Submitted from NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

As part of a promotion for its KODAK EASYSHARE All-in-One printers, Kodak is giving race fans something to “thINK” about.

To celebrate the winning entry in the company’s “Ink Ryan’s Ride” contest, Kodak will unveil a never-before-seen, custom-designed paint scheme for Ryan Newman’s No. 12 KODAK Dodge. The winning design was selected from over 3,000 contest entries, which were judged by driver Ryan Newman, NBA alum and TV co-host John Salley from “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” and online votes. After its unveiling, Newman will drive the newly inked car in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Sharp AQUOS® 500 race on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007, at the California Speedway.

As further promotion of KODAK EASYSHARE All-in-One Printers, the first 75 fans to bring an old printer to the unveiling will receive two free tickets to the Sharp AQUOS 500 race, complements of Kodak, along with a coupon for dollars off a new KODAK Printer. All old printers will be sent to an electronics recycling center.

All attendees will receive a picture of the newly designed No. 12 KODAK DODGE, printed on the new KODAK Printer.

So all you need to do is get yourself over to The Kodak Theatre Hollywood and Highland Center Awards Walk at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, CA. 90028 on Saturday, September 1, 2007 from 11:00 a.m.– 3:00 p.m. to be a part of the action and for your chance to get a pair of free tickets to the race on Sunday.

Have fun, and don’t forget to thank the great people from Kodak for giving you the opportunity to get those free tickets and for running the Ink Ryan’s Ride Contest. What a great way to get the fans involved in the sport that they love so much. Without sponsors like Kodak we wouldn’t have NASCAR.

Photo Credit: thinklikeryan.com

Submitted from NASCAR Eclectic

Future pace car??
Joe Gibbs is a very wise fellow. His [possible] decision to go with Toyota next season carries with it many facets, one being the development of the new R07 engine, and the there’s Chevrolet’s dominance, proven performance, etc. etc. Perhaps he has a crystal ball, because this has to be a hard choice to step away from Chevy and GM. I have faith in TRD, I mean look at their dominance in the Truck Series. The future very well could be Toyota taking the lead.
Smoke has the biggest transition. He has a very big relationship with GM outside of NASCAR, but something tells me things will all come together.
Joe Gibbs Racing to host fanfest … check this out. What a great way to help.

Submitted from Freshrubber.com

Dale Earnhardt Inc. has reached a verbal agreement with Regan Smith to drive the No. 01 in the Nextel Cup series next season, a NASCAR source told ESPN.com on Wednesday. Smith will fill the car driven this season by Mark Martin and Aric Almirola, who will split the 2008 season in the No. 8 currently being driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

He will have a one-year deal with an option for a second year.

An official announcement of the entire DEI lineup with sponsor plans is expected next weekend at Richmond International Raceway. Smith, splitting time with Martin, drove the No. 01 in six Cup races this season for Ginn Racing before its merger with DEI. His best start was 10th at Watkins Glenn and best finish was 24th at Talladega.

Submitted from NASCAR Eclectic

It all started a few months ago when a filling in my #14 molar fell out. My stubbornness and dislike of dental work kept me from doing the right thing. Soon I developed the occasional night time toothache, which would go away. Then on this past Monday morning it hit hard and stayed basically knocking my 6′ 1″ 180 lb. frame to my knees. Yesterday a dentist discovered a massive infection and today I am on a regimen of Penicillin and pain killers. I’m sitting here now with a throb that brings tears to my eyes, but it has moved to the more localized area, while before it was the whole left side of my jaw. It’s been the worst pain I’ve ever felt… I’ve put a nail into my hand with a nail gun… put on a band-aid and kept working… sliced myself with utility knives, saw blades and splinters are a daily occurrence. I’ve dislocated shoulders, broken ribs, and suffered back injuries from my days as a competiton water skier and downhill racing and nothing compares what this one little tooth has done.

Moral of the story… go to the damn dentist bucko!!

In NASCAR… I was in the dark about the Gene Haas investigation, so the recent guilty plea and probable 2 year stint came by surprise. It wasn’t long ago I wrote a post about him and his innovative robotic business as well as the state of the art 40 mil wind tunnel he had plans to build… almost the amount he has been charged with. Well, 24 months is short… he’ll be back in time for the opening of the new NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte in 2110.

Submitted from NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

Jacques Villeneuve has finally gotten his feet wet in NASCAR after completing his 2 day test in a BDR truck at Chicagoland Speedway with still unemployed Slugger Labbe as his acting crew chief.

Jacques tried to get into NASCAR with Jack Roush earlier this year, but no deal was struck and now he is trying to get a foot hold in NASCAR with the ailing BDR race team. Plans have him running the last 6 Truck races of the season with a ‘possible’ foray into Cup for a as of yet to be determined date. Could we see him in that green coloured car currently driven by the soon to be unemployed Jeremy Mayfield? Maybe baby.

“I needed to do something in racing that was at an extremely high level, which NASCAR is, but something different,” said Villeneuve.

“I didn’t look at IRL (or Champ Car); I only concentrated on NASCAR. After Formula 1, when you want to carry on racing, you want it to be at a top level. And in North America, the top level is NASCAR. And I was missing the ovals also, so it sounded like a great challenge.”

We’ll see if he is up to the challenge. A lot has been said in the past about his lack of commitment to his team, so we’ll just have to wait and see if those rumours are just that, rumours, or in fact truth. I would imagine that with the race schedule that NASCAR drivers and their teams face day in and day out we will find out early in the season next year if Jacques has what it takes or not. I hope he does, as I just might end up cheering for someone on a more regular basis.

I hope really does make it, if for no other reason then to tick off the Kansas City Star!

Photo Credit: tsn.ca

Submitted from Freshrubber.com

During The SPEED Report’s Last Lap on Sunday, NASCAR reporter Bob Dillner reported that Robert Yates Racing approached NASCAR about transferring the No. 38 to Hendrick Motorsports.

The number, currently driven by Nextel Cup rookie David Gilliland, would have the No. 3 that Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s father drove. It would also have the No. 8, which the driver has expressed an interest in keeping so his fans would be able to just draw a number in front of or behind the 8.

Submitted from NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

After not seeing the Michigan race last week I came home with a few story ideas, some good and some bad, but there was one that I really wanted to write about: Teresa Earnhardt.

In fact, just before I left to go to the races at MIS I sort of hinted about the way I felt in a post entitled “8′nt Going To Happen”. After attending the weekend festivities at MIS I came home a little more supportive of Teresa Earnhardt than I was before. Here’s why:

Some of those Dale Jr fans can be harsh. Check out the pictures, they are of an unofficially licenced T-shirt (front and back). Although I laughed when I first saw it, I think it was more of a laugh in disbelief rather than humour. The front is very harsh. My friend, the NASCAR virgin, who went with me to the races couldn’t believe his eyes when he read it, unfortunately I could (once reality set in) because I’ve read and heard what people have been saying about Teresa. Now if the image on the back were to be placed on the front with nothing else on the back I would have been OK with it, but in the form it is now I too find it a bit offensive and I am a Dale Sr and Dale Jr fan.

You know what gets me though is the fact that these people who say they are Dale Jr fans while cutting up Teresa are the same people who are singing the praises of the documentary movie, “Dale” which Teresa Earnhardt had a very large hand in producing. Talking out two sides of your mouth will only get you in trouble, or show how foolish you really are (that would be me on occasion)!

Now Dale Jr has come out this week telling the media and people (fans) to leave Teresa alone. I’ve got to give him credit for this, but I think he should have stepped up earlier - it could have helped him in the number 8 negotiations.

Despite what Teresa may appear to be to you, you must still remember that she is a business women and that is what everything has come down to, the running of the business. Why do businesses stay in business? To make profit! And that is just what she has been doing, and is continuing to do, as well as keeping her late husband’s vision alive. If Dale Sr truly wanted his kids to run the business in the event of his death then he would have said so in his will, but he left everything to Teresa. Like it or not, that is the fact. I think eventually he would have turned things over to the kids, but I think he thought they weren’t ready yet, either that or he wasn’t planning on ever dying.

Submitted from NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

OK, Saturday’s Cup race wasn’t nearly as exciting as the Busch race the night before. Who all agrees with me? Thought so.

Then the next question must be, why was the race so boring? Look at the finishing order, about half of the top 10 started deep in the field - shouldn’t that have been good reason to be excited?They had to race their way to the front after all.

If it wasn’t for Robby Gordon spinning himself out a couple of times, I don’t know what else would have entertained me, except that this race was Denny Hamilton’s second ever DNF in his whole entire career of racing. Wow, and he was coming on strong until his motor went South.

Don’t blame the quality of the race entirely on the re-surfacing of the track, the track after all allowed for several different grooves and tons of passing, but because of this the cars were able to pass better and not get into each other to make a pass stick thus causing less spins etc. With the Chase coming down to the wire for those not yet locked in, and those near the bottom of the Chase list, everyone was more cautious out there Saturday night. Those who might have stuck their nose in certain situations might have been more conservative Saturday because they are either fighting to stay in the Chase, get into the Chase, or simply to stay out of Chase contender ways since they are not in the Chase hunt themselves.

You look at the Busch race on Friday, see how many Busch Chase contenders were fighting for the lead vs. those who are Busch regulars. That is why the Busch race was more exciting, you had guys going for the lead, who aren’t even contending for the Busch Series Championship, driving like they have nothing to lose, because they had nothing to lose.

That is the real difference between Friday’s race and Saturday’s race.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Wade Payne

Submitted from NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

I just finished watching the Busch Bristol race. It was on a time-delay so I can barely keep my eyes open while writing this (it is 2:00 am right now). In a way I’m fortunate that it was on a time delay because I would have missed it otherwise because I spent most of the evening at the hospital with my son (possible broken foot - we’ll know more in the morning).

You know, as a parent it is difficult to see your child in any pain and the only thing you want to do is take it away for them. My Mom used to say to me when I was a kid, “Honey, if I could take it away and give it to myself I would” and I would think, “Ya, right who you foolin’?” But you know, now that I’m a Daddy I can see that she really meant it, because if there was any way that I could take his pain/injury away from him and give it to myself I would in an instant.

Anyway, back to Bristol. Tonight’s race was a good one. Did you see the passing? The side by side racing? The fender rubbin’? Wow, if I knew racing was going to be this good I would have been lobbying for a resurfacing of the track a while ago. I can’t wait for tomorrow’s race.

Congratulations to Kasey Kahne on his win tonight. I thought it was a good race for the lead, with Kahne, Newman, and Leffler going toe-to-toe-to-toe, with David Reutimann and a hard charging Kyle Bush coming close at the end. Even with all the cut down tires and spinning cars, they raced each other fairly clean and that is a very positive note. It would have been interesting to see what Kyle would have done if he had caught Kahne at the end, we were just a few laps short in finding out.

Speaking of Kyle Busch, he got the raw end of NASCAR’s policing policy, but you know, it is kind of hard to feel sorry for him. I think that he handled himself nicely on the track, as well as his crew. What goes on behind closed doors though might be a different thing. I expect that it there is anything involving a close call with Kyle in tomorrow’s race (including bumper tag with Harvick) I think NASCAR is going to look at Kyle a little more favourably - not because they like him but because they owe him.

I’m sorry I haven’t posted much this week, but I spent a few days up North with my family and we had a great time, until we got home and my son hurt himself. I really had more to say about my Michigan experience, as well as write up one solid rant. I still aim to do those things over the next week so stay tuned - especially for the rant and I think you’ll have something to add to it when I’m done.

Speaking of Michigan, here is something funny:

I turned my cell phone on today and it immediately started buzzing with a text message, from Tuesday. You see I very rarely have my cell phone on and I only use it when the kids are at school/daycare in case someone there needs to get in touch with me, otherwise I only use it very sparingly - I’m not important enough to have it on all the time. Anyway, it was some of my friends asking me if I was still in Michigan for the race, and that they were just leaving Alabama, where they were visiting relatives, and headed to Bristol for the races.

They even called me today from the track just after qualifying to see if I wanted them to pick me up anything - I wasn’t home at the time of the call (see above for why). Apparently they are headed to Martinsville after Saturday’s race because there is a special thing going on there on Sunday where you can actually drive your own car on the track.

I really hope they have a good time this weekend, but I still hope it rains on them - at least for a little while (sorry Lena)! Bitter, bitter, bitter, bitter, that’s me!

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Submitted from NASCAR Eclectic

After a somewhat restlest sleep, I’m happy it’s a day later and one day less that ESPN/ABC will be broadcasting NASCAR. The Sharpie 500 last night, according to NASCAR.com’s schedule, was the last for ESPN, but the rest of the season is ABC which has me wondering if we will still be subject to TV ad bombardment. ABC owns ESPN so it’s likely things will not be pretty. I’m not a big fan of NBC’s broadcasting of the races either, but they are better than these clowns. Why can’t we have the Fox Network exclusively?

It was cool to hear Dale Jr’s words of defense. Teresa is still family and she owns DEI… period.

The point standings barely changed after last nights race at the coliseum. Amazingly, the 10th - 13th place drivers all had good finishes, which left things pretty much equal as they were going into the race. I was hoping for a mix up… oh well, and with only 2 to go it’s looking more and more like the current 12 will be the contenders… but then again, anything can happen.

It was good to see Pretty Boy Kahne have a good weekend. Poppa Ray must be happy having some Canadian money to help his struggling teams. And Bobby Labonte… wow!! The Dodge’s are strong.

Mikey was funny in his #55 Toyo fighting with the leaders. One of the commentators stated that he was trying to get TV exposure… like he doesn’t get enough! In the next moment came yet another ad and it was one of those stupid NAPA one’s with Mikey reading his fan mail… although I like the fan that said his head is you know where… not on his shoulders.

Submitted from NASCAR Eclectic

The lineup for the Sharpie 500 is so different. Seeing the Dodges of Kasey Kahne and Monty on top, especially Monty at Bristol, is bizarre. In fact, there is not a Chevy in sight until 9th where Queeny sits and the naked #31 sits in 10th. And another odd ball, David Ragan in the 4th spot??

I watched some of the practice runs and the Busch race last night, which by the way was not A-Typical of Bristol. The new surface is “tire saving”. I almost thought Ryan had the win on tires that should’ve been down to the wheels. Of course he was overpowered in the final laps by Kahne with some typical Bristol fender banging and tire rubbing which took what little life Newman’s tires had right out of them and into the wall he went. Nice try though!! Newman’s CORN Dodge is starting 7th tonight and he normally runs well at short tracks. It’ll be interesting to see if things can be mixed up a bit for those near the fence line of The Chase.

Back at the Cottage… below is a shot of my next project. Coming off of the gable end of the area where the sliding door is will be a 16′x 20′ family room. To the left is the backside of the garage… the addition will have a 12′x5′ extension there that will serve as a stairwell leading down to a full finished basement from inside the garage. This was my client’s idea. I will post photos of the progress.

Submitted from Freshrubber.com

Carl Edwards picked up another 10 bonus points to use in his pursuit of the Nextel Cup title with a dominating victory Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. Edwards passed Kasey Kahne for the lead with 166 laps to go and wasn’t challenged the rest of the way as he drove to his second victory of the season. He beat Kahne to the line by 1.405 seconds, then did his trademark backflip on the finish line to celebrate.

“This is the biggest win of my career,” said Edwards, who has six career victories. “It means the world to win this race.”

The top 12 drivers in the standings will run for the Nextel Cup title, and Edwards clinched his spot with the win.

“We’re back,” declared Edwards, who made the Chase and finished third in the standings in 2005 but failed to make the field last season.

Submitted from NASCAR Eclectic

More like INSANITY… but NASCAR prevails in the latest battle of the Cellular War. Perhaps the appeal in Atlanta District Court later will side with RCR and AT&T. What really has me tweaked is the apparent lack of respect for Richard Childress. Right, I know, business is business, but this is small potatoes. It’s only one car. So, what will the #31 have on the hood Saturday night?

Below is the most recent addition to my growing collection. It is a car that was purchased from Harry Gant. Dale got his 1st win on asphalt with this 1964 Chevelle in 1974. I picked it up at our annual County Fair the other night for $60.00, [which is about 1/2 of it’s value], brand new in the box from a collection dealer.

Submitted from Freshrubber.com

Jeremy Mayfield has hit rock bottom in his NASCAR career. He acknowledges that, and the facts back it up.

Mayfield has started just nine of 23 races and is 46th in the Nextel Cup points standings - just two years after his fifth victory put him in the Chase for the championship for a second straight year - in what is by far his worst season since his debut in 1993.

He is hoping, though, to sign a deal that would put him on his third team in three seasons for 2008. Mayfield regrets the position he’s in and, perhaps uncharacteristically, he is blaming himself.

“Looking back now, I would’ve done things differently when I was young and dumb and racing for Roger Penske,” the 38-year-old said. “Roger tried to get me to look at the big picture, but I guess I had to hit rock bottom to understand.

“I thought the grass was greener elsewhere. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have left because that’s when my struggles started.”

After taking one too many shots at Penske Racing as he tried to get out of his contract, Penske fired him in 2001.

Mayfield landed with Evernham Motorsports, but his mouth got him in trouble again last season and led to an ugly split that included a lawsuit attempting to block his firing. He was relegated to accepting an offer from Bill Davis Racing this year, but midway through the season both sides agreed it was a lose-lose relationship and announced plans to part ways for 2008.

After acrimonious exits from powerful teams and a peaceful one with a lesser one, Mayfield agreed he might have to settle for competing in the Busch and Craftsman Truck circuits because a top-level Cup ride might be out of reach.

“I’d rather win races in another series than just be out here with any team,” he said. “My first option is to stay at this level with a competitive team, but I’ll do whatever it takes to get another shot with a good organization.”

Rusty Wallace said his former Penske teammate seems to have the right mind-set.

“Pride doesn’t pay bills,” said Wallace, who now works as an ESPN analyst. “It’s demoralizing to go to a lesser series, but there are people that would die to drive in the Busch or truck series.”

Mayfield, though, isn’t giving up his hopes for Plan A.

“I’ve talked to several good race teams and a lot depends on how everything falls, but I feel like I’m right in the mix,” he said. “Kyle Busch going to Joe Gibbs opened up some opportunities. Even though it doesn’t seem like there are many jobs out there, anything can happen and I think there will be some surprises.”

It wouldn’t stun Wallace if another Cup team takes a chance on Mayfield.

source: Associated Press

Submitted from Freshrubber.com

Kurt Busch used a dominant win in Tuesday’s rain-delayed race at Michigan to get some separation between his 12th-place standing and 13th place (taken over by Dale Earnhardt Jr.), but he was unable to gain any position in the standings.

Submitted from Freshrubber.com

With all the talk about Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaving his No. 8 behind when he departs Dale Earnhardt Inc. for Hendrick Motorsports next year, some believe the drivers — not the teams — should have the option of keeping a number throughout their careers.

In the current system, NASCAR owns all the numbers and leases them to the teams.

Earnhardt and his representatives tried to make a deal with DEI to allow him to take his number to Hendrick. But the negotiations ended this week with no agreement, leaving Junior to ponder other numbers, perhaps in the 80s.

Earnhardt said Saturday he hadn’t held out much hope in the negotiations with stepmother Teresa Earnhardt, owner of the team founded by his late father.

“I knew that this was the way it was going to be,” he stated on the Web site of NASCAR Scene. “I just didn’t have the guts to tell my fans because they were holding out and hoping it would work out. I just didn’t have the guts to tell them that it was a waste of time hoping that it would happen. I had already been working in this other direction and got some pretty good ideas. We’re going to look at every one and see which one we like the best.”

Submitted from NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

Let me tell you Speed TV knows how to put on a show at the track. I was able to attend the Smash Mouth concert on Sat. night at MIS as well as NASCAR Raceday Built by The Home Depot and got to see first hand how the Network runs its shows.

Saturday evening was a blast with Smash Mouth. They aren’t too bad live. They kicked it off with 2 ripping Van Halen tunes, and then hit you with a bevy of their own hits. The crowd was pretty good, but as the evening turned into night there were more incidents of fighting. I know that it is impossible to control who does what and when, but everyone around us noted that it was amazing how fast the security guards came around when a girl decided to bear her breasts, but when a fight broke out they were no where to be seen. Things that make you go hmm.

Now don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a rowdy drunken, free for all, in fact it was pretty calm compared to some of the concerts I’ve been to - without alcohol even! I’ve got to give the fans at MIS credit for policing themselves during the concert, I think they did an awesome job looking out for each other in the rain and mud. Everyone went wanting a good time, and 95% of us did.

On Sunday we were fortunate enough to get some prime spots for the Trackside telecast. The powers that be did a good job in getting the cold wet fans worked up to a frenzy with all of the free swag they were giving out - they also did a good job in helping thefans forget they were cold and wet. I can’t believe the amount of stuff Speed threw out into the crowd. I’ve got to give them credit, that is the most swag I’ve seen anyone give out during an event like that.

Kenny Wallace is the best at getting the crowd worked up, and he is easily the crowd favourite. When not on camera he is following the script and prompting the crowd with his hands, trying to get them to vocalize their reactions even more - what a showman. Honestly, I can’t see a sponsor that wouldn’t want him as a pitchman - he could put Michael Waltrip to shame. Somebody please give him a solid ride. He is a good solid driver, and potential winner, that suffers from a lack of good equipment.

I hope that Speed remains part of the NASCAR community for a long time to come as they add so much more to the races, both on the air and at the track. They do such a good job at the track that it makes the fan experience much more enjoyable. Thank you Speed!

Speed Rocks!

Submitted from NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

This is me with a Dale Jr show car at the Sharpie display.

This one is for the Diecast Dude. I hear through the grapevine that Pamela is his favourite author, besides himself of course.

Mark Martin in the #01 car with the special ‘57 Chevy paint scheme. Jimmie Johnson’s car looked good too.

Kind of an ‘artsy’ shot. Turned out OK for the type of camera I was using.

Matt Kenseth coming in for adjustments during Happy Hour.

Submitted from NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

Rain is the 4 letter word for any NASCAR fan (and Boris Said). Considering I will not get any chance to actually be at the track to see this race, if it is run this week, I still had a pretty good time this weekend.

After the race was cancelled on Sunday we debated about staying or not for Monday. We went back to Ann Arbour to the hotel we checked out of that morning and consulted with the computer in the lobby. Instead of checking back into the hotel we decided to go back home as all the major weather sites/stations/networks, as well as local ones, were calling for a 100% chance of rain on Monday with a flood watch for the MIS area until midnight Monday so we figured that the race wouldn’t run on Monday anyway and we didn’t want to spend even more money on a hotel for a race that wasn’t going to happen for another 48hrs. And we were right, the race will be on Tues. with an estimated start time of 10:00 am.

As it turns out, the guy that went with me this weekend is able to go back Tuesday and took my ticket off my hands and is taking his niece to her first NASCAR race ever (she is a Jimmie Johnson fan). I’m so ‘ticked’ off that I can’t go, but previous obligations make it soooo impossible for me to attend. I even had to beg, and ‘take one for the team’ to get this moved from Monday to Tuesday just in case of rain on Sunday. So much for proper planning. Next time I’ll just have to put everything on hold for three days after the original date of a race, just to make darn sure that I see the race in person no matter what.

This is going to lead to a rant, but I’m going to put the rant on hold for a bit. To be continued …

Submitted from NASCAR Eclectic

I feel bad for the folks who travel long distances and plan to see a live NASCAR race months in advance only to have it washed out. The last two races I’ve been to have been rain delayed… one, at Talladega was run on Monday, but it cost us dearly in motel fees and air fare, plus missing more time off from work. Today doesn’t look much better. There is a heavy band of rain stretching from northern Wisconsin into northern Illinois that is moving east, but there may be an opportunity. If not… tomorrow!?

Back at the Cottage… It’s always nice to complete one of my projects. The guy on the steps is Bob, the home owner, and as you can see he is pleased. The before deck was a mere 6 feet wide by 16 feet long and slowly sinking into the ground because the person who built it did not use footers. I removed that and built the 12 foot by 20 foot one that you could park a truck on. The fellow in the background is my carpenter, Mike, and Bob gave Mike a $25 tip on top of the 5k plus he paid me. I thought that was very cool!!

Submitted from NASCAR Eclectic

I have to give credit to George at Vroom for giving me food for thought. His post today touched on what we need is a “Feel Good” race by having someone like Bobby Labonte win. It got me thinking about how it feels when an Underdog wins, like when Jamie Mac won by inches over Kyle Busch. Of course the likelihood of that is minimal at best, it is a nice thought. I also want to give George a Kudos for reminding me what year I was born… ‘57… and help me make up my mind which ‘07 #8 diecast I will add to my collection. It will be the ‘57 paint scheme they are running this week, but I think I will also add the traditional red Bud car… probably the CoT.

Terry Blount of ESPN NASCAR wrote a very slammin’ article about the #8 Blount: Get over it, 8 lovers. He certainly tells it like it is.

With Jeffy Boy on the pole, I hope The Biff runs it up the #24’s tailpipe!!

Submitted from NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

Just got back to the hotel from being at the track all day. I’ve got lots of pictures, but no way to upload them from here so I’ll do that when I get home.

We got to the track just as Cup practice was going on, nothing eventful to report there. We then walked around for cruising the various souvenir trailers and such. Everything that was Dale Jr (except Elvis, 57 Chev, and Die-cast) was 50% off, so I got two shirts for my kids and a hat for me for just $18.00.

The Busch race today was kind of boring. The field got really strung out after the last caution and it turned into a bit of a fuel battle in the end. Mark Martin ran out of gas as he was crossing the start/finish line for the last lap and blew a top 5 finish. Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth ran strong for the lead during the race but after the last round of pit stops Denny just ran away from the field. Going into turn 3 on the last lap Denny came over the radio and said that he ran out of gas to which the reply (after a bit of a pause) was “Tell me you’re kidding”.

Smash Mouth performed after the race tonight too. It was a good concert, considering it rained on and off during it. More of a light drizzle, but still rain. I hope it either pours tonight or holds off until the race is complete tomorrow, I don’t want to have to stay another night - I can’t afford it.

More tomorrow, I’m going to bed as I think I’m going to have a long day tomorrow.

PS - Jr reported that his car was loose during Happy Hour and was reluctant to do any changes as it might make the car too tight for tomorrow.

Also, don’t forget to enter the Kodak Contest, You only have 24 hrs left. Scroll down to find the link, as this Internet connection is way too slow for me to agonize over putting up links.

Submitted from NASCAR Eclectic

With only 4 races left to lock in the Dozen will we see those few on the bubble taking risks? We’ve got Truex Jr. , Busch, Newman and Earnhardt Jr. all vying for those 11th and 12th spots. Personally, I like the change from 10 to 12 spots in the Chase and I think 15 would bring even more challengers at the end. It seems there are always those top 8 or so who will make the Chase, but by opening up another 7 we’d see a lot of different or unlikely drivers enter the equation.

I’ve been wondering if from a marketing standpoint will the #8 merchandise fly off the racks now or become stagnant? My buddy Ted who owns a NASCAR retail store feels the items will collect dust. The items have been the biggest sellers and are now in question. I personally will add an ‘07 #8 diecast to my collection… I just don’t know which one. In memory of the #8 and it’s final year with Dale Jr. I will probably choose the traditional red Bud car. RIP #8 !!

Submitted from NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

Don’t forget to enter the “Kodak Ticket Give Away” for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the NASCAR Sharp AQUOS 500 race on September 2, 2007 at California Speedway. There is just over 48hrs left to enter and I still don’t have all of the tickets given away yet (but we’re close - that 112 number is the one we’re looking for). Click here for all of the rules and info. Good Luck!

I’ll be leaving for Brooklyn, Michigan on Friday to go to the races and I don’t know if I’ll be able to blog while I’m away. Every attempt to do so will be made, and I’ll keep you updated with all the info that I can, if I can.

In the mean time, I just wanted to comment on a few things that have been hanging around on my desk that I want to take care of, so bear with me.

1) Lena Richards over at NASCAR FanZone is closing shop. She is getting out of the blogging business for now and we’ll miss her around here. If you get a chance to say good-bye to her, please do so as I believe that her site will disappear altogether early next week. I have given her an open invitation to write at my site whenever she feels like it, let’s see if she takes me up on that offer. Take care Lena, and good luck!

2) Who believes that Furniture Row will do better with Kevin Lepage behind the wheel than with Kenny Wallace? All 2 of you please stand up. Hey guys, look at well he ran at DEI when Steve Park was hurt, its not the driver, its the equipment he has - but you’ll find that out soon enough. I hope Kenny lands with a respectable team in Cup, not anywhere else - he deserves it.

3) Even Ford lovers must admit that the 1957 Chevy is the epitome of car style from the 1950’s - (except maybe for a Caddy). Did you know that there were more 1957 Fords sold than Chevy’s yet it is the Chevy that remains the more popular car for automotive enthusiasts? I owned a 1957 Chevy Belair 2-Door Hardtop in High School, with at 327 cu engine, Muncie 4-speed, and a GM 10-bolt posi re-end. The car had balls. I sold it to pay for University back in 1989 and haven’t had the money to buy another ever since. Ah, the glory days of my youth.

Anyway, GM is celebrating the 50th anniversary of that car this weekend at Mich. Selected drivers such as Jimmie Johnson, and Mark Martin will be running special 57 Chevy paint schemes (why do they continue to call it paint schemes, when they are decal schemes in reality?). I’ll try to get a few pictures to share with you, and if I can dig one up of my old car I’ll slap that up too.

4) I’m also going to try to hook-up with these guys on Friday (it their schedule allows) and we’ll see what kind of mischief we can get into. If there are any suitable pictures for posting, I’ll get them up too. Speaking of 57 Chevies, check out Charlie’s last post.

I think that’s it for now. Like I said I’ll try to keep up while I’m at the track, but if not, expect a ton of stuff on Monday. Take Care.

Photo Credit: kennywallace.com

Submitted from Freshrubber.com

Fernando Alonso’s relationship with McLaren suffered another blow this week when he reportedly turned down the opportunity for peace-talks.

According to the Spanish newspaper Marca, Lewis Hamilton and team boss Ron Dennis are currently relaxing in the waters off Menorca aboard fellow McLaren founder Mansour Ojjeh’s 72-metre super-yacht.

While Hamilton has been onboard for a few days already, frolicking in the waves with Ojjeh’s daugher Sara, Dennis arrived earlier this week and invited Alonso to join the party.

The invitation was in the hope of ’smoothing tensions’ left over from the Hungarian GP qualifying debacle and arriving at a ‘pact for peaceful coexistence from now until the end of the season.’

Alonso, though, ‘declined’ the offer, opting to stick to his original holiday plans.

‘The divorce seems definitive and the possibilities of reconciliation, quite distant. The situation of extreme tension between Fernando Alonso and the rest of the McLaren team seems not to have improved in the last week,’ the newspaper said.

Following the Hungarian GP, which saw Alonso penalised for blocking his team-mate in the pits and preventing him from challenging for pole position, the double World Champion has been linked to a return to Renault at the end of the season as well as a move to BMW.

source: planet-f1.com