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It’s kind of spooky. Cool, yes… But spooky.

The #3 is back in the top series of NASCAR. It’s been on the Camping World Series trucks and the next level Nationwide Series. It won a Nationwide Championship last year in 2013. Now, that driver that won with it has brought it into the Sprint Cup. His grandfather is the owner. The kid grew up surrounded by it.

Austin Dillon and Richard Childress Racing. RCR owns the number and had kept it off the tracks for several years after Dale Earnhardt drove it to 7 championships and, finally, to his death at the Daytona 500 in 2001. (more…)

Injuries. It is probably not the best topic on the eve of the start of NASCAR and the Daytona 500. Reality, however, may take the reigns.

As tough as it may be for some, perhaps even many, in the grandstands, the famed #3 is returning to “Cup” racing. The number may technically belong to Richard Childress but to all those who keep a fading and slanted “3” on their automobile windows it will always belong to Dale Earnhardt. The seven time Champion was killed while in the sport and in the car. It was a fatal injury that changed the way NASCAR races from that day forward.

It is not a matter of whether Austin Dillon, grandson of Richard Childress, can or even should drive the number. It is a matter of injury. The drivers, whatever the number, take a risk for their ride and for the show that the fans pay the money for. (more…)

Where did 2013 go? I was brought abruptly up to date while deleting 97% of my inbox. Hidden among the Viagra dating, money from nothing and rock solid offers from a variety of cellular providers was a shocking revelation from the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship. The ROLEX 24 is this weekend!

Now, just in case you’ve spent the last few months chasing something trivial, (such as… shall we say… football) you may not know that there have been changes in sports car racing. The GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón have combined under the International Sports Car Association (IMSA) banner. 2014 is the opening season for the new TUDOR United Sports Car Championship.

The ROLEX 24, however, is still the grand open race showcasing drivers from several disciplines coming together to chase laps for a full 24 hours. The “24” drops the green flag for the racing season in America. Daytona hosts two months of wheel to wheel fun from the “Roar before the 24” in early January to the Daytona 500 in late February. The new TUDOR series and NASCAR both open in Daytona.

I may have deleted an email about hotel investments in north-eastern Florida…

Beyond my own distractions over the dawn of a new year, shocked aside briefly by a full html message highlighting the upcoming weekend, I’m rapidly absorbing the reality of racing into 2014. I can’t make Daytona as much as I would like to. My cash flow and time allowances simply won’t open wide enough. It may open just enough to keep the pizza and liquid refreshment readily available as I watch the ROLEX 24 from the small corner of the couch the greyhound hasn’t taken over.

While the hottest sports cars from around the world are driven to their limits by some of the hottest drivers in the world I’ll be racing my own clock to close out some of these distractions. Computer on, TV on, racing on!

The ROLEX 24 is more than the sports car opener. The doors are open to other series to share the seats and the laps. NASCAR names include Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson and A.J. Allmendinger. IndyCar is sharing names like Tony Kanaan, Scott Dixon, James Hinchcliffe and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Throw in some drivers that make a firesuit look really hot such as Katherine Legge and Christina Nielsen and add movie star Patrick Dempsey and the show grows a bit more. Eye candy, perhaps, but that takes a back seat to their skill in the driver’s seat.

The ROLEX 24 is more than a car race. The personalities that come together, the high speed exotic technology and elite automotive badges, the mechanical and physical challenge of 24 hours, the color, the lights, the sounds… This event raises the curtain on the motorsports stage with style. Once the checkered flag waves on the winners the other series start charging on to their own green flags. The NASCAR season, of course, keeps the Daytona pavement warm with the Sprint Unlimited and Budweiser Duels leading up to the Daytona 500.

I may be on the couch for the ROLEX 24 and the Daytona 500 but that won’t always be as the race schedules for these series bring them practically to my front door. The folks at NASCAR are kind enough to put races in Martinsville and Richmond. These are great facilities full of history and speed and just down the road. Yes, Virginia, there is also Bristol. Fun racing and a NASCAR mainstay but I’ve been informed by my wife that my attendance is required elsewhere.

For the new TUDOR Sports Car Championship, I’ll be able to catch up with the series on their visit to Virginia International Raceway.

For now, I’m ready for the ROLEX 24. Following that, it will be another race to catch up with what’s new in NASCAR this year. I have a feeling I may require a bit more liquid refreshment…

SEE: ROLEX 24 Spotter’s Guide and Schedule

The year is 2013. On September 13th (Friday the 13th, btw) NASCAR made an unprecedented decision to put Gordon into the Chase as a 13th entry following a week of juggling and penalties concerning Michael Waltrip Racing drivers at Richmond.

Gordon logged his first win of the season in Martinsville at the GOODY’S Headache Relief Shot 500 which has injected new hope into the #24 with three races remaining. He has driven from the 13th points slot to 3rd. However, these next three races may stretch the luck of his drive. He is 27 points off the lead. The mathematics of racing keeps him within the margin but Lady Luck needs to keep smiling on the #24 and turn sour on Hendrick team mate Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth of Joe Gibbs Racing. The #48 and the #20 are tied for the first position following Martinsville. (more…)

Martinsville has always held a bit of a temper. Most of the time, it stays in check as “just racin'” but sometimes…

Such was the case for the Kroger 200 (Camping World Series Trucks). Late in the race the Bass Pro Shops #3 of Ty Dillon got into the Anderson’s Maple Syrup – Kroger #14 of Kevin Harvick.

Spin, wall, crash…

After they were able to move, Harvick began tapping and bumping the #3, moved around Dillon but only to jump and brake towards pit road. (more…)

Two weeks. What could happen…?

Apparently, a mishmashed medley of automotive mayhem.

It was only two weeks but in the scope there was a lot of racing, and a lot of driving, for us and for the top series around the world.

For us, it was a trek around a foreign country in a TDI (diesel) VW Golf. Foreign, but still within the language of the King’s English. The land of elves, faeries and leprechauns. Ireland. Left side driving, left side shifting and an added appreciation for driving skill were experiences taken away among the castles and landscapes. The roads are narrow, the cars are agile (most, anyway…) and the driving is on a different level than in the States. Imagine a VW Golf, a Ford Focus, a Chevy Cruze… a 3 series Bimmer… Now add 6 inches to each side. That is your lane at 60 mph. A vertical hedge with no shoulder is on the left. A truck on a blind curve is on your right coming at you. That is driving in Ireland, the UK and much of Europe. It may give a clue as to the European racing style.

And, to begin in Europe, pull up a pint as we catch up… (more…)