(Randy LaJoie)

NASCAR has snared its highest profile player yet!  Two-time Busch (now Nationwide) Series champion Randy LaJoie has been suspended indefinitely for failing a drug test administered on June 11th.

The former champ told SIRIUS radio that he smoked marijuana once in May, but was not “a user”.  Additionally, LoJoie said that he has been suspended from . . . → Read More: Former Busch Champ Suspended]]>

(Randy LaJoie)

NASCAR has snared its highest profile player yet!  Two-time Busch (now Nationwide) Series champion Randy LaJoie has been suspended indefinitely for failing a drug test administered on June 11th.

The former champ told SIRIUS radio that he smoked marijuana once in May, but was not “a user”.  Additionally, LoJoie said that he has been suspended from ESPN as a race analyst.  The network did not issue a statement, but did confirm the suspension.

LoJoie said that he had been auditioning for a job as the spotter for the Joe Gibbs Racing #18 M&M’s Toyota race team.

How does someone who is intimately involved in NASCAR safety through his racing seat company, The Joie of Seating, fail a drug test?  It seems to be quite incomprehensible!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

It is round three of the Harvick-dump-Logano racing saga!  With less than a handful of laps to go, Kevin Harvick drove his RCR #29 Shell/Penzoil Chevy very deep into “the tunnel” turn at Pocono Raceway. It is a very aggressive racing move late into the race, but unfortunately there happened to be . . . → Read More: The Harvick-Logano Saga Continues]]>

(photo courtesy Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

It is round three of the Harvick-dump-Logano racing saga!  With less than a handful of laps to go, Kevin Harvick drove his RCR #29 Shell/Penzoil Chevy very deep into “the tunnel” turn at Pocono Raceway. It is a very aggressive racing move late into the race, but unfortunately there happened to be the left rear quarter panel of the JGR #20 Home Depot Toyota driven by young Joey Logano in Harvick’s way.  So physics will dictate that only one object can occupy any certain piece of space at a time.  Therefore, Harvick’s contact with Logano’s left rear bumper sent Logano spinning and certainly on a vector towards the retaining wall.

In a very professional like manner, Logano”gassed ‘er up” and kept his Toyota from hurtling at 170 mph into the fence.  In fact the show that Logano put on was quite impressive keeping his car from smashing into the crash wall.  However, the smoke coming from the rear tires was only a small prelude as to the smoke that would come out from Logano’s mouth and ears once the race was over!

WorkingOnMyRedneck would have loved to have been privy to the conversation that took place in the old NASCAR trailer after the race.  Since both drivers and owners were sequestered to the famous NASCAR trailer, WOMR can only imagine the spirited conversation that took place!

If anyone still thinks that NASCAR and their drivers are mundane, lack fire in their belly, and personality, then you must not be paying attention to the 2010 season.  NASCAR’s policy of “have at it boys” has produced some very spirited confrontations and feuds, even among team mates!  Witness the Jeff Gordon-Jimmie Johnson saga, the Kyle Busch-Denny Hamlin rue, the Carl Edwards-”Blazingly Bad” Brad Keselowski incident, just to name a few this season.

NASCAR this season, has shown that the fire, desire,and the free-spirited race car driver still exists!  The only thing missing is the good old fashion “Blue Collar Butt-Whippin”!  Can it be just around the corner?

What is your take on the Kevin Harvick-Joey Logano confrontation?

P.S. Should NASCAR revoke daddy Logano’s “hard card” for his involvement in this fracas?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy Jason Smith/Getty Images)

Has anybody seen the bus?

Not only did Denny Hamlin, driver of the Joe Gibbs Racing  of the #11 Fed Ex Toyota Camry, throw his teammate, Kyle Busch, driver of the JGR #18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, under the bus- he flat ran over him as well!

Just when all had thought that the . . . → Read More: The Hamlin-Busch Feud Rekindles!]]>

(photo courtesy Jason Smith/Getty Images)

Has anybody seen the bus?

Not only did Denny Hamlin, driver of the Joe Gibbs Racing  of the #11 Fed Ex Toyota Camry, throw his teammate, Kyle Busch, driver of the JGR #18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, under the bus- he flat ran over him as well!

Just when all had thought that the heated, vulgarity laced, discussion between Kyle Busch and his teammate Denny Hamlin had been pacified by team owner Joe Gibbs last Saturday night, the feud continues!  Kyle is quoted as saying on Thursday, “For me I am over the Denny Hamlin issue.  It’s done, we’re moving forward and we look forward to the rest of the year and the [Coca-Cola] 600 this weekend.”

However, Denny Hamlin was considerably more blunt about the matter when discussing his feelings.  “I definitely wouldn’t change anything that I would do and nobody in my position would,” said Hamlin. “I challenge anyone to be in that position and to change the way that I drove. The thing is that he [Busch] was never there, there was never a hole for his car to fit in, so he has a gas pedal and a brake just like I do. He could choose to check up and pass me in the next corner or put his car in the fence like what happened.”

Hamlin didn’t just stop with that blunt statement.  He was asked if he would work with his teammate, Busch, he expressed his displeasure with the hot tempered Las Vegas native.

“I’m not going to put too much effort in it, to be honest with you,” Hamlin said. “Kyle brings this stuff up himself and he gets mad at the media for asking him questions about his blow-ups and stuff, but he does it to himself. I don’t want to be part of it. Any drama that he wants to create or anything is on him. Anything he says on the radio is on him. [That’s] all I’m going to say and I’m going to be done with it. Each year I think Kyle’s going to grow out of it and he just doesn’t. Until he puts it all together, that’s when he’ll become a champion. Right now he just doesn’t have himself all together.”

And then, for good measure, this little parting rim shot from Hamlin:

“I didn’t say that I was going to take over this team or be the leader of this team, but somebody’s got to be the leader—it ain’t going to be Kyle.”

Hey Joe, looks like you have your work cut out for you this season!  Maybe you should try the Rick Hendrick technique of “milk and cookies” used at one time with Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson when they were feuding!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy Streeter Lecker/Getty Images)

Kyle Busch, driving the Joe Gibbs Racing # 18 Nos Energy Drink Toyota, survived a pit road speeding violation early in the race to secure the victory at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Tech-Net Auto Service 300.  It was the third victory in the first twelve races for Busch, and his . . . → Read More: Kyle Wins At Charlotte]]>

(photo courtesy Streeter Lecker/Getty Images)

Kyle Busch, driving the Joe Gibbs Racing # 18 Nos Energy Drink Toyota, survived a pit road speeding violation early in the race to secure the victory at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Tech-Net Auto Service 300.  It was the third victory in the first twelve races for Busch, and his 33rd victory in his very short career.

Busch got the lead coming out of the pits after a caution came out with about 60 laps to go, he picked up those three spots via a great pit stop.

Kyle had a 1.8-second lead over Brad Keselowski when yellow waved with 14 laps to go. He had a half-car length lead when yellow waved with nine laps to go. He had a five-car-length lead when the yellow waved with four laps to go.

Busch jumped out to the lead on the green-white-checkered restart and took the checkered flag with Keselowski riding tightly on his rear bumper.

At the end of the race Kyle Busch erased 10 of the 11 points he was trailing “Blazingly Bad” Brad Keselowski in the standings before the green flag waved today.  So for now Busch trails Keselowski by just one point in the 2010 point standings.

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING IN MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy NASCAR)

Kyle Busch, driving the JGR #18 M&M’s Toyota, only led 131 laps today, but  he led the most important lap- the last one.  With 38 laps to go, Busch capitalized on a pit road mistake by the HMS #48 Lowe’s Chevy.  Johnson was flagged for speeding leaving the pits and had to return to . . . → Read More: Kyle Scores At The Autism Speaks 400]]>

(photo courtesy NASCAR)

Kyle Busch, driving the JGR #18 M&M’s Toyota, only led 131 laps today, but  he led the most important lap- the last one.  With 38 laps to go, Busch capitalized on a pit road mistake by the HMS #48 Lowe’s Chevy.  Johnson was flagged for speeding leaving the pits and had to return to the pits for a drive through penalty, relegating the #48 team to a 16th place finish Sunday.

The victory was the second for Busch during the Dover weekend,  On Friday afternoon, Busch dominated the Camping World Truck Series race, but ran out of gas on the final restart and failed to bring home the victory for his Kyle Busch Motorsports #18 Toyota Tundra.  On Saturday, however, Busch again thoroughly dominated the Nationwide Series race and was able to bring home a victory for his Nationwide JGR #18 Combos Toyota.

On Sunday, Busch was not the most dominating car, leading only 131 laps.  Jimmie Johnson led a race high of over 200 laps, however, his speeding violation with 38 laps to go was all it took for Busch to “run off and hide” from the rest of the pack.

Jeff Burton finished second Sunday and Matt Kenseth was third.

Denny Hamlin, Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, was fourth.

Points leader Kevin Harvick finished seventh. Busch moved from third to second in points – 69 behind Harvick – with the victory while Johnson fell two places to fourth.

It appears that Joe Gibbs Racing has found something that the other teams have yet to see with the return to the new/old rear deck spoiler.  Since returning to the spoiler, Joe Gibbs Racing has won 4 of 7 the Sprint Cup races.

Is the Sprint Cup torch about to be passed from Hendrick Motorsports to Joe Gibbs Racing?  What do you think?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)

Denny Hamlin pulled off the Darlington double, winning both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races this weekend!  That feat has only been accomplished 3 times in Darlington’s illustrious 61 year history!

Denny Hamlin restarted the Showtime Southern 500 Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway Saturday night in the lead driving his JGR . . . → Read More: Hamlin Pulls Off A Double At Darlington]]>

(photo courtesy Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)

Denny Hamlin pulled off the Darlington double, winning both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races this weekend!  That feat has only been accomplished 3 times in Darlington’s illustrious 61 year history!

Denny Hamlin restarted the Showtime Southern 500 Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway Saturday night in the lead driving his JGR #11 Fed Ex Toyota with 20 laps to go, and had no problem holding off the field to get the victory.

However, the two drivers who appeared to have the best shots at beating Hamlin in the Cup race – Jeff Gordon in the HMS #24 DuPont Chevy and Jeff Burton in the RCR #31 CAT Chevy – blew their chances at victory by making mistakes on the final pit stop of the evening. Gordon missed the commitment cone while trying to pit and Burton was penalized for running over a hose in the pits.

Jamie McMurray, driving the EGR #1 Bass Pro Sports Chevy, who started from the pole, finished second. On Friday, McMurray finished third in the Nationwide race.  So, big weekend for McMurray – though not a surprising one to him and his teams.

Kurt Busch, driving the Penske Racing #2 Miller Lite Dodge, finished third. A very welcome third.  “I haven’t had a solid run like tonight since Ricky Craven and I battled it out for that win,” Busch, whose brother Kyle finished second to Hamlin on Friday, said. “It feels good to get our Miller Lite Dodge back up front. It came down to a strategy where I though two tires would be the way to go at the end. We had the right strategy, we just didn’t have enough speed.

Gordon came back to finish fourth, after missing the pit entrance.  Then as he re-entered the pits on the second attempt, a yellow flag cam out.  With that yellow flag being waved, Gordon drove right through the pits again to rejoin the pack, then next time by Gordon took the wave around.

“That is what happens when you make a make a mistake,” Gordon said of missing pit road. “You have to make it up to your guys who worked so hard all weekend long to give you a race car like that.

Rounding out the top five was JPM, better know as Juan Pabl0 Montoya, driving the EGR #42 Target Chevy.

So the “track too tough to tame” has again given the race fans a great weekend of racing.  The Southern 500 has put another exclamation point on a NASCAR season already full of exciting finishes.  Even more interesting is that Deny Hamlin has shown that no “stinkin’ ACL surgery” will put a hamper on his competitiveness, durability, focus, and drive!

What is your take on Hamlin’s toughness?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy NASCAR)

Less than six weeks removed from ACL surgery on his left knee, Denny Hamlin opted for a weekend double at the track he considers one of the most grueling on the NASCAR circuit.

So far, so good. Staying out on old tires while other contenders came to the pits under caution on . . . → Read More: Hamlin Dominates The Royal Purple 200]]>

(photo courtesy NASCAR)

Less than six weeks removed from ACL surgery on his left knee, Denny Hamlin opted for a weekend double at the track he considers one of the most grueling on the NASCAR circuit.

So far, so good. Staying out on old tires while other contenders came to the pits under caution on Lap 123, Hamlin held off teammate Kyle Busch, who also stayed out, to win Friday night’s Royal Purple 200 presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at Darlington Raceway.

Hamlin had the lead on the restart but was passed briefly by his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate. Hamlin, who led a race-best 111 laps, quickly recaptured the lead and then began to walk away from Kyle Busch.  The final margin of victory was about 10 car lengths.

It was the ninth time the two JGR drivers have finished first and second to each other in a Nationwide race.

Jamie McMurray, who restarted sixth, charged to a third-place finish.

Darlington Raceway truly lived up to its nickname Friday night, “The track too tough to tame”!  The infamous “Darlington Stripe” adorned many of the race cars by the end of the race.  Some of the competitors, however, were not so lucky as to just get “the stripe”.   Some of the very unlucky cars had to be put “on the hook”, lifted back into their haulers, and headed for the scrap heap!

The race was a domination of the Joe Gibbs Racing tandem of Denny Hamlin and ol Kylie Busch.  However, Hamlin’s #20 JGR Z-Line Toyota was most definitely the class of the field all race!

What do you think about Hamlin’s durability after going through ACL surgery four weeks ago?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy of Leon Hammack)

Joe Gibbs Racing has just announced that following the race at Talladega this Sunday, Steve Addington will no longer serve as the #18 M&M’s Toyota crew chief.  A JGR spokesman stated that Addington will be reassigned to another position within Joe Gibbs Racing.

Dave Rogers, who is in his fourth year as the . . . → Read More: Kyle Busch Gets New Crew Chief]]>

(photo courtesy of Leon Hammack)

Joe Gibbs Racing has just announced that following the race at Talladega this Sunday, Steve Addington will no longer serve as the #18 M&M’s Toyota crew chief.  A JGR spokesman stated that Addington will be reassigned to another position within Joe Gibbs Racing.

Dave Rogers, who is in his fourth year as the crew chief of the Joe Gibbs Racing #20 Nationwide Toyota driven this season by the young phenom Joey Logano, will take over the helm of the #18 M&M’s Toyota.  Rogers directed the #20 Nationwide Toyota to JGR’s only Nationwide championship to date in 2008.  In the 2008 championship drive, Rogers led the team to 9 victories, 6 poles, 16 top five finishes, and 26 top ten finishes despite having 4 different drivers in the race car!

Under Rogers’ leadership, the JGR #20 Nationwide Toyota has captured 5 wins so far in 2009.  Rogers joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 1998 and spent from 1999-2004 working under Greg Zipadelli with the #20 Home Depot Chevy at the time.

In 2005 JGR introduced the #11 FedEx Chevy driven then by Jason Leffler to NASCAR and Rogers was tabbed as the crew chief.  Midway through the 2005 season Mike Ford assumed that position and Rogers was reassigned into the engineering department at JGR.

At the beginning of the 2006 season Rogers was assigned to the #20 Nationwide teams as crew chief.  Since that time, Rogers has been the overseer of 20 Nationwide victories for the JGR#20 Nationwide team.

“We think highly of Steve and the job that he has done and we look forward to him remaining part of the JGR family”, Gibbs said.

“Dave has proven himself a talented crew chief and we think that he will work well with Kyle.  We hope that by making the move after Talladega they can use the final three weeks of the season to begin working on the communication and setups for the 2010 season”, J.D. Gibbs continued.

The dominos are beginning to fall!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo by Leon Hammack)

He finally won a Cup race at his”home race track”, Richmond International Raceway!  In spite of Denny Hamlin winning the Chevy Rock and Roll 400, he  was only one part of the big story Saturday night in Richmond, VA.  At the culmination of the Chevy Rock and Roll 400, the top 12 are . . . → Read More: Chevy Rock and Roll 400]]>

(photo by Leon Hammack)

He finally won a Cup race at his”home race track”, Richmond International Raceway!  In spite of Denny Hamlin winning the Chevy Rock and Roll 400, he  was only one part of the big story Saturday night in Richmond, VA.  At the culmination of the Chevy Rock and Roll 400, the top 12 are set for this year’s “Chase for the Cup”! The contenders have a familiar ring for the most part, however, there are a few “newbies” in the class of 2009′s Chase for the Cup.  ( More on those teams in another article later!)

The #11 FedEx Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was the class of the field at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night!  Hamlin led 298 out of the 400 laps that make up the race distance.   This isn’t the first time that Hamlin has dominated the race at Richmond, however it was the first time the #11 FedEx Toyota scored a victory there!

Throughout the 400 lap race there were subplots and story lines running and changing with every lap of the race.  Who is in the Chase and who is out of the Chase at that particular juncture of the race was changing constantly!!  It made for good drama for the race fans at the track, as well as those watching on TV.  The most interesting subplot for this reporter was the race between Brain Vickers and TLVW (The Las Vegas Weasel/Kyle Busch).  They have some history from back at Michigan a few weeks ago, remember the race to the checkered flag that they both lost to one Brian Keselowski??  Both Vickers and ol Kylie Busch were racing for the last spot , 12th position in the Chase.  Since Kenseth was having a terrible race, and had basically fallen out of 12th, these two were racing to fill that spot!  At the end of the race, it was Brian Vickers who raced his way into 12th spot beating ol Kylie by a mere 8 points!

THAT IS DRAMA! (And TNT thinks they know drama??)

In addition to scoring the victory at Richmond, Hamlin takes a big bag of momentum with him to the start of the Chase next week at Louden, NH.  It is important to go into this Chase for the Cup, a ten race shootout, with momentum on your side.  There was pressure throughout the first 26 races on the race teams to make the Chase, but now the pressure really mounts and we can really separate the contenders from the pretenders!

Now that the 12 Chase contenders are identified, the teams now must size up their opponents, dig deep for additional strength and performance.  It is time to see just what you are made out of for the next ten weeks!

REMEMBER, IF YOU CAN’T RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS, STAY ON THE PORCH!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!