Key to Making the Chase? Breaking Your Ankle and Spraining Your Back.

     As the years have gone by since 2004, the chase has been a harder and harder dream to accomplish by some of the best drivers in NASCAR's new era. The chasers couldn't be decided by a specific science or math. You have a better chance of figuring out who's in by picking names from a hat.
     As we approach the 2011 chase field though, it looks like we will have a new face in the field, unlike past years. Brad Keselowski. Just under two weeks ago, Brad went through a terrible wreak at Road America while testing his #2 Miller Lite Dodge for Penske Racing. He chipped the bone in his ankle, put a gash in his upper leg, and sprained his back, putting him in severe pain. Brad's team didn't even know if Brad was going to show up to Pocono, none the less race.
     Brad was determined though, and raced through the pain to his first win with no strings attached. This wasn't fuel mileage, nor did Carl Edwards have to fly for this trophy to hold Brad's name on it. The fact that he won is what is amazing NASCAR nation, being down a foot and all. This Monday though, the series moved onto Wakins Glen, and Brad showed what he had once again.
    He came up second on the road course, which impressed the media, his team, and the fans. "I think he showed how tough he is, because even with the injury he suffered, he won at Pocono and finished 2nd @ the glen. Also, it shows that he will probably get into the chase with the wild card spot & possibly be a factor in the chase" @KaseyKfan4 had to say when asked what she thought about Brad these past two weeks. @phillip_smalley simply said "BK is Bad ass". (Personally, I prefer Bradass, but that's just me! :D ) @Short_Court24 also expressed " [He is] just amazing, I can't believe that he sat in the car and drove that car to Victory lane and then a top 2 finish. He is a true competitor and he never gives up. Also I don't think any other driver would have been able to do what he has done...he is a beast!" Fans obviously have taken to Brad's success well, and is enjoying the way he is running.
     Along with the success, Brad has just about secured a chase berth, which even though isn't perfectly secured yet, as the weeks tick by, he's getting closer and closer to fighting with 5-time Jimmie Johnson for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
     As Brad continues to bask in the glory of his success on one foot and no back, others are scrambling to squeeze into that last spot in the top ten, and final wild card spot. Well, I have one piece of advice for them that could help them out. Break your Ankle and Sprain your back.

NASCAR Nickname Top 10

There are so many amazing names in NASCAR nation and to get it down to ten, was nearly impossible. But i tried my best!!! See what you think!

10. Ricky Steinhouse Jr. - "Ricky Ticky" ( @VickersGirlAsh )
9.) Tony Stewart - "Smoke"
8.) Brad Keselowski - "Polish Express" ( @Cruetten )
7.) Kurt Busch - "Double Douche" ( @VickersGirlAsh )
6.) Kasey Kahne - "Kandy Kahne" ( @KaseysGirlBritt )
5.) Kevin Harvick - "Happy Harvick"
4.) Joey Logano - "The Orange Blur" ( @LoganoLuvr20 )
3.) Brian Vickers - "Ice Cream" ( @VickersGirlAsh )
2.) Brad Keselowski - "Bradybear" ( @Bradasskrazy4kk ) ( I call him this...its obviously one of my favorites!)
1.) Brad Keselowski - "Bradass"

What do you think? Leave your comments below!!!!
Thanks to all my twitter friends again for their names!!!!
These are every ones real user names, so just search them and you can follow!
Thanks for reading!

The Nickname Game. Junior, Junebug, Little E, Dale Jr...all one in the same!

   
     As a part of NASCAR nation, fans get involved with their favorite driver to the point where it becomes personal. We eat, drink and breath our drivers. We have everything from toothbrushes, suntan lotion, and embroidered toilet paper carrying their names. (Oh wait...or is that just me?) One thing that has always amazed me is the nicknames fans come up with for drivers. Now, I have my own names for my favorites Kasey Kahne and Brad Keselowski (Kaseyboo and Bradybear, I know...odd!) so I don't find it odd at all. I just love exploring the different names fans and the media come up with over time.
     Everyone knows the everyday "Smoke" for 2 time champion Tony Stewart, "Happy Harvick" for rebel Kevin Harvick, "Bradass" for Brad Keselowski and "Junebug", "Little E" and many more for the sports most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
     My personal favorites though are the ones that come from fans. @Cruetten calls Juan Pablo Montoya "Cigar", while @VickersGirlAsh calls Ricky Steinhouse Jr. "Ricky Ticky". Some you will never understand like @KaseysGirlBritt, who calls Denny Hamlin "Hammy" and "DaHam" and @VickersGirlAsh who chooses to call Brian Vickers "Ice Cream". (The ones that make little to no sense are my personal favorites!). Some come from anger or hatred of or towards a driver. @VickersGirlAsh gave Kurt Busch the name of "Double Douche", regardless of the fact that she says she still likes him. :) @Ampdog88 showed off his dislike for both the Busch drivers, calling them the "Busch Sisters" and Kyle "Kyle Poutybusch" and "Pee Wee".  Finally, some just sound cool, like @Cruetten calling Brad Keselowski "Polish Express".
     We may not understand them, we may not approve of them, nor may we like them, but the nicknames for drivers pile up over the years. But what ever you choose to call your driver whether its "Pee Wee" or "BradyBear", we all know that gaining a nickname in this sport, most of the time, is an honor, that most of the drivers, media, and fans love!

Thanks to my Twitter friends, @Cruetten , @VickersGirlAsh , @KaseysGirlBritt , @Ampdog88 for there nicknames! Everyone follow them on twitter by searching the names listed! :)
Follow me on twitter also @BradassKrazy4KK !
Thanks for Reading!

Top 12 Countdown to Daytona: Kasey Kahne

     Kasey Kahne had a quiet season in 2010, he just was hanging around, going with the flow. He not a part of any drama, or a main story line. We all know, absolutely nothing happened with Kasey Kahne in the 2010 season. Oh wait...something little happened didn't it?
     Kasey Kahne made the biggest headline of the 2010 season, when he announced his departure from Richard Petty Motorsports, (formally Gillette Evernham Motorsports...) (formally Evernham Motorsports...hummm and they wonder why he left?). Kasey had no intentions in announcing the departure so early in the season, but on of NASCARs more popular media members found out about the situation, and leaked it to the rest of NASCAR nation. Kahne stepped up, and announced not only his departure, but what he will be doing in the 2012 season. Kahne will be stepping into the #5 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, displacing Mark Martin. But wait...what about 2011? At the time of the Hendrick announcement, no one knew. Rick Hendrick told Sirius radio that he was "working on it" at the time that Kasey signed on. Kasey put all of his marbles in Rick's basket, and Rick was going to have to decide which team to send him off to in 2011 season.
    Months went by, and Kasey would be up one week, and down the next with RPM. In the late summer, Rick and Kasey finally announced that Kasey would be heading to Red Bull Racing for the 2011 season, and would be teammates, with Brian Vickers, who at the time was on a medical leave of absence. Kasey was pleased with this placing for the 2011 season, and so was Red Bull Racing. But neither group expected what would happen next.
    The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stayed at home for week five of the Chase to the Championship, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kasey went into this race with excitement, since Charlotte is one of his best tracks. This race wouldn't have any happy memories though. Kasey had a horrific car all day, and was given no brakes at all. He eventually wreaked, due to the lack of brakes. Kasey was disgusted with how bad the car was, not to mention, on top of that, he had the stomach flu. Kasey refused to get back in the car, not only because he was sick, but he wasn't going to drive that bad of a car. Then, an undisclosed crew member insulted Kasey, questioning his commitment to the team. That was the last straw for Kasey. Kasey left the track and went home.
     That Wednesday, RPM announced that Kasey was leaving the team. Kasey was ecstatic. Kasey moved on to Red Bull Racing five races earlier, pulling off better results better than he had done all season in the #9 Budweiser Ford.
     This season, I think with Kasey's boosted confidence, and the lack of pressure on his shoulders will allow him to do well. I think Kasey will pull off 7th in points, and win 4 or 5 races, just like his Red Bull Racing teammate Brian Vickers. Again, just like Brian, Kasey doesn't have the best luck, so I think that a few crashes will take away his chance at the Cup, but I think for being at the team for one season, Kasey will be very successful at Red Bull Racing.

NASCAR Lugnut Laughs : Tony Stewart #3

LOL :)

NASCAR Lugnut Laughs : Scott Speed #2

NASCAR Lugnut Laughs: Tony Stewart #2

:p