It's ok, it's really ok. I get bored sometimes, and read who is reading my blog. I had a reader today from Clute Texas. I had never heard of Clute, so I decided to check it out.
It turns out that Clute is a town of a little over 10,000 inhabitants on the gulf coast of Texas. Houston is not far away, but If I lived in Clute, I'd be proud to live there. I'm guessing Clute is my kind of town. You've got a Jack in the Box, and Cactus Grill Steakhouse, which according to one person was great, but according to another had good food but smelled bad. That's my kind of town!
You've also got some other very good restaurants in town, so the next time I hang my hat in Clute, Texas, I'm in for a treat. I'm sorry to say that if you came to my humble home town, you might not find the same hospitality or service in the food preparation. Mostly here, you'll find fast food, and not so good an attitude while you get it. We do have some good restaurants in the Williamston/ Anderson area, but you've got to drive somewhat to enjoy them. We've got great steak houses, and some good meat and 3's, but none very close by where I live though. Clute seems to have us beat here. I congratulate you, Clute, Texas.
I might do this from time to time, just to congratulate readers and small towns all over the map. I would travel more if fuel prices were lower, but Clute, Texas is a place I'd truly like to visit. Maybe one day I will.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Two Dales.
If you've read my blog at all, you probably recognize this site in my links section. I hope you have checked it out, because this young lady has done some magnificent work. (Here in the South, we call all ladies "young ladies". It's a term of respect and admiration.) The Two Dales site features news and pictures and a lot of just good web craft from one of my good friends. Though we've never met face to face, she is indeed one of my best friends, and I can't tell her enough how much I admire her skill as a webmaster. I deeply appreciate her displaying one of my most read blogs as well.
Fans of Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are as varied as the leaves blown around by an autumn wind. My friend lives in Hollywood, California, and I live in the country, outside of a small town called Williamston, South Carolina. If you search this town in Yahoo maps or Mapquest, you will find it. I live about 10 miles away to the North West. I love it because it's peaceful here. I own a couple of acres of land, and the lady across the road keeps horses. Down the road, there are goats, and even geese. Rabbits are common in my front and back yards, and I see a fox or even a coyote now and then. Deer are no strangers to my land either, to the consternation of my neighbor who tries to grow a garden each year. He's a transplanted New Jersey resident, but I don't hold that against him. He's fed me with vine ripened tomatoes and green beans, and for a southerner, this is pure gold! Tomato sandwiches, slathered in a bath of mayonaise..... MMMMM! You just can't get better living than this, if you are a Southerner.
Can you imagine me, dear reader, wearing my Boston Red Sox cap, driving my old pickup truck through Hollywood, California? My mustached Jeff Foxworthy face, my unkempt hair, my old jeans, and my old Nikes taking to the sidewalk in Hollywood? Speaking in my thick, southern brogue. (Ever listen to Dale Earnhardt, or Dale Earnhardt Jr? I talk just like them) With luck, I might not be thrown into the nearest jail!
Two worlds apart. My friend has done one of the best sites I've ever seen, and I want you to go check it out. My Beverly Hillbilly's expedition is not going to start soon, but one of these days, I'm going to have to go meet two dear friends, one in Hollywood, California, and the other in a place called Semmes, Alabama. I'd just like to get a hug from each of these two nice people.
Once again, Check this site out!
I mean it!
Until next time, Thanks for playing along.
Jimmy C
Fans of Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are as varied as the leaves blown around by an autumn wind. My friend lives in Hollywood, California, and I live in the country, outside of a small town called Williamston, South Carolina. If you search this town in Yahoo maps or Mapquest, you will find it. I live about 10 miles away to the North West. I love it because it's peaceful here. I own a couple of acres of land, and the lady across the road keeps horses. Down the road, there are goats, and even geese. Rabbits are common in my front and back yards, and I see a fox or even a coyote now and then. Deer are no strangers to my land either, to the consternation of my neighbor who tries to grow a garden each year. He's a transplanted New Jersey resident, but I don't hold that against him. He's fed me with vine ripened tomatoes and green beans, and for a southerner, this is pure gold! Tomato sandwiches, slathered in a bath of mayonaise..... MMMMM! You just can't get better living than this, if you are a Southerner.
Can you imagine me, dear reader, wearing my Boston Red Sox cap, driving my old pickup truck through Hollywood, California? My mustached Jeff Foxworthy face, my unkempt hair, my old jeans, and my old Nikes taking to the sidewalk in Hollywood? Speaking in my thick, southern brogue. (Ever listen to Dale Earnhardt, or Dale Earnhardt Jr? I talk just like them) With luck, I might not be thrown into the nearest jail!
Two worlds apart. My friend has done one of the best sites I've ever seen, and I want you to go check it out. My Beverly Hillbilly's expedition is not going to start soon, but one of these days, I'm going to have to go meet two dear friends, one in Hollywood, California, and the other in a place called Semmes, Alabama. I'd just like to get a hug from each of these two nice people.
Once again, Check this site out!
I mean it!
Until next time, Thanks for playing along.
Jimmy C
So, let me get this straight. It's now Illegal to Race Denny and Kyle?
I had to laugh this morning when I saw the penalties that were handed down to JR Motorsports for the post race altercation on Saturday. Denny announces on the radio that he is going to wreck the 88 car, and does so under caution. A brawl ensues after the checkered flag, and the JRM fellows mix it up with the Gibbs fellows. JRM gets penalized, but Denny and the "Don't you dare race me hard" crew comes out smelling like roses. And then on Sunday, Kyle has a problem with Jeff Gordon racing him. Kyle, winner of how many championships? Oh, that's right, Zero, gets in Jeff's face and lectures him about racing. Last night, Nascar sent a clear warning: Don't race the Toyotas anymore.
Nascar might as well put it in the rule book. When you see a Toyota approaching your rear bumper, you should move over and slow down. If that car happens to be a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, you are not to race it at all, and you must allow that car to go by unscathed. More to the point, that rule apparently does not apply to the 20 Joe Gibbs car, but only to the 18 and the 11 cars. Is it any wonder that Tony Stewart wants out of this kindergarten that JGR has become this year? Everyone used to complain about Tony's antics off the track, but even Tony can't hold a candle to these two babies, especially in terms of pure immaturity.
Over the years, Joe Gibbs has built his team slowly, first with Dale Jarrett, and then Bobby Labonte. When Smoke came along, he was considered a brat at times, but obviously a very talented driver. When Denny came along, he seemed like a nice kid, but last year the brat emerged from the all American kid persona that most saw in the young man from Virginia. This year, Denny has been overshadowed by the new brat on the block, who's talents include supposedly being able to wheel a loose race car, but who has definitely proven that his true talents also include wrecking a lot of other cars, including his own from time to time, and the ability to shoot off his mouth at the drop of a hat. Kyle has made quite a few snide remarks about the man who replaced him at Hendrick Motorsports, and has claimed more than once that it's apparently unfair to race Dale Earnhardt Jr. The truth is, Kyle, that you don't like it when anyone races you. Jeff Gordon raced you hard, and you blamed him for costing you a shot at winning the race? Boo Hoo. Denny Hamlin thinks he should only be racing Cup drivers in a Nationwide race? Boo Hoo. If Denny Hamlin wants to only race Cup caliber drivers, stay the heck out of the Nationwide series!
It is heartening to notice some of the youngest class of Nascar drivers that seem to thrive on their on track performance, rather then their post race comments or sarcastic bows. Kasey Kahne has had quite a special 2 weeks at Charlotte, winning both the All Star race and the Coca Cola 600. Kasey is smart enough to let his racing skills do the talking for him, and he seems about as controversial as an altar boy. My hat's off to this quiet, polite young man who achieved two spectacular victories that unfortunately were overshadowed by the antics of two of his less well behaved contemporaries. David Reutimann as well has been quietly putting together some solid on track performances this year. Regan Smith, David Ragan, and veteran but still young drivers Casey Mears and Martin Truex Jr. quietly go about their craft, without having to mouth off to the entire world about their driving prowess or whatever it is that Kyle and Denny keep yapping about.
I suppose part of the problem for me is the non-stop love affair that FOX broadcasters Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds, and Jeff Hammond have had this year with Kyle Busch. We all know that Kyle reminds DW of his early days. I remember those days as well, and even though I was just a kid at the time, I remember what an idiot that guy Waltrip was. He wrecked a lot of cars, and he won some races, but the mouth just never stopped. Young DW had the audacity to call out Richard Petty and announce that the old man was over the hill. When a rookie named Dale Earnhardt came along, he questioned whether Dale could read or write.
Only time could heal some of the wounds that a brash young kid named Darrell opened back in the 1970's and early 1980's. DW drove for some of the greatest teams in the sport, then began running as an owner and driver of his own team, and soon the wheels began to fall off operation DW. Darrell struggled, and eventually gave up owning his own team, and went back to the position of driver. Darrell eventually won 3 championships, and 84 races, and became a respected man in the garage. In the waning days of his career, he even helped out his old nemesis, Dale Earnhardt, driving the 1 car while an injured Steve Park was on the mend. On the day that Fox Sports kicked off its coverage of the Daytona 500, in 2001, Darrell's voice trembled with emotion as he said "I hope Dale's ok" after the tragic accident in turn 4.
All of this teaches us a lesson, and that lesson is that even humility can be learned with the passage of time. But as the old song says, "Time goes by, so slowly, and time can do so much." Eventually, even Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin will be old, respected men in the garage, if they hang around long enough. Someday, years ahead, young, eager drivers will seek out the old men's advice, and hopefully they will be told to drive hard, don't complain, and don't ever mouth off to the public, or to the fans that make this sport so great.
Stock Car racing. It truly does turn full circle.
Nascar might as well put it in the rule book. When you see a Toyota approaching your rear bumper, you should move over and slow down. If that car happens to be a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, you are not to race it at all, and you must allow that car to go by unscathed. More to the point, that rule apparently does not apply to the 20 Joe Gibbs car, but only to the 18 and the 11 cars. Is it any wonder that Tony Stewart wants out of this kindergarten that JGR has become this year? Everyone used to complain about Tony's antics off the track, but even Tony can't hold a candle to these two babies, especially in terms of pure immaturity.
Over the years, Joe Gibbs has built his team slowly, first with Dale Jarrett, and then Bobby Labonte. When Smoke came along, he was considered a brat at times, but obviously a very talented driver. When Denny came along, he seemed like a nice kid, but last year the brat emerged from the all American kid persona that most saw in the young man from Virginia. This year, Denny has been overshadowed by the new brat on the block, who's talents include supposedly being able to wheel a loose race car, but who has definitely proven that his true talents also include wrecking a lot of other cars, including his own from time to time, and the ability to shoot off his mouth at the drop of a hat. Kyle has made quite a few snide remarks about the man who replaced him at Hendrick Motorsports, and has claimed more than once that it's apparently unfair to race Dale Earnhardt Jr. The truth is, Kyle, that you don't like it when anyone races you. Jeff Gordon raced you hard, and you blamed him for costing you a shot at winning the race? Boo Hoo. Denny Hamlin thinks he should only be racing Cup drivers in a Nationwide race? Boo Hoo. If Denny Hamlin wants to only race Cup caliber drivers, stay the heck out of the Nationwide series!
It is heartening to notice some of the youngest class of Nascar drivers that seem to thrive on their on track performance, rather then their post race comments or sarcastic bows. Kasey Kahne has had quite a special 2 weeks at Charlotte, winning both the All Star race and the Coca Cola 600. Kasey is smart enough to let his racing skills do the talking for him, and he seems about as controversial as an altar boy. My hat's off to this quiet, polite young man who achieved two spectacular victories that unfortunately were overshadowed by the antics of two of his less well behaved contemporaries. David Reutimann as well has been quietly putting together some solid on track performances this year. Regan Smith, David Ragan, and veteran but still young drivers Casey Mears and Martin Truex Jr. quietly go about their craft, without having to mouth off to the entire world about their driving prowess or whatever it is that Kyle and Denny keep yapping about.
I suppose part of the problem for me is the non-stop love affair that FOX broadcasters Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds, and Jeff Hammond have had this year with Kyle Busch. We all know that Kyle reminds DW of his early days. I remember those days as well, and even though I was just a kid at the time, I remember what an idiot that guy Waltrip was. He wrecked a lot of cars, and he won some races, but the mouth just never stopped. Young DW had the audacity to call out Richard Petty and announce that the old man was over the hill. When a rookie named Dale Earnhardt came along, he questioned whether Dale could read or write.
Only time could heal some of the wounds that a brash young kid named Darrell opened back in the 1970's and early 1980's. DW drove for some of the greatest teams in the sport, then began running as an owner and driver of his own team, and soon the wheels began to fall off operation DW. Darrell struggled, and eventually gave up owning his own team, and went back to the position of driver. Darrell eventually won 3 championships, and 84 races, and became a respected man in the garage. In the waning days of his career, he even helped out his old nemesis, Dale Earnhardt, driving the 1 car while an injured Steve Park was on the mend. On the day that Fox Sports kicked off its coverage of the Daytona 500, in 2001, Darrell's voice trembled with emotion as he said "I hope Dale's ok" after the tragic accident in turn 4.
All of this teaches us a lesson, and that lesson is that even humility can be learned with the passage of time. But as the old song says, "Time goes by, so slowly, and time can do so much." Eventually, even Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin will be old, respected men in the garage, if they hang around long enough. Someday, years ahead, young, eager drivers will seek out the old men's advice, and hopefully they will be told to drive hard, don't complain, and don't ever mouth off to the public, or to the fans that make this sport so great.
Stock Car racing. It truly does turn full circle.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
That's Jimmie with an 'ie' to you!
Just some random thoughts today. I laugh when I see accomplished writers and journalists misspell Jimmie Johnson's name. I just have to laugh. But then it was pointed out to me yesterday that I misspelled the name of Dale Jr.'s club, which apparently is Whisky River, not Whiskey River. I don't know, I haven't been there, but shame on me, I've read the press and even seen some of the pictures. My apologies to all.
We're awaiting the fate of the 66 and 70 car teams penalties. I'm guessing 100 points, $100,000, and 6 weeks gone for the crew chiefs will be in order. I hate that for one of my favorite crew chiefs, Robert 'Bootie' Barker. Apparently the 66 and 70 cars were both confiscated by Nascar last week, and if what happened to Dale Jr. and Tony Jr. last year is still in effect, Bootie and Dave Skog will be absent from the track for the next several races.
I have to congratulate Kasey Kahne for his win at the Coca Cola 600, if I haven't already done so. Kasey drove a smart race, stayed out of trouble, and was the benefactor of Tony Stewart's blown tire, with less than 5 laps to go. Kasey seems like a very nice young man, and I'm glad he became one of the few to win the All Star Race and the 600 all in the span of a week or so. Kasey is serving Budweiser proudly, and I know they are proud of him. Kasey just doesn't seem as much of a Bud man as was Dale Jr., but he seems to be doing a pretty good job.
Hats off to one of my favorite drivers, Kenny Schrader, who drove the 33 Camping World Chevrolet for Richard Childress in the 600. Kenny was amazing, starting 33rd in the 33 car, and finishing 33rd as well. That's a lot of 33's there, Kenny! It's good to see you in a Childress car, but I know that won't last too long. By the way, who will be in the 33 next year? Still lots of rumors flying around about that, but supposedly we will find out by around the middle of June, according to some sources.
I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day. I didn't really post much on the subject over the weekend or yesterday, but my hat's off to the men and women who serve around the world, protecting our freedoms. I did get the chance to bump into a young man in uniform yesterday at the grocery store, and I patted him on the back and shook his hand, and thanked him for his service. Memorial Day isn't the only day we should be thanking these brave men and women. We should do it every day, and every time we meet one of them, we should thank them personally. I will.
This week we're going racing at the Monster Mile at Dover, Delaware. This one mile concrete track is a challenging event for even the most experienced driver. Martin Truex Jr. won his first Cup race here last year. Dale Jr. won in the first race run after 9/11/2001/ How fitting, especially in his new National Guard colors! Hope springs eternal for our guy Dale Jr. He's a threat to win at practically every track he's on this year, and that's a nice feeling for Dale Jr. fans.
I've had a challenging week or so here. I've got a friend who is going through some horrible times. I can't go into much detail, but it has meant me being away from home quite a bit, and missing a lot of exciting racing on TV. I've caught bits and pieces here and there, but mostly I've read stories in the Internet, and have been piecing together my blogs mostly from that. If I've erred, let me know, because I am very much outside the loop right now.
Nascar is getting ready to make it's North East run now, with Dover, Pocono, and Michigan coming up in the next 3 weeks. I know, I know, Michigan isn't North East, but it's still in that general direction from Charlotte. Hopefully cooler temperatures and cooler heads will prevail at the tracks coming up.
Denny Hamlin's bizarre behavior at Charlotte in the Nationwide race is still very much in the news. I still can't figure out his comments after the race. I'm wondering why he thinks that only Cup drivers should be allowed to race in the Nationwide series. If Nascar is going to ramp up it's drug testing program, maybe they should start with Denny Hamlin. I have to admit, when he first started racing, I liked Denny. As time has gone by, I've begun to wonder just why I liked him in the first place. Arrogance is one thing, but just plain stupidity is another. Joe Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs have to be wondering what they've gotten themselves into with the Hamlin/Busch combination. They thought Tony was going to be hard to handle, but now look at what they've got!
I think it's a shame to see Joe Gibbs Racing populated by pompous, arrogant, and quite frankly, immature drivers such as Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. I keep thinking back to the old days when Joe Gibbs first became a successful team owner with drivers such as Dale Jarrett and Bobby Labonte. My, how times have changed.
We're awaiting the fate of the 66 and 70 car teams penalties. I'm guessing 100 points, $100,000, and 6 weeks gone for the crew chiefs will be in order. I hate that for one of my favorite crew chiefs, Robert 'Bootie' Barker. Apparently the 66 and 70 cars were both confiscated by Nascar last week, and if what happened to Dale Jr. and Tony Jr. last year is still in effect, Bootie and Dave Skog will be absent from the track for the next several races.
I have to congratulate Kasey Kahne for his win at the Coca Cola 600, if I haven't already done so. Kasey drove a smart race, stayed out of trouble, and was the benefactor of Tony Stewart's blown tire, with less than 5 laps to go. Kasey seems like a very nice young man, and I'm glad he became one of the few to win the All Star Race and the 600 all in the span of a week or so. Kasey is serving Budweiser proudly, and I know they are proud of him. Kasey just doesn't seem as much of a Bud man as was Dale Jr., but he seems to be doing a pretty good job.
Hats off to one of my favorite drivers, Kenny Schrader, who drove the 33 Camping World Chevrolet for Richard Childress in the 600. Kenny was amazing, starting 33rd in the 33 car, and finishing 33rd as well. That's a lot of 33's there, Kenny! It's good to see you in a Childress car, but I know that won't last too long. By the way, who will be in the 33 next year? Still lots of rumors flying around about that, but supposedly we will find out by around the middle of June, according to some sources.
I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day. I didn't really post much on the subject over the weekend or yesterday, but my hat's off to the men and women who serve around the world, protecting our freedoms. I did get the chance to bump into a young man in uniform yesterday at the grocery store, and I patted him on the back and shook his hand, and thanked him for his service. Memorial Day isn't the only day we should be thanking these brave men and women. We should do it every day, and every time we meet one of them, we should thank them personally. I will.
This week we're going racing at the Monster Mile at Dover, Delaware. This one mile concrete track is a challenging event for even the most experienced driver. Martin Truex Jr. won his first Cup race here last year. Dale Jr. won in the first race run after 9/11/2001/ How fitting, especially in his new National Guard colors! Hope springs eternal for our guy Dale Jr. He's a threat to win at practically every track he's on this year, and that's a nice feeling for Dale Jr. fans.
I've had a challenging week or so here. I've got a friend who is going through some horrible times. I can't go into much detail, but it has meant me being away from home quite a bit, and missing a lot of exciting racing on TV. I've caught bits and pieces here and there, but mostly I've read stories in the Internet, and have been piecing together my blogs mostly from that. If I've erred, let me know, because I am very much outside the loop right now.
Nascar is getting ready to make it's North East run now, with Dover, Pocono, and Michigan coming up in the next 3 weeks. I know, I know, Michigan isn't North East, but it's still in that general direction from Charlotte. Hopefully cooler temperatures and cooler heads will prevail at the tracks coming up.
Denny Hamlin's bizarre behavior at Charlotte in the Nationwide race is still very much in the news. I still can't figure out his comments after the race. I'm wondering why he thinks that only Cup drivers should be allowed to race in the Nationwide series. If Nascar is going to ramp up it's drug testing program, maybe they should start with Denny Hamlin. I have to admit, when he first started racing, I liked Denny. As time has gone by, I've begun to wonder just why I liked him in the first place. Arrogance is one thing, but just plain stupidity is another. Joe Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs have to be wondering what they've gotten themselves into with the Hamlin/Busch combination. They thought Tony was going to be hard to handle, but now look at what they've got!
I think it's a shame to see Joe Gibbs Racing populated by pompous, arrogant, and quite frankly, immature drivers such as Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. I keep thinking back to the old days when Joe Gibbs first became a successful team owner with drivers such as Dale Jarrett and Bobby Labonte. My, how times have changed.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Denny Hamlin. Auditioning to be the new Bad Boy of Nascar?
It would certainly seem that way. Brad Keselowski drove up and bumped the 20 car the other night, but Denny responded with an outright shot to the left front fender of the 88 US Navy car.
We're talking Nationwide Series here folks. The old Busch Series. Cup drivers populate this sport for a good reason. Nationwide needs them.
Without the Cup guys involved in the races, TV and track attendance would drop like the blood pressure of a man bleeding to death. Nationwide relies on the Cup guys to have some fun and race in the 'lesser' series.
On Saturday night, we had beautiful weather at Charlotte, NC. The skies were clear, the breeze was from the southwest, a normal Carolina night. A young driver named Denny Hamlin showed himself to be a total fool on this wonderful Carolina night.
Near the end of the Nationwide race, Brad Keselowski in the 88 Navy car, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the 83 Navy car followed the 20 car of Denny Hamlin under a late caution. The 88 bumped the 20, and then headed uphill to clean off his tires. Brad Keselowski did nothing that I had not seen other drivers do. Suddenly, the 20, piloted by a supposedly sober Denny Hamlin shoots up the hill and caves in Brad's left front fender. This was as obvious an act of retaliation as has ever been seen in this sport. Kyle Busch goes on to win. Nothing special about that. In that same caution, car owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., owner of JR Motorsports, took offense to the actions of the 20 car and bumped the 20, still under caution. Dale Jr. is the owner of the 88 car that the 20 had just taken out of action.
After the race, the 88 crew had a problem with the 20 driver and crew. Shoving ensued, and so did a little fist swinging. None of the drivers were involved.
The meat of the story is this: Denny Hamlin complained about the lack of driver talent, namely the lack of Sprint Cup talent...... In the Nationwide Series! Brad Keselowski is not a Sprint Cup driver. Denny is comparing his experience with Brad's? Denny also made a comment about not being able to race JRM cars. Denny, Denny, Denny..... It's not fair for Nationwide drivers to race Cup drivers in the Nationwide series? If you don't like it, don't ever race Nationwide again, Denny. We won't mind. Neither will Brad. Neither will a lot of Nationwide drivers. I guess you don't get the point, Denny. This is the NATIONWIDE series. It's not a practice race for the Cup series. These drivers are driving for their lives here, not like you, who just wants something to do on a Saturday night. Get over yourself, Denny. Nationwide doesn't need you, and in the future, I hope you just lie in your hauler and amuse yourself, well, however you want to. If you want to insult every driver in the Nationwide series, who races full time in that series, well, guess what. You just did.
Congratulations, Denny Hamlin. I hope you're proud of yourself for insulting everyone that ever helped you become what you are now, which is a pompous ass.
We're talking Nationwide Series here folks. The old Busch Series. Cup drivers populate this sport for a good reason. Nationwide needs them.
Without the Cup guys involved in the races, TV and track attendance would drop like the blood pressure of a man bleeding to death. Nationwide relies on the Cup guys to have some fun and race in the 'lesser' series.
On Saturday night, we had beautiful weather at Charlotte, NC. The skies were clear, the breeze was from the southwest, a normal Carolina night. A young driver named Denny Hamlin showed himself to be a total fool on this wonderful Carolina night.
Near the end of the Nationwide race, Brad Keselowski in the 88 Navy car, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the 83 Navy car followed the 20 car of Denny Hamlin under a late caution. The 88 bumped the 20, and then headed uphill to clean off his tires. Brad Keselowski did nothing that I had not seen other drivers do. Suddenly, the 20, piloted by a supposedly sober Denny Hamlin shoots up the hill and caves in Brad's left front fender. This was as obvious an act of retaliation as has ever been seen in this sport. Kyle Busch goes on to win. Nothing special about that. In that same caution, car owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., owner of JR Motorsports, took offense to the actions of the 20 car and bumped the 20, still under caution. Dale Jr. is the owner of the 88 car that the 20 had just taken out of action.
After the race, the 88 crew had a problem with the 20 driver and crew. Shoving ensued, and so did a little fist swinging. None of the drivers were involved.
The meat of the story is this: Denny Hamlin complained about the lack of driver talent, namely the lack of Sprint Cup talent...... In the Nationwide Series! Brad Keselowski is not a Sprint Cup driver. Denny is comparing his experience with Brad's? Denny also made a comment about not being able to race JRM cars. Denny, Denny, Denny..... It's not fair for Nationwide drivers to race Cup drivers in the Nationwide series? If you don't like it, don't ever race Nationwide again, Denny. We won't mind. Neither will Brad. Neither will a lot of Nationwide drivers. I guess you don't get the point, Denny. This is the NATIONWIDE series. It's not a practice race for the Cup series. These drivers are driving for their lives here, not like you, who just wants something to do on a Saturday night. Get over yourself, Denny. Nationwide doesn't need you, and in the future, I hope you just lie in your hauler and amuse yourself, well, however you want to. If you want to insult every driver in the Nationwide series, who races full time in that series, well, guess what. You just did.
Congratulations, Denny Hamlin. I hope you're proud of yourself for insulting everyone that ever helped you become what you are now, which is a pompous ass.
Dispelling some Earnhardt Myths
It seems as time goes by, more and more myths are circulated about Dale Earnhardt Jr., as a man, and as a driver. Some of them are down right funny, and some are just created out of jealousy. Let's examine a few.
Myth Number One: Dale Jr. whines and cries when things don't go his way.
This has been a popular myth, on both the message boards and on the comments section after posted blogs or articles about Dale Jr. I find it hilarious at best that people can say this about Dale Earnhardt Jr. I have been following Dale Jr. his entire Nascar career, and never once have I heard him whine or cry about anything. Dale Jr. has rarely publicly disputed a call that Nascar made, nor has he disparaged another driver publicly. For his relatively young age, Dale Jr. is garnering a reputation as a gentleman, both in the garage and with the press. His recent incident at Richmond with Kyle Busch more than proves my point. Dale gets in an accident that takes him out of the race. I saw Kyle Busch wrecking Dale Jr., maybe not on purpose, but because of Kyle's blatant disregard of where other drivers are on the track. You may see it differently, but Dale Jr. was very restrained in his comments after the race. Dale Jr. was obviously frustrated, but he did not disparage Kyle Busch or his actions on the track. Kyle, however, basically criticized Dale Jr. for being the driver that can't be raced with, because he gets mad, or his fans get mad. Message to Kyle: You can race Dale Jr. or anyone else on the track. My question to you, is why do you get mad when people race YOU hard? Maybe drivers that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Myth Number Two: Dale Earnhardt Jr. actively seeks out publicity and photo ops.
This one is really easy to dispel, because anyone who has ever watched Dale Jr. for more than 30 seconds on camera will realize he does not have an extroverted personality at all. Dale Jr. is basically a very shy person, and I have a good reason for realizing this, because I am and always have been much the same way. My job makes it impossible to be a total introvert, so I have learned to smile and slap backs with relative strangers in order to be accepted and be thought of as a 'regular guy'. The truth is, I keep to myself most of the time, and don't really enjoy being in a crowd of people. Dale Jr. strikes me much the same way, relying on a very close group of friends and family for companionship. Dale Jr. has stated that it takes a long time for him to really trust someone, and he needs to be around that person for at least a couple of years before he really trusts them. I can identify with that. Dale Jr. is on TV so much because of sponsor demands, and if it weren't for sponsors, we would probably see Dale Jr. publicly very rarely. Dale Jr. is the most popular driver in Nascar, and his popularity leads to a ton of appearances and commercial shoots. If you've ever read Dale Jr.'s book, you will realize that he doesn't not particularly enjoy the publicity, but he learned early on that a race car driver has to do those things in order to succeed. His dad taught him that it's important to show up for appearances when scheduled, and to wear his sponsor's hat or tee shirt. Dale Jr.'s public persona is a result of what he is, a race car driver.
Myth Number Three: Dale Jr. is overrated, and he's not as good as everyone thinks.
I especially like this myth, because this is where we get into the pure jealousy aspects of why some fans hate Dale Jr. so much. Although it is certainly possible that had Dale Jr. not had his father and both grandfathers involved in racing, and might have chosen a different career path, Dale Jr. is who he is, and he can't help who his father was. Dale Jr. wanted to be a race car driver since he was a child, and that is not uncommon for children of racing dads. Just look at Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett, Chrissy Wallace, Sterling Marlin and others. Many of today's Nascar field is made up of drivers who are sons of drivers, whether they made it to the big time or not.
Dale Jr.'s credentials as a driver simply speak for themselves. Of his 17 Cup wins, 15 came after his famous father was killed at Daytona in 2001. Much of that time, he was not driving with the best equipment in the field either. Many drivers with many more years in the sport would love to have Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s record. Dale Jr. won the Winston in his rookie year, and has a Daytona 500 win to his credit. All that's lacking is a championship, and in his first year at Hendrick Motorsports, he is well on his way to contending for that championship. Overrated? Look at your own driver before you try to hang that label on Dale Jr. Dale Jr. is a winner, and he's got more talent than a lot of drivers out there.
Myth Number 4: Dale Jr. is spreading himself too thin with all his different business interests.
This one has been brought up a lot over the last few years. Jr.'s interests are wide and varied. He has appeared in Rolling Stone magazine. He did a video with hip hop artist Jayzee. He has his own satellite radio show. He is the owner of JR Motorsports, and even has a video production team following him around a lot, part of his own crew, who's work has been and will be shown on ESPN. Dale Jr. has a popular new night club in Charlotte, Whiskey River. How can one young man have his hands in so many places at one time?
The answer is simple. Jr. hires people he trusts to work out the details, and he gets out of the way. Take the bar, for example. Dale Jr. hired a professional staff to manage the enterprise, and mostly his involvement is to come in and hang out with a few friends from time to time. Sure, Dale Jr. controls the purse strings, but that won't take up much of his time. His radio show takes the time it takes to actually do the show, and he lets other people worry about the details as to how and when the show is broadcast. Sister Kelley runs the day to day operations at JRM, and who could be better qualified to do that than another of Dale's kids? When Dale Jr. straps himself into the race car on the weekends, he's just like any other driver. All he's concerned with is getting the most out of that car that he can. He's not worried about whether or not there is enough vodka at Whiskey River. He isn't worried who his guest on his radio show will be next week. He's not worried about JRM, because Kelley has it covered. Dale Earnhardt Jr. exhibits all the qualities of a successful business man. He hires good people into positions of authority, and gets out of their way so they can do their jobs. Oh, if all bosses could be like that!
I wonder who he learned that trait from?
By the way, the ESPN shows and the DVD's he's made? Dale Jr. sums it up quite well. It's for his fans. Just giving a little back to the fans who have supported him all these years.
Myth Number 5: Dale Earnhardt Jr. only wins on restrictor plate tracks.
This one is idiotic by anyone's standards. All you you need to look at are the statistics. Though seven of Dale Jr.'s wins were at Talladega (5) and Daytona (2), 10 have come plain old circle Cup tracks. Dale Jr. has won at Texas, Richmond, Dover, Phoenix, Atlanta, Bristol, and Chicago. He won at Richmond 3 times, and Phoenix twice. That's a guy that can only run RP tracks, huh?
A lot of fans conveniently forget that Dale Jr. is a two time Busch series champion as well, winning a total of 22 races so far. Dale Jr. has won at places like South Boston, Indy Raceway Park, and even Watkins Glen. Get over it folks, the dude knows how to wheel a race car.
Myth Number 6: The Earnhardt Nation can find no wrong with Dale Jr.
Dispelling this myth is possibly more subjective, but it's complete bunk. I consider myself a member of the Earnhardt Nation, and from comments I've received on this very forum, and from what I've read on the Pit Board and other sources, some of us are the harshest critics of all. First we discussed and some of us criticized his move from DEI to Hendrick. We really had a wild time discussing that one. We questioned his thinking in bringing Tony Eury Jr. with him to be his crew chief at Hendrick. We wondered what kind of a mess he might be getting into with sworn enemies Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson as teammates. (Turns out they are good teammates, so far!) We questioned why, why, oh why would he ever leave the company that his dad founded? (I've answered that question in other blogs here.)
Do we trust Jr.'s judgment on things? Of course we do, most of the time. If you want to see the Jr. nation at work, just read the link above, and you will generally find someone with differing opinions on just about any subject. Do we love Dale Earnhardt Jr.? You bet. There's a lot to like, and a lot to admire about what many consider to be the most down to earth driver in Nascar.
Myth Number One: Dale Jr. whines and cries when things don't go his way.
This has been a popular myth, on both the message boards and on the comments section after posted blogs or articles about Dale Jr. I find it hilarious at best that people can say this about Dale Earnhardt Jr. I have been following Dale Jr. his entire Nascar career, and never once have I heard him whine or cry about anything. Dale Jr. has rarely publicly disputed a call that Nascar made, nor has he disparaged another driver publicly. For his relatively young age, Dale Jr. is garnering a reputation as a gentleman, both in the garage and with the press. His recent incident at Richmond with Kyle Busch more than proves my point. Dale gets in an accident that takes him out of the race. I saw Kyle Busch wrecking Dale Jr., maybe not on purpose, but because of Kyle's blatant disregard of where other drivers are on the track. You may see it differently, but Dale Jr. was very restrained in his comments after the race. Dale Jr. was obviously frustrated, but he did not disparage Kyle Busch or his actions on the track. Kyle, however, basically criticized Dale Jr. for being the driver that can't be raced with, because he gets mad, or his fans get mad. Message to Kyle: You can race Dale Jr. or anyone else on the track. My question to you, is why do you get mad when people race YOU hard? Maybe drivers that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Myth Number Two: Dale Earnhardt Jr. actively seeks out publicity and photo ops.
This one is really easy to dispel, because anyone who has ever watched Dale Jr. for more than 30 seconds on camera will realize he does not have an extroverted personality at all. Dale Jr. is basically a very shy person, and I have a good reason for realizing this, because I am and always have been much the same way. My job makes it impossible to be a total introvert, so I have learned to smile and slap backs with relative strangers in order to be accepted and be thought of as a 'regular guy'. The truth is, I keep to myself most of the time, and don't really enjoy being in a crowd of people. Dale Jr. strikes me much the same way, relying on a very close group of friends and family for companionship. Dale Jr. has stated that it takes a long time for him to really trust someone, and he needs to be around that person for at least a couple of years before he really trusts them. I can identify with that. Dale Jr. is on TV so much because of sponsor demands, and if it weren't for sponsors, we would probably see Dale Jr. publicly very rarely. Dale Jr. is the most popular driver in Nascar, and his popularity leads to a ton of appearances and commercial shoots. If you've ever read Dale Jr.'s book, you will realize that he doesn't not particularly enjoy the publicity, but he learned early on that a race car driver has to do those things in order to succeed. His dad taught him that it's important to show up for appearances when scheduled, and to wear his sponsor's hat or tee shirt. Dale Jr.'s public persona is a result of what he is, a race car driver.
Myth Number Three: Dale Jr. is overrated, and he's not as good as everyone thinks.
I especially like this myth, because this is where we get into the pure jealousy aspects of why some fans hate Dale Jr. so much. Although it is certainly possible that had Dale Jr. not had his father and both grandfathers involved in racing, and might have chosen a different career path, Dale Jr. is who he is, and he can't help who his father was. Dale Jr. wanted to be a race car driver since he was a child, and that is not uncommon for children of racing dads. Just look at Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett, Chrissy Wallace, Sterling Marlin and others. Many of today's Nascar field is made up of drivers who are sons of drivers, whether they made it to the big time or not.
Dale Jr.'s credentials as a driver simply speak for themselves. Of his 17 Cup wins, 15 came after his famous father was killed at Daytona in 2001. Much of that time, he was not driving with the best equipment in the field either. Many drivers with many more years in the sport would love to have Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s record. Dale Jr. won the Winston in his rookie year, and has a Daytona 500 win to his credit. All that's lacking is a championship, and in his first year at Hendrick Motorsports, he is well on his way to contending for that championship. Overrated? Look at your own driver before you try to hang that label on Dale Jr. Dale Jr. is a winner, and he's got more talent than a lot of drivers out there.
Myth Number 4: Dale Jr. is spreading himself too thin with all his different business interests.
This one has been brought up a lot over the last few years. Jr.'s interests are wide and varied. He has appeared in Rolling Stone magazine. He did a video with hip hop artist Jayzee. He has his own satellite radio show. He is the owner of JR Motorsports, and even has a video production team following him around a lot, part of his own crew, who's work has been and will be shown on ESPN. Dale Jr. has a popular new night club in Charlotte, Whiskey River. How can one young man have his hands in so many places at one time?
The answer is simple. Jr. hires people he trusts to work out the details, and he gets out of the way. Take the bar, for example. Dale Jr. hired a professional staff to manage the enterprise, and mostly his involvement is to come in and hang out with a few friends from time to time. Sure, Dale Jr. controls the purse strings, but that won't take up much of his time. His radio show takes the time it takes to actually do the show, and he lets other people worry about the details as to how and when the show is broadcast. Sister Kelley runs the day to day operations at JRM, and who could be better qualified to do that than another of Dale's kids? When Dale Jr. straps himself into the race car on the weekends, he's just like any other driver. All he's concerned with is getting the most out of that car that he can. He's not worried about whether or not there is enough vodka at Whiskey River. He isn't worried who his guest on his radio show will be next week. He's not worried about JRM, because Kelley has it covered. Dale Earnhardt Jr. exhibits all the qualities of a successful business man. He hires good people into positions of authority, and gets out of their way so they can do their jobs. Oh, if all bosses could be like that!
I wonder who he learned that trait from?
By the way, the ESPN shows and the DVD's he's made? Dale Jr. sums it up quite well. It's for his fans. Just giving a little back to the fans who have supported him all these years.
Myth Number 5: Dale Earnhardt Jr. only wins on restrictor plate tracks.
This one is idiotic by anyone's standards. All you you need to look at are the statistics. Though seven of Dale Jr.'s wins were at Talladega (5) and Daytona (2), 10 have come plain old circle Cup tracks. Dale Jr. has won at Texas, Richmond, Dover, Phoenix, Atlanta, Bristol, and Chicago. He won at Richmond 3 times, and Phoenix twice. That's a guy that can only run RP tracks, huh?
A lot of fans conveniently forget that Dale Jr. is a two time Busch series champion as well, winning a total of 22 races so far. Dale Jr. has won at places like South Boston, Indy Raceway Park, and even Watkins Glen. Get over it folks, the dude knows how to wheel a race car.
Myth Number 6: The Earnhardt Nation can find no wrong with Dale Jr.
Dispelling this myth is possibly more subjective, but it's complete bunk. I consider myself a member of the Earnhardt Nation, and from comments I've received on this very forum, and from what I've read on the Pit Board and other sources, some of us are the harshest critics of all. First we discussed and some of us criticized his move from DEI to Hendrick. We really had a wild time discussing that one. We questioned his thinking in bringing Tony Eury Jr. with him to be his crew chief at Hendrick. We wondered what kind of a mess he might be getting into with sworn enemies Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson as teammates. (Turns out they are good teammates, so far!) We questioned why, why, oh why would he ever leave the company that his dad founded? (I've answered that question in other blogs here.)
Do we trust Jr.'s judgment on things? Of course we do, most of the time. If you want to see the Jr. nation at work, just read the link above, and you will generally find someone with differing opinions on just about any subject. Do we love Dale Earnhardt Jr.? You bet. There's a lot to like, and a lot to admire about what many consider to be the most down to earth driver in Nascar.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The Coca Cola 600
This is the longest race of the year, in terms of miles run. Lowes Motor Speedway is a fast 1.5 mile track in the middle of Nascar's traditional racing country. Virtually all the teams are based within 30 minutes or so from the track, so old home week for Nascar finishes up with a fantastic spectacle the promises exiting racing, very tired and hot drivers, and probably some engine failures as well. Tires promise to be an unknown as well, from what we saw in last week's All Star race.
Jimmie Johnson has been a dominant driver at this track in the last few years, and the Fords of Jack Roush have always run well here. This year, we will see just how well the Toyotas will run in a virtual marathon for racing engines. Last week, the Toyotas of Joe Gibbs Racing did not fair too well, but supposedly that was a new, untried engine package, that apparently needs some more work before it's ready to race.
Speaking of Toyota, my hat is off to Mark Cronquist, the head engine guy for JGR. Mark seems to have pulled off quite a feat this year, because the Toyota engines appear to have quite a few more horsepower than do the other manufacturer's engines. No one is publicly crying foul here, at least among the teams, so I assume everything is on the up and up.
I imagine the first part of the race will probably be the Kyle Busch show again, since he will once again be starting on the pole. As he did last week, I expect to see Kyle out in front by several seconds before many laps have gone into the record book. I also expect to see America's favorite driver to hate overdrive his car early in the race, since Kyle's plan always seems to be to drive every lap like it were the white flag lap. If JGR and Toyota can put a car under him that will last for 600 miles, it will truly be a feat of engineering that has never been seen before in racing. It will also be an extraordinarily boring race. TV ratings will drop, fans will begin to leave the event before halfway, and if Kyle were to get the checkered flag, he will probably do it before a few thousand people, instead of 170,000.
I doubt that this is going to happen though. Kyle's talents also seem to include tearing up good equipment, and making mistakes. Kyle's biggest fan, Darrell Waltrip had a great deal of talent for that very same thing early in his career as well, and it wasn't until he had been driving for Junior Johnson for a while that he got to the point that he could win without hitting everything but the pace car. With that consistency also came a lowering of the internal thermostat, in other words thinking instead of opening his mouth, and driving smart instead of trying to lead every lap of every race. Most young drivers start out thinking they are the greatest driver in the history of the sport, but most of them get over it by the time they've been in the series a couple of years. With some others, it takes a bit longer, I suppose.
I'd like to belatedly give thanks to one of the last of the true gentlemen in Nascar, Dale Jarrett, who drove his final race last week. Dale has always showed a tremendous amount of class, and is someone who should be looked up to by all young drivers in the sport. Dale Jarrett will be truly missed on the race track, and I'm looking forward to listening to him in the booth when ESPN takes over the final portion of the season. Dale's class and graciousness will be missed.
This weekend marks another milestone in Nascar, and the end of another era. Humpy Wheeler, long time promoter and track president at Lowes Motor Speedway is retiring, and apparently he doesn't have much say in the matter. Humpy has done so much for so many drivers over the years. Humpy was the guy that convinced Rod Osterlund to take a chance on a brash young driver named Dale Earnhardt, and we all know how that turned out. Humpy has helped many drivers get in the show over the years, and he will be greatly missed.
Lowes Motor Speedway is a very special place to watch a race. I've been to several races there, and the excitement when the green flag drops is contagious. If the sound of 43 screaming racing engines doesn't get your blood pumping, nothing will. For a driver to win a race here in front of the home town crowd is a jewel in their crown. There are a lot of tracks at which drivers especially want to win, and to win at Charlotte is special.
Sunday looks to be warm and sunny, with the high nearly 80 degrees. Temperatures should cool somewhat after sunset, but it's still going to be very hot in the race cars. This will be a test of not only the cars and the engines, but of the drivers themselves. The drivers will need to be in peak physical condition, and they will need to keep themselves hydrated throughout the afternoon and evening. Something as seemingly trivial as a hose slipping off the helmet leading to the cool box could make things really unbearable for a driver. Feet will be blistered without the proper protection, and then of course there will be the dreaded Turn 2 itself, which has proven to be a very difficult corner for the drivers to negotiate.
The Coca Cola 600. There's not another race quite like it, and it will be a true test of man, machine, and race strategy. Let the games begin, and may the best man win!
Jimmie Johnson has been a dominant driver at this track in the last few years, and the Fords of Jack Roush have always run well here. This year, we will see just how well the Toyotas will run in a virtual marathon for racing engines. Last week, the Toyotas of Joe Gibbs Racing did not fair too well, but supposedly that was a new, untried engine package, that apparently needs some more work before it's ready to race.
Speaking of Toyota, my hat is off to Mark Cronquist, the head engine guy for JGR. Mark seems to have pulled off quite a feat this year, because the Toyota engines appear to have quite a few more horsepower than do the other manufacturer's engines. No one is publicly crying foul here, at least among the teams, so I assume everything is on the up and up.
I imagine the first part of the race will probably be the Kyle Busch show again, since he will once again be starting on the pole. As he did last week, I expect to see Kyle out in front by several seconds before many laps have gone into the record book. I also expect to see America's favorite driver to hate overdrive his car early in the race, since Kyle's plan always seems to be to drive every lap like it were the white flag lap. If JGR and Toyota can put a car under him that will last for 600 miles, it will truly be a feat of engineering that has never been seen before in racing. It will also be an extraordinarily boring race. TV ratings will drop, fans will begin to leave the event before halfway, and if Kyle were to get the checkered flag, he will probably do it before a few thousand people, instead of 170,000.
I doubt that this is going to happen though. Kyle's talents also seem to include tearing up good equipment, and making mistakes. Kyle's biggest fan, Darrell Waltrip had a great deal of talent for that very same thing early in his career as well, and it wasn't until he had been driving for Junior Johnson for a while that he got to the point that he could win without hitting everything but the pace car. With that consistency also came a lowering of the internal thermostat, in other words thinking instead of opening his mouth, and driving smart instead of trying to lead every lap of every race. Most young drivers start out thinking they are the greatest driver in the history of the sport, but most of them get over it by the time they've been in the series a couple of years. With some others, it takes a bit longer, I suppose.
I'd like to belatedly give thanks to one of the last of the true gentlemen in Nascar, Dale Jarrett, who drove his final race last week. Dale has always showed a tremendous amount of class, and is someone who should be looked up to by all young drivers in the sport. Dale Jarrett will be truly missed on the race track, and I'm looking forward to listening to him in the booth when ESPN takes over the final portion of the season. Dale's class and graciousness will be missed.
This weekend marks another milestone in Nascar, and the end of another era. Humpy Wheeler, long time promoter and track president at Lowes Motor Speedway is retiring, and apparently he doesn't have much say in the matter. Humpy has done so much for so many drivers over the years. Humpy was the guy that convinced Rod Osterlund to take a chance on a brash young driver named Dale Earnhardt, and we all know how that turned out. Humpy has helped many drivers get in the show over the years, and he will be greatly missed.
Lowes Motor Speedway is a very special place to watch a race. I've been to several races there, and the excitement when the green flag drops is contagious. If the sound of 43 screaming racing engines doesn't get your blood pumping, nothing will. For a driver to win a race here in front of the home town crowd is a jewel in their crown. There are a lot of tracks at which drivers especially want to win, and to win at Charlotte is special.
Sunday looks to be warm and sunny, with the high nearly 80 degrees. Temperatures should cool somewhat after sunset, but it's still going to be very hot in the race cars. This will be a test of not only the cars and the engines, but of the drivers themselves. The drivers will need to be in peak physical condition, and they will need to keep themselves hydrated throughout the afternoon and evening. Something as seemingly trivial as a hose slipping off the helmet leading to the cool box could make things really unbearable for a driver. Feet will be blistered without the proper protection, and then of course there will be the dreaded Turn 2 itself, which has proven to be a very difficult corner for the drivers to negotiate.
The Coca Cola 600. There's not another race quite like it, and it will be a true test of man, machine, and race strategy. Let the games begin, and may the best man win!
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