Could this be the year that a driver without any race victories captures the Cup ?

If Kyle, Carl and Jimmie all have a DNF or two then any of the others in the chase could win the cup with a string of top ten finishes. Five of the current top 12 have no wins this year. (that could be 6 of 12 if David Ragan beats Clint Bowyer for the 12th spot)

I wouldn't be surprised if Kyle and Carl take each other out of a race.

In 2003 Mat won the Cup with a single victory (and a lot of top tens).
I like the chances for the Silent Assassin to win his second cup.

• 17 Comments

Let's shake things up

Many local tracks flip a coin after qualifying to decide whether or not to invert part of the field. I think that would make Cup racing more interesting.

I've always wondered why oval track racing always runs counterclockwise. I assumed that it's because the driver was on the left side - away from the wall.

Road courses generally run counter-clockwise. Is that because it mostly originated in England?

Is there oval track racing down-under? If so, do they race clockwise?

I suggest - that for each race just before practice - NASCAR flip a coin to decide if the race is to be run counter-clockwise or clockwise? That sure would make things more interesting... make setup a real challenge.

• 4 Comments

Firing Barry Dodson; Is Gabi DiCarlo ignorant?

So the ARCA team fired Barry Dodson because driver Gabi DiCarlo "needs a little more experienced crew chief" ?

That's about the same as ...

... Letting Jimmy Johnson go because we want someone who's more of a winner.

... Letting Dale Junior go because we want someone who's more popular.

... Letting Tony Stewart go because we want someone who's more outspoken.

... Letting Kyle Busch go because we want someone who's more aggressive.

... Letting Joey Logano go because we want someone with more potential for the future.

Sheesh!

Could Gabi DiCarlo really be THAT ignorant of NASCAR history?

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• 11 Comments

Lewis Hamilton Rocks

WOW! Actual passing on the track for the race lead. For a few minutes I thought I was watching something other than a Formula One race.

Joey Logano rocks too. A win and two seconds in his last three Nationwide starts.

• 2 Comments

Infineon = BORING

I counted only two passes for the lead on the track; one when Kasey lost the handle and the other when John Paul checked up for the spinning Biffle. Other than those there weren't even any challenges for the lead.

Unless they design a road race track with real places to pass I'd rather watch one race at Darlington, Phoenix or Richmond than a dozen road races.

The entire race seemed to be drivers just cruising around waiting for pit stop and gas mileage strategy to pay off.

It was so boring (other than the regular rear-enders in turn 11) that it could have been a Formula One race.

YMMV.

• 4 Comments
• Infineon

I'm joining the Junior Nation

I can't resist any longer.

Even though I've declared myself a Biffle fan, in every race this year I finding myself pulling for Junior. I screamed obscenities at Baby Busch when he spun Junior at Richmond.

I've always liked Dale Junior. But for years I refused to join the mob of Budweiser-clad.

I'm a stat freak and Junior's stats this year just leap off the monitor at me. He's has been in the top five in points all season and has the second most top-five and is tied for the most top-ten finishes. Junior has the top finishing Hendrick car in half the races.

I'm not going to wear any Amp or Mountain Dew apparel - when I'm not drinking Micro Brew (usually Amber Ale or Porter) I drink Iced Tea - but I'm going to buy an 88 cap.

And I apologize to Tony Junior for writing that he was not a good enough Crew Chief for Junior to win a championship.

• 11 Comments
• dale, Earnhardt, Junior, 88

Logono wins: eat your words Buzz Cutler

Less than a month after his 18th birthday Joey Logano won his first NASCAR Nationwide race.

In his first three races Logano has one win, one 6th, two poles.

I remember when Tiger Woods moved up from the Amateurs to the Pro tour. So many fans said "He can't be as good as some people are saying."

I think Logano is that good.

(of course I was especially thrilled to see him beat Baby Busch.)

• 2 Comments

Memorial Day is a lot more personal this year.

U.S. Marine LCPL James F. Kimple, was killed in action in Iraq less than a month ago. James is the son of of our Rowdy friend J.D.

I only knew J.D. through Rowdy and I didn't know James yet I cried when I learned. I found myself at a loss for words.

Today as various communities across the country hold parades and other events let each of us honor the service and sacrifice of James Kimple.

Those who wish can contribute to a Trust fund for James Kimple's children.

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Fifth Third Bank
River Valley
2152 Schorrway Dr
Lancaster, OH 43130

Attention: Trust Fund in Memory of Lance Corporal James Kimple
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• 2 Comments

Podcast on an iPod - What a concept

Originally published May 8, 2007 on Rowdy.com 1.0

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It was beautiful outside this afternoon, after two weeks of rain and wind. I spent a few hours sitting in a lawn chair drinking frozen Margaritas and reading a Murder Mystery. My portable stereo, the one with an iPod dock, was playing old Emmylou Harris albums (I love Boulder to Birmingham so much that I listened to it three times). Life was good.

But after a few hours, and a few Margaritas, I realized I was missing something. I needed my NASCAR fix. I suppose I could have brought the laptop outside, the WiFi works fine in the backyard, but I had a brainstorm... this fantastic idea.

Podcast? iPod? What if they could work together? What if one could play a Podcast on an iPod? The possibilities were mind boggling.

Rushing back inside into my laboratory I poured another Margarita, energized a few thousand dollars of precision electronic equipment, and began my experiments. Several hours, and another Margaritia, later... EUREKA! success! My wildest dreams were realized.

Returning to the backyard, with another Margarita, I got comfortable in my lawn chair, pressed the iPod buttons in the correct sequence and was rewarded with the melodious tones of Buck and "he-whose-name-cannot-be-mentions-but rhymes-with-gas", and the less-than-melodious tone of Cutler. I sat in backyard, watched the birds, spotted the first butterfly of spring, sipped my Margarita and got my daily NASCAR fix.

Listening to a Podcast on an iPod... what a concept.

I wonder if I can patent it?

• 5 Comments

Join the Rowdy team of blood donors at Red Cross Racing

I've been a Red Cross blood donor for more than twenty years. Join me and other NASCAR fan blood donors at Red Cross racing

After you join Red Cross Racing you can join Team Rowdy and we'll compete with other teams.

You can join now, and then add the information when you donate. The Rowdy team code is DY887RO.

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The American Red Cross announced the launch of Red Cross Racing, a new national campaign to recruit NASCAR fans as blood donors and raise awareness of the need to give blood. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood.

Through the support of 3M and Roush Fenway Racing -- two highly respected organizations in the NASCAR motorsports world -- the No. 16 Ford Fusion will race this Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway in a full paint scheme featuring the Red Cross logo. The car will be driven by Red Cross celebrity cabinet member and blood donor Greg Biffle.

"I'm proud to be an American Red Cross blood donor," Biffle said. "I give blood because it's easy to do and helps support our community. I hope NASCAR fans across the country will join me this racing season to help save lives, one drive at a time."

"The Red Cross invites NASCAR fans to follow Greg Biffle's lead and help win the race to increase much-needed blood donations," said Mary S. Elcano, acting president and CEO of the American Red Cross. "Many NASCAR fans are already loyal Red Cross supporters in times of disaster, and through Red Cross Racing, we hope they will become frequent blood donors too."

Race fans will be able to join a Donor Rewards program by visiting redcrossracing.com beginning on April 24th. This new Web site makes it easy to schedule blood donation appointments online and offers frequent donors the chance to get points, which can be exchanged for Red Cross Racing gear, including caps, T-shirts, jackets and limited edition die-cast cars. Race fans can also join Red Cross Racing at one of the nine NASCAR races where a Red Cross trailer will be on the midway. All participants who sign up between April 24 and October 1 are automatically entered into a sweepstakes for an all-expense paid trip for two to the races in Phoenix on November 9, 2008.

The Red Cross will be highly visible at NASCAR races, thanks to a nearly $2 million donation by 3M.

"We're excited to join with the Red Cross to further advance its mission to increase the nation's blood supply," said Bob MacDonald, 3M senior vice president of marketing. "Our company is a long-time supporter of the Red Cross through ongoing financial and in-kind donations, and we are pleased to help launch this NASCAR opportunity."

People can give blood up to six times a year, or every 56 days, yet only about 37 percent of blood donors donate more than once each year. Through this national campaign, the Red Cross hopes to increase the number of blood donations and to encourage people to give more often. The creation of Red Cross Racing seeks to expand on the organization's existing successful partnerships within NASCAR.

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• 4 Comments