I gotta work tonight.... ugh......

......So I'll miss the majority of the race, however I will give a recap of what I do see when I get home tonight, if I don't post anything else tonight, everyone.... 

Animations provided by MySpaceAnimations.com

.....and I'll talk to you later!

Qualifying for the Pepsi 500

I didn't get to see qualifying because of family being over tonight, but I do know that Dale Jr qualified 18th today. Congrats to Jimmie (aka Jim, ha ha) Johnson on winning the pole and to Jeff Gordon for qualifying 3rd. The green flag flies for the Pepsi 500 at 8pm on Sunday with Nascar Countdown starting at 7pm.  

Wow!!! and welcome

This is truely awesome, I never thought that I would see this kind of reaction from around the world! Thank you for coming and visiting my little corner of Jr Nation. Since a lot of you have come for the first time, I'm going to repost this in all of the different languages that represent you all. Thanks again and come back soon!!!

Corinne

Français (French)
C'est vraiment impressionnant, je n'a jamais pensé que je verrais ce genre de réaction de partout dans le monde ! Merci de venir et de visiter mon petit coin de JR nation. Puisque beaucoup de vous êtes venu pour la première fois, I'm allant au repost ceci dans toutes les différentes langues qui vous représentent tout. Merci encore et revenu bientôt ! ! ! Corinne






Deutsch (German)Dieses ist wirklich, ich dachte nie ehrfürchtig, dass ich diese Art der Reaktion aus der ganzen Welt sehen würde! Danke für das Kommen und das Besuchen meiner kleinen Ecke der jr.-Nation. Da viel Sie zum ersten Mal gekommen sind, I'm, das zum repost dieses in allen verschiedenen Sprachen geht, die Sie allen darstellen. Dank wieder und bald zurückgekommen!!! Corinne

Italiano (Italian)

Ciò è allineare impressionante, io mai non ha pensato che abbia veduto questo genere di reazione intorno al mondo! Grazie per la venuta e la visita del mio angolo piccolo della nazione di junior. Poiché molto siete venuto per la prima volta, I'm. che va al repost questo in tutte lingue differenti che lo rappresentano tutto. Ringraziamenti ancora e ritornato presto!!! Corinne



Turkish
Bu truely şaşırtıcı, ben hiç düşünmedm ben bu cinsü reaksiyonu öğrendm Çevrede world! Teşekkürler geliyorum ve küçük köşemi memleketi Jr visitingyorum için. Darphane sen ilk sure için gelmek since , ben --yeceğim Repost All of değişik lisanlarda that seni all temsil edyorlar bu. Teşekkürler gene And Döninizyorsunuz birazdan! ! !

Corinne


Swedish
Detta är verkligen awesome, som jag aldrig trodde att jag skulle se denna typ av reaktion från hela världen! Tack för att ni kom och besökte mitt lilla hörn av Jr Nation. Eftersom många av er har kommit för första gången, jag ska repost detta i alla de olika språk som representerar er alla. Tack än en gång och komma tillbaka snart!

Corinne


Farsi (for those in Iran)

انگلیسی به فارسی

رایگ

مترجم پارس

Corinne (PS I hope this is right, I'm really sorry, I looked hard to try to translate that for you)


Ukrainian (Ukraine)

Це truely застрашливий, Не здавалося я вже якісно політичний реакція від в усьому світі! Спасибо приходу і заїжджі моя мало куток із Jr Націю. Через те що лот із тоді ви приїздити вперше за термін, то я збираєтеся repost це у всьому переліку з інший мови це уособити вами весь. Завдяки же і повернувся легко здадуться!!!
Corinne


Romanian (Romania)

Acesta este adevărat awesome I niciodată thought that I trec.de la will a vedea this kind de reaction de la around art.hot. lume! Mulţumesc pentru venire şi visiting meu deget mic cereale de Jr Naţiune. Din o mulţime de tu ai a veni pentru art.hot. primul timp I'm mergi la repost this înăuntru tot de la different limbaj that a reprezenta tu tot. Mulţumiri iar şi a veni spate curînd!!!


Corinne

Japanese

これは私がこの種類の反作用を世界中から見ると偽りなく驚くばかり、私決して考えなかったではない! 来、ジュニアの国家の私の小さいコーナーを訪問するためにありがとう。 多くのはじめて来たあることがので、私はすべて表す異なった言語すべてのこれを再度掲示しようと思っている。 再度ありがとうおよびすぐにもどって来られる!!!

Corinne


Spanish (for those in Puerto Rico)

¡Esto es verdad impresionante, yo nunca pensó que vería esta clase de reacción de alrededor del mundo! Gracias por venir y visitar mi pequeña esquina del JR nación. Puesto que mucho usted ha venido por primera vez, voy a fijar esto otra vez en todas las diversas idiomas que le representen todo. ¡Gracias otra vez y vuelto pronto!!!

Corinne







It just crossed my mind that some of you might be soldiers serving overseas. If so, please leave me a note letting me know that, you keep America free so those of us here at home don't have to. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for serving our country. You're in my thoughts and prayers!

Until the next post,

Corinne

Potential Chase drivers find trouble early, often at BMS

Junior, Johnson, Burton involved; Kahne biggest loser

BRISTOL, Tenn. --

Twenty minutes after the Sharpie 500 had been completed in dramatic fashion at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night, Dale Earnhardt Jr. sat on the edge of the back of his hauler, head in

hands.

Looking just as dismayed, crew chief Tony Eury Jr. sat next to him, commiserating about the difficult night they had just endured. They looked like a pair searching for answers after finishing 18th, two laps behind winner Carl Edwards.

“Obviously we aren't doing things right here. We need to get smart and do it right. It was a tough night; it was tough to deal with.”

DALE EARNHARDT JR.

"We struggled all night. I don't know what the deal was," Earnhardt said.

Earnhardt was not alone in wondering what the deal was on a night when Bristol reclaimed much of its former glory during an entertaining race in front of a crowd of 165,000 -- the 53rd consecutive sellout at the venue nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.

As bad a night as Earnhardt thought he had, he actually moved up one spot in the point standings to third behind leader Kyle Busch and Edwards as his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson fell one spot after finishing 33rd in Saturday's race -- 18 laps off the winning pace.

Earnhardt's problems began technically before the race even started. He qualified horribly, in 40th starting position, and then tried to make up for it by passing folks before he had even reached the start-finish line after the green flag dropped to begin the race.

That's illegal, and Earnhardt promptly was ordered to serve a pass-through penalty that put him a lap down right away (watch video). He never made it up, even though he got close a couple of times.

"The car handling was pretty bad all night," Earnhardt said.

Johnson encountered his own early problems. He ran into the back of Sterling Marlin's No. 09 Chevrolet on Lap 27, cut a tire that forced him to make a green-flag pit stop, and never recovered from the mishap (watch video).

Earnhardt and Johnson weren't the only potential contenders in the Chase for the Sprint Cup who suffered through difficult nights. Jeff Burton was running fourth in the race and was up to third in points for the moment when he was taken out in a wreck on Lap 196.

It appeared Sam Hornish Jr. checked up in his No. 77 Dodge, which then led to Tony Stewart clipping Marlin and sending him spinning down the track. Burton's No. 31 Chevrolet got caught up in it when Joe Nemechek, who was behind him, failed to slow in time and plowed directly into him, destroying his car and ending Burton's night.

"I don't know what happened in front of me. Two cars got together. I was getting into the corner and the car behind me just didn't see it and ran over me," Burton said. "We were just taking our time, trying to be smart. You have to drive further than just right above your hood; you have to look further ahead of you at Bristol. Whoever was behind me didn't see what was going on and we got run over."

Burton tried to be philosophical about it, saying he could not have done anything differently. Plus he ended up not falling in the point standings, hanging onto fifth place, the same spot he occupied when the race began.

"We were in pretty good shape in points coming in," Burton said. "Things like this are going to hurt you, but there was nothing we could have done different. We ran well, we got ourselves in good position -- and we got wrecked. You can't lose sleep over things like that."

Kasey Kahne wasn't as fortunate as some of the other potential Chasers who encountered calamity at Bristol, yet were able to escape without major damage in the point standings. On Lap 217 of the 500-lap event, his No. 9 Dodge suffered the same fate as Burton's did earlier when he found himself in the middle of a multi-car pileup triggered when Casey Mears' spotter told him he was clear to go high -- and Mears wasn't.

Mears ended up hitting the No. 55 Toyota of Michael Waltrip, setting off a chain reaction that ultimately involved seven cars (watch video).

"We had a good racecar and it's a shame that we got caught up in that mess," said Kahne, who finished 40th and dropped three spots to 14th, out of the coveted top-12, in points. "The crash happened so fast. I just saw cars wrecking everywhere in front of me and there was nothing that I could do.

"I saw the 5 [of Mears] and the 55 and the next thing that I know, I got hit from behind and it tore up our car pretty good. It's disappointing because we took a hit in the Chase points, but that's the risk you run here at Bristol. I love racing here at Bristol; it's a great place with great fans. It was just a bad deal for us this time."

Earnhardt knew the feeling of despair.

"I don't know. We have to get a little better, man," Earnhardt said. "That wasn't too good of a run there. I am not too proud of that; I was a little embarrassed.

"I figured we would be OK in the Chase. But man, we have to get our heads on straight, you know what I mean? Obviously we aren't doing things right here. We need to get smart and do it right. It was a tough night; it was tough to deal with."

Bristol Recap and I'm due to rant about something

Wow, talk about twisted metal! That's one of the more exciting races I've seen in the past few weeks. Thankfully, Jr wasn't in any of the wrecks that occurred tonight and he did an awesome job getting through them without getting involved in them. Due the track being slick, Jr didn't take a risk during qualifying and ending up qualifying 40th. I give Jr all the credit in the world for that, although I have a feeling Jr wasn't too pleased with where he started. Jr started passing cars before his car passed the start/finish line and got black flagged for it. What's sad is they replayed it, and Juan Pablo Montoya did the same thing, and to my knowledge, he didn't get black flagged for it like Jr did. Anyway, that put Jr down a lap for the rest of the race, and although Jr got close a few times, he wasn't able to get the lucky dog. Jr finished this week down a lap, and in the 18th position. Because Jimmie Johnson had worse trouble, he and Jr swapped places in the standings, putting Jr back at 3rd.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As most of you know, I try to keep my rants to minimum. This one thing has been kinda bothering me for a few weeks, but right now, I need to get it off my chest. I know I've heard people complain about how they can't stand ESPN's coverage of NASCAR and how they only ever follow the race leader. Good lord here people, just be thankful ESPN is covering it! Bottom line is this, no network is or will ever be perfect with their coverage, and I have a feeling when ABC takes over, someone will have something to complain about there too. Come on, there's far more worse things to complain about in the world. I have said before that I can be blunt at times, and considering this is my blog, I feel I have the right (as an American citizen) to voice my blunt opinion when I want to.

I can't believe I almost forgot to do this... Michigan recap

I think I was packing while the race was going on last Sunday and forgot to post the recap from Michigan. Whoops!!! Sorry about that..... so here it is!


Dale Jr had a really good car and qualified 4th, but a run into the wall put him back and he finished 23rd. (Sorry I don't have more to say, but like I said, I was packing at the time the race w as going on, and forgot to post the recap!!

Congrats to Brad!!!

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #88 US Navy Chevrolet accepts the trophy from Steve Smith, President/CEO of Food City after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 22, 2008 in Bristol, Tennessee.

Late bobble costs Bowyer, lifts Keselowski

By HANK KURZ Jr.

Associated Press Sports

updated 2 hours, 18 minutes ago

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) -Brad Keselowski passed Clint Bowyer with 24 laps to go Friday night and pulled away for his second victory of the season in NASCAR's Nationwide Series, capping a remarkable run from the 37th starting position at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Bowyer dominated the race after he slipped by Dario Franchitti for the lead on lap 107, but appeared to wiggle exiting the second turn on the 227th lap as Keselowski went past him.

"We were dead equal, Clint and I,'' Keselowski said after climbing from his car in the cloud of smoke of a just-completed burnout. "I needed to catch a break and he gave it to me.''

Car owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. greeted Keselowski after the finish.

"Victory Lane, Bristol,'' the boss told his driver. "It gets no better than that, man.''

Bowyer, who has won just once, was dejected after leading 121 laps.

"It was good right up until whatever lap that was where I made a mistake,'' he said, adding that he tried too quickly to get back on the gas coming out of the second turn. "It came out from underneath me there and I had to check up or I would have spun out.''

Bowyer quickly gathered his car and gave chase, but Keselowski held on, moving him closer to Bowyer atop the points standings after 29 of 35 races. Keselowski is now 122 points behind Bowyer, and Carl Edwards dropped to third.

Bowyer held on to finish second, followed by Greg Biffle, pole-sitter Cale Gale and David Stremme in a race that was slowed just five times by cautions, and for only 26 laps.

Bowyer has finished in the top 10 in 21 of 26 races, but with just one win.

"It's been a frustrating two months for me,'' Bowyer said. "It's good when you can be frustrated with second, but we did give one away today. When you look at it, it was obvious.''

Wow did you see that?

I just thought of this, if you go wayyy down to the bottom of the page you can see how many people have visited me here at AMPed. That is so cool, we're getting fans from the entire world. To those of you who are visiting here for the first time, welcome!! That pumps me up a lot that you came to see my little corner of the world. Keep coming back, I always seem to find something new and/or interesting.

I'm back!!

No I haven't left ya for good, I was on vacation in beautiful Ocean City, NJ and if you really wanna see pics from my time away, let me know. Anyway, happy belated birthday to...... ME!!!



Wednesday was my 28th birthday, and I went to Atlantic City for the day.

That's all for now, will post more when there's more to be posted.

A small but awesome detour....

I usually wouldn't do this, but I know that Dale Jr is a patriotic person and since this week is the 2008 Olympics, so I think this is worth blogging about. Tonight Michael Phelps made history, winning 8 gold medals, which is now the all time record for the most medals won in a single olypmics. Congrats Michael, and congrats to the rest of the US Swimming team!! 

USA - USA - USA!!!

Check this out, I just found it.

Michael Phelps wins record eighth gold medal

Cheering from the pool deck, Michael Phelps won his record eighth gold medal of the Beijing Games on Sunday to become the grandest of Olympic champions.

Frank Fitzpatrick

The Philadelphia Inquirer

PREV 1 of 2 NEXT 

ROD MAR / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Michael Phelps is jubilant after screaming to a gold in the 400 medley with teammates Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen and Jason Lezak.

2008 Olympics Video Coverage at NBC Olympics.com!

BEIJING (AP)-- Cheering from the pool deck, Michael Phelps won his record eighth gold medal of the Beijing Games on Sunday to become the grandest of Olympic champions.

Jason Lezak held on to the lead Phelps gave him, anchoring the United States to a world record in the 400-meter medley relay against an Australian team that did its best to spoil history.

But Phelps, with a big hand from three teammates, would not be denied. He eclipsed Mark Spitz's seven-gold performance at the 1972 Munich Games, an iconic performance that was surpassed by a swimmer fitting of this generation: a 23-year-old from Baltimore who loves hip-hop music and texting with his buddies.

"I don't even know what to feel right now," Phelps said. "There's so much emotions going through my head and so much excitement. I kind of just want to see my mom."

Debbie Phelps was sitting in the stands at the Water Cube, tears streaming down her cheeks, her two daughters sitting with her.

Even though the Americans have never lost the medley relay at the Olympics, the latest gold was hardly a breeze. When Phelps dived into the water for the butterfly -- the third of four legs -- the Americans were third behind Japan and Australia.

But Phelps, swimming the same distance and stroke that he used to win his seventh gold a day earlier, powered back to the front on his return lap, passing off to Lezak with the Americans in front.

Australia's Eamon Sullivan tried to chase Lezak down and appeared to be gaining as they came to the wall. But Lezak touched in 3 minutes, 29.34 seconds -- Phelps' seventh world record in his personal Great Haul of China.

The Aussies took silver in 3:30.04, also under the old world record, while Japan held on for the bronze.

"Nothing is impossible," Phelps said. "With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination, and that's something I learned and something that helped me."

Phelps patted breaststroker Brendan Hansen on the head and threw his arms in the air after Lezak finished, though the Americans still had to wait a couple of tantalizing minutes for the official results to be posted. Aaron Peirsol swam the leadoff leg for the Americans.

Finally, it flashed on the board.

World record.Gold medal No. 8.

On deck, a beaming Phelps slapped hands with his teammates and thrust his arms toward the Water Cube roof. The winning swimmers locked arms as if they were in a football huddle about to break for a play.

Phelps, meanwhile, couldn't stop smiling.

"Without the help of my teammates this isn't possible," said Phelps, who won five individual races and three relays in Beijing.

"I was able to be a part of three relays and we were able to put up a solid team effort and we came together as one unit," he said. "For the three Olympics I've been a part of, this is by far the closest men's team that we've ever had. I didn't know everybody coming into this Olympics, but I feel going out I know every single person very well. The team that we had is the difference.

Watkins Glen recap

Centurion Boats at the Glen

Any Junebug fan knows that road courses aren't Juniors high point, much less his favorite type of track. However this past Sunday (at least for the very beginning of the race) you wouldn't be able to tell that. Rain cancelled qualifying so Junior started second. Junior lead two different times, and finished 22nd. Junior slipped down to 4th in points, but he's still in a great place going into the race for the chase. Next week, Jr Nation will have sweet memories from June (as I'm sure Junior does too!!) and Dale Jr and the rest of the Sprint Cup drivers head back to Michigan.

Pocono recap and a little ranting from me about Pocono and the state of PA

Like I really need to do this considering I was there.
(Sorry, getting late, sarcastic side of me is coming out) Anyway, the race at Pocono was pretty uneventful, except for a few minor wrecks, Kurt Busch spinning out (right in front of where I was sitting) and a 40 minute rain delay. Congrats to Carl Edwards and the Office Deport team.

I can remember last June, Dale Jr was interviewed and he was asked what did he think of the track? I felt so bad for him and several of the the other drivers. In PA, that early in June, it's usually never as hot as it was that day. That heat wave lasted for I don't know how many days, and the fact that those drivers were already in cars that are hotter than hades themselves didn't help either. Anyway, Jr's answer was simple as he was also very hot and winded from the race. "It needs totally repaved." Even though I don't know them, I love the Mattioli's and have so much respect for them for sticking to their guns and not letting people (who shall remain nameless) to come in and take over Pocono. Pocono is one of those tracks that's in th e middle of no where, almost like Darlington. It's one of those tracks that makes you wanna watch it just because it's different than all the other ovals on the circuit. To the Mattioli's I give much credit. Pocono means so much to me because it brings NASCAR to Pennsylvania. I could go to Dover, that's 4 hours away from me, or I can travel right out Interstate 80 and go to the Poconos.

On the flip side of that, Dale Jr is right. That track is in much need of a total facelift, if you watch the Pocono races on TV you can see the bumps the cars go over.
Please, Mattioli family, take this into consideration.

Pictures from Pocono

Wow, didn't realize I took this many pictures!!
I had so much fun and can't wait until next year.
Enjoy!!!



Traveling along Interstate 80 and
going into the Pocono Mountains.

Didn't hit me yet where we were going.


Right here is when it hit me,
I'm actually going to a NASCAR race!!

The only time I had a clear view of anything down that way.

Ok, I know that me doing that looks cheesy, but really, I don't care.
It's my first race and if those race car drivers can point their pointer
finger up in the air like that, then so can I!! Ha ha.

I had no clue what this meant until now.
Pocono Raceway has over 1,000 bathroom stalls,
making it the only track with that many stalls on the
Sprint Cup Circuit. (A little too much info, I know)

I really don't wanna know what those are used for,
hopefully they're just there for decoration.

------POCONO RACEWAY FAN FAIR------



The first thing we saw when we walked into this section.

Gone, but not forgotten

Jeff G. (and my Dad's head)

Wonder who Ryan is talking to over there?
Maybe Chad? (The Alltel guy)

In case you didn't see the sign on both sides, this one is Kurt Buschs'

The Biff

Do you think they put that stand there (right under Kevin's head) on purpose?

David

Even the Sprint Cup Series has their own merchandise trailer.

Don't look so serious Mikey.
(He must have known he was gonna have a bad day)

Jeff B.

Keep looking, you'll see the opposite side further down.

I have no idea who the dude in the red is,
but there's Jamie.

Patrick and Elliot

Matt.

One of my favorite Jr pictures.

Told ya you'd see the backside down here.


Last picture of Jr. (If you don't know, that's me there)

Kasey

Smoke

Yup, that's Denny Hamlin. I didn't intend to stand in line for his autograph,
but figured this is as close as I'll get to a NASCAR driver at this race,
so a picture of him is better than nothing!!

Carl Edwards trailer
(Who knew when I took this that we'd be
watching him do that later in the day?)

Both sides of Mark Martin's Merchandise trailer.

---FAN EXTRAS---
After you get past all the merchandise trailers,
some of the sponsors have their own fan interaction trailers.
Dad wanted to keep moving so I didn't go into any of these.
Dad's not an Old Spice type guy,
and neither of us are into Jack Daniels.
(No offense Clint, I think you're a cool guy)


One of my friends is a former Marine, and I support all of our troops,
no matter where they're stationed.
They keep this country free, so we don't have to.
Next time you see a Vet - thank them ok? :)


The Sprint Experience
(No clue what it was, but I thought the stage looked cool, and if I think it's cool
and worth memory disk space, I'll take a picture of it.)

I'm not a truck driver, and in order to play in the
Truck Driver Challenge, you had to have your current CDL,
so that was out for me. However, one of my favorite drivers is Kyle Petty,
and I'm a supporter of Victory Junction Gang, so I had to have a picture of this car.

Not sure what this one was about either, all I know is it was for Old Spice, still looked cool.


Ok, so I lied.
I went in and saw the Team Chevy cars that were on display
and found a few other things too. :)
Plus that, I'm a Chevy girl,
so you know I had to check it out!



Team Chevy.

I couldn't get my picture by the AMP car, well.... because it wasn't there.
So, here's Jeff's car (and me standing beside it with my AMP in hand).

Now there's power!!
(Don't ask what Mr. Blue Hollister shirt is doing there, cuz I don't have any clue.)



Hey! How did Jeff's car get out here and how did no one notice it was gone?!?!
Ha ha, yeah, that wasn't all that funny...
anyway, on we go.....
First Jeff's car, now Junior's firesuit?!?!
Ha ha, yeah... still not all that funny.
Anyway, I thought it was pretty cool that they had
it on display.
Corvette from the American Le Mans Series

Red Bull Chevy Cobalt from NHRA


------ OUR VIEW FROM THE GRANDSTANDS ------
The view wasn't the greatest, but I loved our seats.
We sat in the family section, which I would rather sit in anyway,
mostly considering the family section at Pocono is right down there
where the action happens in front of your face.

Wayyy over there is where the
Speed stage is at Pocono.

This guy was flying right over our heads!!
Thankfully he got out there where all the other jumpers
were and perfected his landing!!

What I've been waiting all summer for --
The green flag is about to fly!

The DirectTV blimp

(right to left)

Scott Riggs, Bill Elliot,
and Jamie McMurray

(right to left)
Mark Martin, David Gilliland,
Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr
and Kasey Kahne

Mark Martin

Jimmie Johnson

David Ragan going into pit road.

(Right to left)
Half of Carl Edwards,

Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth (again)

(From right to left)
Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle
and Mark Martin

Regan Smith

(left) Jeff Burton and (right) Jamie McMurray

Nascar cameraman and his helper
(I don't know what they're called)
standing a few rows below us.

(The rest of these I borrowed from daylife.com)
We were at the wayyy end, so we couldn't see Carl do his backflip.
So here's some pictures close up!!

"Ok Pocono, you want the backflip?!? You got the backflip!!"

"I will not fall on my butt, I will not fall on my butt"

"I'm gonna land it, I'm gonna land it....."

Perfect landing!!!

The Winner and his trophies....

Way to go Carl!!

It was an awesome day and I can't wait until next year!!!
(Ok so a few of these I didn't take,
that will be easy to see, but the
majority of them were taken by my Dad and I)