NASCAR Faces Fast Track at Quicken Loans 400 Race

I turn on a race a little bit late and what do you know, half a dozen cars are already out and a number are laps down already — that’ll teach me to watch the clock better. The Pocono 400 presented by #NASCAR had some bumping at the start and some at the end.

Joey Logano ended the race by giving Mark Martin a bit of a love tap that enabled him to win a race that he started from the pole position, and action that seems to be increasingly rare in NASCAR these days and which had not yet been accomplished this season until last week.

By pushing past Martin with just three laps to go Logano managed to secure his first win of the season and left Martin with the second spot. The crowd was filled out by Tony Stewart in third, Jimmie Johnson in fourth and the fifth spot was taken by Denny Hamlin.

Quicken Loans 400
This week the teams head to Michigan International Speedway for the Quicken Loans 400 up in the Irish Hills. This will be a very interesting race due to the new surface on the track. Speeds are very high, according to ESPN, and some drivers have spoken out about safety concerns. I seem to recall a few years ago another track that had been resurfaced suffered from peeling during a race, but I could be mistaken.

Broadcast
June 17, 12 pm ET on TNT

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The leader board remains tight, with a bit of shuffling from last week’s standings, with leader Biffle dropping to third, but still only 16 points out from the lead.

Sprint Cup Standings
1) Matt Kenseth
2) Dale Earnhardt Jr. -10
3) Greg Biffle -16
4) Denny Hamlin -19
5) Jimmie Johnson -20

Nationwide Series
The Alliance Truck Parts 250

Broadcast
June 16 3:30 pm ET ABC

Last week was an off week so no changes since the Dover race on June 2. The Alliance Truck Parts 250 will be the race of choice for those rooting on the Nationwide crews, and the Sprint crews that often race side by side at the events.

Nationwide Standings
1) Elliot Sadler
2) Rickey Stenhouse Jr. -12
3) Austin Dillon -14
4) Sam Hornish Jr. -50
5) Justin Allgater –78

NASCAR Tackles the Tricky Triangle-Poconos here We Come

Jimmie Johnson did what he does best in Dover, he won, for the seventh time to be exact. Leading for more than half the 400 laps he is in some pretty august company as driver Richard Petty and Bobby Allison also have seven.

It looked as if Jeff Gordon was going to fight him to the finish line but a loose tire killed any real chance he had because after the pit stop he was mired in traffic. The other top finishers were Kevin Harvic in second followed by Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Clint Bowyer.

On a sad note recent Hall of Fame inductee Cotton Owens, former driver and car owner passed away at age 88.


This Week-Pocono 400 presented by #NASCAR

I love this track, simply because it looks like someone was having fun when designing it, everything is different, the banking, the length of the straightaways and the fact that it has three corners. The long, 2.5 mile, but relatively slow track will also affect pit strategies.

It will not be as fast as some of the races that you see all year, particularly the longer tracks such as Talladega and Daytona, but it has a lot more strategy involved at Pocono Raceway, particularly in green flag racing.

The track has an interesting history, and while shorter than some makes a good read over at its web site. I did not realize that it was almost bankrupt several times and that Bill France Sr. talked them out of selling the track. I also like that Yuengling is a sponsor. Don’t know who that is? For shame!

Sprint Cup Standings
1) Greg Biffle
2) Matt Kenseth -1
3) Dale Earnhardt Jr. -10
4) Denny Hamlin -22
5) Jimmie Johnson -33

Broadcast
June 10, 12 PM ET on TNT

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Nationwide Series
Joey Logano won at Dover last week with an interesting up and down win. I only caught parts of the race but when I did see some of it he seems to be in command, yet apparently late in the race he pitted for four tires and emerged in the pack. Yet he fought through that issue to gain first the lead and then the checkered flag.

Pole sitter Ryan Truex had pulled in front late but got stuck in traffic and finished a disappointing second. He was followed by Brian Scott, Kurt Busch and Justin Allgaier. Danica Patrick had a hookup with old friend Sam Hornish Jr. and wrecked her drive, finishing 30th. Odd how those two are always drawn together.

The ever shy Kurt Busch, already on probation this season, earned a one race suspension for making threatening comments to a reporter after the over race. No race this week so see you in two weeks in Michigan.

Nationwide Standings
1) Elliot Sadler
2) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. -12
3) Austin Dillon -14
4) Sam Hornish Jr. -50
5) Justin Allgaier -78

Another day, another MLB Contest

I was watching a ball game the other day and on came an ad that featured Cal Ripken Jr. I was in a local watering hole and so could not hear what he was saying as he snagged foul ball after foul ball as a spectator in the stands (and he is still wearing his jersey)

Then it flashed up that this was a new contest from Major League Baseball called “Stay in the Game Sweepstakes.” This is the kind of sweepstakes that I like, just enter and cross your fingers, so it is a level playing field for me.

The event is cosponsored by One A Day vitamins as well as the Cal Ripken Jr. and the purpose of the promotion appears to encourage people to stay in shape, particularly as they get older, and that if you have not been exercising it is not too late to start, judging by the accompanying video.

The One a Day partner is also donating to Cal Ripken Sr.’s Foundation that brings baseball and softball programs to disadvantaged youths in America and also helps teach them life lessons. There is nothing on the web page that exactly explains the purpose of the promotion, which is too bad, particularly if it is for a good cause.

The prizes look pretty good- first place is a round trip for five to the 2013 MLB All-Star Game with Cal Ripken Jr. That will include round trip airfare, 5 VIP gift bags, 3 night stay for you and your posse, $500 in cash as well as tickets to the 2013 MLB Home Run Derby. Each week prior to the awarding of the grand prize a $100 gift card that can be used on the MLB web site will be awarded so you too can have a Cal Ripken Jr. jersey if you so wish! Or the classic Billy Ripken baseball card.

Race Day in Dover as NASCAR Readies for FedEx 400

Some very interesting 3-peats last week. I guess technically they were not actual 3-peats but so what? In the Coca-Cola 600 Kasey Kahne won for the third time and it is clear that he really likes this race since on the tour he has only won 13 times. The list of other 3 time winners shows that he is in an impressive group with luminaries such as Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson and Buddy Baker among the six others that have accomplished the feat.

The race was a great day overall for Hendrick Motorsports, which aside from Kahne had an additional 3 cars in the top 11. Filing out the top five was Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle and Brad Keselowski.
http://www.doverspeedway.com/

This Week
The FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks will be run at the Dover International Speedway’s monster mile, touted as the world’s fastest one mile oval. Good news for fans that have visited the track’s web site, they now have a mobile app that seems to be speedier than the regular one.

Broadcast
June 3 12:30 pm ET on Fox

Sprint Cup Standings
1) Greg Biffle
2) Matt Kenseth -10
3) Denny Hamlin -16
4) Dale Earnhardt Jr. -18
5) Jimmie Johnson -48

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Nationwide Series
Brad Keselowski skated to a nice win last week in Charlotte, leading the last 67 laps and praying that the gas he got when he fueled up with 73 laps to go would last-it did, making his caution lap decision not to pit pay off.
The top five was filled out by Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Elliott Sadler. Point’s leader Ricky Stenhouse had mechanical issues and finished 26th while one other widely watched driver, Dancia Patrick disappointed by starting 3rd but finishing 13th.

The 5-Hour Energy 200 is this weekend and they will be racing in just a little over 24 hours of posting this. It should be a fun race as speeds will be high and drivers should be raring to go on this interesting track.

Broadcast
June 2, 2 pm ET ESPN & WatchESPN

Nationwide Standings
1) Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
2) Elliott Sadler -13
3) Austin Dillon -28
4) Sam Hornish Jr. -57
5) Cole Whitt -94
5) Justin Allgaier -94

Indy 500
Congratulations to Dario Franchitti who won his third Indianapolis 500 in a very intense last lap battle with Takuma Sato, who ended up hitting the wall in a tremendous crash after their tires made contact with each other.

Big Weekend for Racing Fans: Coca-Cola 600 and Indy 500

The two will make for a great week of viewing for fans. With Indy moving its starting time back to noon it once again gives drivers that want to the opportunity to race in both events, all it needs is a helicopter ride in between. I am too lazy to look at this moment but I believe that only one driver has ever finished both races in the same day.

Last week there was the All Star Sprint Cup event. I did not see these races due to other obligations but according to ESPN’s report I did not missed that much as drivers figured out how to game the system. Jimmie Johnson won the $1 million event but complains of sandbagging seem to have arisen. I suspect we will see the rules tweaked a bit next year to try and stop this from occurring once again.

Sprint Cup Standings
1) Greg Biffle
2) Matt Kenseth -2
3) Dale Earnhardt Jr. -14
4)Denny Hamlin -17
5) Jimmy Johnson -39

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The Coca-Cola 600

Broadcast
May 27 at 5:30 PM ET on Fox
The race will be held at Charlotte Motor Speedway and is the longest race of the season for the drivers, and that is not counting and any additional delays from cautions could drag out the telecast. It looks like the race will be run under hot and humid conditions, although there is also a chance of isolated thunderstorms as well.

With Jimmie Johnson so hot lately he has to be considered the favorite in this race, his having gone two for two over the past two weeks. No asterisk need be applied to last week because I am sure no driver hits the gas in an effort not to take home the prize. However the length of a race also has to impact the chances that some unforeseen mishap can ruin a driver’s day.

Nationwide Series
The Nationwide Series also returns, with the running of the History 300. Somehow I missed the fact that they were running in Iowa last week- sorry. I just looked to see what other race was occurring in Charlotte. O well it happens.

It looks as if Rickey Stenhouse Jr. did not miss me, dominating the race by leading 209 of the 250 laps and winning the checkered flag He apparently likes the track with three wins here in the last year. The win was good for extending his lead in the series. The top five was filled out by Elliott Sadler coming in second followed by Michael McDowell, Austin Dillon and Kurt Busch. For those of you still enthralled by Danica Patrick, she did not finish for the second time this year.

Nationwide Series Standings
1) Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
2) Elliott Sadler -34
3) Austin Dillon -43
4) Sam Hornish Jr. -74
5) Cole Whitt -92

History 300
Broadcast
May 26 2:30 ET on ABC

The Indy 500
Broadcast
May 27 12:00 PM ET ABC
The Indy 500 is also this weekend and fans in the infield should be prepared for some hot racing, and hot weather. There are expectations that the race may set a heat record, beating the 92 set in 1937 if it hits the estimated 94 on Sunday.

With qualifying over the top row will feature Ryan Brisco alongside James Hinchcliffe and Ryan Hunter-Reay leading off the 33 car field. It looks like it was a pretty busy week for the drivers and fans.

Friday Grab Bag: Astrodome doomed, Apple Exec Knighted

Remember Michelle Wie, the precocious teen golfer that continually tried to crack the PGA, all without winning on the LPGA? (Well she actually did win her first title in 2009 but still…) Well she has now achieved something that is quite praiseworthy; she has graduated from Stanford University with an undergraduate degree in communications.

Hopefully she will go on and her career mirrors that other famous Stanford Golfer, Tiger Woods, at least with his success on the links.

Google rapidly makes changes at Motorola Mobility
Days after China finally gave its blessing to the $12.5 billion union between Google and Motorola Mobility changes have already started. Motorola’s chief executive officer Sanjay Jha is stepping down from that position and is being replaced by Dennis Woodside, according to a blog post from Google’s CEO Larry Page.

Woodside is a long-time Google executive and has held a number of positions at Google and his current title was Senior Vice President. There are now rumors that there will be layoffs at Motorola but so far Google has been mum on the topic.

Facebook Rage
There was an odd amount of glee when Facebook’s huge IPO did not experience a solid bump on its first day of trading, but now as it slowly sinks all week people are coming out of the woodwork with some solid complaints against the company and its underwriters.

I am sure that you have seen the growing anger as investors discover that the underwriters had reevaluated Facebook’s quarterly and yearly revenues downward, and had not filled in everybody involved. Or did they? Morgan Stanley said it has done nothing wrong but already at least one class action lawsuit has been filed and the SEC is looking into the issue.

The 8th Wonder of the World to go under Wrecking Ball
When the Houston Astrodome opened to glowing reviews in 1965 it was touted as the ‘8th Wonder of the World” but it is now an obsolete building slowly rotting away. Other hi-tech stadiums have outpaced it and simply having a dome over a field now has no cachet.

The city spends millions on upkeep for a building who’s tenants have fled and the cost of destruction has been pegged at $128 million, while renovation would cost between $400 million and $600 million In a city that already has two new stadiums, one for football and one for baseball it is hard to see how it can justify spending that much on the facility.

Apple exec is knighted
Jonathan Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of industrial design is now Sir Jonathan Ive after having been made a Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE). He was presented the honor by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace earlier this week. The award was in honor of his services in the area of design and enterprise.

After the ceremony Ive said that the current group of products that are currently under way at Apple will be the best yet that the company has released. Ive, who has a reputation for secrecy, did not elaborate.

No Expansion of replay for now in MLB
MLB commissioner Bud Selig, speaking at a sports and society conference at St. Norbert College said that he does not believe that baseball needs to expand video review of umpires’ calls, at least right now, according to ESPN.

Selig said that there has been very little pressure to do ao and that since adding additional areas to the existing replay would require approval from both the players and the umpires will not be considered until at least next year, with trapped balls and balls hit down the line will likely be the primary focus. I for one cannot remember when the last trapped ball controversy occurred-anybody recall one?

Google wins at Oracle trial
Any dreams Oracle may have had for a huge payday based on its claims in its patent and copyright trial with Google has not come to pass and the jury sided with Google that it did not infringe on Oracle’s patents.

According to a brief note in the San Francisco Chronicle the jury decision means that Oracle can only collect a maximum of $150,000 in damages. I wonder if that even covers the cost of the case for the company. I doubt it.

No new apps for Windows Phone 7.0
Microsoft Windows Phone users that have not upgraded their operating system from 7.0 to Windows 7.5 are not blocked from adding or upgrading apps on their phone using its Marketplace site. The company released 7.5 last fall.

Google’s Larry Page wears half a glass. Is he an optimist?
Google’s CEO Larry Page wore a pair of glasses (with only one lens) made to support the company’s Project Glass development in a video that was shared on a company web page. He talked about the glasses and did a demonstration with them.

He used the glasses to snap a photo which required using a physical button on the glasses but he was able to share it with a head gesture and a tap of the glasses. It will be interesting to see what features appear in the final project when it finally arrives, and how fast people will seek to ban their use when driving etc…

AMD prepares for tablet space
Digi Times is reporting that when Microsoft releases Windows 8 later this year the AMD plans to insert itself into the mix with a low powered processor that it has designed for this space. The company will have its Hondo processors available and will quickly refresh the lineup in 2013 with a new architecture in its Tamesh line.