NASCAR Talk

Hello, my dear NASCAR Talk Online readers!

It is with a heavy heart that I post this farewell note to you all. My life has gotten insanely busy and I’ve had to downsize a couple of my blogs, and unfortunately, this is one of them. I’ve really enjoyed blogging about what I love, but I needed to cut ties and just didn’t have time to give this site the attention it deserves.

Thanks for reading all of these months and I’m sure the new writer that takes over this blog will be fabulous, so keep coming back and support whoever that might be, okay?

I’m still going to be around (somewhat) over at Country Music Herald, so you can still get a hold of me over there to chat or talk about the latest NASCAR controversies and races.

Thanks again!

Heather

Carl Edwards and the #99 Roush Fenway team got quite a smackdown from NASCAR officials today. The announcement comes three days after Edwards piloted his Ford to the win at Las Vegas and then did not pass post race inspection.

The car was found to have an oil tank cap that was not secured, which supposedly allows air to flow more freely in the engine. Today, it was decided he was in violation of several NASCAR rules and he was penalized accordingly. Edwards was the Sprint Cup points leader after the weekend race, but he was fined 100 driver points for the infraction, dropping him back to 7th place and Kyle Busch now assumes the points lead.

Other parts of the penalty included a loss of 100 owner points, $100,000 fine and suspension from the next six Sprint Cup races for crew chief Bob Osborne. The team is on probation until December 31st.

What do you think of this penalty? Was it the right one or was it too stiff? Several Nationwide Series cars were cited for the same infractions at Daytona and were only assessed a loss of 25 points. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

NASCAR, Carl Edwards Penalized, Sprint Cup Penalties

Sorry about the lack of posts so far this month, but we’ve had some major technical difficulties all across the network here. In fact, this is the first time I’ve been able to even get to the site to post anything. Hopefully everything is all cleared up now and I can get some updates in. Check back soon for your NASCAR news as Speed Weeks begin!

I’ve been trying to post all day and it keeps eating my posts, so this is just a quick post to let you know that I really am trying to update but I keep running into technical difficulties. Hopefully the will be resolved once and for all very very shortly. Thanks for understanding and I hope I can get up lots of posts tomorrow and catch up on all the Preseason Thunder news we’ve missed so far this week.

I wish you all a prosperous and happy new year! I’m taking yet another holiday off (I’m such a slacker) to spend time watching bowl games with my family. I hope you are all recovering from your New Year’s Eve and enjoying the holiday!

It’s the end of 2007 and I need your help, NASCAR fans. I want to put together a year end countdown of the ten most memorable NASCAR moments of 2007. I definitely have my own opinions, but I can’t remember everything, of course, so that’s where you come in. Leave your lists in the comments below or email them to me using the contact link in the sidebar (ranked in order). I would like to have them up on New Years Eve, so make sure you get your lists in to me by December 30th. I’ll compile them and have the countdown for you on the 31st!

Merry Christmas, NASCAR fans! I’m going to take a couple of days off to spend some time with my family, but thought I would leave you with the following classic NASCAR Christmas story (although I’m not sure of it’s origin, I found it at BigandBubba.com…if you know it’s original author, let me know in the comments below so they can get the proper credit!)

So have a happy holiday and travel safely if you are going somewhere!

A NASCAR CHRISTMAS…..

Twas the Race before Christmas and all through the track
Each driver was ready to make his attack.
The tires had been stacked by the pit crew with care

With hopes none of them would run out of air.
The drivers were belted all snug in their seats

Where visions of checkered flags looked mighty sweet.

When out of the infield there rose such a clatter
The crowd sprang to their feet to see what was the matter.
What sight met their wondering eyes as they rose
Twas Rusty Wallace punching somebody’s nose.

With eyes like the eagles the spotters they came
And they turned on their headsets and called them by name
“On Spencer! On Petty! On Rudd and Jarrett! “On Cope! On Speed! On Ward and Jeff Burton! At the top of the curve ran ‘em into the wall!

Now gentlemen, start your engines all!”

More rapid than lightning the Iceman they flew
With a sack full of cash and the Winston Cup too.
And then in a twinkling there came to the front
The bright rainbow colors of Gordon’s DuPont.

Then Bobby Labonte flew by in a flash
While Martin had a breakdown and Spencer a crash.
Then all at once with a rush and a roar

There came a new car they had not seen before.

From bumper to bumper it was painted all red
North Pole Toy Co.was the sponsor they read.
With a little old driver so lively and quick
They all said at once, “Hey, this must be a trick!”

“A geezer like that shouldn’t be driving here!”
“And why does his pit crew all have pointed ears?”
The next scheduled pit stop went kinda slow
For the old fellow stopped at each pit in the row.

He spent no time at all, but left gas and oil
A new set of tires, new tools for their toil.
He asked no endorsement, demanded no fee
And left only coal for the black #3.

Childress got on the com and said “Hey Intimidator …
Want to chew him up now, or save him for later?”
Dale spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
He gave him a nudge, then broadsided the jerk.

But the old guy escaped with a zig and a zag
And crossed over the finish line, right at the flag.
The old man drove straight up to victory lane
Grabbed up the trophy and drank some champagne.

Thanked all his sponsors and took the cash too
Stole a kiss from Brooke Gordon, and then off he flew
As he sped out of sight, one last cry did they hear.
“Merry Christmas to all, better luck next year!”

Is anyone else having withdrawal symptoms yet? Well, I’ve decided to fight back against the idea of no new races until the Daytona 500 in February by keeping this blog running (hopefully) daily. So what is in store for you, the wonderful readers of NASCAR Talk Online? Well, here’s a sneak peek of what is to come if you stick it out through the off season with me and keep reading.

1. Driver Bios. Most of the off season will be a look into the lives of the drivers under those helmets. I’ll try to compile at the very least the Nextel Cup (or I suppose now I should say the Sprint Cup) drivers’ biographies including how they climbed the racing ranks, their off track lives, and maybe some fun facts about them. I will most likely make it through the top 35 of the Nextel Cup and maybe the Busch Series (now Nationwide Series) regulars and Craftsman Truck top ten. If you have a favorite driver that doesn’t fall into one of those categories, let me know and I’ll work them in!

2. Race videos. If we can’t have new races, let’s rewatch some old ones! I’ll scour the web and YouTube for some great finishes, big crashes, and just overall great racing clips. If you find one you think is great, send me a link.

3. NASCAR commercials. Maybe I’m in the minority, but I think that NASCAR drivers make the funniest and best commercials out there. I’ve found a few classics that are definitely worth sharing. If you’ve got a favorite, send me a comment and I’ll try to find it for you.

4. NASCAR news. Of course I’ll still have plenty of NASCAR news here for you as it comes out. We’ll take a look at next year’s rookie class, the silly season changes, and any other important news.

5. Surprises! I have a few things up my sleeve that don’t fit into the above categories, that I think you will enjoy.

So don’t forget to check in from time to time and see what’s going on at NASCAR Talk Online. If there is something I missed, let me know in the comments section below.

NASCAR, NASCAR Talk Online, NASCAR Off Season

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you NASCAR Talk Online readers!

I am very thankful to be able to bring you all of the latest NASCAR news and results through this blog. It has been a wonderful experience so far to have the ability to write about a topic I truly love.

I am thankful for race weekends with my family and watching great sportsmen compete every week.

Most of all, I am thankful for all of you–the readers. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be able to keep writing about such a great sport. So thank you for reading!

What are you thankful for on this Thanksgiving? Leave your comments below!

Starting with the 2008 season, the Busch Series will be no more. The contract between NASCAR and Anheuser-Busch expires at the end of the 2007 season, and Busch has decided not to renew the contract. It was announced on Wednesday that Nationwide Insurance will become the title sponsor for the Grand National Series (currently called the Busch Series). The seven year agreement between Nationwide (perhaps best known for their commercial jingle insisting that “Nationwide is on your side”) and NASCAR not only means a change in the name of the series, but also the logo, which has yet to be revealed. The Nextel Cup Series will also undergo a name change in 2008 to the Sprint Cup Series, as previously reported.

What do you think of the new sponsor? Was it a good move for NASCAR? Will the drivers have to put a giant insurance policy on their roofs in Victory Lane? Let me know in the comments section below.

To see the schedule for the 2008 Nationwide Series, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Busch Series, New Busch Series Sponsor, NASCAR Nationwide Series, 2008 NASCAR Schedule

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As the Nextel Cup series switches over to become the Sprint Cup Series, the schedule has also changed a bit. The notable changes are:

Specific dates have been announced for some of the biggest races of the season as well:

NASCAR, NASCAR 2008 schedule, NASCAR Sprint Cup 2008 Schedule

Hello, and welcome to NASCAR Talk Online! My name is Heather and I’m your new guide to everything NASCAR. I’m going to try to include as much Busch Series and Craftsman Truck news as I can find, along with the Nextel Cup action. I’ll start with the new information tomorrow. For today, I’ll point you in the direction of some NASCAR articles I’ve written in the past.

Crew Chief Shuffle
Meet the Car of Tomorrow
NASCAR News and Views
How to Find NASCAR Tickets

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you in Victory Lane!

NASCAR, NASCAR Talk