Rowdy People

'09 Indy Tire as Collector Item?

I have no experience as a speculator or collector in NASCAR memorabilia, but in the same way as used and/or shredded tires from a particular car or driver have value to a Collector, I'm wondering if this tire has potential in the marketplace based soley on its historical significance and/or provenance?

If the tire is as good as they say it will be... could it be a marketable commodity? And then there's the inverse: What if the tire is a total disaster... what if it's WORSE then last year?

I could imagine a Rowdy Entrepreneur taking this concept and running with it. I can't... not this year anyway... but am curious as to what you all think of the idea?

(Hey, I come up with dumb ideas all the time... but I have a thick skin... so if you think it's a stupid idea... just tell me so! I can handle it :)

Image courtesy Scene Daily.

Rowdy Citizen Journalists

NASCAR announced a while back the creation of "The Citizen Journalists Media Corps".

You made it! Congrats to Buck, Bass, Cutler, Rusty, Linda B., Rowdy Rick Mast, and all who remain unnamed and behind the scenes... hopefully all your hard work will start to pay off.

For more information:
http://www.jayski.com/pages/stories.htm

Here's the list:

The Citizen Journalists Media Corps includes:
* Autoracing1.com/nascar.asp
* Badgroove.com
* Benchracing.onpitrow.com
* Bleacherreport.com/nascar
* Bump-drafts.com
* Catchfence.com
* Dalyplanet.blogspot.com
* Everyjoe.com/topic/auto-racing
* Thefastandthefabulous.com
* Finallapradio.com
* 4ever3blog.com
* Frontstretch.com
* Greenwhitechecker.typepad.com/greenwhitechecker
* Haddockinthepaddock.com
* Hardcoreracefans.com
* InsiderRacingNews.com
* Paddocktalk.com
* Racedriven.com
* Racejournalonline.com
* Racetake.com
* Racingnewsdigest.com
* Racintoday.com
* Rowdy.com
* Rubbingsracing.com
* Speedwaymedia.com
* Thehotlap.com
* Theracinggeek.com
* TruckSeries.com
(NASCAR Public Relations)(7-20-2009)

I would also like to send a congrats out to Rowdy Member "jimmccoy22" (Bump-Drafts).

OT - Write and Win a Bobcat

Heads up on a contest to win a Bobcat CT230 Compact Tractor. The rule is you have to write an essay in order to win. (There is a web page of what other winners have written).

The home page is:
bobcat.com

The contest home page is:
http://netdrive.bobcat.com/tractor_pull/?_ref=tpcemmbctju

NWS Loudon on ABC

The "Camping World RV Sales 200 presented by Turtle Wax" Nationwide race will air on the ABC-TV network at 2:30 PM EST, Saturday, June 27 (tomorrow).

This is the last Nationwide race scheduled to appear on so-called free broadcast television for the 2009 season. Following this weekend at New Hampshire, the rest of the Nationwide schedule will air on ESPN or ESPN2.

It will also be the last NASCAR race (of the three top series) to air on free TV until The Chase for The Sprint Cup begins July 26 on ABC.

Open Letter to The Real Dilly

The following is a response to "The Real Dilly - Road Race for the Chase" which is located here:

http://www.rowdy.com/content/profile/blog/32260/the-real-dilly-road-race-for-the-chase

Dear Dillio,
No, I don't want to participate in a serious debate on Road Courses in The Chase, but there is something I do want to get off my chest. Besides, as you self-profess to being a sophomore to the sport, I don't think you would get nearly half of what I might have to say about it. ;) Anyway...

Day after day, week after week, you hear the drivers, owners, track officials, and NASCAR itself, thanking the fans. That is because without fans, particularly new fans, NASCAR can not thrive. It is the fan that carries the torch. The fan, especially the new fan, is the lifeblood of the sport.

I looked up "lifeblood" in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary:
"... a vital or life-giving force or component .

You are in a unique and opportunistic position. Foremost (in my mind at least) you are well on your way to becoming a good writer. Never underestimate the power to communicate on paper. That ability, in itself, is like having money in the bank.

Your location in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is prime time! The foundation, history, and traditions, of NASCAR is all around you. Owensboro is just a few minutes north. Nashville is just a few minutes south. Eastern Tennessee, the Carolinas, the two Virginias, Alabama, Georgia... all just clicks one way or the other. Go and get as much as you can.

A NASCAR fan is one thing, but a superduper rowdy.com NASCAR fan is another thing altogether. That's just what you are, my friend. That's what I am. It's what we all are!

I think there are at least two things all rowdy.com type NASCAR fans have in common. One is that somehow we don't completely understand what it is we love so much, and the other is a confusion over purpose.

When I am asked why I am a fan, particularly by the non-fan (especially the cool non-fan that pines on about how it's not really a sport) The answer is simply this:

"It's in my blood."

To a future Physicist and Mathmatician, you must think that is a very terrible answer. I partly agree, but it's universally accepted as both truth and fact.

As for confusion over purpose, I'll take a line you wrote out of context, and then cut and paste it right here:

... "devoted to the sport's success and is passionate"...

Ah, good answer. That's it!

So, carry on the debate! And, always remember this:

NASCAR is listening to the fans.

Ad Age Daily on Danica-NASCAR

For years I've been getting Ad Age Daily in my eMail inbox. Rarely do they cover NASCAR. When they do, I like to share it with Rowdy.
Here are some highlights from today's issue:

Title - What Danica Patrick Could Do for Nascar, Sponsors

"... some sports pundits believe it could bring in $50 million in fresh sponsorship money,.."

"... even though Nascar has a pretty loyal and wide-open fan base now among women, it will skyrocket if she's [Danica] driving every week." - Quote from unnamed sports marketing executive.

"... [on] speculation that she will jump to Nascar. She could not be reached for comment, but prior to her most recent race June 6 at the Texas Motor Speedway she [Danica] told reporters that as a "driver that drives in the top level of open-wheel racing here in the United States, or in North America, you want to jump from one top to another top. If that was the direction that ends up coming up and that we choose, I would prefer to do that, but I'm not so naive that I won't be open to other opportunities and other ideas."

Address to Full Article:
http://adage.com/article?article_id=137186

Image courtesy adage.com

NASCAR's Citizen Journalists

Interesting article over on NASCAR.com. Here's the first paragraph:

"The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing on Tuesday announced its intention to invite the top independent NASCAR-related Web sites to join a newly formed "NASCAR Citizen Journalists Media Corps." NASCAR is providing this group of new media access to cover the sport while maintaining their independence."

The first question I have is if Rowdy is on the list? Does Rowdy want on the list?

Listening to the podcasts and reading blogs by Buck, Bass, Cutler, and the rest, seems Rowdy already gets media level access and credentials to some (Dover, etc) or all of the races. Would being a part of this new Citizen Journalists Media Corps be a positive move in the right direction for Rowdy? On the other hand, could it turn out to be a "deal with the devil"?

Has it been in the works for a while? What's the inside scope on this?

Link to entire article:
http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/headlines/official/06/02/citizen.journalists/index.html

P.S., I did some looking back through the blogs but haven't found anything on this. If it's "old" news I apologize.

Goodbye and Goodluck

For folks like me that can't or won't pay for commercial TV, Dover marks the end of "free" over-the-air broadcast of NASCAR Sprint Cup for twelve weeks in a row. They make the annual trek over to cable/dish. Last year I posted a thing about how it starts off like a much needed vacation, but then quickly dissolves into something else... something too horrible, too disturbing to mention... even on the internet.

Things are completely different this time around. First of all, I'm not even sure I wish to keep paying for the internet. Sure, it's nice to have, but the only thing I really use it for anymore is keeping up with NASCAR, and filtering junk eMail. The exciting question for me right now is "How long will it last if I stop sending in the check?" How long will they allow me to lurk before he, she, or it, flips the virtual on/off switch?

Goodbye, I'll miss ya all.
Goodluck, I hope your driver/team/owner does well.

WAIT A MINUTE! I see the green light on the modem still blinks!
Ok, what can I do? What? What? What?

June 7, 2009 - Pocono. I always loved Pocono. One time, however, I felt that I could not love it as much anymore. Dale Jarrett slammed into the outside wall of turn two and burst into a gigantic ball of fire. Even today, when I think of Pocono I think of Dale Jarrett.

June 7, 1942 - Japan defeated at Midway
The Battle of Midway ends as the United States reverses the tide against the previously invincible Japanese navy. A thousand miles northwest of Honolulu, the strategic island of Midway became a target for Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s Japanese fleet. As with Pearl Harbor, Yamamoto planned a surprise assault, but this time U.S. naval intelligence had decoded Japanese messages and the United States was prepared for the attack. An outnumbered squadron of American fighters repulsed a large force of Japanese aircraft attacking Midway, and two U.S. attack fleets surprised the Japanese fleet, destroying all four of Yamamoto’s aircraft carriers and thus signalling the beginning of the end of Japanese hegemony in the Pacific.

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June 14, 2009 - Michigan. I've always loved Michigan. I love it because it doesn't come off as stressful as some other races. There's plenty of room to race. There's room to pass. It's time to sit back and relax a little bit. For some reason, I usually expect Jeff Gordon to win it. I don't even know his record there. Go 24!

June 14, 1991 - The Gulf War: In excess of a thousand Kurds besiege the U.S. military base near the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk, begging the American troops not to withdraw from Iraq.

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June 21, 2009 - Sonoma. I've always refused to call it anything other then Sears Point. I guess I'm just an old stick in the mud. I hope the Rowdidian's trying to put together a big Rowdy Party have the time of their lives! Go Brian Simo in the #36!

June 21, 1779 - Spain declares war on Great Britain, creating a de facto alliance with the Americans.

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June 28, 2009 - Loudon. Hit the gas. Slam on the brakes. Hit the gas. Slam on the brakes. I've always wondered what that feels like after 300 miles. Does it make your head swim?

I hope the Taliban gets what's coming to them.

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July 14, 2009 - Daytona. Go Dale!

I see that the modem still blinks, but my time here is done. "BB" wants me to get off the damn computer and go to work. I guess I better do as she says. :)

Kyle Busch in Nashville this Sunday

WHO: NASCAR Star Kyle Busch.

WHAT: Budweiser All American 150 LAP CRA Super Series & CRA South Points Event. (Special Points Event North/South Combined Show)

WHERE: Fairgrounds Speedway at The Tennessee State Fairgrounds on Wedgewood Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee. (*)

WHEN: Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 2 P.M. C.S.T.

HOW MUCH:
Grandstands:
Two-Day Adult Ticket $25
Saturday Adult Ticket $10
Sunday Adult Ticket $20
Seniors/Students:
Saturday Only or Sunday Only $8
Children 11 to 17 Saturday Only or Sunday Only $8
Children 10 and under BOTH DAYS FREE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.fairgroundsspeedwayatnashville.com/

(*) Formerly known as "Music City Motorplex" and about 100 other names over the past 100 years. DO NOT confuse with "Nashville Superspeedway" (where the Nationwide Races are held) which is located off Highway 840 outside Lebanon, TN.

Courtesy: "may3.gif" (retitled "nashville_may3_09.gif" by me) fairgroundsspeedwayatnashville.com/

Transcribed: Earnhardt - Elliott

The clash between Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott during the final ten lap shoot-out segment of The 1987 Winston became known as the "Pass In The Grass". It's famous, of course, and the video is available on YouTube.

What doesn't seem to be readily available are the post race interviews. The other day I was listening to a CD of historical moments in NASCAR history when I came across comments Dale and Bill made about each other following the 1987 Winston. I present it here now, transcribed to the best of my ability:

Dale Earnhardt (talking about Elliott): "Me and Bodine got hung up there in One and um... got all sideways... and ah... I dodged him and got under him... and ah... come on back to the line and he ah ... um... in FRONT! Uh, on the restart... We was comin' off two over there and Bill turned me sideways, and ah... Lucky we saved that! And ah... uh, we and we still in lead and he come off there and turned me into the grass so ah ... I... I just took it he wanted to play rough."

Bill Elliott (talking about Earnhardt): "... went down into the first and second corner... He slid up I got under him... Clearly under him. He cut down on me ... cut me off. I was clearly there. Come back around here... I was clearly under him good coming back here to the tri-oval. He tried to cut me off again to the grass! Then, going down the back straight-away... He slows up... lets me get the outside of him and nearly puts me into the wall going into three and four."