Johnny Benson found the best way to stay out of trouble in Saturday's New Hampshire 200 was to run up front, winning his fourth Craftsman Truck Series race of the season. - Spydertrader <img src=http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=1202452>
The Green Flag is about to Drop on The Chase for the Nextel Cup - Race One from New Hampshire. Moz - Gordon (#24) jzlucas - Kenseth (#17) Spydertrader - Gordon (#24) Pabst - Kenseth (#17) TM_Direct - Harvick (#29) AAAinthebeltway - Hamlin (#11) - Spydertrader <img src=http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=1202920>
Congrats TM_Direct! Your boy brought home the victory today, and currently leads the Championship race. Now, its on to The Monster Mile for next week's race. - Spydertrader <img src=http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=1203034>
I had to DVR the race today and do you believe the recording stopped at the 5 to go restart!! ARGGHH!! Not a bad day at the office for Jeff though, was a good run all day. Tell me Spyder did Stewart pass him clean or was it a slide job, usually he's pretty clean with Gordon.
To his credit, Pasta Boy passed Gordo clean - choosing to go around the outside at the restart, rather than, risk a slide up into Jeff. Tony discussed in the post race interview the tense felling he experienced when trying to pass the drivers in the chase. Stewart didn't / doesn't want to be known as the guy who ruined a driver's chances at winning the cup. Gordon had said before the race, he wanted to improve upon the 8.7 Average Finish turned in by Stewart during last year's Chase. A third place finish at New Hampshire is a pretty good start. - Spydertrader
Harvick and Burton caught with some not so kosher wheels... .003 slit cut in them to bleed off excess air pressure.
Re-Posted From USENET ..... It's been reported that in post race inspection, both the 29 & 31 cars were found to have modified bead areas on their wheels that allowed excess air pressure buildup to bleed off. There will be no points or monetary fines since this is deemed a 'gray area' not specifically addressed by the rules. I'm not so sure about that. Bleeder valves are specifically banned in NASCAR competition. Their purpose is to manipulate the air pressure in the tire once it has been mounted on the car. The laser cut slots in the RCR cars wheels was designed to circumvent that rule and manipulate air pressure once the wheel was mounted on the car. It is a definite competitive advantage. Other attempts to circumvent various rules for competitive advantage have resulted in monetary and point fines. Accidental violations that did not result in competitive advantage have been fined as well. Of the latter category, the manifold spacer that cost Mark Martin a fine, 25 points, and arguably the championship one year was deemed to have offered no competitive advantage. The difference was a matter of it being bolted in place rather than welded to the manifold as required by rules. It was purely an oversight. Accidental violation, no competitive advantage = violation, points and monetary fine. Deliberate circumvention of rule, competitive advantage = pee-pee slap. I just love consistent enforcement.............
Speed Channel plans to broadcast Qualifying for The Dover 400 Nextel Cup Series Race from The Monster Mile - on Friday at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. This weekend's racing schedule: Formula One Off Week Nextel Cup Dover 400 - TNT Sunday 12:30 PM Eastern Time Busch Series Dover 200 - TNT Saturday 3:00 PM Eastern Time Craftsman Truck Series Smith's Las Vegas 350 - Speed Channel Saturday 9:00 PM Eastern Time IRL Season Completed - Sam Hornish Jr. Champion "No, no, he didn't slam you, he didn't bump you, he didn't nudge you... he *rubbed* you. And rubbin', son, is racin'. " - Spydertrader
Qualifying underway at the Monster Mile. - Spydertrader <img src=http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=1209093>
Welcome Back Kid!! Jeff Gordon starts on the pole at The Monster Mile. - Spydertrader <img src=http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=1209200>