OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

[Redacted01]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

Newman didn't get a great restart but Kahne just made Gordon look like a 42 year-old in that turn. I'll take a 4th place.

Congrats Burghfan.

And by my early calculations, despite a 43rd place finish, Mo will hang on to a wildcard by the skin of his teeth. Rules has tiebreakers to get to 8th place.

[superjames1992]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

What the hell? Kahne looked like he was on rails in turn 1 on the restart. Unfrickingbelievable.

I just knew that was going to happen, but Jeff Gordon's great jump on the restart gave me hope ... hope that was extinguished by the end of turn 1...

Time to switch over to the Indy race.

[superjames1992]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

Eh, good run for Gordon's chance chances, anyways, I guess. I still want to see Jeff win a few more races. Must get to 100 before retirement..........

Oh, and I'm happy that the #48 didn't win, of course.

[Redacted01]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

Gordon would need a miracle or you'd need late 90's Gordon in the car to get to 100. He has averaged a win a year since 2008. Even if he managed 2-3 wins a year, he'd still have to drive for another 4 or 5 years full time.

[superjames1992]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

He has 87 wins, so he needs 13 more. Yes, it's probably going to take a throwback year with 4+ wins in there, but assuming he races until he's 50 or so (not sure when he wants to retire), it could be possible. He's probably going to need a Dale Earnhardtesque resurgence late in his career.

He's still certainly very competitive, but he doesn't seem to have that edge anymore that can win him races. A lot of his recent wins have been flukey (fuel mileage at Homestead, rain at Pocono last year, etc.).

[Redacted01]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

He won't drive until he's 50. I think he's even mentioned it before that he doesn't see himself driving more than a few more years, at least full time. But he doesn't seem like the Mark Martin type where he'd drive 20+ races a year either.

[superjames1992]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

He won't drive until he's 50. I think he's even mentioned it before that he doesn't see himself driving more than a few more years, at least full time. But he doesn't seem like the Mark Martin type where he'd drive 20+ races a year either.

No, Jeff seems to not be one of those guys where racing is his whole life (perhaps that is his problem; the motivation just isn't there), but I don't think he's that close to retirement. He just won three races in 2011 and two last year, so there's no reason to retire unless he just doesn't want to do it anymore. He's still plenty competitive on the track.

[Redacted01]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

No, Jeff seems to not be one of those guys where racing is his whole life (perhaps that is his problem; the motivation just isn't there), but I don't think he's that close to retirement. He just won three races in 2011 and two last year, so there's no reason to retire unless he just doesn't want to do it anymore. He's still plenty competitive on the track.

Ask Barry Sanders if you have to retire after you've lost your ability to compete. He could probably drive for another 15 years and remain competitive (Mark Martin is a perfect example of that). As long as he is with Hendrick, he will have great equipment and a chance at finishing with a top 10 in just about any given race. Rusty Wallace is a good example of someone else who could have probably still won races yet retired. In racing, that just isn't really the norm to drive until you are finishing laps down every race, especially with the top guys because they stay at the top. There isn't the phasing out that you see in other sports, especially now when these older guys have some of the best rides still.

[Rules]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

Congrats on the win Burghfan.

[Chaos81]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

Congrats, Burgh.

Although maybe I shouldn't be saying that since now you're only one win behind me while staying ahead of me in the standings.

[Cubfan]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

Congrats Burghfan.

[BurghFan]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

Thanks guys

As for Jeff Gordon, I've come to realize that my utter disdain for him has faded to near indifference. 100% of my disdain is now focused squarely on Jimmie Johnson.

[franko3219]

Re: OSFC- GoBowling.com 400(Pocono)

Congrats burgh