Running wide open: Your Martinsville II open comment thread

Can't wait to see how this one plays out. I love that Hermie Sadler is racing today! This was a bunch of help. How much did they get paid to write this? It's a chat thread, r46813. It's for talking about the race, during the race. Please come back and share your comments! R468113, fail! fail fail fail fail fail fail fail fail fail fail fail fail fail fail! Good morning to all... Is everyone ready for some short track racing? McMurray , Ambrose or Newman ..... Pick the best two for today ? Also , Almirola or Hornish Jr. ? just a question about d. junior .will he or is he thinking about leaving HMS, sense making the move from DEI, he hasen't done anything well worth talking about except ,the one win in the nationwide race.
maybe he should really think about it reguardless of the situation with his step mom,
all real problems can be worked out.
IWOULD REALL LIKE TO SEE THE #8 BACK IN THE HUNT AND JUNIOR IN THE DRIVER SEAT. I MIGHT BE WRONG BUT I THINK THAT IS REALLY WHERE HE NEED TO BE. Good morning, Lainey! Just got back from biking with Hubby. Windy day, not so much fun.
Russell, I think you're dreaming, hon. First of all I can't imagine anyone wanting to leave a berth at HMS, unless to retire. Secondly, can't see Junior ever going near Teresa again without a gun to his head. The #8 and the DEI org weren't doing him any good his last several years there. Hey, everyone! C'mon Smoke! Gee...guess you can kind of tell who I want to win, huh? Hi Carol... at least you got some good exercise. I need to get my bike tuned up and start riding again. Carol, nothing worse than riding into the wind. Russell, I don't think Junior wants to come within a broomstick of his stepmother. All the lawsuits, the family discord, etc. would not make for easy racing, even if Ganassi is part owner now. That picture of the Kvapil crewman getting his foot run over looked painful. And he laughed it off to the reporter. Yikes! Good afternoon all.
How are you Carol, Lainey, Miss Priss Afternoon, Kim. Board's a little slow today. No kidding Kim, looked like it might have hurt to me. Do any of y'all think kasey kahne will do any good in the 83 today? And then all the comments show. I hate that!
Yeah Kim; you should do it. Hubby's surgery knee is feeling better, my poor feet are feeling better, and I shall be forced to buy smaller jeans!!!!
Hey Revs, good to see you! I would LIKE to see Kasey do well in the 83. He started 34th and has gotten it up to 22nd. In the pre-race it was said that the farthest back start and win was 36th. Is it utterly wrong of me to wish Aric Almirola a poor ride in the 9? Carol, if you wish him ill, please do it next week. He is on my team this week. lol
GEAUX Jr.

View the original article here

Busch and Gordon and Burton and Harvick tangle at Martinsville

The Martinsville paperclip flared tempers among Chasers on Sunday and in one instance, proved that being teammates means very little in the context of racing for a win and a championship.

The tussle between Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon came out of nowhere. After running near the front of the field, Gordon got shuffled back towards the back of the top 10 after a slow pit stop. In an attempt to make up that lost ground, Gordon got into the corner too hard and bumped Busch up the track in what looked simply like a racing incident.

Busch obviously didn't view it that way, and while he claimed he tried to let Gordon go on the straightaway, as you can tell by the video, the contact he initiated looks pretty intentional. And — at least in the elder Busch's view — means that it's OK for a Chaser to wreck another Chaser in retaliation for initial contact that may not be intentional.

At Kansas, Kyle Busch was wrecked by David Reutimann after he got into Reutimann earlier in the race. In that circumstance, Kyle felt that it wasn't appropriate for someone like Reutimann — who isn't in the Chase — to retaliate against someone racing for the championship. (Yes, Kurt Busch had no real shot at the title entering Martinsville, but Gordon was 156 points back with the faintest of faint hopes.)

Late in the race, Gordon let Busch by without incident, a minor surprise given that Gordon was off the pace because of his wounded race car. Remember, Busch called the drivers at Hendrick Motorsports "pretty boys" earlier in the season and tried to take on Jimmie Johnson himself over the summer.

Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick got touchy — both over the radio and on the track — over real estate at the front of the field. The two RCR teammates made contact numerous times racing for position, and immediately after a caution came out Harvick slammed Burton's rear bumper as if to send a message.

Harvick told his crew chief Gil Martin that he was sick of giving Burton mulligans and that it was the third time that Burton had done it to Harvick, including Indianapolis and Loudon. However, it was unclear from the replays and race coverage just exactly what that "it" was.

At the same time, Burton radioed to crew chief Todd Berrier — formerly Harvick's crew chief — that he was tired of being a good teammate and that if Harvick bumped him again, he would have to do something. However, once Harvick and Burton had a chance to cool down, that feud quickly simmered and the two raced each other cleanly the rest of the way.

While chances are good that Harvick and Burton will settle their differences and be good teammates at Talladega, the same can't be said for Busch and Gordon. It seems that Gordon may owe Busch one over the final four races. Will he cash in?

Related: Kyle Busch, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch

View the original article here