAR takes its act from Fox to TNT and from the hub of North Carolina to the triangle of Pocono Raceway. This week's polls are up. The poll about Sunday plans appears below. Please vote.
[polldaddy poll=3261834]
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Fearless Predictons - Charlotte
As Sunday's double dose of auto racing approaches, it's time to offer another set of predictions for the top 10 finishers, this time for the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule. Last week's predictions went 4-6, leaving us with a season record of 51-59.
1. Jimmie Johnson. This seems to be about the time of year when the No. 48 team starts to exert its will on the rest of NASCAR.
2. Kyle Busch. Some drivers seem to do their best when they are ticked off at the rest of the world.
3. Denny Hamlin. And some seem to tick off the rest of the world when they are putting up their best results.
4. Ryan Newman. Here's a driver who must like the home cooking. He's on the pole for this race for the second year in a row.
5. Kurt Busch. Another driver enjoying the NASCAR home stand in Charlotte. He won the Sprint All-Star Race, and he's on the front row with Newman.
6. Kasey Kahne. The good folks at Yahoo Sports tell us that Kahne has finished in the top 10 in the last five races here.
7. Joey Logano. The 600-mile race is supposed to favor the veterans, but Logano finished in the top 10 in both Charlotte races last season.
8. Greg Biffle. 12 races, eight finishes in the top 10. Lather, rinse, repeat.
9. Kevin Harvick. Oh, did we mention the Sprint Cup points leader?
10. David Reutimann. Yes, he's in our medium-to-long-shot slot this week. But he is, for better or worse, the defending champion of this race. Yes, he got an assist from Mother Nature, but he still had to put himself in position to get that assist.
Oh, and here's a bonus prediction: Look for Dario Franchitti to win his second Indianapolis 500.
We'll be back with race results.
1. Jimmie Johnson. This seems to be about the time of year when the No. 48 team starts to exert its will on the rest of NASCAR.
2. Kyle Busch. Some drivers seem to do their best when they are ticked off at the rest of the world.
3. Denny Hamlin. And some seem to tick off the rest of the world when they are putting up their best results.
4. Ryan Newman. Here's a driver who must like the home cooking. He's on the pole for this race for the second year in a row.
5. Kurt Busch. Another driver enjoying the NASCAR home stand in Charlotte. He won the Sprint All-Star Race, and he's on the front row with Newman.
6. Kasey Kahne. The good folks at Yahoo Sports tell us that Kahne has finished in the top 10 in the last five races here.
7. Joey Logano. The 600-mile race is supposed to favor the veterans, but Logano finished in the top 10 in both Charlotte races last season.
8. Greg Biffle. 12 races, eight finishes in the top 10. Lather, rinse, repeat.
9. Kevin Harvick. Oh, did we mention the Sprint Cup points leader?
10. David Reutimann. Yes, he's in our medium-to-long-shot slot this week. But he is, for better or worse, the defending champion of this race. Yes, he got an assist from Mother Nature, but he still had to put himself in position to get that assist.
Oh, and here's a bonus prediction: Look for Dario Franchitti to win his second Indianapolis 500.
We'll be back with race results.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The People's Results - Charlotte
The People's Pitstop wants to thank those of you who helped us deal with a short week. The powers that be at NASCAR decided to hold the qualifying session for Sunday's Sprint Cup race on Thursday, so that gave you, the Internet, less time to choose our lineup. But choose you did. Here are the results.
A List. We had one clear-cut winner in this week's poll: Tony Stewart. He'll get the starting spot for the first time this season. The bench spot will go to the runner-up, Kyle Busch, who hopefully has cooled off a little.
B List. A pair of drivers won this week's poll. One is a familiar face: Kevin Harvick, who will make the seventh of nine possible starts for the People's Pitstop. The other starter is another first-timer, Ryan Newman. The bench spots went to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth.
C List. Another week, another start for A.J. Allmendinger. And another bench spot for Paul Menard.
The lineup poll results appear below. The latest poll asks about your viewing plans for Sunday.
[polldaddy poll=3250913] [polldaddy poll=3250929] [polldaddy poll=3250937]
A List. We had one clear-cut winner in this week's poll: Tony Stewart. He'll get the starting spot for the first time this season. The bench spot will go to the runner-up, Kyle Busch, who hopefully has cooled off a little.
B List. A pair of drivers won this week's poll. One is a familiar face: Kevin Harvick, who will make the seventh of nine possible starts for the People's Pitstop. The other starter is another first-timer, Ryan Newman. The bench spots went to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth.
C List. Another week, another start for A.J. Allmendinger. And another bench spot for Paul Menard.
The lineup poll results appear below. The latest poll asks about your viewing plans for Sunday.
[polldaddy poll=3250913] [polldaddy poll=3250929] [polldaddy poll=3250937]
About that Poll Deadline?
It seems that NASCAR is throwing the Internet's favorite fantasy auto racing team a curveball.
The qualifying session for the Coca-Cola 600 is THURSDAY, not FRIDAY. Therefore, the lineup polls for this week will close WEDNESDAY NIGHT, not Thursday night.
We'll be back later today with some information about this week's track.
The qualifying session for the Coca-Cola 600 is THURSDAY, not FRIDAY. Therefore, the lineup polls for this week will close WEDNESDAY NIGHT, not Thursday night.
We'll be back later today with some information about this week's track.
Monday, May 24, 2010
And Now, Back to the Polls...
Thanks to those of you who voted in our poll about who would win the NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race. You can see the results below.
Now, it's time to turn our sights back to the People's Pitstop and its quest for fantasy NASCAR glory. The Sprint Cup racers will stay in Charlotte over Memorial Day weekend for the only 600-mile race on the schedule. And once again, it's time for you, the Internet, to tell us who should be strapped into our ride for this racing marathon. The polls are open and will close Thursday night Wednesday night to allow us to send in the lineup in time for Friday's Thursday's qualifying session. Please vote now.
We'll be back with more about this week's race and more.
[polldaddy poll=3241321]
Now, it's time to turn our sights back to the People's Pitstop and its quest for fantasy NASCAR glory. The Sprint Cup racers will stay in Charlotte over Memorial Day weekend for the only 600-mile race on the schedule. And once again, it's time for you, the Internet, to tell us who should be strapped into our ride for this racing marathon. The polls are open and will close Thursday night Wednesday night to allow us to send in the lineup in time for Friday's Thursday's qualifying session. Please vote now.
We'll be back with more about this week's race and more.
[polldaddy poll=3241321]
Saturday, May 22, 2010
All-Star Updates
This post will offer occasional updates on tonight's All-Star festivites.
11:17 p.m. EDT The final segment of this race (only 10 laps, officially) took nearly as long to complete as the first one. That's because Kyle Busch wrecked, and then Jimmie Johnson spun out. In the end, Kurt Busch won. As I write these words, Kyle is still waiting to confront his "teammate" Denny Hamlin about the way his race ended. Good thing they won't have to contend with a 600-mile race next week or anything.
10:30 p.m. EDT The third segment is over, and now we have what has to be the most random element in the entire All-Star Race: a 10-minute break. All the teams get 10 minutes to work on their cars (but not to change the tires; at the end of the break, the cars will drive back to pit row for a mandatory four-tire change).
If anyone can explain the logic behind this, I'd love to hear it. After all, they've run a grand total of 90 laps so far, and they're getting ready to run only 10 more. And this is the third break they've had so far tonight.
If you want to put a 10-minute break into a Charlotte race, wouldn't you want to put it into the 600-mile race they'll be running a week from Sunday?
10:04 p.m. EDT The second segment just ended, and over in the Yahoo Sports chat room, we've had ... well, I'm not sure if it's a hoax or something that would have been better suited for another forum:
"10:03 [Comment From thats what she said] JENNY- I know you are on this chat since you texted me right now....i wanted to ask you if you will take my hand in marrige?"
No word yet on whether she said yes. But really, what more could she want from a future husband?
9:44 p.m. EDT The first segment of tonight's four-segment race (and, at 50 laps, the longest one by far) has just concluded. And Darrell Waltrip, in his infinite wisdom, just told the Speed TV viewers that now the exciting part of this race will begin. Thanks, DW. Thanks for telling those of us who turned on our sets in time to watch the start of this race just wasted their time.
8:48 p.m. EDT Well, I'd like to say that your vote in the All-Star poll helped put Jeff Burton over the top and into tonight's main event. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. That spot went instead to Carl Edwards. Uh, oh. One of the drivers who already qualified for the race: Brad Keselowski. Hopefully, they won't get together tonight.
8:13 p.m. EDT The Sprint Showdown has just concluded, with Martin Truex Jr. and Greg Biffle earning spots in the All-Star race. This was preceded by what may be the proudest moment of my race chatting career. The details below. To set the scene, Juan Pablo Montoya had just nearly gotten into two different wrecks by trying to squeeze other drivers off their lines.
"7:45 [Comment From peoplespigskin] Over/under on number of laps until Montoya actually wrecks someone?"
"7:46 Jay Hart: CAUTION"
"7:46 Jay Hart: JPM wrecked."
"7:47 [Comment From Robby Gordon Fan Club] peoplespigskin is a clairvoyant. Does he know tonight's Powerball numbers?"
How can I top that? Stay tuned.
11:17 p.m. EDT The final segment of this race (only 10 laps, officially) took nearly as long to complete as the first one. That's because Kyle Busch wrecked, and then Jimmie Johnson spun out. In the end, Kurt Busch won. As I write these words, Kyle is still waiting to confront his "teammate" Denny Hamlin about the way his race ended. Good thing they won't have to contend with a 600-mile race next week or anything.
10:30 p.m. EDT The third segment is over, and now we have what has to be the most random element in the entire All-Star Race: a 10-minute break. All the teams get 10 minutes to work on their cars (but not to change the tires; at the end of the break, the cars will drive back to pit row for a mandatory four-tire change).
If anyone can explain the logic behind this, I'd love to hear it. After all, they've run a grand total of 90 laps so far, and they're getting ready to run only 10 more. And this is the third break they've had so far tonight.
If you want to put a 10-minute break into a Charlotte race, wouldn't you want to put it into the 600-mile race they'll be running a week from Sunday?
10:04 p.m. EDT The second segment just ended, and over in the Yahoo Sports chat room, we've had ... well, I'm not sure if it's a hoax or something that would have been better suited for another forum:
"10:03 [Comment From thats what she said] JENNY- I know you are on this chat since you texted me right now....i wanted to ask you if you will take my hand in marrige?"
No word yet on whether she said yes. But really, what more could she want from a future husband?
9:44 p.m. EDT The first segment of tonight's four-segment race (and, at 50 laps, the longest one by far) has just concluded. And Darrell Waltrip, in his infinite wisdom, just told the Speed TV viewers that now the exciting part of this race will begin. Thanks, DW. Thanks for telling those of us who turned on our sets in time to watch the start of this race just wasted their time.
8:48 p.m. EDT Well, I'd like to say that your vote in the All-Star poll helped put Jeff Burton over the top and into tonight's main event. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. That spot went instead to Carl Edwards. Uh, oh. One of the drivers who already qualified for the race: Brad Keselowski. Hopefully, they won't get together tonight.
8:13 p.m. EDT The Sprint Showdown has just concluded, with Martin Truex Jr. and Greg Biffle earning spots in the All-Star race. This was preceded by what may be the proudest moment of my race chatting career. The details below. To set the scene, Juan Pablo Montoya had just nearly gotten into two different wrecks by trying to squeeze other drivers off their lines.
"7:45 [Comment From peoplespigskin] Over/under on number of laps until Montoya actually wrecks someone?"
"7:46 Jay Hart: CAUTION"
"7:46 Jay Hart: JPM wrecked."
"7:47 [Comment From Robby Gordon Fan Club] peoplespigskin is a clairvoyant. Does he know tonight's Powerball numbers?"
How can I top that? Stay tuned.
A Quick Pre-All-Star Post
Thanks to those of you who voted in the poll about who should get a spot tonight in the NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race. Jeff Burton was the winner, and in his honor, the People's Pigskin has just cast a vote for him on NASCAR.com. The results can be found below, and a fresh poll about the race's results can be found to the right of this post.
Unfortunately, one of your options for tonight's race won't be Brian Vickers, who has been sidelined for the season by his ongoing treatment for blood clots. Fortunately, NASCAR is allowing Casey Mears to use the spot Vickers had earned to run in tonight's All-Star Race. It's nice to see NASCAR earn itself some good karma for once.
If you're still online in about an hour and a half, be sure to visit the Yahoo Sports live chat for both the Sprint Showdown and the All-Star Race. We'll try to be there.
[polldaddy poll=3228185]
Unfortunately, one of your options for tonight's race won't be Brian Vickers, who has been sidelined for the season by his ongoing treatment for blood clots. Fortunately, NASCAR is allowing Casey Mears to use the spot Vickers had earned to run in tonight's All-Star Race. It's nice to see NASCAR earn itself some good karma for once.
If you're still online in about an hour and a half, be sure to visit the Yahoo Sports live chat for both the Sprint Showdown and the All-Star Race. We'll try to be there.
[polldaddy poll=3228185]
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Dover Results and an All-Star Poll
I'm sorry this post couldn't go up sooner. I was busy installing a still in Charlotte.
Anyway, the People's Pitstop had a fairly conclusion to the spring portion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team collected 270 points at Sunday's race in Dover. That brings the season total to 3,085, good enough to move us up to 125th place in the Fans of From the Marbles fantasy league. Congratulations to Dick Trickle (the league, not the driver) for winning the spring segment of our league. Here are the details on our results:
Kurt Busch. Started 12th, finished 19th (2 laps behind the leaders), 1 lap led and 64 fantasy points.
Jeff Burton. Started 17th, finished second, 1 lap led and 98 fantasy points.
Clint Bowyer. Started 7th, finished 17th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 58 fantasy points.
Paul Menard. Started 23rd, finished 21st (2 laps behind the leaders) and 50 fantasy points.
Now the NASCAR drivers are back home in Charlotte, getting ready for the opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Some drivers are preparing for Saturday's All-Star Race. Others are hoping to earn their way into that race one of two ways. They can win their way in by finishing first or second in the 30-car Sprint Showdown preceding the race. (By the way, if baseball wants to make its All-Star Weekend more exciting, it can try reserving a spot in the All-Star Game for whoever wins the Home Run Derby.) Or the drivers can hope that they win the fan vote that will decide a spot.
That's where the latest poll comes in. We've taken 10 of the drivers eligible for votes in the All-Star popularity contest. If you're favorite driver isn't on this list, it means either that driver is already in the All-Star Race or you need a new favorite driver. Anyway, the poll will stay up until Saturday. The JaMarcus Russell results appear below. We'll be back.
[polldaddy poll=3170463]
Anyway, the People's Pitstop had a fairly conclusion to the spring portion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team collected 270 points at Sunday's race in Dover. That brings the season total to 3,085, good enough to move us up to 125th place in the Fans of From the Marbles fantasy league. Congratulations to Dick Trickle (the league, not the driver) for winning the spring segment of our league. Here are the details on our results:
Kurt Busch. Started 12th, finished 19th (2 laps behind the leaders), 1 lap led and 64 fantasy points.
Jeff Burton. Started 17th, finished second, 1 lap led and 98 fantasy points.
Clint Bowyer. Started 7th, finished 17th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 58 fantasy points.
Paul Menard. Started 23rd, finished 21st (2 laps behind the leaders) and 50 fantasy points.
Now the NASCAR drivers are back home in Charlotte, getting ready for the opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Some drivers are preparing for Saturday's All-Star Race. Others are hoping to earn their way into that race one of two ways. They can win their way in by finishing first or second in the 30-car Sprint Showdown preceding the race. (By the way, if baseball wants to make its All-Star Weekend more exciting, it can try reserving a spot in the All-Star Game for whoever wins the Home Run Derby.) Or the drivers can hope that they win the fan vote that will decide a spot.
That's where the latest poll comes in. We've taken 10 of the drivers eligible for votes in the All-Star popularity contest. If you're favorite driver isn't on this list, it means either that driver is already in the All-Star Race or you need a new favorite driver. Anyway, the poll will stay up until Saturday. The JaMarcus Russell results appear below. We'll be back.
[polldaddy poll=3170463]
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Fearless Predictions - Dover
Now that we've demonstrated why this blog isn't called the People's Paddock, it's time to put the forecasting skills back to work on predicting which drivers will finish in the top 10 for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race Sunday in Dover. Last week's predictions went 6-4, leaving us with a season record of 47-53.
1. Kyle Busch. His victory in the Nationwide Series race on Saturday shows that No. 18 had figured out the Monster Mile.
2. Greg Biffle. OK, big deal. So now he's only tied for the NASCAR lead with seven finishes in the top 10 this season...
3. Kevin Harvick. ...and yes, he has to share that title with the overall points leader.
4. Jimmie Johnson. Those of you saying his four-Sprint-Cup run is over should consider this. Johnson has won three races so far this season. At this point last season, he had recorded only one victory.
5. Martin Truex Jr. Maybe he can persuade NASCAR to move all its races to Delaware. Truex has the pole for Sunday's race, and this is the site of his lone Sprint Cup win. (See? We didn't even have to bring up the commercials.)
6. Kasey Kahne. If you tried to tell me you knew that Kahne would be starting next to Truex in the front row for Sunday's race, I'd ask you to give me a Belmont Stakes tip.
7. Denny Hamlin. Once you get over the "everyone's scheduling knee surgeries" jokes, you realize that his three victories this season make Hamlin a legitimate Cup contender.
8. Kurt Busch. He's got six top 10 finishes under his belt this season (the same number as Johnson), and he's making his debut in the People's Pitstop starting lineup.
9. Jeff Gordon. He has four top five finishes, and he has to have a victory in his sights.
10. Casey Mears. In case you missed it, Mears is filling in for Brian Vickers, whose team could use all the good karma it can get. Get well, Brian.
We'll be back after the race with results.
1. Kyle Busch. His victory in the Nationwide Series race on Saturday shows that No. 18 had figured out the Monster Mile.
2. Greg Biffle. OK, big deal. So now he's only tied for the NASCAR lead with seven finishes in the top 10 this season...
3. Kevin Harvick. ...and yes, he has to share that title with the overall points leader.
4. Jimmie Johnson. Those of you saying his four-Sprint-Cup run is over should consider this. Johnson has won three races so far this season. At this point last season, he had recorded only one victory.
5. Martin Truex Jr. Maybe he can persuade NASCAR to move all its races to Delaware. Truex has the pole for Sunday's race, and this is the site of his lone Sprint Cup win. (See? We didn't even have to bring up the commercials.)
6. Kasey Kahne. If you tried to tell me you knew that Kahne would be starting next to Truex in the front row for Sunday's race, I'd ask you to give me a Belmont Stakes tip.
7. Denny Hamlin. Once you get over the "everyone's scheduling knee surgeries" jokes, you realize that his three victories this season make Hamlin a legitimate Cup contender.
8. Kurt Busch. He's got six top 10 finishes under his belt this season (the same number as Johnson), and he's making his debut in the People's Pitstop starting lineup.
9. Jeff Gordon. He has four top five finishes, and he has to have a victory in his sights.
10. Casey Mears. In case you missed it, Mears is filling in for Brian Vickers, whose team could use all the good karma it can get. Get well, Brian.
We'll be back after the race with results.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
The People's Choice - Dover
Thanks to everyone who took time this week to cast their votes on the People's Pitstop lineup for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Dover. Here are the results.
A List. We had a two-way tie in this week's vote between Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch. To break that tie, we go to qualifying order. Busch qualified 12th, or three spots in front of Gordon, and he gets the start for the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team.
B List. Here we had another two-way tie, but in this case, that was a good thing, since we had two starting spots to offer. They went to Jeff Burton (who qualified 17th) and Clint Bowyer (who qualified seventh -- yes, the People's Pitstop has a top 10 starter). Watching this race from our bench will be Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth. I wonder if they could stop by the Race Book and drop off a bet for us.
C List. This was the one poll where we had a clear-cut winner: Paul Menard. He gets the start, while A.J. Allmendinger gets the bench spot.
The poll results appear below. We'll be back before race time with the usual predictions. In the meantime, here's a free bonus forecast: Take Paddy O'Prado to win the Preakness Stakes, aka the People's Race. (You've got to love that slogan.) How did I come up with that prediction? The same way I come up with all the others.
[polldaddy poll=3176755] [polldaddy poll=3176770] [polldaddy poll=3176778]
A List. We had a two-way tie in this week's vote between Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch. To break that tie, we go to qualifying order. Busch qualified 12th, or three spots in front of Gordon, and he gets the start for the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team.
B List. Here we had another two-way tie, but in this case, that was a good thing, since we had two starting spots to offer. They went to Jeff Burton (who qualified 17th) and Clint Bowyer (who qualified seventh -- yes, the People's Pitstop has a top 10 starter). Watching this race from our bench will be Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth. I wonder if they could stop by the Race Book and drop off a bet for us.
C List. This was the one poll where we had a clear-cut winner: Paul Menard. He gets the start, while A.J. Allmendinger gets the bench spot.
The poll results appear below. We'll be back before race time with the usual predictions. In the meantime, here's a free bonus forecast: Take Paddy O'Prado to win the Preakness Stakes, aka the People's Race. (You've got to love that slogan.) How did I come up with that prediction? The same way I come up with all the others.
[polldaddy poll=3176755] [polldaddy poll=3176770] [polldaddy poll=3176778]
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The People's Facts - Autism Speaks 400
Sorry this post took so long to get online. I was waiting to see if I would be named Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Anyway, you still have a few hours to vote on the People's Pitstop lineup for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Here is some information to help you form your decision.
Track basics: Dover International Speedway is nicknamed the "Monster Mile" because it is a mile of solid concrete. That is, it's a mile in perimeter, not in the depth of the concrete. That would be heavy. And even if you learned your math from these folks, the lap/mile count should be easy to remember. If you drive 400 laps on this track, you've driven 400 miles. Understand? Good. If not, click here.
Recent winners: Jimmie Johnson (2009), Kyle Busch (2008), Martin Truex Jr. (2007). One caveat: The schedule was slightly different when those three drivers won their races. Back then, the spring Dover race was the first race after the 600-mile one in Charlotte. This year, it's two weeks before that race.
Who wins here a lot: Johnson leads active NASCAR drivers with five Sprint Cup victories on this track. His teammates Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin are right behind him with four wins apiece.
Why does this place look familiar? Longtime readers of the People's Pigskin -- or at least those of you who were reading last fall -- will recall a trip to Delaware to take advantage of the state's recently established football lottery. Turns out that Dover Downs shares its real estate with Dover International Speedway. That means that in the fall, you could go down to Dover, make parlay bets on the NFL and watch a NASCAR race at the same time.
Better wrap up this post before I faint.
As always, you can click here to download a handy-dandy guide from our friends at Yahoo Sports. The lineup polls will close later tonight, so please vote now.
Anyway, you still have a few hours to vote on the People's Pitstop lineup for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Here is some information to help you form your decision.
Track basics: Dover International Speedway is nicknamed the "Monster Mile" because it is a mile of solid concrete. That is, it's a mile in perimeter, not in the depth of the concrete. That would be heavy. And even if you learned your math from these folks, the lap/mile count should be easy to remember. If you drive 400 laps on this track, you've driven 400 miles. Understand? Good. If not, click here.
Recent winners: Jimmie Johnson (2009), Kyle Busch (2008), Martin Truex Jr. (2007). One caveat: The schedule was slightly different when those three drivers won their races. Back then, the spring Dover race was the first race after the 600-mile one in Charlotte. This year, it's two weeks before that race.
Who wins here a lot: Johnson leads active NASCAR drivers with five Sprint Cup victories on this track. His teammates Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin are right behind him with four wins apiece.
Why does this place look familiar? Longtime readers of the People's Pigskin -- or at least those of you who were reading last fall -- will recall a trip to Delaware to take advantage of the state's recently established football lottery. Turns out that Dover Downs shares its real estate with Dover International Speedway. That means that in the fall, you could go down to Dover, make parlay bets on the NFL and watch a NASCAR race at the same time.
Better wrap up this post before I faint.
As always, you can click here to download a handy-dandy guide from our friends at Yahoo Sports. The lineup polls will close later tonight, so please vote now.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Another Uneven Week (and New Polls)
The People's Pitstop tried to tame the Lady in Black Saturday night. Instead, we earned a stripe of our own.
The Internet's favorite fantasy racing team scored 251 points this week. Our season total is 251, bringing us up to a tie for 101,631st overall on Yahoo Sports and leaving us at 143rd in the Fans of From the Marbles league. Here's the breakdown:
Jeff Gordon: Started 2nd, finished 4th, 110 laps led and 109 fantasy points. That total includes 5 bonus points for qualifying so well and 20 bonus points for leading more laps than anyone else. All that's missing from Gordon's season so far is a win.
Jeff Burton: Started 11th, finished 8th, 31 laps led and 86 fantasy points. Burton's total includes 10 bonus points for leading a lap. At one point late in the race, he and Gordon were in first and second place. Too bad neither one could seal the deal. And it's too bad you don't get bonus points for having the fastest lap of the race.
And just like last week, the results take a turn for the worse at this point.
Joey Logano: Started 13th, finished 27th (4 laps behind the leaders) and 38 bonus points. Logano had trouble late in the race and never really got a chance to recover.
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 12th, finished 37th (189 laps behind the leaders) and 18 fantasy points. A.J. got an early start on his trip home for Mother's Day by getting into a scary wreck with Jimmie Johnson.
But one of the good things about a season as long as NASCAR's is that there always seems to be time to catch up. This week, the Sprint Cup series heads to Dover, and once again you, the Internet, get to pick our lineup. The polls are open and will stay open until Thursday night. Please vote now.
The Internet's favorite fantasy racing team scored 251 points this week. Our season total is 251, bringing us up to a tie for 101,631st overall on Yahoo Sports and leaving us at 143rd in the Fans of From the Marbles league. Here's the breakdown:
Jeff Gordon: Started 2nd, finished 4th, 110 laps led and 109 fantasy points. That total includes 5 bonus points for qualifying so well and 20 bonus points for leading more laps than anyone else. All that's missing from Gordon's season so far is a win.
Jeff Burton: Started 11th, finished 8th, 31 laps led and 86 fantasy points. Burton's total includes 10 bonus points for leading a lap. At one point late in the race, he and Gordon were in first and second place. Too bad neither one could seal the deal. And it's too bad you don't get bonus points for having the fastest lap of the race.
And just like last week, the results take a turn for the worse at this point.
Joey Logano: Started 13th, finished 27th (4 laps behind the leaders) and 38 bonus points. Logano had trouble late in the race and never really got a chance to recover.
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 12th, finished 37th (189 laps behind the leaders) and 18 fantasy points. A.J. got an early start on his trip home for Mother's Day by getting into a scary wreck with Jimmie Johnson.
But one of the good things about a season as long as NASCAR's is that there always seems to be time to catch up. This week, the Sprint Cup series heads to Dover, and once again you, the Internet, get to pick our lineup. The polls are open and will stay open until Thursday night. Please vote now.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Fearless Predictions - Darlington
Before we all sit down with this site's unofficial beverage and watch the NASCAR Sprint Cup race, it's time to predict the top 10 finishers at Saturday night's race. Last week's version of the predictions went 5-5, leaving us with a season record of 41-49.
1. Kyle Busch. The driver that many NASCAR fans love to hate found his way to victory lane last week. And he has the team that can put him there again.
2. Jeff Gordon. Not only does he lead active drivers with seven victories at Darlington, but he also has 17 top five finishes. He's tied for the most among active NASCAR drivers...
3. Mark Martin. ...with this guy.
4. Greg Biffle. Yes, he fell out of the top 10 this week, but he's still fifth in driver points, and he still leads all drivers with seven finishes in the top 10.
5. Jamie McMurray. Quick, guess the only driver who has won more than one pole this season. Nope, try again. Nope, guess again...
6. Kevin Harvick. While everyone else was focusing last week on the Hendrick Family Feud, Happy Harvick was busy taking the lead in driver points.
7. Jimmie Johnson. Yes, he gave up the points lead last week, but he still finished in the top 10, and he has the most top five finishes so far this season (five). Oh, and there's the four...well, you know.
8. Denny Hamlin. Follow the numbers on this one. Driver No. 11 has four finishes in the top 10, three finishes in the top five and two wins, and tonight he starts eighth.
9 and 10. Brian Vickers and David Reutimann. This week we have a pair of medium-to-long shots. They won't be hard to find when the green flag waves, since they'll be next to each other in the second row.
Enjoy the race, and if you're a mother, enjoy NASCAR's gift to you: On your big day, none of the people in your life will have "But the race is on" as an excuse for not paying attention to you.
1. Kyle Busch. The driver that many NASCAR fans love to hate found his way to victory lane last week. And he has the team that can put him there again.
2. Jeff Gordon. Not only does he lead active drivers with seven victories at Darlington, but he also has 17 top five finishes. He's tied for the most among active NASCAR drivers...
3. Mark Martin. ...with this guy.
4. Greg Biffle. Yes, he fell out of the top 10 this week, but he's still fifth in driver points, and he still leads all drivers with seven finishes in the top 10.
5. Jamie McMurray. Quick, guess the only driver who has won more than one pole this season. Nope, try again. Nope, guess again...
6. Kevin Harvick. While everyone else was focusing last week on the Hendrick Family Feud, Happy Harvick was busy taking the lead in driver points.
7. Jimmie Johnson. Yes, he gave up the points lead last week, but he still finished in the top 10, and he has the most top five finishes so far this season (five). Oh, and there's the four...well, you know.
8. Denny Hamlin. Follow the numbers on this one. Driver No. 11 has four finishes in the top 10, three finishes in the top five and two wins, and tonight he starts eighth.
9 and 10. Brian Vickers and David Reutimann. This week we have a pair of medium-to-long shots. They won't be hard to find when the green flag waves, since they'll be next to each other in the second row.
Enjoy the race, and if you're a mother, enjoy NASCAR's gift to you: On your big day, none of the people in your life will have "But the race is on" as an excuse for not paying attention to you.
Friday, May 7, 2010
The People's Choice - Darlington
Sorry this post is so late. I was mourning two things: the end of JaMarcus Russell's career with the Oakland Raiders and the end of Ryan Leaf's reign as the biggest draft bust in the National Football League's history. We'll miss you, Ryan.
Anyway, you, the Internet, have spoken, and since we now have the qualifying results, we can reveal the full lineup the People's Pitstop will field for Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Darlington.
A List. This poll produced the clearest winner of all: Jeff Gordon. And you, the Internet, may be on to something. Gordon qualified second for Saturday's race, earning the Internet's favorite fantasy racing team 5 bonus points right off the bat. Jimmie Johnson will sit on the bench.
B List. One clear winner emerged in this poll: Jeff Burton, who qualified 11th. After Burton, there was a big tie that was broken when Joey Logano qualified 13th. The bench spots go to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth.
C List. Again, we had a tie that was broken by Friday's qualifying session. Your winner (and starter) is A.J. Allmendinger, who qualified 12th. Scott Speed will get a spot on the bench.
The poll results appear below. The new poll is about Mr. Russell's future. Feel free to vote now, even if you're this guy. We'll be back with our predictions for the top 10 finishers.
[polldaddy poll=3148931] [polldaddy poll=3148946] [polldaddy poll=3148953]
Anyway, you, the Internet, have spoken, and since we now have the qualifying results, we can reveal the full lineup the People's Pitstop will field for Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Darlington.
A List. This poll produced the clearest winner of all: Jeff Gordon. And you, the Internet, may be on to something. Gordon qualified second for Saturday's race, earning the Internet's favorite fantasy racing team 5 bonus points right off the bat. Jimmie Johnson will sit on the bench.
B List. One clear winner emerged in this poll: Jeff Burton, who qualified 11th. After Burton, there was a big tie that was broken when Joey Logano qualified 13th. The bench spots go to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth.
C List. Again, we had a tie that was broken by Friday's qualifying session. Your winner (and starter) is A.J. Allmendinger, who qualified 12th. Scott Speed will get a spot on the bench.
The poll results appear below. The new poll is about Mr. Russell's future. Feel free to vote now, even if you're this guy. We'll be back with our predictions for the top 10 finishers.
[polldaddy poll=3148931] [polldaddy poll=3148946] [polldaddy poll=3148953]
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The People's Facts - Showtime Southern 500
There's still time for you, the Internet, to pick the People's Pitstop lineup for this week's NASCAR Sprint Cup race (another Saturday Night Special) at Darlington. Here is some basic information about the venue of the week.
Track basics: Darlington Raceway, the South Carolina track "Too Tough to Tame," is a 1.366-mile oval with an odd shape (more on that below). It's also one of NASCAR's more historic tracks, having hosted its first race in 1950. At this track, drivers try to get as close as they can to the outer wall whenever possible. Many of them get too close, earning themselves a Darlington stripe.
Recent winners: Mark Martin (2009), Kyle Busch (2008), Jeff Gordon (2007)
Who wins here a lot: Jeff Gordon, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Gordon. Mr. DuPont has won seven Sprint Cup races here. No other active NASCAR driver has more than two wins.
So what's with the odd shape? You'd think a body as powerful as NASCAR would be able to dictate the shape of the tracks it uses, right down to the curvature of its press box. And these days, that would probably be true. But that wasn't the case in 1949, when, according to the track's official history, Harold Brasington started "a project known locally as “Harold’s Folly” to shape a 1-1/4 mile speedway on land that had once produced peanuts and cotton."
Unfortunately, Brasington had to answer to a higher authority. (No, not that one.)
"Brasington's plan called for a true oval, but the racetrack's design had to be changed in order to satisfy Sherman Ramsey, the landowner, who did not want his nearby minnow pond disturbed. The west end of the track (Turns 3 and 4) was narrowed to accommodate the fishing hole, creating Darlington's distinctive egg-shaped design."
As always, if you need to learn more, you can click here to download a PDF from the fine folks at Yahoo Sports. We'll be back with more thoughts.
Track basics: Darlington Raceway, the South Carolina track "Too Tough to Tame," is a 1.366-mile oval with an odd shape (more on that below). It's also one of NASCAR's more historic tracks, having hosted its first race in 1950. At this track, drivers try to get as close as they can to the outer wall whenever possible. Many of them get too close, earning themselves a Darlington stripe.
Recent winners: Mark Martin (2009), Kyle Busch (2008), Jeff Gordon (2007)
Who wins here a lot: Jeff Gordon, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Gordon. Mr. DuPont has won seven Sprint Cup races here. No other active NASCAR driver has more than two wins.
So what's with the odd shape? You'd think a body as powerful as NASCAR would be able to dictate the shape of the tracks it uses, right down to the curvature of its press box. And these days, that would probably be true. But that wasn't the case in 1949, when, according to the track's official history, Harold Brasington started "a project known locally as “Harold’s Folly” to shape a 1-1/4 mile speedway on land that had once produced peanuts and cotton."
Unfortunately, Brasington had to answer to a higher authority. (No, not that one.)
"Brasington's plan called for a true oval, but the racetrack's design had to be changed in order to satisfy Sherman Ramsey, the landowner, who did not want his nearby minnow pond disturbed. The west end of the track (Turns 3 and 4) was narrowed to accommodate the fishing hole, creating Darlington's distinctive egg-shaped design."
As always, if you need to learn more, you can click here to download a PDF from the fine folks at Yahoo Sports. We'll be back with more thoughts.
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Richmond Split Decision (and New Polls)
For the People's Pitstop, it was both the best of times and worst of times Saturday night.
The Internet's favorite fantasy racing team managed to put up 265 points during the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Richmond. However, our season total of 2,564 points leaves us tied for 104,061st overall and tied for 142nd in the Fans of From the Marbles league. Here are the details:
Kyle Busch: Started 1st, finished 1st, 226 laps led and 120 fantasy points. That total includes 20 bonus points for leading the most laps and 10 bonus points for starting on the pole. For only the second time this season, the People's Pitstop managed to start the NASCAR driver who won the race.
Kevin Harvick: Started 7th, finished 3rd, 1 lap led and 96 fantasy points. Leading that single lap gave Harvick 10 bonus points. Finishing that well put him on the top of the NASCAR driver points list.
And that's where the good news ends.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 25th, finished 32nd (3 laps behind the leaders) and 28 fantasy points. One would hope the off-the-track controversy isn't bleeding over to Earnhardt's on-the-track performance.
Sam Hornish Jr.: Started 27th, finished 36th (13 laps behind the leaders) and 20 fantasy points. You can read a long (and stilted) report from Penske, or you can just understand this: Hornish couldn't get out of his own way.
Now it's time for you, the Internet, to regroup and get ready for another Saturday night race, this one at Darlington. The lineup polls are up and ready for voting. The NFL rookie poll is closed, and you can see the results below. We'll be back with more information about this week's race site.
[polldaddy poll=3102728]
The Internet's favorite fantasy racing team managed to put up 265 points during the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Richmond. However, our season total of 2,564 points leaves us tied for 104,061st overall and tied for 142nd in the Fans of From the Marbles league. Here are the details:
Kyle Busch: Started 1st, finished 1st, 226 laps led and 120 fantasy points. That total includes 20 bonus points for leading the most laps and 10 bonus points for starting on the pole. For only the second time this season, the People's Pitstop managed to start the NASCAR driver who won the race.
Kevin Harvick: Started 7th, finished 3rd, 1 lap led and 96 fantasy points. Leading that single lap gave Harvick 10 bonus points. Finishing that well put him on the top of the NASCAR driver points list.
And that's where the good news ends.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 25th, finished 32nd (3 laps behind the leaders) and 28 fantasy points. One would hope the off-the-track controversy isn't bleeding over to Earnhardt's on-the-track performance.
Sam Hornish Jr.: Started 27th, finished 36th (13 laps behind the leaders) and 20 fantasy points. You can read a long (and stilted) report from Penske, or you can just understand this: Hornish couldn't get out of his own way.
Now it's time for you, the Internet, to regroup and get ready for another Saturday night race, this one at Darlington. The lineup polls are up and ready for voting. The NFL rookie poll is closed, and you can see the results below. We'll be back with more information about this week's race site.
[polldaddy poll=3102728]
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Fearless Predictions - Richmond
First, an update on the People's Pitstop lineup for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Richmond: Kyle Busch is on the pole and in the starting lineup for Saturday night's race. For winning the pole, Busch has earned the Internet's favorite fantasy racing team 10 bonus points. Jeff Gordon, who qualified fourth, got us 1 bonus point.
Now it's time for the latest set of predictions for the top 10 finishers. Last week's forecasts went a disappointing 3-7, lowering our season record to 36-44.
1. Greg Biffle. Nine races plus seven top 10 finishes equals the closest thing to a sure thing in these predictions.
2. Kevin Harvick. He found his way to the finish line last week, and his six top 10 finishes trail only Biffle's total.
3. Jimmie Johnson. Six top 10 finishes this season, three victories and FOUR STRAIGHT TITLES! Oh, and did I mention he's leading the points race?
4. Kyle Busch. He's on the pole, and he didn't even have to break out the pink car and the pink suit to get there.
5. Jeff Gordon. You get the feeling that it's only a matter of time before this four-time Cup winner breaks his winless streak.
6. Tony Stewart. He has three wins on this track, and he has a way of finding his way into the top 12 in time for the Chase.
7. Ryan Newman. So does Stewart's employee, who also has the advantage of starting in the top 10 on Saturday.
8. Mark Martin. He's quietly finished four times in the top five this season. Only Johnson has more top five finishes this season.
9. Jamie McMurray. He starts in the top 10 on Saturday, and he nearly beat Harvick to the finish line last week.
10. David Reutimann. This week's medium to long shot made things easier for the predictions by qualifying second.
We'll be back with results and polls for our next race.
Now it's time for the latest set of predictions for the top 10 finishers. Last week's forecasts went a disappointing 3-7, lowering our season record to 36-44.
1. Greg Biffle. Nine races plus seven top 10 finishes equals the closest thing to a sure thing in these predictions.
2. Kevin Harvick. He found his way to the finish line last week, and his six top 10 finishes trail only Biffle's total.
3. Jimmie Johnson. Six top 10 finishes this season, three victories and FOUR STRAIGHT TITLES! Oh, and did I mention he's leading the points race?
4. Kyle Busch. He's on the pole, and he didn't even have to break out the pink car and the pink suit to get there.
5. Jeff Gordon. You get the feeling that it's only a matter of time before this four-time Cup winner breaks his winless streak.
6. Tony Stewart. He has three wins on this track, and he has a way of finding his way into the top 12 in time for the Chase.
7. Ryan Newman. So does Stewart's employee, who also has the advantage of starting in the top 10 on Saturday.
8. Mark Martin. He's quietly finished four times in the top five this season. Only Johnson has more top five finishes this season.
9. Jamie McMurray. He starts in the top 10 on Saturday, and he nearly beat Harvick to the finish line last week.
10. David Reutimann. This week's medium to long shot made things easier for the predictions by qualifying second.
We'll be back with results and polls for our next race.
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