Sensationalism, North Wilkesboro Rumor, Shrubbery Pruned, and Other Things

Sensationalism versus Competent Journalism
　
With the recent arrest and indictment of Jeremy Mayfield, a number of supposed news sites and racing web sites have been making some rather phenomenal claims regarding the arrest, implying things that aren‘t true, or just plain misreporting or misrepresenting what has happened.
　
One example is a couple of news sites said that Mayfield was arrested for having illegal designer bath salts. Nowhere on the arrest record, search warrant inventory, or indictment is there any mention of illegal bath salts. Another example was that Mayfield was arrested for sales and possession of marijuana. Unlike these supposed accredited reporters, I did some investigating on the marijuana charge that was reported. It seems that a James Bryant showed up at the Mayfield property well after the search warrant was executed and Mayfield was being booked at the jail. The police searched Mr. Bryant’s vehicle and found a small amount of marijuana, which falls into the category of personal possession not intent to sell, and a marijuana pipe. Mr. Bryant’s marijuana and pipe were confiscated, he was issued a citation, and allowed to leave. Nowhere on the search warrant or inventory is there an amount of marijuana connected to Mayfield which would be considered enough for sales and possession. The only mention of marijuana is connected to Mr. Bryant. But rather than issue a retraction or correction, these sites just let it hang out there.
　
Some so-called journalist have tried implying that Mayfield is a drug dealer because of his gun collection or that he’s getting ready to incite an armed insurrection or arm a militia group. Mayfield is a gun collector and enjoys doing some plinking and target practice from time to time. While 69 guns might seem like a lot to some folks, it’s nothing compared to some gun collectors I’ve read about who own guns numbering into the hundreds to include fully automatic weapons such as the old Thompson sub-machine gun, the venerable M-2 Browning .50 cal. heavy machine gun, M-3 “grease guns”, Uzi’s, and others. And the guns in Mayfield’s range from antique firearms to current modern day rifles and pistols. Nowhere is there a fully automatic weapon. One site tried implying that the fact that Mayfield has pistols in his gun collection to him being a drug dealer. This is plain and simply an example of yellow journalism at its finest.
　
Until Mayfield actually goes through the judicial process on this latest debacle, I would suggest that these “wonderful accredited” journalist go back, look at what’s been actually turned up, look at what they’ve written, and either issue retractions or corrections to their mis-statements. I’m not sticking up for Mayfield here, I’m just saying that there’s a lot of sensationalism going on that’s being passed off as competent reporting and it’s bad reporting in an attempt to generate a lot of hits for those web sites.
　
Shrubbery Penalized　
In what I view as being little more than a slap on the wrist for pushing Ron Hornaday into the outside retaining wall under caution at Texas Motor Speedway last Friday night, NA$CAR fined Shrubbery $50,000 and placed him on probation until Dec. 31. Big whoop. I would’ve went directly with the back-up threat of indefinite suspension. Carl Long's crew chief got fined $200,000 and Long gets docked 200 owner's and driver's points, and both Long and his crew chief were suspended for 12 races (later educed to 8) for a worn out engine in a non-points event. Shrubbery gets fined $50,000, parked one Cup & Busch race, and probation for what amounts to 2 race weekends for what some view as attempted vehicular homicide. Makes perfect sense what NA$CAR did. NOT!
　
Shrubbery has given his sponsors a big black eye as well as JGR. I won’t say he’s hurt NA$CAR because they’ve tolerated his past antics and relied on Shrubbery to generate headlines for them in an attempt to fill the grandstands and raise TV ratings. Which BTW, hasn’t been very successful.
　
Fan reaction, as a whole, has been negative. With M&M’s being the most visible sponsor, numerous fans have written and said they’re boycotting their products because of Shrubbery’s continued on-track hijinks. M&M’s pulled Shrubbery’s picture off their web site and issued what I consider to be about a terse a statement as one can expect in these days of political correctness.
　
Should M&M’s pull their sponsorship on the JGR car, you can rest assured that Shrubbery won’t be driving for JGR. And if they pull their sponsorship on the KBM vehicles, you can bet some of the other sponsors might follow suit.
　
Back when Tony Stewart pulled some of his acts in the Home Depot car, Home Depot insisted that he attend anger management classes. I think this is the minimum M&M’s should do should they not pull their sponsorship. Whatever actions JGR takes above and beyond that is up to the team owners.
　
Manufacturer’s Championship　
Chevy won the Cup & Truck Series manufacturer’s championships and Ford just wrapped up the manufacturer’s championship for the Busch Series. Shut out is the big T from Japan. However, as a consolation prize, since everyone‘s a winner in NA$CAR, they get to be the pace car for the Daytona 500.
　
North Wilkesboro Speedway　
I’ve been asked several questions about North Wilkesboro and here’s what I know. The company that was running the track folded up its tents and went home. There’s no sign of them to be found anywhere. Apparently, Steve O’Donnell, NA$CAR’s VP for Racing Operations and the man who swore NA$CAR was sports entertainment, has been talking to someone about the track and the possibilities of it maybe returning to the schedule after certain repairs and renovations are made. Whether or not O’Donnell will confirm this remains to be seen and I doubt you’ll get Bruton to fess up either. My take is that IF North Wilkesboro does come back, it’ll be for one of the lower tier NA$CAR series like the Whelen Modified Series and at best, maybe a Truck or Busch Series race despite fans demands for more short track races on the Cup schedule.
　
Here’s some trivia about North Wilkesboro Speedway. When NA$CAR was first looking into the SAFER walls, some of the test were conducted at North Wilkesboro Speedway and proof of it can still be found on one of the front stretch retaining walls.
　
Phoenix Rain-Out?　
Based on some current weather forecasts, there’s a possibility that the Phoenix race could get rained out. Should the rain continue until Thursday, the race would have to be rescheduled and run after the Homestead race making it, rather than Homestead, the season finale. Wouldn’t that just rain on Faux King Brian’s parade?
　
Veteran’s Day　
On Friday, November 11^th, a number of companies are offering a variety of discounts and free meals to our active duty, retired, and military veterans as a way of showing their appreciation for those who are serving or have served our country. Here’s a link to a web site showing a lot of these offers:
　
http://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts/

If You Please We Are Legalese

Steve O’Donnell’s Affidavit
　
This is from an affidavit by Steve O’Donnell, NA$CAR’s Vice President for Racing Operations, that was filed on June 25, 2009. Please note Paragraph 5. I know I’ve stated this before in various articles but now I wanted to prove it once and for all to any doubters that might remain. I underlined the key phrase in paragraph 5.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHARLOTTE DIVISION
Case No. XXXX-XX-XXXXX-XXX
AFFIDAVIT OF STEVE O'DONNELL

I, Steve O'Donnell, being first duly sworn, depose and state as follows:

1. I am a Florida resident, over the age of eighteen, under no disability and competent to testify to the facts set forth herein. I am authorized to give this affidavit on behalf of National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (''NASCAR").

2. I am fully familiar with the facts stated in this affidavit, and where opinions are expressed, I am competent to state such opinions based on my training, knowledge, experience and expertise. If sworn as a witness, I am competent to testify to the contents of this affidavit.

3. I am Vice President of Racing Operations for NASCAR.

4. NASCAR was organized in 1948 as a sanctioning body by Brian France's grandfather, "Big Bill," to establish a common set of rules for stock car races, and to ensure that prize money was actually given to drivers and teams rather than squandered by race promoters. For nearly sixty years NASCAR has grown its organization through business acumen, foresight, and sacrifice. Today, with an estimated 75 million fans, NASCAR is the second most watched sport on television, and sanctions seventeen of the twenty highest attended sporting events in the United States. Since 1948, NASCAR has supplemented its rules and policies to account for the safety of all its participants.

5. NASCAR has taken particular care to ensure that spectators at NASCAR events are provided with family-friendly sports entertainment that is both exciting and safe.

As you can see, there are several things whose truth is definitely questionable starting in paragraph 4 with the 75 million fans. That one really jumps out. If there are 75 million fans, how come there’s never been a viewing audience higher than 38 million in the last 10 years? Why are souvenir sales down the toilet? Why are there so many empty seats in the grandstands? Also that “NASCAR has grown its organization through business acumen, foresight, and sacrifice”. If the business acumen and foresight were true, how come the grandstands are so empty, ratings down so far, and so many teams have closed their doors since 2003? Why have so many sponsors left the “sport”? Why have the networks and at least one major sponsor looked at ways to get out of their contracts?

And as to sacrifice, we know NA$CAR hasn’t made many sacrifices. The fans have made sacrifices in terms of time, money, vacations, travel, and seeing the history being re-written, revised, and made PC and historic tracks which provided thrilling racing for generations shut down. Fans have sacrificed their dignity by being lied to and having their intelligence insulted by NA$CAR, its leadership, and the NA$CAR controlled media. As to being safe for the fans, just ask the fans at Talladega who were injured just how safe NA$CAR is. And if the races are so “exciting, why are so many fans complaining about how boring the races are?
　
About the only sacrifices being made by NA$CAR is having to drink well-brand instead of brand name “sodas”.

Here’s how the WWE is defined:

World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc.

(NYSE: WWE) is a publicly traded, privately controlled sports entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales.

The WWE is a sports entertainment company. NA$CAR provides family oriented sports entertainment. Hello? No wonder there are so many conspiracy theories abounding as to races being fixed, why only certain drivers can win, and why Ms Terry DeBris cautions come out to “assist” certain drivers in keeping from getting lapped, give them a lap back, or to keep them in the lead, or to give them a win.
　
　
Section 13

In the article I wrote regarding the Exclusivity, it referred to Section 13 in regards to category in the Telecommunications, Tire, and Fuel Categories. Below is Section 13.
　
　
13. DEFINITION OF “CATEGORY”. For purposes of this Agreement, “Category” refers, collectively, to the Telecommunications Category, Fuel Category, and Tire Category defined below.
　
(a) “Telecommunications Category” means wire line and wireless person-to- person and data to person communication services, including local and long distance services, wireless services, and two-way radio services (collectively “Services”) and hardware defined as wireless equipment required or utilized for the use of wireless Services (e.g., wireless phones, commercial grade two-way radios, handheld units for the wireless receipt and/or transmission of data, pagers (e.g., Blackberry, Palm, etc.) and accessories related to such equipment (e.g., face plates, belt clips, headsets, ring tones, wall paper, etc.) Notwithstanding the foregoing, NASCAR, in its sole discretion, may allow any and all existing souvenir product licensing relationships in the Telecommunications Category (e.g., cell phone covers, holders, etc.) to continue through the current term of their agreement.
　
(b) “Fuel Category” means combustion-based fuel and fuel blends for automotive vehicles including hydrocarbon-based, diesel, bio-diesel, ethanol, or alternative fuels and fuel blends.
　
( c) “Tire Category” means tires for vehicles including, but not limited to, passenger cars, vans, sport utility vehicles (SUV’s), light trucks, commercial trucks, trailers, motorcycles, aircraft, mopeds, scooters, and recreational vehicles (RV’s), including racing tires for any such vehicles listed herein.
　Basically, in the “Telecommunications Category”, unless it’s a telecommunications product of the Cup Series sponsor or a licensed NA$CAR product, it’s prohibited. And if you read between the lines, that means that web servers like AOL, EarthLink, and others are prohibited. As to the fuel category, about the only thing allowed in the “Fuel Category” is wind, solar, coal, nuclear, water, wood, and people powered “fuels” or motor oils. In the “Tire Category”, I guess bicycle tires, tank treads, and skateboard wheels are exempt. Other than that, you won’t be seeing Hoosier, Michelin, Bridgestone, Firestone, Yokohama, Kumho, Dunlop, Cooper, Toyo, Pirelli, BF Goodrich, or any other brand of tire being advertised on any race vehicle, team uniform, or hauler.