May saw amazing growth in both Cuzoogle and The Chocolate Dog Blog and more published writing coming up as well.

I was given some more freelance writing from Chalk and this time it was a sport I am not that into, football. So that made it a little more work and more double checking facts but in the everything worked out and the clients liked what I did.

55 NCAA football previews and 16 NFL previews kept me very busy for two weeks in May and I will get to posting them soon. They are going to be featured in a magazine called Blitz and it is put out by BetUS to 5 million subscribers in the United States each July.

Now for the blogging.

Cuzoogle kept climbing the charts in May. After wracking up close to 70, 000 page views in April, it went even further in May closing at 107, 000 page views. That included many battles with my former hosting company and days of having the blog down for several hours. Getting linked to Sports Illustrated a few times helped and so did the Babes of Survivor tournament.

With the increase in traffic that meant for the first month ever there was actually money made. The best news. June is only a week old and the traffic number has almost been surpassed already.

The Chocolate Dog Blog is doing well with daily readers and building a solid rep in the pet blog community. The traffic numbers are not out of this world or everything but it has gotten up to a nice average of 200 page views per day. I am pretty happy with that since I really don’t spend the time I should on it.

The day job I can feel is coming soon and who knows how that will affect the blogging but I will eventually get it all worked out and make time for everything. The good news is I have a lot on the go and that makes me pretty excited for the future.

Will post about June soon and post my football previews on here as well.

Cuzoogle is still going through a painful upgrade to Wordpress 2.5 and 2.5.1.

There has been a lot of work done in the last few weeks by the good people at HostGator, Bryan of GrandmasterB and myself.

Almost everything is working again but there is still mysterious script errors when trying to post. Funny enough this blog was upgraded just fine.

Now for the exciting numbers, at least for Cuzoogle. Don’t get me wrong the Chocolate Dog Blog is doing well with revenue and the solid readership but Cuzoogle is really dominating in traffic for a domain that is three months old.

April numbers (March in brackets)

Cuzoogle - 69, 923 (35, 461) page views

Chocolate Dog Blog - 4, 004 (3, 549) page views

These numbers are based on what WordPress stats lists in case you are wondering. I know they are not the standard but they are what I am using. Google Analytics has not been running long enough to use them yet.

Growth is always good and considering all of the pain I have had with upgrades I am pretty pleased.

If you have not checked out Cuzoogle yet, please do.

Some posts that may interest you:

The Final Four - Survivor Babes Style
Babes of Survivor
A view from the search engine couch - Gi
NHL Playoffs - Win 25 bucks just for vot
The seven: Hottest women celebs
The seven: Female athletes in Playboy
Babes of Survivor - Parvati Shallow
A view from the search engine couch - Nudes
Babes of Survivor - Amanda Kimmel
Round 2 - Survivor Babes

The Chocolate Dog Blog is rolling into spring with some upcoming contests. Please stay tuned for those. In the meantime go and check out what Bosco is up to.

Posts that may interest you:

Bosco says check out Britain’s top
Let spring begin
This site is good I Shih Tzu not
Caring for older dogs
Top dog names in Britain
Bud Light Sausage Commercial
The Healthy Dog bowl
Sienna Miller - Dog walker
Dog beds for Christmas!
Dog Breeders Issue Massive Recall Of ‘07

The job hunt is still going strong and I have been going on interviews. The big day could be very soon.

If you would like to see some of my writing that has been published, please go here.

Cuzoogle is currently going through a painful upgrade to Wordpress 2.5. Almost everything is working again but I have taken a break to let things settle and refresh the ideas. Thanks to all who offered their help.

If you have not checked out Cuzoogle yet, please do.

Some posts that may interest you:

• The seven: Hottest women celebs
• Winnie Cooper stuff
• Alexander Ovechkin lists his dream girlfriends
• The seven: Female athletes in Playboy
• Got a camera? Learn how to shoot nude women
• NBA makeover - Everyone to look like Bosh
• Versus - Sexiest Survivor gal
• Cuzzy in real life
• Best ankle busters in the NBA
• Lena Headey - Climbing the ranks

The Chocolate Dog Blog has undergone a face lift and is really growing again. I have taken some extra time to arrange things to look more appealing and user friendly.

I am very excited about where it is headed and invite you to check it out. Even if you don’t have a dog, Bosco is one darn cute guy.

Posts that may interest you:

• Sienna Miller - Dog walker
• Weekend at Bosco’s
• Dog Breeders Issue Massive Recall Of ‘07 Pugs
• Bosco goes to the carnival
• What is new with the Boss
• Bosco’s fun weekend
• Bosco and his snow shadow friend
• Night time snow angel
• Lazy Friday
• Bosco says read this

March was a great month for traffic as well. I only hope it continues and grows.

Cuzoogle - 35461 viewers

Chocolate Dog Blog - 3549 viewers

These numbers are based on what Wordpress says in case you are wondering.

The job hunt is still going strong and I have applied for some exciting postings this week. It is only a matter of time.

Jimmie Johnson vs. Jeff Gordon

As Jimmie Johnson celebrated his second straight Nextel Cup victory in 2007, all the other drivers including those on his own team at Hendrick Motorsports were left scratching their heads wondering how they would be able to beat Johnson in 2008.

Teammate Jeff Gordon came as close as you could get to earning his fifth title in 2007 without actually winning it. Under the old point system he actually would have won it with two races left to spare. It is the second time that Gordon has been through this in the Chase era, leaving experts to wonder if recovery was possible.
Despite a slow start to the new season, JJ and Gordon are still the two most dominant drivers on the circuit today. When you take into account how the 2007 season ended and the fact that they are on the same racing team it makes for a very compelling story. Both drivers are expected to cash in during the 2008 season but will it be one of them left standing all alone when the Chase for the Sprint Cup concludes?

Jimmie Johnson
Johnson will try to capture a few more early season wins than last year. He only came first once during April and May in 2007 and that was at the Jim Stewart 400. A second-place finish at the Aaron’s 499 and the Nextel All-Star challenge were the other highlights.

April/May track records

Texas Motor Speedway – 1 win, 0 poles
Phoenix International Speedway – 1 win, 0 poles
Talladega Superspeedway – 1 win, 1 pole
Richmond International Raceway – 2 wins, 2 poles
Darlington Raceway – 2 wins, 0 poles
Lowe’s Motor Speedway – 5 wins, 2 poles

Hendrick Motorsports struggled in 2007 on the concrete track of Dover so it could be key for JJ to grab a few wins before hitting the start of June.

Jeff Gordon

The four-time champ must focus on finishing the year strong. But before looking to far ahead Gordon has to try to repeat the success of April and May of 2007. Gordon won three times and finished fourth twice. This would go a long way in matching last season’s six-win performance overall. Factor in this being the third full season of the Steve Letarte reign as crew chief and there is great optimism that the Drive For Five will happen.

April/May track records

Texas Motor Speedway – 0 wins, 0 poles
Phoenix International Speedway – 1 win, 3 poles
Talladega Superspeedway – 6 wins, 1 pole
Richmond International Raceway – 2 wins, 5 poles
Darlington Raceway – 7 wins, 3 poles
Lowe’s Motor Speedway – 4 wins, 4 poles

Last season Gordon came into the 2007 season never winning at Phoenix and he ended that string of losses with a win. In the spring on 2008 it could be Texas Motor Speedway that falls next
Who will win the title in 2008?

As great as Jimmie Johnson has been the last two years en route to back-to-back championships, a third consecutive title for Hendrick’s No. 48 team will be a difficult task to achieve. But there are telling signs pointing to JJ rising to the top again.
Since climbing up to NASCAR’s top series in 2002, Johnson has never finished lower than fifth in the championship. He is one of the smartest drivers, has a great crew chief (Chad Knaus), a great pit crew, Hendrick Motorsports equipment and his focus on winning is similar to that of his owner Rick Hendrick.

Although Johnson is a favorite to win his third straight title, he must share the top spot with Gordon. Gordon had one of the best years in the modern era in 2007 but did not capture the crown.

The four-time champ has lost two championships to the Chase format and most experts believe he won’t let it happen a third time.
Gordon was at the top of the charts in COT races, posting the best finishing average in the series. He finished in the top-5 10 times and in the top-10 14 times.

After Gordon lost the title in agonizing fashion, it makes him all the more dangerous for the remainder of 2008.

Coming off a season in which both drivers did nearly everything right on the track for Hendrick Motorsports, the buzz about the slow start to 2008 is understandable. With so many races left, it might also be premature to think the trend will continue.
Races in April and May will certainly give fans a better idea if Johnson and Gordon are going to dominate the track once again and fight it out for the ultimate prize.
If anyone can beat Johnson in 2008, it is Gordon.

Who will end up the best?

This will go down as one of the most heated debates in NASCAR.
If Johnson can capture the Sprint Cup this year, he will stand alongside Cale Yarborough, who is the only driver to win three straight championships.
If Gordon can stay motivated, overcome last season’s failure and capture a 5th title, the tide will turn his way.
One thing is for sure, both of the HMS drivers will have a major impact on this season’s Chase for the Sprint Cup.

April/May NASCAR race previews

The NASCAR season is a grueling, long distance road trip each driver must take just to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

There are already a few surprises turning heads in 2008 and NASCAR fans have to wonder if the trend will continue into the spring.

Based on Hendrick Motorsports dominating 2007 season, most experts figured they would roll into the new season without skipping a beat.

Jimmie Johnson won 10 races last season to capture his second straight Nextel Cup while HMS won 18 out of 36 races overall on the year.

Figure in the acquisition of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to the team and it only added to the expectations for HMS to win almost every week.

Not so fast.

Carl Edwards and the Roush Fenway Fords have come out of the gates with a bang and seem to be the team best positioned to knock Hendrick off its well-earned pedestal.

Roush Fenway Racing has Matt Kenseth, the most talented driver in NASCAR after Johnson, Edwards who came ninth last season and Greg Biffle.

The RFR boys advantage over HMS could be in large part to having a better grasp of the Car of Tomorrow, which is being used full-time this season.

So are HMS and RFR the only two teams to keep an eye on in April and May?

Of course not.

You can’t overlook Clint Bowyer of Richard Childress Racing. He snuck up on the field and finished third in the standings last year thanks to using a conservative strategy early in the racing season.

Will Bowyer be more aggressive in his approach in the early going this season or stick to what worked for him in 2007?

Then there are the drivers looking for bounce back seasons and capturing some early wins in the spring can certainly help build momentum toward the Chase..

NASCAR Rookie of the Year Juan Pablo Montoya should improve after finishing 20th overall last season and Kasey Kahne is a good bet to rebound this season, in large part because things can’t get any worse.

Races in April and May seem to be building into a heavyweight battle between Hendrick and Roush Racing.

Can RFR maintain the dominance they have shown in the early part of 2008 or will the favorites catch fire and start to dominate the track as expected?

April’s schedule begins at Texas Motor Speedway. Here’s a look at all of the upcoming events:

April 6 – Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway

Last year’s race came down to former Texas Motor Speedway winners and ex-teammates Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton. On the last lap Burton was able to hold off Kenseth to become the first repeat winner of a Cup series event held at the speedway. Of note Jeff Gordon started on the pole and led 173 laps of the race before finishing fourth.

April 12 – Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway

This race served as the first night race of the 2007 season and the third race to use the Car of Tomorrow. Jeff Gordon captured his first win at Phoenix and was also the first NEXTEL Cup race winner at Phoenix from the pole position. Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kensith rounded out the Top 5.

April 27 – Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Speedway

Last year Jeff Gordon won the race that saw fans throwing garbage on the track to show their displeasure. The rest of the top five finishers were Jimmie Johnson ending up in second place, followed by Kurt Busch, David Gilliland, and Jamie McMurray in that order. The event ended with an aborted green-white-checkered finish where several cars were involved, including Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, McMurray, and Gilliland.

May 3 – Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway

In the second installment of the ground breaking “Your Name Here” contest, Crown Royal announced essay winner Dan Lowry as the grand prize winner for this year’s race. In 2007 it was another dominating performance for Hendrick Motorsports, with Jimmie Johnson winning, Kyle Busch finishing second and Jeff Gordon coming in fourth.

May 10 – Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway

This race’s name was changed to the Dodge Charger 500 for 2008 after being sponsored by the Dodge Avenger last season. The originally scheduled May 12th running was postponed due to rain, and was run the following afternoon with Jeff Gordon finishing ahead of the pack. Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards also finished in the Top 5, while Clint Bowyer was the pole-sitter.

May 17 – NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway

Formerly known as the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, this race is open to winners from the previous season as well as the current season, plus the past ten event winners and past decade’s Cup Series champions. Matt Kenseth won the pole and Kevin Harvick was bumper-to-bumper with Jimmie Johnson coming to the finish line to win the race. Standings points are not awarded for this event.

May 25 – Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway

The longest race on the Nextel Cup schedule was won last season by Casey Mears, after he gambled by stretching his fuel to the finish line. He was followed by J.J. Yeley, Kyle Petty, Reed Sorenson and Brian Vickers. Ryan Newman won the pole for this race. Of note Jeff Gordon failed to finish this race for the fifth straight year.