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NASCAR Natalie
by Natalie Anthony
8/8/2007
Road Racing Righteousness and Repercussions
Centurion Boats at the Glen
Good thing Robby Gordon only got fined and put on probation for his semi-menacing acts at the Montreal race last Saturday in the Busch Series because as we all know, Robby is one of the better road course racers. I myself am not fluent in NASCAR rules and regulations, but I watched the race live on ESPN and I thought that he got a raw deal. Even with the controversy, you have to admit that with Robby Gordon’s actions, he did make the race more interesting. And given Robby’s past reputation, he is sure to excite the NASCAR community at least once a season (Remember the roll bar padding last season?). Robby Gordon has to watch his driving this weekend at Watkins Glen International (WGI) because one more mess up will land him suspended indefinitely. On a different kind of interesting topic, only 48 drivers are set to try to qualify for the race this weekend. Do the math and only 5 unlucky drivers will not make the field. My guess on the 5 who will be going home are, A.J. Allmendinger, Klaus Graf, Jeremy Mayfield, Kenny Wallace and maybe Ward Burton. All of the pre-mentioned drivers have a chance, but a small one. Lets see how qualify pays out on Friday.
Correction to last weekend’s article prediction, Kyle Busch will be taking over the #18 at Joe Gibbs Racing and not taking over the #8 at DEI/Ginn Racing. I guess Joe Gibbs feeds off of controversial, attitude-having drivers.
The Checkered Four
(Current point standings)
Jeff Gordon (1st) Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet – If you have used Jeff Gordon too many times this season for your Fantasy League, than shame on you. Well, I really can’t say that because no matter what race you pick Jeff for, I am sure you came out with a lot of points for your Fantasy Team. Well, this weekend will be no different. Jeff holds the record for the most wins (4) of the active driver roster at Watkins Glen and you should be looking for him to finish at least in the Top 5 or better.
Ricky Rudd (26th) Yates Newman Haas Lanigan Racing – Ford – I don’t usually put a driver that is pretty much driving after their prime in my Top 4 unless it is Mark Martin, but I have a good feeling about Ricky this weekend. He might be a little rusty, no phun to the eldest Wallace retired driver, but I think that he has gotten his proverbial engines well oiled and might give us a great show on Sunday. Ricky does have 2 wins at Watkins Glen and averages a Top 10 finish about half the time. Last time out he raced here he finished 16th in 2005, so he is totally due for his next Top 10.
Tony Stewart (5th) Joe Gibbs Racing – Chevrolet – The great thing about Tony is he is a late bloomer. If you have been following him for the last 2 season you pretty much know when to expect him to put the pedal to the metal. This road course will give him another chance to prove his worth and solidify his spot in the chase for the Nextel Cup. No more worries for him like last season, Tony is in and there is nothing any other driver can do about it. Tony has engraved his driving ability in the groves at WGI by securing 3 wins, 4 Top 5’s and 6 Top 10’s out of 8 starts.
Juan Pablo Montoya (18th) Chip Ganassi/Sabates Racing – Dodge – Juan has never run at Watkins Glen, but with his past success at Mexico and how well everybody knows he runs at road courses, you have a sure fit for Juan in your Fantasy League. His teammates just need to watch their back end when the laps start getting short.
Underdogs
(Current point standings)
Robby Gordon (29th) Robby Gordon Motorsports – Ford – Robby is here because not only is he known for his road course racing ability, but due to last weekend’s misconduct at Montreal, he is looking to prove that he can win a road course all on his own without the controversy of a dual donut competition with Kevin Harvick. Robby has raced at WGI only a mere 8 times and has come out with 6 Top 5’s and 6 Top 10’s.
Boris Said (50th) No Fear Racing – Ford – Boris is synonymous will road course racing. If there is a race with more than 4 turns, you bet that Boris will be driving in it. Lucky for Boris, this race at WGI has 11 turns and he will be spending his time driving in the Top 5 the entire 90 laps.
Most likely to be a lap down
(Current point standings)
Kurt Busch (12th) Penske Racing – Dodge – Thank goodness that Kurt got his first win this season last weekend at Pocono because this weekend is going to put him back in 13th place in points for the chase for the Nextel Cup. I hate to say it, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. runs better on road courses and will be getting the 12th place in points back from Kurt. During the last race at WGI Dale Jr. finished one spot better (18th) than the older Busch brother and that will be all Dale needs to be back on the bubble. Look at last weekend’s finish, one spot is all the guys on the bubble in contention for the chase need to get in.
Greg Biffle (16th) Roush Fenway Racing – Ford – I really feel for the guy. Greg, if any other driver really does give his all when he is on the track. It seems like he is adapting to the Matt Kenseth way of driving. Greg does however have a problem with learning the turns on a road course. Greg will definitely be a lap down at WGI, because every time he has been here he has finished in the Top 30 or worse.
Track Stats
Watkins Glen International (Watkins Glen, NY)
Centurion Boats at the Glen (90 Laps)
August 12, 2007 (Sunday) – 2:00 pm – ESPN
(Sister Road Courses – Infineon Raceway)
AMD at the Glen
(August 13, 2006)
Top 10 Results
1. Kevin Harvick
2. Tony Stewart
3. Jamie McMurray
4. Robby Gordon
5. Carl Edwards
6. Scott Pruett
7. Elliott Sadler
8. Ryan Newman
9. Kyle Busch
10. Denny Hamlin
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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">Tom Brady Says He's Never Felt Better Throwing The Ball
(5/21 12:13 AM PT)
The Facts:
In the four seasons since returning from his 2008 knee injury, Brady has averaged 34 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 4,590 yards and a 102.9 quarterback rating. The 35-year-old, however, said he feels better about his passing ability now than he ever has. "Going into my 14th year, I have never had more confidence in how I am throwing the football," Brady told Sports Illustrated's Peter King. "I've never felt better throwing the football."
Diehards Line:
The eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback said his extra confidence entering the 2013 season is a result of how his mechanics have improved this offseason. After long-time quarterback coach Tom Martinez died 15 months ago, Brady took up with former major league pitcher-turned-quarterback-tutor Tom House. "The same way Tom Martinez was always there to watch and give me corrections, Tom House has told me why certain corrections need to be made," Brady said. "Look at a baseball swing and a golf swing. It's all mechanics. ... When you've got to fit it into the tightest windows, mechanics are crucial. And to me, the offseason is crucial. If you make a throw within four feet, that's not going to be good enough. You have to make the throw within four inches of your target. That's good enough. And that's why the mechanics you adjust and learn in the offseason are important. You're going to keep them during the season. ..." Nothing like a guy who focuses that intently on doing his job well.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr2')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Decision On Rob Gronkowski's back Coming
(5/21 12:12 AM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Gronkowski came out of surgery Monday with good news for the New England Patriots. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that the star tight end had new plates put into his troublesome left forearm and doctors have determined the infection in the arm is gone, according to a source. No further surgery is planned at this time.
Diehards Line:
There's now hope that Gronkowski can be ready for the start of training camp. If the infection had not cleared, Gronkowski would've been heading for a fifth surgery that would've put his available for the start of the season in doubt. Now, as NFL.com's Dan Hanzus notes, the team can turn its focus to Gronkowski's other issue -- chronic back pain. Gronkowski recently underwent an MRI to determine the severity of the injury and will see spine specialist Robert Watkins in three to four weeks to see of back surgery is necessary. The team is hoping the back issue can be treated without surgery and the rehab process can be concurrent with the forearm. As Hanzus summed up: "Gronk isn't in the clear by any stretch, but Monday was a positive development in the Patriots' hope they have their star on the field by Week 1."
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr3')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Calvin Johnson Confirms He Played With Broken Fingers
(5/21 12:10 AM PT)
The Facts:
Johnson played last season through the haze of constant double teams and face-to-face attention from the league's most rugged defenders. We also know he played through pain. Megatron on Monday confirmed to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News that he suited up for most of last season with three broken fingers.
Diehards Line:
There was speculation during the campaign that his fingers were damaged when they were seen wrapped in bandages. Now we know. Johnson said no surgery is needed, but he's still trying to straighten out the fingers. Johnson appeared in all 16 games despite a banged-up left knee and troubled ankles. He also confessed toiling through a concussion and nerve damage. The Lions denied that, and Megatron later tempered those claims. Of course, as NFL.com pointed out, with injuries that would have left lesser men floored, Johnson didn't skip a beat and led the NFL with 122 catches for 1,964 yards. His toughness is not up for debate.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr4')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Vincent Brown's Return Remains On Track
(5/21 12:06 AM PT)
The Facts:
Brown says his ankle is back to normal. Eventually, his workload will follow. The Chargers are taking things slow on the practice field with their third-year wide receiver. Sidelined for all of 2012 with a broken left ankle, he's mostly been limited to mental reps during team drills at organized team activities, sporadically mixing in with the third- or second-team offense. "Being back and running around out here, I feel like a 10-year-old kid again, running around, catching balls," Brown said. "I'm just happy to be back."
Diehards Line:
The Chargers are in their second week of OTAs. After individual drills, Brown spent most of his Monday morning as he did last week, processing the new offense while players like Robert Meachem and occasionally Dan DePalma worked with the second team. Malcom Floyd and Danario Alexander are seeing first-team reps on the outside with Eddie Royal in the slot. While Brown said Monday his ankle is "100 percent," he acknowledged respect for the process. He expects to be full-go come training camp. ... If so, don't be surprised if he emerges as a primary weapon.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr5')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Alex Smith Getting To Run The Pistol In KC
(5/21 12:05 AM PT)
The Facts:
The hiring of pistol formation guru Chris Ault as a consultant seemed to signal the Chiefs would incorporate some of that offense into their plans and, sure enough, they ran a handful of plays from the pistol in Thursday’s practice. Option plays are part of the pistol, which would mean Smith would be asked to use his legs as well as his arm.
Diehards Line:
As Star staffer Adam Teicher advised readers, don’t forget that Smith was featured as a runner in college while playing in Urban Meyer’s offense at Utah. Of course, the 49ers traded Smith away after Colin Kaepernick rose to prominence as a double-threat signal-caller who -- like Robert Griffin III -- killed defenses out of the pistol. As NFL.com's Marc Sessler pointed out, Smith is no Kaepernick when it comes to scampering free, but he's shown he can take off with the ball, and that might happen more than expected. Still, Sessler added, "too much talk of the Pistol focuses on the quarterback: The real winner here is running back Jamaal Charles." We agree.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr6')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Schiano: Josh Freeman Is Bucs Starting QB
(5/21 12:04 AM PT)
The Facts:
One day after HC Greg Schiano was quoted saying that rookie Mike Glennon could "play quickly" if necessary, Schiano tried to leave no doubt about his brewing quarterback "battle." "We have a starting quarterback and it is Josh Freeman," Schiano said Monday at his press conference after the team's first organized team activity.
Diehards Line:
Schiano addressed the issue to the team, telling them he believes in Freeman but he also believes in competition. Schiano says he doesn't think it bothers Freeman at all because Freeman knows it's "his team. ..." We tend to agree with NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal, who contends that all of the competition talk in Tampa is overblown. Schiano is sending a message to Freeman about the hold on his job, but it's not like there's any reason to believe Glennon will be in the same ballpark as Freeman as an NFL quarterback. Glennon arrives in the NFL with a lot to learn, just like Freeman did four years ago. Glennon can't close the gap during the offseason. In the meantime, it might be helpful if Schiano chose his words more carefully. Apparently the transition from college to pro is as much a learning process for coaches as it is for players.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr7')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Josh Portis Faces DUI Charges
(5/21 12:03 AM PT)
The Facts:
Portis will be arraigned May 28 for driving while intoxicated, after being arrested on May 5. A report from the Washington State Patrol says the officer noticed “a strong odor of intoxicants coming from the vehicle” and that the driver “had watery bloodshoot eyes.” Portis later submitted to two breath tests and registered blood alcohol concentration readings of .092 and .078. The legal limit in the state of Washington is .080. He was charged with a gross misdemeanor.
Diehards Line:
Portis is expected to compete with Brady Quinn and Jerrod Johnson for the backup job behind Russell Wilson. Johnson had a solid showing at the rookie mini-camp two weeks ago. Portis was re-signed by the Seahawks in April to a two-year contract with a base salary of $480,000 in 2013. He spent all of the 2011 season on the team’s roster, and spent 12 weeks last year on the practice squad before being released in November. He has yet to play in a regular season game. According to the Times, the Seahawks and Portis’ representatives had no comment Monday.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr8')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Chad Johnson Arrested
(5/21 12:02 AM PT)
The Facts:
NFL.com confirmed last Thursday that a warrant was issued for the arrest of former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson after he allegedly violated several terms of his probation. On Monday, Johnson turned himself in. The Broward Sheriff's office told NFL.com that Johnson turned himself in at courthouse Monday. Court documents confirm that Johnson indeed was arrested.
Diehards Line:
Johnson's bail was set at $1,000, and NFL.com was told by Broward officials that Johnson's intent was to post bond and be released. The Los Angeles Times reported Johnson's next hearing is set for June 3. The sheriff's office confirmed last week that Johnson failed to meet with probation specialists on Feb. 15 and March 15. Johnson also failed to show proof of enrollment and completion of the "Batterers Intervention Program." The probation stemmed from when Johnson was charged with domestic battery on his then-wife, Evelyn Lozada, on Aug. 11, 2012.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr9')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Report: Rob Gronkowski Out Of Surgery; No Infection; New Plate Installed
(5/20 4:52 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Gronkowski had a new plate installed in his arm on Monday, and the surgery has been completed, PFT has learned.
Diehards Line:
Also, the arm infection Gronkowski has dealt with of late has cleared, PFT has learned. Recent reports had indicated the infection appeared to be going away. Now, it’s officially gone, good news for the 24-year-old star tight end in his quest to finally completely recover from this nagging arm injury. ... Stay tuned. More undoubtedly to come.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr10')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">LeSean McCoy Slowed By Minor Knee Discomfort
(5/20 2:18 PM PT)
The Facts:
The media was allowed to watch the Eagles OTA on Monday, which meant there were plenty of eyes on McCoy as he left the field before the end of practice. Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com reports that McCoy left the field to have his knee examined on the sideline and did not return to the field before the session came to an end.
Diehards Line:
According to Mosher, McCoy did not appear to be seriously injured and Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer got the same impression when he spoke to McCoy briefly as the running back went to lunch. So, if the initial read is correct, this is something that will be soon forgotten. And if it's not, we'll be following up.
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