Looking back at Phoenix I have some pertinent questions. Who decided to put flames on the Snickers and Stanley cars? Some paint schemes lend themselves to a flame effect but a candy bar and hand tools? Kyle Busch’s 20 car at Mexico has one of the ugliest paint schemes I’ve ever seen. At least there are no flames in sight.
Many have written in complaint about the screwed up coverage of the race due to a rain delayed baseball game. They had plenty of time to tell the ball game watchers to switch to FX and, I’m sure, the diehards could have caught the final inning on their local TV or radio stations. We were given a scheduled start time and it should have been contractually honored. We CUP fans get one race a week while the ball fans get four or five games per team per week. This wasn’t the seventh game of the World Series after all. I don’t have the option of radio since all the local broadcasts are on AM and they power down at sunset.
I can’t believe how obsessed much of our media is with NA$CAR’s drug policy. Don’t they realize that the suits have spoken and there the story ends? I’m not saying we shouldn’t be concerned but, rest assured, if the suits have any intention of making a change it will be done long after we’ve stopped harping on it so they can make it look like it was their idea and not media pressure. My final say on the matter is that its the owner’s responsibility since they are the employers of crews and drivers.
Totally unrelated but I had to post this link. James Last was a quite popular German big band and orchestra leader. This is, in my mind, the best ever arrangement of a Country Western classic, Orange Blossom Special. Regardless of your music tastes take a look and watch a large group of musicians having fun and making simply great music.
Jack Roush had better hope he has Colin Braun under a long term contract. This kid is the real deal and Rick Hendrick would love to steal him away from the Ford camp. Where does Roush find these hot shoes? He let Rowdy slip away and I’m sure he’s had regrets along with the suits up in Dearborn. Remember when Jeff Gordon escaped the Fords and went Chevy racing with Hendrick? When qualifying concluded it was Colin Braun on pole with Scott Pruett alongside. The kid shows he can run fast but let’s see how he does with forty two other cars on the track. What is it with these young drivers and their names? Braun wants his name pronounced Brown and Clint Bowyer wants his pronounced Boyer. I’ve never understood how your get Jeff out of Geoff either.
I had hopes of seeing some good, old fashioned racing with the ARCA cars at Iowa. Sadly, it looked more like something you’d expect at a figure eight track. It was strange to see Frank Kimmel in a different, unsponsored car. Jason Allgiar seemed to have the best car and the worst pit crew. After a string of run a lap and throw the caution the final laps wound down with a three car race for the win. Matt Hawkins pulled of his first win with Allgair closing in second. It looks like the track at Iowa is bordering on ideal. Its big enough to promote speed while small enough to permit side by side racing for all to see. Hey Bruton, are you watching before changing New Hampshire?
Sunday morning dawned with a pleasant surprise. Danica Patrick finally got that long awaited first win in her fiftieth start. There were only eighteen cars entered due to the final CART race at Long Beach. How ironic that Danica won while her teammate, Marco Andretti didn’t complete one lap. What made the victory even sweeter is she beat Penske’s Dario Franchitti by over five seconds. It ended up being a fuel mileage race but the record books will only record it as a win and a well deserved one. Congratulations Danica. Well done. I am so proud of her determination and her tears in victory lane are easily understood since she has lost some races and good finishes due to fuel mileage.
Its time to drop the green down Mexico way. From all I could see, it was far from a sellout. Being a multi purpose facility it may be some of the empty seats are just unsuitable for watching the race. Red was a predominant color. No it wasn’t the Junior Nation but from the flag stand. The Mexican drivers needed to make a good showing but they all seemed to run into problems not of their own making. The Said Heads didn’t have the most enjoyable day and we didn’t get to see Boris with a clean head. Marcos Ambrose fought mightily for the win but couldn’t catch Rowdy. The kid is the real deal. Steve Wallace ran clean for a change and finished tenth. Scott Pruett came up short again without the aid of WPM. Brad Keselowski ran a strong eighth.
After the race concluded I had to think about how
I felt and I wasn’t satisfied. Friends, I have sad
news. I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve spent on the
keyboard putting my thoughts and observations
to print. I’ve enjoyed an internet friendship with
many fine readers and fans of the sport. I’ve
reached a personal crossroad in my life. After
much soul searching and for very personal and
private reasons I will no longer be able to express
my thoughts for public consumption. Let me
simply say, negativism is not a good Christian
thing and I can no longer find a positive approach
to my writing. The money aspect of the sport has
become revolting to me. My personal relationship
with God is the most important thing in my life
and trivial pursuits must not be a priority. I’ll still maintain a casual interest in the sport but it can no longer be a controlling factor in my life. I truly appreciate all the support you have given me and the fact that even the negative responses to my rants have not been vicious as in times past.
I sincerely ask that you seek and find God’s blessings in your lives and you make every effort to care for the innocent little ones. Thank you, one and all, for putting up with me.
Its been a great ride but its with mixed emotions I head down a new path in my life. Again, thank you.
Take care and God bless you and yours. Watch over those little ones and always remember who attacked who on 911.
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