NASCAR

For the past couple of weeks I have been talking about ESPN coming back to NASCAR by broadcasting a Cup race. I wonder just how it would be after such a long time? Well, I made it a point to watch the Brickyard race today to find out, and I’ll tell y’all, they did an excellent job. The camera coverage was just great and they seemed to capture every aspect of the race, which, at this track, is a hard thing to do. I’ve never really liked a race from Indianapolis Motor Speedway because there is usually a lot of action missed out on for the lack of camera angles. Of all the tracks on the NASCAR circuit, Indy is in the top three tracks I would never, ever go to for a race, right behind the road course tracks.

I couldn’t imagine sitting inside of the front stretch watching the cars go by at 180 plus MPH (for a few seconds at the most) and then have to wait until they came back around. Yeah, sure they got the big TV screens where you can see them, but that’s no good at all. Likewise, across from you, the people don’t have a good view of the whole track, and that ain’t fun either. At any other race you go to you can see all the action. Even if it’s a mile away you can still catch what’s going on. ESPN did have plenty of cameras and the producer did real good bringing the race to me, so it was enjoyable. I was bitching about TNT and how they had too much crap on the screen (and finally they seemed to get it right on their last airing), but ESPN started right off fine. I think I am going to enjoy ESPN’s coverage for the next five weeks. Hopefully ABC will pick the ball up and run when it’s their turn to finish out the season. Now you know, ABC probably had to pay super big money to bring the Chase to us, since that is when NASCAR thinks the biggest television audiences will be watching. Just how much more we’ll see when the count is done at the end of the broadcast with the ratio of commercial time to racing time. I sure hope they aren’t planning some new special way to handle that, like with the ole dumb pic in a pic deal, because that would blow. Don’t get me wrong, ESPN did miss a thing or two, but that happens anyway. With more commercials there are more chances of us seeing a lot of replays. Do It Right ABC, I’ll be watching!

Dang, I almost forgot to say, “I told ya so” after Tony Stewart won at Chicago. I said he has the momentum going for the second half and made this prediction, “I bet ya he wins again real soon, like maybe next week at the Brickyard.” Can I call it or can I call it? NO, I’m not going to try that again just yet – oh heck, I will – Stewart will win at Pocono! There ya go, just so y’all can say I was wrong just once this season. But don’t get your hopes up because he might. How bout that Juan Pablo in second? That was pretty much expected since he’s won there before. And Jeff Gordon with a third place? Gee, that’s three of my drivers in the office pool and a bunch of points for my team, right Mr. Hamm?

And I’ll tell you another thing that made my Mate in Australia happy as vegemite on toast, and that was Wardie Burton (as Pete calls him) coming in 14th after starting 40th. Hey, Pete is tickled when he makes the field. I do like Ward, but Mate, ya’ got to look at the whole picture here, and by that I mean the end of the field and all the guys that were either “off the track” or “out of the race.” There were several, maybe 6 or 8, that should have finished ahead of Burton, but hey that’s racing, ain’t it?

You know, whoever gets Kyle Busch is going to get a good driver and I hope he goes with a good team that can give him the quality car that he gets now. Here’s a guy with an average starting and finishing position of 15th, one win so far and 10 top tens, and Hendrick dumps him for Junior, go figure. OK OK, I know it’s Dale Earnhardt Jr.

With cars and teams and equipment and all the stuff that Ginn bought to make his team the super team that it is now, here comes “Super Hero MARK MARTIN.” Just look at his retirement years, starting with Jack Roush, and how he stayed there until a new driver could be found for the #6 car. Then he goes to Ginn Racing as the “New Beginning” for a struggling team and shares a car with a rookie for half a season only to get a different rookie for the second half. With Dale Jr. leaving and Mark coming, I guess Teresa thinks she has appeased DEI fans with Martin as Junior’s replacement. I know they said that Mark will drive the Army car, but you know that could change before the Daytona 500. Mark Martin’s name on the roof of the 8 car? Hmmmm, sounds weird.

I will say one more thing about Bobby Ginn and Ginn Racing and that is I think they blow big time and I still feel for Sterling and Joe. Especially Joe, after he missed the Allstate 400 with Terry Labonte taking a provincial in Waltrip’s car. That’s enough of that and I don’t even want to talk about Robert Yates Racing – Paul Newman and the other gang of names behind RYR’s. I will say that I’m glad David got signed for another year, but he may have to get some of his pay in salad dressing or movie tickets. Looks like the future of NASCAR is multi-named teams with lots of cars and lots of equipment and tons of money, but didn’t Brian France say awhile back that they want to attract new owners and teams to NASCAR?

Y’all remember when Jeremy Mayfield talked bad about Ray “Mister Perfect” Evernham for not being close to his teams and that was why they were not performing well? He had his mind on something or someone else? Well this past week he comes out and says that he and Erin need to separate in business but not at the hip, because her working for him and “doing him” has hurt her career.

Well that’s all for this week and I hope you enjoyed the race Sunday because there’s another one this week. Remember, you might want to tape these races, so you’ll have something to watch this winter. By the way, I used a certain word (or rather a reference to a word) and so far so good. I haven’t heard from NASCAR about any fines or writer’s points deduction, so I might slip it in again from time to time because it really explains some of the stuff that is going on these days with NASCAR. Reach me at tinynascars@yahoo.com if you’d like, and as always, If it ain’t NASCAR, It ain’t s**t!!