NASCAR's Biggest Fan – Girl of the Week | Ron Ripple

Well it’s finally here… the start of the “Chase for the Sprint Cup.”  From here on out it’s anyone’s game, they all have a fresh start, and the only thing that seperates the 1st place guy from the 12 place guy is 80 points. Who’s going to go home with the Championship title and who’s going to be lost in history?

Well the favorites this year are quite obvious going into the chase… you’ve got Kyle Busch who has been called the new “NASCAR God” (Whiner – is what i call him) , you’ve got Jimmie Johnson who is looking to make it a 3-peat,  and you’ve got Carl Edwards who has been unstoppable late in the season.  If you were to ask me who I think is going to take the Championship home at the end of the season I’d have to say I’m going with one of the “Dark Horses.”

I have a gut feeling there’s going to be an upset this year.  Typically when I have this gut feeling it means I either ate too much Beano last night or I’m going to make a really important statement.  I’m not quite sure which one it is but I’m gonna have to call it right now…. “I Ron Ripple, think the driver who will take home the Sprint Cup Championship is…. (Drum roll please)… Greg Biffle. 

Hopefully my predictions are right and we see
this the rest of the season!

I’m the kind of guy who votes for the under dog and one who hopes that David whoops the crap out of Goliath.  So I’m going on record here and now and saying I think Greg Biffle is going to run these last few races strong.  You don’t hear much about him this year, but he’s always there, he’s always in the top, and he’s always workin hard to finish strong. 

Biffle’s starting the “Chase” 80 points behind the leader.  If he’s going to win the Championship this year he’s gonna have to start strong.  He hasn’t had a win all year but he’s been the second best or even third best at a number of races.  Going to New Hampshire he’s gonna have to put his “1st place panties” on because earlier this year he only finished 21st at the LENOX Industrial race hosted at the New Hampshire Speedway. 

I know I’m picking a long shot but like I said earlier… I’ve got that gut feeling and I’m just praying it’s not the Beano!

I know I know I know…. I’m a big Tony Stewart fan, and to tell you the truth, I feel pretty guilty for not picking him to win this season, but the boy has changed.  Tony Stewart is not the same guy from last year, and I just feel he doesn’t have that drive that so many of these other drivers have.  He probably has a lot on his mind especially with the new Team he’s joining/owning next year.  I just haven’t seen the Tony Stewart I’ve known and loved.  (Loved in a straight way)

The Championship Chase is underway and I can’t wait to see what happens.  For all of you readers let me know who you think is going to win this season.  I’m going to host a giveaway starting next week and give away some Gas Cards so you all can fill up those tanks.

So make sure you check back. 

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Jimmie Johnson dominated this past weekend’s race at Fontana by leading 228 laps of the total 250.  He led the race from the drop of the green flag and only lost the lead when coming in to pit.  That didn’t last long either… it seemed as though when he got back on the track he drove by the leaders as if they were just keeping his “seat warm.”

From the start of the season, Jimmie Johnson had more hype from the fans than Kyle Busch had kleenex boxes after the Bristol race.  Jimmie Johnson started out the season a little slower than expected but he is finally living up to his hype, and he’s showing the fans he’s working on making it a three-peat.

(Photo Compliments of NASCAR.com)

If you remember correctly, this is exactly what he did last season coming into the chase.  He won the labor day race in Fontana and then won at Richmond that set him on fire to win four more races once the Chase started.  The kid is on fire and if you don’t think the momentum is in his favor, then you better start figuring it out. 

Momentum plays a big role with the drivers these days.  Carl Edwards has it… Kyle Busch has it… and now Jimmie Johnson has it.  These are going to be the drivers to watch out for, mark my words. 

Things are looking pretty good for these three drivers when it comes to the Chase.  Kyle Busch will be starting out with 50 extra points, Carl Edwards will be starting with 30 extra points, and Jimmie Johnson will be starting with 20 extra points.  Obviously things may change depending on who wins Richmond, but it’s going to be quite the battle once the chase starts especially if Jimmie Johnson races like he did this past weekend in Fontana.  These guys are going to have a tough time competing.

Not to get off subject… but another area Jimmie Johnson dominates in is his significant other.  Jimmie Johnson is “dominating” the field with his wife Chandra Johnson.  You all know I have a little thing for Chandra Johnson, so writing about Jimmie just gives me another reason to post a link to her infamous bio.  Check her out!

Ok… back on subject!  Jimmie Johnson did a great job this weekend and it only makes the Chase that much more interesting.  I can’t wait for the chase to start and I don’t know who to bet on. 

Who would you bet on to win the Championship?

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Last weekend in the final laps of the Sharpie 500, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch decided they wanted to start showing each other how they really feel.  Carl Edwards worked all night trying to pass Kyle Busch but just couldn’t seem to get him on the high side.  During the last few laps Carl Edwards dipped into the corner and taped Kyle’s left rear bumper causing him to lose control and allowing Carl to slide by gaining the lead. 

Carl Edwards went on to win the race but not without getting into a little pushing match with Kyle Busch.  After Carl Edwards got the checkered flag, Kyle Busch drove up beside him and rubbed the side of his car.  “The Nice Guy” Carl Edwards immediately drove into Busch and spun him out.  The crowd went absolutely CRAZY.  It was awesome to see some drama go down on the track.  It’s not too often these days you see emotion on the track.

 In a post race interview Carl Edwards says “It’s one of those deals where I couldn’t get by him, I couldn’t get by him, and I just had to ask myself, ‘Would he do that to me?’ 

Of course Kyle Busch would do that to him… he’s been doing it all season.

The funniest part about this little drama is that after the race, Kyle Busch was seen whining like a little girl saying “wittle Cawl Edwads pwushed me.”  If you ask me… I think Kyle Busch gets what he deserves… karma’s a bitch and if you can dish it out, then you need to learn how to take it. 

NASCAR just announced that both drivers were slapped on the hand and were given probation for the next 6 races.  If anything… I think the two should be patted on the back for creating an exciting ending to an awesome race.  NASCAR needs to commend these two racers for showing their feelings and creating an exciting rivalry.  NASCAR needs more moments like this…. this is what gets fans on their feet. 

Kyle Busch is an incredible racer but if you haven’t noticed, when he’s the bad guy he’s loving life.  He’ll go out there tap bumpers, spin people out, race rough, and walk around the pits like he’s God’s gift to NASCAR.  But the minute someone else bumps him or passes him aggressively the kid starts whining.  “Cawl Edwads, Cawl Edwads… he bumped me, he bumped me!”  Save the drama for the track and show “Cawl Edwads” that you’re supposed to be the “bad guys” and that he needs to go back to being the “Nice Guy”

I’m jacked up to watch the rest of the season… it’s going to be an awesome race for the chase.  I think Carl Edwards is going to be a force to be reckened with.  It seems as though he’s the only one that has Kyle Busch’s number. 

I can’t wait to watch the rest of the season unfold.  So what do you guys think?  Is Kyle Busch a whiner or is he in the “right” here?

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Ever heard the saying… Save the drama for yo momma? It’s safe to say that Nascar racers save the drama for Bristol, and it just so happens that this weekend is short track racing in the ever drama filled Bristol. Get ready for head spinning, fingering flicking, helmet throwing, thrills and drama spills as we get ready for the newly resurfaced, half mile race on Saturday Night.

Rumors around the pits are that drivers are excited to race on the Bristol track again with the option to not only race on the top line but also get low and actually have equal speed!!! what? I’ll make this short and sweet, I already purchased a case of my favorite beer I’ve picked up my race snacks and called up the boys to meet. I’m feeling Kenseth this weekend, Carl Edwards of course will be strong and we can’t ever count out Kyle Buschy boy. Who do I pick to be the most dramatic? I’m going with Tony Stewart.. we haven’t heard from my boy in a while and I am sensing some aggressiveness coming as he’ll be bumping and grinding. We will see!

Who are your picks and why? I didnt give you a reason why I’m picking Kenseth but I’m expecting you to have a reason of why you’re picking who you’re picking. I reckon I can let you know after I hear some of your guys’ thoughts. Who will be in the center of the drama?

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Just when you thought Kyle Busch was going to dominate again… Carl Edwards takes the checkered flag.  I’ve said this before… nice guys don’t always finish last, especially when it comes to Carl Edwards.  He’s making this his 5th Sprint Cup win of the season and has backed up the reason of why he’s sitting pretty in second place overall.

Carl Edwards lifted his leg this weekend and “marked” his territory after winning both the Nationwide series race as well as the Sprint Cup race.  He becomes the second driver to ever win both races in one weekend at the Michigan track, Mark Martin did it in 1993.

Kyle Busch ran an incredible race yesterday afternoon and set himself up to win until they pitted on lap 180 out of 200.  Just when you think NASCAR is only about RACING on the track… nope… yesterday’s advantage went to Carl Edwards because his crew ”out raced” Kyle Busch’s crew and got Carl out on the track quicker.

After Carl and Kyle’s pit, they enter the track with Dale Earnhardt Jr and David Ragan running 1-2.  Once Carl Edwards passed them, he continued to stay in front and held Kyle Busch off till the end.

Kyle Busch said in his post race interview that he had nothing for Carl Edwars.  He said “Carl came off the corners a lot quicker and he did his best to stay close to him.  Overall we just didn’t have the car this weekend, Carl Edwards ran a great race.”

It was another great win for Carl Edwards and it allowed him to execute his famous backflip he’s been performing all year.  There’s a rumor going around the pits that Carl Edwards has been training with the U.S. Olympic team of Paul and Morgan Hamm, which has allowed him to perfect his backflip.  Also there are rumors going around that if Carl Edwards wins the Championship this year, he will attempt a double back hand spring with a flip into a twist double double twist flip and land on his hands. (I hope he wins because I can’t wait to see what the hell this is.)

All I know is yesterday was a great race and I was glad to see Carl Edwards out there winning.  Whatever flips he attempts it’s better than what I can do.  The only hand stands you’ll be seeing me do is one off a keg… we call it the keg stand.

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Great racing to all… there were a lot of disappointments this weekend for the top 12 racers.  Kasey Khane had engine failure which caused him to finish in 4oth place, dropped him down to 11th overall in the points standings.  Hamlin who finished in 39th dropped down to 12th position in the points standings… now on the bubble. 

Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson had a rough weekend as well.  Both were involved in a three car fender bender that punctured Johnson’s tire giving him a 17th place finish.  Jeff Gordon didn’t feel the fender bender drama till later in the race when his tire then punctured making him hit the wall.  He finished 42nd which dropped him in the overall points from 6th place down to 9th place.

There was a lot of movement in the overall standings…

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