Well, the 2003 season's history now.  I'm a little blue about it, to tell you the truth.  But February and Daytona are only a couple of months away, so the action will be starting up again soon.

 

Of course the action in NASCAR never really stops.  There will be driver changes, crew changes, etc. over the next couple of months, so JC will be watching and writing about it. 

 

This has been a good season for NASCAR.  We've had a new guy come in and stand up and win the championship.  Congratulations to Matt Kenseth and the entire #17 crew.  You guys did a great job, and you and Jack Roush deserve this championship.  Enjoy it during the short off-season.

 

Congratulations to all the top 25 teams that will win money and especially congratulations to all the top 10 guys that will be in New York next month.   It's been a hard fought season, and you all should enjoy the rewards you are due.

 

Coming up soon in this column, JC will pour out his heart about how he really feels about the various teams and drivers of NASCAR.  This will come straight from the heart, and I will pull no punches.  I plan to take the teams number by number, and tell you what I think about them.  If you're an occaisional NASCAR fan, or whether you've got a lot of opinions, this is your chance.  I'm going to lay it all out on the line, but I'll try to be fair! 

 

Until next time,

 

Sorry for not doing a new piece for this site for a while, but I really haven't had a lot to say.  I've been watching or listening to each race, and am happy that we have a brand new Winston Cup champion, Matt Kenseth.  Matt seems like a great guy, and he's driven a very smart season.  Matt, Robbie Reiser, and Jack Roush deserve all the credit that they are due.  Great season, guys!

 

There are lots of new rule changes in NASCAR.  Some of them I think were warrented, but a few leave me scratching my head.  NASCAR still seems to enforce the "rule book" when and if they choose.  I was glad to see Jeff Gordon get penalized a lap for being too rough on Ryan Newman today at Rockingham.  But I have to ask, where was NASCAR in all the other races where Jeff did the same thing?

 

Another rule I'm not so sure about is the so called Lucky Dog rule.  Giving a lap back, under any circumstances is NOT racing.  Sorry, but I just don't see it.  I'm glad that Dale Jarrett didn't get hurt in that race, but sorry... Still don't see it.  Racing is racing.   It's all about who gets to the flag first.  Don't misunderstand me, I don't want to put any driver's life in danger, but giving a lap back is not racing.

 

Congratulations to Matt Kenseth, Jack Roush, Robby Reiser, and the entire racing family at Roush Racing.  They ran an awesome season, and they deserve the championship.

 

Until next time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, now that most of the Spencer/Busch controversy has died down, it now appears that we have a new feud:  Harvick/Rudd.

 

There are a lot of things I could say about this, but I won't.  All I ask is that those of you who are willing to blame Harvick for this deal, just remember how Ricky badmouthed the 28 team (his team) last year which led to he and Elliot Sadler changing places.  If you don't think Ricky's got a mouth on him, then think again.  If you don't think Ricky's got a bad attitude, then spend some time looking at the replay of the hit he put on Harvick.  Kevin's crew was wrong for jumping on Rudd's car, and maybe Kevin himself was wrong for taking this to pit road instead of the garage, but Ricky Rudd probably had the best ride of his life last year, and he did nothing to save it.  It's as if he wanted to go from a top team to an also ran.

 

Can anyone catch Matt Kenseth?  It really doesn't look like it.  Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been plagued by bad luck lately, and of course the guy who would have been in 2nd place in points, Kevin Harvick, was knocked out of contention by a guy that is 25th in points.  Matt's had a few problems of late too, but none so bad that they keep him out of a top-10 or at least a top-15 finish.  And under the present points system, it's not winning that counts, it's finishing consistently up front.  It's as if this points system was designed with Kenseth in mind.  He's a very low profile driver, he doesn't say much, but he does get the car around the track.  It looks like the big race this season will be for 2nd on back.

 

Another September 11th has come and gone, and if you listen to the mainstream media, you'd think that this country had been taken over by a dictator and that we lost the war in Iraq.  The fact is, and this has been documented by many members of the armed forces serving in Iraq, that the average Iraqi is overjoyed that they can now be free.  They now have more electricity, thanks to the Army Corps of Engineers than they've ever had.   They now have more fresh water, and for better or worse, more contact with the outside world via the media.  There are a few cells of idiots out there that are still killing US soldiers, but everyday the good guys eliminate a few more of them.  And as for WMD's?  As one Army major put it, forget about them.  There were more conventional weapons stockpiled in that country to destroy every major population center in this country and Canada.  And this is a country the size of Texas.  And I am unashamed to support our president.  He's not everything I wish he was, but he's been a great war president.  When it comes right down to it, this was just phase 2 in the war against terrorism.  Whether Saddam had major ties with Osama bin Laden or not, he was still one of this worlds worst terrorists.  I can only hope that Arafat is next.  He's the world's most loved terrorist, at least in this country.  But a terrorist he is, and if you ask the average Israeli on the street, they would tell you that the world would be much better without him.

 

I know you don't hear about this when you watch the news at night, but if you look carefully, you'll find out that this situation is far from being out of control.  The fact is, nearly 60 years after the fact, the US still has forces in Germany and Japan.  The US rebuilt those countries after World War II.  Iraq will be rebuilt, and God willing, it will be free.

 

This is of a local nature, but I live about 15 miles away from Clemson University.  This past week, we lost the voice of the Clemson Tigers of the past 36 years, and even though I've never been a diehard Clemson fan, I will miss Jim Phillips.  His was a voice that will be missed.  Anyone who grew up in the Upstate area of South Carolina knew Jim, if not personally, by his ever present voice.  Jim broadcast over 400 Clemson football games, and over 2000 sports events overall for the university.  As one local sportwriter has said, I'm sure that the first thing that Jim did when he got to Heaven was look up Coach Howard, who originally employed Jim, and the two of them are reliving old times together.  God rest you, Jim Phillips.  We'll miss you.

 

Well, I'm a little slow getting around to this, but I wanted to get my thoughts straight before I started typing.

 

As the transcripts of the radio conversations between Kurt Busch and his team became available, I had to change my opinion of the now infamous "fight" between Kurt and Jimmy Spencer following the Michigan race. 

 

One fact has become increasingly clear:  Kurt Busch is not a very nice guy.

 

His obvious tactics, which he has since tried to justify, to damage the car driven by Spencer, backed up by the smoking gun of the radio transcript, paint a picture of an absolute brat of a Nascar race car driver.

 

Kurt has been roundly condemned for his part in this deal, by much better sources than me:  his fellow drivers.

 

Kurts antics in the car are becoming legendary, and for all the wrong reasons.  Saturday's late race punt of Sterling Marlin's car just exemplify why a lot of people are not happy with Kurt Busch.

 

In Saturday's post-race comments, Kurt actually had the gall to talk about his current situation in terms of how the late Dale Earnhardt might have looked at it.  Said Busch : "Dale Sr. told me that the guy that's got the most noise wins."  As for his obvious hit on Spenser at Michigan, Kurt said tried to explain it away as "strategy".... I'm sorry, folks, that just doesn't cut it.  I've never heard of another driver going out just to hit another car, unprevoked.  It just isn't done.

 

I think the wrong guy sat out this race.  What Jimmy Spencer did wasn't right, but neither was what Kurt did.  If justice were to be served fairly,  Kurt will not complete one lap of the Southern 500, and Jimmy Spencer will win his first race in 9 years.

 

Kevin Harvick said it best:  "I hate losing to Rubberhead (Busch), I think he's learning what being a butthole will get you.  He's a cocky, arrogant punk.  He's got a really, really bad attitude."

 

I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

 

 

Well, the biggest news is the flap between Jimmy Spencer and Kurt Busch.  Well, ok.  Big deal. 

 

We've known this was brewing for a long time.  JC is going out on a limb here and saying exactly what he thinks.

 

Jimmy is an old timer, a guy that won a couple races, in 1994, and both at Talledega, to be exact.

 

Kurt is a so called young gun, a guy from Vegas, a high roller.  Big deal.

 

Kurt has the potential to win a lot of races.  He's already won more than Spencer has. Or probably ever will.  Kurt is an ass at times.   Maybe all the time, but I do know for a fact that he is sometimes.

 

During the Daytona 500, in 2001, the late great Dale Earnhardt's last race, Kurt was the recipient of the Intimidator's middle finger early in the great one's last race.  Kurt was a rookie then, and he deserved it.

 

If Dale was still around, I feel sure that Kurt would have received that same finger a few times more.  Kurt is an aggressive driver.  He sometimes does things that make no sense.  Sometimes he's an ass.  But Kurt wins races.

 

Jimmy Spencer doesn't win races.  Jimmy's been a contender to win, most lately during his famous scuffle with Kurt in 2002.   Kurt won, Jimmy didn't.

 

JC certainly can't condone violence in the infield of a racetrack after a race.  but JC has to say that the 150 lb. Kurt Busch probably deserved at least one punch in the face.  Kurt is an ass, don't forget.  Jimmy probably didn't need to get that violent with him, and at 230 lbs., Jimmy certainly had the advantage against a helmetless Kurt sitting in his car.

 

Fact is, JC hopes that both these drivers have learned a lesson.  Kurt shouldn't have been deliberately trying to wreck Jimmy.  Jimmy shouldn't have punched Kurt.   Jimmy got the worst of the deal, suspended from 3 races at Bristol that he was scheduled to race in.  But in light of things, it's probably best that both of these guys aren't on the track this weekend. 

 

In my humble opinion, I think both drivers should have been suspended.   Not because I think both were totally at fault, but bacause I think that this was totally stupid.  They could have worked it out in the best place to work these things out, Bristol.  But they won't get to.  Kurt Busch?  You should stay home too.  You still deserve that middle finger.  And Jimmy?  so do you.  Whether you're still in your 20's or your mid 40's, it's time to grow up.  You've both got big league rides now.  It's time for both of you to start acting like professionals.

 

 

Hey!  Hope you are well!  All is right now in JC's world!  Kevin Harvick won the 2003 Brickyard 400, one of the most watched races in NASCAR!  JC do be happy.  Real happy for Happy Harvick!

 

Ever since February, 2001, Kevin Harvick has had his work cut out for him.  The week after his mentor, Dale Earnhardt died tragically at Daytona, Kevin stepped into some really huge shoes for the next week's race at Rockingham, NC.  Kevin was currently running in the Busch Series, a man that Dale Earnhardt once told Richard Childress "If you don't hire him, I will."

 

Richard took Dale's advice, and hired Harvick.  Though he was not scheduled to run any Winston Cup races until possibly late in 2001, Kevin stepped into the job and the car that had made Richard Childress famous.  And a few weeks later, he won his first Winston Cup race at Atlanta.  Kevin Harvick is a racecar driver.   He's a competitor.  He's not Dale Earnhardt, but he's awesome in his own right.

 

Harvick has often been criticized for his agressive driving style.  He was "parked" last year at Martinsville for aggressiveness in a Truck race.  He's received a lot of criticism.  But there's a reason that Kevin Harvick was hand picked by none less that Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress.  He's a winner, and he's going to win a lot more.  A whole lot more.

 

In 2001, Kevin Harvick injected a little of his humor into his #29 team, the former team of the famous #3.  He earned a nickname, "Happy", because of his motivating spirit.  His on camera sparring matches with Darrell Waltrip are priceless and timeless.  He's a winner, pure and simple.

 

Kevin is still a very young man, with a wealth of racing experience behind him.  What's so different about him that made him a "must-have" by Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt?  I have a theory.  It's just a theory, but I think that Kevin Harvick is a little like a reincarnated Dale Earnhardt.  Dale was born and lived his entire life in Kannapolis, NC, for the most part.  Kevin is from Bakersfield, California, which has recently become a new hot spot for NASCAR.  Kevin has lived in a racing world his entire life, as did Dale.  Kevin is not a laid back southern boy, he's a laid back west coast boy.  But, I noticed one thing about Kevin, and even his wife, Delana, has commented on it.

 

Kevin Harvick seems to be developing a southern accent.

 

Welcome Home, Kevin!  We Love You!

 

 

 

A few thoughts about the future of NASCAR

 

First of all, let me offer congratulations to Nextel for picking up the flame and running with it.  For many of us, including me, it's going to take a lot of getting used to when referring to the Nextel Cup instead of the Winston Cup.  Winston has been an awesome partner with Nascar for much of my life, and I sincerely hope that Nextel will do as much for this sport as Winston did.

 

Now, my biggest criticism of Nextel.  Although I realize that Nextel is in a highly competitive business, I personally think it's a big mistake to ban any other company that competes with it.  I know, Alltel and Cingular are already grandfathered in, but what about AT&T?  They've been a primary sponsor on Kenny Schraeder's car for at least a few races this year, and sounded like it might want to get even more involved in the future. 

 

I, and probably you, can do without Carrot Top on any car, but the fact is, he's currently an AT&T spokesman.  A lot of teams have already been told that their primary sponsors are not going to be there next year.  Pennzoil will no longer be the primary sponsor of the #1 DEI car, currently driven by Jeff Green.  Sirius Satellite Radio will no longer be the primary sponsor of the #7 Dodge, driven by Jimmy Spencer.  Brett Bodine has already had problems, with his primary sponsor Hooters leaving him at the end of May.  Citgo will no longer sponsor the #99 Ford of Jeff Burton after this year.  In other words, Nascar fans, even at it's highest level, with the most bang for the buck, sponsors are not exactly flocking to Nascar right now.

 

Nextel is making this worse.  Nextel already has the series, their name will appear on every car, every hauler, every uniform.  They're paying their money, and their getting what they want:  Nextel will be plastered all over everything that even touches Nascar next year.

 

If Nextel is agreeing, at least for the time being, to continue allowing Alltel and Cingular to sponsor cars, what's the harm in allowing AT&T or any other wireless company in?  Nextel already has the premier spot in sponsorship.  Please don't run off other potential sponsors from a sport that badly needs them now!

 

Tell me what you think by e-mailing me at Kf4mgz@juno.com

 

 

Just a few random thoughts.  I've had a couple of you people (and you know who you are) giving me a really hard time about the Jimmy Spencer stuff on my home page.  Lighten up, will ya?  It's all done in fun, and Jimmy's just as important to me as Jeff Gordon, so don't blow a gasket over it.  Besides, I don't link to that many driver's sites, and Jimmy is linked on my home page.  Consider that an honor!  Jimmy get's my vote for being the driver that looks most like me anyway.  You have to understand, deep down in my heart, I've always wanted to be a driver.  I feel that as long as Jimmy is there, I've still got a shot!

 

We've got an off-week here, a relief to the drivers, crews, etc. but a real bummer to fans.  It is the last off-week this season, this last Winston Cup season probably ever.  I'm trying to get used to saying "Nextel Cup", but it's tough.

 

I don't have a poll up on this site yet, but I'm working on it.  In the mean time, how did you feel about Robby's pass of Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon coming back to the yellow?  Just e-mail me at Kf4mgz@Juno.com and I promise I'll read all of your responses.  It's possible that I may not respond to all 4 of them, but I'll read them anyway.

 

This website has grown a lot over the past couple of months.  JC's Nascar Page now has over 1500 hits, some coming from search engines, some from other links such as Starfox's awesome site DangOleWatch.itgo.com and a few others, such as the Nascar Lover's Webring.  Probably some of these people are really not happy at what they see here, but that's their problem.  For the few of you, the proud, the loyal JC readers, all I can say is that I appreciate all of you, and all your comments.  This is a work in constant progress, and I'm thrilled to hear that a couple of you at least check this site out daily.  I'm not a news source, such as Jayski or That's Racin, but I try to keep up to date.  On my front page I've now got links to what's hot in Nascar, etc.  This replaces the old page that I used to have, which just got impossible to keep up with.  There are a few missing links as well (am I the missing link?) but that happens because the target sites no longer are working or don't provide the service that I advertised (free of charge) for them.

 

I don't get paid for doing this site.  I wish I did, but I don't.  I'm just a fan, and like you I want a little entertainment in what I read on the web.  I know the jokes are stale, the pics have been here for a while, but if you paid me to do this, I'd be just like Jayski... sitting here in my chair for 15 hours a day providing you with all kinds of raw information.  Jayski is connected, and I'm not, so you'd still go to Jayski to read the latest news, rumors, etc. just like I do.  I'd be sitting here trying to think of witty things to say, and maybe I would.  Or maybe I wouldn't.

 

Last thing, just remember:  everyone that reads this is a Nascar fan, just like me.  My thoughts and opinions count just as much as yours do, so those of you that say you'll never click on my site again, just know, I have ways, and I know that you still check it out.  Lighten up on Jimmy.  He's one of the chosen, the few guys that ever get to that level.  I admire him for that.  Chip Ganassi has never asked me to drive his car.  Sirius has never offered to pay me money.  I admire Jimmy just as much as all the Jeff's in the sport!  Which is a lot, when it comes right down to it.  I'm a fan, and my talent apparently lies in the realm outside driving a NASCAR Winston (soon to be Nextel) Cup racecar.  I never want to see any of these guys hurt, or fail.... All of them, Jimmy, Jeff, Geoffrey, etc... they're all my heroes in one degree or another.  They all do something I wish I could but will never do.  Do I make fun of them?  Yes! Do I respect them all?  Yes.  Absolutely. Without question.  From Mr. Excitement, to the Bowhines, to the Gordongs.... I really do respect them all, no matter what I may say about them.  They are all a part of this sport too, just like the Earnhardts, the Pettys, the Allisons, the Marlins, etc.   They're doing what we want them to do.  Drive!

 

Until next time,

 

 

 

Looks like the Silly Season has started in earnest now.  Early this afternoon, Petty Enterprises announced that John Andretti had been released, and that Christian Fittipaldi was the new driver of the famed #43.

 

I guess it's not much of a surprise in a way.  In 5 years, Andretti had 1 win and 2 poles.  Fittipaldi has had much success in open wheel racing, even though his few Winston Cup starts have been anything but impressive.  The Pettys are saying that they feel that with a little more seat time, Fittipaldi should breathe a little life into a feeble Petty Enterprises team.

 

Other rumors from the last few days have Jeremy Mayfield as top choice in the #1, Mike Skinner will be out of the #4 at the end of the year, and of course Jerry Nadeau's future is still a matter of speculation for now.

 

It's a tense time of year for the drivers, the teams, the owners and the fans.  There's not word on what John Andretti's plans might be as of yet, and Mike Wallace, who's filling in for the injured Nadeau, is trying his best to make a good showing in hopes of landing a full time job.  There are of course several possibilities that WC teams might go fishing in the Busch Series for new drivers as well.

 

As always, at this point in the season, nobody knows what will happen by next week, much less next season.

 

One statistic I find interesting though is how the two Petty rides compare thus far this season.  Out of 14 races, John Andretti is currently 33rd in points.  He has only 1 top 10 finish this season.  His team mate (and Petty Enterprises Manager) Kyle Petty is currently 38th. in points, with no top 10's.  To be fair, Kyle has only started 13 races this season.  Obviously, Kyle is not going to get fired, but sometimes I wonder if maybe it's time for Kyle to step into a purely managerial role and leave Andretti alone and move Fittipaldi into the #45.

 

Just Wondering.....

 

Until Next time!

 

 

Sorry for being so slow, but I went to the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte.    went with Starfox.   we got rained on, which is a new but familiar thing lately.

 

 We got rained on, did our usual bad luck karma thing on the DEI and RCR boys.

 

Sorry, but we always do. First year we went, Jeff Burton won.  Second was Harvick... in his rookie season.

 

Second year, Mark Martin won...... oops... we let a Ford win.....

3rd year Jimmie Johnson won the Coca Cola 414....What's up with that?

 

All I can say is that Starfox is giving off bad karma or something.... it can't be me.....

 

Tell me what you think!

 

Be sure to read what Starfox has to say at Dangolewatch.itgo.com

 

A Few More Thoughts on Steve Park

 

Hi, everyone.  I know that this is probably spending too much time on this, but the latest "trade" between DEI and RCR has kept me thinking.

 

Steve Park was the first Winston Cup driver for DEI, hand picked by Dale Earnhardt.  Steve has won a couple of races, has won 3 poles.  Steve's also been involved in a few potentially devastating accidents.  At least 2 of them were devastating.

 

I went to Dale Earnhardt Day at DEI in Mooresville, NC on April 29, 2003.  Steve Park was one of the featured drivers, along with Dale Jr.  I have to admit.  I've been a Steve Park fan for a long time, but my favorable opinion of Steve was only reinforced by that visit.  On April 29, Steve talked frankly about his failures.  He was just coming off a 1st lap crash with Ryan Newman at California, after winning the pole there.  Steve was obviously disappointed, and wanted to have a great showing at Richmond.  As the record shows, that was not to be.

 

On April 29, 2003, Steve talked frankly about his early days at DEI.  He described what it was like working for Dale Earnhardt, about the experience of actually living with Dale and his family for a few months.  Steve described what it was like having Dale kick his bed at 5:00 AM, and waking to the new day by hearing Dale's voice asking "Hey Park, you gonna sleep all day?"  Steve described getting up, riding with Dale out to some back pasture, making sure the horses and cattle were where they needed to be, fed, watered, etc.

 

Steve Park is maybe the first hired hand at DEI that achieved greatness.  Only Steve knows how much he learned personally from the Great One.  Only Steve knows how much that ride in the #1 DEI Chevy meant to him.

 

Steve Park has embarked on a new venture, having been let go by DEI.  Steve is now the driver of the #30 American Online Chevrolet, driving for Richard Childress, the Great One's old car owner. 

 

I hope that Steve Park will achieve greatness in the #30.  Driving for Dale's old car owner, he's got a real shot.

 

Thanks Steve.  For all the great years at DEI, and for the great Earnhardt story.

 

 

Wow!  Silly Season has really begun!  About 12 hours after I put up my May 5th comments, Richard Childress fired Jeff Green.  I promise, Richard doesn't have my phone number!

 

I was glad to see that happen, but a bit dismayed when the next day, Dale Earnhardt Inc. released Steve Park and hired Jeff Green.  I'm not saying that Jeff Green can't be a good Winston Cup driver, I just don't think he's mature enough to handle it yet.

 

I'm a Steve Park fan, and though I hated seeing him lose his ride in the #1, I was very happy that he will be driving the #30 AOL Chevy.  I think he will make a much better team mate for Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon.  Steve has always been a team player, and he's a proven winner.

 

It was interesting to note that while Steve has a new ride, Jeff Green is listed as interim driver of the #1 car.  DEI has already announced that Ron Fellows will drive the #1 at Infineon and Watkins Glen.  Jeff doesn't sound too happy about that.  Jeff Green should be happy that anyone in Winston Cup is even talking to him right now.

 

Jerry Nadeau continues to improve.  He's now listed in fair condition.  I hope he will soon be able to return to the track.  Get well soon, Jerry!

 

 

 

Wow!  That was a good race Saturday Night at Richmond.  Congratulations to the #25 team on a job well done.  The #18 and the #8 Teams did great too.  and how about the #31?!?  4 laps down and finishes 4th!  And a big Atta-Boy to the #29 for hanging in there and getting RCR 2 top 10's.

 

But there seems to be trouble on the home front at RCR.  Jeff Green was running just in front of Kevin Harvick, when Jeff checked up and Harvick tapped him.  It happens.  It's unfortunate, because Jeff probably had a top 10, if not a top 5 car.  But it happens!  It was disappointing for any RCR fan to see.

 

What followed was to this fan an absolutely disgusting display of childishness.  Message to Jeff Green:  You're in the big league now, and it's time you grew up! 

 

As soon as Jeff was back in the pits, he ran to the #29 pit box and had an obviously heated discussion with Harvick's crew chief.  Then Richard Childress himself got involved.  Jeff and Richard reportedly had a heated discussion.  But the kicker was Jeff saying live on FOX that Harvick "was supposed to be his team mate" and that he was intentionally spun by Harvick.

 

FOX replayed the incident several times, and it is evident.  Jeff checked up a little more than Kevin expected.  Kevin was not on the gas.  Kevin tapped Jeff, not a really hard tap, but Jeff ended up in the wall.

 

To me, it's real simple.  Get po'd at any driver on the track, even if it is your team mate.  That's fine.  But if it is your team mate, and unless he just cost you the championship because of something really stupid, keep your mouth shut to the press!  To me, it was very unprofessional. 

 

In JC's humble opinion, Jeff Green is a brat who has no real Winston Cup credibility.  He's been largely an also ran driver for the nearly year and a half that he's been driving the #30 AOL car.  AOL has had enough negative press in the last several months, and I just hope that Jeff Green's childishness doesn't cost him and Richard Childress Racing a sponsor.  Richard could find another driver for the #30, and I hope he does soon.  Jeff Green needs to mature a little, maybe a lot.  And maybe a trip to the Busch Series will help to make that happen.  Green's behavior was unacceptable, as Kevin Harvick's has (arguably) been in the past.  Kevin Harvick has showed a lot of progress in learning from his mistakes. This time Jeff Green is clearly the loose cannon.

 

NASCAR Winston Cup racing is the Big League.  It's time to put a Big League driver in the #30 car.

 

 

What's a Perfect Diversion for any healthy NASCAR fan on a day in late April?  Why, go to Dale Earnhardt Day, of course!

 

My buddy Starfox (DangOleWatch.Itgo.com) and me jumped in his Little Red Rocket and off we went to Mooresville, NC Tuesday morning.

 

Let me tell you.  If you are an Earnhart, Dale Jr., Steve Park, Michael Waltrip, or just a NASCAR fan, DEI is an awesome place to visit.

 

We weren't there all day, but arrived in time to see Steve Park and Dale Jr.  They both did interviews taped for TV, answered questions for the fans, (several thousand) and threw out tee-shirts and hats into the crowd. 

 

After the interviews, we toured the DEI facilities, at least as much as they allow the public to see.  For and Eanhardt fan, it was an awesome experience.  Standing there looking at the display case which houses Dale's 7 Winston Cups is an experience that you will never forget, whether you're an Earnhardt fan or not.  Two of Dale's black #3's are there on display, as well as Mikey's 2001 Daytona 500 winning car, as well as Dale Jr.'s 2002 Talladega Million Dollar winning car.  Also on display are Dale's IROC cars, and Dale's personal immaculate 1957 Chevy.

 

My biggest regret:  I had no camera to take pictures, but rest assured that another visit to DEI and perhaps other NASCAR team shops is in the works, and will provide pics on this site.

 

 

 

29 April, 2003

 

And a big Howdy to you racing fans!  JC feels pretty good, and it's in honor of Dale Earnhardt Day.  Burn your headlights, Burn a candle.  Wear something black today.  (Sorry, Alan).   This day means a lot to us Dale Earnhardt Fans.   It's a day of remembrance, It's a day of just reliving memories.   It's a day of just thinking about how lucky we were, those of us that remember him doing what he did best, and that was winning races.  God Rest You In Peace, Dale Earnhardt.   And a little Irish saying, if I may.  God Bless All In This House.

 

 

27 April 2003

 

I'm writing this during the California race, so no conclusions as to how the race turned out.  I do want to say one thing though:   It's GREAT to be back racing again!  I've missed it this last week off.  I know the drivers, crews, etc. all need the time off, but for fans like me and you, it get's to be agony not having a race to watch!

 

These teams: crews, mechanics, owners, etc.     All of them are awesome!  What these guys go through every week is just simply an awesome achievement.  To do what these people do and win races takes an awesome amount of planning, execution, and just plain guts.  The committment it takes to just get out there and do what these guys do week in and week out is just amazing to many of us.   Have any of you ever imagine driving a racecar?  Have any of you ever imagined changing tires, being a gasman, being a fabricator or engine builder back in the shop?    I have... Every job there is to do on a NASCAR team, I've dreamed about it.  

 

I really don't think that many of these people have jobs just because they're qualified.  I don't think that many of these people have these jobs because it's a job.  No.  They do it because they love it.  Just like we, as fans, love it.  We watch for free, at least most of the time.  These people may make some good bucks, but they'd all give up all that to see their car in victory lane.   That's the essence of NASCAR.  Forget points.  Forget consistency.  Forget every damn thing there is except taking that checkered  flag!  That's what we're all we all are after!

 

 

16 April, 2003

 

Hey?  What's up?  I wish we had a race to watch on Sunday, but we don't, at least not a Cup race.  But we got some other things to talk about anyway.

 

The U.S. has dominated Iraq.  For those of you that don't know me very well, JC is not only a NASCAR junkie, he's also a news junkie.  I love hearing liberals scream!  lol..... It's just too funny.  Dan Rather?  obsolete.  Sorry, but it's true.

 

What's NASCAR gonna do about the yellow line?  What's Ford gonna do since they're phasing out the Taurus?    Good questions all, and if you've got any inside info, let me know.   Is Jeff Gordon gay?   only Jimmie knows.

 

Do you have a stump that needs to be removed?  Do you have a big boat that needs to be hauled?  Just let me know, I might finally have the vehicle to do it.  Ford F250, 351 cubic inches, geared for pulling.   7500 lbs. pulling power.    Don't handle too good with those big tall 16" tires, but I can still put Jack Sprague or Jimmy Spenser in the wall with it.

 

The lake is up, the spring is beautiful, and life in general is pretty good!   my buddy Starfox has an awesome website out there, if you want to know anything about Racin', Wrasslin', or UNC, just take a look!

 

Jr. got a concussion at California last year.  Let's Pray that Fontana, 2003 is a safe race.  Let's all continue to pray for our drivers, teams, etc. to have a safe season.  We love these guys, we want them around for a long time!

 

 

 

 

 

07, April, 2003

 

What good is the yellow line?

 

I'll admit up front.  I'm a Dale Jr. fan.  I've seen several drivers get screwed by the yellow line.  Sterling Marlin, Tony Stewart.  Kevin Harvick.  (Remember that?).... NASCAR found Jr.'s pass legal.  I have to admit, that from watching past races, I'm not sure why.  I like Dale Jr.  I'm glad he won, but I can see why some of the other drivers are upset.

 

I think that if you take the rule very literally, Jr.s in the clear... he was already in the act, remember, the ACT of PASSING when he went below the yellow line.  He did not go below to pass... he was already passing.  

 

He did have room beside his buddy Matt Kenseth to stay above the yellow line if he had so chosen to.

 

Why did he go below? Simple.  Jr., Kenseth, Johnson, Et Al were DRIVING ABOUT 185-190 MPH.    It's that simple.  What looks like 15 feet at 45 MPH must look like inches at 190.

 

Seeing a big yellow car coming at you under those circumstances had to be a shock.  What do you do?   Do you hold your line or do you set up another Big One, right in front of the field?  

 

The answer is simple.  You avoid the wreck.  You avoid it, yellow line be damned.  And you keep your right foot in the firewall, and you trust your luck.  and you hope, and you pray, that that big yellow car doesn't hit you.

 

Out of the corner of your eye, you see that the 17 is heading toward you, very quickly from the right.  What do you do?  Do you hold your line?  (Remember this is happening at 190 MPH).  Or do you steer left.  Do you steer slightly left and keep it nailed?  You've already got a run on that yellow car, your front wheels are already even with his rear wheels.  The answer is simple.  You steer a little left, try to stay out of a collision,  but you never even think about twitching your foot off that gas pedal.  If you race, that would never be an option.

 

 

You either lift or you keep it nailed.  If you lift, you're going to get spun.  There is another car right on your back bumper.  To lift means a loss.  It's that simple.

 

How simple is it?  Did he cheat?  No.... Did he get an advantage, Possibly.  If that had been Harvick, the 29 might have been black flagged.  If it had been Johnson, the 48 might have been black flagged.  If it had been the 24, would Gordon have been black flagged?   Hmmmmm... I wonder?!

 

16 March 2003

 

Open letter to NASCAR

 

Dear Sirs:

 

Did you see that race today?  Did you watch it?  Thank God for a race like that!  That's why NASCAR needs two Darlington race dates.

 

By far the best finish of this year, last year, any year in recent memory.  It was an awesome finish.  Sad part about it was that it was a "near" sellout.  Give us some time, Sirs, and we can guarantee you a sellout for both Darlington races.

 

Mr. Helton, I implore you.  Finishes at tracks like Indy and New Hampshire, Homestead, etc. are boring and tedious to watch.  Darlington is the Grand Old Lady of NASCAR, the Track that's Too Tough to Tame.  Darlington is NEVER like that. Don't shame this Grand Old Lady by taking a date away.

 

There are few racetracks that will provide you and me the entertainment that we saw today.... one of them is coming up next week, at Bristol, TN.   another one is Martinsville.  Another one is Richmond.  Another one is Rockingham.

 

I know that Darlington isn't a major market.  Far from it. But the track is unique.  Legends like Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough have won there. It's not another cookie cutter track.  It's unique.  So many young drivers have dreamed of beating this track.  Don't take it away from them. Like North Wilkesboro, please, please don't let Darlington become another weed filled track that whispers of legends.

 

Signed,

 

 Sincerely,

 

 A NASCAR fan and a South Carolinian.

 

 

13 March 2003

 

A little change of pace.  Question: Why do Rockingham and Darlington need two race dates a year?  Answer: (IMHO) Why do New Hampshire, Homestead, Indy, and both roadcourses need a date at all?

 

Ok, now that you know what I think, here's what's going to happen.  Darlington and Rockingham are old tracks, and to those of us who are NASCAR purists, sacrosanct.  But the powers that be at NASCAR are committed to making the sport nationwide.  That means that adding tracks in big markets like New York.  Period.  

 

Darlington is the grand old lady of NASCAR tracks.  But Darlington suffers, as does Rockingham from one big affliction:  Neither one of these tracks is located in or near a major TV market.

 

Wishing in one hand... well you know how the rest of that goes.   I truly would like to see Darlington and the Rock keep both their dates, but they won't.  And in the conventional wisdom, they can't.  I hate it, but that's a fact, Jack.

 

To make a drastic change of subject, I just noticed something.  Last night i did a disk cleanup on my pc, which means that my temporary internet file got wiped out.  This is the file that contains the infamous cookies, and a lot of other crap that we sooner or later decide to discard in favor of disk space.  Today when I accessed my own site, it took forever to get all the pics to load.  My question to you is:  Should I clean up my home page, get rid of the pics?  Or, should I just quit bitching and get DSL and join the 21st century? 

 

Let me know?!

 

6 March, 2003

 

Well, well, well.  It's been an interesting first 3 races.  Ford owners have been crying about being at a disadvantage, but the results don't show that.  Chevy has a new car, and the teams that run Chevys are still trying to figure out the package.  Ford can't really complain up to this point.  That's a fact.

 

Dale Jr. has been a contender in every race until he had mechanical problems or just ended up (like last week) out of contention because of the pit strategy.  Jr and his crew are committed this year..... The #8's a coming,  boys, she's coming on strong.  A real mystery is what's happening to the RCR cars?  They've settled into their new shops now, and it won't be a long time before the 29, 30, or 31 is back in victory lane. 

 

Jack Rousch is up to his old tricks again, namely winning races.  Jack has got a secret that all the other teams wish they had, and that's how to get drivers across the finish line before anyone else can.   Hat's off to Jack.  He's done wonders.  If he could get the same kind of consistency out of his 99 and 6 teams that he's getting out of his 97 and 17 teams, he'd be impossible to beat.

 

DEI, Inc. and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. have new websites now, Official ones, so I urge you to check them out.  You'll find links to both of them on my home page.  The DEI site is especially impressive.

 

Question.  Is Pontiac going to be here in a couple of years?  There's not many teams running Pontiacs this year... With the return of Dodge, and a lot of migration to Chevy, Pontiac's days appear to be numbered in NASCAR.  And with Toyota coming into the mix, that's just going to make the OTHER GM brand less desirable.  But what the heck do I know?  I may be wrong.  I'd love to see Oldsmobiles and Buicks back in NASCAR.  It would just add a little more to the mix, and make some interesting models that you and I could drive around in!

 

I can't wait til Sunday, as always... my favorite this week?  The 29, Kevin Harvick is going to put on a good show.  He won this race in 2001, his first WC win ever and he's hungry for a win again  He's won some races since then, (Chicago.  Kevin owns that track) but he wants to win EVERY RACE HE's IN!  This guy's got talent and determination.  I think he'll win some Cups before it's over.  But if i'm wrong, who says I'm smart anyway!? 

 

Til next time,

 

Go RCR!

 

 

 

23 February, 2003

 

Well, finally a complete race!  Congratulations to Dale Jarrett, Robert Yates, the entire 88 team for an impressive come from behind win at Rockingham!

 

I got jazzed about this race because it was a race!  I'm sorry, but Daytona just left me feeling cheated.  I'm happy that DEI got the win, but I'm still not happy about it.  Racing's about what we saw today, DJ and Kurt Busch rubbing fenders going for the win.  It's about flat tires, tire wear, blown engines, etc.  We saw it all today, and I'm glad. 

 

I hope the Chevrolet's get it going again.  Rousch and Ford seemed to hold a distinct advantage at the end of 2002, and it looked like Chevrolet, namely DEI held a big advantage going into Daytona.  The Chevy's got skunked today!  I make no secret of it, my favorite teams are Chevrolet's, and I want to see them back at the top of the list for Las Vegas!  Let's go!  Let's get this season on!

 

15 February, 2003

 

Well, we're almost there!  If today's Busch race was any indication, this year's Daytona 500 is going to Rock! 

 

First of all, I want to say that I'm very glad that Greenville, SC's own Jason Keller was not injured seriously in that really scary crash at the end of the Busch race today.  My heart stopped for a moment when I saw all those flames and Jason sitting, driver's side to the wall.  That was quick work by the track safety people to get that fire out.

 

Can Dale Jr. be stopped?  The answer is of course "yes".  As his dad knew very well, Daytona can be a very tough track to tame.  Jr. has had amazing success here this month, but there's some other cars out there that our going to be tough to beat too.

 

Can anybody beat the Chevy's?  The answer is :"yes" once again.  But it's going to be tough!  Ford, Dodge, etc are going to have to have some really good luck to get a win tomorrow, if what's happened this past week is any indication.

 

Next time you read this, I'll probably be talking about what happened in the race.  I really hope that the big news will be that it was a great race.  I hope I won't be talking about trajedy.  Daytona's seen too much of that. 

 

 

10 February, 2003

 

We're in the midst of Speedweeks.  This is a very exciting time.  Dale Jr. has won the Shootout.  Can Dale's first Daytona 500 victory be far away?

 

The odds say yes.  Dale's owner, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has had a lock on the restrictor plate tracks over the last few year.  That lock may be slipping slowly away, but it's still there.  Dale Jr. will be a force to contend with this year.  Not just on the restrictor plate tracks.  Tony Eury Jr. is the new crew chief, replacing his dad.  Tony is young, Dale is young.  They're both hungry for a championship.

 

Don't count out Kevin Harvick.  Richard Childress Racing went through some tough times last year.  They moved all 3 teams into a brand new shop, and they experienced the growing pains of going from 2 to 3 teams.  Richard has always been the guy that wants to win, and with Harvick, Green, and Gordon, he's got lot's of chances to make that happen.  Is Kevin Harvick the next Dale Earnhardt?  Of course he's not. He's Kevin Harvick, and he's a very aggresive driver, his own man.   Kevin can win some more championships for Richard.

 

This is an exciting time, my friends!  Let's Go!

 

2 February, 2003

 

Sorry to have been away for so long, but I've been busy!  Seriously, I felt compelled to write another column here.  This is not directly NASCAR related, but it does have a tie in. 

 

Ladies and Gentleman, we have another disaster in the USA.  Yesterday we lost the space shuttle Columbia and 7 crew members.  Like many of you I checked in on it throughout the day.  It's a terrible disaster, much like the one we all remember from 1986 when the shuttle Challenger exploded during the takeoff procedure.  I was much younger then, but I still feel the same way.

 

It was a disaster.  It appears that Columbia had a catastrophic breakup, at over 200,000 feet in altitude, while traveling at over 2500 miles per hour.  It remains to be seen what caused it, but the results are basically that we have pieces of a space shuttle scattered over a lot of Texas real estate. 

 

There were 7 crew members onboard when the shuttle launched from Florida on January 16.  We've just lost those 7.  All morning yesterday, I watched the news coverage on the various tv channels, and I was very saddened.  I perked up when a certain member of the media, who for the time being shall remain nameless, asked if it could possibly have been a commercial flight that crashed, instead of the space shuttle.

 

I was a little bit shocked.  My first reaction was that we'd all better pray that it was the space shuttle.  There is no value you can put on life, but this space shuttle was carrying 7 very precious lives.  The average commercial flight carries many, many more lives.  I was a bit disturbed to hear the nameless person somehow suggest that it would have been 'better' had it been innocent civilians that perished rather than the shuttle crew.

 

The nameless person may possibly have a point.  The members of the Columbia crew had many, many years of military experience.  All of them were military people.  Yes, even Colonel Ramon from Israel.  And it's true that America and Israel possibly lost some of the very best citizens that the respective countries have.

 

In simple terms of numbers of lives, though, the narrative given on national tv today was really stupid.  The average commercial flight has many more lives aboard than 7.  The average commercial flier probably has a spouse and 2.3 kids to boot.

 

Members of the crew on Columbia had families too.  There are many children today that lost a father or a mother yesterday.  I pray for all the families of the crew members.

 

One thing that we do know is that there were no children on Columbia.  On the average commercial flight, well, who knows?  Had it been a heavily loaded 747 that exploded over Texas, would it have made a difference?

 

The men and women who perished on Columbia were certainly not expendable,  all were military people, and all were the best in their respective jobs.  You don't get to NASA by being ok.  You get there by being outstanding at what you do.  All were aware of the risks, all were aware that Challenger exploded in 1986.  All were highly proficient specialists in their chosen fields.  All were the best at what they do.  All are missed.

 

Whatever doomed Columbia, let's fix it, and move on.  The families of the 7 who died will obviously never be the same.  My heart goes out to them.  JC is not the kind of guy who sheds tears easily, but I have to admit that I did on .

 

 

 

____________________________________________________________

 

 

2003,  My predictions:

 

Not going to pick a winner at this stage.  I'm stupid enough to, but my inner brain tells me not to!

 

Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. could win the Winston Cup in 2003.  

 

Possibles:  Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace,   Elliot Sadler,  Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson.  Dale Jarrett.

 

Long Shots:  Kenny Wallace (I like this guy), Steve Park, Jerry Nadeau.

 

Only comment to the Silly Season:  Ricky, what the hell where you thinking?