Mark Martin Returns to Full Time Racing For Hendrick Motorsports

After two years of  semi-retirement. Today Mark Martin has announced his plans to return to full time racing for Hendrick Motorsports. He will be running for a chance to win the championship next year.

Martins signed a two year deal with Hendrick. This will keep him in the 5 car until 2011. 2009 will be a full year of driving. While 2010 will be a shared ride year with a new driver to be named later.

Martin will be teaming up with four time champion Jeff Gordon, two time champion Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Martin will be taking over the number 5 car from Casey Mears.

I wish Mark the best of luck in his efforts to win a championship.

"Wide-Open" Testing?

NASCAR has held a meeting with the crew chiefs of the Cup cars at New Hampshire. In this meeting testing was discussed.

According to John Darby, NASCAR wants the teams to give NASCAR feedback on how they feel about the current testing policy. And what changes they would like to see.

Darby went so far to say that NASCAR was even considering a "wide-open" testing policy.

“NASCAR is the policy maker, but if there’s one thing that’s really reliant on the teams’ input, it’s what we test, how many times we test and where we test,” Darby said. “In the past, it’s just been a matter of ‘Here, select your race tracks and let’s go.’
 
“This year, I felt it was time that we just sat down with everybody and said, ‘Look, we’re open to whatever suggestions you have, from leaving our testing policy exactly like it was in ’08 all the way to what I’m going to call wide-open testing: No limits, any week, any track, any time, as many times as you want to go.’ And we’re prepared for either way.”

Darby said that there was a "gasp of air" in the room when he revealed the proposal. The teams feared that they would have to suddenly test 38 weeks per year.

But that is not what NASCAR meant. "Wide-Open Testings" means simply that the Cup teams could test any week at any NASCAR track. And NASCAR will not penalize them.

John Darby even said that Goodyear could provide the tires needed for these test sessions. (Goodyear has got to get rid of all those bad tires they produced earlier this season somehow.)

But one thing Darby insisted on was that this new policy had nothing to do with the new car and the struggles that the teams are having with it.

“This piece, honest to God, doesn’t have any relevance to the new car,” he said. “This is something we would have headed toward regardless. Not that what we’re doing today is broken, but testing should be at the needs of the competitors in the garage, and the only way we know what best suits them is ask them.”

But for the veteran fan of NASCAR, that statement just doesn't hold water. In the past when the crew chiefs wanted an "wide open" testing policy. NASCAR rebuffed it. Now all of a sudden, NASCAR on its own is offering a "wide open" testing policy. Something just doesn't sound right to my ears.

John Darby if you think I believe that this possible change to open testing has nothing to do with the struggles and complaints about the new car, you must think everyone who knows anything about NASCAR is a complete and utter ####.

NASCAR has never been open to open testing before. But now that they have this new car and the drivers, crews and owners have been complaining about it, you are open to the idea.

This has all to do with the new car. NASCAR wants the owners, drivers and teams to quit complaining about this car. So the only way that they figure they can do it, is open up testing.

NASCAR wants to prove to everyone that they were right about this car. And the only way to make everyone comfortable with this car is to test them. To test them everywhere, anytime and often.

So crew chiefs get your testing schedules ready. Be sure you have a test driver that is willing to test anywhere and anytime. Because we all know, once NASCAR opens up testing. Those test haulers will be hitting the roads. There will be fewer days home with the families. But the testing of the new car will help you prove NASCAR was right about this new car.

And after all isn't that what is important? NASCAR proving that they are right!?

http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcup
series/NASCAR_considering_wide-open_testing_policy
_in_09.html

Rowdy Rallies For Fifth

Cup Win of the Season

Going into today's race at Infineon many were starting to speculate that Kyle Busch had lost his focus. By doing triple duty many of the weekends this year. Many were starting to speculate that Kyle might of have burned out early.

Well, Kyle decided to put the naysayers to rest. He totally concentrated on his Cup car this weekend.

He qualified 30th for the race. By lap 29 he pitted for fuel and tire. And then the caution came out.

Once the field was reset Kyle was third behind the leader. Greg Biffle spun out. Kyle took advantage of it and went on in a few laps and took the lead from Juan Pablo Montoya. And the kid never looked back.

This kid won his fifth race of the year. And his first road course win.

But did he really put the naysayers to rest? Or did he just prove their point?

Well, I think he did both. I think he proved that he and the 18 team are still hot. But he also proved that is he stays focused on the task at hand, Kyle is unbeatable.

So does the rest of the Cup field want this kid focused just on the Cup car? Probably not. At least when he is not totally focused on his Cup ride, others do get a chance to lead and win races.

But then again, being a JGR fan, I am loving this kid and his run this season. With the way the 20 is finishing right now, it is great to have someone in the JGR camp running so well and dominating like he is.

Go Kyle!!!!

(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images )

Trouble Brewing Between Harvick and Smoke?

Regardless of what TNT's pit reporter Marty Snider wants to make of it, there is no problem between Harvick and Stewart.

Granted this is twice this year Harvick has taken Stewart out of a 2nd place run. But both were just racing incidents.

Today Harvick went into the corner way too hot. Took out Jamie MacMurray and in doing so, MacMurray took out Stewart.

So Marty quit trying to stir things up. Or are you just wanting to be mentioned on Smoke's radio show tomorrow?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/photo?slug=3579
039092126da4802edb1f5de2ea73-getty-81282156jf002_t
oyota_save_m&prov=getty

When The Unexpected Happens,

Life Can Get Very Interesting

I know this is a sports blog forum. But I just could not help but share this with all my friends here.

As many of you know my husband's family has been dealing with his dad's health. My parents are in the process of moving their business. And all of this I have been right in the middle of.

Well, to add to my already hectic life, I have an 11 year old Pomeranian who has been diagnosed with cateracts. Fortunately they are still very small and they are not affecting his way of life. When the vet told me what was wrong with him. I became very upset. So when I got home I told my husband what the vet said. And he saw how emotional I was.

He said these words: "Let's get one of your sister's puppies." And before I could think I said, "Okay".

So as you can figure we have added a puppy to our family. We have adopted a little Poodle mix female. She is black and is the most adorable little one.

She is so active. She is in to everything. It has been 11 years since I had a puppy in the house. And I had forgotten just how much work they are.

I told my husband this is like having a baby in the house.

So how is her big brother handling having a little sister in the house? Not to well. He is not adjusting too well to her just yet. But I know that once she gets alittle bigger and he can really play with her, things will be even more exciting in the Tsfanpc household.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I know that mine will be very fun filled and hectic.

This is Little Bella Rose asleep on my computer desk. She loves to sleep there when I am working here. Hmmmm...wonder if she has some cat in her?

My first baby Ernie Irvan

Let Us Not Forget

Our Fellow Americans

This Father's Day

There has been alot of news this week in NASCAR. Petty Enterprises re-signing Bobby Labonte to an extension. Petty Enterprises selling majority ownership of its race organization to Boston Ventures a private firm equity. This sell and the resigning of Bobby Labonte are in hopes that Petty Enterprises will soon be returned to its glory days of winning races and championships.

On Friday morning before the teams ever hit the race track. NASCAR had an improtu meeting with all the drivers and team owners at Michigan. In this meeting it has been reported that NASCAR has basically told the drivers and team owners to suck it up. And quit complaining about the new COT. If NASCAR really wants to stop all the complaints and they really do care what the fans are saying. NASCAR should listen to the drivers and owners and make the changes. Let's face it. The racing on the small tracks has been pretty good with the current condition of the car. But on the mile and half and larger tracks, it really stinks.

It was announced also that NASCAR is being sued by a former official for $225 million. The lawsuit is for racial discrimination and sexual harrasment. So it looks like NASCAR is going to be back in court once again.

Makes one wonder what is going on in the front offices of NASCAR here lately. It seems like the NASCAR bosses are spending more and more time in the court room than in the board room. I bet both Bill France Sr. and Bill France Jr. are turning over in their graves. Wondering what in the world is Brian France and Liza France Kennedy doing to their company.

But even with all this going on in NASCAR. There are more important things going on in this country. Gas is at an all time high of $4.01 a gallon here. And in other parts of the country it is well over $4.35 a gallon. But even that is not the most important thing going on in this country.

June 12: A View of the massive flooding in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa

This past weekend while many of us were watching the NASCAR race from Pocono. Many of our fellow Americans were fighting to save their homes from the torrential rains in the Midwest.

Flooding has hit the entire region. Parts of South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas have seen the most severe flooding.

There are raging forest fires in California, North Carolina and in South Carolina.

Tornadoes are tearing up parts of Oklahoma and Kansas and other parts of the Midwest.

And extreme heat all up and down the Atlantic Coast. From Maine to Florida.

June 8 a cloud formation moves over Oconomowoc, Wis. as the state contends with heavy rains, wind damage and areas of flooding.

Ever where you turn our fellow Americans and maybe even some of us here on the blog world are suffering from the effects of the weather.

So as we all prepare to celebrate Father's Day tomorrow, let us not forget our fellow Americans who are suffering this weekend.

The hometown of NASCAR superstar Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN, was hit by the flooding in Indiana. He has pledged to give his share of the purse winnings from the race in Michigan to his hometown's Red Cross for the flood relief aid.

If you can help these folks in the Midwest with any aid, contact your local Red Cross Agency, I am sure that they can tell you how to best to help.

Let us all say an extra prayer for our country and our fellow Americans. And folks let us not forget our folks in the military and their families also.

So I hope that everyone will take the time to celebrate with their Fathers. But I also hope that we will not forget about our country. Have a great weekend everyone.

And Happy Father's Day to all the Fathers out there. And to my dear dad and father in law, a very big Special Happy Father's Day to you!!!!

Happy Father's Day

To All The Fathers

Out There!!!

Photos:
http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,4164,00.
html#6_0

http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,4164,00.
html#16_440

Women Racers in NASCAR:
Janet Guthrie

Janet Guthrie was born March 7, 1938 in Iowa City, Iowa. Ms. Guthrie always had a need for speed. The faster the better.

At the age of seventeen she actually had a license to fly airplanes. She went to the University of Michigan, where she studied physics.

Ms. Guthrie was so accomplished in physics and such a well prepared aviation engineer that she passed the first found of eliminations for NASA's Scientist/Astronaut progam. She worked for Republic Aviation during her days as an Aviation Engineer.

But Ms. Guthrie wanted a chance to fulfill her need for speed, so she turned more seriously toward racing.

Guthrie had started racing parttime in 1963. After she graduated from the University of Michigan. She was racing full time by 1972.

Ms. Guthrie competed for thirteen years in the Sports Car Club of America division. She also competed in international endurance races such as the Daytona 24 Hour, the Watkins Glen 500 and the Sebring 12 Hour. In the Sebring 12 Hour, she actually was first twice in class. In both the Daytona 24 and the Sebring 12 Ms. Guthrie's teammates were women.

It was in 1976 Ms. Guthrie was invited to drive at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This would be her first big break in auto racing. The team owned by Rolla Vollstedt failed to qualify for Indy that year.

It was also in 1976 that NASCAR came a calling. Bruton Smith trying to sellout the struggling World 600 sent some of his people to get a deal done with Ms. Guthrie. At first it seemed that Ms. Guthrie would not becoming to Charlotte. But in the end, a deal was struck and Ms. Guthrie headed for Charlotte.

Bruton arranged for a car to be bought, through the names of three organizations.  Trying to hide the fact that he was the actual car owner.

He arranged for Ralph Moody to be the crew chief and he even got Kelly Girl to sponsor the car. Lynda Ferreri of First Union Bank, was to play the role as car owner.

One story has it, that when Ms. Guthrie first shook hands with Richard Petty, she thought that she would get frostbite. Most of the good ole boys of NASCAR did not want a woman in their racing league.

It was later quoted that Richard Petty said, "'She's no lady. If she was she'd be at home. There's a lot of differences in being a lady and being a woman.'"

There was one owner who did not seemed to be put off by Ms. Guthrie trying her hand at NASCAR. That was Junior Johnson. At this same race, Cale Yarborough, was struggling as was Ms. Guthrie. Johnson told Yarborough's crew chief to give Yarborough's setup to Guthrie's crew chief.

Guthrie would qualify 27th for the World 600.

She finished 15th in that race. Ms. Guthrie went on to compete in four more races that year.

The historical point in this race for women was that Ms. Guthrie became the first woman to every compete on a NASCAR Cup Superspeedway.

In 1977 Guthrie competed in her first Daytona 500. She finished 12th after the engine in her car blew two cylinders with ten laps to go. In this race, she earned the honor of Top Rookie. Guthrie would compete in 33 races over four seasons. Her best finish in Cup racing as a sixth place finish.

1977 was a historical year for women. In that this was the first time a woman had qualified and competed in both the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500 in the same year.

Guthrie finished 29th in the Indy 500, once again, engine problems would keep her from having a top 10 finish in one of the two biggest races in auto racing.

Guthrie would go on and compete in two more Indy 500s. Her best finish came in 1978 when she finished 9th. Guthrie competed in 11 IndyCar events finishing as high as fifth.

Guthrie's helmet and race suit can be found in the Smithsonian Institution.

Guthrie's Awards:
1980 International Women's Sports Hall of Fame
2006 International Motorsports Hall of Fame

Guess the quote best summons up not only Ms. Guthrie's experience in NASCAR, but of most women's experience in racing in general:

"There has been a big change in reaction to me. The hostility has cooled down quite a bit. I think the worst is over. The initial reaction to me was one of a lack of respect. What you really need is endurance. And some tests show women have more endurance than men. But that is not the point. I'm not trying to establish the superiority of one sex over another. I'm good driver but no superwoman. What I'm trying to emphasize is that a driver is primarily a person, not a man or a woman, and a great deal or driving is mental. You can not afford to get angry behind the wheel. A good driver needs emotional detachment, concentration , good judgment, and desire."--Guthrie on the subject of women competing in NASCAR

http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/05
/26/jguthrie.women.nascar/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Guthrie
http://www.informationdelight.info/encyclopedia/e
ntry/TV/Janet_Guthrie
photo from: http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/05/
26/jguthrie.women.nascar/index.html

It's Time For Charity Race:

Prelude to the Dream

On Wednesday, June 4, 2008, a small little town in Ohio, will become the center of attention in the racing world.

Twenty-six of the best drivers in the United States will gather together to raise money for sick kids. They will use their skills behind the wheel to try and win a race that will provide money for Victory Junction Camp, Drive for Autism and the Tony Stewart Foundation.

It is the fourth annual, "Prelude to the Dream". It is being held at the historic track, Eldora, in Rossburg, Ohio.

Tony Stewart the track owner, will be hosting the race for some of his NASCAR friends, and friends from other racing forms.

Stewart started the charity race event back in 2005. That night seventeen drivers raced in the event. Kenny Wallace won the inaguaral race.

The following year (2006) Tony Stewart won the race. Last year Carl Edwards held off a hard charging Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon to take home the win.

The charity race was telecast last year for the first time on HBO Pay Per View. Once again, this year, the charity race will be telecast lived on HBO Pay Per View.

Stewart hopes to raise over $1 million for Victory Junction Camp and his own foundation.

Drivers scheduled to appear are: from  NASCAR, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Dave Blaney, Carl Edwards, Bill Elliott, Ray Evernham, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Robby Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, David Reutimann, Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace;

From the NHRA: Ron Capps and Cruz Pedregon. And legendary driver Red Farmer.

So if you don't have tickets to the charity race, check it out on pay per view. It will be well worth the price.

Women Racers of NASCAR:

Ethel Flock Mobley

Ethel Mobley was born Ethel Flock on March 8, 1920 in Fort Payne, Alabama. She was a part of the Famous Flock Family of NASCAR. Her father named her Ethel after the gasoline he used in his taxi.

Ethel's brothers Tim, Fonty and Bob Flock are all NASCAR pioneers. Ethel married Charley Mobley, who fielded her brother Tim's car in the NASCAR modified series.

Ethel was tied with Louisa Smith as the second woman in NASCAR. Ethel first competed  in NASCAR in what is now the Cup series, on the beach of Daytona.

It was here on the beach of Daytona that Ethel would compete against her brothers. The event was held on July 10, 1949. It was the first feature race to ever have a brother and sister compete against each other. And the only NASCAR feature event to have four siblings competing against each other.

Ethel finished 11th that day on the beach. Out racing two of her brothers, Fonty and Bob. Tim finished the race in second place. The only other start for Ethel in a NASCAR top level race was at Langley Speedway where she finished 44th.

Even though Ethel did not participate in more than two of NASCAR's top level races. She raced in more than 100 races. Mostly at the new Atlanta Speedway built in 1948 by Bob Flock. She drove a modify car owned by her brother Fonty.

Ethel Flock Mobley died on June 26, 1984 at the age of 64.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Smith

photo from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
~mobley/judsonGordonMobley.html

Women Racers of NASCAR:

Louisa Smith

Louisa Smith was born on July 31, 1916 in Barnesville, Georgia.  But she lived most of her life in Greenville, S.C. She was married to the late Noah Smith, who did not approve of his wife's job. They never had any children together.

Louisa was tied with Ethel Mobley as the second woman to ever race in NASCAR at its top level. Louisa had the nickname. "Good ole Gal." But Louisa would become known to those in the sport as "the first lady of racing."

Louisa was what they called a barnstormer who ran races for $100 to $150  in first prizes and some extra appearance money. She mixed with such legends as Curtis Turner, Ralph Earnhardt, Bill Snowden, Buddy Shuman and Buck Baker.

In 1947, Louisa Smith went to Daytona Beach, to watch the race on the beach. She drove there in her husband, Noah's new Ford Coupe. Not happy to just sit and watch the race, Louisa decided to join in the race. So she entered her husband's new car into the race. But the results were not what she had hoped for. Louisa rolled the new car. On the bus ride home, Louisa created a story to tell Noah about how the car had broken down. But little did she know that the news would beat her home.

Before Louisa could return home, the news of her wreck had made the front page of her hometown paper. When she got home, Noah asked her, "Where's the car, Louisa?" Her reply, "That ol' trap broke down in Augusta (GA)." Noah showed hre the newspaper. There on the front page was the wrecked car.

Now Bill France Sr. realized that he had something special in Louisa. So against the objections of her husband, Louisa became a regular on the NASCAR circuit. She would travel to Canada the northeast of the United States. In hopes that she could draw attention to the young stock car organization.

Louisa raced from 1949 to 1956. During that time she won 38 races. In formats such as the late models, modifieds where she had 28 victories, midgets and sportsman. She never won any in NASCAR. Her best finish was in a NASCAR race was 16th in 1949 at Langhorne, Pa. Over three years she ran 11 Cup races. Her last Cup race was in 1952 at Morristown Speedway.

She retired from racing in 1956. Even though she stepped out of the car, she never left the sport that she loved. She became very involved in helping to promote the local tracks and sponsoring cars.

She was very active at the track in Darlington, S.C. It was here that she was the grand patron. She resigned from this postion in 1989 after serving more than a decade.

Louisa returned to competition in 1971 as a car owner for numerous drivers. She sponsored Ronnie Thomas at his attempt fro Rookie of the Year in 1978.

Louisa Smith died of cancer on March 4, 2006. She was 89 years old.

Awards for Louisa:
1999 Inductee in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
Member of the Living Legends Racing Club in Daytona Beach
Member of The Old Timer's Racing Club in Archdale, North Carolina
Member of the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame.

http://www.legendsofnascar.com/Louise_Smith.htm<
/a>

http://www.nascar.com/2002/kyn/women/02/02/Smith
/

Photo from http://www.legendsofnascar.com/Louise_Smith.htma>

The Women Racers of NASCAR

Sara Christian

There has been so much talk here lately about how NASCAR needs its own Danica Patrick. And it got me to thinking about how many women actually had competed in NASCAR.

As I did my research I came across a few names that I knew and a few that I did not know. Before there ever was a Danica Patrick, there names such as Janet Guthrie, Louisa Smith and Ethel Mobley.

Even though these women never did win a NASCAR sanctioned race, one of them did get a pole in the Busch (now the Nationwide) series, one did get a top 5 finish and a top 10 finish.

Some of these ladies went on to be have very successful careers in other forms of racing, just not in NASCAR.

So in honor these women in NASCAR, I am going to try and pay a proper tribute to them over the next few blogs. I hope that you enjoy these tributes and maybe you will learn something new about the sport that we all enjoy.

Sara Christian                 

Do you know who the first woman to compete in NASCAR was? Well I thought I did until I did alittle digging. I always thought that Janet Guthrie was the first woman. Well I was wrong.

Sara Christian gets that honor. She was the first woman to ever drive in NASCAR.

Sara Christian was born in 1918 in Dahlonega, GA. She was married to Frank Christian. It was a car owned by her husband Frank, that she qualified in her first race.

Sara qualified in the first ever NASCAR sanctioned race in Charlotte, NC, at the Charlotte Speedway, on June 19, 1949. She qualified 13th in a Ford with the number #71 on it. This was the first pure stock race. 

This race was held before the famous Duel on the Beach at Daytona Beach Road Course, in Daytona Beach, Fla.

There were 33 cars in the field that day. Sara began the race in 13th. At some point in the race, Sara turned her car over to Bob Flock who was out of the race, due to an expired engine. Flock drove the Christian #71 Ford to a 14th place finish, when it developed an overheating issue.

On  July 10, 1949 Sara was in Daytona Beach to compete in the Daytona Beach road course. This would be Sara's second race. Sara's car number for this race was the number 17. She finished 18th in this race.

This race had several historical points in it. First and foremost it was the race that really got NASCAR started. There were only 28 cars in the field that day. Two of those cars were driven by Sara and her husband Frank. Making them the only married couple to ever compete against each other in NASCAR history. Frank finished sixth in this race.

This race also showcased two other female drivers: Ethel Mobley and Louisa Smith. Making it the first time three women ever competed in a NASCAR sanctioned race.

Sara's fourth race came at Langhorn Speedway. Sara became the first woman to earn a Top 10 finish. Sara finished sixth that day.

An interesting tidbit about this race was, that the race winner, Curtis Turner, invited Sara into Victory Lane with him.

Also making the field that day, was Ethel Mobley and Louisa Smith. This would be the last time three women would compete in the same race in NASCAR.

Sara's fifth race was at Heidelberg Raceway in Pittsburg, PA. She finished fifth in this race. It would mark the only time a woman would finish in the Top 5 in a NASCAR race.

In 1949, Sara raced in six of the eight events held. She finished 13th in the points standings.

Sara competed in only one event in 1950. The race was held at Hamburg Speedway, Hamburg, NY. She finished 14th that day. This would be her final race. She retired from racing after this race.

She died in 1980 of natural causes. She would have been 62 years old.

Special Achievements by Sara Christian:

In 1949 she was named the 1949 United States Driver Association Woman Driver of the Year.

She was inducted into the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame in 2004.

Her career conisted of 7 races over two years. One top 5 finish and two top 10s.

References:

Photo of Sara Christian: http://www.onebadwheel.com/blog/archives/2008/01/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Christianp>

http://www.onebadwheel.com/blog/archives/2008/01/

http://www.laidbackracing.com/TheOldDays/FirstLad
ies.html

Photo by AP/Gerry Broome

Goodbye D.J.!

Thanks for the Memories

Dale Arnold Jarrett born November 26, 1956 in Newton, North Carolina to Ned and Martha Jarrett.

Jarrett graduated from Newton-Conover High School in 1975. He was offered a full golf scholarship from the University of South Carolina which he declined.

Instead in 1977 he decided to go racing. His first race was at Hickory Motor Speedway. Mr. Ned Jarrett owned and operated the track at the time. Dale started dead last. But he did not finish there. His finish was 9th in his first race.

Dale raced in the Limited Sportsman Division at Hickory until 1982 when he moved to the NASCAR Busch Series.

When Dale Jarrett moved to the Busch Series he drove the #24/#32 Fords of Horace Isenhower.

Dale was in the Busch series 1982-1987.

In 1984 D.J. made his Cup debut driving the #02 Chevrolet for Emanuel Zervakis. He made two more Cup starts that season the Firecracker 400 for Jimmy Means and the Warner W. Hodgdon American 500.

Jarrett got his first Busch win at Orange County Speedway  in 1986. In his final full time season in Busch, DJ. won his second race at Hickory.

In 1987 D.J. replaced driver Tommy Ellis in the #18 Chevrolet of Eric Freelander. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year to Davey Allison.

From 1988-1990 Jarrett ran all the races for several different owners, including Cale Yarborough.

In 1990 the Wood Brothers Racing offered him the ride in their #21 Citgo Ford. Neil Bonnett began the season driving for the Wood Brothers, but due to an injury, he had get out of the car. And D.J. climbed in.

In 1991 D.J. started the season with the Wood Brothers Racing team. Where he won his first Cup race at Michigan Intenational Speedway.

But in 1992 a new face came into Cup racing. That face was Joe Gibbs. Gibbs offered Dale Jarrett the job of racing in his #18 Interstate Battery Chevy. And D.J. left the Wood Brothers to help Gibbs build his team from the ground up.

1992 proved to be a building year for the young Gibbs team. But in 1993 the tables would turn for Dale Jarrett and the young Gibbs Racing team.

D.J. gave Gibbs their first and only Daytona 500 (to date) that year. While Ned Jarrett was in the booth calling the action on the track. D.J. did everything his dad said to do over the tv broadcast. It was if Ned was in constant communication with his son on the track. But that was not so.

D.J. was just taught every well by his dad Ned.

D.J. and Gibbs would only have one more season together and would only win one more race. That final win together came in 1994 at the Mello Yello 500.

D.J. went to race at Robert Yates Racing in 1995.  Stepping into the #28 Texaco Ford for the injured Ernie Irvan. D.J. won his third career win at Pocono and the first win with his new team.

In 1996 Ernie Irvan returned to the #28. Robert Yates put together a second team for D.J. The #88 Quality Care & Ford Credit. After a deal for Dale to start his own team with Hooters as the sponsor fell through.

D.J. would go on to win the Daytona 500 (1996, 2000) two more times. The Brickyard (1996, 1998) the Coke 600 (1996) just to name a few of the big races he has won.

In 1999, D.J. gave Robert Yates their first and only championship. Robert Yates Racing had been in the championship hunt with two other drivers before, Davey Allison (1982-1992) and Ernie Irvan (1994-1997). But due to injuries and the lost of a driver, Yates never saw a championship with these two drivers.

Jarrett's last win came in 2005 at Talladega Superspeedway.

2006 would be the last year that D.J. would drive for Robert Yates Racing.

In 2007 D.J. and UPS left Yates Racing and joined forces with Toyota and Michael Waltrip Racing.

In 2008 D.J. announced that he would hang up his driving shoes. To go to the broadcast booth full time.

D.J. retires tonight after the All Star Race in Charlotte. He has 32 wins, 163 top 5s, 260 top 10s. And one championship.

Dale thank you for the memories. As a native Tarheel, I am proud to call you a Tarheel native. You gave North Carolina its last NASCAR Championship won by a  native tarheel son.

Dale enjoy your time with your family. You have worked hard to deserve this time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Jarrett
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brickyard_400
http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/photo?slug=2fea416
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Photo by AP Photo/C.J. Driggers

Darlington: Too Tough To Tame

The Southern Lady

and her Suitors

Darlington has received the nickname of "Too Tough To Tame" and "The Lady in Black" for a reason.

This Southern Lady loves to tease a suitor (driver) into thinking they are taming her. And just when that suitor (driver) thinks he has the Lady on his side, she reaches out and slaps him into the wall.

Photo by AP Photo/Virginia Postic

This lady does not care who she slaps. Whether he is the points leader, a veteran, the current champion or a young rookie. If she feels that you are getting to confident in your run. She will put you into the wall.

This year the lady has a new shiny surface. She is looking alot better than she has in years. Though she is looking alot better, she still has the same old attitude.

Granted her surface is alot kinder to the tires. But her curves (turns) are still very hard on all those suitors (drivers).

Every race there is usually one suitor (driver) who treats her like a true Southern Lady and she in returns allows him to be victorious.

Last night in the Nationwide race there was many who thought they had this savvy old Southern Lady on their side. But there is only one she had taken a shine too. (Could it be because he said on his radio show* on Tuesday, that he likes older women? lol)

She was courting him all the way to Victory Lane. She took care of any of his opponents who might try to steal away his thunder.

Some she didn't allow to even get into the show: Denny Hamlin. Others she allowed to make it. But when they got too close to her suitor, she used her turns and walls to slap them out of the race: Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Mark Martin were just among of the few of the suitors she took care of.

Last night her chosen suitor was the driver of the #20 Old ####e Toyota Camry, Tony Stewart. Many times before he had tried to charm this lady. But each time she chose someone else.

But last night Smoke wooed this lady and she liked the way he treated her. And she allowed him to be the Victor of her.

But this lady is fickle, like most Southern ladies. She likes to be the center of attention. And tonight there will be 43 more suitors who will come a calling. Trying to woo her into letting them be the one who stands in Victory Lane.

Smoke will try again tonight to win her heart. Will he be able to charm her once again or will he do something to make her mad? Will someone else be the victor? Only time will tell.

But for at least one night, Tony Stewart won this lady's heart and he stood in Victory Lane. A winner at Darlington.

Photo by AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastin

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/photo?slug=3c693b
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http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/photo?slug=2ad76a
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http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/photo?slug=3154f0
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*Tony Stewart Live on Sirius Radio

 Update on Father in Law:
Things are still pretty much the same. The swelling is becoming more of a problem. His feet are staying swollen all of the time now. His feet look like they could burst. The swelling in his stomach is becoming larger as well. His feet appeared to me today that they looked bluish. But this could have been do the swelling.

But to look at  him and hear him, you would think he was doing well. He is still eating well. But we all know that any day things could change for the worse.

 He told my husband last week that he was coming home next month. But the doctors are telling him, he will not be coming home again. He needs 24  hour medical care. So today when we went to see him, he was talking as if he realizes know that he is not coming home.

Thank everyone again for all the prayers, kind words and your thoughts. They really do help to get us through these trying times.

One Question:

Dale Jr. Did You Make The Right Decision?

You just never know what will happen during a restrictor plate race. I thought last week's race at Talladega was pretty good. Did not hear of anyone being upset with anyone, well, not until today.

Now I know why Kyle Busch was more than happy to make room for Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick.

I just got through reading this blog by Jay Hart of Yahoo! Sports "The Real World: NASCAR Style". *

I read it with interest. As how Jeff Gordon was upset with Dale Earnhardt Jr. who did not help him during last Sunday's race. And according to the blog, Earnhardt Jr. actually went to Gordon and apologized for not going with him.

What? Are you kidding me? Why in the world would Dale Jr. have to go to Gordon and apologize? Jr. decided to make a move that he thought would put him in a better position to win. While Gordon had decided that he would run 3rd or 4th. Because he did not want to be up front  at that point.

So why is it not okay for Earnhardt Jr. to do the same thing for himself?

Call me crazy, but if Gordon, Johnson or Mears expect Earnhardt to run behind them and not try to win the race, Earnhardt Jr. is in for along, unhappy run at Hendrick.

Maybe someone needs to sit Mr. Gordon down and explain to him how being teammates work. You work together whenever possible throughout the race. But when it comes to go for the win, it is every man for himself. Not me and my teammate.

Dale Jr. all I can say for you is this: Remember Kyle Busch was with this organization last year. And he only won what 1, 2 races all year? And this year he is with Joe Gibbs organization. Nine races into this season and Busch already has 2 wins in Cup. 3 wins in Nationwide Series and 2 in the Truck series. And Dale Jr. has no Cup points wins. Not sure about the Nationwide series, but I think he has none there also. And he doesn't run the Truck Series.

I have just one question: Dale Jr. are you sure you made the right decision?

*http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_t
he_marbles/post/The-Real-World-NASCAR-style;_ylt=A
rP8W3.KS.xwrYtkQPghPynov7YF?urn=nascar,80601<
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First let me just say "Thank you to everyone who has left kind words, and for all the prayers that have been spent up on the behalf of my father in law and my family. He is still holding on. He still has the will to live. He has not given up the fight. He is weak though and he is having alot of pain. He is still under the care of Ho####e. And everyone of the nurses at the Ho####e Home have been very kind to him.

So thank you again.

Now on to this week's big news:

Will He Stay Or Will He Go?

Or Is Smoke Sending Up A Smoke Screen?

Two weeks ago the big stories of NASCAR were, how well Kyle Busch was doing. How well the Toyotas were performing. What is wrong with the Hendrick teams of Gordon and Johnson? When will Dale Jr. finally win?

Would Carl Edwards team get caught cheating again? Could anyone win at a mile and half other than Carl Edwards?

Then last week the Cup guys took the week off. And Indy Racing was at the forefront with with the gas mileage win by Danica Patrick.

But as this week started, little news bits about a possible team ownership for Tony Stewart started leaking out. And I thought uh oh, here we go again. Tony still has over a year and half on his current contract and the rumors have already started.

But then as the week went along. This rumor kept developing. Then on Thursday Tony Stewart made it official that he was "entertaining" offers from other car owners to be their driver. And he was even "entertaining" the idea of owning his own Cup team. Tony Stewart a Cup Series car owner? I sat there scratching my head.

I thought he had always said, that being a car owner in NASCAR was not an option. Because NASCAR was too political.

Did Tony Stewart undergo a NASCAR sanctioned transformation during the Easter break? When Smoke got his back waxed and his hair cut did he undergo a lobotomy at the same time?

I mean this talk of becoming a Cup car owner is just so out of characteristic for Stewart that it makes one stop and ponder what kind of deal has really come his way.

Stewart has been with Gibbs Racing since 1998 in the former Busch Series. Other than Gibbs there has only been one other team that he has driven for. And that team was owned by Harry Rainer.

Gibbs has stuck by Stewart through good and bad times. Even times when any other owner would have kicked his butt to the curb.

So I got to wondering what are some of the pros and cons that Stewart might be weighing to make his decision. Remember this is only MY SPECULATION NOTHING ELSE.

Pro for Staying with Gibbs:
A guaranteed seat for as long as he wants, well as long as they can make seats to fit him.

Keep his current championship winning team intact, well at least until Zippy says He has had enough of babysitting Stewart.

He will still be the Senior Citizen driver at Gibbs, shoot he can drive in NASCAR while he draws his Social Security pension if he wants.

He will still be apart of a top caliber organization, well at least until Toyota perfects the Fan Control and then it will not matter who is in the car. Any #### can drive the car then.

No need to change his business cards, because he still has enough from his first order back in 1999. He receives them, not gives them.
No need to go out and try to get new sponsors, because everyone wants him to be their bad boy.

No need to build a team from scratch, because trying to build a team with flour and yeast, will be quiet messy.

My Father In Law

As many of you know, My father in law has bladder cancer. Back in 2006, he went through a really tough spot. And we thought that he was not going to make it. But his will to live was stronger than the cancer.

And my one thought for the New Year of 2007 was that, he could have one more Christmas with his family. Well we got that one more Christmas. And we have had an additional three and half months, and counting.

A couple months back we got in touch with our local Ho####e, and they agreed to come in and prove him with a help for a couple hours a day.

And everything appeared to be going well. He was eating well. But I had been noticing the last couple weeks that he looked like his face was swelling. But I was being told that he was just putting on weight.

Well this past Tuesday, I called home to check on him. He didn't sound right. He told me he was sick. And you could tell in his voice that something was not right. So I got on the phone and got to calling people who could get to him faster than I could.

His youngest daughter got to him. When she got to the house, what she found made us know something was not right. So when the ho####e worker came in. They checked him and told my sister in law that he was okay. She called me back, and I told her, that he was not okay. That she needed to get him to the hospital ASAP.

Well to make a long story short, finally my husband and his sister were able to get him to the hospital. When the hospital ran tests on him, we found out that his organs were starting to shut down.

The tests also showed that his cancer has spread past his bladder. It has gotten into his stomach and it is eating through it. The doctor has told us he has about 2 weeks.  He will going to the local Ho####e home here on Monday. For now he is still in the hospital.

So I thank God for the time he gave us with him. But he is ready to go home. He is tired of fighting and I only want what he wants.

Please keep us in your prayers. And thank you and I love and appreciate each and everyone of you.

I just want to say thanks to Gunaquat for keeping everyone updated with what was going on with my family. I read everyone's comments left on his blog. And I wanted to let everyone know what was going on first hand. And to thank everyone personally for your prayers and thoughts. 

The next few weeks are going to be grueling. But I know that God will take care of my father in law. And when it is time for him to go home to his reward, God will call him. And he is ready to go. My mother in law is waiting for him. Along with my Grandfather (they were friends) and my Grandmother.

So to my family, I love you and we will get through this together.