Submitted by NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

Now that was a win!

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Submitted by NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

As we approach the 5th race of the NASCAR season, I feel it is time to review the 5 most important stories to come out so far (in my humble opinion of course):

5. Kyle Busch: His 3 wide driving style so far this year has garnished him a win, shut up his critics, and has shown Rick Hendrick he should have not been the one released for Dale Jr (in Kyle’s mind anyway).

4. The use and abuse of Owner Points: Not only has Penske used the owner points gained from the 2 car last year to help the 77 car stay in top 35 for the beginning of the year while using Kurt’s Past Champion Provisionals, but it now looks like Petty Enterprises will be moving the points they currently have on the 43 car driven by Bobby Labonte to the 45 car driven by Kyle Petty, so that they can keep the 45 car in the top 35 to make the races and rely on Bobby’s Past Champion Provisionals to get him into the show.

3. Dale Jr: Wins the Bud Shootout, and is Hendrick’s top points getter so far this year. Has come close to winning (and will soon I think) and if not for some bad luck, just might of. This story will continue to be in the Top 5 throughout the rest of the year I imagine.

2. Tony Stewart vs Goodyear: After a lack lustre race at Atlanta Tony attacks Goodyear for giving the teams a crummy tire to race on which really didn’t allow the drivers to race side by side and make competitive tires. Goodyear and NASCAR fire back that at least there was not a tire failure and every team had the same tire so each team had to deal with it - suck it up and race boy.

and finally, my number one story so far this short season;

1. Tracks need to be Safer For The Drivers: After Jeff Gordon’s wickedly hard crash at Vegas the need for safer barriers on every wall (inside, outside, back stretch, front stretch, pit road, you name it) has become more evident, but the question remains, “Will NASCAR do anything about it?” BTW was there any black box data released about Jeff’s crash? I haven’t seen or heard of any - do they even put the data recorders in these CoT cars?

Honourable mention goes to the ‘equipment malfunction’ of Carl Edwards Oil Cooler lid, and to the reversal of NASCAR’s decision in the Robby Gordon ‘illegal bumper caper’.

Photo Credit: Action Sports Photography for motorsport.com

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Submitted by NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

In an unprecedented move today NASCAR announced that, based on Toyota’s new found success, another foreign car maker will be joining the Sprint Cup Series in 2010.

The car maker you ask? VW’s Audi.

Fan reaction was fast and swift (see picture below).

OK, so this isn’t true, but based on the e(hate)mail and comments that I have received since Kyle won Toyota’s first Cup race, I’m sure this would be the reaction of some of the more North American auto manufacturer faithful out there if NASCAR would allow another foreign car maker into the foray.

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Submitted by NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

Man, that Atlanta race really helped me out. I’m now in 7th in my Fantasy NASCAR Pool. I went from 1st to 13th after the Vegas race, so I’m happy where I’m at - for now, that is. I want that big #1 back!

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Submitted by NASCAR Eclectic

I just took this shot on my dining room table with a navy blue sweatshirt of mine under it.
This is of course the RCCA Elite Autographed 2005 Herbie Fully Loaded paint scheme. This car was raced by DJ at the Richmond Chevy Rock and Roll 400, where if my memory serves me, he wrecked it.

The days of Dale’s thunder had been past by 2005, his peak career being through the 90’s and early 2000’s with RYR. He leaves behind a very prestigious record with 3 Daytona 500 wins, and 2 Brickyard 400 wins. He retires this year with what has been an incredible racing career.

Rain, Rain Go Away!! Johnson on the pole again!

Back at the Cottage… My posting here has been lax. This is mainly due to the amount of time I’m spending honing my photography skills. I turned 51 a couple of months ago and I made a decision last year that I need to find another way to make a living as I entered mid-life. The contracting business is okay at best. I’ve been doing it for over 25 years, but it truly does drive me nuts. I can boast and say that I am good at it, but it’s a rough business. I’ll most likely always be a contractor, but with less and less hands on. I will have others do the work while I supervise under my good name. I really wanted to do something I enjoy. I am a certified C.A.D. operator with emphasis on architectural design, but I really don’t want to spend my senior years behind a monitor for days on end….hence, photography. This will take the better part of 5 years to fully develop, but I am self driven. There will be a book out there one day full of images of the Adirondack Mountains and lakes with my name on it. That is my true enjoyment, but the real bread and butter is in photo journalistic weddings and I still have my sights set on NASCAR. All this said because I will not be as active posting here at NASCAR Eclectic as I was last season, but once or twice a week is for sure.

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