Here are some shots from The Big Crash afterparty:
4.26.2009
OT: Aaron's 499 at Talladega
Your favorite NASCAR photographer/reporter/bloggist is back at work today.
Here is where Carl Edwards crashed into the safety fence along the tri-oval. It's a mess. Also pictured: Bag Moon.
This is me trying to make a relatively small lens and even less photographic knowledge work.
Here are some shots from The Big Crash afterparty:
Mark Martin's car is probably inoperable. Agree?
Kasey Kahne's peeps think he can get back in the race.
This was my favorite infield set-up: The "Ho Snatcha".
This is the most simple race-watching construction. Just put a couch on the pickup bed. Voila.
Here are some shots from The Big Crash afterparty:
green goes in the 4th round.
ReplyDeletethat would be one.
ReplyDeleteThe whhhhaaattt?!?!
ReplyDeleteYou read that right!
ReplyDeletepretty good draft weekend, considering.
ReplyDeleteBill Elliot was my favorite for years. Now I kind of watch Kasey Kahn. If there is a wreck anywhere on the track it usually finds him. Hope he can get back on the track.
ReplyDeleteSay hello to all of the Bammers at the race with their "Confederate" flags.
ReplyDeleteI don't see any females near the Ho Snatcha. hmmmm
ReplyDeleteThe sofa on the back of the pickup is just delicious.
No self respecting HO would go near that bus.
ReplyDeleteDid they get Saban into the Ho Snatcha? He is obviously for sale to the highest bidder.
ReplyDeleteGood thing OSHA doesn't regulate and fine you for stupidity.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a crash to finish the race. That fence did it's job, if not, it would have been tragedy. Unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been catastrophic, yes, but that's a serious fence now.
ReplyDeleteIf that wreck wasn't a way to end a show, I'll kiss your ... cheek.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like we maintain our streak started in 2004 of having at least 3 players drafted in the first 2 days. I read on a Chargers blog that Tyrone Green was drafted to play Center not Guard!
ReplyDeleteCharger Blog
I love it ... My Bolts take Tyronne!!!!
ReplyDeleteBigCat, what do you think the chances are of that streak continuing next season? Coleman, McFadden and Tate seem like possibilities to me, but I have no idea how the scouts view them.
ReplyDeleteEight fans injured by the wreck.
ReplyDeleteTwo airlifted out, but the track physician said that's because of traffic problems. An ambulance ride to the hospital right now is not tenable.
One lady has a broken jaw.
The other has a "medical issue" that presumably wasn't related to the wreck.
Wowza. What an ending.
ReplyDeleteWe got out really fast. Good parking job, dad.
Good race. Lots of exciting racing action, too many lead changes to count, plus the spectacular wrecks that Dega is known for.
First time at Dega for me. It was definitely a different environment. I want to go in an RV and check out the nightlife next time.
Pretty pleased with my seats in the Lincoln tower. Could see the whole track, had a good view of the infield goings on, and most of the section booed Saban (apparently everyone around was an LSU or Auburn fan).
Best paint/body work: the 33 car came back out with a primered left door, with number spraypainted on. No hood, no front fenders.
I was shocked to see how sparse the crowd was. Doesn't that place usually pack out? Lots and lots of empty seats. Economy sucks.
ReplyDeleteAnd they say there are rednecks at NASCAR races? Just ask the guy setting in the coach on the back of his truck if he's seen any rednecks there. My money says he hasn't.
ReplyDeletejust got back from dega..what a race!!! had a great time..I now hate earnhardt jr more than i ever have..so many bammer shirts and bammer hats and then when jr. had the lead they all cheered..made me sick..buncha dumb sheep...i am kyle bush fan and boy i was making some plp mad..saban did the gentleman start your engines thing i think..i couldn't even hear him..i laughed loud and hard about that..needless to say i wasn't the most popular person in our seats but i had more fun because of that fact..it was a blast hotties..there is you a off the cuff of wartigers trip to dega..
ReplyDeleteDepressed I like our chances of having that streak continue with the players you named. I also think there is a chance for 3 more players to sneak into the draft with breakout seasons: Savage, Ricks, and McKenzie. But alot of things would need to go right for that to happen.
ReplyDeleteBack in the dirty south FLA
ReplyDeleteI'm still here!
ReplyDeleteTakes a long time to get this all chronicled.
how'd y'all do, jhag?
ReplyDeletethe end of that race was really scary.
ReplyDeletesofa+truck+park next to the portapotty -
ReplyDeletehow much better could it get?
THT ...
ReplyDeleteThought about you tonight ... the home where I was had an 12 foot by 9 foot display on canvas of maps of London, Paris, New York, Memphis, Liverpool, Sao Paulo, Rome, and New Orleans. The maps were late 19th century.
It was very impressive.
We were in a 12 court fieldhouse, it also had an indoor turf 100 yard football field..it was an insane facility...there was 60 teams in my division for 17 and Under...my team made it to the elite 8 so we were happy about that...we lost to a team from Kansas City, MO..they had 5 Division 1 commits already... mostly every team had a 6 foot 10 kid some were even bigger...ridiculous experience
ReplyDeletewartiger, I share your opinions....
ReplyDeletebtw, how good was Kyle Busch today? His finish sucked, but he got his car beat up several times, sending him to the back of the field, yet he kept clawing his way back to the front...with a car that had flapping sheet metal at the track where aerodynamics are most important.
I didn't hear Saban, either. I just figured it was because I was booing the mention of his name.
yeah peter!...i was so disappointed on the Kyle Bush thing...my ticket was a going away gift from some friends and I had the most incredible time..up until the last the last 20 laps I thought i was fixing to get the icing on the cake..oh well..that's racing...i just spent the last 20 laps rooting against Jr...
ReplyDeletejhag- sounds like a great experience. I hope you did some recruiting while you were there.
ReplyDeleteJet- sounds like you were in a very classy house.
Got a couple of Game 7s coming up this week.
Jet - I spent the entire afternoon and evening doing research on early 19th century wall maps of North Carolina. Almost as fun as an IB win.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow I go back to prison. No HABOTN there :-(
THT ...
ReplyDeleteIn re house where I was tonight ... that would be an understatement.
As an employee of the taxpayers of the State of Alabama, I will be off work tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteTee time ... 8:10.
Thanks, John and Jane Q. Public.
slow night..what's wrong with Nascar?!
ReplyDelete...zzzzzz....
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Hotties! UGH. It's Monday.
ReplyDeleteMorning, Luv! And it's a slow morning at that.
ReplyDeleteI know, I'm sitting here falling asleep!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great day! It's a State Holiday!
ReplyDeleteLUCKY!!
ReplyDeleteWhat's the holiday, anyway?
nice work JG. not much of a NASCAR fan but that looks fun.
ReplyDeletei'll be headed to the ATL to watch the Braves take on the Cardinals tonite. yall be cool. :)
Morning Hotties - we're not NASCAR fans at the gatiger house but I thought the 2 y/o cub might be mildly intrigued by it. He and I saw the last few laps, that boy sure got to enjoy him some nice crashes. That just mean we had to crash the toys that much more.
ReplyDeleteI'll likely be laying low on the HABOTN this week so I can take advantage of alot of folks being out of the office and get a good bit of my busy/tedium work knocked out.
Well, i'm here and reporting for duty. What's to talk about?
ReplyDeletehere...7 injured..worse one was a woman with a broken jaw...
ReplyDeletein the wreck at dega
ReplyDeleteThat wreck was brutal...whoever is the maker of that fence should be getting a huge bonus because that saved lives.
ReplyDeleteThat's was absolute craziness, Carl Edwards goes from driver to pilot in about 1 second.
ReplyDeleteno doubt rk...i'll say another thing..we got outta there in under 30 minutes..i was very impressed with how traffic is handled going through there..i was probably 11 years old the last time I went..I remember whining about being hot and bored...really glad I went back..it may turn out to be one of the best races this season..
ReplyDeletegood read...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nascar.com/2009/news/opinion/04/26/one.menz.jmenzer.talladega.safety.cedwards/index.html
like rk said..that fence saved lives..when you go to a race and are sitting that close to the track you better know the risks!!
ReplyDeleteNot that it's a big deal unless you're going for credibility, but Edwards drives the #99 FORD, not Chevrolet as you stated in Monday's Advertiser.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it was a problem brought on by the pressures of having to work on Sunday. Judging from the size of the sports section every Monday, you guys must usually get the weekends off. After all, there's no sports to be covered over the weekend, right?
speaking of edwards I actually missed edwards jogging across the finish line..that was classic tho...
ReplyDeleteI just watched that replay of kyle buschs wreck...that was just Kyle not being able to hang onto the car..I was convinced that 31 had gotten into him..guess not..
ReplyDeletei jsut realized I was talking to myself..wierd...
ReplyDeleteI see you suckas on FB..
ReplyDeleteHow do recently drafted players get paid out of college or other location? How do the teams pay them while they doing all the camps before they sign their contracts?
ReplyDeleteEasy there backtrax. Jay has worked many of weekends and nights covering Auburn sports. I understand the error, but to call him out is a little over the top on his own blog, especially wheny you suggest Jay takes the weekends off.
ReplyDeleteEddie, don't feed the troll.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Hot Ones on this lovely Confederate Memorial Day!
ReplyDeleteEddies right backtrax..Jay has been the most credible source of info for quite a few plp..calling him out here...not the best idea..there's this hammer you see..
ReplyDeleteQuote: "If he had an apostrophe in his name he could start anywhere in the nation. I would put him on my team." -- Will on (former) LSU cornerback Phelon Jones
ReplyDeleteJust saw this. Is the guy's real name "Phelon"? Doesn't his older brother "Mans'Laughter" Jones play in the NFL? Isn't his younger brother "Ra'pist" Jones a hot high school prospect? Either way, his daddy "Ar'sonist" and mother "Per'jury" should be proud of him.
Sensi- I believe all rookies without contracts (which is most) sign a "workout agreement" with their team that allows them protection should they get injured during the workout / mini-camp that they are entilled to the appropriate contract as which they were drafted and covers their medical expense. Until they sign a contact, they pretty much get their spending money from their agent.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, you would notice all the Sr players at Auburn would sign with Agents after the season ended and drive the outragous vehicles and then draft day would come and go without them being drafted and they would be back in their old car by the next week. Crazy.
Peter- I was in the lincoln tower..section A..front row..
ReplyDeleteI figured the agent "fronted" money to these guys until the bonus checks kicked in after training camp.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Eddie.
The undrafted free agents are signed to camp deals and then if they make the team they negotiate a playing contract based on placement. The draft picks likely to make the team get money in good faith to be repaid upon receipt of contract monies.
ReplyDeleteMornin' all.
ReplyDeletewartiger...
How anyone can root for Kyle Busch is beyond me, but to each his own. I'm with you 100% on Jr. though. Way too many folks on that bandwagon. My favorite was Jimmy Spencer, hence the hatred for anything named Busch.
So how do you guys explain Julio Jones' Escalade?
ReplyDeleteWhen do you guys think we'll hear if any of the other AU guys sign free agent deals?
ReplyDeletethe same way you explain b.j. scott's escalade and whatever kirkpatirck has been driving the last year or so.
ReplyDeleteWill, here is a list of Undrafted Free Agents.
ReplyDeleteGeesh! It wasn't an Alabama/Auburn question. How do you explain ANY student-athlete from a supposedly lower economic background driving a +$50,000 vehicle? As a student there were times I was lucky to get Ramen Noodles. Shouldn't the NCAA investigate such matters?
ReplyDeleteBacktrax, you're on the cutting edge of reporting news Re: student athletes with stuff they can't afford...maybe you should write a memo to the NCAA.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sean. Did you see that NE drafted a guy that didn't even play college FB? He was a wrestler.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I heard about that. NE has done very well in the draft so I won't second guess them...but it seems odd.
ReplyDeletehow did Kyle Maynard do this weekend?
ReplyDeleteRubbin's racin'. [Holding 3 fingers in the air.]
ReplyDeleteHas the dust cleared? I live in an area where most of the places go I have to come out on Highwas 77 with no traffic light. So on Sunday race day from about 3:00 to about 10:00 I don't leave the house. Why it starts so early I don't know unless it is people trying to beat the traffic. Why go to a race and not see the finish??
ReplyDeleteOur one serious casualty of this draft was Brad Lester. If not for bad decisions on his part 2 years ago, injuries, and horrible OC/OL planning last year he could have gotten a shot with some team. I guess technically he still has a chance but that road is alot more difficult now.
ReplyDeleteIf Brad is good enough, he will make a roster, if not, he won't.
ReplyDeleteAlso it depends on how bad Brad Lester wants it.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is, Brad Lester's next 100 yard game will be his 1st since high school.
Do y'all believe in silent commitments?
ReplyDeleteRod Smith signs with the Chargers
ReplyDeleteGood for Rod, walked on in college and doing the Pro version of a walk-on now, I hope he makes it.
ReplyDeleteJhag a silent commit is, in my mind, an oxymoron.
ReplyDeleteThose are some epic pictures.
ReplyDeleteJay, I tried to add you on facebook!
ReplyDeleteIt is dead today and i'm bored. Not a good combination.
ReplyDeleteEddie, I agree...I'm seeing a lot of buzz on the recruiting front from Auburn. I really believe we will all see huge dividends come Feb 2010.
ReplyDeleteI agree Sean. The recruiting front looks as bright as I have ever seen it. It really shows how bad we have been at the last few years.
ReplyDeleteWhere is everyone today? Hiding from the pig flu?
ReplyDeleteIs Jay G. going to be on The Roundtable today?
ReplyDeleteHe usually will put a post up if he is appearing on the roundtable.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know since we haven't heard from him today and that Doug isn't on the show today.
ReplyDeleteThey should rename this radio show on WMSP "The Max Douche Table"
ReplyDeleteThey reserve that title for Twisted Metal fanboys.
ReplyDeleteEddie I would have to disagree with the perception that our recruiting was bad over the past few years. While we didnt win any recruiting accolades from the 'experts' in HS recruiting, our track record with sending players to the NFL would suggest that the talent on the Plains remained high.
ReplyDeleteAU, that's not indicitive of overall recruitment on down to the 2 and 3 deep spots. UConn, for example, just sent a bunch of kids to the NFL but haven't exactly torn the Big East up.
ReplyDeleteBigCat,
ReplyDeleteI'd disagree. We had 3 players drafted yesterday from a 5-7 team. Yes we sent them to the NFL, but every class we've had lately hasn't panned out as expected...people haven't qualified or they haven't been as good as advertised and that isn't successful recruiting.
Look at our quality depth a key positions and it will show that recruiting hasn't gone very well for us in recent years.
ReplyDeleteSean I dont think that UCon consistently has players selected in the draft like us. I could be wrong on that.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with you and RK that depth has been an issue and that has been caused by failure of players to qualify. In that respect, we did take more chances than I felt we should have.
I was saying that putting players in the league isn't necessarily indicative of top to bottom recruiting success. The fact is, the old guard took chances on guys and got to the point where Auburn wasn't getting the talent other teams where and left us thin at key positions.
ReplyDeletePlus when was the last time we recruited a highly rated QB that panned out other than Jason Campbell?
ReplyDeleteAs bad as we were last year, how many games were we "in" in the 3rd qtr? All except one. How many did we lose in the 4th qtr? Six more.
ReplyDeleteThat tells me that we have starters on par with the rest of the conference but lack quality depth.
As bad as last year, how close were the games that we won (UT & Miss State) that we really easily could have lost?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately last year could have been a whole lot worse as well.
We very easily could have lost UT and MSU...and don't forget we almost had an epic collapse to UT Martin.
ReplyDeleteTalent at Auburn over the last few years has been dwindling down since the 2005 team in my opinion. We were able to win close games in both 2006 & 2007 but it got to the point in 2008 that we no longer had the depth to win the close games. Too many players that were originially in the recruiting class were not there when it mattered. The beginning of the end for Tuberville was in 2008 signing class where we got no one in head to head battles with Alabama. I really believe recruiting has been sub-par at Auburn the last 2-3 years of Tuberville and now we are paying that debt.
ReplyDeleteSure it could have been worse. My point is that the starters could/can compete in this league. The 2nd/3rd string, not so much. Any injury exposes that problem that much more.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what kind of shenanigans I would have pull to get my Fusion to pull a Carl Edwards 99 flip?
ReplyDeleteCan we please change the front quote now that Phelon Jones is Bound for Bama?
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting Bama would give up a scholarship to a guy who has one year left after he sits out and wasn't that good to begin with.
ReplyDeleteNo more interesting than any other school would do just that, Sean.
ReplyDeleteI mean, Auburn passed on the kid, so he goes to Bama...that's what's interesting about it.
ReplyDeletei think mizzou passed as well. it will be interesting to see if phelon is good enough covering julio, maze, etc. in practice to get on the field. he was not good enough at lsu to get meaningful playing time.
ReplyDeleteBammers never cease to amaze me. If it doesn't go through or come out of Tuscaloosa, then it must not be worth anything. Riiiiight.
ReplyDeleteMy parents once bought an SUV from a dealership in Tuscaloosa, it wasn't a very good one, they traded it in after 1.5 years.
ReplyDeleteLOL @ Sean
ReplyDeleteI've celebrated Confederate Memorial Day in the best way possible -- in the land of Cotton(wood) Golf Course.
ReplyDeleteWhen I swing, look away ... 'cause it's an ugly sight.
Sensi, True Story. I hope they're happy with their newest Phelon. He should fit right in.
ReplyDeleteSean, go read the Bammer boards today.
ReplyDeleteSome low-life actually was upset one of their players was drafted in front of another one and another idiot questioned why anyone would want Auburn players on their team.
Eyes rolling
my guess is jones is a short term addition for depth purposes. kirkpatrick, scott, lawrence, green & lester and all the other sure-fire first rounders they supposedly have recruited will likely give jones the same issues he had at lsu. but at least they have a body there in case of injuries. otherwise i don't think he sees the field much except in mop-up and special teams.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, as if Jeff Fisher and Mike Reinfeldt are a bunch of morons who have no business working in football...right? I can't even take Bammer fans seriously, no offense Faker, if you're out there.
ReplyDeletesensi, to that end, why would nfl teams draft anyone from nicholls st, richmond, william & mary, ontario st., or some of the other off the map programs?
ReplyDeleteif you played football on mars and you are good the nfl will find you.
Jeff Fisher is totally underappreciated, I think. A great football mind all the way. I hope he can make another Super Bowl with the Titans, but the AFC is tough.
ReplyDeleteSensible, he should, he's been a fantastic coach and his run as the longest tenured head coach in the league is a feat for sure. All he needs now is the Lombardi trophy!
ReplyDeleteif nashville ever gets tired of fisher, send him to new orleans please.
ReplyDeleteChip, I agree totally.
ReplyDeleteI profiled a WR from Abeline Christian, Johnny Knox, for BC Sports that I saw during the combine on the NFL Network. Some Bammer guy emailed me that I was an idiot. The Bears drafted in the fifth round.
I would love to see a Lombardi Trophy come to Nashvegas, but the window is going to close in the next 2 years (unless VY matures as a QB or another one is brought in).
ReplyDeleteAll the more reason to win it this year!
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
ReplyDeleteMaybe after his last year (the upcoming one) in D.C., Jason Campbell can move to Nashville.
He fits what Fisher likes in QBs if you ask me.
rivals says:
ReplyDeleteLast year at LSU, Jones made 15 tackles and three pass breakups, playing in 12 games but starting only two. Jones' offers out of McGill Toolen included Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Miami and others.
it says a lot to me that miles would release him to play against him at arguably lsu's biggest rival. miles obviously sees no competitive repercussions to be worried about. unless the bammers are right and he is an idiot.
Maybe I'm just sunburned ... but how many transfers really make a difference - not jucos, but actual transfers.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteanother tidbit from rivals:
ReplyDeletekicker michael palardy from st. thomas aquinas:
The dorms were nice, the people were welcoming and there wasn't much not to like. I had people coming up to me, shaking my hand and telling me they hope to see me kicking here next year.
Arkansas, Auburn, Miami, Syracuse and Tennessee have also offered Palardy.
my questions:
1. did the handshakes involve 5s, 10s or 20s?
2. why would AU offer if we have a kicker committed?
3. why the hell am i talking about a kicker?
re: palardy's visit to bama.
ReplyDeleteChip, they were at least 20's probably more. Bammer is going to need the kicking game from the looks of things. There is no logical reason for Auburn to offer 2 kickers other than to have a spare, but that's what walk-ons are for. And there just isn't much else to talk about, that's why you brought the kicker story.
ReplyDeletehas anyone seen the "AU prowler" limo the coaches are riding around in while recruiting the next few weeks?
ReplyDeletesnazzy!
only they should have sprung for the hummer limo with more headroom. they probably went right by my neighborhood on hwy 90 today on their way to see LB mosley at theodore. i could have stood out on the street and waved to them as they went by!
I've not seen the prowler...do you have a link?
ReplyDeleteJet re: tranfers that made a difference...Kenny Irons comes to mind. I think the WR we have got from Minn, Spry, could make an impact judging from A-day and some reports from Spring.
ReplyDeleteSean other than OL what position was AU thin at due to lack of recruiting?
ReplyDeleteRK we've had/have a few high ranked QBs since JC. They haven't panned out (yet) because we didnt have an offense that required great QB play or an OC to develop him AND the WRs.
Eddie us not winning close games in 2008 had more to do with team chemistry, identity, and development of the offense than it did with depth. With all of the injuries we took in 08, if depth was the primary issue there would not have been many close games.
ReplyDeleteAn hour? Come on folks.
ReplyDeleteI demand to be entertained by witty repartee. Now get to it.