Thursday, March 11, 2010

DANICA! DANICA! DANICA!

Danica-mania has finally hit NASCAR! Oh lord... It has been quite some time since the Nationwide Series had something to talk about other than Kyle Busch winning everything; a woman in NASCAR. :-O! Yeah, at first glance when I saw Danica up close at an IRL race back in 2009, she didn't really look like some racing goddess. To be quite honest, I didn't even know she walked right past me in the garage area!

To be fair, she's a marketing dream; the looks, attitude, she can somewhat drive. I'm sure she could get anyone to sponsor her if she tried. So why did she want to try NASCAR? No one really knows, although maybe it's because IRL is spiraling down the drain and she's looking for a way out. (We'll save the topic for another day.) Anyway, my point is, why did she come to NASCAR when she really hasn't done much in IRL?

When guys like Dario Franchitti, Sam Hornish Jr., and Juan Pablo Montoya came over to NASCAR, they already had huge accomplishments in IRL before giving stock car racing a try. Danica won one race, and it wasn't even in the USA where the majority of races in IRL and NASCAR are run.

So do you see my point? To make matters worse, when she's out on the track, it almost sounds like a 15 year old with a permit trying to drive a car for the first time! Shouldn't the other drivers be a little worried about this? I mean sure we drive with first-timers on the street to places of business, but not at 190 mph. It's dangerous to have someone so inexperienced as herself to be out there on the track especially with guys like Keselowski out there.

Before you completely bash me, yes, I do know the only way she will learn is by seat time. Yeah okay, she ran what, one ARCA race before she tried Nationwide? Testing doesn't count when 43 other people aren't trying to get to the same place you are at the same time. So really, she's in the minor league of NASCAR and has little to no experience in a stock car. I'd be a little worried.

I'm not saying she can't drive a stock car, BUT I think it was WAY too soon for her to step up into NASCAR. She should have tried a bunch of ARCA races first and actually win a few races before becoming Dale Jr.'s latest attraction.

Which brings me to my next point...

What's the deal Junior??? How can Martin, Gordon, and Johnson plus everyone at Stewart-Haas with the same engines, are seemingly doing exponentially better? Well, now that it's out there I can't take that back. It's too early in the season to really see how this final straw for ol' Junebug to get his career straight and regress back to when he was driving the number 8 Budweiser Chevy.

We'll see what's instore after the short track these next few weeks. I'll give him until Talladega.

Until then,

That's Just Racing

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Cuzzin Carl is on Probation...what about Kezzie?

Well, the almighty courts of NASCAR have spoken. Carl will be on probation for the next three races; Bristol, Martinsville, and Phoenix. Looking at most of the comments on the article NASCAR Places Edwards on three race probation, most people are baffled that Carl got nothing but a slap on the wrist and sent free.

Let's look at the kind of person Carl is first before anyone starts furiously typing. Carl Edwards is probably the best of the drivers when it comes to speaking to the media and reaching out to the fans. He is a highly respectable guy around the garage and everyone seems to be on good terms with him...well, except for Brad, AND his new baby girl, Anne.

Okay, now with all that in mind, this intentional wreck, if it were any other person, would not be of any shock value and most fans would shug their shoulders and say... THAT'S JUST RACING! The only other drivers that would get this much attention would be Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Why? Well, they are just like Edwards in the sense of how they carry themselves around the media and fans. All are great speakers and have loyal fans. What if it was someone like Kevin Harvick or Tony Stewart that wrecked Keselowski?

The world would expect that from drivers like them! Even Juan Pablo Montoya it would be less investigated. My point is, Carl Edwards just doesn't seem like the kind of driver who would retaliate by intentionally wrecking someone when he's already 100+ laps down and Brad was in contention for a victory.

As a fan of both of these drivers, I'm not going to pick a side and say who's right and wrong, but I do think that both of them will learn from this and take away the fact that yes, the cars CAN fly by just tapping them. (How many more examples do they need?)

As for Keselowski, it's not that the kid is wrecking people on purpose, he's just an aggressive driver AKA a bull in a china factory. Someone needs to settle him down and make him be patient instead of wrecking Joey Logano and expecting a "sorry" to fix it. I hope NASCAR has at least spoken to Brad as well on this subject because I know exactly how frustrating it is for Carl to be punished and have Brad, the instigator in all this, run free. I would know, I'm the oldest child in my family and that's how it's always been!

I for one think this Keselowski/Edwards feud has been blown out of proportion. The wings are being destroyed as we speak (hopefully) and the brand spankin' new spoilers will be put back on the race cars and hopefully prevent wrecks that Keselowski, Edwards, and Newman have experience.

If anything, Brad and Carl have just made NASCAR more of this $$$$$$ by keeping viewers interested to see what will happen next. As we all know, humans have an addiction to drama. Who know what will go down the rest of the season, especially since we haven't heard the whining of Kyle Busch lately.

But, That's Just Racing.

*Also, if you are one of the fans that keep complaining about how everything NASCAR does (or doesn't) is stupid, then why are you a fan? Go watch baseball or something. NASCAR acts accordingly to best interest of the people involved and the fans, much like the Supreme Court.


ON TOMORROWS ENTRY.... the topic will be... DANICA!DANICA!DANICA! and what the deal is with her boss.

Monday, March 8, 2010

It's That Time of Year Again...

Welcome Race Fans!


This is my first post being a daily (or every other day) blogger! So, let’s pop some champagne like we’re Jimmie Johnson and embark on the upcoming racing season.


Yes, I know NASCAR has started their fabulous season, and drama has already begun between Brad Keselowski and the rest of the field, but stick with me as I try to get up to speed.


To explain what I am all about in simplest terms, basically I have an opinion that I believe people would enjoy to hear. I will keep up with the big three (NASCAR, Formula 1, and IRL) with some mention of local racing (when I can get to them) and some of the other series. The only types of racing I’d like to stray from are NHRA and motorcycles. I apologize in advance but they are just too dangerous and not as exciting to rant about. (However, you may still talk about it if you’d like I’ll just nod my head and smile until you’re done)


Well, I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m excited for the 2010 season. With NASCAR bringing the spoiler back, the ‘D’ word, the countdown to opening season of F1, drama with Graham Rahal and Dale Coyne signing someone who has barely finished a race, how could you not be excited?


At the end of the day, behind every story, drama, victory, and championship, there’re just three words that every race fanatic can agree on…


That’s Just Racing.