NASCAR’s Biggest Fan - Ron Ripple

Update to the Stewart vs Busch Saga!

Feelings from last weekend’s practice drama spilled out into a full blown street fight (sarcasm). Sources state Kurt Busch caught a fist with his face by none other than the man in orange… Tony Stewart. The incident took place during a meeting with Officials in the NASCAR Hauler… No comments where given by any team or officials other than “What happens in the Hauler, Stays in the Hauler”. I though that only happened in Vegas.

Nascar is sticking to their 2008 attitude of promoting emotions and keeping it less corporate which in my opinion is straight BADASS! Keep the Nascar Drama alive… No fines will be assessed until later this week. The charity should be excited, I know us the fans are…  What are your thoughts?

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I’ve been dying to get to a computer since the crashes that took place during this past weekend’s practice.  I know NASCAR is trying to go back to the basics with letting personalities come out and not having such strict rules and penalties, but this past weekend was unbelievable.  I only have two words to describe how the 2008 season is going to be “Complete CHAOS.”

The first crash seemed as if was an accident and didn’t look like there were any hard feelings.  Clint Boyer simply went up and tapped Ryan Newman which caused a huge pile up including Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and a few others.  Obviously a lot of pissed off drivers but it didn’t seem intentional so I assume no hard feelings. 

The second crash is what in my opinion sets the pace for the 2008 season and of course you see who’s in the middle of it, Tony Stewart.  Tony Stewart was trying to sneak by Kurt Busch’s #12 car but taps his right rear bumper causing him to get up into the wall and destroy his car.  Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch already had some bad blood from last year’s Daytona 500 when Kurt Busch got up in the back of Tony Stewart during the race.  The difference was that they were racing for the lead, and this time they were just practicing.

The title of this article is what I think will continue to be a reoccuring incident throughout the 2008 season “Busch and Stewart’s Love Tap!”  Kurt Busch, who has been NASCAR’s number one driver for the past two years, was not scared this past weekend to show the world how he really feels.  He drove up to Tony Stewart after the crash and traded paint with him that was clearly intentional.  There’s nothing like a little NASCAR drama… it’s what makes this sport so exciting.  But I think trading paint intentionally is a poor way of getting back at someone.  Kurt Busch would have really earned my respect if he would have got out of his car and traded words with Tony Stewart instead of trading paint.   If you listen to the commentators from the video, they mention that Tony Stewart was trying to get out of his car which I think is the proper way to discuss your matters instead of tearing up the cars themselves.  I’m sure Stewart was getting out of his car to shake hands and apologize.  Yeah Right!  The CHAOS from this practice makes for an exciting season.  I’m so jacked up now that I haven’t been able to sleep and probably won’t sleep until they throw the checkered flag come Sunday.

Above is a video of the second crash for those of you who haven’t seen it.  Just remember… this is PRACTICE and not even a race.  It just goes to show you what a competitve sport this is and the different personalities this sport has.  What do you think about this crash?  Do you think Kurt Busch took it too far?  Do you think wrecking cars is the way to get back at someone or do you think racers should take care of their drama face to face?

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I mentioned in yesterday’s article that I would come up with a contest for a chance to win a prize.  Living up to my promise, I got on the horn with the guys over at www.EnergyThis.com and asked if they would donate a case of energy drinks.  Without hesitation they said yes and here we are officially kicking off Ron Ripple’s first contest!!!  What better energy drink to give away in our first contest then a case of AMP Energy Drink… perfect because of Dale Earnhardt Jr and the new AMP car. 

Let’s get to the rules already!  The raffle will be Thursday, February 22nd. The winner of the raffle will win a free case of AMP Energy Drinks shipped right to their door front.  The key to this contest is to enter as many times as you’d like.  There are three ways to enter this contest.  The first is by subscribing to my blog (enter your email address at the top right), the second is by posting a comment on one of my always entertaining articles, and the third is by writing an article on your blog about the contest.   There is no limit on how many entries you can have, 10 comments on 10 different articles = 10 entries, write an article on your blog about our contest = 20 entries.  It’s all on how badly you want it!

 Contest Rules:

• Subscribe to my blog. (1 Subscription = 1 Entry)
• Post comments on my aritcles but make sure they are relevant to the article (spam = disqualified). (1 Post = 1 Entry) (No SPAM)
• Drop an EntreCard (1 Drop = 1 Entry)
• Write an article on your blog about the contest and make sure to link it to this page. (1 Article = 20 Entries)

The deadline for this contest is February 22nd, which is one week after the Daytona 500.  I’m extremely excited about the contest and I hope you enjoy it as well.

 GOOD LUCK MY RON RIPPLERS!

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I was kinda bored today and was browsing around trying to find something interesting about the NASCAR world and finally came across something other than “Hendrick, the NASCAR team to beat.”  Obviously gambling is illegal unless you’re in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or in an Indian Gaming Casino etc. (Had to say that)… but the Palms Resort Casino in Las Vegas has something new for you to bet on.  Miller Lite vs Bud!  Yeah that’s right!  They’re letting their customers bet on either Kurt Busch who is in the #2 Miller Lite car or Kasey Kahne who is in the #9 Budweiser car.  You’ll not only be able to bet on each race, but you’ll also be able to bet on the final standings at the end of the 2008 year.  Kurt Busch’s Miller Lite car has been given an 8.5 position favorite over Kasey Kahne’s Budweiser car this year.

There are a lot of factors though to look at especially this year.  Kurt Busch finished 9 positions better than the old Budweiser car previously driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr and 12 positions better than the new Budweiser driver Kasey Kahne.  Also Kasey Kahne has a whole new team and a whole new sponsor that could either be a benefit or a hinder.  I think it’s tough to call but they’re still giving Kurt Busch an 8.5 favorite which I think is plenty.  In my opinion I would put my money on the overall to go to Kurt Busch.  But if I were betting on each individual race I’d have to see how they qualified and who’s been better on that track in their previous years.Let’s do something fun!  I’m going to come up with a contest similar to this and give you guys a chance to win maybe a case of energy drinks or something cool.  Check back with me over the week and I’ll have something posted.

But to any of you who plan on betting on the new line in Vegas let me know how you do.  Who would you bet on for the Daytona 500?  I’d have to go with Kasey Kahne only because he was incredible in Testing leading up to the 500.

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Alright so I watched the Superbowl last night with Mr. Waltrip and a few buddies and I realized why I like NASCAR so much better.  The first half of the game was extremely boring… for the first 18 minutes we got to see two drives with one resulting in a field goal and another resulting in a touch down.  It was one of the lowest scoring Superbowls to this day until the very end.  But during the halftime show as much as I love Tom Petty, I felt like I was going to pass out. 

The commercials were average this year.  My favorite one had to have been the Doritos commercial when the very sophisticated guy set up a mouse trap and then sets up a chair to watch it go down.  Then out of no where a huge mouse jumps out of the wall and beats him up for his bag of Doritos.  It had me chuckling.  But I do have to note there were a couple Daytona 500 commercials and then also a boring Carl Edward’s Clairitin commercial. 

Not to be a downer about the Superbowl, but if this was a NASCAR race there would have been more lead changes than we would know what to do with.  There would be at least two re-starts due to accidents.  There would be no half time show.  And the finale would have been some sort of burn out and a possibility of someone climbing a fence or doing a back flip.  The best part of the four hour borefest that I went through last night was getting pumped up when I saw a Daytona 500 Nascar commercial.  I guess racing is just in my blood and I can not wait untill Daytona.   

 Congratulations to the NY Giants and their victory over the Patriots, it was well deserved and great to see an underdog come out and beat an undefeated team.  But all I have to say is that the Daytona 500 can not come fast enough.

What was your favorite part about the Superbowl?  Commercials?  Halftime Show?  The actual game?

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I recently added a new feature on my blog as I realize that my personal rants and comments aren’t the only ones that matter.  If you are as passionate about NASCAR as I am, I’m recognizing ya’ll.  If you look at the side bar to the right you’ll notice a section called “Top NASCAR Commentators.”  This is where the people with the most comments will be listed. So for those of you who visit my site frequently and have something to say, you will OFFICIALLY be recognized.  I hope you all enjoy this new feature and I look forward to sharing the latest NASCAR rants.  Now somebody get me a Beer!

Also we would like to welcome FatHead.com as a sponsor/supporter of www.RonRipple.com.. If you’re looking for a monster wall poster of your favorite NASCAR Driver or their car… Be sure to visit FatHead by clicking on the ad below!

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