SB Nation User Blog: MattHaggard

Martinsville Pre-race Tweet Call

MattHaggard — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:32:20 -0000

Consider this the calm before the storm as many of the 'Team Twitter' drivers will be singing a different tune after the aggressive rough and wreck-filled race that it is to come on Sunday. So without further ado you can read the latest right below.

We don't do 'jumps' here. =P

kaseykahne Joey wins 20th woo race of season. What a year for those guys. Glad the rains gone here. Looking forward to tomorrow at martinsville

Kenny_Wallace That crazy Ass brother of mine (Kenny Schrader) is driving his Old Ramp truck with the Modified on back of it from St.Louis to Concord N,C..

MarcosAmbrose Story on speedcafe.com.au about Marcos and JTGD staying with MWR next season - credit to Bob Pockrass and SceneDaily for breaking news 1st

KellyBires Was going to be a good day, everyone on #33 did a good job with adjustments. Were good enough to finish top 5 until the 12 got us. #fb

jpmontoya just watched law abiding citizen!!!!! freaking amazing movie!!!!!!!!!!

mw55 I was sittin on the patio and I sat a lil blue pill down.A hummin bird flew up and took it.I looked up and that bird was chasin a helicopter

Bobby_Labonte Had flu symptoms the past couple of days. Feeling better today. Hope that is behind me.

RyanNewman39 Wish they would have canceled practice before I drove all the way up to the track... http://bit.ly/3ycUsE

With luck, I hope to everyone during the race! Have a great Sunday guys!

Wednesday Tweet Call

MattHaggard — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:43:18 -0000

Today's Tweet call can be found right below. Of particular amusement is Mikey's latest post. He's not that daft is he?

mw55 i just you tubed reo speedwagon in your letter. if you aint yet you should!

keselowskiweb http://tinyurl.com/yfq9h5v "The Chase drivers around me were the ones who were racing aggressively. I thought I was doing a normal deal."

KevinHarvick busy day tomorrow workout, coke photo shoot, then i have to go to jail for a while.

And one more from Mikey:

mw55 i dont think @DanicaPatrick is following me. shes definately not commenting on my lame twitts.

Mikey, it's a tweet and you're the twit. =) Waltrip is the best.

One name conspicuous by his absence is Dale Earnhardt Jr. Many of you have emailed me asking about his Twitter availiablility. Straight from the horse's mouth, there is none.

"I don't have anything on Twitter as far as I know of" Earnhardt said. "There's tons of impostors out there. I don't have a MySpace, a Twitter or none of that crap. There's a bunch of impostors out there though that you have to beware of. I really would never get into social networking -- it's just a dangerous area to be involved in, especially if you're high profile so I think it's smart for me to stay in the regular social networks -- the ones I can see, you know."

That is pretty surprising to me considering how hip Earnhardt's people try to portray him. In any case, don't expect to see his name popping up here any time soon.

Are there any other legit NASCAR twitter accounts you guys would like me to keep up with? Drop a comment below!

Postrace Tweet Call

MattHaggard — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:43:11 -0000

More photos » by Stew Milne - AP

NASCAR is following the lead of traditional sport stars. Your favorite driver can now be found on Twitter.

Browse more photos »

NASCAR drivers are always chatty after a race. Today's Tweet Call is as follows:

dennyhamlin There are days when you just try to hard.. Today was one of those days..i feel bad for everyone at JGR. They deserve much better than that

jpmontoya Had descent run today car was awesome at the begining and just got too loose!!! Having some in and out in the way to the airport!!

mw55 Crazy day. 17th. Proud of my boys

KevinHarvick not a bad finish even though we ran a little better then our finish all day.just landed in oklahoma about an hour and a half from home.

Elliott_Sadler Was having great run today. Bad luck at end. 17 was pushing me very hard I couldn't slow down and bumped 88. Was on brake but was pushed

MarcosAmbrose P23 in Fontana - still 17th in points.

brianvickers83 Broken right rear shock really hurt us. Then caught up in the wreck at the end. Was hoping for a better finish....

Raceweek Rewind III

MattHaggard — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:37:03 -0000

Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson: They are NASCAR's modern day Rat Pack and they run the streets here. Jimmie Johnson (Dean Martin) led this pack all day on Sunday afternoon grabbing the Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway. Johnson took the lead from Hendrick/Rat Pack teammate Jeff Gordon on lap 244 and ran away over the final six to secure his fifth Cup victory of 2006. He likely also secured his fourth championship on Sunday, barring any unlikely #48 mistakes or accidents over the final six.

Read on after the jump. Please.

"We've had four or five (good races) in a row and I've been losing points to the leader," (third place) Juan Pablo Montoya (Sammy Davis Jr.) said. "(You're not) going to make any points on anybody. Everybody that runs good is going to be there. You just got to make sure you don't lose any."

In other words, winning championships means winning races over the final ten. It also means making minimal mistakes. And when was the last time Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus made a mistake during the Chase? Further, Jimmie has now won at every Chase race sans Homestead Miami, a rave held long after he's secured a comfortable championship stronghold.

"Just because we won the last three doesn't mean we're a shoo-in for a fourth," Johnson said.

Sure, Jimmie-robot man. Sure.

In other news, Jeff Gordon (Frank Sinatra) scored a Sprint Cup leading eighth second place finish on Sunday afternoon. Johnson chose the high groove on the lap 239 restart and Gordon prospered surging to a four carlink lead heading into turn 3. But just as Gordon set his sights on his second victory, a huge caution invited Johnson back. Jimmie Johnson quickly disposed of Gordon and drove off towards the win and points lead.

"What else can you say? They're the best out there," Gordon said. "They've won the last three championships. They're going to be hard to beat for this one. Really, unless they make a mistake, I don't see how they lose it."

One man who may disagree if he were not so darn classy is Mark Martin (Humphrey Bogart). Martin finished fourth and fell to second in the championship standings after Sunday's race. Martin is only -12 back and still has the best shot at catching Johnson if the patterns of 2009 stay true.

One driver receiving a notable mention is Tony Stewart (Joey Bishop) who marched from one lap down to finish fifth. Stewart remains fourth in the standings and falls to -84 back of Johnson.

Off Topic

Onwards to Lowe's; the race track and not the supply store. Alongside Auto Club Speedway and Infeneon, stop the naming rights of national speedways. How long is it before they sell off naming rights to the Daytona 500? Or much worse...the birthplace itself. Touch Wrigley Field and I riot. It is as simple as that.

Nationwide Series

What? They are still running that series?

Imagine that.

Oh? Kyle Busch didn't fill a podium slot?

Ah. He was sick and Denny finished the race for him. Bummer.

WHAT?! Danica wants $8 million - $1 million per race, to run Nationwide Series in 2010. Girl, please. We're fans here at Ranting and Raving but consider winning some more races before you start with the crazy talk in our circuit.

Oh. That's right. Joey Logano won the Copart 300 at Fontana on Saturday afternoon. Would you prefer California?

Me too.

Raceweek Rewind II

MattHaggard — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:41:01 -0000

No Cup recap this week as I've yet to watch the race. My typical Nationwide Series recap as well as some off topic tidbits can be found after the fold.

Nationwide Series

So what does an 18-year old who flipped dad's car the week prior do the following weekend? Win, naturally. We're speaking of Joey Logano, of course. Logano flipped his Cup car in Dover last weekend in an accident that would have taken a few veterans a couple of weeks to recover from. Instead, Logano passed a dominant Kyle Busch in the closing laps to win the Kansas Lottery 300 on Saturday afternoon. Busch clearly had the fastest car, leading five times for 173 laps. However, a late lap caution brought the field together and gave Logano one last shot. The 18-year took advantage, passing Busch on lap 197 and held on over the final four to win his fourth Nationwide Series race of the season. Busch finished second (his tenth runner up finish of the year) just ahead of Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle, whom rounded out the top-10.

"The good thing about this win is it should shut everyone up about, 'Am I going to be ready, am I going to not be as good because I rolled over like that?'" Logano said. "Hopefully, that will put things to rest. ... I had no fear. If you can barrel-roll a car like that and come out OK, that's going to give you all the confidence to drive harder."

Snarky.

Busch's runner-up finish and Carl Edwards seventh place mark all but assures the Las Vegas native the Nationwide crown. Busch ran his lead to 245 points over Carl and all but cemented the greatest Grand National season of all time.

"Unfortunately, I got beat," Busch said succinctly. "The kid outdrove me. That's what you'll have sometimes. The [car] was good [Saturday]. Unfortunately, I couldn't drive it hard enough in order to get a win out of it.

The more things change...

Does the 2009 Chase for the Championship seem eerily similar to the 2007 incarnation? Just replace the name Jeff Gordon with Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson with...well, Jimmie Johnson. More on that later this week.

Off Topic

There was a lot of hate over Chicago's possible bid for the 2016 Olympics. Most of your apathy was awarded alongside Rio's inclusion as host city. Why the U.S. Olympic hate?

Raceweek Rewind I

MattHaggard — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:30:20 -0000

As opposed to the usual Nationwide recaps on Sunday mornings, we are going to do something different here. With luck, this segment can become sort of a written Windtunnel every Sunday night. So without further ado, you can find the weekend recap after the jump!

Sprint Cup Series

Stage two of the Sprint Chase for the Championship ran at Dover on Sunday afternoon to mixed results. On the positive side, the Monster Mile created tight racing across all four turns. The track developed two and a half well-defined grooves and the race never really became a sleeper. Reversely, the tight racing led to an incredibly scary accident on lap 31 that witnessed Joey Logano flipping several times after contact with Martin Truex Jr. and Reed Sorensen. Fortunately, everyone walked away clean.

For better or worse, Jimmie Johnson did his Superman Thing Sunday afternoon, leading 271 of 400 laps including the last one to take home his fourth trophy of the 2009 and first of the Chase. Right behind him was Mark Martin, who is doing his Superboy thing. The Kid finished second and maintained a slight 10-point advantage over HMS teammate, Johnson.

"I'm pretty sure that dude is Superman," Martin said of Johnson. "I've seen that dude up close and I see why he's so successful. He works harder at it than anybody else, I think, on the circuit."

Fellow Chasers Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart also had solid runs. Denny Hamlin did not, finishing 22^nd, two laps down, capping off what, for him, was a terribly unlucky weekend for the Gibbs Toyota driver. That of course leads us to Saturday's Nationwide Series.

Nationwide Series

The Nationwide Series was not quite as exciting as Clint Bowyer chased down Kyle Busch over the final 100 to win the Dover 200 at (where else?) Dover International on Saturday afternoon. The race saw a dominant Busch lap over 2/3 of the field before falling back to field for the finish. Bowyer passed Busch at lap 117 and held off Mike Bliss, Brad Keselowski, Busch and Carl Edwards to win his second Nationwide Series victory of 2009.

The big story (and most of the excitement) was around a heated conversation between Hamlin and Keselowski. The two former Cup race-winners made contact late in the race that ended Hamlin's day. This was not the two's first tussle.

"I wanted to talk to him," Hamlin said. "He obviously needs some sort of guidance on what he needs to do to make it."

Keselowski blamed Hamlin for the accident.

"He cuts me off like he always does," Keselowski said. "He's Denny Hamlin."

Off Topic

To Minnesota Vikings fans; don't get too excited just yet. Remember that QB Brett Favre also led the 2008 Jets to an 8-3 start before tapering off due to injury or excuses. Don't be too surprised to see an immensely talented Vikings squad fall the same way.

Sizing up the Chase: Checkered Flag

MattHaggard — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:05:39 -0000

Ranting and Raving proudly presents the moment that you all have been waiting for. (Right?) On Wednesday, I began counting down, in reverse order of who I believe has the inside track towards winning the Sprint Cup in November at Homestead-Miami. The countdown will reach its conclusion today and you are all just a short sentence away from finding out just who this year's champion will be.

So let's find out....after the jump!

1. Jimmie Johnson, 3 Wins, 15 Top 10s, Average Finish: 12.7

Who else could I pick, honestly? This Jimmie Johnson fellow just gets it done. With final championship results of 2^nd, 2^nd, 5^th, 1^st, 1^st and 1^st, Johnson has shown incredible resilience at the constant Chase venues. I expect Johnson to win one or two races and finish no lower than seventh anywhere else. This is just what he does. It's science. Take it to the bank. Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus take home the Sprint Cup for a fourth consecutive year.

2. Jeff Gordon, 1 Win, 18 Top 10s, Average Finish: 10.9

This leaves second place to the four-time champion, Jeff Gordon. "Model of consistency" has been used ad naseum during this miniseries but no driver further exemplifies this trait more than Gordon. This championship is well within reach for Gordon but Big Daddy must start closing out races. Runner-up finishes will not be enough over the final 10. Regardless, Super G will do just as he has done all season-long and finish second. Gordon will win another championship -- just not this year. The Drive for Five rides on and Jeff Gordon finishes second.

Sizing up the Chase: Turn Four

MattHaggard — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:39:06 -0000

We’re entering the home stretch of Ranting and Raving’s five part “Sizing up the Chase” miniseries. Today we will look at my predicted third place finisher as well as the promised MattHaggard swerve that was promised on Friday.

Onwards after the jump.

3. Tony Stewart, 3 Wins, 18 Top 10s, Average Finish: 9.1

No one expected Tony Stewart to win in 2009, yet he has. No one expected Tony Stewart to contend for a title this year and yet he has. And no one feels that Tony Stewart can win the championship…Get my point? Tony Stewart is John Locke; don’t tell him what he can’t do. Stewart, once NASCAR’s most turbulent spirit has now found inner-peace as the sport’s most successful owner-driver. Tony can win anywhere over the final ten and should win two. He will also suffer one untimely sub-40 finish that will erase his Chase chances. Tony Stewart wins the 2010 title but finishes third in 2009.

This is where you expect to read who dominates the Chase in 2009, right? Look no further. One man will dominate over the final ten races but will not win the championship in 2009…

13. Kyle Busch, 4 Wins, 9 Top 10s, Average Finish: 16.3

NASCAR’s most dominant driver over the course of the past two seasons got shut out of the playoffs in 2009. This occurred in a season in which he matched current points leader, Mark Martin, tic-for-tac over the first 26. Each man won four times and went on lengthy streaks that laid an early claim to the Cup in 2009. Fate was kind to Martin but equally unkind to Busch. Martin enters the Chase as the favorite while Kyle is on the outside looking in. No matter. Busch will go on yet another streak over the final ten, winning the most races and placing himself as the man to beat in 2010. Kyle finishes 13^th.

Tomorrow: And the 2009 Sprint Cup Champion is…

Sizing up the Chase: Turn Three

MattHaggard — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 05:00:20 -0000

We're rounding turn three of our FIVE part ‘Sizing up the Chase" series on Ranting and Raving today. As explained in previous entries, this series will explain who has the inside track towards winning this year's Chase for the Cup. Today, "Sizing Up" analyzes positions 6-4 of my predicted Chase final standings. As always, comments and counter-analysis is always appreciated.

Read on after the jump.

6. Mark Martin, 4 Wins, 14 Top 10s, Average Finish: 15.6

Every season-ending Chase has one major surprise. 2005 shut out defending champion Kurt Busch, 2006 saw six-race winner Kasey Kahne flunk through the final ten and 2008 witnessed Kyle Busch decimate the regular season only to finish in the back of last year's pack. This year, Mark Martin becomes the latest statistic. There is no logic behind this other than the history of Championships past. Someone has to bite the bullet and Mark Martin is our guy. Mark finishes sixth. Sorry.

5. Carl Edwards, 0 Wins, 11 Top 10s, Average Finish: 14.0

Entering Speedweeks at Daytona, Carl Edwards was the universal no. 1 pick to win the Sprint Cup. With zero wins and just enough solid consistency to sneak into the Chase, Edwards clearly missed the memo. Edwards should benefit from the vast amount of superspeedways that litter the Chase. In addition, Cousin Carl should win at Fontana placing him just within striking distance of the Chase leaders. That should be as close as he gets as Carl will falter back into the model of consistency over the final six. Carl Edwards finishes fifth.

4. Denny Hamlin, 2 Wins, 14 Top 10s, Average Finish: 12.2

Denny Hamlin clearly is not my favorite to win the Chase (that comes on Sunday morning) but he should be. With that said, I'm placing the Dark Horse tag on the Joe Gibbs # 11 wheelman. Hamlin is experiencing his best season since 2006, which coincidentally was a season in which Hamlin also won two and finished third in the Chase. Expect a similar pattern in 2009. Hamlin will not win any Chase races but will constantly finish in the top five. He'll be close but no cigar -- Hamlin finishes fourth.

Tomorrow: Turn four and a MattHaggard swerve!

Sizing up The Chase: Turn Two

MattHaggard — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:52:22 -0000

There are just three days until the playoffs begin as "Sizing up the Chase" enters turn two. Today we'll have a look at positions 7-9 in my predicted Chase final standings. I suspect there will be few surprises today but judging from yesterday, there will be a few disagreements. Thanks for reading and continue leaving comments below.

Onwards to Turn Two after the jump!

9. Brian Vickers, 0 Wins, 13 Top 10s, Average Finish: 14.9

The most unlikely Chase driver should enter the Chase as the universal underdog but it's that motivation that has driven the former Busch Series Champion during his entire career. He's had a strong second half but has run into other drivers' incidents every few weeks. He'll need to avoid those problems if he is to win the Chase. I predict he won't. He'll have strong showings on the cookie-cutters but will flounder everywhere else. Vickers will also find himself involved in a Talladega Big One, finishing ninth in the Chase.

8. Juan Pablo Montoya, 0 Wins, 12 Top 10s, Average Finish: 13.8

No one can argue that Johnny Montoya has made it as a NASCAR driver. He entered 2009 with a goal of making the Chase and Richmond saw those dreams realized. The Earnhardt-Ganassi merger has most benefited Montoya whom has taken full advantage of Chevy's horsepower and DEI's speedway track notes. Montoya will consistently finish in the top-10 during the Chase but will not be in the title picture...yet. Watch out for Montoya in 2010. Juan Pablo finishes eighth.

7. Kurt Busch, 1 Wins, 14 Top 10s, Average Finish: 14.0

Kurt Busch has ridden a great first half start into a Chase berth but since the middle of the season the elder Busch has been a middling driver. Some may take Kurt's positioning as a bit of a shock and to those I point out Busch's success (or lack of) during previous Chase for the Championships (sans 2004). Busch just is not a clutch racer late in the season. The Blue Deuce has made great strides to become a contender again but they are still a season away. Kurt Busch finishes seventh.

Tomorrow: Turn 3 and positions 6-4.