Happy Tuesday all. March 16, 1975: In his second Cup start, 18-year-old Ricky Rudd picks up his first top 10, finishing 10th in the Southeastern 500 at Bristol. Rudd would go on to compete until 2007, starting 906 Cup races, winning 23 and finishing in the top 10 374 times. On this day, Richard Petty wins by more than six laps over Benny Parsons, with Buddy Baker seven laps back. Picture yourself cruising in Tony's 2010 Camaro Coupe 2SS. It's a "Summit White", list price at over $35,000! Tony asked Will Castro of Unique Autosports to work his magic and add a few customizations! Buy a ticket for $50 – you'll be entered to win the Grand Prize including the Camaro, A VIP Trip to Stewart-Haas Racing and a personal meet & greet with Tony!!! 70 Early Bird prizes starting March 15th. Get 'em while you can!!!! Just go to www.smokescamaro. Bits and Pieces Drivers could face legal troubles over intentional contact: If NASCAR drivers are going to retaliate against their fellow competitors, they might get more than three weeks probation because of it. They could find themselves in trouble with the law. Drivers should be aware that if they intentionally wreck another driver and someone is injured, they could face criminal penalties, according to Winston-Salem, N.C., attorney John Morrow, whose firm has represented Richard Childress Racing. Whether the charges would stick and whether those injured could successfully bring civil claims against the driver is a matter of debate, according to lawyers and educators who follow sports law. While race fans and fellow drivers might be hesitant to file lawsuits against a driver, a local prosecutor in the spotlight would face outside pressures and influences on whether to charge a race-car driver. William Bray, a Charlotte attorney who has taught sports law classes at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, said if Keselowski had been injured and tried to sue Edwards, the Roush Fenway Racing driver would need to be found to be reckless and not just simply negligent. By competing in NASCAR, a driver consents to a level of contact, much like a boxer in the ring, Bray said. Bray said a driver would be more susceptible to a lawsuit for intentional contact if the driver was coming out of the pits and directly T-boned another driver rather than a push or nudge on the track that leads to injury or death.(Scene Daily) Stremme in the #26 at Bristol? NASCAR's entry list for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway lists David Stremme in the #26 for Latitude 43 Motorsports. Boris Said had driven the first four races, but has never made a start at Bristol. Waltrip to qualify the #55 at Bristol: Michael Waltrip is listed as the driver of the #55 Prism Motorsports Toyota on the entry list for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Waltrip says on his facebook page: "Michael Waltrip Racing Looking forward to Bristol. Our guys are traditionally strong there. I'm qualifying the Prism 55 to get to know the guys and prepare for Dega." Waltrip will run the #55 Aaron's Toyota for Prism Motorsports at Talladega in April. Kurt Busch still waiting for drag racing debut UPDATE: When Kurt Busch's wife surprised him with a spot in a drag racing school, the NASCAR driver had no idea what he was getting into. He still doesn't really know, either. Busch spent two days waiting to make his NHRA debut at the Gatornationals, but heavy rain and flooding forced the sanctioning body to postpone his Sportsman class until Sunday at the earliest. It was a small setback for Busch, who has grown accustomed to delays in NASCAR. He has waited considerably longer for this. Two years to be exact. But don't expect this to be a full-time venture anytime soon. "I still hope I've got 10 or 15 years left on the Cup circuit," he said. "But the fun meter's been pegged and I'm having a great time doing it. Who knows? The opportunity could be out there to do something in NHRA racing later on."(Associated Press) UPDATE: NASCAR driver Kurt Busch has lost his drag-racing debut. Busch was sent home Sunday in the opening round of eliminations at the NHRA Gatornationals. Busch raced in the Super Gas division of the Sportsman class. His 1970 Dodge Challenger sputtered shortly after takeoff and covered the 1,000-foot drag strip in 10.10 seconds, a bumper behind Wes Neely's 1967 Chevrolet Camaro. Busch raced in the 9.90-second division, meaning he was a bit off the projected pace.(Associated Press / ESPN.com) Craven joining ESPN Nationwide broadcast at Nashville: After two years as a studio analyst at ESPN, former Sprint Cup Series regular and Maine native Ricky Craven is readying to take the next step in his NASCAR broadcasting career. Ricky Craven will leave the cozy confines of the studio behind on April 3 and make his first foray into race coverage when he joins the ESPN broadcast booth for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Nashville 300 from Nashville Superspeedway. Craven, a Newburgh, Me. native former K&N Pro Series East champion, will join Dale Jarrett and Marty Reid in the booth for ESPN's Nationwide Series telecast from Nashville. It's expected to be the first of a few appearances for Craven calling events this year for ESPN. Craven, who retired from full-time racing in the Sprint Cup Series after the 2004 season, will be filling in for regular ESPN Nationwide Series analyst Andy Petree for the Nashville event.(Hartford Courant) France Family Group holds nearly 70% of ISC stock: The France Family Group, which includes 46 entities ranging from members of the NASCAR-ruling France family to companies they operate, own 69.6% of the voting stock at International Speedway Corp., the company revealed in its annual proxy statement. A year ago, the group owned 68.9%. With the majority of the voting stock, the France Family Group controls the decisions of the company. ISC Chairman Jim France controls 44.9% of the voting stock (including his shares of the France Family Group) and his late brother Bill's widow, Betty Jane France, owns 20.7%. NASCAR Chairman Brian France (Jim's nephew), who was listed as controlling only 0.23% of the voting ISC stock last year, now owns 1.3%. Executive compensation also was revealed as part of the proxy statement. Chairman Jim France's compensation package was worth $554,608, compared with $1.08 million last year when he was chairman and chief executive officer. Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lesa France Kennedy's compensation package was worth $769,780, compared with $719,146 a year ago when she was the company president. The compensation package includes salary, bonus, incentives, perks, above-market returns on pay set aside for later and the value of stock options and restricted stock granted during the year.(Scene Daily) Scott Wimmer to race Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports car at Bristol, among 50 Nationwide Series entries By Bob Pockrass/scenedaily There are 50 entries, including Scott Wimmer in a JR Motorsports car, for the Nationwide Series Scotts Turf Builder 300 this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway with 11 full-time Sprint Cup drivers in the mix. Among the entries are the three drivers competing for the championship in both series: Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards and Paul Menard and Penske Racing's Brad Keselowski. The event will mark the first time Edwards and Keselowski have raced each other since their controversial wreck at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 7. Edwards is probation for three races for intentionally wrecking Keselowski in the Kobalt Tools 500. Other full-time Cup drivers entered are Joe Gibbs Racing's Kyle Busch and Joey Logano, Baker Curb Racing's Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick Inc.'s Kevin Harvick, Braun Racing's Kasey Kahne, Key Motorsports' Mike Bliss, Nemco Motorsports' Joe Nemechek, and MSRP Motorsports' David Gilliland. Kahne is entered in the No. 38 normally driven by Jason Leffler, who will move to the No. 10 Braun Racing car for Bristol. Wimmer is entered in the JR Motorsports No. 7 car, which was driven by Danica Patrick in the first three races. That car – currently 35th in owner points – must enter every race and be in the top 30 in owner points for Patrick to be guaranteed a spot when she returns to the car in June at New Hampshire. NASCAR Sponsor Needs To Grow A Spine; Not Publicly Berate Their Driver By Greg Engle CupScene.com Editor, NASCAR Examiner People have complained about NASCAR for the past few years. The drivers are too vanilla, saying only what they want their sponsors to hear and never uttering a discouraging word; NASCAR drivers and teams care more about their sponsor than the fans. In the last year, there also began to be complaints about how boring the racing was getting. So in the off season NASCAR told the drivers to 'have at it'. Along comes one Carl Edwards last week in Atlanta. He decides to punt young Brad Keselowski. No doubt the intention was not to send Keselowski flying into the air, but that was the unfortunate end result. Tuesday NASCAR handed down a slap on the wrist for Edwards, owing to their 'have at it' policy and said they were more concerned about why the cars keep deciding to take flight then they were with personal grudge matches. It wasn't long though before some of the same fans who had complained about the 'boring' racing were whining about NASCAR's 'punishment' or lack thereof of Carl Edwards. The solutions brought up ranged from the gallows, to a lifetime ban, to a few lashes with a wet noodle. Several days later amid reports that hoards of riotous townsfolk were storming the Edwards household in Missouri not unlike Transylvanians storming Doctor Frankenstein's castle, (of course I'm making that up), Edward's primary sponsor for the Atlanta race, Scott's Lawn products, issued a terse statement, which I'm not making up. Returning Favors: There's The Rub In Racing By Cathy Elliott NASCAR Media Test your NASCAR knowledge by taking NASCAR Illustrated' By SceneDaily.com Staff NASCAR Illustrated's first-ever trivia quiz is trickier than running four-wide at Bristol, tougher than Pocono's tunnel turn. Answer's in tomorrow's issue!
Brad Keselowski did not learn his lesson Jeremy Dunn /Atlanta NASCAR Examiner Carl Edwards intended to send the brazen Brad Keselowski a stern message last Sunday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Based on the soaring red Dodge on the frontstretch with three laps remaining, the message was stridently sent. The message was delivered to Keselowski; however, Keselowski took the message, wadded it up, and tossed it in the wastebasket. Keselowski has not been timid since the ill-famed airborne incident, as he participated in multiple interviews. If you expect to see a reformed Keselowski at Bristol this weekend, you are unreservedly mistaken. The Penske Racing driver has no intention of altering his approach and driving style. When asked if he needed to change, Keselowski quickly responded with, "Heck, no. I think the exact opposite." "So, it's very important to me that I make no change at all. That's my plan going forward," he went on to say. Keselowski's stated that his assertiveness gave him an advantage over other young drivers endeavoring to rise through the NASCAR ranks. "It's not possible to get a Cup ride right now without being aggressive, and without having some swagger in your step. Does that make you a jerk? To some people, yes. To some people, no. it depends on where you're coming from. If you look at the sport right now, there are no new drivers coming in," he said. Keselowski was perhaps the most sought after driver in last season's silly season. Penske Racing initially targeted Keselowski to replace Ryan Newman after the 2008 season, but the driver respectfully declined. He remained with Junior Motorsports in the Nationwide Series, leading many to believe that he was the heir apparent to Mark Martin at Hendrick Motorsports. Martin is still an elite driver and has no intention of hanging up his helmet. Keselowski was ready for the Sprint Cup Series, and with no room at the inn at Hendrick Motorsports, he agreed to join Penske Racing. Keselowski has not attracted many allies due to his aggression on the track. However, he remains undeterred by his lack of garage cronies. Like it or not, Keselowski is not going to change until he decides that it is time for a new methodology. You can send him airborne, punch him in the face, kick in the stomach, but he will get right back up, and race you the exact same way he raced you last week. Another driver, regardless of who they are, is not going to bully Keselowski in to modifying his technique. Keselowski clearly did not approve of Edwards' revenge tactics, and has already plotted his revenge. His revenge is unconventional, however. "But my retaliation against him is to do absolutely nothing differently…(trying to pay him back) shows a distraction on my end instead of the main focus of going out there and winning races. If I'm worried about wrecking Carl Edwards, I'm not worried about winning the race," he said. "The message will come across to him and others that wrecking me intentionally won't work. They're risking a lot with very little-to-no reward." Keselowski went on to say that Edwards wasted the risk of wrecking him, because the Brad Keselowski you saw at Atlanta and prior to Atlanta is the same Brad Keselowski you will continue to see from here on out. "If the same move happened tomorrow, if we ran Texas next week and he restarts on the outside of me, I'm not going to do anything differently." Jeff Gordon Feels Bristol Will Unleash the Fury It Was Once Known For Sal Sigala Jr./bleacherreport. Bristol Motor Speedway has always been one the most popular stops that NASCAR makes during its 36 week season not only for the fans, but the drivers as well. The action that follows the drivers who choose to test its 30 degree banking along with the half mile configuration can get very intense, and at times tempers are known to flare up because of the emotional rollercoaster ride that it generates. A victory at Bristol does not come easy, and more times than naught the winners car looks like it just lost a Saturday night demolition derby. Racing at Bristol has always been a driver's biggest challenge when you take into consideration its confined high speed stadium type atmosphere, with no room for error because of its 40 foot wide racing surface. With its sub 17 second laps, the track that is billed as "The World's Fastest Half Mile," is once again ready to unleash its fury this coming weekend with hopes that the action is was known for was once again restored. Since 1961 Bristol has seen many generations of NASCAR's finest drivers confront one another, with some of the most exciting finishes in NASCAR history surrendered during its 39 year history. The fracas that became synonymous with this one of a kind race track was lost in 2007, when Bristol was stripped of its identity along with its explosive demeanor. What used to be a two groove hell bent asphalt monster, now became a three-wide typical drive on your local freeway with its new racing surface. The progressive banking along with an additional three feet of track surface which was added to front and backstretch, is all that was needed to put this gentle giant to sleep. The make-over which was intended to add more excitement to Bristol, instead gave the drivers an extra lane of racing which meant we would no longer see the carnage that was usually left behind after each race. With the addition of more than 160 feet of SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barriers at the exits for Turns 2 and 4, Bristol is hoping to reclaim its identity that was taken away back in 2007. While the modifications will increase driver safety, without the extra three feet of racing surface the drivers will now have to negotiate a tighter exit, and will no longer have the freedom to float out of the corners upon entering the tracks 650 foot long straightaway's. Four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon who has visited Victory Lane five times, feels the added barrier will add more excitement to the race along with making it more challenging for the drivers to pass each other. "We use every inch of that race track. It is definitely going to be unique. I am anxious to get there and see how many right sides we take off the first hour of practice," said Gordon when talking about the modifications. Gordon also added that, "It is like anything else, eventually you get used to it. Then it is going to come down to the side-by-side racing and how that is going to affect that aspect of it. Because you narrow the track up that means it might be a little harder to pass." This weekend we will find out once again if less is best, and if it is expect the tempers to fly along with another installment to Bristol's infamous carnage of race cars, which have created some of NASCAR most memorable moments.
Four Back Stories For Bristol By Reid Spencer Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service When Carl Edwards took revenge on Brad Keselowski near the end of last Sunday's Sprint Cup race in Atlanta, it did more than just wreck Keselowski's No. 12 Dodge—dramatically. It gave pundits and fans of the sport a lot to talk about during the first open week in the schedule. With the Cup series heading to Bristol, the first short track on the calendar, here's a behind-the-scenes look at what to expect there next weekend. 1. NASCAR may have quashed the feud between Edwards and Keselowski, but that doesn't mean there's not bad blood elsewhere in the garage. Though Denny Hamlin turned Keselowski in the 2009 Nationwide Series season finale at Homestead—and ostensibly settled the score from a week earlier in Phoenix—it's clear that Hamlin still bears animosity toward his rival. Hamlin wrote on his Twitter account that he was dining out on Thursday night and, by coincidence, was seated two tables away from Keselowski, whom he referred to as "Brad Crashalotski." Keselowski apparently sent a bottle of wine to Hamlin's table, causing Hamlin to relent. "OK, OK … I'll take it back," Hamlin wrote. "He just bought us a bottle of wine." For his part, Keselowski said the gesture won't affect the way he races Hamlin. "Saw Denny at dinner last night," Keselowski wrote on his Twitter account Friday morning. "Sent over a bottle of wine. Don't be confused. Still going to race him hard." 2. If there's a revenge play at Bristol, don't expect NASCAR to show the same degree of leniency toward the next offender that they showed to Edwards. As important as what Edwards did at Atlanta was who the protagonists were. Rightly or wrong, the general sentiment in the Cup garage was that Keselowski had it coming, based primarily on the aggression he showed last year. In letting Edwards take on the vigilante role for the entire garage, NASCAR, as much as anything else, was sending a pointed message to Keselowski. Here's a guarantee, though. The next deliberate retaliatory act on the track—particularly if it's taken against a veteran who already has earned respect—won't be greeted with a three-race probation. 3. The extended SAFER barriers will affect the racing at Bristol. Forget that Tony Stewart made light of the issue. In extending the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction Barriers an additional 84 feet beyond Turns 2 and 4, Bristol Motor Speedway has narrowed its racing surface by nearly three feet in those areas, and drivers will face a more difficult challenge on corner exit. "Like I said, they paint them so you can see them, so that will help us," Stewart joked. "The good thing about us as drivers—after all these years of doing this—it doesn't matter where they put it, we have to stay a fraction of an inch off of it and use every bit up to it. I'm sure it's going to make a difference—there is no doubt about it. I mean we all use every bit of room we can get there anyway. It will make the exits of the corners a little tighter, but I think the racing will still be good there because of it." 4. Look out for Kyle Busch. The driver of the No. 18 Toyota is as adept at Bristol in NASCAR's new car as brother Kurt was in the old one. Kyle won the first new-car race there in 2007 and has won the last two events at Thunder Valley. Though he and new crew chief Dave Rogers haven't found the key to the plate and intermediate tracks yet, the odds are that Kyle and Rogers will follow Kurt and new chief crew Steve Addington (who won at Atlanta) to victory lane. Is Jimmie's Dominance Good For NASCAR? Jeff Gordon Hints It Isn't Jeff Gluck • sbnation.com Over the past couple seasons, as Jimmie Johnson's reign has extended to back-to-back- Many fans and media have disagreed. And recently, Jeff Gordon indicated that he recognizes one driver's repeated winning may be not be interesting to fans. "To me, Jimmie is a fantastic race car driver with a great personality who brings a lot to this sport," Gordon said in Atlanta. "But if it doesn't resonate with a new fan base or the media, then it's not going to really stir up some of the uniqueness that we need to keep our fans coming and growing." Gordon cited Danica Patrick's arrival in NASCAR as something that injected a new storyline and media coverage into the sport, drawing new eyes. Johnson's run of four straight Cups has been without a rival, so people may not be as interested. "I just think it depends on the rivalries and the stories," Gordon said. "If you're dominating but you're battling a Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Tony Stewart, you build that rivalry – the good guy/bad guy kind of thing, the Ford vs. Chevy and all that sort of thing. "But when you're out there dominating and nobody is really your enemy, then I think it pulls away from you a little bit." So what's the solution? "What we need is Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart to be butting heads and banging and trying to beat one another and talking trash – that's going to be good television," he said. "The problem is that Jimmie and I are friends. So we never cross that line. And that's good and bad." But does it bother Gordon and the other drivers that Johnson wins so much? "Hell, yeah," he said. "When you win that much, it ticks everybody else off and they all have to work harder and they all get fired up to go out there and try to knock that guy off." Bowles-Eye View Tom Bowles · Frontstretch. The Next Five NASCAR Drivers To Get "Taught A Lesson" As we put the Carl – Brad fiasco in the rear-view mirror, there's plenty of debate about where we go from here. But fans, insiders, and drivers alike can agree on one thing, no matter which side of the coin they fall: this week's race at Bristol is the most-anticipated short track slugfest in years. With drivers clearly sent a message that payback's not only acceptable, it's encouraged, everyone's looking to see how many will loosen the reins and play bumper tag – especially at a track where patience ends the second the green flag drops. With that in mind, it's time to have a little fun on this off-week and see who's the next Brad Keselowski: you know, the guy some drivers and fans feel need to be "taught a lesson" on the track. Just know before we go any further we're embarking on a feel-good, laid-back journey that's a little tongue-in-cheek: don't read if you don't have a sense of humor. As I said in SI last week, of course I don't want chaos on the track: any retaliation can end in serious injury, especially if done the wrong way. But most fans would be lying if they said there wasn't at least one driver they'd like spun into the inside wall at the half-miles as punishment for a long list of misdeeds – and now, more than ever, that chance exists. So let's reach into our inner devil and bring those fantasies to life. Here they are, in no particular order – five victims who better watch their rear bumpers this weekend and at Martinsville the end of the month, as well as five aggressors that might lay the chrome horn: 1) Kyle Busch The provocative Busch has had a rather quiet season by his standards, making more news off the track (recent engagement, criticizing the media's Danica lovefest) than on it. But considering he swept both Bristol races last year, leading 446 of a possible 1,003 laps, chances are the No. 18 Toyota will wind up at the front of the field at some point on Sunday. So what happens next? Busch's biggest rival, Edwards, is on probation for the next three weeks, one of the few likely to sit out any type of Bristol Demolition Derby. But there is NASCAR's Most Popular Driver on the prowl, looking to seal his 2010 comeback by contending at one of his favorite tracks. Remember the Richmond wrecks between these two way back when? Earnhardt's never gotten his "payback," and you wonder what a desperate No. 88 does in close quarters with the No. 18 late in the race. Other options for the Busch bump back to reality include his brother Kurt. On-track "brotherly love" between the two just isn't there (See: All-Star Race, 2007) and it won't make much to get tempers flaring, with both expected to be top 5 runners. Let's also not forget Kurt's new crew chief, Steve Addington, who made no secret of the fact he was happy to get revenge on Kyle with a victory at Atlanta on Sunday. A long shot pick would be Gordon, who has good feelings for Busch but can get repeatedly frustrated with how the 25-year-old mouths off about his disappointment during a three-year tenure with Hendrick Motorsports. Never afraid to use the bump-and-run, that's a last-lap maneuver that's found the No. 24 pushing drivers like Matt Kenseth in the wall in recent years. Could Busch be next? 2) Sam Hornish, Jr. In his third year of Sprint Cup competition, Hornish has improved but still has a nasty habit of crashing out when you least expect it – and taking other drivers with him. His roller-coaster handling woes have upset Johnson many times, peaking at Texas last fall where the No. 77's early aggression caused a wreck that put a rainout in the No. 48's Chase Domination Tour 2009. You dent the champion's trophy, well, you're playing with fire, and JJ made some rare public comments then and since that show just how much he's not a fan of the IndyCar convert. But Johnson isn't the only one angry as of late. Several have gotten tired of Hornish's "transition" to Cup that's included far too many "Oops! I did it again!" Britney Spears moments to count. It's gotten to the point where "I'm sorry" is just not going to be good enough anymore, and with short tracks still his biggest weakness, you wonder if somebody's just going to dust themselves off, take their best shot, and ensure Hornish won't ruin their day before he gets a chance. 3) Jamie McMurray Two spins equaled two wrecked race cars the last two times out for our Daytona 500 winner. But while Atlanta was at least somewhat forgivable (the No. 1 Chevy incited an eight-car wreck on old tires, losing control during a green-white- 4) Kurt Busch Could last week's winner be this week's last place finisher? Depends on whom you ask. Busch has the respect of most inside the garage, but Juan Pablo is none too happy with his late restart during a green-white- Busch has also ruffled feathers with Jimmie Johnson multiple times over the last 12 months, with the two involved in a noteworthy scuffle at Chicagoland in July. If the "JJ Drive For Five Tour 2010" is really about kicking butt and taking names, wouldn't the No. 48 want to send a message to a driver looking like a possible challenger to his latest title bid? And speaking of the champ… 5) Jimmie Johnson Does the reigning four-time Chase winner have to watch his back? It sounds crazy on the surface, that a probation ruling involving two unrelated drivers would wind up putting a giant bulls-eye on Johnson's Chevy. But despite the fact he's got one of the most well-respected personalities inside the garage, NASCAR's Let Boys Be Boys policy leaves his biggest rivals with a green light to do the one thing no one ever seems to do with No. 48 these days: rough that car up. The question is whether someone has the guts. I don't think it would happen at Bristol; as it is, that's one of Johnson's weakest tracks on the circuit. But at Martinsville the end of the month, a track where JJ has finished in the top 5 nine straight times … chances are he'll be in the lead at some point, with the second place guy squarely placed on his back bumper. That leaves him vulnerable to a guy like Denny Hamlin, looking to assert himself as JJ's main challenger this season and someone needing a spark after a mediocre-at- Montoya's another option, as his aggressive on-track exploits now have the confidence of a Chase berth behind them. Would he be willing to step it up a notch and send Johnson a message he's not going to take this four-year browbeating lying down? And then, there's Mr. Trash Talker himself, Kevin Harvick. Leading the standings, Harvick made it clear he thought Hendrick Motorsports "knew we could run with them" last week. But what better way to send a "hello, how are you" note that RCR's truly back in contention than to take Johnson for a ride at a place where their car usually thrives. The Power of Words - Remembering David Poole I was recently reminded that this Sunday would have been David Poole's 51st birthday. His absence is still deeply felt by the entire NASCAR community. It made me remember why I wanted to become a writer. I've always loved to write. All you need is some inspiration and a few carefully chosen words to weave a story that others will want to read. The possibilities are endless and you're only limited by your own imagination. I've spent hours searching for that one perfect word or phrase to describe a particular mood or emotion. But when it all comes together, when you've finally gotten it right, the written word can be magical. David Poole is a perfect example of someone who got it right. Poole became the Charlotte Observer's NASCAR writer in 1997 and quickly became a fixture in the sport. In the beginning, he was not the most popular columnist but came to be one of the most respected. Poole didn't pull any punches but wrote what he believed regardless of the fallout. After reading one of his columns, you might yell in anger or shout in agreement. David Poole had the uncanny ability to inspire passion in his readers. You might not agree with what he wrote but he always made you think and that was his gift. For many NASCAR fans, Poole served as the historian of the sport. He was there to recount the highs and lows and often expressed what we couldn't put into words. When we lost Dale Earnhardt, Poole was there to remind us of the memories that helped ease the pain. Earnhardt, said Poole," was the greatest driver, at least of his generation, in a sport that will never be the same. He was its champion seven times and it's most recognizable figure. He was a hero to millions. He was a star." "To his fans he was The Man in Black. He was "Earrrrnnn-harrrrdt Poole was also there to share our pain and simply yet poignantly, say what we couldn't. "It's hard for us to say what we really feel. Words just don't seem adequate." "That's OK. Just like it has always been with Dale Earnhardt, what we're really feeling is right there in our eyes." "It's a tear." All my life I've always loved to write but sometimes words fail me. It's been less than a year since we lost Poole but the void he left can never be filled. Writers will come and go but Poole's legacy is unique. He combined integrity, passion and a love for racing to give a voice to NASCAR fans. Driver intro songs? Leave it to an expert Marty Smith/espn.com Bristol Motor Speedway officials drummed up a brilliant concept this past fall, one used often in other sports to reveal a bit of a team's personality and the personalities of its players: Let each athlete choose a song, and blare it on the loudspeaker when he's introduced. It hadn't been done in NASCAR before. It should have been. It was genius. Just before the race, all 43 drivers in the field walked across the track in Turn 3 and emerged from a makeshift tunnel to the song of their choice to the glee of 160,000 half-cocked and happy, screaming race fans. Throughout the past week, many drivers have solicited help from fans via Twitter to pick a song for the March 21 event at BMS. I thought I'd assist. To do so, I hit up my man Blake Shelton, he of the "Hillbilly Bone" ilk and general hilarity. Dude's funny. He also follows NASCAR pretty dang close. We were discussing the diminutive stature many drivers have, and he said, "Hmmm. … That explains it. No wonder Elliott [Sadler] sucks." He was kidding, of course. Sadler is one of his best buddies. Here's his list. I'm still laughing. Kurt Busch -- "Now Kurt's the oldest brother, right? I don't know why, but the theme song to the 'Brady Bunch' comes to mind. Is that weird?" Mark Martin -- "Easy one. 'Grandpa,' by the Judds." Robby Gordon -- "'Some Beach,' by me because he wrecked me at Atlanta last weekend. I at least thought I could miss the first few laps and still see the car. Nope. At least he got me on TV." Kasey Kahne -- "Oh, man. He's pretty. He's the prettiest man I've ever seen. 'Dude (Looks Like A Lady),' by Aerosmith. Great driver. And he's really pretty. Really pretty." Denny Hamlin -- "Didn't he say something about his car recently, like his motor was bad or something? 'Piece Of S--- Car.' Adam Sandler." Brad Keselowski -- "Is that guy OK? I thought Carl Edwards was the one that did the flipping. 'Ain't That A Kick In The Head,' by Dean Martin." Tony Stewart -- "'My Way,' by Frank Sinatra. He bought his own team, and he's doin' it." Matt Kenseth -- "From what I hear, he's funny, but people think he's boring as hell. 'Personality, Kyle Busch -- "'We're Not Gonna Take It,' by Twisted Sister. Because he just gets so pissed and doesn't do anything wrong ever. Ever." Elliott Sadler -- "'Ol' Red.' He's in the video with me, and played the part of my inbred cousin. He was a natural." Joey Logano -- "We'll go with another one of mine here: 'The Baby.' Does he shave yet?" Jeff Gordon -- "'I Kissed A Girl,' by Katy Perry. I don't really know what made me think of that song. But I did. So there you go. Enough said." Kevin Harvick -- "'Loser,' by Beck. Wait. … He's leading the points, isn't he? We'll keep it just for the irony." Jeff Burton -- "'Love Will Keep Us Together,' by Captain and Tennille. Y'all call him the Mayor, don't ya?" Clint Bowyer -- "'Hillbilly Bone.' He does a race at his house every year called the Hillbilly 250. It works." Jimmie Johnson -- "An old Mac Davis song works for him, called '[Oh] Lord It's Hard To Be Humble' when you're perfect in every way." Scott Speed -- "'Karma Chameleon,' by Culture Club. We'll leave it at that." Brian Vickers -- "'Wanted Dead Or Alive,' by Bon Jovi. That's true, right?" Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- "'The More I Drink, The More I Drink.' This is one of mine. He's having that kind of luck." Carl Edwards -- "'I'm Too Sexy' for my shirt, by Right Said Fred. Enough said." NASCAR ON TV THIS WEEK
All times Eastern Well, that's all for today. Until the next time, I remain, Your Nascar Momma Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
"Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up there and eat that candy ass." -Dale Earnhardt - 1998 |
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