NASCAR News With Attitude

Congratulations to “Smoke” (#20) and “Dr. Spock” (#2)

. . . .for being the first two driver to report to the Oval Office in the 2008 NASCAR Season. Apparently in a meeting at 5 a.m. this morning, this dynamic duel was told to “stay away from each other”. But of course officials have not made a decision as to whether or not there will be penalties involved, especially in light of the fact that they are currently trying to come across as a much more friendly group in an attempt to draw back the fans from “the good old days” that they LOST, if there are penalties they will be announced Monday or Tuesday  ! ! ! (Standard Operating Procedures) NASCAR chairman Brian France said last month that the governing body wants to get back to the days when drivers were able to be themselves without the fear of a big fine. Yeah, right !!!

But even the Most Popular Driver in NASCAR doesn’t believe that one. Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t convinced that NASCAR really wants Sprint Cup drivers to “loosen up and show their personalities more”.  “I don’t believe them,” Earnhardt said during Media Day on Thursday. “I don’t think anybody does. What does that mean? Are we supposed to walk the line and see where we step over it and where are we going to get fined when we go too far? What are they saying?” That’s a good question Junior, I don’t even think that they know the answer to that one.  “I think honestly they’re playing to you guys, not talking to the drivers,” Earnhardt said to a crowd of reporters in a tent outside of Daytona International Speedway. “Basically, they’re trying to appear to be looser.”

“Their intentions have not been relayed to the driver as to what’s been changed. Just a press release went out to the press, ‘Hey, we’re going to do this. How about that? You guys like that, right?’ So what have they told us? I don’t know what that means.” Not to worry Junior, I don’t think they know what they mean either.

Then we have another “no brainer” from NASCAR.  Apparently there has been some discussions about changing the age limits on the Sprint Cup Series from 18 years of age to 21 years of age, but President Mike Helton said that this change for the Sprint Cup Series “is not imminent, but NASCAR officals still are considering 21 as the age rule for future entry into the series. I’m sorry but if it’s not imminent, don’t bother me with this gibberish. He also said that “If we do this, we will give plenty of advance notice,” and “we would have an adjustment period before it was implemented.”

Then he goes on to talk about Joey Logano, who will compete in the Nationwide Series when he turns 18 in May. I’m as confused as Junior is in that Mr. Helton was specifically talking about the SPRINT CUP SERIES, while Logano would be running in the Nationwide Series - - “In fact, whatever we do probably wouldn’t affect him until after Logano turns 21 years old - - am I missing something here??? Do the powers that be seem to be losing it or is it just me ???

ATTENTION SMOKERS

Smoking has been banned at Bristol Motor Speedway. This change is the result of a Tennessee law that took effect on October 1, 2007. The General Assembly approved the “Non-Smoker Protection Act” in May of last year.  I am no longer a smoker, but am I the only one that feels as though all of my rights are being violated. Is the government really going to run our lives from the state capitol???  I guess that topic of discussion is for another time and place.

NASCAR Media Day @ Daytona International Speedway

I can’t even imagine what it must have been like for our “Super Heroes of NASCAR”, as they had to literally sit through an entire day of questions such as, for Michael Waltrip, “Well, how do you feel about the start of this new 2008 season?” “Are you guys going to be as lousy as you were this time last season, with manifold gate and all ?” I mean, come on, how long does this BRAND NEW team from only last season have to be “beat over the head” with their lack of performance ??? I guess the media doesn’t get the fact that they know how bad they were and the fact that they didn’t realize exactly what they were up against, starting out as a BRAND NEW team. I don’t know about the rest of the NASCAR fans but I certainly can’t condemn them for trying to succeed, going after their dream. I thought that Mikey held his head pretty high considering what all he went through last season, in fact I accept his example for my own life, I want to be more like him as far as handling the heat of the media and the naysayers. You GO MIKEY ! ! !

Then there was “Smoke”, he was disgusted with the entire day-long event where he spent hours answering questions that had been asked of him since the end of last season. Stewart quipped. “Ask me something different.”  All the drivers want to do is run their cars and get used to this new “safer” car, they have a lot at stake during the season not to mention the pressure to perform.  Go Tony !!!

The only driver that didn’t find Media Day a pain was Jamie McMurray, who during his off-season was the only male juror on a 12-person jury, and was chosen foreman, while he was in the Restroom !!! LOL !!! He served on a jury last month in Statesville, N.C. and had to decide that fate of a man accused of sexually assulting a 10-year-old girl, the entire experience affected him so much he woke up thinking about the case Thursday morning.

That experience was certainly was more intense than Media Day !

Soap Opera Digest

With “Shrub” Busch going to Joe Gibbs Racing, I personally believe that this was the motivation for Coach Gibbs, resigning from the Redskins Football Team, to have more of a “hands on” control of JGR, not that his son, J.D. couldn’t handle any potential problems in driver personalities. Apparently he “flew in” this morning to deal with the Stewart/Busch incident. Then there was also the fact that he wanted to spend more time with his family and his Grandson which, of course, is understandable. It will certainly be an interesting season to say the least. I don’t think I’ll miss a moment of the events, who knows, I might get enough material to write a NASCAR novel ! ! !  LOL ! ! !

Then we have the Most Popular Driver moving to Hendrick Motorsports. I believe that this will be a “do or die” season for Dale Junior. He has to prove that he can still win a race, while on the other hand you have Jimmie Johnson feeling the pressure for a “Three-peat” (It will never happen) and Jeff Gordon pressured in his “drive for five championships”. I hate to say this race fans, but somethings going to have to give in this “Pressure Cooker” called Hendrick Motorsports. I just don’t see either Jimmie or Jeff  “rolling over and playing dead” or Dale Junior taking a backseat to any of his teammates. If you all remember, he made this move to win a championship.