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    • (Getty)

      Denny Hamlin has every right to be frustrated.

      The first Sprint Cup race he’s missed since becoming the full-time driver of the No. 11 for Joe Gibbs Racing is rapidly approaching. Martinsville is one of his best tracks statistically, and he’ll be atop his team’s pit box next to crew chief Darian Grubb while Mark Martin drives the car.

      As you’ve read, oh, fifty, sixty, seventy times since that race on March 24, the injury Hamlin suffered came when after he and Joey Logano made contact in turns three and four on the final lap at Auto Club Speedway. After the two banged sidepanels and drifted towards the outside wall, Hamlin’s car made a hard left turn and went careening towards the inside wall. An inside wall that didn’t have a SAFER barrier. Hamlin suffered a compression fracture to his L1 vertebra, an injury that will likely keep him out of the car for five races.

      Of course, it’s not as simple as a final lap “racin’ deal.” The week prior at Bristol, Hamlin had spun Logano as the two

      Read More »from Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano: Does track type determine the acceptability of contact?
    • Joey, look at all that racetrack that is open to use. (Getty)

      Welcome to Warped Wednesday. On this, we'll put out the rush to judgment mat, go a little too far and have a little fun. Will it be funny? Sometimes. Will it be crazy and largely unbelievable? Probably. Will not everyone get it? Definitely.

      The concept of a driver’s rear bumper serving as his offensive line is absurd. It’s NASCAR and not NASCAB for a reason. There’s no place for blocking in NASCAR.

      Blocking, otherwise known as the technique that Joey Logano used to fend off Tony Stewart last week with 11 laps to go and, subsequently, get Stewart to go after him is a dirty tactic that shouldn’t be used at any point in a professional auto race, whether it’s the first or the last lap.

      There’s a saying that the best defense is a best offense. That statement should be a universal truth in NASCAR. Don’t want to get passed? Just drive faster than the driver behind you. If he can’t catch you, he can’t pass you. If a driver makes a move to the inside or outside to pass another, the driver

      Read More »from Warped Wednesday: Put the block on blocking
    • After every race, we'll opine about who we think is at the top of the Sprint Cup heap and how and why they got there. Remember, this isn't scientific, as our formula is the perfect blend of analytics and bias against your favorite driver. But it's an off-week! So instead of your favorite driver, this week, it's your favorite team. Let's roll.

      1. Penske Racing: In this case, Penske's two-car team is an advantage; though you're not going to find many, if any, people who say it's a hinderance. Brad Keselowski's first finish outside the top 10 was at California and in that race, he had charged through the field before being derailed by Timmy Hill's oil. His new teammate, Joey Logano, is ninth in the points despite having an, uh, adventurous start to the 2013 season.

      2. Hendrick Motorsports: They've got the points leader, and thy name is Junior. And they've got the guy in third (Jimmie Johnson) and the guy in seventh (Kasey Kahne.) But that dang lead weight Jeff Gordon (18th) is dragging

      Read More »from Power Rankings: It’s team time, and Penske’s tops
    • Danica at the White House (@DanicaPatrick)

      Need further proof of Danica Patrick's name recognition? Look no further than the White House Easter Egg Roll.

      Patrick was in attendance on Monday, GoDaddy leather jacket and all, and tweeted the above picture after she said she met President Obama and family, including their dog Bo. Patrick attended the event along with Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall and Olympic gymnast John Orozco. Not bad company.

    • (Getty)

      Remember that time that Joe Gibbs Racing said that Mark Martin would be the driver to fill in for Denny Hamlin while he recovered from his back injury? Well, that's not entirely true.

      Yes, Martin will be in the car at Martinsville, but starting at Texas, Brian Vickers will be behind the wheel of the No. 11. The news was announced in a Friday evening release.

      “Obviously having to find someone to fill in for Denny is not an ideal situation to have to be in and when you start a process like this you obviously begin to look at the drivers that are not only available but also able to drive for your race team and manufacturer. We were a bit premature in determining Mark’s status past Martinsville however,” Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs said in the statement. “We're real happy to have the opportunity to get Brian in our Cup cars and with him driving Nationwide for us we think we have some continuity there that is beneficial."

      “We really appreciate everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing

      Read More »from Not so fast! Brian Vickers to sub for Denny Hamlin starting at Texas
    • Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin in happier, teammate times. (Getty)

      New season, new Happy Hour! You know the drill. Throughout the week you can send us your best questions, jokes, rants and just plain miscellaneous thoughts to happyhourmailbag@yahoo.com or @NickBromberg. We'll post them here, have a good time and everyone's happy. Right? Oh who are we kidding, this is NASCAR. No one is ever happy.

      Quite the busy week, isn't it? Especially as we head to our first off weekend of the year. Hopefully Denny Hamlin can heal quickly, and also (much less importantly) not be a continuing topic in Happy Hour. Pretty soon this will be the Hamlin Hour at this rate.

      Been reading and enjoying the blog for awhile now. I am curious what topics are going to be involved this week during Happy Hour. Just kidding, everyone is gonna be talking still about Hamlin - Logano - Stewart.

      But specifically about the SAFER Barriers on infield walls. I know there are several people calling for SAFER Barriers along every inch of the track. Terry Blount wrote on his blog asking why

      Read More »from Happy Hour: SAFER, Joey, Denny and Tony
    • (USA Today Sports Images)

      Joe Gibbs Racing has found its replacement driver for the No. 11 while Denny Hamlin is out and it's Mark Martin.

      The 54 year-old, who is driving a partial schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing in the No. 55, will fill in for Hamlin while he's out because of the L1 vertebra compression fracture he suffered in Sunday's last lap crash at Auto Club Speedway. Hamlin will be out a minimum of five races.

      “We’ve been real fortunate to have never been in this situation with the need to find someone to fill in for an injured driver,” Joe Gibbs Racing president JD Gibss said in a statement. “A lot goes into a decision like this but we are really pleased to have someone of the character and caliber of Mark Martin to fill in while Denny is out. Obviously we’re not exactly sure how long that is going to take, but Mark’s career speaks for itself and our team knows it will have the opportunity to compete for a win every week.”

      Martin was slated to drive in 26 races for MWR this season, including three

      Read More »from Mark Martin to fill in for Denny Hamlin
    • Obituaries. We all have one in our future, hopefully much later rather than sooner. And while some obituaries can rise to the level of art, making the life examined one worthy of admiration, some make us look forward to the afterlife. Like this one, from the Northeast Mississippi News:

      Timothy Wayne "Tim" Hopkins, 54, went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and Dale Earnhardt to contribute his building and painting expertise to the constructing of many heavenly mansions on Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Memphis.

      We should all be so lucky to get such a sendoff. Godspeed in your journey, Mr. Hopkins. But you might not want to tell Mr. Earnhardt too much about what's happening with Twitter wars and the Chase. You don't want to see tears in heaven.

      -Follow Jay Busbee on Facebook and Twitter at @jaybusbee.-

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      Read More »from Man’s obituary, embracing Jesus and Dale Earnhardt, is a winner
    • Welcome to Warped Wednesday, our new feature at From the Marbles. On it, we'll put out the rush to judgment map, go a little too far and have a little fun. Will it be funny? Sometimes. Will it be crazy and largely unbelievable? Probably. Will not everyone get it? Definitely.

      NASCAR has done it again.

      Shortly after they raised the ire of many fans and media members with its fine of Denny Hamlin after the Phoenix race, they've gone and done the wrong thing again by not issuing any penalties in the aftermath of Sunday's race at Auto Club Speedway.

      [Also: NASCAR Power Rankings: A (Junior) Nation rises]

      Let's begin with Tony Stewart. In no way shape or form should a man be allowed to go after another man half his weight and half his age and half his body hair on pit road and not be punished for it. That's assault and battery if I've ever seen it. That open handed, weak-wristed punch that Stewart threw? Unacceptable. That's at least a six-figure fine and a suspension right there. Come on,

      Read More »from Warped Wednesday: Where are the penalties?
    • (Getty)

      Denny Hamlin will miss at least five races but won't require surgery after being evaluated on Tuesday after his last-lap crash on Sunday at Auto Club Speedway.

      In the impact with the inside wall, Hamlin suffered a compression fracture of his L1 vertebra. Joe Gibbs Racing said in a statement Tuesday night that Dr. Jerry Petty determined that Hamlin would need approximately six weeks to heal. Petty will make the decision to clear Hamlin to resume racing activity when he is fully healed.

      Because of the Sprint Cup Series off weekend this week, the minimum five races Hamlin will miss are Martinsville, Texas, Kansas, Richmond and Talladega. The race following Talladega is the grueling Southern 500 at Darlington before the non-points Sprint All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600.

      [Also: NASCAR Power Rankings: A (Junior) Nation rises]

      A replacement driver has not been named for the No. 11 for Martinsville or any other races. The logical in-house option at JGR would be Elliott Sadler, who is

      Read More »from Denny Hamlin out at least five races because of back injury

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