Note: This was originally posted on June 6, 2007.
My last entry was a quick acknowledgement of the death of Nascar's leader over the last 30 plus years, but today I want to try to pay a proper tribute to Bill France Jr.
Big Bill, as Bill Jr.'s father was known, was the genesis of Nascar back in the 1940's and 1950's. The early years of Nascar were very uncertain. Big Bill was a race promoter who had a bigger vision than many of his contemporaries did. He wanted to see a national racing series, and worked to make his vision come true. Sadly, in many ways, Big Bill did not see, nor could he have imagined what his racing series has become today.
Bill France Jr. started his career as many kids did, helping out his father whenever and where ever he could. Bill Jr. nailed posters promoting races to telephone poles. He helped build the present Daytona race track, reportedly even using a mule to pull tree stumps out of the ground. Bill Jr. learned from his father, and eventually took over the reigns as chief of the Nascar empire.
Bill Jr. helped usher in Winston as the series sponsor in 1972, an event which we now call the birth of the modern era of Nascar. Stock car racing at it's highest level was now performed at established paved tracks of 1/2 mile or greater. Earlier, Nascar's stars raced in a haphazard schedule of 40 or well over 50 events a year, from places like Daytona to tiny tracks like the Ona racetrack in Huntington, West Virginia. Bill France Jr. basically turned what had been a rag tag bunch of drivers into a group of legitimate major sports stars.
Bill France Jr. was present for the beginning of what is now the modern Busch series, as well as the Craftsman Truck series. Bill Jr. was in charge with this sport achieved national attention by brokering the deal with CBS to show the 1979 Daytona 500 from the green flag through the exciting finish, which featured a fist fight between Cale Yarborough and Donnie and Bobby Allison. Bill France Jr. also helped the sport grow to the point that major television networks were bidding for rights to broadcast each and every race on television every week.
For those of you who have been fans of Nascar for more than 10 years or so, you've seen the enormous growth in popularity that this sport has experienced. A lot of credit for that phenominal growth belongs to Bill France Jr.
In 2000, Bill Jr. passed the torch to Mike Helton, and retired as the chief promoter and rule enforcer. A few years later, his son, Brian, was promoted to the exalted spot as CEO of the company. Brian has started out with a bang, creating the Chase for the Cup and the Lucky Dog pass. Young men tend to try things to make the overall situation more exciting, and Brian is no exception. I hope that Brian has half the brains and cunning that his dad had. If he does, Brian will go far with Nascar.
NASCAR. It was created by the France family, and we will all miss the son of the man that started it all. Bill France Jr., thanks for all you've done over the years to keep this sport exciting and growing. Bill France Jr. defined the acronym National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.
Go with God, Bill Jr. We'll miss you.
Friday, October 5, 2007
RIP, Bill France Jr.
Note: This was originally posted June 5, 2007.
I only get to show one photo on here, and I probably should have put Bill France Jr.'s photo on here, but I didn't. Let me just say that I wish all the France family well, and know that we, as Nascar fans, will never forget Bill's contributions to the sport we all love so much. God watch over the family.
Next, Congratulations Martin Truex Jr. for your first Cup win! Awesome car, awesome driver. DEI is proud of you more than you can probably realize right now!
Let me get to the meat of this monologue though, and just say that Kurt Busch should be suspended for multiple races, and have about 300 driver's and owner's points erased. I happened to tape the race, (I don't have TIVO yet), and backed it up and watched it several times. Kurt Busch was at fault, or his spotter was. Kurt was not 'clear' when he cut up in front of Tony Stewart. Not only did Kurt put the 20 car into the wall, but he got himself wrecked. Tony could have slowed down, I suppose, but that's not what racing is supposed to be about, at least I don't think.
Kurt and Tony had been racing side by side for several laps, and it was Kurt who took the high lane before he was clear. I don't know if that was Kurt's fault or his spotter's fault, but either way, Kurt hit Tony. I've watched this every which way, and I can come to no other point of view.
Racing is racing. Stuff happens. Kurt should have been willing to let that go. But Kurt didn't, and in a spectacular way.
On pit road after the accident, Kurt Busch pulled the left side of his car right up and into the right side of Tony Stewart's car. This all happened with Tony sitting in his pit stall. What made it worse was that Jason Lee, a pit road crewmember for the 20 team was almost caught between the 20 and the 2 cars. Jason had enough of a visual warning that the 2 was aiming right at him, that he had the chance to jump onto the hood of the 20 car to avoid a stay in the hospital, if not the morturary.
Folks, Kurt Busch's actions were mindless. There was not a brain driving the functions that caused him and a 3600 lb. car to drive almost into Jason Lee. Kurt Busch's first race in the then Winston Cup was in 2001, and he got into a car painted black with the number '3' on the roof and on the door panels. Immediatly, a finger came out the window of the 3. It was the middle one. Apparently the driver of that car was not pleased, and he was not a rookie, as was Kurt.
Kurt Busch has had plenty of chances since that time. He left Roush Racing after winning a championship to drive for Penske Racing. At the end of his tenure at Roush he had a pretty famous run-in with the police in Arizona. Oh, I think a guy named Jimmy Spencer also had some problems with Kurt. I think Spencer got sat down for that little problem as well.
It's time to sit Kurt Busch on the bench for a while. I don't know how many races, but it should be more than one. Pit crews are very vulnerable on pit road with the cars moving in and around them, and Kurt's problem with Tony should have been kept until after the race. Involving pit crew members was totally idiotic.
One thing about the Busch Brothers is that they never disappoint. You can rely on one of them to do something really stupid, almost every week.
I only get to show one photo on here, and I probably should have put Bill France Jr.'s photo on here, but I didn't. Let me just say that I wish all the France family well, and know that we, as Nascar fans, will never forget Bill's contributions to the sport we all love so much. God watch over the family.
Next, Congratulations Martin Truex Jr. for your first Cup win! Awesome car, awesome driver. DEI is proud of you more than you can probably realize right now!
Let me get to the meat of this monologue though, and just say that Kurt Busch should be suspended for multiple races, and have about 300 driver's and owner's points erased. I happened to tape the race, (I don't have TIVO yet), and backed it up and watched it several times. Kurt Busch was at fault, or his spotter was. Kurt was not 'clear' when he cut up in front of Tony Stewart. Not only did Kurt put the 20 car into the wall, but he got himself wrecked. Tony could have slowed down, I suppose, but that's not what racing is supposed to be about, at least I don't think.
Kurt and Tony had been racing side by side for several laps, and it was Kurt who took the high lane before he was clear. I don't know if that was Kurt's fault or his spotter's fault, but either way, Kurt hit Tony. I've watched this every which way, and I can come to no other point of view.
Racing is racing. Stuff happens. Kurt should have been willing to let that go. But Kurt didn't, and in a spectacular way.
On pit road after the accident, Kurt Busch pulled the left side of his car right up and into the right side of Tony Stewart's car. This all happened with Tony sitting in his pit stall. What made it worse was that Jason Lee, a pit road crewmember for the 20 team was almost caught between the 20 and the 2 cars. Jason had enough of a visual warning that the 2 was aiming right at him, that he had the chance to jump onto the hood of the 20 car to avoid a stay in the hospital, if not the morturary.
Folks, Kurt Busch's actions were mindless. There was not a brain driving the functions that caused him and a 3600 lb. car to drive almost into Jason Lee. Kurt Busch's first race in the then Winston Cup was in 2001, and he got into a car painted black with the number '3' on the roof and on the door panels. Immediatly, a finger came out the window of the 3. It was the middle one. Apparently the driver of that car was not pleased, and he was not a rookie, as was Kurt.
Kurt Busch has had plenty of chances since that time. He left Roush Racing after winning a championship to drive for Penske Racing. At the end of his tenure at Roush he had a pretty famous run-in with the police in Arizona. Oh, I think a guy named Jimmy Spencer also had some problems with Kurt. I think Spencer got sat down for that little problem as well.
It's time to sit Kurt Busch on the bench for a while. I don't know how many races, but it should be more than one. Pit crews are very vulnerable on pit road with the cars moving in and around them, and Kurt's problem with Tony should have been kept until after the race. Involving pit crew members was totally idiotic.
One thing about the Busch Brothers is that they never disappoint. You can rely on one of them to do something really stupid, almost every week.
Let's be fair now.
Note: This was originally posted on June 3, 2007.
Michael Waltrip will be in the race at Delaware. I'm glad. I wrote my previous piece before qualifying on Friday. Michael showed that he's got what he needs, at least at this track to get the job done. We all have to remember that this has been a trying season for Michael and all of his crew, including the 44 and 00 teams.
I watched qualifying with trepidation, hoping that Michael finally got in. When he ran the lap that he did, I felt that had to be good enough, and with a few fist pumps into the air, I said "Finally!"
When Michael busted out his lap, and a few minutes later, Dale Jarrett did the same thing, I was happy. I thought for the first time since Daytona, Michael was going to have all 3 teams in the race. David Reutimann kinda killed the dream with his qualifying run though. Oh well, 2 is better than one or none.
Michael will race on Monday as it turns out, since we had a little inconvenient thing called Barry roll through. I wish Michael well on Monday.
Michael Waltrip will be in the race at Delaware. I'm glad. I wrote my previous piece before qualifying on Friday. Michael showed that he's got what he needs, at least at this track to get the job done. We all have to remember that this has been a trying season for Michael and all of his crew, including the 44 and 00 teams.
I watched qualifying with trepidation, hoping that Michael finally got in. When he ran the lap that he did, I felt that had to be good enough, and with a few fist pumps into the air, I said "Finally!"
When Michael busted out his lap, and a few minutes later, Dale Jarrett did the same thing, I was happy. I thought for the first time since Daytona, Michael was going to have all 3 teams in the race. David Reutimann kinda killed the dream with his qualifying run though. Oh well, 2 is better than one or none.
Michael will race on Monday as it turns out, since we had a little inconvenient thing called Barry roll through. I wish Michael well on Monday.
A New Nascar Winner! The Hendrick Equation is now Complete!
Note: This was originally posted May 29, 2007, and it's out of order a little bit! But here it is anyway:
First of all, Congratulations on your first WIN, Casey Mears! It's been a long time coming, and you and your team deserve all the fame and fortune that you will have this week. It's been a long time coming, and you won it. Again, my most sincere congratulations.
Casey did something that a lot of other drivers in the Cup series have been dreaming of for quite a while now. Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex, Jr., J.J. Yeley, and Juan Pablo Montoya are a few of the other drivers trying to break into the win column. As a fan of practically anything but Rick Hendrick Racing, I have to tip my hat to Rick. He now has all 4 of his drivers in the winning cars in 2007.
If Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s shot at driving one these cars wasn't sealed before the race Sunday night, it most assuredly is now. It's very unlikely that Rick Hendrick will fire a winning driver to put Dale Jr. in one of his cars now. I watched Kyle Petty on Speed TV's Trading Paint the other day, and he basically said it. Dale Jr. will not be driving for Rick Hendrick in 2008.
It's not that big a surprise. Rick has 4 very talented and winning drivers. Why change a good thing? The news also suggests that if Dale Jr. and Budweiser can't be separated, then Joe Gibbs Racing is out of the picture as well. Jeff Hammond, lately an analyst on Fox Sports has suggested that Visa is interested in sponsoring Dale Jr. I don't know where Jeff Hammond gets his news from, but for 2 weeks in a row, I've heard Jeff talk about Visa as a sponsor for Dale Jr.
The other really strange news regarding Dale Jr. is that apparently he and Richard Childress have not talked at all about a ride in 2008. One would think that RCR would be the logical place for Dale Jr. to go. I'm guessing that as usual, Dale Jr. told the truth in his press conference. He said that he would look at all the options carefully before he decided anything, and I'm taking RC at his word as well, that he will talk to Jr. when it's time to talk. I hope that there isn't any problem going on with RC that Jr. and RC just don't want to discuss.
I have to say one thing, and I know a lot of loyal Jr. fans read this. I'm going to say it anyway. I think Dale Jr. could have not announced that he was leaving DEI before he could have already signed a deal with another team. What Dale Jr. did was raise the drama level in the gossip business to new heights, and leads me to wonder if he already hasn't signed a deal with another team. Maybe I'm just cynical, but I do know that Dale Jr. has achieved a bit of press savvy. I don't know if you'll understand what I mean here, but keeping his name in the headlines just raises his value. Dale Jr. and Kelley have certainly done that. I can see Dale Jr. announcing that he's leaving DEI, but I'm beginning to wonder if he really just launched himself into the darkness without some kind of deal already in place. In this case, I'm willing to trust the in the the fact that both Kelley and Dale Jr. are pretty naive at this level of the sport. Jr. does own a successful Busch team, but in the Cup, it's hardball all the way. Teresa really has more experience at this than either of her step-children do.
I don't think that Teresa is trying to drive a wedge between her and Dale Jr. and Kelley. I just think she doing what she thinks is right for the company. I can't fault her for that. If doing what she thinks is right means losing the biggest name in the sport, then fine. Teresa is going to do what she thinks is best, and in my belief, DEI will survive this.
My biggest concern is that Dale Jr. doesn't end up driving for another 2nd or 3rd tier team. He's got a ton of talent, and about 2 tons of personality. Jr.'s future is big business for whomever he drives for. There's just too much money and prestige at stake to make a bad decision here. Whatever he decides, I'll support him. I know that about 99% of the Earnhardt Nation will too.
I just hope that he does the right thing.
Casey Mears! You rock, dude. I was happy to see your first win come at a place like Charlotte, in the most grueling of all races. Once again, congratulations!
First of all, Congratulations on your first WIN, Casey Mears! It's been a long time coming, and you and your team deserve all the fame and fortune that you will have this week. It's been a long time coming, and you won it. Again, my most sincere congratulations.
Casey did something that a lot of other drivers in the Cup series have been dreaming of for quite a while now. Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex, Jr., J.J. Yeley, and Juan Pablo Montoya are a few of the other drivers trying to break into the win column. As a fan of practically anything but Rick Hendrick Racing, I have to tip my hat to Rick. He now has all 4 of his drivers in the winning cars in 2007.
If Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s shot at driving one these cars wasn't sealed before the race Sunday night, it most assuredly is now. It's very unlikely that Rick Hendrick will fire a winning driver to put Dale Jr. in one of his cars now. I watched Kyle Petty on Speed TV's Trading Paint the other day, and he basically said it. Dale Jr. will not be driving for Rick Hendrick in 2008.
It's not that big a surprise. Rick has 4 very talented and winning drivers. Why change a good thing? The news also suggests that if Dale Jr. and Budweiser can't be separated, then Joe Gibbs Racing is out of the picture as well. Jeff Hammond, lately an analyst on Fox Sports has suggested that Visa is interested in sponsoring Dale Jr. I don't know where Jeff Hammond gets his news from, but for 2 weeks in a row, I've heard Jeff talk about Visa as a sponsor for Dale Jr.
The other really strange news regarding Dale Jr. is that apparently he and Richard Childress have not talked at all about a ride in 2008. One would think that RCR would be the logical place for Dale Jr. to go. I'm guessing that as usual, Dale Jr. told the truth in his press conference. He said that he would look at all the options carefully before he decided anything, and I'm taking RC at his word as well, that he will talk to Jr. when it's time to talk. I hope that there isn't any problem going on with RC that Jr. and RC just don't want to discuss.
I have to say one thing, and I know a lot of loyal Jr. fans read this. I'm going to say it anyway. I think Dale Jr. could have not announced that he was leaving DEI before he could have already signed a deal with another team. What Dale Jr. did was raise the drama level in the gossip business to new heights, and leads me to wonder if he already hasn't signed a deal with another team. Maybe I'm just cynical, but I do know that Dale Jr. has achieved a bit of press savvy. I don't know if you'll understand what I mean here, but keeping his name in the headlines just raises his value. Dale Jr. and Kelley have certainly done that. I can see Dale Jr. announcing that he's leaving DEI, but I'm beginning to wonder if he really just launched himself into the darkness without some kind of deal already in place. In this case, I'm willing to trust the in the the fact that both Kelley and Dale Jr. are pretty naive at this level of the sport. Jr. does own a successful Busch team, but in the Cup, it's hardball all the way. Teresa really has more experience at this than either of her step-children do.
I don't think that Teresa is trying to drive a wedge between her and Dale Jr. and Kelley. I just think she doing what she thinks is right for the company. I can't fault her for that. If doing what she thinks is right means losing the biggest name in the sport, then fine. Teresa is going to do what she thinks is best, and in my belief, DEI will survive this.
My biggest concern is that Dale Jr. doesn't end up driving for another 2nd or 3rd tier team. He's got a ton of talent, and about 2 tons of personality. Jr.'s future is big business for whomever he drives for. There's just too much money and prestige at stake to make a bad decision here. Whatever he decides, I'll support him. I know that about 99% of the Earnhardt Nation will too.
I just hope that he does the right thing.
Casey Mears! You rock, dude. I was happy to see your first win come at a place like Charlotte, in the most grueling of all races. Once again, congratulations!
Will the Pain Ever End?
Note: This was originally posted May 31, 2007.
I have refrained from writing about Michael Waltrip lately, mostly because I feel bad for the guy, and I don't want to be just one more racing fan piling on. Michael's situation is still big news, though I'm sure he's glad that Dale Earnhardt Jr. stole the spotlight, for at least a while . Dale Jr.'s predicament is to find a new home, and hopefully find a good one, which will allow him to win races and championships. Michael's problem is just keeping his head above water, to qualify for a race, and try to get all 3 of his cars into a race, which hasn't happened since Daytona in February.
Michael's qualifying problems haven't stemmed entirely from having cars that were too slow, but from having cars that were slow compared to the other dozen or so drivers he competes with every week just to make the show. Michael has had cars fast enough to make it into the top 43, but with Nascar's qualifying rule, just being among the top 43 fastest cars is not good enough anymore. Nascar's rule is designed to allow the top drivers to have a bad qualifying run, but still make the race. Without the stars, you see, the circus which is a Nascar race would fail to be exciting to some fans. Losing fans, either at the track, or in the tv ratings is something that Nascar wishes greatly to avoid.
In a way, it's hard to blame Nascar. Nascar's job is to put on a good show, to make the fans happy. Some fans will never be satisfied, of course, but Nascar seems to be doing it's best to make each and every race an event that will be remembered. I have a problem with a few of Nascar's new rules over the last few years, most of which have come under the leadership of Nascar's 3rd Supreme Commander, Brian France. I think one of the things that we have to remember is that Brian France is relatively new at this job. He's come up with a lot of ideas that he's trying out, I suppose, just to see if they work. I assume that as he ages and learns, things in the Nascar world will begin to settle down a little. If nothing else, Brian France certainly has carried on the tradition of causing controversy. His grandfather, Big Bill France was really no different when he was getting the sport organized in the late 1940's and early 1950's. Longtime fans of Nascar know that only about 1/10 of the battles fought in Nascar take place on the track. Sometimes, there's just nothing new in the world anymore. A France is in charge of Nascar, and the fans all take turns loving and hating him and the organization he heads.
I can't really fault Michael Waltrip for all his woes either. Let's face it, the guy took on a huge undertaking starting up his own 3 car team with a brand new car manfacturer. Michael has done a great job attracting and keeping sponsorship thus far. How happy Napa, UPS, and other sponsors are with the disasters that have beset Michael is one thing that for now remains between the sponsors and Waltrip. I imagine that everyone; Michael, Toyota, and all the sponsors have to be looking at the 2007 season as a worst case scenario so far. How long will the sponsors stick it out, when they pay a lot of money to get their name on TV every week, and the car bearing their decals just isn't there on race day?
It's beginning to appear that either Nascar is going to have to change their qualifying rule, or Michael Waltrip Racing and Toyota are going to have to step up their program before this weekly drama comes to a merciful end.
I have refrained from writing about Michael Waltrip lately, mostly because I feel bad for the guy, and I don't want to be just one more racing fan piling on. Michael's situation is still big news, though I'm sure he's glad that Dale Earnhardt Jr. stole the spotlight, for at least a while . Dale Jr.'s predicament is to find a new home, and hopefully find a good one, which will allow him to win races and championships. Michael's problem is just keeping his head above water, to qualify for a race, and try to get all 3 of his cars into a race, which hasn't happened since Daytona in February.
Michael's qualifying problems haven't stemmed entirely from having cars that were too slow, but from having cars that were slow compared to the other dozen or so drivers he competes with every week just to make the show. Michael has had cars fast enough to make it into the top 43, but with Nascar's qualifying rule, just being among the top 43 fastest cars is not good enough anymore. Nascar's rule is designed to allow the top drivers to have a bad qualifying run, but still make the race. Without the stars, you see, the circus which is a Nascar race would fail to be exciting to some fans. Losing fans, either at the track, or in the tv ratings is something that Nascar wishes greatly to avoid.
In a way, it's hard to blame Nascar. Nascar's job is to put on a good show, to make the fans happy. Some fans will never be satisfied, of course, but Nascar seems to be doing it's best to make each and every race an event that will be remembered. I have a problem with a few of Nascar's new rules over the last few years, most of which have come under the leadership of Nascar's 3rd Supreme Commander, Brian France. I think one of the things that we have to remember is that Brian France is relatively new at this job. He's come up with a lot of ideas that he's trying out, I suppose, just to see if they work. I assume that as he ages and learns, things in the Nascar world will begin to settle down a little. If nothing else, Brian France certainly has carried on the tradition of causing controversy. His grandfather, Big Bill France was really no different when he was getting the sport organized in the late 1940's and early 1950's. Longtime fans of Nascar know that only about 1/10 of the battles fought in Nascar take place on the track. Sometimes, there's just nothing new in the world anymore. A France is in charge of Nascar, and the fans all take turns loving and hating him and the organization he heads.
I can't really fault Michael Waltrip for all his woes either. Let's face it, the guy took on a huge undertaking starting up his own 3 car team with a brand new car manfacturer. Michael has done a great job attracting and keeping sponsorship thus far. How happy Napa, UPS, and other sponsors are with the disasters that have beset Michael is one thing that for now remains between the sponsors and Waltrip. I imagine that everyone; Michael, Toyota, and all the sponsors have to be looking at the 2007 season as a worst case scenario so far. How long will the sponsors stick it out, when they pay a lot of money to get their name on TV every week, and the car bearing their decals just isn't there on race day?
It's beginning to appear that either Nascar is going to have to change their qualifying rule, or Michael Waltrip Racing and Toyota are going to have to step up their program before this weekly drama comes to a merciful end.
The Stars were Shining at Charlotte
Note: This was originally posted on May 21, 2007.
I may be in the minority here, because I've been hearing and reading how a lot of people thought the Nextel All-Star race Saturday was boring. I thought it was exciting, and was on the edge of my seat though out both races. My warmest congratulations go out to Kevin Harvick, winner of the All-Star event, and Martin Truex, Jr., winner of the Nextel Open.
I found the winners of these two events to be very exciting drivers to watch, both on and off the track. After Martin Truex Jr. won the open, his obvious excitement at being in the big show was obvious. Martin was all smiles and had a bounce in his step I haven't seen in a couple of years. It was a not-points event, obviously, but it was Martin's first win in the Nextel Series.
Kevin Harvick's post-win celebrations are always fun to watch, and Saturday was no different. Kevin getting hugs from his wife, Delana, and his car owner, Richard Childress, were picture book perfect. The obvious joy in Richard's eyes was great to see, after all the hard years since he lost his best friend, Dale Earnhardt.
The results from the two races where possibly prophetic as well. The day before Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. announced that they are teaming up on their engine programs. Even thought the announcement had just been made, the result was immediate. Martin Truex wins the Nextel Open with DEI power, and Kevin Harvick wins the All-Star race with RCR power.
On a side note, I'd like to address one other point. The announcement that DEI and RCR were going to work together on engine development came exactly 1 week and 1 day after Dale Earnhardt Jr. made his huge announcement that he was leaving DEI at the end of the year. There are many conspiracy theorists that claim that this is yet another slap in the face for Dale Jr. from Teresa Earnhardt.
I don't see it that way. I don't what Dale Jr. knew, or when he knew it prior to his announcement, but I have to think he was in the loop enough to know that this was a possibility. It's not secret that Richard Childress and Teresa Earnhardt have been close friends for well over 20 years, and I know that Richard wants to see the company that his best friend built succeed. It's been speculated that DEI's engine program was the main reason that Dale Jr. decided to leave. I don't know that that's true, I think it's more about business philosophies, family relations, and Dale Jr.'s need to just be his own man and his own race car driver.
Personally, I don't see how this impedes Dale Jr.'s shot at a ride for RCR. I think that if Dale Jr. wants to drive for his old family friend, Richard will likely move Heaven and earth to put Dale Jr. in an RCR car. Perhaps together, DEI and RCR can overcome the seeming deficit that keeps all the other teams behind in performance, compared to Rick Hendrick Racing. Nascar has always said they were about parity in the sport, and the Chevrolet brand has been dominating the sport this year. I don't know that all the Chevy's have an advantage, but it's starting to look like the Hendrick cars do.
The Coca-Cola 600 comes up next, and this will be a real endurance test for not only the racing engines, but the other problem plagued parts on some of the cars as well. It's a grueling race, and it will be interesting to see if the Hendrick advantage holds up for the longest race of the year.
I may be in the minority here, because I've been hearing and reading how a lot of people thought the Nextel All-Star race Saturday was boring. I thought it was exciting, and was on the edge of my seat though out both races. My warmest congratulations go out to Kevin Harvick, winner of the All-Star event, and Martin Truex, Jr., winner of the Nextel Open.
I found the winners of these two events to be very exciting drivers to watch, both on and off the track. After Martin Truex Jr. won the open, his obvious excitement at being in the big show was obvious. Martin was all smiles and had a bounce in his step I haven't seen in a couple of years. It was a not-points event, obviously, but it was Martin's first win in the Nextel Series.
Kevin Harvick's post-win celebrations are always fun to watch, and Saturday was no different. Kevin getting hugs from his wife, Delana, and his car owner, Richard Childress, were picture book perfect. The obvious joy in Richard's eyes was great to see, after all the hard years since he lost his best friend, Dale Earnhardt.
The results from the two races where possibly prophetic as well. The day before Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. announced that they are teaming up on their engine programs. Even thought the announcement had just been made, the result was immediate. Martin Truex wins the Nextel Open with DEI power, and Kevin Harvick wins the All-Star race with RCR power.
On a side note, I'd like to address one other point. The announcement that DEI and RCR were going to work together on engine development came exactly 1 week and 1 day after Dale Earnhardt Jr. made his huge announcement that he was leaving DEI at the end of the year. There are many conspiracy theorists that claim that this is yet another slap in the face for Dale Jr. from Teresa Earnhardt.
I don't see it that way. I don't what Dale Jr. knew, or when he knew it prior to his announcement, but I have to think he was in the loop enough to know that this was a possibility. It's not secret that Richard Childress and Teresa Earnhardt have been close friends for well over 20 years, and I know that Richard wants to see the company that his best friend built succeed. It's been speculated that DEI's engine program was the main reason that Dale Jr. decided to leave. I don't know that that's true, I think it's more about business philosophies, family relations, and Dale Jr.'s need to just be his own man and his own race car driver.
Personally, I don't see how this impedes Dale Jr.'s shot at a ride for RCR. I think that if Dale Jr. wants to drive for his old family friend, Richard will likely move Heaven and earth to put Dale Jr. in an RCR car. Perhaps together, DEI and RCR can overcome the seeming deficit that keeps all the other teams behind in performance, compared to Rick Hendrick Racing. Nascar has always said they were about parity in the sport, and the Chevrolet brand has been dominating the sport this year. I don't know that all the Chevy's have an advantage, but it's starting to look like the Hendrick cars do.
The Coca-Cola 600 comes up next, and this will be a real endurance test for not only the racing engines, but the other problem plagued parts on some of the cars as well. It's a grueling race, and it will be interesting to see if the Hendrick advantage holds up for the longest race of the year.
What would Dale Do?
Note: This was originally posted May 18, 2007.
My friends, I know you have read about as much about Dale Jr. as you can possibly digest this week. I know I have, and I'm not even totally up to speed, because I missed a day.
I read Dale Jr.'s blog at his Infield Parking site. I'm sorry I can't post the link, but I've been unable to get into the site all day. I don't know if they're just doing updates or if it's just swamped.
I will paraphrase for you. Dale Jr. basically says that he just wants to win races and championships. He wants to make his fans happy. What an ego, huh?
I've read all over the place that Jr. has a lot of nerve asking for 51% of DEI, when it was left totally to Teresa. The nerve of him! I've read about how he has way to much ego to drive for a team like RCR, JGR, or even RHR. Too much ego. Huh.
Dale Jr. also owns airplanes and a helicopter, or his company does. Yes, Virginia, this egomaniac is also a successful businessman, as the owner of JR Motorsports. He owns a few late model teams as well as a full time Busch Series team, the 88 Chevrolet driven by Shane Huffman.
Yes, folks, this guy had the nerve to invite his mom, the former Brenda Gee, his grandmother, Martha Earnhardt, and his aunt, his father's sister, the former Kay Earnhardt to his press conference. Believe it or not, they were all there, supporting their egomaniac relative.
Folks, I've watched Nascar for a long time. I've seen a few egomaniacs. Some of them broadcast the sport today. As long as I've been watching Nascar, and that's more than 30 years, I've never seen a more down to earth person than Dale Earnhardt Jr. He is honest to a fault, and I think he's basically incapable of lying to his fans. I listen to him on the radio during the races every week. When another driver hits him, he takes the blame for it, even when it's clearly not his fault.
The Dale Jr. I know let us into his home in a DVD, which he admittedly made money on, but still opened up his home to us all. We got to meet his cat Buddy, see his party room, his bedroom, even his laundry room. Dale Jr. lives in a modular home. Most of his contemporaries live in multi million dollar mansions. Dale Jr. owns a lot of land, without a doubt, but he's built places to have fun, such as his go-cart track and his fantasy western town, Whiskey River. What 30 year old guy with millions in his pocket wouldn't indulge in such things?
I don't think you will ever see a more gracious or more honest driver than Dale Earnhardt Jr. I've been a fan of this man since he started driving for DEI. I'll be a fan of his long after he leaves.
I've personally never seen a Nascar driver that was so devoid of ego. Dale Jr. is a humble guy. Fame and money haven't changed him one bit. He's a fun loving guy, but would never hurt anyone to save even his own life.
Dale Jr.'s famous father was known for always going for the win, throughout his career. Dale always chose racing. I think it's Dale Jr.'s turn this time. Go for it Dale Jr.
We're behind you.
We always will be.
My friends, I know you have read about as much about Dale Jr. as you can possibly digest this week. I know I have, and I'm not even totally up to speed, because I missed a day.
I read Dale Jr.'s blog at his Infield Parking site. I'm sorry I can't post the link, but I've been unable to get into the site all day. I don't know if they're just doing updates or if it's just swamped.
I will paraphrase for you. Dale Jr. basically says that he just wants to win races and championships. He wants to make his fans happy. What an ego, huh?
I've read all over the place that Jr. has a lot of nerve asking for 51% of DEI, when it was left totally to Teresa. The nerve of him! I've read about how he has way to much ego to drive for a team like RCR, JGR, or even RHR. Too much ego. Huh.
Dale Jr. also owns airplanes and a helicopter, or his company does. Yes, Virginia, this egomaniac is also a successful businessman, as the owner of JR Motorsports. He owns a few late model teams as well as a full time Busch Series team, the 88 Chevrolet driven by Shane Huffman.
Yes, folks, this guy had the nerve to invite his mom, the former Brenda Gee, his grandmother, Martha Earnhardt, and his aunt, his father's sister, the former Kay Earnhardt to his press conference. Believe it or not, they were all there, supporting their egomaniac relative.
Folks, I've watched Nascar for a long time. I've seen a few egomaniacs. Some of them broadcast the sport today. As long as I've been watching Nascar, and that's more than 30 years, I've never seen a more down to earth person than Dale Earnhardt Jr. He is honest to a fault, and I think he's basically incapable of lying to his fans. I listen to him on the radio during the races every week. When another driver hits him, he takes the blame for it, even when it's clearly not his fault.
The Dale Jr. I know let us into his home in a DVD, which he admittedly made money on, but still opened up his home to us all. We got to meet his cat Buddy, see his party room, his bedroom, even his laundry room. Dale Jr. lives in a modular home. Most of his contemporaries live in multi million dollar mansions. Dale Jr. owns a lot of land, without a doubt, but he's built places to have fun, such as his go-cart track and his fantasy western town, Whiskey River. What 30 year old guy with millions in his pocket wouldn't indulge in such things?
I don't think you will ever see a more gracious or more honest driver than Dale Earnhardt Jr. I've been a fan of this man since he started driving for DEI. I'll be a fan of his long after he leaves.
I've personally never seen a Nascar driver that was so devoid of ego. Dale Jr. is a humble guy. Fame and money haven't changed him one bit. He's a fun loving guy, but would never hurt anyone to save even his own life.
Dale Jr.'s famous father was known for always going for the win, throughout his career. Dale always chose racing. I think it's Dale Jr.'s turn this time. Go for it Dale Jr.
We're behind you.
We always will be.
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