Wave Bye Bye, Smoke

Big news in the world of NASCAR today.

Stewart to leave JGR, join Haas CNC as part owner

Smoke is leaving Gibbs and going to try and strike it out on his own. While it's official that Smoke is climbing out of the #20 Home Depot Toyota, it's still just speculation about what he'll be driving next. Rumors are that he's going over to Haas as a majority owner/driver. Even more rumors say he might be bringing ole Ryan "Rocket" Newman with him from Penske.

This is huge, y'all!!!! Tony was the leader of the pack at JGR, but 2 moves this past off-season have dealt a serious blow to that leadership post. First was the deal struck with Toyota. Smoke's a Chevy man, just like ole Rusty, and something tells me he just ain't diggin a Camry. Second reason is the Shrub. For whatever reason, and Rusty still ain't figured it out, the Shrub is a maniac this year, and I think it's taken some shine off of Tony. Denny is a hot young driver, but he still allowed Tony to bask in all his glory. Shrub just takes it away.

So, with Tony gone, where does that leave JGR? Apparently, Joey Logano, the next Jeff Gordon (HA!) is a shoe-in for the 20 car. He's a young kid, though. JGR would go from a team led by a 2 time champion veteran of the sport, to 2 guys who aren't old enough to buy a Budweiser. Scary thought if you ask me.

Well, whatever. I'm sure old Smoke will still make a good drafting partner for my boy June-bug no matter what team he's driving for.

It's About Time!!!

VS

For two things. First, someone finally stepped up and put lil shrub in his place. His plea of innocence during the post-race interview was amusing at best. A few weeks ago, I embraced him as the bad boy this sport needed. Well, lil shrub, if you are going to be a bad boy, you cannot claim innocence when someone wrecks you for actin the fool on the track.

Second, good for JPM. The ole boy's learnin what it takes to drive stock cars and the tricks of the trade for NASCAR. Rubbin is racin! If someone beats and bangs and knocks the tar out of your car, especially under caution, give it right back to'em. Let'em know you're there and you ain't gonna take that mess.

Whew, fire it up!

Y'all come back now, hear?

JUNE-BUG WINS!!!!!!!

HHR's resident redneck is back...!

YEEEEEEE HAAAAWWWWWW!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, the winless streak is over. After 76 races and some great pit strategy, Dale Jr has won a points race. Ole Rusty's going to just bask in the glory!

Now, you might have heard there was some controversy to the win. Matt "the robot" Kenseth, and the redhead from North Carolina (i won't name him for reasons that will be obvious in just a moment) can whine all they want, but the fact is that when the race ended, Junior was #1, fair and square.

Kenseth, Vickers Question How End of Race Played Out

They should both take a cue from Junior. No matter what has happened over the previous two years, he's not whined. When the shrub wrecked him at Richmond mere laps from victory, Dale Jr. didn't whine. He didn't blame the shrub. He made a joke and said his team would be back again. When the redhead from NC wrecked him (and his teammate) to get his ONLY Cup win down in 'Dega, Junior didn't complain. He just said that's racing, and it was.

This time, Tony Jr. made a little gamble and it paid off for Junior, and a few people are fussing. SHUT-UP!!!! Let him enjoy his win, but know it won't be the last! As Hammond so eloquently puts it, the pressure is off now. Jr's been running consistently with great equipment at HMS. He's got the win under his belt and more should be quick to follow. Daytona's just around the corner . . . oh boy!!!

Michigan is Only One Step for JR.

Author's Note: Ole Rusty's been busy creating a NASCAR lover's man cave in his new house, so he's been a bit out of the blog loop, but don't worry he's back now! Tune in Thursday for the weekly fantasy picks for the first road course (yawn) of the year.

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?