Hey folks I know we are only into the new year a week or so but things in NASCAR never really stop accept Christmas Day. Then again I bet there were guys heading out to the Garage with some Lenox Industrial Tool just wanting to play with it. But what I mean is Teams only had about a 100 day window to take what they had in 2011 and make it better or change it for 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season. Give me a few minutes to go over a couple moves that are catching my eye this off season.

Kyle Busch has been asked by Joe Gibbs Racing and his Primary Sponsor M&M’s to ONLY Race their brand in the Sprint Cup Series. That would mean Kyle would be out of his own Kyle Busch Motorsports Truck and his new Nationwide Car. Wow! Can they do that? They sure can and they didn’t make him they asked him but I’m sure his Cup Ride at JGR might have been at stake too. M&M’s is a big sponsor in NASCAR for JGR and Kyles actions in his Truck and in the #18 Nationwide car have gotten him into big trouble. But who will drive the NNS KBM Car in 2012? The rumor going around is it might be his bad boy brother Kurt Busch. I predicted before KuBu would drive for a Cup Team but would race his brother NNS car for the Driver Championship. I still see that as a very large possibility.

But what about the rest of JGR Team? Will Kyle drive any of the season in the #18? Will Denny Hamlin Drive it? I say put JRG Driver Brian Scott in the #18 and put Denny Hamlin in the #11 sharing to seat with long time JGR Driver Stand in Michael McDowell. Denny has a new Cup Crew Chief with 2011 Champion Crew Chief Darian Grubb coming over from Stewart Haas Racing and I’m sure they still want Denny focused on a Sprint Cup Championship so look for him very limited in the NNS.

Let’s see who went where since the end of the season. Clien Bowyer went to Michael Waltrip Racing to drive the #15 and Mark Martin signed on for the #00 which changed it’s number to the #55 Arrons Dream Machine. Khasey Khane moved over in to Mark Martin’s old #5 at HMS leaving Red Bull which has since closed it’s doors. Kurk came out of the #22 to go to Pheonix and the #51 so AJ Almindinger leaves the #43 to fill the seat of the Miller Lite #22. I’m starting to get dizzy here but I’ll go on. Now with the #43 having an open Musical Drivers Seat RPM reached in to Dale Jr’s stable and grabbed up Aric Almirola for the legendary RPM #43. Anyone else notice Aric Almirola looks a little bit like a very young KING? I did!

At the time I wrote this there are 52 Daze until the Daytona 500 but Drivers are already starting to dust off the racing gloves and trying to lose those extra Christmas goodie pounds. Pudgy Firesuits look terrible just ask ____ _______. I’m sure you are like me and already getting tickets bought, campers cleaned up and grills being made ready for a great season of our favorite boys knocking into each other making those lovely Left Hand Turns.

Bring it!
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Hey Races Fans I know it’s called the off season but that’s not what happens when the engine shut down after Homestead. Sure everyone will take Christmas off and a few days around it and the Drivers will fly off to some place nice to Holiday but back at Team HQs the work goes on. And yes even the Big Guys at NASCAR are working and tweaking things for the 2012 season. Why you ask? Because they listen to us Races Fans and this year we let them know we hated the Two Car Tandems we saw this last two years at Daytona and Talladega.

To break up the two Drivers glued together and talking with each other and using one Spotter NASCAR is looking at a few things that I really think should help. One is they might ban Driver to Driver Communications and allow only communication between Driver and His Crew Chief. Can’t ride with a guy you can’t talk to very long that’s for sure but they are going to do even more. They will take out their 5 Gallon Radiator with 1 Gallon Catch Can and replace it with a tiny 2 Gallon Radiator and 1/2 Gallon Catch Can. Oh and those Air Intake Ducts on the outsides will be moved to the very center of the nose. This means they will Over Heat fast if they ride nose to tail. They also are going to give them another 1/64th inch opening in the Restrictor Plate or about 12 more Horsepower so hopefully we will get back to more interesting Restrictor Plate Races.

NASCAR will also be adding High Definition Instant Replay for the Race Controllers to use. No they won’t use them like Football to call a Race back a few laps but they will help them see where Penalties and Fines might be needed. They can use them to see why Cars got together and maybe cause a crash or who threw the water bottle out the window to cause a Caution and much more. They will bring each week 18 HD 720dpi Cameras from Telestream that like Willie Wonka can scan Frontways, Backways, Sideways and at any Angle. Call me a Redneck but we’ll get to see the Crashes a lot better too!

Let’s see the Grinch Kurt Busch maybe stealing AJ Almandinger Christmas cheer and maybe his #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Car and lets hope the Dinger ain’t left out in the cold. I knew good Teams would want Kurt as a Driver but I still think the sponsorship part will be a problem. Did hearing this news make current RPM Sponsor Best Buy to already be looking to change Teams and go with Kennseth? Yeah I’m riding the Kurt Busch Short Bus Tour just to see how this Circus ends.

The comings and going at Joe Gibbs Racing is Mike Ford the Crew Chief for the #11 is out and 2011 Champion Crew Chief Darian Grubb is in. Grubb had been told even before the Chase he would not have a job at Stewart Hass Racing and went on to win 5 of the 10 Chase Races and bring Tony Stewart from the back to win the Homestead Race and Championship. I think this will be just what Denny Hamlin and that #11 Team need to be back at the top and a real contender for a Championship. The #20 Home Depot Crew Chief Greg Zipadelli just left as well to be the Competition Director for SHR which reunites him and long time partner Tony Stewart. No word yet who will replace him as Joey Logano’s Crew Chief but I’d be looking for an inhouse move.

Like I said folks there is lots going on and I’m here to bring to to you straight.
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What an awesome year 2011 was in NASCAR and I for one loved the way it ended. Don’t get me wrong I could have gone either way with the winner being Tony Stewart as it was or Cousin Carl Edwards. But the way it ended was almost and I hope it wasn’t…scripted. I’m mean you go from Stewart a guy that’s just above average at best through the season doubting himself whether or not he should be in the Chase. To the same guy not only winning 5 of the 10 Chase races but even at Homestead itself coming back from 40th to Win the Race and Championship was amazing. So congratulations to SHR and the whole #14 Tony Stewart Office Depot Team. I called it right when I said Champions know how to be Champions.

Ole Cousin Carl was about as close to winning [and when I say close I mean not even 1 Point behind the Winner] but alas no Back Flip. Will he have what it take to grab that Championship Brass Ring next year is the biggest question and I’m gonna say he does but this year was his best chance. Ask Denny Hamlin about getting a 2nd Chance and he’ll tell you he should have grabbed it when he was close. Carl has a good team in place and if he has a good year next year I say he could possibly be the NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion in 2012.

Now the Burning Busch with Kurt Busch getting FIRED from Penske for well being a Jerk but not a Tasty Jerk like a Beef Jerk. The kind of Jerk that bites and bites the hands that feed him. Being a part of NASCAR is a rare and privileged honor and it comes with some responsibilities. One of those is give the Media and we Fans Interviews and some of their time because, that is what the Sport is about THE FANS. When I watched the home video of Kurt Busch Mother F’ing Dr. Jerry an ESPN Pit Reporter to the point Jerry said “Forget it” and walked away I was embarrassed. I was embarrassed for Jerry, for Kurt, Penske, NASCAR and myself because outside people already think NASCAR is a bunch of Jerk Rednecks and Busch just proved them right. Kurt I know yer reading this and well…possibly getting MAD but you need to tighten up son. Sure you can Drive but where now? Who wants you on their Team? Well some Team that wants that “Past Champion” status so you and their crappy car and get in the race without being fast enough to qualify in. Good luck with that. Learn from this and yes you will be a much better Driver and I hope you do Sir.

That’s my Blog and I’m sticking with it folks!
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NASCAR like Perky Jerky are wonderful things we fill up on but, sooner or later we get to the bottom of the Bag. NASCAR finishes up in the lovely weather of South Beach Florida at Miami-Homestead Speedway and this year’s Chase has come down to just 1 Championship, 2 Drivers & 3 Points. This has been a great season and one of the best Chases we’ve seen since they started them. Cousin Carl has been steady racing up near the front all year and then here came Tony Stewart with 4 Wins in the Chase to catch up to within 3 points of the lead at the final race.

Who’s going to win the Championship for 2011? Who knows because either of these guys are capable of having a great race but I think the pressure is on Cousin Carl. This Championship right now is his to loss and he knows it and he knows Tony Stewart has the heart of a Lion and will be after him like a Gazelle wrapped in Bacon. The only way Carl is locked into a Championship is to Win the Race. In fact even if they both Tie in Points at the end of the Race it goes to Tony Stewart who owns the Tie Breaker with his 4 Wins and Better Finishes. I think the edge does go to Steward because of his 11 Championships from his 2 in NASCAR and in IRoc, Carts and others. Champions know how to be Champions and they also know what it takes and will do whatever it takes to be a Champion. Cousin Carl better run like Forest Gump is all I’m saying.

Who would be better for NASCAR as a Champion is a wash because both of these Drivers are great for the Sport and for Sponsors and pretty much liked by all the Fans. I’m not gonna mention Kyle Busch in here anywhere or I’ll be getting an ear full from Carol C. who thinks he walks on water. But I digress. Carl is a Fan Favorite for sure and personality perfectly made for Sponsors and Television so he would be great Spokesman as Champion but so would Tony Stewart. A Driver/Owner Champion has not happened since 1992 when “Special K” Alan Kulwicki won the Winston Cup Championship so this would be great for SHR after just a few years as a Team. Stewart knows what this would do for his Team and Organization and I think may be the stronger motivating factor in the two Drivers.

Carl Edwards won this Race last year and has [2] Wins under this newer configuration which was changed in 2000 from a track much like Indy with Short Shoots between Turns 1 and 2 and again between Turns 3 and 4. Tony Stewart won the first [2] Races under that configuration but now that it’s more like a traditional Oval a guy like Carl Edwards on 1.5 Mile Tracks may have the advantage. Drivers love the Track now even more after in 2003 they added Variable Banking in the Turns to give 3 good grooves to Race in and trust me they will be using every inch of that Track to get and stay up front. 4 of the 12 Chase Drivers have won at Miami-Homestead but I learned it’s the Only Track Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin have never won at[excluding the new Kentucky] and it’s one of just a couple ole 5 Time Jimmie Johnson has not won at either.

So Mike who is going to be the NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion for 2011 yer asking? Well, I don’t really have a Dog in this Hunt and I’m not a betting man and I like both Drivers equally but if I gotta pick just to get my Perky jerky Pay I say…. Tony Stewart the Driver of the #14 Office Depot Chevy will be the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion. You heard it first hear folks so call yer Bookie and place those bets and don’t forget yer ole buddy Mike when ya win big.

Have a great Final Race Weekend Folks!
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Hey folks I waited pretty late in the week to write this blog because I was waiting for the Kyle Busch Drama Bus to stop so I could get off. It looks like it’s going to keep chugging along till the end of the year with more fuel being added to the fire daily but Talking Heads, the Media and even Sponsors. What do I think about what he did and what is all happening and why it’s getting so blown up. MONEY! Everyone talking about this stands to keep making money on Kyle Busch because he is so riveting and polarizing and gets media coverage and like it’s been said “Even Bad Press is Good Press if they spell yer name right”.  Am I talking about the last 2 races in the Chase and Tony Stewart and Cousin Carl or am I like all the media have you reading about Kyle Busch?

So what really do we have here and what is the right thing to do? I like anyone in NASCAR have to say that this is NASCAR’s Game and Sets of Rules and Rulings and I will go along with whatever they rule on in their sport. So setting Kyle out the rest of the Truck Race after crashing Hornaday on a Caution was right but ONLY because it was under caution. Had Kyle waited until under Green Flag Racing and wrecked him into the Wall I would have said that was “boys have at it racing”. It was because it was under Caution it got the biggest foul and well maybe Kyle flipping the Race Officials the Bird last year at Texas too but I digress. I think NASCAR was also right to sit him out the rest of the weekend and heck toss in that $50,000 fine and I’m ok with that too.

I have a problem with the people, race fans and sponsors that want to Tar & Feather the guy because they don’t “LIKE” him. Let me tell you in competition I don’t care one way or another if you like me I only care about winning and I believe Kyle is the same way. Is he easy to hate? Yup! I’d say Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick are the two Drivers most easily to hate. Why? Winners have attitudes and egos and they need those to win but it’s a thin line to cross over and when Busch goes he goes with both feet. I will also say that JGR has done a pretty good job of taming the wild antics of Busch and they have brought him a long way but as we see more is still needed.

I’m glad to see JGR stand by it’s Driver and Team Family member at this time when Z-Line and M&Ms are both bailing on Busch. He made both of those companies very much in the spotlight every time they were on his car and shame on them for bailing on him now. Both leaches will be back on him next year to suck him for everything he is worth so in their eyes they are still supporting him while protecting their images. Thank you Interstate Battery for Manning up for your long time friends at JGR to Sponsor the #18 the last two races of the year. Does it still hurt JGR to be missing a Primary Sponsor like an M&Ms? I asked my Secret Unnamed/Anonymous Inside NASCAR Source how much it cost to Sponsor a NASCAR Sprint Cup car and got this answer… “A lot bud… A lot:)”. So yes JGR and Kyle Busch are being punished for the actions he took on the Track but what will be the effect? I predict Kyle will be the same hard racing Driver and even more determined then ever and hopefully more in control of his emotions and would not bet against him being the 2012 Sprint Cup Champion.

You read it here first folks.
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