He Always Drives Like His Hair's On Fire?

Kyle Busch...
He got pulled over today doing 128 MPH in a 45 MPH zone!

Now that's a little much... I could see maybe 80 but 128?

The Iredell County (NC) sheriff's deputy that pulled Kyle over stated he was not arrogant but respectful. The deputy then wrote him up for reckless driving and excessive speed (ya think?)...

Here's Kyle's statement issued earlier this afternoon:

"Today I received a traffic citation in Iredell County. I was test driving a new sports car and I got carried away. I went beyond the speed I should have been going on a public road. I apologize to the public, my fans, sponsors, and race teams for my lack of judgment. I take responsibility for my actions and I can assure you that something like this will never happen again. I thank the Iredell County Sheriff's Department and all law enforcement for the hard work they do every day to protect the public and to enforce the laws in a fair and equitable manner."

What was he driving? He had a new prototype Lexus LFA sports car like the one below out for a test spin...

Nice car, stupid stunt...
Here's a link to the story:

http://www2.statesville.com/news/2011/may/24/23/kyle-busch-cited-128-45-mph-zone-ar-1061276/

2011 NFL Draft Grades

Late last month the 2011 NFL Draft was held in New York City’s Radio City Music Hall.

You know, after intently watching the proceedings across three days of broadcasting and really getting tired of listening to and seeing those Giants and Jets fans carry on, I came to the conclusion that they need to float the draft venue around the country and allow other football fans a chance to make fools out of themselves too, but do you think that’ll ever happen?

Here is a rather lengthy look at how well each NFL team did in the 2011 Draft. In it, each team is named, the team’s Offensive (O) and Defensive (D) rankings from 2010 are displayed, each team’s 7 most pressing personnel needs are given (arrived at by combining several sources of team need information), each team’s draft picks (by position) are given and a Value Rating is shown (this rating is arrived at by subtracting a players ranking in the draft from the selecting team’s selection number. E.G. Team X uses selection #10 to take the 5th ranked player in the draft resulting in a net of +5. The higher the rating number, the more value a team got for their selections. This rating is displayed in terms of each team’s value in the first 3 rounds as well as across all of their draft selections.

Finally, I get to run through my take on each team’s draft and grade them (Given in order of their first round selection position)… Enjoy!


Carolina Panthers – O-32, D-26 –
Top 7 Needs – QB, DT, WR, DE, OLB, OT & OG
Draft picks – QB, DT, DT, CB, WR, ILB, C & OT
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- (166.78), Overall- (261.39)
Considering the Panthers didn’t have pick number 33 (first pick in the 2nd round) after trading it away last year, they went about putting together what could be a very good draft. It all hinges on the number one pick of the draft, QB Cam Newton. If this guy is the real deal (we already know he’s a great athlete), Carolina will have the prime ingredient to fielding a winning team for at least the next decade. If Newton doesn’t pan out, the team will continue to flounder into the foreseeable future… The Panthers filled their highest need positions but didn’t get good value and granted, time will tell… Grade C+


Denver Broncos – O-19, D-32 –
Top 7 Needs – CB, DT, DE, OT, SS, RB & FS
Draft picks – OLB, FS, OT, ILB, FS, TE, ILB, TE & DE
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- (121.26), Overall- 144.49
New GM Elway opted for quality over need with the team’s top pick taking the best outside linebacker in the draft then must have developed a case of the hiccups as he took 2 FSs, 2 ILBs and 2 TEs while never addressing the team’s top need at cornerback… Maybe those safeties can convert to corners. The 32nd ranked defense has help on the way… Grade C-


Buffalo Bills – O-28, D-28 –
Top 7 Needs – QB, OT, DE, OLB, DT, SS & WR
Draft Picks – DT, CB, ILB, SS, OT, RB, ILB, CB & OG
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- 2.55, Overall- (573.89)
With nine picks in the 2011 Draft, the Bills had many needs to fill. Management must see more in their current QB than the talking heads out there as they passed on both TCU’s Andy Dalton and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick in the second round. I guess being 28th in total offense doesn’t bother these guys. Maybe they go by the axiom that if the other team can’t score then they’re gonna be in the game… So they concentrated on helping their 28th ranked defense… Grade C+


Cincinnati Bengals – O-22, D-24 –
Top 7 Needs – QB, DE, OT, WR, RB, C & DT
Draft Picks - WR, QB, OLB/DE, OG, FS, WR, CB & RB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- (19.89), Overall- (152.09)
This team looked like it was putting things together 2 seasons ago then the wheels came off once again when injuries decimated their improved defense. The Ochocinco/T.O. sideshow last year was unbelievable, so much so that QB Carson Palmer has had enough of the “Bengal Way” and is bolting from the team putting the need for a quality QB right on top of the Bengals’ want list. They got the top receiver in the draft as it looks like both the prima donna receivers will be gone and then picked up Palmer’s heir-apparent. How well TCU’s Andy Dalton performs will define this draft… Grade B-


Arizona Cardinals – O-26, D-30 –
Top 7 Needs – QB, OLB, OT, OG, CB, TE & C
Draft Picks – CB, RB, TE, OLB, FB, ILB, DT & WR
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- (63.08), Overall- (108.40)
Head coach Ken Wisenhunt and his staff did a very good job the last few years considering they have to work with the always money-tight Bidwell ownership. Looking at the Cards’ offensive and defensive rankings from 2010 you realize just how much the team has fallen. Before last season, free agency and retirement took huge bites out of a team that had been in the Super Bowl just three short years ago. I have to wonder about them passing on a QB in this draft. They must covet a free agent QB (ex-Ram Bulger?). They waded through last season without a top trigger man and look what that got ‘em: the 5th pick in this year’s draft! Instead of taking a QB they landed a blue chipper in LSU’s Patrick Peterson who is not only the best corner/safety in this draft but also a top return man. Then they went and picked up another RB even though their needs didn’t dictate one in the second round… Grade C


Cleveland Browns – O-31, D-13 –
Top 7 Needs – WR, DE, ILB, OT, OLB, FS & DT
Draft Picks – DT, DE, WR, TE, FB, CB, OG, OG, FS & FS
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- (43.90), Overall- (290.39)
Trading out of the number 6 pick for 4 picks from Atlanta (2 this year and 2 next) defined this draft for the Browns. GM Mike Holmgren and new head coach Pat Shurmur decided to switch away from the 3-4 to a 4-3 defense making defensive linemen a top need even though the team ranked 13th on D last year. Then they filled the team’s top need for their next-to-last in 2010 offense with one of those prima donna wide outs… We’ll see how the redesigned Browns fair against the Steelers and Ravens… Grade A


San Francisco 49ers – O-24, D-16 –
Top 7 Needs – QB, OG, DT, OLB, CB, WR & DE
Draft Picks – OLB, QB, FS, RB, TE, OG, WR, SS, OLB, OG & CB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- (135.70), Overall- (1,012.22)
Starting with their number 7 pick in the first round of this draft, the Niners were “reaching” for players like a hungry man at the dining table of a boarding house while attempting to fill their plate (needs). They did a fair to poor job and here again taking a young QB (Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick) may tell the tale on the 49ers’ 2011 draft… Grade D+


Tennessee Titans – O-17, D-15 –
Top 7 Needs – QB, OG, DE, ILB, CB, TE & OLB
Draft Picks – QB, OLB, DT, ILB, RB, DE, OT, DT & SS
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- 19.41, Overall- (966.69)
Another team in total transition… A new head coach, a new QB, and a new philosophy are all at work here. With an accomplished trigger man, this team isn’t too far from playoff contention… The team surprised a lot of people first by shedding themselves of former first round pick QB Vince Young, then sacking their head coach (Jeff Fisher) who never wanted Young in the first place and finally by taking Washington’s Jake Locker with the number 8 pick. Now the ever present question with young, first round QB’s once again settles in: Will he pan out? Other than the QB question (a question that will most likely go unanswered for at least 2 years with Locker), the team did a fair job filling their other needs, especially in the top 3 rounds… Grade C+


Dallas Cowboys – O-7, D-31 –
Top 7 Needs – OT, DE, CB, FS, C, ILB & SS
Draft Picks – OT, OLB, RB, OG, CB, WR, FB & OG
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- (23.37), Overall- (394.78)
31st on defense? Wasn’t that why they brought in Wade Phillips? 7th on offense? This without Tony Romo for much of the season… 2010 was supposed to be the Cowboy’s year to be a home team in the Super Bowl and yet the wheels totally came off. The only good thing I see in the Boy’s selections is that they filled their greatest need with the 9th pick of the draft but on the other hand they took only one defensive side pick with their next 3 picks for their next to last ranked defense. I like it! Jerry Jones (that great football mind) runs this team as it continues to flounder… Grade C-


Washington Redskins – O-25, D-22 –
Top 7 Needs – QB, WR, OT, CB, RB, OG & DT
Draft Picks – DE, DT, WR, RB, SS, WR, RB, WR, CB, OG, DE & DT
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- 3.00, Overall- (419.03)
What a change a couple of years under head coach Mike Shanahan and GM Bruce Allen have meant for the Skins! It wasn’t too long ago when this team might have a handful of late round picks in the draft as they continually mortgaged their future by trading their top draft picks for established (over the hill?) players. This year they parlayed picks into more picks and began a youth movement that was long overdue. Although they didn’t come away with a new QB, this was an excellent draft for one of the oldest (personnel wise) teams in the league… Grade A


Houston Texans – O-9, D-29 –
Top 7 Needs – DT, DE, CB, SS, FS, OLB & OG
Draft Picks – DE, OLB, CB, CB, SS, QB, OT & DE
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- 14.25, Overall – (110.32)
I have to say that 2011 is a make or break year for the Texans’ head coach Gary Kubiak and luckily the Texans’ youth movement was needed on the defensive side of the ball where young players usually can have an immediate impact. A good core group of defensive players is on hand but injuries have kept knocking this team for a loop so if this draft class of mostly defensive players helps and the injury bug backs off a bit, the Houston fans may finally have something to cheer about… Grade B+


Minnesota Vikings – O-29, D-18 –
Top 7 Needs – QB, OT, CB, C, RB, DE & FS
Draft Picks – QB, TE, DE, CB, FS, C, DE & WR
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- (14.66), Overall – (278.15)
The Vikings thought they were on the precipice of a Super Bowl championship after pulling in several players from the free agent market, but no rings came of it. This is now an old team with needs on both sides of the ball and a new head coach (Leslie Frazier) who gets to sort it all out. They must have had a panic attack watching other teams snatch up the top QBs in the draft before their turn came to pick at #12, so they went ahead and reached for Florida State QB Christian Ponder who was rated a mid-2nd round pick at best… After the reach at QB they switched to value picks through the next four picks before once again reaching late in the draft… Grade C-


Detroit Lions – O-15, D-19 –
Top 7 Needs – CB, OLB, OT, OG, FS, ILB & DT
Draft Picks – DT, WR, RB, OLB & OT
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- 48.01, Overall – (262.21)
Here’s a team, after all these years of frustration, poised to challenge division opponent Chicago for sure and possibly the World Champion Packers. With only 5 picks in this draft they took a couple of strides to solidify the team but surprised me, considering how much time their first round draft pick QB has lost to injury, by not taking an offensive lineman with one of their three early picks. On the other hand the Lions’ defensive line will literally maul their opponents next season by adding DT Fairley, this while the Lions didn’t fill their perceived greatest need in the defensive backfield. Maybe they figure if the opposing QB can’t get his passes off… Grade B-


St. Louis Rams – O-27, D-12 –
Top 7 Needs – WR, OT, OG, DT, TE, OLB & FS
Draft Picks – DE, TE, WR, WR, FS, CB, OLB & FS
Value Rating – 3 Rd.-(20.71), Overall – (509.51)
The Rams’ management drafted for need in 2010 then divorced that philosophy at the top of this draft by taking the best defensive end available even though that wasn’t a position of need. Then they went back to need selections picking up three receivers for their good young QB. Whether its been a conscious effort or not, the Rams are following the same team resurrection process I think I’d use in their situation. Build a strong defense first then strengthen the offense. The theory being if your opponent can’t score, you’re in the game, even with a weak offense. If the offensive production begins improving in 2011, this team looks to be on the fast track to the NFC West title this season… Grade B+


Miami Dolphins – O-30, D-14 –
Top 7 Needs – QB, RB, TE, OG, FS, ILB & OT
Draft Picks – OG, RB, WR, SS, TE, DT & CB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- 2.91, Overall – (602.86)
Here again, we’ve got a head coach (Tony Sparano) who may be on a very short leash with a team that’s getting older with many holes to fill. With that in mind, all indications are the Phins will be in the free agent QB market whenever it’s reopened rather than trying to stick with their current options (Henne and free agent Pennington). With that decision evidently made, they went about taking care of their other top needs in workmanlike order … Grade B


Jacksonville Jaguars – O-18, D-27 –
Top 7 Needs – DE, CB, SS, FS, ILB, QB & WR
Draft Picks – QB, OG, WR, CB & FS
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- (17.68), Overall – (834.24)
I keep thinking head coach Jack Del Rio is about to get sacked and then they pull off a draft move that should indicate a secure head coach (trading up to take a top collegiate QB (Blaine Gabbert) that needs seasoning). Considering this move, I’ve got to believe the Jags’ owners must be happy with the man. Another head shaker concerns the teams’ poor defensive performance last season and their lack of any top defensive picks in a draft rich in defensive talent… Grade D


Oakland Raiders – O-6, D-20 –
Top 7 Needs – OG, CB, DT, OT, QB, C & OLB
Draft Picks – C/OG, CB, OT, CB, RB, WR, TE & WR
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- (179.59), Overall – (830.20)
It looked like former head coach Tom Cable had the Raiders on the right track and yet he was sacked. Who knows what goes through the mind of owner Al Davis? With the exception of the Silver and Black’s first pick (which came mid-way through the 2nd round), the team’s draft selections once again ran contrary to conventional thinking as the Raiders went far afield for speedy players that fit their needs. I keep hoping that Davis, who remains an NFL legend, will just gracefully step aside and preserve what credibility he still has left… Grade D


San Diego Chargers – O-2, D-10 –
Top 7 Needs – DE, OLB, OT, OG, QB, DT & ILB
Draft Picks – DT/DE, FS, OLB, WR, CB, RB, OG & OLB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- (293.63), Overall – (444.73)
Look at the offensive and defensive ratings this team posted last season. And yet they didn’t make the playoffs… I guess head coach Norv Turner must kowtow to the team’s over-bearing GM (A.J. Smith), that’s the only explanation I can come up with concerning how he keeps his job. And then there’s the self-important Smith. It’s almost like he’s suddenly become envious of the Raiders’ Al Davis trying to find top players that nobody else covets. The team’s needs were met and it’ll take time to see if the Chargers’ selections will make a difference or not… Grade C


New York Giants – O-8, D-17 –
Top 7 Needs – OT, ILB, OLB, RB, C, DT & OG
Draft Picks – CB, DT, WR, OT, ILB, SS, OLB & RB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.-45.86, Overall – (74.94)
The Giants literally “fell” into four excellent picks early in the 2011 draft through no effort on their part. The 2nd rated CB, a highly thought of DT, a high-speed receiver and a good right tackle all seemed to fall right into their lap. With only the Eagles doing well in the NFC East, watch the Giants this coming season. A couple of these players may be instrumental in a return to the playoffs… Grade B+


Tampa Bay Buccaneers – O-20, D-9 –
Top 7 Needs – DE, ILB, OLB, OT, OG, WR & RB
Draft Picks – DE, DE, OLB, TE, SS, RB, CB & TE
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- 27.23, Overall 75.96
Last season 2nd year head coach Raheem Morris told the youngest team in the NFL over and over again they were winners and they bought in. For this draft class and evidently under a mandate from the Glazer family owners based on all the bad publicity this team has been garnering from bad boy roster members, GM Mark Dominik went out of his way to fill the team’s needs with a unique twist: 5 of the 8 selections were team captains on their college teams. They went out looking for high character team leaders. If the young Bucs, with an offense set to continue improving and a defense given an instant pass rush through the 2011 draft, continues to buy in to their coach’s enthusiasm, the NFC South will solidify itself as the toughest division in the NFL. Grade B+


Kansas City Chiefs – O-14, D-11 –
Top 7 Needs – WR, OT, C, OLB, DT, DE & QB
Draft Picks – WR, OG/C, OLB/DE, DE, CB, QB, OLB, DT & RB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- 81.26, Overall (497.04)
Meet my favorite to once again win the AFC West this year. The Chiefs are a good young team with good coaching and a relatively easy division to play in. If you think it looks like a New England draft featuring multi-purpose players, you’re right. The Chiefs have several Bill Belichick disciples on board, including head coach Todd Haley in his third year at the helm. With a very successful early draft under their belt, (sometimes a team’s list of needs just aligns with the best available talent) the Chiefs may challenge for more than just a division title in 2011… Grade A


Indianapolis Colts – O-4, D-23 –
Top 7 Needs – OT, OG, OLB, CB, C, SS & FS
Draft Picks – OT, OT/OG, DT, RB, QB & CB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- 37.09, Overall – 24.61
After watching Peyton Manning hurry his passes or get his back side planted in the sports turf way too often last season, the Colts’ management went out and landed two very good offensive linemen with their first two picks. With only 6 picks, what puzzles me is their lack of concern for the 23rd ranked defense devoting four of those picks to the 4th rated offense. If it was me, I’d have made the same first two picks, but the rest of the draft would have been devoted to reinvigorating the defense… Grade B-


Philadelphia Eagles – O-13, D-6 –
Top 7 Needs – OG, CB, OT, OLB, C & FS
Draft Picks – OG, FS, CB, ILB, K, RB, WR, C, OLB, WR, ILB & FB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.-(36.72), Overall (256.00)
The Eagles are in the cat bird seat with a rare commodity in the NFL, two QBs both capable of starting. Once this labor mess is straightened out we’ll see how much Kevin Kolb is worth and I’d bet the Eagles will be able to stockpile top draft picks into the future as a result. This is the best team in the NFC East and head coach Andy Reid met his team’s top needs with pretty good early pick value… Grade B


New Orleans Saints – O-11, D-7
Top 7 Needs – DT, DE, ILB, OLB, RB, TE & OT
Draft Picks – DE, RB, ILB, CB, DE & OLB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- 85.79, Overall 26.32
The Saints still made the playoffs in 2010 but something was obviously amiss since they won the Super Bowl in February, 2010. Maybe it was a classic case of championship hangover and that’s very understandable considering they’re based in party central: New Orleans… Looking at their team needs and the players taken with only 6 picks I’ve got to say these guys really helped themselves with good value picks. The move to trade back into the late first round to select probably the best running back in this draft, Alabama’s Mark Ingram, may have put the icing on another Super Bowl cake next February… Grade B+


Seattle Seahawks – O-23, D-25
Top 7 Needs – DT, OT, CB, SS, DE, RB & WR
Draft Picks – OT, OG/C, OLB, WR, CB, CB, DE & OLB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.-(76.48), Overall (737.99)
After their 2010 draft which gained high acclaim around the league, Pete Carroll’s 2011 effort left a lot of people wondering as the Hawks took a 3rd round rated OT with the 25th pick of the draft then reached once again with their next pick (#75) for a 4th round rated OG. This carried on throughout the draft. It was like the Seahawks knew something nobody else did as they gleefully picked off several relatively unknown, low-rated college players. We’ll see if Carroll and crew’s happiness with their picks is justified… Grade D


Baltimore Ravens – O-3, D-21
Top 7 Needs – CB, C, SS, WR, DE, ILB & FS
Draft Picks – CB, WR, OT, WR, CB, DE, QB & RB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.-(97.99) – Overall 1.14
2010 represented quite a flip flop for the Ravens who had lived off their defensive prowess over the last few years. The team’s defense ballooned to a 21st ranking in the NFL while the Raven offense ranked 3rd! With the exception of a big reach in the third round for an OT (Jah Reid out of Central Florida) this was a very good draft value-wise by GM Ozzie Newsome as he went about taking care of the team’s needs… Grade B+


Atlanta Falcons – O-5, D-5
Top 7 Needs – OT, WR, OG, DE, OLB, CB & TE
Draft Picks – WR, ILB, RB, FS, K/P, OG & OLB/DE
Value Rating – 3 Rd.-(193.47), Overall (177.81)
Although the team’s management denied it, it sure looks like they believed they were only one player shy of a deep playoff run leading up to next season’s Super Bowl as the Falcons traded up for Cleveland’s number 6 selection and picked Alabama All-American WR Julio Jones giving away 4 picks of their own (2 in this draft and 2 next year) to make it happen. Once they settled back in, they picked off one of those quick little RB’s that could be a game breaker in Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rogers. Not a bad draft for a young playoff team looking for the right ingredients to win it all… Grade B-


New England Patriots – O-1, D-8
Top 7 Needs – OT, OLB, DE, RB, OG, DT & WR
Draft Picks – OT, CB, RB, RB, QB, OT, TE, DE & CB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.-(108.72) – Overall (811.62)
A trademark Bill Belichick draft full of wheelin’ and dealin’. Bill was stockpiling draft picks into the future and tinkering with the Ferrari getting ready for another run at the championship. With 5 picks in the first three rounds the Pat’s head coach met his primary need with an OT in the first round then had the luxury of taking Arkansas’ QB Ryan Mallett, a tall pure pocket passer, as heir apparent to Tom Brady. Several new faces will try to make the squad… Grade B


Chicago Bears – O-21, D-4
Top 7 Needs – OT, OG, WR, C, DT, SS & FS
Draft Picks – OT, DT, FS, CB, QB & OLB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.-(63.18), Overall (202.86)
The glaring need on this team is protection for the QB and while they took an OT in the first round, that was it. The defense carried this team into the playoffs last season where it all ended when QB Jay Cutler was taken out. Seems to me at least one more OL pick was in order. Oft-injured DT Paea out of Oregon State went in the second round and may be a steal if he can avoid injury. When will the Bears’ playoff window close? I’m going to guess in won’t be long… Grade C-


New York Jets – O-10, D-2
Top 7 Needs – DE, DT, OLB, WR, OG, SS & OT
Draft Picks – DT/DE, DT, RB, WR, QB & WR
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- 9.83, Overall (134.38)
The Jets were reactive in this draft as they had to cover themselves across their defensive front where age, a wipeout and injuries kept lowering the quality of play. They appear to have shored up the area with their top two picks. With two big name prima donna WRs becoming free agents, head coach Rex Ryan was forced to use two other picks to patch up that potential problem area. Possibly the most important pick was the late draft selection of Alabama QB Greg McElroy (who I believe has a lot of potential now that he’s away from Saban’s Spread O at Alabama) as a backup for QB Sanchez… Grade B-


Pittsburgh Steelers – O-12, D-1
Top 7 Needs – OT, OG, CB, DE, RB, WR & C
Draft Picks – DE, OT, CB, CB, OLB, OG & RB
Value Rating – 3 Rd.- 13.12, Overall (74.55)
The Steelers draft philosophy was again adhered to in 2011. These guys don’t trade draft picks, they’re not normally in the free agent market while always intent on bringing in fresh talent by sticking to their draft board getting good value for their selections. As the winningest franchise in Super Bowl history, who can knock it? I think they might have taken a chance in the first round by picking Ohio State’s DE Cameron Heyward who has had injury problems. Other than that I can’t find much to fault the Steelers’ player personnel people… Grade B


Green Bay Packers – O-16, D-3
Top 7 Needs – OLB, RB, OG, CB, OT, C & DE
Draft Picks – OT, WR, RB, CB, TE, OG, OLB, DE, TE & DE/DT
Value Rating – 3 Rd.-(114.32), Overall (174.15)
The World Champs got right to work on their 16th ranked offense using five of their first six picks on that side of the ball. A couple of reaches were made in the late rounds while they got excellent value on a couple of other picks. Let’s see if the Pack gets drawn into the post-Championship doldrums like the Saints… Grade B+

In a condensed version, here’s how I see it:

A - Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs & Washington Redskins

B+ - Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, St. Louis Rams & Tampa Bay Buccaneers

B – Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles & Pittsburgh Steelers

B- - Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts & New York Jets

C+ - Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers & Tennessee Titans

C – Arizona Cardinals & San Diego Chargers

C- - Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos & Minnesota Vikings

D+ - San Francisco 49ers

D – Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders & Seattle Seahawks

Or by Division:

AFC East – B- ----------AFC North – B+ -------AFC South – C+ -----AFC West – C
Miami Dolphins-B ---Cleveland Browns-A ---Houston Texans-B+ --K. C. Chiefs-A
New England Pats-B -Baltimore Ravens -B+ -Indianapolis Colts-B- -S. D. Chargers-C
New York Jets-B- ---Pittsburgh Steelers-B --Tennessee Titans-C+ -Denver Broncos-C-
Buffalo Bills-C+ ------Cincinnati Bengals-B- --Jacksonville Jags-D ---Oakland Raiders-D

NFC East – B -------------NFC North – C+ --------NFC South - B --------NFC West - C
Washington Redskins-A Green Bay Packers-B+ -New Orleans Saints-B+ St. L. Rams-B+
New York Giants-B+ ----Detroit Lions-B- -------Tampa Bay Bucs-B+ --Ari. Cardinals-C
Philadelphia Eagles-B ---Chicago Bears-C- -------Atlanta Falcons-B- --S. F. 49ers-D+
Dallas Cowboys-C- -----Minnesota Vikings-C- ---Carolina Panthers-C+ -Sea. Seahawks-D

This divisional look really makes me wonder… The most competitive divisions really stand out with high average grades while the least competitive divisions (both the AFC and NFC West divisions) have some of the worst grades in this draft. Is it just my critical eye being a Westerner and all? No, I think it’s just reality. There’s a reason why most of those western teams are floundering… Evidently they haven’t devoted the time and effort to researching their draft picks, they're simply a collection of teams that go to their own drummer or they don’t believe what they’re being told… One way or another, these people better get their acts together…

Let me know what you think.

Look Out! I'm Feeling Polish Again!

Ever hear the one about the Polish guy that up and left his wife?
He found Polish Remover in the medicine cabinet!

From Performance Racing Network...

Which win had the biggest "feel good"?

1. Bayne at Daytona
2. Smith at Darlington
3. Both good – Can’t choose

From Auto Racing 1…

Was Trevor Bayne's Daytona win a fluke?

1. Yes, he won't win again
2. Maybe, but his team is a backmarker
3. No, he drove a heck of a race

From Speed…

Best NASCAR feud?

1. Edwards vs. Keselowski
2. Newman vs. Montoya
3. Harvick vs. Kyle Busch

Who will be 2011 F1 World Champion?

1. Sebastian Vettel
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Mark Webber
4. Fernando Alonso
5. Someone else

From Crash.Net

Will Kimi Raikkonen succeed in NASCAR?

1. Yes, and he will progress on to the Sprint Cup/Nationwide
2. Yes, but only in trucks
3. No; he will find it too different to adapt to
4. No, and he will swiftly walk away again tail between his legs

From Autoweek.com

May is upon us, and that means the Indianapolis 500 is just weeks away. Do you plan to:

1. Be there in person
2. Watch all the action on TV
3. Wait until next year for the new cars and engines
4. Pay no attention

From Planet F1…

Should Schumi call it quits?

1. Yes - sad to see him struggle
2. No - it's fun seeing him battle
3. Should never have returned

From IndyCar.com

At first blush, do you like the aero kits on the 2012 concept cars?

1. Yes, will lead to diverse looks between roads/streets and ovals.
2. Good start. Will inspire other designs.
3. Maybe the final Dallara aero kit will be sexier.

From Motor Racing Network…

Will Denny Hamlin make the Chase?
1. Yes
2. No

Had enough?

Okay… Here’s my poll question:

Who will be the next first time winner in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series?

1. A.J. Allmendinger
2. Marcos Ambrose
3. David Gilliland
4. Paul Menard
5. J.J. Yeley

Well... Since our blog site went down and then came back up the comments on this article have been wiped out...

Here's how the polls mentioned above came out in each site's voting...

From Performance Racing Network…
Which win had the biggest "feel good"?
1. Bayne at Daytona (80%)
2. Smith at Darlington (13%)
3. Both good - Can't choose (7%)

From Auto Racing 1…
Was Trevor Bayne's Daytona win a fluke?
1. Yes, he won’t win again – 35%
2. Maybe, but his team is a backmarker – 25%
3. No, he drove a heck of a race – 39%

From Speed
Best NASCAR feud?
1. Edwards vs. Keselowski 22.41%
2. Newman vs. Montoya 10.64%
3. Harvick vs. Busch 66.95%

Who will be 2011 F1 World Champion?
1. Sebastian Vettel 45.52%
2. Lewis Hamilton 23.35%
3. Mark Webber 5.93%
4. Fernando Alonso 16.99%
5. Someone else 8.2%

From Crash.Net

Will Kimi Raikkonen succeed in NASCAR?
1. Yes, and he will progress on to the Sprint Cup/Nationwide – 63.11%
2. Yes, but only in trucks – 5.95%
3. No; he will find it too different to adapt to – 14.48%
4. No, and he will swiftly walk away again tail between his legs – 16.46%

From Autoweek.com

May is upon us, and that means the Indianapolis 500 is just weeks away. Do you plan to:

1. Be there in person – 13.9%
2. Watch all the action on TV – 60.7%
3. Wait until next year for the new cars and engines – 6.6%
4. Pay no attention – 18.9%

From Planet F1…

Should Schumi call it quits?

1. Yes - sad to see him struggle – 25%
2. No - it's fun seeing him battle – 34%
3. Should never have returned – 40%

From IndyCar.com

At first blush, do you like the aero kits on the 2012 concept cars?
1. Yes, will lead to diverse looks between roads/streets and ovals. 32.36%
2. Good start. Will inspire other designs. 43.44%
3. Maybe the final Dallara aero kit will be sexier. 24.19%

From Motor Racing Network…

Will Denny Hamlin make the Chase?
1. Yes 53%
2. No 47%

Had enough?

Okay… Here’s my poll question:

Who will be the next first time winner in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series?

1. A.J. Allmendinger
2. Marcos Ambrose - 66%
3. David Gilliland
4. Paul Menard
5. J.J. Yeley
6. Write in (Gene took Lally…) - 33%

Thanks to Jon, Gene and Tez for participating!

And Then There Were 34

What's the significance of 34? That is now the number of regular to semi-regular entrants in NASCAR's 2011 Sprint Cup Series that have posted at least one win in their career. Regan Smith with his exciting win last Saturday night in Darlington just became the newest member of this not so exclusive club. Regan represents the second new inductee along with Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne this season...

Now think about this. Every racing weekend in NASCAR Sprint Cup usually pits around 30 past winners against each other... (Bill Elliott, Terry Labonte, Steve Park, Ken Schrader and Michael Waltrip have been in races this season but not on a regular basis) Winning at this level is tough!

It's like racing with a pack of hungry wolves!

Regan's victory, racing most of these past Sprint Cup winners, is only magnified since it came on NASCAR's version of Wrigley Field, Darlington's infamous "Lady In Black" AKA "The Track Too Tough To Tame" in one of NASCAR's premier events, The Southern 500.


Regan's sponsor, Front Row Furniture, runs a one pony show, so to speak. Driving for an underfunded throw-back team based in Denver Colorado, a team that ran a limited schedule as recently as 2009 and moved to a full-time run just last year fielding only the number 78 Chevrolet, Regan has won this prestigious race against all odds.

Smith's story is compelling in it's own right. Seeing their son's auto racing ability, Regan's parents uprooted from New York and moved south so the boy could properly develop his skills. They essentially gave up their lives for their son.

Darlington represents vindication in many ways...

Congratulations to Regan Smith, team owner Barney Visser and all those who never gave up hope!

Great Start Carries Kurt... But How Far?

Just over a year ago it was announced that several changes were in the works for NASCAR’s Penske Racing. First it became known that owner Roger Penske, due to lack of full-time sponsorships, was going to be forced to race two rather than three Cup teams in 2011 and he was also doing away with one of his two Nationwide Series’ teams as well. Sam Hornish Jr. and Justin Allgaier were to lose their rides.

Not long after those announcements were made good news came from the Penske camp. Kurt Busch had signed a new, long-term driving contract and a new, powerful sponsor that Roger Penske had partnered with in his Indy teams over the years was coming back on board. Yes, Kurt was going to give up his sponsor for the past few years (Miller Lite and the blue two), and yes, he was moving on to a new Shell / Pennzoil sponsored car with a completely new “hot” color scheme and double deuces on it’s sides and roof, but from all appearances everything was going swimmingly well. It was thumbs up and smiling faces all around…

The 2011 Cup racing season began last February with Kurt, like a sleek greyhound, springing into the lead. He was off and running putting together wins in both the Shootout (Without a teammate, he teamed up with Jamie McMurray and took the win) and the Duel (Regan Smith helped push Kurt to victory) putting him in the front row for the start of the Daytona 500. He backed up his Speedweek prowess by running at or near the front of the 500 trying to put a bow on the Daytona Trifecta, but a late-race wreck ended those hopes. It didn’t phase Busch, who led 19 laps of the Daytona 500 and finished fifth. A rejuvenated Kurt began an all-out assault on the Cup Series driving Penske Racing’s yellow and hot red flaming Dodge Charger. He was in the top ten in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Bristol. Four races, four top tens and Kurt was first in the Chase. Not too shabby!

The Cup Series tour went back west to Fontana where a 17th place finish did little to tarnish the early luster on Kurt’s season. Penske’s Double Deuce Dodge team was
off to Martinsville full of purpose but a bad handling setup put Kurt down a lap early forcing him to play the lucky dog game finally ending 16th on what could have been a very bad day. Kurt had fallen to fourth place in the Chase through 6 races.

Texas saw Kurt make a short-term comeback as he finished with his fifth top ten of the year but the recovery was short lived as Talladega turned into a nightmare. It seemed like every time there was an accident during the Aaron’s 499 Kurt looked to be responsible. Having been involved in three mishaps on the afternoon, Kurt still had the Dodge Charger in position to challenge for the win when a green flag pit problem late in the race took him out of contention, finishing 18th.

Richmond never was a track that Kurt ran well on, in fact his 22nd place finish exactly equaled his 21 race average on the ¾ mile oval, but something certainly tipped over the high strung driver last Saturday night. Qualifying in 36th place most certainly contributed to what was bothering Kurt. I’m sure he was frustrated with a car that evidently didn’t respond to any of the changes the Penske team tried to make it competitive.

Here are some post-race comments made after a public off-color radio tirade Kurt unleashed at his Penske team in general and Penske technical director Tom German in particular… "It was a very frustrating and long night for us. We put ourselves behind in qualifying and had to start from the back. Once the race went green, our car just wore through tires by 40 laps into a run. We never could get back on the lead lap and just when I thought that our car was getting better, we got collected after the 42 (Juan Montoya) and 39 (Ryan Newman) got together.
“We probably had the strongest car running laps down at the end, but when you get more than one lap down; your day is pretty much done. That was certainly the case for us here tonight. We just weren't very good tonight."

Even with 17th, 16th, 10th, 18th and 22nd place finishes in his last five Cup races respectively, Kurt remains sixth in the Cup Chase…

Kurt's latest tirade makes me wonder about a couple of things… I wonder how much his younger brother’s success is wearing on Kurt on one hand, and then I have to wonder how much it bothers Kurt that Kyle is evidently having success on cleaning up his act too, while Kurt can’t seem to control himself…

Is the use of hard language such a big deal in this day and age? Will Shell / Pennzoil have something to say? Will Roger be forced to step in?