Upon Further Reflection

Tallagega, upon further reflection. Most drivers don't like Talladega, or Daytona. A few don't seem to mind, however, and I wonder if it is because they are the ones who really want to race, no matter where they are, and have figured out the risks, and balanced them against the rewards. For example, you don't see Dale Jr., Martin Truex Jr., Mikey Waltrip, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, or Jimmy Johnson hanging out in the back of the pack all day, trying to be safe. These guys want to lead laps, run up front, and seem to be willing to take the chance that something bad will happen, or they will win. I love Carl Edwards to death, but he should have been up front all day mixing it up. While I agree there is a better solution to what we have seen in recent years at Talladega, it is what it is, and many drivers get up front and mix it up all day, and survive. Dale and his daddy are good examples. You have to know what needs to be done and go do it. Now those caught up in the early big one may be glad to be out, alive, and ready to go home (Mark Martin), in the end they would rather be there at the end to have a chance to win the race.

Talladega--Scary Crash

Talladega--two "Big Ones", then arguably the biggest, most dramatic one at the end. Brad Keselowski "won" the race and almost all the drivers seem to hate the racing dictated by restrictor plates to hold speeds down. I've said for years they should put together a special samller engine package for Daytona and Talladega to eliminate the need for the restrictor plates.

At the end of the race, Carl Edwards tried to block Brad Keselowski, ended up literally airborne and in the fence. Fortunately, Edwards is fine, the fence held keeping the car out of the grandstands, though 7 fans were injured. Many years ago, in the late 60's, I saw a modified stock car get launched into the crowd at Shangrila Speedway in Owego, NY. Modifieds are open wheel stock cars. One car was passing another on the outside of turn four, the wheels got tangled up, and one car got launched over the fence into the seats. I was in the infield. Four or five people were killed. Quite a trajedy.

Not sure what NASCAR will do, if anything, but the restrictor plate racing needs to be modified in some way.

Good to see Dale Jr. finish 2nd but he is one of the best restricto plate racers of all time.

NASCAR Awards Banquet Moving To Vegas

I fully understand why NASCAR held their annual banquet in New York City at the Waldorf Astoria since 1981. They wanted the media and advertising exposure only New York can offer. But, I've always thought it must have been funny to see the crews running through the hallways of the Waldorf with their coolers of Bud, Miller Lite, and God knows what else in the middle of the night. And all those guys stuffed into those monkey suit tuxedos--loosen up a bit! Now they are moving to Vegas, a good move for NASCAR and fans. Great time of the year for Vegas--early December is a bit slow there. A lot of fans will head out there for the week--not many go to New York. I can see the Top 10 drivers and cars going down the Strip, hopefully at midnight, all painted in those glowing, night-time paint jobs like ther are for night races. And those huge parking lots in Vegas are made for 700 horsepower NASCAR hot rods to zoom around them. Will be a fan favorite--book your rooms now!

Mark Martin Wins in Phoenix

What a great win for 50 year old Mark Martin, one of the best, and most popular drivers in NASCAR history. For those of you who don't know of Mark Martin, or anything about him, he won 35 races with Roush racing, raced part-time over the past several years with DEI (Earnhardt Racing), and is now full-time with Hendrick racing in their famous #5 car. Rick Hendrick's first team and number in NASCAR was 5, and Geoff Bodine won the first race in that car for Hendrick. Rick Hendrick wanted to put a real racer, someone with a chance to win not just one, but many races in the 5 car, and it appears he has him with Mark Martin.