Our look at the fantasy football magazines now dominating the sports section of your favorite newstand continues with one of the best-known titles in America.
USA Today 2010 Fantasy Football
Vital stats: $7.99, 144 pages, 354 offensive and 75 defensive players ranked.
Top 10 picks: If you're in a 10-team league, USA Today's experts (including recruits from at least a half-dozen other Web sites) say the first round of your draft should look like this: Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Andre Johnson, Drew Brees, Steven Jackson, Larry Fitzgerald, Peyton Manning, Michael Turner, Maurice Jones-Drew and Ray Rice.
Intriguing nugget: Sigmund Bloom and Jason Wood of Footballguys.com are targeting Donald Brown as a steal, because he's a second-year running back who didn't live up to expectations last season. "Most people move on to the new flavors of the month at the position, but Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles, and Rashard Mendenhall were members of a lot of championship teams" last year.
Head scratcher: The section on quarterbacks starts with a list of the top 50 players available at that position. However, thanks to some fuzzy math, the section that follows that list has two quarterbacks ranked 42nd: Ryan Fitzpatrick (who appears on the list) and JaMarcus Russell (who does not).
I'm not sure which is a bigger head scratcher -- the fact that there's two quarterbacks ranked 42nd or the fact that someone thinks there are nine quarterbacks worse than Russell. That includes Colt McCoy, who also appears in the section with a rank of "NR."
Kicker rule obeyed? Again, the USA Today experts did not conduct a mock draft. David Dorey of TheHuddle.com advises players not to draft a kicker until the very last round. "Anything earlier is as optimistic as e-mailing Jennifer Aniston and asking her out on a date."
However, two pages after saying that, Dorey offers a system for those who want to carry two kickers on the roster: "You can make weekly decisions that can net you an extra three points. Just pick whichever kicker is more likely to be on a winning team that weekend."
(If anyone here plays in a league where you can get an extra pick in the final round of your draft, feel free to leave a comment explaining how.)
Prediction likely to go wrong: That Vincent Jackson will be a top 10 fantasy wide receiver this season. Here's USA Today's assessment: "Jackson has even pushed ahead of TE Antonio Gates as a scoring threat. Jackson continues to upset the team with his immaturity, which could lead to a short suspension, but that's the only thing going against him. Make him your No. 1 receiver."
For the moment, let's set aside the three-game suspension Jackson is facing for his second DUI guilty plea (probably not anyone's definition of a "short suspension," anyway). Unless he and the Chargers kiss and make up quickly, he could end up missing the majority of the season through a holdout. If that sounds like a No. 1 fantasy option to you, maybe you need to lay off the wine.
We'll be back with the weekly NASCAR predictions.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
The People's Choice - Pocono
As July creeps toward August and football players creep toward training camp (if they're not too out of shape to get in the door), NASCAR returns to Pocono Raceway, and you, the Internet, have given us a team to take there.
After another week of voting, we have two spots set and two up for grabs for Sunday's Sprint Cup race in Pennsyltucky. Here are the results of this week's polls.
A List. Another week, another tie. This time Tony Stewart, aspiring drive-through attendant, takes on his former teammate, Denny Hamlin. The qualifying session will break that tie.
B List. These two spots are set. Kevin Harvick will make his 8th start for the People's Pitstop, while Clint Bowyer will make his 5th. Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton will watch this one from the bench.
C List. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team will start A.J. Allmendinger or Sam Hornish Jr. (remember him?) for Sunday's race. Once again, whoever qualifies better will start.
We'll update this post when the qualifying session is done. Meanwhile, feel free to cast your vote in our latest fantasy football survey. The lineup poll results appear below.
UPDATED 10 P.M. Hot damn! Tony Stewart more than earned a starting spot for the People's Pitstop by getting the frickin POLE! (He also earned us 10 bonus points for that feat.) Denny Hamlin will watch from the bench but still earns us 3 bonus points for qualifying third.
As for the C List, A.J. Allmendinger (who qualified 7th) will start, while Sam Hornish Jr. (who qualified 15th) will watch from the bench.
We'll be back with another fantasy football review preview.
[polldaddy poll=3527503] [polldaddy poll=3527514] [polldaddy poll=3527523]
After another week of voting, we have two spots set and two up for grabs for Sunday's Sprint Cup race in Pennsyltucky. Here are the results of this week's polls.
A List. Another week, another tie. This time Tony Stewart, aspiring drive-through attendant, takes on his former teammate, Denny Hamlin. The qualifying session will break that tie.
B List. These two spots are set. Kevin Harvick will make his 8th start for the People's Pitstop, while Clint Bowyer will make his 5th. Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton will watch this one from the bench.
C List. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team will start A.J. Allmendinger or Sam Hornish Jr. (remember him?) for Sunday's race. Once again, whoever qualifies better will start.
We'll update this post when the qualifying session is done. Meanwhile, feel free to cast your vote in our latest fantasy football survey. The lineup poll results appear below.
UPDATED 10 P.M. Hot damn! Tony Stewart more than earned a starting spot for the People's Pitstop by getting the frickin POLE! (He also earned us 10 bonus points for that feat.) Denny Hamlin will watch from the bench but still earns us 3 bonus points for qualifying third.
As for the C List, A.J. Allmendinger (who qualified 7th) will start, while Sam Hornish Jr. (who qualified 15th) will watch from the bench.
We'll be back with another fantasy football review preview.
[polldaddy poll=3527503] [polldaddy poll=3527514] [polldaddy poll=3527523]
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Fantasy Preview Review - Fantasy League Football
Our occasional look at the plethora of fantasy football magazines continues now with a lesser-known brand. It just goes to show that you don't have to be a sports juggernaut to put out a preview issue, just like you don't have to know anything about fantasy sports to run a Web si...OK, bad example.
Fantasy League Football 2010 (Harris Publications)
Vital stats: $9.95, 162 pages, 286 offensive and 105 defensive player previews. (Note: The cover claims "490 Players Ranked!," but here's my count, going section by section: 64 quarterbacks, 75 running backs, 75 wide receivers, 40 tight ends, 32 kickers, 35 defensive linemen, 35 linebackers and 35 defensive backs. Even if you count team defenses as "players," that adds up to only 423. I'm hoping the cover wasn't put together by this guy.)
Top 10 picks: If you're in a 10-team draft, the folks at Harris Publications want you to take Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, Michael Turner, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Frank Gore, Rashard Mendenhall and Drew Brees.
Intriguing nugget: This one on Terrell Owens, who was still a free agent when this magazine came out: "If he signs with a good offense, he could produce as a No. 3 fantasy WR."
Head scratcher: If the 490-players-ranked claim wasn't enough for you, the cover also claims that this magazine is the "#1 Rated Fantasy Mag!" What the magazine doesn't say is who rated it #1. I'm sure the editors' moms love them and think very highly of their product, but that doesn't mean we should pay attention to what they say, does it?
But then again: These are also the same folks who publish titles like "Tactical Knives" and "Combat Handguns." So ... um ... if they want to call themselves "#1 Rated," that's OK with me. Really.
(Whew. Now, where was I?)
Kicker rule obeyed? Hard to say, since there is no mock draft, so there was no chance for our experts to pick a kicker before the last round. The closest thing we have to advice in this issue is this nugget from Steve Bennett: "If you really feel the compulsion to have the top kicker or team D or IDP, just trade for them during the season. After all, the spaz who burned a seventh-rounder on David Akers will likely be in the market for a skill position player at some some point."
One more thing: This magazine has one thing not yet found by the People's Pigskin in any other magazine: game logs for last season. Want to know how touchdowns Carson Palmer threw in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears? They've got it (5, a season high).
Anyway, the lineup polls for this week's NASCAR race will close later tonight. Please vote now. We'll be back with the results.
Fantasy League Football 2010 (Harris Publications)
Vital stats: $9.95, 162 pages, 286 offensive and 105 defensive player previews. (Note: The cover claims "490 Players Ranked!," but here's my count, going section by section: 64 quarterbacks, 75 running backs, 75 wide receivers, 40 tight ends, 32 kickers, 35 defensive linemen, 35 linebackers and 35 defensive backs. Even if you count team defenses as "players," that adds up to only 423. I'm hoping the cover wasn't put together by this guy.)
Top 10 picks: If you're in a 10-team draft, the folks at Harris Publications want you to take Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, Michael Turner, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Frank Gore, Rashard Mendenhall and Drew Brees.
Intriguing nugget: This one on Terrell Owens, who was still a free agent when this magazine came out: "If he signs with a good offense, he could produce as a No. 3 fantasy WR."
Head scratcher: If the 490-players-ranked claim wasn't enough for you, the cover also claims that this magazine is the "#1 Rated Fantasy Mag!" What the magazine doesn't say is who rated it #1. I'm sure the editors' moms love them and think very highly of their product, but that doesn't mean we should pay attention to what they say, does it?
But then again: These are also the same folks who publish titles like "Tactical Knives" and "Combat Handguns." So ... um ... if they want to call themselves "#1 Rated," that's OK with me. Really.
(Whew. Now, where was I?)
Kicker rule obeyed? Hard to say, since there is no mock draft, so there was no chance for our experts to pick a kicker before the last round. The closest thing we have to advice in this issue is this nugget from Steve Bennett: "If you really feel the compulsion to have the top kicker or team D or IDP, just trade for them during the season. After all, the spaz who burned a seventh-rounder on David Akers will likely be in the market for a skill position player at some some point."
One more thing: This magazine has one thing not yet found by the People's Pigskin in any other magazine: game logs for last season. Want to know how touchdowns Carson Palmer threw in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears? They've got it (5, a season high).
Anyway, the lineup polls for this week's NASCAR race will close later tonight. Please vote now. We'll be back with the results.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The People's Facts - Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500
This week the Internet's favorite fantasy racing team takes its act back to Pennsylvania for a NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Sunday. You still have time to vote on our lineup polls. Here's some information to help you guide your decision.
Track basics: Once again, Pocono Raceway is a unique triangle of a track. Those you who weren't paying attention the last time NASCAR came to this track can click here for our preview of that race or click here for Yahoo's handy fantasy NASCAR guide.
Last time we were here: For the June Pocono race, the People's Pitstop started Kyle Busch (who finished 2nd, trailing only Denny Hamlin), Jeff Burton (7th), Clint Bowyer (9th) and Paul Menard (16th). They racked up 336 points, one of our highest totals of the season.
Recent winners: Hamlin (2009 August race), Carl Edwards (2008), Kurt Busch (2007).
Who wins here a lot: Despite his recent winless streak, Jeff Gordon is tied with Hamlin for the most wins by active NASCAR drivers at Pocono (four each). Bobby Labonte, now at the center of another team-switching controversy, trails them with three.
This may get me fined, but... The other latest controversy in France-ville is the revelation of fines for drivers who disparage NASCAR. Who got fined? How much were they fined? What remarks sparked the fines? NASCAR isn't saying.
What effect does the double-secret penalty have? It makes NASCAR look moronic, paranoid or both. Next thing you know, they'll fine reporters for saying the ratings for last week's race fell from a year earlier, or they'll fine columnists for suggesting that NASCAR tweak its schedule to make it less vulnerable to the NFL.
Speaking of the NFL, we'll be back with a fantasy football update.
Track basics: Once again, Pocono Raceway is a unique triangle of a track. Those you who weren't paying attention the last time NASCAR came to this track can click here for our preview of that race or click here for Yahoo's handy fantasy NASCAR guide.
Last time we were here: For the June Pocono race, the People's Pitstop started Kyle Busch (who finished 2nd, trailing only Denny Hamlin), Jeff Burton (7th), Clint Bowyer (9th) and Paul Menard (16th). They racked up 336 points, one of our highest totals of the season.
Recent winners: Hamlin (2009 August race), Carl Edwards (2008), Kurt Busch (2007).
Who wins here a lot: Despite his recent winless streak, Jeff Gordon is tied with Hamlin for the most wins by active NASCAR drivers at Pocono (four each). Bobby Labonte, now at the center of another team-switching controversy, trails them with three.
This may get me fined, but... The other latest controversy in France-ville is the revelation of fines for drivers who disparage NASCAR. Who got fined? How much were they fined? What remarks sparked the fines? NASCAR isn't saying.
What effect does the double-secret penalty have? It makes NASCAR look moronic, paranoid or both. Next thing you know, they'll fine reporters for saying the ratings for last week's race fell from a year earlier, or they'll fine columnists for suggesting that NASCAR tweak its schedule to make it less vulnerable to the NFL.
Speaking of the NFL, we'll be back with a fantasy football update.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Picking Up the Indy Pieces
One thing this little experiment in fantasy NASCAR democracy is demonstrating that just when you think one part of your team has gotten its act together, the rest of your team just falls apart.
The People's Pitstop, aka the Internet's favorite fantasy racing team, racked up 254 points Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That leaves us with a season total of 5,324, dragging us down to 56,571st overall on Yahoo Sports and down six spots to 69th in the Fans of From the Marbles league. Here are some more details.
Jimmie Johnson. Started 2nd, finished 22nd, 1 lap led and 63 fantasy points. He got us the 5 points for qualifying so well, and he got his customary 10-points-for-leading-a-lap bonus before hitting the proverbial wall. (Please note the use of the word "proverbial.")
Jamie McMurray. Started 4th, finished 1st, 16 laps led and 101 fantasy points. Most weeks, his highlights would be getting 1 point for qualifying and 10 points for leading a lap. Fortunately for the People's Pitstop, this wasn't most weeks.
Ryan Newman. Started 5th, finished 17th and 58 fantasy points. Well, at least he's going to be a father.
Sam Hornish Jr. Started 25th, finished 30th (3 laps behind the leaders) and 32 fantasy points. Which is more discouraging: That one of our drivers couldn't get through the first lap unscathed, or that today he's being featured in a blog post whose headline reads in part, "No, really! I belong here!"?
Anyway, the People's Pitstop now takes its act back to Pennsylvania for the August race at Pocono Raceway. The polls are now open. They will close Thursday night. The TNT-to-ESPN poll results appear below. Please vote now.
[polldaddy poll=3493611]
The People's Pitstop, aka the Internet's favorite fantasy racing team, racked up 254 points Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That leaves us with a season total of 5,324, dragging us down to 56,571st overall on Yahoo Sports and down six spots to 69th in the Fans of From the Marbles league. Here are some more details.
Jimmie Johnson. Started 2nd, finished 22nd, 1 lap led and 63 fantasy points. He got us the 5 points for qualifying so well, and he got his customary 10-points-for-leading-a-lap bonus before hitting the proverbial wall. (Please note the use of the word "proverbial.")
Jamie McMurray. Started 4th, finished 1st, 16 laps led and 101 fantasy points. Most weeks, his highlights would be getting 1 point for qualifying and 10 points for leading a lap. Fortunately for the People's Pitstop, this wasn't most weeks.
Ryan Newman. Started 5th, finished 17th and 58 fantasy points. Well, at least he's going to be a father.
Sam Hornish Jr. Started 25th, finished 30th (3 laps behind the leaders) and 32 fantasy points. Which is more discouraging: That one of our drivers couldn't get through the first lap unscathed, or that today he's being featured in a blog post whose headline reads in part, "No, really! I belong here!"?
Anyway, the People's Pitstop now takes its act back to Pennsylvania for the August race at Pocono Raceway. The polls are now open. They will close Thursday night. The TNT-to-ESPN poll results appear below. Please vote now.
[polldaddy poll=3493611]
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Fearless Predictions - Indianapolis
We are mere minutes away from the green flag for Sunday's NASCAR annual Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Before the race starts, it's time to predict which drivers will finish in the top 10. Our most recent forecasts went 4-6, dropping our season record to 85-95. That's right. The Internet's favorite fantasy racing site would need to run the table this week to bring the record back to .500.
1. Jimmie Johnson. He's won back-to-back races here, and ... well, you know the rest.
2. Tony Stewart. He's another multiple winner on this track, and did anyone mention he's an Indiana native?
3. Jeff Gordon. Not only is he a four-time winner at Indianapolis, but he's finished in the top five in five straight races this season. That streak has helped him rise to second in the points standings ...
4. Kevin Harvick. ... trailing only this guy.
5. Juan Pablo Montoya. He has a win under his belt here (in a different type of vehicle). He has the pole for this year's race, and only a pit road penalty kept him from winning last year.
6. Mark Martin. He's starting third today, and he seems ready to take his frustration over questions about his plans and turn it into racing fuel.
7. Kyle Busch. It's safe to say he likes Indiana tracks. He won Saturday's Nationwide race at O'Reilly Raceway Park after finishing second in the Camping World truck race there.
8. Ryan Newman. Another Indiana native, Newman starts 5th today.
9. Clint Bowyer. Guess who currently holds the final Chase spot in the standings? Guess who's motivated as heck to hang on to it?
10. Bobby Labonte. This week's medium to long shot is a driver who, despite recent team switches, is starting his 600th consecutive Sprint Cup race. His streak began in 1992, back when one of his current competitors was still a toddler.
(OK, how many of you just read that last entry and said, "Damn, I feel old"?)
Anyway, we'll be back after the race with results and new polls.
1. Jimmie Johnson. He's won back-to-back races here, and ... well, you know the rest.
2. Tony Stewart. He's another multiple winner on this track, and did anyone mention he's an Indiana native?
3. Jeff Gordon. Not only is he a four-time winner at Indianapolis, but he's finished in the top five in five straight races this season. That streak has helped him rise to second in the points standings ...
4. Kevin Harvick. ... trailing only this guy.
5. Juan Pablo Montoya. He has a win under his belt here (in a different type of vehicle). He has the pole for this year's race, and only a pit road penalty kept him from winning last year.
6. Mark Martin. He's starting third today, and he seems ready to take his frustration over questions about his plans and turn it into racing fuel.
7. Kyle Busch. It's safe to say he likes Indiana tracks. He won Saturday's Nationwide race at O'Reilly Raceway Park after finishing second in the Camping World truck race there.
8. Ryan Newman. Another Indiana native, Newman starts 5th today.
9. Clint Bowyer. Guess who currently holds the final Chase spot in the standings? Guess who's motivated as heck to hang on to it?
10. Bobby Labonte. This week's medium to long shot is a driver who, despite recent team switches, is starting his 600th consecutive Sprint Cup race. His streak began in 1992, back when one of his current competitors was still a toddler.
(OK, how many of you just read that last entry and said, "Damn, I feel old"?)
Anyway, we'll be back after the race with results and new polls.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The People's Choice - Indianapolis
My thanks go once again to you, the Internet, for helping your favorite fantasy NASCAR team pick its lineup for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Here is how the People's Pitstop looks this week.
A List. This poll finished in a dead heat. Two-time Brickyard 500 winner Tony Stewart and three-time winner Jimmie Johnson will be competing for a starting spot. The winner will be the driver who fares best in Saturday's qualifying session.
B List. Here we have another tie that will be broken by the qualifying session. This time we have three drivers -- Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray -- competing for two starting spots. The one who qualifies worst will share the bench with Kevin Harvick.
C List. This poll produced a clear-cut winner. Sam Hornish Jr., whose career achievements include an Indianapolis 500 win, will start this race for the People's Pitstop. Scott Speed will watch from the bench.
We'll update you on the lineup after the qualifying session. The lineup poll results appear below, and the TV poll is still open.
UPDATED 2:45 P.M. The qualifying session is over, and the People's Pitstop is sitting quite pretty. Jimmie Johnson, who qualified 2nd (and earned us 5 bonus points in the process), gets the start over Tony Stewart. And from the B List, our starters are Jamie McMurray, who qualified 4th (earning us 1 bonus point), and Ryan Newman, who qualified 5th. Sam Hornish Jr. performed like a typical C List driver by qualifying 25th.
[polldaddy poll=3493560] [polldaddy poll=3493577] [polldaddy poll=3493590]
A List. This poll finished in a dead heat. Two-time Brickyard 500 winner Tony Stewart and three-time winner Jimmie Johnson will be competing for a starting spot. The winner will be the driver who fares best in Saturday's qualifying session.
B List. Here we have another tie that will be broken by the qualifying session. This time we have three drivers -- Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray -- competing for two starting spots. The one who qualifies worst will share the bench with Kevin Harvick.
C List. This poll produced a clear-cut winner. Sam Hornish Jr., whose career achievements include an Indianapolis 500 win, will start this race for the People's Pitstop. Scott Speed will watch from the bench.
We'll update you on the lineup after the qualifying session. The lineup poll results appear below, and the TV poll is still open.
UPDATED 2:45 P.M. The qualifying session is over, and the People's Pitstop is sitting quite pretty. Jimmie Johnson, who qualified 2nd (and earned us 5 bonus points in the process), gets the start over Tony Stewart. And from the B List, our starters are Jamie McMurray, who qualified 4th (earning us 1 bonus point), and Ryan Newman, who qualified 5th. Sam Hornish Jr. performed like a typical C List driver by qualifying 25th.
[polldaddy poll=3493560] [polldaddy poll=3493577] [polldaddy poll=3493590]
Thursday, July 22, 2010
"He Crashed Me" Redux?
Sometimes an unavoidable delay in your plans can prove to be a blessing.
For a couple of weeks, we at the People's Pigskin had planned a post urging NASCAR fans to pick up a copy of He Crashed Me So I Crashed Him Back, Mark Bechtel's authoritative look at the 1979 NASCAR season and how it helped make stock car racing a national phenomenon instead of a regional curiosity.
Yes, I know the People's Pigskin is hardly the first site to praise the book, but there is a fresh point to be made.
Bechtel does chronicle the entire season, including the yearend shootout in Ontario between Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty. And the book does have some flaws. (Half the "footnotes" could have been incorporated into the main text with minimal effort.) But one of its strongest aspects is its look at the now-famous 1979 Daytona 500.
He describes what would prove a perfect storm for NASCAR: a blizzard that brought most of the eastern United States to a standstill, CBS' eyebrow-raising agreement to televise the race live in its entirety, the last-lap crash between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison (allowing Petty to win the race) and the subsequent fistfight between Yarborough and the Allison brothers that was seen by millions, many of whom have been watching stock car racing ever since.
Though no one involved with NASCAR goes so far as to endorse fistfights, lots of people still credit the fight with expanding the sport's audience by an order of magnitude. And none of the participants in that fight have suffered image-wide in the long term as a result.
Which brings us to Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski.
For the second time this season, Edwards and Keselowski banged heads last week during the Nationwide race at Gateway International Raceway. Keselowski (intentionally or not) collided with Edwards early in the final lap, and Edwards responded by colliding with Keselowski. The second collision allowed Edwards to win the race.
NASCAR has been telling anyone who will listen this season that it is letting its drivers "have at it" on the track, responded to the latest incident by fining Edwards, docking him points and putting both drivers on probation for the rest of the season. Is this the end of "have at it"? Hardly. But you have to wonder what would have happened if NASCAR had responded this way when Allison and Yarborough had their most famous incident.
(A fantasy racing aside: Edwards and Keselowski will remain in the lineup polls as long as they are still driving, but it would take a real leap of faith to vote for these drivers while they seem to be wearing matching targets on their rear quarter panels.)
For a couple of weeks, we at the People's Pigskin had planned a post urging NASCAR fans to pick up a copy of He Crashed Me So I Crashed Him Back, Mark Bechtel's authoritative look at the 1979 NASCAR season and how it helped make stock car racing a national phenomenon instead of a regional curiosity.
Yes, I know the People's Pigskin is hardly the first site to praise the book, but there is a fresh point to be made.
Bechtel does chronicle the entire season, including the yearend shootout in Ontario between Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty. And the book does have some flaws. (Half the "footnotes" could have been incorporated into the main text with minimal effort.) But one of its strongest aspects is its look at the now-famous 1979 Daytona 500.
He describes what would prove a perfect storm for NASCAR: a blizzard that brought most of the eastern United States to a standstill, CBS' eyebrow-raising agreement to televise the race live in its entirety, the last-lap crash between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison (allowing Petty to win the race) and the subsequent fistfight between Yarborough and the Allison brothers that was seen by millions, many of whom have been watching stock car racing ever since.
Though no one involved with NASCAR goes so far as to endorse fistfights, lots of people still credit the fight with expanding the sport's audience by an order of magnitude. And none of the participants in that fight have suffered image-wide in the long term as a result.
Which brings us to Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski.
For the second time this season, Edwards and Keselowski banged heads last week during the Nationwide race at Gateway International Raceway. Keselowski (intentionally or not) collided with Edwards early in the final lap, and Edwards responded by colliding with Keselowski. The second collision allowed Edwards to win the race.
NASCAR has been telling anyone who will listen this season that it is letting its drivers "have at it" on the track, responded to the latest incident by fining Edwards, docking him points and putting both drivers on probation for the rest of the season. Is this the end of "have at it"? Hardly. But you have to wonder what would have happened if NASCAR had responded this way when Allison and Yarborough had their most famous incident.
(A fantasy racing aside: Edwards and Keselowski will remain in the lineup polls as long as they are still driving, but it would take a real leap of faith to vote for these drivers while they seem to be wearing matching targets on their rear quarter panels.)
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The People's Facts - Brickyard 400
This week, thanks to a Saturday qualifying session, you have until Friday night to cast your votes for the People's Pitstop lineup for Sunday's race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the season's first NASCAR Sprint Cup race on ESPN (although the whole Decision affair has taken a little of the shine off that rose). To help you, the Internet, make your decisions, it's time to tell you about this week's site.
Track basics: If you really need us to introduce you to this track...
Recent winners: Jimmie Johnson (2009), Jimmie Johnson again (2008), Tony Stewart (2007)
Who wins here a lot: For this, we're not going to count wins in an open-wheel car, impressive though that might be. In terms of NASCAR Sprint Cup wins at Indianapolis, Jeff Gordon leads the way with four, followed by Johnson with three and Stewart with two.
Yes, we still cover fantasy football, too. That's why it's always nice when football and NASCAR merge smoothly like traffic at an on ramp. When the folks running this week's race needed a grand marshal, they turned to someone who already holds a special place in the hearts of many readers of this blog: Dallas Clark. Yes, the man who has inspired the eternal question "How the @$#%^ can they count him as a tight end?" will drop the green flag. And many of you will be hoping that's the last thing he drops until mid-February.
As always, our good friends at Yahoo Sports, in addition to doing their best to turn NASCAR into soccer, have compiled this handy fantasy racing guide for this week's race. Feel free to peruse it while you make your decision about our polls. You can also feel free to vote now. Either way, we'll be back.
Track basics: If you really need us to introduce you to this track...
Recent winners: Jimmie Johnson (2009), Jimmie Johnson again (2008), Tony Stewart (2007)
Who wins here a lot: For this, we're not going to count wins in an open-wheel car, impressive though that might be. In terms of NASCAR Sprint Cup wins at Indianapolis, Jeff Gordon leads the way with four, followed by Johnson with three and Stewart with two.
Yes, we still cover fantasy football, too. That's why it's always nice when football and NASCAR merge smoothly like traffic at an on ramp. When the folks running this week's race needed a grand marshal, they turned to someone who already holds a special place in the hearts of many readers of this blog: Dallas Clark. Yes, the man who has inspired the eternal question "How the @$#%^ can they count him as a tight end?" will drop the green flag. And many of you will be hoping that's the last thing he drops until mid-February.
As always, our good friends at Yahoo Sports, in addition to doing their best to turn NASCAR into soccer, have compiled this handy fantasy racing guide for this week's race. Feel free to peruse it while you make your decision about our polls. You can also feel free to vote now. Either way, we'll be back.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Now, Where Were We?
Sorry about the delay in posts. I was busy helping Tim McCarver find his airbrush. (Besides, if the Sprint Cup can take a random week off in July, so can the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team, right?)
Anyway, last week the People's Pitstop racked up only 269 points at Chicagoland Speedway. That leaves us with a season total of 5,070, good enough for 53,004th place overall in Yahoo Sports and lifting us another 6 spots, to 63rd, in the Fans of From the Marbles league. Yes, there are people having a worse time than us. Johnny Jolly, for instance.
Here is a more detailed breakdown.
Jeff Gordon: Started 6th, finished 3rd, 47 laps led and 96 fantasy points, including the 10 bonus points for leading a lap. You just get the feeling it's only a matter of time before he shakes that winless streak.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 25th, finished 23rd (1 lap behind the leaders) and 46 fantasy points. Well, at least he can still make kids' wishes come true. I guess no kid has wished for Dale to win a Sprint Cup race yet.
Jeff Burton: Started 14th, finished 7th and 78 fantasy points. Again, all that's missing is the ability to take the lead, even in Sporting News polls.
Sam Hornish Jr.: Started 5th, finished 24th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 44 fantasy points. Too bad there aren't any fantasy points for having NASCAR randomly select your car for postrace inspection.
(And for you math majors, the weekly total also includes 5 points for Jimmie Johnson, who qualified second but was benched in favor of Gordon.)
This week, NASCAR heads a place where certain drivers should feel quite comfortable: Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It also heads to the Walt Disney family of networks. To celebrate, this week we have the usual lineup polls and a bonus TV poll. Please feel free to vote now. The results from the Chase poll appear below.
Also, this week you'll notice that Jeff Burton's name has a note attached. Mr. Burton may only start one more race for the People's Pitstop. Vote wisely.
[polldaddy poll=3447975]
Anyway, last week the People's Pitstop racked up only 269 points at Chicagoland Speedway. That leaves us with a season total of 5,070, good enough for 53,004th place overall in Yahoo Sports and lifting us another 6 spots, to 63rd, in the Fans of From the Marbles league. Yes, there are people having a worse time than us. Johnny Jolly, for instance.
Here is a more detailed breakdown.
Jeff Gordon: Started 6th, finished 3rd, 47 laps led and 96 fantasy points, including the 10 bonus points for leading a lap. You just get the feeling it's only a matter of time before he shakes that winless streak.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 25th, finished 23rd (1 lap behind the leaders) and 46 fantasy points. Well, at least he can still make kids' wishes come true. I guess no kid has wished for Dale to win a Sprint Cup race yet.
Jeff Burton: Started 14th, finished 7th and 78 fantasy points. Again, all that's missing is the ability to take the lead, even in Sporting News polls.
Sam Hornish Jr.: Started 5th, finished 24th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 44 fantasy points. Too bad there aren't any fantasy points for having NASCAR randomly select your car for postrace inspection.
(And for you math majors, the weekly total also includes 5 points for Jimmie Johnson, who qualified second but was benched in favor of Gordon.)
This week, NASCAR heads a place where certain drivers should feel quite comfortable: Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It also heads to the Walt Disney family of networks. To celebrate, this week we have the usual lineup polls and a bonus TV poll. Please feel free to vote now. The results from the Chase poll appear below.
Also, this week you'll notice that Jeff Burton's name has a note attached. Mr. Burton may only start one more race for the People's Pitstop. Vote wisely.
[polldaddy poll=3447975]
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Fearless Predictions - Chicago
We are mere hours away from a spectacular sporting event. Oh, and the World Cup final is coming up, too.
Before NASCAR drops the green flag on tonight's Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway, it's time to offer some predictions for which drivers will finish in the top 10. Last week's forecasts went 4-6, lowering our season record to 81-89.
1. Jeff Gordon. He's getting a lot of attention for making his 600th Sprint Cup start. Maybe he can convert the love (and a top 10 start) into a top 10 finish.
2. Kevin Harvick. Still the points leader at NASCAR's version of halftime. Just saying.
3. Jamie McMurray. Did you know that his pole this week is McMurray's third of the season? Really? We had to look it up.
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Maybe he got sick of being called everything except a winner. Maybe his father's ghost lit a fire under his firesuit at Daytona.
5. Kasey Kahne. Write this down, chief: Someone will sign Kahne to drive next season. And that someone will be happy about it.
6. Jimmie Johnson. His daughter's midweek birth certainly took away the "will he miss seat time" question. Oh, and there's also the FOUR STRAIGHT SPRINT CUPS!! (Whew ... haven't said that in a while.)
7. Tony Stewart. He's third in the lineup and ninth in the points race. All that's missing? The wins.
8. Mark Martin. Last week's drive through a burning ring of fire took Martin temporarily out of the Chase. Note the word "temporary."
9. Greg Biffle. He answers the question "How do you rack up 10 finishes in the top 10 in the first half of the season as quietly as possible?"
10. Juan Pablo Montoya. This week's medium to long shot is one of two A List drivers who haven't started for the People's Pitstop this season. Montoya gets the nod over Carl Edwards for starting 10th.
Enjoy the race. We'll be back with results.
Before NASCAR drops the green flag on tonight's Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway, it's time to offer some predictions for which drivers will finish in the top 10. Last week's forecasts went 4-6, lowering our season record to 81-89.
1. Jeff Gordon. He's getting a lot of attention for making his 600th Sprint Cup start. Maybe he can convert the love (and a top 10 start) into a top 10 finish.
2. Kevin Harvick. Still the points leader at NASCAR's version of halftime. Just saying.
3. Jamie McMurray. Did you know that his pole this week is McMurray's third of the season? Really? We had to look it up.
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Maybe he got sick of being called everything except a winner. Maybe his father's ghost lit a fire under his firesuit at Daytona.
5. Kasey Kahne. Write this down, chief: Someone will sign Kahne to drive next season. And that someone will be happy about it.
6. Jimmie Johnson. His daughter's midweek birth certainly took away the "will he miss seat time" question. Oh, and there's also the FOUR STRAIGHT SPRINT CUPS!! (Whew ... haven't said that in a while.)
7. Tony Stewart. He's third in the lineup and ninth in the points race. All that's missing? The wins.
8. Mark Martin. Last week's drive through a burning ring of fire took Martin temporarily out of the Chase. Note the word "temporary."
9. Greg Biffle. He answers the question "How do you rack up 10 finishes in the top 10 in the first half of the season as quietly as possible?"
10. Juan Pablo Montoya. This week's medium to long shot is one of two A List drivers who haven't started for the People's Pitstop this season. Montoya gets the nod over Carl Edwards for starting 10th.
Enjoy the race. We'll be back with results.
Friday, July 9, 2010
The People's Choice - Chicago
Another week has come and gone, and once again the People's Pitstop has you, the Internet, to thank for voting in the polls that will shape this week's lineup. This week's NASCAR Sprint Cup race is scheduled for Saturday night (Alec's favorite night), and here are the drivers we will be backing.
A List. In this poll, the voters paid attention to who has run well at Chicagoland Speedway in the past. The starting spot goes to Jeff Gordon, while the bench spot goes to his teammate, Jimmie Johnson.
B List. Here, we have one clear-cut winner and a bunch of other drivers battling (not literally) for the second starting spot. Last week's Nationwide series winner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., gets the first starting spot. The second one will go to Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton or Clint Bowyer. The one who qualifies the best will start. The others will ride the proverbial pine.
C List. This poll ended in a dead heat between Scott Speed and Sam Hornish Jr. Again, the stronger qualifier will get the start.
The poll results appear below. The new poll is a response to NASCAR's assertion that it is looking at ways to change its Chase. Feel free to vote now. We'll be back with the predictions for Saturday's race.
UPDATED 9 P.M. EDT The qualifying results are in. Jeff Burton (who qualified 14th) gets the B List starting nod over Clint Bowyer (15th) and Harvick (27th). Sam Hornish Jr. (who qualified 5th) gets the C List spot over Scott Speed (39th). Jimmie Johnson will stay on the bench, but by qualifying 2nd, he earns the People's Pitstop 5 bonus points. Thanks, papa.
[polldaddy poll=3433295] [polldaddy poll=3433298] [polldaddy poll=3437958]
A List. In this poll, the voters paid attention to who has run well at Chicagoland Speedway in the past. The starting spot goes to Jeff Gordon, while the bench spot goes to his teammate, Jimmie Johnson.
B List. Here, we have one clear-cut winner and a bunch of other drivers battling (not literally) for the second starting spot. Last week's Nationwide series winner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., gets the first starting spot. The second one will go to Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton or Clint Bowyer. The one who qualifies the best will start. The others will ride the proverbial pine.
C List. This poll ended in a dead heat between Scott Speed and Sam Hornish Jr. Again, the stronger qualifier will get the start.
The poll results appear below. The new poll is a response to NASCAR's assertion that it is looking at ways to change its Chase. Feel free to vote now. We'll be back with the predictions for Saturday's race.
UPDATED 9 P.M. EDT The qualifying results are in. Jeff Burton (who qualified 14th) gets the B List starting nod over Clint Bowyer (15th) and Harvick (27th). Sam Hornish Jr. (who qualified 5th) gets the C List spot over Scott Speed (39th). Jimmie Johnson will stay on the bench, but by qualifying 2nd, he earns the People's Pitstop 5 bonus points. Thanks, papa.
[polldaddy poll=3433295] [polldaddy poll=3433298] [polldaddy poll=3437958]
Thursday, July 8, 2010
A Quick Halftime Assessment
The lineup polls for the People's Pitstop's roster for Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Chicago will close later tonight. Feel free to vote in the polls before you read the rest of this post. That's fine. We'll wait.
(Humming the Jeopardy! theme)
OK, now let's look at the first half of this fantasy NASCAR experiment. We've had our up weeks and our down weeks. But we've sure had some fun along the way.
Best. Week. Ever. (OK, for the first half of the NASCAR season, anyway.) Let's set the Wayback Machine back to week 3 in Las Vegas. The Internet's favorite fantasy racing team racked up a season-high 342 points. Fueling the way was Jimmie Johnson, who got the second of his five wins so far this season.
The week that wasn't so good. Four races after we hit our high, we dipped into the valley in the Valley of the Sun. In week 7 in Phoenix, the People's Pitstop got a season-low 214 points. Johnson crossed the finish line in third place. That was the good news. The bad news is that we left him on our bench.
Speaking of the bench... The voters in the People's Pitstop polls managed to pick the winner of the race six times in the first half of the season. Unfortunately, four of those winners sat on our bench. Johnson won three times as a member of our team, but two of those times he was riding the pine. The lesson? Vote carefully.
Who's popular with the voters? Four drivers have made seven starts each for the People's Pitstop. Surprisingly, none of them come from the A List. Three come from the B List (Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth), and the fourth comes from the C List (Paul Menard).
Hello? We're eligible, you know. Another surprise: The A List, which is supposed to include the best drivers NASCAR has to offer, has two drivers still waiting for their first start: Carl Edwards and Juan Pablo Montoya.
Maybe the voters are saving them for the fall push.
Remember to vote while you still can. We'll be back with the results.
(Humming the Jeopardy! theme)
OK, now let's look at the first half of this fantasy NASCAR experiment. We've had our up weeks and our down weeks. But we've sure had some fun along the way.
Best. Week. Ever. (OK, for the first half of the NASCAR season, anyway.) Let's set the Wayback Machine back to week 3 in Las Vegas. The Internet's favorite fantasy racing team racked up a season-high 342 points. Fueling the way was Jimmie Johnson, who got the second of his five wins so far this season.
The week that wasn't so good. Four races after we hit our high, we dipped into the valley in the Valley of the Sun. In week 7 in Phoenix, the People's Pitstop got a season-low 214 points. Johnson crossed the finish line in third place. That was the good news. The bad news is that we left him on our bench.
Speaking of the bench... The voters in the People's Pitstop polls managed to pick the winner of the race six times in the first half of the season. Unfortunately, four of those winners sat on our bench. Johnson won three times as a member of our team, but two of those times he was riding the pine. The lesson? Vote carefully.
Who's popular with the voters? Four drivers have made seven starts each for the People's Pitstop. Surprisingly, none of them come from the A List. Three come from the B List (Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth), and the fourth comes from the C List (Paul Menard).
Hello? We're eligible, you know. Another surprise: The A List, which is supposed to include the best drivers NASCAR has to offer, has two drivers still waiting for their first start: Carl Edwards and Juan Pablo Montoya.
Maybe the voters are saving them for the fall push.
Remember to vote while you still can. We'll be back with the results.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The People's Facts - Lifelock.com 400
The polls are open for you to select the People's Pitstop lineup for Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. To help you make your selections, here is some information about where our favorite drivers will be hanging out this weekend.
Track basics. Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5-mile tri-oval located in the Chicago suburb of Joliet, Illinois. That's right. NASCAR fans of a certain age can visit this track and reminisce about the Blues Brothers. And no, that's not Joliet Jake getting into a car. That's just Tony Stewart.
Recent winners: Mark Martin (2009), Kyle Busch (2008), Stewart (2007).
Who wins here a lot? Well, this stat is going to be even less helpful than usual. Since the history of this track's construction is longer than its racing history, only two active NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers have as many as two wins at Chicagoland: Stewart (who also leads active drivers with seven finishes in the top five) and Kevin Harvick.
Is this NASCAR or Food Network? Anyone tuning into race coverage this week will hear the phrase "cookie cutter." And 90% of the time, this phrase will be used to suggest that Chicagoland, because of its similarity to several other 1.5-mile courses, is somehow less than worthy of the title "NASCAR track."
It may seem wrong to put this week's Sprint Cup race on another generic 1.5-mile track, while more "unique" experiences from Nashville Superspeedway to Road America have to settle for Nationwide dates. But here's something to consider: Would you want every week's race to be held someplace like Daytona, where the Big One can turn fantasy NASCAR into a lottery with rear spoilers?
As usual, if you're looking for more extensive advice, you can click here to download a handy-dandy fantasy NASCAR guide from the folks at Yahoo Sports. In the meantime, remember to vote. We'll be back with a halftime report.
Track basics. Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5-mile tri-oval located in the Chicago suburb of Joliet, Illinois. That's right. NASCAR fans of a certain age can visit this track and reminisce about the Blues Brothers. And no, that's not Joliet Jake getting into a car. That's just Tony Stewart.
Recent winners: Mark Martin (2009), Kyle Busch (2008), Stewart (2007).
Who wins here a lot? Well, this stat is going to be even less helpful than usual. Since the history of this track's construction is longer than its racing history, only two active NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers have as many as two wins at Chicagoland: Stewart (who also leads active drivers with seven finishes in the top five) and Kevin Harvick.
Is this NASCAR or Food Network? Anyone tuning into race coverage this week will hear the phrase "cookie cutter." And 90% of the time, this phrase will be used to suggest that Chicagoland, because of its similarity to several other 1.5-mile courses, is somehow less than worthy of the title "NASCAR track."
It may seem wrong to put this week's Sprint Cup race on another generic 1.5-mile track, while more "unique" experiences from Nashville Superspeedway to Road America have to settle for Nationwide dates. But here's something to consider: Would you want every week's race to be held someplace like Daytona, where the Big One can turn fantasy NASCAR into a lottery with rear spoilers?
As usual, if you're looking for more extensive advice, you can click here to download a handy-dandy fantasy NASCAR guide from the folks at Yahoo Sports. In the meantime, remember to vote. We'll be back with a halftime report.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Picking Up the Pieces
The people who bring you the People's Pigskin hope you had a better Independence Day weekend than our fantasy NASCAR team.
The People's Pitstop managed to score only 242 points during Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. The team's season total is 4,801, dropping us to 54,143rd overall on Yahoo Sports but somehow raising us to 68th place in the Fans of From the Marbles league.
It would be tempting to skip the detailed results, but we're going to present them anyway.
Jimmie Johnson: Started 2nd, finished 31st (19 laps behind the leaders), 1 lap led and 40 fantasy points. The good news is that Johnson managed to get the 10 bonus points for leading a lap. The bad news is that he, like about half the field, had his night ruined by the proverbial Big One. And yes, it was big.
Matt Kenseth: Started 7th, finished 15th and 62 fantasy points. Well, at least he finished on the leap lap, and he did get to play table tennis with John Isner.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 13th, finished 4th and 84 fantasy points. After winning the Nationwide race in his father's paint scheme (and launching a fresh crop of conspiracy theories), Earnhardt ran near the front all night and provided the closest thing to a bright spot for the People's Pitstop.
Paul Menard: Started 23rd, finished 18th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 56 fantasy points. Another quiet week for our C List representative.
Speaking of another week, we start one now. And this week, NASCAR takes its show to Chicago for another Saturday night special. The lineup polls are now open and will stay open until Thursday night. The results of the Fourth of July poll appear can be found below.
[polldaddy poll=3422897]
The People's Pitstop managed to score only 242 points during Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. The team's season total is 4,801, dropping us to 54,143rd overall on Yahoo Sports but somehow raising us to 68th place in the Fans of From the Marbles league.
It would be tempting to skip the detailed results, but we're going to present them anyway.
Jimmie Johnson: Started 2nd, finished 31st (19 laps behind the leaders), 1 lap led and 40 fantasy points. The good news is that Johnson managed to get the 10 bonus points for leading a lap. The bad news is that he, like about half the field, had his night ruined by the proverbial Big One. And yes, it was big.
Matt Kenseth: Started 7th, finished 15th and 62 fantasy points. Well, at least he finished on the leap lap, and he did get to play table tennis with John Isner.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 13th, finished 4th and 84 fantasy points. After winning the Nationwide race in his father's paint scheme (and launching a fresh crop of conspiracy theories), Earnhardt ran near the front all night and provided the closest thing to a bright spot for the People's Pitstop.
Paul Menard: Started 23rd, finished 18th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 56 fantasy points. Another quiet week for our C List representative.
Speaking of another week, we start one now. And this week, NASCAR takes its show to Chicago for another Saturday night special. The lineup polls are now open and will stay open until Thursday night. The results of the Fourth of July poll appear can be found below.
[polldaddy poll=3422897]
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Fearless Predictions - Daytona
Before you fire up your grill or light your firecrackers (only where that's legal, of course), it's time to offer a set of predictions of which NASCAR drivers will finish in the top 10 at Saturday night's race at Daytona International Speedway. Last week's predictions went 4-6, dropping our season record to 77-83.
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. If Friday's Nationwide race showed anything, it's that Earnhardts still know how to find Victory Lane at Daytona.
2. Kevin Harvick. Call him lucky. Call him a long shot. But be sure to call him the points leader (and, thanks to Friday's rainout, the pole sitter).
3. Jimmie Johnson. He's in second place in points, and he has a NASCAR-leading five victories this season.
4. Denny Hamlin. Tying him with this guy.
5. Jeff Gordon. Again, he has more wins on this track than any other active NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. If nothing else, he can call on muscle memory.
6. Jamie McMurray. Speaking of memory, the last time we were at this track, McMurray was proving that Roush Fenway's decision to let him go may have been short-sighted.
7. Kyle Busch. He won the 2008 July race at Daytona, and despite his recent travails, he's still third in driver points.
8. Tony Stewart. He won last year's July race here, and you have to think it's only a matter of time before Stewart finds his way back to Victory Lane.
9. Carl Edwards. For what it's worth, he currently holds the final spot in the Chase, and you'd think he'll want to hang on to it. Speaking of the Chase...
10. Ryan Newman. This week's medium to long shot (OK, more emphasis on the "medium" this week) sits only 15 points behind Edwards (and 12 behind Earnhardt), so he'll have some motivation to make some passes.
We'll be back with results and fresh lineup polls.
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. If Friday's Nationwide race showed anything, it's that Earnhardts still know how to find Victory Lane at Daytona.
2. Kevin Harvick. Call him lucky. Call him a long shot. But be sure to call him the points leader (and, thanks to Friday's rainout, the pole sitter).
3. Jimmie Johnson. He's in second place in points, and he has a NASCAR-leading five victories this season.
4. Denny Hamlin. Tying him with this guy.
5. Jeff Gordon. Again, he has more wins on this track than any other active NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. If nothing else, he can call on muscle memory.
6. Jamie McMurray. Speaking of memory, the last time we were at this track, McMurray was proving that Roush Fenway's decision to let him go may have been short-sighted.
7. Kyle Busch. He won the 2008 July race at Daytona, and despite his recent travails, he's still third in driver points.
8. Tony Stewart. He won last year's July race here, and you have to think it's only a matter of time before Stewart finds his way back to Victory Lane.
9. Carl Edwards. For what it's worth, he currently holds the final spot in the Chase, and you'd think he'll want to hang on to it. Speaking of the Chase...
10. Ryan Newman. This week's medium to long shot (OK, more emphasis on the "medium" this week) sits only 15 points behind Edwards (and 12 behind Earnhardt), so he'll have some motivation to make some passes.
We'll be back with results and fresh lineup polls.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The People's Results - Daytona
Once again, you, the Internet, have chosen the drivers who will suit up for the People's Pitstop for Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Daytona. Here are the results of our polls.
A List. This poll came down to a tie between Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson. Whoever qualifies better will get the starting spot.
B List. This contest was clearer. Two drivers won the starting spots here: Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (who won't be using his father's paint scheme for this race). The bench spots go to Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick.
C List. Another week, another tie. This time we have Paul Menard duking it out with Travis Kvapil for the starting spot.
We'll update this post when the qualifying session concludes. In the meantime, a new poll is up, and the lineup poll results appear below.
UPDATED 9:30 A.M.: The qualifying session for this race was rained out, so the race order will be set by driver's points. That means Jimmie Johnson (2nd in points) will start over Kyle Busch (3rd), while Paul Menard (23rd) will start over Travis Kvapil (38th). We'll be back with the top 10 predictions.
[polldaddy poll=3404194] [polldaddy poll=3404206] [polldaddy poll=3404215]
A List. This poll came down to a tie between Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson. Whoever qualifies better will get the starting spot.
B List. This contest was clearer. Two drivers won the starting spots here: Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (who won't be using his father's paint scheme for this race). The bench spots go to Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick.
C List. Another week, another tie. This time we have Paul Menard duking it out with Travis Kvapil for the starting spot.
We'll update this post when the qualifying session concludes. In the meantime, a new poll is up, and the lineup poll results appear below.
UPDATED 9:30 A.M.: The qualifying session for this race was rained out, so the race order will be set by driver's points. That means Jimmie Johnson (2nd in points) will start over Kyle Busch (3rd), while Paul Menard (23rd) will start over Travis Kvapil (38th). We'll be back with the top 10 predictions.
[polldaddy poll=3404194] [polldaddy poll=3404206] [polldaddy poll=3404215]
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