Almost the same age my dad was when he died, 3 years 3 months after Dale died. See the “3-Factor” there?
I got an email from someone asking me to put together something about Dale so they could post it on their new all NASCAR Blogger’s site - actually, I’m sort of included on the site too, although I haven’t really ‘officially’ posted there yet (too busy man).
That email got me thinking; thinking about Dale’s death and how easily it could have been prevented, thinking about how much NASCAR has changed since his death, thinking about how much a fan can invest emotionally in a driver, thinking about how I will never invest that much ever again into another driver, thinking about how, for lack of a better word, ‘happy’ it made me to watch him race - win or lose, and so on …
Well here it is, my ultimate tribute to the ‘Man in Black’;
“Miss you Dale, wish you were here.”
Kind of a let down for some of you, I know. But if you get it, truly get it, then you know.
For those of you who are interested, below is a link list of my favourite Dale Earnhardt posts from this site.
- “Who is Your Favourite Driver?” - Why Dale is mine.
- “Great Finishes” - 1991 Daytona 500, Ugh!
- “Dale Earnhardt’s Top 10 Races” - O.K., I went past 10 and still missed one great race.
- “The Moment” - when I became a hard core Dale Earnhardt fan, complete with video.
- “Trash Talking and Responsibility” - one of my most favourite stories about Dale and how he tried to psych-out a very young (and in second place) Mark Martin before the final race in the 1990 season
- Gordon vs Earnhardt: The Debate Continues - Dale wins!
I know there are a few more, but these are the ones that stand out in my head.
NASCAR did the right thing in flying the yellow flag when they did. Wow, I’m agreeing with what NASCAR did, pinch me to see if I’m sleeping.
NASCAR may have set a precedent back at the 2007 Daytona 500 when they didn’t let the yellow flag fly when the competitors started wrecking coming out of turn 4, headed into the tri-oval area, but it does not apply to this situation.
Why?
O.K. at Daytona they started wrecking coming out of Turn 4 onto the front stretch and NASCAR allowed them to continue the rest of the distance knowing full well that once the cars cross the finish line they will slow down long before they get to the mess and carnage in Turn 4, thus providing a safe environment for both the crashed drivers and the rescue workers.
Where as Sunday’s race the mess happened coming out of Turn 2 onto the back stretch and that, combined with the fact that the start/finish line is just before Turn 1 at the the end of the front stretch, you end up with a very unsafe environment for those who crashed, the drivers who didn’t crash who are still moving at a high rate of speed because they raced hard until the end, and of course the rescue workers who would either still on route to the scene of the crash or already there.
A precedent may have been set at Daytona in 2007, but NASCAR didn’t follow it and rightly so. Now quit your moaning, because if you look at the facts you’ll agree with me that NASCAR got it right.
Kevin Lepage moving above the blend line too early while exiting pit road with almost the whole field of cars doing about 190 mph coming straight at him with nowhere to go. I’m not a Carl Edwards fan, but man am I glad to see him walk away from that one.
Please see the YouTube.com link provided. Included in it is Kevin’s interview after the ‘Carnival of Carnage’ caused by him and his spotter.
O.K. Kevin here goes;
1) You are wrong, the blend line is way past turn one.
2) Of course your spotter is good, she is your wife. Did you forget to mention that on TV?
3) The first half dozen cars did not clear you, the first two did.
4) You have been racing for quite a while, and how far ahead can you actually see when your nose is stuffed right up the backside of another car? Even if your car was flouresent pink no one two cars back could have seen you.
5) It is the other team’s spotters that are to blame? I guess they all forgot to look into their crystal balls before the race so they would know that you were going to come up over the blend line too soon. You came up over the blend line just as the pack got to you, what are the other spotters to do? They had no time to react to you and your mistake!
Kevin, suck it up and admit you are wrong. Take responsibility for your, and your wife’s, actions.
I’ll be back tomorrow for the rest of my Talladega observations, including my replacement driver prediction for Dario.
Update: Lepage apologizes after all:
“After reviewing the tapes of the accident I realize I need to apologize to NASCAR, the car owners, my fellow competitors and, most importantly, the fans,” he said in a statement released by his team, Specialty Racing. “I made a huge driver error by blending onto the racetrack in the wrong area. This caused a multi-car accident and changed the outcome of the race for many teams. (I think it was his team that made him apologize, but you never know)
“I’m so thankful that no one was hurt considering the number of cars involved.”
Lepage vowed not to make the same mistake again, and said not accepting blame initially made him look like a “heel.” (Heel? Really? I was thinking Jackass)
“There is not a single person to blame for this huge mistake except myself,” he said. “I have worked very hard over the years to gain the respect of NASCAR, the owners, competitors and the fans, and it will take a long time to gain it back after what happened.” (I could be exceptionally cruel here, but I won’t, it would be uncalled for)
Lepage said if he could do it over, he would have let the leaders by before blending on to the track. (hindsight is 20/20 baby) - nascar.com
In the absence of any solid drug testing by NASCAR, and given the recent Aaron Fike admission, Kevin Harvick took it upon himself to at least do something that was within his limits to police drug use in NASCAR.
Like NASCAR, Harvick’s own race team, Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) really had no testing policy of its own, until now. KHI’s Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series drivers and crew chiefs have been tested, and an independent testing company has been hired to test the rest of the company.
“I’m proud that we went home (after Phoenix) and made ours right,” Harvick said. “We’re considered a drug-free environment at KHI. … Hopefully everyone will follow suit, and I think it would be good for our garage.”
Kevin also went on to say that he wished that every team in NASCAR would do the same and that NASCAR could introduce required drug testing for every yearly garage pass (hard card) it hands out.
“Have an outside source come in and randomly drug test the teams as they submit their approvals for a hard card. You send your drug test [paperwork] with it, and that would make it a lot easier on NASCAR.”
In other words, “You want in the garage area? Then pee in a cup please. Thank you.”
But Harvick didn’t stop there, he also suggested one other thing. Something that I’ve always thought should be done, but has never been done.
“If you wreck or something and you have to go through the infield care center, it should be just standard procedure to take a drug test even if you’ve been through there 10 times in 10 weeks,” Harvick said. “I think that would fix a lot of the questions that we have and be a pretty simple solution.”
Smoke finally gets a Dega win albeit in The Nationwide Series.
What in the hell was Kevin LaPage thinking!!?? When I watched and listened to him give his live statement to millions watching the Tele my thoughts were almost sympathetic. He is either very stupid or just plain deaf, dumb and blind. I’m sorry, but I need to blast this idiot. Mistake… I suppose it was and they are all entitled, but to then justify it and blame the pack barreling at him at 180 mph was just downright ridiculous. I only live about 2 hours southwest of his hometown and he reminds me of the stubborn hard nosed attitudes of so many people that live in these parts. I am a midwesterner having lived in the Northeast for 30 years and like the wonderful Southern hospitality, the Midwest is also friendly and on the humble side of life. The Northeast, for the most part, is anything but! The demographics here are far different than anywhere in the Country and LaPage is no different. I suppose that is where my sympathy comes in, because as long as I have lived here it is part of me that will never get accustomed to or understand. That mistake could have easily taken the life of another driver. I hope LaPage rescinds and feels some responsibility today.
I was watching the Philadelphia Flyers - Washington Capitals play-off game the other night and something hit me, something I should have seen long ago but didn’t - Kyle Busch is NASCAR’s version of the NHL’s Alexander Ovechkin.
That’s right, he is.
Putting aside the obvious fact that they are not in the same sport, or even from the same country, they are both brash young stars in their perspective sports.
It has been said that Kyle Busch is the only driver who can drive 3-wide all by himself, well have you ever seen Ovechkin skate? That guy skates 3-wide all by himself.
Have you ever seen the goal he scored while sliding on his back head first toward the boards with his face turned away from the net? Ovechkin may never be the next Wayne Gretzky, but Gretzky never scored a goal like that. In fact, Ovechkin scored that goal in front of Greztky as he was playing against the team Gretzky is coach for.
Ovechkin pushes himself to the limit every time he is on the ice, skating with youthful fearlessness, hungry for the next goal and the victory. Every time Ovechkin puts on his visored helmet he goes full throttle flat out until the final siren. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Just change ice to track, and goal to green flag and you’ve got Kyle Busch.
They even are the same age; Busch was born on May 2, 1985, while Ovechkin was born on September 17th, 1985.
They both started their careers at a young age. They are both outspoken at times. They both have been held back at times, not because of their lack of skill but due to their young age (Busch has sat out races because they have been sponsored by companies that are not allowed to sell to anyone under 18 yrs of age and he was younger than 18 at the time). And most importantly, I hated them both just a few short years ago (even last year).
I disliked Ovechkin when he was on the Russian Junior Hockey Team. I disliked Kyle when he drove for Hendrick Motorsports. Now, as they both have matured, I am much more tolerant of them both.
I may never be a true Kyle Busch fan, or a true Ovechkin fan, but I certainly enjoy watching them do what they do. I also respect and appreciate them for the athletes that they are - you never know what they will do next, how they will pull that next win out of a hat.
I’ll announce the winner to the Daytona 500: 50th Anniversary DVD Contest tomorrow!
O.K., so most of you know about Dale Jr’s new business, he’s a bar owner now. He has moved up considerably from his days with “Club E” in his basement.
“Whisky River” is the bar’s name. Dale came about the name through the Willie Nelson song of the same name. Here is Whisky River’s official web presence.
Why am I writing about this? Why not, is my reply.
Alright, the reason why I’m writing this is not to promote the bar, I think being linked to Dale Jr is promotion enough, it is because there is an interesting interview with Dale Jr about the bar and racing at nascar.com.
The best part about the interview, for me anyway, had nothing to do with the bar really. It had more to do with about Jr’s keen sense of himself and how much this man has really matured over the last few years.
Case in point;
Q: Some people are still going to say, ‘Oh he’s too involved in his bar now.’ How do you address that?
Earnhardt: I don’t have to. I think people underestimate my drive and determination. They always have. It’s followed me around just like the pressure has, just like the name has. It’s always there. It’s OK. I’ve got to do things that might work out for me in my life. I might not always be driving that car. I would like to think that I could just race that car and at 50 I could quit and be all right, but I don’t trust that. I don’t know what the dollar is going to be worth when I’m 50.
I don’t think he has shown more maturity in a simple statement before than he did with this one, especially the “just like the name has” part. I mean everyone knows it, but for him to come out and actually say it, that is powerful.
To be honest with you, I did question Jr’s drive and determination at one point, but I certainly haven’t since he decided to move from DEI to Hendrick Motorsports. In fact, I have become more of a fan of his since he made that difficult decision to leave DEI.
I don’t question his drive or determination anymore.
After capturing the checkered flag south of the border, Kyle Busch had this to say:
Kyle Busch : “It was a good run for us. We had a great race out there. You know, some pit strategy played into it somewhat there towards the middle and towards the end of the race in what was going to happen. We weren’t exactly sure which way to go, but we stuck to our plan. What we had originally anticipated on which was to pit at lap 12, pit at lap 44 to 46 and try to go the rest of the way from there. We had a caution there at the end, and when we had a green checkered flag, Marcus was pretty good at coming up there. Fortunately, I built up a bit of a lead there, where I could hold him off. And I got by Pruitt there with a little mistake he made getting into turn four and smoking the tire. From there on out it was a sort of smooth sailing. (I was) just trying to bide my time, hit my marks, and make sure that I didn’t screw up any in order to come home with a victory.”
Q. This is your first win on a road course. Can you talk about that – racing in this format?
A. Obviously, being able to win my first race on a road course is pretty special anytime. It’s fun to be able to win to be able to win on a road course, because there’s only certain guys that tend to be able to do it. We should have had some better finishes at Watkins Glen in the Cup car a couple of times. I had a shot to win there a couple of years ago. Finally, to be able to get a win on a road course means a lot. It shows I’m capable of winning anywhere, I guess, so that’s pretty cool.
Q. You’ve won three of these races in a row. Have you done anything different in these last three races compared to the first six of the season?
A. “A little bit. I think there’s been more patience in these three races…which is sort of proving dividends, I guess Fortunately in these three races we’ve been pretty much mistake free. The guys on pit row have been awesome. They’ve been flawless each week and here again today, they were pretty good at getting us out and getting us a gap built up on the pit stops, even though cautions were thrown. All in all, it’s just down to smart racing and being able to be smooth and having a good car. Everybody thinks we’re cheating or doing something, but when it comes down to it, this Joe Gibbs Racing Team is just pretty up on top of their game, and myself, I’ve been on top of the wheel. With those two combinations put together, it’s hard to beat.”
Sorry I’ve been absent lately, we’ve had a very busy weekend here. More birthday parties than you can shake a stick at.
Danica Patrick:
Well Danica finally won her first race. Now that the monkey is finally off her back maybe she can win a few more. Also, now that she is a proven winner in Indy cars that makes her more marketable to NASCAR. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her in a stock car sometime in the future. I wonder if Richard Childress has that seat filled in the 33 car yet?
She is not without her critics though, check out what Bob Margolis had to say.
Three things I’d like to point out to Bob are; 1) most Indy 500 races have fewer than 10 people on the lead lap too (unless it has been shorten due to rain), does that make winning the Indy 500 any less significant?, 2) does Carl Edwards posing half naked on the Cover of ESPN Magazine make him any less of a driver too? and 3) perhaps having Danica pose half naked in magazines like Sports Illustrated and FHM (I used to own a yellow ‘57 Chevy BTW) and for her sponsors (I must admit, I laughed at the Go Daddy ‘beaver’ commercial) isn’t bad for the struggling open wheel leagues out there, maybe the IRL even encouraged her to do those ads to generate waining fan interest in the IRL - think about it, it wouldn’t be beneath the IRL’s PR company owned by womanizer Gene Simmons to be involved in something like that.
Mexico:
Unlike last year I got to see the race in Mexico during daylight hours. Awesome! Too bad the race wasn’t as awesome! Oh well, at least I enjoyed the Rolex race on Saturday - that was good racing.
There were too many cautions for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, if there are cautions that means there is some hard driving going on, and there was, but it also means there is some stupid driving going on too, and there was some of that as well. Some might be an understatement.
I know it’s a road course, but even still there are mistakes and then there are ‘mistakes’.
Kyle Busch won again. What do you think about that?
Some people are already predicting him to be the first ever NASCAR double series Champion within the same season. Hmm … Kyle Busch Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series Champion all in the same racing season? It’s never happened before you know.
OK, stop it already people! It is way too early in the season to be predicting that. Let’s talk about this in August if he is still in this position, until then quit talking about it like it is going to happen. Geesh! Speculate? OK. Predict? No, (not yet anyway).
Sorry, no picture tonight - I’m too beat to look for one.
Take Care, and don’t forget to enter my “Daytona 500: 50th Anniversary” contest today - you only have until midnight this Monday to get your entry in, so hurry on up and get it in!
Finally an “On Track” victory for Danica Patrick. It was fuel strategy that earned her the win. A good call by her team manager, Kyle Moyer. A first for her and a first for Indycar.
I have nothing but good thoughts over this. I am not even one bit against women in racing and in fact find it to be pretty wonderful. If the scantly clad photo layouts she’s done haven’t brought her world wide fame… this Indycar victory certainly will.
There has been a bit of a buzz going around the various NASCAR blogs these past few years, especially since the NEXTEL Cup Series became the Sprint Cup Series and the Busch Series became the Nationwide Series. The basic buzz is that now that each series has new sponsors they also get exclusive naming rights over the whole series including the past and people aren’t too happy about it - including me.
Let me explain; for 30 yrs NASCAR’s number one series was called The Winston Cup, and when Winston had to leave NASCAR as a sponsor NEXTEL became the new sponsor. Not only did NEXTEL get exclusive naming rights of NASCAR’s premier series, but they also got the naming rights for the entire series’ past. That’s right, Dale Earnhardt is a 7-time NEXTEL Cup Champion even though he died long before NEXTEL became the series sponsor. Now that Sprint is the series sponsor that also makes Dale Earnhardt a 7-time Sprint Cup Champion too!
Wow, between Winston, NEXTEL and Sprint, Dale Earnhardt is a 21-time Champion! Awesome!
Don’t you think that this is a little ridiculous? I mean those previous sponsors are as much a part of NASCAR’s storied past as the drivers are. Dale Earnhardt is a 7-time Winston Cup Champ, not a NEXTEL Cup or Sprint Cup Champ. Period. And you can’t tell me otherwise.
I think it is bad PR on NASCAR’s part to ignore it’s previous series’ sponsors in both the Cup and Grand National divisions. Even the announcers on TV have problems remembering that Benny Parsons is a Sprint Cup Champ now and not a Winston Cup Champ.
It is an insult to all those former Champions, former series sponsors, and the fans to call those previous championships anything else but what they were at the time they were won.
Well, here is the contest. Read the rules carefully and make sure you follow them correctly. Since this DVD celebrates the 50th annual Daytona 500, and I’m bit of a Dale Earnhardt fan (hence the 4ever3 handle), you will find the skill testing question is in celebration of both the event and the driver (sort of) - the 50th correct answer to the following question will be the winner; “Who won the 3rd ever Daytona 500?”
1) Starting at 12:00 pm (noon) EST on Wednesday April 16, 2008 the “Daytona 500: 50th Anniversary Contest” will officially begin and will run until 12:00 am (midnight) EST Monday April 20, 2008. Winners will be notified by email on April 21st. Chances of winning is depended on the number of entrants.
2) Please answer this ’skill testing’ question: “Who won the 3rd ever Daytona 500? (First and Last name)” and email me at daytona500dvdcontest@hotmail.com with the answer. Any email sent prior to the starting time will be deleted, the same holds true for any email sent after the deadline.
Please Note: you must place your answer in the subject box of your email, if you do not then your answer will be void. Also, you may have more than one entry, but you are only allowed to win once, after you have won then any emails after that will be void.
3) Please include your full name and mailing address in the text portion of your email so that Kodak can contact you in the event that you have won. Any personal info you give me will be kept in the strictest of confidence.
4) The Winner will be determined as follows: 50th correct answer. If there are not at least 50 correct answers when the contest closes on Monday April 21, 2008 then the prize will be awarded to the last correct answer.
5) NO LIABILITY: By participating, entrants agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the Promotion Sponsor and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents from and against any claims made by winners, entrants, or other third parties, related in any way to the operation of this Promotion as well as any other claims, damages, or liability due to any injuries, damages or losses to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in any Promotion-related activity or participation in this Promotion.
6) CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE PROMOTION MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY FEES) FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
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I’ll officially start the contest tomorrow, but I just couldn’t resist giving you a sneak peek!
Check it out, here is what you can win (taken from the original Press Release);
THIS APRIL, EXPERIENCE ALL THE ACTION AND GLORY
OF NASCAR’S MILESTONE RACE WITH A GROUNDBREAKING, INTERACTIVE 2-DVD SET
DAYTONA 500: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
The $24.95srp DVD Features an Innovative “My Race” Interactive Format, Offering
All the Action from Six Different Driver Perspectives and a Variety of Audio Feeds,
Over Two Hours of Exclusive Content Including Bonus Programs Featuring
Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon, PC Wallpaper and More!
NEW YORK, NY — The 50th running of the Daytona 500 is one of NASCAR®’s most unforgettable and highly-anticipated milestone events. Already the most prestigious race in motorsports, this landmark running is sure to be remembered and cherished by millions of race fans. On April 15, join A&E Home Video and NASCAR® Collections to celebrate the golden anniversary of “The Great American Race™” with DAYTONA 500: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, a highly-collectible 2-DVD set that puts fans in the driver’s seat like never before! Available just weeks after the 50th Daytona® 500 (February 17), this is THE official NASCAR® collectible of this historic race.
As part of DAYTONA® 500: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, the 2008 Daytona 500 will be presented in the ground-breaking “My Race” Interactive DVD format. This innovative user experience allows fans to choose the view of the race from six different driver perspectives plus the main broadcast feed, along with driver and announcer audio feeds — putting them right in the middle of the action. The second disc features the great stories and heroes that have defined the Daytona 500 through two exclusive NASCAR® programs: “A Sports Century” features a dynamic roundtable discussion of the moments and personalities that defined Daytona with a host and panel of NASCAR® experts including Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon, while “The Top 50 Daytona® 500 Moments” is the definitive telling of the story of NASCAR®’s Greatest single greatest event. Additional DVD extras include official NASCAR® PC wallpapers and time-lapse screensavers.
With a history of legend-defining and myth-making spectaculars, the Daytona® 500 winners circle has embraced NASCAR® heroes including: Richard Petty, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Senior and Junior. And DAYTONA® 500: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, an unprecedented and revolutionary DVD release, only adds to the legend of NASCAR®’s biggest race of the year.
A&E Home Video, part of the Consumer Products Division of A&E Television Networks (AETN) is a video distributor of non-theatrical programming, featuring collectible VHS and DVD editions of the high quality programming from A&E Network and The History Channel, as well as acquired classic programming. A&E Home Video brings the best of critically acclaimed entertainment presented in award-winning packaging to the special interest category. For more information about ordering these and other titles from the A&E Home Video Collection, call (212) 206-8600 (TRADE ONLY). Consumers please call 1-800-423-1212 (A&E). In addition to placing orders by phone, A&E Home Video products may be purchased over the World Wide Web at ShopAETV.com.
I already have my copy and I’ll give you a full review tomorrow along with the contest details. And remember, you heard about this awesome Daytona 500 DVD set here first!
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I almost missed the race this weekend, as I forgot that it was on Saturday this week. I did miss the beginning of the race, but as I understand it everyone but those who were at the track did as Fox stayed with the rain-delayed Red Sox game.
As much as I hate missing the beginning of a race I have to respect what Fox did, I only hope that they do that in return for any future rain-delayed NASCAR event.
I’ve got to feel for pole sitter Ryan Newman as he had some major engine issues. On Lap 133, Newman’s engine dropped oil all over the track and, as a result, a number of cars were caught up in the ensuing carnage. The mess left by Newman and the wrecked cars forced NASCAR to wave the red flag so they could properly clean up the track.
“It’s the same thing that happened to us in Bristol,” Newman said. “It’s disappointing. That’s two times in the first eight races that we had the same problem. Our engine company needs to get their stuff together.”
“The motor still runs fine,” Newman continued. “It just pumps oil out the front end and it gets on the headers and smokes real bad. I apologize for what I did to the race track, but that’s all I had to work with.”
Dodge engineers really need to look at this front seal problem, as they are in position to loose their only two drivers currently in the top 12 in points, Newman and Kahne.
I know Kahne didn’t have engine problems (he actually had brake problems) but his teammate, and outside pole sitter, Elliott Sadler also had engine problems, which, if goes unchecked, could cause problems for Kahne later in the season.
Hendrick Motorsports finally won a points race this season - like we didn’t know it was going to happen sooner or later - with Jimmie Johnson stretching his fuel mileage better than anyone else. Clint Bowyer also stretched his fuel mileage and finished 7 seconds behind Johnson in second.
Now all those people out there who were asking whether or not Hendrick Motorsports was in trouble this year can all go and pick on the Dodge teams instead - unless you are a Jeff Gordon fan.
It was interesting to watch the closing laps unfold. As Chad was telling Jimmie to driver slower and slower the lapped cars started passing him, including teammate Casey Mears in the 5 car.
As Mears passed him I wondered why he didn’t just stay behind Jimmie for two reasons; 1) to protect his rear bumper in case someone who was quicker didn’t realize he was driver slower and accidentally ran him over, and 2) to push Jimmie down the straightaways to help him save gas and to push him in case his fuel pressure did drop so that he would have enough steam to cross the finish line while still under his own power.
Interestingly enough though, as Jimmie went into his last lap guess who he passed? Casey Mears of course. Hmmm … did Casey really drop off that much, or did he drop back to help his teammate after all? I personally think it was the latter. I’d like to ask Casey about it though just to see if he did it because he wanted to or because he was told to.
Look for the Hendrick cars to be the class of the field at Talladega next week, with any one of the 4 drivers having a chance for the win. Without looking at any stats, my gut feeling is that the winner next week will either be Jeff Gordon or Dale Jr.
For more in-depth coverage for this weekend’s race I suggest you go to Track talk with Jaynelle Ramon who was at the track all weekend taking pictures, videos, and conducting interviews. She has at least 12 great posts from PIR this weekend.
As an aside: My congratulations go to the U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team for their gold medal performance at the Women’s World Hockey Championships in China this weekend.
I think about Kyle Busch. My thoughts are mixed because last season and previous seasons I rarely gave the kid any notice. One cannot help but notice him this season. He has stepped out of the Hendrick shadows and into the Gibbs Limelight. I see a different man… no longer a boy… he is showing integrity and his pompousness is not so apparent anymore. He expresses gratitude and seems genuinely humble in some subtle way. His recklessness on track has leveled off, but not so much to take away from his driving style. It could be that I’m beginning to like him…or at least showing him the respect he deserves. A prodigy.
Mark Martin topping the speed chart in final practice….. hmmmm! DEI has given him a winning car. To see him in Victory Lane in the #8 would be outstanding!
“Smoke Racing Incorporated”
“Tony Stewart Racing”
“Smoke Motorsports”
Talk of Tony owning a Cup team in the future… now there’s a man who would knock down doors in the France office.
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In this era of the Car of Tomorrow (pardon me, Car of Today), safer barriers, and Hans devices, NASCAR is trying to protect their drivers by minimizing the element of risk during severe impacts sustained during crashes with each other and the wall.
The improvements that have been made by NASCAR are substantial, as evident last week at Texas during the harsh crash taken by rookie driver Michael McDowell. McDowell hit the turn 1 and turn 2 wall nearly head on at about 180 mph then rolled down the track no less than 8 times before the car came to a complete stop in the upright position.
After a brief moment McDowell climbed out of the car and waved to the crowd, something that might not have happened as recently as last year and certainly not seven years ago when the death of legendary driver Dale Earnhardt sparked NASCAR’s keen interest in driver safety.
Now that NASCAR has major gains in the improvement of the driver’s physical climate it needs to turn its attention to the drivers themselves. Case in point, Aaron Fike.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike and his fiancee were arrested and later charged with possession of heroin and drug abuse instruments in the parking lot of Kings Island theme park outside of Cincinnati on July 7th 2007.
What is most chilling about this is that Fike has now admitted to using drugs on race days. “Fike has admitted to ESPN the Magazine that he did drugs on race days, specifically before a Truck event at Memphis Motorsports Park on June 30 of last year. That admission was enough for some Sprint Cup drivers to start banging the drum for a drug policy with more teeth.” - David Caraviello, nascar.com.
That just scares me. To do drugs on race day? Man.
NASCAR’s current drug testing policy is that a driver will be tested only if series officials have a reasonable doubt as to whether a competitor is using. That is it, nothing else.
“The responsibility here rests across the board — with the drivers and competitors, owners and teams and NASCAR,” NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said. “We test an individual when we have reasonable suspicion, and a positive test results in severe consequences and is a career-changing moment for that person. NASCAR’s policy is also supported by the various policies that the teams have in place that are required under the driver/owner agreements. No system is flawless; but we believe our zero tolerant policy that is in place has served the sport well.”
Zero tolerance is good, and I’m all for that, but I firmly believe that this policy surely scares the non-drug user, but to an addict it is nothing but a calculated risk because the habitual drug becomes more the most important thing than their own personal safety. If a person is willing to risk their own personal safety, they certainly wouldn’t think twice about risking someone else’s.
An most importantly NASCAR didn’t catch Fike, the cops did.
“We haven’t made any headway whatsoever on the drug testing policy. In the 10 years that I’ve raced, I’ve never been drug tested. So to me, that is not a proper professional sports drug policy …” Kevin Harvick told the media today.
What is interesting here is that Harvick fielded a Busch car for Fike near the end of the 2006 season for 3 races, and added that he had no reason to doubt that his driver was clean. So did Fike fool Harvick, or was he indeed clean?
Only Fike knows for sure, but if he fooled Harvick and his crew that says something.
“The bad part about it is 95 percent of this garage I can guarantee you is clean, but there’s a 5 percent chance — it’s just like the safety thing back in 2001, the reason that we reacted to it. We weren’t proactive until that situation happened,” Harvick continued, making reference to the death of Dale Earnhardt at Daytona in 2001.
I agree.
Most major sports have mandatory and/or random drug testing policies in place, yet NASCAR does not. Why not?
NASCAR has an obligation to put on a safe show for both fans and their drivers - including those on drugs.
Could you imagine what would have happened if Fike had crashed last June 30th and killed himself, or another driver, or a crew member on pit road, or worse yet, somehow killed or injured a spectator - these race cars and trucks have been known to leave the racing surface and get air-born into the catch fence.
It is time for NASCAR to step up to the plate on this one. If I were a driver I would have no problem submitting to a drug test as I would have nothing to hide and I imagine that would be the same for every other ‘clean’ driver in the garage area. The ones who would object would be the ones that are scared of getting caught for something.
Many drivers are in support of some sort of mandatory/random drug testing, including Tony Stewart, “I’m all for it. I would love it. I’ve never been asked to take one yet. I think it should be mandatory that we have random drug testing all the time, I think non-stop through the year. Obviously with this happening (with Fike), we as an organization aren’t doing a good job of seeing it before it happens. Aaron coming out and saying that (he used drugs on race days) is an indication that we need to do a better job than we’re currently doing. But I’m all for random drug testing, from the time we go to Daytona to the time we finish the season at Homestead. I think it’s a great idea.”
If NASCAR wants to be seen as the proactive governing body that it claims it is, then now is the time to be proactive and institute more stringent drug testing policies while continuing to enforce the zero tolerance rule.
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First…. My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Brienne Davis.
Things in the NASCAR world just seem to be plugging along without anything silly or controversial. Last year at this time things were off the hook with the inception of the CoT, Michael Waltrip, Toyota and more. The biggest story so far this year is McDowell’s introduction to the world. Silly season is apt to bring some interesting stuff.
Phoenix has been the Hendrick’s track the past two races… Gordon in the Spring, Johnson in the Fall. My crystal ball is clouded on this one….but again… the Gibbs machines are the ones to watch.
Phoenix is an interesting track… it falls somewhere in between a short track and a super speedway at one mile. The cars average around 110 - 115 mph with a relatively slight banked Tri-oval design. It’s almost a cookie cutter, but shorter. Should be a good race.
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Well it is official, Ryan Newman was fined 25 points for having the one corner of his car too high after the Texas race last weekend. Penske was also fined 25 owner points, and Newman’s crew chief was put on probation until the end of the season and fined 25 grand.
Officially, Newman was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock-car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 12.8.1C (right-rear quarter panel height did not meet the required specification; too high in post-race inspection) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book.
Now before all of you start screaming, “Why didn’t he loose 100 points like everyone else?” this fine handed down by NASCAR is consistent to the fine that Carl Edwards got last season at Dover for a similar infraction.
This now moves Newman from 8th in points to 10th.
Mayfield!
Jeremy Mayfield has been released from the CNC Haas #70 ride and has been replaced by Johnny Sauter for the race this week at Phoenix. It is still unclear as to weather Johnny will be driving the 70 car past this race or not.
The official language used in the CNC Haas press release given by team general manager Joe Custer is really interesting;
“Jeremy’s proven resume behind the wheel of a Cup car was a real benefit to our team,” Custer said. “He stepped into the seat and did everything we asked him to and more.
“Ultimately, we were unable to provide him with the right balance, handling and speed he needed to be successful. We wish Jeremy nothing but the best for his future.”
After reading the first line I was left asking, “OK, if he has done everything and more for you, then why are you releasing him?” But then I read the second line and everything was made clear to me, Jeremy asked to be released again. That is the only conclusion I could get from that quote. Essentially it is saying, “He did great for us, but Jeremy didn’t like anything about the car and has asked to be released.”
Do you sense a pattern here? Almost every single team he has driven for at the Cup level he has left for greener pastures due to poor performance. Those teams include Cale Yarborough’s operation, Penske and Evernham and now CNC Haas.
Maybe he wants to be in contention for the newly formed RCR #33 car and that is why he was ‘released’. Who knows really, all we can do is speculate at best.
I bet you can not sit there and read this and honestly say you know no one who has been effect by cancer. My father, and his father, and his father before him all died of cancer. I shudder to think I might be added to that list one day.
A friend of mine, Bill Hutchinson, has also seen the effects of cancer on both his friends and loved ones and he is doing something to raise money to help find a cure. He just launched his site today so please visit it, and help out if you can. If you can’t pitch in, then just send him your best wishes and blessings for a safe and successful race.
I’m in for $50.00.
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I just found this neat little site www.snickers.com/racing, so go and check it out - especially if you are a Kyle Busch fan. Even if you have peanut allergies you can visit this site, how about that!
Here is some of what you’ll find there;
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Jack Roush has this Texas Track’s number, as a car owner he has won 6 times, more than any other car owner.
This time he won with Carl Edwards and his #99 Ford Fusion. Carl’s car had the field covered today, everyone else was just racing for second.
It was interesting with the Green/White/Checker ending though, but in the end no one had Carl’s number.
Some interesting things happened in today’s race so I’ll just go for it in point form;
1) If you are a Jeff Gordon fan you must be beside yourself. They couldn’t even get the car in good enough shape to turn it into a practice session. As far as I know this is only the second time in his Cup career that he has finished 43rd.
2) JJ Yeley had a nice run-in with the inside retaining wall this race. He was fortunate to scrub some speed off before he went head-on into it, but he still hit pretty hard. The lack of safer-barriers on these unprotected walls needs to be addressed and soon, NASCAR can’t afford to have a driver injured like this, especially when it is preventable to a certain degree.
3) I feel bad for Martin Truex Jr. He had a solid run going until his motor went south. You don’t suppose he got the left-over motors from Dale Jr’s team from last year?
4) Those JGR Toyotas ran well today, not well enough to win mind you, but all three of them finished in the top 10.
5) Jeff Burton did what he had to do to stay out front in the points lead. I know it is early in the season, but he is racing like he is in mid-season form with a hand full of races left to The Chase. We’ll just have to see if he can keep it up.
6) Ryan Newman’s car failed post-race inspection, his one corner was too high. We’ll have to wait until Tuesday to see if any penalties are forthcoming.
OK, see you tomorrow.
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The Shrub finally pulls one off. Not much input from me on this because it’s obvious very early in the season that Busch will dominate this year. I remain neutral… I don’t particularly care either way. I suppose I’m done being so concerned about the dominance of one driver or another and instead place focus on the level of performance the drivers I do care about. This keeps me from getting aggravated.
Irony is a funny thing. I vividly recall my 8th grade English teacher driving home the meaning behind this word. Of course it is often coupled with coincidence, it has a varying degree of meanings and uses. In a previous post I wrote about Michael McDowell. I truly expected to see this kid climb to fame, but not so quickly and certainly not in this manner. Watching that crash…live, was scary.
So what will today bring? Another Toyota in Victory Lane? Perhaps another RCR car.
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You know I just had to talk about it didn’t you. Being somewhat of a fan of RCR I just can’t sit by while all of you have your fun now, can I?
You all probably know by now that General Mills will be moving it’s sponsorship from the Petty Enterprises #43 to the Richard Childress #33 for next year. If you recall, I told you about the possibility of this back in February, well it is a done deal now.
Oddly enough, and correct me if I’m wrong, but this is the 3rd race team and car manufacturer that General Mills has been with since it became a primary sponsor in NASCAR. Hmmm .. do I sense a 3-Factor here? I’ll just leave it at that.
Now speculation is running rampant that since Bobby Labonte, the current driver of the #43 car, is in the last year of his contract with the Petty organization he will not renew and he will move to RCR next year and be in the #33 car. Ok, for what its worth, this is old news too because I told you about this back in February as well. The only reason people are talking about this again is because the General Mills announcement makes it more official.
Bob Margolis at Yahoo Sports has even gone as far as to say that the
