Sports Talk 920 NASCAR Pick 'Em 2012 Standings: Race 1 Daytona 500

1. Flo- 47pts 1 win, 1 top five, 1 top ten
2. Goody- 42pts 0 wins, 1 top five, 1 top ten -5pts
3. Allan- 42pts 0 wins, 1 top five, 1 top ten -5pts
4. Lucas- 37pts 0 wins, 0 top fives, 1 top ten -10pts
5. Jimmie- 36pts 0 wins, 0 top fives, 1 top ten -11pts
6. Fan Pick- 33pts 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top tens -14pts
7. Goody Sr- 29pts 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top tens -18pts
8. Sarah- 27pts 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top tens -20pts
9. Rudy- 5pts 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top tens -42pts

Goody's Top 5 Prediction: Daytona 500

1. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2. #14 Tony Stewart
3. #24 Jeff Gordon
4. #18 Kyle Busch
5. #99 Carl Edwards

ST920 2012 Nascar Pick 'Em: Daytona 500

Goody Sr.- #14 Tony Stewart
Fan Pick- TBD
Goody- #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Rudy- #24 Jeff Gordon
Allan- #16 Greg Biffle
Jimmie- #99 Carl Edwards
Flo- #17 Matt Kenseth
Lucas- #29 Kevin Harvick
Sarah- #18 Kyle Busch

Ryan Braun's Press Conference

The Amazing Kyle Busch

The two saves that we seen from Kyle Busch in the Budweiser Shootout are arguably the two best saves in NASCAR history. It seems to have made Dale Earnhardt's pass in the grass mere child's play. Just imagine Kyle Busch's saves came on the same night, and not only did the make the saves he still drove the car into victory lane. So now I guess the biggest question remains is what does that mean for Kyle Busch from here on out?

First off it seems many people think that this will carry momentum into the season to get on his way for his first Sprint Cup Title. If it took Saturday nights performance to prove that Ky is one of the most talented drivers, then I think frankly you hate has blinded you. No one seems to remember the similar save he made in last years Talladega race before eventually getting wreck out of the race. As much of you wouldn't like to admit, but even before last Saturday, Busch was going to be a contender in pretty much every race this season....his talent stock shouldn't of gone up or down not matter the result of the Budweiser Shootout.

The main point of why I still won't buy Busch's stock for winning a championship still has nothing to do with his driving talent but all to do with his attitude. Just imagine if there were actually 43 cars out there instead of 25 cars, and while he was trying to make his spectacular save he got hit by another car? He would probably turn into the same ol Kyle and whine and complain on why things didn't go his way. Remember how I thought Kurt Busch, his own flesh and blood, was a changed man after being under pressure all last season from Penske. Well I am not going to fall for that again!

The only way I could see myself being wrong, and this could be a very plausible scenario, is that after his great saves the jeers he normally gets will start turning into cheers. The similar thing that happened to Dale Earnhardt after the famous pass in the grass (or maintain the lead in the grass, but that doesn't sound as cool). I think that even though Ky like to play the bad guy, the constant crap he gets from the fans goes straight to his head. I know that those spectacular saves he made on Saturday were some of the greatest in NASCAR history, and the fact that he is the most talented drivers on the Sprint Cup circut if not the world right now. But the X factor remains, can his head stay clear of his talent to be the one celebrating at Homestead.

Remembering Dale Earnhardt

11 years ago today we lost Dale Earnhardt. I am sharing a classic ESPN commercial to honor his memory

Top 5 Prediction: Budweiser Shootout

1. Jamie McMurray
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Juan Pablo Montoya
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
5. Jimmie Johnson

All They Do Is Go Left

It seems every time I try to show my NASCAR pride, or every time I see NASCAR on TV out it public there always seems to be that one person who just doesn't get NASCAR and udders out the most annoying most cliche words "But all they do is go in circles and turn left." Ok yeah this is a simple fact about NASCAR racing, there is actually a lot more too it than that, but if you break down any sport into it's most simple form I bet I can make it sound silly too. So with out further ado, I will take a crack at it.

Football: 22 guys on a field 11 of them trying to move the ball to one end of the field, while the other 11 try to stop them or take it away. Sounds interesting doesn't it?

Basketball: Giant me trying to shoot a orange ball in a tiny hoop, sometimes they hop and place it in the hoop by hand. HELL sign me up!

Hockey: A Bunch of guys skating on ice chasing a piece of round rubber and try to get it in a net. I want all in!

Golf: A guy hitting a white ball with a stick to try to get it in a hole. Do I have you attention?

Baseball: A person tries to hit a ball where no one will catch it and run in a diamond. Hmmm....what?

Once you break down some of the sports you love to their simplest forms they either seem pointless or not very interesting at all. There are many reasons why some sports call out to us, and why some are boring to us. But all sports have one thing in common and that is the competition. So next time you try ripping on a sport with a good ol cliche, remember competition is one common thing that drives us all.

Give Colt One More Shot

It's that time of year again. Football season is over and the next thing fans have to look forward to is the draft in April. Now is the time where people try to play the role of general manager, predicting what moves will be made or just lobbying on what moves their favorite teams should make. One that seems to be popular is that the Cleveland Browns look to replace quarterback Colt McCoy by drafting Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III. I might be in the minority here but I think they should not only wait to get another QB but if they do RGIII might even be a bad choice for the team.

First off I say give Colt one more shot to prove he is an NFL quality quarterback. Even though many predicted the Browns were predicted by many to have a mediocre year it didn't happen and the team ended up 4-12. However if you look at the AFC North, the majority of their schedule, all the other teams (Bengals, Steelers, Ravens) made it to the post season this year. Colt went into this season after starting 8 games in 2010 looking to improve, and I believe for the most part he did that without having the benefit of a full offseason to get comfortable in the west coast offense. Given the chance he could still have a shot to be a viable piece for this team.

Finally I am not sure that RGIII would be a good fit for the Browns. With the team running a west coast offense it usually doesn't work well for a running QB. I know he can also throw the ball but RGIII would be better off in a spread out offense which the Browns just don't have the talent to pull off.

If I were Holmgren I wouldn't waist mine or RGIII's time and stay away from each other come April. Since being a fan GM is a common thing going on, I will put my two cents in and say keep the young QB you have now and beef up the offensive line so Joe Thomas doesn't have to do all the work. So in the end I say don't give up so easy and give Colt one more SHOT!

2012 NASCAR Cup Standing Predictions

With the football season officially over and the Daytona 500 just a few weeks away, Goody decides now is the right time to get pumped up for the 2012 season by making his final Cup standings predictions:

12. #5 Kasey Kahne- He will look to continue how he ended the 2011 season with a team that was crumbling underneath him. His first year with Hendrick will have a few bumps in the road but he will string together a few good runs and a win or two to sneak into the Chase.

11. #22 AJ Allmendinger- Every time he finds a new job it just keeps getting better. Now that he is with Penske I predict a solid year for the Dinger and maybe even his first career victory!

10. #14 Tony Stewart- The dead weight may be gone on his team but their might be some championship hangover along with new crew chief growing pains.

9. #17 Matt Kenseth- Even though lack of funding with a full time sponsorship going into the season will hurt this team, it seems crazy to think that Kenseth won't be able to quietly sneak into the top 12 this season.

8. #11 Denny Hamlin- Hamlin will still try to get back in 2010 championship contender mode, but consistency will still be an issue for him.

7. #2 Brad Keslowski- He proved in the 2nd half of the season he is a forced to be recond with. I see another multiple win season in his future.

6. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.- Looking to build off of his first Chase appearence last season since 2008. He will be more consistant than he was last season ridding of the bad luck that struck him in the middle of last season. This is also the year he breaks his winless streak....early in the season.

5. #24 Jeff Gordon- After going into the Chase last season he went in as one of the favorites to win it all, but it ended up in disaster. Look for Gordon to continue his late career resurgence as he will end up in victory lane a lot this year.

4. #18 Kyle Busch- Still one of the most talented drivers on the NASCAR circuit, he will once again rebound and contend for the Cup. However although a learning experience last season with his poor attitude, he still is who he is and that will prevent him from making serious noise on his embark for his first tittle.

3. #48 Jimmie Johnson- Ol five time will once again be focused more on the Chase this year rather than his rivalry with Kurt Busch, but know that the other drivers know that he is actually human they know now that he actually can be beat.

2. #99 Carl Edwards- It was tough for me not to pick him at the number 1 spot this season. After falling just sort of the Cup last season, and the fact he will be cutting out his Nationwide schedule he will be VERY hunger to redeem himself this year.

1. #29 Kevin Harvick- With RCR scaling back to 3 full time teams, it always has seem to be the perfect combination for this team to contend for titles. With Childress also absorbing KHI, Harvick will be more focused as well to win his first championship. Look for the late race closer to finally be a late season trophy holder as he will give RCR their first Cup since 1994.