After becoming oversaturated, in more ways than one, last weekend in Charlotte, we find ourselves taking the long way to this week's races in Dover, DE.
We will cut through my old home front of S.E. Virginia, slide through, and across, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, negotiate the speed traps on the Eastern Shore, and land in Delaware at the racetrack and casino.
Strange that after all the rain at LMS, and a deserving first time winner, the one thing that will stick around the longest is David Reutimann's crew member, Bald Billy Bad But. Smile kid, Tony just made you famous. Get ready for all the free drinks, and challenges, in every bar from here to Sonoma.
A joyous Nation is overcome with emotion today, as Tony Eury Jr was replaced as Dale Earnhardt Jr's crew chief. Big shoes to fill as it will take at least two, and possibly more men to replace Eury. Brian Whitesell is in for a one week stint. Then Lance McGrew gets his shot as *interim* crew chief.
Both of these guys have had success in the three major NASCAR series, winning races and championships with the likes of Brian Vickers, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, and Jeff Gordon. Look for an amazing turnaround by the #88 car this week at Dover.
In other Earnhardt news, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Kerry's son, makes his national series debut on Saturday driving #31 in the Heluva Good! 200 NNS race.
Dover finally added a 43rd pit stall to their pit road. It's only been about 10 years since NASCAR went to 43 cars starting a race. They improved the pit road entrance----Matt Kenseth says, Thanks--- and added about four feet to each pit stall.
This Sunday will mark 17 years, to the day, since Harry Gant won at Dover, at the age of 52!
Some reports have Jeremy Mayfield's team closing shop, and no showing at Dover, while others say that Mayfield's team will be there. Admitting you have a problem is the first step.
NASCAR held their much ballyhooed 'town meetings' with the drivers and owners this past Tuesday. Mark Martin had an interesting take on NASCAR's refusal to give the drivers a list of their banned substances, "Leaving it open ended gives them more room to catch offenders."
Doesn't every private citizen wish that our law enforcement agencies would adopt such a broad brush approach to deal with those under the influence? Real and imagined.
No, Mark. Leaving it open ended doesn't help them catch more offenders. Leaving it open ended gives them some wiggle room when a 'star' comes up dirty.
Robby Gordon was caught with illegal parts after his third place finish Monday at LMS. He was docked 50 points and his crew chief was fined $50,000. This was a points paying race.
Meanwhile, the week before, privateer, Carl Long, was caught with illegal equipment while practicing for a non-points paying event and was docked 200 points, and his crew chief was fined $200,000. What's that old French quote about justice being equal, whether you live in a palace, or in the street?
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
View From The Flagstand
Those of us that made it through the two days that it took to complete the Coke 600 at Charlotte were treated to a first time Cup winner on Monday. Friday night's NNS race was a sign of things to come when Kyle Busch led about 95% of the laps and was denied the victory due to poor rain stategy.
Monday saw the same thing as Busch led 173 of the 227 laps that were completed, but once again, rain gave the race to an underdog. David Reutimann won his first Cup race, and first for MWR, by staying on the track during the last caution for rain. That caution turned into the final red flag of the day, and the 'Beak' got the win.
Time to flag this Memorial Day standard.....
Checkered Flag....
Reutimann, of course, gets the checkers. Any way you can win one of these super competitive Cup races is fair game. And, your first win is always the sweetest. Mike Bliss won the NNS race on Friday night with much the same rain strategy.
Green Flags.....
Ryan Newman won the pole and finished second in the 600. Robby Gordon had a horse shoe somewhere to finish third. Brian Vickers led 33 laps, and came home in fifth. Kyle Busch ended up sixth after leading all those laps.
Yellow Flags....
All that rain at Charlotte! The race was scheduled to start Sunday afternoon, and end Sunday night. That plan was foiled by a deluge, and the race wast postponed until Monday at noon. Then there were three rain delays during the race, and only 227 of the 400 laps were run.
Red Flags....
During one of the rain delays, Tony Stewart took it upon himself to approach Reutimann with some unsolicited driving advice. A bald-headed crewman took up for Reutimann, and was letting Stewart know that his advice was not welcome.
Black Flag...
Dale Earnhardt Jr looked like a novice out there. Finishing two laps down in 40th, and looking even worse than that.
Monday saw the same thing as Busch led 173 of the 227 laps that were completed, but once again, rain gave the race to an underdog. David Reutimann won his first Cup race, and first for MWR, by staying on the track during the last caution for rain. That caution turned into the final red flag of the day, and the 'Beak' got the win.
Time to flag this Memorial Day standard.....
Checkered Flag....
Reutimann, of course, gets the checkers. Any way you can win one of these super competitive Cup races is fair game. And, your first win is always the sweetest. Mike Bliss won the NNS race on Friday night with much the same rain strategy.
Green Flags.....
Ryan Newman won the pole and finished second in the 600. Robby Gordon had a horse shoe somewhere to finish third. Brian Vickers led 33 laps, and came home in fifth. Kyle Busch ended up sixth after leading all those laps.
Yellow Flags....
All that rain at Charlotte! The race was scheduled to start Sunday afternoon, and end Sunday night. That plan was foiled by a deluge, and the race wast postponed until Monday at noon. Then there were three rain delays during the race, and only 227 of the 400 laps were run.
Red Flags....
During one of the rain delays, Tony Stewart took it upon himself to approach Reutimann with some unsolicited driving advice. A bald-headed crewman took up for Reutimann, and was letting Stewart know that his advice was not welcome.
Black Flag...
Dale Earnhardt Jr looked like a novice out there. Finishing two laps down in 40th, and looking even worse than that.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Right Sides Only
Summer gets jump started this Sunday with automobile racing all over the globe. From Monaco, to Indy, to Charlotte, the crown jewels of motorsports venues will be under siege.
Formula-One, in Monaco, gets the green first, airing in the US early Sunday morning. Then the Indy 500 will be mid-day, and, with rain showers, will probably take us right up to the 50th Coca Cola 600 at Lowes Motor Speedway.
Last week's All Star race at LMS, was 90 laps of snooze, and 10 laps of bruise. Those last ten laps were fantastic, as a handful of drivers woke up and drove like they really wanted that one million bucks for winning.
Double file restarts among lead-lap cars made that race even more exciting. Now, NASCAR's Series Director, John Darby, claims that NASCAR has been 'studying' the double file restart for over a year. And that it could be used as early as this season in the Cup series.
How will NASCAR screw this up? It would be the easiest thing they could do that might improve sinking TV ratings. So, you just know that they will screw it up. My bet is that not only will they not use it in regular Cup races...they will take it out of the All-Star race. I'm not kidding.
Non-Chase regular, Carl Long was busted for an oversized engine before the All-Star prelim race last week. He, his owner (wife), and crew chief were all suspended for 12 weeks, docked 200 points (he had 0 points when he was caught), and his crew chief was fined $200,000.
Just how big was that monster motor? 358.17 cubic inches. What's the legal limit? 358 cubic inches. Long makes a race about as often as leap year comes around. So, what's the deal, NASCAR?
This is the first step in NASCAR's zero tollerance policy. It started when they overreacted to Jeremy Mayfield's drug test. So now they're acting like there is no gray area, in engine displacements, or 'banned' substances. You're either legal, or you're not. Look for Jeremy to back NASCAR down, like a Clemson grad backs a cow up to a stump.
Bill Elliott makes his 800th start in the 600, driving the Motorcraft #21 Ford. RL Carriers hauls Matt Kenseth along in the #17 on Sunday. David Starr tried to make the race in the #06 with Extenze. Must not have worked, as he came up short.
Jeff Gordon had a facet block procedure performed on his sore back earlier this week. Gordon won his first Cup race in the Coke 600, in 1994, with pit strategy, by taking....wait for it....Right Sides Only!
Dale Earnhardt Jr will be melting in the #5 Klondike car in the NNS race on Saturday at LMS. Others in the NNS race will be #81, Kevin Hamlin, in the Go 'Canes (NHL) car, and Danny O'Quinn will be in the Sun Drop #01. Sun Drop is from a local NC bottler, and was one of Dale Sr's long time sponsors.
This is a huge weekend for racing, parties, cookouts, family, and friends. Sometime during the weekend, please take a moment to remember what Memorial Day is all about. Those who serve, those who served and returned, and those that served and didn't return. Thanks to all the brave men and women who have kept the Land of the Free, free for over 200 years.
Formula-One, in Monaco, gets the green first, airing in the US early Sunday morning. Then the Indy 500 will be mid-day, and, with rain showers, will probably take us right up to the 50th Coca Cola 600 at Lowes Motor Speedway.
Last week's All Star race at LMS, was 90 laps of snooze, and 10 laps of bruise. Those last ten laps were fantastic, as a handful of drivers woke up and drove like they really wanted that one million bucks for winning.
Double file restarts among lead-lap cars made that race even more exciting. Now, NASCAR's Series Director, John Darby, claims that NASCAR has been 'studying' the double file restart for over a year. And that it could be used as early as this season in the Cup series.
How will NASCAR screw this up? It would be the easiest thing they could do that might improve sinking TV ratings. So, you just know that they will screw it up. My bet is that not only will they not use it in regular Cup races...they will take it out of the All-Star race. I'm not kidding.
Non-Chase regular, Carl Long was busted for an oversized engine before the All-Star prelim race last week. He, his owner (wife), and crew chief were all suspended for 12 weeks, docked 200 points (he had 0 points when he was caught), and his crew chief was fined $200,000.
Just how big was that monster motor? 358.17 cubic inches. What's the legal limit? 358 cubic inches. Long makes a race about as often as leap year comes around. So, what's the deal, NASCAR?
This is the first step in NASCAR's zero tollerance policy. It started when they overreacted to Jeremy Mayfield's drug test. So now they're acting like there is no gray area, in engine displacements, or 'banned' substances. You're either legal, or you're not. Look for Jeremy to back NASCAR down, like a Clemson grad backs a cow up to a stump.
Bill Elliott makes his 800th start in the 600, driving the Motorcraft #21 Ford. RL Carriers hauls Matt Kenseth along in the #17 on Sunday. David Starr tried to make the race in the #06 with Extenze. Must not have worked, as he came up short.
Jeff Gordon had a facet block procedure performed on his sore back earlier this week. Gordon won his first Cup race in the Coke 600, in 1994, with pit strategy, by taking....wait for it....Right Sides Only!
Dale Earnhardt Jr will be melting in the #5 Klondike car in the NNS race on Saturday at LMS. Others in the NNS race will be #81, Kevin Hamlin, in the Go 'Canes (NHL) car, and Danny O'Quinn will be in the Sun Drop #01. Sun Drop is from a local NC bottler, and was one of Dale Sr's long time sponsors.
This is a huge weekend for racing, parties, cookouts, family, and friends. Sometime during the weekend, please take a moment to remember what Memorial Day is all about. Those who serve, those who served and returned, and those that served and didn't return. Thanks to all the brave men and women who have kept the Land of the Free, free for over 200 years.
Never Forget
It seems like each year I've come to recognize Memorial Day less as a three day party, and more as a time to remember the heroes who sacrificed so that we can be free to have three day parties.
No matter who we voted for, or who our favorite teams are, we are Americans first, last, and always. You can run down our favorite player, or our driver, but if you run down our flag, damnit, you'll have to leave.
Walter 'Bud' Moore was born in 1925, in Spartanburg, SC. He was part of the the largest invasion ever on June 6, 1944 when he splashed ashore at Utah Beach.
Imagine being a 19 year old country boy moving a couple of hundred yards through the cold sea water, into the face of withering enemy fire. Not questioning why me? Or, what am I doing here? Just doing the right thing with no complaints.
Bud Moore would stay in Europe through the end of World War II. He followed Patton to Bastogne to rescue the 101st Airborne. Moore earned five Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars for Valor.
Bud made it back to South Carolina, where he started racing dirt track cars in the late 1940s. He became a NASCAR Cup team owner in the late 1950s.
His team won two Cup championships, 1962, 1963, with Joe Weatherly driving. Bud Moore Engineering won 63 races with drivers such as Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Allison, Buddy Baker, and Ricky Rudd.
The multi-car teams of the 1990s were the beginning of the end for Moore, and his one-car team folded in 2001. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Bud Moore was the epitome of hard work, perseverance, class, and ingenuity. Whether at the race track, or on the battlefield. Thank you, Bud
No matter who we voted for, or who our favorite teams are, we are Americans first, last, and always. You can run down our favorite player, or our driver, but if you run down our flag, damnit, you'll have to leave.
Walter 'Bud' Moore was born in 1925, in Spartanburg, SC. He was part of the the largest invasion ever on June 6, 1944 when he splashed ashore at Utah Beach.
Imagine being a 19 year old country boy moving a couple of hundred yards through the cold sea water, into the face of withering enemy fire. Not questioning why me? Or, what am I doing here? Just doing the right thing with no complaints.
Bud Moore would stay in Europe through the end of World War II. He followed Patton to Bastogne to rescue the 101st Airborne. Moore earned five Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars for Valor.
Bud made it back to South Carolina, where he started racing dirt track cars in the late 1940s. He became a NASCAR Cup team owner in the late 1950s.
His team won two Cup championships, 1962, 1963, with Joe Weatherly driving. Bud Moore Engineering won 63 races with drivers such as Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Allison, Buddy Baker, and Ricky Rudd.
The multi-car teams of the 1990s were the beginning of the end for Moore, and his one-car team folded in 2001. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Bud Moore was the epitome of hard work, perseverance, class, and ingenuity. Whether at the race track, or on the battlefield. Thank you, Bud
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Mike Hanner: NASCAR P.I. (Encore)
It was four o'clock on a steamy Friday afternoon. I'd just put my dogs up on the old veneer desk, and pulled out the bottom drawer in search of some relief.
Ah, there it was, a half empty--- no, not a pessimist, just a realist--- bottle of Ol' Loudmouth. I found a half-clean glass, and was just pouring a slug, when she walked in. Living proof that angels do walk.
But, what was she doing walking into my dingy office on the wrong side of town? I'd find out soon enough, but right now my eyes were conducting inventory. Billowy, blonde hair? Check. Carolina blue eyes? Check. Getaway sticks, from hip to heel? Check. Rack? To there, and back? Check.
"Mr Hanner. Mr Hanner!" She interrupted me in mid gape.
I managed to close my mouth like a rusty hinge, and stammered out, "Yesss, can I help you out of something?... I, I mean, can I help you out, *or* something?"
She smiled, and my heart felt like the half of a popsicle that falls on a sidewalk in August. All drippy and melty.
"Yes, I hope you can. I'm looking for a dear friend that I have only seen once in the last three years. Oh, my name is Victoria. Victoria Lane, and I'm looking for a guy who just quit coming around."
'This guy better get his pulse checked', is what I was thinking, but, what I said was, "If anyone can find a deadbeat, it's me."
She smiled again, "Oh, he's no deadbeat. He's very popular with the ladies, and the guys."
"Well if he's that popular he shouldn't be hard to find," I murmered. "This cat got a name?"
"Yes. Dale. Dale Jr," she breathed.
"Oh, heck yeah, I've heard of him. He shouldn't be too hard to find."
"I didn't say that he was hard to find, just that he doesn't visit me anymore," she pouted.
"Let me tell you up front that I can find him, but I can't make him come see you, Miss Lane. That will be up to him."
I immediately saw that this is not what she wanted to hear, as her bottom lip started to tremble, and she blurted out, "It's all because of that damn cousin of his! He's the one who's keeping us apart! I wish he would just disappear!"
Oh great, here come the waterworks. Why am I such a sucker for a beautiful dame that can cry on cue? "OK, now don't cry. I have an associate that may know some people, that know some people that may be able to make the cousin disappear."
She sniffled, "Really? Who?"
"Shaft. Cam Shaft. He's a bad mo..."
"Shut yo mouth"
"Just talkin' 'bout Shaft."
She was smiling again, and it lit up my world like a state trooper's spotlight reflecting off the rearview mirror at midnight.
So, I finally got her turned around, and as I saw her walk out of the office I couldn't help thinking, 'I hate to see her go, but I love to watch her leave.'
Now where to find Jr? Maybe I should start by crossing off the places where I know he won't be at. Like the gym, a team meeting, testing, or asking his fellow company drivers for advice. That narrows it down some.
Ah, there it was, a half empty--- no, not a pessimist, just a realist--- bottle of Ol' Loudmouth. I found a half-clean glass, and was just pouring a slug, when she walked in. Living proof that angels do walk.
But, what was she doing walking into my dingy office on the wrong side of town? I'd find out soon enough, but right now my eyes were conducting inventory. Billowy, blonde hair? Check. Carolina blue eyes? Check. Getaway sticks, from hip to heel? Check. Rack? To there, and back? Check.
"Mr Hanner. Mr Hanner!" She interrupted me in mid gape.
I managed to close my mouth like a rusty hinge, and stammered out, "Yesss, can I help you out of something?... I, I mean, can I help you out, *or* something?"
She smiled, and my heart felt like the half of a popsicle that falls on a sidewalk in August. All drippy and melty.
"Yes, I hope you can. I'm looking for a dear friend that I have only seen once in the last three years. Oh, my name is Victoria. Victoria Lane, and I'm looking for a guy who just quit coming around."
'This guy better get his pulse checked', is what I was thinking, but, what I said was, "If anyone can find a deadbeat, it's me."
She smiled again, "Oh, he's no deadbeat. He's very popular with the ladies, and the guys."
"Well if he's that popular he shouldn't be hard to find," I murmered. "This cat got a name?"
"Yes. Dale. Dale Jr," she breathed.
"Oh, heck yeah, I've heard of him. He shouldn't be too hard to find."
"I didn't say that he was hard to find, just that he doesn't visit me anymore," she pouted.
"Let me tell you up front that I can find him, but I can't make him come see you, Miss Lane. That will be up to him."
I immediately saw that this is not what she wanted to hear, as her bottom lip started to tremble, and she blurted out, "It's all because of that damn cousin of his! He's the one who's keeping us apart! I wish he would just disappear!"
Oh great, here come the waterworks. Why am I such a sucker for a beautiful dame that can cry on cue? "OK, now don't cry. I have an associate that may know some people, that know some people that may be able to make the cousin disappear."
She sniffled, "Really? Who?"
"Shaft. Cam Shaft. He's a bad mo..."
"Shut yo mouth"
"Just talkin' 'bout Shaft."
She was smiling again, and it lit up my world like a state trooper's spotlight reflecting off the rearview mirror at midnight.
So, I finally got her turned around, and as I saw her walk out of the office I couldn't help thinking, 'I hate to see her go, but I love to watch her leave.'
Now where to find Jr? Maybe I should start by crossing off the places where I know he won't be at. Like the gym, a team meeting, testing, or asking his fellow company drivers for advice. That narrows it down some.
to be continued....
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Right Sides Only
This week all the stars and cars of NASCAR are playing a home game, as the All-Star race is held in the stock car capital of the world, Charlotte, NC.
The All-Star event can go either way, either real boring, or a wreckfest. It's usually the latter, as the best drivers in the world seem to lose their friggin' minds.
Which way will the wind blow this time? When the sun goes down, the green flag comes around. So get in. Strap in. Shut up. Hold on tight. Turn left. And don't bring back nothing but the steering wheel, son. This is the All-Star race.
That last paragraph is my prediction of what Larry McReynolds will say sometime before the race starts.
Lowes Motor Speedway had the best idea EVER. They brought in the greatest pro wrestler EVER, Ric Flair,--- WHOOO--- to do commercials, sell tickets, be the grand marshall, judge the burn-out competition, and generaly class up the place.
Makes perfect sense to partner with pro wrestling, after all they both have the same phantom rulebooks, and the officials will always look the other way for a fan favorite.
The burnout competition before the race has seven entrants this year, instead of the five they had last year. Also some 'lucky' fan gets to ride along with Kevin Harvick....as he power brakes the tires off his car.
Others judging the burnouts, along with The Nature Boy, include Randy Moss, country singing duo Montgomery, Gentry, and El Gordo...Jimmy Spencer. Biggest embarassment will be Darrell Waltrip trying to talk and do burnouts at the same time. Puleeze!
Jeff Gordon has three wins in his 15 All-Star races. Mark Martin, and HMS mate, Jimmie Johnson, have two wins, while Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman each have one win in the All-star event.
In two All-Star races, Denny Hamlin has no top-10s. While his JGR teammate, Kyle Busch, has no top-10s in three starts. Dale Earnhardt Jr won it in his rookie year, as did Newman.
Friday May, 15 is Dale Earnhardt Day. The seven-time champ will be honored at DEI headquarters in Mooresville, NC.
JJ Yeley will be subbing for -----poor test taker--- Jeremey Mayfield for the next few races. Yeley can DNQ just as well as Mayfield can.
NASCAR is conducting a study to figure out why FOX TV's ratings are down by double digit margins. What could keep adults from watching a sporting event? Hmmm.
That's your assignment, loyal readers. What is the ONE thing that FOX needs to get rid of?
Sunday, May 10, 2009
View From The Flagstand
Welcome to the Slam-Bam-No-Thank-You-Ma'am version of the View. Darlington Raceway, The Lady in Black, threw down with 17 caution flags Saturday night. Here's the recap from up high in the flagstand.
Checkered Flag: Mark Martin won a long, rough, race that was as much about survival as anything else. Hell, that SOB's older than the Beatles, he ought to know something about outlasting the competition. Matt Kenseth won the NNS race on Friday night, and had a top-10 on Saturday.
Green Flags: Jimmy Johnson had to start a back-up car, and finished second. SHR teammates, Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman were third and fourth. Rookies, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano, both had top-10 runs.
Yellow Flags: Uh....the yellow flag gets this award this week. 17 caution flags, and a handfull of other spins that didn't get a caution. It made for a long ass race.
Red Flags: Those 17 cautions weren't just the usual suspects. Chase regulars, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, and Carl Edwards all finished lower than 27th, and were all at least 7 laps behind the leader.
Checkered Flag: Mark Martin won a long, rough, race that was as much about survival as anything else. Hell, that SOB's older than the Beatles, he ought to know something about outlasting the competition. Matt Kenseth won the NNS race on Friday night, and had a top-10 on Saturday.
Green Flags: Jimmy Johnson had to start a back-up car, and finished second. SHR teammates, Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman were third and fourth. Rookies, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano, both had top-10 runs.
Yellow Flags: Uh....the yellow flag gets this award this week. 17 caution flags, and a handfull of other spins that didn't get a caution. It made for a long ass race.
Red Flags: Those 17 cautions weren't just the usual suspects. Chase regulars, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, and Carl Edwards all finished lower than 27th, and were all at least 7 laps behind the leader.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
For Mom
Dear Mom...
Thought I'd let you know that I really appreciate the sacrifices, and unconditional love you always gave me. I never told you back when I was a kid. Now I'm telling you publicly, I love you. Sure, I say it at the end of our phone calls, or on a card, but I really do mean it.
You were always the one who had to haul me to my baseball games and practices. You did this while raising my three brothers and one sister too. I know now that you couldn't have had a lot of free time, yet you still made sure I made it to the field. All of this for a smart-aleck kid who wishes that his talent level approached his dreams.
Dad was always working, leaving five kids and a household for you to handle. So, you seldom had time to attend my games, but when you did I was so proud. All the other kids always said I had the prettiest Mom in the stands. I was also very proud of you when the other mothers talked you into playing first base on their softball team. Well, maybe a cross between pride and embarassment, but I was only 11.
Mom, I also wanted to say I'm sorry for any troubles or worries that I've brought you. I'm OK, don't worry about me. Thanks for everything. You're the best mother a guy could have.
Happy Mother's Day!
Love, Gene
Thought I'd let you know that I really appreciate the sacrifices, and unconditional love you always gave me. I never told you back when I was a kid. Now I'm telling you publicly, I love you. Sure, I say it at the end of our phone calls, or on a card, but I really do mean it.
You were always the one who had to haul me to my baseball games and practices. You did this while raising my three brothers and one sister too. I know now that you couldn't have had a lot of free time, yet you still made sure I made it to the field. All of this for a smart-aleck kid who wishes that his talent level approached his dreams.
Dad was always working, leaving five kids and a household for you to handle. So, you seldom had time to attend my games, but when you did I was so proud. All the other kids always said I had the prettiest Mom in the stands. I was also very proud of you when the other mothers talked you into playing first base on their softball team. Well, maybe a cross between pride and embarassment, but I was only 11.
Mom, I also wanted to say I'm sorry for any troubles or worries that I've brought you. I'm OK, don't worry about me. Thanks for everything. You're the best mother a guy could have.
Happy Mother's Day!
Love, Gene
Friday, May 8, 2009
Right Sides Only
This week finds the stars and cars of NASCAR close to home. They're just up the road in Darlington. That is one tough track. A snake of greasy, black asphalt set down admid the old cotton fields.
She stands silently on the sandy soil, weeping, waiting, as she's done since 1950, for the next group of men who think they can tame her. This will be the 106th try for the eager suitors. What makes them think they will be rewarded?
The famous, egg-shaped, oval was repaved before last year's race. Kyle Busch won that race, setting a new record for the fastest race at Darlington. The Rowdy one had led one lap total in his three previous starts here.
Tony Stewart has also led just one lap total....in his last nine races here. Kasey Kahne has won three poles in his six Darlington starts. There hasn't been a winner from the pole since Dale Jarrett did it back in 1997.
Kurt Busch has one top-5 in 12 races here. I think he'll improve on that Saturday night. Denny Hamlin has been in three races here, and leads all active drivers with a 6.3 average finishing position.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has finished 11th, or better in his last six Darlington starts. Will this be where he gets back on track? Nah. John Andretti needs to run 168 laps to have completed 100,000 in his career. At his present rate of start-and-parking, he'll reach that milestone in October.... of 2011.
Best guy, AJ Allmendinger, will have Best Buy aboard his #44 RPM Dodge this week. Denny Hamlin will be protected with Farm Bureau Insurance on the #11 Toyota. Is it just me, or does Denny seem like he pouts a lot?
Star Trek, The Movie, returns on David Stremme's #12 on Saturday. Alas, no warp speed. The #99, of Carl Edwards will be carrying 'Up', The Movie. Damn! A movie. I was hoping 'Up' was what he was going to do with that damn duck.
Guess who is currently leading all three NASCAR series in wins. That's Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World trucks.
She stands silently on the sandy soil, weeping, waiting, as she's done since 1950, for the next group of men who think they can tame her. This will be the 106th try for the eager suitors. What makes them think they will be rewarded?
The famous, egg-shaped, oval was repaved before last year's race. Kyle Busch won that race, setting a new record for the fastest race at Darlington. The Rowdy one had led one lap total in his three previous starts here.
Tony Stewart has also led just one lap total....in his last nine races here. Kasey Kahne has won three poles in his six Darlington starts. There hasn't been a winner from the pole since Dale Jarrett did it back in 1997.
Kurt Busch has one top-5 in 12 races here. I think he'll improve on that Saturday night. Denny Hamlin has been in three races here, and leads all active drivers with a 6.3 average finishing position.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has finished 11th, or better in his last six Darlington starts. Will this be where he gets back on track? Nah. John Andretti needs to run 168 laps to have completed 100,000 in his career. At his present rate of start-and-parking, he'll reach that milestone in October.... of 2011.
Best guy, AJ Allmendinger, will have Best Buy aboard his #44 RPM Dodge this week. Denny Hamlin will be protected with Farm Bureau Insurance on the #11 Toyota. Is it just me, or does Denny seem like he pouts a lot?
Star Trek, The Movie, returns on David Stremme's #12 on Saturday. Alas, no warp speed. The #99, of Carl Edwards will be carrying 'Up', The Movie. Damn! A movie. I was hoping 'Up' was what he was going to do with that damn duck.
Guess who is currently leading all three NASCAR series in wins. That's Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World trucks.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Ken Schrader, Racer
When I became interested in NASCAR---- back before cable TV---- David Pearson was my favorite driver. Primarily because it seemed like everyone else was a Richard Petty fan.
I wasn't interested in being another sheep on the bandwagon, so I chose Pearson. All the wins he had, with Petty finishing second, were sweet. Pearson was getting out of the Cup series in the early 1980s, so I began looking for a new favorite driver.
In the mid-80s NASCAR's popularity was exploding with ESPN televising most of the races. Dale Earnhardt was the larger than life hero. Once again I chose the other guy. Tim Richmond was also exploding across the NASCAR skyscape. Like a brilliant supernova, he burned out much too soon.
Richmond's replacement driver in the #25 Folgers Chevy in 1988 was Ken Schrader. I'd been impressed with Schrader ever since he won Rookie of the Year in 1985 driving for an underfunded Junie Donlavey team.
Schrader won his first Cup race in 1988 at the Die Hard 500 in Talladega. Running fourth on the last lap, he made some bold moves to get by the other three drivers, including some cat named Earnhardt.
He went on to finish 5th in points in 1988 with 17 top-10s in 29 starts. He also won the Daytona 500 pole position for what would be the first of three straight years.
In 1989 Schrader again was 5th in points, and collected another win. In 1990 Kodiak came on as Schrader's new sponsor. The 1991 season saw Schrader earn his final two victories in the Cup series.
1994 was Schrader's highest points finish, as he ended up in 4th place with 18 top-10s. Budwieser became the primary sponsor in 1995, and 1996 would be Schrader's last season in the iconic, red, #25 Bud Chevy.
He raced for Andy Petree in the Skoal Bandit #33 for the next three years before moving on to the #36, MB2, M&Ms Pontiac for three years. His last full season in Cup was 2006.
He earned over 35 million in the Cup series, in 732 starts. He also had two wins in the NNS, and one win in the truck series. Schrader has 10 ARCA wins in his 37 starts in that series, and 3 top-5s in his five IROC races.
Schrader hit the ground running on May 29, 1955 when he was born in Fenton, MO. Everyone's heard the story about how his dad tied a go-kart to a post in the back yard so a little, three year old, Kenny could ride around in circles until he ran out of gas.
"I guess you could say that I have been dizzy ever since,” Schrader said. “I really don’t think it is an exaggeration when I say that racing is all I’ve ever known. I’ve been racing since I could walk, and it is really all I have ever wanted to do. To be honest, I would race everyday if I had the opportunity.”
He started racing go-karts for real in the 1960s before moving up to sprint cars in the early 70s. He became the USAC stock car ROY in 1980. He was the USAC Silver Crown champ in 1982, and the USAC Sprint Car champ in 1983.
In 1983 he also went to Indy. He practiced fast enough to make the field, but, with no back up car, a wreck kept him from qualifying for the Indy 500 in what turned out to be his only chance.
Schrader now races over 80 times a year across North America. He's won races in every state except one. Rhode Island, your next! He also owns I-55 Raceway in Pevely, MO, and co-owns Macon Speedway in Illinois.
“I want to spend my time racing,” Schrader said. “It’s not only my job, but it’s also my hobby. I love the time that I get to spend behind the wheel, and as long as I can, I’m going to race whenever I get the chance.”
Schrader and his wife Ann have two children, Dorothy and Sheldon, and they reside in Concord, NC where he operates Ken Schrader Racing.
Kenny Schrader never won the NASCAR Cup championship, but he's still a hero, and I'm sure a lot of you will agree that he's always been a champion to the fans.
Ken Schrader quotes are courtesy of Ken Schrader Racing.
I wasn't interested in being another sheep on the bandwagon, so I chose Pearson. All the wins he had, with Petty finishing second, were sweet. Pearson was getting out of the Cup series in the early 1980s, so I began looking for a new favorite driver.
In the mid-80s NASCAR's popularity was exploding with ESPN televising most of the races. Dale Earnhardt was the larger than life hero. Once again I chose the other guy. Tim Richmond was also exploding across the NASCAR skyscape. Like a brilliant supernova, he burned out much too soon.
Richmond's replacement driver in the #25 Folgers Chevy in 1988 was Ken Schrader. I'd been impressed with Schrader ever since he won Rookie of the Year in 1985 driving for an underfunded Junie Donlavey team.
Schrader won his first Cup race in 1988 at the Die Hard 500 in Talladega. Running fourth on the last lap, he made some bold moves to get by the other three drivers, including some cat named Earnhardt.
He went on to finish 5th in points in 1988 with 17 top-10s in 29 starts. He also won the Daytona 500 pole position for what would be the first of three straight years.
In 1989 Schrader again was 5th in points, and collected another win. In 1990 Kodiak came on as Schrader's new sponsor. The 1991 season saw Schrader earn his final two victories in the Cup series.
1994 was Schrader's highest points finish, as he ended up in 4th place with 18 top-10s. Budwieser became the primary sponsor in 1995, and 1996 would be Schrader's last season in the iconic, red, #25 Bud Chevy.
He raced for Andy Petree in the Skoal Bandit #33 for the next three years before moving on to the #36, MB2, M&Ms Pontiac for three years. His last full season in Cup was 2006.
He earned over 35 million in the Cup series, in 732 starts. He also had two wins in the NNS, and one win in the truck series. Schrader has 10 ARCA wins in his 37 starts in that series, and 3 top-5s in his five IROC races.
Schrader hit the ground running on May 29, 1955 when he was born in Fenton, MO. Everyone's heard the story about how his dad tied a go-kart to a post in the back yard so a little, three year old, Kenny could ride around in circles until he ran out of gas.
"I guess you could say that I have been dizzy ever since,” Schrader said. “I really don’t think it is an exaggeration when I say that racing is all I’ve ever known. I’ve been racing since I could walk, and it is really all I have ever wanted to do. To be honest, I would race everyday if I had the opportunity.”
He started racing go-karts for real in the 1960s before moving up to sprint cars in the early 70s. He became the USAC stock car ROY in 1980. He was the USAC Silver Crown champ in 1982, and the USAC Sprint Car champ in 1983.
In 1983 he also went to Indy. He practiced fast enough to make the field, but, with no back up car, a wreck kept him from qualifying for the Indy 500 in what turned out to be his only chance.
Schrader now races over 80 times a year across North America. He's won races in every state except one. Rhode Island, your next! He also owns I-55 Raceway in Pevely, MO, and co-owns Macon Speedway in Illinois.
“I want to spend my time racing,” Schrader said. “It’s not only my job, but it’s also my hobby. I love the time that I get to spend behind the wheel, and as long as I can, I’m going to race whenever I get the chance.”
Schrader and his wife Ann have two children, Dorothy and Sheldon, and they reside in Concord, NC where he operates Ken Schrader Racing.
Kenny Schrader never won the NASCAR Cup championship, but he's still a hero, and I'm sure a lot of you will agree that he's always been a champion to the fans.
Ken Schrader quotes are courtesy of Ken Schrader Racing.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Hello, SRM
Hello, sports fans. I'll be your designated driver here at SRM. My posts will primarily be on NASCAR, and other forms of motorsports. Maybe even some stick and ball stuff every now and then.
I've been around NASCAR all my life, and have been writing about it for the last few years on various web sites. Where, you say? NACAR.com, Foxsports, The Bleacher Report, and Racing One.
I know racing, how it's a business. I don't let emotions about my favorite drivers get in the way of the truth. I may make fun about your favorite driver. Please don't take it personally. Hell, I'll make fun of all of them, even my faves.
I'll have a couple of weekly columns here. "Right Sides Only" is a wickedly skewed view of the upcoming weekend of racing. "View from the Flagstand" is my weekend wrapup, in which I hand out my awards.
I've been around NASCAR all my life, and have been writing about it for the last few years on various web sites. Where, you say? NACAR.com, Foxsports, The Bleacher Report, and Racing One.
I know racing, how it's a business. I don't let emotions about my favorite drivers get in the way of the truth. I may make fun about your favorite driver. Please don't take it personally. Hell, I'll make fun of all of them, even my faves.
I'll have a couple of weekly columns here. "Right Sides Only" is a wickedly skewed view of the upcoming weekend of racing. "View from the Flagstand" is my weekend wrapup, in which I hand out my awards.
View From The Flagstand
The view from the flagstand was obscured by the smoke of the 15 caution periods at Richmond on Saturday night. Plenty of hard charging action was enjoyed by all at the Crown Royal 400. Now, on to this week's awards.
Checkered Flag: The birthday boy, Kyle Busch, wins the checkers for the third time this year. It was a hard fought victory with crew chief, Steve Addington, making the right calls in the pits, while Busch drove relentlessly to the win. Busch also won the NNS race at Richmond on Friday night for his third win in that series this year.
Green Flags: The two Stewart-Haas Racing Chevys both had top five finishes, with Tony Stewart placing second, and Ryan Newman in fourth. Sudden Sam Hornish had his best NASCAR finish with a sixth.
Yellow Flags: Hornish also wrecked two other drivers who were in the top ten at the time. Dale Earnhardt Jr was involved in a skirmish, and came home 27th, one lap down.
Red Flags: Roush=Fenway Racing did not look good for most of the night, with Jamie McMurray being their only driver to have a top ten run. Jimmie Johnson also didn't have a good race, after winning three of the last four at Richmond, he finished 32 laps behind in 36th.
Checkered Flag: The birthday boy, Kyle Busch, wins the checkers for the third time this year. It was a hard fought victory with crew chief, Steve Addington, making the right calls in the pits, while Busch drove relentlessly to the win. Busch also won the NNS race at Richmond on Friday night for his third win in that series this year.
Green Flags: The two Stewart-Haas Racing Chevys both had top five finishes, with Tony Stewart placing second, and Ryan Newman in fourth. Sudden Sam Hornish had his best NASCAR finish with a sixth.
Yellow Flags: Hornish also wrecked two other drivers who were in the top ten at the time. Dale Earnhardt Jr was involved in a skirmish, and came home 27th, one lap down.
Red Flags: Roush=Fenway Racing did not look good for most of the night, with Jamie McMurray being their only driver to have a top ten run. Jimmie Johnson also didn't have a good race, after winning three of the last four at Richmond, he finished 32 laps behind in 36th.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Right Sides Only
The Cup caravan comes cruising through the Capital of the Confederacy this weekend. Richmond International Raceway will host the Sprint Cuppers on Saturday night, and the Nationwide Series on Friday night.
Short trackin', at night, will be a welcome relief after last week's Talladega debacle. Charlie Daniels sings the national anthem to kick off the Crown Royal 400 on Saturday.
Last week at Talladega, the action got a little too close to the crowd as Carl Edwards' car sailed into the catch fence along the front stretch. The fence repelled his car, but a shower of debris still shot into the stands.
A high school senior spent several days in the hospital earlier this week having her lower jaw restructured. Her jaw will be wired shut for several weeks, and many other fans suffered minor injuries.
Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart, and Jimmie Johnson are all three-time winners at RIR. While Mike Waltrip has two top-10s to show for his 43 starts at the .75, D shaped oval.
Mikey was also debuting on NBC's 'My Name is Earl' this week. Do NOT let him have the keys to the El Camino, Earl!
Mark Martin won at PIR, then came home dead last the next time out, at Dega. We'll see if a pattern develops this week at RIR. Brian Vickers holds the RIR track record that he set in 2004, in a Chevy.
Kyle Busch celebrates his 24th birthday during the race on Saturday. He has 6 top-5s in his 8 RIR starts, and his #18 will be sporting the Combos sponsorship this week.
Marcos Ambrose will be gassing and going with Bush's Baked Beans on his #47 at RIR. The #33 of Clint Bowyer will be banking on BB&T. Doubt that the Force will be with him, but David Stremme's #12 will feature the new Star Trek movie.
AJ Allmendinger's wife and dog were wearing tee shirts last week at Talladega asking for AJ to be fan voted into the All-Star race later this month at LMS. AJ also gave away 250 pizzas to the rowdy Dega fans as part of his food-for-votes platform. Vote for AJ!
Four time national motorsports writer of the year, David Poole, suffered a fatal heart attack earlier this week. The 50 year old Poole wrote for the 'Charlotte Observer', that'sracin.com, and co-hosted a racing program on Sirius radio.
Poole seemed like a gruff, no nonsense type of guy, but he had a heart of gold. After writing a story about the little girl who gave Dale Earnhardt Sr a lucky penny, David started a charity for her family. Check it out....
http://www.penniesforwessa.org/
Short trackin', at night, will be a welcome relief after last week's Talladega debacle. Charlie Daniels sings the national anthem to kick off the Crown Royal 400 on Saturday.
Last week at Talladega, the action got a little too close to the crowd as Carl Edwards' car sailed into the catch fence along the front stretch. The fence repelled his car, but a shower of debris still shot into the stands.
A high school senior spent several days in the hospital earlier this week having her lower jaw restructured. Her jaw will be wired shut for several weeks, and many other fans suffered minor injuries.
Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart, and Jimmie Johnson are all three-time winners at RIR. While Mike Waltrip has two top-10s to show for his 43 starts at the .75, D shaped oval.
Mikey was also debuting on NBC's 'My Name is Earl' this week. Do NOT let him have the keys to the El Camino, Earl!
Mark Martin won at PIR, then came home dead last the next time out, at Dega. We'll see if a pattern develops this week at RIR. Brian Vickers holds the RIR track record that he set in 2004, in a Chevy.
Kyle Busch celebrates his 24th birthday during the race on Saturday. He has 6 top-5s in his 8 RIR starts, and his #18 will be sporting the Combos sponsorship this week.
Marcos Ambrose will be gassing and going with Bush's Baked Beans on his #47 at RIR. The #33 of Clint Bowyer will be banking on BB&T. Doubt that the Force will be with him, but David Stremme's #12 will feature the new Star Trek movie.
AJ Allmendinger's wife and dog were wearing tee shirts last week at Talladega asking for AJ to be fan voted into the All-Star race later this month at LMS. AJ also gave away 250 pizzas to the rowdy Dega fans as part of his food-for-votes platform. Vote for AJ!
Four time national motorsports writer of the year, David Poole, suffered a fatal heart attack earlier this week. The 50 year old Poole wrote for the 'Charlotte Observer', that'sracin.com, and co-hosted a racing program on Sirius radio.
Poole seemed like a gruff, no nonsense type of guy, but he had a heart of gold. After writing a story about the little girl who gave Dale Earnhardt Sr a lucky penny, David started a charity for her family. Check it out....
http://www.penniesforwessa.org/
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