We'll get to the fantasy football results in just a moment. First, now that we've recovered from chasing Wes Welker, it's time to tell you about the People's Pitstop weekend. The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team scored precisely 200 points Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway. It wasn't all that impressive, but our season total of 6,954 is just good enough to keep us in first place in the 9beersfantasysportstavern league. Our lead over Dale Jr Amp National Guard 88 is down to 46 points. Obviously, we'll need all the help we can get this week, but more on that later.
Here is how we did on the last week before the Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR's version of the playoffs.
Kyle Busch: Started 13th, finished 6th and 80 fantasy points. All in all, not a bad effort for someone with nothing at stake. Busch had already secured at least a tie for the top spot in the Chase standings.
Clint Bowyer: Started 5th, finished 22nd (1 lap behind the leaders) and 48 fantasy points. Bowyer came into this race having an outside shot at making the Chase. But then he got to close to you know who.
Kasey Kahne: Started 12th, finished 38th (350 laps behind the leaders) and 16 fantasy points. Given the way Kahne's night went, you might be tempted to say he's ready for his season to end. But then you have to consider the fact that his sponsor is pulling out when his season ends.
Regan Smith: Started 23rd, finished 18th and 56 fantasy points. Sometimes, the best you can hope for from your driver is a post-race headline that contains the phrase "avoids wrecks."
Now it's time for the Chase, which begins this year at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. We have a fresh set of polls available for your voting. They will close Friday night, because the qualifying session is scheduled for Saturday. (Please note the "LAST TIME" next to Bowyer's name. He's down to his ninth and final start for us.)
We'll be back as soon as possible with the football results.
Showing posts with label Richmond. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richmond. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Fearless Predictions - Richmond
It's going to be a busy weekend for this Website. NASCAR has a Saturday night special at Richmond International Raceway, and most of the National Football League will kick off the 2011 season on Sunday. Before those things, though, we have predictions for the Sprint Cup drivers who will finish in the top 10 tonight. Last week's forecasts went 3-1, lifting our season record to 32-60.
One from the front: Insert the Gomer Pyle "Surprise, surprise, surprise" sound effect here. Jimmie Johnson leads the pack in driver points as the Chase approaches. He finished second last week and starts fifth at Richmond, where he has won three times and finished in the top 10 in the last two races.
One from the back: The usual gang of idiots occupy the bottom 10 spots in this race, and our pick last week (Dave Blaney) developed kidney stones Monday and became the first driver to return to the garage on Tuesday. This week, we'll go with Robby Gordon, who starts 37th and at least has a top five finish at this track on his resume.
Two from the middle: Right now, how can you pick against Jeff Gordon? Last week, he not only won the race at Atlanta, earning sole possession of third place on NASCAR's all-time win list, but he also met Justin Bieber! This week, he starts 17th, but he's not a good bet to finish there.
OK, Tony Stewart. It's time to put up or shut up. True, you're starting 22nd, but you had a strong finish at Atlanta, and you have three wins on this track. You also have a tenuous hold on the 10th and final automatic berth in the Chase, and you can wrap up that playoff spot by working your way toward the front. As Robin Williams said in "Good Will Hunting," it's your move, chief.
Don't forget to get those votes in for the People's Pigskin lineup. Those polls will close Saturday night. We'll be back with predictions for the first week of the fantasy football season.
One from the front: Insert the Gomer Pyle "Surprise, surprise, surprise" sound effect here. Jimmie Johnson leads the pack in driver points as the Chase approaches. He finished second last week and starts fifth at Richmond, where he has won three times and finished in the top 10 in the last two races.
One from the back: The usual gang of idiots occupy the bottom 10 spots in this race, and our pick last week (Dave Blaney) developed kidney stones Monday and became the first driver to return to the garage on Tuesday. This week, we'll go with Robby Gordon, who starts 37th and at least has a top five finish at this track on his resume.
Two from the middle: Right now, how can you pick against Jeff Gordon? Last week, he not only won the race at Atlanta, earning sole possession of third place on NASCAR's all-time win list, but he also met Justin Bieber! This week, he starts 17th, but he's not a good bet to finish there.
OK, Tony Stewart. It's time to put up or shut up. True, you're starting 22nd, but you had a strong finish at Atlanta, and you have three wins on this track. You also have a tenuous hold on the 10th and final automatic berth in the Chase, and you can wrap up that playoff spot by working your way toward the front. As Robin Williams said in "Good Will Hunting," it's your move, chief.
Don't forget to get those votes in for the People's Pigskin lineup. Those polls will close Saturday night. We'll be back with predictions for the first week of the fantasy football season.
Friday, September 9, 2011
The People's Choice - Richmond
There will be no bonus points for the People's Pitstop this week, but we still have a solid lineup. You, the Internet, voted on the NASCAR drivers who should represent us at Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. Your votes, combined with Friday afternoon's qualifying session, have produced these results.
A List: In the last race before the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins, you split your votes even between a driver who's locked into the Chase (Kyle Busch) and one still fighting to get in (Tony Stewart). Busch qualified 13th, or nine spots in front of Stewart, so he will get the start.
B List: The co-winners of this poll were Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer, followed by Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Bowyer (5th) and Kahne (12th) get the starting nods over Keselowski (19th) and Earnhardt (27th).
C List: Two new favorites have settled into the top spots of this poll. Bobby Labonte got the most votes, while Regan Smith finished second. In qualifying, the order was reversed. Smith will start 23rd, or nine spots in front of Labonte.
We'll be back with predictions for this race. In the meantime, feel free to vote in the fantasy football polls still available on the right side of this page. We want the People's Pigskin lineup to be as strong as possible, and we need your help. Thanks.
A List: In the last race before the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins, you split your votes even between a driver who's locked into the Chase (Kyle Busch) and one still fighting to get in (Tony Stewart). Busch qualified 13th, or nine spots in front of Stewart, so he will get the start.
B List: The co-winners of this poll were Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer, followed by Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Bowyer (5th) and Kahne (12th) get the starting nods over Keselowski (19th) and Earnhardt (27th).
C List: Two new favorites have settled into the top spots of this poll. Bobby Labonte got the most votes, while Regan Smith finished second. In qualifying, the order was reversed. Smith will start 23rd, or nine spots in front of Labonte.
We'll be back with predictions for this race. In the meantime, feel free to vote in the fantasy football polls still available on the right side of this page. We want the People's Pigskin lineup to be as strong as possible, and we need your help. Thanks.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Hanging in There
The People's Pitstop scored 222 points in the severely delayed Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It wasn't an impressive outing, but our season total of 6,754 allows us to hang on to the top spot in the 9beersfantasysportstavern league. We lead Dale Jr Amp National Guard 88 by 96 points.
Here are the scoring details from a soggy and historic race.
Kyle Busch: Started 3rd, finished 23rd, 19 laps led and 59 fantasy points. Busch found the front early but found nothing but trouble later in the race, including a pass-through penalty that essentially took him out of the running -- and out of first place in the driver standings.
Clint Bowyer: Started 2nd, finished 36th, 8 laps led and 35 fantasy points. Bowyer also got to the lead early in the race, but he couldn't stay away from the wall (or Juan Pablo Montoya).
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 11th, finished 10th and 72 fantasy points. You know you've had better fantasy NASCAR days when your top scorer is someone who makes people say, "Oh, yeah, he finished in the top 10, and he still has a shot at the Chase."
Paul Menard: Started 22nd, finished 18th and 56 fantasy points. That was Menard's ninth and final start for the People's Pitstop this season, and his time with us ended, not with a bang, but with a whimper. In his nine starts, he racked up 630 points, or an average of 70 a race. His best performance for us was in Michigan in June, when he finished 4th and scored 94 points. His worst was in New Hampshire, when he finished 24th and scored 44. And yes, we missed out on his first Sprint Cup win. But we'll hear from him next season, when he makes Yahoo's B List (at least).
We at the People's Pitstop have already turned our attention to the upcoming week, including the NASCAR race at Richmond International Raceway. Again, the polls are open, so get started on your voting. Thanks.
Here are the scoring details from a soggy and historic race.
Kyle Busch: Started 3rd, finished 23rd, 19 laps led and 59 fantasy points. Busch found the front early but found nothing but trouble later in the race, including a pass-through penalty that essentially took him out of the running -- and out of first place in the driver standings.
Clint Bowyer: Started 2nd, finished 36th, 8 laps led and 35 fantasy points. Bowyer also got to the lead early in the race, but he couldn't stay away from the wall (or Juan Pablo Montoya).
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 11th, finished 10th and 72 fantasy points. You know you've had better fantasy NASCAR days when your top scorer is someone who makes people say, "Oh, yeah, he finished in the top 10, and he still has a shot at the Chase."
Paul Menard: Started 22nd, finished 18th and 56 fantasy points. That was Menard's ninth and final start for the People's Pitstop this season, and his time with us ended, not with a bang, but with a whimper. In his nine starts, he racked up 630 points, or an average of 70 a race. His best performance for us was in Michigan in June, when he finished 4th and scored 94 points. His worst was in New Hampshire, when he finished 24th and scored 44. And yes, we missed out on his first Sprint Cup win. But we'll hear from him next season, when he makes Yahoo's B List (at least).
We at the People's Pitstop have already turned our attention to the upcoming week, including the NASCAR race at Richmond International Raceway. Again, the polls are open, so get started on your voting. Thanks.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Draft Night, Baby!
There are few better times in a fantasy football player's life than the draft. As the NFL commercial said a few years back, as of right now, we're all undefeated. No one has suffered any Brian Westbrooks or DeSean Jacksons or any of the million other events that can break your heart on any given Sunday. Your roster is healthy (for the most part), and you have no reason to feel anything but optimism about the season.
For the People's League, that optimism will hit its peak at 9 p.m. EST tonight, when we hold our annual draft. By Tuesday, we should have a roster for the People's Pigskin and a new set of polls that will determine our lineup each week. (Remember: You, the Internet, told us to target Adrian Peterson, Aaron Rodgers, Larry Fitzgerald and Jason Witten in our draft, and we will do our best to get them on the roster.)
We came oh so close to winning the People's League championship last year. With your help, we can reach the top.
What we can't do is wait for Mother Nature to stop messing with NASCAR. The Sprint Cup race that was supposed to take place Sunday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway has been postponed until Tuesday morning. We will try to get the People's Pitstop results to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, we are forced to turn our attention to Saturday night's race at Richmond International Raceway, the last chance for drivers to get into the Chase for the Sprint Cup. It's a Saturday night race with a Friday qualifying session, so we have lineup polls up already. They will close Thursday night. Feel free to vote now.
For the People's League, that optimism will hit its peak at 9 p.m. EST tonight, when we hold our annual draft. By Tuesday, we should have a roster for the People's Pigskin and a new set of polls that will determine our lineup each week. (Remember: You, the Internet, told us to target Adrian Peterson, Aaron Rodgers, Larry Fitzgerald and Jason Witten in our draft, and we will do our best to get them on the roster.)
We came oh so close to winning the People's League championship last year. With your help, we can reach the top.
What we can't do is wait for Mother Nature to stop messing with NASCAR. The Sprint Cup race that was supposed to take place Sunday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway has been postponed until Tuesday morning. We will try to get the People's Pitstop results to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, we are forced to turn our attention to Saturday night's race at Richmond International Raceway, the last chance for drivers to get into the Chase for the Sprint Cup. It's a Saturday night race with a Friday qualifying session, so we have lineup polls up already. They will close Thursday night. Feel free to vote now.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
It's Official--You Rock!
You, the Internet, clearly have this whole fantasy NASCAR thing figured out.
For the second race in a row, your choices have put the People's Pitstop at the top of the 9beersfantasysportsforum standings. This week, the Internet's favorite fantasy racing team racked up 311 points at Richmond International Raceway. Our season total is now 2,622.
For those of you wondering, in the words of David Byrne, "How did we get here?," here's a look at the results.
Kyle Busch: Started 20th, finished 1st, 235 laps led and 110 fantasy points. That's right; our A List driver led more than half of the 400 laps in this race. And it turns out that he had just enough fuel to complete the 400 laps; the Victory Lane celebration was delayed because he ran out of gas on the way there.
Clint Bowyer: Started 3rd, finished 6th, 18 laps led and 93 fantasy points, including the 3 bonus points he earned from the qualifying session. A driver getting this much "when will he break through" buzz is one worthy of our continued attention, even if he is spending his down time hosting Twitter parties.
Mark Martin: Started 5th, finished 14th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 64 fantasy points. Yes, Martin, NASCAR's biggest rap fan, was in our lineup because of a mistake on our part, but it turned out to be a happy accident. He finished six spots ahead of Ryan Newman, who would have started had everything gone according to plan. But Martin's plan probably did not involve getting caught up in a Jeff Gordon wreck.
Bobby Labonte: Started 14th, finished 24th (3 laps behind the leaders) and 44 fantasy points. Labonte was another driver collected in the Gordon wreck.
Now, the People's Pitstop tries to make it three in a row as NASCAR takes its act to Darlington Raceway. This is another Saturday night race--even the Frances won't mess with Mother--with a Friday qualifying session, so this week's lineup polls will close on Thursday night. Remember that you're voting for 2 A List drivers, 4 B List drivers and 2 C List drivers. Feel free to vote now, and tell a friend.
For the second race in a row, your choices have put the People's Pitstop at the top of the 9beersfantasysportsforum standings. This week, the Internet's favorite fantasy racing team racked up 311 points at Richmond International Raceway. Our season total is now 2,622.
For those of you wondering, in the words of David Byrne, "How did we get here?," here's a look at the results.
Kyle Busch: Started 20th, finished 1st, 235 laps led and 110 fantasy points. That's right; our A List driver led more than half of the 400 laps in this race. And it turns out that he had just enough fuel to complete the 400 laps; the Victory Lane celebration was delayed because he ran out of gas on the way there.
Clint Bowyer: Started 3rd, finished 6th, 18 laps led and 93 fantasy points, including the 3 bonus points he earned from the qualifying session. A driver getting this much "when will he break through" buzz is one worthy of our continued attention, even if he is spending his down time hosting Twitter parties.
Mark Martin: Started 5th, finished 14th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 64 fantasy points. Yes, Martin, NASCAR's biggest rap fan, was in our lineup because of a mistake on our part, but it turned out to be a happy accident. He finished six spots ahead of Ryan Newman, who would have started had everything gone according to plan. But Martin's plan probably did not involve getting caught up in a Jeff Gordon wreck.
Bobby Labonte: Started 14th, finished 24th (3 laps behind the leaders) and 44 fantasy points. Labonte was another driver collected in the Gordon wreck.
Now, the People's Pitstop tries to make it three in a row as NASCAR takes its act to Darlington Raceway. This is another Saturday night race--even the Frances won't mess with Mother--with a Friday qualifying session, so this week's lineup polls will close on Thursday night. Remember that you're voting for 2 A List drivers, 4 B List drivers and 2 C List drivers. Feel free to vote now, and tell a friend.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Fearless Predictions - Richmond
NASCAR has decided that Saturday night's all right for racing, and we at the People's Pitstop are getting ready with the site's official beverage and a new set of predictions.
The forecasts (for four drivers who will finish in the top 10) are finally showing signs of life. They went 3-1 at the Talladega drag race, raising our season record to an almost-respectable 7-17. Let's keep the ball rolling.
One from the front: This pick worked last week, and he managed to qualify in the top 10 again. Jeff Gordon has a strong track record at Richmond International Raceway, including two victories. And his car is finding its way to the front; he has three finishes in the top 10 so far this season, and he starts sixth on Saturday.
One from the back: Another odd name pops up in the back 10. His name is Kurt Busch, and when he's not selling gasoline, he's putting up top 10 finishes (five of them this season). But he only qualified 36th at Richmond, a track where he has won before. He won't stay in the back for long.
Two from the middle: Maybe Denny Hamlin needs to tear up his knee again. Or maybe he just needed to return to Richmond. He qualified 11th for Saturday night's race, but he's won two races here in two days. This should be where the turnaround starts for him.
Our other pick is Dale Earnhardt Jr., who may be known for his work on restrictor plate tracks but actually has three victories at Richmond and currently sits in third place in driver points.
Enjoy the race, everybody. We'll be back with results and some fresh lineup polls.
The forecasts (for four drivers who will finish in the top 10) are finally showing signs of life. They went 3-1 at the Talladega drag race, raising our season record to an almost-respectable 7-17. Let's keep the ball rolling.
One from the front: This pick worked last week, and he managed to qualify in the top 10 again. Jeff Gordon has a strong track record at Richmond International Raceway, including two victories. And his car is finding its way to the front; he has three finishes in the top 10 so far this season, and he starts sixth on Saturday.
One from the back: Another odd name pops up in the back 10. His name is Kurt Busch, and when he's not selling gasoline, he's putting up top 10 finishes (five of them this season). But he only qualified 36th at Richmond, a track where he has won before. He won't stay in the back for long.
Two from the middle: Maybe Denny Hamlin needs to tear up his knee again. Or maybe he just needed to return to Richmond. He qualified 11th for Saturday night's race, but he's won two races here in two days. This should be where the turnaround starts for him.
Our other pick is Dale Earnhardt Jr., who may be known for his work on restrictor plate tracks but actually has three victories at Richmond and currently sits in third place in driver points.
Enjoy the race, everybody. We'll be back with results and some fresh lineup polls.
Friday, April 29, 2011
The People's Choice - Richmond
Another week has come and gone. Some people have become superstars, others have become spouses, and the People's Pigskin has settled into its new home on Blogger. We'd like to thank those of you who made the move with us and voted on the People's Pitstop's lineup for this week's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Here are the drivers who will be driving for starting spots during Friday's qualifying session at Richmond International Raceway.
A List. Kyle Busch may not be everybody's favorite driver, but he did win this week's poll. Jimmie Johnson, who was last seen winning the Talladega race by a whisker, came in second. Both get roster spots for the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team.
B List. Clint Bowyer is still hunting for his first win of the 2011 season, but that didn't stop him from winning our poll. There was a three-way tie for second involving Ryan Newman, A.J. Allmendinger and Martin Truex Jr. All three get to take the track Friday with a chance to start for us.
C List. It's a good thing we have two roster spots available here. Two drivers got all the votes--a young one (25-year-old David Ragan) and a not-so-young one (Bobby Labonte, who is days away from turning 47).
We will update this post when the qualifying session is over. In the meantime, enjoy the draft. And before you assume the NFL draft concluded on Thursday night, consider this fact: Twenty-eight current members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame were drafted in the second round, including Jack Lambert, Mike Singletary and Thurman Thomas. Nineteen Hall of Famers were drafted in the third round, including Ray Nitschke and this guy.
EDITED 9:00 P.M. The good news comes first. Bowyer qualified third for this race, earning a starting spot for himself and 3 bonus points for the People's Pitstop. Next comes the awkward moment: Instead of Martin Truex Jr., we mistakenly put Mark Martin on the roster. The saving grace is that Martin qualified 5th, beating Newman (13th), Allmendinger (18th) and Truex (21st).
As for the other starters, Busch (20th) beat Johnson (30th) for the A List slot. Labonte (14th) outfoxed Ragan (27th) for the C List slot.
Well, it could be worse. We could be on the Chicago Bears staff.
A List. Kyle Busch may not be everybody's favorite driver, but he did win this week's poll. Jimmie Johnson, who was last seen winning the Talladega race by a whisker, came in second. Both get roster spots for the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team.
B List. Clint Bowyer is still hunting for his first win of the 2011 season, but that didn't stop him from winning our poll. There was a three-way tie for second involving Ryan Newman, A.J. Allmendinger and Martin Truex Jr. All three get to take the track Friday with a chance to start for us.
C List. It's a good thing we have two roster spots available here. Two drivers got all the votes--a young one (25-year-old David Ragan) and a not-so-young one (Bobby Labonte, who is days away from turning 47).
EDITED 9:00 P.M. The good news comes first. Bowyer qualified third for this race, earning a starting spot for himself and 3 bonus points for the People's Pitstop. Next comes the awkward moment: Instead of Martin Truex Jr., we mistakenly put Mark Martin on the roster. The saving grace is that Martin qualified 5th, beating Newman (13th), Allmendinger (18th) and Truex (21st).
As for the other starters, Busch (20th) beat Johnson (30th) for the A List slot. Labonte (14th) outfoxed Ragan (27th) for the C List slot.
Well, it could be worse. We could be on the Chicago Bears staff.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Ice Cold (Draft) Facts
You still have a few minutes to vote in this week's lineup polls. Remember that the winners will represent the People's Pitstop this weekend at Richmond International Raceway, and the ones who qualify the best on Friday will start for us in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
In the meantime, we, like most of the non-British world, turn our eyes to the National Football League draft. If you follow NFL football at all, you know that this is one of the most exciting times of the year. All the folks selected between now and Saturday evening are full of potential. Not a single one has proven a bust yet. Not a single one has been busted for codeine possession. Not a single one has ... well, you know.
But the perspective is just a bit different if you are a fantasy football player. That's because most of the folks marching across the stage (or fielding phone calls at home) this weekend will not be in your fantasy lineup immediately. Last season, the top-scoring fantasy rookie was Sam Bradford, with 180. Yes, he got the keys to the St. Louis Rams offense almost as soon as he walked off the stage at Radio City Music Hall. But he ranked only 20th among quarterbacks in terms of fantasy points. That means that if he was in your fantasy starting lineup, you were desperate, stupid or this guy.
Someday, one of these draft picks may prove to be the cornerstone of a fantasy title-winning team. But you shouldn't be lining up to take Cam Newton in August, even if the Carolina Panthers can start force-feeding him the playbook right away.
We'll be back with the poll results.
In the meantime, we, like most of the non-British world, turn our eyes to the National Football League draft. If you follow NFL football at all, you know that this is one of the most exciting times of the year. All the folks selected between now and Saturday evening are full of potential. Not a single one has proven a bust yet. Not a single one has been busted for codeine possession. Not a single one has ... well, you know.
But the perspective is just a bit different if you are a fantasy football player. That's because most of the folks marching across the stage (or fielding phone calls at home) this weekend will not be in your fantasy lineup immediately. Last season, the top-scoring fantasy rookie was Sam Bradford, with 180. Yes, he got the keys to the St. Louis Rams offense almost as soon as he walked off the stage at Radio City Music Hall. But he ranked only 20th among quarterbacks in terms of fantasy points. That means that if he was in your fantasy starting lineup, you were desperate, stupid or this guy.
Someday, one of these draft picks may prove to be the cornerstone of a fantasy title-winning team. But you shouldn't be lining up to take Cam Newton in August, even if the Carolina Panthers can start force-feeding him the playbook right away.
We'll be back with the poll results.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Welcome to Our New Home!
Yes, it's true ... the Internet's favorite fantasy football and fantasy NASCAR teams have pulled up stakes and moved to Blogger! Feel free to bring us some baked goods or any other housewarming presents you deem appropriate.
For those of you new to this blog, this is an experiment. We're trying to determine whether the people of the Internet can run fantasy sports teams better than the alleged experts. We put up polls, and you vote on those polls to help determine our lineup. Nobody takes the field for us without your votes.
Since this is NASCAR season, we are running a fantasy racing team called the People's Pitstop over on Yahoo Fantasy Sports. The rules allow you to pick two drivers from the A List (the best 10 drivers from last year), four drivers from the B List (the next 15 or so drivers) and two drivers from the C List (everybody else who gets behind the wheel). Those eight drivers must be selected by the night before the qualifying session for that week's race. After qualifying is over, we can pick one of the A List drivers, two of the B List drivers and one of the C List drivers to start. We generally pick the drivers who qualified the best from among the eight you picked before qualifying. Those drivers get points according to how they do in that week's race.
Our goal is to steer the People's Pitstop to victory in the ever-competitive 9beersfantasysportstavern group. By the way, if you haven't visited the 9beers home page yet, you're missing out. Fair warning: Some of the images/posts you'll find there are not suitable for work, unless you work someplace like this.
This week, NASCAR is taking its drivers to one of its shortest tracks, Richmond International Raceway. The qualifying session is Friday, so our polls (now available on the righthand side of this page) will stay open until Thursday. We hope you'll contribute to this effort by casting your votes. This experiment doesn't work without you.
And it is working so far. We'll go over our most recent results when we come back.
For those of you new to this blog, this is an experiment. We're trying to determine whether the people of the Internet can run fantasy sports teams better than the alleged experts. We put up polls, and you vote on those polls to help determine our lineup. Nobody takes the field for us without your votes.
Since this is NASCAR season, we are running a fantasy racing team called the People's Pitstop over on Yahoo Fantasy Sports. The rules allow you to pick two drivers from the A List (the best 10 drivers from last year), four drivers from the B List (the next 15 or so drivers) and two drivers from the C List (everybody else who gets behind the wheel). Those eight drivers must be selected by the night before the qualifying session for that week's race. After qualifying is over, we can pick one of the A List drivers, two of the B List drivers and one of the C List drivers to start. We generally pick the drivers who qualified the best from among the eight you picked before qualifying. Those drivers get points according to how they do in that week's race.
Our goal is to steer the People's Pitstop to victory in the ever-competitive 9beersfantasysportstavern group. By the way, if you haven't visited the 9beers home page yet, you're missing out. Fair warning: Some of the images/posts you'll find there are not suitable for work, unless you work someplace like this.
This week, NASCAR is taking its drivers to one of its shortest tracks, Richmond International Raceway. The qualifying session is Friday, so our polls (now available on the righthand side of this page) will stay open until Thursday. We hope you'll contribute to this effort by casting your votes. This experiment doesn't work without you.
And it is working so far. We'll go over our most recent results when we come back.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Racing Results (and a Quick Football Update)
First, fantasy football fans can rejoice in the fact that you (most likely) helped the People's Pigskin field a winner this week. The Internet's favorite fantasy football team currently leads the former Beanie's Weenies by a score of 89-52. Our opponent has Derrick Mason, who faces the New York Jets in the early Monday night game. We have Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers and Dwayne Bowe of the Kansas City Chiefs, who face each other in the nightcap.
Meanwhile, it's time to tell you about the People's Pitstop. The Internet's favorite fantasy racing team racked up only 264 points during Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. That leaves us with a season total of 6,984, putting us in 40,550th place overall on Yahoo Sports and dropping us 13 spots, to 53rd, in the Fans of From the Marbles league. (For the record, we finished 29th in the summer segment, which ended Saturday.)
Here's how our starting drivers fared:
Carl Edwards: Started 1st, finished 10th, 95 laps led and 92 fantasy points, including 10 for the pole and 10 for leading at least one lap. Edwards had already wrapped up his spot in the Chase, so he saw no pressure heading into this race. His finish was the best among Roush Fenway drivers.
Kasey Kahne: Started 10th, finished 29th (4 laps behind the leaders) and 34 fantasy points. It's never good for your fantasy team when your driver's Web site sums up the race by saying the driver "fought an ill-handling car."
Jamie McMurray. Started 34th, finished 17th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 58 fantasy points. To have a realistic chance of making the Chase, McMurray needed a top 10 finish and some serious help from Clint Bowyer. He got neither.
A.J. Allmendinger. Started 3rd, finished 8th and 79 fantasy points, including 3 for his qualifying spot. If these results continue, Allmendinger may find himself off the C List for next year's racing.
And for those of you into higher math, this week's total includes 1 bonus point for the bench-riding Bowyer for qualifying 4th.
This week, NASCAR begins its Chase for the Cup with a Sunday race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The lineup polls are already up and will close Thursday night.
Also, if you look below the NASCAR polls, you will find the polls for next week's fantasy football lineup. If you're feeling psychic, feel free to vote on those now, too. We'll be back with full results for the People's Pigskin.
Meanwhile, it's time to tell you about the People's Pitstop. The Internet's favorite fantasy racing team racked up only 264 points during Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. That leaves us with a season total of 6,984, putting us in 40,550th place overall on Yahoo Sports and dropping us 13 spots, to 53rd, in the Fans of From the Marbles league. (For the record, we finished 29th in the summer segment, which ended Saturday.)
Here's how our starting drivers fared:
Carl Edwards: Started 1st, finished 10th, 95 laps led and 92 fantasy points, including 10 for the pole and 10 for leading at least one lap. Edwards had already wrapped up his spot in the Chase, so he saw no pressure heading into this race. His finish was the best among Roush Fenway drivers.
Kasey Kahne: Started 10th, finished 29th (4 laps behind the leaders) and 34 fantasy points. It's never good for your fantasy team when your driver's Web site sums up the race by saying the driver "fought an ill-handling car."
Jamie McMurray. Started 34th, finished 17th (1 lap behind the leaders) and 58 fantasy points. To have a realistic chance of making the Chase, McMurray needed a top 10 finish and some serious help from Clint Bowyer. He got neither.
A.J. Allmendinger. Started 3rd, finished 8th and 79 fantasy points, including 3 for his qualifying spot. If these results continue, Allmendinger may find himself off the C List for next year's racing.
And for those of you into higher math, this week's total includes 1 bonus point for the bench-riding Bowyer for qualifying 4th.
This week, NASCAR begins its Chase for the Cup with a Sunday race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The lineup polls are already up and will close Thursday night.
Also, if you look below the NASCAR polls, you will find the polls for next week's fantasy football lineup. If you're feeling psychic, feel free to vote on those now, too. We'll be back with full results for the People's Pigskin.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Fearless NASCAR Predictions - Richmond
Now that you've digested the fearless predictions for week 1 of the People's League, it's time to sink your teeth into our forecasts for tonight's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. Last week's predictions went 4-6, leaving us with a season record of 113-127.
1. Carl Edwards. Lots of folks with a clinched Chase spot would probably either lay low this weekend or work on things that will pay dividends during the Chase. Edwards went out and won the freaking pole.
2 and 3. Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin. Each driver has five wins so far this season, and each one can clinch the top spot going into the Chase by winning here.
4. Jeff Gordon. On the other end of the spectrum, there's Gordon, who's currently second in points but has no wins under his belt.
5. Clint Bowyer. He's the only one of the top 12 who might not make the Chase. (Greg Biffle hasn't technically clinched a spot yet, but he will the moment he starts this race.)
6 and 7. Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray. These are the drivers who can take Bowyer's spot away. It would take a miracle, but this is NASCAR we're talking about.
8. Tony Stewart. If you believe in momentum, he's your man. Last week's victory was Stewart's 5th top 10 finish in his last 7 races.
9. Juan Pablo Montoya. When Yahoo's From the Marbles blog is using you as the poster boy for a post titled "What Do You Do When Your Best Drivers Aren't in the Chase," you must be doing something right. Especially if you have yet to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup race anywhere other than Sonoma or Watkins Glen.
10. A.J. Allmendinger. The medium to long shot starts third tonight and has a starting spot tonight for the People's Pitstop. What more could you want? Other than one of these, that is.
Remember that the fantasy football polls will close Sunday morning. Please vote now.
1. Carl Edwards. Lots of folks with a clinched Chase spot would probably either lay low this weekend or work on things that will pay dividends during the Chase. Edwards went out and won the freaking pole.
2 and 3. Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin. Each driver has five wins so far this season, and each one can clinch the top spot going into the Chase by winning here.
4. Jeff Gordon. On the other end of the spectrum, there's Gordon, who's currently second in points but has no wins under his belt.
5. Clint Bowyer. He's the only one of the top 12 who might not make the Chase. (Greg Biffle hasn't technically clinched a spot yet, but he will the moment he starts this race.)
6 and 7. Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray. These are the drivers who can take Bowyer's spot away. It would take a miracle, but this is NASCAR we're talking about.
8. Tony Stewart. If you believe in momentum, he's your man. Last week's victory was Stewart's 5th top 10 finish in his last 7 races.
9. Juan Pablo Montoya. When Yahoo's From the Marbles blog is using you as the poster boy for a post titled "What Do You Do When Your Best Drivers Aren't in the Chase," you must be doing something right. Especially if you have yet to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup race anywhere other than Sonoma or Watkins Glen.
10. A.J. Allmendinger. The medium to long shot starts third tonight and has a starting spot tonight for the People's Pitstop. What more could you want? Other than one of these, that is.
Remember that the fantasy football polls will close Sunday morning. Please vote now.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The People's Choice - Richmond
Not only do we have the first game of this NFL season in the books, but we have also completed another week of NASCAR voting. You, the Internet, have selected the People's Pitstop lineup for Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. Here are the results.
A List. We have a tie for the starting spot here. Carl Edwards will battle Greg Biffle for the chance to represent the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team. Once again, the qualifying session will serve as the tiebreaker.
B List. No need for a tiebreaker here. Two clear-cut winners emerged this week. They are Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne. They will start, while Clint Bowyer and Ryan Newman will watch from the bench.
C List. This time, we have a three-way tie. A.J. Allmendinger and Scott Speed will battle during the qualifying session for the starting spot. (Sorry, Sam Hornish Jr. fans, but he's too far down the driver points list.)
We'll update this post after the qualifying session. The NASCAR poll results appear below. The fantasy football polls will stay open until Sunday. Feel free to vote on those now.
UPDATED 8:45 P.M. Wow, what a qualifying session! Carl Edwards earned a starting spot (and a 10-point bonus) by winning the freaking pole! A.J. Allmendinger earned the C List spot (and a 3-point bonus) by qualifying 3rd. And even though Clint Bowyer will stay on the bench, he earned us a 1-point bonus by qualifying 4th.
We'll be back with predictions for both the People's League and the final Sprint Cup race before the Chase.
[polldaddy poll=3722579] [polldaddy poll=3722585] [polldaddy poll=3722594]
A List. We have a tie for the starting spot here. Carl Edwards will battle Greg Biffle for the chance to represent the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team. Once again, the qualifying session will serve as the tiebreaker.
B List. No need for a tiebreaker here. Two clear-cut winners emerged this week. They are Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne. They will start, while Clint Bowyer and Ryan Newman will watch from the bench.
C List. This time, we have a three-way tie. A.J. Allmendinger and Scott Speed will battle during the qualifying session for the starting spot. (Sorry, Sam Hornish Jr. fans, but he's too far down the driver points list.)
We'll update this post after the qualifying session. The NASCAR poll results appear below. The fantasy football polls will stay open until Sunday. Feel free to vote on those now.
UPDATED 8:45 P.M. Wow, what a qualifying session! Carl Edwards earned a starting spot (and a 10-point bonus) by winning the freaking pole! A.J. Allmendinger earned the C List spot (and a 3-point bonus) by qualifying 3rd. And even though Clint Bowyer will stay on the bench, he earned us a 1-point bonus by qualifying 4th.
We'll be back with predictions for both the People's League and the final Sprint Cup race before the Chase.
[polldaddy poll=3722579] [polldaddy poll=3722585] [polldaddy poll=3722594]
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The People's Facts - Air Guard 400
This is an interesting time for the people who run this Web site. First, we have another National Football League season getting started, so we have a set of polls that will help determine who will start for the People's Pigskin this weekend. (The one about defense/special teams will close Thursday morning, so please vote now.)
Second, we have a NASCAR season about to enter Chase phase. So we also have a set of polls that will determine who will start for the People's Pitstop in Saturday night's Sprint Cup race. Those polls will close Thursday night. For those of you still deciding how to vote, here are some details about the place where they will be racing.
Track basics: Richmond International Raceway, one of the oldest of the old school NASCAR tracks, is a 3/4-mile oval known for its tight turns and side-by-side competition. According to NASCAR.com, it's also "the only track to hold all of its major events under the lights."
Last time we were here: A late caution gave Kyle Busch the opening he needed to win his first race of the season. It's a good thing the People's Pitstop started him; otherwise, the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team would have scored far less than 265 points.
Recent winners: Denny Hamlin (2009 fall), Jimmie Johnson (2008), Johnson again (2007).
Who wins here a lot: No active NASCAR driver is dominant at Richmond. Johnson has a grand total of three wins here, tying him for the lead with Tony Stewart and, believe it or not, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
What's in it for them? After Saturday's race, the Chase for the Sprint Cup will begin. Ten of the 12 spots in NASCAR's version of a playoff have already been determined. Out of curiosity, I asked Nick Bromberg and Jay Busbee of Yahoo Sports today what would keep the 10 drivers from essentially taking this race off. Jay's answer, "Sponsors who would be very displeased." Nick's response, "There are 10 points on the line."
As always, you can click here to read Yahoo Sports' handy guide for fantasy racing fans. And please remember to vote. We'll be back.
Second, we have a NASCAR season about to enter Chase phase. So we also have a set of polls that will determine who will start for the People's Pitstop in Saturday night's Sprint Cup race. Those polls will close Thursday night. For those of you still deciding how to vote, here are some details about the place where they will be racing.
Track basics: Richmond International Raceway, one of the oldest of the old school NASCAR tracks, is a 3/4-mile oval known for its tight turns and side-by-side competition. According to NASCAR.com, it's also "the only track to hold all of its major events under the lights."
Last time we were here: A late caution gave Kyle Busch the opening he needed to win his first race of the season. It's a good thing the People's Pitstop started him; otherwise, the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team would have scored far less than 265 points.
Recent winners: Denny Hamlin (2009 fall), Jimmie Johnson (2008), Johnson again (2007).
Who wins here a lot: No active NASCAR driver is dominant at Richmond. Johnson has a grand total of three wins here, tying him for the lead with Tony Stewart and, believe it or not, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
What's in it for them? After Saturday's race, the Chase for the Sprint Cup will begin. Ten of the 12 spots in NASCAR's version of a playoff have already been determined. Out of curiosity, I asked Nick Bromberg and Jay Busbee of Yahoo Sports today what would keep the 10 drivers from essentially taking this race off. Jay's answer, "Sponsors who would be very displeased." Nick's response, "There are 10 points on the line."
As always, you can click here to read Yahoo Sports' handy guide for fantasy racing fans. And please remember to vote. We'll be back.
Monday, September 6, 2010
While We Were Drafting
NASCAR was holding a great race and hoping that its fans stick around when the NFL's regular season kicks off this week.
The People's Pitstop managed to rack up 295 points during Sunday night's Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The season total rose to 6,720, good enough for 38,286th overall on Yahoo Sports and lifting us 19 spots, to 48th, in the Fans of From the Marbles league.
Here's how the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team did it.
Tony Stewart: Started 5th, finished 1st, 176 laps led and 110 fantasy points, including 20 for leading the most laps. He should have this much trouble with restarts every week.
Kasey Kahne: Started 10th, finished 32nd (15 laps behind the leaders), 16 laps led and 38 fantasy points, including the 10-point bonus for leading a lap. A late get-together with Kurt Busch caused a flat tire that pretty much ended Kahne's chances.
Ryan Newman: Started 2nd, finished 8th, 9 laps led and 91 fantasy points, including the 10-points lap-leading bonus. His score would have been higher if Kahne, who blamed Newman for his get-together with Busch and tried to settle the score. It's never good for your fantasy team to have a driver involved in a dispute like this; it's even worse when your team is on both sides of one.
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 16th, finished 18th and 56 fantasy points. You know you had a quiet race when your most exciting citation in the NASCAR lap-by-lap report shows you breaking into the top 10 -- on lap 26.
Ten drivers have clinched a spot in the Chase; the others have one race to do so. NASCAR takes its act to Richmond on Saturday night. The polls are up and will close Thursday evening. Most of the football polls (located right below the NASCAR ones) will close Sunday morning. The one involving the Minnesota Vikings defense will close Thursday morning. Please vote now.
The People's Pitstop managed to rack up 295 points during Sunday night's Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The season total rose to 6,720, good enough for 38,286th overall on Yahoo Sports and lifting us 19 spots, to 48th, in the Fans of From the Marbles league.
Here's how the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team did it.
Tony Stewart: Started 5th, finished 1st, 176 laps led and 110 fantasy points, including 20 for leading the most laps. He should have this much trouble with restarts every week.
Kasey Kahne: Started 10th, finished 32nd (15 laps behind the leaders), 16 laps led and 38 fantasy points, including the 10-point bonus for leading a lap. A late get-together with Kurt Busch caused a flat tire that pretty much ended Kahne's chances.
Ryan Newman: Started 2nd, finished 8th, 9 laps led and 91 fantasy points, including the 10-points lap-leading bonus. His score would have been higher if Kahne, who blamed Newman for his get-together with Busch and tried to settle the score. It's never good for your fantasy team to have a driver involved in a dispute like this; it's even worse when your team is on both sides of one.
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 16th, finished 18th and 56 fantasy points. You know you had a quiet race when your most exciting citation in the NASCAR lap-by-lap report shows you breaking into the top 10 -- on lap 26.
Ten drivers have clinched a spot in the Chase; the others have one race to do so. NASCAR takes its act to Richmond on Saturday night. The polls are up and will close Thursday evening. Most of the football polls (located right below the NASCAR ones) will close Sunday morning. The one involving the Minnesota Vikings defense will close Thursday morning. Please vote now.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
One Last Pre-Draft Set of Poll Results
Before the People's Pigskin drafts its lineup for the 2010-11 NFL season, it's time to post the results of one last set of draft board polls.
First of all, you, the Internet, decided that Drew Brees should be sixth overall on our draft board (after Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Ray Rice and Frank Gore). You also said that Tom Brady should be the No. 4 quarterback (after Brees, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers) and that Randy Moss should be our No. 4 wide receiver (after Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Marshall).
You said that we should have Antonio Gates as our No. 2 tight end (after Dallas Clark). When asked who should be our No. 2 defense/special teams (after the New York Jets), you split between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings. We just had Roger Goodell flip a coin for us, and we'll have the Vikings No. 2 and the Steelers No. 3.
Meanwhile, even though the NASCAR Sprint Cup race is taking place right now, we have a new set of driver polls up. They will stay up until Thursday evening. Feel free to vote now. We'll be back with the draft results.
[polldaddy poll=3715058] [polldaddy poll=3715069] [polldaddy poll=3715074] [polldaddy poll=3715081] [polldaddy poll=3715085]
First of all, you, the Internet, decided that Drew Brees should be sixth overall on our draft board (after Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Ray Rice and Frank Gore). You also said that Tom Brady should be the No. 4 quarterback (after Brees, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers) and that Randy Moss should be our No. 4 wide receiver (after Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Marshall).
You said that we should have Antonio Gates as our No. 2 tight end (after Dallas Clark). When asked who should be our No. 2 defense/special teams (after the New York Jets), you split between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings. We just had Roger Goodell flip a coin for us, and we'll have the Vikings No. 2 and the Steelers No. 3.
Meanwhile, even though the NASCAR Sprint Cup race is taking place right now, we have a new set of driver polls up. They will stay up until Thursday evening. Feel free to vote now. We'll be back with the draft results.
[polldaddy poll=3715058] [polldaddy poll=3715069] [polldaddy poll=3715074] [polldaddy poll=3715081] [polldaddy poll=3715085]
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Richmond Split Decision (and New Polls)
For the People's Pitstop, it was both the best of times and worst of times Saturday night.
The Internet's favorite fantasy racing team managed to put up 265 points during the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Richmond. However, our season total of 2,564 points leaves us tied for 104,061st overall and tied for 142nd in the Fans of From the Marbles league. Here are the details:
Kyle Busch: Started 1st, finished 1st, 226 laps led and 120 fantasy points. That total includes 20 bonus points for leading the most laps and 10 bonus points for starting on the pole. For only the second time this season, the People's Pitstop managed to start the NASCAR driver who won the race.
Kevin Harvick: Started 7th, finished 3rd, 1 lap led and 96 fantasy points. Leading that single lap gave Harvick 10 bonus points. Finishing that well put him on the top of the NASCAR driver points list.
And that's where the good news ends.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 25th, finished 32nd (3 laps behind the leaders) and 28 fantasy points. One would hope the off-the-track controversy isn't bleeding over to Earnhardt's on-the-track performance.
Sam Hornish Jr.: Started 27th, finished 36th (13 laps behind the leaders) and 20 fantasy points. You can read a long (and stilted) report from Penske, or you can just understand this: Hornish couldn't get out of his own way.
Now it's time for you, the Internet, to regroup and get ready for another Saturday night race, this one at Darlington. The lineup polls are up and ready for voting. The NFL rookie poll is closed, and you can see the results below. We'll be back with more information about this week's race site.
[polldaddy poll=3102728]
The Internet's favorite fantasy racing team managed to put up 265 points during the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Richmond. However, our season total of 2,564 points leaves us tied for 104,061st overall and tied for 142nd in the Fans of From the Marbles league. Here are the details:
Kyle Busch: Started 1st, finished 1st, 226 laps led and 120 fantasy points. That total includes 20 bonus points for leading the most laps and 10 bonus points for starting on the pole. For only the second time this season, the People's Pitstop managed to start the NASCAR driver who won the race.
Kevin Harvick: Started 7th, finished 3rd, 1 lap led and 96 fantasy points. Leading that single lap gave Harvick 10 bonus points. Finishing that well put him on the top of the NASCAR driver points list.
And that's where the good news ends.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 25th, finished 32nd (3 laps behind the leaders) and 28 fantasy points. One would hope the off-the-track controversy isn't bleeding over to Earnhardt's on-the-track performance.
Sam Hornish Jr.: Started 27th, finished 36th (13 laps behind the leaders) and 20 fantasy points. You can read a long (and stilted) report from Penske, or you can just understand this: Hornish couldn't get out of his own way.
Now it's time for you, the Internet, to regroup and get ready for another Saturday night race, this one at Darlington. The lineup polls are up and ready for voting. The NFL rookie poll is closed, and you can see the results below. We'll be back with more information about this week's race site.
[polldaddy poll=3102728]
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Fearless Predictions - Richmond
First, an update on the People's Pitstop lineup for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Richmond: Kyle Busch is on the pole and in the starting lineup for Saturday night's race. For winning the pole, Busch has earned the Internet's favorite fantasy racing team 10 bonus points. Jeff Gordon, who qualified fourth, got us 1 bonus point.
Now it's time for the latest set of predictions for the top 10 finishers. Last week's forecasts went a disappointing 3-7, lowering our season record to 36-44.
1. Greg Biffle. Nine races plus seven top 10 finishes equals the closest thing to a sure thing in these predictions.
2. Kevin Harvick. He found his way to the finish line last week, and his six top 10 finishes trail only Biffle's total.
3. Jimmie Johnson. Six top 10 finishes this season, three victories and FOUR STRAIGHT TITLES! Oh, and did I mention he's leading the points race?
4. Kyle Busch. He's on the pole, and he didn't even have to break out the pink car and the pink suit to get there.
5. Jeff Gordon. You get the feeling that it's only a matter of time before this four-time Cup winner breaks his winless streak.
6. Tony Stewart. He has three wins on this track, and he has a way of finding his way into the top 12 in time for the Chase.
7. Ryan Newman. So does Stewart's employee, who also has the advantage of starting in the top 10 on Saturday.
8. Mark Martin. He's quietly finished four times in the top five this season. Only Johnson has more top five finishes this season.
9. Jamie McMurray. He starts in the top 10 on Saturday, and he nearly beat Harvick to the finish line last week.
10. David Reutimann. This week's medium to long shot made things easier for the predictions by qualifying second.
We'll be back with results and polls for our next race.
Now it's time for the latest set of predictions for the top 10 finishers. Last week's forecasts went a disappointing 3-7, lowering our season record to 36-44.
1. Greg Biffle. Nine races plus seven top 10 finishes equals the closest thing to a sure thing in these predictions.
2. Kevin Harvick. He found his way to the finish line last week, and his six top 10 finishes trail only Biffle's total.
3. Jimmie Johnson. Six top 10 finishes this season, three victories and FOUR STRAIGHT TITLES! Oh, and did I mention he's leading the points race?
4. Kyle Busch. He's on the pole, and he didn't even have to break out the pink car and the pink suit to get there.
5. Jeff Gordon. You get the feeling that it's only a matter of time before this four-time Cup winner breaks his winless streak.
6. Tony Stewart. He has three wins on this track, and he has a way of finding his way into the top 12 in time for the Chase.
7. Ryan Newman. So does Stewart's employee, who also has the advantage of starting in the top 10 on Saturday.
8. Mark Martin. He's quietly finished four times in the top five this season. Only Johnson has more top five finishes this season.
9. Jamie McMurray. He starts in the top 10 on Saturday, and he nearly beat Harvick to the finish line last week.
10. David Reutimann. This week's medium to long shot made things easier for the predictions by qualifying second.
We'll be back with results and polls for our next race.
Friday, April 30, 2010
The People's Choice - Richmond
Another week has come and (for the most part) gone, and you, the Internet, have chosen our lineup for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race Saturday night in Richmond. Here are the results.
A List. We have a two-way tie for this starting spot. Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch (who, strangely enough, has not started yet for the People's Pitstop) are the contenders. Since they got an equal number of votes, the driver who qualifies better for the race will get the starting nod. The other one will sit on the bench.
B List. No need for qualifiers here. The two starters from this group are Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick. Riding the bench (by virture of the driver-points tiebreaker) are Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth. It may be a good thing that Kenseth is on the bench; the NASCAR season is only a quarter of the way through, and Kenseth has started six times for the People's Pitstop. He has only three starts left.
C List. Again, we have a clear winner: Sam Hornish Jr., who may not have a ride for next season but has a starting spot for us this week. Scott Speed gets the bench spot.
The poll results are below. The NFL poll will stay up until Sunday, so feel free to vote on that one. We'll be back with another set of fearless predictions.
[polldaddy poll=3112733] [polldaddy poll=3112747] [polldaddy poll=3112759]
A List. We have a two-way tie for this starting spot. Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch (who, strangely enough, has not started yet for the People's Pitstop) are the contenders. Since they got an equal number of votes, the driver who qualifies better for the race will get the starting nod. The other one will sit on the bench.
B List. No need for qualifiers here. The two starters from this group are Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick. Riding the bench (by virture of the driver-points tiebreaker) are Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth. It may be a good thing that Kenseth is on the bench; the NASCAR season is only a quarter of the way through, and Kenseth has started six times for the People's Pitstop. He has only three starts left.
C List. Again, we have a clear winner: Sam Hornish Jr., who may not have a ride for next season but has a starting spot for us this week. Scott Speed gets the bench spot.
The poll results are below. The NFL poll will stay up until Sunday, so feel free to vote on that one. We'll be back with another set of fearless predictions.
[polldaddy poll=3112733] [polldaddy poll=3112747] [polldaddy poll=3112759]
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The People's Facts - Richmond
You still have a few hours to vote on the People's Pitstop lineup for Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. While you ponder your vote, here are some facts about this week's site.
Track basics: Richmond International Raceway is the quintessential short track. It's a three-quarter-mile oval that hosted its first NASCAR-sanctioned race in 1953. It's not older than dirt, but that was the original surface.
Recent winners: Kyle Busch (2009), Clint Bowyer (2008), Jimmie Johnson (2007).
Who wins here a lot: You name the driver, and he's probably got at least one win here. Among active NASCAR drivers, Johnson, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are tied for the lead with (drum roll, please) three apiece.
Short track, long name, cool story: Why is this post titled "The People's Facts - Richmond"? Because I'm not sure how many of you would have read a post titled "The People's Facts - Crown Royal Presents the Heath Calhoun 400." Who's Heath? This guy.
(As always, you can get a more detailed preview from Yahoo Sports by clicking here.)
Please vote for the lineup for the Internet's favorite fantasy auto racing team now. We'll be back with the results.
Track basics: Richmond International Raceway is the quintessential short track. It's a three-quarter-mile oval that hosted its first NASCAR-sanctioned race in 1953. It's not older than dirt, but that was the original surface.
Recent winners: Kyle Busch (2009), Clint Bowyer (2008), Jimmie Johnson (2007).
Who wins here a lot: You name the driver, and he's probably got at least one win here. Among active NASCAR drivers, Johnson, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are tied for the lead with (drum roll, please) three apiece.
Short track, long name, cool story: Why is this post titled "The People's Facts - Richmond"? Because I'm not sure how many of you would have read a post titled "The People's Facts - Crown Royal Presents the Heath Calhoun 400." Who's Heath? This guy.
(As always, you can get a more detailed preview from Yahoo Sports by clicking here.)
Please vote for the lineup for the Internet's favorite fantasy auto racing team now. We'll be back with the results.
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