Sleeping Giant Graffix

Sunday’s rain shortened NASCAR race in Pocono, PA was gift wrapped and handed to Jeff Gordon by the sanctioning body of NASCAR. Yes, it was raining and it is unsafe to run NASCARs on a rain soaked track. Granted. However NASCAR threw the caution flag just as Ryan Newman was about to overtake Gordon on lap 104. The broadcasters began dictating almost exactly how the race would play out about lap 80: Gordon pitted off sequence, the race would get to just over half way (lap 101) to be an “official” race, the rain would start, the caution would come out and Gordon would win his 4th race of the season.

Guess what happened?

Exactly as Bill Webber, Wally Dalenbach and Kyle Petty predicted. As if they were reading off a script.

As soon as the the cars were stopped under red flag on pit road, BEFORE the race was actually called, the rain stopped and the sun was back out. It seems to me NASCAR could have made an effort to dry the track, as it didn’t rain that long at the time and they wouldn’t have “lost” the track. Then NASCAR could have run until it became dark or at least sunset. But that wouldn’t have been in the script.

If I were a fan at that race I’d be pissed off to wait over 4 hours of rain delay to see that race turn out the way it did.

Jeff, you may have gotten the win, and I know, a win is a win, but you didn’t really beat anyone Sunday.

Technorati Tags: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR, Pocono, rain

Looks like Kevin Harvick did tonight in the Nextel All-Star Challenge.

Ya know, it was a good night all around: A Hendrick car didn’t win, (at Lowe’s Motor Speedway mind you), the Busch brothers wrecked EACH OTHER and Kenny Wallace got the fan vote.

Man I love NASCAR.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Harvick, Lowe’s, All-Star Challenge

This week Tony Stewart said that it appears NASCAR officials throw late race caution flags in order to influence the outcome of races. “They can almost dictate the race instead of the drivers doing it.” Immediately translated by the media; “NASCAR fixes races.”

Not at all what he said.

Apples and oranges.

I don’t necessarily disagree with Tony. It seems to me that NASCAR tends to throw caution flags for “phantom” debris at times. Most of the TV coverage is pretty good about showing the debris, WHEN they find it. I’ve also seen debris visually large enough to be seen on TV that has just laid on the track for several laps before a caution is thrown. These cautions can and do affect the outcome of a race.

But to say that NASCAR fixes races is just outright ignorant. That would require the other 42 drivers to lie down. I just don’t see that happening, ever.

What it does show is NASCAR’s inconsistency in enforcement of their policies. Something they continue to be criticized on by both drivers and fans.

Seems that the NASCAR sanctioning body is in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR rule book.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Tony Stewart, fixes races, caution flag, 12-4-A

Saturday’s Busch race in Las Vegas turned out to be a much better than anticipated event. And the best moves made by a driver all night were made off the track, after the race ended.

Prior to the dropping of the green flag, the majority of the driver’s comments were not too positive about the reconfigured, repaved speedway and the tire Goodyear provided for the event. Tony Stewart ridiculed LVMS President Chris Powell naming him primarily responsible for destroying what was once a descent track. Kevin Harvick said that the resurfacing job must have been done by “people who pave parking lots.” On the other hand, Jeff Burton, echoing an attitude from his friend, mentor and former team-mate Mark Martin basically said this is what we have to deal with; let’s deal with it.

And guess who was a strong contender throughout the crazy, caution filled race? Guess who mounted a late race charge to win on the final lap? Jeff Burton. Positive attitude equals positive results.

However, the best thing about Saturday night’s race occurred after the checkered flag waved. It was a revelation of lessons learned and it had nothing to do with the racing surface, car setup, size of the fuel cell or stiffness of tires. Respect was given and respect was earned.

I am referring to the true sportsmanship displayed by Kyle Busch when Jeff Burton pulled along side him on pit road immediately following Jeff’s win and Kyle’s loss. Angry, dejected and probably embarrassed to come so close to winning and lose in front of his hometown crowd, Kyle started climbing out of his crashed, 2nd place vehicle.. You could see it in his face, he was pissed. He immediately began walking from his car toward pit road. My thought was that he was heading to Burton’s pit to confront members of his crew and show the immaturity he’s so often times displayed. However when the 29 car pulled alongside Kyle on pit road, the two drivers shook hands, affirming things were cool between them and that the results of the dash to checkers was truly just “one of them racin’ deals.” Kyle’s post race comments to the TV crew also displayed a more mature driver than I recall seeing from the younger Busch brother.

Now, anyone that knows me personally knows I am by no means a Kurt or Kyle Busch fan. Don’t know why; I’m just not. After Saturday night, I’m still not. However, I do have a new found respect for Kyle along with hope. Kyle may or may not ever attain the series title of Cup Champion like his brother Kurt has, but he is at least beginning to show that one day he may be worthy of the title.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Busch, Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, Las Vegas

There is alot of talk in the NASCAR world about Mark Martin leading the points right now and he’s only planning on running a partial season. I think he should run the full season, at least as long as it is mathmatically possible for him to win the Cup. Although he has said he is going to retire, he is still pretty competitive. Experience is worth a ton. Look at Rudd after a year off; first race back he sits on the front row at Daytona. Mark, you’re a racer, you’ve proven it time and time again, it’s what you do. Can you really stay out of the car at Bristol if you are still leading the points by then? If you do, you will wonder every day for the rest of your life; “Was 2007 my year and I walked away from it?” If you ain’t in it to win it all, why are you in it at all?

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Mark Martin, Chase, Cup

Before the Daytona 500 started, when the media was interviewing Jimmie Johnson and had asked him the question “How has winning the Daytona 500 last year changed your life”? I looked at my wife and told her that what it does more than anything else is change the way a driver is introduced for the rest of his life. (Think Derrike Cope or Ward Burton).

NASCAR is an incredible sport. I have been a fan for over 30 yrs. For me, no other sport can match the excitement. I have had the fortune of attending several races since 1977 and look forward to attending many more. I have met Richard Petty, Darrel Waltrip, Coo Coo Marlin and many others. Jeered The Intimidator, and cried the day he died.  I was a Rusty Wallace fan from his days of being a rookie until the 2005 “Last Call” tour. (It just burns my ass to see Kurt Busch in the Blue Duce now.) Since then, I proudly fly Kevin Harvick’s colors.

Yea, I have it pretty bad.

Sundays Daytona 500 was an awesome race. Great outcome. I would be saying that even if my driver did not win. But there is still controversy over NASCAR officials not throwing the yellow flag and allowing Mark Martin and Kevin Harvick to race out the last stretch of track. But NASCAR was screwed either way. If they would have thrown the caution, the bitch would just go the other way. Mark stated immediately after the race that he was “waiting for the yellow.” Martin is a great driver and has accomplished a lot in his racing career. (See best driver to never win a title.) But Sunday, Mark; you got beat. It’s a plate race at Daytona and that is just how it goes. Think about how many great drivers never won a Daytona 500 or how long it took some other drivers to win it once. Rusty never did. Dale Earnhardt Sr won only once after 20 attempts. If Martin lifted in anticipation of a caution flag then he deserved to lose. DW said it and Mark even himself said it: They were wrecking behind Martin and Harvick. There was nothing but pavement between them and the checkered flag; where races are supposed to end.

Let the nay-sayers say nay and the whiners whine. NASCAR was right in letting their sport’s signature race end with the checkers flying. Besides, this Sunday they race at Fontana and there will be new controversy for sure. But only for a week.

Ladies and gentlemen, 2007 Daytona 500 winner, Kevin Harvick…

.02 seconds separation… wow!

Technorati Tags: Daytona 500, NASCAR, Martin, Harvick