There are seven weeks left in the People's Pitstop's quest for supremacy in the 9beersfantasysportstavern fantasy NASCAR league, and we almost that many spaces to make up.
The Internet's favorite fantasy racing team scored 262 points during Sunday's Chase race at Dover International Speedway. Our season total of 7,648 leaves us in sixth place in our fantasy league.
Here are the detailed results.
Kevin Harvick: Started 22nd, finished 10th, 10 laps led and 82 fantasy points. Harvick's strong performance was good enough to put him in a tie with Carl Edwards the top of the point standings with seven races left in the Chase.
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 7th, finished 7th, 8 laps led and 88 fantasy points. Allmendinger had a strong car from start to finish, especially for someone out of the Chase, thanks in part to a heck of a save. This was the eighth start for Allmendinger, who now will have the "LAST TIME" warning in our polls.
Martin Truex Jr.: Started 1st, finished 30th (4 laps behind the leaders), 2 laps led and 52 fantasy points. Good thing he got the pole. It was the only way he was going to lead a lap this race. For a more detailed breakdown of his performance, check out this nj.com blog post.
Bobby Labonte: Started 8th, finished 26th (2 laps behind the leaders) and 40 fantasy points. Labonte's slide on a restart ended his chances of contention.
Now we turn to our chances of contention. NASCAR takes its act to Kansas this week, and we have until Friday's qualifying session to field a roster. Therefore, the polls are now open and will close Thursday night. Please get your votes in now.
We'll be back with the fantasy football results -- without any golf comparisons.
Showing posts with label Dover. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dover. Show all posts
Monday, October 3, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Fearless Predictions - Dover
Dover International Raceway has a special place in our hearts here at this blog for reasons we've covered in the past. This week, it gets to host a Chase race, and we're proud to bring you yet another set of predictions for which Sprint Cup drivers will finish in the top 10. Last week's predictions went a dismal 1-3, lowering our season record to 38-66.
One from the front: Carl Edwards is fourth in both driver points and in this week's grid. He won this race in 2007, and, if you're into more recent history, he won the Nationwide Series race on this track Saturday.
One from the back: The fantasy racing gods gave us a gift this week by having Jeff Gordon qualify 34th for this race. Yes, that's 10th from the back, so that makes a driver with four Cup championships, four Dover wins, and three wins this season eligible for this pick. Thank you. The obligatory sacrifice is being prepared.
Two from the middle: Speaking of three-time winners this season, Brad Keselowski qualified 15th. Since he's not starting for the People's Pitstop this week, that makes him eligible for this pick.
And we'll keep the "three win" theme going by heading back to 20th place, where we find Ryan Newman. The Rocket Man has three wins on this track and four top 10 finishes in the last six races of this season.
Be sure to get those last-minute votes for the People's Pigskin lineup in while you can. Those polls will close later tonight. We'll be back with the results.
One from the front: Carl Edwards is fourth in both driver points and in this week's grid. He won this race in 2007, and, if you're into more recent history, he won the Nationwide Series race on this track Saturday.
One from the back: The fantasy racing gods gave us a gift this week by having Jeff Gordon qualify 34th for this race. Yes, that's 10th from the back, so that makes a driver with four Cup championships, four Dover wins, and three wins this season eligible for this pick. Thank you. The obligatory sacrifice is being prepared.
Two from the middle: Speaking of three-time winners this season, Brad Keselowski qualified 15th. Since he's not starting for the People's Pitstop this week, that makes him eligible for this pick.
And we'll keep the "three win" theme going by heading back to 20th place, where we find Ryan Newman. The Rocket Man has three wins on this track and four top 10 finishes in the last six races of this season.
Be sure to get those last-minute votes for the People's Pigskin lineup in while you can. Those polls will close later tonight. We'll be back with the results.
The People's Choice - Dover
We've reached the month of October, when baseball starts a postseason that seems eternal but will be over long before NASCAR's. Speaking of which, the Sprint Cup drivers take on the Monster Mile of Dover International Speedway this Sunday. Here are the drivers who will represent the People's Pitstop in that race.
A List: Tony Stewart keeps racking up the wins. His latest came in this week's poll, where he beat a bunch of drivers. Kevin Harvick, by virtue of the points tiebreaker, took the second spot on the roster. And, by qualifying 22nd (six spots in front of Stewart), he earned a starting spot for this week.
B List: The winner of this week's pole was Brad Keselowski. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and A.J. Allmendinger tied for second place. Martin Truex Jr. grabbed the fourth and final spot. And then we had qualifying, which pretty much reversed things. Truex took the freakin' pole, earning us 10 badly needed bonus points. Allmendinger qualified 7th, earning himself a start. Earnhardt (21st) and Keselowski (15th) are relegated to the bench.
C List: Most of the drivers in this poll could have taken the week off as far as the voters were concerned. Regan Smith took the top spot again, followed by Bobby Labonte. And, like their B List counterparts, they reversed their order in the qualifying session. Labonte starts in 8th place (eight spots in front of Smith) and starts for us.
Thanks again for voting. And if you'd still like to participate in this little fantasy democracy experiment, take a crack at the football polls on the right side of this page. You can help decide who takes the field for the People's Pigskin this weekend.
We'll be back shortly with some NASCAR predictions.
A List: Tony Stewart keeps racking up the wins. His latest came in this week's poll, where he beat a bunch of drivers. Kevin Harvick, by virtue of the points tiebreaker, took the second spot on the roster. And, by qualifying 22nd (six spots in front of Stewart), he earned a starting spot for this week.
B List: The winner of this week's pole was Brad Keselowski. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and A.J. Allmendinger tied for second place. Martin Truex Jr. grabbed the fourth and final spot. And then we had qualifying, which pretty much reversed things. Truex took the freakin' pole, earning us 10 badly needed bonus points. Allmendinger qualified 7th, earning himself a start. Earnhardt (21st) and Keselowski (15th) are relegated to the bench.
C List: Most of the drivers in this poll could have taken the week off as far as the voters were concerned. Regan Smith took the top spot again, followed by Bobby Labonte. And, like their B List counterparts, they reversed their order in the qualifying session. Labonte starts in 8th place (eight spots in front of Smith) and starts for us.
Thanks again for voting. And if you'd still like to participate in this little fantasy democracy experiment, take a crack at the football polls on the right side of this page. You can help decide who takes the field for the People's Pigskin this weekend.
We'll be back shortly with some NASCAR predictions.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Caught in a Granite Rockslide
It was an awful finish to what could have been a great day for the People's Pitstop.
Instead of surging back into contention in the 9beersfantasysportstavern league, the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team scored only 240 points during Sunday's Chase race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Our season total of 7,386 dropped us two spots in the league standings, all the way to sixth place.
Here's how we got there.
Kevin Harvick: Started 6th, finished 12th, 1 lap led and 78 fantasy points. Spoiler alert -- Harvick, now an ex-owner in the truck series, ended up with the best performance among our starting drivers. And yes, we benched the eventual winner.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 12th, finished 17th and 58 fantasy points. A couple of flat tires helped keep Earnhardt out of contention. This may be where one of the Chase spots was truly wasted.
Clint Bowyer: Started 11th, finished 26th (2 laps behind the leaders), 49 laps led and 50 fantasy points. Bowyer actually looked like he could win this one -- until he ran out of fuel with a few laps left. That's how quickly a great day can turn into a lousy one.
Anyway, that was Bowyer's ninth and final start for the People's Pitstop. His average finish during those races was 19.4, and he scored an average of 59.9 points. His best performance was in April at Texas Motor Speedway, where he finished second (his best performance ever on that track) and scored 101 points. His worst performance was in Kentucky, where a wreck left him in 35th place with 22 points. Bowyer just didn't have it this year.
Bobby Labonte: Started 15th, finished 19th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 54 fantasy points. Actually, a top 20 finish is probably the best we can hope for from the C List drivers still available to us.
Well, if we're going to get back into contention for the league title, the time to turn this around is this Sunday at Dover International Speedway. And we clearly need your help. The lineup polls are up and will stay up through Friday night, since we have a Saturday qualifying session. Please vote early and often.
We'll be back with the fantasy football results. They aren't finalized yet. However, as Tom Cruise said to Kelly McGillis, it's looking good so far.
Instead of surging back into contention in the 9beersfantasysportstavern league, the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team scored only 240 points during Sunday's Chase race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Our season total of 7,386 dropped us two spots in the league standings, all the way to sixth place.
Here's how we got there.
Kevin Harvick: Started 6th, finished 12th, 1 lap led and 78 fantasy points. Spoiler alert -- Harvick, now an ex-owner in the truck series, ended up with the best performance among our starting drivers. And yes, we benched the eventual winner.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 12th, finished 17th and 58 fantasy points. A couple of flat tires helped keep Earnhardt out of contention. This may be where one of the Chase spots was truly wasted.
Clint Bowyer: Started 11th, finished 26th (2 laps behind the leaders), 49 laps led and 50 fantasy points. Bowyer actually looked like he could win this one -- until he ran out of fuel with a few laps left. That's how quickly a great day can turn into a lousy one.
Anyway, that was Bowyer's ninth and final start for the People's Pitstop. His average finish during those races was 19.4, and he scored an average of 59.9 points. His best performance was in April at Texas Motor Speedway, where he finished second (his best performance ever on that track) and scored 101 points. His worst performance was in Kentucky, where a wreck left him in 35th place with 22 points. Bowyer just didn't have it this year.
Bobby Labonte: Started 15th, finished 19th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 54 fantasy points. Actually, a top 20 finish is probably the best we can hope for from the C List drivers still available to us.
Well, if we're going to get back into contention for the league title, the time to turn this around is this Sunday at Dover International Speedway. And we clearly need your help. The lineup polls are up and will stay up through Friday night, since we have a Saturday qualifying session. Please vote early and often.
We'll be back with the fantasy football results. They aren't finalized yet. However, as Tom Cruise said to Kelly McGillis, it's looking good so far.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Well, That Could Have Been Worse
No one is going to call Sunday a red-letter day for the People's Pitstop, but it least we can walk away from it saying that it was only a flesh wound.
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team managed to compile only 216 points during Sunday's lightly attended Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway. Still, our season total of 3,130 is good enough to keep us in first place in the always-hotly-contested 9beersfantasysportstavern group on Yahoo Fantasy Sports.
Since the qualifying session was rained out, no team earned qualifying bonus points. That's one reason this week's total was so low. Here are the other reasons.
Jimmie Johnson: Started 1st, finished 9th, 207 laps led and 94 fantasy points. That total includes 20 bonus points for leading the most laps. However, Johnson and his crew were on the wrong end of a late pit gamble that helped Matt Kenseth get out front and earn the checkered flag.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 3rd, finished 12th, 1 lap led and 78 fantasy points. Like Kenseth, Earnhardt took only two tires during the last pit stop. However, he never seemed to get comfortable with the track conditions. For those of you keeping score at home, his winless streak now stands at 103.
Kasey Kahne: Started 4th, finished 36th (69 laps behind the leaders) and 20 fantasy points. A late engine failure earned Kahne a spot in the Sporting News' "Good, Bad and Ugly" report. (Here's a hint: He wasn't on the "good" list.)
Regan Smith: Started 11th, finished 24th (39 laps behind the leaders) and 24 fantasy points. So much for momentum. A broken track bar mount ended Smith's day and his team's chances of getting a second call from the governor. No, not that kind.
Now, the People's Pitstop gets a week off before dealing with the longest race on the NASCAR schedule. That's because NASCAR will be holding its annual All-Star Race this Saturday. And in the spirit of democracy, we've set up a poll for this race.
Many drivers, including Smith, have already earned their spots in the race through various criteria. Two others will race their way in during a pre-race showdown. NASCAR will let the fans pick a driver to add to the race through its Fan Vote. And the people who run this poll will submit a vote for any driver who gets a vote in this poll, which will close Friday night. The winning driver will get an extra vote, so cast your votes now and give your favorite driver something to do this Saturday.
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team managed to compile only 216 points during Sunday's lightly attended Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway. Still, our season total of 3,130 is good enough to keep us in first place in the always-hotly-contested 9beersfantasysportstavern group on Yahoo Fantasy Sports.
Since the qualifying session was rained out, no team earned qualifying bonus points. That's one reason this week's total was so low. Here are the other reasons.
Jimmie Johnson: Started 1st, finished 9th, 207 laps led and 94 fantasy points. That total includes 20 bonus points for leading the most laps. However, Johnson and his crew were on the wrong end of a late pit gamble that helped Matt Kenseth get out front and earn the checkered flag.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 3rd, finished 12th, 1 lap led and 78 fantasy points. Like Kenseth, Earnhardt took only two tires during the last pit stop. However, he never seemed to get comfortable with the track conditions. For those of you keeping score at home, his winless streak now stands at 103.
Kasey Kahne: Started 4th, finished 36th (69 laps behind the leaders) and 20 fantasy points. A late engine failure earned Kahne a spot in the Sporting News' "Good, Bad and Ugly" report. (Here's a hint: He wasn't on the "good" list.)
Regan Smith: Started 11th, finished 24th (39 laps behind the leaders) and 24 fantasy points. So much for momentum. A broken track bar mount ended Smith's day and his team's chances of getting a second call from the governor. No, not that kind.
Now, the People's Pitstop gets a week off before dealing with the longest race on the NASCAR schedule. That's because NASCAR will be holding its annual All-Star Race this Saturday. And in the spirit of democracy, we've set up a poll for this race.
Many drivers, including Smith, have already earned their spots in the race through various criteria. Two others will race their way in during a pre-race showdown. NASCAR will let the fans pick a driver to add to the race through its Fan Vote. And the people who run this poll will submit a vote for any driver who gets a vote in this poll, which will close Friday night. The winning driver will get an extra vote, so cast your votes now and give your favorite driver something to do this Saturday.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Fearless Predictions - Dover
The NASCAR folks may have issues with Mother Nature on Sunday at Dover International Speedway, but the people who bring you this fine Web site should have no trouble getting this week's top 10 driver forecasts to you. Of course, this may not necessarily be a good thing. Last week's predictions went 0-4, lowering our season record to 8-24.
One from the front: You might look at this 2009 Dover video and think that Joey Logano might not be the best candidate for a top 10 finish. But then we would have to remind you that he finished in the top 10 in both races on this track last season. Logano starts fifth this time and should be able to keep his car near the front.
One from the rear: The official starting list may show Kyle Busch in 7th place, but he's being sent to the rear because he had to replace his engine. Still, this is the guy who won the truck race on this track on Friday. He's also the guy who won last year's spring race at Dover.
Two from the middle: It's hard to pick against Carl Edwards these days. He's starting 12th this week, but he won the Nationwide race on Saturday, and he almost won last week's Sprint Cup race at Darlington. Oh, and did we mention he's the points leader?
And then there's Greg Biffle. He's starting 12th today and sits quietly in ninth place in driver points. Unless you looked up his career statistics, you would never guess that he has 10 finishes in the top 10 on this track. (Only Bristol has given him more top 10 finishes.) You also wouldn't guess that he has won here twice; only Homestead-Miami Speedway has sent him to Victory Lane more often.
Enjoy the race, everybody. We'll be back with results.
One from the front: You might look at this 2009 Dover video and think that Joey Logano might not be the best candidate for a top 10 finish. But then we would have to remind you that he finished in the top 10 in both races on this track last season. Logano starts fifth this time and should be able to keep his car near the front.
One from the rear: The official starting list may show Kyle Busch in 7th place, but he's being sent to the rear because he had to replace his engine. Still, this is the guy who won the truck race on this track on Friday. He's also the guy who won last year's spring race at Dover.
Two from the middle: It's hard to pick against Carl Edwards these days. He's starting 12th this week, but he won the Nationwide race on Saturday, and he almost won last week's Sprint Cup race at Darlington. Oh, and did we mention he's the points leader?
And then there's Greg Biffle. He's starting 12th today and sits quietly in ninth place in driver points. Unless you looked up his career statistics, you would never guess that he has 10 finishes in the top 10 on this track. (Only Bristol has given him more top 10 finishes.) You also wouldn't guess that he has won here twice; only Homestead-Miami Speedway has sent him to Victory Lane more often.
Enjoy the race, everybody. We'll be back with results.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The People's Choice - Dover
The people who bring you this fine Web site spent most of this week dealing with NASCAR's probation officer.
A List: Carl Edwards had to settle for second last week, but he comes in first in this poll. He'll take the track along with poll runner-up Jimmie Johnson for a qualifying session that will determine our starter.
B List: Ryan Newman knows how to respond to a feud. He finished in the top 10 last week and won this week's lineup poll. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne tied for second, and Clint Bowyer, the driver who had the most legitimate reason to be ticked off at either Kyle Busch or Kevin Harvick last week, squeaks out fourth place. Two of them will start for the Internet's favorite fantasy racing team.
C List: Regan Smith may have his first win in the Sprint Cup series, but he'll have to wait to say the same about our surveys. Paul Menard dominated the voting, and Smith was lucky come in second.
We'll update this post after Saturday's qualifying session. In the meantime, enjoy your weekend activities, and if you're planning to visit this week's race site, don't forget to check out the Dover Downs sports book, where you can bet on this site's other sport.
UPDATED 4:30 P.M. Mother Nature decided that we didn't need no steeenkin qualifying. The session was rained out, so NASCAR implemented its new rule setting the field according to lap times from the first practice session. That means Johnson earns yet another pole, as well as a starting spot for the People's Pitstop. The three drivers joining him as starters are Earnhardt (3rd), Kahne (4th) and Smith (11th).
(Photo assist to Jack Cone of 9beersfantasysportstavern fame.)
Fortunately, while we were keeping an eye on his single bullet, you, the Internet, were busy selecting the Sprint Cup drivers who should represent the People's Pitstop during Sunday's race at Dover International Speedway. Here are the drivers who made the cut. (No, not that one.)A List: Carl Edwards had to settle for second last week, but he comes in first in this poll. He'll take the track along with poll runner-up Jimmie Johnson for a qualifying session that will determine our starter.
B List: Ryan Newman knows how to respond to a feud. He finished in the top 10 last week and won this week's lineup poll. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne tied for second, and Clint Bowyer, the driver who had the most legitimate reason to be ticked off at either Kyle Busch or Kevin Harvick last week, squeaks out fourth place. Two of them will start for the Internet's favorite fantasy racing team.
C List: Regan Smith may have his first win in the Sprint Cup series, but he'll have to wait to say the same about our surveys. Paul Menard dominated the voting, and Smith was lucky come in second.
UPDATED 4:30 P.M. Mother Nature decided that we didn't need no steeenkin qualifying. The session was rained out, so NASCAR implemented its new rule setting the field according to lap times from the first practice session. That means Johnson earns yet another pole, as well as a starting spot for the People's Pitstop. The three drivers joining him as starters are Earnhardt (3rd), Kahne (4th) and Smith (11th).
Monday, May 9, 2011
Surviving Darlington
It's now Monday, but nerves probably are still frayed from Saturday night's NASCAR race at Darlington Speedway. The good news is that the People's Pitstop emerged from that race in far better shape than Clint Bowyer's car did. The Internet's favorite fantasy racing team scored 292 points this week. That's nowhere near our best performance of the season, but it gives us a season total of 2,914 points, which is good enough to maintain the top spot in the always-competitive 9beersfantasysportsgroup league.
Here are the scoring details.
Carl Edwards: Started 4th, finished 2nd, 57 laps led and 99 fantasy points. Edwards must be developing a taste for silver; this is the third second-place finish this season in a Sprint Cup race. At least he can console himself with his return to first place in Yahoo's Power Rankings.
Ryan Newman: Started 2nd, finished 5th, 28 laps led and 97 fantasy points. Newman had a strong weekend, starting with his domination of the rain-shortened practice session. Of the combatants in last week's grudge match, he definitely emerged in the stronger position. And speaking of that grudge match...
Juan Pablo Montoya: Started 16th, finished 23rd (2 laps behind the leaders) and 46 fantasy points. Instead of trying to figure out one of the toughest tracks on the NASCAR schedule, Montoya spent his Saturday night trying to make new friends, like Jimmie Johnson.
David Ragan: Started 11th, finished 21st (1 lap behind the leaders) and 50 fantasy points. The People's Pitstop benched the eventual winner of this race in favor of a driver whose highlight was literally tearing into Brian Vickers' car.
South Carolina is now in NASCAR's rear view mirror. Up next is the Monster Mile of Dover International Speedway. The new lineup polls are now open, and they will remain open until Friday night. Remember that we need you to select two drivers from the A List, four from the B List and two from the C List to represent the People's Pitstop this week. You're the reason we made it to the top, and you're the only way we can stay there, so feel free to vote now.
Here are the scoring details.
Carl Edwards: Started 4th, finished 2nd, 57 laps led and 99 fantasy points. Edwards must be developing a taste for silver; this is the third second-place finish this season in a Sprint Cup race. At least he can console himself with his return to first place in Yahoo's Power Rankings.
Ryan Newman: Started 2nd, finished 5th, 28 laps led and 97 fantasy points. Newman had a strong weekend, starting with his domination of the rain-shortened practice session. Of the combatants in last week's grudge match, he definitely emerged in the stronger position. And speaking of that grudge match...
Juan Pablo Montoya: Started 16th, finished 23rd (2 laps behind the leaders) and 46 fantasy points. Instead of trying to figure out one of the toughest tracks on the NASCAR schedule, Montoya spent his Saturday night trying to make new friends, like Jimmie Johnson.
David Ragan: Started 11th, finished 21st (1 lap behind the leaders) and 50 fantasy points. The People's Pitstop benched the eventual winner of this race in favor of a driver whose highlight was literally tearing into Brian Vickers' car.
South Carolina is now in NASCAR's rear view mirror. Up next is the Monster Mile of Dover International Speedway. The new lineup polls are now open, and they will remain open until Friday night. Remember that we need you to select two drivers from the A List, four from the B List and two from the C List to represent the People's Pitstop this week. You're the reason we made it to the top, and you're the only way we can stay there, so feel free to vote now.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Looking Back at the Monster Mile
As we prepare for the Monday night game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, the People's Pigskin enjoys a 56-point lead over the Chicago VinSethBears. Our opponent has Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Johnny Knox and Robbie Gould in tonight's game. (That's right, four Bears; care to guess how this fantasy football team got its name?) This matchup is far from settled. Tune in Tuesday for a wrap-up.
In the meantime, let's discuss something that has been settled: the 281 points the People's Pitstop scored during Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway, including the bonus point Denny Hamlin recorded for qualifying fourth. Our season total is now 7,479, 55,859th among all Yahoo Sports competitors and 74th place among those in the Fans of From the Marbles league. Here are the details.
Jimmie Johnson: Started 1st, finished 1st, 191 laps led and 120 fantasy points, including 10 for winning the pole and 20 for leading more laps than anyone else. Simply put, he kicked butt.
Ryan Newman: Started 13th, finished 8th and 76 fantasy points. Good enough to be noticed, but not good enough to lead.
Matt Kenseth: Started 14th, finished 18th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 56 fantasy points. It is fitting that Kenseth ends his season for the People's Pitstop the way his whole season went as a Sprint Cup driver: making hardly a ripple.
Scott Speed: Started 20th, finished 32nd (7 laps behind the leaders) and 28 fantasy points. You want a quiet race? Check out this lap-by-lap report from the race. Scott Speed's only mention comes in Lap 91, when he goes a lap down.
The NASCAR folks take their act to Kansas this week, and we have a whole new set of driver lineup polls available. Please vote. They will close Thursday night.
We'll be back with football results.
In the meantime, let's discuss something that has been settled: the 281 points the People's Pitstop scored during Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway, including the bonus point Denny Hamlin recorded for qualifying fourth. Our season total is now 7,479, 55,859th among all Yahoo Sports competitors and 74th place among those in the Fans of From the Marbles league. Here are the details.
Jimmie Johnson: Started 1st, finished 1st, 191 laps led and 120 fantasy points, including 10 for winning the pole and 20 for leading more laps than anyone else. Simply put, he kicked butt.
Ryan Newman: Started 13th, finished 8th and 76 fantasy points. Good enough to be noticed, but not good enough to lead.
Matt Kenseth: Started 14th, finished 18th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 56 fantasy points. It is fitting that Kenseth ends his season for the People's Pitstop the way his whole season went as a Sprint Cup driver: making hardly a ripple.
Scott Speed: Started 20th, finished 32nd (7 laps behind the leaders) and 28 fantasy points. You want a quiet race? Check out this lap-by-lap report from the race. Scott Speed's only mention comes in Lap 91, when he goes a lap down.
The NASCAR folks take their act to Kansas this week, and we have a whole new set of driver lineup polls available. Please vote. They will close Thursday night.
We'll be back with football results.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Fearless NASCAR Predictions - Dover
Most weeks, the people who run this blog already know by Friday evening who seems to be likely candidates for our weekly predictions about which NASCAR drivers will finish in the top 10 for that week's race.
Then you have weeks like this one.
First, Denny Hamlin disputed Clint Bowyer's account of how his car failed its inspection. Then, Kevin Harvick decided to use Saturday's practice session not to get his car ready for Sunday's Sprint Cup race, but to express his displeasure with Hamlin.
As of this writing, both Hamlin and Harvick are still scheduled to drive the race at Dover International Speedway. However, since they still might turn that race into their own personal demolition derby, neither driver will appear in these predictions. (Neither will Bowyer, whose crew chief has been suspended for six races.)
As for last week's forecasts, they went 5-5, leaving us with a season record of 124-136.
Now, on to this week's predictions.
1. Jimmie Johnson. Four Cups, the pole and the ability to drive away from Harvick and/or Hamlin if either driver still has any residual anger.
2. Kyle Busch. Who benefits when the points leader has a dispute with the driver in second place? The driver in third place, of course.
3. Jeff Gordon. Unless it's the driver who leaped up to fourth place.
4. Matt Kenseth. Since he is appearing in the People's Pitstop lineup for the last time this season, he might as well make the most of it.
5. Tony Stewart. He probably would rather be known for something other than the answer to the trivia question "Who was the last driver other than Johnson to win the Cup?"
6. Greg Biffle. Of the top 10 qualifiers for this race, only five are participating in the Chase for the Cup: Johnson, Biffle, the ineligible-for-these-picks Hamlin ...
7 and 8. Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards. ... and these two.
9. Juan Pablo Montoya. Would you have guessed that, among non-Chase drivers, Montoya has the most top 10 finishes this season (13)? Neither would we.
10. A.J. Allmendinger. This week's medium to long shot was an easy pick. Allmendinger, by hook or by crook, is starting on the front row.
Remember that the lineup polls for the People's Pigskin are still open. You have until Sunday morning to help the Internet's favorite fantasy football team defeat the Chicago VinSethBears and raise its record to 3-0. Please vote now.
We'll be back with the poll results.
Then you have weeks like this one.
First, Denny Hamlin disputed Clint Bowyer's account of how his car failed its inspection. Then, Kevin Harvick decided to use Saturday's practice session not to get his car ready for Sunday's Sprint Cup race, but to express his displeasure with Hamlin.
As of this writing, both Hamlin and Harvick are still scheduled to drive the race at Dover International Speedway. However, since they still might turn that race into their own personal demolition derby, neither driver will appear in these predictions. (Neither will Bowyer, whose crew chief has been suspended for six races.)
As for last week's forecasts, they went 5-5, leaving us with a season record of 124-136.
Now, on to this week's predictions.
1. Jimmie Johnson. Four Cups, the pole and the ability to drive away from Harvick and/or Hamlin if either driver still has any residual anger.
2. Kyle Busch. Who benefits when the points leader has a dispute with the driver in second place? The driver in third place, of course.
3. Jeff Gordon. Unless it's the driver who leaped up to fourth place.
4. Matt Kenseth. Since he is appearing in the People's Pitstop lineup for the last time this season, he might as well make the most of it.
5. Tony Stewart. He probably would rather be known for something other than the answer to the trivia question "Who was the last driver other than Johnson to win the Cup?"
6. Greg Biffle. Of the top 10 qualifiers for this race, only five are participating in the Chase for the Cup: Johnson, Biffle, the ineligible-for-these-picks Hamlin ...
7 and 8. Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards. ... and these two.
9. Juan Pablo Montoya. Would you have guessed that, among non-Chase drivers, Montoya has the most top 10 finishes this season (13)? Neither would we.
10. A.J. Allmendinger. This week's medium to long shot was an easy pick. Allmendinger, by hook or by crook, is starting on the front row.
Remember that the lineup polls for the People's Pigskin are still open. You have until Sunday morning to help the Internet's favorite fantasy football team defeat the Chicago VinSethBears and raise its record to 3-0. Please vote now.
We'll be back with the poll results.
Friday, September 24, 2010
The People's Results - Dover
The leaves are starting to change in certain parts of the country (and so are the quarterbacks), but one thing that isn't changing is your level of enthusiasm for the People's Pitstop. You, the Internet, have selected the lineup that will represent the Web's favorite fantasy NASCAR team this weekend in Dover. Here are the results.
A List. Jimmie Johnson, who is gunning for a fifth straight Sprint Cup, won this week's vote (and starting spot) over Denny Hamlin.
B List. Another week, another tie. This time, it's a four-way draw between Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne and David Reutimann. The two top qualifiers will start for the People's Pitstop. And if Matt Kenseth starts, it will be his last start for us this season.
C List. There must be something about Scott Speed. He won this poll yet again and will make his fifth start for us this season. Sam Hornish Jr., whose future is still up in the air, will sit on the bench.
You can see the poll results below. Thanks for voting, and if you haven't already voted on the People's Pigskin lineup, please vote on those polls now.
Oh, and if anyone is driving down to Dover for the weekend, would they mind picking me up a few football tickets? (Just kidding.)
UPDATED 6:30 P.M. The qualifying session is over, and Johnson confirmed your confidence in him by winning the freaking pole (and earning us a 10-point bonus). Hamlin qualified 4th; he stays on the bench but give us a 1-point bonus. Speed qualified 20th, or a single spot ahead of Hornish.
The B List qualifying competition was probably the tightest in the People's Pitstop's history. Your starters are Newman (13th) and Kenseth (14th; Sunday will indeed be his swan song for us). Kahne (16th) and Reutimann (17th) will sit on the bench.
And a football note. Knowshon Moreno was declared out for Sunday's game between the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts because of a hamstring injury. It's too late to alter the poll, but you can rest assured that the People's Pigskin will not start him Sunday. Who should we put in his place? If you haven't voted, do so now.
We'll be back with some predictions.
[polldaddy poll=3789689] [polldaddy poll=3789695] [polldaddy poll=3789709]
A List. Jimmie Johnson, who is gunning for a fifth straight Sprint Cup, won this week's vote (and starting spot) over Denny Hamlin.
B List. Another week, another tie. This time, it's a four-way draw between Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne and David Reutimann. The two top qualifiers will start for the People's Pitstop. And if Matt Kenseth starts, it will be his last start for us this season.
C List. There must be something about Scott Speed. He won this poll yet again and will make his fifth start for us this season. Sam Hornish Jr., whose future is still up in the air, will sit on the bench.
You can see the poll results below. Thanks for voting, and if you haven't already voted on the People's Pigskin lineup, please vote on those polls now.
Oh, and if anyone is driving down to Dover for the weekend, would they mind picking me up a few football tickets? (Just kidding.)
UPDATED 6:30 P.M. The qualifying session is over, and Johnson confirmed your confidence in him by winning the freaking pole (and earning us a 10-point bonus). Hamlin qualified 4th; he stays on the bench but give us a 1-point bonus. Speed qualified 20th, or a single spot ahead of Hornish.
The B List qualifying competition was probably the tightest in the People's Pitstop's history. Your starters are Newman (13th) and Kenseth (14th; Sunday will indeed be his swan song for us). Kahne (16th) and Reutimann (17th) will sit on the bench.
And a football note. Knowshon Moreno was declared out for Sunday's game between the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts because of a hamstring injury. It's too late to alter the poll, but you can rest assured that the People's Pigskin will not start him Sunday. Who should we put in his place? If you haven't voted, do so now.
We'll be back with some predictions.
[polldaddy poll=3789689] [polldaddy poll=3789695] [polldaddy poll=3789709]
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The People's Facts - AAA 400
There's no time to bask in the glow of the People's Pigskin's 2-0 record. It's time to get back to work on the People's Pitstop. And it's time to discuss the track that will host Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the second in the Chase for the Cup.
Track basics: Dover International Speedway is the "Monster Mile," a highly banked concrete track that has hosted NASCAR events since 1969. It also holds a soft spot in our hearts, since it's one of the few places in America where you can bet on football (kind of) without risking a visit from your local law enforcement officers.
Last time we were here: Back in May, Kyle Busch won the Autism Speaks 400 with the help of a late penalty on Jimmie Johnson. The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team scored 270 points, with the help of runner-up Jeff Burton.
Other recent winners: Johnson (fall 2009), Greg Biffle (2008), Carl Edwards (2007).
Who wins here a lot: Does it seem like Johnson is here a lot? Well, he 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.
So what do we know now? We know that Denny Hamlin is a legitimate threat to deny Johnson a fifth straight Sprint Cup. So is Clint Bowyer, as long as he can keep passing inspections. And we know that an exciting race does not guarantee a ratings bonanza.
Normally, this is where we would be directing you to the Yahoo Sports preview for this race. However, it's not up yet. Maybe they were waiting for Andy Reid to make up his mind first. Anyway, we'll get it to you as soon as possible.
Remember to vote on the NASCAR and football polls to the right of this post. Only you can help us set our lineups each week. We'll be back with some more football thoughts.
Track basics: Dover International Speedway is the "Monster Mile," a highly banked concrete track that has hosted NASCAR events since 1969. It also holds a soft spot in our hearts, since it's one of the few places in America where you can bet on football (kind of) without risking a visit from your local law enforcement officers.
Last time we were here: Back in May, Kyle Busch won the Autism Speaks 400 with the help of a late penalty on Jimmie Johnson. The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team scored 270 points, with the help of runner-up Jeff Burton.
Other recent winners: Johnson (fall 2009), Greg Biffle (2008), Carl Edwards (2007).
Who wins here a lot: Does it seem like Johnson is here a lot? Well, he 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.
So what do we know now? We know that Denny Hamlin is a legitimate threat to deny Johnson a fifth straight Sprint Cup. So is Clint Bowyer, as long as he can keep passing inspections. And we know that an exciting race does not guarantee a ratings bonanza.
Normally, this is where we would be directing you to the Yahoo Sports preview for this race. However, it's not up yet. Maybe they were waiting for Andy Reid to make up his mind first. Anyway, we'll get it to you as soon as possible.
Remember to vote on the NASCAR and football polls to the right of this post. Only you can help us set our lineups each week. We'll be back with some more football thoughts.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Starting the Chase with a Dud
We'll sum up the People's Pigskin's weekend Monday morning. Right now, it's time to sum up the People's Pitstop's Sunday afternoon.
In a word: BLAH!!
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team picked up only 214 points during the first Chase race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The season total is now 7,198, good enough for 55,424th overall on Yahoo Sports and dropping us 26 spots, to 77th, in the Fans of From the Marbles league.
Here's how those less-than-pleasant results came to be.
Tony Stewart: Started 3rd, finished 24th, 100 laps led and 57 fantasy points, including 3 for qualifying 3rd and 10 for leading a lap. This weekend could have turned out so much better if Tony hadn't "run him out of gas."
Joey Logano: Started 31st, finished 35th (44 laps behind the leaders) and 22 fantasy points. You never want your driver's race summary to include the words "broken gear box." In fact, you'd probably prefer to see none of those words in there.
Clint Bowyer: Started 2nd, finished 1st, 177 laps led and 115 fantasy points, including 5 for qualifying well and 20 for leading the most laps. Stewart's unraveling put Bowyer into position to take home the win and announce himself as a legitimate contender for this year's Cup.
Scott Speed: Started 28th, finished 36th (87 laps behind the leaders) and 20 fantasy points. Sometimes you're a contender for the checkered flag, and sometimes you're the guy who bounces off a wall within the first 30 laps.
Speaking of bouncing, it's time for the People's Pitstop to bounce back. NASCAR takes its act to Dover, and it's time for the lineup polls. They will close Thursday evening.
We'll be back with the football results.
In a word: BLAH!!
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team picked up only 214 points during the first Chase race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The season total is now 7,198, good enough for 55,424th overall on Yahoo Sports and dropping us 26 spots, to 77th, in the Fans of From the Marbles league.
Here's how those less-than-pleasant results came to be.
Tony Stewart: Started 3rd, finished 24th, 100 laps led and 57 fantasy points, including 3 for qualifying 3rd and 10 for leading a lap. This weekend could have turned out so much better if Tony hadn't "run him out of gas."
Joey Logano: Started 31st, finished 35th (44 laps behind the leaders) and 22 fantasy points. You never want your driver's race summary to include the words "broken gear box." In fact, you'd probably prefer to see none of those words in there.
Clint Bowyer: Started 2nd, finished 1st, 177 laps led and 115 fantasy points, including 5 for qualifying well and 20 for leading the most laps. Stewart's unraveling put Bowyer into position to take home the win and announce himself as a legitimate contender for this year's Cup.
Scott Speed: Started 28th, finished 36th (87 laps behind the leaders) and 20 fantasy points. Sometimes you're a contender for the checkered flag, and sometimes you're the guy who bounces off a wall within the first 30 laps.
Speaking of bouncing, it's time for the People's Pitstop to bounce back. NASCAR takes its act to Dover, and it's time for the lineup polls. They will close Thursday evening.
We'll be back with the football results.
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.
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