Rpz Center of the Universe

Lets get Indy out of the way first.

I am bummed that JPM didn't win, he had the best car all day and should have won. Do I think there is a conspiracy against him? NO, he just made a mistake, or rather the team did. Due to that mistake he was shuffled back to the top 15 where NO ONE could pass. When the Indy race was done, I was ready to make some changes to the car, it was sad the way no one could pass. Not sure if the tire situation from last year or this year the fact that we had a 43 car train was worse. It was boring! I was happy JJ won, and MM got second don't get me wrong, but it was pretty boring I have to say.

On to todays Pocono race, that I watched while working, luckily I was not traveling this week so I got to watch a good portion of it....WOW, is all I can say the double file restarts, Jimmy Johnson, Tony Stewart, etc.. Emotional win for Denny Hamlin, who really didn't want to be there, where to start.

Jimmy Johnson - You see this race is why they will be champions again. He was leading, had the best car, then something went amiss. Was it a sparkplug wire, was it the points, was it the carb, who knows. So while being as calm as you can be they started to work on it, Jimmy fell down one lap. Seems to have been fixed, but still not running up to full speed, so they work some more, and yes they fall 2 laps down. Still not right, so work some more now 3 laps down, toast right. WRONG, they eventually get it fixed and he is fast, and caution, he gets a lap back, bingo-bamo another wreck, he gets another lap back. See where this is going? You betcha, with less than 50 to go, there is another caution and low and behold JJ is on the lead lap. 20 to go, and he is fighting Jeff G for 12th (I thought at the time he was still a lap down, no way he got them all back. remember I was working ...Well there he was, battling for a top 10. He ultimately finished 13th or so, but talk about taking a bad day and making it great! This team is the best PERIOD.

Jeff Gordon - 8th place isn't bad, I would guess they were looking for a top 5. His car was definitely fast and at times it seemed the fastest, he just never had track position. Over all a good race, it could have ended much worse. He missed a couple wrecks and during some cautions he was mired deep in the field and had to drive aggressively to get back to the front, over all a good day.

Mark Martin - 7th place, that guy is just a rock. If his car doesn't break and he doesn't get caught up in a wreck you just know he will be there at the end. And as usual, you don't talk/see him much during the race, but at the end he is fighting for spots. Just your average 7th place (Great Points) day for Mark. Even though he fell in the standings, he is further infront of 12th now. His goal all along.

Dale Jr - hmmmmm, well yea... Uhhhh, sure... Hmmmmm yes he sucked again. The last stop for gas only did him in. Most the rest of the field had tires and he had AMP energy drink! He has a long way to go to get better, and I bet only a year to do it. 2010 he better step up to the plate, or.... I am not sure about his contract, but I can't see Mr H allowing this to go on for more than this year and next.

On to other things...

I read a story today that doctors are as busy as they have ever been. Wonder why? Well it's due to the fact people are trying to get in and see "Their" doctor before the GOV takes over health care. So hospitals are filling up, doctor offices are filling up, etc.. Just a sign of things to come I guess. Not too much different from the "Gun" scare, and you would stop in your neighborhood gun shop (those of us that are fortunate enough to live where you can get guns) and find the shelves empty of guns and ammo. What can you and I do about this, we can call/email/write our congressmen/women and tell them that we don't want this MASSIVE Health care Reform bill, it will only hurt us. It WILL tax the people that make less than 250K, it's the only way they can pay for it. And one lasting word of note, when was the last time any thing the GOV done good for us. They tell us BIG PHARMA is bad, they tell us BIG OIL is bad, they tell us BIG Phone Companies are bad, and yet we are supposed to let them run one of the most important things in our life? Hmmm not no, but HELL NO, we can stand up and say NO, it's OK.

Enough for now.

Rp3
www.twitter.com/rpwhite3

This past weekend I spent at a buddies house up in Denton, Texas. We have been Season Ticket holders to TMS (Texas Motor Speedway) since it's inception. This weekend was no different than all the others, a few less people of course, but it simply is this. I drive to Dallas Friday, we go to the truck race, get up early Sat eat breakfast, play golf, get back to his house, watch Belmont, eat dinner, load up cooler, head to TMS for IRL race get home about Midnight, wake up at 7AM, shower and head home.

That's it in a nutshell, now for some details and my thoughts on all the above.

Truck Race

It was a decent race, there were few cautions and as always with the trucks when there are not a lot of yellows to keep them bunched up, they really spread out. TMS is a 1.5 mile tri-oval so when you get the top truck running 180 or so and the back markers running 160 or so it doesn't take long for things to get real confusing. You pay more attention to the Scoring Pod (that tall thing with numbers on it) and listening to the PRN race broadcast than you do watching since your not really sure where the leaders are and then the 2nd, 3rd, and so on. It was nice to have Todd Bodine win in the Copart truck. Todd is a part champion who has struggled with sponsorship this year. Nice to see him with some writing on the quarter panel, and also to see him win for his new sponsor.

Now talking about Sponsorship woes, it was sad to see that today Johnny Benson, last years Champion, lost his ride. As Red Horse Racing was not able to find sponsorship for him and has to close the doors. I think they are going to keep the #11 TJ Bell team running, but I don't think they have 100% sponsor there either. These tough economic times suck for sure.

Golf

I simply played beyond my ability (as I haven't played in months at least) and shot a 84 and beat my buddy by 2. Needless to say, he wasn't happy. He lives on a golf course, we walked to the club house, and practices at least 3 times a week. While he is a good player I seem to on fire. I had 3 birdies, numerous pars, and plenty of bogeys, doubles, and maybe a triple in there too. All in all a great time, again i can't believe how well I played, makes me want to start playing again. Of course today my foot is killing me, but hey life goes on...

Belmont Stakes

First off I am no Horse race person, but my buddy is so I always watch a couple races a year, this one and the Kentucky of course. Well the favored horse/jockey didn't win, and the one I picked didn't win. Of course SummerBird won with the Jockey from last year who pulled up the horse that should have won. It was nice to see him win for that reason alone, as he got pummeled in the press, etc.. Kent Des....something... Also interesting to see the pre-race stories, the one about the jockey who was on the horse that was supposed to win was neat. Grew up only wanting to do one thing in the backwater swamps of LA. Ride horses, so he did, almost to the point of not being in school and being able to read or write... Amazing..

Ok enough for now, my take on the IRL race and Nascar race later this week...

Rp3
www.twitter.com/rpwhite3