Catchfence

Hello loyal readers and other folks. Well this week the race events were in the always sunny Southern California. What was that I said? Let me tell ya one somethin’ right now, that particular part of that Mamas And Papas’ song got that all wrong, if ya know what I mean. Accordin’ to Cora(belle) our niece, it rained quite a bit out there. There was enough of a break in there somewhere, though, to get qualifyin’ out of the way and Saturday’s Nationwide race got underway on time thank our good and gracious LORD.

Duck was all excited cause flippin’ Carl was on the pole and Happy Harvick was runner up for the start. It was a fairly entertainin’ race for California standards to my way of thinkin’. There was a lot of jostlin’ up front early on. Miss cute as a kitten Jennifer Jo Cobb didn’t find the results she was a lookin’ for unfortunately. On lap 18, I believe it was, she went on a spinnin’ ride and her car wasn’t worth a plug nickel it seemed after that. Poor dear, I read where she was hopin’ for much more but there’s plenty of time left this season providin’ she can come up with the money she needs. Ya know around here we used to have a bake and jarred goods sale on main street when we wanted to raise a little spendin’ cash for our township coffers. It raised a little bit from those who were too lazy to cook or bake their own foods, but, I’m not suggestin’ that for her ya understand. I’m just sayin’. Also Steven Wallace went for a spin early on and Blake Koch had an up close and personal experience with the wall so there was some destruction goin’ on out there for those nutty fans who just watch for the wreckin’.

Anyway, like I said, there was plenty of moving around up front. In the end, however, it was Boy Howdy Rowdy who celebrated with the trophy after just takin’ on 2 tires on his last pit stop. Good for him I say! That boy is somethin’ else, let me tell ya that much right now. And he is always smilin’ these days. Well there’s no wonder to that for heaven’s sake considerin’ he is doin’ an awful lot of celebratin’ in Victory Lane and all. Mercy me, he’s talented and look at the stable he comes from. I think someone there has been sittin’ on that boy regardin’ his attitude, but more on that later. It turned out that Flippin’ Carl came in 2nd followed by that adorable Kevin Harvick, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr and that real cutie Elliott Sadler.

Of course as y’all can imagine I had to work with Duck a bit what with his idol comin’ in 2nd and all, but I think he is makin’ some limited progress. It’s that or he is hidin’ some of his true feelin’s. Either way I explained that Carl can’t win everytime. Duck made some grumblin’ noises that I swear sounded like he said, ” but Kyle does”. I know Duck is special and all but we all know that is impossible. Course that’s neither here nor there. I’m just sayin’. Anyway, he waddled on into his bedroom and I did hear some other disgruntled duck noises comin’ from that general direction, but all in all this week was better for my race viewin’. As a point of possible interest to y’all I do try to understand his duck disappointment. I truly do. I’m just sayin’.

So, Sunday’s race came and that was probably the best race I’ve seen comin’ from that West Coast track. There was much more action than is usual out there and even the booth boys said it was the best yet at California. Course now those folks out there only get one crack at a NASCAR event in their area, wouldn’t ya know. Anyway, it looked like for a long spell there that Rowdy was gonna pull another race winnin’ rabbit out of his magic helmet and sweep that weekend, too. But on the final lap the same champ Jimmy who was in 1st and 2nd place Kyle were battlin’ it out when out of the clear blue there came Kevin Harvick, who wasn’t happy at all last week, and on the last lap passed them and won that race! Good, good and good for him I say! Oh my I was on my feet so fast I just made another big mess with the food on the crates. I was a hoopin’ and hollerin’ all over the place. I can tell ya that much right now. I had to let Goober the Goat in yet again to clean up my mess, but hey, he wasn’t complainin’ none that time either. Anyway Kevin was certainly a Happy Harvick then! That was his and Richard’s 1st win there, I believe. Darlin’ Delana, the fire suit wearin’ one in the family, wasn’t there to celebrate with her cutie hubby, but, I’m sure they will make up for that when he climbs off the jet back home. Don’t you?

That win was just purely excitin’ to this Granny, let me tell ya that much right now. Just was a bit of a feelin’ for me that seemed like one of those amazin” Dale, SR like moves. Now, I’m not comparin’ here, so don’t any of y’all get ugly with me. I’m just sayin’ it was an amazin’ and excitin’ly familiar feelin’. The same champ Jimmy took 2nd place followed by Rowdy, robot Matt and Flyin’ Ryan. Tony who had been one hot rocket out there pert near all of the race drifted back to finish a no comment 13th. Pole sitter Juan came in 10th and JR ended up 12th. That was another good finish for him considerin’ he started 30th. Seems that team is on target for a victory celebration here real soon. I’m not promisin’, I’m just sayin’, and truly hopin’. Others were sprinkled in and around those mentioned here, but, y’all can look that up. Know what I mean? And this did wind up bein’ pretty much a repeat performance out of Duck seein’s that Fliipin’ Carl finished 6th. I did go off on Duck just a bit havin’ to explain that 6th place was good since he started 18th. I just didn’t want to spend my happy win time feelin’ dealin’ with a disgruntled Duck. Know what I mean? Anyway, things were quiet for the most part after that, thank our good and gracious LORD.

Now for the other stuff. I think it seems a bit interestin’ that in the year of “have at it” for the racers, Rowdy boy isn’t. I admit I find it a little bit refreshin’ and all, but y’all have to admit it is unusual at best. I think we might have gotten a tidbit of information from the booth boys. Larry and Darrell suggested that this might could be a strong suggestion from his sponsors and his bossman. Well that makes sense, but, it does seems a bit backwards to me. Think about it. Ya know this sport was built around racers with big mouths and bigger attitudes. But in recent years when racers weren’t allowed to “have at it” Rowdy (and a few others) did and now that they can Rowdy isn’t. Am I wrong here or what? I guess that’s neither here nor there. I’m just thinkin’.

And it looks like there just might be a big ol’ problem with the engines in that Gibbs operation. Y’all can bet the technical best of that bunch are and will be figurin’ all that wrong stuff out. Here’s hopin’ it’s sooner than later.

One more somethin’ is the fact that this Granny truly enjoyed the singers of the National Anthem this week. That little cutie David Archuletta is just adorable and has a voice for the ages! And Richard Marx was amazin’, too. A double good for booth of them I say for their talent and singin’ the right words!

And finally Mike Joy pronounced “pediatrics” correctly. I just love that guy and his voice. Good for him I say! I’m not pickin’ on him. He has cheeks and a smile that just tickles this Granny pink. I’m just sayin’ good for him.

So what has Cousin Grouch have to say on this week’s racin’ events?
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Grouch says:
Howdy race fans, younguns and other folks too! WOW ! ! ! What a race weekend we had for ourselves out there in California, huh? How about that “Rowdy” Kyle Busch an his usually “Sweepin’-Self”, not to mention that he’s breakin’ all the records, 46 career wins in the Nationwide series, three short of Mark Martin’s record, who, by the way, finished eighth in the Royal Purple 300. When I seen Kyle go sailin’ through the grass when he hit the wet spots on the track, I thought, oh Lord, help us, here comes the old Kyle for sure but I was as shocked as I could be that that weren’t the case at all, my, my, my I am really impressed with you now, Kyle, honey! You are The Man of the 2011 season, that’s for sure!

I have to give some “Atta Boys” and “Kudos” to some drivers this week. It’s not quite the same as cryin’ towels and cigars like some folks are givin’ out these days but you must remember that I’m OLD! First off, Elliott Sadler, who started 34th and bless his little ol’ southern heart, came home with a Top 5! That’s some purdy good racin’, I’d say! Then I have Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who also had a great race, starting 12th on the grid and finishin’ 4th. I just love to see these younguns doin’ so well, don’t you?

Moving on to the most excitin’ racin’ I’ve seen in awhile. The Auto Club 400 on Sunday mornin’ (my time). At first I thought it was goin’ to be one of them “ho-hum” races, bein’s it was on one of them bigger tracks, don’t ya know? But we had all them tires goin’ down and causin’ all them cautions which was okay I reckin’ otherwise I might have caught me a nap, yes indeedy! But the endin’ sure wasn’t nap-worthy, that’s for sure! I have to admit Cousin Grouch here was a jumpin’ up and down, knockin’ stuff on the floor and Bubba was scared of me cause he thought I went plum crazy but, you see, I didn’t want the #48 car to go a winnin’ the dadgum race and he didn’t. To my way of thinkin’ they’ve won enough races for my likin’s, it’s time for somebody else to have a chance, know what I mean? So, Good goin’ to winner Kevin Harvick! That’s why I’m a likin’ the idea that we’ve had us five races and five DIFFERENT winners, so far!

Lastly, I know I’m runnin’ out of room and breath here. To the “RocketMan”, you just keep up the fine job you are a doin’, look at ya, second in the points standin’s, my bonnet’s off to you, honey, I know the Boss man is happy with your performance, and that precious little daughter of yours, Brooklyn Sage, that’s for sure! That’s all I have for this week. See ya all back here after Martinsville! Have an awesome week, y’all ! ! ! Take it away, Granny Grump.
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Well Grouch, darlin, your figures and factual self just amazed me yet again. Good for you, I say! Tell Bubba I said he needs to “toughen up” on race day or get out of the room. Know what I mean? I do agree with you 100% percent here, dear, so no more need in further writin’s. So that’s it for now folks. Email, comment or don’t. Either way is fine with us cause we’re both very busy women. Know what we mean?

‘Til next time Grump and Grouch over and out.