Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Reutimann Wins Coca Cola 340.5

David Reutimann won the Coca Cola 340 and a half mile race Monday. Boring race, with many cautions and red flags, but it was the best decision to stop the race though it is always so anticlimatic. Good for David, and Mikey, Michael Waltrip Racing, and Toyota. This is the first win for a non-Joe Gibbs Toyota team. Many may say David didn't deserve the win but he was in first place when the race was called so he gets the trophy and money. Nice to see Ryan Newman "finish" second. Tough day for Jr, finishing 40th.

Dover Monster Mile is next--Trucks, Nationwide, and Sprint Cup. Big weekend.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Ryan Newman wins Pole for Coca Cola 600

Ryan Newman will be starting numero uno Sunday in the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. Tony Stewart, Newman's owner, won the All Star race there last weekend so wouldn't it be nice for Ryan to get his first Cup win for the new team there this weekend. The 600 is an endurance race, starting in the afternoon and ending way into the night, but starting up front is a good thing.

And I see Bill Elliott is starting 10th. He can still wheel a car around the track! Awesome Bill from Dawsonville! How cool would it be to see him win one more time!

One more thought early this morning--I think it is time for Jr., one of my favorite drivers, to start winning consistently (3-5 times a year) or for Mr. Hendrick to move Jr.'s cousin Tony out of the crew chief chair. All the other Hendrick teams are doing much better than Jr. and it is time for him and his team to perform. He will always be a favorite of mine but the time to win is now.

Enjoy the racing weekend. Lot's of DVR storage will be taken up with Indy, Coca Cola 600, and other racing from around the country.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

All Star Race

Great win for Tony Stewart in the All Star race. Unfortunately, for me, the whole event is too long. This race almost always comes down to the last 10 lap segment and the rest of the segments are relatively boring. Racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway is generally boring. I know it isn't for the drivers because it is a hard place to drive, and it seems they need to be on their toes all the time. Just not very exciting to watch, in my opinion.

600 this weekend--talk about boring! Day into night is interesting but wow, 600 miles. Maybe it's time to change the world's longest race on an oval to 400 miles like the summer Daytona race.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Jeremy Mayfield Suspended for Violating NASCAR Banned Substance Rule

Jeremy Mayfield has been banned from racing in NASCAR for failing to pass a random drug test. He says the failure was due to a bad "cocktail" of prescription and over-the-counter allergy drugs. Yeah, sure, Jeremy, that's it! I am a firm believer in innocent till proven guilty but this isn't a legal, let's get to court issue. There won't be a judge and jury. In NASCAR, for better or worse, the France family sets the rules, and when you violate them, you can't play, or in this case, race, anymore. Seems one or two other members of Jeremy's team have been suspended for substance violations this year as well so there may be a cultural problem in and around his team. Tough times--take your cars and go home.

Very little sympathy from me on these kind of violations. Major League Baseball might not be in the shape it is today had they implemented testing and harsh punishments much earlier. Same with the NFL. The one major difference between the NFL, MLB, and the NBA are the unions representing the players, and contesting every charge, taking all issues to arbitration, etc., delaying suspensions, and even preventing them in some cases. In NASCAR, for better or worse, the ruling is the ruling and that is it. Every now and then the competition committee adjusts a fine for leaving a bolt loose, or lowering the car a centimeter, or something else deemed to increase the advantage one team has over the rest, but it is very rare to see a fine or punishment lowered. There are plenty of other teams and drivers, even in this tough economic environment, to fill-out the 43 car field each week when one of the teams or drivers moves on.

The working man, NASCAR fan knows about these rules. Many, many employers require passing a drug test to get or keep a job today. Them's the rules! And, if you operate machinery of any kind, you may be required to randomly "pee in a cup" to prove you aren't under the influence of any banned substances. You can disagree with the principle, but employees know they have to be clean to get and keep jobs.

So, Jeremy, the best advice I have for you is to come clean, apologize to the fans you have, get into rehab (even though I'm sure you don't need it) and get on with your car owner/driver career, if the France family decides you can.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Kyle Busch Doubles Up in Richmond

Can't say Kyle is my favorite driver by a very long shot but he is certainly the most talented young driver in NASCAR right now, maybe the most talented driver of any age. Over the last two years he has driven everything he can each weekend, trucks, Nationwide, and Sprint Cup, winning often. Joe Gibbs has to be happy with Kyle, and Toyota must be ecstatic. If he smells the front of the pack, he is there and usually wins. Definitely a hungry-for-wins driver.

Nice to see Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman finish so well. Tony's team is doing so well for the their first year. Seems like they are very close to winning, and winning often. Both teams are doing well and I like both Tony and Ryan, the Indiana boys.

Off to Saturday night at Darlington, keeping the NASCAR tradition of no racing on Mother's Day. Love Saturday night racing on television.

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