What happened to the kind, gentle, Jimmy C. who has filled these many pages with kind and gentle thoughts? Oh he's still here. He'll be back shortly. But the alter ego Jimmy C. is here now, and he's irritated.
About what? At supposed 'veterans' in Nascar, guys that were not even a twinkle in their dad's eyes back when other drivers were already racing hard and making names for themselves.
There seems to be a new class of Nascar driver, the class that has been driving Cup for a couple or 3 years, and egged on by their lackeys at ESPN, are now considered seasoned veterans, even though I've got air in the tires in my truck that was around before anyone even heard of these supposed 'veterans.'
Rain delays, as happened at Dover yesterday, keep broadcasting networks scrambling to find newsworthy events to talk about. Controversy is always newsworthy. ESPN basically tried to keep the controversy between Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski burning yesterday, just to have something to talk about. Both Brad and Denny are young drivers, though Denny has actually raced in the Cup series, and has won races. Denny seems to think that Nationwide full time drivers such as Brad should not race a 'veteran' driver such as Denny. It's a mark of disrespect, and as Denny said last Saturday, "If you throw a rock, I'm throwing a concrete block back." Classy, Denny. Someday, Brad will be a Cup driver, and at some track such as Bristol, or Martinsville, or Richmond, or Darlington, Brad is going to remember that little prima dona attitude you had way back in 2008 at Charlotte and carried into Dover the following week. One day, you're going to get dumped by a rookie, and you're going to be upset and mad about it. But you will deserve every bit of it, because in 2008, you thought rookies were beneath contempt. You thought rookies were a lower form of life that you need not take notice of.
Folks, we are all racing fans here. Every single driver in every single field was once a rookie. We as fans were once rookies too. In Nascar, they put yellow stripes on the rear bumpers of rookies to denote their status. I notice that Brad's 88 Navy Chevrolet does not have those tell tale yellow stripes. He's been at this a while. Not as long as Denny, but Brad didn't get into the Nationwide series because he's never raced.
All of these drivers had to endure short track feature events, such as Late Model, B Class, Midgets, etc. All drivers that get even to the Nationwide level have won races. All of them have also lost races. All of them have endured their time in purgatory by putting up with bullies on the tracks at which they've raced. Controversy is nothing new to the drivers.
On the network level, the shameless plugs for continuing the controversy are idiotic at best, and for a veteran racer such as Rusty Wallace to show his true colors on the air, that just takes a total lack of class to achieve. How Rusty totally lacks in class, while his brothers show so much of it is hard to explain. Younger brother Kenny Wallace exudes class, all the while pumping up the fans in the pre race and post race shows. Younger brother Mike Wallace shows a lot of class, just by giving honest opinions. Neither younger brother has ever achieved the success on the race track as Rusty did, but both younger brothers show me something that Rusty never has, and that is class and tact.
Rusty Wallace's attitude is probably the reason why a few young drivers with relatively little experience say some of the stupid things that they say. I am a fan of Discovery's Deadliest Catch, a series about one of the worlds most dangerous jobs, crab fishing in Alaska. One of the fishing vessels featured on the show is the fishing vessel Northwestern, owned and operated by the Hansen brothers, who are the sons of Norwegian fisherman. The Hansen brothers spoke Norwegian before they ever spoke English, and fishing is truly in their blood. In one episode, a crew member asks captain Sig Hansen when they will be done with the work on deck. Sig is amazed that the crew member would even ask such a question, and posts a message on the pilot house window which states "Shut up and fish." My friends, this is exactly the sentiment I would like to send to all the young 'veteran' drivers out there in Nascar. Shut up and race! If you don't have the intelligence to put two words together in a pre race or post race interview, just don't say anything.
Prove your worth on the track. Prove that you have the stones to be in the position that you're in. Don't tell me about it, prove it to me. Prove to me why you are worthy of having me as a fan of yours. Prove to me why anyone is indeed a fan of yours. Don't tell me about how good a racer you are, show it to me! Prove it to me! In other words:
Shut up, and race!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Nationwide Versus Cup Drivers?
Where's the respect? Or why should there be, might be a better question. Today, during a long, drawn out rain delay at Dover, Delaware, ESPN2's crew basically asked practically everyone in the garage about Denny Hamlin's and Brad Keselowski's latest unpleasantness at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte. Drivers weighed in on both sides of the issue, but one has to wonder that just because a driver has driven previously in the Cup, that no longer does makes him qualified to make that decision. Nationwide is considered to be a developmental series, or a stepping stone, as it were, to the Cup series. Every week, Nationwide drivers, and I mean full time Nationwide drivers, compare their skills with those of the Cup drivers that sometimes drop down to the Nationwide series to scoop a little extra pay, or a little more attention to their sponsors.
In my not so humble opinion, there does not need to be a caste system in Nationwide. Just because a driver races full time in the Cup series should not entitle him to any benefits in the Nationwide series. There are as many as 43 cars out on the track, every Nationwide race, and to me, to ask the full time Nationwide drivers to step aside for the fragile egos of the Cup drivers is not only ridiculous, but is completely asinine.
Cup drivers in the Nationwide series help prop up struggling ticket sales for the series, and also help to improve TV ratings. Therefore, Cup drivers are a somewhat necessary evil in the Nationwide series. I do not think that any Nationwide driver, whether it be a one race deal, or if he's been racing full time in the series for years has to move over just because a Cup driver, often with vast resources of cash and crew talent, wants a nice smooth ride around the track. Drivers like Denny Hamlin need to understand that racing is racing. If you can't take the heat of young drivers messing with you, get out. Go back to the big show of Cup racing, and let the hard racers in Nationwide race without you. My advice to anyone like Denny Hamlin, who apparently feels that drivers like Keselowski should not race him hard: Go lie in your $300,000 hauler, and watch the race on TV, if you can't take the heat on the track.
I know people have been worrying for years about how to fix the problem of having Cup drivers win most of the Nationwide races. Here's my answer. If you are a Cup driver, you can only race in the Nationwide series if you are the owner, or at least the part owner of a Nationwide team. That automatically lets Cup drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick have access to the sport. If drivers like Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and several others think that full time Nationwide drivers should show more respect to all of you 'veteran' drivers, put your money where your mouths are. Invest in the series. Don't just take the winnings. Put your money where your collective mouths are, and invest in the series.
Or shut up.
In my not so humble opinion, there does not need to be a caste system in Nationwide. Just because a driver races full time in the Cup series should not entitle him to any benefits in the Nationwide series. There are as many as 43 cars out on the track, every Nationwide race, and to me, to ask the full time Nationwide drivers to step aside for the fragile egos of the Cup drivers is not only ridiculous, but is completely asinine.
Cup drivers in the Nationwide series help prop up struggling ticket sales for the series, and also help to improve TV ratings. Therefore, Cup drivers are a somewhat necessary evil in the Nationwide series. I do not think that any Nationwide driver, whether it be a one race deal, or if he's been racing full time in the series for years has to move over just because a Cup driver, often with vast resources of cash and crew talent, wants a nice smooth ride around the track. Drivers like Denny Hamlin need to understand that racing is racing. If you can't take the heat of young drivers messing with you, get out. Go back to the big show of Cup racing, and let the hard racers in Nationwide race without you. My advice to anyone like Denny Hamlin, who apparently feels that drivers like Keselowski should not race him hard: Go lie in your $300,000 hauler, and watch the race on TV, if you can't take the heat on the track.
I know people have been worrying for years about how to fix the problem of having Cup drivers win most of the Nationwide races. Here's my answer. If you are a Cup driver, you can only race in the Nationwide series if you are the owner, or at least the part owner of a Nationwide team. That automatically lets Cup drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick have access to the sport. If drivers like Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and several others think that full time Nationwide drivers should show more respect to all of you 'veteran' drivers, put your money where your mouths are. Invest in the series. Don't just take the winnings. Put your money where your collective mouths are, and invest in the series.
Or shut up.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Dale Jr. An Okay guy.
Tonight I just got through talking to a fellow race fan, but she travels the world, and has seen races in Le Mans, and other important places in Europe, but I don't remember all of them. Ok, Monaco was mentioned too. Whatever.
She said that as an open wheel fan, she liked Dale Jr. She thought he was ok. I couldn't argue with that answer, so I let it go and we talked about other things, which were much more boring.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. seems to have made a name for himself, even among the open wheel ranks around Europe. I'm not cultured enough to be happy about it or even know if I'm supposed to be ticked about it. I'm guessing it's probably a good thing though. At least I hope so! If I should be ticked about it, I hope one of you loyal readers will tell me quick so I can get ticked!
In all actuality, it's somewhat amazing for a guy like Dale Earnhardt Jr, who has only driven stock cars on pavement, is talked about overseas. Tony Stewart is the guy that has won every thing with wheels, but for some reason, Europeans are talking about the boy from Kannapolis, North Carolina. I don't know exactly what they're saying about Dale Jr, but I assume at least some of it is flattering.
I think we all knew a long time ago that our boy had gone nationwide, but I don't know that we suspected that he was not only bad, and nationwide, he was also world wide too.
From what I'm seeing, Dale Jr. is not only an icon in the USA, his face is recognized in places like England, France, Germany, Hungary, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and a myriad of other countries. Unlike my face, which is also read in some of those countries, Dale Jr. is the crowd pleaser that never refuses to please. Actually it's not my face that's read, it's my blog. But if I was 11 years younger, I'd whup that boy's butt. But never mind.
The fact is I write, and Dale Jr. drives. He's a better driver than I am, so that's why he's got that job. He's probably a better writer too, but that would entail me threatening to whup his butt all over again, and I'm not sure that I could do that, even if I was 11 years younger. Therefore, you're going to have to take my word for the fact that Dale Jr. is not just a major name here in the USA, but he's made a name for himself overseas too. I could not be prouder of the man that Steve Hmiel and Pops (Tony Eury Sr.) still call 'Junebug'.
Steve and Pops will eventually both be on the pit box, or in the spotter's stand for Junebug. I just feel it, and I know it's going to happen one day. Ty Norris will be there too, and it will be interesting to see who wins out on the call to "Crank it up, June."
She said that as an open wheel fan, she liked Dale Jr. She thought he was ok. I couldn't argue with that answer, so I let it go and we talked about other things, which were much more boring.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. seems to have made a name for himself, even among the open wheel ranks around Europe. I'm not cultured enough to be happy about it or even know if I'm supposed to be ticked about it. I'm guessing it's probably a good thing though. At least I hope so! If I should be ticked about it, I hope one of you loyal readers will tell me quick so I can get ticked!
In all actuality, it's somewhat amazing for a guy like Dale Earnhardt Jr, who has only driven stock cars on pavement, is talked about overseas. Tony Stewart is the guy that has won every thing with wheels, but for some reason, Europeans are talking about the boy from Kannapolis, North Carolina. I don't know exactly what they're saying about Dale Jr, but I assume at least some of it is flattering.
I think we all knew a long time ago that our boy had gone nationwide, but I don't know that we suspected that he was not only bad, and nationwide, he was also world wide too.
From what I'm seeing, Dale Jr. is not only an icon in the USA, his face is recognized in places like England, France, Germany, Hungary, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and a myriad of other countries. Unlike my face, which is also read in some of those countries, Dale Jr. is the crowd pleaser that never refuses to please. Actually it's not my face that's read, it's my blog. But if I was 11 years younger, I'd whup that boy's butt. But never mind.
The fact is I write, and Dale Jr. drives. He's a better driver than I am, so that's why he's got that job. He's probably a better writer too, but that would entail me threatening to whup his butt all over again, and I'm not sure that I could do that, even if I was 11 years younger. Therefore, you're going to have to take my word for the fact that Dale Jr. is not just a major name here in the USA, but he's made a name for himself overseas too. I could not be prouder of the man that Steve Hmiel and Pops (Tony Eury Sr.) still call 'Junebug'.
Steve and Pops will eventually both be on the pit box, or in the spotter's stand for Junebug. I just feel it, and I know it's going to happen one day. Ty Norris will be there too, and it will be interesting to see who wins out on the call to "Crank it up, June."
Clute, Texas.
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.
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.
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.
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