7000hp of Eric Medlen

It’s another dark day in racing. Eric Medlen, NHRA driver was taken off of life support Friday after suffering a serious head injury last Monday at practice at Gainesville Raceway. Medlen crashed his Funny Car into a concrete guardwall, and was being treated at the University of Florida Medical Center while in a coma. The collective racing world turns their attention to the Medlen family, to give them strength in their time of need.

Personally, this kind of news never gets any easier. As a race fan, my heart breaks every time a driver suffers a serious injury from an accident. Racing has been a source of absolute entertainment for my family for years, but I have never taken for granted how incredibly dangerous a day at the track can become.

Unfortunately, this kind of thing is a black flag for our sport. I absolutely respect, and give thanks to all the men and women that work hard to bring the safety standards of racing to the cutting edge of technology. May this unfortunate accident with Eric teach us, and give us the tools for a safer race tomorrow. God Bless the Medlen Family.

You’re a Star, Eric Medlen. In the most beautiful sky the eye has ever seen.

Shut Up and Drive.

I can’t remember another topic more beaten to death in NASCAR. The Car of Tomorrow becomes the Car of Today. Deal with it.

It is not like NASCAR is going to scrap the idea. It’s not like they listen to the fans, the teams, or even the drivers. When they say jump, the collective world is in danger of being thrown from its orbit.

Teams have spent millions building a brand new fleet of cars. The inspection process has made every team get to Bristol this weekend a day early, just to assure enough time to get through the 43 car field. The aspirin is being handed out like candy, and the harder stuff will still come up short for the headaches to ensue this weekend. It’s inevitable. It’s the COT. And there is nothing anyone can do about it.

So enough is enough. The sky is blue. Life isn’t fair. NASCAR isn’t fair. Put the drivers in the seats, drop the green flag, and let’s see what happens. I am sick of hearing about the Car of Tomorrow, because it is now the Car of Today.

Racers Race: Viva Las Vegas

What better place to go all in. It seems like half the field already has their backs up against the wall. Junior needs to finish a race, Kahne needs to start his season, and Smoke needs anything he can get. After Las Vegas Motorspeedway was completely revamped, it's a ####-shoot. Although it is the Busch Brothers home track, no one claims stake at a brand new surface. A track even Tony Stewart admited was designed way too fast. 200 mph through Sin City. The Nextel Cup rolls into Viva Las Vegas this weekend.

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It’s a shame to see the IROC series drying up. Without a series sponsor, the 2007 International Race of Champions didn’t even get started.

Crown Royal has backed out of the Series, and basically left the all-star races empty handed.

The IROC Series is a quick 4-race season for a championship, and $1 million dollars cash. The all-star lineup comes from the best drivers from all different forms of racing, and puts them all in identical cars and set-ups. The series itself contributes all the cars, and doesn’t allow any adjustments before, or during any race. It is made to be a true test of the driver’s skills, put against the best of all the racing series.

No doubt, it is an expensive series to run. Not only are they forced to work around the 36 race NASCAR Nextel Cup schedule, they are forced to compete with NASCAR economics. Sponsors are speeding to NASCAR right now with their drastically expanded team field for the 2007 season, and an all around better ####-for-your-buck, for any 4-race advertising package. IROC is out of luck, money, and time.

It didn’t seem like it was that long ago that I heard Tony Stewart was in talks with IROC Officials to bring a race to his own track in Eldora. Now, after what was supposed to be the 2007 IROC Series season opener has come and gone, I don’t see any chance of them having a season at all.

Has anyone heard anything about the IROC series finding a sponsor?

Any Given Sunday

They are the very best at what they do. The Superstars of their sport. A safe bet. A sure deal. On any given Sunday they can dominate under any circumstances. They are Mr. Consistent, and here he is again this year. 

For the 2006 season, Kenseth had an average finish of 9.8. That is a .10 off last years Cup Champion, #48 Jimmie Johnson. Kenseth had 5 races he finished outside of the top 20, and an impressive 19 top ten finishes for the 2006 season. (14 of them were top 5.) One race was the difference between the Cup Champion of 2006, and #17 Matt Kenseth. 

#17 Matt Kenseth continues his dominance and consistency into the 2007 season. With a sweep in this weekends two top series in NASCAR, he is poised to start quick, build momentum, stay fast, and finish strong. Just like last year, the #17 is been seen rubbing paint with Gordon, racing hard with Stewart, and standing tall in Victory Lane. Mr. Consistent just introduced himself to the 2007 Nextel Cup this weekend in California.

Finally! We are here. 5 suspended Crew Chiefs, 175 total points reduced, and a winning duel car starting from the back. The 2007 Nextel Cup Season is already in top RPM's, and the green flag is going to drop.

I can't remember another Daytona 500 that had this many story lines going into it. When it comes to qualifying for the 500; rules will be bent, strategy will be played, and the Big One is always going to happen. We set the stage, then we drive over it.

Put all that into your rearview mirror. When the Daytona 500 goes green, none fo that matters anymore. It's all about staying in one piece, who you can make friends with in the draft, bump drafting, and avoiding that wreck. And for the Daytona 500 of the 2007 Nextel Cup Season, it's all about #20 Tony Stewart.

The prize purse is 18 million, with last place paying $226,000. Gentleman, Start Your Engines!

Let me clear my throat. I’m sorry, for a second I thought you said a $50,000 fine, 50 driver points, and 50 owner points penalized against the #17, and the #9. Why not throw the two crew chiefs out for 4 races too?

Oh, you did.

Wait; is this the same governing body that ruled over the #48’s penalty last year at this time? Where were you during the whole ‘bleeder valve’ controversy with the #29 and the #31 last year? Didn’t see you investigating the tape that Jimmie Johnson was taking off his car after he won the Brickyard. Didn’t see JJ and the #48 crew start their Championship run from the hole last year, when he was found with a 'questionable' back windowpane during qualifying for the Daytona 500.

Come to think about it, didn’t you guys keep the #48 car for the year after they won the Daytona 500? You didn’t find one damn thing in the past year? No loose lug nut, shaved rim, or longer fuel line?

Evernham and Roush got the book thrown at them. That same book that so few of us have ever even seen. Some may be quick to defend that the #48 didn't break any rules last year because there was no rule against it written at the time. How do we know? We have never seen the book! Show me the rule against the #17 and the #9. Was it the same 'unapproved aerodynamic modification?' Or was it the 'non conforming equipment?'

The rules of NASCAR are simple. There are no rules. Just guidelines. And NASCAR has the freedom to move those lines whenever they wish.

If you’re sleeping with a driver, they will come down on you. If you bad talk the new money coming into the league, you will be made an example of. If your Hendrick Motorsports, you still have a great chance at winning the Daytona 500, and the Cup.

I feel that cough coming on again.

Don’t They Know Who I Think I Am?

I’m late. I wake up to a race. I have so much to do at work today, and I am already starting behind: right from the green.

I race into my pit stall while still trying to get my fire suit on. (I’m going to need it with the heat I am going to take.) My black #4 is cold, as I #### the ignition with those most famous words of motorsports ringing in my head. I go through a quick checklist as I read the dashboard. Power is good, fuel is full, seatbelt is on, but the engine temp is too low. Got to take it easy going through the neighborhood before I reach the highway.

I live in the suburbs, and work downtown. I share the track at this late hour with like-minded competitors. The clock is ticking. Get fast!

I take my first left turn to merge into the race. Damn, give me some room. We’re just getting started; they are already racing me hard. We have a long way to go till the checkers. I take note of my engine temp; she is warm and ready to lay it down. I calculate my move and make a strong motion for a minimum space amongst the traffic. I give it some gas, but she gets loose on me. My tires are still cold. I #### the wheel and catch a lucky groove. I quickly glance at the rearview. The car behind me gets on the break, and gives me some room. Ha…, rookie.

I’m keeping pace on the outside wall as I wait for my chance at the inside lane. I have driven this track a hundred times, and I know my line. Another quarter mile till the turn, and I have to get down on the track to avoid the marbles. My tires are warming up, but I can’t take any chance at getting into debris. I can feel the horsepower kick in as I force the gear ratio to make up for my lack of confidence in my grip. The bottom line is mine with a good two feet to the car in front of me.

Everyone gets out of the gas as they approach the turn, and we all come into it at the same speed. As we are coming off the center, I realize the car in front of me is trying to go high, leaving me all alone on the lower groove. I test the throttle and find my tires right underneath me. I open it up and get off the corner with full RPM’s.

The straight is all mine as I leave everyone in my rearview mirror. No pace car in site, and absolutely no sign of any cautions. I come into the dogleg at top speed. I am almost downtown. White flag.

I’ve got one car that I am coming up on quickly, and they are holding the low line as I stare down their back bumper. I come out of the gas, and shake off any dirty air coming off their back spoiler. We draft through the last stretch of the back straight, as I wait for my move. Timing is everything, and I am confident. 50 feet to turn 4, and I get on the throttle and drive into the high lane. The slingshot works every time, and I caught them by surprise as I make my pass and cut them off before the off ramp.

I pat my steering wheel in triumph as I check my time. 10 ticks off my best lap, but where I place is what they all notice. I get to the finish line and meet that last passed car as I turn off the track. A scorned face and pumping fist challenges my bravado, but I shrug it off.

Don’t they know who I think I am?

Boogity, Boggity, Boggity, Let's Go Racing Boys! Hot Damn! It’s that time of the year again. Speedweeks has begun, and that means the off-season is over.  Saturday marks the first sign of racing in the top series of NASCAR with the Budweiser Shootout.

For those that are slow, the Budweiser Shootout is like an Allstar event. It consists of every driver that won a pole in the previous season, (As long as that car was wearing a Budweiser decal when they did,) and any past winner of the Shootout event. It’s a 70 lap race broken up into two segments. The first is a fast 20 lap, then a 10 minute intermission, fallowed by a 50 lap segment with a mandatory 2-tire pit stop made under green. It’s not a regular season race, with no points rewarded. Just bragging rights, a great head start into the season opener next weekend, and straight cash.

Daytona is really heating up right now with the anticipation for the Daytona 500. It really makes you understand why the biggest race of the year is the very first one. It takes so much hard work to put this thing together. Just to get a chance to race in the Daytona 500 is a dream. To race well in Daytona is destiny. It makes for one great show!

And every show needs a stage. Daytona’s is set. If anyone out there doubts that the 2007 Daytona 500 is one more week away, listen for those engines roar this Saturday night. You won’t need to be anywhere near a TV or Florida. The Bud Shootout is the starting gun for the 2007 Nextel Cup Season.

Perfectly sandwiched between the Super Bowl and March Madness, is the Super Marketing Madness of NASCAR. The Great American Race can make the biggest NASCAR dollar-doubter take a hard left turn into the spectacle we call, The Daytona 500.

Take the Super Bowl, and it’s marketing value. Now add a few more hours, and a sport that was designed for that exact marketing make. Call the league the NEXTEL CUP, and invite 160,000 people to the warmth of Daytona in the middle of February. Show them all some fast cars, and make those cars prove it. Bargain a few advertising opportunities to some executives, with a promise of a fixed television audience of 20 million strong. Light fuse, get away.

The Daytona 500 has become the biggest race in the world. NASCAR has become the biggest #### for the marketing buck of the century. Now with the NFL safely in their rear view mirror, expect to see the madness begin. Speedweeks will be starting on Thursday, and culminates with the biggest NASCAR race of the year. Two weeks from today we have another Super Sunday.

It’s that time of the year again. It’s the Super Marketing Madness. Up next is another word from our sponsors. Up next, The Daytona 500.

Junior has the Intimidation Factor

It started with Teresa Earnhardt in the Wall Street Journal saying, "Right now the ball's in [Junior's] court to decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality.”  

It didn’t take long to make that explode into a rumor that Junior would ditch the #8, and be piloting the Chevy #3 made infamous by his father. There is not a gear-head alive that doesn’t miss seeing the #3 black Monte Carlo intimidating the rest of league in their rearview mirror. And Junior has made it clear that he wants to drive the #3 before the end of his own career.  

It’s all just marketing. It’s what NASCAR is all about. The scenario revolves around Junior’s contract coming to an end with DEI at the end of 2007, owned and operated by his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt. She goes on record with some laundry in hopes to motivate June Bug to get focused. Junior replies with his contract negotiation.  

The negotiations are huge. Not only is it a company in Juniors name sake, he is fully aware that he is that whole team. #8 pays the bills in that garage. #8 wants a stake of his own team. The Earnhardt name needs to be marketed, and every marketing plan has an image. That image is Junior. Period! Negotiation over.

You have to give Teresa credit for trying. For playing the game. It’s fun when you think about it. 

The truth is Junior will stay in the Red. The money, and the Budweiser. Richard Childress Racing has promised Junior that the only time the #3 will make a public appearance; he would be behind the wheel. (Racing for RCR of…, cough. I mean, of course.) But that is further down the road for June Bug. Right now, it's business. Junior will get a piece of Dale Earnhardt Inc. when he signs with them in the next few weeks.

There is only one driver in the league that is negotiation free. You can struggle, but it is a hard right turn. Just the notion of Junior packing up all that Budweiser money and being greeted with open arms on any team in the league makes any negotiation factor a void. When you have the most popular driver in the league, and his name is Earnhardt, you have nothing to negotiate with. You can try, but the ‘Intimidation Factor’ alone is deal breaker.

Very few rookies drive into the top series of NASCAR with much more then the respect they deserved just by getting there. All the hard work you put into your career got you a ride, but not a meal ticket. With the exception of anyone with the name Earnhardt, you will be caring your own bags till you’re strong enough to lift some hardware over your head. Just ask the #24 how long it had taken him to gain the respect of the NASCAR Nation. So, how can it be that someone comes into his first year in the league and be referred to as Mister?

It’s not what you know; it’s who knows you! Mr. Montoya may not know much about the world of stock car racing, but the world, and all forms of racing knows Mr. Montoya. This is no ordinary rookie. Juan Pablo Montoya is not just any driver leaving any old series for the bright lights of NASCAR. This is a former Indy 500 Champion. He also won the Cart FedEx Championship Series his rookie year. This is a driver who has been notorious for stealing poles, stealing wins, and straight stealing notoriety. Sounds exactly what NASCAR wants to steal.

And that series he left for NASCAR? Just the most expensive form of racing in the world. When Montoya announced he was leaving the good life of Formula One, to the roller skate race of NASCAR, the world was shocked.

Everyone but his new boss, his new sponsors, and NASCAR at least. Ganassi Racings new star is not only bright, but his spark has already been witnessed in every market except America. The rest of the world has already introduced themselves to Juan Pablo Montoya, and now NASCAR, and his sponsors want him to introduce them to the rest of the world.

Montoya finished his F1 career with 7 wins, 13 poles, and finished 3rd in the league: twice in his career that spanned from 2001 to 2006. In his rookie year he got his first win, grabbed 3 poles, and made the podium an impressive 4 times.

Now we are 32 days away from the start of another rookie year from Juan Pablo Montoya. One in which the learning curve is high, but his expectations might be higher. He will be considered a huge threat on tracks like The Glen and Infineon. And his test-times at Daytona were amazing. Making those smiles coming from the faces of his sponsors and all the NASCAR executives, well, priceless. That yellow stripe on his bumper is going to shine. And everyone will get paid to shine it.

2007 NEXTEL CUP

The first sign of the 2007 Nextel Cup Season is the phone ringing. I get the same call, around the same time of every year. The other end of the line is a dear old friend, and we repeat the same dialog from the year before. There is sign of life in Daytona.

This is the week that everyone in the NASCAR Nations phones starts ringing as well. It’s time to get back on track. Not only is the off-season short, it’s basically non-existent. The Daytona 500 is not only the Super Bowl of the Nextel Cup season; it’s the first race of the season.

In a single word, Daytona is a ‘Dream.’

In three words, Daytona is a ‘lot of work.’

Why is the biggest race of the year, the first race of the year? The short answer is history, but the truth is in the logistics.

Since 1959, ‘The Great American Race,’ has been held as the biggest event in Stock Car racing. It holds the largest prize purse, along with the highest prestige. To win the Daytona 500, is to have your name go down in history. Just to make the race is a cornerstone in any driver’s career. To succeed brings longevity. To fail, still brings fame.

But like every dream, it takes a ton of work just to get there. The preparations for the Daytona 500 can sometimes be measured by a lifetime. Most of the small details take almost 3 months to work out. In simple terms, that means there is no off-season. The best have no time to rest.

Most drivers do sneak in a vacation, but every top team in NASCAR keeps the garage lights on year round. Once the season starts, there is no room for error in making week-to-week adjustments. You have to prepare for every track on the schedule. You need to work out the logistics of ever-single race.

Besides tradition, and making it the most unique season of all professional sports, The Daytona 500 doesn’t fit anywhere else on the schedule. The biggest race of the year, takes the most time to prepare for. 3 months, or a lifetime at least.

So it’s that time of the year again. The team haulers have pulled up to Daytona for testing. The cars will be unloaded, and the drivers will be strapped in. A bit too early to make predictions of the green flag of the 2007 season, but it’s already getting too late to be behind in testing. Whichever way you look at it: the 2007 NASCAR season, and the phones have come to life.

"And if I don't see ya, in a long, long while
I'll try to find you
Left of the Dial"

~The Replacements

Lust for Life 2.0

Deserving #48

 The doubters, the diggers, and the dumb don’t believe. Hands down, the #48 won the Cup. It takes nothing less then perfection in this league to even come close. And that is exactly what this team brought to the track every week. Sure, your going to find the wall some weekends, but everyone else will too. It is how you race the week after you wreck. It is how you put your car in the top ten for the closing laps of every race. How you give your team a chance to win 36 times. It’s perfection, or planning every minute for it. Jimmie Johnson was Mr. Perfect all year.

17 of the first 21 races, he finished in the top 10. DAMN. 3 races into the season, he had 2 wins, and a 2nd place finish. They ended with 5 wins, and an average finish of 9.7 for the season.

The #48 dominated the Superspeedways all year. Not only did JJ win the Daytona 500, he won the Aarons 499 in Talladega. He came really close to winning the second Dega race as well, till Vickers decided to clean the #48, and the #8 in the last lap. His worst finish, in one piece, on a restrictor plate track this year was 9th in the Firecracker 400. (24th place resulted after his wreck with Junior in the 2nd race at Talladega.)

But it was the Brickyard that made it so convincing.  After winning the 2 biggest races in the year, they only have one thing left to do. Out of the ten races in the Chase, he finished 2nd or better in 5 of them. This was, as close to a perfect season you can get in the top level of NASCAR.

Congratulations Mr. Perfect. The 2006 Nextel Cup belongs to the #48 team.