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April 19, 2009
Martin shows, even at 50, he can still win
If anyone had any questions on whether Mark Martin should still be racing at age 50, he answered those questions with a win from the pole and the answer was a resounds yes.
A lot of people questioned whether he should have come out of his semi-retirement to run full-time in the Cup series this season, he wanted one more run at the title that's been elusive and Hendrick gave him that opportunity. Some say he should have stayed semi-retired or just retired fully, but he's got racing in his blood and that's hard to ignore and it also showed that age is just a number for some.
It was nice to see the number of drivers that came into Victory Lane to congratulate Mark, shows the kind of respect he has among the drivers. They talked to Tony Stewart, who finished second behind Martin, and I think he said it best...
"That tells you how much respect we all have for him. There is nobody that dislikes Mark -- and Mark was responsible for so many of us learning what it took to be a Cup driver and to be that caliber of a driver. Mark has taught us all a lot about what it takes to be not only a good driver in this series, but a good competitor and somebody that everybody respects."
Your thoughts?
April 19, 2009 in NASCAR | Permalink
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Comments
gretchen
that whole nc state is unreal between deals gap and blue ridge park way and outerbanks u could spend 1-2 weeks there nevr mind the the big cities
and before u get there u have to ride thru the ozarks grace land new orleans and then up to smokey mts and then i'll be in NC
Posted by: aggie | Apr 26, 2009 1:08:35 AM
dj and f5
Ok guys keep your eyes on this arpin kid steve arpin f5 he is from fort frances ont just no of int falls
f5 he living teh dream that many like you have tried to live and is trying to work his way up
i think he was 10 and 11 in the last 2 arca races
Posted by: aggie | Apr 26, 2009 1:04:44 AM
Congrats to David Ragan and the whole team
on their Nationwide win at Dega.
Posted by: Dottie | Apr 25, 2009 11:02:22 PM
Good day for my Ga boys in the draft.
Stafford goes in 1st round to those nasty Detroit Lions. Hope they can at least win a game this season. Moreno goes to the Broncos. David Ragan won today, another Ga boy. To bad for Jr, but shit happens and a good day for my Ga boys. Oh Yeah, my Braves kicked some Red Butt today.
Gooooooooooooo Ga Boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Deb | Apr 25, 2009 6:38:07 PM
Sorry to be off topic Kathy.
The NNS race may not have excited you veteran NASCAR fans. But OMG, it sure excited this rookie fan. Can't wait to watch the Cup race tomorrow. My picks: 14, 18, 83, 24 & 6.
Posted by: Dawn | Apr 25, 2009 6:21:19 PM
G.....Oak Island in NC where my folks have a house has a nice lighthouse about 6 houses down.Bald Head Island has a Civil War one about a mile away.Cool place.....
Love to be down there,but abusing the body playing ball.Arca was decent.Lot of banging for a 2 mile track.Cool.
Ya'll be safe and have a nice 'un.Beer.......
Posted by: DJ | Apr 24, 2009 10:02:31 PM
aggie, if you do make to the OB's of NC take it all in. I would love to see it. I am a Lighthouse FREAK.
When my house burned several years back, I had about 8 Lufton Light Collectables. UGH makes me sick- only thing- besides my Lab- that I lost that I was just SICK over.
I had the Cape Hatteras Light- tallest in the US at 190 or maybe 193 feet, I also had Bodie Island, Lookout, Ocracoke, and Currituck . Hell I had more OB's than Florida lights. SIGH...........
Arca race was OK.
I am in a funk with not much to say today.
Posted by: Gretchen | Apr 24, 2009 7:42:57 PM
aggie
put a pitch fork in that 88 team if they do
sqat at dega.
The 88 team are sure having their problems.
Maybe, if R.H. could get T.E.Sr. over to
the 88 team things might change. What do
you think? It takes the whole team to win
a race but something is wrong some where.
Yeah, I'm in MI and we still have the heat
on.
How about that, our Red Wings are doing
great but I think you're right about the
Pistons being done.
As you know, I am a "Smoke" fan and have
been from the beginning. Gosh! he's having
a fantastic season so far and I'm hoping
this will be his week at Dega.
Can't ever count that #18 out. He's just
damn good but his brother Kurt is coming
on strong this season also.
Posted by: Dottie | Apr 24, 2009 5:25:38 PM
dottie
put a pitch fork in that 88 team if they do sqat at dega.
be a good race for the 18 to pop up with win and should be interesting how guys like aj and marcos do
i do like smoke the guy is having agreat year and wow talk about laying low under the radar for a guy like him?
dottie your in MI right?? how about the wings? pistons are done i think?
Posted by: aggie | Apr 24, 2009 3:29:30 PM
Oh yeah. She's absolutely green with envy, Dawn. :rolleyes:
The #7 is fastest in first practice. I wonder how long that will last.
Posted by: Barb G | Apr 24, 2009 2:36:08 PM
DJ
You may have already checked this out but if
you haven't go to TheSunNews.com you will
see lots of news and photo's on the fire in
North Myrtle Beach. The estimated damage is
$8.2M and the fire is 50% contained. Lots of
damage to that area.
I apologize Kathy for getting off subject.
Posted by: Dottie | Apr 24, 2009 2:30:31 PM
Gretchen,
I just knew you would be jealous. LOL.
Posted by: Dawn | Apr 24, 2009 1:08:19 PM
LOL! jon2. Yeah I hate it when you talk to other chicks.
MY ball is showing me #14!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and #24- and Jeff BETTER have baby Ella this time if he gets to VL.
The rest of my crystal ball has #18, #88, and #83 in it.....
Posted by: Gretchen | Apr 24, 2009 12:53:03 PM
j2
Aggster,
You'll love the OBs. The lighthouses..the wind..the water..the lighthouses..the wind..the water.
not going down to MB 5-6 days in nc
west side charlotte, raighigh, the rock dj get us table and the ebst dish at the water hole whole
doing the outer banks up to kitty hwak and when on the west riding up the blue ridge parkway
i think the ob i have a ferry ride from the looks of it?
i'll email u guy a tentative plan
Posted by: aggie | Apr 24, 2009 12:53:40 AM
Crystal ball says: #14,#24,#31,#17,#29
I'm picking that dadgum #14 every week until he wins.
Time to pull the shorts and tank tops out here in the Pocono Mtns! The only thing better would be a week at the beach.
Posted by: Barb G | Apr 23, 2009 11:57:21 PM
spot on Kari,Spot on......
Posted by: DJ | Apr 23, 2009 9:15:14 PM
Dawn,
Every week until he wins, babe. Every single week.
Posted by: Kari | Apr 23, 2009 5:49:56 PM
Thanks to my KPS friends for the support & the laughs. Really needed to be cheered up today.
Special thanks to F5 & all the others who will be pulling for the #14 this weekend.
Posted by: Dawn | Apr 23, 2009 5:26:09 PM
Yes Dottie....Bad deal...the fire is 4 miles wide and still like 75% out of control.It is on the inland side of the Intercostal Waterway which is good for the actual beach area,but bad for those on the other side.It has closed off the route i always take...Hopefully they will gian control.
F5....that area is quarentined!LOL....
BTW...it's cerveza time.82 lovely degrees.
J2,stop trying to brainwash Delta D with your HMS darksideness.We know you pull for TS only lightly because he has support from Darth Vader.LOL.....
Posted by: DJ | Apr 23, 2009 5:13:45 PM
Lil D don't do it...It's a trap!...I hope RedBill get that nasty taste outta my mouth...DJ I was in J2's neck of the woods, Funny I didn't smell him!!!
In Honor of Di, again my picks are #14,#14,#14,#14 and ...#18!
Posted by: Fan #5 | Apr 23, 2009 5:04:04 PM
Oh, snap.
Posted by: Kari | Apr 23, 2009 4:53:17 PM
Dawn,
You are always welcome to my opinion.
My compliments to your choice of Tony S as your favorite. Him as well as Jeff G (sort of) and Ryan Newman are all Hoosier boys that require your and my support.
Ignore Gretchen's rude comment. She can't stand it when I talk to other ladies.
Posted by: Jon2 | Apr 23, 2009 4:52:05 PM
DJ
Have you been watching the news? There's a
huge fire burning in North Myrtle Beach.
Posted by: Dottie | Apr 23, 2009 4:41:13 PM
Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha, Oh crap, I am gonna be sick.
Posted by: Graceann | Apr 23, 2009 3:58:33 PM
I just threw up a small portion in my mouth......
Posted by: DJ | Apr 23, 2009 3:52:12 PM
Thanks Gretchen, LOL.
J2, thanks for your UNBIASED (lol) opinion. I've already heard enough about HMS to last a lifetime. Gotta follow in my wonderful Mother's footsteps & say I like MM & kinda like JG, but very much dislike JJ. Haven't made up my mind about Jr. yet.
Don't want to be rude, but all race fans have their favorites & I will respect your opinion. But I'm already a Stewart/Newman fan as I am a Hoosier like you. My second & third favs are Harvick & Burton. I also like: Robby Gordon, Brian Vickers, Reutimann, etc.
But thanks anyway.
Posted by: Dawn | Apr 23, 2009 3:18:48 PM
My Crystal Ball says: #14, #48, #2, #18, #88
My sleeper is #11
Posted by: Dottie | Apr 23, 2009 3:14:21 PM
Only take that hand AFTER you have wiped AfghaniStyle after a #2.
Posted by: Gretchen | Apr 23, 2009 2:58:30 PM
"...I'm a fairly new NASCAR fan & am trying to soak in as much racing knowledge as possible. Was impressed w/Mark Martin last week. He showed a lot of class & humility.."
submitted by Dawn.
Just take my hand there young Dawn darling and be a sponge with the knowledge I'm about to impart to you.
Since you're so impressed with MM here goes.
MMartin is part of the Hendrick Motor Sport (HMS) NASCAR CUP juggernaut consisting of Jeff Gordon (my fav) - four time CUP champ, Jimmie Johnson - three time (a record) consecutive CUP champ, Dale Earnhardt Jr (referred to as Junior) - the most popular CUP driver, Mark Martin - the elder of the bunch, and then there's the HMS satelite team Stewart - HAAS consisting of drivers Tony Stewart - two time champ and Hoosier born like me, and last there's Ryan Newman -yawn.
HMS has won the past three championships in the CUP series and according to all the important and relevant CUP media types, it'll be a fourpeat whether it be with Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon.
Just some highlights of the other top tier teams besides the best which is HMS. Joe Gibbs Racing star is Kyle Busch and somewhat Hamlin. Roush Fenway Racing stars are Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth - one CUP championship. Penske racing has Kurt Busch - one CUP championship. Richard Childress Racing doesn't have much to offer. Unlike the other three I've mentioned, RCR hasn't won a championship since #3 Dale Earnhardt in the mid 1990s.
Quite frankly, only HMS, JGR, and RFR are in the top tier at this point. Penske has one star and RCR has been lost in translation for some time.
Posted by: Jon2 | Apr 23, 2009 2:11:42 PM
Dawn....Dega is one of my fav tracks because at least you have side by side racing at a high speed,high banking,and usually the big one.It's a crap shoot and alot of first time winners happen here.Regan Smith got hosed last year by Nascar and should have got his first win.It's a good show....much better than say POCONO!LOL!!
Time for an installment of Balls....16,6,24,88,42....My fantasy picks have let me down(insert 88,99).
Brutiful weather here in NC.......
Oh yeah....they let Jr off the hook D2,again.I think my boy RG or the 2 called and told Nascar about their double standards.Hell,I like it!Detramental to racing??Whatever....that stuff is vital not detramental to keep us ineterested for next week........
Posted by: DJ | Apr 23, 2009 12:09:03 PM
I'm a fairly new NASCAR fan & am trying to soak in as much racing knowledge as possible. Was impressed w/Mark Martin last week. He showed a lot of class & humility. Plus the respect shown to him by other big name drivers was awesome.
I've been watching replays of past Talladega races. Wow. Can't wait to see the 2 races this weekend. Not for the "big one" but for the 3 & 4 wide 8 to 10 row deep inches apart racing.
Posted by: Dawn | Apr 23, 2009 11:19:07 AM
Cant grasp where most will lay blame on a CC, a spotter, or anything else..
You guys and gals are great but I think Gretchen nailed it.
"HE DOESNT HAVE A DAMN BIT OF FOCUS"< nor even care...He doesnt have it, nor ever will.
How the shit the other night was Casey M. fault I wont ever grasp after a few episodes I have heard this week?
A "said " car sucked ass ,but he went in a "JPM mode" and would not move. So thus in such ,if you are the "prima donna", you are fair freaking game.MOVE and dont get all bitchy..
On RCR, agree with the switch, and noramlly dont like things as this. But Happy has worked with Gil prior and that team. It should work overall..
Finally, got to send a good job to all the 2 car and Kurt, never gets a damn bit of deceny but the 2 is there..Once again
Posted by: Dani2 | Apr 22, 2009 7:21:07 PM
Aggster,
You'll love the OBs. The lighthouses..the wind..the water..the lighthouses..the wind..the water.
If you want to get away from your own kind, MB is not the place. If you judge a location by it's license plates, Canada can claim MB as one of it's provinces. Talked to several lads from Manitoba, mentioned your name, they never heard of you. And all this time I thought you were a celebrity up there :)
DJ, if Junior can't succeed in HMS iron; he's without hope. Cousin has to go. Oceanfront high rise for 59 a night. Clerk told us the worst she's ever seen. Several high rise motel projects stopped in the immediate area we were at because the banks wouldn't continue funding.
Posted by: Jon2 | Apr 22, 2009 6:26:06 PM
Jamie.....He has alot of his fans because of his dad.Plain and simple.I was a Richard Petty fan and then liked Kyle when he was on it in the early to mid 90's.That is why I say it is doubly hard an those guys that have to follow in their dad's footsteps.They are different in alot of ways and mainly on the track.I like Jr as a person,just not on the track.He seems to still be a good 'ol boy that appreciates his roots and Nascar's roots.Unlike alot of these 5 foot nothing pretty boys that have "market" value or international flavor.F that!Said it plenty on here...give me a Robert Pressley or a Robby Gordon anyday over a Scottdamn Speed or Logano kid.I just don't think HMS is where Jr needs to hang his hat.Even if it costs him better equipment I think he'd be better off with say RCR or his own deal.JMO!
J2,I concur.NMB is rather baron.Got a room for 29 bucks when we played ball down there recently.Went to the OVERTIME sports bar and it was about empty.....
Posted by: DJ | Apr 22, 2009 4:47:40 PM
I have not been a fan of NASCAR for very long (just over a year and a half) and I realize something.
I don't understand how there can be so many JR fans out there when he is sucking so bad. Now I know many are saying it's not his fault, personally I agree. I believe he needs a new crew chief.
I am a Kyle fan so of course I'm sure a lot of you probably already hate me. But I don't care, at least he wins...even if he is as a@@H0l3.
I really am happy for Mark Martin. From what I've seen I believed he deserved that win.
Posted by: Jamie | Apr 22, 2009 4:06:03 PM
j2
wow so your telling me i should be on teh outetr banks come june??
Posted by: aggie | Apr 22, 2009 3:33:07 PM
j2
Janet Neopalitano
make that double
scoop ok sugar cone
Posted by: aggie | Apr 22, 2009 3:32:14 PM
Aggster,
Read where our Homeland Security chief, in an interview with Canadian media, Janet Neopalitano (makes me want to go out and buy some ice cream) is blaming Canada for letting the 9/11 crazies into our country. Sad that your press pointed out the fact to her that they didn't get into the USA by way of Canada but from other overseas localed. Read that on the Drudge Report. One of your media asks the question "How Did (this fool) She Get Her Job?"
She's now clarifying her statement.
This is the same lady who just recently implied that our veterans were crazies cut out of he same cloth of Timothy McVeigh.
Just returned from Myrtle Beach. Economies hurt lot of these vacation spots, lot of restaurants closed down. Parts of NMB on 17 looks like a ghost town. If it weren't for all the Ontario vacationeers we came accross, MB would be in dire sraits.
Posted by: Jon2 | Apr 22, 2009 2:40:06 PM
"At this point, I'd say Junior's got some issues and perhaps StepMum was correct when she perceived his approach to the sport was more as a celebrity and less as a competitive race car driver. Hhhhuuuummm, could StepMum have been right?
Posted by: Jon2 | Apr 22, 2009 12:29:27 PM"
I would have to say that as things look right now, the Stepmonster was more right than wrong.
Regardless, the man has got talent. He has also got a HUGE lack of focus for whatever reason. And if RH doesn't find a way to cure this onset of ADD, us Junior fans better get ready for a LOOOOOONG year.
Posted by: Gretchen | Apr 22, 2009 1:02:39 PM
j2
where yah been u ole snake in the grass
yeah that 88 team .......nuff said, they suck and its going to getw orse before it gets better
as far as RH goes iam sure he is the kind of guy that if he dont like the tune well change the station that is after he all of jr $$$ signed sealed and tied up
kari
saw moss and and his driver on tv and wow moss seems pretty leveled headed with that young kid from WA and his truck team look good...........i was impressed with moss and this kid on the interview
we get the 2 settle staion here for our hi def feeds......i feel like i live up there lol
Posted by: aggie | Apr 22, 2009 12:50:32 PM
John,
Junior and Cousin argued all the time at DEI. They have history with respect to childlike behavior and incompetence in the pits. I recall Big Rick having to get involved on the radio at the end of the season in order to calm Junior down and attempt to keep him focused. Embarrassing.
If Junior doesn't perform well at Tally, a track he's done very well at, Cousin's days are numbered. Whether it's Cousin's fault or not is irrelevant 'cause anyone who breathes and is capable of reading knows Junior is Mr. NASCAR and Big Rick won't let him go.
As 4ever3 mentioned over at his blog perhaps Big Rick might switch CCs between MM and Junior, Gustafson to Jr and Cousin to MM.
At this point, I'd say Junior's got some issues and perhaps StepMum was correct when she perceived his approach to the sport was more as a celebrity and less as a competitive race car driver. Hhhhuuuummm, could StepMum have been right?
Posted by: Jon2 | Apr 22, 2009 12:29:27 PM
Some kids in school got As some got Bs and so forth. Maybe with the 88 team this is as good as it gets. A couple of weeks ago at Martinsville I watched the 88 car for a while. After a restart midway through the race he had two lap down cars in front of him. It took 35 laps to pass one and then another 25 before passing the second one. By that time the leaders were coming around ready to lap him.
Posted by: Peter | Apr 22, 2009 12:18:07 PM
I heard a guy call in on the morning drive yesterday, and he said that Dale jr. and Tony Jr. were neither one the problem. He believed the problem was that when Darian Grubb left the 88 to become Tony Stewarts Crew Chief. Grubb was the car chief on the 88. Maybe there is some substance to his argument.?
Posted by: John | Apr 22, 2009 4:29:00 AM
aggie
TE Jr is way way over his head at HMS with
guys like SL and CK, he belongs in trucks
or arca to learn his skills cause his last
name and family haven't helped him at HMS.
Aggie, I don't know what the problem is
with the 88 Team but I don't think the
problem is entirely T.E. Jr's fault. Maybe,
R.H. should take a look at the 88 Team and
find out just what their problems are.
Being the most popular driver in NASCAR and
being under so much pressure to win has a
lot to do with it. SL and the 24 Team were
having similar problems in the past but
they seem to have got their problems
worked out and are doing good. I hope the
88 team can do the same.
Posted by: Dottie | Apr 22, 2009 1:10:02 AM
DJ
G....Not a big fan of the 88 but I feel for
the dude.
Very good comments on Dale Jr. He's not my
favorite driver but I do like him and I wish
he could pull out of the slump he's in. With
the Earnhardt name fans expect him to be an
Earnhardt Sr. but he's not and he has made
that clear previously. He's under extreme
pressure from the fans and the media don't
help. He does look unhappy and I feel for
him. I'd like nothing better then to see
him start to win races.
Posted by: Dottie | Apr 21, 2009 8:07:21 PM
Gretchen
Mears needs to go to the IRL. ASAP - RCR
would have been better suited to put Regan
Smith or David Gilliland in that damn car.
You are so right. Either one of these guys
would have been a better choice than Casey
Mears.
Posted by: Dottie | Apr 21, 2009 7:33:46 PM
Nice input there Mike.......
Agg....If I lived in Raliegh where the Hurricaines play I might get into it.Seen some triple A Hockey in Charlotte and it was pretty good stuff,of course adult beverages were involved.
Yeah Boston may be done without KG and PP lost somewhere on the court.It's baseball season so I'm into that now.....
G....Not a big fan of the 88,but I feel for the dude.Got more pressure than anyone out there,except maybe the cars trying to qualify.Sure,he has got it made with all the commercials and other "Hollywood" forms of success.Damn right I'd like to be in his shoes....but just gotta think the dude can have all the fame and $$,but it doesn't feel the void of his dad passing before he could learn ALL he needed to learn to handle.Now he is with the best equipment and is still struggling and I feel he is pressing,as we all would.I hope he can turn it around,but he just will not sniff what his father has done much less be anywhere the type of driver Big E was.Alot on him peeps.The boy may need to do his own thing like TS to maybe turn his career around.I admire the dude for being real and all,but he just looks unhappy....My 2 cents on Jr.
Posted by: DJ | Apr 21, 2009 3:38:01 PM
I don't recall a lot of people saying Mark Martin should stay retired.
Posted by: Michael | Apr 21, 2009 11:24:18 AM
dottie
that team and their resources to be having these bs minor league on pit lane problems is joke
how many guys are unemplyed in NC from cup ...........hire some body to kick some ass on that ass to enroll them all
at one of those fancy ass chools down there in a listening and communication course/classes ASAP
jr get that MW adhd problem cured asap or quit........ enough already
honestly folks u think of the truely great drivers anywhere and they all have this amzazing ability to focus and concentrate on the task at hand and not belly ache at their crews.......jr iam sure he with his cash does what what most stupid parents do REWARD FAILURE to his crew after they screw up and he rags on them, here boys here is some $$$ and iam sorrrrrry
Posted by: aggie | Apr 21, 2009 10:46:54 AM
dottie
TE jr is wayway over his head at HMS with guys like SL and CK, he belongs in trucks or arca to learn his skills cause his last name and family havent helped him at HMS
dj
to bad u were not in hockey, some great series going on
nba wow its cav's lakers i think, celtics can hardly beat the bulls
Posted by: aggie | Apr 21, 2009 10:39:42 AM
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