The cars have been started and the racing has begun in Daytona.  Just about time to start the 2008 season and the phone here at the JNFL Headquarters is ringing off the hook all of the sudden.  June and I got married this Friday so I have not had much time to prepare for the season.  That being said we actually are working our butts off to get up and running.  The Budweiser Shootout Fantasy Party was a lot of fun and reminded me again why we do all this.  Everyone loves it.  This has become a way of life. 

I just got off the phone with Greg and he assures me that everything we have been owrking on to upgrade for 2008 is almost complete.  Rest assured that the JNFL will be by far the coolest Nascar fantasy league in the world.  Hopefully by the end of 2008 all 10 years of the JNFL will be in the website database for our viewing pleasure.  Tracking your season and making your pick online will be a breeze and a joy.  The website will remain your starting point for all things Nascar, providing every meaningful statistic and opinion necessary for making your weekly picks.  Monday night I should know exactly when the site will roll into 2008.  If you played last year just relax, you are in for this year.  If you are a new player interested in joining the JNFL, get in touch with us right away.  Everyone should be prepared to call in their first pick regardless of where the functionality of the website lies come February 17th, 

Please cut us a little slack here at the JNFL HQ.  This is easily the busiest I have ever been in my life.  And the happiest.  Thank you all for your patience, understanding, help and friendship.  Stay tuned and stay in touch!

It is with an extremely heavy heart I must inform you that JNFL member Butch has passed away.  He was surrounded by his family when he left us shortly after 9am this Tuesday morning.  While it was no secret that Butch was not feeling well it is without a doubt a tremendous loss for all of us.  Butch was a dear friend to so many and always was quick with a smile.  You all may remember Butch actually finished in last place last year and had to ride the toilet during the Fantasy Banquet.  While it was something he truly did not want it was with classic Butchy style to take it all with a laugh.  The picture above was taken at that time.

From all of us here at the JNFL Headquarters and everyone in the league I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Butch's friends and family in this time of grief.  May he be in a better place.  God please bless and rest his soul.

Hello kiddies.  The off season is quickly coming to an end.  Seems like only yesterday that we were at the banquet handing out awards to the winners in 2007.  It is time to move forward now and look ahead to this upcoming season for it is fast approaching.  We usually have a rule around here that I don't want to hear about the JNFL till February comes around.  Not this year.  I have been in touch with our friends over at Sitecats.com and they assure me that we will be better than ever in 2008.  Here is a little sample of what is coming:

• The schedule for the 2008 season is now posted in the 'JNFL Links' section.  I added the weeks that we are off to help see how the season breaks down and possibly cut down on how many people try to make a pick during the weekends we are off.
• Added a seperate link holding information about all the tracks used by the Sprint Cup drivers.
• You, the JNFL member, will have access to your stats from last year.  All stats from last year will remain available and we are currently working on different ways to display it.  Stay tuned.
• This year the list of drivers will be sorted bu their point total instead of alphabetically.  This should keep drivers picked most often at the top of the list yet allow for all available picks to remain in the list regardless of who makes the race.  That means no more stars (*) next to the drivers name to declare who missed the race.  That is a pain in my butt.
• The way a new player registers for the website will change slightly.  We are currently working on that process, please hang tight.  All new players are subject to approval by the league.  Any decisions pertaining to removing players who played last year have yet to be made.
• The JNFL Rules and By-Laws have been updated for the 2008 season and can be viewed by logging into the website.  They will appear in the 'JNFL Links' after log-in.  There is not much different this year from last.  I had to change the Nextel Cup into the Sprint Cup.  One change to notice is the Back-up Driver rules.  I shortened the window a player may change their BUD to just the week between Loudon and Daytona in the middle of the season.  These changes are not final and may be adjusted further.  If you have a questions or suggestions for the upcoming season now would be a great time to speak up.

I hope you have all had a nice break from Nascar.  Time to open the garage door and take the cover off the old hot rod.  We will be turning over the motors here before to long!

Hello to everyone and Happy Holidays!

   I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of the JNFL members who have sent well wishes and thoughts and prayers for my family and myself. The overwhelming generosity that the league has shown my entire family and myself is second to none and one that my family will soon never forget. The very fact that you took the time to recognize the situation I am dealing with and to help make sure that my family didn’t do without this holiday season, made for a wonderful Christmas of thanks and joyfulness in the Kondratick household. While I am still struggling with my illness, I was very pleased to find out that you, my family of league friends, stepped out of the shadows and helped make my family feel the joy and true spirit of Christmas. The spirit of giving.

   While I still have a long road ahead of me and lots of battles to be fought yet, I can take comfort in knowing that I have the support of all of my friends and family when I need it most. I am very thankful everyday that the true spirit of friendship isn’t dead within our little community of people and you all have shown my family and I that we are never alone in our struggles so long as we have all of you to count on.

   Thank You again to everyone for all that you have done for the “Rogue” and his family and please remember that if you should ever need anyone to help you, my family and I are here for you as well. Thanks again everyone and have a Happy and safe New Year!

   Yours truly,

   The Kondratick Family

   PS… Enclosed you will find a 'picture of the Kondratick Family' on Christmas morning. All of the children got just what they asked for!  Thank You.