Rusty Reckons: Goin Nuts

NASCAR is going nuts, and Rusty just might go with them. Not only is this weekend when the infield at the race getting crazier than Mardi Gras, but in case you missed it, there's been a lot of talk about nuts lately in the garage.

[Brace yourself for a lot of bad puns, this week]

Glue, Lug Nuts Create Stick Situation in the Pits

This year, NASCAR's required longer studs on the wheels, and this has thrown a little wrinkle into the competition. The only way to change four tires in under 15 seconds, is by doing it in rhythm. The tire changers on NASCAR teams have the precision and timing with an air gun as Earl Scruggs does with a banjo. The longer wheel studs had thrown this timing off. Imagine, Scruggs trying to pick his banjo with a pitch fork. So, the pit crews are going nuts...


Now, come later today, ole Rusty just might be going nuts. One of the most exciting races of the year is this weekend. The Aaron's 499 in Talladega. Shew boy! Talladega is the biggest rack on the circuit at over 2.6 miles long, and you know what that means . . . restrictor plates and running in the pack. At Daytona (the other plate track) it's about handling, moving through the air, blah blah blah. At 'Dega it ain't nuttin but pure unadulterated speed. They repaved down there in Alabama a few years back, and it's smooth as a baby's bottom, now. The cars literally scream through the corner.

The trick to running and finishing well at 'Dega comes down to 3 things, aero-package, horsepower, and luck. To win in Alabama, you've gotta get your car close down to the ground to force as much air up and over the car to increase the speed. This is harder with the new COT. Second, you've gotta have a lot of horses under the hood. The cars will run wide open; no braking, no down shifting, no nuttin. HAMMER DOWN!!! Lastly, you've gotta have luck. The cars will run in huge packs, and they wiggle around like Rusty in church. If someone messes up, the carnage can be huge. A lot of times it just comes down to being in the right place at the right time, pure and simple.

So, what's all this mean? Who is going to run well? Rusty's got no idea. Some of the regulars will be at the front; the shrub, Jimmie, Jeff, Tony. Other guys who seem to excel at the plate tracks will be up there too, guys like Mikey and June-bug. But in the end, it's really anybody's race. Whoever wins, though, I can guarantee it'll be exciting and a nail biter till the end.

JR Prediction

Well, I'm sure once again you've been anxious to read what ole Rusty the Jr apologist has to say about the latest Junior controversy. Again, if you missed it; at Phoenix, Casey Mears got into Junior, and Junior wrecked. After the finish of the race, Junior turned Mears around as a little payback. Mears then came into the pits and bumped Junior a few times. That was the end of it . . . well, until NASCAR put them on probation. Lucky for both of them probation doesn't really mean anything in NASCAR. It just means they are being watched a little closer. So, what do I think about all that? It's racing, and it's awesome. Junior's not one to get real angry and "act out". He's got a passion for racing, but doesn't always show it in a negative way. I think he's due a slip up from time to time. And you know what? A little passion could be good. They need to get going. Talladega's one of his best tracks. So, maybe with a good track and a little fire in his belly, he'll begin to turn it around. I'm not going to make a prediction, but . . .

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Have You Gotten Your BlogsWithBalls Tickets Yet?

Rusty's Raging at Richmond

It was a near picture perfect day. In 5 years, we've never had such good weather for the Virginia Gold Cup. So, there I was at the end of a good day watching a nearly snoozable race when it happened. The dominant leader began to fall back. There were only a handful of laps left. Junior battled for the lead and was out front. About 8 laps left, and then the worst thing . . . a caution!!!

He had begun to pull away from the Shrub, but now he'd be right back on his bumper. They would restart with just 5 laps to go.

4 laps to go and the Shrub was right up on his bumper coming out of 2 and going down the backstretch. Then it happened!!!!

That moron just wrecked my boy. The 88 went spinning down the backstretch smacking the wall hard. He'd rejoin the line in 16th with only 2 laps to go. It was over. The losing streak would continue another week. In the melee, Clint Bowyer got to the front and ended up with the win. Shrub finished 2nd, a very undeserving second.

Now, Junior says it was just a racing thing, and he doesn't seem mad at Kyle, but boy was he upset with what happened. I don't know any better than he does about what happened out there, but I do know this. Kyle needed extra security getting outta Richmond last night.

I understand it's a race, and everyone's just trying to win, but his checkers or wreckers style of driving needs to be corrected. My hope is that someone will correct him real quickly. Maybe this coming weekend at Darlington. The lady in black is a tough track to tame for a little nobody like the Shrub.

Ole Rusty will get over it, I reckon, but it's gonna be a tough pill to swallow. Seems my boy just can't catch a break.

Y'all come back now, hear?

Rusty Reckons: Richmond

Rusty's second favorite track is arguably the best track to see a race live. Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4 mile tri-oval with multiple groves of racing. Cars can pass high, low, and all over the track, even though passing on the bottom seems to be the preferred method of winning races with a little rubbin of course.

Under the lights at RIR is some of the best night racing, if not the best night racing all season. It'll probably be a bit chilly this weekend, which means the cars will have A LOT of grip. And since this is the 2nd year they've raced the COT at Richmond, they will have figured a few things out by now.

As usual, look for Hendrick and Gibbs to run up front, with Roush and RCR close behind. HMS has Dale Jr. who's best track is Richmond, and Gibbs has got the shrub who also excels in the capital of the confederacy. But don't count out Denny Hamlin. Hamlin is from Chesterfield (Rusty's home county), and just across the river from the track. He'd love to win at his home track, and he might have the equipment to do it, this year. This weekend's race also marks the 2 year anniversary of JR's last win, and after a disappointing late wreck last weekend the fans feel like he's on the cusp on breaking the streak. So, I'll go against convention and use the same driver 2 weeks in a row.

A List
- D Hamlin (11)
B List
- D Earnhardt Jr. (88)
C List
- P Menard (15)

Rusty Reflects on 'Dega

Well, it's taken ole Rusty a few days to digest the greatness that was Talladega. What a race!! I really hope y'all tuned in. Usually, the boys will ride around for hours waiting for the opportunity to get positions. Not this year. It seemed like from the moment the green flag dropped until the end everybody, and I mean everybody, was beating and banging, just jockeying for position.

As expected, "The Big One" occurred towards the end of the race and it took out a few great drivers, including my own beloved Dale Jr. Fortunately for me, and his legion of fans, he was still able to manage a top 10 finish, after starting 31st with just a handful of laps to go. HMS Power meets Earnhardt blood!!

But enough about my boy, I'm sure anyone who watched wants to know what ole Rusty thought of the Shrub's questionable pass for the lead. You see, NASCAR rules stipulate that at Daytona and Talladega, a driver cannot advance their position when their car (left side tires) are below the yellow line. It's NASCAR's out of bounds. At 'Dega on Sunday, the Shrub passed for the lead by going below the yellow line. NASCAR did not rule it a penalty because there is an exception when a driver is forced to go below the yellow line (to avoid wrecking).

As far as I can tell most of the pundits, fans, and reporters agree with NASCAR, but ole Rusty's just not sure. If that's what they ruled, that's what they ruled. Human error in rule enforcement is part of sports, but I don't know, just don't seem right to me.

I reckon what comes around, goes around, and Shrub's "checkers or wreckers" driving style will come back to bite him. I just hope he don't mess my boy up doing so.

But now, it's time for a little spit-n-shine for horseys followed by Rusty's favorite track to visit . . . Richmond.

So, y'all come back now, hear?

Rusty Reckons: Martinsville

Freshly back from a visit with the Easter Bunny, Rusty's read to give y'all his low down on this week's race at Martinsville.

Known at the "paper clip", Martinsville is a low banked short track, with small tight corners and long straightaways (relatively speaking). It looks like a paper clip, and requires a lot of brakes. At Martinsville, teams use the biggest brakes they have and do everything they can to keep'em cool. There's a lot of beating and banging, and it makes for great racing. It's a driver's track, but without good equipment, you could end up having a very bad day.

This week's picks are a little "kooky", but I think they could hold a winner.

A List
- Jeff Burton (31)
B List
- Dale Earnhardt Jr (88)
C List
- Aric Almirola (8)