Your NASCAR Texas Vent Page
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
In winning the Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday night Matt Kenseth snapped a 76 race winless streak. The No. 17 driver had not visited Victory Lane since the 2009 Spring race at Auto Club Speedway.
“Yeah, it feels good to get back to Victory Lane,” said Kenseth. “It’s been a long time. It feels good to have a night like we had tonight with a dominant car and to be able to get the win.”
Clint Bowyer was 2nd and Carl Edwards drove his No. 99 Ford to a 3rd place finish despite suffering from an upset stomach, which he blamed on his mother’s cooking.
“What did you eat last night,” asked fellow driver Clint Bowyer.
“My mom made a little dish,” said Edwards. “I don’t think one of the ingredients was bad. I think it might have been her first attempt at it.”
“I’ll cook for you next week,” said Bowyer slyly. But I would strongly advise Carl Edwards against it.
Tony Stewart may have had a shot to beat Kenseth when no one else did. Stewart had the edge on gas mileage thanks to being off-sequence on pit stops from the leaders. But a pit road speeding penalty on his final pit-stop took Stewart out of contention. Without the penalty all Stewart would have had to do was conserve a half a lap of fuel and the race would have been his.
Dale Earnhardt Jr was the most improved drive r in this race. Starting 28th and finishing 9th.
Earnhardt and his crew chief Steve Letarte have figured out how to communicate and improve the race car during the race.
So now it’s your turn. Have your say and leave your comments. What did you think about Kenseth’s win? Is the No. 88 team really showing improvement? And will Carl Edwards’ Mother be making him dinner any time soon after he made those comments?
Kyle Busch Has One Coming
Photo courtesy NASCAR Media
Has Kyle Busch has just been crowned the new King of Bristol? With his victory in the Jeff Byrd 500 Sunday he has won the past 5 NASCAR events there across all 3 series at the Tennessee track: Cup, Nationwide and Truck.
After the race Kyle Busch had some comments for the fans who were booing him during driver introductions – and whether he could ever change the way they felt about him.
“I don’t know about the fans. I don’t know if it’s that easy to change opinion sometimes,” said Busch. “It’s definitely fun to have a good attitude about things and to come into this weekend and have good results, good success out of it.”
When asked why he seemed a little more thoughtful and laid back this year Kyle laughed and responded “what are you talking about.” Team general manager J.D. Gibbs simply pointed to Kyle’s new wedding ring.
Carl Edwards felt he could have won the race if he had paid Kyle back for an incident at Phoenix with a harder hit at the end.
“When he got to me that one time, I’m like, oh, man. That was your shot, so nice try,” said Busch of Edwards attempt at the bump and run. He didn’t get it done. I thought, Man, if I could just get away from him, I wouldn’t have to worry. Concentrate, get going.
“It didn’t happen. Just basically ’cause you buckle in and you try to wrench down, get going, get gone. Fortunately I was able to do that. Sometimes you can’t. Sometimes you get passed and you lose ‘em late in the going. That would have been ultimately frustrating. Somehow I got back on the horse and rode it home.”
Carl Edwards said he still owes Kyle Busch one from Phoenix, so keep an eye on those two. But Busch doesn’t know what all the fuss is about.
“I have no idea what I’m owed from, so you’ll have to ask Carl,” said Kyle, who seemingly had no memory of a previous run-in. “Normally when it’s against you, you’ll always remember it forever. I don’t remember what I did that made him mad.”
“Carl says what Carl says. I don’t know. Apparently I have one coming. When and where it comes I do not know. I would say the same thing if I owed somebody else something, that I still owed him. When and where it comes is more to you than the other guy, so…”
Dale Earnhardt Jr proved the No. 88 team can make improvements and advance during the race. After starting 22nd Earnhardt managed an 11tth place finish and was visibly upset that he didn’t get a top ten, citing a late race pit road speeding penalty. Maybe the Dale Jr era isn’t over after all.
What does Dale Jr attribute it to? “It is hard to really point to and put a finger on it right now, “according to Dale Jr. “He just does a good job of keeping me calm and keeping me focused on trying to do good,” said Earnhardt of his new crew chief Steve Letarte.
Here’s your chance to vent, rant or cheer. What do you think about Kyle’s win, the feud with Carl or Dale Earnhardt Jr’s improving fortunes this year.
How One Small Mistake Costs Tony Stewart Vegas Win
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
You may want to vent. You may want to cheer. But here’s your chance to have your say on the Kobalt Tools 400 in Las Vegas.
Tony Stewart looked to be the driver to beat as the laps wound down. But as the race ended he could only wonder how he lost the race to Carl Edwards.
It was pit strategy that won Carl Edwards the race. Edwards took just 2 tires on the final pit stop while Stewart’s crew chief Darian Grubb was forced to take 4, having took only 2 on the previous stop.
The quick stop put Edwards in the lead and he never looked back.
What really cost Stewart the win was a penalty mid-race for leaving his pit with an air gun. That put him far back in the field and led to the decision him to take only 2 tires on the second to last pit stop in order to make up ground. This meant that on the final pit stop Edwards had the option of 2 tires or 4. Stewart had no options.
Dale Earnhardt Jr had a fast car for short runs, but was not so good on longer runs. He was faster than eventual winner Carl Edwards at one point late in the race, easily passing Edwards’ No. 99 Ford. But was unable to maintain the speed as the race progressed.
There was definitely an issue with the Goodyear tires today, with several drivers including last week’s winner Jeff Gordon and points leader Kyle Busch crashing due to blown tires.
Some teams are still trying to get the hang of the new self-venting fuel cans. Greg Biffle had more than one problem getting fuel in his No. 16 Ford. At one point the fuel man even dropped the can trying to fuel the car.
So whether you want to cheer or whether you need to vent here’s your chance. Have your say on the Kobalt Tools 400.
Carl Edwards Joins Fans After Win
Following his win in the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix Sunday Carl Edwards performed his signature back flip. Then he did something totally unexpected. Edwards grabbed the checkered flag and darted through a gate in the catchfence celebrating with the fans.
I don’t know who was more shocked – the race fans who quickly mobbed Edwards, or the security detail who had to get him back into the infield,
Talk about saluting the fans. That was a pretty classy move on Carl Edwards’ part.
The win ended a 70 race drought for Carl Edwards.
Denny Hamlin led the most laps but had to pit for fuel with 14 laps to go dropping him to a 12th Place finish. Still Hamlin left with a 15 point lead in the Championship standings heading into the final race at Homestead.
With just one race remaining in the 2010 NASCAR season the Championship comes down to a final race shootout between Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick.
Want are your thoughts on today’s race – and who are you picking to win the Championship?
NASCAR Is Too Easy on Carl Edwards
NASCAR penalized Carl Edwards 60 Championship Points and placed him on probation until December 31, 2010 for knocking Brad Keselowski into the wall and causing 9 other drivers to wreck on the last lap at Gateway International Raceway Saturday Night.
Edwards was also fined $25,000.
After Edwards took the checkered flag he admitted that he intentionally dumped Keselowski in order to collect the win.
Probation and a 60 point penalty did not go nearly far enough. NASCAR should have parked Carl Edwards for a minimum of one week. And that includes Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series racing.
This was the second serious crash Edwards has intentionally caused this year. Does someone have to be seriously injured or killed before NASCAR parks Carl Edwards?
Edwards needs to sit at home for a while.
NASCAR added insult to injury by placing Brad Keselowski on probation alongside Edwards. But Keselowski was not penalized with points or fines.
NASCAR, why would you put a driver on probation for being wrecked on purpose?
When Edwards turned Brad Keselowski sideways Saturday night and Kieslowski’s car was nailed at high speed one man said “Don’t kill my boy!â€
That man has 87 NASCAR racing starts. He is also Brad Kieslowski’s father, Bob.
Bob Keselowski has threatened to dust off his firesuit and take care of Edwards himself. I don’t think he will have to. Someone will put Carl Edwards in his place soon enough
Who do you think will take care of Carl Edwards first?
Is wrecking someone for the win okay in NASCAR?
Carl Edwards thinks so. Edwards was running 2nd when he intentionally caused a 10 car crash on the final lap just before the finish line.
Brad Keselowski had the lead coming to the checkered flag at Gateway Saturday night when Carl Edwards hooked the rear of Brad Keselowski’s No. 22 Dodge — on purpose — just a few yards from the finish line.
Edwards move sent Keselowski hard into the wall before bouncing back into the racing groove where the No. 22 car slammed into him like a freight train.
10 cars were involved in the last lap melee caused by an over-eager driver who hadn’t seen Victory Lane in a while. That was a pure desperation move by Carl Edwards.
That kind of racing was not what NASCAR had in mind when they said “have at it boys, and have a good time.â€
Some people say that what Carl Edwards did was jus Saturday night short-track racing. Well let me tell you something. When somebody pulls a move like that at a Saturday night race at a local track they don’t get away with it for very long. Usually they don’t get out of the track in one piece – and when they show up to race again someone usually takes care of it, especially when you wreck 10 cars.
This is not the first time Edwards has intentionally wrecked Keselowski. But this time there were 9 other drivers involved. Last time Edwards was immediately parked, but so far no response from NASCAR on the latest incident.
Carl Edwards is supposed to be one of the 43 best race car drivers in the world. So why does he have to intentionally wreck Brad Keselowski to win the race?
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
Park Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards Should be Parked for Intentionally Wrecking Brad Keselowski
With 3 laps to go Brad Keselowski was running in 6th place Sunday afternoon at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Carl Edwards was running 39th. That’s when Carl Edwards intentionally made a hard right turn into the left rear of Keselowski’s Dodge sending Keselowski into a flying spin and a hard landing on his roof.
“It looked like it could have been a payback from the No. 99 on the No. 12, said NASCAR’s vice-president of competition Robin Pemberton. “We talked with Carl after the race and we have an understanding about it and we will talk internally again as a group Monday or Tuesday of this week and make any decision on if there will be any other actions that we will take.â€
When NASCAR Chairman Brian France told drivers earlier this year that NASCAR “is a contact sport”, he was definitely not not sending a message that it was okay to intentionally wreck another driver at the end of a race.
Hard racing does not mean you can take out another driver. Especially when you are 156 laps down, like Edwards was.
Keselowski could have been seriously injured or killed in the crash. The roof of his car was caved in on both sides, and the A pillar, the post in front of the driver that supports the roof, was severely damaged.
The flying car of Keselowski didn’t miss the catchfence by much. Edwards put the fans safety in danger as well.
Carl Edwards was parked following the incident, but since he was already 156 laps down his finishing position wasn’t affected. He has not been punished at all yet.
So will NASCAR park Edwards? “We’ll let you know either Monday or Tuesday. We’ll meet as we normally do the first of the week at the R&D Center as a group,†said Robin Pemberton
After the wreck Carl Edwards said “People gotta have respect for one another, and I have a lot of respect for people’s safety.†Well Carl, all I can say is your actions speak louder than your words.
What’s more, Edwards may have affected the outcome of the race. Kurt Busch was leading at the time of the wreck, but Juan Pablo Montoya was closing. Would Montoya have caught Busch if Edwards had not caused the caution? We’ll never know. But we don’t need an intentional wreck at any time – especially with 3 laps to go.
I say park Edwards for a race. Carl, don’t even bother showing up at Bristol. You can watch the race at home on TV.
What do you say?
Homestead Post Race Show
Have Your Say on Homestead
Photo courtesy Hendrick Motorsports
Share your opinion on Jimmie Johnson’s championship and Carl Edwards’ win
If anybody had any doubt who was going to win the championship Jimmie Johnson just erased it.
Congratulations to Jimmie on the 2008 Sprint Cup Championship, and congratulations to Carl Edwards for the win at Homestead.
Now for the bad news — the NASCAR season is over. But, on the bright side — only 90 more days until the Daytona 500.
For all the Jr. Nation fans out there — tough luck on the broken brake rotor. But more good news, did I mention the next race is Daytona?
Carl Edwards did everything in his power over the final 5 races, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Jimmie Johnson.. Edwards had 3 wins and 5 top fives in the last 5 races.
Fords haven’t always got the best gas mileage, but Carl Edwards seems to know how to get every drop out of a tank of gas. I’m sure there are a few other drivers who would like to know Carl’s secret when it comes to fuel mileage.
So what are your thoughts on Carl Edwards winning this race, and Jimmie Johnson winning the championship?
As always, this page is for you — so fire up your keyboards and give us your opinion.
Harvick / Edwards Fight Photos
Photos of the Kevin Harvick / Carl Edwards fight photos
The Associated Press has released photos of the fight between Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards.
There is almost as much controversy surrounding the release of the photos as the fight itself. It seems NASCAR and track officials were slow to release the photos — and did so only after a ton of complaints from the media.
Who is paying the photographers?
Harvick Edwards Fight
Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards Get Into Fight at Charlotte
Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards were involved in a heated argument that turned into an all-out brawl Thursday afternoon at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Harvick, Edwards and David Ragan were gathered in the Nationwide Series garage riding out an afternoon rainstorm when things turned ugly.
“The deal with me and Harvick is between me and him and there’s nothing else to talk about. That’s just what it is — we know where each other stand and that’s it.†~ Carl Edwards after climbing off the hood of Kevin Harvick’s car.
It seems that Carl Edwards was still a little miffed because Kevin Harvick called him a ‘pansy’ for riding around at the rear of the field at Talladega last Sunday.
After Edwards called Harvick out over his comments the two drivers exchanged intense words – then Harvick tried to turn and walk away.
That’s when Edwards grabbed him on the shoulder and spun Harvick around.
Harvick then shoved Edwards across the hood of the No. 33 Chevrolet – leaving a huge dent in the process.
Jeff Smith, who drives Harvick’s motor coach, stepped in and put Edwards in a headlock before the fight escalated any further.
The trouble has been brewing since Sunday at Talladega when Carl Edwards left a note with the pilot of Harvick’s Learjet that, according to The Charlotte Observer, read: “Kevin, Thanks for [profane] me on TV. I was really trying to screw up everyone’s day. Love, Carl.”
Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle must be loving this. If Edwards gets fined and docked championship points by NASCAR over the fight it will put the two of them alone at the top of the Championship standings.
Word is that a Lowe’s Motor Speedway staff photographer caught pictures of the whole thing – we’ll see if the speedway will release them.
If the motor coach driver hadn’t broken things up I think Harvick could have taken him. Who do you think would have won the fight?