Rain Moves Michigan Into Chase?

Originally Posted on foxsports.com on August 19, 2007.

Speed is reporting that if the Michigan race is rained out this week, the race would be moved to the end of the year, and would become the final race in the race. The race would be held the week of Thanksgiving, but it is unclear if it would happen on Saturday or Sunday of that weekend.

Speed cites an anonymous senior Nascar official, who claims the Chase would move back a race, with New Hampshire moving out of the Chase and becoming the final race in the regular season.

With rain chances at 100% for tomorrow but only 30% for Tuesday, bumping the Michigan date is possible. But is the week of Thanksgiving the appropriate time? Would Nascar hold out until Wednesday if the weather looks good?

In reality, if any race is cancelled between now and the end of the season, there are no weekends without a race available as a make-up weekend. Moving Michigan to become the last race in the Chase seems drastic - think of all the sponsors who have plugged Homestead as the end of the road. Would Ford Fan weekend move to Michigan? What about fans who bought Homestead tickets to see the Champ crowned, only to find that they need Michigan tickets instead?

It's an interesting problem Nascar may have to solve in the next few days.

Then again, maybe Mother Nature will have the last laugh and tomorrow will be sunny and warm.

Cinderella: Let's Put some of the Blame Where it Belongs. On Daddy.

Originally posted on foxsports.com on August 19, 2007.

The one thing no one could ever answer for me in the Cinderella fairy tale was: Where was the father during all this? Some people believed that a spell had been cast over him, or he was working too hard to notice what was going on. But I still think he abdicated his parental duties and left Cinderella to fend for herself. Surely, not a candidate for Father of the Year.

These days, we have a modern day Cinderella playing out in Nascar. It's called Teresa Earnhardt vs. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Cast Dale Jr. as Cinderella and Teresa as the evil stepmother, and you get a good picture of how most Dale Jr fans view the whole mess.

And the Teresa bashing reached a crescendo with the announcement by Dale Jr that DEI was not "Freeing the 8" for his move to Hendrick.

While I understand the Earnhardt Nation's siding with Jr, I am still left wondering why Dale Sr's part in this whole mess is largely ignored.

First, let's dispense with the usual comments these critiques of Dale Sr generate: (1) Dale Sr. was a great driver (2) He founded DEI and (3) He was the primary reason the sport grew so quickly in the 80's. I'm not disagreeing with any of those statements. To me, these sound like the lame excuses Cinderella's father had for his lack of action in her tale.

If Dale Sr wanted to leave the company to Dale Jr., then why didn't he change his will? Or even give Jr a percentage of ownership/stock when he was alive? Dale Sr clearly had lawyers on retainer. Changing his will would have been a small matter to take care of, as he could have left portions to each of his four kids, Teresa, his mother, whomever he desired to. But he didn't. His will left DEI to Teresa. Dale Sr. did not give Dale Jr. stock/ ownership of any portion of DEI, which could have been done while he was still alive. Dale Sr's comments that he wanted Junior to have the company mean nothing without action on Sr's part.

Ultimately, Junior isn't wrong for wanting to run or own his father's company, but neither is Teresa for wanting to keep the company she helped found and which her husband left to her lock, stock and barrel.

Dale Sr. left a tricky and messy business situation between Teresa and Dale Jr at the time of his death. Dale Sr had no written contract with Dale Jr. Teresa and Junior had to work out a written contract.

Additionally, Junior had signed over to Sr the rights to his name. Last year, Teresa and Junior worked out the transfer of those rights back to Junior. Again, this is something that should have been handled legally at the time Junior signed his rights over - that at Senior's death, the rights would immediately revert to Junior. But Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. did not allow for that in the agreement.

This inaction or lack of planning on Dale Sr's part created tension, hard feelings and problems for those left to clean up: Teresa and Junior (and the rest of the kids).

Teresa and Junior decided the best policy is to divorce their interests. Now, the tiny "divorce" issues of number, sponsor, who gets custody of crew members (Tony Eury Jr etc) and other things are cropping up. Again, we are left with the deafening silence of Dale Sr's intentions and wishes. Or are we?

Dale Sr's last clearly expressed wish was this: Teresa gets DEI and makes the decisions.

Sounds lot like Cinderella's Dad to me.

Wiretapping Transcript of Telephone Call Between Michael Vick & his Attorneys

Originally posted on foxsports.com on August 15, 2007.

Another brown paper wrapped package arrived via FedEx. Enclosed was the following transcript of a telephone conversation, marked Vick & Attorneys.

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT:

Man 1: Michael?

Vick: Yeah.

Man1: We're all here. Both Benson and Jim are with me. They're my associates.

Vick: Sure.

Man 1: We need to discuss what has happened in your case. It appears that the last two co-defendants, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips have accepted the feds' offer. Which of course means they're ratting you out to reduce their punishment.

Vick: Purnell and Quanis are pleading?

Man 2: Yes. The pleas are scheduled for Friday.

Vick: How can they do this?

Man 2: It's quite simple

Vick: I mean why would they rat me out.

Man 1: Michael, we talked about the reasons your friends may find the offer made by the government attractive.

Vick: But we are friends.

Man 1: Were friends. It's every man for himself when you are dealing with prison time.

Vick: But,

Man 1: Michael, we discussed this the first day. Your friends were offered deals to rat you out. The government does that to get the big fish. You are the big fish. You are the one they want to do the most time.

Vick: Why me? This is crazy. It's a bunch of dogs.

Man 2: But it is a federal crime to engage in dog fighting. Your friends are going to testify that you financed the operation and encouraged them to do it.

Vick: But I didn't do any of it myself. It was all them.

Man 1: The government feels that it was your money that was key. Without it, these guys wouldn't have had as big of an operation. Plus, you are a target. A successful Quarterback who generates controversy on and off the field. Your family is known here in Virginia, and not of all of it is good.

Vick: My family has nothing to do with it.

Man 1: Regardless, that's where you are now. Let's discuss the deal.

Vick: I'm not taking a deal. I'm not going to jail. And I'm not giving up my career.

Man 1: If you reject this offer, the feds will indict you on more counts, and up the total amount of prison time you are looking at. Your only shot at probation is to plead, and even then it is chancy.

Man 3: If you push it to trial, the feds will revoke this offer and demand more and more prison time.

Vick: But if I take it, then I lose my career.

Man 1: For the short term, yes, but the prison time is around a year. In theory, you could be back playing for the end of the 2008 season.

Man 3: Otherwise, you may get out in time to see the 2013 Super Bowl. Or even later.

Vick: I thought the NFL would ban me for life if I was involved in gambling.

Man 2: Goodell could do that.

Vick: Then what do I lose by going to trial. My life would be over anyway.

Man 1: Well, the first issue is that the press only has a part of the evidence. Do you want all the information about how the dogs were taken care of out in the general public? How would that play at the NFL front office? Or even at the Falcon's front office? Secondly, you are young, but the more time you do, the less of a life you'll have when you get out. And don't forget we get more of your money if you go to trial. We'll need you to forward us another $50,000 to get started on the trial preparation.

Vick: This F#$%*g sucks!

Man 1: Welcome to plea bargaining with the feds.

Man 2: It's like shooting fish in a barrel for them.

Vick: (Period of Silence) Can I call you back?

Man 1: Sure. We need an answer by tomorrow.

Vick: Man, I don't know what to do. I'll call tomorrow morning with my decision.

(Hang Up).

END TRANSCRIPT.

Transcript of Videotaped Watkins Glen Police Interrogation

Originally Posted on foxsports.com on August 15, 2007.

A brown paper wrapped package arrived via FedEx today. Inside was the following transcript.

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT:

(View of a room with three chairs and a table. Sounds of people moving down the hall. A man in khaki shorts and black belt enters followed by a uniformed officer and another man in street clothing).

(Man in street clothes): My name is Detective Bart Fife.

(Uniformed Officer): And I'm Deputy R.P. Coltrane.

BF: We want to talk to you about the incident at the track.

Man: I don't know about an incident at the track.

BF: We'll get to that. What is your name?

Man: I'm not telling you.

BF: I Said, What is your name?

Man: Neener, Neener, Neener. (Hands over ears) I can't hear you.

RPC: You suppose it's in his wallet?

BF: Oh, Yeah. I was just getting to that.

RPC: It says Richard C. Ranium.

BF: Ok, Dick. Tell me about the incident at the track.

RR: What are you talking about?

RPC: Oh, come on, the whole world saw you run out to Matt Kenseth's car and try to get an autograph.

BF: What were you thinking?

RPC: How did you get out there?

RR: How do you know it was me? Did you see how many guys were there in khaki shorts?

RPC: How do we know it was him?

BF: Well, there's the fact that we pulled him off the wrong side of the fence after we chased him across the track.

RPC: Forgot about that.

BF: Let's back up a bit. How much did you have to drink today, Dick?

RR: A few.

RPC: A Few 12 packs?

RR: No, just 4 beers.

BF: Really?

RR: Four 40 oz beers.

BF: OK. Did you really think Kenseth would give you an autograph in the middle of a race?

RR: He was just sitting there. Wasn't doing anything.

BF: It was the Middle of a race! What were you going to do with it?

RR: Probably sell it on E-Bay.

RPC: How much would that get?

RR: Maybe a lot, since people saw it on TV. Hey, what are you charging me with?

BF: Give us a minute.

(BF and RPC step to the side of the room. The following discussion occurs there).

RPC: Do you really think the autograph would be worth that much? Maybe we can forfeit the hat and sell it on E-bay. It'd be better than selling Policemen Ball tickets.

BF: Maybe. You know, we may need to interview Kenseth about this. His car owner too. Do you think they'll be grateful enough to sign a few things for us? My daughter is a rabid Carl Edwards fan.

RPC: Sounds like a good idea to me. Kenseth's wife is hot. Do you think she'll be with him?

BF: Dick, I think we're about done here. The charges are criminal trespass and endangerment of others.

RR: How was I endangering anyone?

RPC: Well, you were out there on the track, it could've hurt a driver.

RR: In the car? With a helmet on? With a Hans device? Are you kidding me? (Fife & Coltrane lift him up from his chair and start dragging him out of the room).

BF: Well, you were a danger to yourself. That should count for something.

END OF TRANSCRIPT

So You're a Race Car Driver? Crash on Over to Nascar

Originally posted on foxsports.com on August 13, 2007.

AJ Foyt did it. So did Mario Andretti. And most recently Tony Stewart. They made it look easy. Like anyone who could put on a helmet was talented enough to make it big.

Make it big in Nascar.

Get the wreckers ready. It's raining potential Rookie Drivers.

This year, Juan Pablo Montoya switched from CART to F-1 to Nascar. He's taken alot of criticism, but he's on track to be rookie of the year. (Remember the term "rookie"? Losely translated, it means "Crashes a lot.").

Joining JPM was AJ Allmindenger, who hasn't been as fortunate in qualifying, but still manages to crash on occasion. Allmendinger transferred from Champ Car to Nascar.

But waiting in the wings is an open wheel tidal wave, the likes of which Nascar hasn't seen for, well, decades. Fabricators around the garage are loving the job security on the horizon.

Sam Hornish Jr and Dan Wheldon, both Indy 500 winners, drive in the IRL for owners who field Nascar teams. Neither has made a secret of their aspirations to the stock car universe. Penske has allowed Hornish to drive a few Busch races. While Wheldon hasn't attempted a stock car race yet, his name pops up every year during silly season as a possible candidate. In preparation for their Nascar rookie year, these two have taken to crashing each other out of their current series. Not to be out done, Danica Patrick, who eyed Nascar last year during her contract talks, attempted to take the safety vehicle out in her crash.

Meanwhile, displaced Formula One drivers are looking to break into Nascar. Jacque Villeneuve is shopping a ride, even though he has "retired" from F-1. Scott Speed, who was crashed against a wall in a physical spat with his F-1 owner, is likely to drive for Red Bull in Nascar.

The Newman/Haas/Yates merger opens the door for Champ Car drivers. If Sebastian Bourdais finds F-1 too stoggy for his tastes, he can slip into a Ford any time.

This list doesn't even take into account the open wheel drivers who are waiting in support series (with development deals) to get into Nascar's top series: Tim McCreadie, Josh Wise, Bryan Clauson, Brady Bacon, and Kevin Swindell.

Add these names to the "displaced" and non-qualifying Nascar drivers of Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek, Boris Said, Patrick Carpentier, John Andretti, Regan Smith, Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace, and Ricky Craven.

Nascar has 43 starting spots. And a crop of drivers anxious to get their shot at the top. Let's hope their learning curve is more like Stewart, and less like the typical rookie.

Bursting the Bubble: Nascar Ratings Significantly Down. Now What?

Originally Posted on foxsports.com on August 13, 2007.

The numbers are in, and it isn't pretty for Nascar. The highly touted, much ballyhooed TV deal has resulted in FEWER people watching Nascar races each week.

USA Today reports that Nextel Cup Sunday races are averaging 4.6% of US households. This number is down 9% from 2006 and plummetting a whopping 20% from 2005. For a race by race breakdown, visit Jayski.com. Busch series viewership is down 11% this year alone. USA Today columnist Michael Hiestand points out that the MLB and NBA have games on nearly every day of the week on various networks so their number represent a portion of their viewership pie, unlike Nascar, which is a one shot per week deal.

The steep declines in viewership should be causing the networks, Nascar and sponors to scramble to the doors of every diehard fan to ask "Why did this happen?" and "What can we do to fix this?"

Since my address and phone number are unlisted, and I doubt Mike Helton is perusing this blog, I'll attempt to answer primarily the second question, as I've written about the first issue before - here.

First, many fans are utilizing other forms of media. Direct TV Hotpass, Nascar.com's TrackPass and radio leap to mind. As I am not a big fan of the announcers on ESPN, I tend to listen to the team scanner via either Hotpass of TrackPass. These numbers would not be accounted for in the TV ratings. This trend to alternate media should be encouraged, but know that some fans will prefer it to the old TV set.

Second, stop hawking the Chase early in the season. I, for one, am tired of hearing about it incessantly during a race. This is one reason why I turn on the scanner. Give me a graphic at the end of the race to show how many points positions 13 through 20 are out of the Chase, and that would do it. I don't need an in-race point total until Richmond, which by the way is still several races away.

Third, give the fans their favorites. If you are not a Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart or Dale Earnhardt Jr fan, you have likely permanently turned off your TV. Those appear to be the only four guys covered by the broadcasters. Recognize that these are the most popular guys in the grandstands, but let us know how Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, Elliott Sadler, and Kyle Petty are running. There is no excuse for not running through the field every half hour, and if you've already discussed them due to a problem, crash or feature, move on (this means I shouldn't hear a peep about JG, JJ, DEJr or TS during the full-field).

Fourth, the tech guys are about as helpful as Iowa directions. Which is a nice way of saying, they are not helpful at all. Let's say you, who have never been to Iowa, want to find the farm I grew up on. Ask a local and you will be told something along the lines of: "Well, it's a few miles out, past the Schmidt place. You've gone too far if you go past Ole Red's." Nevermind "Schmidt" is as common as "Smith" out here, and Ole Red has been dead since 1957. That lost feeling is what happens everytime they try to simplify some technical issue. And I'm fairly mechanically inclined. Really.

Fifth, get a fact checker and USE them. You have a major problem when most of your audience KNOWS you just made a huge blunder. And you appear oblivious to it. For the rest of the broadcast. Ignoring it won't make it go away. The simple errors are inexcusable. The complex ones should be infrequent. When I hear a big error in the supposed "fact guy's" analysis, I begin to doubt and distrust the next thing he has to say. Eventually, this leads to turning off the TV.

Sixth, Enough with the commercials. I watch the race to watch the race. Ads are plastered all over the cars, walls, teams, and grass. Commentators talk about the "Sponsored" run-down or in-race camera. As if this marketing deluge weren't enough, I am then subject to five minutes of commercials. Cut back to 3 minutes of racing. Then another 5 minutes of racing. That many commercials just gives fans time to switch to another channel - and not come back. The highlights are shown without commercial interruption.

Nascar is losing TV viewers. It needs to do something to keep the ones they have, and maybe coax back a few turned off fans.

Knoxville Nationals: Rain, Repeats & Rumors

Originally posted on foxsports.com on August 12, 2007.

I'm back from my week at the Knoxville Nationals. Only 365 days til the next one!

It is hard to explain to a non-sprint car fan or non-dirt racing fan what the experience is like.

Like a week long tailgating party before a college football game.

Like Speedweeks at Daytona, except you actually SEE the drivers out and about.

Like the SuperBowl, but you can get tickets to stand on the sideline - for only $20 more than the reserved seat.

Knoxville is a town of about 7,500 and during the Nationals, parking rules don't apply. Front lawns become high dollar motorhome parking lots complete with satellite dishes, air conditioning and golf carts. Showers are available at the middle school or from whatever generous homeowner will let you in their door.

Merchandise trailers for everything from sponsors, drivers, magazines, and new products are parked all over town. Semis with trailers are parked in hotel parking lots, where teams pull out their cars and wrench on them right there. Walmart is cluttered not with motorhomes, but racing rigs who have two or three sprint cars in various stages of assembly strewn everywhichway.

Crowds of fans swarm across streets to food vendors. Drivers host autograph sessions, historians meet to discuss past drivers, races, and racetracks; and promoters from all over converge to watch the spectacle.

What everyone wants to see is great side-by-side racing on a 1/2 mile dirt track.

Every driver wants to get to the Saturday Night A Main. Getting there is a complex system of points gathering based on passing, qualifying times, finishes in heats and luck. This year, rain added a chicane to the program when the Wednesday night program was rained out. The fix was this: Thursday stayed Thursday, Friday became Wednesday + part of Friday's program; Saturday featured Friday's last chance races and the "Main Event" at its regular time. Confused? So were many fans, trying to figure out which ticket to bring to the track!

Winning the Nationals brings a lot of prestige in the sport, and puts you in the company of legends like Jan Opperman, Doug Wolfgang, Steve Kinser, and Sammy Swindell. Doug Wolfgang, who at times has generated controversy, had a homecoming of sorts at the Nationals. His autobiography, with Dave Argabright, was released this week. Doug & Dave had several autograph sessions, and were swamped with fans. The hot souvenir of the week was a signed copy of "Lone Wolf." (No, I haven't finished reading mine yet.).

Saturday night, Donny Schatz put his name again in the record books, defending his win last year by winning his Second Knoxville Nationals. That's Schatz ( in the yellow car) taking a parade lap with Paul McMahon. Steve Kinser is behind Schatz and Joey Saldana is behind McMahon.

With all the sprint car teams in town, rumors fly around town faster than a lap at the track. The rumor of the week was that Tony Stewart was buying Knoxville. As the track is owned by the county, this was one that those "in the know" laughed about all week. Added to the rumor was that Jerry Springer was going to be the new announcer. Odds are the rumor started at Dingus, the pub at turn one, during one of the rain delays.

The second rumor was one that was actually true: Tony Stewart is adding another car to his World of Outlaws team. The second team? Donny Schatz, the winner of this year's Nationals and last year's WoO champion. Schatz will join Paul McMahon at Tony Stewart Racing. The rumor that Tony was adding a team was not new, but who that team was, made news.

Miller Lite Sportswriter Challenge: My Point? Tweak the Current Point System

Originally posted on foxsports.com on August 5, 2007.

When Matt Kensethcaptured the 2003 (then) Winston Cup Championship, he pulled it off with just one win and a substantial point lead due to consistent finishes.

Commentators were flabbergasted at a one win Champ. Fans snoozed through the final races because the Champion was a foregone conclusion by mid-fall.

Kenseth ignored the criticism all the way to the bank, but Nascar Chairman Brian France responded with a new Championship format and title sponsor - the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

The Chase didn't change one thing: Consistency is the touchstone of Nascar success.

Winning is secondary to not screwing up. Case in point: Tony Stewart. In 2005, at Homestead, Stewart methodically but conservatively drove, as a wreck would dash his Championship dreams.

In contrast, as non-Chase driver in 2006, Stewart drove like a man possessed. Gambling on fuel at Kansas, Stewart remarked that he had nothing to lose but the race.

The current point system means most fans can't apply the points on the fly after a race. Realistically, under any formula, fans won't be able to easily calculate them. This isn't due to a lack of intelligence, rather, keeping tabs on 43+ teams through thirty-six races is less important, than, say, remembering e-mail account passwords and the spouse's and kids' birthdays.

Nascar can fix the snooze factor, inspire hard charging drives throughout the entire season, and simplify the math with a few easy changes.

During the First 26 Races:

1. "Current scheme" of earning points applies with two changes:

Winner receives 50 additional points., or a total of 235.

Pole sitter receives 10 points.

2. The day prior to the race at race time, qualify all cars, placing the fastest 43 cars in the field. No provisionals. Call it "Put-Up or Shut-Up."

3. Teams have two mulligans. Whether used for races where they failed qualify, for DNFs, for driver injuries or for vacations, the points (or lack thereof) would not count toward the season ending totals. In other words, each team's top 24 points-accumulating races count. The idea is to lessen the impact of not qualifying, mechanical failure or crashing out of the race. Gives Nascar room to penalize.

During the Chase:

1. Chase teams (the top 12 teams in points after the fall Richmond Race) have provisionals for the final 10 races. As the Chasers are racing each other and have arbitrarily elevated point totals to 5,000, the highest place finisher among the twelve receives 120 points. Ten points less for each finisher after that. Last place finisher among Chasers gets 10 points, whether he finishes dead last in the field or he finishes 12th.

2. Non-Chase teams accrue points under "current scheme."

3. Five bonus points each for leading a lap and most laps still apply.

4. A win is worth an extra 50 points.

While this system encourages teams to qualify well and race to the checkers, it still rewards consistency.

It is, after all, a season championship.

Dear Mr. Foyt, Please Stay Off the Bulldozer

Originally posted on foxsports.com on August 3, 2007.

Dear Mr. Foyt,

I'm a big fan. When I think of your wins, I am impressed: four Indianapolis 500s, the Daytona 500, LeMans, Rolex 24 hour, numerous sprint car and dirt track trophies.

I can't imagine how you survived all those years in racing. You manhandled cars to Victory Lane at the times when the sport was its most dangerous.

I know you didn't escape unscathed from those wrecks you did have, and I'm sure your legs in particular give you problems from time to time.

You are now 72 years old: Legendary for working on your own cars, even though you had cracker-jack crews to do it for you. But enough, is enough.

This last episode with the bulldozer should be your last! Didn't you learn anything two years ago this August when you bulldozed that bees nest? I'd think 200 beestings at one time would leave an impression.

Apparently your grit won out, and you were again on the bulldozer on your Texas property. And this time, the machine caused the lake bank to cave in and flip the bulldozer over. With you still inside.

Thank God for the "safety equipment" of a steel cage surrounding the cab. Otherwise, this would likely be a eulogy, not a plea to stop messing around with heavy equipment.

Fortunately, you crawled out of the cab, swam though the water (guess the legs aren't that bad), and refused to go to the hospital.

Mr. Foyt, we don't have many racing legends of your caliber. Please stop using that bulldozer. At least in August. On your property .

I'm beginning to think you'd be safer back IN a race car than in that dozer.

Your Iowa fan.

What I'm doing for my Summer Vacation

Originally Posted on August 2, 2007 on foxsports.com

August in Iowa means 90+ degree temperatures, 100% humidity, sweet corn, the Iowa State Fair, the start of school, and the Knoxville Nationals.

Sigh... I love living here.

The Knoxville Nationals is a four day winged sprint car extravaganza, which draws 40,000 fans to a normally sedate rural community in central Iowa.

During the rest of the year, Knoxville boasts a population of approximately 7,500 people. The Nationals brings every sprint car fan and his brother to watch the best dirt track racers try to win the $190,000 winner's prize.

Wednesday and Thursday are qualifying nights which set the field for Saturday's Finale. Friday night grants non-qualifiers a last chance to get into the Saturday Mains.

During the days, the crowds mingle at the trade show, or venture out to a go-kart track to race. Some drivers bring their young children to race in the local English Creek Speedway Nationals during the afternoons.

Food is plentiful, as venders hawk homemade pie a la mode, grilled turkey breast, gyros, pizza, brats, and beer.

My favorite events (aside from the racing) occur in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum. Every year, the Museum hosts a racing personality in a discussion. This year the legendary Doug Wolfgang will be discussing his new book with Dave Argabright. The annual auction to raise funds for the museum will be held on Saturday. I try to volunteer as much time as I can to spend in the museum (and not just because it is air conditioned!). I enjoy talking to the "old timers" who watched Foyt, Kinser, Swindell and Wolfgang race back in the day. Plus, most of the teams, their families, and the fans cycled through.

Last year, I learned: that they race sprint cars in Hawaii (guess I hadn't thought about it); that the captains of industry like sprint cars; that Kasey Kahne looks just as cute in person (and no one recognizes him here) and that Tony Stewart shops at Walmart (who knew?).

What other week in the world would I have the chance to see Kasey Kahne race a winged sprint car on Monday, JJ Yeley race an open wheel sprint car on Tuesday, Tony Stewart "foyt" on a car for his driver Paul McMahon on Thursday, and top it off with a Lasoski-Kinser-Saldana-Schatz-McCarl battle to the checkered flag on Saturday?

So, I'm taking off next week to spend at the dirt track.

Yes, I love the Knoxville Nationals.

Speeding Me?

Originally Posted on foxsports.com on July 31, 2007.

Reuters photo

Nelson Piquet, three time Formula One Champ and racing idol to many, has lost his Brazilian driver's license. For of all things, speeding.

Piquet lost the license in June due to his poor driving habits, specifically speeding and parking infractions. Bad driving runs in the family, as his wife, Viviane, also lost her license.

Both Piquet and his wife are attending mandatory driving courses (shown above). The courses last about 30 hours, and the couple will have to take an exam before their licenses are returned.

Piquet isn't the only Formula One driver who has had a problem speeding. Juan Pablo Montoya had a run in with the law while he was racing F1. In 2003, Montoya was pulled over for speeding in France. He was driving 127 mph in a 81 mph zone on the French Riviera. Officers confiscated his license and he was fined $1,157.

Interestingly, when Montoya had his troubles, Cristiano da Matta commented that "I am from Brazil, I never got caught. There are not many police on the road there anyway." Apparently Piquet has found out differently.

One of the more famous F1 speeding tickets happened in 1959, when Stirling Moss was stopped in Britian. The officer, who didn't recognize the driver, asked him,"Who do you think you are? Stirling Moss?" The Judge was not forgiving either, and took Moss's license. Incidently, Moss is selling T-Shirts on his websitethat say "Who do you think you are? Stirling Moss?"

So take heart if you are stopped for speeding, even the best drivers get pulled over. And being Formula One Champion

Dear Rusty: Before the Next Broadcast, Could you please, please get a few things right?

Originally Posted on foxsports.com on July 30, 2007.

Rusty, I'll be the first to tell you I was never a fan of yours. Nothing personal, but I just never jumped on the blue deuce bandwagon.

Sure, you're a former champion, and I respect the effort and skill it took to win that coveted title. I know you won scads of races, and went out on a high note by finishing int the top 10.

I really appreciate your efforts in building the Iowa Speedway, and your advocating for Nascar and IRL races at Newton is unparalleled in the sport. It amazes me that you are there for all the important events, and make many efforts to meet the fans.

That said, before you announce the next Nextel Cup race, could you do two things for me?

First, I know you call every car you ever drove a "hot rod." And it was cute for the first three times you used it during the broadcast. It was not cute the next 83 times you used it to describe a car.

"Hot Rod" is getting tired. And frankly, the rest of the crew is catching this phrase like the "boogity, boogity, boogity" plague. Once Brad Daugherty used it, the charm was gone. Daugherty is better than that, and so are you. Suzy Kolber is clueless about Nascar racing, and I'm sure she'll try to use it during the next broadcast, certain that it is the way the cars are described in the Nascar Rulebook. (Please don't let perpetual pranksters Stewart, Harvick or Marlin talk to her or God knows what will come out of her mouth as the "Nascar gospel.")

I'll hold you personally responsible if Brent Musburger starts using it in his little diatribes.

I'm sure if you sat and thought about it for a few minutes, you could come up with seven or eight cute little phrases to use instead of "race car" or "hot rod." If you can't, you have paid assistants to do these things. I'm sure the girl who brings the coffee every morning would love a new assignment. Heck, Steve may have a few ideas. At least at the rate he's crashing out of races, he has time to think while he sits in the hauler.

The second thing will require a bit more work - think of it as homework. When you first started announcing IRL races, you got a few things wrong. While I follow IRL to some degree, I am not an avid fan. However, even I noticed that you had things excruitatingly wrong. It was as if Roger Penske deliberately told you the wrong information to get a chuckle about it when you announced it at the races. The errors were forgivable - after all, you didn't follow IRL racing that closely, and were relying on others to keep you up to date.

The same cannot be said for the Cup series. You should know this stuff cold. You know most of the drivers personally. You were there for how many decades of racing? And while there are new guys, they aren't complete surprises that mysteriously show up at the track one week without any warning.

The most appalling comment regarded Juan Pablo Montoya. You commented you couldn't believe how a rookie who had never driven at Indy before could finish second.

Rusty, Juan won the Indy 500 in 2000.

And he raced Formula One cars there for several years.

And he also "traded" his F1 car with Jeff Gordon for a stock car. At Indy.

More shocking was that neither of your compatriots knew this information either.

All this despite a pre-race segment on the Ganassi-Montoya connection to Indy.

There is no excuse for these simple mistakes. Do your homework. Since Watkins Glen is coming up on the calendar, I would suggest you learn lots about Montoya - it's likely he'll be a contender at a road course.

Just two little assignments - stop using "hot rod" every other sentence and do your homework before you get to the track. For a former champion like you, this should be a piece of cake.

Hey, with these changes, I may even decided you're a cool guy (the "Dude" thing is wearing thin too).

Harvick, Yates, the Battle for Busch & and Budweiser: Things that Make you go Hmm...

Originally posted on July 29, 2007 on foxsports.com.

1. Why was Kevin Harvick called to the hauler after the Brickyard 400 (Yes, I'm still boycotting the sponsor named race)? Did it have to do with Stewart or with his racing with other drivers? Stewart didn't seem to think anything was wrong with how he or Kevin raced, and he seemed to like the victory tap.

2. Yates merges with Newman-Haas- Lanigan Champ Car team. How did this happen? Could they make the name any longer? And why is Newman-Haas interested in Nascar? Will Sebastian Bourdais make the leap to stock cars? Bourdais has always wanted a good Formula One chance, and has tested with Red Bull, whom I wouldn't call a great team in terms of wins. Does the merger mean that Bourdais wants a shot at Nascar? Could this spawn a whole new line of Talladega Nights jokes if the Frenchman joins up?

3. Is Robin Miller, SpeedTV, correct when he says the Yates-Newman-Haas-Lanigan merger means there is another player in the Budweiser sponsorship wars? Miller cites Newman's prior relationship with Bud when Andretti was driving for Newman-Haas. It looks like Evernham is still a prime candidate for the sponsorship, but the team has not been performing well this year. Bud likes to have their car up front.

4. With all the mergers, are DEI and Yates now out of tickets in the Kyle Busch sweepstakes? DEI/Ginn has more drivers than they need, and Yates may have a few CCWS drivers moving over.

5. Can you imagine Shrub and Smoke on the same team?

6. Congratulations to Toyota for its first Busch series win. That didn't take too long, but the Cup teams need help straight down the line - qualifying to racing. The cars do not have the power that Chevy and Ford or even Dodge have. There persists a rumor that Joe Gibbs Racing may switch to Toyota. But will Chevy let a 2 time champ, and a ROTY leave for Toyota? Wouldn't Ford want a chance to capture this team for itself?

Will Bull@%$# Cost Stewart in Indy Win?

Originally Posted on foxsports.com on July 29, 2007.

Tony Stewart provided additional fireworks after his rubbing and racing with Kevin Harvick at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In his victory speech on ESPN, Stewart commented that his second win at the Brickyard was for the fans who had put up with all the "Bull----" all these years on his behalf.

Hmmm... flashback to 2004 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. claimed winning at Talladega didn't mean "S---" since his Daddy had won there ten times.

"Sh--" cost Junior $10,000 and 25 points. Will it cost Stewart the same?

Flashback to Sonoma - Kyle Petty says "F---" during an in-race report. Penalty: Nothing.

Flashback to Montoya, earlier this year at Phoenix, flips off the camera during practice. Penalty: $10,000 and probation.

The penalty pattern seems to be that there isn't one.

Stewart is already on probation for shooting off his mouth. Or more appropriately, not shooting off his mouth by skipping post race media obligations. And he's likely on team probation due to his comments after a crash at Daytona which lead to a woodshed meeting with teammate Denny Hamlin and Coach Joe Gibbs. Gibbs was not amused at the public comments Stewart made. Any bets as to his reaction to these comments?

Let's see, say something at post race media obligations - penalty. Say nothing, penalty. Can't win for trying on that can you?

Stepney-Gate: Or How to Infuriate Ferrari in One Easy Step

Originally posted on foxsports on July 29, 2007.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council determined McLaren was guilty of possession of unauthorized, confidential Ferrari engineering documents on Thursday. The penalty: NOTHING.

That's right, guilty, but no punishment.

To say Ferrari is a little angry at this turn of events is to put it mildly.

To read Part I, the background on this issue, read here.

On Thursday, despite the finding that McLaren knowingly possessed the documents, the Council found "insufficient evidence" that the information was used to gain competitive advantage.

Huh? Such a baffling result left Ferrari Team Manager Jean Todt as scarlet as the colors fielded by the team. He issued a strongly worded statement that read in part:

"Ferrari...find it incomprehensible that violating the fundamental principle of sporting honesty does not have, as a logical and inevitable consequence, the application of a sanction.

"Thursday's decision legitimises dishonest behaviour in Formula One and sets a very serious precedent.

"The decision of the World Council signifies that possession, knowledge at the very highest level and use of highly confidential information acquired in an illicit manner, and the acquiring of confidential information over the course of several months, represent violations which do not carry any punishment.

"The fact McLaren were in possession of such information was discovered totally by accident and, but for this, the team would continue to have it.

"This is all the more serious as it has occurred in a sport like Formula One in which small details make all the difference. Ferrari feel this is highly prejudicial to the credibility of the sport. We will continue with the legal action under way within the Italian criminal justice system, and in the civil court in England."

One of Ferrari's contentions is that the information was used by McLaren at the Melbourne, Australia race to imply that Ferrari was breaking the rules in its design. In other words, McLaren used the information not to make their cars faster, but to prevent Ferrari from going faster.

The Council did leave one door open for Ferrari to get the blood it so richly desires: the Council "reserve the right to invite McLaren back, where they face the possibility of exclusion from not only the 2007 championship but also the 2008 championship".

I doubt given the vitriol Ferrari spewed in McLaren's direction, and given that McLaren leads the points with both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, that Ferrari will let this die with the July 26th meeting.

In fact, odds are good that Ferrari is busy trying to dig up more evidence against McLaren, while McLaren is busy burying the bodies.

Information from Speedtv.com, & the Daily Mail

How to Hinder Your Nascar Career

Originally posted July 28, 2007 on foxsports.com.

This year has brought several driver changes already, and with silly season just beginning, it's likely we'll see more drivers booted from their ride.

Here's a quick primer on what to do to slow down your racing career or even cause owners to rethink you driving their car, losing your ride altogether.

1. Sign with an owner new to Nascar. (See Brian Vickers, AJ Allmendinger, Joe Nemechek, Sterling Marlin, Regan Smith.)

2. When the most popular driver announces he wants a new team, tick your owner off, by storming off after a crash, blaming your crew for not fixing the car fast enough. (See Kyle Busch.)

3. Date the owner. (See Erin Crocker.)

4. Announce a new deal, then have a run-in with the law. (See Kurt Busch.)

5. Test positive for controlled substances. (See Shane Hmiel, Tyler Walker, Aaron Fike.)

6. Get hurt, then have a fill-in who wins. (See Sterling Marlin-Jamie McMurray.)

7. With good equipment, don't deliver the goods. (See Ryan Newman, JJ Yeley.)

8. The car's not in the top 35, and you don't have the past champions provisional. (See Michael Waltrip, Ken Schrader.)

9. Sign on with a team new to Nascar, which has a new manufacturer. (See Dale Jarrett.)

10. Don't show enough passion or talent to the owner's liking. (See Mark McFarland, Shane Huffman. AJ Foyt IV)

My Substance Abuse Policy Changes for Motorsports

Originally Posted on July 24, 2007 on foxsports.com

In my last blog, we looked at the Nascar and IRL drug testing policies. In a nutshell, Nascar tests based upon reasonable suspicion, while the IRL randomly tests two drivers every other race weekend. Here are my ideas for drug testing.

1. Unified Testing of All Series and Tracks. First, all series and track promotors agree on drug testing and what punishment is issued upon a positive test. This means that if your next door neighbor racing at the track down the street tests positive, he receives the same punishment as Jimmie Johnson, reigning Nextel Cup Champion or Tony Schumacher, reigning NHRA Champion. Racers would no longer be able to go from track to track or series to series with a positive test. Out at one, out at all.

2. Testing of All Competitors. Racing is a team sport. While drivers are the obvious safety issue, do we really want a mechanic who is high checking the brakes on the car? At a minimum, random drug tests would cover driver, crew chief, and mechanics. There can be an argument made that anyone who has a pit-pass should be tested, but given that most local tracks make most of their purse money off the pit-gate, and there is a large number of random people coming into the pits who have no connection to the teams, this seems burdensome.

3. Standardized Course of Conduct for Testing. Now that all competitors are being tested, how do we do it? All selections are random, but each competitor should be tested at least one time during the year.

Number Tested : Each series/track tests 5% or no less than 2 competitors each week. Any "fractional" competitor is rounded up. For example, there are 43 Nascar teams each week (I'm ignoring the go or go-homers), there are approximately 10 members to the team. 5% of 430 = 21.5, so 22 people are tested each week in the Nascar garage. Series and/or tracks have the option of testing more.

Procedure: Series/tracks that have medical personal on hand can take the sample on site. The kit (whether urine, saliva, blood), would be sent to an independent lab for testing. Local tracks would have the option of having someone collect the sample on site, and then mailed into the lab, or could designate a local clinic to collect a sample within 72 hours of the selection.

Failure to provide sample: If a competitor refuses to provide a sample or fails to provide within the 72 hour period, it is deemed a positive drug test. They are then escorted off the track premises, and not allowed back in until they have complied with treatment or the appeal procedure below.

Option for additional testing: A competitor may pay for and request additional testing for himself/herself.

4. Suspension for positive test. Once a competitor tests positive, their racing privileges are immediately revoked. They are not allowed to be in the pit area of any track, but may purchase a spectator ticket. Series may elect for more stringent rules, if they so desire. Competitors are suspended until they have completed substance abuse treatment to the satisfaction of the sanctioning body the positive test was given to. For example, if Tony Stewart tests positive in a Cup series race, and does not complete the treatment required by Nascar, USAC could not swoop in an say he was eligble to race under their program.

5. Retesting. A Positive Test will automatically be retested at a different lab. Competitors may request the sample be sent for retest at a lab of their choosing. If the retest has a different result than the first test, the competitor shall give another sample within 24 hours of being made aware of the conflicting result. Such second test will include a hair test to determine drug usage. Inconclusive tests will result in the competitor being subject to additional testing at the series/track's pleasure.

6. Appeal Procedure. A Competitor may appeal the suspension to an appeal board set up by the sanctioning bodies, and composed of various members of the racing community.

7. Substance Abuse Treatment. A positive test and retest will lead to the requirement the Competitor complete substance abuse treatment. The treatment shall not be shorter than 180 days. Upon completion, the competitor will be subject to additional random testing, regardless if it is the "offseason" or not. Admission to the pits or back into racing is at the discretion of the sanctioning board after treatment is completed. Any subsequent relapse during the 180 day treatment, resets the clock on the 180 day treatment program. For example, get to day 155 and relapse, then you have to restart the 180 day program again.

8. Subsequent violations. A Competitor who tests positive for drugs on two separate occasions (ie completed treatment successfully once and came back to racing) shall be permanently barred from competition.