Well, I’m Back! [Henry is…welcome back]
First of all, I want to take a couple lines here to thank all of you for your thoughts, prayers, and contributions. There is a ton of devastion in this area, and it’s gonna be a long time till South Louisiana and Coastal Mississippi resembles anywhere like it used to look (if ever). There are an enormous number of people displaced, out of work, and just wondering if they should even come back. Thankfully, our damage was minor (relatively speaking). I went through one of these as a teen in 1965 (Betsy), and I never forgot it. I hazard to say no one down here will forget this one, either.
I’ve got a few gazillion emails to catch up on, and I’ve been working on getting my stats caught up for hours the last couple days (in between tarping a roof at the store….I’ve got a whole new respect for people who get up on hot metal roofs in 95 degree weather!), and I promise to answer each of those emails (just give me some time).
I want to thank Von for getting that fund going….it was certainly unexpected. Your response was overwhelming, and I will write to each and every one of you to express my thanks. I don’t know that words can describe my appreciation….that people who know you only from reading a couple paragraphs would give of themselves so willingly is unbelievable. Again, Mickey & I thank you all.
Now, back to regular programming…..
We had a ding-dong battle to the finish today at New Hampshire International Speedway. Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart swapped the lead repeatedly during the final 20 laps, but in the end it was Newman who got the Gatorade bath in Victory Lane for his first win since Dover last September. This was career win #12 for Newman (he’s 48th on the all-time win list), and the 54th for Roger Penske (57 if you count the three by Jeremy Mayfield when Michael Kranefuss was a partner). Ryan is the 13th different winner this season (equalling our total from last year) and he pulled down $248,866 from the over $5.1M in posted awards.
Lotsa short fuses today. You know, the last race I saw from my own couch was Bristol….so it was like I never left! Sure wish I had the hot dog stand outside the NASCAR trailer after the race (I’d have cleaned up!). It was SRO….Kurt Busch, Scott Riggs, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, Robby Gordon, Michael Waltrip (and all of their respective car owners and crew chiefs as well). Pass the mustard!
I suspect the press release on Tuesday announcing the fines and penalties will be rather lengthy…..
Didn’t take us long to get one of the “Chasers” upset…..three laps in and we’ve got a mad dash up pit road already.
Dale Earnhardt Jr (5th) had his best finish since he won at Chicagoland in July.
J. J. Yeley (34th) had his best finish since he was 27th at Atlanta last October (only two races).
STREAKIN….Tony Stewart has 13 Top-10’s in a row.
Matt Kenseth has 5 Top-10’s in a row.
Greg Biffle has 5 Top-10’s in a row.
The Rookie Report: Kyle Busch (27th) was the highest finishing freshman for the 18th time this season. Travis Kvapil was 41st.
This Week’s Elevator….UP: Operator of the Week is Sterling Marlin (+26), followed by Greg Biffle (+22), Michael Waltrip (+21), and Kyle Petty (+21). DOWN: The Big Dropper was Elliott Sadler (-24), followed by Scott Riggs (-23), and Kurt Busch (-23).
In the “Chase” Standings, Tony Stewart has padded his lead….it’s all the way out to 20 markers now! Ryan Newman advances seven spots (10th to 3rd), while Kurt Busch fell from 5th to 10th. Dale Earnhardt Jr (17th to 15th) and Jeff Burton (21st to 19th) made the best moves forward today, while Elliott Sadler (11th to 14th) fell the most spots.(Stock Car Fans – see full CLASSIC Cup standings here)(9-19-2005)
