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

The Budweiser Shootout was an intense race to watch from start to finish with 14 different leaders, 23 lead changes and eight cautions, it was one for the record books.

Kevin Harvick started out the evening hanigng out in the back of the pack with a few minor mechanical challenges.  Lucky for him, with the way these races are set up, he was able to get them fixed and then work his way back to the front.

With only four laps remaining, Jamie McMurray lead the pack down the track with Johnson, K. Busch, Mears, Hamlin, and Harvick not far behind.  On the last lap, McMurray decides to cover his inside lane, when out of no where Kevin Harvick takes the high side and drives right by him.  It was almost as if he dropped it into “7th” gear and said “sorry buddy… you thought you had me. I’m checkin out.”  Click on the video below to watch this incredible finish.

If the Bud Shootout speaks for what’s to come throughout the rest of the season, I would have to say we’re going to have another wild season.  Get excited because the biggest race of the year is only one week away.

All my fellow race fans, clean out your keggerator lines and start ordering some extra kegs because the Daytona 500 is getting closer.  For any of you attending the race make sure you e-mail me so we can get together.

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2008 has been a wild season to say the least when it comes to winners and those who came up short.  There are a number of driver’s this year we never in our lifetime would have imagined went winless.  I know this article is pre-mature, but I’m feeling the need to write it anyway.

Jeff Gordon… WOWWWW!!!  Who would have thought the young wine drinker wouldn’t even have a chance to pop a bottle of champaign this year.  I mean… this guy hasn’t gone winless since August 4, 1971, the day he was born.  I think when he came out of his mother’s womb, he jumped on his big wheel and raced the 13 year old neighbor around the block. 

To many drivers Jeff Gordon’s year would be a dream come true.  He’s had 11 top five finishes, 16 top ten finishes, and is currently sitting in 7th place in the overall points for the season.  But because it’s Jeff “the wine drinker” Gordon, he’s got to be a little dissapointed.  As much as I make fun of the guy, I really do respect him… He only has four races left for the season and I would never count the guy out.

2008′s Bridesmaids in full gear!

Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, David Ragan, Brian Vickers, Martin Truex Jr, Jamie McMurray, and the list could go on for miles with the number of bridesmaids this season has created.  All these names are so HUGE in the NASCAR world and not a single one of them has a win for the season.  It’s almost as if this season was dominated by a few drivers and these guys just didn’t have that extra “umphhhh” (a new expression I made up) to get that WIN. 

 For those of you not able to make the race this coming week, make sure you call my boys over at DirectTV.  These guys have the best NASCAR viewing you could ask for on TV.  If you’re not at the race, at least pretend like you are… call 1-866-938-8469 and let them know Ron Ripple Sent you.  If you want to check out what they’ve got visit their website at DirectTV.  I just got off the phone with my boys over there and they told me that if you add NASCAR HotPass™ to your DIRECTV base package order, they’ll give you the rest of the season for just $29.99.  You can’t beat that… so hurry up and call 866-938-8469 because the Sale ends November 16th!

So who’s going to be the biggest Bridesmaid of the year?  Unfortunately I think the biggest Whiner I mean winner, might be the biggest Loser of them all, that being Kyle Busch.

Before the Chase, not a single driver could touch what Kyle Busch was breathing… He’d come from the back of the pack and drive around everyone as if he was the professor making his way up to the front of the class.  If he got a second place finish, he’d pout as if he didn’t deserve second.  The guy was on fire and nobody could touch him… but unfortunately the momentum changed and Kyle Busch’s wins soon became losses.

If you had to pick anyone to be the Bridesmaid of the Season so far, who would you pick and why?  Craig… we already know who you’re going to pick and I have a feeling it rhymes with Shontoya.  But I’d love to hear who came up short and why.

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We’re getting so close to the end of the season and as I said at the beginning of the Chase, my money is on Greg Biffle.  Yeah yeah yeah… Jeff Gordon has a 7.0 rating at Martinsville, and blah blah blah… Jimmie Johnson has a 6.0 rating at Martinsville, well I’m not saying ”The Biff” is going to win Martinsville, but I am saying he’s going to be the champ at the end of the season.

As usual, the press constantly talks about the stars such as Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch or Jeff Gordon.  They’re always talking about “What color underwear they wear… what they ate for breakfast… how many times they dropped the kids off at the pool… who they’re dating… blah blah blah.”  And if you haven’t noticed, but before every race people are betting on these guys to win, and when they don’t, they still always seem to talk about what went wrong and why they shouldn’ve won. 

Jimmie Johnson… the Media Whore!

After my last Gas Card Giveaway contest, I realized there are a number of driver’s who don’t get the credit they deserve.  When I picked ”The Biff” to win the Championship at the beginning of the Chase, I picked him because I thought he was an incredible driver and he was an underdog in the eyes of the media.  So far ”The Biff” has been showing strong and staying in the hunt, right where he needs to be.

Another underdog who should never be considered an underdog is Jeff Burton.  The only time this guy gets any attention from the media is when he wins.  We never hear about his hobbies outside of racing, or his Garage drama at the race track.  I’m almost wondering if I should create rumors for these guys so they get more attention and get more fans behind them. 

How about this one… “Jeff Burton  lost 12 lbs for his Lowe’s win this past weekend.  Rumors are going around that he is throwing up his lunches just to stay thin and give him the weight advantage when he’s goes into turn 1.”  Pretty scary when the man only weighs 158 lbs… hopefully he passes his physical in the pre-race exam for Martinsville.

Ron Ripple has the pictures to Prove it!

Anyway… “The Biff” is still my pick.  If I have to make up rumors for him then I will.  Martinsville isn’t his track of choice, but if he stays consistant and gets a top 5 finish, then he’ll still be sitting pretty. 

Obviously this is Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson’s track… I think we need Jeff Gordon to get the win this weekend and make sure Jimmie Johnson stays out of the top 5.  Anything’s possible.

Who do you all think the Dark Horse is in the Race for the Championship?  Jeff Burton, Greg Biffle, Clint Boyer, Kevin Harvick?  Hey… we haven’t heard about Kyle Busch as much as we used to!!!!

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We’re getting down to the wire in the Chase and it seems as though there are some “great” drivers who have not yet secured their spot.  You’ve got Kevin Harvick, Clint Boyer, Matt Kenseth, and David Ragen all within 54 points of each other.  Kevin Harvick is sitting in the 11th position but still needs to race well these last races in order to secure his spot.  It’s anyone’s game…

One driver I was 100% sure was going to secure himself a spot was Matt Kenseth.  In the beginning of the season he didn’t do so well… if you asked me after 10 races if he was going to make it in the chase I would have said “Fat Chance.”  In his first 10 races he averaged about 23.5th position which in my opinion is just straight up NASTY!  Now these past 10 races he’s done a complete 180 and has done nothing but impress me.   The second half of this season he’s turned that average finish of 23.5th into 10.1. 

Matt Kenseth looked like he was securing his position in the chase but these last two races (Brickyard and Pocono) looked worse than his first 10 races.  He went from being in 8th position overall in points to 13th position.  If he plans on racing for the money, he better figure out what he’s going to do.

It seems to me as though Matt Kenseth is either Hot or Cold and nothing in between.  He either has a top 5 car or he has a car that won’t get any camera time when it comes to race day.

 These last 5 races are going to be tough for Mr. Kenseth.  I’ve got a strategy I think he needs to hear in order to make it into the chase, so if he wants to e-mail me or call me to find out what it will take, then please do.

 (I’ll give you all a hit…. My strategy consists of him finishing top 10 within the next 5 races and pray that Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Clint Boyer, and Kevin Harvick have a horrible day.)  If he’s not close with God… maybe now’s the time. 

Haha… (sorry gotta cut this article short… I’ve got a keg party I need to make an appearance at)

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