Thursday, March 23, 2023

Nascar Race Picks: Uncle Max vs. The Tarot Deck—COTA



Normally this is where you’d expect me to complain that my March Madness bracket is busted, but au contraire—I’m still alive in my richest, biggest pool!  In fact, I’m running neck-and-neck with someone in HR who I’m pretty sure made their picks at random—how else would they know FDU would beat Purdue?

On the flip side, well, there’s my Nascar performance so far, with zero wins across all three national touring series.  Well, here’s hoping that starts this weekend, as I go for an all-road-course-ringer lineup.  Either this works, or I get out the old dart board.


Saturday Afternoon TRUCK SERIES XPEL 225: Zane Smith—a win in last year’s race qualifies him as a “road course ringer” in my book.


Saturday Evening XFINITY SERIES Pit Boss 250: AJ Allmendinger—when in doubt on a road course, double down on the Dinger.


Sunday CUP SERIES EchoPark Texas Grand Prix:  The Tarot Deck (1 win) selects The Three of Pentacles, third in points Ross Chastain.  FAVORITE: AJ Allmendinger—see above.  NEXT FAVORITE: Chase Elliott—he is to road courses as his dad was to winning in a red car.  DARK HORSE: Austin Cindric—he DOES have road course experience, you know.


www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly


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Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing


Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized


Does this track have lights?


A MOXOC Media production

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Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Spade Racing Opens a Box of Panini PRIZM Cards, Part 11 of 12



Pack 11: AD, Leaving Awkwardly, and Jeff’s Shiny


FIRST LOOK: I’m a sucker for a nice picture of a driver with reflective shades—my fave is when you can see a checkered pattern reflected in them.  Also, does anyone stop Austin on pit road to read all the fine print under the Breztri logo on his fire suit?


TO THE BACK: Kyle has a little bit of an awkward smile on his face here.  Maybe he knew he’d be leaving Joe Gibbs Racing for RCR?  Or maybe he just had too much tartar on his wisdom teeth.


SAY WHAT: “Even four-time champions like to feel gold and refracted!”


RATING: 7 Top Tens out of…uh, 10


www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly


www.facebook.com/spaderacing


www.twitter.com/spaderacing


Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing


Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized


Does this track have lights?


A MOXOC Media production

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Monday, March 20, 2023

Track “Facts”: Portland



Nascar races on all sorts of tracks, from short to long, oval to road course, concrete to asphalt.  Here’s a bi-weekly look at all the tracks of Nascar’s National Touring Series.


PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY


1.95 mile asphalt road course


Opened 1960


Lights?  No


Series: Xfinity


Nicknames: West Delta Park, The Other “PIR”


THREE FUN FACTS:

1. Portland International Raceway was built on the site of a wartime settlement destroyed by a flood.  Wow, and they talk about Talladega being haunted!


2. PIR is one of many road course facilities to use the popular “plastic shoe that melted in the microwave” track layout shape.


3. Note that this track has nothing to do with Portland Maine, Portland Cement, or Port Land, an ill-conceived shipping-themed theme park.


www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly


www.facebook.com/spaderacing


www.twitter.com/spaderacing


Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing


Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized


Does this track have lights?


A MOXOC Media production

www.moxoc.com