Open Race Thread: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 | Texas Motor Speedway

by 4ever3 on Nov 6, 2011 2:32 PM EST in Open Race Threads

Wow, what a weekend so far, can it get any more crazy? Can't wait to find out.

Starting line-up and discussion after the jump. See you on the other side.

Starting line-up via nascar.com.

POS	CAR	DRIVER	MAKE	SPONSOR	SPEED	TIME	BEHIND
1	16	Greg Biffle	Ford	3M Scotch-Blue Painter's Tape	193.736	27.873	Leader
2	6	David Ragan	Ford	UPS My Choice	193.729	27.874	-0.001
3	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	Crown Royal	193.659	27.884	-0.011
4	27	Paul Menard	Chevrolet	Quaker State / Menards	193.438	27.916	-0.043
5	14	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	Office Depot / Mobil 1	193.258	27.942	-0.069
6	00	David Reutimann	Toyota	Aaron's Dream Machine	193.181	27.953	-0.080
7	99	Carl Edwards	Ford	Aflac	193.071	27.969	-0.096
8	2	Brad Keselowski	Dodge	Miller Lite	193.023	27.976	-0.103
9	4	Kasey Kahne	Toyota	Red Bull	192.947	27.987	-0.114
10	78	Regan Smith	Chevrolet	Furniture Row Companies	192.892	27.995	-0.122
11	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	MyLowe's	192.871	27.998	-0.125
12	9	Marcos Ambrose	Ford	Dewalt	192.816	28.006	-0.133
13	21	Trevor Bayne	Ford	Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center	192.589	28.039	-0.166
14	22	Kurt Busch	Dodge	AAA	192.472	28.056	-0.183
15	42	Juan Montoya	Chevrolet	Target	192.363	28.072	-0.199
16	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	National Guard "Trained by Tradition" / AMP Energy	192.130	28.106	-0.233
17	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	M&M's	192.123	28.107	-0.234
18	33	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet	Cheerios / Hamburger Helper	192.123	28.107	-0.234
19	56	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	NAPA Auto Parts	191.986	28.127	-0.254
20	83	Brian Vickers	Toyota	Red Bull	191.918	28.137	-0.264
21	29	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	Rheem	191.646	28.177	-0.304
22	1	Jamie McMurray	Chevrolet	Bass Pro Shops / Arctic Cat	191.571	28.188	-0.315
23	24	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	Drive to End Hunger	191.564	28.189	-0.316
24	39	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet	Quicken Loans Carrier Classic	191.421	28.210	-0.337
25	20	Joey Logano	Toyota	The Home Depot	191.299	28.228	-0.355
26	43	A.J. Allmendinger	Ford	"Immortals" / Best Buy	191.252	28.235	-0.362
27	55	J.J. Yeley	Ford	Ingersoll Rand	191.069	28.262	-0.389
28	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	FedEx Office	190.995	28.273	-0.400
29	51	Landon Cassill	Chevrolet	Thank A Teacher Today / Security Benefit	190.638	28.326	-0.453
30	5	Mark Martin	Chevrolet	Carquest / Go Daddy.com	190.436	28.356	-0.483
31	31	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	Caterpillar	190.389	28.363	-0.490
32	47	Bobby Labonte	Toyota	Wounded Warrior Project	190.221	28.388	-0.515
33	13	Casey Mears	Toyota	GEICO	190.221	28.388	-0.515
34	34	David Gilliland	Ford	Front Row Motorsports	190.020	28.418	-0.545
35	66	Michael McDowell	Toyota	HP Racing LLC	189.740	28.460	-0.587
36	135	Dave Blaney	Chevrolet	Big Red	189.640	28.475	-0.602
37	32	Mike Bliss	Ford	Street King	188.904	28.586	-0.713
38	37	Mike Skinner	Ford	Max Q Motorsports	188.904	28.586	-0.713
39	46	Scott Speed	Ford	Green Stuff Absorbent	188.679	28.620	-0.747
40	87	Joe Nemechek	Toyota	AMFMEnergy.com / Pellet & Wood Stoves	188.600	28.632	-0.759
41	38	Travis Kvapil+	Ford	Long John Silver's	188.081	28.711	-0.838
42	36	Geoffrey Bodine+	Chevrolet	Luke & Associates	182.149	29.646	-1.773
43	71	Andy Lally*	Ford	TRG Motorsports	188.528	28.643	-0.770

Did Not Qualify
44	30	David Stremme	Chevrolet	Inception Motorsports	188.357	28.669	-0.796
45	195	David Starr	Ford	AdvoCare	188.344	28.671	-0.798
46	7	Reed Sorenson	Dodge	Speed Energy / Mapei	187.182	28.849	-0.976

+ Set by Owner Points
* Denotes Rookie

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Comments

Let's get ready for some racing from Texas!

My pick is Carl Edwards. Who do you guys have?

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 2:32 PM EST reply actions

Smoke

I love Jr., but I also like Smoke. He’s very aggressive on the track without resorting to thuggery. He races clean and hard. Off the track, he doesn’t speak in antiseptic soundbites that don’t sound like PR brainwashing.

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

Great pick! Would be cool to see Dale Jr win at TMS

but something tells me Roush will get their 300th win today.

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

Anybody but the 48

I’m for anyone but the 48.

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

You and all the other non 48 fans.

Cool this is that in 2 weeks, we will have a new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

The 48

Don’t get me wrong. He’s a great driver and he and Chad might well be the best team NASCAR has ever seen, cheating aside. ("If you ain’t cheatin’ you ain’t tryin‘.") I’m just tired of watching him as champion.

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 3:19 PM EST reply actions

Loaded and ready

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 3:22 PM EST reply actions

ESPN missed the start of the green flag

talk about a fail.

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 3:23 PM EST reply actions

What's new?

For a litany of ESPN’s (and other networks as well) faults, go to: http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/. John Daly is a former managing producer on ESPN’s motorsports coverage. (He left under good circumstances in which his colleagues and executives gave him a party, so he doesn’t have an axe to grind).

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

live blog

He does a live blog during each race, answering comments from his readers.

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

Oh I know all about Mr. Daly

He is a great writer and like NASCAR Ranting and Raving, a member of the NASCAR Citizen Journalist Media Corps.

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

Lap 23 and we have 3 start and park drivers

Yeley, Nemechek, and Wise

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 3:34 PM EST reply actions

M& Ms and Mars and Kyle Busch

On the pre-race, Coach Gibbs refused to say point blank if he was firing Kyle Busch. I wonder if JGR has any openings on its other cars for the rest of the season if Mars wants to come off the 18 if Kyle Busch is driving it?

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 3:42 PM EST reply actions

I don't see Mars leaving the No. 18

I’d be shocked. He made a mistake, he is paying for it this weekend. Gibbs may penalize him and I wouldn’t be surprised if NASCAR fines him. As far as the lose of a sponsor, highly doubt.

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

Conservative

Mars is known to be a very conservative company. I don’t mean necessarily politics. If you look at their advertising, none of it is edgy or controversal. They may not leave JGR, but I won’t be surprised if they ask off the 18 so long as KyBu is in the car.

I think Coach Gibbs told KyBu he had to stay at the track and sit where he could be seen and not heard all weekend. I didn’t need to see his eyes to see he was sullen and upset.

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

Mars Comapny is not as conservative as Little Debbie.

There is some edge to it. Look at the green M&M. It’s known as a provocative character. I don’t see them leaving Kyle Busch.

Gibbs wasn’t even suppose to be at the track this weekend. Friday happened and he boarded the plane for Texas. Mars does have a tolerance policy in their contract with Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs.

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Lol no sponsor is leaving Kyle Busch.

No matter how much you wish they would.

How silly.

@RealNolenBailey

by Hatfield on Nov 6, 2011 5:12 PM EST up reply actions

Indeed. And Gibbs shouldn't fire him either

Sit him down for the rest of the season, yes. Give him a good, strong lecture, absolutely. Fire him, definitely not.

by UnderdogFan89 on Nov 7, 2011 12:37 AM EST up reply actions

Right.

It was incredibly inappropriate, yes. A total ‘dick move’ if you will.

But it’s not that big of a deal.

@RealNolenBailey

by Hatfield on Nov 7, 2011 11:57 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

First Round of Green Flag Pit Stops Underway

Tony Stewart leads a lap to get a bonus point.

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 3:47 PM EST reply actions

McDowell

Do you think his spotter had to remind him not to turn left when he came off the track?

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 3:58 PM EST reply actions

Race Buddy

Interesting that the 18 is still one of the featured cars on Race Buddy.

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 4:00 PM EST reply actions

99, 14, 29, 48, 18, 88

featured cars on Race Buddy

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

The Race Buddy feature has to be programmed into the cars

before the race weekend. Too hard to remove it on such short notice.

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

I actually follow Michael McDowell on my Race Buddy anyway.

@RealNolenBailey

by Hatfield on Nov 6, 2011 5:26 PM EST up reply actions

First caution of the race and it's for DEBRIS

Shocker.

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 4:19 PM EST reply actions

Allen Bestwick drinking game

Take a shot every time he says “position,” instead of simply saying “12th” or “12th place.”

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 4:30 PM EST reply actions

2nd caution of the race

This time for Geoffrey Bodine, who looks like he was spun by Brian Vickers

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 5:11 PM EST reply actions

Really love the fact that they don't fully cut away for commercials.

I know that is old news, but I wanted you all to know how much I like it.

@RealNolenBailey

by Hatfield on Nov 6, 2011 5:25 PM EST reply actions

Amen!

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 6:33 PM EST up reply actions

Caution #4 for Logano

"A Southern Belle is Country from her Southern Roots to her Cowboy Boots!"

by NASCARKrissy on Nov 6, 2011 5:50 PM EST reply actions

Burton out of gas.

@RealNolenBailey

by Hatfield on Nov 6, 2011 6:34 PM EST reply actions

What did I say?

Woo-Hoo! Smoke! Scroll up and see how I called it.

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 6:37 PM EST reply actions

Smoke and Carl finishing 1-2. Nice.

@RealNolenBailey

by Hatfield on Nov 6, 2011 6:38 PM EST up reply actions

Any race

that Jr. finishes ahead of the 48 is a good race.

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 6:38 PM EST reply actions

Weird

watching Smoke’s on-board camera doing the Polish lap! Going the wrong way is so odd. The director of Race Buddy took a shot from the roof looking backward so we saw the track going the wrong way, the fireworks in the distance, the grandstands… spectacular.

"And death's a joke, it's true. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!"

by WestCoastKenny on Nov 6, 2011 6:45 PM EST reply actions