#Cain's route is a masterpiece

[laptopcius]

There is something so amazingly h a u n t i n g about Cain's intimate scenes. On one hand it's all about his specific relationship with Lane (in my case Galina), seducing h e r, testing h e r limits. On the other though, it's about exploring human emotions, understanding how they work, looking for all kind of answers in the second person.

What's more, this scene was emanating with chemistry and sexual tension. The way Cain slowly undresses Lane and she trusts him enough to let him do so... And they haven't even kissed yet. I think we'll all collectively loose our minds once it happens.

[ever-searching]

Know me better / Catching up with me

(It's been a while since I did any Munday memes and @thevoilinauttheory tagged me for this one, so I decided to combine the two in a way!)

LAST SONG: Holding Out for a Hero by Hildegard von Blingin' and Whitney Avalon (original by Bonnie Tyler) Bardcore is something which definitely hits that sweet spot for me, and I am especially fond of Hildegard von Blingin's covers due to the adapted lyrics (and her lovely voice). This i.e. her latest song is a masterpiece in my opinion, and the video only makes it better.

CURRENTLY READING: Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson I saw the animated movie a long time ago, but I'm actually reading the novel for the first time - and together with a friend, actually! It's quite an amusing and adorable book, like the Moomins are in general.

CURRENTLY WATCHING: My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! My brother recommended this series to me, and I've been enjoying it quite a bit. It puts a twist on a couple of anime tropes I often enjoy (otome/reverse harem and isekai/another world), and while some of its jokes go perhaps a bit overboard, I've found myself laughing quite a bit. (Plus Nicol sounds like an anime version of Cain.)

CURRENTLY CRAVING: Some free time so I could get back to drawing... and coffee. Uh, my main is a coffeeholic for a reason. >.>'

[mittensmorgul]

I'm kind of confused at the moment and I was wondering if you could help me. When Chuck reappeared in season 11, he was ready to sacrifice himself to save the world from Amara (after being convinced his creations are worth saving) but now in season 15 he's apparently a god who enjoys drama and wants to stay alive so he can replay the angst-y aspect of Sam and Dean's story. Am I perhaps missing something? Sorry to bother you.

Hi there! and first off, it’s no bother at all!

I’m going to suggest that the fastest route to clearing up your confusion would be to understand that Chuck just flat-out wasn’t being honest... about anything, really... back in s11.

He was shady and squirrelly and basically manipulating everyone all over the place. From the moment we saw him hiding out in his bar at the end of the universe, and Metatron started calling him out for his cowardice-- for hiding and riding out the end of the universe in his cozy little clubhouse all by himself, we were being invited to question who Chuck really was. I mean, sure, he’s God, but what kind of god is he? Is he wrathful? Vengeful? Loving? Does he think of creation as his beloved child or as idle entertainment for himself?

And he lies. Like. A lot.

I find it difficult to look at his behavior in late s11 and just trust that surface-level, or anything that comes out of his mouth, for that matter. Even within the span of 11.20, Metatron caught him out in a hefty number of lies, or misrepresentations, or attempts to shift blame to others... 

And we-the-audience were shown multiple times that he was flat-out lying to the Winchesters. Like while he was hiding out in the bunker, insisting that he couldn’t find Amara because she was blocking him or warded against him, while we were shown Amara literally tearing up Heaven and Earth trying to find HIM. She used Cas’s body to make a connection to Dean to deliver a message to Chuck... here, quotes from 11.21:

Dean: So, where is she?Chuck: No freakin' idea, fellas. She's warded herself specifically against me. What have you come up with?

and

Amara: I've missed you, Dean. It's been a while since we've spoken. I'm aware my brother has surfaced. If you should cross paths, if he should reach out to you, he should know this – Lucifer, his favorite, isn't doing so well. [Casifer appears, tortured and beaten] To say nothing of the vessel, your friend Castiel. By choosing to ignore me, my brother is allowing this to happen. These and... other things. I thought you should know. [She fades away]

SHE HAS BEEN TEARING UP THE JOINT TRYING TO GET AN AUDIENCE WITH CHUCK, and Chuck is just like “oh no she’s specifically warded against me.”

LIAR.

And when you approach everything about Chuck from that understanding, it all makes sense. He was never willing to sacrifice himself. He was waiting for His Favorite Characters™ to go full self-sacrifice mode for him. Again.

He’d convinced Sam to take on the Mark of Cain to lock her up again. He needed to feel “big,” for his “fan club” to reunite to adore him (in the religious sense of the word).

Amara: Spoiled brat. I needed solitude and he needed a fan club, so he made all that. Then when I complained, he stuffed me in a hole for eons – with your help.

NONE of this changed from the time Chuck returned to the story through the present day. This is who Chuck is, who he’s always been. He lies, and when people blame him for bad things in the world, he points to anything other than himself and says, “No, that’s actually the cause of your problems.” Like he did with the other gods (according to Fortuna in 15.11). Just like he did with Amara. With Lucifer. With everything that didn’t turn out objectively well. But all this time, he keeps manipulating the universe to turn out poorly, because that’s what he finds amusing.

It’s no wonder so many of his creations enjoy destroying everything for funsies. Chips off the ol’ block, as it were.

Amara stopped Sam from taking the Mark, refused to let herself be caged again. And instead he tried to blame first Lucifer for failing to contain Amara, and then Dean for failing to kill her, even knowing that NEITHER of those things were ever possible for them to have done. Like... what an asshat. And then he waited for his clever little favorites to find another way... another way that would directly necessitate one of them sacrifice himself to save the rest. Soul bombs ahoy!

But Amara didn’t actually want to kill Chuck, she literally just wanted to talk with him. Like... all along, ALL of this agony, was the result of Chuck not wanting to accept fault for any of it.

And now, four years later, Chuck’s acting exactly like what Amara accused him of being back in 11.21-- a spoiled brat.

There’s so many more examples I could point to, but this is literally always how Chuck has been portrayed. He was literally never on their side.

And Amara... literally never wanted to destroy creation. She wanted Chuck to answer for what he’d done to her. Destroying creation was her play to get his attention after he spent the majority of the season ignoring her, or actively hiding from her. Metatron even guessed that one right:

METATRON: You started writing the second she came back, didn't you?(CHUCK puts his hands in his pockets.)METATRON: No wonder you're on a deadline! Now I understand why you're masquerading in that sad, little meat suit! For the same reason you created this nostalgic bar to write your masterpiece in – you're hiding!

Because that’s what Chuck always does. Hide from responsibility, lock up his problems and pretend he didn’t create them, and blame everyone else for his own failures. Over and over again. Always has.

[dani-qrt]

Weekend preview: Harvick, Busch duel again at Kansas Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kevin Harvick essentially told his fellow Monster Energy NASCAR Cup season dominator Kyle Busch: I’ll take your three race victories and raise you one. And after taking his fourth win last week at Dover, Harvick can expect that Busch will be ready to try and match the effort this weekend at Kansas Speedway.

Feb 16, 2018; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Harvick and Busch have won seven of the season’s first 11 races and the two former Cup champions have another four runner-up finishes between them too, dominating the 2018 season start in a way like no other in recent memory.

This week’s KC Masterpiece 400 at Kansas Speedway (Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) presents an exceptionally good challenge for both Harvick and Busch, however, judging by their historical work on the 1.5-miler.

Harvick has a pair of wins (2013 and 2016) and has won three pole positions (2013-14) and is ranked second-best in terms of overall driver rating (106.4). Busch won at Kansas in 2016 — his 17th try. And while his average finish at the track is uncharacteristic 17.1 — he has vastly improved that number with five top-fives in the last six races.

Last year Martin Truex Jr. swept both Kansas race victories en route to the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship.

“Before three years ago, I’ve not had many opportunities to win at Kansas and hopefully we can get into Victory Lane there again this weekend with our M&Ms Carmel Toyota,” Busch said. “As you’ve seen so far this year, there are certain circumstances that can go against you and you just have to persevere and keep fighting until the checkered flag falls. We’ve won some races even though we hadn’t had the dominant car in a few of those.”

“I think we’re pretty equal, honestly,” Busch said. “I think I’ve got to give them the notch a little bit. I think they’re a little bit better than we are.

“… A lot of it all comes down to execution when things are this tight with the 4 (Harvick) and us. They were able to execute better at the start of the year on their streak and also last week. And we’ve been able to execute in order to get our wins.

“We haven’t been dominant each week, but we’ve been able to execute as a team — myself as a driver — to be able to get those wins.”

Up for grabs

The 37 Kind Days 250 (May 11 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) has historically been one of the most unpredictable events on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule.

With 15 different winners in 17 races and only three former winners — Kyle Busch, Matt Crafton and championship leader Johnny Sauter — in the field this weekend, it may again prove too tough to call. And that’s always a good thing.

Toyota-powered trucks have won the last five races with Busch and Crafton responsible for two trophies each during that span at Kansas.

Now steering a Ford, Crafton may well be in line to break that Toyota streak. He’s won twice and finished runner-up twice in the last five Kansas races.

A victory would certainly be a big boost to the two-time former series champion who is ranked sixth in the points standings. The championship chase is tight entering Friday night’s race — only 35 points separate Sauter from fifth-place Noah Gragson, a 19-year old who won the pole position last week at Dover, Del. and was runner-up at Atlanta earlier in the season.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: KC Masterpiece 400

The Place: Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, Kan.)

Feb 16, 2018; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Date: Saturday, May 12

The Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 400 miles (400 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 80),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 160), Final Stage (Ends on lap 267)

What to Watch For: Jimmie Johnson boasts the best driver rating (107.7) at Kansas and is tied with Jeff Gordon for most wins (three). … Four of the sport’s biggest stars made their first Cup start at his 1.5-miler — Erik Jones (2015), Ryan Blaney (2014), Austin Dillon (2011) and Denny Hamlin (2005). … No driver has ever earned his first Cup victory at Kansas. … Ryan Blaney won his first career pole position here last May becoming the youngest driver (23) to start on pole. … The top-five starting positions have produced the most wins (46 percent). Five times in 24 races, the polesitter has won — the last being Martin Truex in Fall, 2017. … Brad Keselowski holds the record for victory from the farthest spot on the starting grid (25th in 2011). … Five drivers have two runner-up finishes at Kansas: Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards. … Four drivers have started all 24 Kansas races — Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman. … Truex swept the 2017 races at Kansas. He, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon are the only drivers to win consecutive races.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Next Race: 37 Kind Days 250

The Place: Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, Kan.)

The Date: Friday, May 11

The Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 250 miles (167 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 40),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 80), Final Stage (Ends on lap 167)

What to Watch For: Kansas Speedway has proven to be a hard venue to predict victory. There have been 15 different race winners in 17 races and 13 different pole winners. … Matt Crafton and Kyle Busch have each won twice and both are entered in Friday night’s race. … Crafton has a series best eight top-10 finishes. … The top-five drivers in the championships standings are separated by only 35 points. Johnny Sauter holds a 29-point lead over second place Grant Enfinger. Fifth place Noah Gragson is 35 behind Sauter. … Six drivers among the top-10 are 25 years old or younger — ranging from 25-year old Brett Moffitt who is third in the points to 19-year old Gragson who is fifth in the standings. … The race has been won from the pole position only twice. Busch won from pole in 2014 and Ron Hornaday did in 2008. … Front row starters, however, have won eight of the 17 races. … There are three former winners entered this weekend — Busch, Crafton and series points leader Johnny Sauter, who won at Kansas in 2010. … Brandon Jones will be making his first truck series start of 2018. … The late Ricky Hendrick won the inaugural truck race here in 2001.

—By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media.

The post Weekend preview: Harvick, Busch duel again at Kansas Speedway appeared first on World The News.

from World The News https://ift.tt/2Ii5GjJ via Online News

[newestbalance]

Weekend preview: Harvick, Busch duel again at Kansas Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kevin Harvick essentially told his fellow Monster Energy NASCAR Cup season dominator Kyle Busch: I’ll take your three race victories and raise you one. And after taking his fourth win last week at Dover, Harvick can expect that Busch will be ready to try and match the effort this weekend at Kansas Speedway.

Feb 16, 2018; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Harvick and Busch have won seven of the season’s first 11 races and the two former Cup champions have another four runner-up finishes between them too, dominating the 2018 season start in a way like no other in recent memory.

This week’s KC Masterpiece 400 at Kansas Speedway (Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) presents an exceptionally good challenge for both Harvick and Busch, however, judging by their historical work on the 1.5-miler.

Harvick has a pair of wins (2013 and 2016) and has won three pole positions (2013-14) and is ranked second-best in terms of overall driver rating (106.4). Busch won at Kansas in 2016 — his 17th try. And while his average finish at the track is uncharacteristic 17.1 — he has vastly improved that number with five top-fives in the last six races.

Last year Martin Truex Jr. swept both Kansas race victories en route to the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship.

“Before three years ago, I’ve not had many opportunities to win at Kansas and hopefully we can get into Victory Lane there again this weekend with our M&Ms Carmel Toyota,” Busch said. “As you’ve seen so far this year, there are certain circumstances that can go against you and you just have to persevere and keep fighting until the checkered flag falls. We’ve won some races even though we hadn’t had the dominant car in a few of those.”

“I think we’re pretty equal, honestly,” Busch said. “I think I’ve got to give them the notch a little bit. I think they’re a little bit better than we are.

“… A lot of it all comes down to execution when things are this tight with the 4 (Harvick) and us. They were able to execute better at the start of the year on their streak and also last week. And we’ve been able to execute in order to get our wins.

“We haven’t been dominant each week, but we’ve been able to execute as a team — myself as a driver — to be able to get those wins.”

Up for grabs

The 37 Kind Days 250 (May 11 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) has historically been one of the most unpredictable events on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule.

With 15 different winners in 17 races and only three former winners — Kyle Busch, Matt Crafton and championship leader Johnny Sauter — in the field this weekend, it may again prove too tough to call. And that’s always a good thing.

Toyota-powered trucks have won the last five races with Busch and Crafton responsible for two trophies each during that span at Kansas.

Now steering a Ford, Crafton may well be in line to break that Toyota streak. He’s won twice and finished runner-up twice in the last five Kansas races.

A victory would certainly be a big boost to the two-time former series champion who is ranked sixth in the points standings. The championship chase is tight entering Friday night’s race — only 35 points separate Sauter from fifth-place Noah Gragson, a 19-year old who won the pole position last week at Dover, Del. and was runner-up at Atlanta earlier in the season.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: KC Masterpiece 400

The Place: Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, Kan.)

Feb 16, 2018; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Date: Saturday, May 12

The Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 400 miles (400 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 80),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 160), Final Stage (Ends on lap 267)

What to Watch For: Jimmie Johnson boasts the best driver rating (107.7) at Kansas and is tied with Jeff Gordon for most wins (three). … Four of the sport’s biggest stars made their first Cup start at his 1.5-miler — Erik Jones (2015), Ryan Blaney (2014), Austin Dillon (2011) and Denny Hamlin (2005). … No driver has ever earned his first Cup victory at Kansas. … Ryan Blaney won his first career pole position here last May becoming the youngest driver (23) to start on pole. … The top-five starting positions have produced the most wins (46 percent). Five times in 24 races, the polesitter has won — the last being Martin Truex in Fall, 2017. … Brad Keselowski holds the record for victory from the farthest spot on the starting grid (25th in 2011). … Five drivers have two runner-up finishes at Kansas: Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards. … Four drivers have started all 24 Kansas races — Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman. … Truex swept the 2017 races at Kansas. He, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon are the only drivers to win consecutive races.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Next Race: 37 Kind Days 250

The Place: Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, Kan.)

The Date: Friday, May 11

The Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 250 miles (167 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 40),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 80), Final Stage (Ends on lap 167)

What to Watch For: Kansas Speedway has proven to be a hard venue to predict victory. There have been 15 different race winners in 17 races and 13 different pole winners. … Matt Crafton and Kyle Busch have each won twice and both are entered in Friday night’s race. … Crafton has a series best eight top-10 finishes. … The top-five drivers in the championships standings are separated by only 35 points. Johnny Sauter holds a 29-point lead over second place Grant Enfinger. Fifth place Noah Gragson is 35 behind Sauter. … Six drivers among the top-10 are 25 years old or younger — ranging from 25-year old Brett Moffitt who is third in the points to 19-year old Gragson who is fifth in the standings. … The race has been won from the pole position only twice. Busch won from pole in 2014 and Ron Hornaday did in 2008. … Front row starters, however, have won eight of the 17 races. … There are three former winners entered this weekend — Busch, Crafton and series points leader Johnny Sauter, who won at Kansas in 2010. … Brandon Jones will be making his first truck series start of 2018. … The late Ricky Hendrick won the inaugural truck race here in 2001.

—By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media.

The post Weekend preview: Harvick, Busch duel again at Kansas Speedway appeared first on World The News.

from World The News https://ift.tt/2Ii5GjJ via Everyday News

[party-hard-or-die]

Weekend preview: Harvick, Busch duel again at Kansas Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kevin Harvick essentially told his fellow Monster Energy NASCAR Cup season dominator Kyle Busch: I’ll take your three race victories and raise you one. And after taking his fourth win last week at Dover, Harvick can expect that Busch will be ready to try and match the effort this weekend at Kansas Speedway.

Feb 16, 2018; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Harvick and Busch have won seven of the season’s first 11 races and the two former Cup champions have another four runner-up finishes between them too, dominating the 2018 season start in a way like no other in recent memory.

This week’s KC Masterpiece 400 at Kansas Speedway (Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) presents an exceptionally good challenge for both Harvick and Busch, however, judging by their historical work on the 1.5-miler.

Harvick has a pair of wins (2013 and 2016) and has won three pole positions (2013-14) and is ranked second-best in terms of overall driver rating (106.4). Busch won at Kansas in 2016 — his 17th try. And while his average finish at the track is uncharacteristic 17.1 — he has vastly improved that number with five top-fives in the last six races.

Last year Martin Truex Jr. swept both Kansas race victories en route to the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship.

“Before three years ago, I’ve not had many opportunities to win at Kansas and hopefully we can get into Victory Lane there again this weekend with our M&Ms Carmel Toyota,” Busch said. “As you’ve seen so far this year, there are certain circumstances that can go against you and you just have to persevere and keep fighting until the checkered flag falls. We’ve won some races even though we hadn’t had the dominant car in a few of those.”

“I think we’re pretty equal, honestly,” Busch said. “I think I’ve got to give them the notch a little bit. I think they’re a little bit better than we are.

“… A lot of it all comes down to execution when things are this tight with the 4 (Harvick) and us. They were able to execute better at the start of the year on their streak and also last week. And we’ve been able to execute in order to get our wins.

“We haven’t been dominant each week, but we’ve been able to execute as a team — myself as a driver — to be able to get those wins.”

Up for grabs

The 37 Kind Days 250 (May 11 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) has historically been one of the most unpredictable events on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule.

With 15 different winners in 17 races and only three former winners — Kyle Busch, Matt Crafton and championship leader Johnny Sauter — in the field this weekend, it may again prove too tough to call. And that’s always a good thing.

Toyota-powered trucks have won the last five races with Busch and Crafton responsible for two trophies each during that span at Kansas.

Now steering a Ford, Crafton may well be in line to break that Toyota streak. He’s won twice and finished runner-up twice in the last five Kansas races.

A victory would certainly be a big boost to the two-time former series champion who is ranked sixth in the points standings. The championship chase is tight entering Friday night’s race — only 35 points separate Sauter from fifth-place Noah Gragson, a 19-year old who won the pole position last week at Dover, Del. and was runner-up at Atlanta earlier in the season.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: KC Masterpiece 400

The Place: Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, Kan.)

Feb 16, 2018; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Date: Saturday, May 12

The Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 400 miles (400 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 80),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 160), Final Stage (Ends on lap 267)

What to Watch For: Jimmie Johnson boasts the best driver rating (107.7) at Kansas and is tied with Jeff Gordon for most wins (three). … Four of the sport’s biggest stars made their first Cup start at his 1.5-miler — Erik Jones (2015), Ryan Blaney (2014), Austin Dillon (2011) and Denny Hamlin (2005). … No driver has ever earned his first Cup victory at Kansas. … Ryan Blaney won his first career pole position here last May becoming the youngest driver (23) to start on pole. … The top-five starting positions have produced the most wins (46 percent). Five times in 24 races, the polesitter has won — the last being Martin Truex in Fall, 2017. … Brad Keselowski holds the record for victory from the farthest spot on the starting grid (25th in 2011). … Five drivers have two runner-up finishes at Kansas: Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards. … Four drivers have started all 24 Kansas races — Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman. … Truex swept the 2017 races at Kansas. He, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon are the only drivers to win consecutive races.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Next Race: 37 Kind Days 250

The Place: Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, Kan.)

The Date: Friday, May 11

The Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 250 miles (167 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 40),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 80), Final Stage (Ends on lap 167)

What to Watch For: Kansas Speedway has proven to be a hard venue to predict victory. There have been 15 different race winners in 17 races and 13 different pole winners. … Matt Crafton and Kyle Busch have each won twice and both are entered in Friday night’s race. … Crafton has a series best eight top-10 finishes. … The top-five drivers in the championships standings are separated by only 35 points. Johnny Sauter holds a 29-point lead over second place Grant Enfinger. Fifth place Noah Gragson is 35 behind Sauter. … Six drivers among the top-10 are 25 years old or younger — ranging from 25-year old Brett Moffitt who is third in the points to 19-year old Gragson who is fifth in the standings. … The race has been won from the pole position only twice. Busch won from pole in 2014 and Ron Hornaday did in 2008. … Front row starters, however, have won eight of the 17 races. … There are three former winners entered this weekend — Busch, Crafton and series points leader Johnny Sauter, who won at Kansas in 2010. … Brandon Jones will be making his first truck series start of 2018. … The late Ricky Hendrick won the inaugural truck race here in 2001.

—By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media.

The post Weekend preview: Harvick, Busch duel again at Kansas Speedway appeared first on World The News.

from World The News https://ift.tt/2Ii5GjJ via Breaking News

[dragnews]

Weekend preview: Harvick, Busch duel again at Kansas Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kevin Harvick essentially told his fellow Monster Energy NASCAR Cup season dominator Kyle Busch: I’ll take your three race victories and raise you one. And after taking his fourth win last week at Dover, Harvick can expect that Busch will be ready to try and match the effort this weekend at Kansas Speedway.

Feb 16, 2018; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Harvick and Busch have won seven of the season’s first 11 races and the two former Cup champions have another four runner-up finishes between them too, dominating the 2018 season start in a way like no other in recent memory.

This week’s KC Masterpiece 400 at Kansas Speedway (Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) presents an exceptionally good challenge for both Harvick and Busch, however, judging by their historical work on the 1.5-miler.

Harvick has a pair of wins (2013 and 2016) and has won three pole positions (2013-14) and is ranked second-best in terms of overall driver rating (106.4). Busch won at Kansas in 2016 — his 17th try. And while his average finish at the track is uncharacteristic 17.1 — he has vastly improved that number with five top-fives in the last six races.

Last year Martin Truex Jr. swept both Kansas race victories en route to the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship.

“Before three years ago, I’ve not had many opportunities to win at Kansas and hopefully we can get into Victory Lane there again this weekend with our M&Ms Carmel Toyota,” Busch said. “As you’ve seen so far this year, there are certain circumstances that can go against you and you just have to persevere and keep fighting until the checkered flag falls. We’ve won some races even though we hadn’t had the dominant car in a few of those.”

“I think we’re pretty equal, honestly,” Busch said. “I think I’ve got to give them the notch a little bit. I think they’re a little bit better than we are.

“… A lot of it all comes down to execution when things are this tight with the 4 (Harvick) and us. They were able to execute better at the start of the year on their streak and also last week. And we’ve been able to execute in order to get our wins.

“We haven’t been dominant each week, but we’ve been able to execute as a team — myself as a driver — to be able to get those wins.”

Up for grabs

The 37 Kind Days 250 (May 11 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) has historically been one of the most unpredictable events on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule.

With 15 different winners in 17 races and only three former winners — Kyle Busch, Matt Crafton and championship leader Johnny Sauter — in the field this weekend, it may again prove too tough to call. And that’s always a good thing.

Toyota-powered trucks have won the last five races with Busch and Crafton responsible for two trophies each during that span at Kansas.

Now steering a Ford, Crafton may well be in line to break that Toyota streak. He’s won twice and finished runner-up twice in the last five Kansas races.

A victory would certainly be a big boost to the two-time former series champion who is ranked sixth in the points standings. The championship chase is tight entering Friday night’s race — only 35 points separate Sauter from fifth-place Noah Gragson, a 19-year old who won the pole position last week at Dover, Del. and was runner-up at Atlanta earlier in the season.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: KC Masterpiece 400

The Place: Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, Kan.)

Feb 16, 2018; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Date: Saturday, May 12

The Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 400 miles (400 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 80),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 160), Final Stage (Ends on lap 267)

What to Watch For: Jimmie Johnson boasts the best driver rating (107.7) at Kansas and is tied with Jeff Gordon for most wins (three). … Four of the sport’s biggest stars made their first Cup start at his 1.5-miler — Erik Jones (2015), Ryan Blaney (2014), Austin Dillon (2011) and Denny Hamlin (2005). … No driver has ever earned his first Cup victory at Kansas. … Ryan Blaney won his first career pole position here last May becoming the youngest driver (23) to start on pole. … The top-five starting positions have produced the most wins (46 percent). Five times in 24 races, the polesitter has won — the last being Martin Truex in Fall, 2017. … Brad Keselowski holds the record for victory from the farthest spot on the starting grid (25th in 2011). … Five drivers have two runner-up finishes at Kansas: Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards. … Four drivers have started all 24 Kansas races — Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman. … Truex swept the 2017 races at Kansas. He, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon are the only drivers to win consecutive races.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Next Race: 37 Kind Days 250

The Place: Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, Kan.)

The Date: Friday, May 11

The Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 250 miles (167 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 40),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 80), Final Stage (Ends on lap 167)

What to Watch For: Kansas Speedway has proven to be a hard venue to predict victory. There have been 15 different race winners in 17 races and 13 different pole winners. … Matt Crafton and Kyle Busch have each won twice and both are entered in Friday night’s race. … Crafton has a series best eight top-10 finishes. … The top-five drivers in the championships standings are separated by only 35 points. Johnny Sauter holds a 29-point lead over second place Grant Enfinger. Fifth place Noah Gragson is 35 behind Sauter. … Six drivers among the top-10 are 25 years old or younger — ranging from 25-year old Brett Moffitt who is third in the points to 19-year old Gragson who is fifth in the standings. … The race has been won from the pole position only twice. Busch won from pole in 2014 and Ron Hornaday did in 2008. … Front row starters, however, have won eight of the 17 races. … There are three former winners entered this weekend — Busch, Crafton and series points leader Johnny Sauter, who won at Kansas in 2010. … Brandon Jones will be making his first truck series start of 2018. … The late Ricky Hendrick won the inaugural truck race here in 2001.

—By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media.

The post Weekend preview: Harvick, Busch duel again at Kansas Speedway appeared first on World The News.

from World The News https://ift.tt/2Ii5GjJ via Today News

[londontheatre]

Final casting is announced today for the 50th anniversary production of Joe Orton’s darkly comic masterpiece, LOOT.

Joining the previously announced rising British stars Calvin Demba (Evening Standard Emerging Talent Award nominee, The Red Lion, National Theatre) and Sam Frenchum (Private Peaceful, Grantchester) and the award-winning Sinéad Matthews (Mrs Elvsted in Ivo van Hove’s Hedda Gabler, National Theatre), are Christopher Fulford (Winston Churchill in Werner Herzog’s Queen of the Desert, The Crucible, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Ian Redford (The Alchemist, Mad World My Master, Candide, all for the RSC) and Raphael Bar (national tour of Out of Order) with Anah Ruddin.

LOOT – from the same producers as the recent sell-out hit The Boys in the Band – is directed by Michael Fentiman, whose credits include two acclaimed shows for the Royal Shakespeare Company as well as the critically-acclaimed hit, Raising Martha.

It will run at London’s Park Theatre from 17 August – 24 September. It will then transfer to the Watermill Theatre, Newbury, Berkshire, from 28 September – 21 October. Park Theatre press night: Wednesday 23 August at 7.00pm.

When it premiered five decades ago, LOOT shocked and delighted audiences in equal measure and it scooped the Best Play of the Year Award in the 1967 Evening Standard Awards. This production commemorates three 50-year anniversaries: Joe Orton’s death on 9 August 1967; LOOT’s first award-winning West End season at the Criterion Theatre; and the momentous, transformative passing in July 1967 of The Sexual Offences Act, which partially decriminalised homosexual acts in private between two men over the age of 21.

Loot – The Plot Uproarious slapstick meets dubious morals as two young friends, Hal (Frenchum) and Dennis (Demba), stash the proceeds of a bank robbery in an occupied coffin, attempting to hide their spoils from the attentions of a psychopathic policeman, a gold-digging nurse and a grieving widower. LOOT was named one of the National Theatre’s “100 Plays of the Century”. Sixties style icon Michael Caine loved it so much he saw it six times in 1967. Another fan was Beatle Paul McCartney.

THE CAST Raphael Bar (Meadows) His recent theatre credits include a national tour of Out of Order directed by Ray Cooney, The Club and Break Time (Tristan Bates), If My Heart Was A Closed Camera (Chelsea Theatre), Reprehensible Men (Camden Fringe), Skewed Judgement (Cockpit Theatre). On film he played the title role in the movie Pericles.

Calvin Demba (Dennis) Calvin had an early break in C4’s Hollyoaks then secured the lead in the hit youth drama Youngers. His other roles include a show-stopping turn in the award-winning play Routes at the Royal Court and the film London Road. He wrote and starred in his first short film RueBoy and will soon be seen in the action film sequel Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle.

Sam Frenchum (Hal) Sam trained at RADA. He recently had a featured starring role in six episodes of Grantchester as Gary Bell, a mentally-challenged teenager sentenced to hang for murder that was really an accident. He was Jimmy Parsons in the film Private Peaceful. As a member of the National Youth Theatre he was Dave in Our Days Of Rage (Old Vic Tunnels), Jack in Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens (Edinburgh Festival), and Orlando in As You Like It, directed by Fiona Laird.

Christopher Fulford (Truscott) A regular face in British TV and film for over 20 years, he made an early mark playing green-haired punk Alex in the short-lived two-series ITV sitcom, Sorry, I’m A Stranger Here Myself. Memorably he appeared as a suspected child murderer in Cracker, he played Castor Van Bethoven in the movie Immortal Beloved and he starred as Napoleon in the BBC adaptation of Scarlet and Black alongside the then virtually unknown Ewan McGregor and Rachel Weisz. More recently, he appeared in the ITV1 dramas Whitechapel and Collision, as a suicidal Prime Minister in the TV series The Last Enemy, and as Winston Churchill in Werner Herzog’s movie, Queen of the Desert. On stage he was Rev Parriss in Timothy Sheader’s production of The Crucible at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, The River Line at Jermyn Street Theatre, Nightingale and Chase directed by Richard Wilson at the Royal Court, The Indian Boy at the RSC and as ”A” in Crave as part of the Sarah Kane Season in Sheffield.

Sinéad Matthews (Nurse McMahon) Sinéad trained at RADA. Her stage roles include Mrs. Elvsted in Ivo van Hove’s recent Hedda Gabler (National Theatre), Laura in Giving (Hampstead), Jane in Evening at The Talk House (NT), Heather in Wasp (Hampstead). As Hedvig in The Wild Duck, directed by Michael Grandage at the Donmar Warehouse, she won the Ian Charleson Award for Outstanding Newcomer. On film she was Queen Victoria in Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner, Miss Topsey in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang, Alice in Mike Leigh’s Happy Go Lucky.

Ian Redford (McLeavy) Ian’s extensive theatre credits includeThe Alchemist (RSC/Barbican), Mad World My Master (RSC), Candide (RSC), Our Country’s Good (Out Of Joint), Brimstone and Treacle (Arcola), The Gatekeeper (Manchester Royal Exchange), Love the Sinner (National Theatre), Six Degrees of Separation (Old Vic), Helen (The Globe), Romeo & Juliet (The Globe). TV includes; New Tricks, Mary and Martha, Boogeyman. Film includes; The Trial of the King Killers, I.D, The Remains of the Day, Just Like a Woman.

The Creative Team Director Michael Fentiman Designer Gabriella Slade Lighting Design Elliot Griggs Sound Design Max Pappenheim Casting Director Stephen Moore CDG

Produced by Tom O’Connell, James Seabright and The Watermill Theatre in association with King’s Head Theatre and Park Theatre.

John Kingsley “Joe” Orton (1 January 1933 – 9 August 1967) Between 1963 when his first play was accepted and 1967 when he died, aged just 34, in a frenzied hammer attack in a murder-suicide at the hand of his jealous partner, Kenneth Halliwell, Joe Orton emerged as a playwright of international reputation.

Fascinated with the macabre, he wrote just a handful of plays, including Entertaining Mr Sloane and What The Butler Saw, but his impact was huge. His reviews ranged from praise to outrage, and the term “Ortonesque”, describing work characterised by a similarly dark yet farcical cynicism, was in common useage. Like Oscar Wilde before him, Orton’s plays scandalised audiences, but his wit made the outrage scintillating.

At the time of his death, aged 34, he was the toast of London, he had an award-winning West End play, two more plays broadcast on TV, was appearing on TV chat shows and had been commissioned to write a movie script for The Beatles. In the end, his death was more lurid than anything he put on stage and made front page news.

LISTINGS INFO Tom O’Connell, James Seabright and The Watermill Theatre in association with King’s Head Theatre and Park Theatre present

LOOT by Joe Orton Thursday 17 August – Saturday 24 September

Park Theatre Clifton Terrace Finsbury Park London, N4 3JP

http://ift.tt/2vBSNKD LondonTheatre1.com

[londontheatre]

LOOT: Calvin Demba and Sam Frenchum – Photo Derren Bell

Calvin Demba, Sam Frenchum and Sinéad Matthews star in the 50th-anniversary production of Joe Orton’s darkly comic masterpiece “Loot”.

Rising British stars Calvin Demba (Evening Standard Emerging Talent Award nominee, The Red Lion, National Theatre), Sam Frenchum (Private Peaceful, Grantchester) and award-winning Sinéad Matthews (Mrs Elvsted in Ivo van Hove’s Hedda Gabler, National Theatre), are to star in the 50th anniversary production of Joe Orton’s darkly comic masterpiece, LOOT. More cast willl be announced soon.

When it premiered five decades ago, LOOT shocked and delighted audiences in equal measure and it scooped the Best Play of the Year Award in the 1967 Evening Standard Awards.

LOOT – from the same producers as the recent sell-out hit The Boys in the Band – is directed by Michael Fentiman, whose credits include two acclaimed shows for the Royal Shakespeare Company as well as the critically-acclaimed hit, Raising Martha. It will run at London’s Park Theatre from 17 August – 24 September.

It will then transfer to the Watermill Theatre, Newbury, Berkshire, from 28 September – 21 October. Park Theatre press night: Wednesday 23 August at 7.00pm.

LOOT: Sinéad Matthews

The production celebrates three 50-year anniversaries: Joe Orton’s death on 9 August 1967; LOOT’s first award-winning West End season at the Criterion Theatre; and the momentous, transformative passing in July 1967 of The Sexual Offences Act, which partially decriminalised homosexual acts in private between two men over the age of 21.

Loot – The Plot Uproarious slapstick meets dubious morals as two young friends, Hal (Frenchum) and Dennis (Demba), stash the proceeds of a bank robbery in an occupied coffin, attempting to hide their spoils from the attentions of a psychopathic policeman, a gold-digging nurse and a grieving widower. Loot was named one of the National Theatre’s “100 Plays of the Century”. Sixties style icon Michael Caine loved it so much he saw it six times in 1967. Another fan was Beatle Paul McCartney.

Calvin Demba Calvin had an early break in C4’s Hollyoaks then secured the lead in the hit youth drama Youngers. His other roles include a show-stopping turn in the award-winning play Routes at the Royal Court and the film London Road. He wrote and starred in his first short film RueBoy and will soon be seen in the action film sequel Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle.

Sam Frenchum Sam trained at RADA. He was in Holby City and Doctors then he had a guest starring role in six episodes of Grantchester as Gary Bell, a mentally-challenged teenager sentenced to hang for murder that was really an accident.

Sinéad Matthews Sinéad trained at RADA. Her stage roles include Mrs. Elvsted in Ivo van Hove’s recent Hedda Gabler (National Theatre), Laura in Giving (Hampstead), Jane in Evening at The Talk House (NT), Heather in Wasp (Hampstead). As Hedvig in The Wild Duck, directed by Michael Grandage at the Donmar Warehouse, she won the Ian Charleson Award for Outstanding Newcomer. On film she was Queen Victoria in Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner, Miss Topsey in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang, Alice in Mike Leigh’s Happy Go Lucky.

More casting to be announced soon.

Creative team: Director Michael Fentiman Designer Gabriella Slade Lighting Design Elliot Griggs Sound Design Max Pappenheim Casting Director Stephen Moore CDG

Produced by Tom O’Connell, James Seabright and The Watermill Theatre in association with King’s Head Theatre and Park Theatre.

Joe Orton’s Loot – Teaser Trailer

LISTINGS INFORMATION Tom O’Connell, James Seabright and The Watermill Theatre in association with King’s Head Theatre and Park Theatre present LOOT by Joe Orton

Thursday 17 August – Saturday 24 September

Park Theatre Clifton Terrace Finsbury Park London N4 3JP

http://ift.tt/2rMHsVH LondonTheatre1.com