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Tag: Dale Earnhardt

  • Admiring Junior’s Decision While Pondering the State of the Sport

    Admiring Junior’s Decision While Pondering the State of the Sport

    [media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”227″][/media-credit]One has to admire Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Even though medical test couldn’t show that he had a concussion, he knew something was wrong and the symptoms indicated that he shouldn’t drive a stock car. How many drivers would have come to the same conclusion? If the comments of Jeff Gordon are any indication, not very many would have. The old adage about a good athlete playing through pain does not equate to traveling at high speeds in a Sprint Cup car. I am reminded of a recent conversation with former All-American quarterback Pat White, who suffered a concussion while playing for the Miami Dolphins. When asked if he might suit up again, he commented, “Life’s too precious.” And it is.

    The fear is now that Earnhardt will come back too early, and the pressure is on for him to return in two weeks. That shouldn’t even be a concern to Earnhardt. Despite reports that people were leaving the campgrounds upon learning of Earnhardt’s absence from Charlotte Motor Speedway (by the way, I saw no such exodus from the Hellmann’s campground on Thursday. The place was empty anyway), Junior’s health is more important and he is to be commended for visiting Dr. Petty and getting treatment.

    The issue of attendance is in play because lately NASCAR’s top series has been playing to less than good crowds. This weekend, the “official” attendance figures were a joke. The Nationwide Series race on Friday night was poorly attended and the 100,000 estimate for Saturday night’s Sprint Cup race was laughable. The campground that I have parked in for several years was nearly empty before the Earnhardt announcement. Once upon a time, you had to squeeze into your camping space, but no more. There was a hundred yards between our camper and the next attendant. It was the same all over the speedway property campgrounds. Traffic was so sparse that for the first time, a quick trip to the grocery could be taken a couple of hours before the race without problems. The reasons are many and have little to do with the absence of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. So what is it?

    The NASCAR line is it’s the economy, as we’ve mentioned before in these pages, but it’s a lot more than that. Take this weekend as an example. With temperatures in the low fifties by the time the Friday night race started, many people just decided to skip the event, which was a shame. It was action packed from start to finish. Saturday night was somewhat different. With tickets costing upwards of $100, more people attended. It’s obvious to everyone but those in charge that a night race in October is not the best idea. I doubt that will change anything, but it is a reason.

    Secondly, unlike the Nationwide race on Friday, the Cup race was less than exciting. With Chase points so precious, as well as fuel mileage rearing its ugly head, drivers were cautious and not very racy. The race started with a wonderful side-by-side battle between Greg Biffle and Mark Martin and morphed into several runaway leads. The only excitement was who would run out of fuel and who wouldn’t coupled with a final push by Denny Hamlin that fell way short. The Chase has become so important that taking chances and actually winning races is secondary to how many points might be gained on any given night. Headlines from scribes much more talented than me were dominated on how many points Brad Keselowski lost to Jimmie Johnson and how far behind Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth were in the “big picture.” No matter that Kenseth had just won Talladega. He and Biffle are non-factors. Clint Bowyer’s win was only significant because he narrowed the gap in the almighty Chase. Madness.

    Attendance at races, contrary to popular belief, has more to do with a championship or a single driver. Each event should stand on its own with every driver not seeking points, but victories. That’s the way it used to be. The winner each week was the champion and got the spoils of victory for the week. Maybe it’s the fact that so many don’t have a realistic chance at victory these days. It wasn’t whether you drove for a certain team or manufacturer. It was desire and ingenuity. And the race was the ultimate in any given week. Those days are gone with playoffs and wild cards, more suited to stick and ball sports than racing ruling the roost. I hope Junior uses his head and makes sure he is ready to race again and does not succumb to pressure. As Pat White would say, “life’s too precious,” and points are only points.

  • Surprising and Not Surprising: Federated Auto Parts 400

    Surprising and Not Surprising: Federated Auto Parts 400

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”221″][/media-credit]In a race full of twists and turns, including rain delays and wild card drama, here is what else was surprising and not surprising from the 55th annual running of the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond.

    Surprising:  It was surprising what a dramatically different reaction this driver had to a second place run this weekend as compared to the last.

    Jeff Gordon, piloting the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet, went from kicking himself for his second place finish behind Denny Hamlin at Atlanta to being thrilled with his Richmond runner up run, especially since it clinched his wild card spot in the championship Chase.

    Gordon, Alan Gustafson (crew chief), Eddie D’Hondt (spotter) and the entire 24 team demonstrated the ‘never give up’ mantra, taking a car that was admittedly ‘junk’ at the beginning of the race, cutting the chain on the rear sway bar on a pit stop, and getting the car back up through the field after the rain delays to finish in the second spot and secure the final wild card berth in the Chase.

    “We went from last week to being the most disappointed I’ve ever been to finish second to the most excited I’ve ever been to finish second,” Gordon said. “Wow, what a race for us.”

    “I still can’t believe we actually did it.”

    Not Surprising:  As elated as Jeff Gordon was, the driver who fell out of the Chase was equally deflated, if not more so. Errors on pit road, including a lug nut problem that created a lengthy pit stop, cost Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota, the chance to compete for the Cup this year.

    Busch, who finished the race in the 16th position, fell back to the 13th spot in the point standings, losing his wild card berth to Gordon.

    “We missed it,” Busch said simply, after gathering his composure enough to make a brief statement. “That’s it, plain and simple.”

    “There’s no right way to handle this situation.”

    Surprising:  While many were surprised that all four of the Hendrick Motorsports cars scored spots in the Chase, the bigger surprise was that Michael Waltrip Racing achieved a similar feat, getting both of their race cars into Cup contention.

    In fact, one of their drivers, Clint Bowyer, in the No. 15 5-Hour EnergyToyota, powered through an incident with Juan Pablo Montoya and almost running out of gas, to make his way right toVictory Lane.

    “”To win this last race before this Chase is unbelievable,” Bowyer said. “We had a lot of adversity we had to bounce through.”

    “This is a good way to get things bounced back headed into this Chase,” Bowyer continued. “You never give up in this sport.”

    Bowyer’s Michael Waltrip Racing teammate, Martin Truex Jr., also never gave up and achieved his goal of a Chase spot.

    “Man, I feel good,” the driver of the No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts MWR Toyota said. “The way our cars are running and as fast as we’ve been the last six or seven weeks, we’re dangerous.”

    “Looking forward to going out and having some fun and hopefully we’ll be in the hunt.”

    Not Surprising:  Although thrilled that the team that bears his name raced two cars into the championship hunt, co-owner Michael Waltrip had another driver and good friend on his mind as he reflected on just how far his team had come over the years.

    “I’m so proud of what we’ve put together,” Waltrip said. “I’m obviously really happy with having two cars in the Chase.”

    “But my inspiration for having a team from the beginning was Dale Earnhardt,” Waltrip continued. “I always wanted to have a team like Dale had.”

    “So anytime something goes good, I always think about what all he meant to me.”

    Surprising:  Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota had a surprising new attitude about not only his race, in which he led 202 laps but finished 18th, but also his bid for the championship.

    “For the most part, I think I’ll just be a lot more relaxed this time around,” Hamlin said. “What do we have to lose?”

    “We’ve never won a championship,” Hamlin continued. “We’re going out there to try to win our first.”

    “I’m going to race week-to-week and just not think about a championship until I get to Homestead.”

    Not Surprising:   While Richmond was good to Stewart Haas Racing, it was not quite good enough to get one of their teams into the Chase.

    Tony Stewart, piloting the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, finished 4th at Richmond and became the 3rd seed in the Chase standings.

    “Really proud of Steve Addington (crew chief) and all of our guys at Stewart-Haas Racing,” Smoke said. “Just proud of the effort tonight.”

    Teammate Ryan Newman, however, did not fare so well. Although he brought his No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet home in the 8th position, he missed out on a spot in the Chase.

    “It’s disappointing,” Newman said. “I don’t really know what to say other than that.”

    “We gave it all we had and we didn’t get the win we needed to make the Chase.”

    Surprising:  One driver who has been admittedly struggling all year had a surprisingly good Richmond run. Jeff Burton, driving the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, finished top-10, in the sixth position to be exact.

    “I’ve been saying week after week how strong this team is getting and we proved that tonight with a hard-fought top-10 finish,”Burton said. “I am happy and proud of everyone.”

    Not Surprising:  Although Kasey Kahne focused mightily on his No. 5 race car all night and into the morning, he was, not surprisingly, focused on another number, four, after the race.

    “Four Hendrick cars in the Chase,” Kahne said. “Four Chevrolets too.”

    Kahne finished 12th at Richmond, but more importantly secured the 11th seed in the Chase, making him one of those four Hendrick Motorsports drivers in the hunt for the championship.

    Surprising:  Ford had a surprisingly divided run to the Chase, with two Fords in and two Fords out. Matt Kenseth, in the No. 17 Best Buy Ford, finished fifth and will be seeded 8th in the Chase. Greg Biffle, in the No. 16 3M Ford, finished 9th and is seeded fifth in the Chase.

    The two Fords out, however, were Carl Edwards in the No. 99 Kellogg’s Ford and Marcos Ambrose in the No. 8 MAC Tools Ford. Edwards finished the Richmond race in the 17th position and Ambrose finished top-15.

    “I’m obviously disappointed,” Edwards said. “We just let too many points get away for a bunch of different reasons.”

    “We will just go try to build the best team we can for next year and try to make sure a Ford wins this championship.”

    “I just tried my hardest,” Ambrose said. “It wasn’t our night.”

    “Obviously we wanted the win, but it wasn’t meant to be.” 

    Not Surprising:  One driver was not only happy to be in the conversation, but has just been plain having fun as well. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished 14th in the No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet and picked up the 7th place in the Chase.

    “We ran good,” Junior said. “I’m proud of the effort the whole company put forward this year.”

    “I’ve had an awesome time,” Junior continued. “It’s been so much fun.”

    “We are in the conversation and we’re going to work hard to still be in that conversation at Homestead.”

  • Matty’s Picks 2012 – Vol. 20 – Straight From The Glen Watkins Glen International – Pennsylvania 400 – August 12, 2012

    Matty’s Picks 2012 – Vol. 20 – Straight From The Glen Watkins Glen International – Pennsylvania 400 – August 12, 2012

    This week we travel back to the place that was the start of my NASCAR days. It’s a track near and dear to my heart, and will no matter where life takes me, it will always have a special place in my heart as my ‘Hometown Track’. Watkins Glen International may not be the most famous stock car track in the world, but it produces some of the best beating and banging NASCAR has to offer.

    If you remember back to 2011’s ‘Monday in the mist’ at Watkins Glen International, the drivers of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series put on one of the most exciting spectacles of the 2011 season. A late-race crash involving David Reutimann forced a revaluation of the safety measures around the 2.45-mile road course. Watkins Glen International has taken tremendous strides in improving driver safety, and the fan experience alike. The towering grandstands erected on the outside of Turn 1 here at Watkins Glen International caught my eye on my way in, and I am excited to check out the new setups around the track. The two road courses on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule often tend to be overlooked by most fans in terms of vacation destinations, but I encourage all race fans to visit a road course and see what these facilities have to offer.

    My first memories of WGI involve standing on a trash can on the inside of Turn 11 while my father tried to time a photo just right in order to capture a snapshot of The Intimidator and one of his biggest fans in the same frame. SpeedwayMedia.com Editor, Ed Coombs taught me the art of obtaining autographs outside the motor-coach lots as a young teenager. Ron Hornaday invited me inside the fences into his motor-coach for a quick autograph and meet and greet, and I learned very quickly during my first trip inside the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Garage that when a NASCAR Official blow their whistle, PAY ATTENTION! I’ve come leaps and bounds as a photo journalist, but still manage to get scolded every now and again in the Media Center for “not paying attention to what you’re doing”.Watkins Glen is truly a weekend I have circled on my calendar each year, and will always bring me back to my first memories as a young NASCAR fan.

    Adding to the excitement of my weekend here at Watkins Glen International is the camaraderie of attending a NASCAR race with thirty to forty of your closest racing friends and family. My family and I will be making our 18th consecutive trip to Watkins Glen International this year, and with a crew larger than ever before. I’m excited to announce my younger brothers, (yes both of them), will be receiving their Eagle Scout Award, the highest honor in Scouting, on Sunday in Gatorade Victory Lane here at Watkins Glen International. As a fellow Eagle Scout, and the second of four in my family, I am truly proud for both Christopher and Nicholas LaFlair in receiving such a great honor in such a great atmosphere. More to follow on this great honor, but I’d like to thank Track-President, Michael Printup, and Elizabeth Mayer, Public Relations Manager, for allowing such a special ceremony to take place amidst the jam-packed competition schedule this weekend here at WGI. You’ve really made a dream come true for my family, Troop 709, and the entire Scouting community.

    Pocono Recap

    First, I’d like to send along my thoughts and prayers to those affected by the tragic lightning strikes last week at Pocono Raceway. I am extremely saddened by this story and pass my condolences on to the families involved, and hope for a speedy recovery to those injured by the fierce storms that wreaked havoc on race fans exiting Pocono Raceway following the Pennsylvania 400.

    I’ll make the recap section short this week as yet again, there’s not much to talk about other than the poor luck I’ve had this season…

    My Winner Pick was Denny Hamlin last week, one of the most decorated drivers to come out of Pocono Raceway with four wins, eight top-fives, and nine top-tens, in just thirteen prior starts at the Tricky Triangle. Completing my picks before last Saturday’s qualifying session, I was excited that my Winner Pick would start the Pennsylvania 400 on the outside of the front row. My glory was short lived after the No. 11 FedEx Toyota quickly slipped through the field after gaining the top spot on just the second lap. Hamlin struggled with the handling of his car for the remainder of the day, and finally met his fate on the lap-91 wreck that brought an early end to the No. 11 team’s day. Hamlin collected points for finishing in the 29th position.

    My Dark Horse pick last week is a seasoned veteran to Pocono Raceway, but in now 52 starts at the Tricky Triangle, he is still winless. Mark Martin used a pit strategy different than the rest of the field to help him finish just outside the top ten in the twelfth position. He appeared in the top five for some of the 91 lap sprint, but the majority of Mark Martin’s day last week was spent in the middle of the pack. Another week of picks, and another week with nothing to show for my efforts.

    Watkins Glen Picks

    Well, it’s been raining here at Watkins Glen International pretty much all day so I have minimal practice speeds or insider info to pass along here from The Glen. With that, I will try and make some picks based off of historical statistics, the possibility of qualifying being rained out, a few speeds , and gut feeling.

    Winner Pick

    There are two guys that are ‘road course specialists’ and everyone will be looking at come Sunday afternoon, but it will not be either Juan Pablo Montoya not Marcos Ambrose that will visit Victory Lane following Sunday’s Finger Lakes 355 at The Glen. My winner pick this week finished in the runner-up spot in last year here at Watkins Glen International, and finished twelfth in this seasons’ other Road Course race at Sonoma. Brad Kesolowski has really come into his own this season as a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, and winning a Road Course would only add to his impressive racing resume. His car is shown third on the speed charts so far in this abbreviated practice session today, and he rides a streak of five consecutive top tens into the Finger Lakes dating back to his third win of the season at Kentucky. I love to watch this guy drive, and he’s certain to put on a show Sunday Afternoon.

    Dark Horse Pick

    My Dark Horse this week finds himself fifth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings, and is also coming into Central New York off a season-best finish last week in Pocono. Though he may not be the driver with a hometown closest to Watkins Glen International, Martin Truex Jr. still considers WGI one of his hometown tracks. “I’m just excited to be here. I really enjoy the road course racing, especially here at Watkins Glen.” Said Truex, earlier today here at The Glen. “This is a place that is pretty special to me coming up here as a kid watching my dad race and then running some Busch North races up here. It’s one of the tracks that is kind of special to me, like New Hampshire and Dover. So, I’m looking forward to the race this weekend.” He finished fourth here last year, and is another guy who has really shown he should be mentioned in talks with the series front-runners.

    That’s all for now from Watkins Glen, but be sure to stay tuned all weekend for more updates and live action from my weekend here in the Finger Lakes. For up to the minute action, be sure to follow me on Twitter @ML_B_Lo.

  • One on One with Jeffrey Earnhardt

    One on One with Jeffrey Earnhardt

    At first glance, he doesn’t stand out in a crowd. You might wonder who this young man is as he signs autographs and talks with his fans. His smile is reminiscent of someone familiar.

    He straps into his race car and the easy going demeanor is replaced by one of determination and Jeffrey Earnhardtfocus. The unflinching resolve in his eyes is immediately recognizable when you realize that this is Dale Earnhardt’s grandson.

    Jeffrey Earnhardt began racing when he was 14 years old. He got a later start than most young boys who aspire to a career in racing. His father, Kerry, wanted his son to be certain that he was making the right choice. Kerry knew better than most that his son’s journey would not be easy.

    “When I was about 12 years old, I really wanted to race,” Jeffrey told me. “It took me two years to beg my Dad into letting me do it. He wanted me to be prepared and know what would be involved.  So he made me buy my own race car, get it ready and find sponsors. Once I did that and proved it was something I was willing to put a lot of effort into, he let me do it.”

    Once the decision was made, his parents have been behind him all the way.

    His first race was in the Hornet Division on a half mile dirt track at Wythe Raceway in Virginia. He went on to score three feature wins and finished in the top five in points. Jeffrey also won the Rookie of the Year award.

    In 2006 he was part of the General Motors driver development search program. Select drivers were invited to test both a late model car and a Nationwide Series car at two different tracks. Jeffrey proved to be one of the best and moved on to the final cut.

    The following year he progressed to the NASCAR Camping World East Series (now NASCAR K&N Pro Series East). He finished the season in fifth place in the points standings and won the Most Popular Driver award. In 2008, Jeffrey ran 11 races in the series with four top-five and six top-10 finishes.

    Over the next three years, he ran a variety of races getting as much seat time as possible competing in the Nationwide Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

    In 2010 Jeffrey began his partnership with Rick Ware Racing and was scheduled to run a full season in the Camping World Truck Series in 2011. However, because of sponsorship issues, he was only able to run five races.

    In 2012, Jeffrey’s emphasis has been on the Nationwide Series program.  He has competed at Bristol, Talladega and Daytona. He’s looking forward to his next scheduled race which will be in Indianapolis for the Indy 250 on July 28th.

    “I’m excited to be going to Indianapolis the first year that the Nationwide Series is running on the big track,” Jeffrey said. “It should be a lot of fun.”

    The team also plans to run at Charlotte later this year and end the season at Homestead. The goal for next year is to run full time in the Nationwide Series.

    Jeffrey feels that he is gaining momentum and says that he is “very hopeful for next year and I think we’ll be able to pull something together and contend for Rookie of the Year next season.”

    While growing up as an Earnhardt has probably opened some doors for Jeffrey, he has worked diligently to take advantage of those opportunities. Nothing has been given to him and he has fought hard every step of the way. But, he’s not complaining.

    “When you go out and work hard for something you appreciate it a lot more. You’re a better person and a better driver in the long run.”

    What has all the hard work taught him?

    “I think I’ve become more patient and I’m better at putting myself in the right position to win races,” he said.

    Before we ended the interview, I talked to Jeffrey about his famous grandfather and he shared a couple of his favorite memories.

    One of his most cherished moments was watching Dale Earnhardt win the Daytona 500 in 1998. Jeffrey describes him as a complex man who could be intimidating both on and off the track. But he could also just as easily be your best friend and had a soft side that a lot of people didn’t see.

    I couldn’t help but smile as he told me that Earnhardt would not let Jeffrey call him “PaPa Dale” because that made him feel too old.

    “He said I had to call him Mr. Earnhardt or he wouldn’t answer me,” Jeffrey told me.

    The Earnhardt name is a legacy that Jeffrey is proud of but he is also determined to prove that he can make it on his own terms.

    “I respect everything that my last name means and everything my grandfather has done but at the same time, I want to be my own man. I want to do things my way and make my own path. “

  • The Coke 600: Why Did So Many Stay Away?

    The Coke 600: Why Did So Many Stay Away?

    [media-credit name=”Credit: Tyler Barrick/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]The weather was perfect, if not hot, and the pre-race show was amazing. No one does the patriotic opening act like Charlotte Motor Speedway, so why was the attendance so bad? That’s a good question that comes in the form of multiple choice. Take any of these and you may win, but picking just one will not answer the question.

    The Economy – This has long been the excuse for people not attending the races this season, but gasoline was down to $3.29-3.49 all along the way, with the highest prices being in West Virginia. With the economy improving somewhat, it might be ticket prices which have tripped in 20 years.

    The Saturation of Information – No longer do fans have to come to the track to see what is going on. Even though many newspapers don’t send writers to many of the races anymore, we have the internet, Twitter, Facebook, a bevy of television shows, and Sirius XM Radio that keeps everyone up to date. Long gone are the days waiting for SouthernMotorRacing or Grand National Scene to come in the mail. Most fans simply get more information than they can handle. With most of the tracks being built during the boom era of the sport, a lot of seating was the norm. Today, there are just too many seats. Although the official press release said that 140,000, the printed capacity of the track, large blocks of empty seats could be seen in the third and fourth turns, as well as the backstretch. There were lots of fans there, but nowhere near 140,000.

    The Racing – Here’s where it gets sticky. Many close to the sport continue to insist that the racing is “better than it ever has been before.” They reference the 1960’s and 1970’s races where only ten cars were on the lead laps and so on, but the truth is, most races have not had the excitement factor we saw a few years ago. Why? Some of it has to do with the pressure drivers feel to make The Chase. It’s hard to be aggressive and rub fenders when one mistake puts you out of the race and not in The Chase. Sunday night, we saw a long train of competitors driving around in line. Most of the small number of cautions were mostly for debris. Many fans left early or spent time in the concourses during the race just to get a break.

    The Lack of a Driver like the Late Dale Earnhardt – Earnhardt was unique, but not so far off from the other drivers of his era who were hell-bent on winning a race. In today’s environment, if you make The Chase, you still have a chance to win the title. Witness Tony Stewart last year. Yes, he won half the Chase races, but he overcame a bunch of very consistent teams who sat back and watched the magic Smoke brought to the final ten races. In other words, keep you nose clean for 26 races, make The Chase, and do your work there.

    Of course, I didn’t mention Dale Earnhardt, Jr., which is in error. Junior is by far the most popular driver in NASCAR and yet he has a large losing streak that can be counted instead of races. More than a few of his father’s fans picked the son as their favorite driver. Let it be said that Junior is nothing like Senior on the track. Many believe that a win by the No. 88 would cure the sport, but I feel that any revival will come from one or more remedies from above.

    There are many who think there is nothing wrong these days, but dwindling ticket sales and TV ratings say otherwise. The early ratings tell us that the Indianapolis 500 drew more viewers than the Coke 600. I find that hard to believe. Has America lost their love of stock car racing?

    So take your pick and let’s see what the results are.

  • Time to Pass the Torch

    Time to Pass the Torch

    It started with a question. Are there any numbers that should be retired in NASCAR? Sport teams regularly retire numbers. The New York Yankees have retired several numbers including Mantle and others. Major League Baseball has its share of retired numbers. Those I remember include guys like Tony Perez and many others I don’t seem to remember. It’s just the way it is.

    On this day, the subject was the No. 3. Why does it always come to that? No subject can ever come to blows faster than the famous No. 3 that Dale Earnhardt drove. Never mind that Richard Petty won many more races (“he was a different era where they drove more races”) or that David Pearson had a better winning percentage. It’s a hot topic and always will be. Attending many races a year, long after Earnhardt’s death, many fans still come with attire with the famous Richard Childress Racing No. 3 logo. In the campgrounds around racetracks, the No. 3 flag is flown proudly and many still talk in almost religious tones about the black car and the man who drove it. Thus became the conversation.

    There are two camps. One camp is of the opinion that the No. 3 should be retired. It was Dale’s number and with his seven championships and all the excitement that he brought to racing. He was the common man. The anti-Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson who worked his way up the hard way and became a star. The other camp is of the opinion that Richard Childress, who fielded cars for Earnhardt should be allowed to us the number as he pleases, like letting his grandchildren use the number as will inevitably happen. Let’s look at the facts.

    The number three has long been a fixture. Back in 1972, I attended a race at Martinsville Speedway where Junior Johnson was introducing Chevrolet to the fans. For years, the circuit had been dominated by Ford and Chrysler cars, notably Plymouth and Dodge. The introduction of a Chevrolet into the NASCAR circuit was big news. Johnson’s No. 3 Chevy didn’t win that day, but all eyes were on that white car with the red 3 on the side. This was long before Earnhardt came on the scene. Later on, Childress used the number in his own cars. Never mind that Earnhardt used numbers 2 and 15 before. It was the 3 that everyone remembers. His death on that fateful day at Daytona may have something to do with it, but I have to wonder a bit.

    If any number should be retired, it might be the 43. Of course, it’s still being used because Richard Petty is still around and has a team. Maybe someday, and I don’t hope for this soon, that might be appropriate. NASCAR has never retired a number. You could make an argument for retiring the 21 because of the Wood Brothers. Another argument is that the 28 should be retired because Fearless Freddy drove the Holman-Moody car. Even the 71 should be retired because champion Bobby Isaac drove that orange Dodge. Truth is, numbers come and go. Yes, the 3 was an emotional number for many. For others the numbers mentioned above were special, but in the end they are just numbers just like Mantle’s, Perez’s and maybe even Michael Jordan’s famous number. Many drivers wore the No.3 as a badge. It’s time to give up on the numbers and appreciate racing today. No one will ever forget Dale Earnhardt and that number 3 car. No one will remember Charlie Glotzbach driving that same number or Cale Yarborough driving the No 21 (or many others including Neil Bonnett). Folks, it’s time to let go. NASCAR owns the numbers. One of Childress’ grandchildren will be driving that No. 3 soon. Be prepared. We will never forget Dale Earnhardt, but it’s time to pass the torch to the new generation

  • Appeal Denied As Expected

    Appeal Denied As Expected

    [media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”222″][/media-credit]It must have been a full moon. I didn’t go because it’s a long way from West Virginia to the R&D Center and mostly because I knew what the verdict was before they announced it. Rarely does the NASCAR Appeal Board, or whatever they call it these days, overturn anything, especially when the defendants are caught red-handed. The circus continued regardless.

    Reports I heard said reporters arrived at the designated place as early as 7:00 AM. When it got past noon, people bought food for the reporters, with Landon Cassill bringing Burger King (his sponsor) bringing treats to the faithful. Later on Lugnut, the Charlotte Motor Speedway mascot showed up to entertain. Never in the history of a hearing was so much done for so many. In the end, the penalty to Chad Knaus and the No. 48 team stayed the same, just as I expected. Rick Hendrick declared his disbelief at the verdict and vowed to take it to the next level. In the meantime, if the hearing with the head man is taken next week, it means Knaus would miss Fontana through Talladega, but the big issue is whether or not it would make a difference in the team.

    Knaus would be able to set up the car, discuss changes to the car through cellular phone conversations, and everyone knows the team is so talented, it really won’t make a difference—not much anyway. The big issue is the points penalty. There is not a chance in hades that that will go away, so you have to wonder what in the world Rick Hendrick is thinking. The best that can happen, if history is any indication (and many think that the fact that the head officer is a former GM employee think this is probably what will happen), is a reduction of the suspensions of Knaus and the car chief. Why drag this out? Only Rick, the top owner in the series, knows. The penalty could be reduced, but it’s not likely, and it probably doesn’t matter anyway. The No. 48 team will make up the deficit, land in the top 10 and do its usual thing in the Chase. And yet, it was made into a circus maybe because it was Rick Hendrick and the five-time champ. Or maybe it was because it was an event and NASCAR has never avoided an event. We will know soon what the verdict is, but why all the drama?

    Finally, Chevrolet kind of announced today that they won’t show their stock car for 2013 until later. Ford and Dodge, even though Dodge doesn’t know who will be campaigning the car, have already shown their car. Toyota and Chevrolet have not. Chevrolet said it will be a new nameplate—many think it will be the new Chevelle, built in Australia by Holden. I have to wonder how red-blooded American fans will react to their favorite, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and other Chevy drivers driving a foreign car. It probably won’t make any difference. Fusions are made in Mexico and many Chargers are made in Canada. If they indeed run the Chevelle, people will accept the foreign car just like they did the Camry.

    So, we’re not even at midweek and everyone’s all excited. In a couple of days, we head to Bristol, once the highlight of March. The change in the track configuration has lessened that some, but still a great to watch a race. Chad will be on the pit box for now and Trevor Bayne will not be there at his home track, but I have to hope that the circus over one team will not take away from the others and we see a great race. It’s going to be a tough act to follow, you know. I mean, Lugnut and a horde of reporters are hard to beat. But, for now, we have a race to win and the lawyers and protests are in the background. Until next week.

  • Year in Review: 10-Years Ago Tragedy Strikes And We Lose Dale Earnhardt Sr.

    Year in Review: 10-Years Ago Tragedy Strikes And We Lose Dale Earnhardt Sr.

    Throughout the years, the world of sports and entertainment has seen its share of fallen heroes, those who in one way or another touched the lives of those around them. Whether in person or watching on our television sets, these legends were the backbone of the culture in which we grew up. Many times, we watched them while thinking what it would be like to walk in their shoes.

    [media-credit name=”By Darryl Moran” align=”alignright” width=”274″][/media-credit]At times, we tried to fulfill our own dreams by mimicking what it was that made them famous. Life has always been about the journey, with the focus being on reaching the final destination knowing that we gave it our best. From time to time, each of one us have experienced life’s many crises from the different changing events and transitions, all unpredictable moments arriving and intruding into our “well groomed” lives.

    We didn’t ask for this interference, and sometimes we find ourselves wondering why it has arrived, bringing with it havoc and confusion. Along with the havoc and confusion, there is one hell of an adventure that is waiting to explode right before our very eyes. The journey that Dale Earnhardt Sr. embarked on is one that, even today, is still one the most talked about subjects whenever the word NASCAR is mentioned.

    Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr. was born April 29, 1951. A NASCAR legend to some, but yet to his family, he was a son, father, brother, and also a husband. Earnhardt was the epitome of what NASCAR racing is all about, and whether you loved him or hated him, the legacy he left behind continues to be the topic of discussion when the season begins at Daytona. With a twinkle in his eye, and a devilish grin on his face, Earnhardt pushed and shoved his way into NASCAR super-stardom.

    Call it what you want—passion, infatuation, enthusiasm, or just a plain and simple love for the sport. Our modern dictionary is full of words that can be used to describe the enormous impact—good or bad—that this one driver alone has had in the NASCAR series. His highly aggressive driving style made him a fan favorite, which was how he earned his nicknames, “Old Iron Head,” “The Man in Black,” and of course the most famous of all, “The Intimidator.”

    Excellence and dedication on and off the track were two of his biggest strengths, along with the zeal to be the best driver. He was tenacious when it came to accomplishing the goals that he set before himself, and very seldom did he ever fall short of achieving what most other drivers could only dream of. NASCAR to him was a way of life, as well as a world that he would dominate in his own special way.

    Never has a driver come from such a simple lifestyle to steal hearts—as well as crush a few—on his way to becoming one the sport’s most recognizable figures. His popularity wasn’t constrained to just motorsports alone, and his reputation took him beyond the NASCAR walls and into the limelight of everyday sports. Earnhardt was born a legend, and to this day his name is mentioned amongst some of the greatest sports stars from around the world.

    Throughout his storybook career, he took every advantage, as well as the gifts that were given to him, in order to give back to the sport and the fans who gave him so much. Earnhardt’s love for the sport allowed him to become one of NASCAR’s most popular ambassadors, even to the point that fans from across the country are always trying to compare him to the next up and coming star.

    Earnhardt not only believed in himself, but he also believed in his own abilities by taking many chances other drivers would frown upon. The Intimidator’s greatness was portrayed in those who chose him as their own hero, even though there were fans who couldn’t find it in their hearts to overlook his aggressive driving style. Either way, “The Intimidator” continued to take NASCAR by storm, while catapulting the sport into the homes of motorsports fanatics around the country, because of his uncompromising driving abilities, which were admired by those who witnessed them.

    The word “quit” was never found in his vocabulary, nor could anyone quench the fire that burned deep within his heart to always be the best. Many drivers who come through the series leave some sort of footprint for the next generation driver to follow. These special sets of prints have yet to be followed though because of the legacy hidden deep within the soles, which Earnhardt’s accomplishments made him one of NASCAR’s most decorated drivers. All you had to do is put an ear to them, and almost magically you could listen to history being spoken in a small, still voice.

    On a warm, sunlit day back on Feb. 18, 2001, Dale Earnhardt Sr. would buckle himself into his famous black, grey, and red No. 3 Goodwrench sponsored Chevrolet, just as he had done many times during his 22-year legendary career. Earnhardt had the look of a proud father, knowing that his son Dale Jr. would also be in the starting field. The elder Earnhardt’s life had really taken a turn for the better; The Intimidator was ready to make history, but not the kind that he and Teresa ever thought imaginable.

    This would be the last of their customary kiss before each race, because her life too would be changed forever before the end of the day. The green flag waved to start the 43rd running of the Great American race, along with being the biggest audience to ever see a NASCAR race, the fans would also witness one of the biggest blows to a modern day sports hero.

    Who could ever forget the words of Mike Helton: “This has to be one of the toughest announcements that I have personally had to make. After the accident in turn four of the Daytona 500, we have lost Dale Earnhardt.” He was gone in the twinkling of an eye doing what he loved best, driving a race car. We all waited for him to walk away and wave to the crowd that he was alright, but instead to the shock of all who witnessed it, this was one that not even “The Intimidator” and “The Man in Black” would be able to survive.

    Daytona had taken the sport’s biggest hero, on the first race of what was to be the beginning of NASCAR finally making it to the national spotlight. I guess God had better plans for him, or maybe he just wanted Dale all to himself. Earnhardt would go down as one of Daytona’s biggest heroes, while being honored with a statue out front holding his most prized possession.

    His infamous black and red paint scheme with the white No. 3 is still to this day, one of the most famous cars in all of NASCAR history. Death is eminent in any sport, especially when you take into consideration how dangerous NASCAR racing is, because of the high speeds these 3,500-pound cars travel. When the Grim Reaper comes knocking at your door, there is no escaping his deadly grip, since he has no respect for who is next on the list.

    Earnhardt never reached his final destination; instead he continued his journey looking down from the heavens above. Legends never rest in peace, instead they keep giving as long as the fans are willing to remember.

  • Junior Has a Solution and Maybe a Leader is Born

    Junior Has a Solution and Maybe a Leader is Born

    All the talk at Martinsville Speedway this weekend was about Talladega. It wasn’t just the drivers, who did their share of talking, but it also included some media members and fans. Of course, a lot of it revolves around the sport’s most popular driver and the son of NASCAR’s most favorite legend, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”236″][/media-credit]Junior was in a mood this weekend, offering a solution to the “two-car tango” and why he and drafting partner hung around the back of the field too long to be a factor in the Talladega race. Junior offered a solution to break up the pairing to two cars that has been the fashion for the better part of a year. It was the spoiler according to Junior.

    “I think the spoilers are way too big,” Earnhardt said Friday at Martinsville Speedway. “When I look at that spoiler, I can’t imagine there was a lot of study that went behind how effective it would be and what it would do, it is just a big square piece of steel, as wide as it could possibly be, and pretty tall. Make the spoiler more narrow, or smaller, run some softer springs in the back to get the cars a little lower. They have to make the hole that we punch in the air a little smaller. Right now it is so giant it is very easy for another guy to fit up in that void and draft and push all the way around the race track.

    “They need to bring the ceiling down that the car creates by the hole it pushes in the air, the car just punches a hole in the air and they need to bring that hole closer to the ground,” he said. “Get a little bit more air on the second car’s windshield cause a little more drag on that car. I think the spoiler is just way too big. The corners on the ends, they could cut those off and round that spoiler off, going back to anywhere from 1998 to 2004, that type of spoiler was a little bit better, even smaller than that.”

    No comment from NASCAR right now, but Junior made a lot of sense here, and maybe grew up a little bit. My criticism has always been that not enough has been done to solve the problem that has been restrictor plate racing. If we need them, fine, but find a way to make it a better show. So far, it has appeared that NASCAR just doesn’t know the answer, and maybe that’s true. Far be it from me to make that decision. I am not an engineer and I’m sure NASCAR has plenty of those types in their employ.

    Junior, as many have published, wasn’t too keen on hanging in the back last week. Though he won’t come out and say it because it would be politically devastating, radio transmissions seem to show this. Just like the supposed team orders that Trevor Bayne was so upset with, it appears that Earnhardt was just as frustrated. His role was to push his teammates to a good finish or a victory, as he was held back.

    The killer quote was one that was published in an interview this week.

    “I’m certain that a lot of things would be different if the old man was still around.”

    Indeed. Dale Earnhardt, Sr. had the ear of NASCAR. It’s time for someone to step up and take that role. Maybe that’s what is needed today—a leader. And just maybe, Dale Jr. is assuming that role. It appears there isn’t a leader among the drivers. Maybe Junior grew up after the debacle in Alabama. And maybe that will inspire him to victory at Martinsville or somewhere else.

  • NASCAR Beginnings: The Legend of Rockingham Speedway

    NASCAR Beginnings: The Legend of Rockingham Speedway

    I have to admit that sometimes I get a little jealous. I didn’t grow up as a fan of NASCAR. My childhood heroes were rock stars, not racecar drivers. And even though I attended races with my father as a young girl, it was more about spending time with my Dad than about the racing. Though the seed was planted at an early age, it didn’t flourish until many years later.

    So as I write about the beginnings of NASCAR, I find myself wishing I could have been there to experience those historic moments in person. As any NASCAR fan will tell you, you haven’t experienced racing until you’ve seen it live and uncensored, up close and personal.

    It has been said that you can’t go back but every once in a while, an opportunity comes along to do just that. On September 7th, it was announced that NASCAR will reunite with Rockingham Speedway as the Camping World Truck Series returns to the historic track in April 2012.

    As varied as the drivers are, each race track also has its own unique personality, none more so than Rockingham Speedway.

    I could site facts and figures about the track but what I really wanted to know is what the fans think. So I began asking people to share their thoughts and memories of “The Rock.”

    I heard things like, “There’s not a bad seat in the house,” or “It’s a driver’s track,” and “There’s no other track like it on the circuit.”

    Perhaps the biggest endorsement came from a friend who said, “It’s the first track I went to and I will never forget it. It’s what got me hooked on NASCAR.”

    But the most memorable story was bittersweet. It reminded me that the history of NASCAR is filled not only with triumphs but loss, as well. His story goes back to February of 2001.

    “Of course those were sad days following Dale’s death, especially the next day when the reality of what had happened began to truly sink in. There was no intention of attending the next weekend’s race at “The Rock,” no tickets had been ordered ahead of time, no plans were made.

    “Tuesday afternoon I received a call from a friend to inform me that he had ordered tickets and knowing what a fan I was of Dale’s he asked if I wanted to go. It took no thought at all to blurt out a resounding, “Hell Yes!”

    “We met at his house early on Saturday morning, tossed our bags into his motor home, and lit out for the 12-hour drive to the sandhills of North Carolina. We arrived at Rockingham late Saturday afternoon and after a quick scouting mission we set up camp in the pine woods just across the highway behind the frontstretch grandstands.

    “Fully expecting many tears and a somber mood we were somewhat surprised to find that the fans in that campground were enjoying themselves, albeit on a much lesser scale than would most likely have been the case had the events of the previous week not occurred, but making the best of it none the less.

    “There were No. 3 banners and homemade signs at almost every camp bidding fond farewells to Dale.

    “By that time the evening’s campfires were being lit, their smell joining with the aroma of the pines in the misty air making for a somewhat surreal scene.  There was music in the distance and I’ll never forget hearing the song ‘Free Bird’ wafting through the woods adding to that surreal feeling.

    “I went into a storage compartment and broke out a fifth of the good stuff. I needed a drink. This wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought it might be. Several long draws on the bottle, as well as a few beers, took the edge off, and so with bottle in tow, we were off to do some exploring.

    “We stopped at many camps along the way where stories of Dale’s exploits were told and retold again. It was another thing that struck me, the friendliness, the brotherhood, the camaraderie. We were all racing fans and we were here to celebrate Dale.

    “I will admit that there were times when I felt more like an observer rather than a participant, but another toast, another pull on that bottle brought me back to the reality of what was going on.

    “Sunday dawned cold and bleak with a heavy mist in the air. A couple of fellows drove along the dirt path in front of our camp in a golf cart hawking newspapers from the week before telling of Dale’s passing. Damn.

    “After coffee, we decided to head across the highway to the track, although the outlook for a race that day wasn’t very promising at all. I put on my black Dale Earnhardt T-shirt, black jeans and black No. 3 cap and we joined the quiet procession. Very few spoke and some wept as we all just slowly walked to the gates.

    “I signed the Goodwrench hauler parked near the entrance, as almost everyone did, wishing Dale God’s speed. Some placed a hand on the side of the hauler as if it was a religious shrine, and I suppose on this day, in a way, it was.

    “As one would expect, there was to be a pre-race ceremony in honor of the fallen Earnhardt.

    “It was somewhat fitting that the skies were dark and heavy with rain that day as some preacher said some words of comfort that I don’t think anyone really heard. There were a lot of blank stares on expressionless faces.

    “After a bit, Darrell and Stevie Waltrip took to the mic and in a trembling voice Darrell read a passage from the Bible. He then asked everyone in the stands to join hands and express fellowship to the people on either side of them, which we all did as he again read a Bible passage.

    “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, myself included.

    “As D.W. said his final goodbyes to Dale and left the stage, the skies ironically opened up with a brief but heavy rain as if the heavens themselves had to offer their own tears.

    “As the ceremony ended there was an unearthly quiet except for the sounds of jet dryers. After a couple of hours of track drying the cars were pushed to pit road, including a plain white No. 29 Goodwrench Chevy with a small black No.3 next to the 29.

    “The command was given to start the engines and it was as if the shroud had been lifted from Rockingham as those cars rolled onto the speedway. A few laps under the yellow and green flag and then the race was on at full song.

    “It was on lap one or two that Dale Earnhardt Jr. was involved in an accident entering turn three that was almost identical to the one the week before that claimed his father.

    “There was an audible gasp from the crowd as the images of the Sunday before flashed into our minds. As we know, Junior wasn’t injured, but the similarities to Dale’s fatal wreck were unmistakable.

    “Then, again ironically, the skies opened up a second time, only this time heavily and persistently. The race was postponed, almost mercifully, until Monday.

    “It was only later that I learned Rusty Wallace, after the race was called, looked up at the skies and said, (paraphrasing) ‘That’s Dale up there saying, if I can’t race, ain’t nobody gonna race’.

    “As the fans filed out I sat in that rain and waited. I had one last gesture to attend to.

    “I pulled my Sharpie out and wrote ‘God’s speed Dale’ inside the red brim of my No. 3 cap and tossed it over the fence onto the frontstretch asphalt. I had said my goodbye to The Intimidator in the best way I knew how.

    “In a final bit of irony, it turned out Monday was sunny and the race was run. Steve Park in the No. 1 Pennzoil Chevy owned by the late Dale Earnhardt paid their own tribute by winning the race.

    “All in all, it was an experience I’ll never forget … and one I hope I’ll never have to experience again.”

    Special thanks to a dear friend, Mick, from Infield Parking, for sharing his experience.