Hello loyal readers and other folks. This weekend we were treated to a 3 day race weekend crammed, due to Mother Nature’s bad attitude, in to 2 days. It was another round of duelin’ duets for certain, but this time I think the racers had a little more experience on how it’s suppose to work these days. Now I’m not sayin’ it worked out that way for everybody, I’m just sayin’ some of them had it worked out pretty fair.
Friday we were suppose to enjoy the televised ARCA race there, but the bad weather just switched that up in a big way. Know what I mean? So the schedulers moved that race to Saturday makin’ that day a two race long viewin’ day for us all. I rather liked it that way except I was cookin’ so early in the mornin’, but a granny’s got to do what a granny’s got to do. So, I fired up the stove and cooked up a big pot of deep fried chicken liver nuggets (Duck likes his with Ranch dressin’), then used the same hot pot of lard to cook up some battered okra, made some buttered up popcorn, of course, and we drank some “aged” plum cider. The cider wasn’t my particular first taste choice for the day, but, I thought it might work well to keep Duck calmer if you know who didn’t you know what. And he didn’t and Duck was. Know what I mean?
So Saturday mornin’ Duck and I settled in for a long race viewin’ day. Now bein’s that I am a very busy woman I don’t always have time to watch those ARCA races, but, there’s a few young’uns in that series includin’ a couple of girls that I like to keep an eye on from time to time. Ty Dillon is one of ’em and that Brandon McReynolds is another to name 2. Ty had the pole spot, Brandon started 6th and one of those girls, Maryeve Dufault had raced her way in to the 3rd startin’ spot but failed post qualifyin’ inspection and wound up in the back of the pack in the 39th startin’ spot. Sad for that pretty young’un, I say.
As you all may know and if ya don’t you will now, Ty Dillon is Richard Childress’ grandson and Brandon McReynolds is Larry’s son. They are both little cuties to my way of thinkin’, I can tell ya that much right now. I can’t spend too much time on this event, but, Ty started on the pole and won the race. He and Brandon worked together quite a bit, which brought some long time family ties together once again and that was very pleasin’ to this granny. 9 time champ Frank Kimmel finished 2nd after startin’ 22nd and that cute little Brandon finished 25th one lap down. Pretty Maryeve Dufault came in 12th after her disappointin’ failure of post qualifyin’ inspection. Good for Ty and Frank, I say! You can look up the rest. Know what I mean.
Now on to the same day Nationwide race. I was lookin’ forward to the event even though Duck had a bit of the burps again. I made him ease up on the liver nuggets about half through the ARCA race cause I wasn’t sure if the burps would turn to somethin’ uglier. Know what I mean? He was all excitied to watch his idol Flippin’ Carl compete in another 2 race weekend. KHI had the top 2 spots for the race. Cutie curly headed Elliott Sadler was on the pole and Clint bowyer had the outside. JR, Jamie McMurray and that amazin’ Trevor Bayne rounded out the top 5 startin’ spots. Flippin’ Carl started in the 6th spot for those of you who care how optimistic Duck was when the race started and he was, more or less. The Nationwide drivers didn’t really know what to expect what with these new cars and all, but, they learned in rapid fashion let me tell you that one somethin’ right now. It wound up bein’ the return of the draftin’ duets for certain. Oh my good and gracious LORD is was excitin’. Duck and I were up more than down if ya know what I mean.
Now just to set the record straight right up front here, I didn’t say I like this kind of racin’, I’m just sayin’ it was excitin’. Course Talladega is known for the “big one” and it came with pert near 30 laps to go. 16 cars were all tangled up but that wasn’t the end of the excitement. Nosirree. I can’t even remember anymore who was where with who in the last 10 laps cause it was changin’ quicker that you could grasp. I do know that Mike Wallace and Joe Nemechek were hooked up and in the lead with 2 laps to go showin’ that at least this type of racin’ can offer some of the underdogs a shot at amazin’ results, but, sadly for them they got separated and on the last lap Mike rolled and Flippin’ Carl wrecked, as well. Thank our good and gracious Lord, it happened so fast that I don’t think Duck realized what was happenin’ until the race was over and both divers were ok. I think Duck may have had too much cider, but, that’s neither here nor there. Anyway, Boy Howdy Rowdy who was involved in that wreck fest back on lap 87 shot to the front with a push from JR and won that race. I’m tellin’ ya one somethin’ right now, that boy could slip in a slick and pop up a dancin’. Know what I mean? Anyway, wide smilin’ Logano, Joe Nemechek, Keselowsi and curly locks Sadler rounded out the top 5. For those of you who are JR fans, he finished 8th and flippin’ Carl finished 17th but on the lead lap in spite of his racin’ woes. The rest you can look up. Excitin’? 100% Yessirree! Best kind of racin’ for viewin’ pleasure? Well you be the judge.
The weather held and Duck and I got ready for the Cup race Sunday. Duck woke up with a headache, but, acceptin’ of his idol’s previous day’s fate. We just had left over food and drink. It worked rather well for the previous day so why mess with success? Know what I mean? But, that’s neither here nor there. We piled on the divan with our food on the crates and I put us at each end in case the burps started again and we cheered and quacked as the green flag flew.
This was a Hendrick start. Jeffie and same champ Jimmie started 1 and 2 with Mark and JR in the 3rd and 4th startin’ spots. As the previous day’s event showed, we knew what to expect as far as the draftin’ duets, and that it was. The lead was changin’ faster than Duck and I could keep up with. With every lap we were expectin’ the big one. I can tell ya that much right now. Oh the pairin’ seemed to work all too well. If memory serves me right, and who knows when we’re talkin’ about a granny, there were 57 lead changes and 6 or so cautions. It was just too much for this granny to keep up with and Duck was no help, neither. The burps arrived before midway through the race so I tried to keep my divan distance and concentrate as much as the race confusion allowed, but, my head was spinnin’ from the action. Somewhere around lap 140 the “big ‘un” happened. I believe some 12 cars were involved. Thank our good and gracious LORD, no one was hurt, but it ended some hopes for the day. I can tell ya that much right now. The up front jostlin’ was constant. There was Harvick, Bowyer, McMurray, Blaney, Truex, Bayne, Rowdy and David Ragan to name some who held the lead at one point or another. While it was excitin’ to watch it had to be exhaustin’ and frustratin’ to the drivers. In the end only one lap counts and that’s the final one as we all understand. Same champ Jimmie pulled that one off BARELY with the help of teammate JR. GOOD for him, I say. And I mean that. Anyone that can pull a win off in that kind of race however they do it deserves an atta boy! That was one of them photo finishes right there. Looked like a mere inch or 2 that separated same champ from Bowyer. LORD have mercy that is a nerve wrackin’ place for viewin’ so I can only imagine what those drivers go through lap after lap. Anyway, Jimmie won followed by Bowyer, Jeffie, JR and Kevin Harvick. Flipper finished 6th which made Duck happier than the day before and I was the one with the headache at the end. Jimmie gave JR the checkered flag, nice gesture that it was and the celebrations began while I cleaned up the crate, the floor and the divan. You can look up the rest and you know what I mean.
Now for the other stuff before I see what Cousin Grouch has to say. She was at Talladega, lucky cousin that she is.
I still remain confused as to why the Daytona Dudes choose to relegate those drivers to that type of competition at Talladega and Daytona. Course I understand the safety this and that chatter and that is needed. I know that, but, the drivers don’t like it. They haven’t liked restrictor plate racin’ for years. And now with these made up cars and such the field looks like the Noah’s Ark racin’ at Daytona. You can only fix somethin’ that ain’t broke so many times before ya can’t get back to where it was to begin with. I guess that is what they’re aimin’ at, but, they ain’t doin’ the drivin’. Know what I mean?
And now I want to talk about JR. I am a big fan of his and I admit it up front. I just know as certain as this granny can be that he will win this year and I can’t wait. The road out front of my place is just made for dancin’ and dance out there I will when he celebrates in Victory Lane. But this week he showed what a teammate and an owner is made of. He worked with Aric Almirola a lot in the Saturday race and he pushed same champ Jimmie around all day Sunday. Now, you know that boy is winnin’ hungry but he worked for the good of both teams and good, good, good for him I say! I am proud of him for stickin’ it out and not desertin’ the post he chose. Next week, though, go for it JR, honey. Granny’s awaitin’ just like all your other millions of fans.
That’s it for now. Bring it on Grouch.
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Howdy young’uns and other folks too ! Well, how about that racin’ we just had us, this weekend? Was that a hoot or a kick in the britches? I ain’t quite sure which! I call it “Dancin’ With The Cars”. Did ya see them pit crew members a sprayin’ “PAM” cookin’ spray on them bumpers? Why land sakes, this old granny thought she was a watchin’ the cookin’ channel or just seein’ things, again ! I guess the idea is to make it slick so it helps ’em hook up better, ya s’pose? If anybody out there knows, could ya leave us a comment or explanation? But remember that we are very busy women and may not have the time to read it all, so keep it short and to the point, ya hear? I can’t even think what else the purpose could be, can you? But I thought it was pretty interestin’ to see the synchronized cars on the track – – – it looked like they’ve been doin’ a lot of practicin’, sorta like them swimmers do in the water, if you know what I mean. I’m sure y’all have seen that, right? We had Elliott Sadler on the Pole at the start of this race. We had us a total of 10 cautions in the Nationwide race. I affectionately call that a Crash-fest but then it gives the television station folks plenty of time for all them commercials, don’t ya know, and Lord knows we had plenty of them. I could have plowed the back forty in the time that took. I’ll tell ya that for sure ! We had the BIG CRASH in the backstretch on Lap 87, involving a whole bunch of folks includin’ Kyle Busch and Michael Waltrip. The back end of Michael’s car didn’t need no more “PAM” cause it was hangin’ all over the place, have mercy! I ain’t quite sure how Kyle “Rowdy” Busch ended up winnin’ the race but he did – – – can that young’un drive a race car or what? It’s like he can pull a rabbit out of the hat for goodness sakes ! Oh yeah, and Elliott Sadler brought home another Top 5 ! I saw where he had his son Wyatt in the race car durin’ the practice session. I guess he’s trainin’ him real early to take over his seat at Kevin Harvick, Inc.! Speakin’ of new “young guns” I also saw a picture of Brooklyn Newman sportin’ a pretty pink slick race car, get them all trained up, I say!
Movin’ on to the Sprint Cup race. There were only six caution flags in this race but there were some pretty interestin’ saves (that’s where they didn’t tear up the equipment) in this one. How about that Ryan “RocketMan” Newman? He saved his car TWICE. I think he might know a thing or two about drivin’ a race car hisself, don’t you? Remember he’s got hisself all that open wheel trainin’ behind him. Then “Mr. Handsome Blue Eyes” in the number 4 car for Red Bull decided he was gonna start a fire and roast marshmellows, I’m guessin’. Somebody please tell him that he can’t do that until after the race in the motor home parkin’ lot! I’m just thankful that everyone was able to walk away from the wrecks, as I am every week, of course, aren’t you? Well, I must confess that I was NOT a happy camper, with the outcome of this race, so now I can truly say that I know how Duck feels when his driver don’t win either (sorry to bring this up Granny but just don’t let him read this article and everthin’ will be fine! Come to think of it, can Duck read? Oh well, I guess that’s neither here nor there! Bubba hasn’t had too much to say about the racin’. I’m thinkin’ he might be getting’ bored with it or just plain sick of the announcers in that there broadcastin’ booth. He says they don’t have a clue as to what they’re talkin’ about most of the time, accordin’ to him, they don’t even know who is drivin’ which car! Oh Lord, help me, I guess I could try watchin’ it out in the barn and seein’ if he’s a missin’ me – – – fat chance of that happenin’! That’s all I have for y’all for this week. Next week we will be at Nashville Superspeedway for the Nationwide and Truck Series only, Sprint Cup Series has the weekend off. Join us next week for a full report from Nashville, have an awesome week everybody! For those of you in the Carolinas, our thoughts and prayers are with you during this wicked weather that y’all are experiencing, darlin’s. Cousin Grouch over and out!
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Well thank ya again, cousin for your excellent writin’s. Good job there! I want us all to send our thoughts and prayers out to all those people affected but the terrible weather down south and for the wild fires in Texas.
So there you have it from the 2 grannies. Comment, email or don’t. Either way is just fine cause we’re very busy women. Til next time Grump and Grouch over and out.
