racewriter's Blog

This weekend while some of us are packing the car with tail gating goodies and coolers full of suds, there will be a group of our nation’s most important men getting ready to be a part of the NASCAR pre-race celebration at Texas Motor Speedway.

One of the cool things about having hundreds of sponsors involved in this sport is that there are a few that rise above the others.  The U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. National Guard and the U.S. Air Force being the top four in my opinion.  In this time of mixed opinions as to whether our men and women should be overseas fighting for the freedom of others, we are reminded by these specialty wraps on NASCAR cars that no matter what our opinions may be, these are our boys and our girls, doing what they believe is the right thing to do.  When those cars sit under the flag while the anthem is sung and the military jets fly over there is a short time when it feels as if the entire grandstand area, pit road and even inside the media rooms and TV studios that we are all on the same page….proud to be Americans.

This Sunday at Texas, we’ll see the No. 8 roll out with it’s now familiar U.S. Army wrap glistening on the black background, and with it will come a touching story.

Along with the Army's prerace pageantry for Sunday's Samsung 500, the No. 8 team will be introduced to a special guest - Staff Sergeant Kenneth Thomas -- a hometown hero from Utopia, Texas, located approximately 85 miles northwest of San Antonio.

Thomas, 23, a member of the Army's 1st Cavalry Division out of Ft. Hood, Texas, was awarded the Silver Star, a decoration for gallantry in combat.

Thomas' heroic action on Feb. 16, 2007 resulted in a number of his comrades' lives being saved while his boat patrol platoon was under attack by heavy enemy fire on the Tigris River -- 20 miles north of Baghdad.

"I got so excited when I was told that I would be going to a NASCAR race," said Thomas, who joined the Army following his 2002 graduation from Utopia High School. "This is really an honor for me. I've seen races on television and they look like a lot of fun. I just can't wait to get there."

Thomas will be accompanied to Sunday's race by his platoon sergeant in Iraq -- Sgt. 1st Class Allen Johns.

"When I hear stories about our soldiers like Mr. Thomas, I do sit back and reflect about what an awesome honor it is to wear the Army uniform," said Martin, a 35-time NASCAR Cup winner. "I am so proud to represent our soldiers and drive their car."

The Army will also have a visible presence during Sunday's national anthem. The 36th Infantry Division Band out of Austin, Texas will play The Star Spangled Banner while 50 Army Reserve and Army National Guard soldiers from Ft. Worth will hold the 30-by-60-foot flags of the United States and Texas.

The 1st Cavalry Division from Ft. Hood will provide the color guard for the national anthem along with 56 soldiers, who will hold the state and territory flags. 

As at every NASCAR race, the military is represented both on the ground and in the air as the fans get excited for the green flag.  This week I’ll be looking for these Army fellows with a special thought in mind. My son just enlisted and is in his first weeks of basic training. He joins my older son who is in his 7th year serving in the Air Force.  Am I worried? Afraid that they have chosen a career that could have them criticized by fellow Americans? No, not one bit, because I know that while we can all agree to disagree about the what if’s and why’s of our involvement overseas, it’s a fact that my boys, along with millions of other folks family members are willing to give their lives to allow others to know the freedom and confidence that the American way offers. 

Of all the things my children could have chosen to do with their lives, I believe they have chosen the most honorable career that is out there.  So when the flag flies at Texas and the U.S. Army members that are there stand with pride, I too will be standing, with an overwhelming sense of love for my country and my boys.

Thank you NASCAR. And thank you to each and every speedway that takes so much of their time and effort to make sure that at every single race our men and women are honored, remembered and treated as champions and celebrities…because they are.

So all of us NASCAR FANatics found ourselves sitting around this past weekend at the mercy of Mother Nature. We watched the radar and the satellite views, and we listened to the weatherman expecting him to pull a miracle out of his pocket so we could see our promised weekend of three NASCAR races at Infineon Raceway in California.  Well…he sure tried to anyway. 

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series did manage to get there time in, and it was a good race, allowing us to get geared up and excited for the big one that we hoped would be held on Sunday. As the weekend wore on, there wasn’t a weather alert or message that I found anywhere that said we’d have clear skies long enough to get that Sprint Cup Series race in, but I guess someone else was listening to another channel, because we all hung around for awhile…more like for many torturous hours…waiting for the race to either get going or get postponed.  And it did. After getting around 83 begged and borrowed laps completed, it was officially postponed… something like ten hours after the original start time.  What?? You can’t be serious!  Oh, but I am…we watched, we paced, we dozed off, we sat in the rain, we stood in the rain, and then we all said…enough is enough!! And NASCAR agreed.  Well, actually it was the other way around. NASCAR, in their ultimate wisdom finally bowed down to Mother Nature and let her have this one. But only for a few hours.

On Monday, less than 12 hours after the rain stopped our party, we saw the engines crank up once again on a track that was trying it’s very hardest to stay dry.  The poor thing had been soaked for days, and had sprung little leaks around the seams. After determining that there wasn’t enough water to be concerned with, the rest of the race was finally run. Were we excited? Well…I guess. Were we thrilled? Well…sort of.  Don’t get me wrong, I love racing and I’ll watch it anytime, anywhere…but dang it, it’s just not supposed to be on a Monday.

Not that NASCAR had any other choice; I mean if you can’t run the race on Sunday, well, you have to run it on Monday, right?  Sure….but yuck.  A whole slew of us had to be back at work on Monday, and there’s just something about sitting back in your office chair with popcorn, a beer and your feet propped up on the desk that the boss just doesn’t quite approve of.  So, as a second choice, you crank up the computer and get what you can off there…find the channel on the TV and set it so that when you hit the right button it will toggle back and forth between NASCAR and something that looks business oriented like the stock market channel. 

But hmmm…it just wasn’t  quite as exciting as it should have been.  I thought maybe it was just me, but I scanned around and listened to the driver’s radios and was surprised at what I heard…most fellows were a little off kilter.   Some were even more testy than they usually are, fussing about the little stuff and fussing some more just because.  It seemed the waiting and waiting and what seemed to be more endless waiting put them in a “mood”, much like it had done to me.   

It did make me wonder though,  I remember when my kids were in Little League, if it started to rain, we hung around for 30 minutes, that’s all…if it was still raining the game was called and we were out of there.  Sure, NASCAR involves a whole lot more than a dozen boys and anxious parents, but it seems like NASCAR might have some kind of plan to follow.  I bet the hard part was the fact that the rain kept coming and going, on again, off again.  It would clear up just enough to make us think we could race, and then the clouds would say “Psych! Just kidding!” and they’d drop their load on us again.  But that’s what they make radar for…you can actually see the rain coming…and you can see how far away it is, and you can even calculate how long before it gets there…and I’ll be darned, but I didn’t see a single window in there that was 3 ½ or 4 hours long, the length of an average Cup race.  So I don’t know…it was just a little weird.  

Ah well, we’re going to move on now…but I’m going to be messed up all week. My brain says since the race was today, it must be Sunday, so tomorrow will be Monday and all week I’ll be catching myself on that one. It’s funny how we get programmed to expect certain things on certain days…but even when it’s out of our control and we have to watch on a different day…our minds are still hollering….there’s no Monday in NASCAR! 

It never ceases to amaze me some of the stuff people can do and not bat an eyelash, feel remorse, or even contemplate an apology.  A lot of us have children…and a lot of us know the heartbreak we feel when our little ones get hurt, whether it’s when they fall off their first two wheel bike, or the first time they come crying in the front door because their best friend just found a new friend. 

When I read that the Oveido Little League had been broken into just days before their opening day for the season, it made me so angry I could spit.  What low life could stoop so low as to steal away what the kids have been working toward for months?

For some of the little ones, this will be their first time on a “team”, their first time working together to get that ball where it needs to be.  I hope that as young as some of them are that they were totally oblivious to the event and didn’t really let it stop their excitement. 

The ones that I get heartbroken over are the older ones.  They have already been tainted by the things they hear and see in school, yet for most they have fought to stay focused on good ole’ American baseball year after year.  For some of them, Little League is their safe haven. They fit in and they’re part of something good.  It’s those kids that I feel the worst for.  They have now seen that even the place they hold dear to their hearts is not safe from the wickedness of the world. 

I sure hope that whoever it was that was responsible for such a cowardly act is found and made to stand in front of all those children, young and old. I hope when the judge looks at him, he includes in his sentence more community service than the culprit can do in ten years, and that’s after he serves his jail time.  Even that will not make the hurt go away for those youngsters.  They have been scarred by the actions of someone that has no regard or respect for other human beings. 

The community has taken the Oveido Little League into their hearts and made sure the season will go on. They have donated money and time and bonded together to make sure this season is perhaps the best these kids will remember for a long time.  Kudos to all that have taken care of these children and their dreams.  You are angels in the eyes of these little ball players and you are to be commended for picking up the stick and running with it. 

So now we switch gears and move from the historically filled track of the Daytona International Speedway (DIS) to the adolescent California Speedway…a young track, with nearly eleven years under its belt. In fact, the winner of the first NASCAR Cup (Winston) race held there on June 22, 1997 was none other than our very own Jeff Gordon.

Just one day before, the speedway held two races, the Auto Club 200 NASCAR Winston West Series race event, won by Ken Schrader, and the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series race event, won by Mark Martin. Sadly, the modern day woe of securing sponsorships has sucked the IROC series into the history books, perhaps forever. But that win will always be one that Martin and the California Speedway will share in their books of memories.

While some may think the history of DIS overshadows the newer tracks, they each have their own spot in the world of NASCAR. Having DIS practically in my backyard does tend to make me partial to the old gal.  With her stories and pictures and trophies galore, she willingly shares her memories with anyone that takes the time to prowl through and pause to soak them in. 

California Speedway, where our fellows will find themselves in just a few days, is a track that is full of recent accomplishments and horizons full of many more that will continue to shape the story of the track.  There is 300,000 tons of asphalt that year after year are storing the memories of who has ridden around on the two mile D-shaped oval.  Seventeen miles of fencing keep folks protected, keeps party crashers out, and reminds the rest of the world exactly where she has control.

There are 750 TV monitors scattered within her boundaries, and all will be fired up and spewing various bits of information out at the thousands that may be searching for answers. There are 28 sky boxes for the pampered and loved, and a little over 92,000 seats in the grandstands for the rest of us. 

And if by chance we’re all gathered at the start/finish line to celebrate the next win for the history books and a deluge comes our way, the line sits at 1121.27 ft above sea level, so we’ll be just fine.

I’d be willing to bet we’ll find clones of the bleach blond hair flipping “look at me” ladies that we just saw at DIS, as they seem to come with the territory.  We’ll see folks that say they’ve been to every NASCAR race that’s been held at the California Speedway as they make their own history for themselves.  And if we look carefully, we’ll see some of our very own men from the world of NASCAR pause and reminisce of the recent times they’ve had while they were there. 

On Thursday, our fellows will start to get their minds back in racing mode, they’ll get packed, check their schedules and head on out to tackle the track that sits in beautiful California.  The fans will scurry to get the best place at the fence or the best seat by pit road. The music will crank up and the beer will flow. And before you know it, we’ll be racing again. 

Meanwhile, DIS has gathered up her broken pieces, swept up her trash and settled into a short, almost eerie calm before the motorcycles grace her track next month.  When they arrive, she’ll greet them just as she did our NASCAR fans, with banners and music, good food and suds, photo opportunities and autograph sessions and all the stuff that goes with a great time at the track. 

The tracks that hold speed inside their oddly shaped tracks have become near and dear to the folks that love racing. While we can’t all be at every race, we sure can imagine what it’s like and let ourselves drift off to our imaginary grandstand seat as the green flag flies.  So I’ll meet you up top when we get to California, I’ll save you a seat and I’ll grab you a hot dog, and together, no matter where you really are, we’ll cheer on our favorite men as they prove once again that they are worth following anywhere.

The 50th Daytona 500 has come and gone…but wow, did it leave a big impression on everyone that caught a glimpse of it.  The race had moments that for a casual fan may have seemed a little dull, as we had lots and lots of laps without cautions to interrupt the rpm’s.  Listening to the scanner provided many moments that told us our driver’s cars were either so tight they couldn’t turn, or so loose they thought they’d end up in someone’s lap.

Perhaps the most entertaining was when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. came on his radio and laughingly said that the shifter knob had let loose…the threads that allow it to screw on the shifter had given out and the knob just took a flying leap off its post.  This prompted a hurry scurry atmosphere to become very apparent in the pit area, as the fellows that are well skilled in their crafts started to hunt up something that just might work as a temporary knob.  The TV crews jumped on it and pulled a knob from somewhere, explaining to the millions of viewers what it was and where it went.  Umm…do I look that ignorant that I don’t know what a gear shift knob goes? Oh well….no harm done. The fellows explained and the world of racing listened.  And I listened to Dale, Jr. to see what was up with the shifter. The next time he pitted, his crew attempted to patch up the gear shift knob.  Ah, but try as they might, whatever they came up with proved to do nothing more than agitate the man.  He fussed and fumed, and told them that what they tried would have worked well if it hadn’t slipped all the way down to the transmission.  Nothing much more was said, so either they got it right later, or Jr. gave up, either way, it had been entertaining for those of us listening.

The last 70 laps or so began to take shape as the fellows all realized the end was nearing. They started jockeying around, pushing each other, passing and bumping….and that’s when we had us a race.  It was great. Nail biting, pace the floor, throw your remote control kind of racing.  When the dust settled and Ryan Newman had been crowned winner of the 50th Daytona 500, things around the track changed very quickly. The grandstands emptied as quickly as if the folks themselves were cats caught in a rainstorm. One minute I looked out the window and they were all there, the next …gone, quick as that.

Just where they thought they might be going I wasn’t sure. It’s not unusual to get caught in traffic for an easy 3 hours or so…and depending on which way out you’re going, it can be more.  I think they all think they’re going to beat each other out of the track…they walk fast and drag their spouses along…”Come on honey, we can beat the traffic if you’ll just get a move on!”.  Yeah, right…unless you leave about half way through the race you might as well plan on being here for a few more hours. Me? I decided to just hang out and write for a few hours, and then tackle the exit roads.

Tomorrow we’ll talk about the racing details and the what if’s and how comes, but for now, I think I’m just going to pack it up and head on home. My dogs have forgotten who I am and my cats could care less, my husband spent our wedding anniversary by himself, and I think my kids are wondering if they still have a Mom…I’m so tired I could sleep for a week, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything…nothing, absolutely nothing. It’s been awesome to be able to touch my dream.  And with that, I’m going to go out and fight the traffic, and love every minute of it.

While trying to contain my excitement long enough to do my job on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, I ventured out to the Fan Zone to see what my friends in racing were up to.  Realizing that only a month ago I was watching testing from this same place when it was quiet and empty, I smiled as I looked around at the thousands of people that now filled the place. Everyone of them was excited beyond words for the start of the Daytona 500 to get underway.

One of the best parts of being a writer is being surprised by the things that inspire you to run and find a pen and paper.  And when it happens, it’s awesome…at least for me it is...prompting me to get it down on paper before it's lost.

Earlier in the day, I made my way through the sea of fans and noticed there was a whole herd of them all huddled in one place, cameras snapping and a strange quietness filled the air around them.   Who are they looking at I wondered. Who is demanding such reverence in amongst the thousands of rowdy, hollering fans? It certainly wasn't a driver, or I would have heard a whole lot of noise.

Always the one to try to look at things a little different than most, I patiently waited for a spot to open up and I got my first peek of what had called these folks from their paths.  On a cart was the Harley J. Earl Perpetual Trophy, making its way out for a brief display. This trophy bears the name of each Daytona 500 winner and is quite a sight to behold.  Getting close enough to view, the crowd that stood near it were taking pictures, and almost whispering when they saw the name of the driver they remembered or idolized.  I found my eyes looking for specific names as well, and felt a sense of connection when I found them. History, it permeates this place. Each one of the names on that trophy represented a lifelong dream that came true for each man. Respect for their accomplishments did deserve a bit of reverence and a pause for silence.

It was while I was moving around to get the best view of the trophy that I took a look at the whole scene.  In front of the trophy and behind it were perfectly spaced young men standing proud holding their drums…maybe college kids or a local high school. They stood stoically, much as I’m sure they had been told to do.  And they stood proud.  When given the signal to move toward the track, they all began to play a beat that everyone would recognize from school football games. 

And off they went…marching into the track, with their trophy treasure securely protected between them.

As they marched away, tears tried to form in my eyes…taking me by surprise and leaving me feeling a little foolish, but only for a minute.  I soon realized where it was coming from and that made it even harder for me to keep my act together.  Two of my own boys are very musically inclined, one can pick up any horned instrument and play it, the other can play the drums, keyboard and I’m not sure what else.  When they were in school they played in the band.  As a Mom I treasured every minute because I knew the talent was a precious gift.  As time went by they chose paths in life that didn’t include their music, a choice many kids make.

Seeing those boys stand tall as they beat their drums and escorted the trophy onto the track took me back to the days when I heard my boys play their drums and their horns.  It was a Mom moment…that’s all.  I walked away hoping all those Mom’s were there to see their kids take that trophy in, if not, it’s a memory they’ll never get back. 

I worked my way back into the crowd to head back to my post and listened as the drums faded in the distance…yep, I sure hope those Mom’s were there.

Saturday Photo Gallery

On Saturday afternoon, at Daytona International Speedway, I was lucky enough to be in the media trailer that sits in the infield, just outside of turn one. With a window to look out of, I had a great view of the grandstands that curve right around that turn. The track wasn’t visible, as there were TV trucks and big white tents and permanent scaffolding that held the VIP seating areas all between me and the track, but I could see the fans…and that alone was a great view.

I had been keeping an eye on the grandstands for most of the day, watching them slowly fill up, a handful of people at a time.  A small percentage had arrived prior to the Happy Hour practice earlier in the morning, the rest piling in before the pre-race show came to life. During Happy Hour I’d spent most of that time hanging around the Fan Zone. I love watching race fans. For the most part they are all happy, some more than others, depending on how much they had to drink before they got there. But for the most part, happy and excited was the general feeling of the morning.

I noticed right away that the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fans have begun to change their colors. That all too familiar red Bud No. 8 shirt was nowhere to be seen, and has been replaced by green Amp shirts and blue National Guard hats.  Diehard fans of other drivers made their way through the crowds in hopes of getting atop the Fan Zone area for a glimpse of their favorite man. I saw a Tony Stewart fan with orange on from head to foot. Her NASCAR bag was clear, but it was painted with tiny 20’s. Her lanyard, her ticket holder, her drink holder, her scanner, her watch, her bracelet, her necklace, her head band….all carried the No. 20 proudly.  I wondered how long it took her to collect all that stuff and how proud she must have been to display it for all to see. But as any diehard fan knows, it’s not for other fans that we dress when we go to a race…it’s just in case our driver happens to see us, we just have to be all decked out, right?

Fans were lined up along fences, guard rails and any other place they could perch in order to see the cars come and go to the track for practice.  A fellow walked by and saw my press pass, asked me if Dale, Jr. had been on the track yet. I guess it was my job to keep track of him…who knows. But I told him no. And how did I know? Because when Dale, Jr. goes by, I don’t care if he’s walking to the restroom or driving down pit road, the fans scream long before he ever gets there. So I knew he hadn’t ventured out yet, as the screaming hadn’t started.  Of course it wasn’t long before someone hollered, “Jr!” and the rest of the crowd followed in unison…the infamous sound of “JR!!!” resonated throughout the Fan Zone. 

Mixed in the crowd of weather worn folks were the beach beauties that wore just enough to cover all their parts as they pranced around, shoving their chests in the air and slinging their long blond (probably bleached) hair around as if it was a trophy.  This caught the attention of every male within a 50 yard radius, once again proving to be a show in itself. An older couple walked by, decked out in Dale Jarrett garb, and the man caught sight of the semi-covered girl.  His pace slowed and his head turned as he gazed at the beauty…and then he slammed right into another fellow that was doing the same thing…ha! Dang, I wish I’d had my camera zoomed in on that one, that was great.  Of course the wife of the distracted husband turned just as the crashing of bodies happened and not realizing what had been the reason for the mess, she rushed to her husband’s side, consoling him and making sure he was alright.  Yeah, he was fine, just bruised his pride a  bit, especially after I noticed  the prancing hair flipper had heard the commotion and was standing there gawking as the wife was rescuing her husband from his moment of despair.  I’m betting the husband is still mulling over how he could have made a better impression than that. No offense men, but you guys are pretty darn predictable…and highly entertaining.

Fans are a great part of this sport, perhaps they are what makes it so great. Without the thousands in the grandstands and the thousands more in the infield, it would be a pretty quiet place in here except for the engines.  Add in the thousands that chat back and forth on the internet about racing, the thousand that share pictures and quotes and all their special racing moments, and we’ve pretty much got the beginnings of another world, should we ever choose to separate from the one we live in. 

Well, Sunday is going to bring us the race of all races, the Daytona 500. I’ll be here, and I hope you’ll be watching too, from on top of your RV, from your couch, from your seat in the grandstand or spot at the fence. But wherever it may be, I hope it turns out to be one of the best days you’ve ever had!  Until then…dream of speed, think of rubber, and tell your friends not to call you while the race is on. If they don’t get it, oh well…stinks for them…but you’ve got a date with 43 speed demons, and your friends will just have to get over it!

Saturday Photo Gallery

Well I must say that it sure is great to have our fellows back on the track. The Nationwide Series Camping World 300 got underway with clear blue skies and temperatures in the hot zone.  The humidity was nothing like it will be in the summer, so for us Floridian’s, it was a perfect day. 

I got myself ready by setting up in the portable media center out by turn one. The TV monitors were up and running, my computer was set on the leader board, my scanner was scanning and MRN was spewing out all the details. And then I put it all down and went outside.  The pre-race show was getting cranked up and what I consider to be the most heart touching part of the show was about to happen. The prayer was said, the anthem sung and then they roared in. No…not the cars…the jets! The F-16C/D Fighting Falcons, better known as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds have been here at the airport near Daytona International Speedway for a couple of days now, practicing and generally enjoying the sunshine, and, as is the tradition at NASCAR races, a military flying group usually graces the skies before we holler “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!”

I stood outside for about 20 minutes, waiting and listening to the other pre-race stuff. I must have been pacing or looking anxious because one of the security guards came over and asked if I was waiting for something. “No, just the jets.”I told him. For a second it looked like I caught him off guard, then he smiled and told me to grab a seat on his golf cart, actually his words were “cop a squat”.  The fellow was almost as excited as I was, he greeted anyone that would talk to him as they walked by, gave them directions and  let out a big “woohoo” when he’d hear a car engine fire up.  It was shift change I guess, because his cohorts left and he was then the lone ranger, left to guard the ever protected VIP area that he was stationed at. 

I must have been too busy watching Mr. Sunshine’s antics because the jets snuck up from behind and were over my head before I could even think about getting my camera focused in on them.  “Well rats”, I thought to myself.  My new friend came over and looked anxiously at me, “Did you get ‘em?”, he asked. I shook my head and laughed, “Nope, they were faster than my brain, but they usually come back over on their way to the airport, we’ll see.”  He went back to his spot and continued welcoming the last minute arrivals, and I waited.  Sure enough, those gorgeous jets came over again and then one by one peeled out of formation and headed off. I tried to get a picture, then just put my camera down and watched…they moved with such grace and almost seemed to demand my complete attention, so I gave it. The pictures would have to come some other time.  I think that’s one of the many reasons I love this sport, and there are many…but this is one of my top choices.

The fans had screamed and hollered their way into a frenzy as they too watched those big silver birds soar by. Some of you already know I’m an Air Force brat, married into the Army, and have three boys that have been part of three different branches of the military, the Marines, Army and Air Force.  So my patriotism runs deep and proud.  Patriotism just seems to flow from these races like no other sport that I’ve found, perhaps being one of the reasons it snagged my heart.

So now, when I am in the midst of those emotions that you get when you go to a race, it takes all I have not to get teary eyed when those boys fly over…they are heroes to me. They represent the thousands that sacrifice for all us to enjoy this sport and every other activity we indulge in.  These particular fellows are the best of the best, and get to spend some time showing it off to the American people, and dare I say…we love it!

OH, and yes, I did watch the race today, and I did listen to my scanner, take pictures, write words and  catch the wrecks on the monitor, but if I had to pick out just one favorite moment, I’d say it was when those birds swept through the sky…leaving as quick as they came by.

Friday Photo gallery from Daytona

On Saturday, we’ll get to see what we’ve waited a few months to see…the whole wad of Nationwide Series drivers that earned the honor, will finally be let loose on the track at Daytona International Speedway for the first race of the season.

Since the race is at Daytona, along with our usual Sprint Cup fellows that like to crash the party, we’ve got a few extra included in the lineup.  So who is going to be under the microscope during this one? It goes without saying that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will be driving around the track with about a million eyes following his every single yank on the steering wheel. He says he operates well under pressure, that it drives a person to find their best and play it out. Good thing he likes it, because the whole world of stock car racing, whether they like him or not, are trying their best to overload the guy with the stuff.   

Included in the lineup for the Camping World 300 are a handful of fellows that got popped for illegal car issues during their post qualifying inspections.  The No.77-Cale Gale, No.1-Johnny Sauter, No.14-David Gilliland, No.64-David Stremme and the No.0-Kertus Davis were all found to have illegal modifications to their cars following qualifying. So what happens to these guys? Their qualifying times were all wiped out, and to the back they’ll go, to start from there. All except Kertus Davis, who without enough owners points to regain entry, had to head on home.  Man that’s got to be really annoying…you make it in to the race and then poof, somebody did something stupid to your ride and you have to go home. I’ll bet somebody’s going to spend more than a little time writing “I’ll never do that again” over and over as he sits in the corner of the owner’s office.

At the top of the grid, we’ve got that fellow that can be unpredictable in an interview, but we always know when Tony Stewart is behind the wheel, he’s going to go as fast as he can and drive as hard as he can, taking no prisoners along the way.  He’s got the pole and will lead the drivers to the first green flag of the season for these NASCAR Nationwide Series fellows.

Starting in the 21st spot is Michael McDowell in the No.00 Toyota.  Don’t overlook this fellow…keep an eye on him through the season, I think he’s going to demand a little attention of his own.

The last time I checked, there is more than a dozen Cup Series fellows included in this race. That’s a lot of top racers invading the series, and it’s going to make it more than fun. 

So let’s grab our popcorn, our chilled and frothy beverages and snag a seat, whether it’s in front of the TV or in front of pit road, this race is going to be worth watching.  Who will take the first trophy home for the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series? Everyone thinks their driver will be the one…but there you go, it will be just that….only one.

It almost seems like Speedweeks last a whole lot longer than just a couple of weeks. I think it’s because once the fellows started testing back in January, we were all tuned in again, ready and waiting for things to get rolling.  And rolling they are…on Thursday afternoon we watched as the two fields of cars took to the track to determine the qualifying order for the Daytona 500. 

There were several men that after days of media interviews, practices and all the Speedweeks hype had to pack up and go home, their cars just weren’t fast enough to get in the show. Boris Said, Patrick Carpentier, Jacques Villeneuve, AJ Allmendinger, Eric McClure, Ken Schrader, Sterling Marlin, Stanton Barrett and Carl Long have all said good-bye to Daytona International Speedway, at least for now. 

How weird is that going to be when we see the green flag drop and Ken Schrader isn’t behind the wheel of a car at Daytona? Or Sterling Marlin? Hmmm…times are changing I guess, ready or not. 

The day did end very well for some of our fellows, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Denny Hamlin each won a quick 60 lap race around the outside of the infamous Daytona infield, securing the 3rd and 4th starting positions for Sunday’s Daytona 500 for the two of them. Jimmy Johnson and Michael Waltrip already have the 1st and 2nd spot. They took care of that during the Bud Shootout. 

What we had left out there were 49 other fellows, some with a guarantee, some with only a hope of making the cut.  So what I’m wondering is why don’t we have a bigger field of contestants when we’re at these Super Speedways.  I mean we cram 43 cars onto the short tracks…so much so that the leader catches up with the tail of the train within just a few laps, producing less than organized chaos.  So how difficult would it be to put 53 cars on these big ole’ tracks? 

I’m sure there are all kinds of reasons why this won’t work or it would have been done long ago.  Probably has something to do with money, or the calculation of points. But it sure would make things a lot easier during these crazy Speedweeks to know that maybe, just maybe most of our guys would make it in.

And yes, I know if we made it 53 instead of 43 then we’d have more teams trying to make it in and we’d still end up with folks going home.  Duh…that’s not my point. I’m just thinking it makes a little bit of sense to have the number of drivers in the field match the track a little better.  Hey, it would even be fun to take a few cars out of those short track races.

How would that be fair you say? How would the points work? I don’t know…that’s for the mathematically inclined folks to figure out, which I’m sure they’ve already done and that’s why we don’t do this…ha!  But it was a good idea don’t you think? 

Ah well, I guess I’m just trying to make myself feel a bit better after watching these heartbroken fellows pack up their gear and head home.  Months of preparation, laps and laps of practices, tweaks, changes and last minute swap outs weren’t enough to keep these fellows competitive.  

The good part is these guys are more than just your average fellows. They are racers. And they will keep coming back over and over and over until they get it right or run out of money.  Gosh, I sure hope it turns out that they get that extra speed worked into their cars and they go out and make the next race.  If determination will carry them anywhere, here’s hoping it carries them right into the next starting grid.

The Nationwide Series fellows hit the track Thursday morning for their final practice before they tackle the track in the Camping World 300 on Saturday night here at Daytona International Speedway.  On the top of the charts was Michael McDowell in the No. 00 Toyota.  He’s one of the drivers from the Michael Waltrip camp, and ran in the last three races of the series last season.

Much like many racers, McDowell has been chasing the checkered flag for years...and catching it. After almost 10 years of go-kart racing, this young, aggressive kid from Phoenix, Arizona racked up numerous wins including the 1997 World Karting Association National Championship, two undefeated International Karting Federation seasons, and 18 consecutive main event victories.

McDowell scored four ARCA RE/MAX Series victories in 2007, (the highest win total of all 2007 ARCA competitors). The first at Kentucky in July, the second in Pocono in August, the third Chicagoland where he led practice, qualified on the pole and won the race leading the most laps. Number four was the season-ender at Toledo. He finished second in the series point standings, giving eight-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel a serious run for title.

Guess what Michael does just about every single day for at least 4 hours each time? He drives a computer racing simulator.

In 2005, McDowell co-drove the No. 19 Make-A-Wish Daytona Prototype with Champ Car veteran Memo Gidley. The duo finished sixth in the Rolex Sports Car Series Championship and, together, they gave Finlay Motorsports its first victory in Mexico City. With that victory, McDowell became the youngest driver ever to finish on the podium of a Rolex Series race with his runner-up finish at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama, and was the first driver since Mario Andretti in 1975 to run both a major open-wheel race and a sports car race in the same weekend. If that was not enough, McDowell also co-drove the No. 60 Finlay Motorsports M3 entry in the Grand-Am Cup Series with team owner Rob Finlay, scoring a podium finish at Daytona.

McDowell again competed in the Rolex Series and the Grand-Am Cup Series in 2006, co-driving once again with Gidley, the duo finished an impressive fourth in the Rolex Series Championship with 11 top-ten finishes. He also co-drove the No. 15 Ford Mustang with Finlay, scoring three podium finishes including a win at Barber Motorsports Park. His success in the sports car ranks did not go unnoticed as Eddie Sharp Racing put the talented McDowell behind the wheel of the No. 2 ARCA RE/MAX Series car for five races.

Racing is in his blood, just like it is other drivers that are in the series. So while his name may be new to some of us, it’s definitely not new to the world of speed. We’ll keep an eye on Mr. McDowelll as the season progresses, but for now, let’s see how he does in the race on Saturday night…I’ll keep you posted!

Photo Gallery From Daytona

With this being Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, the excitement is beyond describable. Of course getting caught in traffic is par for the course at any big sporting event, this being no different at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. But if you ask most folks, they could care less, they’ll sit in the lanes of bumper to bumper traffic with their radio’s blasting and their windows down, laughing and hollering about how their driver is going to whoop somebody’s else’s driver when the race gets going. They are so full of anticipation that it’s quite possible that nothing…well almost nothing, can interfere with their happiness.

I joined the line of slow moving vehicles that were trying to get to the infield and we eventually made it to the entrance. Once inside, me being directionally challenged and all, I missed the “media” turn and ended up wandering around through the 9 million RV’s and tents. Folks were already up, fires started, some making their way back from the showers. I saw little doggies, which I think are a no no in the infield, stretching their paws next to their owner’s big fancy motor coaches. It was quite a show…I thoroughly got lost in the moment, but then realized I had no clue where I was and better head back to find a parking space. I asked a security guard and he sent me around a corner that I had missed the first time. As it happened, of all the thousands of vehicles in there, I pulled up right beside one of my media buddies. That was nice.

We walked at least a hundred miles to the media center, and got there just in time to claim a spot in the overflow media room. There are so many people from all over the place that cover the events here at Daytona during Speedweeks that if you don’t get here early, you’re out of luck and may end up typing away on your computer sitting out in your car or on the sidewalk somewhere. But I was lucky, got all set up and took a deep breath. Time to get down to business.

By 9:15 the Nationwide Series fellows had taken to the track and the sound that brings us all here had filled the air. Yep, if someone said they’d feed me and give me a place to sleep, I’d follow these guys around to every track every week just so I could hear the sound when the engines fire up. Slightly pitiful…but oh so true.

I made my way toward the Fan Zone to get a better view of the cars as they headed out to the track, just in time to see a herd of them fly by as they were practicing. I was standing next to a group of fans that had their cameras out snapping away. They wore huge smiles and I could almost feel the excitement emanating from them as they soaked in their first experience at the Fan Zone. One of the fellows got on his phone and told the person on the other end that he had found the perfect place for the race. I bet if I was to go back out there in three hours, he’d still be standing there; I’ll have to check that out later.

But for now, let’s watch practice and see what our boys are going to do on this chilly Florida day. I’ll check it out and let you know….

I came into work Tuesday morning, reviewed my to do list for the day and filled my coffee mug. The teachers slowly began to arrive and while I had just buried my thoughts in a payroll issue, a teacher walked in and started babbling…I say that because it took me a second to come out of my payroll cloud and focus on what she was yammering about. Sometimes…yes, sometimes, I am confronted with comments that I can’t quite figure out, and this was one of those moments.

I wonder what it is about me that folks feel like they have to talk about NASCAR when they’re around me even though they couldn’t tell a stock car from a Rolls Royce if they had to. I don’t launch into a conversation about their knitting and pretend to know what a purl stitch is…nope. Now I’ll comment about how nice the finished sweater looks when its worn or ask how long it takes to make one, but I’m not going to tell her that I just can’t understand how someone can sit still that long and play with yarn…not gonna happen. Why? Because I have more common sense than that I suppose. It takes all kinds of fellows to make this sport work, fantastic drivers, good drivers, and those trying to get there. It also takes personalities that are as different as night and day. And heck, I do believe we have that in NASCAR. Tony and Kurt probably wish they hadn’t acted so much like horses behinds, but somehow I think deep in their brains they figure the other one deserved it…because that’s just the way they are.

Some folks will dislike these guys till they day they leave the sport, and that’s just fine. That’s just the way those two guys are folks. We don’t have to like it, but heck; do you like everyone in your life? I don’t…and won’t.

So if we had slapped Tony and Kurt with fines and all that other typical stuff, do you think it would serve to deter them from doing it again? Nope…so we have to come back to the basic question. Do we let them race and deal with the incidents as they surface or don’t let them race at all? One or the other. And you already know the answer, you can’t yank them out…they are good at what they do, they help make the sport what it is, and they have an unmatchable passion for what they do for a living. Will they mellow with age or success? Maybe, but who cares. They might even do something so ignorant that they end up getting booted out…and so be it. NASCAR will take care of itself, I have no doubt. Heck, if we didn’t have guys like this in the sport, it might be a little bit on the dull side…who knows.

Hey, I wonder if I put Ms. Prissy on probation if she’ll stay out of my office for awhile…it’s worth a try right?

There aren’t too many times that I find myself at a loss for words, after all, I am a writer and it usually comes pretty naturally. But Saturday night, when the call was given for the fellows to start their engines at Daytona International Speedway, I don’t think I could have said a word if I had to. Golly how I missed that sound…and to hear it again was almost more than I could handle.

The Bud Shootout is the first race of the season when we finally get to hear a good sized pack of our fellows roll by in their mean machines.  Twenty-three of them took the green flag and the roar that ensued was terrific.  I was standing behind pit road as the cars began to make their way around the track. By the time they came by again they had gained a bit of speed and the ground under my feet was beginning to vibrate just a bit.  By the third lap they were wide open and jockeying for position as they neared turn four. There was silence for just a fraction of a second and then the rumble started again…the ground shook and the scream of the fans disappeared as the roar of the engines slowly grew to a deafening scream of their own, drowning out any other sound that tried to rise.  

I stood there for the longest time, lap after lap, listening to my scanner and when I could feel the ground begin to shake I’d pull off my headphones and revel in the sound as the cars roared by.  I sometimes wonder if something’s wrong with me…it’s just not normal to be so enamored by a sound, is it?  Oh well, normal or not, even when I’m old and feeble and have lost my hearing from these crazy loud engines, I’m going to stand behind pit road and “feel” that roar every time they go by.

The race proved to be an excellent one, with the leaders battling it out until the very end. With Dale Earnhardt, Jr. being a restrictor plate pro, seeing him cross the finish line first shouldn’t have been such a gut wrenching moment. But it was.  And yes, for you that aren’t fans of the man I must apologize ahead of time…I’ve just got to talk about him again…but just for a few minutes.

Dale, Jr. takes his job seriously, very seriously. He gets out there and feels what his car is doing and promptly reports it to the team…they work and hone the parts and pieces to the point that they all hope will bring the car home in first place.  It worked.  But this time we got to see something we haven’t seen before. We watched as Dale, Jr’s teammates moved right up there with him. They all worked together, pushing and helping each other to stay up front.  Sure, we’ve seen them all in a pack before, but not as allies, and that was a pretty cool thing to see.

Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears would have taken the win if given the opportunity, but it wasn’t their night to win. They didn’t let Jr. win, they watched him win. I listened on my scanner and Jr. practically squealed with delight as he crossed the finish line. I have to think the win was just icing on the cake. He was happy with the car while he was racing, he was happy to be racing for Rick Hendrick, he was happy his cousin was happy, he was just plain happy.  So when he won it was just a tad bit emotional I bet, and a really good emotion for a change.

This race is just a tease to get us ready to start the season. We’ll come back here on Thursday to see the fellows battle it out for their starting positions for the Daytona 500. Then next Sunday the big day will be here, the race that starts the whole deal. And wow, we’ll have 43 cars out there starting up their engines, and 43 moving around the track, and 43 engines that will go screaming by, making the ground shake so much it will feel like the asphalt is going to crumble.   Oh man, I can’t wait…I just can’t wait!

With the Bud Shootout about to get underway...I wonder what everyone's thoughts are.  After a quick walk through the Fan Zone here at Daytona International Speedway, I was reminded how much fans love this sport.

As I made my way through the pit area, there were fans glued to the fences, some with cameras and scanners hanging on their shoulders, some with nothing more than their wide eyes and look of amazement as they tried to soak in all that was going on around them.

Cars and their teams were lined up for tech inspection, with fans hovering nearby in hopes of seeing a glimpse of the fellows that would soon be behind the wheel, not realizing their fellows were still tucked away in their haulers, trying to get focused on the task that would present itself in a very short time.

I passed a fellow that was decked out in all his Dale Earnhardt, Jr. brand new shirt, hat and jacket. He stood proudly as he very assuredly explained to his companions his view on the recent break Jr. made from Dale Earnhardt, Inc.  I only heard a few words, but the guy was so off base if was funny...the great part though was that he was really sure of himself, almost daring his friends to prove him wrong. They didn't, they just stood and nodded and listened to his every word as if it was gospel.  

On the way back through the pit area we passed by just in time to see those beautiful infamous Budweiser Clydesdales make their way around the track. The fans in the grandstands were pumped up and each section cheered as those horses gracefully trotted by.  The best part was nearly everyone in the pit area, the team members and the folks that have seen them many times, all paused from the craziness of getting ready and watched as the horses went by.  It was great. 

Well the show is about to start, so I'm going to head out and watch as these 23 cars battle for that checkered flag.  

I'll be back!