Blocking In NASCAR Should Be A Non-Issue, Welcome to Parity Boys and Girls

The last race we had, Tony Stewart made a move to pass Joey Logano on a restart, but Logano made his own move to block Stewart.  After the race, Stewart was all fired up about Logano doing to him, exactly what he himself would have done.  I'm guessing Tony forgot this was NASCAR and not some other racing league that has banned blocking.

And needless to say, Tony was pissed.  He wanted a piece of Joey's ass after the race.  But almost every fan and reporter, to a tee, made mention how this is something Tony himself has done and all those folks also reminded us of a huge wreck at a restrictor plate race that was caused by Stewart himself making a move to block someone.

So be it.  The goose, the gander, the kettle and the pot.

But I'm a bit surprised this debate about blocking is still going on two weeks later.  Or, then again, maybe not since there's been no new news to capture our attention.  Kurt hasn't mouthed off at anyone, Kyle hasn't called the Gen-6 any foul expletive, Mr. "5-Hour Energy" hasn't chased anyone new down.  So this is the latest headline that's still glowing brightest in the aftermath of the last race from two weeks ago.

But the question remains of whether blocking should be allowed in NASCAR?  Should blocking be a valid or allowed part of the sport?

Folks, WELCOME TO PARITY!!!

NASCAR has worked hard to get all the cars/teams on as equal footing as possible.  And now that they are, we are going to start seeing this tactic more and more.

And yes, blocking should be allowed.  It's a valid maneuver that's deployed within most events that involve tactics.  Period.

Honestly, with Logano's move, that meant his eye was on the prize, that first-place trophy.  And if he didn't block, how would his fans and sponsors feel?

In chess, you make moves to block attacks on the king.  In boxing, you block punches from landing valuable points.  In football, you block the pass-rush and defend your quarterback. In war, you make moves to keep the opponent from making their own successful moves.

Blocking is a valid tactic, no matter what.  Not blocking is like seeing the opponent coming, and laying down. And in this day, when teams are more equal in car,  blocking is going to come to the forefront of our attentions.

Now We Know Who's Subbing For Denny Hamlin

Despite confusing reports, the details are now verified as to who might be subbing for Denny Hamlin while he recovers from his fractured spine injury.  (L1 Compression Fracture)

Mark Martin will be taking the wheel of the No. 11 FedEx Toyota coming up at Martinsville.  After that, Brian Vickers will be strapped into the No. 11 Toyota for the subsequent races.

Yes, Michael Waltrip Racing is providing the substitute drivers while Denny is recuperating.  In some previous media reports, I heard Michael Waltrip say that Denny is a friend of his and is willing to help out any way they can.

And that's pretty cool.

And hopefully, Denny will be on track and git back in the car as soon as possible.  Fans are all looking forward to it.  And then we'll see Denny get to work and see what he and his team can do to make up the points deficit.

It will be fun for fans to watch and root for to see what comes of it.

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In the meantime, let's see how Brian and Mark can do in this strange, new car.

Denny Hamlin: After Missing Races, Can He Still Make the Chase? WHO CARES!

Yes, I said that... who cares if Denny Hamlin makes the chase for the Cup in 2013.  But I say that with good intent in my heart.  I think any fan of Denny's has to adopt that perspective because of the situation.

THE MOST IMPORTANT aspect to take away from the situation right now, is that Denny Hamlin get better and be able to lead a healthy life that's not threatened by this spinal cord injury.  He needs to heal, first and foremost.

If Denny tries to do things too fast or too soon, it could be an uglier recovery period.

The Points:  Let It Go

About all this points pondering/guessing, folks, you are only going to drive yourself crazy.(er)

I can appreciate all the guessing math-a-bitical (Yes, I just made that word up.) work everyone is doing in trying to see if or how Denny could possibly still make the Chase.

And sure, it is.  It's a long shot, but it's possible.

All I do is think back to Tony Stewart's hugely successful run in the Gen-5 (COT) car at the late stages of the season he took the trophy home, so yes, it can be done.  (Uh ho, I said that bad 3-letter word)

In the best situation, Denny is back in the car in 5 races.  But if something goes wrong with his recuperation, it could be longer.  If nothing goes wrong, he's got his work cut out for him.

Sure, if he finishes with "x" points every single race after his return, he might be able to make the Chase.

Aside from Tony's stellar, last-ditch effort in that one year, who else has ever made that kind of run in recent years?

Who else is worried about the little factor called luck?

Luck can make or break a driver.  Luck can break a $5 part on the car.  Luck can put a tiny hole in a tire.  Luck can put an entire car into your fender.  Luck can give one the flu.

I can also appreciate that everyone's guessing games involves the absolute best and dazzling good luck possible.

But some fans should brace themselves for the potential reality of the situation.

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From my perspective, I'm pulling for Denny to heal up properly so he has a long racing career.  When he comes back, all he needs to do is his job.  I don't want to get my hopes too high and have them dashed on the rocks if something doesn't pan out.

If he does return and starts to outperform everyone at every single race, then my eyebrows will go up and the excitement will build.  But until then, I'm trying to stay Zen about it.

When he returns, all Denny Hamlin really has to do is his job and the results thereof, will keep his sponsors happy and his fans too.  Doing his job will be what he has to focus on once he returns.  If he distracts himself with all the other math-abetical probabilities, well, that could be self-defeating. (Yup, another new word!)

If Denny has a strong recovery, he'll show us how he's feeling with his work behind the wheel.

-Bruce Simmons

Denny Hamlin Sidelined, Tony Stewart Gets No Fine, The TRACK Should Get Fined!

Boys have at it has had quite the shining moment this past weekend in Fontana, in a big way or two, if you count both the Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart altercations with Joey Logano.

What an interesting common denominator.

First up was the Denny Hamlin/Joey Logano spat that turned into a "I wasn't going to let him win" thing with Joey Logano.

Prior to knowing the extent of Hamlin's injuries, Logano was being quoted to saying "good" about Hamlin's wreck.

This is classic "Boys have at it," whether you like it or not.  But where Logano and Hamlin tangled, you'd never guess that this simple altercation between them would result in a fractured spinal column for Denny Hamlin, putting him out of the car.

But then again, it's always fun until someone gets hurt.  Right?

Hamlin is looking to be out six weeks to give his spine time to heal, and unless he sneaks in and drives the first lap of each of the next five races, he's probably not looking at being a contender for the Chase for the Cup... but hey, wilder things have happened.

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Then there's the Tony Stewart vs. Joey Logano spat, where Stewart got upset that someone raced him on the track.

If anything, it's not the altercation that should get a fine for Stewart, but rather, for being so silly about it.

Wah!  He did to me what I do to others... wah!

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You know who should get a fine?  Auto Club Speedway.  That's right!

Any track in this day and age that does not have the entirety of their track wall surfaces covered in safer-barriers, should get fined by NASCAR for being bone heads!

I don't care about the statistical chances of hitting or not hitting a wall... any point on any wall is suspect, and sooner or later, it will get hit.  Period.

-Bruce

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Official Race Results from Auto Club Speedway

Race Comments: Kyle Busch won the Auto Club 400, his 25th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. Prior to the green flag, the following cars dropped to the rear for the reason indicated: #2, 16 (engine changes).   And look who took over the points standings after all was said and done!

NEXT EVENT: April 7, 2013 - 64th Annual STP Gas Booster 500, Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, VA (263 Miles) (500 Laps)


NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES OFFICIAL RACE REPORT No. 5
17TH ANNUAL AUTO CLUB "400"
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY

Fontana, CA - March 24, 2013
2-Mile Oval
200 Laps - 400 Miles Purse: $5,899,231

Fin	Car			Series	Bonus		Leader
Pos	No	Driver	Laps	Points	Points	Status	Times	Laps
1	18	Kyle Busch	200	48	5	Running	7	125
2	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr	200	42	0	Running
3	22	Joey Logano	200	42	1	Running	3	41
4	99	Carl Edwards	200	40	0	Running
5	78	Kurt Busch	200	39	0	Running
6	16	Greg Biffle	200	38	0	Running
7	20	Matt Kenseth	200	38	1	Running	1	10
8	27	Paul Menard	200	36	0	Running
9	5	Kasey Kahne	200	35	0	Running
10	39	Ryan Newman	200	34	0	Running
11	24	Jeff Gordon	200	33	0	Running
12	48	Jimmie Johnson	200	32	0	Running
13	29	Kevin Harvick	200	32	1	Running	1	1
14	43	Aric Almirola	200	30	0	Running
15	13	Casey Mears	200	29	0	Running
16	51	AJ Allmendinger	200	28	0	Running
17	31	Jeff Burton	200	27	0	Running
18	56	Martin Truex Jr	200	26	0	Running
19	1	Jamie McMurray	200	25	0	Running
20	17	Ricky Stenhouse Jr #	200	24	0	Running
21	7	Dave Blaney	200	23	0	Running
22	14	Tony Stewart	200	23	1	Running	2	18
23	2	Brad Keselowski	200	21	0	Running
24	34	David Ragan	200	21	1	Running	1	1
25	11	Denny Hamlin	199	20	1	Accident	1	3
26	10	Danica Patrick #	199	18	0	Running
27	36	J.J. Yeley	199	17	0	Running
28	47	Bobby Labonte	198	16	0	Running
29	38	David Gilliland	198	15	0	Running
30	33	Landon Cassill	194	14	0	Running
31	30	David Stremme	193	13	0	Running
32	87	Joe Nemechek	193	0	0	Running
33	83	David Reutimann	192	11	0	Oil Leak
34	93	Travis Kvapil	188	11	1	Running	1	1
35	15	Clint Bowyer	184	9	0	Engine
36	9	Marcos Ambrose	182	8	0	Running
37	55	Mark Martin	179	7	0	Running
38	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	169	6	0	Running
39	32	Timmy Hill #	108	5	0	Rear Gear
40	35	Josh Wise	103	0	0	Overheating
41	44	Scott Riggs	66	3	0	Vibration
42	98	Michael McDowell	60	2	0	Vibration
43	19	Mike Bliss	44	0	0	Fuel Pump

==========

TIME OF RACE:  2 hours, 57 minutes, 19 seconds   AVERAGE SPEED:  135.351 mph   MARGIN OF VICTORY:  Under Caution

COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD: Denny Hamlin (187.451 mph. 38.410 secs.)

3M LAP LEADER: Kyle Busch (125 Laps)

AMERICAN ETHANOL GREEN FLAG RESTART AWARD: Kyle Busch

DURALAST BRAKES "BRAKE IN THE RACE" AWARD: Kevin Harvick

FREESCALE "WIDE OPEN": Carl Edwards

MAHLE CLEVITE ENGINE BUILDER OF THE RACE: Toyota Racing Development (#18)

MOBIL 1 DRIVER OF THE RACE: Kyle Busch

MOOG STEERING AND SUSPENSION PROBLEM SOLVER OF THE RACE: Ryan Newman (crew chief Matt Borland, 0.354 seconds)

NASCAR SPRINT CUP LEADER BONUS: No winner: rolls over to $60,000 at next event++

SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Ricky Stenhouse Jr

================

Caution Flags: 9 cautions for 35 laps. [Beneficiary in Brackets]
30-33 (Car #30 Spin Turn 2 [35]);
38-42 (Fluid On Track [36]);
92-95 (Debris [83]);
118-121 (Car #87 Accident Turn 2 [20]);
132-136 (Debris [78]);
171-174 (Debris [83]);
177-180 (Car #38,55 Accident Backstretch [None]);
186-189 (Car #15 Spin Turn 3 [7]);
200 (Car #11,22 Accident Turn 4 [None]).

Lap Leaders: 17 lead changes among 8 drivers.
Hamlin-pole, Kenseth 1-10, Ky. Busch 11-30, Kvapil 31,
Ky. Busch 32-43, Logano 44-67, Ky. Busch 68, Harvick 69,
Stewart 70-75, Ky. Busch 76-92, Hamlin 93-95, Ky. Busch 96-121,
Logano 122-132, Ragan 133, Stewart 134-145, Ky. Busch 146-193,
Logano 194-199, Ky. Busch 200.

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES TOP 12
Driver	Points	Wins
1 - Dale Earnhardt Jr	199	(0)
2 - Brad Keselowski	187	(0)
3 - Jimmie Johnson	183	(1)
4 - Carl Edwards	164	(1)
5 - Greg Biffle	164	(0)
6 - Kyle Busch	163	(1)
7 - Kasey Kahne	159	(1)
8 - Paul Menard	154	(0)
9 - Joey Logano	146	(0)
10 - Denny Hamlin	145	(0)
11 - Matt Kenseth	141	(1)
12 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr	139	(0)

====================

Owners Points After the Auto Club 400

POS	Car #	Owner	Points	Starts	Wins	Top5	Top10
1	88	RICK HENDRICK	199	5	0	3	5
2	2	ROGER PENSKE	187	5	0	4	4
3	48	JEFF GORDON	183	5	1	2	3
4	99	JACK ROUSH	164	5	1	3	3
5	16	JACK ROUSH	164	5	0	0	2
6	18	JOE GIBBS	163	5	1	3	3
7	5	LINDA HENDRICK	159	5	1	2	3
8	27	RICHARD CHILDRESS	154	5	0	0	3
9	51	JAMES FINCH	153	5	0	0	1
10	22	WALTER CZARNECKI	146	5	0	1	1
11	11	J D GIBBS	145	5	0	1	1
12	20	JOE GIBBS	141	5	1	1	3
13	17	JOHN HENRY	139	5	0	0	0
14	55	MICHAEL WALTRIP	138	5	0	1	2
15	78	BARNEY VISSER	137	5	0	2	2
16	15	ROB KAUFFMAN	137	5	0	1	2
17	29	RICHARD CHILDRESS	130	5	0	0	1
18	1	FELIX SABATES	125	5	0	0	1
19	43	RICHARD PETTY	125	5	0	0	0
20	24	RICK HENDRICK	123	5	0	0	1
21	56	MICHAEL WALTRIP	122	5	0	0	1
22	39	TONY STEWART	121	5	0	1	3
23	13	BOB GERMAIN	118	5	0	0	0
24	14	MARGARET HAAS	108	5	0	0	1
25	9	RICHARD PETTY	107	5	0	0	0
26	31	RICHARD CHILDRESS	105	5	0	0	1
27	36	ALLAN HEINKE	92	5	0	0	1
28	7	TOMMY BALDWIN	89	5	0	0	0
29	10	GENE HAAS	87	5	0	0	1
30	30	BRANDON DAVIS	86	5	0	0	0
31	42	CHIP GANASSI	83	5	0	0	0
32	47	TAD GESCHICKTER	82	5	0	0	0
33	83	RON DEVINE	74	5	0	0	0
34	34	BOB JENKINS	74	5	0	0	0
35	38	BRAD JENKINS	64	5	0	0	0
36	32	FRANK STODDARD JR.	59	5	0	0	0
37	93	RON DEVINE	57	5	0	0	0
38	33	JOE FALK	52	5	0	0	0
39	87	ANDREA NEMECHEK	45	5	0	0	0
40	35	JERRY FREEZE	44	5	0	0	0

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In case you missed it at the top of the post....
NEXT EVENT: April 7, 2013 - 64th Annual STP Gas Booster 500, Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, VA (263 Miles) (500 Laps)


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