rain and high winds took out trees across southern new hampshire last thursday night leaving many, including me, without power, heat and water for 3 days and nights ... and without cable for telephone, tv and cyberworld for 6 days and nights ... now a week later, things have returned to a more normal state ... unfortunately, there was no tv for last sunday's race from las vegas ... thanks to my nephew jason and his awesome wife robin, i did have a crank radio they gave me for xmas a year ago ... so at least i got to listen to jeff gordon dominate and jimmie johnson win ... again

watch nascar's sights and sounds of las vegas here ... watch and listen to race chatter here ... race rewind can be viewed here

pool standings after week #3 <> shelby american 400

• jason -- 507 points
• justin* -- 504 (-3) / 2 winners

tom -- 462 (-45) / 1 winner

rich -- 446 (-61)

floyd -- 436 (-71) / 1 winner

jim -- 361 (-146)

robin -- 336 (-171) / 1 winner

kevin -- 285 (-222) / 1 winner

candy* -- 280 (-227) / 1 winner

scott* -- 247 (-260)

* denotes rookie competitor ... welcome candy, justin and scott!

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nascar 2010 pool picks for week #3 <> shelby american 400 from las vegas motor speedway in las vegas, nv (for most points <> for race win)

• floyd -- jamie mcmurray (1) <> jimmie johnson (48)
• jason -- clint bowyer (33) <> kyle busch (18)
• tom -- dale earnhardt, jr (88) <> kyle busch (18)
• justin -- kevin harvick (29) <> jimmie johnson (48)
• jim -- kurt busch (2) <> jeff gordon (24)
• robin -- kurt busch (2) <> kyle busch (18)
• rich -- jeff gordon (24) <> kurt busch (2)
• kevin -- sam hornish, jr (77) <> jimmie johnson (48)
• candy -- kurt busch (2) <> jimmie johnson (48)
• scott -- greg biffle (16) <> kevin harvick (29)