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June 26, 2006
Talking points as mid-season approaches
By DAVID GREEN
Some points to ponder as we approach the return to Daytona on Independence Day weekend:
(1) Have we determined that DEI has lost its restrictor plate magic, or will Junior be a contender in the Pepsi 400 Saturday night?
The opinion here is that it's the Hendrick Chevys that are now the ones to watch. And didn't some guy start a championship run with a win at Sonoma, followed by a win at Daytona, last year? In other words, watch out for the 24.
(2) What's up with guys announcing engagements, then going out and winning races?
In Champ Car, A.J. Allmendinger did it week before last at Portland, Ore., and then this past weekend, Jeff Gordon pops the question and then pops the cork in Infineon's victory lane.
Man -- that's a more expensive route to victory than home improvement projects.
(3) What in the world is up with Kevin Harvick trying to body-slam Paul Menard's car into the inside wall after the Busch Series race at Milwaukee Saturday night?
I suppose Happy was miffed because Menard didn't cooperate and spin out after Harvick repeatedly tried to dump him, but when J.J. Yeley got into Harvick's rear bumper, Harvick spun out like a bump-and-run victim is supposed to. The nerve of that Menard guy -- maintaining control after somebody gives him a cheap shot from behind.
That had to be the most bizarre incident of the weekend. Harvick's curious confrontation with Menard was kind of like the Chicago White Sox pitcher who was ejected for throwing a beanball last week. At the time of the incident, the Sox had a 19-2 lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. Dude -- you throw at somebody when they're beating you by a big margin, not when you're whipping them. What are you trying to do -- add injury to insult?
Cheer up, Kevin. Menard is still a relative newcomer to NASCAR. Perhaps someday, he'll learn to spin out when you hit his car.
(4) Remember when everybody was talking about what a strong start Tony Stewart was having to this title defense season?
Well, as the first half of the season approaches, it's fair to say the champ is in a bit of a slump. And yet, he's still running pretty strong. He's not crashing out or blowing up while running 35th. He probably wasn't going to catch Gordon Sunday, but he was a good bet for second until his engine went sour.
Not too many drivers have ever maintained for a full season the kind of winning edge Stewart rode at mid-season to last year's championship. That kind of excellence doesn't usually come out of a clear blue sky, though. Stewart was competitive just about every race last year.
He has been fairly competitive in most races this year, too. I'd say a ding-dong battle between Stewart and Gordon for this year's Cup title is not out of the question. Then again, they might be fighting it out for third place, if Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth keep on keepin' on.
June 26, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
Man -- that's a more expensive route to victory than home improvement projects.
Your dead on with that one.
Kevin Harvick Paul Menard thing.
Great and funny way to put it.
Posted by: Diane | Jun 26, 2006 9:36:21 PM
I'm Happy for Paul Menard and his first Busch Series win, at a Wisconsen track no less! Paul and his cousin Charlie used to race Legends cars, and they'd run a couple of my tracks in Minnesota, well we'd kid them that they needed to put those "Whip Flags" on their cars so we wouldn't run over them! I also got a kick outta the announcer's pronounciation of "Eue Claire"...it's OH Claire NOT E Claire
Anyway it's fun to see these guys come South and do well! Joey Miller diving for D.W is another...I hope he does well!
I'm glad that Sonoma is DONE, Let's get to Daytona, I hope DEI has Upped their "A" game, I can't stand to see the 24 or 48 win, It will be interesting to see HOW the "bumpdraft" goes, I'm sure Helton's Dons will be in full effect. And as much ballyhooed Tony's repeat, he does come on strong late in the season. And as much as I would love to see the # 8 win his first championship, my heart HAS to go back to the "sentinmental" favorite Mark Martin! another driver I looked up to in the ASA! My Aunt sent some old photo's of Mark and Rusty! And Lastly David, I am GLAD I didn't have a teacher like you (J/K) I stayed up 2 extra hours searching the same site Trucker did before I GAVE up!
Posted by: Tbfka# 5 | Jun 26, 2006 10:27:17 PM
#5, I make a point of rewarding the good efforts my students demonstrate, not merely the results of their finished assignments.
As for the commentators' mispronunciation of Eau Claire, that's not the worst of their stumbles. During the telecast of the Busch Series race from Kentucky Speedway, the FX crew relocated Fort Knox from central Kentucky to Tennessee -- not only in the announcer's voice, but in the text graphic on the screen, too.
I guess they slept through geography class and missed the James Bond movie "Goldfinger" as well. Not much demonstrated effort there; that nets a grade of "F".
Diane, thank you for the kind words.
Posted by: David Green | Jun 26, 2006 11:26:31 PM
When that yellow came out and put Harvick behind Menard I thought it was Happy's to win.I am glad it ended as it did and I think Paul will be in Victory Lne more often.With his parents behind him and driving for DEI.
I got upset before the Busch race.On friday night in the CTS race Erin Crocker and Tod Bodine touched and both spun out.On replay they anounced and clearly showed it was jus one of them deals and nobodies fault.Then low and behold on sat night Phil Parson said Bodine suffered a
hit by Crocker which put him outa the race.
I stop here because someday a woman will win one of Nascar's big three series race.I am waiting
Posted by: trucker | Jun 27, 2006 12:33:36 AM
David,
Missed the race because I watched the Indycars, but now I can catch Ky later in the week armed with the highlights.
There were no highlights to the Indy event. It consisted of Rusty Wallace saying (every lap, btw) how amazed he was they could go full throttle through the turns, and continuous Danica updates. If a type of car truely doesn't belong on a certain sized track, then it's Indycars at Richmond.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 27, 2006 7:15:10 AM
Trucker you are right. One day a woman is going to win.
Posted by: Diane Sadler | Jun 27, 2006 9:46:42 AM
Wait. . .Keith. . .you watched IRL over BGN? No wonder Harvick was acting like an idiot. His #1 fan wasn't watching! It's all your fault! But I am extremely happy Menard got the win. Just wish it could have been a Menard 'sweep' with Robby winning at Sears Pt.
David, I think you might be wrong. IMO DEI is getting their act together, and might just pull out a win or two this weekend. Like Mikey said last night on INC, Truex jumped into that 1 car and has been doing fairly well. Maybe he’ll announce his engagement and will follow along with Jeff and AJ.
I picked Tony to win the championship again this year - although my sentimental favorite is definitely Mark Martin - but when the 20 was doing so well the first of the year I started to worry. They usually do well AFTER Michigan and/or Sonoma. Maybe they can turn it around again. Or maybe the 6 team will step it up and finally give Mark his much deserved title. And then hopefully he’d come back another year to defend it!
Trucker, I heard the comment about Erin as well. I’m not a fan of the Bodine’s anyway, but now you’ve got announcers taking cheap shots at other drivers on their behalf? Give me a break.
Hopefully Fox and Speed will be paying attention to what will be happening less than 100 miles south of DIS Sat. afternoon. At 3:49 p.m. Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled for lift off at Kennedy Space Center. I was sitting in the stands – Oldfield, row 36 – when Columbia launched during testing Jan. 2003. Unfortunately, Columbia and its 7 member crew did not return to Earth. If you are one of the lucky fans sitting on the front stretch, you have a perfect view of the launch (as long as there are no clouds). Look toward Turn 3 and you can follow the spacecraft over the Atlantic. BTW, Dale Jr. was on the track going into Turn 3 when Columbia was taking off. I got a picture, but unfortunately wasn’t digital. It’s something I will never forget. (Hey, I promoted Turn 3 twice!)
Back to racing. . .there will be a lot to watch this weekend. It will be interesting to see how Michelin handles Indy; can Scott Speed get his first win in the USA; and which driver in IROC wins on the road course at DIS. Hopefully Kinser will have all four wheels on the ground when the checkered flag waves.
I’m ready, just wish I was there! Boogity, Boogity, Boogity!!!
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 27, 2006 9:56:43 AM
David - great post.
I agree that DEI has lost their magic at Daytona. However, don't be too shocked if Truex Jr. wins this one. I'd watch out for Vickers or as I've predicted earlier in the season, an RCR car may win this weekend in either the Busch or Cup event.
As for Harvick and the Menard deal last weekend, it wasn't so much that Harvick wanted to punt him, I think in Harvick fashion he was trying to intimidate Menard after being cut down on going into turn one. Happy touched him and backed off twice thus resulting in his spin out compliments of Yeley. The good news, Menard wasn't intimidated and deserved the win. He passed the "Harvick School of Move Out of My Way" with flying colors and earned respect within the garage.
We'll see what happens next time when Menard is behind Harvick going for the win. TIVO that one folks!
Posted by: MikeHarper | Jun 27, 2006 1:20:14 PM
Shirley, Don't you know ALL things lead to Turn 3!
Posted by: Tbfka# 5 | Jun 27, 2006 2:10:39 PM
#5, guess I'm learning!
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 27, 2006 2:48:39 PM
Well we all know Keith's been on land way to long.He's gonna watch the KY race later this week
KEITH they raced the MILWAUKEE MILE SAT NIGHT
gonna go way out on a limb here, A Chevy will not sit on the pole or win this week
Posted by: trucker | Jun 27, 2006 3:09:48 PM
Nice catch Trucker. I missed the KY reference.
If not a Chevy, then who/what? Kasey Kahne? A Roush team?
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 27, 2006 3:12:48 PM
trucker & Shirley,
It replays on cable later this week. This salty dog knows how to check the cable guide. Speed Channel Thur 11:30 in case any ye other land lubbers missed it. That's "am" not 23:30 for ye scurvy curs that ain'ts be on proper time...Arggggggggggggg
Posted by: Keith | Jun 27, 2006 4:03:58 PM
Trucker, I would have thought we'd have a woman winner already. Shawna Robinson and Patti Moise were plenty talented drivers but never were able to close the deal -- just as Danica has fallen short. Winning at the upper levels is just so elusive.
Shirley, I think Kahne is a really good bet. He's the hottest thing going nowadays. Plus, the TV commercials with the three girls going ga-ga over him (while the classic "Never My Love" by The Association plays in the background) are the best NASCAR-related ads going right now. From the Roush camp, Biffle and Carl Edwards are overdue.
But if I were a betting man, my money would be on Wonder Boy, as Earhardt used to call him.
Posted by: David Green | Jun 27, 2006 4:10:47 PM
http://www.jayski.com/pages/enginerules.htm
You may be right David but a lil bird told me a secret
Posted by: trucker | Jun 27, 2006 5:40:37 PM
Please dear Lord NOT the #24!
Trucker, what bit are you refering to the new engine or sucking air BTW is an old trick.
DEI needs to turn it around, so no better time than now, # 9 on the pole, and the winner is...# 8, followed by the #31, #20!
Posted by: Tbfka# 5 | Jun 27, 2006 8:28:56 PM
I still like the way # 5 thinks.
Posted by: Diane | Jun 27, 2006 10:16:06 PM
David, don't forget Janet Guthrie. If there was any female that had a chance, it was Ms. Guthrie. But I'll always remember Shirley Muldowny beating the crap out of Big Daddy. Those were the days!
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 28, 2006 7:23:48 AM
#5 and Trucker, your remarks are duly noted. For sure, DEI is already miles ahead of last year, when the team was mired in its reorganization dilemma. Just as certainly, the team has not been as dominant on the plate tracks as it once was. Kahne is clearly the class of the Dodge camp -- and perhaps of the Cup field, with the exception of...
Shirley, I left out Guthrie because her entry was such a groundbreaking kind of thing. All that she accomplished was largely seen as overachievement (or fluke, by her detractors). That began to change with the generation of drivers that included Robinson and Moise, who began to understand what it's like to have higher expectations placed upon you. It is coming to a head with Danica Patrick. As impressive as her fourth-place run at Indy was last year, I think she is definitely going to have to win something, some place, sometime soon in order to deserve the adulation she has gotten. Of course, I could be wrong.
Posted by: David Green | Jun 28, 2006 9:22:34 AM
Shirley -- forgot to add this: For sure, Cha-Cha Muldowney proved beyond any doubt that she could get the job done in the quarter-mile. Drag racing has always been the most diverse of all motor sport, by far. Some might say that the extremely short duration of a drag race lends itself to "the fairer sex," in contrast to the long hours and physical demands of a NASCAR or Indy car race, and suggest that as en explanation of the success of women drivers. That could probably touch off a heated debate nowadays. I'll straddle the fence by saying there might be some validity in the notion, but that doesn't mean we will never have a winning woman driver in other forms of the sport.
Posted by: David Green | Jun 28, 2006 9:30:24 AM
When we stop calling them "Women Racers" or "Black Racers," and just call them "Racers" we'll be truely equal and diverse...until then it's an effort in futility.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 28, 2006 10:48:37 AM
Keith, very well said. (I hate when I agree with you.)
David, now I understand why you did not include Janet, but of the 'women' drivers that have attempted NASCAR, I still think she was the most talented. She just did not receive the support that drivers like Erin Crocker is receiving today.
I am by no means of fan of Danica Patrick. IMO she happen to be at the right place at the right time, and has the 'look' that every promoter/sponsor wants. Dan Weldon WON Indy, and who was on the cover of SI? That was total BS.
Women are kicking butt in NHRA right now - and yes, David, I've heard that 'straight line' theory many times. I remember standing in Shirley's pit and someone asked her if she was upset that NHRA was not included in IROC. Her answer was: "I only turn right, and that's to get back to pit road."
I think the current female driver that has a chance is Katherine Legg. A friend of mine told me about her a few months ago, and I remembered that she did really well in. . .damn. . .can't remember if it was the 24 hrs @ Daytona or Sebring this year. . .but it was one of the two. . .and don’t have time for ‘research’ – sorry. She PASSED quality cars during her stint and spoke very intelligently when interviewed about the set up, etc. She's tested in F1 and Champ Cars, and got a podium in Champ Car Atlantic. I'd love to see Jay Leno start a team, and make her the driver. I have a feeling Letterman wouldn't know what hit him!
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 28, 2006 1:11:38 PM
Whem I strap on a helmet I only see a number...and another competitor to beat.
Posted by: Tbfka# 5 | Jun 28, 2006 2:06:04 PM
Would be KOOL Shirley
I thought Sarah Fisher got a raw deal and have not heard about her since she packed her RV and with her dog headed to CA to race late models under Richard Childers
John Force say's a lot of things but........he told his daughters don't copy me...copy Shirley she has been THE PERFECT RACER
your welcome S.
Posted by: trucker | Jun 28, 2006 2:13:08 PM
Sara Fisher - how could I forget - and yes, it was a 'raw deal' indeed.
I LOVE John Force. I heard him say, basically what you wrote on Wind Tunnel one night. I don't know anyone that does not have respect for Shirley. . .well maybe Connie Kalitta.
And thank you, Ron.
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 28, 2006 2:21:18 PM
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