Bleacher Report - Articles by eugene palmer

Big Crash Ruins Kyle Busch's Car, Changes Complexion of Daytona 500

eugene palmer — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:09:09 -0500

Aggressive driving with 76 laps left in the Daytona 500 and rain threatening to cut the event short caused a 10-car backstretch melee that eliminated Kyle Busch's dominant car and radically changed the race's complexion.

It also kicked off a spate of two more cautions in the 20 additional laps that were run before rain ended the race after 152 laps. But the big crash was the most decisive. This is a great quote by Kyle Busch:

Some guys having some bad days and not doing their best out there, they made their bad day our bad day and we had a problem.

KYLE BUSCH

The critical accident started after a Lap 124 restart when Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 Chevrolet, a lap down after a pit road penalty, got a great run down the inside and attempted to pass Brian Vickers' No. 83 Toyota.

Apparently Earnhardt didn't know Vickers was also a lap down and fighting him for the free pass spot in the event of another caution. Vickers moved over a lane to block Earnhardt, forcing the No. 88 below the double-yellow out-of-bounds line halfway down the straightaway.

When Earnhardt came back onto the racetrack, he hooked the left-rear corner of Vickers' car, sending it out of control and across the backstretch in front of traffic.

Earnhardt escaped unscathed and got his lap back. But Busch, whose No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota led the most laps in the race (88) and who said he was "100 percent confident" he was going to win, was eliminated on the spot, as was Vickers. Both pointed fingers at Earnhardt.

"My goal was to keep Junior [Earnhardt] behind me and I went to block him," Vickers said. "I beat him to the yellow line and then he just turned us. He hooked me in the left-rear and typically NASCAR penalizes...I think Jason Leffler was penalized five laps [Saturday] for doing the same thing.

"I guess they're not going to penalize him for it. It's kind of sad. To wreck somebody intentionally like that in front of the entire field is really kind of dangerous. That's my biggest problem with it, but apparently he wanted a caution pretty bad."

Earnhardt, who had battled back from two pit road miscues, including a one-lap penalty for pitting outside his pit box, wouldn't accept the criticism.

"I had a big 'ol run on him, and I went to the inside," Earnhardt said. "I didn't try a late move or to make up some surprise or anything. I just kind of eased on over there and he went to block me and hit me in the fender, which sent me off toward the grass.

"In trying to recover, my car I got back into him trying come back up on the race track. I don't hate it for him, but [I do] for everyone else that wrecked."

Earnhardt bristled and raised his voice a couple octaves when FOX's Dick Berggren asked him during the live broadcast under the rain delay before the race was called if the contact was an accident.

"Yeah, it was accidental," Earnhardt shrieked. "I don't want to wreck the field. The rain was coming, it was time to try to win the race and I was trying to get back on the lead lap. So I had to run hard."

"If Vickers could have just held his ground, I had a good run. I was a lapped car anyway and wasn't battling for the lead. But he drove me down into the grass almost and I didn't have much control of my car after that."

"That's super speedway racing," Vickers insisted. "You watch your mirror [and] you try to keep the guy behind you, behind you. My goal is not to let him pass me. People blocked me the whole race. They'd turn left and try to keep me behind them. That's part of super speedway racing.

"I don't just hook them in the left-rear and turn them in front of the field. I don't think that's an excuse to do that. Everybody has their own opinion, I guess."

That was no consolation for Busch, who was blunt in his assessment of what happened.

"Some guys having some bad days and not doing their best out there, they made their bad day our bad day and we had a problem," Busch said. "I was just playing with my teammate Denny Hamlin up there and having a great time. It was just unfortunate that two guys got together that were a lap down and were fighting over nothing."

No matter who was at fault, Busch was extremely bitter to be standing outside the infield care center before the race ended.

"It looked [like a] pretty big [mistake] to me," Busch said. "It cost the winning car the chance to win the race." These quotes show the frustration and disappointment in what should have been the 2009 Daytona 500 winner.

Kyle Busch: No Longer The "Kid" With Daytona Approaching

eugene palmer — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:07:45 -0500

You may hate him. You may like him. Either way, the eight-time sprint cup winner in 2009 will be back to pop open the champagne whether you like it or not!

There are many ways to describe Kyle—some good, some bad. He has been called the baby in NASCAR. He has been called names that make no sense. Have you ever heard "rubbins racin"? Not that it applies to Kyle Busch but take it into consideration! All of you that agree with that, well there's one word to describe you, Jealous!

He is the guy you hear about when you turn on the TV. He is the guy you always hear win and his name in the same sentence. He is the guy who is no longer the kid in NASCAR. He is the guy who is no longer the future of NASCAR. He is the guy who is the most talented young driver in NASCAR. He is the guy who won so many races that the weirdos who hate him can't even count how many.

Heck, he is Nascar. He is Kyle Busch!

With the Daytona 500 approaching, Kyle Busch wants to let people know that he is the real deal. He is no longer the kid with the bright future. His time is now!

He has proven he can win on short tracks, super speed ways, half miles, concrete, dirt, in his sprint car, or in either one of NASCAR's top three divisions. He has even proven he can win at Daytona.

With the new drivers in 2009, along with Mark Martin, Joey Logano, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman— and new drivers in new cars—don't forget about the kid in the green machine. This so called NASCAR "baby" will no longer be called that after the 2009 season.

You call him a baby because he dominated the regular season and had eight wins? Like him or hate him, you know he has the best shot of winning any race next year.

Oh yeah, that's right, this baby can't win Daytona because he only won eight races last year, right? This MAN has proven he is ready to win the Daytona 500. This MAN is ready to show you haters what a "baby" can do on a race track—again!

This MAN is your '09 Sprint Cup champ! This MAN is the candy man, Kyle Busch!

Is Florida "For Real" About Signing Pedro Martinez?

eugene palmer — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:09:38 -0500

Don't look for Pedro Martinez to wind up with the Marlins. A day after a report stated the Marlins were in the mix for the 37-year-old right-hander, a league source confirmed to MLB.com on Sunday that Florida has zero interest.

Reports in the Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post and SunSentinel also ruled out the possibility of Martinez joining the club. On Saturday night, a report on ESPNdeportes.com stated the Marlins had discussions with agent Fernando Cuza regarding Martinez.

The report added Florida may have begun preliminary contract talks, and that the two sides were expected to continue talking this week. As of late Sunday afternoon, the Marlins were not considered a possible fit.

Martinez has a home in Miami, and he has expressed privately a desire to pitch for the Marlins. On Monday, Cuza is expected to have discussions with the Mets about a possible return to New York. The right-hander also is expected to test the free-agent market.

Hampered by injuries last year, Martinez was 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts. He threw 109 innings. Working with minimal financial resources, the Marlins are looking for affordable free agents. The team did explore adding veteran Carl Pavano, who signed with the Indians.

The Marlins are prepared to head into Spring Training with a rotation that includes Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad, Andrew Miller, and Anibal Sanchez. Nolasco, eliglbe for arbitration, still has not signed.

Florida continues to explore depth at catcher. The team is looking for low-priced options there. A free agent that could be a fit is Ivan Rodriguez, but only if his price tag continues to drop this month.

Plaxico Burress Could Have Been a "Game Changer" vs. the Eagles

eugene palmer — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:41:52 -0500

Offense

Eagles QB Donovan McNabb threw for 300 yards last Sunday in a first-round win at Minnesota, but Philidelphia only offensive touchdown came on a 71-yard dash by RB Brian Westbrook on a screen pass. McNabb has thrown for 10 touchdowns and two interceptions in six games since his second-half benching at Baltimore on Nov. 23, and the Eagles are 5-1...

The Giants had a bye week to get RB Brandon Jacobs healthy. But they've been inconsistent on offense since losing WR Plaxico Burress, reaching 20 points only once in their final four games of the regular season.

Defense

Two of the league's best are on the field in this game. The Eagles ranked third in the NFL in total defense during the regular season, the Giants fifth. The Eagles limited Vikings RB Adrian Peterson to 83 rushing yards last weekend, and CB Asante Samuel had his fourth career postseason touchdown on an interception return.

Giants DE Justin Tuck tied for seventh in the league during the regular season with 12 sacks, and getting him blocked effectively was key for the Eagles.

Special Teams

Eagles PK David Akers had four field goals last weekend but had two attempts blocked by the Giants in the second of the teams' two regular season meetings.

Giants PK John Carney became the oldest Pro Bowl pick in history after being signed early in the season as a would-be temporary replacement for Lawrence Tynes, who kicked the Giants into the Super Bowl last season with an overtime field goal in the NFC title game.

The game's conclusion definitely had to do with Plaxico's absence. The Giants' failure to convert on third and fourth down had to do with the fact that they were forced to run the ball, due to the wind, Manning's trouble, and not being able to look out to his star receiver, Plaxico Burress. Despite Burress not attending the game, the fault was not all on Eli Manning.

Are the San Francisco Giants Your Next NL West Champs?

eugene palmer — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:13:38 -0500

There are five teams in the NL West.

Rockies: Have done nothing this offseason and were terrible last season.

Padres: In rebuilding process and also have done nothing in the offseason.

D-Backs: Were hot for a little last year but all teams can do that; they could contend.

Dodgers: Lost a lot of pitching and are trying to get Manny back; they could contend.

SF Giants: Got bull pen help, a little offense, signed the Big Unit, and are one bat away from doing something big this season. Three Cy Young award winners. Take a look at this lineup!

1. Randy Winn

2. Edgar Renteria

3. Pablo Sandoval

4. Big bat that they still need

5. Bengie Molina

6. Fred Lewis

7. Aaron Rowand

8. Manny Burris

Rotation!

1. Tim Lincecum

2. Randy Johnson

3. Matt Cain

4. Barry Zito

5. Noah Lowry...promising lefty Jonathan Sanchez for trade bait! I think these are your next NL West division champ players! It will come down to three teams, and if the Giants can get that bat, then they are the favorites!

You Can Hate The 2009 Sprint Cup Champion If You Want To (Kyle Busch)

eugene palmer — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:33:42 -0500

1. Kyle Busch, he will rebound from the chase and beat both Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards to the checkers in 2009.

2. Jimmie Johnson, don't see him winning a fourth title. Nope, with the tough competition in 2009. I see a new champ in Busch raining on his parade.

3. Carl Edwards, I think he will come up short to Busch, but will win the Nationwide Series Title.

4. Mark Martin, will make the Chase and finish in the top-5, in his full time year in the No. 5 car.

5. Kevin Harvick, don't see him winning any races but will still have a very solid year.

6. Greg Biffle, will carry his amazing 2008 Chase success into the 2009 season, but I don't see him being "unbelievable".

7. Denny Hamlin, will maybe win a couple of races in 2009, but will finish the usual way in the Chase.

8. Jeff Burton, will win a race in 2009, but he won't lead enough laps, as that's his weakness.

9.Tony Stewart, won't win a race. But will make it into the Chase, over Ryan Newman in his first year with his own team.

10.Dale Earnhardt, Jr., will win a race. But I don't ever see him dominating, though you never know.

11. David Ragan, the kid will make it into the Chase this year with out a win but will have a great future.

12. Jeff Gordon, will continue to disappoint his fans and watch his teammates in Victory Lane.

Now my dark horses in the Chase are:

Junior could break out and dominate if he can run the bottom more.

Martin could do very well with the new and great equipment at HMS.

Smoke could win some races and be more of a factor than I see him being.

Not in the chase:

Clint Bowyer and Matt Kenseth, I don't see them making it with Martin and Ragan going for it this year.

Busch is my pick to be NASCAR's Sprint Cup Champion in 2009. Don't see the part failure in the chase continuing and the kid will dominate again!

He just needs to peek at the right time, then don't let Edwards do many back flips and beat Johnson in the Chase.

Which can and will happen. The kids got a bright future and it's his time, don't hate him because he wins. Remember its the driving and not the "attitude" that makes him so good.