ESPN

So today was the first Cup race of ESPN's  part of the season. I can say that I liked it better than TNT's coverage but ESPN just continues to be ESPN.  They never show much of the rest of the field and always seem to have a pre-determined script of how they will present the race. Today it was the Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards show.  I felt bad for Carl during the race broadcast. ESPN kept showing that commercial about what Carl "fears less than losing" alot. Carl of course was having a really bad day, it's a good thing that drivers can't watch the broadcast, I would have been more than a little annoyed, if I had been him. 

The whole broadcast was really boring and it was very hard for me to keep it on the channel for the entire broadcast.  Like I said in the beginning  ESPN doesn't show much of the race so if the battle wasn't up front you didn't see it.  I also think Tony Stewart was a total waste of time as an in race reporter, you hardly ever heard from him, they might as well have picked Scott Speed or Mike Bliss as the in race reporter. I really don't get why ESPN with all of it's money can't present a better product. Sometimes I think it's arrogance on their part. They figure that the production style they use for their other sports is good enough for NASCAR.  The only improvement they have made is to have some sort of post race wrap up on Sports Center, that was after major complaining about how quickly ESPN cut out after the race is over.  The post race is o.k., I still jump over to Speed afterwards, Victory Lane is much more interesting.

I miss Fox.

Dear AJ.....

Nobody is perfect, certainly not I....

Kasey Kahne and Kenny Francis

Congratulations to the 5 team on the win today!

I also wanted say what an amazing team Kasey and Kenny Francis are and how lucky the Hendrick organization is to have them.  Kasey and Kenny...it just is mind boggling the chemistry that these two have together.  Whatever they have should be studied and bottled.  They have shown no matter where they are at they can win and that is an achievement that is rare.  Chemistry is to me the key to success in this business, more than any thing else, if there isn't that certain "special" something between the driver and his crew chief then it doesn't really matter the caliber of the organization or the quality of the equipment, driver/crew chief combos with out it will and do struggle. So again congratulations Kasey and Kenny on the win and more!

TNT's Last Race of the Season

I haven't much enjoyed TNT's  race coverage thus far.  Did anyone else notice the  thing with the audio NOT synching up with the picture! HORRIBLE!!! And on TWO channels no less, talk about professional?!  Mess ups in the booth during races like the "where is Jimmie" debacle, is he third, was he 4th also don't help to make for enjoyable race.  And I never ever want to see that #$%&# KFC commercial again!!! It's become like the groundhog day of comercials for TNT.

The only things I've ever liked about TNT's NASCAR coverage are: Race Buddy, Allan Bestwick, and the fact that they are not the NASCAR hating people of ESPN/ABC.  So TNT thank you for not being ESPN and crossing my fingers for you guys on having a smooth watchable broadcast on your final Sunday this year!  See you next year!

Why Does The Goverment Hate NASCAR?

So I heard today(I've been kinda under the weather lately) that the Army will end it's sponsorship with the #39 at the end of this season.  And No  they are not going on to sponsor any other car in NASCAR.  The Army says that they are leaving the SHR #39 due to a reallocation of marketing dollars. The Army however is not leaving motorsports entirely, the Army is negotiations with Don Schumacher Racing to continue it's sponsorship of its top fuel dragster through the 2013 season. So I guess it's o.k. to sponsor one type of motorsport over another ?  I mean I get it somewhat, the cost of a NHRA sponsorship is probably a lot less than a NASCAR sponsorship. In a cost to benefit ratio the Army probably is getting more of a bang for their buck. But not the exposure going forward I would imagine.

Here is what I don't get at all. Why do  some members of our government seem to so actively dislike NASCAR? I honestly believe that they really have no sense of our sport and probably don't want to understand what NASCAR is and what it means to its fan base. I would like to know why  Reps. McCollum and Kingston think military sponsorships in NASCAR are such a huge waste of taxpayer dollars. I am a taxpayer, I have actually attended multiple NASCAR events, I don't think that it's a waste of my tax dollars.  NASCAR in general have been great supporters of the military.  How many times have we heard  about various drivers going to visit with our troops? Too many to count, right? How many tickets has NASCAR given away to the men and women who serve our country? A lot. What I am trying to say is that NASCAR have had a very mutually beneficial relationship and to see that relationship between the two ended is just plain stupid.  The money that she is talking about "saving" is a minute fraction of the Defense budget.

I also think that Rep. McCullen's decision to visit the National Guard to speak to them about not sponsoring the #88  is rather vindictive. I mean who asked her.  Did she take a poll? Phone a friend? Talk to a psychic? I mean really. If she were my state's representative I would want her recalled. Just sayin' people of Michigan, just sayin....

OMG!!!!

I really hope that in the end that everything turns out o.k.  In case you had not heard, A.J. Allmendinger failed a drug test that was administered  earlier this week at Kentucky. I am not going to rush to judgement as that Penske and AJ  have the right to have the second sample tested .
Like I said I will wait to see what happens next. But if someone were to ask me who among Cup drivers would be likely to fail a drug test, AJ would not have even been anywhere in my list of possiblities. My prayers go out to the Allmendingers and Penske.

Hey RCR.....

What are you guys trying to do to Austin Dillion?  Two failed inspections in as many weeks? I personally think that they won't dock Austin Dillion any more points but probably more fines will be assessed and if  NASCAR actually means what they say when they put crew chiefs and car chiefs on probation then somebody should be suspended. Two failed inspections is just sloppy and embarrassing for all parties involved. RCR needs to step it up and find out why these things are happening to this team. It would be a shame for the career of a young and talented driver to be tainted by the specter of  such things.

I Love Plate Racing on a Saturday Night

I love plate racing, it is definitely a wild ride from the drop of the green flag to the checkered flag. And I love Daytona, it if you have never been, put it on the list of "Things to do before I die". Daytona is a big beautiful track!  It's got a lot going on all over the facilities, guaranteed to give visitors a memorable fan experience. I have been there once for the 500 and watching a race there is just FABULOUS!!  Haven't been able to get back there since the 500 in '06 and would definitely would like to go back to see the 400 someday!! Since that isn't happening this Saturday I will be watching it on t.v. like alot of fans. 

Happy 4th of July!!

                                                       Happy 4th of July

                 Hopefully you all get to spend the day celebrating the 236th anniversary of Our Great Nation with your loved ones today. Be Safe and Have Fun!!!

Failing Post Race Inspection Penalties

Austin Dillion's  Chevy won the most recent Kentucky Nationwide Race, but the car failed post race inspection.  NASCAR penalized the car 6 driver and owner points plus the usual monetary fines and probation for the crew and car chief of the #3. I just am not sure if that is enough. Not just for Austin Dillion and the # 3 but for any car that wins but doesn't  pass post race inspection.

So what is enough, I'm not sure. There are many who would say that the penalties that the Austin Dillion car received were enough and if they read this post would say that I am crazy for even suggesting that there should be more heaped on to the punishments that NASCAR gives out. Maybe more isn't what I think there should be different penalties for winning cars that fail post race.

The only thing I can come up with that hasn't been done already is....are you ready for it......


Give back the Trophy!

  I mean is it really o.k. to fail the post race and still keep the trophy? Yes, the team looses the points, nullifying the benefit of the win. Sure the crew chief and car chief  have to be extra careful for a few months. I just think that the teams shouldn't be able to keep it after failing post race.  I know again, if someone was reading this would think I'm nuts. I'm just tired of the same old penalties for the same type of infractions.

The Coke Zero 400 is this weekend and plate racing has "inspired" many a team to really exploit the grey areas  of the rules to some pretty interesting places. I think if the teams were left wondering what the penalties were changed or varied  to where teams were left wondering beyond how many points, dollars and months will be levied against them then maybe there would be less funny business  to be done to win. I know crazy talk, but something to think about all of the same.