I'm Baaccckkkk

Hey everyone. Sorry i haven't posted a blog in quite a while. College is a little crazy, but i have been writing articles for the newspaper! I definitely haven't stopped writing about the sport, just haven't been able to write as much as i would like to!

A lot has happened since my last couple of blog posts. There is now only one race left of the 2010 season. What can i say? This year has been wild, to say the least. So much has happened this year and it's impossible for me to recall and write everything in one blog. As we all know, Denny comes into this weekend 15 points ahead of Jimmie, and 46 points ahead of Kevin; not where Denny wanted to be coming into Homestead, but it's better to be ahead then behind.

You may be wondering, who are YOU picking for the championship? Even if you aren't, i'm going to tell you. LOL Sometimes i'm unbiased in what i post, sometimes i get very opinionated... and yes, this is one of those times.

My pick to win the championship is Denny Hamlin. Why? He has been the most dominate driver this year with 8 wins. He had the ACL surgery back in what, March? And look what he has been able to accomplish. I admire Denny for his accomplishments and his success this season, and in my opinion, i believe he should win it. Plus, i'm really sick of Jimmie winning. "Oh, you're just upset because he's the best," his fans would say to me. Well, i'm sorry to say this Jimmie fans, but his drive for 5... is going to end on the last lap of the 2010 Ford 400. His reign is over, and it is time to welcome a new champ.

On a side note, Jimmie Johnson winning all these championships is NOT, i repeat, NOT good for the sport. For those of you who think so, why do you think the ratings have dropped over the past couple of years? Please, answer this to the best of your ability without saying the cause is Jimmie Johnson. In any sport, it's not good for just one driver, one player, or one team to dominate. Another turn off for fans: his arrogance. Yes, so you've proven to us that you're a good driver... (either that or a damn good cheater). But you seriously wonder why fans dislike you. It's a little thing called common sense. Ever heard of it?

Kevin Harvick. What can i say? He's been up in the top of the points all year. He's my second pick to win the Cup. Why isn't he my first? Well, those of you who know me, know that i'm a Joey Logano fan and i'm still not happy about what happened between Joey and Kevin earlier this summer at Pocono. Again, in my opinion, i think Kevin crossed the line with punting him the way he did. He even had multiple run-ins with Joey BEFORE Pocono... why? Who knows. Maybe it feels good to drive dirty the way he does. Honestly, only he knows. It would definitely feel a hell of a lot better if he won the championship instead of Jimmie, but i'm still going to pull for Denny.... all day every day!

"Lug" Notes:

~Kasey Kahne as we all know was released from RPM and finishes out the season with Red Bull Racing in the #83. He's on the pole for Sundays race. Congrats, and good luck

~19 year-old Trevor Bayne made his Cup debut at Texas, with a 17th place finish. Congrats Tbayne, can't wait to see you full-time in Cup!

~Brian Vickers will be back in the #83 in 2011, and i can tell you that i'm definitely excited. This season wasn't the same without him, but he'll come back strong next year. Also, i can't wait to see him and Kasey as teammates. Ever since both of them came to Cup in '04, i've always wanted them to be teammates. Yep, it's a dream come true even if it is only for a season.

~Fights include, but are not limited to: teammates and competitors on the track, and also a physical altercation between the two Jeffs.

~Joey Logano's past 5 finishes: 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, and 3rd. Plus, if he made the Chase, he'd currently be sitting 3rd in points. I can guarantee that he will kick ass next year.

I'm sure i'm leaving out a lot of headlines, but like i said, this season has been pretty exciting both on and off the track. The races might not have been the best, but this season has.

Until next time, I'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line

Department Shake Up?

It was announced today that NASCAR would be upgrading their Communications department. This comes after a four-month study showing that there was a void in NASCAR's marketing efforts.

"It's going to change the way we do business," Brian France said.

With this change, NASCAR could fill 20 more positions to it's already 25 person media relations staff.

The creation is centered around making an integrated marketing communications department, which will help regulate all of the public relations and communications functions of all of NASCAR's racing series.

The department will essentially be split up into 7 smaller units: competition, stake holder relations, digital and social media, brand/consumer marketing, corporate marketing/licensing, NASCAR media group/ entertainment, and public affairs/ crisis communication.

What does this mean for NASCAR? Well, NASCAR seems to be struggling with the attendance ratings each and every week at the racetrack. Attendance has been down the past couple of years, but we really haven't seen such a drastic change until this year. This move could help bring in creative marketing, strategical thinkers, and others who can help improve NASCAR's image as a company.

This news is particularly interesting to me. I'm a Communication major and a marketing minor; these two things go hand-in-hand. My goal: is to work in NASCAR, either as a reporter/journalist, or in the marketing department. This announcement, has me looking forward to my future, and who knows, i might just end up in the new Communications department!

Until next time, I'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line

(Courtesty of Scenedaily.com)

Loose-ing His Cool

On lap 148 in turn 4 at Michigan International Speedway, it would seem like Joey Logano has another enemy to add to his Shit list in his very short NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career.

Ryan Newman.

Going into turn 4, Logano's car got loose, and slid into the #39 Tornados Chevrolet of Newman's left rear quarter panel. Completely a racing accident. But, after the race, Newman didn't consider it to be. Nascar.com has released a transcript of the confrontation between the two drivers:

"Give someone an inch, man," Logano said.

"No, I gave you the whole race track," Newman said.

"I was on the bottom and you door-jammed the crap out of me," Logano said. "There's six lanes up top."

Newman would have none of it.

"I was six lanes up, and I steered up and tried to miss you, because you couldn't control your damn race car," he said.

"Because I was freaking sideways because you were on my freaking door," Logano said. "All right, I'll door-jam you every freaking time I get around you."

The two traded shoves, and that's when the officials stepped in.

"I'm good," he said. "I'm just trying to teach the little kid how to drive."

Apparently, from this report, Logano gave the first push. I looked back at the video, Joey didn't 'push' him. He barely touched Newman, and that's when he flipped out saying, "Don't touch me." Call me crazy, but i don't consider a 'touch' generally a 'push.'

Getting back to the on-track incident. Joey's car got loose. Simply a racing deal. Newman has been around long enough in the Cup Series to understand this. But, he hasn't seen the replay before Joey went over to talk to him. Joey was just trying to explain what happened from his view, and it looked like Newman was too frustrated to even consider hearing Joey out.

Yes, Newman was racing hard because, unfortunately for him, he's 103 points out of the chase. And the accident with Logano, doesn't help that matter. I can see why Ryan is upset, but he needs to be upset for the right reason. From my point of view, pushing Joey like that was a little uncalled for; and to see that behavior from a veteran like Newman? It's kind of disappointing. Yes, i love to see how passionate the drivers are for their sport, but that's being over-passionate.

Some comments that i've read, have placed all of the blame on Joey. My perspective: everything from the previous 23 races have led up to where Newman is currently in points. Yes, he's had other encounters with Joey on the track this year. But stuff like engine and parts failures, you can't help.

You could say i'm a little biased in my thoughts, because everyone knows i'm a Logano fan. But what happened out on the track was purely a racing accident. Everyone knows that. Once Newman looks back at the replay, he'll see that, and will hopefully see things from Joey's perspective a little bit.

Hard racing? Yes, it was hard racing. You've got to race every lap, like it's the last. Joey does have to learn that some of the veterans will make his Cup career difficult; they didn't get this far by letting other people go around them, and give away positions.

So, we all have our own opinions on this situation, and this is mine!

Until next time, i'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line

Equal Opportunity For Manufacturers

He started his career driving a dodge in 2004. He's been driving a Ford all season. He's driving a Toyota for 2011. And, he's driving a Chevy in 2012.

There was much speculation as to where Kasey Kahne would end up for next season; whether he would be with Hendrick Motorsports right away, or whether he would go to Stewart-Haas Racing. He signed with HMS in early April to take over the #5 Chevy for 2012, which is currently being driven by Mark Martin. But now that speculation can be put aside. It was announced today that Kasey Kahne will be heading over to Red Bull Racing for the 2011 Sprint Cup season.

The current RBR drivers include Scott Speed and Brian Vickers. Vickers has been out of the car since May, due to blood clots in his legs. There is suspicion to think that Speed is out of the #82 car next year; some critics think this is due to his lack of performance on the track. Jay Frye, RBR's general manager, will determine Speed's future by the end of August. It won't be known, either, if Vickers will be able to get back in the #83 next year until November.

Kasey will probably become one of the first drivers to drive for all of the NASCAR manufacturers. This is a great opportunity for them, in my opinion. Ever since Kahne burst on the Cup scene in '04, everyone involved in NASCAR was marketing him as the next superstar. The past few seasons, he hasn't been able to rack up the big stats, but has a bright future ahead of him. He's made NASCAR history, and there's more history to be made.

Until next time, I'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line.

NASCAR Raps... by ME! :)

Ok... some of you know that i've made a couple of NASCAR Raps. Here they are!


NASCAR is awesome, NASCAR is sweet
Every once in a while,
Our favorite driver gets beat!

Wherever you are,
Wherever you may be,
You can always find us,
Makin' a little bit of a fuss.
Who are we? NASCAR NATION!

Joey Logano,
Has many Paisano's.
He is pretty great,
He's from my home state,
Of Connecticut;
He'll never quit,
He's had enough,
And he's got the stuff,
To get it done,
While having some fun!

NASCAR fans are pretty great,
Some root for the eighty-eight.
Others like Jeff, Jimmie or Kyle,
But some are still in denial,
About who is the best,
Who will beat out all the rest.
Every weekend we unite,
To see which driver puts up the best fight!

Trevor Bayne has quite the smile,
It has to be at least a mile.
He is a rising star,
And drives the #99 car.
Give him more time,
And he will shine.

Kasey Kahne,
Is pretty plain.
He has the prettiest blue eyes,
Of all the guys,
In NASCAR.
He is a star.
He shines bright,
Even in the night.

Driver Profile

There will be no driver profile this week.

Driver Profile: Jamie McMurray

The 2010 NASCAR season has been a year full of teammate rivalries, domination, and especially, a year of firsts. We've seen great racing action and hard fought battles on the track each and every week. We've even said adios to the wing, and brought back the spoiler. We've even seen the young and talented Joey Logano break out of his shell and confront Kevin Harvick after a late race punt for a top 5 position.

But we all know that. This past weekend at Indianapolis will be one for the history books. Chip Ginassi becomes the first ever owner to win the biggest 3 events in motorsports: the Daytona 500 in February, the Indy 500 back in May with driver Dario Franchitti, and the Brickyard 400 this past weekend. Jamie McMurray has been the driver to give Chip 2 out of those 3 major wins. It might sound trite, but 2 out of 3 ain't bad!


Jamie McMurray started his Cup career in 2002 with Chip Ginassi as the replacement driver for Sterling Marlin, who injured his neck in a pretty bad crash at Kansas Speedway and was unable to finish the season. In only his second start, McMurray went on to win his first race: the 2002 UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowes Motor Speedway.

In 2003, McMurray won ROTY honors; 37 points over Greg Biffle even without winning a race that year. He would stay with Chip Ginassi and the #42 from 2003 until 2005. From 2006-2009, McMurray drove for Jack Roush and Roush Fenway Racing. Unfortunately, McMurray didn't excel at RFR.

A couple of years ago, all NASCAR teams were told that they were only allowed to have 4 drivers and teams; those with more, would have to find another team to race for. RFR was one organization that was put into this predicament. The driver who was the odd man out for the 2010 season was: Jamie McMurray with the #26 crew needing new jobs.

Since Martin Truex Jr had announced he was leaving Earnhardt Ginassi Racing at the end of last season, McMurray jumped at the chance to work for his old owner again in the #1 Bass Pro Shops/Mcdonalds Chevrolet.


McMurray has won 5 career Cup races including his 2 major wins at the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 this year; he also won the Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in '09, the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in '07, and as previously mentioned, the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowes Motor Speedway in 2002.

If i do say so myself, Chip Ginassi and Jamie McMurray is a match made in NASCAR heaven. After being away from Chip for a couple of years, Jamie is back to his winning ways. At age 34, I believe McMurray's career can only go up from here. Yes, he's won 2 of the most prestigious races in NASCAR, but he hasn't and probably wont stop there. Congrats Jamie on the awesome year you are having. You're a great racecar driver.

Oh, and how could i forget. CONGRATS ON BECOMING A FATHER IN THE NEAR FUTURE!

Until next time, i'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line