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NASCAR Natalie
Turn 4 Transitions
by Natalie Anthony
7/05/2008
Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola
July 5, 2008 (Saturday) - 6:30 pm (ET) - TNT
Happy 4th of July!!!
Forty is finished
It's a sad at the Franchitti-Judd house. As of Tuesday, July 2, 2008, Dario Franchitti has lost his NASCAR Sprint Cup ride until Chip Ganassi can get a sponsor to flip the bill for the #40 team. Luckily however, Dario does have the opportunity to run in the Nationwide Series if he so desires. With Dario originally on the entry list for the race this weekend at Daytona, that leaves only 45 drivers scheduled to qualify. Good news for the go or go homers, one more spot could possibly be up for grabs.
For all those Earnhardt family fans, Kerry Earnhardt is expected to make an attempt to qualify for the Nationwide Series race at Daytona. Go Kerry!!! The more Earnhardts the merrier.
Front Line Finishers
Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing - Toyota
Point Standings: 1st
Kyle seems to follow a certain pattern of racing this season. He just wins a lot. Granted last weekend at New Hampshire wasn't his best work, but we can blame Juan Pablo Montoya for that. Kyle's run at Daytona the last two races have resulted in Top 5's.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 3rd
Even though Dale has been with Hendrick some many months now, I can't help from feeling that whether there is camaraderie at Hendrick Motorsports, there is not so much on the race track. Restrictor plate tracks beg for drafting, but I think Dale is going to have to find friends outside the family this weekend. Dale has the respect and the talent to win at Daytona.
Jeff Gordon
Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 6th
Jeff is and will remain for quite some time the driver on the Sprint Cup series active driver roster that maintains the most wins (6). Jeff has suspension problems during the Daytona 500 this season, which placed him 39th. However, with a working stock car this Saturday night, Jeff will, without much effort, steal the win or get another Top 5 to add to his already accomplished 11 out of 30 races.
Kasey Kahne
Gillett Evernham Motorsports - Dodge
Point Standings: 10th
Normally, I wouldn't even think about Kasey performing well on this restrictor plate track, but that is exactly how he has competed for the last two races at Daytona. Kasey needs a good run this weekend because he is 10th in points and only nine more races to the chase for the Cup.
Kurt Busch
Penske Racing - Dodge
Point Standings: 18th
Ryan Newman may be the defending race winner of the Daytona 500, but teammate Kurt Busch is the driver that has had 2 Top 5's in the last two races at the beloved tri-oval. With his momentum from last weekend's win because he played it smart, he is in high gear for this race at DIS.
Last Lap Challengers (The Nostalgic Class)
Terry Labonte
Petty Enterprises - Dodge
Point Standings: 48th
Terry may be a fill in for Kyle Petty while Kyle does his commentating thing, but Terry is the real deal. I am glad to see him come out of retirement to race once again. It may be short lived, but Terry is going to tear it up as far as veteran racers are concerned. Terry has raced Daytona's 2.5 mile track 53 amazing times. Out of all those starts Terry averaged 11 Top 5's and 26 Top 10's. No win to date, but don't give up just yet. I think Terry still has a few Champions provisional to use if he does not qualify on time this Friday.
Sterling Marlin
Phoenix Racing - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 50th
Sterling is another veteran driver that has left a big dent at DIS. I am quite sure he does not have the champion free pass, but if Sterling gets into the show he will do some surprising things. This Saturday marks Sterling's 51st start. He has 12 Top 5's and 21 Top 10's. This man has been around this track quite a few times and still loves it.
Bottom 35 Feeders
Carl Edwards
Roush Fenway Racing - Ford
Point Standings: 4th
Carl did finally get his first Top 5 last July at Daytona, but that was the first one out of six starts. Looks like to me that since it was a hundred laps shorter than the Daytona 500, Carl happened to luck out in position. If Carl does fair well this weekend, than lady luck sure does like Office Depot.
Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing - Toyota
Point Standings: 7th
Where has all the love for Denny gone? He is getting singled out for commenting on race conditions and people think that he is just plain whining about everything. Denny, take one for the team and stay in the back of the pack and keep your mouth closed for this weekend's party. A lot of drivers are going to be voicing their feelings about just anything and I don't want Denny to be involved. Denny has enough riding on his shoulders just trying to finish this 400 lap race. Four starts and nothing to show for his effort.
Track Stats
Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach, FL) - DIS
Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola
(Sister Restrictor Plate Tracks - Talladega)
Pepsi 400
(July 7, 2007)
Top 10 Results
1. Jamie McMurray
2. Kyle Busch
3. Kurt Busch
4. Carl Edwards
5. Jeff Gordon
6. Greg Biffle
7. Clint Bowyer
8. Matt Kenseth
9. Kasey Kahne
10. Jimmie Johnson
Daytona 500
(February 17, 2008)
Top 10 Results
1. Ryan Newman
2. Kurt Busch
3. Tony Stewart
4. Kyle Busch
5. Reed Sorenson
6. Elliott Sadler
7. Kasey Kahne
8. Robby Gordon
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
10. Greg Biffle
Reader Board
"Tony Stewart and Hendrick Motorsports; is that a possibility?"
Crystal - Ohio
There has been talk about Tony Stewart's new home and talk of Tony maybe teaming up with Dale Earnhardt Jr. to start their own Cup team. All that right now is speculation. Give the rumor mill some time to run its course and you will find out closer to the end of the season what Tony's intentions really are. I really don't think Hendrick Motorsports is in Tony's future though.
Post questions & comments to:
NASCARNATALIEANTHONY@yahoo.com
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr1')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Jermicheal Finley Says No Progress On Contract Yet
(2/3 11:45 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Finley is a free agent this offseason and there hasn't been any movement on a new contract. "Hey, it's the NFL," Finley said Friday. "With business right now, I don't even know what's going on. ...You just have to play that (waiting) game. It's the Green Bay way. "I don't know anything. I'll just hope for the best."
Diehards Line:
As Journal Sentinel staffer Tyler Dunne notes, if Finley does receive the franchise tag from the Packers, it's expected that he will seek to be classified as a wide receiver. An arbitrator would make that final call. The franchise tag number for wideouts will likely be around $9 million. This season, Finley had 55 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr2')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Report: Chiefs Going With Daboll As OC
(2/3 10:00 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the previous item. ... ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Chiefs hired former Dolphins assistant Brian Daboll as their offensive coordinator.
Diehards Line:
Daboll, most recently Miami's offensive coordinator, has a history with general manager Scott Pioli and he was selected over QBs coach Jim Zorn and former Raiders OC Al Saunders.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr3')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Report: Bills, Rian Lindell Agree To New Contract
(2/3 9:32 PM PT)
The Facts:
According to a league source, the Bills and Lindell have agreed on a contract that will keep him in Buffalo. Lindell was set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 13, but the two sides have hammered out an agreement.
Diehards Line:
Lindell has spent nine seasons as the kicker for Buffalo since arriving from the Seattle Seahawks. From 2003 to 2010, Lindell didn't miss a single game for Buffalo. It wasn't until this past season that he missed eight regular season games due to a shoulder injury. In his career in Buffalo, Lindell has connected on 204 field goals out of 246 attempts, a field goal percentage of nearly 83-percent. He's also missed only one extra point, that coming on a block against the Chicago Bears at the Rogers Centre in Toronto in 2010.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr4')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Super Bowl XLVI Injury Report; Final Edition
(2/3 4:25 PM PT)
The Facts:
Friday's final Super Bowl XLVI Injury/Status Report is now available for your review.
Diehards Line:
Under NFL rules, teams are only required to list if a player practiced or not until Friday. Then they must reveal the player's status for the game (out, doubtful, questionable, or probable). That information can now be accessed HERE.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr5')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Ryan: Sanchez, Holmes Have Talked; Hope To Meet Soon
(2/3 2:02 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on a previous item. ... Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes have talked by phone in an attempt to repair their relationship, and they're planning to meet soon for a kind of quarterback-wide receiver retreat. HC Rex Ryan told ESPN.com Friday that Sanchez and Holmes have discussed the possibility of taking an entire weekend to hash out their differences -- a couple's getaway, NFL style. "I'm not sure if they're going to or not, but that's something they mentioned," Ryan said. "I'm not sure where it would be or anything like that. I know they had mentioned that to me."
Diehards Line:
Ryan said he has spoken individually to Sanchez and Holmes, whose year-long rift became public at the end of the season. Asked if he planted the seed for the get-together, Ryan smiled and said, "I'm not going to take credit for that." Owner Woody Johnson revealed Thursday that he's planning to have dinner next week with Sanchez, and the team also has to make a final decision on Holmes' contract. If they wanted to cut him, they'd have to do it by Wednesday, according to a clause in the five-year, $45 contract he signed last summer. If he's still on the roster by Wednesday, his guaranteed money increases from $7.75 million to $15 million. Ryan, reiterating the team's public stance on Holmes, said there's no chance of him being released. "That's not going to happen," he said. ... We'll see.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr6')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Bradshaw, Nicks Listed As Probable For Super Bowl XLVI
(2/3 2:01 PM PT)
The Facts:
Ahmad Bradshaw didn't participate in practice Friday, the final session before Sunday's Super Bowl. Defensive back Tyler Sash and defensive end Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee) were limited. All three players are listed as probable, along with wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (shoulder), cornerback Corey Webster (hamstring) and linebacker Jacquian Williams (foot).
Diehards Line:
The absences came after HC Tom Coughlin had presented a rosy picture of his team's health while addressing the media Friday morning. "Everyone wants to be a part of it at this point in time," Coughlin had said. "No one wants to be someone who is not able to participate or be a part of this wonderful experience. We’ve had everyone on the practice field, and hopefully, thank God, it will be that way Sunday. ..." As NFL.com's Albert Bree notes, Bradshaw had participated in Wednesday's practice on a limited basis and was a full participant Thursday. It has not been unusual for Bradshaw to play in a game after missing a day or two of practice since he broke a bone in his foot during the regular season.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr7')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Irsay Releases (Another) Statement On Peyton Manning
(2/3 1:57 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Colts owner Jim Irsay released a statement on Friday. “Peyton Manning, Jim Irsay and the entire Colts family remain close and unified as we continue to work through all the options that relate to his future with the Colts,” the statement reads. “The present focus is on the Super Bowl and the great game that awaits.”
Diehards Line:
At the risk of sounding cyncial and mean-spirited, the words in the release don't match the actions either side have taken this week. The two sides appear to be using the enormous world-wide stage that comes with the Super Bowl being hosted in Indianapolis to gain some kind of media or public relations advantage in what appears to be the process of separating after a lengthy and mutually-beneficial relationship. And every time they say it's not so, it becomes even clearer that it is. ... We'll further suggest we'd expected more from both sides.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr8')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Gronkowski, Welker Listed As Questionable For Super Bowl XLVI
(2/3 1:13 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... TE Rob Gronkowski is listed as questionable on the team's final injury report. Gronkowski participated in Friday's hour-long walk-through. He practiced for the second straight day after being limited in practice on Thursday. The Patriots listed 10 other players as questionable, including safety Patrick Chung (knee), left guard Logan Mankins (knee), linebacker Brandon Spikes (knee) and wide receiver Wes Welker (knee).
Diehards Line:
All 11 players were listed as taking part in a limited portion of Friday's practice and Boston Herald staffer Ian Rapoport advised his readers that Gronkowski is likely to play, as will likely all of the questionable. "This is kind of like Saturday for us," said HC Bill Belichick. "We've had a little bit of extra time this week (to practice). I think we're ready to go. We've worked hard this week Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in practice, and we had good practices back (in Foxboro) last week. We went through some mental-review things out there (Friday). ..." Stay tuned. We'll be posting the full injury report for Sunday's game once it's released by the league office.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr9')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Matt Forte Says Intent Of Franchise Tag Will Determine His Approach
(2/3 12:36 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Matt Forte said he would be fine with the Chicago Bears using the franchise tag on him as long as it leads to a long-term deal and is not simply a tactic to keep him off the free-agent market for another season. "It depends on the motive of (the franchise tag)," Forte said Thursday. "If they are doing the franchise tag just to get more time in order to negotiate a long-term deal then I would be OK with it. But if it's just to hold me another year and just 'Let's throw some money at him right now to keep him quiet,' that's not going to solve anything."
Diehards Line:
Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said on Tuesday that the team has no intention of letting Forte become a free agent. Forte, who made his first Pro Bowl in the final year of his rookie contract, hopes that means an amenable resolution to a contract issue that has gone on since the lockout ended in July. Forte turned down a contract offer from the Bears before the season with $13 million to $14 million in guaranteed money, ESPN.com reported. Now with Phil Emery taking over for Jerry Angelo as Bears GM, Forte is hopeful an agreement can be reached. He said his agent has already spoken with Emery and expects to have more conversations in the next few days. Forte missed the final four games of the regular season after suffering a sprained right medial collateral ligament during the Bears' home loss to Kansas City on Dec. 4. He finished the season with 1,487 yards from scrimmage and returned to play in Sunday's Pro Bowl.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr10')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Chiefs Considering Daboll For OC Opening
(2/3 12:29 PM PT)
The Facts:
The Kansas City Chiefs are talking to Brian Daboll about their vacant offensive-coordinator position, according to a league source.
Diehards Line:
As previously noted, the Chiefs have also looked at Jim Zorn as an in-house candidate and have spoken to former Raiders coordinator Al Saunders, who has worked previously in Kansas City. Daboll, most recently Miami's offensive coordinator, has a history with general manager Scott Pioli and several executives expect him to be a top candidate for the job.
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