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B.A.'s Race Observations 2009 |
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10/04/09 An omitted lug nut was just an omen of how Dale Earnhardt Junior’s day was going to end. After leading 30 laps, Junior pits under green and leaves the pits without all of his lug nuts. He’s black-flagged and goes a lap down. This isn’t the end for Dale Jr. but sadly it was just the beginning of his continued bad luck. He then makes a green flag pit stop (he was out of sequence with the other drivers due to previously said ‘lug nut’) and a yellow flag is thrown. This traps him in the pits and he goes another lap down. This is the point where I would roll my eyes and say, “What else could go wrong?” The answer would be… plenty . On lap 234 Dale’s car loses all power and must return to the pits. He also left most of the car’s fluids on the track which brought out a caution flag. He had the only Hendrick car that completely fell apart. This NASCAR darling isn’t even in the Chase for the Championship and still, cannot catch a break. A Hendrick driver did not win this race but instead, team owner Tony Stewart (with a Hendrick engine and a two tire gamble) won. He then went on to berate any and all that interviewed him. In his defense (what am I, crazy?) he did have another race to get to Sunday night and wanted things to move along at a faster pace. You can’t begrudge a guy for wanting to do what he loves, although he could be a lot less acrimonious when it comes to the press. Mark Martin came in 7th but still has the Championship point’s lead. Lastly, could someone please tell Kenny Wallace to stop doing Juan Pablo impressions and making him sound like Tony Montana (AKA Scarface). If he says, “Jew gotta problem”, one more time, I may stop following him on twitter (twitter.com/kenny_wallace). Besides, Montana was from Cuba and Montoya is from Colombia. Have a great week while the NASCAR circus heads west to California. Have a comment? Comments: I believe that was John Roberts that made the Montoya comment. Virginia TX So John started it! Kenny was doing it also on Victory Lane after the race. B.A. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Horsepower & Happy Hour NASCAR Boys Going Nude or Semi-nude for ESPN Go to Splash and Go main page for all your racing news. You can also Twitter me  09/14/09 Twelve drivers have ten races left in order to determine who will be the next NASCAR Champion. We know the drivers, so let’s take a look at their sponsors. Mark Martin has Kellogg’s and CARQUEST. Tony the Tiger is the spokes-tiger for Frosted Flakes. He is an animated, muscle-bound tiger. He looks tough, he’s a tiger (tigers eat people) and he believes his product is Grrrreat! This character exudes confidence. CARQUEST sells auto parts. How appropriate! This is NASCAR and they occasionally need these types of things. Tony Stewart has Office Depot and Old Spice. Office Depot sells office supplies. Yawn. Don’t get me wrong, I shop there all the time, it’s just not as exciting as a big, orange tiger selling a yummy, sugar-coated cereal. Old Spice is a great sponsor. My grandpa wore it and now whenever I smell Old Spice I get very melancholy. Although I doubt this company will ever use the slogan, “Smells like your Grandpa”. Jimmie Johnson has Lowes. This the only home improvement company to make the chase. Don’t let the door hit you where the Good Lord split you, Home Depot and Menards. Denny Hamlin has FedEx Express. I love our FedEx lady. She always brings our dogs’ treats. One time when we were walking the dogs, she stopped and gave them treats. FedEx rocks! Kasey Kahne has Budweiser and Allstate. Budweiser says it is the King of Beers … Really? Allstate swears that Kasey will be in good hands. How sweet. Do these two sponsors really mix? Jeff Gordon has Dupont and National Guard Wounded Warrior. Since I am not a chemist nor an engineer, let’s just say that Dupont makes a lot of chemicals. National Guard Wounded Warrior program provides assistance to the ill, injured and transitioning soldiers. USA, USA! Kurt Busch has Miller Lite. I love Miller Lite. They should proclaim themselves the Emperor of Beers. Brian Vickers has Red Bull. The only sponsor I’m aware of that has a 'Holy Sh** List' on their website. Carl Edwards has Aflac. My friend suggested they should make a commercial with a duck playing Frisbee with a cast on its flipper. Ryan Newman has the U.S. Army - Year of the NCO. Can you say Army Strong? This was also a past sponsor of the driver that is currently in the number one position, Mark Martin. USA, USA! Juan Pablo Montoya has Target. Did you hear me Juan? It’s Target. He still believes, on occasion, that it is Havoline. Greg Biffle has 3M. This company makes everything from all-things-sticky to braces and fishing lines. If you go in your garage, you own something that 3M makes. The rest of the competitors are going to have to get into Victory Lane or a fist fight if they want to ensure their sponsor gets noticed. Have a comment? Go to Splash and Go main page for all your racing news. You can also Twitter me 07/28/09 NASCAR tracks are a real bargain these days. All tracks except *Bristol have lowered ticket prices. I’ve researched the remaining tracks for this race season to let you know what is being offered. All tracks have party packages but it doesn’t mean they’re a real bargain. For that reason, I'll give a one to five star * rating. I am not rating the track, race or experience. I am only trying to inform the race fan of the best promotions and bargains. Pocono Raceway: **** Free pit pass with any ticket purchase for this weekend’s race! Ticket prices are very reasonable (Start at $45.00). Watkins Glen Int’l: August 9 *** They had some bargains but one has sold out. Otherwise they offer $80.00 for the weekend or $55.00 on race day. Michigan International Speedway: August 16 **** For $50.00 you can purchase a pit pass for the entire weekend. Tickets start at $40.00. Military Discount tickets for $30.00 and more deals. *Bristol Motor Speedway: August 22 **** You can still buy tickets to this coveted night race. The tickets are not cheap (nothing under $120.00) but you can go to a race that is normally sold out by now. Atlanta Motor Speedway: September 6 **** Many ticket specials! There is something for every age group. Richmond Int’l Raceway: September 12 *** Ticket prices start at $40.00. Party zones seem a little pricey. New Hampshire Int’l Speedway: September 20 *** They have ticket bargains (Start at $39.00 or $99.00 for three day weekend) but the pit passes are pricey and only for Sunday. Dover Int’l Speedway: September 27 *** They have bargain packages otherwise tickets start at $50.00. Kansas Speedway: October 4 * This track confounds me. You can’t buy single tickets online. You have to belong to something called P.A.S.S., buy an expensive package or go to Stub Hub where they start at $90.00. No bargains here, just move along. Auto Club Speedway: October 11 **** Great ticket prices (start at $35.00) and many fun packages at reasonable prices. Lowes motor Speedway: October 17 **** Many great ticket packages! Also, If you’re a member of NASCAR RacePoints you can buy two tickets and get two tickets free. Martinsville Speedway: October 25 ***** Winner! Tickets start at $25.00 and a pre-race track pass (not pit pass) for $10.00! You’d be an idiot not to go. Okay, I’m sure they’re not going to use that as their new slogan. Talladega Superspeedway: November 1 **** Good ticket prices (start at $40.00) and fun packages. Texas Motor Speedway: November 8 *** They have good ticket packages but they are pit pass *snobs*. Only season ticket holders can get pit passes. Phoenix int’l Speedway: November 15 ***** Winner! Tickets start at $25.00 and a pre-race pit pass is $50.00 for the entire weekend. Homestead-Miami Speedway: November 22 **** Everything is a little more pricey here (tickets start at $55.00) but it is the Championship race and it is nestled in beautiful, southern Florida where the weather is spectacular, so who’s complaining? Have a comment? Go to Splash and Go main page for all your racing news. You can also Twitter me 6/09/09 Kenny Wallace has no sponsorship for the Montreal Nationwide race. His normal sponsor is the U.S. Border Patrol and I guess that’s not going to ‘fly’ in Canada. He mentioned his plight to his Facebook friends and one friend (Jim Ryan) suggested to Kenny that maybe his fans could help his cause. After brainstorming and of course asking NASCAR’s permission, he’s come up with a plan. If you go to www.kennywallace.com you can donate $20.00 and get your name on Kenny’s car for the August 30th race in Canada. You’ll also receive a picture of the car. This sounds like a classic win-win situation for both Kenny and his fans. I remember BAM racing doing this, but it had offered small companies a chance to have their logos plastered on a race car. It was a bit more expensive and the difference is that Kenny is giving the fans a chance to sponsor a racecar without pilfering their wallet. On the other hand, Johnny Benson has no sponsor and no ride. The 2008 Craftsman Truck Series Champion was ‘let go’ after eight races ( read more ). Will there be no Johnny Benson at Michigan? He’s 7th in the driver’s points! I think the Camping World Truck Series is the hardest hit (economically) of all the three NASCAR series’. It always is, being the lower tier of NASCAR. Although, it is hands-down the best racing (on one mile 1/2 or shorter tracks) in the NASCAR world and has the least support. How do we solve these problems? Kenny: Don’t leave the United States of America with that sponsor. Johnny: If I could fix your problem, I’d be a marketing guru. Good luck to both of them. Have a comment? Go to Splash and Go main page for all your racing news. You can also Twitter me 02/22/09 During Saturday’s Nationwide qualifying, a fox ran out on the track. How did a fox get in the infield? Did he have a hot or cold pass? They stopped qualifying and he jumped the safer barrier, slipped under the fence and into the stands. Joey Logano thought it was a cat. He needs to spend more time in the great outdoors. I’d hate it for him if he came across a skunk and called, “Here kitty, kitty.” Interesting side note; There is a Native American belief that all animals are spirit guides and if one is seen in an unusual place, e.g., a superspeedway, it is an omen. For your entertainment and because racing is a very superstitious sport, I found out what Mr. Fox is trying to tell them; *“It’s best to blend into your surroundings, move with stealth, and keep your intentions to yourself.” It also said something about ‘someone is going to try and trick you’ but that’s a given in NASCAR. (See video here) On to Saturday’s races - Kyle Busch won the Camping World Truck Series race and the Nationwide race. Can he do a three-peat for Sunday’s Cup race? Watching the race on the Fontana track is really boring. I’ve seen it on television and at the track. I suggest you go to the track and get pit passes. The Truck and Nationwide drivers are very accessible and it is a great experience. I wish they could fill the stands but they can’t. They should have given the citizens of California a Bristol-type track instead of this Indianapolis-wannabe style. That being said, I bet Kyle Busch isn’t complaining. Camping World Results Nationwide Results Sources: *Animal Spirit Guide NASCAR.com Have a comment? You can also Twitter me Go to Splash and Go main page for all your racing news. B.A.'s Archives 2007 | B.A.'s Archives 2009 | B.A.'s Archives 2008 | B.A.'s Archives 2007 | B.A.'s Archives 2006 | Splash and Go Blog | | Return Home | Drivers & Owners | Tracks & Schedules | B.A.'s Race Observations | The Garage | About Us | E-mail Us | |
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