Help Sam Ard, Jeremy Mayfield on Race Hub, Musgrave Returning, NHRA Legal Problems, & Blind Drivers

Help Needed ASAP For Sam Ard

Right now, 2-time Busch Series champion Sam Ard and his wife Jo could use some big time help with repairs on their house and getting some major appliances replaced as the ones they have are on their last legs. As you know, Sam is suffering from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and outside of what he gets from the VA and Social Security, they have no other income since NASCAR doesn‘t have any sort of pension or medical plan for those that gave their all. So if anyone out there is in the construction or appliance business near the Pamplico, SC area and can lend them a hand, let me know and I’ll put you in touch with them.

Jeremy Mayfield on Race Hub

Jeremy Mayfield is supposed to be on Race Hub Tuesday night at 7:00 PM. Of course, all it takes is one phone call from Daytona to put the kibosh on it. But should it actually happen, it’ll be interesting to see if the interview is about Jeremy’s legal battles or if it’s an announcement that he’s going to be racing again as there’s been a rumor once again about him and IndyCar.

Why the Big Push on Practice?
　
Think back over the last few years and the Booth Bozos stating week in, week out that somebody had won practice. They were laying the groundwork for this season‘s qualifying. It doesn’t take a marketing genius to figure that one out. Plus, as qualifying is now “important”, it gives the tracks and sanctioning body yet another way to gouge the fan who shows up to watch practice. Some tracks will start charging the fan to watch practice or up the price on the tickets for practice by another $10-$25 over and above what‘s currently being charged, not including the shipping, handling, and processing fees which add another $20 to the cost of the ticket.

And what about the actual times and speeds? Will the teams, media, and fans at home be able to keep track of them independently or will we have to take the word from Mafia Mike in Race Control that the speeds are what they say they are? After all, JPM is still waiting on that printout for his speeding penalty at Indy he was promised. And there have been cases of inspectors ignoring modifications made right under their noses and Race Control moving up positions of wrecked cars on the track to make sure certain drivers made it into the play-offs by moving them up another position or two even though their car was way behind other wrecked cars even before the wreck. So here’s yet another opportunity for manipulation by the sanctioning body to help out their Chosen Ones.

Who’s to Blame?
　
When the 2011 season wraps up and the excuses start pouring out on why the grandstands were empty and the TV ratings were worse than last season, who will be blamed for it? Will it once again be the economy? Dale Jr’s performance? Jimmy Johnson winning 6 in a row? The non-Kool Aid drinking media telling the truth? Or will some new scapegoat be blamed? Think about it, write down your choice on a piece of paper, and tuck it away until after the season and see if you were right. The one excuse you won’t see being offered up? The sanctioning body and its leadership.

Poll Results - Bud Shootout
　
Based on the last poll I ran regarding the Bud Shootout and whether or not the rules changes will affect viewership, 38% will watch it, 28% won’t watch it, 19% won’t watch the Shootout or any other NA$CAR event, and 14% aren’t sure. My thanks to all who participated in the poll.
　
Twitter Traffic
　
According to some Twitter traffic from Bob Pockrass, the 2010 finances were released by NA$CAR’s conjoined twin ISC and they don’t look pretty. “ISC has release its 2010 financials. When looking at base operations, net income down 19% from $90.6M to $73.2M”. “Total ISC revenues down 6.9%; Admissions revenues down 17.9%”.
　
Dustin Long sent this tweet out about the Truck Series:

NASCAR.com streaming of Truck races continues partnership with Speed in having Speed content on the website.
　
The NHRA Could Face Legal Issues 


Unlike NA$CAR, the NHRA is supposed to be a non-profit organization. However, according to Marcus S. Owens, senior member of the law firm Caplin and Drysdale who filed the complaint, “It appears to be operated for the benefit of those who run the show, much the way a business is operated for the people who own the business.” The complaint contends the majority of the NHRA’s revenue is derived from nontraditional sources for a trade association. The NHRA is supposed to be representing the drag racing in and before Congress and government agencies. The complaint alleges the NHRA puts most of its focus on holding public, televised races which appears to violate various IRS rules regarding non-profit organizations.
　
I guess we’ll see how this works out with the IRS or if lobbying and “the greasy palm quiets the wheel” makes the complaint go away.

Ted Musgrave to Run This Season?
　
Based on what Ted has written on Facebook, he’s working on a deal to run the 2011 season using some Roush-prepared Fords in the Busch series. It sure would be good to see Ted back on the track. Ted’s one of the few drivers left who has a set of brass ones to call things the way he sees them and does so. There’s not many drivers who’d park a car and walk away from a ride like Ted did back in November 1999 when he walked away from the #75 car because the team owners wouldn‘t listen to what Ted had to say about improving the car and team performance.

Carnival Game

I do like how Shawn Courchesne described the new points system and the changes for the 2011 season. It’s like a game of 3 card Monte. And he also brings up some very valid points regarding the regional series like the Busch East, Winston West Series, and the Modified Series not being mentioned. Are they also affected by these rule changes? Faux King Brian seems to have forgotten about those series. But then, he can barely remember the Craftsman World Truck Series. Yes, that’s what Faux King Brian called it during his babbling at the HOF in Charlotte.

Blind Drivers Getting a Chance to Drive

While I think it’s interesting that technology could possibly allow blind drivers to return to the roads at some future point or maybe even race, the fact that these two articles disappeared from where they were originally reported from makes me wonder if somebody in Daytona Beach was wanting to make a big PR splash with this idea or if they simply wanted it squashed.

Google originally found them at MSNBC but apparently they removed them from their site, it's not even relocated or in their archives and links from MSNBC's own search engine are broken.

Nothing quite like having a free media to report what’s happening in the world. 

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/motorsport/article1134106.ece?css=print

http://www.suite101.com/content/daytona-hosts-blind-driver-challenge-demonstration-at-rolex-24-a338445  　

Credibility, Points System, Bill Lester Returning?, & North Wilkesboro Speedway Award

Credibility

Credibility? We don't need no stinking credibility!

　
"The goal for some time has been to create a points system that is easy to understand, easy to explain, easy to be talked about, but also be credible at the end of the season" Mafia Mike in an ESPN article　

Hate to tell you this Mafia Mike but NASCAR started losing its credibility in 2003 when it went from NASCAR to NA$CAR with the ascension of Faux King Brian to the throne and it’s been going downhill ever since. Some fans have questioned whether or not NA$CAR has any credibility left after observing the WWE-like antics that have been happening, the promises that have been made that weren’t delivered on, the changes for change sake, and the absence of any real leadership down in the Ivory Towers. When two drivers get caught with cars out of tolerance and one driver gets a warning and the other is penalized 150 points for it, something is very wrong. When NA$CAR openly admits it throws Ms Terry DeBris cautions to “make things more exciting” or “to bunch them up”, that drops your credibility right down the toilet. When the sanctioning body takes money from a car manufacturer to get into the racer-tainment business and gets “favors to be named later”, you have the credibility of a DC politician with a bunch of angry taxpayers. And that’s where the sanctioning body sits right now. 　

New Points System　　

One of the things not addressed by this new points system is the penalty points issue. Although it is supposed to be proportional to the current points system, nothing was given as a firm number. The fans wanted more emphasis on winning. I’ve read a number of figures running from 25-100 points for a win over and above the regular points. Instead, it’s 3. The simplified points system does the exact same thing the old system did except with smaller numbers. It rewards consistency, even in the play-offs. NA$CAR did not listen to the fans.
　
The fans wanted the play-off system eliminated, depending on whose poll you used, anywhere from 55%-97% want it gone. It’s still here showing that once again, NA$CAR didn’t listen to the fans. The fans and manufacturers want the cars to resemble what’s on the street so that there’s a definite connection between the fans, cars, and brand identity. Nope, it’s till the same, generic looking vehicle with new decals and the splitter bars removed which shows that once again NA$CAR still isn’t listening.

And what’s the incentive for being 11^th and 12^th place? Based on what they showed on the graphics during the dog and pony show, 11^th and 12^th place cannot move up. So why even bother showing up at the track if you can’t move up in points? It’s back to being a Top 10 play-off system that fans don’t like or want. Even Bruton is doubting the wisdom of keeping it around and whether or not it’ll still be around in the next few years. At least he’s smart enough to know that if you don’t give the fans what they want they won’t be coming back.
　
　
Jules the Engine Guy’s Points Solution　
　
This is what Jules the Engine Guy came up with:


Prior to the Chase


A) Everyone starts out with 10,000 points:
10,000


B) Anyone in top 35 in car owners points:
+ 1,000 + (35 minus your finishing position)
example, if you finished 20th in points, (10000+(1000+(35-20))) = 11,015


C) Anyone NOT in top 35 in car owners points:
- 1,000


D) If you are Jimmy Johnson, the current champ or Dale Earnhardt Jr
+ 2,000


E) If you are NOT Jimmy Johnson, the current champ or Dale Earnhardt Jr
- 1,000


F) If your car owner is Hendrick, Roush, Childress or Gibbs:
+5,000


G) If your car owner is NOT Hendrick, Roush, Childress or Gibbs:
-2,500


H) If you drive a Ford or a Dodge:
-1,000


I) If you drive a Chevrolet (and your car/team is related to Hendrick):
+2,000


J) If you drive a Chevrolet (and your car/team is NOT related to Hendrick):
+500


K) If you drive a Toyota:
+1,500


L) If you do NOT! My Space, Twitter, Twat, Tweet, Spit, or Speak ANYTHING NEGATIVE about NASCAR:
+2,500


M) If you DO My Space, Twitter, Twat, Tweet, Spit, or Speak ANYTHING NEGATIVE about NASCAR and your car owner is Hendrick, Roush, Childress or Gibbs:
-500


N) If you DO My Space, Twitter, Twat, Tweet, Spit, or Speak ANYTHING NEGATIVE about NASCAR and your car owner is NOT Hendrick, Roush, Childress or Gibbs:
-2,500



Now while this seems complicated. let me assure you it is not. This system guarantee's the status quo and consistency. This system insures that the top 12 will ALWAYS be the top 12.


It is also much more like the NFL and MLB where as there are always the same teams (and number of teams) playing. No new or different teams making a showing is much less confusing.


No longer will you have to drudge through those boring, don't matter much (just as DW), first 26 races. You can wait till the chase.


During the chase


A) All 12 cars will be painted exactly the same. No names or lettering will be on the cars.

B) The crews and drivers will be dressed that same and disguised to all look the same.

C) The points will be awarded based on finishing position. But who will know who finished where? NASCAR will tell you.

　
Dave’s Points Solution　
　
Dave, my old racing buddy from Texas, came up with this solution:
　
Gee.......why don't they award points for the amount of advertising dollars a car's sponsor kicks in for mention money? The more money, the more points. The little guys don't get anything, even if they somehow win and will eventually go away. The Roto-Rooter car crossed the line 14th, but sent the most money to NA$CRAP and Fox, so they get most of the points. The Booth Comedy Team (tm) will wet themselves over how wonderful the new system is and pound it into the fad fans (who won't know the difference anyway). Win-win-win situation, eh?
Or should we not give them the idea?
　
Granted, these aren’t real points systems but do you get the idea that the fans who have been around a while like both Jules and Dave won’t be thrilled with the new points program and will find yet another reason not to show up at the track or watch the racer-tainment on TV?
　
　
North Wilkesboro Speedway Receives Award　

L to R: George Marsden, Rob Marsden, Terry Parsons, Steve Wilson, Ann Marie Wilson

　
Not widely mentioned by the lamestream media or the Kool Aid drinkers was the fact that North Wilkesboro Speedway received an award from The North Carolina Motorsports Association. North Wilkesboro Speedway received the Motorsports Industry Award for Track Management at the annual banquet. The award recognizes tracks, educational institutions, media, suppliers and manufacturers for their contributions to the motorsports industry in North Carolina. When you consider that the only thing keeping North Wilkesboro in the public eye a couple of years ago was the Save the Speedway group, it’s come a long ways towards regaining some of its former glory day in the past 2 years.

　

Bill Lester's Rolex Camaro (pic taken by unknown fan)

　
　
Bill Lester Returning?　

Based on some of what Bill Lester has written on Facebook and Twitter, there’s a possibility we could see him in a part-time Cup ride if everything works out with his sponsorship. Right now, Bill is driving a Camaro in the Rolex Series. If you haven’t met Bill, he’s a pretty decent guy and very fan friendly.

　

David Hill Wants Shorter Races

　
David Hill, the same wonderful person who brought us that damnable gopher, wants to shorten the races to 3 hours. I see this as yet another attempt to appease the Short Attention Span Crowd and because Focks, who does a terrible job presenting the races, is supposedly losing money even though they run tons of commercials, plug and shill for everything possible, run so many sponsored graphics it takes up about 1/3 to ½ the TV screen, gladly accept all the “mention money” they can get from any team, sponsor, or manufacturer who is willing to fork it over, and get paid by both the cable and satellite providers for their broadcasts.
　
If Focks really wanted to broadcast timed races, they’d be broadcasting F-1 or some sports car or sedan racing series so they could have the 2-3 hours of timed racing and then move on to the next program. If time is that critical to Focks and David Hill, then maybe they should move the Cup Series races over to Speed and broadcast the F-1 and sports car series races on Focks. That way Focks will have their timed races, David Hill is happy, the Short Attention Span Crowd is happy, and the F-1 and sports car series folks can be aggravated by the tons of commercials, plugs, shilling, inane babble, and Goopher the Gopher that have plagued the folks watching NA$CAR.
　
The real solution? Eliminate the pre-race show. It’s a combination of what happened during the week (which most fans have already heard or read), fluff, hype, and shilling. That cuts off a wasted 1-1.5 hours. Just go straight to the Invocation, National Anthem, a driver run down during the pace laps, and you’re off and running. Eliminate the Ms Terry DeBris Cautions. That’ll shave 15-30 minutes off the broadcast and the race. Show the driver in Victory Lane, give a finishing running order, and boom, you’re off the air. No need to recap the race. We already saw it.
　
　
　
　

　
　
　
　

　

Exclusivity Agreement

In the past, I’ve written about how the exclusivity deals have kept the teams from getting certain sponsors like telecommunications companies, gasoline companies, and tire companies as sponsors. What I have done is to include a copy from 2009 owner’s document that I found on-line which spells out the exclusivity deals. You’ll notice that even though there is nothing about manufacturers of telecommunications devices in the exclusivity agreement, companies like Motorola, LG, Apple, Blackberry, you have to go to Section 13 to find out just what all is prohibited as far as a telecommunications device. Basically, even a cheap $5 walkie-talkie is prohibited.

And who makes the final determination on whether or not a product doesn’t meet the exclusivity agreement? Well, it’s supposedly NA$CAR but as we saw a couple of years back when Robby Gordon ran Motorola as a sponsor on his car, the Cup Series sponsor raised heck about it and Robby was restricted solely to running the company logo and not any graphics of Motorola’s actual products which range from cell phones to military communications equipment.

And remember what happened to RCR and Mr. Happy when Shell came on board as a sponsor? Once again, it was supposedly NA$CAR who had them change the size of the decals on the car but we know better than that. It was the official fuel provider who caused the actual changes with NA$CAR acting as the hatchet man.

This is a bit long, so my apologies for that, but it is what was on a 2009 Team Owner's Contract. So go ahead and read why the teams are so restricted on finding sponsors.

　
(a} Sprint Exclusivity. I agree that, in addition to the advertising and promotional rights granted in Section 2, when participating in any way in any 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Event or any advertising and promotion using my name, likeness, or based on my participation in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series unless otherwise expressly authorized in writing by NASCAR, no product, brand, logo. trademark. or service identification of a company in the Telecommunications Category (as defined in Section 13 below) and as determined in NASCAR's sole discretion, will be used or displayed anywhere by me. the team, or any employee or affiliate thereof, including, but not limited to, on the driver's or crew member’ NASCAR Sprint Cup Series uniforms, or the car owner's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing car, as well as the team's equipment, and/or haulers.

I understand and agree that NASCAR may, in its sole discretion, refuse to permit or limit the use or display of a product, brand, logo, trademark. or service identification of a company in the Telecommunications Category, including, but not limited to, on the driver's or crew members' uniforms, or the car owner's racing car, the team's equipment, and/or haulers. I understand and agree that all determinations of whether a company is in the Telecommunications Category shall be made by NASCAR at its sole discretion and are final and non-litigable.Sprint Exclusivity.

I agree that, in addition to the advertising and promotional rights granted in Section 2, when participating in any way in any 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Event or any advertising and promotion using my name, likeness, or based on my participation in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series unless otherwise expressly authorized in writing by NASCAR, no product, brand, logo. trademark. or service identification of a company in the Telecommunications Category (as defined in Section 13 below) and as determined in NASCAR's sole discretion, will be used or displayed anywhere by me. the team, or any employee or affiliate thereof, including, but not limited to, on the driver's or crew member’ NASCAR Sprint Cup Series uniforms, or the car owner's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing car, as well as the team's equipment, and/or haulers. I understand and agree that NASCAR may, in its sole discretion, refuse to permit or limit the use or display of a product, brand, logo, trademark. or service identification of a company in the Telecommunications Category, including, but not limited to, on the driver's or crew members' uniforms, or the car owner's racing car, the team's equipment, and/or haulers.

I understand and agree that all determinations of whether a company is in the Telecommunications Category shall be made by NASCAR at its sole discretion and are final and non-litigable.

(b} Goodyear Exclusivity. I agree that when participating in any way in any 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Event, unless otherwise expressly authorized in writing by NASCAR, no product, brand, logo, trademark, or service identification of a company in the Tire Category (as defined in Section 13 below) and as determined in NASCAR's sole discretion, will be used or displayed anywhere by me, the team, or any employee or affiliate thereof during the Event, including, but not limited to, on the driver's or crew members' uniforms, or the car owner's racing car, the team's equipment, and/or haulers.Goodyear Exclusivity.

I agree that when participating in any way in any 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Event, unless otherwise expressly authorized in writing by NASCAR, no product, brand, logo, trademark, or service identification of a company in the Tire Category (as defined in Section 13 below) and as determined in NASCAR's sole discretion, will be used or displayed anywhere by me, the team, or any employee or affiliate thereof during the Event, including, but not limited to, on the driver's or crew members' uniforms, or the car owner's racing car, the team's equipment, and/or haulers.

I agree that no team member, including, but not limited to, the driver and car owner, may advertise or promote a product, brand, logo, trademark. or service identification of a company in the Tire Category, whether in conjunction with a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Event or not, if said advertising or promotion includes a NASCAR racing (e.g., driver, crew member) suit, whether worn by the team member or not, and/or a NASCAR or NASCAR-style racing vehicle.

I understand and agree that NASCAR may, in its sole discretion, refuse to permit or limit the use or display of a product, brand, logo, trademark or since identification of a company in the Tire Category by me, the team, or any employee or any affiliate thereof during the Event, including, but not limited to the driver's or crew members' uniforms, or the car owner's racing car. the team's equipment, and/or haulers.

I understand and agree that all determinations of whether a company is in the Tire Category shall be made by NASCAR in its sole discretion and are final and non-litigable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, actual use of tires other than Goodyear on team equipment other than the racing car (e.g., pit carts and haulers) shall not be considered a breach of the terms of this Agreement.no team member, including, but not limited to, the driver and ear owner, may advertise or promote a product, brand, logo, trademark. or service identification of a company in the Tire Category, whether in conjunction with a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Event or not, if said advertising or promotion includes a NASCAR racing (e.g., driver, crew member) suit, whether worn by the team member or not, and/or a NASCAR or NASCAR-style racing vehicle.

I understand and agree that NASCAR may, in its sole discretion, refuse to permit or limit the use or display of a product, brand, logo, trademark or since identification of a company in the Tire Category by me, the team, or any employee or any affiliate thereof during the Event, including, but not limited to the driver's or crew members' uniforms, or the car owner's racing car. the team's equipment, and/or haulers.

I understand and agree that all determinations of whether a company is in the Tire Category shall be made by NASCAR in its sole discretion and are final and non-litigable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, actual use of tires other than Goodyear on team equipment other than the racing car (e.g., pit carts and haulers) shall not be considered a breach of the terms of this Agreement.agree that NASCAR may, in its sole discretion, refuse to permit or limit the use or display of a product, brand, logo, trademark or since identification of a company in the Tire Category by me, the team, or any employee or any affiliate thereof during the Event, including, but not limited to the driver's or crew members' uniforms, or the car owner's racing car. the team's equipment, and/or haulers.

I understand and agree that all determinations of whether a company is in the Tire Category shall be made by NASCAR in its sole discretion and are final and non-litigable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, actual use of tires other than Goodyear on team equipment other than the racing car (e.g., pit carts and haulers) shall not be considered a breach of the terms of this Agreement.


(c) Sunoco Exclusivity. I also agree that no company in the Fuel Category (as defined in Section 13 below) shall be permitted to sponsor a car, driver, or team for any product in the Fuel Category. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a company in the Fuel Category may also manufacture lubricants (i.e., motor oil, etc.) and products other than automotive fuel (collectively "Non-Fuel Products"). Companies in the Fuel Category may sponsor a car, driver, or team for any Non-Fuel product provided that the team's racing car must primarily feature the product, brand. logo, trademark or service identification of the Non-Fuel Product. Specifically, any and all Non-Fuel Product branding must appear in a visually dominant manner comprising at least 2/3 of such lnnding on the racing car in conjunction with any corporate fuel company name comprising no more than 1/3 of such branding on the racing car. These branding ratios also apply to the driver's and crew members' uniforms, the car owner's racing car, the team's equipment, and/or hauler and any other at-track branding.

I agree that no team member, including, but not limited to, the driver and owner, may advertise or promote a product, brand, logo, trademark or service identification of a company in the Fuel Category, whether in conjunction with a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Event or not, if said advertising or promotion includes any NASCAR Series branded racing (e.g., driver, crew member) suit, whether worn by the team member or not, and/or a NASCAR branded or NASCAR-style racing vehicle. I understand and agree that all determinations of whether a company is in Fuel Category or the branding ratios comply with this provision, shall be made by NASCAR in its sole discretion and are final and non-litigable.

I also agree that no company in the Fuel Category (as defined in Section 13 below) shall be permitted to sponsor a car, driver, or team for any product in the Fuel Category. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a company in the Fuel Category may also manufacture lubricants (i.e., motor oil, etc.) and products other than automotive fuel (collectively "Non-Fuel Products"). Companies in the Fuel Category may sponsor a car, driver, or team for any Non-Fuel product provided that the team's racing car must primarily feature the product, brand. logo, trademark or service identification of the Non-Fuel Product. Specifically, any and all Non-Fuel Product branding must appear in a visually dominant manner comprising at least 2/3 of such lnnding on the racing car in conjunction with any corporate fuel company name comprising no more than 1/3 of such branding on the racing car. These branding ratios also apply to the driver's and crew members' uniforms, the car owner's racing car, the team's equipment, and/or hauler and any other at-track branding.

I agree that no team member, including, but not limited to, the driver and owner, may advertise or promote a product, brand, logo, trademark or service identification of a company in the Fuel Category, whether in conjunction with a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Event or not, if said advertising or promotion includes any NASCAR Series branded racing (e.g., driver, crew member) suit, whether worn by the team member or not, and/or a NASCAR branded or NASCAR-style racing vehicle.

I understand and agree that all determinations of whether a company is in Fuel Category or the branding ratios comply with this provision, shall be made by NASCAR in its sole discretion and are final and non-litigable.

Daytona Testing, Announcements, and Video Streaming

Daytona Press Conference
　
Obviously, the Beach Boy Bubbas haven’t learned their lesson about what happens when you make changes for the sake of change sake. You get lower attendance and lower TV ratings. So here’s the latest blunders from the NA$CAR Blunderbuss to help drive even more fans away.
　
New Points System　
The new points system, 1 point per position, is designed to placate the Short Attention Span Crowd and the casual/fad fans. Once again, appeasing the people who won’t be here next year much less the next decade. The fans who are still left from the 1970’s when the current system was developed can understand the points system. Fans who came along during the ‘80’s and ‘90’s understand the points system. The diehard fans who came along during the first decade of the 21^st century understand the points system. So instead of staying with a proven system that fans understand, yet another change to help drive them away in favor of people who don’t have the attention span or loyalty to follow and support what was once a decent, family-oriented sport.
　
Busch Series Changes　

Wow, drivers have to pick which series they want to run in for the championship. This still doesn’t stop the Buschwackers from stealing points, money, sponsorship, and media attention from the few remaining full-time regular Busch Series teams even if the Buschwackers choose not to run for the Busch Series championship. I’m looking forward to seeing how Faux King Brian is going to explain to the media and the few real Busch Series fans how the guy with the most points at the end of the season isn’t the series Champion. I want to see how he can say that the 10^th place finisher can be the series champ with a straight face and get the media outside of NA$CAR’s controlled media and fans to swallow it. Just because the Buschwackers can’t run for the championship doesn’t mean they won’t finish first in the points in the unofficial “Cup testing under actual race conditions” series.
　
Fuel Injection　

Last year, Robin Pemberton stated that they’d be switching to fuel injection full-time around the middle of this coming season. During the Friday press conference, Pemberton stated that the fuel injection will not be used at any points events races. That means the Bud Shootout and All Star races would be the only 2 races in which the fuel injection could be run if what Pemberton stated is true.
　
Brand Identity　
The only thing that’s being talked about in returning brand identity to the cars to make them look more like the street versions is the nose. Yes, they are making changes to the plastic noses of the car and so far they still don’t resemble the street counterparts. Nobody seems to be asking about the rest of the body and when that will resemble the street versions. Unless or until the rest of the body is changed, It’s still the same old, ugly generic vehicle being passed off as a race car. As the old saying goes, “You can’t polish a turd”.
　
Changes to Cup Qualifying　
The tradition of the random draw for qualifying may get tossed out the window in order to use the qualifying system that was tested out on the Truck Series. Cars would go out based on their speeds during practice. The problem with this is you’ll find teams who will manipulate the system in order to get a better qualifying spot. As I’ve written before, the Truck Series is the guinea pig for things that will happen in the other 2 series, so take a look back at some of the experiments that have been run on the Truck Series recently, like qualifying and elimination of the catch can man.
　
On the other side of things going on in Daytona was the testing. Several different things were tried with the broadcast side of things with Speed using streaming video over the internet to broadcast the test sessions and to take questions from fans using Twitter.
　
Knee-jerk Reaction　
Mafia Mike seems to deny that the changes for this coming season are a knee-jerk reaction. Let’s look at the recent past. Matt Kenseth’s championship. The knee-jerk reaction by Faux King Brian was the Chase for the Chumps. Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s death. NA$CAR’s knee-jerk reaction was the mandating of full-face helmets, HANS Devices, and the SAFER barriers. Kenny Irwin Jr’s death. NA$CAR’s knee-jerk reaction was the kill switch. Complaints about certain drivers not making the Chase for the Chumps. NA$CAR’s knee-jerk reaction was to expand the size of the field. Fan complaints about the cookie cutter race track races being boring. NA$CAR’s knee-jerk reaction is to use fake speeding penalties, missing lug nuts that aren’t missing, and Ms Terry DeBris cautions to manipulate the races to make them more exciting. Complaints about Johnson being the Chump winner 5 times in a row, the points system being hard to understand by the Short Attention Span Crowd and fad fans, the generic look of the race vehicle. Changes to the points system, changes to the plastic nose piece, and making the last 2 positions in the Chase for the Chumps earned by means other than their actual points position. NA$CAR’s knee-jerk reaction? This coming season’s changes. So for Mafia Mike to deny the changes aren’t a knee-jerk reaction plain and simply isn’t true as NA$CAR has a longstanding, established tradition of knee-jerk reactions.
　
　
Streaming Video　
The streaming video at Daytona seems to be a big success. Fans were able to use Twitter and send questions and comments directly to the various Speed TV reporters and commentators. Some questions were answered on-air, some were answered via Twitter. In a lot of cases, fans asked a lot of good questions and got a lot of good answers from the various Speed TV folks.
　
One correction I sent in wasn’t addressed or mentioned. Jabber Jaws said that the first time Budweiser was on a car was in 1984 with Junior Johnson’s team. Actually, it was 1983. Budweiser sponsored the #44 Hagan Racing Chevy during the entire season with Texas Terry driving the car. If you check the 1983 Michigan races, you’ll see Texas Terry in Victory Lane in the Budweiser sponsored #44 car. In 1984, Budweiser moved to Junior Johnson’s team because they wanted to win a championship. The 1984 sponsor for Hagan Racing was Piedmont Airlines, which is what a lot of the media tends to point out for some reason. A little revisionist history maybe?
　
As things wrapped up, Bad Brad had the fastest speeds during testing at 198.6 mph. Right behind him was his teammate Busch the Elder. The slowest car was run by Michael McDowell for the #66 start and park team. While a lot of teams did two car drafting runs, the majority of Ford teams did not and elected to only run single cars. Greg Biffle did have some engine swaps done to get info for the engine shop but did it as a single car. Jeffy Boy changed manifolds on his car and did several rounds of 2 car drafting with other cars from various teams which will provide some good information about drafting with other makes of cars.
　
Some teams were heading off to test at Dizzy World while others were heading back home to analyze the data they collected, make changes to their actual Daytona 500 and Bud Shootout cars, and in some cases to build new cars totally from scratch. Nobody wrecked although some rear bumper covers will need to be replaced from bump drafting.
　
The longest tire run was by JPM at 76 laps. If the tires lasted that long, you have to wonder if Badyear and NA$CAR will change out the tires to “make things more exciting”.
　
There wasn’t much time spent on hyping the ethanol although it was mentioned. Of course, they were already talking about the 2011 Chase for the Chumps and storylines for the year even though the rules changes for the new season haven‘t been formally announced. Based on the storylines put out, Johnson will not win 6 in a row and Hamlin will win his first. So be sure to keep a running tally of the storylines when they start talking about them again when the teams show up for the Bud Shootout.
　
　
　
　

The Martinsville Rubber Chicken Fight

Today's story is about Joe and his buddy Blast attending a race at Martinsville back in the good old days when The King was running his STP sponsorship and Cale Yarborough's car was sponsored by Holly Farms Chicken.

This story is about the "rubber chicken fight" during a race at Martinsville that I took a new friend to see, his name was Tony but I called him "Blast" because he always told me his wife was giving him a blast of s--- and it was all over nothing. Blast and I arrived at Martinsville took our top row seats on the front stretch under the covered grandstand and I proceeded to explain how races were run who was who and who to watch during the race. The two top short track drivers at the time were Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough and they were what this story is about. Cale was driving for Junior Johnson with Holly Farms as their sponsor and Petty was driving for his dad and had STP as a sponsor.

About five rows down to the right of us were two rows of Petty fans and behind them another row of Yarborough fans, before the race could get started they started arguing over who was the best so I told Blast to keep his eye on this bunch because before the race is over there was going to be fist city between these people especially since all of them were knocking back some heavy beer drinking.

The race started and about half way through I noticed one of the Cale fan's started waving a rubber chicken because Cale was all over Richard bumpin’ and bangin’ him every lap so I told blast it won't be long now. The races next caution flag came about fifty laps later and I looked down to see this Cale fan start rubbing the rubber chicken on one of the Richard fans head well the guy took it in a good natured way and the race restarted with Cale knocking Richard out of the way and driving away from him which happened often that year.

Next caution flag came out and the Cale fan's were all feeling no pain and the Petty group didn't have much to cheer about so the idiot with the rubber chicken started rubbing the chicken on the same guy's head and he stood up grabbed the chicken pulled out a pen knife cut the chickens head off threw it back at the Cale fan and tossed the rest of the chicken down to the fence.

So I told Blast here we go and the fists started flying with broken beer bottles included, by the time the hired off duty cops got there broke up the fight escorted all of both group's out of the stands and others to the rescue trucks this "Rubber Chicken Fight" was the highlight of the day. Cale won that day but his fan's didn't they received a free night's stay in the cross bar motel for their effort's along with the Petty bunch. I always wondered how Junior's car ran as fast as it did starting with Cale and with Darrell behind the wheel and after reading an interview with Junior he finally told how he was able to run an oversized engine even after being checked several times. If anyone who reads this story has read the same interview then you already know but for those of you that want to know let me know in the comments and I’ll pass it on. I know it put a smile on Smokey's face. Joe

Potpourri of Parts

Blackballing is Still Alive and Well in NASCAR
　
Over the last few years, there have been several accredited journalists who have sort of disappeared off of covering the weekly racer-tainment events. Nobody really thought to ask or gave a second thought about it because of the newspapers and some web sites laying off staff. I have recently found out that several of these journalist were in fact blackballed by someone within NASCAR’s media-handling function which in turn led to them being laid off because they could no longer cover the racer-tainment. Now that there are some new folks running the media and PR stuff, hopefully they’ll go back and take those blackballed journalists off the list. I don’t care if they’re Kool Aid drinkers or not, blackballing them just because of some personality conflicts or because they reported the truth about what’s happening is no reason to take away a person’s livelihood.
　
New Race Fan Council in the Works?　

Dustin Long, who covers the race circuit from February through November, wrote a recent piece called “Your Time to Be Heard NASCAR Nation”. In it, he proposes a group which will give their input to the real concerns of race fans instead of the current one that exists. In case you’re not familiar with the current Fan Council, it’s little more than a marketing survey group than a real council which voices fans concerns from what I’ve heard from several members of it. Dustin expects to have the first survey going out around January 21^st. Will the bosses in Daytona Beach listen for a change or will they continue to keep their heads buried in the sand like ostriches? That’s the multi-million dollar question.

A Reason Behind the Dislike of the Media?

　It seems that Tony Stewart, who is know to have an extreme dislike towards the media, seems to have been involved in an altercation in Australia. The only way we’re finding out about it here in the USA is because of, drum roll please, the media. That and the internet. I can understand Tony getting upset with reporters asking the same stupid question 14 different ways. I even enjoy some of his comebacks and snappy remarks to the less-than-stellar reporters. But to dislike the media as a whole because they have a job to do and questioning the current sad state of affairs that is NA$CAR? I’m sure there’s more to this Australia story that we’ll here about later and probably things we’ll never hear about regarding this. But in this day and age with reporters hungry for stories involving celebrities behaving badly, it’s better to err on the side of safety and behave yourself. Especially overseas. You could end up in a jail for a while before your case is even heard even on something involving physical assault. Or in the case of a celebrity, you could be deported, if you’re lucky. Maybe there will be more to this story as time progresses. I’m sure the media here will be chomping at the bit when Tony returns to query him as to what happened. And he’ll have the same inane reporters asking the same questions 14 different ways. I wonder if he’ll get a call from the Ivory Towers in Daytona Beach informing him he’s being fined for actions detrimental to stock car racing since it might tarnish NA$CAR’s image overseas? Maybe it’s time for Tony to go back to anger management again like he had to do when he was racing for Joe Gibbs?

http://www.speedcafe.com.au/2011/01/15/stewart-interviewed-by-parramatta-police/
 
Buyer Beware, Chapter 2

　The same personality as in the last episode tried luring a person from another sport into a partnership for a race team. Everything seemed to be fine as long as the NA$CAR personality was in talks with this sports figure. The sports figure’s financial adviser asked to see all the paperwork regarding the team, sponsorship, and contracts surrounding this proposed team. As soon as that happened, the NA$CAR personality immediately started talking trash about the sports figure. Promotional materials that were at the NA$CAR personality’s business were tossed out. Meanwhile, the sports figure’s boss, who also had the NA$CAR personality as an employee, heard about what was going on and immediately terminated the NA$CAR personality’s contract with that organization.
　
The Daily Show Strikes!

　I don’t know how many folks watch The Daily Show but they did a piece on NA$CAR. And as The Daily Show is a semi-comedy news show (semi-comedy because it’s only funny half the time) which uses satire, some of it you have to take tongue-in-cheek. Here’s the link to the YouTube clip:


http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-january-13-2011/you-re-welcome---nascar

Now while there’s some funny and outlandish things in the clip, there is a nugget of truth. How to get NA$CAR back to being NASCAR. Return back to the roots of what was once a sport instead of the current racer-tainment we‘re served up and expected to swallow and enjoy. Sort of like Kevin Bacon in Animal House when he’s bent over getting paddled as a part of his pledging a fraternity. (“Thanks you sir may I have another?”) That means cars that resemble what we actually drive, my usual rants about TV coverage, real leadership, real racers, catering to the Short Attention Span Crowd, etc. Hey Jon Stewart, if you need some more ideas on improving NA$CAR, drop me a line.

　Blast From the Past

I had wondered how Ray Evernham had gotten the UAW to sponsor his cars back when he owned the team and how the UAW was able to sponsor races. This seems to answer the question of where the actual sponsor money came from. This is from the Mackinac Archives:

http://www.mackinac.org/archives/2001/s2001-02.pdf

“The UAW also operates joint funds with each of the Big Three automakers for the retraining of laid-off workers. The funds were set up in the early 1980’s, when recession and foreign competition led to large-scale layoffs, then expanded tremendously when the automakers recovered and prospered.

The joint funds have made questionable expenditures such as sponsoring NASCAR racers Bill Elliott and Casey Atwood (sponsorship of a NASCAR racer cost between $8 million and $16 million annually) and two NASCAR races, the UAW-GM Quality 500 and the UAW Daimler/Chrysler 400. The autoworkers union also teamed up with Daimler/Chrysler to put on a “Hollywood Showcase” at the 2000 Democratic Convention. A UAW-Ford conference in Las Vegas reportedly drew 3,000 delegates and guests.”

And who was and still is the marketing company for Dodge? Why none other than the one owned by Faux King Brian. Talk about some folks not doing any due diligence on this sponsorship. Daimler/Chrysler missed it as Evernham was the flagship Dodge team at the time, Faux King Brian’s marketing company missed it as Dodge‘s marketing company, Ray Evernham missed it, and NA$CAR missed it on the team and race sponsorships.


Restrictor Plates

 For those who have forgotten the real reason behind the restrictor plate, it goes back to following the money trail. It’s not so much to slow the cars down to keep the fans and drivers safe but to keep the track’s and sanctioning body’s insurance rates down. And don’t forget, the restrictor plate is just a temporary measure to slow the cars down until the sanctioning body can figure out another means to do so. Restrictor plates… a temporary solution since 1987.

　
It Hasn’t Gotten Ugly Yet　

While it hasn’t turned ugly yet, more and more writers are starting to question the marketing genius in charge of the sanctioning body down in the Ivory Towers of Daytona Beach. More and more articles are appearing about shortening the schedule, dumping the play-off system in favor of a 36 race season with more points being given to race winners, and the newest item to be added to the racer-tainment, ethanol. And it’s not just fans or bloggers writing about it. There have been a few of the accredited journalists questioning the infinite wisdom of the Ivory Towers. This is a step in the right direction in my opinion. The more the accredited and respected journalists start questioning the way things are being run and the more of them that get on board, the better for the sport and the fans if it can result in the needed changes to save what was once the most thrilling form of motorsports around.
 
Save the Nashville Fairgrounds

I don’t know how many folks ever had the chance to see the racing at the old fairgrounds speedway. Some of the greats like David Pearson, The King, and others provided a lot of excited racing there. Now, the city wants to turn it into a development. If you’re tired of seeing decent, historical short tracks disappear, then go to the web site and sign the petition to keep this piece of history alive. We’ve already lost too many historic tracks as it is.

Various Nuts and Bolts

I want to send my condolences out to Ken Schrader, his family, and friends over the passing on Ken’s mom. And say a few prayers for Mary, a long time race fan who’s going in for some major surgery.
　

It Finally Happened!
　
1960 Grand National Champion and my good friend Rex White was finally inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (IMHOF). It’s about 35 years overdue in my opnion. The great thing is that Rex is still here to enjoy it. Other inductees to the IMHOF haven’t been so lucky. Now the challenge is to get Rex into the NA$CAR HOF while he’s still with us and before the place either becomes a total ghost town, gets shut down, gets bought by Rick Hendrick and turned into the Jimmie Johnson Shrine, or becomes the Palm Tree Hunter Center of Worship for "Soda" Spilling.
　
White Line Fever

It looks like JC France, who was busted for street racing and cocaine possession which were later dropped thanks to Judge Kennedy (who dismissed cases against other France family members), is back racing in the Rolex Series again. At a recent testing event, he kept the nose of his car right on the white line all around the track. An unconfirmed rumor has it that the white lines had to be repainted as they disappeared when JC’s car supposedly snorted them.
　
Bayne, what’s next, and Follow the Wood Brothers

I’ll be curious to see what happens with Trevor Bayne. Although he’s a Roush “property“, it’s looking like he’ll run at least 17 races with the Wood Brothers. It’s possible he could run some more if some sponsorship comes through. After the news that Bill Elliott was going to drive for James Finch and then it was denied, I can’t say as I blame the Wood Brothers for wanting to run Bayne the full season.
　
And speaking of the Wood Brothers, you might want to follow them on Facebook and Twitter. From time to time they run a trivia contest and you can win some interesting swag. I know because I played on Boxing Day (December 26^th) and won a t-shirt, driver’s card, and two decals. Not bad for answering some pretty simple (to me anyways) questions about the Wood Brothers. Of course, you might want to bone up on their history first if you’re not familiar with them.
　
German TV Gets the Racing Right

German Sky, a German TV network, will be not only broadcasting F-1 in HD but also without commercial interruption. How long have we race fans across the board been wanting something like this? Imagine seeing the entire Daytona 500 or World 600 at home without commercial interruption? Or the NHRA Winter Nationals? Or ARCA races? The German Sky network execs know they’re competing against other series, sports, and shows so by foregoing the commercials they’re looking to pull in the maximum number of F-1 fans and gear heads they can. Hello Ivory Towers?

　http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.digitalfernsehen.de/Sky-zeigt-Formel-1-Rennen-2011-erstmals-in-nativem-HDTV.47125.0.html&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk
　
Buyer Beware!

In today’s Buyer Beware category, it seems that a NA$CAR personality may have tried to pull a scam in the past. It seems that when asked for paperwork regarding the charity that this NA$CAR personality had established, this personality fails to produce it. It didn’t matter if this personality was hired for a personal appearance or an autograph session. Supposedly the money collected for these appearances goes to their charity but as the paperwork was never produced for that charity, it’s hard to say if the money is actually going where it’s supposed to. Apparently, failure to produce the charity paperwork is illegal according to what I’ve read.

Fading Glory

As a kid, one of my favorite racers was Fred Lorenzen. Fred was the original Poster Boy when it came to good looking drivers promoting the sport and promoting Ford, which is what he drove at that time. He was well spoken, clean cut, and an all-around decent guy not to mention one heck of a driver. As time has marched on Fred’s mental health has slowly deteriorated and he’s now living in an assisted care facility. While he can remember races from the old days, he has trouble remembering what’s happening today. If you want to make his day and give him some words of encouragement, you can drop him a card or letter at the following address:

Bridgeway Christian Village
Attn: Fred Lorenzen
Room No. 146
111 E. Washington
Bensenville, Ill. 60106-2674

I need to give credit Rick Houston at NA$CAR.com for the great article he wrote about Fred.


He’s a real commode-ian. He should be flushed with success.

Like the separation of church and state, I sure hope that The Human Shill can keep his day job as a supposed comedian separate from his night job as a shill/cheerleader on Speed‘s coverage of the Truck Series. It’s bad enough having to put up with his constant shilling for his team’s sponsors and his manufacturer plus the cheerleading he does for select drivers who drive the same make of truck. The fans at home don’t need to have him testing out his comic material on them during the truck races. Although when you consider the fact that some fans consider his racing career to be something of a joke, maybe he’s finally in the right line of work?

Daytona 500 Conspiracy Theory
 
With the Daytona 500 coming up along with the 10th anniversary of the death of Iron Head and Faux King Brian in desperate need of some major headlines to try to lure in more of the Short Attention Span Crowd and in desperate hopes of getting a few old fans to return, wouldn’t it be a real coincidence if Jr. won the Daytona 500? If you think back to the wins Jr. got on certain anniversaries, it definitely makes you wonder and lends some credence to this theory and it’s something that a lot of conspiracy theorists point to. Jr’s wins on the various anniversaries. So think about it, draw your own conclusions, form your own opinions, and see what happens on February 20th. If the conspiracy theorists are right, it lends even more credence to Steve O’Donnell, VP of Racing Operations, and his sworn statement that the sanctioning body and its’ activities are sports entertainment and not actually a motorsport. If the conspiracy theorists are wrong, then they’re wrong. It wouldn’t be the first time and probably wouldn’t be the last. So think about it and don’t go blasting me for putting this idea out there or say I‘m a Jr. Hater. I want folks to think about it and discuss it. And for those that think a race can’t be rigged, go back through NA$CAR’s history and you’ll find several races that were manipulated or had some irregularities that were overlooked, encouraged, or swept under the rug by both Big and Little Bill. The very first Strictly Stock race in which the winner was DQ’ed because Big Bill didn’t like a bootlegger winning the very first race and the tone that would set historically, Fireball Roberts being DQ’ed in order to keep Kiekhaefer’s mega-team in NA$CAR, Joe Weatherly and Curtis Turner being awarded points for a race they didn’t participate in, and the King’s 200th win are just some examples. So cuss and discuss the upcoming Daytona 500 and the possibilities the conspiracy theorists are putting out there.

Gone with the Wind

At the end of the 2011 season, Firestone will not renew their contract with IndyCar. While no official reason has been given yet, it could be for financial reasons. Bridgestone, the parent company of Firestone, is pulling out of racing across the board. This leaves the 2012 season wide open for a new tire provider to work with IndyCar. Michelin, Kumho, Hankook, Cooper, and Dunlop could all be in the running to replace Firestone for the IndyCar Series and a load of other companies could replace Bridgestone in the series that they’re involved in. So it’s possible there could be some tire wars going on this season in a bid to replace both Firestone and Bridgestone.

Two Thumbs Up to IndyCar
　
3 time Indy 500 winner Johnny Rutherford, Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr., Sarah Fisher, Davey Hamilton, and Larry Foyt will be doing the Indianapolis 500 Centennial Tour, which is being coordinated by Morale Entertainment Foundation and Armed Forces Entertainment, in conjunction with the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and they start this week. The 10-day goodwill trip to Europe and the Middle East has a goal of boosting the morale of a lot of troops they plan to meet during the 10 day tour. Their first stop will be the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl Germany, which was next to door to where I was stationed, Ramstein AB from 1980-1985.

The last time I heard of a NASCAR driver or personality doing something like this was several years ago when Jeremy Mayfield visited the troops and even went to one of the outlying outposts in a hostile area to meet with some race fans. So to the IndyCar folks and the racing greats involved with this tour, two thumbs up, a checkered flag, and a trophy for this great effort.

　

Are the Shootout Rule Changes the new Top 35 Rule?

With the latest changes to the Shootout and trying to figure out why the changes are being made, all you have to do is follow the money trail. Any decision Faux King Brian makes is related to money. The “Have at it Boys”? An attempt to get more fans to show up at the track and to raise ratings, which means more money from ticket sales and increased ratings will raise or at least maintain what NA$CAR gets when the TV contracts come up for renewal. The Chase for the Chumps? An attempt to beat the NFL and make money off of tickets and merchandise sales. The Car of Timidity? That put’s a cool quarter million dollars in NA$CAR’s pocket every time a team buys one. So there is little to nothing that happens that doesn’t put money into Faux King Brian’s piggy bank.
　
As to the Shootout itself, let’s look at the money factor. Why would His Highness want Joey The Giraffe in the Shootout? He hasn’t won a Cup championship or a Shootout. So there’s got to be a reason. Look at his sponsor. There’s the #1 reason right there. Home Depot spends millions on NA$CAR-related advertising. Look at his car manufacturer. That’s reason #2. They paid NA$CAR a cool $93 million to get into the racer-tainment business and for favors to be named later. And look at some of the other drivers who have the same manufacturer who got in based on the new rules. His two teammates, neither of whom have won a Shootout or a championship. And look how much money their sponsors spend on NA$CAR-related advertising? Once again, millions that NA$CAR doesn't have to spend.
　
Why have Cousin Carl in the Shootout? Because of the millions that AFLAC spends on advertising related to NA$CAR. What about Bow Wow Bowyer? Hamburger Helper runs the Most Popular Driver contest and their parent company spends a lot of money on their at-track presence with their booths set up in the souvenir hauler area. Kasey Kahne hasn’t won a championship or a Shootout but he’s in the same make of car as the Gibbs Boys. Plus he’ll be driving for Slick Rick in 2012, so under these new rules, Slick Rick will have all 4 drivers in the Shootout. And of course, who can forget the Human Shill? His sponsors spend a lot of money on NA$CAR-related advertising plus his manufacturer not to mention how much he helps promote the Gospel According to Brian.


There was a time when the Bud Shootout was a race that meant a little something because it was an exclusive race with the best of the best competing in it. But as time has marched on under the (lack of) leadership of Faux King Brian, the Bud Shootout has become just another marketing gimmick. No longer is it previous champions, pole sitters, and previous winners of the Bud Shootout racing for a nice chunk of change and the honor of winning the Shootout. It’s now a hodgepodge with Chase for the Chumps contenders, previous Cup champions, past ROY’s from 2000-2010, past Bud Shootout winners, and past Daytona points race winners. The way things are looking right now, there could be 30 cars in the Shootout. Heck, if they’re going to do that, why not make it a 43 car field and “invite” the Busch and Truck Series champions and past champions, the Busch and Truck Series ROY’s for the last 10 years, and if that’s not enough to make a 43 car field, then why not invite the reigning champions from IndyCar, ARCA, USAR, Rolex Series, ALMS, F-1, and ASA? Instead of being the crème de la crème of the Cup Series, it’s now watered down to racers, drivers, has been’s, and wanna-be’s.

Faux King Brian keeps changing the rules to ensure that certain drivers are included in the Shootout in the false hopes that their names will pull in fans to the track to watch the Shootout and boost the TV ratings for those watching at home. Instead, it’s backfired. Fewer and fewer fans and curiosity seekers show up to see it live and more folks who would watch at home are finding other things to do with their time because they‘re dissatisfied with the constant rules changes, favoritism, race manipulation, and commercialism that has turned what was once a great form of racing into little more than a 3-4 hour info-mercial.
　
So what does all of this mean? All the recent changes boil down to making the rules for the Shootout little more than the Top 35 Rule to protect certain advertisers, sponsors, teams, and car manufacturers.

Dakar Rally Day 3 & 4 - Team Hummer - Major Disappointment

Despite the troubles on Day 2, Robby Gordon had high hopes for Day 3 only to run into more mechanical problems with a failed pump on the transmission. It didn’t drop him any positions to the leader but it definitely put a kink in things as Robby had hoped to make up a lot of ground during this stage of the rally and was really hoping this would set things up for a real good run on Day 4 where Robby‘s skill and experience from the Baja races would really pay off as they‘d be running in the desert and on some massive sand dunes.
　
Then came Day 4. If ever there was an example of Murphy’s Law (Anything that can go wrong will go wrong at the most inopportune time at the most inopportune place) Day 4 was it. During the liaison stage of Day 4, Robby’s Hummer broke a wheel bearing. Robby’s team, Eliseo Salazar, had passed Robby while Robby was gassing up the Hummer, so the spare wheel bearing and hub were long gone when Robby actually broke down. Then there was the problem of the T4 support vehicle. Somehow, it managed to somehow miss Robby’s bright orange Hummer sitting on the side of the course. It’s not like the Hummer was painted up in desert camouflage and could easily be missed. Maybe he needed some flashing signs and billboards with circles and arrows pointing to the Hummer? It was fluorescent orange by God. Only a blind man could miss it. Oh well. Bitter disappointment for Robby even though his teammate, Eliseo Salazar, is still running along with the Speed Energy sponsored Quinn Cody motorcycle. Salazar is about 6 hours behind the leader so he’s got a lot of making up to do while Quinn Cody is 12^th overall in the motorcycle category after 6 stages.
　

Once Robby’s Hummer gets back to the shop in the USA, it’ll be torn down completely and every nut, bolt, and screw will be thoroughly examined to determine what caused the bearing failure. The failed bearing is off a design that had been used countless times before not just on the Hummer but also on Robby’s SCORE vehicles. Since Robby still has a vehicle running in the Dakar rally, he’ll be sticking around til the finish and has been giving some journalists a ride in his repaired Hummer in what can best be described as “the ride of a lifetime”.

　
Since Robby is out early, he’ll be heading to Laughlin Nevada after the Dakar rally finishes to compete there in a SCORE off-road event in his trophy truck. Hopefully he’ll have more luck there.

Assorted Pieces and Parts

Going back to the Ethanol Odds and Ends, this came from Unkle Phil, a former racer and long time racing fan:

I used to run an IMCA modified out here at Canyon Raceway Park. I could buy $45.00 worth of gas, as it took twice as much Alki. (alcohol-MM) at twice the cost. The al. ran cooler and developed half again as much power. God halp you if you did not drain the carb at the end of the night.

 Based on Phil’s experience with alcohol, there is a definite problem with water absorption, which is also an issue with ethanol since it contains alcohol. And like everyone else I read about how special tankers will haul the ethanol to the tracks. When the tankers sit overnight, there will be condensation which will accumulate inside the tanker. How is this going to be taken care of? Will several gallons be drained off at the start of every day to make sure the water is removed? If so, what will be done with the contaminated fuel? This is a bit of a recycling issue that needs to be addressed. Or will they use some sort of special water absorbing filter to remove the water so that when the teams fill up the dump cans they only get ethanol and not a mix of water and ethanol? And how often will the tankers be replaced so that any type of corrosion won’t get into the fuel as a result of the water contamination? Lots of questions but no answers from the Daytona Beach Palm Tree Hunter.
　
One stat I saw a couple weeks ago said there were 40 fewer Service Master cautions in 2010. I’m curious how many Ms Terry DeBris cautions there were for 2010. Were there more or less versus 2009?
　
I just got word that the fabricators at MWR are being paid $500 a week with the economy being used as the reason. Normally, fabricators make at least twice that. If MWR would like to respond, by all means do. And in plain English without the double-speak of some PR person replying.


One title for an article I saw mentioned something about the races needing to be treated as big events. Actually, the races need to be treated as races and not sports entertainment or some marketing gimmick which they currently are now. The races need to be about racing and actually contain racing instead of long, drawn-out parades. The race has a sponsor, the green flag has a sponsor, the checkered flag has a sponsor, the cautions have a sponsor, the pit stops have a sponsor, the pit out has a sponsor. About the only things that don’t have a sponsor is the drivers’ own “pit stops” prior to or after a race. But I’m sure that’ll be coming some time down the road. Something like the Pine Bark Butt Wipe Fastest Flush or the Colonel of the Urinal Shake and Dance brought to you by Richard Slimmins “Shaking to the Oldies“. Cute little jingle singing “No matter how much you shake and dance the last drop always goes in your pants”. Or maybe drivers passing gas. The Foulest Flatus brought to you by Roust Air Freshener. “If the drivers are a rippin’, there’s no need to be trippin’. And who can forget the drivers burping? The Biggest Belch of the Race brought to you by Burper’s Bird Seed. “If the birds are burping, you know it’s a Burper”. How about if they catch some crew chiefs, crewmembers, or NA$CAR officials picking their noses on camera? The Nastiest Nosepick brought to you by No-Snorz Nasal Strips. “And the winner of today’s Nastiest Nosepick goes to NA$CAR official Rufus Rumjug with his double-digit cleaning of his hand-picked proboscis”. The possibilities are endless. They could get sponsors for everything. Scratching their crotches, cleaning their ears with car keys, picking their underwear out of the cracks of their rears, ear wax, nose hair, nail fungus, drool, you name it, they could find a sponsor for it. And imagine going to pick up the check at the awards dinner in Vegas with the film rolling of that award winning moment. I’m sure the wives and parents sitting at home would be so proud seeing their husband or son managing to get two fingers in there trying to pick for some “gold nuggets” or scratching their crotch in a manner that would make a big league baseball player envious.


But let’s get back to the main point. The races themselves. If they truly are races, then they need to be treated as such and not some freaking carnival with the drivers and crewmembers being shown off like sideshow freaks. Fans want to see real side by side racing and not cars running side by side because the aerodynamics don’t allow passes to be completed. The folks paying subscription bills to cable or satellite TV companies aren’t paying to see just one or two cars for 3-4 hours during the brief interruptions of the commercials. They’re paying to see all 43 cars racing for 3-4 hours. The remaining fans in the stands aren’t buying tickets to see a 43 car parade for 490 miles only to be interrupted during the last 10 miles by some racing. They pay to see 500 miles of beating and banging, donuts on the door, chrome horn usage, real passes done through the use of horsepower and skill, and drivers using strategy like a chess master. Despite the fact that fans have been screaming for this loudly the last few years, it continues to fall on the deaf ears and the blind eyes of the occupiers of Daytona Beach’s Ivory Towers and continues to get worse. When you have the Head Honcho being totally surprised that somebody would dislike his 10 race playoff, you have to wonder not if but when NA$CAR will be closing its doors due to the cluelessness of the folks in charge.
　
After seeing the interview that Jennifer Jo Cobb did on CNN, I have to wonder why is it that a well-spoken, hard working woman who’s worked her way up through the ranks and followed in the family business of racing isn’t the female face of NA$CAR? Her background and how she followed the family tradition would attract both male and female fans. Because of her beliefs, she’d be a great role model for young girls. And as she doesn’t through temper tantrums, doesn’t have a mouth that would embarrass a sailor, and is friendly with fans, she’s definitely more classy the Queen of Hype. And since she is well-spoken as well as being easy on the eyes, I’m surprised some major companies specializing in women’s products haven’t jumped up to sponsor her. I think that clothing companies, perfume makers, and other companies are missing out on a great opportunity. And with her family’s history of racing, I would think that some racing parts companies would step up as sponsors. But then I forgot. She’s not the new savior of NA$CAR. She’s not being hyped and promoted to high heavens by the Beach Boy Bubbas. The Queen of Hype is. I hope Jennifer Jo does well in her 5 Busch Series races and finishes well ahead of the Queen of Hype. Maybe then she’ll grab some sponsors’ attention. And as she’s one of the few folks in a Ford in the Truck Series, I’ll be rooting for her since I’m a long time Ford guy.
　
The fine folks at Save the Speedway have started up a new site to bring folks news in addition to history. It’s called Speedway Digest. This is what Steve Wilson of Save the Speedway said about the site:
　
Save The Speedway has launched Speedway Digest as a way to help other historic speedways get their message out and to help them out. We will also be following NASCAR throughout the season and document the history of NASCAR and the tracks they race on.
　
Rick “The Sign Man” from Save the Speedway has done an amazing job documenting the history of North Wilkesboro Speedway and hopefully other tracks and supporters of other historic tracks can take Rick’s lead in documenting their tracks’ history. You can check out Speedway Digest at
http://speedwaydigest.com/ 

　
Two thumbs up to the 315^th Air Wing for the humanitarian efforts in delivering over 40 tons of supplies to Haiti and Grenada. The humanitarian aid delivered to Haiti consists of 76,000 pounds of medical and school supplies, clothing, food and furniture donated with the assistance of Haiti Lifeline Ministries, Inc., a non-profit organization located in Hesston, Kan. These items will be utilized by the Lifeline Orphanage and provide assistance to the children who call it home and the surrounding community. 7,000 pounds of aid consisting of medical and educational supplies, clothing, furniture and dry goods were delivered to Grenada to help children and their families start the new school year. Naturally, the lamestream media seems to have missed this effort so to the folks of the 315^th Air Wing, many thanks from one old veteran for your efforts.


　

Dakar Rally Day 2 - Team Hummer

Before we get into Day 2 of Dakar, the results of the latest poll.

Which term do you prefer using to describe the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing?

60% prefer NA$CAR, 25% prefer CRAPCAR, 10% prefer NASCAR AND 5% prefer NAZICAR. my thanks to all who participated in that poll.


Now on to Dakar Day 2. Things didn’t go quite as planned on Day 2. Besides the muddy terrain, Team Hummer had a slight problem. After successfully negotiating 3 checkpoints, Robby missed a corner, went off the course, and hit a rather large rock causing some damage to the front end and losing reverse gear. This set them back over an hour for repairs and dropped them back to 21st overall in the standings. That means Robby’s got a lot of ground to make up and has very little margin for errors over the next couple of stages.

In this video on YouTube, you can see the rock they ran into plus Robby getting some help from some locals trying to get the Hummer off of the rock.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuUQ47TC794


Robby’s teammate, Eliseo Salazar fished 28th, roughly 34.5 minutes behind Sainz.

Day 2 was won by a VW Touareg driven by Carlos Sainz of Spain. I have no idea how to pronounce the name of the vehicle and I was stationed in Germany for 5 years.

Day 3 is spilt into 2 segments totaling 226 kilometers. I don’t know how much ground Robby can make up on it but I sure hope it’s a lot considering day 2’s problems.

Dakar Rally Day 1 - Team Hummer

As there’s not much going on with the Beach Boy Bubbas, I’ve been trying to keep up with Team Hummer’s and Robby Gordon’s efforts. They didn’t seem to have any problems going through scrutineering, the Dakar Rally equivalent to NA$CAR’s tech inspection but much more involved as it includes safety equipment not found on Cup cars, lots of paperwork which must be carried, and a navigation system which is furnished by the sanctioning body, ASO. ASO’s scrutinizing is nothing like Frank Zappa’s Central Scrutinizer from the Joe’s Garage albums. Robby is well-known on the Dakar Rally circuit, around the globe, and had fans screaming out his name when he drove his Hummer out of the scrutineering area.

Eliseo Salazar is driving a second Hummer, the Speed Energy/Cristal CERO Hummer. As a native of Chile, he’ll have a big fan following on that part of the course and have the “home field” advantage over his competitors when they get to Chile.

This year, Team Hummer has 6 support vehicles: 2 6X6 Freightliners, 1 H1, 1 Chevy crew cab 4X4, 2 motorcycles. The plan is to have one Freightliner leading to the next bivouac and the other as the caboose with the two 4X4's in the middle. Each of the 6X6's will also have a motorcycle for quick response, something that would have been good to have last year. Last year, Team Hummer had what was basically a mobile motel. This year, the mobile motel was left home. Everybody gets to rough it in a tent, including Robby, Eliseo, and the other drivers and “co-pilots”.

The bike rider who won the Baja 1000 in 2010, Quinn Cody, will also be carrying the Speed Energy Drink sponsorship and colors on his #15 bike.

Unlike the same old, same old opening ceremonies we see week after week during the NA$CAR races, the Dakar Rally ceremonies seem to be a little more flexible and fluid to the moment. Some folks may have heard the term “jumping the shark”. Well, after the fans started screaming they wanted Robby to jump the podium in his Hummer during the opening ceremonies, ASO officials had a quick confab and gave Robby the “thumbs up” to go ahead and do it. Imagine how many weeks it would take NA$CAR to discuss whether or not a driver could jump the podium. You’ve got to give it to the ASO folks for giving the fans what they want, unlike NA$CAR.

It seems Stage 1 had it’s own set of unique problems that plagued everyone. Lots and lots of mud. Besides a communication problem between Robby and his navigator due to a failed microphone, they ran out of windshield washer fluid causing them to lose time, about 11 minutes, and go off road at one point. Robby’s teammate Eliseo Salazar finished Day 1 in 28^th place, 34 minutes, 25 seconds behind first place.

Day 2 is a mixed bag with narrow mountain roads and some rough terrain. As the Hummers don’t run a turbo-charged engine, they’ll probably lose some ground til they get to the rough terrain.

You can follow the Dakar Rally and the progress of Team Hummer at http://www.dakar.com/ or catch the daily half hour recap on Versus at 3:30 PM and at either 7:00 PM or 7:30 PM, depending on the night, so check your schedule.