In the summertime when the weather is hot, the hot go on vacation. The Sprint Cup Series is taking their last weekend off this year. When they come back next week at Indy they go racing for 17 straight weeks. Their only other weekend off was in late March for Easter. Two weekends off in 9 months. Hey, if it was easy, women and children would be doing it. Just kidding. Had to put that in there to ruffle 24x2's feathers. She's in the garage area right now, but she'll be back out on the track in no time at all. Highlights, downlows....
The NNS races at Gateway Saturday night. NASCAR will delay bringing the COT into the NNS for one year. Small teams are having enough trouble finding sponsors without having to build, or buy, all new fleets of cars. NNS driver, Marcos Ambrose will compete for the Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year title next year with a brand new team. JTG Motorsports and Brad Daugherty have formed JTG Daugherty Racing with Ambrose driving and Little Debbie coming along as the sponsor. Daugherty is an ESPN race analyst. ESPN has told fellow analyst, Rusty Wallace, that he is forbidden from owning a Cup team while working for them. Maybe this situation will lead to some housecleaning in the NASCAR TV booth at ESPN. Please, please, please.
DEI has announced that their two developmental drivers, Trevor Bayne and Jeffrey Earnhardt, will both run full schedules for them in the NNS next year. Why does DEI keep announcing plans for next year? The U.S. Navy has declined to renew their $7.5 million contract with the #88 JRMotorsports Chevy. They still will honor their $800,000 personal services contract with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Glad to see the 31% off the top of my paycheck every week is going to good use.
The CTS runs Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway. The C will be K next year as Kobalt Tools takes over as title sponsor from CraftsmanTools. The man you love to hate, Kyle Busch, will be in the #51 Toyota in Kentucky. Then he'll be in a Late Model ASA race at Iowa Speedway on Sunday. Matt Kenseth will also be racing in Iowa.
Ryan Newman claims to have three teams bidding for his services next season. JGR, RCR, and Stewart-HAAS are his suitors. Joey Lagano keeps throwing his name out there as a candidate to drive the JGR #20 next year. The #28 of Travis Kvapil picked up Hitachi Tools as a sponsor for 6 races starting at Indy.
Three drivers have won at least one race in each of NASCAR's three major series in the same season. Terry Labonte in 1995. KevinHarvick in 2003. Who is the third driver, and what year did he do it?
Finally, a woman driver won an open wheel race at Nashville last Saturday, and you didn't hear anything about it. Did you? 23 year old Ana Beatriz of Brazil won an Indy Lights race in her 11th start in that series. She never raced on an oval track until this year. She's third in points, and has 6 top-five finishes in her 11 starts. Danica never won an Indy Lights race.
Just goes to show that Danica has a hype machine that's second to none. I'm sure Ana Beatriz is a very talented driver. I hope to see her in IRL in the next year or two.
Whoever becomes the next president should hire Danica's hype machine to be their press secretary.
Hanny- Good breakdown. Ryan was smart to put himself out there early instead of waiting until the end of the year. This way he has more time to make a wise decision. Instead of a last minute I need to know where I am going to be driving in a few weeks type of decision.
I still think that Logano coming up to the cup series is a big mistake. Lightning will only strike in the same place once. And with the move that JGR did in hiring Kyle is that one strike. But what do I know. Im just another blogger here on Foxsports.
Hanny,
Great stuff as always. Of course those of us in the real racing heartland (Indianapolis area) knew about Ana's Indy Lights win but I hadn't heard about Kobalt - I've been so out of the loop lately. Kentucky is an awesome facility - I was lucky enough to be a guest in the ARCA suite for a race down there including hot passes and it is just an incredible venue. Geez, could Kyle be the answer to your quiz?
Also glad to know Brad will be a team owner and, hopefully out of the booth and I agree it would be great to get Rusty out of there too. I also am not a fan of Dale Jarrett in the booth - too much like his dad, I guess, who I couldn't stand. Kyle Petty is the best driver/analyst. He didn't have all that much on track success but he's a great color commentator.
Finally, I must comment on your note to 24X2. Thanks for ruffling her feathers. She's already complained about too much mushy stuff on these pages so she will enjoy being picked on a little. Of course, that's like a sixth grade bully picking on a little first grade GIRL - lol.
Seriously, today is her big day with the surgeon so please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
3fan...I couldn't agree more about Logano. He should race the whole season in Nationwide next year. He'd probably win the championship, then move up in 2010. Gibbs should get an older, calm, driver in the #20 for next year only...Terry Labonte, anyone?
HR...I've seen nothing but great racing at Kentucky. Every series that races there puts on a fantastic show. Glad that Bruton bought it, maybe now it will get a much deserved Cup race.
I don't mind Brad so much, but that damn Rusty! He should have been fired on the spot last week when he kept waving around some blank piece of paper, and saying that it was proof that Toyota has 22 more HP. As a NNS team owner, he is in competition with Toyota for prize money, sponsors, and points. He was very unprofessional and irresponsible.
Gotta disagree with you on Ned. While his accent and delivery were not the best, he still knew what the hell he was talking about, and actually told the viewer what was happening on the track. That's something the networks need to get back to. KP is pretty good, and he's bringing Wally out of his shell. That's good.
Hanny,
My only problem with Ned was when he talked about DJ which he did way too often. Otherwise he wasn't too bad. I did some announcing at tracks where my sons raced and I know it is hard to not pay special attention to a son (or sons as was my situation) but Ned never even tried to be professional about it.
I agree Wally is doing better too. Like Kyle, he wasn't a great performer on the track but few are and he really knows his stuff and is articulate. Have a great weekend.
Good Article. You said that the only off weekend was late in March for Easter. They had another off weekend in mid April when the Nationwide Series went down to Mexico.
The answer to your trivia question: Kyle Busch, 2008.
Hanahan--I bet she could give Kyle Busch a run for his money sounds like she's the real deal and from Brazil wow great right sides and are you well done now? or just toasty..lol
HR...I still get chills listening to the replays of Ned calling Dale home against Sr in the Daytona 500. I know some people thought it was biased, but CBS told Ned to do it. Great moment.
Good write Hanahan. I mentioned on another post that during the off week, the writers need to talk about the Truck and NW races and put some more drivers in the headlines and get them out there with some exposure. It's been an uneventful week minus the hot or not with Kristen, and a few smattered posts, but you done good there, and excellent write during this off week
Good stuff as usual Hanahan- It should be a rule across the board, you cannot own a current team and announce, period! I hate Brad as much as Rusty but no one is as bad as SUZY! UGH. Getting ready for my ears to bleed for the next 17 weeks straight. Thank God for DJ.
In more breaking news...yours truly will have a featured article for the next 17 weeks straight in the Miller Lite "More-2-It" section here on FOXSports NASCAR page starting next week which is in conjunction with some of the video blogs I have been doing for millerliteracing.com. I'll need all the support I can get from my friends!
31% for Federal? You must be living in the high rent district, H? Don't count FICA and Medicare against that. That's just getting siphoned off to Congress to borrow for their pork projects.
Hanny,
Once again (what's new) we agree. I loved Ned's call of DJ's Daytona win too. The problem was all the races we had to hear him talk about DJ while he was running 20th or worse. It's now the same with Rusty and Steven. Is it really important for us to know that a guy running 33rd has imporved after the last pit stop and is now running a tenth or two quicker than he was? God help us if Rusty is calling a race Steven is leading near the end.
smoke...thanks for reading. I've been meaning to start including more info on the lesser known drivers and teams, but I keep forgetting to do it. klv's work is always HOT!
kristen...I will make sure to look for your new series. I'm betting it will be excellent. It now has my seal of approval!!! Hey, where's everyone going?
Sweet K....I think Suzy should be announcing cheerleader competitions on espn2. KP...that is funny. He still needs wins in 2 of the 3 series, lifetime.
Maybe Rusty will get left behind at a bush party in W Canada. He'll finally be found...... by grizzly bears.
HR...yes I would agree, Rusty is worse than Ned ever was. But, unlike Ned, that's Rusty's money that's out on the track going down the drain. It has to be hard to watch that while on live TV. lol.
hanahan
You're one of the very few people within this forum that can opine on the comings and goings of NASCAR. And at the same time make it sound so eloquent.
To my mind the NASCAR coverage by TNT is second to none !
justan' aka tophatal ............
Last edited by justanotherfan on July 18th at 11:27 AM.
Hanahan,
Great Post buddy. Danica gets all the hype because she's hot. That's the only way I can see it. However what I want to know is this Brazilian ladie a hottie also?
Danica has dropped off of my radar for her antics and snippiness since the start of the season. What I hate about Busch, I also hate about her. Flippant remarks have no place in interviews. Interviewers need to avoid the ones who cannot give a rational interview, even if it means only talking to the veterans! Maybe NASCAR needs to send their reporters and drivers to Speech 101 and teach them our native language, diction and unbiased reporting. At least Danica seems educated!
Good RSO as always. Whole heartedly would love for KP to go into the booth full time, the job he is most qualified for. If I never had to listen to Crusty again I would be a very happy man. The Wallace show just sends me up the wall and makes me wish that races were simucast on radio so I could mute the TV and just watch.
Terry at JGR for 1 year with good equipment sounds good! Lagano in 2010 would be wise too.
Good luck Kristn we will be looking forward to your articles.
Beav...maybe all drivers should go to interview school, where they can all learn the same old cliches..."we gave 110%"...."puts on his pants one leg at a time"...."doesn't know the meaning of the word quit"....
The Matt Kenseth, Robot comercial comes to mind. LOL.
elad...You, sir, are preaching to the choir. Would like to see what Terry could do in great equipment.
H- they sure get it drilled into them to mention all of the frikken sponsors in each breath, maybe they should concentrate on answering the dumb questions reporters throw at em too...and yep...it is a team effort...and they all worked so hard....we've been knockin on the door...lots of cliches
Dont bag the drivers too much for their interview skills...to be honest, when I was waiting to ask my (brillant of course) questions, I had to wait thru 5-10 min of the SAME question over and over. It was mind numbing! While I agree some of them could be a bit better on TV, quite frankly they are much better in responding when you dont ask them the same thing over and over...
klv...I've wondered about that before. You see a driver explaining his wreck to the TV people first, then when the TV guy is finished the radio guy asks the exact same questions for the driver to answer the exact same. All this, while there may be 4 or 5 other reporters awaiting their turn to ask the exact same questions.
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The main Rusty needs to get out of commentating the NNS races is so we don't have to listen to that awkward silence and him trying to come up with an excuse as to why Steven wrecked every week.
I may be alone in this, but I think Brad did a good job in the booth. Kyle Petty is a natural at announcing. At least, unlike his father he is understandable.
As far as Rusty Wallace. He and his kid have no business around a race track. He is passe, and his kid can't drive a water truck. Steven drives around the track, with a snowplow attitude, just looking for a place to wreck someone. Everytime I see a caution and they show it, I look for number 66. It's usually right in there.
Stewart is going to be sorry he is joining an outfit in which the owner is in prison for tax evasion. That smells stinko up front. Once a tax evader always a tax evader. Stewart will be picking up the bills for the other guys action.
Ryan Newman, stay away from Stewart Haas as far as you can get. Try Gibbs out for a year. You will be better off in much better company. I'd also like to see Kurt Busch come over and join Gibbs. With Kurt and Hamlins teamwork ethic, who knows where the Gibbs org. can go.
Side note: Whatever happened to Erin Crocker. Did Evernham turn everyone against her. She was a heckuva truck anmd car racer. Very smart. #### poor pit crew. When the driver pits in 4th place and comes out in 12th, I don't think it is the driver. Hope to see her racing again somewhere on tv.
Kyle Busch. What can one say, except WOW!!! I hope he takes it to the end and wins with 3 to go. He has matured so much in such a short time at Gibbs it's awesome. I think he will reach legend stature in time.
Good article, keep it up. Always glad to read it, and commenmt. All the other blogs, boa
mt3...lol. I noticed that awkward silence last week when Steven wrecked. The other announcer (Petree?) said that no one touched Steven. And Rusty didn't say anything for 10 minutes. A new Wallace family record!
dismas...I don't mind Brad D in the booth. He's not as bad as some others I could mention.
I feel sorry for the kid, trying to live up to Rusty's name, but with only a 1/4 of the talent.
I would look for Tony to become full owner within a couple of years.
Erin was in the 1st two Truck races this year. She drove the #46 for Morgan-Dollar Mo Spo, and finished 14th at Daytona in the 1st race this year. Don't know what she's up to now. I'm putting together a blog on drivers that have kind of disappeared. A where are they now thing that the readers can help out with. Maybe someone knows about her?
Don't know about Kurt at JGR. He and Kyle don't seem like they work or play well with each other. lol
