Ok, so I go to the Office Depot Racing website a lot. First off I like to switch my desktop wallpaper a lot because I get bored easy and they have a great variety of Tony Stewart and Office Depot Racing wallpapers.  So I went to grab a new one this morning to brighten my Wednesday and I found that they had updated the look of their site….not just a little but a whole lot.  I think the update looks amazing and has a great feel to it!

Let me be the first to introduce you to the brand new look to OfficeDepotRacing.com:

I don’t know about you all but I LOVE the new look to the website.  It still has all your favorite information (including the wall papers- those rock) but it’s in a much more streamlined format.

I would like to point out that on this new website is an awesome video about Tony called No Limit. You HAVE to check it out.  On the main page it cycles through the main “stories” and it is one of them! It’s a definite must see for any Tony Stewart fan.

There is also a cool little weekly poll.   This week’s question is If you could be on Tony’s pit crew, what job would you like? They give you the choices of: Tire Changer, Spotter, Transport Driver, Tire Carrier, Sign Board/Clean Grill, and Windshield. Now this is something I have actually contemplated.  I chose SPOTTER.  I think being a Spotter would be fun yet important.  My only issue is the whole deathly afraid of heights thing.  Of course being a TRANSPORT DRIVER would be fun too- just think of how much of the country you get to see! But then again- you probably have to keep to a schedule and stopping at the side of the road to take pictures because something catches your eye (as I often do) would probably be frowned upon.  I will tell you what job I would NOT want to do…that is the guy that gets down and Cleans The Grill.  I think it was the Brickyard- that guy reached down and grabbed a piece of paper off the grill of Tony’s car right before he left and I don’t know if it was the camera angle or what but it look like he nearly got hit as Tony was peeling out.  Definitely not for the faint of heart…or klutzy.

But back to my original point…go check out the new Office Depot Racing website!!! You won’t be disappointed.

As of today, you have just under one month left to purchase tickets for that sweet 2010 Chevy Camaro that the Tony Stewart Foundation is raffling off.  The drawing takes place on AUGUST 30th people! I have babbled on and on about this car because it is seriously sweet– even better than just your average 2010 Camaro because it has been enhanced by Unique Autosports:

• Strut wheels wear 22 inch Pirelli tires
• Strut grille
• K&N state of the art filter and intake system will boost power to 4oo bhp
• Borla Exhaust so your neighbors can hear when you are taking her out for a spin (ok the release says gives the car a “throaty roar”).
• Baer brakes
• Eibach suspension
• Spies Hecker paint on a Glam Effect body kit by Classic Design Concepts
• Roadwire leather interior
• Smoked tail lamps
• Tinted windows
• JL Audio equipment

What? You want some pictures? Sure! Here are some pictures of the 2010 Camaro display at the Brickyard a couple weeks ago:

Ok are you drooling yet? You should be! But if you aren’t drooling and grabbing for your wallet yet maybe this will entice you. The winner of the Camaro also gets:

• all-expense paid trip to Stewart-Haas Racing in Kannapolis, NC
• personal VIP Meet & Greet with Tony Stewart, who will hand over the keys to your new car
• delivery of Camaro to your home.

Personally- I think that the trip to Kannapolis alone (regardless of the car) is worth the price of the raffle ticket add to that a SHWEET car and a personal VIP Meet & Greet with Tony Stewart.

Still have reservations? Well then let’s talk about the good YOU will be helping the TONY STEWART FOUNDATION do.  The Tony Stewart Foundation grant program serves children, animals and injured drivers.  Remember that since it’s inception in 2004, the Tony Stewart foundation has awarded $4.5 million dollars to charitable organizations including: Victory Junction Gang Camp, Indiana Canine Assistance Network, Camp Riley/Riley’s hospital for children, various camps serving special needs children, various animal rescue groups (including The Friends Of Ferdinand), the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, USCA Benevolent fund and well the list can go on and on.

Well then where do I sign up you ask? You can purchase your raffle ticket at SmokesCamaro.com for $50 for one, $75 for two or $100 for three.  What’s better? They are only going to sell at MOST 10,000 tickets BUT as of this writing less than half the tickets have been sold (there are currently 6413 tickets available for purchase). And remember there are 14 other runner up prizes if you do NOT get chosen as the winner of the camaro that are valued anywhere from $50.00 to $225.00 and include a variety of Tony Stewart autographed memorabilia.

LESS THAN ONE MONTH PEOPLE….let’s sell some tickets!

Ok so I have made it no secret that there is something I just don’t like about races at Pocono.  I have NEVER actually been to the track so it’s all based on TV coverage but I have always called Pocono the “evil little triangle” but it should be renamed the “evil big triangle”.  Either way…I don’t like to watch Pocono and I think it is because I don’t like things that aren’t symmetrical and Pocono is definitely not symmetrical with it’s three turns and they are all different banking. Yes I know that’s an odd thing to say – but what can I say- they say that humans are generally drawn to symmetry so…I am just human I guess.

So the best news from Friday? Tony go the pole at Pocono! I was at work during qualifying so I didn’t get to watch it…and honestly? I hadn’t even really paid attention to when qualifying was.  I went to NASCAR.COM to see if qualifying was over and it wasn’t- but Tony had the pole! WhooHoo! I might have even said that out loud. Ok I did…and I clapped. But I was alone upstairs in my office and I don’t think anyone heard…but so what if they did.

I have to share this picture of the race because I think it’s an awesome picture of Tony coming over the stripe first and shows just how close Jeff Gordon was to Tony. Jeff proceeded to push Tony to the lead and the two of them took off like gang busters for the first lap or so.

After the first couple of laps Tony faded back a bit as he struggled with the handling of his car.

He then proceeded to spend most of the first half of the race in 7th. He would go into the pits in 7th and come out in 7th- which meant that the Office Depot pit crew was definitely on the ball. But the race at this point was one really long green flag run (there was a competition caution at lap 15 because of the rain delay in the morning) and honestly except during pit stops (which fascinate me)- it was a little boring to watch on the TV. I did entertain myself during the race by texting Misty and doing my photography assignment- but I admit it was a little boring…and starting to seem excessively long. After about the halfway point the track started to change because of the sun coming out…so whole most other cars were suddenly loose- Tony’s car seemed to come into itself and Tony worked his way up to sixth…then fifth.

Then there was a horrendous crash that had both Kurt Busch and Elliott Sadler in to the infield wall hard. Kurt lucked out in that his car slammed into SAFER barrier- but Elliott’s car missed the barrier and slammed hard into a wall backed by a solid dirt embankment.  It was a hard hit by both drivers- unfortunately Elliott’s crash was not caught by any of the camera angles that ESPN had….except for one where you can just see a wee little bit of the hit into the embankment. It was hard. Then there was the aftermath where all you could see was Elliott’s car in multiple pieces- the engine had become completely dislodged from the chassis.  Then Elliot is hanging out of the car half in and half out looking pained….at which time he gets out and lays down next to the car right on the track.  Disturbing? Hell yes.  But at least he was awake.

Sadler’s car on the wrecker after the wreck:

Sadler’s engine on a separate wrecker:

Then comes a rather lengthy red flag for clean up and all the cars are stopped on the track. I was listening to Tony’s scanner on NASCAR.COM but he was pretty quiet during the red flag (something they even mentioned during the national broadcast- so I wasn’t the only one who noticed it!).*  They get the clean up done and the cars are rolling and then…it starts to rain.  So they throw the red again and bring the cars down pit road and park them there.   Tony was more animated on the radio while parked on pit road…and I will talk about that in the notes.

They get the track dried and at this point I – to me it feels like the longest race ever in the history of man. I am sure it’s not but it certainly felt that way to me.

Darian called Tony in for a 4 tire stop. I was freaked out because there were a WHOLE SLEW of cars that came out in front of him in the pits- but turns out? Those cars where 2 tire or no tire stops (NO tires? Are you nuts?) Darian’s call was for “four tires and to haul ass!” Obviously I liked it so much I made it the subtitle of this entry. Tony did end up coming out of the pits as the first car on 4 tires so between having the first pit stall and having the Office Depot pit crew on their toes they did good.

Then the racing got really good! Tony was passing people two at a time for awhile there…he restarted 11th I think (am doing this without notes so pardon my memory) and was up to like fifth in what seemed like three or four laps.  Meanwhile? Greg Biffle was pulling away!  Tony then got caught up fighting Sam Hornish and Carl Edwards for position…by 10 laps to go Tony was up to 2nd and trying to reel in The Biff…and it wasn’t for a lack of effort-as Tony had put some distance between him and third- but there was just no catching the Biff.  With his hard fought second place finish, Tony gained a position in the points standings and is now EIGHTH in the standings.

Notes from Pocono:

• On Saturday I accidentally watched the Camping World Truck race at Pocono. Apparently it was the first time the trucks had run there and honestly? It was a GREAT race. Of course it was only 50 laps. So was the ARCA race. It wasn’t as good as the truck race but it was still pretty good. How do you accidentally watch the race? Well it was on and I was in front of a TV…but I wasn’t purposely tuned in.  Congrats to Elliott Sadler for winning it for Kevin Harvick Inc.! His son Wyatt? A-freaking-dorable!
• It’s my opinion that this race is entirely too long.  When I am more entertained by doing things like texting and submitting my assignments for my photography class that I am taking in the middle of the race? It’s TOO LONG! And I thought this BEFORE the red flag for the accident/rain. Me thinks that either: Pocono’s race needs to be shorter or they don’t need a second race. Just my thoughts there.
• *Ok- I am going to get a little crude here so if you are easily offended by crude-ish talk- avert your eyes or skip this bullet and go down to the the next one.  So during the first part of the red flag- right after they asked Darian why Tony seemed so quiet in the car during the red flag (to which Darian replied- “he’s probably taking a nap- resting up” for the rest of the race) it was time to fire the engines and start rolling.  Darian called Tony on the radio and asked him if he was awake.  Tony replied that he was and that we was “just sweating my nuts off” in the car.  AFTER THE RACE, I was relaying this to my father because I found it chuckle worthy to which my dad said to me: “Well you KNOW what that means don’t you?” wait for it…”It means it was DAMN hot in the car!”  Um I think I might have figured this out. I am just saying…
• Another Tony radio gem was when they were waiting for SPRINKLES on the track to cease and they were sitting on pit road and he asked Darian if they would be allowed to get out of the car for five minutes because the had been in the car for over 4 hours at this point and “Some of us aren’t 21 years old anymore and might need to take a leak.”  And then there was the time also while on pit road he became all boss-like and got on his radio and stated that someone needed to tell one of the 39 crew members that he should NOT be on pit road without a hat on.  They all laughed that up pretty good too.
• Apparently long race equals long post…
• Also from earlier in the weekend? Stewart-Haas teammate Ryan Newman helped Pocono flip the switch on the new solar farm next to the track that will power both the track and nearby homes- helping erase the carbon footprint of the race.  Here is the video from that:

Next Weekend: Watkin’s Glen

First I have to preface this by saying I was not watching the Brickyard here at home. I watched it with Misty at HER house with her family as we celebrated her birthday the day before. 

Tony qualified 15th after pulling an early number in the qualifying draw.

Reports on the TV said that he wasn’t happy with the car throughout practices and his numbers seemed to reflect this. He raced hard and the pitstops for the race were flawless as they continually adjusted on the #14 chevy impala driven by Stewart.  

Darian made a gutsy call for two tires at the end of the race. I admit I was definitely skeptical with that call.  But that two tire call got Tony the track position he needed to finish 5th! YEY! Tony remains 9th in series points. Kevin Harvick remains the series leader. Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray won the 17th running of the Brickyard 400.

“Feels almost like a win to be honest. When we finished Happy Hour yesterday, I was in a doom-and-gloom mood. It’s just been a hot three days and I’ve been dehydrated because I’ve been sick. I’m proud of how good I feel right now, to be honest. That’s due to the Clarian Medical Center here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They’ve worked with me the last two nights trying to get me feeling better and because of that, it got us where we are today.” Stewart, after the brickyard, – credit Team Release.

NOTES ABOUT THE BRICKYARD:

• I am absolutely loving the Burger King commericals with Tony working at the Burger King. HILARIOUS. Some great stuff there. You can see the extended version at clockedinwithtony.com.
• I have to admit that I thought we were going to be in for one long Brickyard 400 when there was a huge crash on Lap 1. But there actually weren’t that many cautions thankfully!

BFTP (Bonus Funny Tony Picture)-feel free to leave your humorous captions in the comments:

I just got back yesterday afternoon and I haven’t had time to sit down and write about Indy.  I came home to freezing weather (ok after being in 110 degree weather all weekend my usual of 65 is FREEZING) a ton of laundry and a very needy beagle who was attached to my by the hip yesterday after I got home. Then of course I come to work and am pretty much slammed work wise. So still no brickyard 400 post…but I have two things for you to chew on until I get that done (hopefully in time to post tomorrow morning).

First is this video from NASCAR.com featuring Jeff “Gooch” Patterson (gas man) and Rick Pigeon (catch can man) for the #14 Office Depot Chevy driven by Mr. Tony Stewart. It’s an interesting little piece about their jobs on the team.

Secondly I wanted to point you in the direction of the second piece I have written for the RACING IN AMERICA blog: How I Got Hooked On The Racing Experience.  I personally think it’s pretty darn good. Let me know what you think!

You may have tuned in to get my views on the Brickyard. Well you will have to wait just a little longer. I took off to Vegas to help Misty celebrate her birthday…and will be driving the 500 miles back home today…then it’s back to the grind tomorrow.  But I will get you my Indy report as soon as possible.

It is absolutely killing me that I have not been to a race recently.  The last race I atttended was the spring Phoenix race…and that was crazy because basically it was in and out. Drive to Vegas get Misty, drive to phoenix, see race, drive back to vegas drop Misty off and go home.  Yes we had fun….but it was too quick.  I didn’t get to relish in the race weekend of it all.  It was a very last minute decision to even go to that race…and that is something that is almost not even in our vocabulary. Misty and I are…a bit excessive in the planning department and deciding 7 days before a race to attend it? Is not like us in the bit.

How excessive are we in the planning department? Well let’s just say we already have tickets for the Fall race at Autoclub speedway and the fall race and Phoenix.  We already have hotel reservations for one of them…and are chomping at the bit to make reservations for the other.  I have already asked for the time off for both races as well as champions week from my “real” job. 

I miss the excitement, adventure and fun of the track.  I even miss the smell of oil and rubber and exhaust. I miss the pit stops and burn outs. I miss it all. October can’t come soon enough for me!

No no don’t panic- I am still epically single.  There is no wedding and thus no NASCAR drivers invading it. However– and I know I have mentioned this before– but I LOVE the Gillette Fusion ProGlide wedding commercial. I had never seen the extended version- which is even better. Don’t believe me? Watch for yourself:

I don’t know which parts I find more funny- Ryan Newman’s“How you doin’?” or Clint Bowyer and the bridesmaid talking about going fast…both make me laugh!!

How can you not find that humorous? If you don’t, you might want to see your doctor and see if someone stole your funny bone in the middle of the night while you were sleeping.

There is an extended version of the BigFoot ProGlide commercial too that is funny:

My favorite part there? Denny Hamlin threatening to take Big Foot’s pine cones… proclaiming him a bad loser.

You can check out these and other Gillette Fusion ProGlide commercials (the yoga and the mullet ones are both funny too) at the Gillette YouTube channel.