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NASCAR Natalie
Turn 4 Transitions
by Natalie Anthony
8/14/2008
3M Performance 400
August 17, 2008 (Sunday) - 2:20 pm (ET) - TNT
Announcement of an Announcement
Why do NASCAR teams feel it is important to announce the future announcement of a decision that was made in their organization? Announcing the announcement just did all the work for you and now you don't need that extra press hearing at the end of the week to repeat the same thing you just said. Is it redundancy or responsibility to the public to make sure that we are clear on their intentions?
It's also funny too that most speculation about the future of drivers or team members or sponsors is pretty much true from the first rumor. You hear a lot of people saying that they don't wish to comment because nothing has been discussed so far or things aren't finalized and they haven't made that announcement of an announcement, but the reality is already apparent to the rest of the NASCAR world. So if a rumor is going around that Casey Mears is looking at going to Childress next year, then he probably is and there should be no questions about it, just an announcement.
Front Line Finishers
Carl Edwards
Roush Fenway Racing Motorsports - Ford
Point Standings: 2nd
By the division of wins alone, Carl (4 wins) is half as good at Kyle Busch (8 wins). Carl just might reduce that division by one and be 62.5% as good as Kyle this Sunday because Carl is Michigan's leader for best average finish by averaging a 7th place finish out of the 8 races he has completed in the Motor City. Carl backs that up with finishing 7th the last two times he raced at the D-shaped track.
Jimmie Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 3rd
It seems like the wins Jimmie has earned this season were some of the hardest he has ever had to do. If Jimmie does win this Sunday, then he will definitely have his work cut out for him. Jimmie runs well at MIS, but not consistently enough to consider him for a race winner. Jimmie has raced at the two mile track 13 times and has been denied a win for nearly seven years.
Tony Stewart
Joe Gibbs Racing - Toyota
Point Standings: 7th
Tony said he was very happy with finishing 2nd to his Joe Gibbs teammate Kyle Busch last weekend at The Glen, but who doesn't want to win every race. Tony might not take the checkered again this weekend, but if he is happy with being a runner up, then that is just what he may be on Sunday. Tony finished in the Top 10 for the races this June and in August of last year.
Matt Kenseth
Roush Fenway Racing Motorsports - Ford
Point Standings: 12th
If I were asked to guess the winner of the race this Sunday and put a little money on it, it would be Matt Kenseth. I don't usually bet with my hard earned income, but Matt is so much of a sure thing that I am willing to put a few dollars on his chance of winning. Matt has two wins already at MIS and an impressive 8 Top 5's and 12 Top 10's.
Matt's last two races at Michigan left him in the Top 5.
Last Lap Challengers
Martin Truex Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Incorporated - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 16th
It was a toss up between Martin and David Ragan for one of the spots in the last lap challengers category, but Martin has raced at MIS two more times than David and has two Top 5's and two Top 10's out of five starts. He finished 2nd in the August race last season.
Brian Vickers
Red Bull Racing - Toyota
Point Standings: 17th
Brian hasn't been making too many headlines lately, but with two Top 10 finishes in the last two races at Michigan, he will be making some news on Sunday.
Bottom 35 Feeders
Juan Pablo Montoya
Chip Ganassi Racing - Dodge
Point Standings: 22nd
Juan does have some road course skills, but Michigan International Speedway covers only two miles and has only 4 turns. Juan has attempted to perform well at MIS three times so far but he can't finish any better than 26th.
Clint Bowyer
Richard Childress Racing - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 13th
Back in June at MIS, Clint was a contender for the chase and now he is 22 points out of the Top 12. It doesn't look like Clint will be making his way back into the chase this Sunday. Clint's best finish out of five attempts at Michigan is 16th last August.
Track Stats
Michigan International Speedway (Brooklyn, MI) - MIS
3M Performance 400
(Sister Tracks - Lowe's, California, Texas, Kansas
Dover, Chicagoland, Homestead-Miami, Darlington, & Atlanta)
3M Performance
(August 21, 2007)
Top 10 Results
1. Kurt Busch
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Denny Hamlin
6. Dave Blaney
7. Carl Edwards
8. Brian Vickers
9. Bobby Labonte
10. Tony Stewart
LifeLock 400
(June 15, 2008)
Top 10 Results
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Matt Kenseth
4. Brian Vickers
5. Tony Stewart
6. Jimmie Johnson
7. Carl Edwards
8. David Ragan
9. Elliott Sadler
10. Jamie McMurray
Reader Board
"How many points does a driver get for wins when the chase starts?"
Ayden - Iowa
A driver is awarded 10 points for every win they acquire during the 26 races before the chase. If you do the math, Kyle Busch is already 80 points ahead.
-NASCAR Natalie
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">JaMarcus Russell Reports To Work
(3/16 12:38 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on an ongoing story. ... Russell is on site and particpating in the Raiders’ offseason program, the club confirmed without any other comment.
Diehards Line:
The Raiders have no plans to make Russell available to the media, so there won’t be any opportunity to see if the weight loss alluded to be director of player development Willie Brown is obvious to a casual observer. ESPN insider Adam Schefter, however, is comfirming the previously reported weight loss -- and a new throwing motion. ... Stay tuned.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr2')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Spencer Havner Dealing With Post-Accident Injuries, Issues
(3/16 12:36 PM PT)
The Facts:
Havner, who scored four touchdowns on only seven catches during the 2009 regular season -- and one touchdown on two catches in a playoff loss at Arizona -- recently was arrested for DUI in California after crashing a motorcycle.
Diehards Line:
According to TheUnion.com, Havner lost control of a motorcycle, fracturing a scapula and suffering cuts to the back of his head and left arm. He was not wearing a helmet. ... As for the legal issues, Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that while Havner was arrested, the prosecutor will have to decide whether to pursue charges. ... More as the story plays out.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr3')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">JaMarcus Russell Getting In Shape?
(3/16 9:55 AM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on a previous item. ... Raiders director of squad development Willie Brown said on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area Monday that Russell has undergone a transformation in the offseason and wasn’t present at the first day of the offseason program tending to personal business. "He’ll be back in town today and ready to go (Tuesday),” Brown said.
Diehards Line:
Brown went on to say the QB has been in Phoenix getting in shape, a long-running rumor neither the Raiders nor Russell’s agents would confirm. “You’ll be surprised when you see him,” Brown said. “It’s quite a bit of weight that he’s lost. ... I don’t want to pin it down and say how much he lost but it will be a significant difference when you see him compared to last year." Stay tuned.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr4')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Bo Scaife Signs Titans Tender Offer
(3/16 9:46 AM PT)
The Facts:
Adam Schefter of ESPN tweeted, and PFT has separately confirmed, that Scaife signed his tender, giving him a one-year deal with the team for a guaranteed salary of $4,908,200.
Diehards Line:
As a fifth-year player, Scaife is one of the free agents who would have been unrestricted in a normal year but were instead restricted in the uncapped 2010. That allowed the Titans to tender him at 110 percent of his 2009 salary, rather than the franchise level, which would have been $5.9 million. The Titans franchised Scaife last year, and he signed the tender. ... In 2009 Scaife played in 14 games, starting 10, and caught 45 passes for 440 yards.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr5')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Brett Favre Tried To Help Vikings Recruit LT
(3/15 8:26 PM PT)
The Facts:
Favre hasn't announced his intentions about playing in 2010, but we came across what appears to be a gigantic clue that he'll be back. That clue is this: A source familiar with the Vikings situation told Newsday's Bob Glauber that Favre was heavily involved in the recruitment process late last week for RB LaDainian Tomlinson.
Diehards Line:
According to Glauber, it is believed that Favre spoke to Tomlinson by phone and while recruiting effort ultimately came up short, Profootballtalk.com's Michael David Smith correctly suggests if Favre is actively trying to recruit players for the Vikings' 2010 roster, that's a pretty big clue that Favre himself plans to be on the Vikings' 2010 roster. ... Not that we should expect an announcement or official confirmation any time soon.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr6')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Marc Bulger Shows Up For Off-Season Workouts
(3/15 8:24 PM PT)
The Facts:
Bulger’s future in St. Louis may be tenuous at best, but he remains under contract with the Rams. As such, he was among the Rams’ players on hand Monday for the start of the team’s off-season conditioning program.
Diehards Line:
Per the Post-Dispatch, the turnout Monday was good. Among the notable absences was running back Steven Jackson, but he was at Rams Park all of last week. ... Getting back to Bulger, all indications are the veteran signal caller will be moving on. But it doesn't look like he's ready to do anything to force management's hand.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr7')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Seahawks Sign WR Ruvell Martin
(3/15 8:21 PM PT)
The Facts:
Martin, who has a background with Seahawks general manager John Schneider from three seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 2006-08, signed a one-year deal with the team.
Diehards Line:
Martin, 27, played eight games for the St. Louis Rams in 2009 and caught six passes for 99 yards, including two for 60 yards against the Seahawks in a 27-17 Seattle win on Nov. 29. The 6-4, 220-pounder has 58 career receptions for 848 yards and six touchdowns in his NFL career. Martin's best season for Green Bay came as a rookie in 2006 when he pulled in 21 passes for 358 yards, including seven catches of 20 or more yards.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr8')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">JaMarcus Russell Absent As Raiders Get To Work
(3/15 1:48 PM PT)
The Facts:
The Raiders kicked off offseason voluntary workouts today at team headquarters. No visible sign of Russell, though.Several players who have been at the facility for weeks said they have not seen the former No. 1 overall draft pick. When asked if he'll show today, one starter laughed and said "That's a horror show." Another starter said "don't hold your breath."
Diehards Line:
Meanwhile, fellow QBs Charlie Frye showed up, saying he signed his original draft pick tender. Bruce Gradkowski has been there all along, rehabbing his knees and preparing to compete for the starting job. ... For what it's worth, Russell did show up for last year's off-season program a week after it started. And it should also be noted that the workouts are voluntary.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr9')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Broncos Release Chris Simms
(3/15 12:47 PM PT)
The Facts:
According to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, Simms has been released.
Diehards Line:
With Brady Quinn now under contract at a base salary of only $700,000, the Broncos were able to part ways with Simms, who was last season's primary backup. Simms was due to earn a base salary of $2.54 million in 2010. Last year, he earned $1.96 million. The move leaves the Broncos with three QBs under contract: Kyle Orton, Quinn, and Tom Brandstater. ... For what it's worth, ESPN insider Adam Schefter suggests that Brandstater might be the best long-term prospect of the group.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr10')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Ben Roethlisberger Absent For Start Of Workouts
(3/15 10:04 AM PT)
The Facts:
The Steelers started offseason workouts today and there is one notable absence. Roethlisberger is not working out with his teammates and is not at the Steelers' practice facility.
Diehards Line:
Roethlisberger has stayed out of sight since getting accused of sexual assault in Milledgeville, Ga. It's not clear if the decision to stay away is exclusively Roethlisberger's. The QB has met with team officials, who are said to be very disappointed with the situations he finds himself in. It would't be terribly surprising to learn all involved are on board with the absence as part of an effort to avoid distraction.
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