Lovin' on Smoke

With all my bashing on the Gibbs boys, it's easy to overlook the big heart of the elder statesman of the team: Tony Stewart. Kyley is an ego-maniac and Denny is a pouty two-year-old and Tony, well Tony is definitely a hot-head. But, like Buck pointed out, that's just evidence of a truly passionate racer. He's got the firey passion to win, and a passion to help people. And it's obvious from the much-touted Elliot Sadler interview, that he has not only a huge heart, but the respect of his fellow drivers. Here's a guy who bought a run-down dirt track, and built it back up to keep the roots of the sport strong. Interviews with employees there indicate that they like him and appreciate the things he's done there. Then he puts on a huge show and gives $1mil to Kyle Petty's VJG Camps. Maybe the event brought in that much, maybe not. We don't know. But that's what the man gave to a great charity. Then he donates all his winnings from a race to the flood-stricken people of his home state. This guy is a stud. When I talk about wanting to be able to respect a driver as a human being before I can really cheer them on, this is exactly the kind of stuff I mean. I've never been a huge Smoke fan, but as a fan, the more I get to know the guy, the more I respect him. So shoot your mouth off after the next race, Tony. It's cool. I know the same passion that fuels your rants drives you to do some great things for people. I'm starting to like orange . . .

• 0 Comments
• Tony Stewart, Victory Junction Gang, Dorado, Joe Gibbs Racing

Slightly Less Caustic on Kyle

I realized that I've been one vitriolic, caustic, cranky-sounding dude in bashing Busch the Younger and his cranky teammate Denny. I'd like to moderate my tone a tad if for no other reason than I just don't want to post nothing but nasties. Far from vacillating into Kyle fanhood like a certain member of the Rowdy team (Buck Fever ;-)) I will not post a retraction of the things I've said about Kyley. This is simply a moderation of my particularly critical tone. Being a fan is, after all, supposed to be FUN, right!?

How long should we as fans hold something against a driver? Is it ever appropriate to forgive one for doing or saying stupid things? How many good moves outweigh a bad? These are just questions.

I'm not becoming a Kyle Busch fan anytime soon. I still maintain that he is egomaniacal, immature, etc. (That's not the point of this post. I've said that elsewhere in more detail.) But I must admit, with the racing withering away to sleep-inducing circles beneath the unbearable weight of this new car, a young, stupid, overly aggressive, and --let's not forget-- exceedingly talented driver slicing and dicing through the field, taking unnecessary risks regardless of track position becomes the most entertaining thing on the track. Add to that Kyle's entertaining responses to interviewers like, "Duh!" and the melodramatic bow atop his still-smoking car to the mixed boos and cheers of the crowd and you've got the single most entertaining guy in NASCAR right now.

Buck, although I cannot say that I'm a Kyle fan, your comment that you started making the turn when you saw him laughing about being booed is a noteworthy one.

He's still all the things I've said about him before. And he's still stirring up the NASCAR world and driving people like me to write things like this. I still love to hate the little jerk. But without that, NASCAR right now is seriously lacking something. So again, thanks Kyley. You're an egomanical dweeb and I'll boo you at the next race I attend. And if I'm man enough to admit it to myself, it's partly because I know it makes you laugh.

• 12 Comments
• Kyle Busch, boo, fan, hated driver, COT

Mile and a Half of Monotony

Ok, that title was more to get your attention than being really representative of how I feel. But I AM leaning that way.

After two races at short tracks, a return to the standard NASCAR fare is something of a change I suppose. But I must voice my growing frustration in the overwhelming similarity in all these 1.5 mile D ovals. Sure, they're all a tiny bit different . . . and a whole lot the same.

I don't buy the argument that short tracks can't sell enough tickets to be worthy investments. Bristol, anyone? And any race fan who gives half a buck's care about the sport knows that short tracks are where all the action is. Why are they disappearing? Why did they build a 2 mile track in Fontana? Build a west-coast Bristol and see what happens to your ticket sales!

I'm a new fan and it just doesn't make sense to me that there are so many 1.5 mile D ovals when watching a short-track race is 5 times the fun! Maybe I'm missing something?

• 2 Comments
• short track, Bristol, Martinsville, 1.5 mile

Busch Bashing

I was responding to another, happy little blog when I found myself careening out of control on a Busch Bashing rant. I decided to post a separate blog just for this special purpose. :-)

Now then . . . I simply can't stand Kyle Busch. I pull for guys I feel like I can respect as human beings. People with character and class. And Kyle Busch represents the antithesis of that kind of person. I will concede that the guy is very talented and entertaining to watch. But in his interviews, he is smug, arrogant, and completely full of himself. Standing in victory circle, he bad-mouths his engine builder? What a punk. He might not be causing the wrecks as often, but that smug attitude is nauseating. As is the constant praise he gets from the commentators. Jeff Hammond and Larry Mac were all but crediting Kyle Busch with JGR's good showings this year so far. What!? And we thought that getting humbled at the hand of Hendrick might have brought some perspective to this kid. Correct a fool, and he becomes more foolish.

I don't wish harm on the kid. I just can't stand that everyone is singing his praises while he worships at the altar of his own ego.

• 6 Comments
• Kyle Busch

Like to Eat, Eat Some Stuff

SWEET!! That was hilarious, not to mention VERY witty and impressive skillz for a TWO YEAR OLD!? Thanks for sharing that! I'll be singing that for the rest of the week at least . . .

• 1 Comment

Cops & Cars

I just listened to Buck recounting his reckless police van driver story. It reminded me of a similar little anecdote of my own . . . maybe you've got one to share too? But first, I do think it prudent to say that I have nothing but respect and appreciation for officers of the law. They risk their lives every day so that we can be safe. With that disclaimer, here's my story:

I was 16, had held my license for a scant few months, and had slid into the back of another car creating a 3-car wreck just a few weeks prior. I didn't want to drive for the longest time, but I was just starting to "get back on the horse" and was driving my girlfriend to go bowling. I came to a full-and-complete-stop at a red light with my turn signal on as I oh so carefully prepared to turn right. BANG!! My heart rate instantly red-lined. Another wreck! I looked in the rear-view and saw the silhouette of police car lights behind me. There was a pause of a few seconds, then the lights came on. My girlfriend and I locked eyes, then burst into laughter. I had just been rear-ended by an officer. He came to the window, asked if we were alright . . . I tried my hardest to keep it together as I sort of choked out ,"We . . . um . . . [snicker] . . . we're fine, Officer . . . [snicker]" As soon as he turned away, I lost it again. I think something like five other cars responded. There was no damage at all to my mom's minivan or his patrol car, but the same could NOT be said for that poor rookie officer's ego, and probably his reputation at the precinct. I really felt bad for the guy.

And THAT was the last positive interaction at road-side that I've had with an officer . . . I attract them like red stiletto heels on a Marine base. And I'm a SAFE driver!! But, that's another story for another blog . . . or an entire series of blogs . . .

• 2 Comments
• police, cops, patrol car, funny incedent

False Hype Hurts

So, on a recent shrrrow, the boys discussed the "false positive" TV ratings from a couple of years ago and how the slightly lower ratings recently are probably not indicative of a depleting fan base, but are likely indicating that maybe the hype generated some "flash-in-the-pan" type interest--people who checked out the sport and decided they'd rather be football fans. That's fine if we're getting back to the true fan base. But check out my pessimistic scenario:

NASCAR hype generates a lot of interest from new fans and high TV ratings. TV ratings create an influx of advertising dollars. The stakes get higher and the sport enters into "The Great Wave of Consolidation." All pretty accurate so far right? Here's where it gets gloomy. What if the real fans--the people who have kept NASCAR alive for decades--see all these changes brought by bigger sponsors, more "business-like" race teams, and more vanilla "professional" acting drivers and get turned off to NASCAR? A fellow Rowdesian recently blogged about how she's already become a bit turned off by the new NASCAR and the squeaky image they're cultivating. Jeff Gordon is on the record as saying the sport is possibly being hurt by the bland professionalism required by sponsors. NASCAR is what it is because of its history, the legendary families, its colorful drivers, and the appeal of real people slugging it out at 200mph. That false hype might change the sport . . . and alienate the die-hard fans that made it what it was in the first place.

Just call me Eyore. ;0)

• 4 Comments
• NASCAR, Hype, History, Fans

Great Shrrrrrrrrrow Guys

That's all . . .

• 0 Comments

Gibbs Racing and 'Yotas??

I know this is old news by now, but it still blows my mind that an owner with teams like the 20 and the 11 cars in the stable is choosing to go with Toyota. One 'yota made inside the top 35. ONE!! Now one of two things is happening here: Toyota has an ace up their sleeve which they have shown Mr. Gibbs or they're simply buying their way into a top-tier team. Maybe I'll be surprised next year, but I'm not expecting much from Joe Gibbs Racing in '08.

• 4 Comments
• Joe Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Toyota

What the Points??

As I was watching the race Sunday, there were a few laps where Jeff was ahead of Jimmie. During these laps, I watched the Chase Points Ticker at the top of the screen display Gordon's deficit go from -4 to -8 to -15 to -20. Wha?! He's AHEAD of Jimmie and his deficit is INCREASING? How the hey-diddle-diddle does that happen? I'm guessing that the Chase Ticker is just not savvy enough to actually be accurate. Is there any way that a driver can be AHEAD of a rival and be losing points to him?

On a related note, what's the deal with NASCAR's point system? There is nowhere that I've been able to find (despite actually searching) that the points system is clearly disclosed. It's like it's some sort of back-room deal where, in a smoke-filled parlour, the powers that be chew cigars, sip brandy, and brood over their bellies to decide how this thing shakes down. I'm not taking a jab at NASCAR per se, it's just that as a relatively new race fan I can't find anywhere that the points are clearly explained in all their complexity. What's going on here?

PS - Forgive the naivete here. As I said, I am a relatively new fan so I might be asking stupid questions . . . but you know what they say about stupid questions . . .

• 3 Comments
• Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR points