Category: Auto Racing

NASCAR and President Obama. OK, fine… The President of the United States takes some time to recognize the Chase Drivers. Presidents have been welcoming persons of sport accomplishment to the White House for a long time. It’s nothing particularly new.

But what of the timing…?

President Bush (the second one) invited NASCAR drivers to the White House either following the season or before the next season started. The first Bush and Ronald Reagan attended an event or two. Bush honored Richard Petty and Reagan pardoned Junior Johnson on moonshining convictions. The internet search for President Clinton and NASCAR doesn’t reveal much. Apparently, he tried campaigning at Darlington… It didn’t go well. Although, Rick Hendrick did receive a pardon from Clinton on charges of some sort of mail fraud concerning Honda Motors dealerships. Jimmy Carter apparently maintained a friendship with Cale Yarborough.

But mid-season invitations to the White House…? To honor the drivers and champion of the previous year…? We don’t get it.

Everyone is focused on “now”. The next race… What went wrong on the last race… Setups, practice, strategy, logistics… Leave Texas and go to Kansas. Get what we need sent out from Charlotte. Oh, and the hottest drivers in contention drop the fire suits for jacket and tie and head up to Washington, D.C….

Would it be too difficult to get the guys after the awards banquet or maybe leading up to Daytona…? You know, when the season is not in full swing… It really is just a thought.

OK… He did make a call from Air Force One for congratulations during “Champions Week” and the awards in November at Las Vegas.

It’s not as if the President is less busy in April than in December or January… Is he…?

Greg Biffle just won at Texas and is currently leading the season points. He wasn’t a “Chase” driver in 2011. He was gearing up for Kansas on Tuesday. The press will be all over the ten drivers who went to the White House with questions likely further distracting from the upcoming race at Kansas. We’re fairly certain Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (currently 3rd in points) would rather focus on his car than the suit he wore while meeting President Obama…

2011 Champion Tony Stewart is currently in 7th place but had to go. He skipped an invitation last year in September due to schedule conflicts.

Again, September… as the drivers and teams are focusing on making every point count to make the “Chase” for the year they are running. There was, at least, some kind of connection as the Richmond race was honoring heroes of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and D.C. is just up the road.

But April…? Tax deadlines… Racing schedule… Focus….

Campaigning…? Oops… Did we type that out loud…?

The meeting did go well. It was light and pleasant with some laughs and some praise. Notably, the President humorously referenced Tony Stewart’s media history.

“I was hoping Tony would give me some tips for dealing with the media because he has the quiet and reserved personality, and I figured I could stay out of trouble if Tony would give me some advice.”

President Obama was also very gracious while referencing his wife’s visit to the Homestead race last year. He made mention of NASCAR’s efforts in honoring the military and their families but did not reference the disgrace of the crowd “boos” that were reported on her introduction.

“You look out for military families, the Gold Star families and you make regular visits to Walter Reed Hospital to raise spirits there. For you guys to give that much back to folks who have given so much to keep us safe, I want to thank all of you.”

Carl Edwards was also referenced as a member of the President’s Fitness Council.

“He’s an outstanding representative of NASCAR and has a lot of class…”

Overall, mid-season as it is, the White House visit went well. The drivers were welcome, the President was charismatic and personable, and NASCAR received some attention in circles that would usually turn their noses up.

The same can be said for the President in an election year… Hmmmmmm…

California race fans drew a double-shot for racing in the streets of Long Beach over the April 15th weekend with American Le Mans and IndyCar combining forces for a showcase of speed.  it was a “Cirque du So Fast” as speed limits and traffic lights were put on hold amidst cones, tires and barricades.

Don’t worry, east coast fans…  The same show comes to Baltimore in September. However, by then there will be more points pressure to perform as the season will be winding down and competition for the top spots will be more intense. Baltimore should be a great event! (more…)

The NASCAR season is well underway. A look back from the Easter break after Martinsville shows the points are beginning to stack up with familiar names but the order is shaken a bit from what we may have come to expect. Greg Biffle is on top. He has always been in the group as a contender but riding this momentum of early season points is likely to fade unless there is a win coming. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is right there in the second slot, also without a win, and just six points off. Defending Champion Tony Stewart has two wins out of six races (plus a bonus of one of the Gatorade Duals) and is in the third position chasing 12 points. Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex, Jr. share the same 12 point deficit.

NASCAR is shaping up to generate some momentum for the fans as well. The drama of Jimmie Johnson penalties while still able to fight back to the tenth points slot is amazing. Jeff Gordon is 90 points back which is uncommon. Kurt Busch is fighting bad press from last season and bad luck for this one.

Those are just a few of the possible drama lines for fans to chat over. There are many more on tap and still to come. (more…)

Martinsville Speedway racked up yet another Virginia twist on finishes at the historic track on Sunday, April 1st for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500. As it happens, we’ve often noticed quite a few fans making an exit around lap 450 or so to get a jump on traffic. However, in an effort to save a few minutes they also miss out on some of the best racing of the day. Martinsville is hardly predictable and making an exit believing you know the end is like leaving a John Wayne film before the fight scene.

Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon seemed to have it in the bag. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was making a run as well. Hendrick teams had the top 3 well to the finish. Gordon alone had the lead for most of the race up to that point anyway. It seemed to be a given that Johnson or Gordon would take the checkers. Although, with Dale Jr. running that close, many stayed that might have made the early exit otherwise. Junior will keep folks in their seats if he is running near the front.

It all seemed like a dead on predictable finish. Johnson had the lead and Gordon was chasing with Dale Jr. in the 3rd slot. As it happens so often at Martinsville, there was a caution in the final laps. This one brought about when David Reutimann rolled out to a stop on the front stretch. Confusing as he had just passed the entrance to pit road  on the opposite side of the short track. Whatever the reason for the stop of the #10, the caution was out for yet another green-white-checkered restart at Martinsville. Most of the field hit the pits for a splash and at least two tires. Gordon and Johnson stayed out assured they had enough fuel to make it. Their tires, however, were no match for fresh rubber on the cars lined up behind them for the restart.

With no traction to hold, the cars behind bunched up with Clint Bowyer going for the inside dive. Ryan Newman, who had been down a lap earlier, was also right there as the #48 and #24 lost grip with Bowyer’s car on the inside of turn one running three wide. Johnson and Gordon slid up and into the wall. Caution and another restart. This time, Ryan Newman was there to take advantage and the win.

Newman, in the #39 Outback Steak House Chevy with Stewart-Haas Racing, started in the fifth slot, was down a lap and fought back to the win. An amazing finish as team mate and owner Tony Stewart won the Fall race at Martinsville. An amazing finish with better cars dominating most of the day. An amazing finish with no apologies on the events that put Gordon and Johnson in the wall.

A.J. Allmendinger was in the slot for second, Dale Jr. rolled over in third, Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex, Jr. rounded out the top five for the finish order

Once again, the race proves out to the last laps at Martinsville. Next time you go, enjoy your day of racing and trackside fun but stay to the end. Racing is always hot and close at Martinsville but those last 10 laps always prove to be something to see.

Saturday and the Kroger 250 Camping World Series Truck race was also a pleasant watch. Kevin Harvick may have used all of his mojo on Saturday as he finished Sunday at 19th. Saturday, however, it was something to see as he lead 248 of the 250 laps to take the win. There was just no other truck able to hold back Harvick and the #2 Tide/Kroger Chevy. Ty Dillon and the Bass Pro Shops Chevy gave it a run at the close but finished where he started in the second slot.

How often do you see the pole sitter and the next starter finish in the same 1-2 order?

Martinsville always serves up good racing. Just, as we said before, stay to the end!

“Seems it never rains in southern California… Seems I’ve often heard that kind of talk before… It never rains in California… But girl don’t they warn ya… It pours, man it pours”  Albert Hammond.

Rain was a threat all day in Fontana and it hit as if on cue from Tony Stewart. However, he says it was a call to stay out and not a fake onto pit road that left Him out front when the rain did hit. Either way, the rain did come with Stewart leading when NASCAR officials red flagged and called the race giving the #14 a second win of the season.

Hamlin and Johnson left the top 10 of the field to pit while Stewart and the rest stayed out. This put them both back  a bit to the 10-11 slots when the rain came. Apparently, there were gambles on both sides of the rain and as the dice tumbled it was the call to stay on track that shook out.

Kyle Busch, Dale Earmhardt, Jr., Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards rounded out the top 5 for the Auto Club 400.

The teams, drivers and crews pack it all up and ship it back east… again… to Martinsville. Stewart took the win there last Fall to start a late season run to the Championship so he’ll be looking to repeat.

There has been unseasonably nice temparatures around Martinsville for the past couple of weeks so let’s hope it holds for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500. Forecast temps in the 60’s should make for a good weekend at the famous paperclip shaped track.

Tickets, of course, are ready. Fan Zones with drivers like Gordon, Earnhardt, Jr., Harvick and Newman. Track Passes and Family Packages are available. NASCAR has been to Bristol and the gates are open for more traditional racing fun at Martinsville.

Stewart is ready… Are you?

History. As kids we suffered through dates and places and names so as adults we would know what we’re looking at on The History Channel.
That was, of course, until the teacher started talking about dinosaurs. Then we perked up and marveled at creatures larger than semi trucks and savagely chomped and chewed at each other. Kids like dinosaurs. Perhaps it is because they can dream of something larger than their parents and scary enough to send Mom and Dad to their rooms. Perhaps it is because there are no Napoleaon action figures or Columbus Lego sets.

Children are tactile with their learning. Touch, see, handle. That is why kids like dinosaurs and animals and rocks and dirt. Fortunately, there is a place showcasing these things in an interactive way that is both fun and educational.

It is even entertaining for race drivers. That may be saying something as professional drivers are often as difficult to slow down as children are. On a Tuesday in March, we had the chance to slow down with a few NASCAR Camping World Series truck drivers for a tour of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. (more…)

We laugh. We had no ball in the basket, so to speak, so we laugh.

St. Patrick’s Day weekend was busy for motorsports with the opening of Formula 1, American Le mans, plus AMA Superbike. All of this while NASCAR was running at Bristol.

We laugh because we took a peek at the first week NCAA bracket results and we feel we made the right choice to watch racing this weekend. All of those folks who poured over stats and predictions to create a bracket were kicked in the pants by teams like Lehigh, Norfolk, Ohio and South Florida…

The crying over torn bracket forms was drowned by green beer.

Sorry. You could have saved yourself some frustration by settling in with a good motor race. Ultimately, you would get more out of it. Basketball isn’t going to do a thing to enrich your life. Motorsports can save you money and possibly your life. Over the top…? Maybe… However, racing tests engine, fuel, safety and other technologies that make their way into the car you drive, ultimately benefiting your budget and family safety.

That said, there was quite a bit of speed fun over St. Paddy’s weekend. (more…)