….um before the results I must *gush* for a moment~ ＼(^o^)／☆!!
With about 20 laps left Jimmie Johnson suffered one of his worst pit stops as his crew opted to used their fueling members to help with the pit stop in other ways as they weren't taking fuel as many other teams did also, but it had an adverse effect in their choreographed timing sending Johnson all the way back to the 10 position heading off of pit road to the final laps…:(…but in championship fashion Johnson raced all the way to the front in a dominating run to the finish passing everyone on the track to take the lead in a dramatic finish~! (^o^)/!!!! This was me in final laps…(゜ロ゜ノ)ノ!!!!(゜ロ゜ノ)ノ!!!!(゜ロ゜ノ)ノ!!!!!(゜ロ゜ノ)ノ!!!!!!!……………＼(^o^)／☆ (*sigh*…) (￣▽￣)♥
On the left is my one and most *cherished* moment….meeting Jimmie Johnson by chance at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas on the Saturday before the Cup Series event and he was the most most most kind and friendly celebrity that I have ever met..signing a T-shirt for me which I luckily had just purchased a few hours earlier that very day while shopping along the strip~! =)..but why does it seem that every thing only comes in large these days! 
Well it did turn out to be a shirt that will never be worn ever to preserve his autograph~. XD I keep it coupled with a few H!P scarves……an odd pairing I know but nonetheless *heaven* for me! XD
In case you missed it here are the final 10 laps….and note: Johnson passed a lot of cars to reach this point of the race running in 3rd when this clip begins after the final pit stop…..
Okay my *gushing is over (*´∀｀*)♥…….and now for the results:
Here are the standings based on average finish of each entries' 6 chosen drivers (both races' results have been calculated together) after race two of three:
1. CK——————-7.5 (drivers Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth & Greg Biffle finished 1st, 4th and 3rd respectfully.)
2. Nayoko-Kihara–11.8 (drivers Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth & Mark Martin finished 26th, 4th and 10th respectfully.)
3. Mozenator——–13.0 (drivers Jimmie Johnson, Brian Vickers & Mark Martin finished 1st, 25th and 10th respectfully.)
4. James————–13.3 (drivers Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon & Ryan Newman finished 2nd, 26th and 8th respectfully.)
5. Matsu—————13.5 (drivers Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson & Jeff Gordon finished 8th, 1st and 26th respectfully.)
6. Alezra—————15.6 (drivers Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch & Ryan Newman finished 26th, 5th and 8th respectfully.
7. Tautterkle———-18.0 (drivers Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon & Kyle Busch finished 1st, 26th and 23rd respectfully.)
8. Rebear————–23.3 (drivers Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin & Kyle Busch finished 26th, 36th and 23rd respectfully.)
Please pick your three drivers for the next race at Pocono Raceway…..
Before qualifying (before June 5th) at Pocono Raceway choose 3 Cup series drivers for the "Pocono 500" whom you think will have the best finishes in the race. Important: post only two of your driver's names in this post and send your third driver's name as a PM (private message) to me through this VOX blog.
Pocono Raceway presents immense challenges for drivers and race teams…not only is this event long at 500 miles but the track itself presents many unique challenges found nowhere else on the circuit…much of it stemming from the track's both unique and odd shape. I'm thinking offbalance *musubi* for some reason~! XD
3 stretches in much varied distances coupled with their different banking is sure to create headaches for race teams all race long….and Pocono's front stretch is just massive!!!!!! Speeds here at the end of this straightaway exceeds more than 200 mph!! 😮
Below are the updated driver points standings…happy choosing! =)
| RANK | +/- | DRIVER | POINTS | BEHIND | STARTS | POLES | WINS | TOP 5 | TOP 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 | Tony Stewart | 1853 | Leader | 13 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| 2 | -1 | Jeff Gordon | 1807 | -46 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8 |
| 3 | +1 | Jimmie Johnson | 1789 | -64 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 4 | -1 | Kurt Busch | 1762 | -91 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| 5 | +2 | Ryan Newman | 1680 | -173 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| 6 | — | Kyle Busch | 1634 | -219 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 7 | -2 | Denny Hamlin | 1630 | -223 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 | +1 | Matt Kenseth | 1625 | -228 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 9 | +1 | Greg Biffle | 1618 | -235 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| 10 | -2 | Jeff Burton | 1587 | -266 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 11 | — | Carl Edwards | 1582 | -271 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 12 | — | Mark Martin | 1567 | -286 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
 |
|||||||||
| 13 | — | David Reutimann | 1536 | -317 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 14 | +1 | Kasey Kahne | 1501 | -352 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 15 | -1 | Juan Montoya | 1475 | -378 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 16 | +1 | Clint Bowyer | 1449 | -404 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 17 | -1 | Brian Vickers | 1436 | -417 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 18 | +1 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 1352 | -501 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 19 | -1 | Martin Truex Jr. | 1338 | -515 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 20 | — | Marcos Ambrose | 1319 | -534 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 21 | +1 | Casey Mears | 1306 | -547 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 22 | -1 | Jamie McMurray | 1289 | -564 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 23 | +2 | Joey Logano* | 1263 | -590 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 24 | -1 | Kevin Harvick | 1261 | -592 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 25 | -1 | Reed Sorenson | 1259 | -594 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | +4 | Sam Hornish Jr. | 1237 | -616 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 27 | +1 | Elliott Sadler | 1216 | -637 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 28 | -1 | Bobby Labonte | 1213 | -640 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | -3 | David Stremme | 1206 | -647 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | -1 | A.J. Allmendinger | 1202 | -651 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 31 | +1 | David Ragan | 1180 | -673 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 32 | -1 | Michael Waltrip | 1153 | -700 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 33 | — | Paul Menard | 1100 | -753 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | — | Robby Gordon | 1031 | -822 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 35 | — | Scott Speed* | 917 | -936 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 36 | — | John Andretti | 804 | -1049 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | — | David Gilliland | 770 | -1083 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | — | Regan Smith | 670 | -1183 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | +1 | Joe Nemechek | 515 | -1338 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | -1 | Brad Keselowski | 479 | -1374 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 41 | — | Aric Almirola | 451 | -1402 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 42 | — | Scott Riggs | 448 | -1405 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | — | Dave Blaney | 428 | -1425 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | — | Bill Elliott | 346 | -1507 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 45 | — | Max Papis* | 317 | -1536 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 46 | — | Travis Kvapil | 292 | -1561 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 47 | — | Jeremy Mayfield | 288 | -1565 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 48 | — | Tony Raines | 205 | -1648 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 49 | — | Mike Bliss | 200 | -1653 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 | — | Todd Bodine | 123 | -1730 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 51 | — | Sterling Marlin | 123 | -1730 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 52 | — | Terry Labonte | 91 | -1762 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 53 | +16 | Mike Skinner | 40 | -1813 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 54 | — | J.J. Yeley | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 55 | -2 | Michael McDowell | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 56 | — | Trevor Boys | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 57 | -2 | Mike Garvey | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 58 | -1 | Eric McClure | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 59 | — | Dexter Bean* | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 60 | — | Mike Wallace | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 61 | -3 | David Starr | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 62 | -1 | Dennis Setzer | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 63 | — | Geoffrey Bodine | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 64 | -2 | Derrike Cope | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 65 | -1 | Brandon Ash | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 66 | -1 | Kirk Shelmerdine | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 67 | -1 | Kelly Bires | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 68 | -1 | Norm Benning | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 69 | -1 | Boris Said | 0 | -1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 70 | — | Carl Long | -200 | -2053 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Hey MB!
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Okay, I'm going to be crazy and choose Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. Because I need all the help I can get, at this point. D: But I'm super glad your favorite guy got the win! :3
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At least I'm consistent XP I saw that Jimmie won and thought that you
would be quite happy 😀 I'll join in and say I'm glad he won ^-^
Jimmie Johnson
Tony Stewart
I'm not really being original in my last choices XD
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That is AWESOME MB~! Jimmie won~! I'll join in as well : very glad that he won ^.^.
Ok so I am choosing by myself for this one~.
Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle
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Hi maiZe!,It was really one of the best races of the year so far and this track in particular just seems to bring out close finishes and great side by side racing~! Wow you watched quite a few laps! =) I was watching a Sharapova match earlier last week and it's just great to see her back from shoulder surgery as she's been away for quite a long time and the WTA needs more stars in the tournaments for sure. She's winning but being challenged quite a lot in the early rounds but this is definitely her worst surface to play on but what's amazing about Sharapova is that she needs only a Roland Garros title to complete a career grand slam as she's already won the other three. =) I sometimes just wish that she didn't screech!!! so much. (・_・) But she's still very fun to watch. I only heard about Nadal's loss early this morning after reading your comment and then I was reading an article on the ESPN website covering Roland Garros…it's really a shock!!!…..and I know it's shameless but the very first thing that came to mind for me was…….Federer can win the French Open now!!! ＼(^o^)／☆ Nadal has been his nightmare in finals as of late so now he has what is his best chance of tying Pete Sampras' record number of grand slams and also capturing his first French Open title. =) I wonder if he would wear an Aichan wristband if Nike allowed him to? 😛
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Thank you Rebear~! (*´∀｀*)…yesterday was amazing!!!..so happy to see JJ in victory lane!! Pocono is really a challenge for teams to get their cars handling right in all three unique turns…especially turn 3 which is most crucial as it leads to that massive front stretch!….should be fun on Sunday. Just need to pray for sunshine again~. Okay I received your PM. =)
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Awww you're very consistent! =) So many unexpected things can occur in
400 laps but you're really doing okay~. CK must have a crystal
ball….scary!! XD Thank you~! (*´∀｀*)..hai~hai~ I was so excited and
happy! Okay I received your PM…..Pocono should be fun! ＾ ＾
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Thank you Tautterkle! (*´∀｀*) Definitely made my Sunday really wonderful and those final laps were just amaaaazing!!! Okay I received your PM….happy racing~. =)
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Okay, here goes nothin…Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart…
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hehe – you got autographed tee!! 🙂
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I was watching something else but I managed to catch the very end of the race. I'm excited that Jimmie won.
So…
Jimmie JohnsonJeff Gordon
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You've been really impressive with your picks~! Hmm….just one more race to go…is CK nervous? XD Okay I received your PM…..*happy Sunday.* ＾ ＾
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It was so much a case of *lucky* timing~! (*´∀｀*) I couldn't believe that he was there near the Wynn's sports & betting area with some friends….truly one of my most cherished celebrity meetings for sure! =)
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It was one of the best races so far of the season!!!….I'm so shamelessly biased though!!…(^q^) Just anytime Jimmie, Jeff or Dale win♥. (*´∀｀*)I apologize so much for the confusion as I really should have noted in each succeeding post that this giveaway began on March 11th with the first of 3 races posted here. I'm really sorry and you really should kick me!…(u_u*)I'm also giving away a new copy of Aichan's latest pb "Watashi", a seiyuu/J-idol/singer's alarm clock and her pb in giveaways that are still upcoming. If you're interested I hope you can enter in those as I'll probably be using a similar format unless I think of something even wackier than combining Japanese merchandise with racing. =) Those posts will be upcoming here although I'm not sure exactly when just yet.
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Kurt Busch and Mark Martin…that race was sick! Thanks for posting the end of it, really amazing. Sorry I missed you last weekend, it was carazy at work! Hope we get to chat soon.
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I wasn't recording it at first but towards the end I was just hoping that something amazing would happen after Jimmie had a really bad pit stop and went from 1st all the way back to 10th on the final restart….but then he was just so quick and in less than 20 laps he passed so many cars until finally reaching Biffle and Stewart! I was really late getting online..I'm so sorry and I will try to get online earlier~. =) Okay I received your PM..*happy* racing! ＾ ＾
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Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth
(PMing the third.)
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Okay I received your PM..*happy* racing! ＾ ＾
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