Saturday, October 10, 2009
Reasons Bud Selig Will Miss Bond Breaking Hank Aaron's Record
Drug Testing: Driving, Biking & Positive Results
Why Goodell Should Send Vick to Camp
Moonlighting: Edwards "Dislocates" Thumb in Late Model Crash
Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Really, Or I Won't Watch
I'm Going Chili Bowling
News I Could Do Without
Is It Time for College Football Yet?
Why I'm Becoming a Kyle Busch Fan
Iowa Speedway: From Mark Martin to Scott Pruett, It's All Good
Sports Writer Challenge: The Greening of Nascar
Stepney Gate: Or how industrial spying may affect the F-1 Point Battle
Dirt Tracking: What to Know Before You Go
Continuing the Nascar Phenomenon
Nascar has grown from a fledgling race series started in the South to a nationwide sport in six decades. While merchandise and ticket sales are brisk, there are some clouds on the horizon - some venues are having trouble "selling out" their stands, costs are escalating, and fans appear to be turning off their TVs as ratings are down. Is the future a return to a regionalized series or is stock car racing malleable enough to garner worldwide acclaim?
A look to the future must first include a look to the past. Nascar is here today because of the things it has done "right," and it is a return and reaffirmation of those values that will continue its growth well into the future.
Races
In its first racing year, 1949, Nascar sanctioned seven races in its strickly stock class. All of those races were run on dirt tracks. In 1950, on Labor Day, Harold Brasington hosted a 500 mile race at a paved speedway he built after watching the Indy 500. The Southern 500 was born. And it proved to be the spark that lead to the building of paved speedways and the growth of the sport.
In contrast, last year, Nascar sanctioned a 36 race Nextel Cup series, a 35 race Busch series, and a 25 race Craftsman Truck series. All of those races were run on paved tracks. In addition, Nascar sponsors a Nascar East and a Nascar West series and other weekly series at local tracks around the country.
The willingness to take a chance in scheduling a race at an unproven, unraced track led to great growth in the sport. But how can Nascar continue this tradition today?
Scheduling races always draws controversy. The famed Darlington Speedway was stripped of its Labor Day race, "The Southern 500" when Nascar moved the race to California Speedway. The stated purpose was that Darlington had not been selling out, but the California market would. The change occurred in 2005, and to date the California race has yet to sell out, but Darlington has managed to sell-out its Mother's Day race.
Tracks located in the South have suffered the growing pains of Nascar the most. Track Closures at Rockingham and North Wilkesboro pop to mind. Those tracks lost dates due to purchase of the track and closure to move Cup dates, or because Nascar wanted to move races to other locales.
In the future, Nascar wants to expand its reach by locating tracks in Washington State and New York City. Venues, such as Las Vegas, who only have one race a year are looking to expand to two events. Young upstarts like Kentucky Speedway (who has sued to get a Cup date) and Iowa Speedway, who desperately wants any Nascar date, are hungrily stalking the ever elusive Nascar Scheduling Date. But growth means tracks that currently have two races who are not selling out, or have limited ticket selling/seat capacity, may lose one date, or close altogether. Those options lead to upset fans on one side, and ecstatic fans on the other.
A workable solution is a rotating schedule. Tracks can be guaranteed one date a year, and the possibility of two dates every other year or every third year. Fans would be appeased to some degree, new racing venues could open, and Nascar would expand its reach into untapped markets.
Iron Fist
Nascar has been governed from its inception by the France family. Beginning with William H.G. France (know as "Big Bill"), through his son, Bill, Jr. through Bill Jr's son, Brian, the France family has maintained a fisthold on the business. They've governed who gets races, who races in the races, and how the purse payout will be made.
The beauty of this system is that the power in the organization is everyone knows where the buck stops. If Big Bill or Bill Jr said that was the way it was, it was. Today, that power is welded by Brian France and Mike Helton, the President of Nascar. Other race sanctioning bodies have been plagued by ever-changing committee rule, but Nascar has presented a united front in governing its races.
The downside is that decisions are made in semi-secret, leading fans, competitors and sponsors to speculate to the reasoning behind decisions. Most recently, the tight fisted Nascar penalty machine has issued penalties that on the surface appear to be contrary - COT penalties on three cars are identical despite one crew chief's prior record of penalties; one competitor parked for a race after an in-race incident while another is given a fine for an incident on pit road involving a pit crew member.
To fix these problems, Nascar must re-examine its penalty book. Currently Nascar has Robin Pemberton who attempts to answer questions, but often is either inarticulate or unsure why something has been done.
All mainline sports have commissioners, referees, and open rule books. Nascar needs to follow suit. Appoint a penalty tsar, and let the same person make the decision for each penalty. The current appeal struction could be tweaked as well, so that it is not merely a rubber stamp on the issued penalty. Competitors and fans alike should know who the penalty tsar is, and that person must be able to articulate exactly why the penalty was issued. The current rulebook should be strengthened and the vagueness taken out. No more Rule 12-A-4 - "Actions Detrimental to Stock Car Racing" as the last rule standing to punish behavior.
Access to Fans
Much of Nascar's fan base is there due to the open access Nascar allows to its drivers. In the early days, fans were allowed in the pits to speak with drivers and crew members. Richard Petty, the King, was crowned such because he always took time for the fans who came to races.
Today, corporate sponsors have purchased a lot of the drivers' and crews' time. Pit tours are limited to fans who have access through employment or familial relationships. The average fan who shows up at the track has little opportunity to rub shoulders with their favorite drivers.
Obviously, sponsors have the right to access to the teams they finance. Similarly, if Nascar wants to continue its explosive growth, it needs to maintain the "feel" of driver access. Tracks have taken steps to provide some access through fan zones in the infield, giving fans views of the garage. Drivers generate money through the sales of their merchandise, and many schedule signings at the track.
But Nascar needs to do more. The top ten drivers should be required to participate in an autograph session at the track the following year. Fans can be charged a nominal fee of $5, with the proceeds going to the Nascar Foundation. Ideally, a lottery system to issue the tickets would be utilized, with no exceptions.
Fans also want access to races through TV, radio, and the internet. While current TV ratings are generally down this year, some of that could be attributable to the "new" ways to view a race that have sprung up in the last year. Direct TV Hot Pass and Nascar Track Pass give fans the option to use their satellite TV or computer to "watch" a race. Fans using these technologies may not be watching races on traditional TV. Nascar must continue to lead the way in these technological raceviewing areas, while keeping costs down for the fans.
Sponsorship/ Teams
At each Nextel Cup race this year, several race teams have been sent home after failing to qualify. Years ago, Nascar set the field at 43 cars. And the current rule is that the top 35 teams in points are guaranteed a spot in the field. It is this rule that needs to be changed to continue the growth of the sport via more teams and sponsorships.
Ideally, the rule protects teams who race weekly from being sent home by a purse-snatcher who shows up and races select events, hoping to take home the big bucks, but has no intention of being at smaller purse races. However, the rule has reached its natural conclusion and needs to be modified.
There were 53 teams who showed up to race at Daytona this weekend. Ten of those teams were sent home. As rain prevented qualifying, most of those teams did not have the opportunity to qualify. On other weekends, teams have been fast enough, only to be bumped by a slower, but guaranteed team.
Nascar should modify the rule as follows: Teams in the top 12 in points after each race is guaranteed a spot in the race. All others race their way in. Will this shake things up? You bet. And it will make qualifying important again, unlike the current system. Nascar must then allow teams the opportunity to change from qualifying set ups to race set-ups, so the impound rule needs tweaking too.
Sponsors may take more risks with non-upper tier teams as they have a better chance of seeing their logo on TV each week than under the current system.
Personalities
Dale Earnhardt. Darrell Waltrip. Richard Petty. Cale Yarborough. Jeff Gordon. Tony Stewart. Each one conjurs up a reaction in Nascar fans.
What the sport needs now is a true villain.
The Busch brothers are leading candidates, but they clean up their act every so often. Tony Stewart is a perennial candidate and current leader in this area. And Juan Pablo Montoya's aggressiveness could earn him the spot.
But nothing stirs up a fan base like a run-in with a driver who they hate, and gosh darn it, who keeps winning despite their hexes.
Nascar is a fertile breeding ground for the milktoast mealymouthed driver. Sponsors frown on snappy comebacks and insults on other drivers. Owners don't want to read about their driver in the morning editorial. And of course, no driver wants to be booed week in and week out at introductions.
But aren't fans tired of the generic response to "What happened out there?" Or "Will you change how you race him next week?"
We don't need another Ms. Manners graduate in Nascar. We need a good villain.
A few rule changes, a few fan-friendly tweaks, and (at least) one good villain. That's all it will take to keep Nascar rolling into the next sixty years.
Information from Nascar.com, Jayski.com, The Unauthorized Nascar Fan Guide 2004 by Bill Fleischman and Al Pierce.
Richard Petty turned 70 today. Quite a momentous occasion given that the man has won 200 Nascar races, 7 championships, and started racing back in the day when safety meant soaking your t-shirt in fluid to make it non-flammable!
Despite the impressive records, King Richard has endured his share of heartache in racing too. There were horrible accidents, contested wins (once by his own father), and the loss of his grandson, Adam Petty.
But through it all, the King has kept up his smile, his fan-friendly ways, and his sense of humor.
Happy Birthday!
If I Wasn't In Racing, I'd Be...
I was pondering what various members of the Nascar family would be doing if they weren't involved in racing. Here is what I came up with...
Jeff Gordon - hair model
Jimmie Johnson - professional skier
Tony Stewart - stubble model for print and television ads by day; tow truck driver by night
Casey Mears - Uncle Rick's trophy polisher
Kurt Busch - baseball coach/ wrigley field regular
Kyle Busch - insurance salesman
Chad Knaus - holder of the most US patents ever awarded
Brian Vickers - bartender
JJ Yeley - mechanic
Ken Schrader - don't know but there'd be a party every weekend at his house
Denny Hamilin - lawn care business owner
Carl Edwards - Winnebago deliverer
Kasey Kahne - lumber truck driver
Jeff Burton - community college professor
Clint Bowyer - cowboy
Kyle Petty - youth pastor or Harley dealer
Bill Weber- used car salesman
Jeff Hammond - WWE executive/ retired professional wrestler
Darrell Waltrip - late night radio talk show host
Matt Yocum - men's store clerk
Greg Zipadelli - psychologist, specializing in anger management
Elliott Sadler - county western singer
Ward Burton - teacher of high and low Virginian
Kevin Harvick - probably depends on whether he has Delana!
Juan Pablo Montoya - cabbie, Bogota
Mark Martin - the guy you hope you live next to
Jack Roush, owner of men's clothing store where Yocum works
Roger Penske - President
Chip Ganassi - investment banker
Richard Childress - travel agent specializing in big game hunts
Dale Earnhardt Jr - interior/ exterior car designer at a specialty shop
Does Fairness Matter?
Historically, Nascar has battled the perception that it is unfair in issuing penalties to competitors. Many times, Nascar has made the right call. Other times, Nascar has acted in its own best interest. The over arching question is: Does Fairness Matter?
As Nascar inches its way forward in the popular sports sweepstakes, outsiders want to know that the sport does not kow-tow to sponsors, drivers, or fans and that the penultimate goal is winning - with a rules legal car. If observers perceive that the fix is in, they will not remain or become fans, sponsors, or competitors. Thus, fairness, or at least the perception of it, is crucial.
To add to the confusion is the rule book of Nascar. A document not available at your local library but solely handed out to the annointed - licensed drivers, mechanics, and owners. The frustratingly vague document lists rules such as 12-4-A, which lists "actions detrimental to stock car racing," as guidence for competitors' actions. The rulebook also governs such mundane things as weight of the car and number of crew members over the wall in a pit stop.
Rule 12-4-A is frequently cited as authority when competitors are sanctioned: Everyone from Steve LaTarte, Jeff Gordon's crew chief, to Chad Knaus, Jimmie Johnson's crew chief, to Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Tony Stewart have been found in violation of this catch-all.
Last week, LaTarte and Knaus violated the rule by "Fixing" bumpers on the Car of Tomorrow. In 2005, Earnhardt Jr earned his violation by saying "s$%#" in victory lane at Talladega. Tony Stewart has multiple violations of 12-4-A, most recently for failing to meet his post race media obligations.
The vagueness of the rule gives Nascar the room to manuever when it sees something it doesn't like - whether on or off the track. While the manipulation of the rule helps Nascar, it leaves competitors in a grey zone. And leaves Nascar open to complaints of unfairness and favoritism.
If the rules don't specifically say I can't do it, then I should be able to do it, right? While this works sometimes, such as the coil-binding advantages last year which were legal, it doesn't at other times, such as when Jimmie Johnson's car had a device that lowered the car (Nascar promptly sent out a technical memo advising crew chiefs not to try it even though Johnson was not penalized).
To a casual fan, the way these rules play out is confusing. Why is a competitor saying "s#$@" worth 25 points when another one says "F$#@" and gets no sanction? Why is one competitor sent home with a 1/8 height variation while another keeps his win? How come two competitors who completely miss qualifying are allowed to race when another is sent home? Why is running into a competitor on the track worse than hitting him on pit road with a crewmember present? Is there any modification you can do to the COT and if not, is any "modification" that is caught mean a 6 race suspension, 100 points, and $100,000 fine?
Does it make a difference who you are? Who your sponsor is? Where you stand in points? If it does, then Nascar cannot claim it fairly metes out punishment. Equity requires that you be blind to things that don't matter i.e. sponsor, popularity, or point standing. Equity by definition is impartial justice, fairness.
Some Nascar fans would tell you that it absolutely makes a difference who you are and how you will be penalized. It should not be that way.
Of course, fans are not the most impartial people in the world. They have favorite teams that can do no wrong. They want wins, sometimes at any cost. But they want to know that going into the game, their team has a chance to win. A chance to shine.
How many tickets would the Yankees sell if you knew before hand that whatever happened in the game, the umpires would insure that the Red Soxs beat the Yankees? Or that the Royals would win the World Series this year? Does the steriod scandal in baseball affect ticket sales or viewership?
Nascar television ratings are falling. Is it because the "new" fans are falling out of love with the sport? Is the fad over? Or is it because of the perceived favoritism given some teams? Was Tony Stewart right when he complained about yellow flags being thrown at the end of races for a green-white-checker were deliberate to help some teams? Or was it that his statements hit a nerve in fans who perceive that is the case?
Fairness matters. If Nascar wants to continue to grow, it must address this issue. Nascar must look at its penalty scheme and determine if it is genuinely being equitable in the punishments it hands out. Nascar has to articulate why the penalties are fair. And it must deal with the perception that there are favorites.
And dealing with the perception may be the hardest task of all.
Parity Among Cheaters, Swearers, Wreckers & Other No-Good Rascals?
The past few weeks have shed an interesting light on the way Nascar disciplines. From Kurt Busch's pit road run-in to Junior's bracket-gate to Hendrick bumper-gate to Musgrave's melt-down, Nascar has had to deal with various infractions of the rules.
The overall view to the observer appears to be disjointed and frankly, unfair.
COT issues:
Dale Earnhardt Jr's COT showed up with unapproved brackets. Nascar sat his crew chief for six weeks (Eury Jr is back next week at Daytona), fined both owner and driver 100 points with a $100,000 fine.
Jeff Gordon's and Jimmie Johnson's COTs showed up with a modified bumper. Both crew chiefs are out for six weeks and another $100,000 fine. Neither car could qualify or practice on Friday, but were allowed to practice on Saturday and start the race on Sunday.
Seems like virtually identical penalties, right? Well, here's my problem with this whole situation: Chad Knaus, Jimmie Johnson's crew chief, is a perennial rule breaker. Steve LaTarte, Gordon's crew chief, and Tony Eury Jr have not had violations to the degree Knaus has. Why does Knaus get the SAME penalty as two penalty virgins?
Knaus's last suspension was 4 races after a car body violation at Daytona in February 2006. Prior to that, there were rule violations at Dover and Las Vegas. Do you think another 6 races will stop him from tinkering with the car again?
Brian Vicker's car was found to be too low after qualifying. So, his time was disallowed, and since he isn't in the top 35 in points (unlike Gordon and Johnson), he was sent home. It should be noted that Vicker's car passed inspection prior to qualifying, and the car was walked onto the track, qualified and walked back to inspection. Could the car have settled on its own? Yes. But his penalty for something that may or may not be intentional, was worse than the penalty for two cars who clearly and intentionally tried to circumvent the rules (Gordon and Johnson).
Swearing
Dale Earnhardt Jr famously dropped an S-bomb on national TV over his elation in victory lane. He was penalized points and fined by Nascar.
Last week, Kyle Petty dropped an F-bomb on national TV during an on-track incident. He will not be penalized.
I don't understand why an F-bomb is less objectionable than an S-bomb. When I was growing up, I couldn't get away with either one, but the penalty for an S-bomb was much less than an F-bomb. F-bombs left you standing for a week, an S-bomb maybe 24 hours.
Nascar needs to be consistant. I don't think either situation should be penalized, and frankly, I think the networks should be shot for not delaying things for about 5 seconds to bleep that language. Oh, wait, didn't they all agree to do that after Junior's incident? Must have forgot how to bleep since these boys rarely ever swear...
Wreckers
Nascar has had a few famous "wrecks" lately. First, there was the Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards mess at Pocono. The penalty for that one was losing a lap for Stewart, and a brief parking for Edwards.
Carl Edwards bashed into Dale Earnhardt Jr after a checkered flag at Michigan when he believed Junior had punted him out of the way for the win.
Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne had an ongoing spat during a race that ended up with both of them having significant damage, and a visit to the red trailer.
Kurt Busch parked beside Tony Stewart on pit road, almost hitting a crewman. He was fined and lost points, after Nascar parked him for the rest of the race.
Ted Musgrave bashed into Kelly Bires in a truck race, and is parked a week.
To me, the Musgrave incident looks a lot like the Kyle Busch fiasco and the Edwards-Junior mess at Michigan last year. I don't understand why Musgrave is parked for a week and the others got off with barely a slap on the wrist. The Stewart-Bowyer-Edwards tangle at Pocono probably should have resulted in someone sitting for a race as well. Likely candidate: Tony Stewart, another perennial probationer.
Where do we go from here?
To be consistant, Nascar needs to remember that the perennial rule violator's should not be given a pass when they break the rules. Knaus's suspension should have been for at least 12 races, and should include the Chase and the two races prior to it. Nascar should also mandate that during the suspension he is to have NO contact with the team. If that rule is broken, then it should be a one year suspension for Knaus and whomever broke the rule with him. The car should also have been parked for at least 1 race. And by that I mean the WHOLE car is parked. Each and every team member from sponsor to Driver to shop boy prevented from entering the race track. Harsh, yes, but this team knows Knaus breaks the rules. He's been caught on multiple occasions, and if Nascar continues with the slaps on the wrist and a wink, nothing will change. Park the whole team one week, and No one will gamble.
I'm afraid that Nascar will not handle this the right way. In other words, even if the next car to break a rule has never been in violation before, they will send them home, while guys like Knaus and Ray Evernham are allowed to continue on their way.
On the swearing, Nascar needs to get out of the business of limiting speech. Should the competitors be aware that they should use appropriate language? Yes. But let the broadcasters do their job and keep the slip-ups off the air.
Nascar needs to define where the line is on these on-track incidents. In the past, they have had a hands off policy for those incidents, probably rightfully so. Unless a driver admitted on the radio to doing something (ie Junior admitting he spun deliberately at Bristol), there were no penalties. Several of these incidents seem intentional, and Nascar should do something about that, especially those that put people in the pits in danger while doing their jobs. But the penalties should be consistant - why park one guy but not another?
On the Vicker's issue, let's just get rid of the top 35 rule. If you are one of the fastest 43, then you race. Otherwise, you go home. Fail inspection, then you are going home. Period.
So-No-Mon-Toya?
Ah, Sonoma. Where things slow down to the point of fermentation. This week, the Nascar boys add right hand turns to their repertoire and slow things down as they tackle the road course at Infineon.
This week marks the first race where Juan Pablo Montoya could steal the spotlight. And the week where the pressure will be on Montoya to perform. As a Formula One winner, the road courses should be Montoya's forte on the Cup circuit.
What is Sonoma compared to Monaco? Or Spa? Or Monza?
Montoya delivered in his first chance at Nascar glory in Mexico City during the Busch race. Of Course, it took aggressive driving, and spinning a teammate at the end of the race to make it happen.
Will Montoya go to such lengths again? Or will he be content to finish with a top 5? 10? 25? Or will he want to win in his rookie season so badly that not even Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart can stop him?
I think he'll be ready to go... Otherwise, there's always Watkins Glen in August...
Guess the Sponsor: Junior to Drive for New Beverage Sponsor?
On Windtunnel tonight (my favorite TV program), Darrell Waltrip commented that he didn't think that Dale Earnhardt Jr would be driving the Bud mobile next year at Hendrick.
Waltrip picked Hendrick Motorsports as the place Junior would land almost at the outset with Junior's announcement that he was leaving DEI.
Waltrip told Dave Despain that he didn't think Junior would be staying with Bud, as a clean slate was what he was seeking. The chance to be his own man. Waltrip's only other clue was that the car would not be red. Despain commented on credit card sponsors, but Waltrip was adament that it would be a beverage sponsor. Waltrip pointed out that Bud had another year on the contract with DEI.
Regardless if Waltrip knows what he's talking about, it is interesting to speculate. So who are your picks? A Beverage sponsor or something else entirely?
I'm thinking either Mountain Dew or Dr. Pepper... But then there's Gatorade...
And where will Kelloggs land?
Lewis Hamilton Wins Indianapolis Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton backed up his pole run with a win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His main competition was his teammate, Fernando Alonso. Alonso, a two time Formula One Champion, actually had a noticable bauble on the track that probably cost him the race.
Hamilton, a Formula One rookie, has already had a storybook Formula One career. He has never started a race farther back in the pack than sixth. He has never finished off the podium, and now, he has won twice, with the races running back to back weekends.
The win puts him 10 points ahead of Alonso in the Championship standings. A win is equal to ten points, thus Alonso needs to win a race, and to have Hamilton not finish in the points to tie.
The win adds to the tension on the team, as Alonso was McLaren's #1 driver, with Hamilton the team's #2. In Formula One, while all drivers are going for the win, the #1 driver is the presumed leader of the team and the driver the team thinks has the best chance of winning (and winning the Championship). Hamilton has rapidly turned that logic on its head.
In a USAToday article after last week's win, the reporter prodded Hamilton about a Nascar career. Hamilton didn't rule it out but pointed out that he had many goals to achieve in F-1 first. If Montoya brings Nascar the hispanic community, what would happen if another F-1 driver (possibly a Champion) hopped over to drive stock cars?
Personally, I don't think Hamilton will do it. He's British and has grown up with the ideal of a Formula One Championship as the penultimate goal. At retirement, even if that happens tomorrow, he'll probably go the way of Sir Jackie Stewart - to the broadcasting booth or Michael Schumacher - as an adviser/talent scout for his team.
Random Musings on Racing This Weekend
Things That Make You Go Hmm...
Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on June 12, 2007.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is having a press conference tomorrow. Widespread speculation is that he will announce what team he will be driving for next year.
News reports cite anonymous sources that claim Junior is going to Hendrick, and Kyle Busch is being bounced to ... DEI. The press reports that Gibbs denies involvement in the press conference, and Richard Childress is out of the country. Hendrick declines to comment on the story.
There are several things about this story that make me wonder:
1. Didn't Junior just claim last week that things had slowed down due to the death of Bill France Jr? I know that if I were constantly badgered about a story, I'd probably say things were slow too, even if they weren't. But was this deal cut over the casket at the funeral or what?
2. Hasn't Junior had other press conferences for things like, say his Busch team? To my knowledge, he didn't specify what this one was about.
3. Didn't Hendrick just announce there was no room at the inn? Was this secret code to Kyle Busch to sign the damn contract already, or don't let the door hit you on the way out? I'm no Busch fan, but he has won several races, and he is very young. Hendrick stuck with him through a lot. Is this still fall out from Busch leaving the track when his team was frantically working on his car? And which Junior happened to be available to drive?
4. Wouldn't it just be like Richard Childress (or Dale Earnhardt for that matter) to fly in to town at the last minute for the press conference? And didn't Jeff Burton mention that RCR was going to 4 cars last week?
5. Would Junior really want to go to Hendrick, where he will be the third driver on the totum pole? Gordon will always be the top cat, and Jimmie Johnson is a champion as well. Junior brings with him sponsors and fans, but he'll probably never be the #1 driver there. Then again, maybe he doesn't want to be the #1 driver...
6. Would Junior want to go to RCR? That's a big step back into his father's shadow, and not very far out of his step-mother's shadow. Especially with the merged motor program.
7. Why hasn't anyone talked to Ginn about the press conference?
8. Would Junior want to go to Gibbs? Tony is a 2x champion, and Denny Hamlin is the young gun. He'd fit in, if it just wasn't for that sponsorship problem.
9. Does this mean Kurt Busch pimps Miller Lite and Kyle Busch pimps Bud?
10. Would Junior get the Kelloggs sponsorship? Or where would they go? National Guard just came on board at Hendrick... Would Kelloggs go with Kyle?
11. Didn't these same sources tell us that Kurt Busch would be parked for Pocono due to the pit road flare-up?
12. Didn't these same sources COMPLETELY miss the Kurt Busch move to Penske in August 2005?
Sigh... I guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow to answer these questions...
F-1 Rookie Phenom Motors to Montreal Win
Originally Posted on foxsports on June 10, 2007.
Lewis Hamilton won the Formula One race at Montreal today. Why is this news?
First, Hamilton is off to a fantastic F-1 career - he's finished on the podium in his first six F-1 starts. Second, he is the"second" car in the McLaren stable, behind Fernando Alonso, the two time reigning Formula One champion. "Second" car drivers aren't supposed to lead the points, they are to support the primary driver in the stable.
Hamilton apparently didn't get that memo, as he has run better than Alonso at several races, finishing no worse than third thus far into the season. Hamilton also became the first black (he's British so he can't be African-American, right?) to win in F-1.
News reporters have been calling Hamilton the Tiger Woods of autoracing. I'm not sure this moniker fits, as F-1 is a much bigger deal in Non-American markets than it has ever been in American markets. While Woods is limited to playing a few events overseas, Hamilton yearly races in Bahrain, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and China. My guess is if you ask the average man/woman in the street in Beijing, Madrid, London, Rio, Johannesburg, Dubai, and Sydney who Lewis Hamilton is, they may have an idea, they probably won't know Tiger Woods. In other words, Tiger Woods is the Lewis Hamilton of golf.
If his first six races are any indication of Hamilton's talent, then Schmacher's records may not be as secure as everyone thought.
The Battlin' Brit vs. The Phoenix Firebird? The Rumble at the Speedway
Originally Posted on foxsports.com on June 7, 2007.
Taking a page from the Humpy Wheeler playbook, Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage has billed the next IRL race, which happens to be at his track on Saturday, as "The Rumble at the Speedway."
Pitting Dan "The Battlin' Brit" Wheldon against Danica "The Phoenix Firebird" Patrick in their follow up bout, Gossage is attempting to generate ticket sales and media coverage of the event. Prominently displaying Wheldon & Patrick's pictures on the TMS webpage, with a "Tale of the Tape," TMS is betting that racing fans will be watching the two as they head to the track.
And it appears that the two are ignoring the spat, and waiting for the other to make the first move to amend the situation.
USATODAY, quoting AP, reports that Patrick has no intention of apologizing to Wheldon. But Wheldon isn't holding his breath waiting for one either, "She acted a certain way and if she wants to look at the video, I think she'll be feeling pretty silly. ... If she wants to come and apologize, I would be very happy to listen."
But Wheldon feels that Patrick took advantage of the situation "When you tug at a guy in the pit lane, I think that is taking advantage of your gender, because it puts me in an awkward position," Wheldon said. "She was acting like a spoiled brat. I don't respect that. ... I tried to step away. She kept grabbing on me like a dog that wanted to bite my ankles."
Patrick, however, believes Wheldon deliberately cut her off. "We'll see how it unfolds, and we're going to have to give each other respect and the space on the track," Patrick said. "If that happens, then I can't see a reason why it would continue. But if he doesn't, then I'll be mad again."
Meanwhile, we'll see if Gossage's promotion sells more tickets. If so, IRL may want to keep the Wheldon-Patrick dispute going for a few weeks to come.
Information from AP, USATODAY.COM and TexasMotorspeedway.com