Hello Angels,

I’d like to start this week by welcoming back the UnNamed One to Charlie’s Angels Fantasy League.  Now all we have to do is find Tiffany and Natalie, and we’ll all be set.

On that note, please send Madison a note of welcome back from her secret mission. She served valiantly, with dignity and respect. For me, I’ll say it here…Congratulations on your safe return Madison.   

Ok, on to the race. This week’s race was the EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Congratulations to Dale Earnhardt Jr., for his victory at the last of the restrictor-plate races this season.

I’m sure for those of you who have seen the replays of the finish saw deja-vu of the fall race last year when Elliott Sadler got bumped and lost control of his car as it went sailing down the backstretch eventually flipping five or six times. This time it was the front stretch on the final corner of the race, and this time he only flipped once and crossed the finish line on all four wheels, albeit, still out of control.  He did however lose about 10 valuable finishing spots, which doesn’t help him with his title chase that he’s in.  

Speaking of the title chase, Earnhardt captured the lead in the top-10 drivers chase for the first NEXTEL Cup Championship. That is tentative because he will probably have some points deducted after using some expletives on live TV in the post-race interview. We’ll see what happens. 

So, where do you stack up? 

Well, for you Jill, not so good. 

Dave Blaney qualified Carl Edwards’ car for him, but it was Edwards himself that drove the car for the race. Unfortunately, you changed from Edwards to Blaney for the race, and came out the loser. Your other drivers did well, except for Jimmie Johnson who blew an engine and finished 37th. Jeff Gordon was running in the top-10 for most of the race but from what I heard made a wrong decision on the last pit-stop of the race and fell to 19th place where he finished. “Front-row” Joe Nemachek, this week’s pole winner, finished seventh and Earnhardt won the race.  Your four drivers average finish is a nice 12.8, but because you didn’t have all five drivers entered, you automatically get this week’s GOLDEN CABOOSE AWARD. Better choices next week. 

I have to thank you Jill because if it wasn’t for your choice of drivers, I would have the GCB this week. Four of my five drivers didn’t do so well. Johnson finished in 37th place, while Ricky Craven finished 30th in his first race for Joe Gibbs Racing. Kasey Kahne finished 27th and Gordon finished 19th. My best driver this week is Kevin Harvick, who finished second. My pitiful average finish is a paltry 23 even.  But thanks Jill, I appreciate the help.  J 

Kelly, thanks for keeping Jill and I company on the lower half this week. Jeremy Mayfield and Bobby Labonte were your demise with their 38th and 35th place finishes respectively. Bobby’s brother Terry Labonte didn’t help you out too much either with his 21st place finish. However, Tony Stewart and Harvick definitely helped you with their sixth and second place finishes. Your average finish is 20.4. 

Madison, you managed to avoid the GCB award again this week, but your drivers were trying real hard to bring you down. Edwards started the race, but finished very early when his engine let go. Michael Waltrip finished 25th, while Sadler finished 22nd. Helping you stay out of trouble was Dale Jarrett and his third place finish, along with Earnhardt’s win. Your average finish is 18.6.

Kris, like Madison before you, you kept Edwards on your team. He and Sadler were your worst two drivers this week. Your remaining three drivers, Ryan Newman, Nemachek and Earnhardt, finished 16th, seventh and first respectively. Your average finish is 17.6. 

Sabrina, your worst driver is Johnson and his 37th place finish. Jamie McMurray finished 17th, while Scott Riggs finished 11th. Robby Gordon had a decent day with his ninth place finish, while your top driver, Tony Stewart, overcame transmission problems to finish in sixth place. Your average finish is 16 even. 

UnNamed One, again, welcome back. Greg Biffle finished 28th after colliding with Kahne on the last lap. Sadler finished 22nd, while Matt Kenseth finished 14th. Ricky Rudd (Go Air Force!!!) finished 12th. Jarrett is your top-driver with his third place finish.  Your average finish is 15.8.   

Bosley, your worst driver is Kahne and his 27th place finish. McMurray finished 17th, while Ward Burton finished 10th. Kurt Busch finished fifth, while your top driver is Earnhardt with his win. Your average finish is a nice, 12 even.  

Thin Man, Jeff Gordon is your worst driver with his 19th place finish. Newman and Riggs finished 16th and 11th, while your top-two drivers are Casey Mears and Busch in eighth and fifth respectively. Your average finish is just .2 points less than Bosley at11.8. 

Julie and Mr. X, you both tie this week for our runner-up position. 

Mr. X, I’ll start with you. Your worst driver is Jeff Gordon and his 19th place finish. McMurray finished 17th, while Rudd finished 12th. Nemachek finished seventh, while Earnhardt won the race. 

Julie, your worst driver is Hermie Sadler. I’m going to be honest here, I thought all along he was going to be your worst driver. But even though that is true, he still surprised me with his 23rd place finish. Jeff Gordon finished 19th, while your remaining three drivers finished in the top-10. Nemachek and Stewart finished seventh and sixth respectively, with Earnhardt in front of the pack on the final lap. 

Your average finish Mr. X and Julie is 11.2.

That leaves you, Dylan, to be our TOP ANGEL AWARD winner this week. You accomplished this by having the top-three drivers of the race on your team. They are Earnhardt, Harvick and Jarrett. (If you were a horse racing fan, you just won the “trifecta,” which pays a heck of a lot of money if you were betting on it.) But, this is a friendly league and you still have two other drivers, McMurray and Kahne who finished 17th and 27th respectively. Congratulations on your TAA winning average finish of 10 even.  

Next week’s race is the Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods (what a weird name) at Kansas Speedway at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. 

Don’t forget to send me a list of your drivers.

Good luck next week Angels,