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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…)

Elliott Sadler. Pleasant fellow. Easy personality. NASCAR driver.

Everybody knows who he is. He has won in Sprint Cup. He has driven for a number of teams. His introductions at the track generally draw applause and welcome cheers.

His record in Cup races highlights a few wins plus top 5 and top 10 finishes placing him generally in the upper tier of drivers. This, however, has not necessarily brought him into the limelight of NASCAR stardom.

Until now…

Sadler has created momentum in the early season of the Nationwide Series. Backed by Richard Childress Racing from the shops previously run by Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler has taken the #2 OneMain Financial Chevy to Victory Lane twice in the first four races of the 2012 season. He won at Phoenix and just registered the second win at the Ford EcoBoost 300 at Bristol. (more…)

Madness…? Really…? It is still amazing to us at Missed Gear how people get so worked up over “ball” sports. Just a month or so ago it was football. Now it is basketball.

When did a basketball last have any affect on your daily routine? Well, beyond pouring over stats to fill out a bracket in your pool that you know is going to be won by the office assistant who filled it out blindfolded…

You are in your car every day yet the connection to that drive and motorsports is constantly overshadowed by a bunch of guys playing with balls. We don’t get it… (more…)

President Obama recently gave a speech at a Daimler owned Freightliner truck plant in North Carolina speaking of CAFE standards on automobile mileage. (Corporate Average Fuel Economy)

In the speech, the President gave an example of Americans going to the pumps every two weeks instead of every week. He stated that with the new standards on vehicle mileage, Americans could save $8,000.00 per year on gas. Now, who would not want to have eight grand extra every year…?

However, if you do the math, you figure that going to the pump every two weeks instead of every week cuts your fuel consumption by half. If we are to save $8,000.00 per year that means we are currently spending $16,000.00 per year. (more…)

There are big dogs, little dogs, all types of breeds and mixes and colors and personalities and they can be comfortable and happy with a simple act of extending a friendly hand. Just ask Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 US Army / Quicken Loans Chevy with Stewart-Haas Racing…

Newman is a passionate animal advocate. His Ryan Newman Foundation is very active with conservation of natural resources and habitat as well as working with animal protection and rescue organizations. This was showcased with a recent visit to Martinsville, VA.

Of course, the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 is fast approaching at Martinsville and there were opportunities to discuss racing at the historic Speedway. He is coming off a good 4th place finish in Las Vegas. (Teammate Tony Stewart took the win)  The race at Bristol is a few days away and he had the pole on the last visit there. The Martinsville race is just over two weeks away. March 30 – April 1st marks the date for race weekend and the action on the tracks so far is shaping up for NASCAR to put on a big show at Martinsville. Ticket packages with family pricing are always an option plus the Fan Zones with visits from some of the top drivers in the field. Check the Speedway website or call 877-RACE-TIX for all the details. (more…)

The mileage for Bristol is a little crazy. Las Vegas to Bristol to California. However, setting your watch for time zones is hardly critical to getting the job done when there is much more hovering around the garage. The 2012 season is on and this weekend will likely be full of Bristol drama.

Racing in the first three Sprint Cup points races have already stirred things up as fans are settling in with driver, car and team changes. The drama at Bristol will likely be lead by the #48 Lowe’s team with Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus as they are still feeling the pain of Daytona. Before the season opener even started they encountered the long arm of the law from NASCAR Officials. Their car was deemed illegal and roof sections (C-Posts) were confiscated forcing a rush reconstruct with shipped in shop parts. This also led to penalties including fines, Knaus’ suspension and 25 points docked from Johnson’s ledger.

Two laps into Daytona and Johnson was out. The #48 Lowe’s Chevy was damaged and garaged. Add a DNF to the penalty and the 2012 season looks stacked against the five time champion.

The appeal did not go well following Las Vegas and it is up to NASCAR and their schedule if Knaus will be in the chair at Bristol.

The penalties were upheld on March 13th. Rick Hendrick has a final shot with the chief appellate officer on the NASCAR Appeals Panel and that decision could come any day. Until then, the appeal is open and the team is operating as if Knaus will be at Bristol.

Johnson finished 4th in Phoenix and 2nd in Las Vegas. Maybe a sour season start has kicked him into gear coming to Bristol.

The Food City 500 may be a game changer for early season points. They will be back west following Bristol then turn around and head to Martinsville for more of the Virginia short track drama.

Bristol and Martinsville tend to shake the bag a bit as the speeds come down but the tension goes up. The attention to detail and timing, the crowded traffic on limited real estate, the pit strategy and the inevitable dents and dings all add up on the short tracks.

The drama of NASCAR is on and Virginia has the stages for it to unfold. Johnson and the #48 team are bringing a bit of their own theatrics. Every other team in the garage will have their own characters to play. The best part is that nothing is scripted. NASCAR is improv at speed so raise the curtain and drop the green flag on Virginia racing.