Kes waived the checkers at Talladega on Sunday with a little help from his friend Kyle Busch (photo credit: NASCAR)

Okay so drivers have heard and been told a bazillion times to “be patient” on the track.

Yeah, we’ve all heard it on radio communications during races and have even probably preached audibly to our drivers during races as well.

I know I have.  I’m the queen of talking to the television during racing season.

Matt Kenseth looked poised to win the Aaron’s 499 with about five laps to go and clearly had one of the strongest cars (along with teammate Greg Biffle) all day long.

Until…the two K’s came rolling along on the green-white-checkered finish.  I’m talking about Keselowski and Kyle.

» Continue reading “Sprint Cup: No Patience? No Problem Says Lord Kes”

IndyCar and TMS's Eddie Gossage are at it again but the drivers have put the drama to rest this week...hopefully.

Good morning, race fans.  It’s a b-e-a-utiful Tuesday morning and it’s time for some news.

There’s not much in the way of “new stuff” this week in NASCAR and IndyCar but a couple of updates and follow-ups on stories we’ve already reported about.

We’ll talk about the EFI system that seems to be plaguing NASCAR as of late, the announcement of a new DreamWorks film that revolves around the Indianapolis 500 (staring my man-crush Ryan Reynolds by the way) and of course the ongoing drama between IndyCar drivers and Texas Motor Speedway.

So let’s dive in that way everybody can spend more time outside in the gorgeous weather today.  Oh yeah, nevermind I have a day job.  Everybody else have fun outdoors while I wallow in jealousy and sorrow.

» Continue reading “Garage Gossip: Snails With Magical Powers Anybody?”

Stenhouse wins easily to take his first of the year. (Photo: Yahoo sports)

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. proved once again why you never bet against a champion.  He took the lead with 50 to go, the race stayed green and no one else had a chance.  icky took off like the rest of the field was standing still.  Stenhouse won with an almost five second lead over second place Mark Martin.

The rest of the top 10 finishers are: Elliott Sadler, Trevor Bayne, Brendan Gaughan, Cole Whitt, Austin Dillon, Justin Allgaier, Sam Hornish Jr., and Kasey Kahne.

Kyle Busch did not have an easy day of it.  He made a few highlight reel saves before the car just got away from him.  Kyle spun on lap 26 and tagged the inside wall.  He did come back out on the track 70 laps down, but his day was essentially done.  Kyle finished 33^rd.

The return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway was bittersweet.  The last we raced here, we lost Dan Wheldon.  We all know that he would want us to get back racing, so that is exactly what we did today.  We chose to remember Dan Wheldon with a Twitter hashtag tribute on Lap 77 with #RIPDan77.  That hashtag reached 3^rd on the trend list for the United States.  Bless you, Lionheart.  You are forever in OUR hearts.

» Continue reading “Nationwide Las Vegas: Winner 6 Easy”

Ok, fans, we got what we asked for.  NASCAR made changes to the car to eliminate the Daytona/Talladega two car tandem racing.  We are back to large pack racing and even larger wrecks.

I spent the greater part of the race curled up in a little ball, ruining my manicure by chewing my nails, and finding it difficult to breathe.  It takes us back to watching these restrictor plate races knowing that one false move from one bonehead driver will wreck a good portion of the field.

The Big One is back.

Kyle Busch managed to survive to beat Tony Stewart to the Bud Shootout checkers.  I don’t even know how Kyle was able to straighten his car out from not one, but two Hendrick attempts to dump him.

The first save of the night after a love tap from Jimmie Johnson’s 48 was the sickest save I have seen in quite some time.  This video will make the end of the year highlight reel.  No question.

» Continue reading “NASCAR Bud Shootout: The Pack Is Back”

Fire broke out for the second time in less than a year at JGR on Tuesday. (photo credit: WCNC Charlotte)

For the second time in less a year, fire broke out at Joe Gibbs Racing late Tuesday afternoon in Huntersville, NC as reported by local Channel 36 in Charlotte, NC.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported but several employees were treated at the shop for possible smoke inhalation.  No employees were transported from the scene.

According to reports, fire broke out from a piece of equipment in the machine shop, possibly a laser cutter.

On February 4, 2011 a flash fire erupted at the same shop and damaged a team engine dynamometer which measures horsepower.  No injuries were reported from the incident.

Joe Gibbs Racing is home to drivers Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano who all compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series.

Aerys Turns 1! So BIG! (love this banner from partyark.co.uk)

I remember February 1, 2011 like it was yesterday. Most of the Chicago area remembers because it was the start of Snowmaggedon 2011.  I have very different reasons for remembering.

You see, I had recently discovered Twitter.  I wasn’t very active in using it to speak my mind because, let’s face it, if you don’t have many followers it is about as exciting as talking to yourself.  However, I was an expert lurker and I found it was a great place to “hang out” with other Blackhawks hockey fans.

Here’s where Kat Velez comes into the picture.

I followed Kat for her hilarious commentary and hockey snark.  She tweeted about an upcoming website of women sportswriters that would be launching February 1^st.  (More accurately, Kat was questioning the sanity of Julie DiCaro for picking her to be the Blackhawks lead writer.) I was intrigued and decided to give Julie a follow as well.

This is where it all began.

» Continue reading “Seems Like Yesterday- Happy One Year Anniversary, Aerys Sports!”

Joey is talking to a sports shrink. Have you called yours lately? (photo credit: NASCAR)

Looks like we’re going to see a few trends this year in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series and one of those happens to be drivers seeing and consulting with sports psychologists.

The newest driver added to the list:  Joey Logano.

So correct me if I’m wrong but it seems that two of the three drivers at JGR are seeing one now, right?  Yes, I am correct but I still think the one that needs the most help needs more than a sports shrink. 

Are you listening, Little Shrub?

Joey apparently is seeing the same sports psychologist that Denny Hamlin is currently consulting with according to USA Today who reported Logano’s meetings with sports psycologist Bob Rotella.

It goes without saying, however, that Joey recommends seeing a sports psycholgist to anybody.  Maybe I’ll give it a whirl sometime:

I was against it at first, thinking, ‘I don’t need a shrink…But it’s not about that, it’s confidence. It’s not that you’re screwed up in the head. It’s not like you’re a weirdo. I think it’s good for anybody. I have a whole new outlook. I’d recommend it to anybody. (Joey Logano via USA Today)

In other racing news it’s been confirmed that Robbie Loomis has been let go of his duties at Richard Petty Motorsports who has spent the past six years as RPM’s chief operating officer.  I hate seeing this man out of a job because he kicked some major butt with Jeff Gordon back in 2001 and won twenty-three races in five years with him.

Not quite the twin girls from the Shining, but equally as creepy.

Kyle Busch Motorsports announced earlier this afternoon that they have a new sponsor in Monster Energy for his Nationwide team.  KBM also announced that both Kyle and Kurt Busch will be sharing the driving duties of the #54 Toyota Camry.

I’ll wait while you process all the jokes that “Monster” brings to the table where these two are involved.

Kyle is set to run 10-15 races while brother Kurt will take the rest of the season.  It was “recommended” to Kyle Busch that he not compete in the Camping World Truck Series after his poor choices involving Ron Hornaday, Jr.  He has not announced his intentions with the drivers or sponsors of his trucks.

As much as I hate to admit it, the combination of these two drivers in this car will be at the top of the leaderboard each weekend.  The Busch Brothers may be hot-headed jerks, but I can’t question their abilities as drivers.

It look like the NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers will have work just as hard to get their cars in Victory Lane or even a slight bit of TV coverage this season as well.

No wonder why Carl Edwards turned down the 2012 Nationwide schedule in favor for (rumored) the ESPN broadcast booth.  Even he knew this would be the only way to get on TV this season.

Welcome to the all Danica/all Busch Brothers media circus that NNS will  become.

On the bright side, I cannot wait until Kurt and Kyle Busch go at each other in the pits or on the radio.  Any bets on if Kurt Busch starts complaining right away about the equipment?

We can only hope.

I'm just as shocked as you are as well. Darian Grubb is out and Steve Addington is in at Stewart-Haas Racing as Tony Stewart's crew chief. Go figure.

Until the very last moment I was in disbelief of this “rumor” now revealed as truth until I witnessed it matriculate into fact:  Darian Grubb is no longer Tony Stewart’s crew chief and Kurt Busch’s former crew chief Steve Addington is beginning immediately.

What the *$%&?  Are you #&$*ing kidding me, Morgann?  No, unfortuneatly I do not kid when it comes to matters related to Tony Stewart or anything at SHR. 

This rumor is truth and I’m just as confused as the rest of NASCAR nation.  Let’s take a look at who said what, when the decision was made and possibly offer an explanation as to why, but probably not. 

We all know how predictable Tony Stewart is at times. 

» Continue reading “WTF?!?! Grubb Out, Addington In As Stewart’s Crew Chief”

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Dinner followed by A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving? Perfect.

I would like to take a moment to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving!  I hope that everyone is getting their fill of turkey and pumpkin pie.

We have so many things to be thankful for as race fans.  I wanted to take a moment to discuss a few of mine here.  Please leave a comment below with yours.  Enjoy!

» Continue reading “Yeah, Thanks…Now Is It February Yet?”