Some traditions just make sense, like racing at Daytona on Independence Day Weekend. And then there are traditions like the People's Pitstop predictions, which we all tolerate before moving on to more pressing matters. Maybe we need to get some special help for these picks for the NASCAR drivers who will finish in the top 10. Last week's predictions went 0 for 4 (again), dropping our season record to 16-40.
In bowling, they call hitting three strikes in a row a "turkey." Is there a term for three gutter balls in a row? Let's hope we don't have to find out.
One from the front: We can't pick the polesitter, Mark Martin, because he's in our starting lineup for this week. (Thank you, voters.) However, since Daytona has become a "dance with your partner" type of track, we can pick the Hendrick Motorsports teammate who has publicly committed to pairing up with Martin. That would be Jeff Gordon, who starts in 4th place and should have little trouble finding Martin.
One from the back: Kyle Busch had a dreadful qualifying session. He will start in 38th place, but he has won this race before. Also, despite an early spin, he finished in 8th place the last time these drivers were here. If anyone can climb from the back, it's Mr. Pink Car.
Two from the middle: Jeff Burton needs to make a move -- quickly. He currently sits 24th in driver points, so he's in real danger of missing the Chase, even if he manages to win a race. Luckily, Daytona has been kind to him over the years. He has nine top 10 finishes on this track, including a 5th-place finish in this race last year. He also starts in 12th place on Saturday.
Kurt Busch has already made his move. He didn't just win last week's road race at Sonoma; he dominated it. He starts in 25th place for this race, but he has finished in the top 10 in a dozen Daytona races, including the last two straight.
Enjoy the race and the holiday, and remember why we celebrate it. We'll be back with the results.
Showing posts with label Independence Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Independence Day. Show all posts
Saturday, July 2, 2011
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]
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The People's Facts - Coca-Cola 400
Yes, the People's Pitstop, like the rest of NASCAR, is returning to the self-proclaimed Birthplace of Speed for Saturday night's Sprint Cup race. You still have time to vote in our lineup polls, which will close Thursday night. In the meantime, it's time to offer some information about this week's site.
Track basics: It's still Daytona International Speedway. It's still a restrictor plate race. It's still a track that breeds the Big One on a regular basis. If you really need the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team to introduce this track to you, you've been listening to the vuvuzelas too long. But if you do need help, you can download a guide from Yahoo Sports by clicking here.
Recent winners: For the July race, the most recent winners are Tony Stewart (2009), Kyle Busch (2008) and Jamie McMurray (2007).
Who wins here a lot: Jeff Gordon still leads active NASCAR drivers with six wins at Daytona. Tied for second with three victories apiece: Stewart and ... you're not gonna believe this ... Michael Waltrip. Yes, that Michael Waltrip.
Are a lot of folks bringing Union Jacks to this event? To help keep everyone as safe and as comfortable as possible, the Daytona International Speedway's Web site offers fans a list of things they may and may not bring to this weekend's races. Since Sunday is Independence Day, the following passage seems particularly relevant.
"Flags are acceptable for admissions, provided they are not attached to poles and that they do not obstruct other fans viewing of racing activities. No flag poles of any type will be allowed."
"Small nationality flags attached to a pencil sized diameter wooden stick, will be allowed."
I know these folks are trying to prevent people from slipping through loopholes, but you'd think they can just say, "Bring the Stars and Stripes. Leave the poles at home."
We'll be back with more thoughts and observations. In the meantime, please vote.
Track basics: It's still Daytona International Speedway. It's still a restrictor plate race. It's still a track that breeds the Big One on a regular basis. If you really need the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team to introduce this track to you, you've been listening to the vuvuzelas too long. But if you do need help, you can download a guide from Yahoo Sports by clicking here.
Recent winners: For the July race, the most recent winners are Tony Stewart (2009), Kyle Busch (2008) and Jamie McMurray (2007).
Who wins here a lot: Jeff Gordon still leads active NASCAR drivers with six wins at Daytona. Tied for second with three victories apiece: Stewart and ... you're not gonna believe this ... Michael Waltrip. Yes, that Michael Waltrip.
Are a lot of folks bringing Union Jacks to this event? To help keep everyone as safe and as comfortable as possible, the Daytona International Speedway's Web site offers fans a list of things they may and may not bring to this weekend's races. Since Sunday is Independence Day, the following passage seems particularly relevant.
"Flags are acceptable for admissions, provided they are not attached to poles and that they do not obstruct other fans viewing of racing activities. No flag poles of any type will be allowed."
"Small nationality flags attached to a pencil sized diameter wooden stick, will be allowed."
I know these folks are trying to prevent people from slipping through loopholes, but you'd think they can just say, "Bring the Stars and Stripes. Leave the poles at home."
We'll be back with more thoughts and observations. In the meantime, please vote.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)