While everyone in the western world is getting their brackets filled out and/or prepping for fantasy baseball drafts, the NASCAR world is getting back from its random week off and heading to the bull ring of Bristol Motor Speedway.
The polls for this week's lineup are up (finally) and will stay up until Thursday night. So please vote now, and encourage a friend to vote, too. The People's Pitstop is depending on you.
We'll be back with some thoughts on that other sport.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Moving Up ... the Hard Way
Watching Sunday's NASCAR race was about as pleasant as having to interview Tony Stewart afterward, but the People's Pitstop did benefit from it.
The Internet's favorite fantasy auto racing team scored 230 points in the Sprint Cup at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. That was good enough to move us up three spots, to 8th place, in the 9beersfantasysportstavern group on Yahoo Fantasy Auto Racing.
Here is the breakdown of our results. We'll take care of the bad news first.
Kyle Busch: Started 5th, finished 38th (160 laps behind the leaders) and 16 fantasy points. There are plenty of things you don't want to hear your driver say during the course of a race. One of them is "I've got flames in my face."
Ryan Newman: Started 8th, finished 5th and 82 fantasy points. Once again, all that was missing was a lep led, but Newman certainly has his cars working the way he wants them.
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 7th, finished 19th and 54 fantasy points. Even though he barely kept himself on the lead lap at the end, Allmendinger did manage to stay in the top 10 in the Sprint Cup point standings.
Paul Menard: Started 18th, finished 12th, 3 laps led and 78 fantasy points, including 10 for leading a lap. Does anyone really care if Menard did his best fantasy racing work when everyone else was taking a pit stop? Didn't think so. As Bleacher Report points out, Menard is currently the top-scoring driver on the Richard Childress Racing team.
Maybe that's why NASCAR is giving the Sprint Cup folks this week off. Or maybe it's for one of the reasons listed in this week's poll. Feel free to vote now. The results of our Vegas poll appear below.
[polldaddy poll=4656800]
The Internet's favorite fantasy auto racing team scored 230 points in the Sprint Cup at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. That was good enough to move us up three spots, to 8th place, in the 9beersfantasysportstavern group on Yahoo Fantasy Auto Racing.
Here is the breakdown of our results. We'll take care of the bad news first.
Kyle Busch: Started 5th, finished 38th (160 laps behind the leaders) and 16 fantasy points. There are plenty of things you don't want to hear your driver say during the course of a race. One of them is "I've got flames in my face."
Ryan Newman: Started 8th, finished 5th and 82 fantasy points. Once again, all that was missing was a lep led, but Newman certainly has his cars working the way he wants them.
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 7th, finished 19th and 54 fantasy points. Even though he barely kept himself on the lead lap at the end, Allmendinger did manage to stay in the top 10 in the Sprint Cup point standings.
Paul Menard: Started 18th, finished 12th, 3 laps led and 78 fantasy points, including 10 for leading a lap. Does anyone really care if Menard did his best fantasy racing work when everyone else was taking a pit stop? Didn't think so. As Bleacher Report points out, Menard is currently the top-scoring driver on the Richard Childress Racing team.
Maybe that's why NASCAR is giving the Sprint Cup folks this week off. Or maybe it's for one of the reasons listed in this week's poll. Feel free to vote now. The results of our Vegas poll appear below.
[polldaddy poll=4656800]
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Fearless Predictions - Version 2.0
As NASCAR fans get ready for this week's Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it's time to offer the first set of predictions for this season.
Only this time, we're going to do things a little differently.
Let's be honest; an elephant throwing darts could pick 10 drivers and get half of them into the top 10 each week. And since we're fresh out of darts, we need a new system, so here goes.
Each week for the rest of the season, the fine folks who write this blog will pick four drivers -- one starting in the top 10, one starting in the bottom 10 and two starting somewhere in between those ranges. We will not pick drivers starting for the People's Pitstop that week, but we will do our best to pick drivers who have a good shot of finishing in the top 10 for one reason or another.
Here are the picks for this week.
One from the front: This week, it's particularly challenging to make this pick, since three of the top 10 starters (Kyle Busch, A.J. Allmendinger and Ryan Newman) are in our starting lineup. We'll go instead with a driver who's in the top 10 in both today's starting grid and the Sprint Cup point standings: Mark Martin, who won Saturday's Nationwide race on this very track.
One from the back: The pickings are pretty slim back here in the land of start-and-parkers (or, in the case of Robby Gordon, start-and-perp-walkers). However, believe it or not, we have another driver currently in the top 10 in points: David Gilliland. He's as good a bet to move up the pack as anybody.
Two from the middle: The only driver in this group who is ineligible is Paul Menard. Instead, we'll go with Jeff Gordon, the driver who ended a 66-race losing streak last week, along with the driver who currently sits right behind his brother at the top of the point standings: Kurt Busch, a Las Vegas native who probably doesn't want to see your Elvis impersonation.
Enjoy the race. We'll be back with the results.
Only this time, we're going to do things a little differently.
Let's be honest; an elephant throwing darts could pick 10 drivers and get half of them into the top 10 each week. And since we're fresh out of darts, we need a new system, so here goes.
Each week for the rest of the season, the fine folks who write this blog will pick four drivers -- one starting in the top 10, one starting in the bottom 10 and two starting somewhere in between those ranges. We will not pick drivers starting for the People's Pitstop that week, but we will do our best to pick drivers who have a good shot of finishing in the top 10 for one reason or another.
Here are the picks for this week.
One from the front: This week, it's particularly challenging to make this pick, since three of the top 10 starters (Kyle Busch, A.J. Allmendinger and Ryan Newman) are in our starting lineup. We'll go instead with a driver who's in the top 10 in both today's starting grid and the Sprint Cup point standings: Mark Martin, who won Saturday's Nationwide race on this very track.
One from the back: The pickings are pretty slim back here in the land of start-and-parkers (or, in the case of Robby Gordon, start-and-perp-walkers). However, believe it or not, we have another driver currently in the top 10 in points: David Gilliland. He's as good a bet to move up the pack as anybody.
Two from the middle: The only driver in this group who is ineligible is Paul Menard. Instead, we'll go with Jeff Gordon, the driver who ended a 66-race losing streak last week, along with the driver who currently sits right behind his brother at the top of the point standings: Kurt Busch, a Las Vegas native who probably doesn't want to see your Elvis impersonation.
Enjoy the race. We'll be back with the results.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The People's Choice - Las Vegas
Another week has come and gone, and the People's Pitstop has a lineup thanks to you, the Internet. Here are the drivers who will represent the Web's favorite fantasy NASCAR team in Sunday 's Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
A List: It's appropriate that a pair of Vegas natives won this poll. Kyle Busch gets the starting spot over Kurt by qualifying 5th, 17 spots in front of his brother.
B List: Some familiar names show up in this poll. A.J. Allmendinger (7th) and Ryan Newman (8th) beat out Mark Martin (10th) and Kasey Kahne (30th). If we don't place well this week, it won't be because we had no one near the front.
C List: Longtime readers of this blog will remember that Paul Menard had to be retired early because of his frequent poll wins. Well, he's on his way to doing the same this year. By qualifying 18th, he edged out Bobby Labonte, who qualified 24th.
Thanks again for your votes. The poll results appear below, and a poll about this weekend's race site is available for voting. We'll be back with the first predictions of the season.
[polldaddy poll=4640079] [polldaddy poll=4640091] [polldaddy poll=4640107]
A List: It's appropriate that a pair of Vegas natives won this poll. Kyle Busch gets the starting spot over Kurt by qualifying 5th, 17 spots in front of his brother.
B List: Some familiar names show up in this poll. A.J. Allmendinger (7th) and Ryan Newman (8th) beat out Mark Martin (10th) and Kasey Kahne (30th). If we don't place well this week, it won't be because we had no one near the front.
C List: Longtime readers of this blog will remember that Paul Menard had to be retired early because of his frequent poll wins. Well, he's on his way to doing the same this year. By qualifying 18th, he edged out Bobby Labonte, who qualified 24th.
Thanks again for your votes. The poll results appear below, and a poll about this weekend's race site is available for voting. We'll be back with the first predictions of the season.
[polldaddy poll=4640079] [polldaddy poll=4640091] [polldaddy poll=4640107]
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A Quick Poem
You still have a couple of hours to vote on the drivers who will represent the People's Pitstop in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The polls are on the right side of the page. Remember that you're picking 2 A List drivers, 4 B List drivers and 2 C List drivers. We have to close the polls tonight, because the qualifying session is Friday.
In the meantime, here's some evidence that auto racing fans are not all illiterate heathens. TOEJAM, one of the players in the 9beersfantasysportstavern group on Yahoo Fantasy Auto Racing, posted a brief NASCAR poem. I thought I'd share it with all of you, because if you've every played fantasy racing (or any other fantasy sport, for that matter), you've had thoughts similar to these:
"no need to be checkin
those are my guys who are wreckin...."
OK, it's not exactly "There once was man from Nantucket," but it works.
We'll be back with the poll results.
In the meantime, here's some evidence that auto racing fans are not all illiterate heathens. TOEJAM, one of the players in the 9beersfantasysportstavern group on Yahoo Fantasy Auto Racing, posted a brief NASCAR poem. I thought I'd share it with all of you, because if you've every played fantasy racing (or any other fantasy sport, for that matter), you've had thoughts similar to these:
"no need to be checkin
those are my guys who are wreckin...."
OK, it's not exactly "There once was man from Nantucket," but it works.
We'll be back with the poll results.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Getting Better All the Time
If Jeff Gordon can break a 66-race slump, then the People's Pitstop certainly can break a 1-race one, and we did.
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team scored 282 points during Sunday's Sprint Cup race in Phoenix, sponsored by the folks who think they invented the word "footlong." We rose 2 spots in the 9beersfantasysportstavern group rankings, to 11th place.
Here's how we did it.
Kurt Busch: Started 2nd, finished 8th, 31 laps led and 91 fantasy points, including 5 qualifying bonus points and 10 points for leading a lap. Yes, we would have gotten more if we had started his brother, but we'll take it anyway.
Ryan Newman: Started 14th, finished 5th, 7 laps led and 92 fantasy points. If the early results are any indication, Newman is leaving 2010 in his rear view mirror.
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 15th, finished 9th and 74 fantasy points. All that was missing from his Sunday was a lap led, but you get the feeling that's just a matter of time.
Regan Smith: Started 5th, finished 34th (99 laps behind the leaders) and 24 fantasy points. We all knew the Daytona 500 would have a major wreck, but the one that collected Smith on Sunday had to be a surprise.
This week, NASCAR loads up its haulers and heads to Las Vegas. And we at the People's Pitstop need your help once again in picking the eight drivers that will fill our roster in Sin City. The polls will close Thursday night, so feel free to vote now. And tell a friend.
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team scored 282 points during Sunday's Sprint Cup race in Phoenix, sponsored by the folks who think they invented the word "footlong." We rose 2 spots in the 9beersfantasysportstavern group rankings, to 11th place.
Here's how we did it.
Kurt Busch: Started 2nd, finished 8th, 31 laps led and 91 fantasy points, including 5 qualifying bonus points and 10 points for leading a lap. Yes, we would have gotten more if we had started his brother, but we'll take it anyway.
Ryan Newman: Started 14th, finished 5th, 7 laps led and 92 fantasy points. If the early results are any indication, Newman is leaving 2010 in his rear view mirror.
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 15th, finished 9th and 74 fantasy points. All that was missing from his Sunday was a lap led, but you get the feeling that's just a matter of time.
Regan Smith: Started 5th, finished 34th (99 laps behind the leaders) and 24 fantasy points. We all knew the Daytona 500 would have a major wreck, but the one that collected Smith on Sunday had to be a surprise.
This week, NASCAR loads up its haulers and heads to Las Vegas. And we at the People's Pitstop need your help once again in picking the eight drivers that will fill our roster in Sin City. The polls will close Thursday night, so feel free to vote now. And tell a friend.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The People's Choice - Phoenix
Thanks to all of you voted in our polls for the People's Pitstop lineup this week. The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team will take the track with these drivers.
A List: This poll was all about family -- no, not that kind. The two poll winners were Kurt Busch and his brother, Kyle. Kurt qualified 2nd (giving us 5 bonus points), so he'll start over Kyle, who qualified 4th (giving us 1 bonus point).
B List: Four drivers found their way to the top of this poll, so we needed a qualifying session to select the two starters. Ryan Newman (qualified 14th) and A.J. Allmendinger (15th) sent Juan Pablo Montoya (22nd) and Mark Martin (23rd) to the bench.
C List: Michael Waltrip isn't entered in this field (thank goodness), so we needed some newcomers to step forward. Regan Smith had the votes and the lap speed (qualifying 5th) to get into the starting lineup. David Ragan will cool his heels on the bench.
The poll results appear below, and we have a new poll on the new NASCAR scoring system, because anyone who watched last season knows that what NASCAR needed to do more than anything else was change the way it keeps score. <Insert eye roll here.>
Enjoy the race. We'll be back with results.
[polldaddy poll=4612033] [polldaddy poll=4612052] [polldaddy poll=4612071]
A List: This poll was all about family -- no, not that kind. The two poll winners were Kurt Busch and his brother, Kyle. Kurt qualified 2nd (giving us 5 bonus points), so he'll start over Kyle, who qualified 4th (giving us 1 bonus point).
B List: Four drivers found their way to the top of this poll, so we needed a qualifying session to select the two starters. Ryan Newman (qualified 14th) and A.J. Allmendinger (15th) sent Juan Pablo Montoya (22nd) and Mark Martin (23rd) to the bench.
C List: Michael Waltrip isn't entered in this field (thank goodness), so we needed some newcomers to step forward. Regan Smith had the votes and the lap speed (qualifying 5th) to get into the starting lineup. David Ragan will cool his heels on the bench.
The poll results appear below, and we have a new poll on the new NASCAR scoring system, because anyone who watched last season knows that what NASCAR needed to do more than anything else was change the way it keeps score. <Insert eye roll here.>
Enjoy the race. We'll be back with results.
[polldaddy poll=4612033] [polldaddy poll=4612052] [polldaddy poll=4612071]
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Time to Bounce Back
The Daytona 500 was a great time to be a rookie but a rough time to be a piece of sheet metal, or the People's Pitstop.
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team compiled only 142 points during the Sprint Cup season opener. That leaves us in 13th place (out of 14) in the 9beersfantasysportstavern group on Yahoo Fantasy Auto Racing.
Here are some of the details.
Jeff Gordon: Started 2nd, finished 28th (35 laps behind the leaders), 1 lap led and 46 fantasy points, including 10 for leading a lap.
Jeff Burton: Started 4th, finished 36th (116 laps behind the leaders), 5 laps led and 30 fantasy points.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 1st (technically), finished 24th (6 laps behind the leaders), 9 laps led and 54 fantasy points. So much for that conspiracy theory.
Michael Waltrip: Started 8th, finished 40th and 12 fantasy points. Waltrip was our only started who did not lead a lap. Maybe he should stick to talking.
Anyway, we have a chance to rebound this weekend in Phoenix. The race is Sunday, and qualifying is Saturday. The polls are now open and will remain open through Friday night. Please vote now.
We'll be back.
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team compiled only 142 points during the Sprint Cup season opener. That leaves us in 13th place (out of 14) in the 9beersfantasysportstavern group on Yahoo Fantasy Auto Racing.
Here are some of the details.
Jeff Gordon: Started 2nd, finished 28th (35 laps behind the leaders), 1 lap led and 46 fantasy points, including 10 for leading a lap.
Jeff Burton: Started 4th, finished 36th (116 laps behind the leaders), 5 laps led and 30 fantasy points.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Started 1st (technically), finished 24th (6 laps behind the leaders), 9 laps led and 54 fantasy points. So much for that conspiracy theory.
Michael Waltrip: Started 8th, finished 40th and 12 fantasy points. Waltrip was our only started who did not lead a lap. Maybe he should stick to talking.
Anyway, we have a chance to rebound this weekend in Phoenix. The race is Sunday, and qualifying is Saturday. The polls are now open and will remain open through Friday night. Please vote now.
We'll be back.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The People's Choice - Daytona 500
We are just minutes away from the season-opening race on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule (the Daytona 500, in case you're living under a rock), and the People's Pitstop has the lineup to take the early lead in the 9beersfantasysportstavern group on Yahoo Fantasy Auto Racing. Here are the drivers that you, the Internet, selected.
A List. Jeff Gordon, who will start on the front row of today's Great American Race, edged out Matt Kenseth for the starting spot. This week, we used starting position as a tiebreaker, but next week, we'll start using points, since the lineups will have to be set before qualifying.
B List. On the 10th anniversary of his father's death, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is officially the polesitter (even though a practice crash will send him to the back). He's also one of our starters this week, along with the leading vote getter, Jeff Burton. Martin Truex Jr. and Kasey Kahne (winner of a five-way tie by virtue of starting position) will be on the bench.
C List. This is also the 10th anniversary of Michael Waltrip's first Daytona 500 victory, so it's fitting that he's the starter for this week. His better qualifying position gives him the edge over Paul Menard.
The poll results appear below, and a very simple poll is now available for voting. We'll be back with the results. Until then, enjoy the race.
[polldaddy poll=4582796] [polldaddy poll=4582852] [polldaddy poll=4582815]
Saturday, February 19, 2011
And We're Back!
The People's Pigskin did not end up winning its group in the ESPN Fantasy Playoff Challenge, but the Internet's favorite fantasy sports site now can turn its sites to the track.
That's right; the People's Pitstop is back! We're going to use the collective wisdom of you, the Internet, to win fantasy NASCAR glory (or at least the 9beersfantasysportstavern group in Yahoo Fantasy Auto Racing). The rules are like those of last season. Each week, you'll be asked to vote in polls like the ones on the right side of this page. We need to pick 2 drivers from the A List, 4 from the B List and 2 from the C List. Each week, one of the A List drivers, 2 of the B List drivers and one of the C List drivers will start for us and earn fantasy points according to their performance in the race. Each driver may start for us only nine times during the NASCAR season.
Anyway, the polls are open. They will close Sunday morning before the start of the Great American Race. (Apparently, anyone talking about the Daytona 500 is contractually obligated to use that phrase. Who knew?) Please vote now. Thanks.
That's right; the People's Pitstop is back! We're going to use the collective wisdom of you, the Internet, to win fantasy NASCAR glory (or at least the 9beersfantasysportstavern group in Yahoo Fantasy Auto Racing). The rules are like those of last season. Each week, you'll be asked to vote in polls like the ones on the right side of this page. We need to pick 2 drivers from the A List, 4 from the B List and 2 from the C List. Each week, one of the A List drivers, 2 of the B List drivers and one of the C List drivers will start for us and earn fantasy points according to their performance in the race. Each driver may start for us only nine times during the NASCAR season.
Anyway, the polls are open. They will close Sunday morning before the start of the Great American Race. (Apparently, anyone talking about the Daytona 500 is contractually obligated to use that phrase. Who knew?) Please vote now. Thanks.
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