Random Race Thoughts

By Keith Ott

Chevy’s Z07 engine:  If it’s based on the Corvette Z06…watch out Ford etc.  The Z06 (LS7) engine has 505 horsepower / 475 lb.-ft. torque in a car you can buy in a showroom (the pacecar had one in it).  It is nothing like any 350ci engine ever built.  Now, beef it up and let the NASCAR experts tweak it and you have a monster.  I see complaints from the other makes coming.  But, that’s fine with me.  We haven’t had anything to argue about except the COT for a bit now. 

Harvick: “Where for art thou, Kevin?”  A terrific start has turned into a ho-hum season.  Burton is now carrying the RCR banner.  And, what a finish he engineered at Texas.  Pick it up, son.  Or, you’ll be outside looking in during “El Chase-o.”

The COT should have been the COT (Car of Today) on Sunday.  Because this is the track that NASCAR should have chosen for its debut.  This is where I want to see it prove itself. 

  Jr‘s bad luck continues.  In the end it was just a racin’ thing.  Stewart got a bit aggressive (there’s a news item, NOT!) and lost the car.  I was hoping for a “Days of Thunder” outcome.  But, alas, there was no stunning exit from the cloud Tony laid down saving his car.  Ironically, Jr took over the #5 car when Kyle left the track.  If, we’d been at Vegas, I would have been betting that the #5 hadn’t been cheered so loudly in a long time.  At least not since the great Terry Labonte hung up his shoes.

TV Stuff: The “Pointy thingy” is a wonderful tool when used properly and sparingly.  Sometimes cars are hard to pick out and it helps.  However, we’re not idiots.  Point the cars out and step away from the pointy thingy.  We can follow the action without the distraction of multiple “PT’s” crisscrossing the viewing area.  We’re watching a race, not evaluating your graphic designers.  And, never ever do the “PT” flashing on and off during a field summary again.  It looked like some angry alien was beaming lasers at the cars…Nip it…Nip it in the bud!  You can also can the Fox3D.  It still looks like a video game.  Keep your money and invest in more debris cams.  This brings me to my favorite TV quote, of the day, “Debris, if we see it, you’ll see it.”  Maybe they actually do listen to us once in a while.  Or, maybe they got tired of taking the hits for NASCAR’s infamous mystery cautions.

Finally: A word of advice to Mikey.  Phoenix is in Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s territory.    If you hit anything off the track, you best let him know right away.  I don’t think he has a reputation for patience.