California Results

Well, after hours and hours, they finally postponed late last night for rain. That was tough to watch. I really don't care what they call the Gopher Cam gopher. I did, however, enjoy a few things during the delay:

A: Guy in a robe with no visible credentials strolling down pit road sipping a cup of coffee during the delay. Classic.
B: Kyle Busch. Say what you will about this guym but you cannot deny that he was entertaining in the extended pre-race. He was a totally overbearing doucebag, like a David Spade of NASCAR. An asshole, but an asshole you have to laugh at (not with). He was manhandling the mic and demanding to be on camera. Then....
C: Brad Garrett's command to start engines:"Attention! There is a child missing in Kyle Busch's left ear" I was rolling. That's the only funny thing to come out of Ray Romano's TV older brothers mouth in 10 years. Not since he stole Jerry's Saab has he been so funny.

The race was one to remember, when it was running. I love how only the guys who wreck complained about the "seepers", up until they threw the red flag. You know NASCAR is on the radionn with every team before they start the race making sure the drivers are comfortable with the track - then as soon as a guy wrecks he's like "we should not be racing!" Yeah, YOU should not be racing - everyone else has maintained control.

The Mears wreck was scary. I will admit I enjoy carnage as much as the next guy, but fire and a car on its door are not a good combination. I was happy to see the drivers walk away. Of course, then it was all about the water.

I was forced to monitor the lap by lap at the office for the restarted race today. I can't complain too much, though as Carl Edwards pulle doff the win for me. It looks like we have a nice big group of entries near the top who haven't had that one bad finish yet. Those of you at the bottom need to hop those of us at the top get some bad picks in the coming weeks.

Well, here are our standings. Enjoy!

T1) Shaffer - [5] - 3(20)/2(48)
T1) Wingman - [5] - 3(20)/2(48)
3) PT - [6] - 5(41)/1(99)
4) Big Jon - [9] - 5(41)/4(18)
T5) Shaw - [11] - 9(88)/2(48)
T5) Tony - [11] - 9(88)/2(48)
T7) Susie - [12] - 9(88)/3(24)
T7) TBA - [12] - 9(88)/3(24)
T9) KRo - [14] - 9(88)/5(17)
T9) Es Scott - [14] - 9(88)/5(17)
11) Joe - [38] - 29(55)/9(9)
12) Hau-Ling - [45] - 42(6)/3(24)
T13) Inskeep - [50] - 9(88)/41(11)
T13) Shane - [50] - 9(88)/41(11)
15) Wayne - [51] - 9(88)/42(5)

By the way, I will be relatively unavailable over the next 2 weeks while Vicki and I fly to Antigua to tie the knot. be sure to send me your picks each week nonetheless. I will catch up on the standings as soon as I can. We travel both of the next 2 Sunday's, so don't count on too many updates. Also, you can always use the comment feature in this blocg to send your pick - if you don't mind everyone else seeing it.

later folks!

California Selections

Well, as long as we are in this extended delay, I thought I'd post the selections for this week:


Shaffer:#48, Jimmy Johnson*
Wingman: #48, Jimmy Johnson
Big Jon: #18, Kyle Busch
PT: #99, Carl Edwards
KRo: #17, Matt Kenseth
Es Scott: #17, Matt Kenseth
Wayne: #5, Casey Mears
Inskeep: #11, Denny Hamlin
Shaw: #48, Jimmy Johnson*
Susie: #24, Jeff Gordon
Shane: #11, Denny Hamlin
TBA: #24, Jeff Gordon
Tony: #48, Jimmy Johnson*
Joe: #9, Kasey Kahne
Hau-Ling: #24, Jeff Gordon


*The asterisks indicate automatic picks. I will be going with the driver starting closest ot he front in the current race that has not yet been used by that entry. This week, all 3 auto picks are Jimmy Johnson.


Now, Lets get this race started already!

Get yer' California picks in!!!

You have until the drop of the green flag on Sunday, if mother nature allows the boys to race on Sunday, that is.

Here is another Scott Mann gem.......

I hope you don't mind me advertising your pick 2 days before everyone else.

Fantasy Results after Daytona

Great race today. Well, the last hour was great. The first 2 1/2 was tough to watch with a group of guys who have never actually purposefully watched a race before. They wanted carnage, and to be honest, I wanted carnage. I wanted to see M&Ms splattered all over the infield. The #18 Toyota was way too much stronger than the rest. Something seemed fishy. I thought this whole COT was supposed to level the playing field.

Since the pre-race was unimpressive (with the exception of the Thunderbirds flyover) I won't bother rating the starting command (weak) or the national anthem (I was entering picks), but I will mention the commercials. If the expectation is that the Daytona 500 commercials are supposed to rival the Superbowl ads, we are falling short, but there were some gems. The NAPA ads ripping on Waltrip were good. There were actually a couple knee-slappers. Fortunately, the lack of cautions in the race meant we didn't have to suffer through countless repeats of UPS or Dominoes ads.

The race itself heated up at the end. I thought the #31 got cheated on that restart with 3 to go. The whole field laid back. Bad, Bad boys. I was extremely happy that the #18 did not win. That was my only goal, to not see Kyle Busch in victory lane. It was, however, nice to see Newman get a win.

My favorite moment? Rewinding the after-race celebration to show the guys the midget in Alltel gear in the background as they interviewed Newman's wife. Classic. I felt very dirty doing it, almost like I saw a boob flash. Am I evil?Newman has a midget in the pits. How can you top that? For a guy they say never watched Seinfeld, I find it amazing that his hame is Newman, he's a little on the girthy side, he has a "short-staturred" friend (Micky), and works for Penske (remember George's Penske file?) Coincidence?

A quick note on phantom debris. I hate that they do it, but it most certainly helps improve the competition, and adds excitement to an otherwise boring race. Unfortunately, my Lebonese friend, who earlier this week though the Daytona 500 was a drag race, left before the first "caution". Oh well, one less non-stereotypical NASCAR fan out there I guess. So much for "the drive for diversity."

Well, it looks like Tony Stewart was the pick of the week, although I must defend the #41 selection (I didn't have to burn a favorite in the first week and still got a great finish). We had 2 guys with #20, 2 with #41, and nine people with Dale Jr. A good week for 13 of the 15 entries. Be sure to get your picks in by the green flag at California on Sunday.

Also, a rule note. I plan to award zero (0) points for a first place finish (A 1 point bonus for picking the winner) and 50 points if your driver does not start the race for some wierd reason.

Results after Daytona:

T1) Shaffer - 3(20)
T1) Wingman - 3(20)
T3) Big Jon - 5(41)-2
T3) PT - 5(41)-2
T5) KRo - 9(88)-6
T5) Scott - 9(88)-6
T5) Wayne Smith - 9(88)-6
T5) Inskeep - 9(88)-6
T5) Dave Shaw - 9(88)-6
T5) Susie - 9(88)-6
T5) Shane - 9(88)-6
T5) TBA - 9(88)-6
T5) Tony - 9(88)-6
14) Joe Yu - 29(55)-26
15) Hau-Ling - 42(6)-39

Daytona Picks

Here are the entries for the session and their respective Daytona Picks. I will post the results and standings after the race.


Ken Ross - #88, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Scott Mann - #88, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Steve Shaffer - #20, Tony Stewart and his flowing mullet
Greg Osborne - #20, Tony Stewart and his Miami Vice beard
Wayne Smith - #88, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Jon Lommerin - #41, Reed Sorensen
Pat Thornton - #41, Reed Sorensen
Mike Inskeep - #88, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dave Shaw - #88, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Joe Yu - #55, Michael Waltrip
Hau-Ling - #6, David Ragan
Susie Mikesell - #88, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Sugar Shane - #88, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
TBA - #88, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Tony Sansone - #88, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2008 NASCAR Predictions

Over the last couple weeks I have been thinking a lot about the upcoming Cup season. Please note that I refuse to refer to it as the "Sprint Cup" season. It totally irritates me when the media refers to the highest level of NASCAR racing, regardless of the era, as the "Sprint Cup" or over the last few years, the "Nextel Cup", even when they are talking about 40 years ago. I am sorry, but Richard Petty does not have seven "Sprint Cup" championshops. He has seven "Cup" championships (or in his case, seven Winston Cup Championships). This whole idea that the current advertiser gets total credit for 50 plus years of competition irks me.

Anyway, with all the hoopla surrounding the Daytona 500, I thought I ought to make my 2008 predictions, and then in November, we can all laugh at how wrong I was. Here are the 5 key events / issues to look forward to this year:

1. Tony Stewart's mullet and beard will affect the draft at Talladega. It's not quite full enough yet during speedweeks to give him or his teammates a distinct advantage at Daytona, but "give it time, Kevin, Give it time."

2. You will learn more about the National Guard this year than you have ever wanted to know thanks to Dale Jr. changing teams (no, not the "changing teams" Micheal Waltrip style, I'm talking about the move to Hendrick Motorsports) Remember the quantity of Bud ads over the last 8 years? Be prepared for Jr to trade in his aluminum cans for heavy steel tanks and apache helicopters.

3. Surprise: of the year - Although I am far from a fan, I think Reed Sorenson is going to get some wins, and turn a lot of heads this year, and I don't mean the sort of heads Michael Waltrip turns. The 41 has the best equipment in his stable, and he is finally getting some respect on the track. I'd expect to see multiple wins from the target car.

4. The term that FOX settles on for the Car of Tomorrow, or Today, or whatever, will become the new vernacular (that link is for those of you with a limited vocabulary) for the car. Because FOX has the first 10 races this year, they will set the standard for the duration of this season's technical jargon, as well as setting the table for the terminoligy used for the life of this car design. FOX execs, please select your words carefully.


5. Over/Under on a Joe Gibbs Racing team meltdown = 12 points races. With the new attitude of NASCAR towards the free behaviour of the drivers, I think the trio of drivers at JGR are being set up. NASCAR has stated that they intend to let drivers speak their minds without punishment in an effort to return the sport to the rough and tumble tradition it was built on. This seems like a great idea for fostering contraversy, and thus expanded attention, but it seems to be coming at a very delicate time for JGR. New fiery teammates; new car platform; new sponsors; new manufacturer; bad haircuts. I'll take the under.

Well, that's about it. I mean, I could have mentioned that the merger of Roush and Fenway is going to prove to be disappointing; or that Kenny Wallace may actually get a competitive full time ride if he finishes well this week (remember, this sport is more about marketability than winning races, and he one of the biggest fan favourites); or even that my favourite driver, Jeff Burton will have a disappointing season (we haven't turned a points lap yet and he's already has engine failures, shock problems, tire issues. I have a sneaking feeling that this is going to be a bad year to be a 31 fan), but I won't (even though I just did, you just can't hold me to it.)

OK, I gotta get settled onto the couch for the race. Enjoy the season! We will check on my accuracy periodically throughout the season.

League Picks due before green flag.

Now, Here is a great example of a creative way to deliver your weekly pick. I think we should reserve a boobie prize for the most creative pick delivery each session. We can vote at the end of the session.

I hope the video isn't too big for you all to see. Its crappy quality, but you get the idea. He had me crying when I saw this. (sorry Scott, I guess there is a 5 second limit on videos) You all can see the whole thing at : http://www.careerbuilder.com/monk-e-mail/?mid=25866163 )

The smell of tire smoke and spilled beer

It's that time of year again - yep, its time for rubber and oil flying, and I'm not talking about a visit to Greg "Wingman" Osborne's hotel room. Its NASCAR time again.

This year, rather than developing a complex fantasy pool I have decided on a much simpler approach with 3 simple steps:

1. pay the $5 entry (I'll collect when I see you)
2. pick any one driver each week, but never the same driver twice over the duration of the session(yes, I will keep track)
3. accumulate 1 point per finishing position over the duration of the session (11 races), low score wins, winner take all, ties are split.

See, that simple. Just call or email me your picks prior to the start of the race each week. If you forget, I will insert a driver at random (pick from a hat or something) but this is a situation you do not want, as you will likely wind up with the guy in the garage area with the rickshaw pulled by a hobo (Seinfeld reference - by the way, one of those hobos turned out to be Uncle Rico).

Standings will be posted at http://clevelandsportssurvivor.blogspot.com/ each week after the race.

Get your picks in before Sunday's Daytona 500. Feel free to invite others - the more the merrier.

Later PT