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Too Tough to Tame..


Here it goes...

Don:

Last week at Bristol I refused to pick my gut instinct of Jeff Gordon. So what happens, Jeff wins. My second and logical choice was Tony Stewart and what happens, he blows an oil line. So, do I use logic or gut instinct this week?Being prone to follow the ole gut, here goes:

1: Jeff Gordon: Jeff threw the monkey off his back at Bristol and he sees that fifth championship on the horizon.

2: Tony Stewart: Tony will recover from his disappointment at Bristol and have a strong run.

3: Jimmie Johnson: He too will overcome his Bristol bash and show he is still a championship contender.

4: Bobby Labonte: Bobby brought his damaged car home to a respectable ninth place and he misses victory lane.

5. Kevin Harvick: Kevin has regained his competitive drive and he's scored the most points over the past five races.

Sterling Marlin has been good and lucky but the Lady In Black will reach out and grab him and we'll see a points shake up. Possible surprises of the race, Mike Wallace and Terry Labonte.

I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but look who won the points race for segment 2 in our ITPB weekly preview of race winners. Eat your heart out Alison.

Don

Rob:

Steve Park has let me down a few times, but I do remember him leading Darlington in teh spring his first race back and then Stacy Compton and him had some trouble. Well, Stacy isnt there, so GO STEVE!!

I see Jeff Burton a strong 2nd

and 3rd will be Ricky Craven. He is always good there.

Alison:

Since Don is so smart and brilliant and incredibly intelligient, I will pick whoever he is picking.

You are my hero Don, and I worship the asphalt you drive on.

Actually, maybe not. I will go with Mark Martin for the win..

Matt Kenseth in 2nd

and 3rd will be , of course, Mikey!

Lisa:

Wow, picking the last two winners has put some money in the "Penny a Point" fund for The Foundation for Fighting Blindness, and it's also really put the pressure on me. Can I go 3 for 3?

I'm picking Rusty Wallace this week. Now that one losing streak has ended, it's time to end Rusty's. Plus he's never won at Darlington, so I think the timing is right. He knows the track, and has had a lot of good finishes, so that is my pick, and I'm sticking to it.

Danny Z:

After a futile season so far I decided to give Suzy a chance. Here is her trifecta for Darlington.

1 Sterling Marlin to resume his winning ways and

2 Ricky Rudd to show that he still has it and

3 Mikey Waltrip, just because.

Happy Racin,
Danny Zeeff

Heather:

FINALLY! Jeff Gordon won a race! Now everyone must stop talking about the winless streak! Yeah! Not to mention the fact that I also got my first win of the year too! Bristol was great!

Now, I've been saying all year long that I was and would continue to pick Jeff Gordon until he finally won a race, and I would then choose someone else. So, I will pick a different driver to win at Darlington this weekend. However, I reserve the right to pick Jeff Gordon again at any time I so choose (i.e., if he gets on a "hot" streak and I need the points - or if I let my mother, who loves Gordon, influence my decision). So who am I picking to win at Darlington?...

Steve Park. Yep, my favorite driver, and the sentimental favorite for this race. This Sunday, September 1, 2002, is exactly one year since Steve was injured at Darlington during the Busch race; his horrible accident occurred on September 1, 2001. So, since Steve almost lost his life that day, I think the Lady in Black owes him one - a win, that is.

Go Steve!

SideWays:

Well me and the boys are still trying to figure out how you can damage an oil line and not damage the "crush" panels. It's a new one on us but sometimes things just don't go your way! Being that it was Bristol..well anything can and did happen!

OK on to the "Negro es Seniora"..or the "mistake by the little lake". Since ISC( the parent company of NASCAR) has taken over this track, attendance has steadily fallen. Hmmm wonder why?

This track doesn't play favorites. The "old lady" has no intention of giving anyone a break...except maybe your neck! It used to be a survival race. Whomever took care of their tires stood the best chance. Now this harder compound seems to have taken that away.

Much as we all hate it...we'll have to take "the brain-dead warrior"...just remember there's only one thing that comes between the 2 & 4.....and we sure miss him!

Bethann:

My pick to win is: Jeff Gordon. The win last week at Bristiol did wonders for the confidence of Jeff and his team. I think he will have another good run and take the win. If not, pleast let him finish well so I can get some decent points!!

Others to keep your eyes on: Dale Jarrett, Dale Jr, Harvick, Bill Elliott.

They don't call it the Track to tough to tame for no reason....It should be interesting. Be nice to the Lady in Black drivers! As always everyone...enjoy your weekend and lets all hope for some good, safe racin'. Take care!

Ken:

1. Jeff Burton - Looks like Jeff and the Roush team have built up the momentum with a 7th place at The Glen, a 4th at MIS and a 13th at Bristol which could have easily been a top 5 or even a win if his motor had not gone south very late in the race.  If one driver has the right to brag that he has tamed "The Lady in Black" it's Burton and his personal average at Darlington is bettered only by his average at New Hampshire (just barely).  Burton has, in the past 6 years (13 races), averaged 152.45 points and nobody except for "Mr. Goody Two Shoes", aka Jeff Gordon (13 races, 157.85 point average) and Ryan Newman (1 race, 155.00 points ) has a better record at "The Lady in Black."  I expect to claim his first win of 2002 this Sunday.

2. Ryan Newman - To be a rookie and finish 5th the 1st time at the "Track Too Tough to Tame" shows me this guy has talent, a lot of it.  I look for him to better his Spring finish, and possibly get his first official win.

3. Jeff Gordon - aka "Mr Goody Two Shoes" ranks #1 in Darlington but he has his win so now he has to protect or better his #3 ranking.  I look for a stellar finish but not the win.

4. Tony Stewart - Although Darlington is not his best track, it looked like he finally had the track figured out this Spring and was headed for a Top Five or possible win until Joe Nemechek (founding member of my "Drivers Never to Pick in Your Fantasy Team Club) pulled one of his typical bonehead moves and took both him and Jimmy Spencer (another founding member of the club) out of the race.  "Terrible Tony" is hot and I look for him to be in the thick of it.  The changes NASCAR allowed the Pontiacs at MIS will help Stewart at Darlington and in two weeks at New Hampshire.  This is one guy you want on your team the rest of the season with the possible exception of Talladega.

5. Kevin Harvick - Prior to his win at Chicago, Harvick's previous best finish in 2002 was a 3rd place finish at the Spring race at Darlington..  Additionally, his average there is 5th best average (142.67) of all active drivers and very quietly, Harvick has become the hottest driver in NASCAR. Forget the averages of Martin, Gordon, Stewart, Elliot, Newman and Wallace over the last 4, 8 and 10 races. Harvick's average of those periods leads them all by a wide margin of 9.5, 22.1 and 9.2 points respectively.  I do not really expect him to win the race but another top 5 is a distinct possibility.

Dark Horse Top Five Pick of the Week: Johnny Benson - two strong finishes in a row possibility bodes a turn-a-round for the #10 Valvoline Pontiac and NASCAR's changes can only help.

 

Ken Shafer

LAST WEEK"S WINNER- Marilyn Rapp:

 Picking a winner for the Southern 500 has been very difficult for me because most of my favorite drivers have won either the spring or fall race.

After giving it much thought I finally put the names in a hat and here is my draw.

Tony Stewart

Mark Martin

Jeff Burton

Good luck to me and God Bless The Drivers!

The Handyman, our resident Fill-in.

going to try somethig a little different this week going way out in turn four are you could say in left field.

1-32

2-24

3-12

4-48

5-29

maybe what do you think ? happy picking from the handyman.

It isn't too late to get your predictions in. Send an e-mail to "My Prediction" . Put the winning driver prediction in the subject and put your prediction for 2nd place in the body of the e-mail. You may be on our expert panel for the next race.
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