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June 29 The State of the NationIt is hard to believe three months have passed since I started sharing my thoughts, views and opinions with you. The good news is I have had a great time dishing it out. The bad news is that the Girl’s Guide to NASCAR feature was only scheduled for a three-month run. So, in my last blog entry, I feel it is only fitting to address “the state of the nation” — the NASCAR nation, that is.
As I gaze into my crystal ball, I see that …
In closing, I give the State of the Nation a “B-” — if NASCAR can get the COT sorted out so the NASCAR fans can get the racing they deserve. Be more consistent with the rules and the penalties. And for goodness’ sake, let the drivers show their true colors — then I will give the State of the NASCAR Nation an “A” for effort. June 25 The Five Most Recognizable Names in NASCARNASCAR racing has been filled with countless names and personalities since its inception in 1948. Even though almost 60 years have passed since the first NASCAR race, there are five names that have withstood the test of time by remaining the top five names in NASCAR.
There is no denying that the France family is the first family of NASCAR. Bill France Sr.’s dream became a reality when stock-car racing evolved to more than just a weekend hobby for racers back in 1948.
France is the powerhouse family name in the sport. Almost all the members of the France family, from Bill Sr. on down, have played a role in making NASCAR what it is today.
With Bill France Jr.’s recent death, the third-generation family members — Brian France and Lesa France Kennedy — are steering the way for NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation.
There should be no argument that the second family of NASCAR is the Petty family.
Richard Petty has won more races than any other driver ever to race in NASCAR’s elite series. The Petty name in NASCAR dates back to the 1940s when Richard’s father, Lee, was running the NASCAR circuit. Kyle, the third-generation driver and Richard’s son, is a current cup series regular and TNT race analyst.
Richard’s wife of over 50 years, Lynda, played a key role in changing the role drivers’ wives played on race weekends. Lynda has been an active member of the Racing Wives Auxiliary (now WAM, Inc.) since the inception in 1965.
Kyle and Pattie Petty founded the Victory Junction Gang Camp soon after the death of their oldest son, Adam, who was killed in a racing accident on May 12, 2000 at New Hampshire International Speedway. The Victory Junction Gang Camp is a favorite charity for many NASCAR drivers.
Who can think of NASCAR and not think Earnhardt? The name Earnhardt means racer. Dale Earnhardt Sr. will go down in the history books as one of the most popular drivers of all time.
“The Intimidator” got his name from intimidating his fellow competitors on and off the track. Ironically, Dale was also the “go-to guy” for his fellow competitors and NASCAR alike. He proudly served as a bridge between the two.
Ralph Earnhardt started the Earnhardt racing legacy over 50 years ago. Dale Earnhardt Jr. carries on the tradition by being one of the most popular drivers (if not the most popular) on the current circuit.
The name Allison stands the test of time. Bobby Allison was the leader of the famed Alabama Gang, a group of racers that included Bobby’s brother Donnie Allison, Red Farmer and Neil Bonnett. The racers from Alabama stole short track wins all over the South, and local racers would alert competitors when the “Alabama Gang” was coming to town.
Bobby Allison enjoyed an illustrious career until it was cut short by an accident at Pocono in June 1988. Bobby’s wife, Judy, has been an active member of the Wives Auxiliary since 1965, and their sons, Clifford and Davey, both followed in Dad’s footsteps.
Clifford was tragically killed in a Busch series practice session at Michigan International Raceway (August 1992) before he ever had the chance to race on the cup level. Davey, however, was the sport’s rising star in 1987. As the new leader of the Alabama Gang, he enjoyed success on the cup circuit, winning 19 cup series events before his life was cut short in July 1993 after the helicopter he was piloting crashed at Talladega.
What can you say about the Waltrips that has not been said? Darrell Waltrip, pinned as “Jaws” many years ago by his fellow competitors, has been a driving force in NASCAR for over 30 years as both a NASCAR cup champion and currently a star FOX TV race-day analyst.
Darrell’s younger brother, Michael, has enjoyed success on the circuit for many years as well, making the brothers very popular NASCAR personalities both on and off the track. When you think of Darrell and Michael, you think … natural-born comedians. Both have a natural way with relating to fans at home, which is why Darrell is the fan pick for race-day analyst.
Darrell’s wife, Stevie, has always been known as the “redhead on pit road” with the big smile. Stevie is highly regarded by drivers’ wives as a woman of wisdom. Michael’s wife, Buffy. is very involved in the Motor Racing Outreach program.
The names Gordon, Stewart and Johnson might be household names for NASCAR fans, but no matter how much things change, some things stay the same. France, Petty, Earnhardt, Allison and Waltrip will always be the five most recognizable names in the sport. June 21 Pass the Wine and Cheese, PleaseIs it just me, or does the fact that the Nextel Cup Series is racing at Infineon Raceway this weekend make you want to yawn?
Please, someone tell me where NASCAR gets its kicks out of watching the same five drivers maneuver road courses year after year, while the other drivers give Infineon and Watkins Glen a free lawn service.
Just for the record, over the past 10 years, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Mark Martin, Robby Gordon and Ricky Rudd have been the only drivers to take home a trophy from Infineon.
Jeff Gordon has not only won at Infineon, he has stolen the show — winning five times out of the last 10. Chances are the new daddy will be standing in Victory Lane again this weekend.
Ditto on Watkins Glen: Jeff Gordon has won four of the last 10 events. Tony Stewart has had three victories on the 2.45-mile road course. Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon and Steve Park have all snatched one win apiece.
The fact that roughly seven so-called “road racing specialists” are replacing full-time cup series drivers at Infineon ought to tell you something. Tony Raines, Michael Waltrip and David Reutimann are just a few of the drivers sitting the weekend out. Granted the primary reason for so many switcheroos is to get the cars in the 43-car field, but the point should be well taken.
P.J. Jones, Boris Said, Ron Fellows and Klaus Graf are all “road ringers” who will show up this weekend in hopes of snatching a win from the cup regulars — even though none of the “specialists” have ever won at Infineon in the cup series event.
NASCAR should do us all a favor and pull the road course events from the already jam-packed schedule.
Yes, I will struggle through another road course event like millions of other NASCAR fans — but pass the wine and cheese, please. June 18 No Peanuts, Please!There is a long-standing notion that most race-car drivers are quite superstitious. If you don’t believe me, try handing Tony Stewart a $50 bill at the racetrack. Chances are you will not get the meet and greet you expected from ol’ Smoke. Having a $50 bill in hand is a surefire way to have yourself removed from his presence.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. used to love to waive a $50 bill in Tony’s face before a race. From time to time, he would attempt to stick it in Stewart’s pocket just to raise his blood pressure a notch or two.
But $50 bills are not the only things to make the drivers squirm — there are a few drivers who will not wear or touch anything green on race day. Some drivers will even take it to the extreme by swearing off green race cars.
Of course, Harry Gant drove his green Skoal Bandit car to Victory Lane without a hitch. In fact, in September 1991, “Handsome Harry” drove his green Oldsmobile to Victory Lane in four consecutive races. The media then dubbed him “Mr. September.” But Harry will tell you that when the team signed with Skoal and it became apparent that his car would be green, his heart skipped a beat.
Talk about taking it to the extreme: Jeff Green refused a green rental car upon arriving in Watkins Glen in 2001. After walking to his rental car and seeing a green car staring back at him, he politely returned to the rental counter and requested a different color.
If the $50 bill doesn’t make a driver nervous or a green race car doesn’t make him sweat, peanuts are sure to get the job done.
Peanuts are undoubtedly the most talked-about superstitious item at any given racetrack. It does not matter if it is short-track Saturday-night racing at your local half-mile or the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway — peanuts are a no-no. Even drivers who are not necessarily superstitious would prefer that the peanuts shells make their way to another hauler.
So when did all these wacky superstitions get their start at the racetrack? That is the funny part — no one seems to know.
Some drivers believe the peanut curse came from an old dirt racer from the Northwest who used to eat peanuts at the racetrack. Legend has it that every time he would share his peanuts with a fellow racer, that same racer would crash out in the same night. Word has it that the old racer lost his own life in a racing accident after he ate a whole bag of shelled peanuts before the start of a feature event.
The crashing scenario seems to be the same thought process behind the green cars. Supposedly, the worst racing accidents happen in green race cars.
While some drivers go out of their way to avoid certain unlucky items at the track, other drivers have a quirky regime they follow or an odd good-luck piece. For example, Sterling Marlin throws away his driver’s shoes after an accident. Former Alabama racer Hut Stricklin thought his red boxers brought him good luck. The only problem was that he had only one pair.
Bottom line: It is safe to say that the next time you are at a racetrack, you might want to leave the peanuts at home, and for goodness’ sake, pass on the green peanut M&M’s. That is, unless you want to bring someone a little bad luck. June 14 Stand By Your ManFor all you Dale Jr. fans who now call yourselves “ex” Dale Jr. fans (after the formal announcement on Wednesday that Jr. will drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008) … lighten up. What ever happened to standing by your man?
Here is a guy who clearly wants to not only win races, but also put himself in the best position to win a championship. Where better to do that than Hendrick Motorsports? So what if his teammates are Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears. Does it really matter who his teammates are? It certainly won’t change the Jr. millions of fans have grown to love.
You cannot blame a guy for wanting the best situation possible. OK, so Ginn Racing has had an impressive early showing with Mark Martin’s limited schedule championship run, and Gibbs Racing seemed to make perfect sense. More than any team, RCR seemed to be a no-brainer. Richard Childress is the same guy that Dale Sr. chose to drive for in his own cup career, but it is clear that none of these teams mount up to Hendrick Motorsports.
It seems obvious that the so called “ex” Dale Jr. fans have their feathers ruffled because of the Jeff Gordon affiliation. I hate to break it to you “ex” Jr. fans, but Dale Jr. considers Gordon a personal friend and Dale Sr. actually helped Gordon get started in the sport, not to mention that Dale Sr. and Gordon shared various business ventures.
Furthermore, expecting Jr. to do everything the Dale Sr. way is an unrealistic expectation. Have you ever thought that maybe Jr. wants to be his own man? Unfortunately, there will never be another Dale Earnhardt Sr., on or off the track … period. Not even if Jr. drives for RCR in the famous black #3.
What would you rather have — Jr. tooling around the track in less-than-desirable equipment, or Jr. winning races in a Hendrick ride? Being a smart driver isn’t just about what you do on the track; it’s also about who you align yourself with and how the team comes together. Jr. is simply doing what any smart racer would do and that is accepting a ride with the top team in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.
NASCAR fans pride themselves in their driver loyalty. So where is that loyalty now, “ex” Jr. fans? June 12 NASCAR Dropped the BallNASCAR’s announcement last Friday of the ridiculous penalties Kurt Busch faces for his pit road tirade at Dover is not only a slap on Busch’s wrist; more importantly, it’s also a slap in the face to Jason Lee (Tony Stewart’s jackman).
Talk about the sanctioning body dropping the ball …
Under no terms should Kurt Busch have been allowed to race at Pocono on Sunday. For that matter, Busch should be sitting out a minimum of three races. That is the only way a point will be made to Busch and every other competitor in the field.
The 100-point loss to both driver and car owner hurts, but not as much as parking for a few races would do. The $100,000 fine is not even worth mentioning. For goodness’ sake, Kurt made more than that by finishing 16th in Sunday’s race. And why on Earth should Kurt’s car owner, Roger Penske, be docked points for the airheaded move his driver made?
There is no doubt that Kurt is a talented race-car driver who obviously let his temper boil over, but a driver’s temper should never get the best of him to the point of putting innocent crew members in danger’s way.
NASCAR should have made Kurt visit the widow of Mike Ritch. Ritch (a Bill Elliott crew member) was killed at Atlanta in 1990 after he was run over on pit road by Ricky Rudd’s car. This deadly pit road accident triggered NASCAR to make safety changes on pit road, most notable by establishing a pit road speed.
Next stop should have been a sit-down with the King, Richard Petty, who lost his brother-in-law, Randy Owens, to a freakish pit road accident at Talladega in 1975.
While these accidents were both just that — accidents — the point would have been made.
Yes, competitors get caught up in the heat of things, but one should never forget that the most vulnerable place on the track is pit road, not to mention the most dangerous.
NASCAR really made a mockery of the so-called penalty system this time around. If NASCAR wants the drivers to take note, maybe NASCAR should try taking note that Kurt Busch should have been parked. June 07 Making a Dream a RealityThe passing of Bill France Jr. this past Monday was a tremendous loss to the NASCAR community. Never has there been a name that carried as much weight in the world of motorsports as France. It seems only fitting this week to take a look back to where it all began, where one man’s dream became a reality.
There is no doubt that stock-car racing would be in a different place if not for the vision of a banker/race-car driver from Washington, D.C., by the name of William H.G. France (“Bill Sr.”).
Seeking out his dreams, France set out on a cross-country trip from Washington to Miami when car trouble sidetracked him for a few days in Daytona Beach, Florida. That unplanned stopover changed the course of his life and the course of racing.
Bill Sr., who took a shot at driving race cars (and quickly decided he was better suited outside of the car), found his little niche in the racing world, and that was an idea to organize a sanctioning body for stock-car racing.
Bill’s vision of racing far exceeded anything the world of racing had ever known. He wanted to take the sport of auto racing to the big leagues, in hopes of one day making it a mainstream sport. His vision of television and radio coverage was laughed off by many businessmen who only saw it as a “wild dream.”
On December 14, 1947, Mr. France called a meeting at the Streamline Hotel in what is now the world center of racing, Daytona Beach. It was at this famous meeting that France convinced business associates and investors to follow his dream. Just two months later, on February 15, 1948, the France dream became a reality as NASCAR ran its first race on the beaches of Daytona. The first-ever NASCAR event was won by racing legend Red Byron. Six days later, NASCAR became incorporated.
The first “Strictly Stock” race (what we know today as the Nextel Cup Series) was run at the Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway in North Carolina on June 19, 1949. Racers started flocking in from around the country, making Charlotte another hub for racing. Red Byron was crowned the very first NASCAR champion that October. Byron’s six starts and two wins in 1949 afforded him $5,800 in winnings.
In 1950, Bill Sr. decided to change the name of NASCAR’s top series subtitle from “Strictly Stock” to “Grand National.” At France’s direction, CBS Sports made the decision to highlight the vastly growing sport on "CBS Sports Spectacular.” January 31, 1960, marks the first live televised race coverage on any network. The two-hour Daytona pole qualifying show brought the national exposure France had dreamed of.
In 1972, at the age of 63, Bill Sr. passed the torch to his son, William C. France (more commonly known as “Bill Jr.”). Bill Sr. had been molding his son for several years, waiting for the day when he felt Bill Jr. was ready to take NASCAR into the next generation. Bill Jr. became the second president of NASCAR.
By this time, NASCAR racing was making its way all over the southeastern states from South Carolina to Virginia and just about every state in between. Bill Jr. felt it necessary to trim the Winston Cup Grand National Division schedule from 48 races to 31 races. His plan was to focus more attention on the growth of fewer tracks, as well as putting some distance between the tracks. This move was the birth of the modern era of NASCAR.
Bill France Sr. passed away in 1992, leaving the creation and growth of NASCAR as his legacy. By the time NASCAR’s 50th anniversary arrived in 1998, Bill France Jr., after 26 years at the helm of NASCAR, was ready to hand over day-to-day duties of the organization to Mike Helton, who was at that time NASCAR’s senior vice president and chief operating officer. On November 28, 2000, Bill Jr. officially named Mike Helton the third president of NASCAR, making him the first (and only) person outside of the France family to lead the organization.
As Helton had been groomed for many years to take the lead of NASCAR, so had Bill Jr.’s son, Brian Z. France. In October 2003, Brian became the chairman of the board and CEO of NASCAR, replacing his father, Bill Jr.
Brian France, continuing the visionary leadership of NASCAR as his father and grandfather had done before him, made waves in early 2004 when he introduced a change in the way the top sports series would run its competitive schedule, and the “Chase for the Championship” was born.
The vision of Bill Sr. lived on through his son, Bill Jr. The vision of Bill Jr. will now live on through his children, Brian and Lesa, who learned the ropes from the master himself: William C. France. June 04 Just in Case You Ever WonderedOn any given weekend, “the most famous words in motorsports” kick off racing events all over the country. It does not matter if you are attending a short track Saturday night at your local dirt track, catching an open-wheel event or a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event — you will hear some version of the starter’s command, “Gentlemen, start your engines.” The starting command is not only universal; it has also withstood the test of time.
The command dates back to a gentleman racer by the name of Wilbur Shaw. He was an open-wheel racer who captured three Indy 500 wins (1937, 1939 and 1940). Shaw was seriously injured in a racing accident in 1941, which tragically ended his career, but he still loved racing and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
It was Shaw’s love for the Indianapolis track that helped revive the sinking facility. It was he who convinced Tony Hulman, an inheritor of his family’s business, Hulman & Company (a grocer and producer of coffee), to buy the struggling track and ultimately turn it around.
As a reward for Shaw’s efforts to revive the speedway, Hulman named Shaw president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
As track president, Shaw was expected to come up with a formal way to start the Indy 500. So it was after the war in 1946 when Shaw uttered those four words for the first time, which happened to be the start of the very first Indy 500.
Shaw remained the key person to give the command at Indy until his tragic death on October 30, 1954. Shaw, along with two others, was killed in a plane crash near Decatur, Indiana, one day before his 52nd birthday. After Shaw’s death, Hulman took over the command duties and did so from 1955 until 1977.
After the very first formal command was given by Shaw in 1946, all other racing series carried on the starter’s command. Some starters change the words up from time to time, for example, “Drivers, start your engines,” or if a female is in the field, “Drivers and lady, start your engines” or “Ladies, start your engines.”
The official starter for a race is handpicked by the speedway, and it is considered to be an honor by most to be asked to command the drivers to fire their engines. Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars have been asked to give the command at NASCAR Nextel Cup Series events, including Matthew McConaughey, Ashton Kutcher, Magic Johnson, Pamela Anderson and Nicolas Cage, who gave the command for the 2007 Daytona 500.
Like many things in racing, the starter’s command is rich in history. In fact, the first command ever given dates back to a few years before the engines were ever fired for the first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event in 1948. June 01 A Dover Not to Be ForgottenIn all of my 19 years in and around NASCAR racing, there has never been (and will probably never be) a single race that stands out more in my mind than the 2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400; it was September 23, 2001 to be exact.
I, like many, stood in shock watching the events of September 11, 2001 unfold. My heart broke as I watched what seemed to be the end of the world right before my eyes. Nothing mattered in the world except the victims and their families.
The day after the worst terrorist attack on United States soil, businesses, professional-sport-sanctioning bodies and individuals had to make tough decisions about when to go back to normal, everyday events.
NASCAR, like the NFL, made the right call by canceling its weekend competition. No one was thinking of racing, not even the drivers.
After a week of national mourning, the NASCAR Cup Series was ready (like most everyone else) to get back to some sort of normalcy. It would not be easy, but as they say in racing, the race must go on.
I was working as a pit reporter for TNT Sports at the time. I learned on our weekly network pre-race conference call on Monday (just six days after 9/11) that my primary focus for Dover that weekend would be 9/11. I was not prepared for what I was about to encounter.
What would have normally been an easy flight in and out of Dover turned out to be a nightmare, to say the very least. After three days of trying to find flights (as so many were cancelled), I made a last-ditch attempt to catch a flight, to no avail. It was me and the highway for over 12 hours. The grueling 780-mile drive to Dover, Delaware was only the start of a long, emotionally draining weekend.
After arriving in Dover, my first stop was the Dover Air Force Base, which was the destination for all the bodies recovered from the 9/11 attacks, including the terrorists.
It was the eeriest feeling to be standing so close to the bodies of innocent lives lost — and probably even more so, the bodies of the terrorists themselves. I stood in front of the air base to give my first “live” TNT report as military aircraft flew overhead. I struggled to find the words to describe what I was experiencing. It was hard to fathom that just a few miles down the road, NASCAR practice was getting underway.
Once I returned to the track after a morning at the base, it was apparent that even though business was going on, it was not business as usual. There was not a single race car that did not display some sort of decal recognizing the lives lost. There was not one driver, crew member or NASCAR official without 9/11 on his or her mind.
Race day finally arrived — and what a day it turned out to be. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the race, but it was the pre-race emotional tribute that everyone remembers. Every fan entering the stands that day received an American flag (compliments of MBNA) to wave during the pre-race. Lee Greenwood flew in that morning to perform “God Bless the USA.”
As Lee sang, the 140,000 fans in the stands stood on their feet and waved their American flags in honor of the 9/11 victims and their families. It was a breathtaking moment.
I have seen a lot of racing and have been to countless tracks in my 19 years in the sport, but I will never forget the impact that the Dover race weekend of 2001 made on me.
It was a race to be remembered — not by who won, but by how the NASCAR fans, drivers, crew members and NASCAR officials came together as one big family.
This weekend at the Monster Mile will be all about competition, but going to Dover will never be anything to me but a reminder of how things were on September 23, 2001. May 29 Maybe BabyIt is no secret that Jeff Gordon does not rank high in popularity polls among NASCAR fans. In fact, the four-time series champ has learned to live with his not-so-warm welcome at Driver Introductions on each and every weekend as he travels the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit.
One has to wonder what really got Jeff “off-track” with the sea of fans who have decided not to like him. Is it because he won too much too early? Is it because he is just a bit too polished? Was his divorce from his first wife, Brooke, a little too much info? Forget that he passed Earnhardt Sr. on the all-time win list. Jeff had winning on his mind long before he made his cup debut at Atlanta in 1992; passing Earnhardt Sr.’s winning record was just another notch on the champion’s belt.
Maybe a time of change is in store for the California native. Could it be that Wonder Boy is about to undergo an image transformation?
Jeff and his wife, Ingrid, are awaiting the birth of their first child at the end of June. Ingrid is holed up in the couple’s Manhattan apartment until the little Gordon decides to make her grand appearance. Jeff has already made it very clear that the birth of his daughter will take top priority, even over his racing career. Jeff has not missed a race since he kicked off his cup career in 1992, a span of 15 years and 485 starts. And Jeff is the current points leader, well on his way for a heated battle to attempt to win a fifth championship. Racing veteran Mark Martin has already been pegged as Jeff’s replacement driver if the birth of Jeff’s first child should happen to be at the same time the green flag waves for a regular series event.
Is it just me, or does it seem like the guy who has not shown much emotion over the last 15 years seems to be softening? Think back to the last 10 interviews you have seen with Jeff — after a race win, or when he was debating the Hendrick COT dominance. Whatever the subject, it is apparent the series points leader is mellowing. He smiles more, converses more with the media and even laughs at himself. Just wait until he looks into the eyes of that little girl for the first time … he might be more than the NASCAR fans can handle. What — a Jeff Gordon that NASCAR fans like, and better yet, someone they can relate to? Is it possible?
Anyone who has children knows that once you hold your baby for the first time, you become a changed person. Suddenly all the things that used to matter so much don’t matter anymore. There is just something heartwarming about a man who loves his wife and his child. The image of Jeff Gordon holding his baby in Victory Lane has got to pull your heartstrings. Jeff Gordon, a family man — what has the NASCAR world come to?
NASCAR fans: Batten down the hatches, and Katy bar the door — chances are you just might find yourself liking the new Jeff Gordon. I mean, come on, who can throw beer cans at some little girl’s daddy? May 25 Lowe's Motor Speedway - On the Cutting Edge of Motorsports VenuesLowe’s Motor Speedway is one of the most prominent tracks on the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series circuit, but it has not always been that way. The Smith Tower, a 135,000-square-foot, seven-story facility connected to the speedway's grandstands, was built and later opened the doors in 1988. The building currently houses the speedway's corporate offices, ticket office, souvenir gift shop, leased office space and the Speedway Club, an exclusive dining and entertainment facility. May 21 Move Over BoysHistory was made at Indy on Sunday (Bump Day) when three females made the field for the 91st running of the Indy 500. Danica Patrick, Sarah Fisher and Milka Duno all qualified for the Indy Racing League’s premier race. This will be the first time a trio of women will run in the same Indy 500. Before now, only two women have been in the field at once; the last time was when Lyn St. James and Sarah Fisher both competed in the 2000 Indy race.
One can only wonder when we might see a female (much less three) at NASCAR’s top series. Will it ever happen?
Currently, there are no female drivers racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. In fact, female racers and NASCAR have had an on-again, off-again relationship through the years. Sara Christian, the first female to ever start a NASCAR race, made her historic debut on June 19, 1949 at the Fairgrounds Speedway in Charlotte. She finished a respectable 14th in this groundbreaking race, but her career never reached the levels she had hoped for.
Janet Guthrie burst onto the NASCAR scene in the mid ’70s hoping to be the woman to bust down the barriers to women in racing. Guthrie made history in February 1977 as she became the first woman to qualify for the Daytona 500. She started 39th and finished an impressive 12th.
Patty Moise, Shawna Robinson, Fifi Scott, Louise Smith and Ethel Mobley are just a few of the female drivers who have fought hard to make it in the male-dominated sport, but none have reached the pinnacle.
To date, no female racer has ever won a NASCAR cup series event; less than 20 have even had the chance to see the checkered flag from a distance.
So why is it that female race-car drivers have not been successful in NASCAR’s top series? Its simple: equipment and opportunities! I have to believe that if Janet Guthrie had been competing in equipment comparable to Hendrick Motorsports, she would have made the history books as the first woman to win a cup series event. All of the female racers from years past have been in less than desirable equipment. It’s pretty darn hard to see if a driver (male or female) is any good when his or her equipment is junk. A driver has to be set up in a top-notch ride to get a top-notch finish … period!!!
It is estimated that there are over 200 young girls around the country racing on short tracks trying to make their way to the big time, but is the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series ready for a female driver? How would the 75-million-strong NASCAR fan base react to a race field with a female? Would the male NASCAR drivers respect the female racers?
These are questions just waiting to be answered. Unfortunately, don’t expect an answer anytime soon. The way things are going, NASCAR’s version of Danica Patrick is still in diapers. May 17 One Hot Night“It will be a night no one will forget” said Humpy Wheeler (president of Lowe’s Motor Speedway) just days before the 1992 Winston All-Star event. Humpy has always been known as the “king of promoting” but somehow he knew (maybe by looking in that little crystal ball of his) that there would indeed be something different about the 1992 event.
The excitement had been building for weeks. It was more than the normal race hype about the non-points, high-dollar race; this would be the first Winston to run at night, under the lights. Most drivers will tell you there is just something about those night races that revs the drivers (and fans) up a notch or two. But, it was even more than that … there was something different about this Winston. We just didn’t know why. That is, not until the last lap.
The sun began to set over the track as the drivers made their ways to their cars. The full moon was shining brightly, sending out a yellow glow over the track.
Davey Allison started from the pole and dominated the first segment. Segment two came and went. Then came the final round. It was like the drivers came out of the pits ready for a fight. Ding, ding, ding — the fight was underway.
Davey looked to be the strongest car as he was going for his second straight Winston win, but trouble came looming around the corner as the moon seemed to hang directly over turns three and four. Davey Allison, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Kyle Petty swapped the lead back and forth until Dale spun in turn three on the last lap, leaving Kyle and Davey to duke it out for the win.
Davey and Kyle raced to the checkered flag back and forth, nose ahead of nose, until Davey pulled ahead to take the win. That’s when the sparks began to fly. Davey and Kyle made contact at the finish line, which sent Davey hard into the wall on the driver’s side door.
Davey’s car slid down the track in a shower of sparks until it came to a halt on the grass in turn one. All eyes were on Davey in hopes of seeing him climb from his car, but that did not happen.
Everyone in the grandstands was on their feet. The cheers went silent as an eerie stillness came over the track. At a time when most race fans would be darting for the nearest exit, no one moved. It was as if the fans were still trying to convince themselves that what had just happened really happened.
The track emergency workers were dispatched to turn one with the “Jaws of Life” in hand. Davey was cut from the car as he lay unconscious, totally unaware that he had won the race. After being removed from the mangled car, he was later flown by helicopter to Carolinas Medical Center, in nearby Charlotte, N.C.; all the while he should have been in Victory Lane celebrating his second consecutive All-Star win with his crew. Thankfully, Davey was released the next morning after spending the night for observation.
To this day, people refer to the 1992 Winston All-Star event as “One Hot Night.” This is one race that definitely lived up to its name. Humpy Wheeler could not have been any more right about the 1992 Winston: It was a night none of us would ever forget. May 14 Dale Jr. - Riding a Roller Coaster of EmotionsIf you think the decision to leave DEI was an easy one for Dale Earnhardt Jr., then think again. The son of the legendary racer Dale Earnhardt Sr., Dale Jr. struggled to find the words in his formal announcement last week as to what brought him to the decision and what happens next.
The announcement may have come as a shocker to some, but many feel it was a long time coming. It is no secret that Dale Jr. and his stepmother, Teresa, lacked a relationship made in heaven. Dale Sr. was undoubtedly the glue that held the two together.
After Dale Sr.’s death in February 2001, Dale Jr. did what any respectful son would do and that was to show respect (at least in the public forum) to the woman his dad chose to marry and his new boss. The fact that Dale Jr. and Teresa didn’t get along made for an extremely sensitive situation and one that no doubt wore on Jr.
The team his father founded in 1980 was where Dale Jr. thought he would be for many years. When the seven-time champ tragically lost his life on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, everything changed for Dale Jr.; nothing would ever be the same, personally or professionally.
Many felt it would only be a matter of time before Dale Jr. would have to leave the team that he had been with for his entire NASCAR Nextel Cup career. And most drivers will tell you, leaving a team isn’t just paperwork — it’s leaving behind good friends, trusted crew members and in Dale Jr.’s case, family members. All of this made Jr.’s decision to leave all the more difficult.
One might venture to say this isn’t the toughest thing Dale Jr. has ever been through, but it’s certainly the toughest decision he has ever made and one that was not taken lightly.
So, where does NASCAR’s hottest commodity go now? What team is the best situation for a driver looking for his best chance at a championship? Will it be with Richard Childress, the man Dale Sr. trusted with his own cup career and a close friend of the Earnhardt family? Or will it be with Joe and J.D. Gibbs, gentle leaders who can provide Jr. with top-notch equipment and who just happen to house close friends of Dale Jr. (Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin) in their driving stable?
This question will remain on the forefront of everyone’s minds for weeks to come, but for now, Dale Jr. has to finally do what is best for him and his career. It’s about time. May 11 Darlington Raceway - As Good As It GetsWhen I think of NASCAR racing, I think of Darlington Raceway, the wicked 1.366-mile track in the heart of the low country. The South Carolina track has quite the reputation for being one of the toughest on the circuit. So tough, in fact, that many racers refer to it simply as “The Track Too Tough to Tame.” And for good reason …
There is hardly a driver on the circuit who has not received the “Darlington stripe.” The story goes that if a driver doesn’t get his stripe, he probably wasn’t racing hard enough. The ol’ stripe is like a sign of coming of age, a sign of racing maturity. You see, the only way to acquire a stripe is to lay the right rear fender on the guard rail, coming out of turn two (in the pre-1971 configuration it was turn four). The goal is to get close enough to get the stripe but not wreck the car, which some do better than others.
Darlington is as rich in history as any track on the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series circuit, and the wicked egg-shaped oval has been hosting cup events since the inaugural Southern 500, which took place on September 4, 1950. Johnny Mantz took the inaugural checkered flag in a Plymouth co-owned by “Big Bill” France Sr. himself.
Race fans come from far and wide to see drivers race on the meanest track on the circuit. Many believe if you can tame Darlington, you can tame any track. Two-time champ Tony Stewart is still trying to figure out just how one does tame the ol’ wicked beauty. In his 14 attempts, he has come up dry 14 times. This is saying a lot for a driver who has won on all but four tracks (Darlington, Vegas, Talladega and California) on the cup schedule.
Darlington Raceway has seen its share of highs and lows, from first-time winners like Lake Speed in 1988 to top performers like David Pearson, who won a record 12 times on the South Carolina track. Some of the fieriest crashes have taken place on the surface of Darlington, mainly when drivers get a silly notion they might just have something for the “Lady in Black.” But, as only a lady in black can do, she leaves no doubt who is in control.
The original owners of Darlington Raceway (Bill France Sr., Hubert Westmoreland, Curtis Turner and Alvin Hawkins) were all racing pioneers who were pivotal in the success of NASCAR racing early on. The track itself has been reconfigured several times and the pits have even flip-flopped a time or two. The somewhat mysterious track was even rumored to be closing the doors just a few years ago. In a last-ditch effort to save the oldest track on the circuit, the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) awarded one date to the California Speedway and moved the traditional Labor Day event to November and then settled on Mother’s Day weekend.
“The Track Too Tough to Tame” will undoubtedly live up to its name this Saturday night when the cup boys fire their engines for the very first time in the COT (Car of Tomorrow) cars, which will certainly give us all an eyeful. The drivers have stated that the COT cars are hard to turn, which is music to the ears of the “Lady in Black” as she hovers over turn two waiting for a driver to miss his mark, as she knows missing the mark means more sheet metal for her.
The old-time racers will tell you that if racing at Darlington does not get you excited, you better check your pulse, because racing at Darlington is as good as it gets. May 07 Top 35 or BustWhen NASCAR created the top 35 qualifying rule in 2005, it was obvious the rule was to protect the teams who participate in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events on a weekly basis. Basically, the rule protects teams running the full schedule from being bumped from the field by a “Johnny-come-lately” due to a bad qualifying lap.
There is no argument that the initial reasoning was rule-worthy, but does a rule that sends a driver home who qualified 19th for a race (which is what happened to Michael Waltrip at Talladega) really make sense?
Qualifying should be a race for the fastest 43 cars. If you are fast enough to make it in the field, then you should be in the field … period.
Talk about drama — can you imagine the headlines if current points leader and four-time champ Jeff Gordon had a bad day and didn’t make the field?
NASCAR has stated that it is considering tweaking the rule in order to open the doors for start-up teams or a driver who is just down on his luck. This is the best news Michael Waltrip has heard in months, but NASCAR needs to do more than tweak; simply doing away with the rule would be more like it.
If NASCAR wants more start-up teams and single car teams to make it in the NEXTEL Cup Series, it is going to have to give a little room in qualifying.
If Tiger Woods (who is undoubtedly one of the greatest golfers to ever swing a club) were to have a bad day, he would not make the cut. In the PGA, if you do not make the cut, you go home. What is fair for Tiger should be fair for NASCAR drivers. May 03 The Softer Side of the Man in BlackThe past two weeks have been filled with gentle reminders of a life and career cut short by a last lap accident in the 2001 Daytona 500. We all somehow knew it would be just a matter of time before Jeff Gordon would tie (76 wins) Dale Earnhardt Sr. on the all-time win list, which Gordon did two weeks ago at Phoenix International Raceway. As they say, records are made to be broken, which is exactly what Gordon did at Talladega in Sunday’s running of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event. Earnhardt quietly slipped to 7th on the all-time win list when Gordon ran away with his 77th career win. Oddly enough, Sunday’s win was Gordon’s 11th restrictor-plate victory, which ties him with Earnhardt, who also celebrated 11 restrictor-plate wins. On a more personal note, Earnhardt would have turned 56 years old on Sunday. One cannot help but imagine how many wins Dale would have chalked up if he were still here, but as life would have it, the Intimidator will stay firmly planted in the NASCAR history books as the winner of 76 events. Ralph Dale Earnhardt, the son of legendary racer Ralph Earnhardt, was known by many as a fierce competitor who made winning races look as easy as lacing up a tennis shoe. He had a way of getting what he wanted on and off the track. Darrell Waltrip, a longtime friend and fellow competitor, once said, “Earnhardt had a way of getting in to you on the track and making you believe you did it yourself.” Everyone saw the competitor side of Dale, but few were able to see the more personal Dale, the softer side. Davey (Allison) used to love to talk race cars with Earnhardt; as with most racers, they were never at a loss for race talk. Davey also loved to share his newest jokes with Dale, but he knew a joke better be good or Earnhardt would call him out on it and tell him just how bad the joke was. I will never forget the tone in Dale’s voice when he called me the day of Davey’s fatal accident in July 1993. Dale could hardly find the words to describe to me the pain he felt for my loss and the loss he felt for someone he called a friend. More than anything, he struggled when describing the sorrow he felt for Robbie and Krista (ages 1 and 3 at the time) — that they would grow up not knowing their father. Dale won the race at Pocono the weekend after Davey’s death. For just a few minutes, millions of NASCAR fans saw the softer side of Earnhardt, as he stopped and prayed with his team at the conclusion of the race and then proudly waived a Davey Allison flag around the track for his victory lap, no doubt with a tear in his eye. Dale Earnhardt will be remembered by millions as the best darn race-car driver to ever come down the pike. I will remember him as a man with a heart of gold. April 30 The Muzzle TreatmentTony Stewart’s remarks on Friday at Talladega — basically apologizing to NASCAR for his remarks on his SIRIUS Satellite Radio show last Tuesday comparing NASCAR racing to WWE — came as no surprise to many.
It was only a matter of time before a driver known for speaking his mind and not always minding his words would receive a verbal lashing that would leave no one (not even Smoke) questioning who really is the governing body.
Show me a driver who didn’t cringe when he heard Tony’s NASCAR outburst and I will show you Talladega without flying beer cans (OK, that is another story). There is no doubt that Tony was reminded by NASCAR on Friday morning at Talladega (just in case he had forgotten) that it’s play it their way or the highway.
I don’t know who is more surprised at this point: NASCAR for Tony’s initial comments or the fans for his apology for the comments.
The bigger question here is whether NASCAR is really doing itself a favor by placing the muzzle on its competitors.
When was the last post-race interview you heard where you didn’t feel like you were watching a well-oiled machine — the same old interview approach where the driver thanked his sponsors for the great race car, even if he was the first out of the race?
Isn’t it the colorful personalities of the drivers that helped NASCAR become the fastest-growing sport in America? What happened to the occasional Kevin Harvick outburst and a good old Robby Gordon tantrum? Who could forget Jimmy Spencer and Kurt Busch’s bantering?
If NASCAR is not careful, the drivers will look and act like robots climbing out of the cars, with no personalities, no spontaneity and no true grit. Is that what we want from the drivers?
I will take a Tony Stewart tirade any day. Last time I checked, NASCAR was in the entertainment business, and Tony has done just that. April 26 Sweet Home AlabamaAs I sit here at my computer only a few hours from being Talladega-bound, feelings of joy, triumph, heartbreak and sorrow flood my memory for the place Davey called his home track.
Talladega, Ala., is a 45-minute trip down the road from Hueytown, Ala., the home of the famed Alabama Gang. The 2.66-mile monster track was the home track of Davey Allison, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Neil Bonnett and Red Farmer. Each of them shared the same sentiment: The sun rose and set on Talladega.
For me Talladega is more than just a track; it’s a friend that has been there through thick and thin, a friendship that gets better with time and never fades — it just becomes more wise and seasoned.
In May 1987, Davey found his way to victory lane for the very first time in his Winston Cup career. The stands erupted as the second-generation Allison took the checkered flag at none other than Talladega Superspeedway. The racing gods would not have had it any other way.
The Allison family had celebrated wins many times at Talladega in many different racing series, but none was as sweet as a cup victory in front of the hometown crowd.
It was a long-standing tradition (20 years) for the Alabama Gang to host an enormous Allison, Bonnett and Farmer family reunion at the track on race day. The paddock area used for ARCA events was cleared out on race day to allow the Alabama Gang to roll in. The food tables were lined up down the center of the covered paddock for all to see. There was not a driver on the circuit who did not take the time to sneak away to enjoy the massive feast. I can almost taste Grandma Allison’s famous coleslaw; it was always the first bowl to be emptied.
All the while, generations of Allison, Farmer and Bonnett kids were playing on the concrete, checking the leader board every now and then to see if their dad, uncle, grandpa or cousin might be leading the race.
If only time stood still …
This weekend will be different, as Talladega race weekend has been for sometime. Yes, the excitement is still there; the fans will show up by the thousands and food will be served off of flatbed trucks, but the paddock area where the Alabama Gang congregated will be filled with cars, as it is now used for overflow parking for Sunday’s event. Aunt Cindy’s fried chicken is a thing of the past.
It’s kind of ironic that everything started at this track for Davey, and sadly everything ended at this track. Davey took off in his helicopter on July 13, 1993. His destination was Talladega Superspeedway, to see his childhood friend David Bonnett (Neil Bonnett’s son) practice at the track.
As Davey attempted to land his helicopter, it began twirling out of control before it crashed (on the pilot’s side) in the middle of the infield at the track he called home. Davey died the next day from injuries he sustained in the accident. His passenger, Red Farmer, received non-life-threatening injuries, thankfully.
Going back to Talladega is always bittersweet, but it is very much like going home. A home is filled with good times, laughter, tears of joy and sorrow and sometimes heartache, but there is no place like home. April 23 Like Him or Not - You're Looking at at True ChampionTo say that Saturday night was a monumental night for Jeff Gordon would be a huge understatement.
The four-time (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001) NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champ not only won the race from the pole (the first to ever do so at Phoenix), but he also trimmed the list of tracks he has never won on to two (Texas and Homestead). Not that these two accomplishments are not worth celebrating on their own, but the fact that Gordon tied the late great Dale Earnhardt Sr. for sixth on the all-time win list (with 76 wins) is sure to be enough to break out the good china and pop open the bubbly.
It is hard to believe a driver who was once referred to as “Wonder Boy,” or by some as “The Kid,” could have made such an impact on NASCAR racing in such a short time. Gordon made his very first Cup start in November 1992 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and every since then has been on the chase for championships. With the exception of a few well-documented droughts (Phoenix ended a 26-race drought), Gordon has been able to keep himself in race contention year after year.
I remember back in 1993 when a young, up-and-coming driver jumped on the golf cart with Davey and I as we headed for Driver Introduction at Pocono Raceway. After a brief pre-race chat and a drop-off at the drivers’ pits, Davey turned to me and said, “That kid is going to do something; he is going to be a star.” That kid was none other than Jeff Gordon.
Like him or not, any guy who has accomplished as much as Gordon, and who follows behind racing greats such as Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, and of course Dale Earnhardt Sr. on the all-time win list, deserves to be commended.
Saturday night’s win at Phoenix will go down as one of the most memorable wins for Gordon. It will also ensure that Jeff Gordon’s name is planted deep in the stock-car-racing history books as a true champion — like it or not. |
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