poor product they serve up as racing by e-mailing, phone calls, and snail mail expressing our disapproval with them. And while you're at it, send HRH Faux King Brian a note and let him know what you think of him dictating the coverage and his decision not to allow the split-screen coverage. Split-screen coverage for the commercials would solve a lot of problems and headaches for the fans at home.
Along these same lines, for everyone who's dissatisfied with what's being done to the National Anthem by the American Idle rejects, you need to drop a line to both I$C and $MI and let them know how you feel. I can understand young school kids being off-key, but when you have supposed professionals butchering it week after week, something needs to be done. My solution, as I've mentioned many times before, is to have a military band or chorus perform the National Anthem. But this makes sense and we can't have that in Brian's Big Top now can we?
After the Shill-mobile was used as a bulldozer at Richmond, a quick, but flimsy excuse was offered up. The throttle was hung. Sorry, I don't buy that one bit. There's a kill switch right there on the steering wheel for just such an occasion. And there's also the battery switch which would kill all power to the car. Sorry, but that excuse isn't even close enough for a cigar.
And speaking of the Shill-mobile, with sponsors deserting left and right and the lack of performance since Day One, how much longer will it be before the doors close on the NA$CAR version of Neverland Ranch? I give it a year unless an overnight miracle happens. Don't be surprised when they turn out the lights and chain the doors shut.
The whole deal with Tony Stewart and is he moving or not has a lot of interesting twists and turns in it. First is the contract with JGR. JGR says they're sticking to the terms of the contract, which means Tony would be stuck there for another year or two unless; he or some entity buys him out of the contract. Like the old days of indentured servants buying their way out of their slavery. Second, are the reasons why Tony wants to leave and there's a lot of speculation there also. The one that jumps out at most folks is the make of car. Tony's had a long standing deal with GM, so the switch by JGR to the Japanese brand doesn't sit quite right with him. Now there some other rumors surfacing about why Tony wants to go; One of them is Tony isn't happy with one of his teammates. I won't mention his name but his initials are Kyle Busch. Another is Tony isn't happy with playing 2nd Banana to one of his teammates who's initials are also Kyle Busch. So we've got 3 reasons for him to leave.
As to the team he wants to start or buy into, there's the original rumor about Haas. Then there's another one about Tony and Jr. starting a new team from the ground up. It would be a Hendrick satellite operation. They'd be running 2 cars out of their shop. Tony's teammate would be Brad Keselowski, who would be moving over from JR Motorsports. What sort of lends credence to part of the rumor was Keselowski tested the #70 Haas car at Charlotte.
Then we get into the sponsors. Obviously, Home Depot would be the one most folks would think of when it comes to sponsoring Tony, but they're staying at JGR for now. So who would sponsor him? Well, a company that makes products to keep your car nice and shiny. There initials are Armor All. The Navy seems to be happy with their sponsorship of JR Motorsports but it's hard to say if they'd be willing to shell out the extra money to have a Navy sponsorship in the Cup series for Keselowski. So there are a lot of things floating around with the rumors of Tony leaving. Oh what a twisted web we weave.
And who would be in the 4th Childress car? Bobby Labonte is the one name that's been mentioned because of the sponsorship of General Mills and his ties to them, but that went out the window with Bobby staying at Petty. Ward Burton could be a possibility since he and Childress hunt together from time to time. Jeremy Mayfield could be another. Jacques Villeneuve could be a possibility. Maybe Richard's grandson, even though he doesn't have much experience. Then there's always a possibility of Kerry Earnhardt who's driven for Richard a few times in the past. Or, and this might be a stretch, a very long stretch, he could go Racing With Jesus. For those who think Morgan's age might work against him, look at his recent performance with decent machinery under him these past couple of weeks.
A bit of an update on Talladega. The empty seats this year were over near Turn 4 and the front stretch versus the back stretch last year. According to a reliable source on the scene, it wasn't even close to being a sell-out. Things were totally disorganized on the parts of I$C and its conjoined twin NA$CAR. There is still decent camping there within a 5 minute walk of Gate 1. The best deals at Talladega are the $85 backstretch deal and the fundraiser for the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind which is normally attended by about 20-30 drivers and includes an all-you-can-eat BBQ and driver autograph session. Cost is about $65 to get in. That's a great way to get those autographs you've been wanting, having a good meal, and helping out a worthwhile charity.
And congrats to Papa T and his new bride. May you have a long and prosperous life together.
Larry sent me the definition of what a sell-out is. It's when there are only single seat tickets left. Call me old fashioned, but to me a sell-out is when every seat has a butt occupying it. I guess this is like the famous definition of what "is" is.
The latest on the drug policy is NA$CAR is putting together some of their folks to determine if they need to update their drug policy. This is like Congress forming a committee to stop big businesses and PAC's from contributing to political campaigns. For some reason it makes me think of the boardroom scene in Airplane 2.
Some folks are starting to compare Shrub to Ironhead. First off, I think that's insulting to Ironhead. Secondly, it sets a dangerous attitude. Old Ironhead spun out and punted a number of drivers out of the way to get a win. Just ask Sterling, Texas Terry, and several others about it. It also shows an inconsistency in the enforcement of the rules, which we know are as clear as mud and only enforced when it's to NA$CAR's benefit. Had John Andretti done the same thing that Shrub did with Jr., Andretti would've been parked, fined, and docked points for rough driving. But as Shrub is part of JGR, which is to be covered by the media according to HRH Coverage Dictates, the mainstream media won't say a single bad thing about it unless they want to lose their credentials. Getting back to basics? Only the basics of Faux King Brian.
A wise man sent me an interesting analogy. If
cigarettes are a delivery system for nicotine and
coffee is a delivery system for caffeine, then
that makes NA$CAR a delivery system for
commercials.
I want to give a shout-out to Jeremy Mayfield for
going to Iraq as part of the USO and visiting the
troops there. You don't hear about many drivers
going to visit the troops and you definitely won't
see the Beach Boy Bubbas heading there. God
forbid they would have to go somewhere that
they might actually get dirty and actually sweat.
And I want to recognize the fine folks of the Foreign Aerospace Science and Technology Center at Wright-Patterson AFB for doing a job that goes unnoticed by a lot of folks because of the nature of their work.
For all of you military either active or retired, don't forget about
"Click Here to sign up for Elliott Sadler's Neighborhood BBQ Sweepstakes"
Motherhood, Apple Pie, and John Wayne
Mad Mikie
Curmudgeon at Large
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