Thursday, October 25, 2007

Dry Times in the ATL


Dry lawns and dirty cars are a fact of life these days in the South, where an epic drought has the region’s biggest city nearly dying of thirst. Some 5 million Atlanta residents have less than a 90-day supply of water, and Gov. Sonny Perdue has urged the entire state to conserve every drop of H2O.

Shorter showers are recommended. Using the toilet as an ashtray is not.

Just how bad is it in the ATL? Bad enough that a total outdoor watering ban has blanketed the city because only two inches of rain has fallen in the past two months. Bad enough that two area lakes — Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona — are 16 feet below normal. And, yes, bad enough that NASCAR has stepped in and instructed teams not to wash their mammoth big rigs and motor homes upon arrival at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The sport’s conservation effort goes as far as teams “catching” water after engine flushes during practice and qualifying runs. Every little bit helps, especially in a seemingly permanent state of being parched.

Red Bull Racing Team wouldn’t hold it against Mother Nature should the skies open up around qualifying time at 7:10 p.m. ET Friday night. Atlanta, finally, would get some relief, and the Nos. 83 and 84, though prepared to time their way in, would get into the Pep Boys Auto 500.

Brian Vickers and AJ Allmendinger fit nicely into the protocol for determining a starting lineup if rain nixes time trials. Vickers, twice a top-10 finisher at Atlanta, is guaranteed a starting spot based on his victory last fall at Talladega. Allmendinger, whose No. 84 sits 45th in the owner standings (seven points ahead of the No. 36), would sneak into the show at the tail end of the field.

31 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just hoping that the new Crew Chief change brings some positive results. I was hardened to see Doug leave, such a respected CC, with a hell of a resume. Maybe Cox is just the answer, new ideas and hope to hell there is the communication between Brian and Randy, as Brian had with Lance back in the day. In listening to some of the audio Doug and Brian didn't seem to butt heads, so I hope this is not thrown at Brian as being a young punk who dosen't understand what he wants in a car, or how to dive it. We all know he didn't forget how to win races. I had hoped this year with Toyota he would show what he can do. When the 83 makes the races he is the face of Toyota, not Waltrips stuff as everyone likes to hand to him. With Gibbs next year, there should be awsome returns with all teams. Top 2 Toyota drives to date for me.
1) Vickers 2) Blaney, so next year I guess in manufacture Brian will slip to 4th, behind all the Gibbs drivers, but being the top guy at TRB and getting 1st rate equipment not 4th like at Hendricks will pay huge dividends in 08, 07 is what it is a huge learning curve for Brian and TRB. Here is Hotlanta and 08

Good luck 83

Paul

9:18 AM  
Blogger Kristin Weaver said...

We may see a lot of rain tomorrow. I live 4 hours from the track, and it's been raining here since Monday night. It's some much needed rain, but I really don't wanna sit in the stands tomorrow if it's going to be raining all day. It's not a heavy rain, it just's steady! We don't need to pray for Mother Nature to take it's course. The 83 and 84 need practice time! Good luck this weekend boys. Hopefully Brian had a great 24th Birthday. A Pole or Victory would be a great present to his fans.

WE BELIEVE!

10:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good luck TRB this weekend! And by the way, in my opinion Lance was/is not the CC that Doug is.

10:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good Luck this weekend Team Red Bull. Good Luck in Qualfying BV and AJ which I will actually get to see this week since it is at 7:30 pm instead of the time I go into work. I wouldn't mind if Atlanta gets that much needed rain tomorrow either. Hope you had a great birthday yesterday Brian. Now lets top off BV's week with a pole and a win.

WE BELEIVE in you GUYS! LET'S have some WINGS tomorrow guys.

11:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good Luck to AJ and the 84 team. Nice to know since kristin says its raining that you wont have to worry about that. Lets have another Charlotte run this weekend!!!

4:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

gangsta is AWESOME!! vickers #1 Jeff Gordon #2 A.J. #3. Exactly my picks! Good luck to A.J. and Brian next week!!!!!!

4:53 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

It wouldn't hurt my feelings if it rained tomorrow and canceled qualifying. I'm all for a gimme. Hopefully BV has an awesome car this time around as he did during the first Atlanta race. Good luck guys!

5:23 PM  
Blogger nicole83 said...

Good Luck Brian and AJ! Can't wait to see you Sunday!!!

7:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who is trying to get AJ away from Red Bull?? Rumor up on Jayski!

8:19 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

aj will never leave Red Bull, he is a Red Bull athlete just lik scott speed

8:52 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good Luck BV, AJ, and both crews today. I wouldn't mind the rain dance either.

WE BELIEVE

9:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good Luck this weekend AJ and the whole #84 team!! You deserve to have a great weekend. Just believe in your abilities because we ALL believe in you!!!!

10:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vickers in 2nd and A.J. in 19th in practice right now

1:27 PM  
Blogger Becca said...

Right now Brian is 5th and AJ 7th - fastest of the go or go homers. Hopefully that will mean good things for qualifying.

Good luck BV and AJ!! :)

1:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Keeping everything crossed that the practice times transpose into qualifying times. GO AJ! Good luck TRB!

2:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Practice looked good!! Hopefully BV's early draw won't hurt his speed!! Good Luck boys!!

2:20 PM  
Blogger Becca said...

Yeah!! Brian just got locked in! Congrats. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for AJ :)

5:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congrats to Randy and the 83 team. Made his first race!

5:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

AJ & BV are in! w00t

5:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

both in!

5:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OH YA go #84

5:53 PM  
Blogger RedBull83Fan said...

Way to go Team Red Bull!!! Both Bulls in- now, let's go rock Atlanta on Sunday!

7:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm predicting a BV win this weekend.

8:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great Job TRB! Anyone pickup what the new sponsor is on the C pillar of the cars?

6:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think BV is going to win too!

6:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I saw that too Brian, I thought it looked like the Krogers logo (I think that is a supermarket in the ATL area)

8:47 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Kroger is all over Indiana too. Congrats to both Red Bull teams!

9:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I also have a filling that Brian will win too and what an awesome birthday present that would be for BV.

10:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good Luck tomorrow AJ and the whole 84 team. Hopefully you will be able to get more comfortable on this track and go out and get a great finish!!

5:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So glad AJ (84) qualified and in a pretty good spot. Looking forward
to the race on Sunday. GOOOOOOOOOOOO
AJ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I havent seen it...will look for it tomorrow! 83trb, Kroger is a supermarket all over..not just in the Atlanta area..lol :)

Good luck Brian and AJ!!

6:36 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home