Hello loyal readers and other folks. Richmond is behind us now, but it was an excitin’ and emotion weekend for us all in more than racin’ ways if ya know what I mean.
The Truck series had an off week but that series wasn’t lackin’ in news. More on that later.
Anyway Friday’s usual racin’ spot was for the Nationwide Series. Good Bad Brad started on the pole followed by Flippin’ Carl, Rowdy Boy, Baby Face and Funny Man. For those who want to know Stenhouse started 6th, Curly started 8th and Speedy Reed started 17th. Oh and the unzipped one started 32nd. The rest you can look up.So with cheese and quackers (a little Duck humor there) and iced tea on the crates Duck and I cheered and quacked as the green flag waved for 250 laps of crazy enjoyment! Course Duck was on his webbed feet quackin’ like a crazy duck for his idol, but that’s neither here nor there and no big surprise. By somewhere around lap 10 Duck’s main man took the lead. Oh the feathers that were flyin’ let me tell ya that one somethin’ right now. Duck took that AFLAC Duck pose he has learned to mimic from the commercial with the pigeons. I hate that pose and those nasty pigeons but Duck is dramatic when it comes to you know who so I said nothin’ at that point cause I was excited for Flippin’ Carl too. You know it doesn’t take long for the leaders to start lappin’ the end of the field and on lap 65 the first caution flag waved. Then a few laps later Caution 2 came out when Good Bad Brad hit the wall which basically ruined his chance at this win. Well that and the unziiped one rear ended him. It’s Richmond after all folks. Know what I mean?
Anyway the lead spot changed back and forth between Rowdy and Flippin’. Several more accidents happened which led to caution 3, 4 and 5. Flippin’ Carl was the leader at that point but he and Rowdy Boy were still battlin’. It was excitin’ for Duck and me let me tell ya that one somethin’. Yessirree! Lap 209 = caution 6, the last caution of this race thank our good and gracious LORD!. Seems that one was for some bump and rebump stuff between Happy and Baby Face. Again Richmond usual stuff, but excitin’ none the less! After that Rowdy Boy was the one to beat. Oh Flippin’ Carl tried. He really did and was gainin’ some space but in the end Rowdy Boy took the win. Good for him I say against Duck’s wishes, but he was the winner and he deserves it. I couldn’t tell what Duck was truly thinkin’. I mean I know he was disappointed and all, but he just had this dazed look on his face, glassy eyed stare it was. Bit on the spooky side if ya want to know what I thought but there was no fit throwin’ or uncontrollable quackin’ so I just set about cleanin’ up the snacks and feathers and let him do his duckly thingie. Anyway Stenhouse came home 3rd followed by Ryan Truex (not the only Truex that can drive the wheels off a good car) and Funny Man. Good for all of ’em I say! Stenhouse is still the points leader over Curly by 16 and the rest you can look up. Sleep came late for us but it did come thank our good and gracious Lord.
So on Satarday mornin’ we got up and set about gettin’ the chores for the day out of the way. Duck was still actin’ weird. I admit I was a bit on the concerned side, but what is a granny to do? He did his chores and I did mine. I just talked to him in my usual manner and when race time approached I put the cheese and crackers back on the crates with fresh cold tea. Rueti Tootie was on the pole followed by Cutie Jamie, Same Champ Jimmie, that cute Mark Martin and Bowyer. For those who want to know Flippin’ Carl started 8th. Happy started 7th, Juan-toya started 10, Rowdy started 13th 2 spots behind big brother, Jr started 27th and Smoke started 22nd. The rest you can look up.
The retired Marine/actor Emrey gave the commend to start the engines. I thought it was a bit unusal to hear him say “let’s get crackin'” but later I saw his Wonderful Pistachios commercial and then I understood. Oh well I say! Anyway with 400 laps ahead of us I cheered and Duck just sat there as the green flag flew. Jamie got a great start and snagged the lead on the first lap. These boys we serious and the 1st caution came out on the 2nd lap when Andy Lally hit the wall. Then just 6 laps later Bowyer and Reuti wrecked and involvin’ JR and Denny along with a mess of others. Crazy racin’ I say! There was a lap of silence on lap 9 in remembrance of 9/11. I thought that was wonderful. Duck was already silent but I know he thought it was good, too. Green flag waved 11 laps later with cutie Jamie leadin’. There were 3 more cautions by lap 51. That last caution got Vickers upset with Aussie Man and he blamed him for a wreck with Kutie Kahne which ended his night. Vickers got parked by the powers that be. More Richmond madness, literally! I’m tellin’ ya that race was excitin’ to me at least. Duck was still in lala land somewhere. Mercy me he was actin’ strange like. Anyway, Robo Man lead the field at that restart but eventually Happy Man took the lead. Several rounds of pitstops changed up the lead. And oh my good and gracious LORD there were a total of 15 cautions. Imagine that! Why by that 15th caution at lap 384 I was just wantin’ it to go green and stay green if ya know what I mean. And it did! Happy Man was leadin’ Flippin’ Carl by just a short bit of time and space and held him off for the win. Good for him I say!
There was still very little reaction from Duck. I was beginnin’ to think I just might have to take him to his quack doctor, no pun intended. I had finally had it. I let loose on that boy. I told him I wasn’t gonna take this silence anymore and that the chase for the chase was over and that now only the chase itself remains. I said, “I mean good grief Duck, Flippin’ Carl is in the 5th spot just 9 points behind Rowdy Boy and he is tied with Same Champ Jimmie, Big Brother Busch and Flyin’ Ryan for cryin’ out loud. He has a chance to win the championship. So say somethin’ “! Well I asked for it! He took to quackin’ and liked to have never stopped. It’s an interestin’ sound, the woohooing in duck quack but I was grateful for the noise! I need to wind this here race report up so the rest of the race and standin’s points you can look up.
Now for some other stuff. Same Champ Jimmie and Big Brother Busch still have that rivalry goin’ on. But shoot fuzzy, it was Richmond and expected. Course they were not the only ones renewin’ or makin’ rivalries. That day it appears most of the “have at it” was allowed. Wonders do never cease, it seems. in NASCAR at least. I’m not complainin’ ya understand I’m just sayin’.
And I am sure you have read about the sale of Harvick’s Nationwide and Truck teams to bossman and Winemaker Childress. That makes sense from a performance and financial standpoint if ya know what I mean, but with different drivers for those series between the current different owners it means some somebodies have to go. Course I’m thinkin’ first of Handsome Hornaday. His website said he will be lookin’ for a ride for 2011. Sad for this multi champ winner I say. Someone smart with good equipment and business smarts needs to snatch this veteran driver up and now! Know what I mean?
Also read where Johnny Benson is returnin’ to the Truck Series next year. GOOD for him and the series I say!
And finally I hope yesterday brought fond personal memories to those who lost loved ones on 9/11/2001. I also hope we all felt pride in our nation, pride and thankfulness to all emergency personal who aided in rescue and recovery and who place their lives on the line each and everyday. And I hope we all resolve to never forget. NEVER!
Til next time, email, comment or don’t. Granny Grump over and out.
