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March 19, 2007
King Of The Mountain; Mike Skinner
By Mark Young
Let me start this gig off by saying that Jimmie Johnson's dominance the past two weeks is very deserving of the throne but I am going to deny him of it for the simple reason that Mike Skinner and the Craftsman Truck Series gets only a fraction of the exposure they deserve. So without further adieu I hereby decree that by the powers vested in me by TR.com that MIKE SKINNER be King Of The Mountain.
U WANT SOME?
Why Mike Skinner? Did you know that his victory at Atlanta Friday night was second consecutive win of the season? In three races this season Skinner has three top 5 finishes and leads the point series by 69 over Todd Bodine. I tell you what, if you haven't seen a truck race in a while give it a try. These guys go out and run the wheels off those things every race in front of empty grandstands, a fairly small TV audience, and a helluva lot less cash than the other two series. These guys should be racing on Saturday before the Cup races and not the Busch cars. If Cup guys want to come and race trucks fine, it would help boost ratings, sell more seats, and not ruin the careers of so many young Busch Series drivers by choking them off.
You might think Skinner is a has-been that couldn't hack it in Cup, he didn't win there but ran very well more times than not. In the trucks he kicks ass and deserve his moment in the sun.....even if it is just in this blogger's little piece of the Internet.
That's what I think, what say you?
March 19, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
Good choice Mark,
Skinner just never really clicked in cup, but came oh so close so many times.
His winning of the first Truck Championship,and his resurgance last year
tell me that maybe, just maybe he could get another championshiop.
The truck races remind me of a premium race at your local sat. night track, in one word EXCITING
Posted by: Trucker | Mar 19, 2007 2:51:23 PM
Mark,
I can't see denying Johnson KOTM after his domination of Cup these last weeks. But, I suppose each series deserves some recognition. Psssssst, BTW, since you made the rules for KOTM. Why wouldn't you just choose one from each of the series?
Posted by: Keith | Mar 19, 2007 2:58:38 PM
I would consider increasing my mountain to have more than one peak but where the fun be in that?
Posted by: Mark | Mar 19, 2007 4:03:32 PM
Speaking of your local track, I would really like to hear - offlist - from anyone who attends Irwindale Speedway in the Los Angeles area.
There are sveeral guys who never made it in Cup who have done fine in trucks, like Skinner, Sprague, Todd Bodine, Hornaday, even Steve Park. Good for them.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Mar 19, 2007 5:26:01 PM
I vote DJ KOTM. He has taken a crappy car and kept it out of the fence. Of course he is probably 20 mph slower than everyone else. But hey, he is staying out of the way.
Posted by: jeff | Mar 19, 2007 5:53:01 PM
I got call from Shirley B, fllow blogger in The Infeild, and she told me that Eric Medlin, a 3rd season driver for John Force Racing in NHRA funnycar, was seriously injred today at Gainsville Raceway Gainsville.Fla.
Apperently his car suffered a blown tire and crashed into the aurdrail, head on.
He was life flighted to a local hospital where he is in serious critical condiion.
I am sure all of us will keep Eric and his family and team in our thoughts and prayers.
An update is expeced tomorow,Tues around noontime on his condition.
Ron
Posted by: Trucker | Mar 19, 2007 10:02:28 PM
Thanks Trucker. I am sure every reader here has him and his family in their prayers.
Posted by: Mark | Mar 19, 2007 10:14:50 PM
Hey Mark
Thanks for the support of the truck series, i favor it over, follow the leader at most cup races, But do not let truck races replace busch races, cup driver ruined the busch series, leave the truck series alone.
Posted by: Ron Wise | Mar 20, 2007 2:58:02 PM
If the COT is suppose to be more like a truck, will we start to see Truck-wackers coming out of the woodwork?
Posted by: jeff | Mar 20, 2007 7:03:21 PM
Hey Fret Not,
Didn't you see Atlanta? Whackers didn't sell Busch tickets. OOPS, didn't sell Cup tickets either.
Kudo's to Skinner!
Prayers for Medlin.
Posted by: Larry | Mar 20, 2007 10:28:53 PM
Mark, haven't watched the truck race yet, cuz the Gators were playing Jackson State at the same time. But from everything I have read and heard, I think Mike Skinner is an excellent choice. Jimmie gets enough praise, let the "little guys" get some recognition for a change.
I don't think you need to have multiple entries for KOTM. I don't know the "rules" you have set up, but you might decide someone in the booth or on pit road might deserve the honor.
However, I doubt you'll be picking anyone out of the booth as long as Fox is handling the broadcast. Boogity, boogity, boogity!
With Bristol up next, I can't wait to see who will or WILL NOT be King of the Mountain!
Another good pick, Mark.
Posted by: Shirley | Mar 21, 2007 1:04:10 PM
Jeff's comments bring up a good point. The truck series seems to have found its audience without depending on Cup "stars" to bring in fans, and often without sharing a weekend with Cup. Why can't Busch do that?
1. NASCAR is clueless; or
2. NASCAR likes the fact that Busch is "Cup Lite" and they can sell more Saturday tickets. The survival of an "independent Busch series" doesn't matter. Folks come to see the stars, so who cares if the guys finishing 20th-29th are unknowns in Gibbs/Hendrick/Roush cars and those in 30th on back are driving Yugos and finishing 50 laps down? Young drivers? They're all over the place and will be found by someone. They may get thrown into the fire a bit early, but the good ones will do just fine. Kyle Busch did OK; Stremme and Sorenson are making steady progress.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Mar 21, 2007 1:10:16 PM
The latest update on Eric Melden:
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John Force Racing update: Medlen has craniotomy, remains critical
3/21/2007
Injured NHRA Funny Car driver Eric Medlen survived a delicate, three-hour craniotomy procedure to relieve pressure and hemorrhaging Tuesday evening but remained in critical condition Wednesday at Shands at the University of Florida medical center.
Over the next two weeks, the 33-year-old will remain in a drug-induced coma designed to promote healing.
“We consider ourselves fortunate that Eric is in one of the top hospitals in the world for this type of injury and is getting absolutely the best treatment possible,” said John Medlen, Eric's father and crew chief.
---------------
Thanks to everyone who is keeping Eric and his family in their thoughts and prayers.
I worked in the EEG lab at Shands for 3 years, and believe me, he is getting the best care possible.
And Ron, thanks for the updates. It's been a hectic week and haven't been able to keep up. Hopefully we'll hear some positive news in a couple weeks.
Posted by: Shirley | Mar 21, 2007 1:10:19 PM
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