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Earnhardt Jr. Earns Respect from Longtime Smoke Fan

Posted by Kevin in General | Guest Entries | NASCAR - (0 Comments)

This guest post is written by LONG time BadGroove reader and commenter, Kevin M. Boots, who many of you may remember from his first guest post about Tony Stewart’s Mobil 1 F1 Seat Swap with Louis Hamilton.  Kevin is a transplanted Hoosier living in New York and is going to attend the race this coming weekend at THE GLEN.  He will be posting about his experiences at the Glen in an exclusive to BadGroove.  I also highly suggest you follow him on twitter for track updates this weekend:  KevinMBoots77.  —Amy

I’m a Tony Stewart fan. I’ve been a fan of Smoke since he moved to the #20 car in 1999. He wasn’t my favorite driver though, that was Dale Earnhardt Sr. My whole family were Sr fans.  We never got the chance to see him race in person. When he died I split my attention between 3 drivers; Smoke, Harvick and Dale Jr.  Smoke, of course, became my favorite and Harvick was second.  Jr., I tried to be a fan but he just never did anything. Another thing that turned me off was what I call “the Cubs Effect.” The Chicago Cubs have not won a world series in 100 years, yet their fans are die hard and cheer them on still. Its annoying, at least to myself.

Jr Nation is just like those Cubs fans, they cheer for him even though he has only one win in the last four years. So why am I writing about a driver I am not a huge fan? He did something at Pocono that I have not seen another drive do in a long time. Jr got out of his car, which had just broke a transmission, got the jack and jacked his car up!  He was trying to get it ready for the crew to start working on replacing the transmission.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Diet Mountain Dew/AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, talks with crew members in the garage after mechanical problems at Pocono Raceway. (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

This shows me that he knows what has to be done to win the championship. It shows me that he knows he has to do more to get what he wants. He did not waiting for the crew to get there and sit there doing nothing till they get it fixed. He realized that every second counted. He understand that every point counts, Smoke showed them all that last year. He showed me that he can do wait he needs to do to deserve the legion of fans he has.

Today Dale Earnhardt Jr earned my respect, and that my friends, is hard to earn.

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Race 22: Pocono (Rain and Lots and Lots of Pictures)

Posted by Amy in General | NASCAR - (1 Comments)

Warning- this post is going to be laden with photos. Why? Because photographers Glenn and Jessica Bure were kind enough to supply BG with photos of Tony and his car in Pocono. So a HUGE thank you to both Glenn and Jessica for sharing their pictures with BadGroove! Also a huge Thanks to The Office Depot Foundation for supplying BadGroove with pictures from the Allentown, PA Sackpack donation! (more…)

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Tony Stewart SackPack Donation & A Peek At The Back-To-School Paint Scheme

Posted by Amy in General | NASCAR - (1 Comments)

As I mentioned last week Tony Stewart would be doing an Autograph Appearance for fans at an Office Depot store in Indianapolis Indiana.  Part of his autograph appearance included the first Sackpack donation for the upcoming school year that Tony helped The Office Depot Foundation distribute.  I know that I have talked about it before but basically the National Backpack program supplies sackpacks filled with necessary school supplies to local non-profit organizations that help support young people in their community.  I honestly think that this is a WONDERFUL program! Just a small pack full of school supplies helps give children the tools they need to succeed in school- what a great gift. (more…)

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Race 21: The Brickyard 400

Posted by Amy in General | NASCAR - (0 Comments)

I remember years ago hearing Dale Earnhardt Jr, I believe, say that the Brickyard had such a hold over Tony Stewart that sometimes he just wanted to shake him and tell him to “let it go man.” Of course that may have been before Tony won his first Brickyard but it still illustrates how IMS is a special place. Honestly, wouldn’t wouldn’t want to win at their home track.

Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 28, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images North America)

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Giveaway: Coca-Cola / Carmike Cinemas Gift Basket!!

Posted by Amy in Contests | NASCAR - (18 Comments)

*****ENTRIES FOR THIS CONTEST ARE NOW CLOSED AND A WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. Thank you EVERYONE who commented and tweeted.*****

As you probably know there are several #NASCAR drivers that are members of the Coca-Cola racing family- including our beloved Tony Stewart (and fellow Stewart-Haas Racing Drivers Ryan Newman and Danica Patrick)! But did you know that Carmike Cinemas have these really cool collector cups featuring Coca-Cola Family Drivers TONY STEWART, Ryan Newman, Danica Patrick, Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle? They do! These awesome looking cups can be purchased at the theater concession stands starting August 1st 2012 (what a great excuse to go to the movies right?) and will be available until September 30th OR until the cups run out! You will want to get thee to a theater as soon as possible to get one (I tell you I WISH I lived in an area with these theaters because I would be there on August 1st to make sure I got a Tony Stewart cup or three!). And along with your uber cool Coca-Cola collector #NASCAR cup you also have the chance to enter for a trip to the Daytona 500 (WHOO HOO!)! So be sure to head over to your local Carmike Cinema starting August 1st to get your #NASCAR Coca-Cola Racing family cup! If you LIKE the Carmike Cinema Facebook Page they have a great little ap for you to look up movie times that is super handy!

GIVEAWAY: To announce the Coca-Cola Racing Family cups- I have been given a GREAT Coca-Cola/Carmike Gift Basket for you to win!  The basket includes 4 of the Coca-Cola #NASCAR driver collectible cups, a Coca-Cola t-shirt and cooler, 2 Carmike Cinemas movie passes and a $50 AMEX gift card!  What an awesome gift basket!

You could win this Coca-Cola Carmike Gift Basket that includes: 4 of the Coca-Cola #NASCAR driver collectible cups, a Coca-Cola t-shirt and cooler, 2 Carmike Cinemas movie passes and a $50 AMEX gift card!

To enter just leave a comment on this post with your favorite movie or a movie you are looking forward to seeing! It’s easy as that.

The Rules:

To enter you can leave a comment on this post that includes your valid email address so that I may contact you if you are the winner.  As the winner you agree to provide a current shipping address so that your gift basket may be sent to you!

You may only enter once via the comments however you can also get one additional entry if you tweet the following on twitter:

I just entered to win a Cool @cocacolaracing @carmikecinemas gift basket over @Badgroove and you can too- http://www.badgroove.com/?p=8187

You must enter before Midnight Pacific Time August 10th, 2012!

Winner will be chosen at random from all entries via website and twitter. There will be only one winner!

General disclosure: The prize was provided by Coca-Cola. Neither Coca-Cola nor its program partners (NASCAR + Carmike Cinemas) are sponsors, administrators, or involved in any other way with this giveaway. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of The Coca-Cola Company or aforementioned partners. Winner to be chosen by Bad Groove.

*****ENTRIES FOR THIS CONTEST ARE NOW CLOSED AND A WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL!  Thank you EVERYONE who commented and tweeted.*****

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Tony Stewart Indianapolis Autograph Session (& Sackpack Donation) July 25th

Posted by Amy in General - (0 Comments)

Good news for Indianapolis Smoke fans!!! Tony Stewart will be doing an autograph appearance at the Indianapolis Office Depot on Wednesday July 25th, 2012!  Tony will sign autographs for 300 fans at the Office Depot located at 4200 South East Street, Indianapolis, IN 46227 starting at approximately 5:00pm local time!  You must have a wristband for the event. Wristbands will be distributed starting at 8:00 am on the day of the event at the 4200 South East Street Office Depot on a first come, first serve basis until either all the wristbands are gone or 5:00 pm- which ever happens first.

While Tony is there he will also be helping donate 6000 sackpaks filled with school supplies to local nonprofits servicing school age children.  He’s helped the Office Depot Foundation with the sackpack donations every year since Office Depot became his sponsor. It’s a worthy cause- what school child doesn’t love to have a sackpack full of needed school supplies on the first day of school. I know I still LOVE school supplies and I haven’t been in school for…well a long time!

Get their early, wear comfy shoes and prepare to hang out with your fellow Tony Stewart fans- it’s always a fun time. I haven’t been to one of these in what seems like ages (March) so I will be with you all in spirit!

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Four NASCAR Drivers Listed on SI’s 50 Most Fortunate Athletes

Posted by Amy in General | NASCAR - (0 Comments)

Sport’s Illustrated came out with the “Fortunate 50,” simply a list of the top 50 highest earning American athletes based  on salary, winnings, bonuses, endorsements and appearance fees only.  Four NASCAR drivers made the top 50:

8th- Dale Earnhardt Jr

18th- Jeff Gordon

29th- Tony Stewart (technically Tony is tied for 29th with baseball player Cliff Lee).

And

33rd- Jimmie Johnson
I don’t know why but I am surprised Jimmie Johnson is that low on the list. And pleasantly surprised that Tony is above him. But wow…the other three drivers are all Hendrick drivers. Just saying that is a strong team financially.

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Race 20: Louden (aka The Kitchen Sink Race)

Posted by Amy in Contests | NASCAR - (0 Comments)

So to me it seemed like the 14 Team and crew chief Steve Addington had to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the #14 Chevy during the 301 laps at New Hampshire Speedway yesterday. It was near painful to watch the team struggle getting the car where it seemed drivable.  And when I say they threw everything at it- they threw EVERYTHING at it. The first caution pitstop they threw 2 tires (most teams were taking 2)  fuel 1 round up on the track bar and 2 rounds of wedge.  Yet Tony continued to struggle- even after searching for different grooves on the track and being unsuccessful.  The team eventually fell a lap down struggling with grip (I believe at one point Tony mentioned wanting to choke the Goodyear engineers in his frustration with lack of grip).

Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet, comes in for a pit stop during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 15, 2012 in Loudon, New Hampshire. Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images North America)

The team has to be credited for not giving up though. After falling a lap down the team was able to get back on the lead lap (and stay there) by taking a wave around.  Then during the last caution pit stop Steve Addington took another HUGE swing at the car- calling for yet another track bar adjustment AND spring rubbers out of the front of the car. He restarted in 16th and was able to move up through the field to 11th at one point.  He finished the race 12th and fell down to 7th in the points.

Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet, stands on the grid during pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 15, 2012 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo Credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images North America)

I don’t really have any “notes” for this race and while watching the race I thought it might be fun for me to share some of my favorite race day tweets with you. You can click on the tweet to be taken to the original. Let me know if you like this feature!

My Favorite Race Day Tweets from LOUDEN, NH:

 

Next weekend is an off weekend as teams prep for the Brickyard 400!

 

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