This Page © 2004 Connelly Communications, LLC, PO Box 592 Hampton, NH 03843- Contributed items and logos are © and ™ their respective owners Unauthorized reproduction 26 of this page or its contents for republication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited • For permission, call (603) 926-4557 • AN-Mark 9A-EVEN- Rev 12-16-2004 PAGE 26A | ATLANTIC NEWS | FEBRUARY 24, 2006 | VOL 31, NO 7 ATLANTICNEWS.COM . RACING CORNER JOHNSON GETS FIRST Johnson was assured the 50-50, while Stewart said it 6. Earnhardt-152, 7. Vickers- through,” in which the driver NASCAR Busch Series race, victory when Greg Biffle was 100 per cent Gordon’s 151, 8. Bowyer-150, 9. Schrad- must come down pit road at rookie Burney Lamar’s sec- DAYTONA 500 WIN wrecked on the final lap, fault. er-138, 10. Jarrett-134 reduced speed, or a stop-and- ond-place finish behind Tony BY GERALD HODGES freezing the field at that point. During lap 106 Stewart go when the car actually has Stewart was a big surprise to TOO MUCH MONKEY DAYTONA | “I dedicate But the winning move came down on Matt Kenseth, to stop on pit road. If a driver fans as well as his fellow com- this win to all the 48-car came on Lap 186 when he pushing him into the infield BUSINESS is a repeat offender, Pember- petitors. haters,” said Jimmie Johnson moved outside of Vickers to and causing him to wreck. DAYTONA | NASCAR ton said, he could even be “The kid (Lamar) did an in Victory Lane after winning get the lead. As soon as John- For this, Stewart was sent to teams have completed all the parked. awesome job,” said Stewart. Sunday’s 48th Daytona 500. son gained the lead, Kurt the rear of the field. As the new off season changes man- What is detrimental about “I can’t believe he was in that Johnson’s statement was Busch hit the outside wall cars re-entered pit road under dated by NASCAR and the these “judgment calls,” to dri- position at the end and he in reference to fans and other after being tagged from caution, Kenseth sideswiped first race of the season, the vers, teams and sponsors is drove like a veteran there. I racers that have accused the behind by Jamie McMurray, Stewart, and Kenseth was Daytona 500 is history. But they give NASCAR the right saw what they were trying to Number 48 team of being bringing out a caution. assessed a drive-through before cars took to the track to arbitrarily decide when do to him behind them and habitual cheaters, and espe- NASCAR ruled that John- penalty. for the Daytona 500, bump drafting or any other he kept working them.” cially since crew chief Chad son’s No. 48 Chevrolet was Later in the race, Stewart NASCAR’s power brokers rule is violated. Just as Stewart crossed the Knaus was expelled by leading when the green flew came down on Kyle Busch, were thinking up new rules. If NASCAR wanted to finish line to secure the win, NASCAR from Daytona after again with 10 laps left. Vick- but no penalty was issued. While NASCAR has teach a driver a lesson, or behind him erupted an 11-car the running of the Budweiser ers was second, with Ryan Ironically, it was Stewart, who always been a dictatorship, it reward a sponsor, they could wreck, collecting several dri- Shootout, Feb. 11 for rules Newman third, Casey Mears complained about rough dri- seems they are leaning more make one call that would do vers who had battled only violations inspectors found in fourth and Kasey Kahne fifth. ving following last weekend’s and more towards micro- it all. moments before for the lead Johnson’s car. Tony Stewart provided the Budweiser Shootout managing the series, instead Let us suppose that and bringing out the caution “I wish Chad Knaus could most excitement of any dri- “He (Kenseth) got back of allowing for good racing. NASCAR decides that since flag. have been here,” said John- ver, as he was involved in what he started in the first My daddy, who only had Big Baloney, the major spon- After a lengthy review of son. “It was his and the three separate incidents, one place,” said Stewart. “I was a grade school education, sor of Joe Whodunnit’s car, the finish by NASCAR offi- team’s hard work that got the which caused him to be sent penalized, but he has no room called it, “monkey business,” who hasn’t won a race since cials, Lamar was credited team where it is. Great pit to the rear of the field. It to complain. He started it and when you messed with things 1992, needs to get back in vic- with second place, Clint stops, great team work, and appears Stewart, the 2005 I finished it.” that were better left alone. tory lane. Bowyer third and Jon Wood everyone stepped up when Nextel Cup champion is Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished The draft issue is a good The Big Baloney car is fourth. we needed them to.” either on his way to becoming eighth, but led the most laps example. For years drivers leading with just a couple Lamar, driving full time Johnson took the lead the new “Intimidator,” or the (32). have complained about how laps to go, but it appears Rock for KHI in the No. 77 Dollar from his teammate Brian “2006 Bully of the Year,” Jeff Gordon battled back dangerous the present situa- Crushing in the Sour Grapes General Chevrolet and with Vickers on lap 186 and sur- much like Kurt Busch was from the early incident with tion is at Daytona and Tal- car is about to pass him for only two previous series vived a challenge from Ryan last year. Tony Stewart and a bad trans- the win. starts, stayed out of trouble Cyan ladega speedways. With the Newman, in a green/ white/ Stewart got into Jeff Gor- mission to finish 28th. type equipment now forced But wait, the Sour Apples and never drifted far from the checkered finish that added don, who had gone high dur- Unofficial finishing order upon them, drivers run in nudges Big Baloney, even top 10 the entire race. Mean- Magenta three laps to the 200 lap race. ing lap 20. Gordon said it was of Daytona 500 as of bunches, with no hope of though it doesn’t appear while Mark Martin won Fri- presstime: 1. Jimmie Johnson, pulling away from the main intentional. day night’s Craftsman Truck 2. Casey Mears, 3. Ryan New- pack of cars. “Ah hah,” says the Series race, followed by Todd man, 4. Elliott Sadler, 5. Tony That leads to at least one NASCAR official. “Now is Bodine, Ted Musgrave, Mike Yellow Stewart, 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr., gigantic wreck during every our chance to repay the Big Skinner, and Jack Sprague 7. Clint Bowyer, 8. Brian Vick- race at these two superspeed- Baloney Corporation for all EEKEND ACING ers, 9. Ken Schrader, 10. Dale ways. those millions of dollars they W R Black Jarrett, 11. Kasey Kahne, 12. Rather than address the have pumped into the series. Friday, Feb. 24, Craftsman Mark Martin, 13. Robby Gor- major problem, NASCAR “Give Rock and the Sour Trucks 200, race 2 of 25, Start- don, 14. Kevin Harvick, 15. will enforce “no zones” in an Grapes team a 15-second ing time: 9 p.m. (EST); TV: Matt Kenseth, 16. Martin effort to limit bump drafting penalty.” Speed Channel; Distance: 100 Truex Jr., 17. Terry Labonte, By this time, Crushing’s laps/200 miles. Excellent Chinese Cuisine in the turns at Daytona and 18. Michael Waltrip, 19. Bill Talladega. car has taken the checkered Saturday, Feb. 25, Busch Prompt Take Out Available Elliott, 20. Kirk Shelmerdine, Bump drafting is when a flag, but it is Whodunnit and Series Stater Bros. 300, race 2 (603) 926-6633 21. Greg Biffle, 22. Brent Sher- driver intentionally rams the Big Baloney that celebrates of 34, Starting time: 6 p.m. man, 23. Reed Sorenson, 24. rear of the car in front of him with baloney sandwiches in (EST); TV: FX Channel; Dis- 7 Ocean Blvd, Hampton Beach Dave Blaney, 25. Kevin LeP- to push it forward in the draft. victory lane. tance: 150 laps/300 miles. Located at Seabrook/Hampton Bridge on Rte 1A age, 26. Kyle Busch, 27. Mike “We may have some zones Get the picture? Too much Sunday, Feb. 26, Nextel Wallace, 28. Jeff Gordon, 29. that we post some added offi- monkey business! Cup Auto Club 500, race 2 of DINNER SPECIALS Travis Kvapil, 30. David cials in and might be forced to Rules are a necessary evil 36, Starting time: 3:30 p.m. Stremme, 31. Denny Hamlin, make a call on a bump draft of any growing business, (EST): TV: Fox; Distance: 250 1. Lettuce Wrap 32. Jeff Burton, 33. Joe that is unnecessary,” said especially for one like laps/500 miles; Defending Minced chicken wrapped in fresh lettuce Nemechek, 34. Sterling Mar- Robin Pemberton, NASCAR NASCAR’s Nextel Cup series champion: Greg Biffle, Ford. $8.95 lin, 35. Bobby Labonte, 36. vice president for competi- that has exploded over the California Speedway track Jamie McMurray, 37. Jeremy tion. “We may be put into a past decade. The more control information: Size: 2-mile oval; 2. Steamed Haddock Mayfield, 38. Kurt Busch, 39. position where we have to an organization exerts over its Banking in turns; 14 degrees, With shredded scallops and pork Kyle Petty, 40.