Fashback Friday - Bill Elliott - Mac Tonight

You've heard of "Throwback Thursdays" Now maybe something else I can keep up!

                                                    1997 From Bristol - Bill Elliott

Results From Sonoma - Toyota / Save Mart 350

     Hey boys and girls, one ad course down, one to go.  Some beating and banging like a short track going on in this race.  Dale Jr looked stout after causing (unintentionally of course) a few wrecks, and finished third.  Carl Edwards held off a last turn run by Jeff Gordon to win the race.  Not a huge fan of the road course, so I only watched bits and pieces, so that's why I really don't have much to say today.   In the big pool though, Brian once again with top score, barely edging out Mark, who holds onto second.  John once again knocks me down to 6th.  Hey Colleen, how are ya!
   In the half pool, Colleen holds onto first, by a little bit over me... and me.  Newcomers John L and Rich S move into 4th and 5th.  John M loses some ground to 7th. 
   Everybody enjoy Saturday nights race from Kentucky at 7:30 on TNT.
Later,
   Paul

Sonoma

     Also, forgot to mention, for this race only, I am taking Dillon out and putting in Kurt Busch.
That is all,
Paul

Results From Michigan - Quicken Loans 400

   Hey there everyone.  A typical Michigan race.  3 or 4 wide racing on the restarts.  Many grooves of racing and pit/fuel strategy to determine the outcome of the race.  This time Jimmie Johnson claimed his first win at this track and beat out Kevin Harvick.  An early wreck ended Brian Vickers day when he got loose, spun out and then too out Travis Kvapil.  Kyle Busch with issues had a poor finish.  In the big pool, Mark finally hit the money, beating out Brian for the high score for a change, and moves back into second.  Gary had a bad week but held onto 4th. 
   In the half pool, Colleen finally took the lead, by only 9 points.  She had been closing in little by little.  I moved back into 3rd and now have two of the top 3.  It will be a good finish for the top spot and also for the fourth and final pay spot.
   Now, if I don't hear from you Big Poolers soon, I will be picking the day and picking your drivers.  Your choice.
   Enjoy the road course on Sunday,
Paul

2014 Second Half - Half Pool Sheets

     Hey everybody.  Just made the half pool sheets for the second half.  You can download it, fill it out and then give it to me/email to me or you can just email me 1 through 18 and your choice driver and number for those races.  Your choice, just have these to me whenever you can get them in.  Deadline is 7/12, no exceptions.  $25 for each set of picks you make.  We can square at the bowling alley or I will give you my address to send by mail, or we can set up a Paypal means of paying.
   Also, for those of you in my big pool, look to pick drivers on either Sunday July 6th or Saturday July 12th.  Let me know which will be more convenient and majority rules.
Later,
   Paul

Results From Pocono - Pocono 400

     WOW! What a finish.  Best part of the race was the last 5  laps.  Keselowski, who looked to have this in the bag, held off the field on the last few restarts.  But when his car was dangerously close to blowing up, he had no choice but to try to get the debris off the front of his car by getting close to Danica Patrick, only problem was, she got loose and in turn, Kes had to check up.  This allowed a closing Junior to pass low and hold him off for the win.  At least Nascar keeps going in the right direction for making race finishing interesting.  More of an emphasis on winning is key (although I believe they could've kept the old format just give 100 more points to the winner). 
   In the big pool, James with a big week, moves up two spots and Mark with a poor week down one.  Brian maintains his 94 point lead. 
   In the half pool, I just can't shake Colleen as she keeps pace with me.  Only 6 points behind me as everyone else has their issues. 
    Good luck to everyone tomorrow in Michigan.  Can Dale Jr. make it two in a row???
Paul

Results from Dover - FedEx 400

     Hello everyone, I know everybody thought I forgot to do the standings this week, but hah, I fooled you and here it is.  Just in time for tomorrows race in Pocono.  Let's talk about Dover.  Kyle Busch was going for the weekend sweep after winning the truck race Friday night and the Nationwide race on Saturday afternoon.  An incident with Clint Bowyer ruined that chance.  Bowyer's spotter told him he was clear and he moved up into Busch.  Busch hit the wall and the right front was all messed up.  Jimmie proved (2 weeks in a row) that he is in it to win it.  And Kyle Larson is showing how a rookie should be doing it, with an 11th place finish.  In the big pool, James with a high score and moving up one spot, I also moved up one and Mark chewed into Brian's lead by 22 points.  John with a whopping 40 fell 2 spots to 6th.  If Colleen doesn't start to do something, she will not even be allowed to pick Jimmie Johnson at the half.
     In the half pool, it was the best of races, it was the worst of races.  While I was able to hold onto 1st with my #2 pick, my #1 pick did not fair to well and I fell from 2nd to 6th.  Mark may actually get some money back this half instead of making a donation and John M moves into 4th and 5th.
     Good luck to all tomorrow,
Paul

Results From Charlotte - Coca Cola 600

     Believe it or not, I did have this ready to post for a few days now.  I just forgot to actually post it.  I know everyone was waiting patiently for this, so here goes.   The longest race of the season takes it toll on equipment and driver alike.  You may feel fine, but after 500 miles, your car may show signs of weakening.  Especially at the speeds they are going and the strain on the engines.  Kurt Busch, who was trying to accomplish the Indy 500 and Coke 600 double, saw his chances to go up in a plume of smoke as his engine blew on lap 271.  Teammate Danica Patrick had they same fate ten laps later.  One of the two fastest cars that night actually won the race with the second fastest finishing second.  Johnson and Harvick led a combined 264 laps of the 400.  Johnson finally won in 2014 (like we thought he would go winless). 
     In the big pool, no surprise, Brian had top scores.  Mark and then myself were the top three.  Brian is looking at having the biggest lead going into the second half, but will it hold up if he gets last picks?  As it looks right now, Colleen would be getting first picks.
     In the half pool, setting some sort of record, Brian, Colleen and Bruce all had #1 picks (12 overall for the half).  This now tightens the field a little bit (like a phantom caution).  I am not liking this as I still have the top two spots, but Colleen, John and Mark are making it interesting. 
    Good luck to everyone today in Dover,
Paul