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NASCAR Natalie
Turn 4 Transitions
by Natalie Anthony
2/12/2008
The 50th Daytona 500
Anything is going to be incredible after fifty years of working at it. NASCAR announced that all past living winners of the Daytona 500 would act as honorary Grand Marshals, Junior Johnson will drive the pace car for the start of the race and the "King" Richard Petty will serve as honorary starter. Hopefully, the Harley J. Earl trophy will be awarded to the someone who has been waiting for their golden moment and has not quite reach it. Once you have won at Daytona, you have officially made your mark in NASCAR.
Epoch of Earnhardt
This Sunday at Daytona Beach Florida the Daytona 500 marks the 10th year Anniversary for Dale Earnhardt's first win at Daytona after 20 years of trying. Traditionally you are to received tin and aluminum, but Dale Earnhardt Inc. with Richard Childress is offering a die cast car of Dale's paint scheme to commemorate his win in 1998 on a COT car.
Front Line Finishers
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet
If you missed the Budweiser Shootout, then you missed Dale dominating the race with the help of his new teammate Jimmie Johnson. I don't know if it was all part of a sneaky plan to get Dale to win so Hendrick Motorsports can prove that anyone who moves to Hendricks is bound to be a winner. Or the win relieve Dale a lot of first win pressure. It really doesn't matter too much because Dale does truly rule the track. He is ranked 4th for best average finishes and has 9 Top 10's out of 15 starts.
Jimmie Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet
Being the two-time Cup champion for consecutive seasons doesn't leave Jimmie a lot of room to make mistakes. He has more to prove this year than last and will do so by finishing ahead of the rest of his teammates and at least adding another Top 5 (5) and Top 10 (8) to his 12th start.
Jeff Gordon
Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet
Yes, it is another Hendrick driver, but I can't deny success that keeps adding up with these teams. Jeff finished 10th at Daytona last year and has the highest number of wins (6). Jeff got shut out of a good pole position in the Budweiser Shootout, but finished 4th. It doesn't matter where he starts the race, Jeff will end it up front.
Jeff Burton
Richard Childress Racing
Chevrolet
Jeff finished 3rd at Daytona last year and he is one of the drivers that you really want to finish well. He already has a win, but a nice Top 10 finish at Daytona will give him a great start to the season. Jeff is sporting 7 Top 10's and 5 Top 5's out of 27 starts.
Last Lap Challengers
Clint Bowyer
Richard Childress Racing
Chevrolet
Fans are definitely going to see a lot more of this young driver up front this season. Nothing much has changed for Clint expect the permanence of the COT, but he sure has increased his ability as a driver. Clint has 3 starts at DIS and 3 Top 10's.
Mark Martin
Dale Earnhardt Incorporated
Chevrolet
With the support of DEI behind him, Mark does have another chance to take the win at Daytona and he is a driver that you really want to win. Remember last year with the last lap to go; he lost by feet to Kevin Harvick. This time out will Mark will be making his 45th start, and maybe he can make the 8 do some great things.
Bottom 35 Feeders
J.J. Yeley
Hall of Fame Racing
Toyota
J.J. just got a new ride, a new manufacturer, new sponsors, team owners, so I really don't think he really has a chance to do anything good this Sunday. His record at Daytona isn't much to talk about anyways. J.J. has 3 starts at DIS and his best finish Daytona 500 was 41st.
Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing
Toyota
Its not that Denny is making his debut for 2008 here because he moved over to Toyota, it is honestly because he really doesn't handle Daytona very well. He finished 28th last time he raced and out of 3 starts he hasn't gotten a Top 5 or even a Top 10. Hopefully the new manufacturer will give him a better finishing spot this weekend.
Reader Board
"With the retirement of Joe Gibbs from the NFL and the addition to Toyota, is JGR going to be a contender against the manufacturer leader Chevy and team owner Rick Hendrick?"
Zach - Maryland
Toyota struggled a lot in 2007, but with a top team and owner like Joe Gibbs Racing and the addition of Kyle Busch, Hendrick Motorsports will definitely be concerned about the JGR group.
-NASCAR Natalie
Post questions & comments to:
NASCARNATALIEANTHONY@yahoo.com
Track Stats
Daytona International Speedway - DIS (Daytona Beach, FL)
Daytona 500
February 17, 2008 (Sunday) - 2:00 pm - FOX
(Sister Restrictor Plate Tracks - Talladega)
Daytona 500
February 18, 2007
Top 10 Results
1. Kevin Harvick
2. Mark Martin
3. Jeff Burton
4. Mike Wallace
5. David Ragan
6. Elliott Sadler
7. Kasey Kahne
8. David Gilliland
9. Joe Nemechek
10. Jeff Gordon
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Our latest Cheat Sheets updated constantly through September.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr1')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Marvin Harrison Denies Involvement In Shooting
(5/13 12:31 AM PT)
The Facts:
Harrison assured the Indianapolis Colts he was not involved in a shooting last month in his hometown of Philadelphia. Owner Jim Irsay said Monday he hopes that's the case. "At this point I'm keeping my fingers crossed," Irsay said. "We've done everything we could do in our diligence to try to discern what happened. He said he was not involved in that shooting and. ... The authorities have said there is nothing imminent."
Diehards Line:
Irsay said the Colts' security department has been in contact with NFL security in Philadelphia as well as with Philadelphia law enforcement. ... To review: A gun that Harrison owned has been linked to the shooting in which a man suffered a gunshot wound to his hand and a small boy was cut on the face by flying glass from a windshield. Six of the bullet casings found at the April 29 shooting near Harrison's car wash were from his gun, ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reported last week. But Harrison is not considered a suspect at this time.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr2')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Terrell Owens Happy With Situation In Dallas
(5/13 12:21 AM PT)
The Facts:
Owens' contract situation has been a backburner subject this offseason, as the team has dealt with the draft, getting Zach Thomas and Pacman Jones in the fold, and working on extensions with unsigned, but protected veterans Marion Barber and Ken Hamlin. So could there be a problem, with the star receiver's deal expiring at the end of the season? Owens says no.
Diehards Line:
"I definitely want to end my career with the Dallas Cowboys, and go into the Hall of Fame as a Dallas Cowboy," Owens, who told DMN staffer Albert Breer that he's got "3-5 years" left in the game, said. He also mentioned that getting a ring is what really matters at this stage of his career. And he believes the group to get it done in 2008 is there. "No doubt," Owens said. "The makeup is there. ... We're a step closer every year. We're ready."
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr3')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Patriots Meet With Kevin Jones; Nothing Imminent
(5/13 12:18 AM PT)
The Facts:
Last week, New England very quietly hosted a visit -– and no team can do things as quietly as the Patriots -- with Kevin Jones, whom Detroit released in March.
Diehards Line:
According to NFL Network insider Adam Schefter, Jones appears to be a couple of months away from recovering from the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered late last season, but he is far enough along that the Patriots brought him in for a look. Schefter believes there are teams that think Jones will be able to contribute in training camp, others wonder if he will miss the start of the season due to his knee injury.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr4')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Randy McMichael Happy With New OC
(5/13 12:16 AM PT)
The Facts:
No Rams player may be more excited about Al Saunders being OC than McMichael. "As soon as I found what was going on and they had hired coach Saunders, I got really excited," McMichael said. "This is the kind of offense that I have dreamed my whole career of playing in."
Diehards Line:
Saunders has a reputation for making the tight end an integral part of his passing attack. Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez averaged 80 catches per season in his six seasons with Saunders calling the offensive plays. Under Saunders, Washington's Chris Cooley caught 57 passes for 734 yards and two touchdowns in 2006 and 66 passes for 786 yards and eight touchdowns in 2007. "He said the funniest thing to me the first time I met him," McMichael said of Saunders. "He said, 'I've had a Pro Bowl tight end eight straight years."' Now, the pressure is on McMichael to keep that streak going.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr5')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Roddy White Skips Final Workout With Sore Hamstring
(5/12 7:24 PM PT)
The Facts:
White was held out of practice Monday after a slight hamstring problem Sunday afternoon. "Roddy tweaked his hamstring," HC Mike Smith said. "It's just precautionary. We don't want to put ourselves in a position with a guy this time of year that may hurt himself more by going out there."
Diehards Line:
White said he's been working hard to stay healthy with the offseason weight program and looks forward to building on his career season from 2007. "I'm getting a lot more comfortable," he said. "I just have to go out there and continue to work hard and continue to get better every day. If you ain't getting better, you're getting worse." We're looking for White to continue getting better, but much of his success will depend on the team's quarterback.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr6')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Robbie Gould Signs 5-Year Extension With Bears
(5/12 6:32 PM PT)
The Facts:
Gould on Monday signed a five-year contract extension with the Bears that runs through the 2013 season. Terms were not disclosed.
Diehards Line:
Gould is the most accurate field goal kicker in Bears history among those with at least 50 attempts, having connected on 84 of 99 tries (84.8 percent) in three seasons. In 2007, Gould made 31 of 36 field goals (86.1), including 17 of 18 (94.4) over the final seven games. His only miss during that stretch, a 48-yard attempt, was blocked. Gould also owns Bears records with 26 straight field goals from Dec. 25, 2005-Nov. 19, 2006 and 22 straight games with a field goal from Oct. 23, 2005-Nov. 6, 2006.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr7')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Joe Horn Would Prefer Trade To Reserve Role
(5/12 1:34 PM PT)
The Facts:
Horn said Monday that he would like to be traded instead of remaining with the team as a "just-in-case guy." Horn said he had not approached the team yet about his desire to be dealt but that him and/or his agent would in the near future. When told of Horn's remarks, general manager Thomas Dimitroff said: "He is still part of our team and we still see a future for him here."
Diehards Line:
Horn said that he would be professional for as long as he remains with the Falcons. He said he hopes the Falcons will push to deal him to a team who values him as a contributor. ... During five, just-completed mini-camp workouts -- and during a pre-draft minicamp in April -- Laurent Robinson replaced Horn in the starting lineup alongside Roddy White. Michael Jenkins and rookie Harry Douglas also took reps this weekend, which could have prompted Horn to feel as if he was being pushed down the depth chart. Brian Finneran, Eric Weems and Adam Jennings are also vying to be among the five-to-six wide receivers retained.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr8')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Ravens Mulling Use Of 3-WR Set As Base Formation
(5/12 11:31 AM PT)
The Facts:
One of the questions heading into Ravens mini-camp was the pecking order of the WRs. But Derrick Mason, Demetrius Williams and Mark Clayton aren't battling against each other. They are teaming up in pursuit of a common goal. If this unit plays up to expectations, there is a possibility the Ravens could use three wide receivers as their primary formation. "It's not a possibility. It will happen," Mason said. "Using three wides is not far-fetched with the three guys that we have."
Diehards Line:
Whether it was injuries or just former HC Brian Billick's scheme last season, the Ravens rarely spread out defenses. Of the Ravens' 557 passes thrown last season, only 39 percent came in a three-wide alignment. New OC coordinator Cam Cameron wants to be unpredictable and will change up the formations as well as the personnel groupings. "If we had to start a game today, three wide receivers might be our starting group," Cameron said.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr9')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Steven Jackson Setting Modest Goals, Looking For More
(5/12 12:21 AM PT)
The Facts:
Last June, Jackson announced he was shooting for 2,500 total yards from scrimmage. He wound up with about half that, rushing for 1,002 yards and adding 271 receiving yards in 12 games. He missed four games with injuries, and the Rams tumbled to 3-13 and last place in the NFC West. "My goal right now until (training camp in) July is to (learn) this offense, so I can play fast," Jackson said. "When I'm playing fast, I know what I'm doing."
Diehards Line:
Assuming he -- and his offensive line -- avoid the injuries that caused so many problems last year, Jackson, heading into the final year of his rookie contract, figures he can rebuild his stats and enhance his bargaining power at the same time. A monster season would push Jackson, 24, even further up the potential-earnings chart, and he's counting on putting up big numbers. "Well, we all know what happens in a contract year: you ball out," he said with a laugh. "So, I expect to."
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr10')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Michael Turner Among Falcons On The Mend
(5/11 12:24 PM PT)
The Facts:
Several veteran players recovering from injuries took part in the Falcons' first mandatory mini-camp on Saturday. Turner (shoulder) participated in most drills after being medically withheld from a voluntary mini-camp in April.
Diehards Line:
Turner had surgery on the shoulder earlier this year and is expected to be fully recovered before training camp. ... Meanwhile, QB D.J. Shockley and WR Brian Finneran, both trying to make comebacks from season-ending knee injuries, went through the majority of the dual practice sessions. For Finneran, who wore a heavy brace on his right knee, just going through a non-contact practice is a huge step. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in consecutive years during practice. He last played in 2005.
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