The Black Hole of NASCAR

[68ZooM]

I think with the new rule changes (bringing rubbin back) will help there ratings alot, the sprint series needs something to make it more lively, rather than the robot like drivers it wants them to be, people that get into the race and aren't afraid to tell it like it is ( tony stewart is good for this  hehe) that's what racing was is and always was about, i know all the sponsors heaven forbid there drivers says something wrong, but its a start of something new i hope this was only the first race, the next few weeks will tell much better, Ive been watching nascar for well over 30 years and when winston dropped out the whole series has really changed, verdicts out on wither its for the better.

As far as the nationwide series goes i think Danica will do fairly well, she shows good patience and driving talent, but the problem with the nationwide series is the Sprint cup drivers taking alot of the race postions and eliminating alot of the lesser dollar up and coming teams who are trying to get a foothold into the series, which i think is unfair and Nascar should address that issue, its not like theres not enough up and coming teams/drivers to Field 43 cars, many go home due to the fact sprint series drivers out qualified them.

[Saxman]

and yes, she will just help the sport grow more and bring more fans to the table for all 4 major series....

I wonder how....





In seriousness, best of luck to her. She's going to have even MORE of a spotlight on her now than before, if that's even possible. Like I said, I'm not a race fan and have no idea what the difference between all the series are and most of what I know about NASCAR came from watching Days of Thunder maybe once, but from what I've read about her she's got the legitimate ability and the aggressiveness to succeed. I know there's been a few accusations that she was just the next Anna Kournakova flash-in-the-pan and nothing but an over hyped pretty face, but IIRC a LOT of her failures on the track was the result of some pretty bad luck and not a reflection on her actual skill as a driver.

I do think that they should let her back off the leash, though. I got a kick reading about the pint-sized fireball prepared to throw down with guys twice her size if they knocked her into a wall. I still don't get why that level of competitiveness was a BAD thing. Bob Gibson would knock a batter on his bellybutton so much as look at him, and he's CELEBRATED for it. If Danica has the--for want of a better phrase--balls to get in the face of someone that much bigger than her I say let her go for it.

[rpm]

They have already said viewership for the Nationwide Series was up 60% with Danica. I can't find any problems with anyone participating in NASCAR.

Yeah, Danica is a brand name and is going to draw her own crowd. Who doesn't want to see her in Victory Lane getting a wet t-shirt?

[Slate]

  More than 50% of Nascar Fans are women and it's one of the few sports women can compete with men equally. They say women can relate to driving a car more than playing football or baseball.
  Danica is hot and that will translate into endorsments. $$$$$$$$$$ Nike and others are leaving Tiger and need to find a new cat to represent them. Tiger had a bad 18 "holes". 

[TequilaChaser]

Heya Saxman,
noticed the SI pic you posted. check out her video shoots of her Swim wear on SI.com....... both 2008 & 2009 video shootings......

as for her spunkyness........ back in the Indy 500 Race ( thinkit was the 09 race ( may have been the 08 Race? ) she was taken out coming off of pitroad........ she got out of her Indycar and was heading to the driver that ran into her, and fixin to open a can of "whipass" on him.but they grabbed her and walked her away back thru the pits from him......

she is agressive and spunky........ now back to her ARCA debute...... once she got rubbed and spun on the front stretch......she came back and had already gained the confidence to get up there and really bump draft along with rubbing/bumping fenders with Ricky Carmicheal going for the finish line.......

I know their are alot of people who don;t like the roundy round of stock car racing....... but for me, my Mom grew up and went to School with Richard Childress, back in the 70's & 80's when Winston was the primary sponsor of Nascar, I had over 40 relatives who worked for RJR, and I got free tickets all the time, pit passes, you name it...... My dad would sit for long periods of time back in the 60's early 70's with the Petty's at their Race Shop & Maurice Petty would teach him how to build Plymouth/Dodge Motors and tune them..... down in level cross......

in late 80's/early 90's I had the pleasure of doing HVAC design and work on Both of Earnhardt's new House & then later was came to and asked to designed Rusty's system for his new Custom home.... I did the original work for Childress's now Truck ( was originally Busch Cars  shop in Welcome ), I did the work for one of Hendricks Race Engine shops back when he was all over the place ( had shops in mooresville, charolette, winston-Salem , etc...) was given a set of Hendrick Motorsports Racing Valve Covers as a gift when I got the AC turned on ....... around here where I live.... you could walk in to Curly's BarBeQue and sit right beside people like Richard childress, chocolate Myers, Junior Johnson, Bill elliot, Kirk Shelmerdine  ( list goes on ) and chat it up like everyday neighbors...... nothing out of the ordinary like the wa "Race Fans"  act when they see a Driver or Nascar person.....

I have had my joys of driving around Charlotte Motor Speedway with average speed of 155+ ( was hitting 185/188 in the straight aways ).I had several runs but my longest was a 25 lapper.... got it all on video VHS back in 95....... The Car I drove was even in tracy Larwence's "Good Die Young" country video. was an Arca Car  Black #4 Oldsmobile.....

so it is kind of how one grows up and what they grow up doing.........

if any of you have watched History channel. look for "Madouse" is a new series showing a local "very old" circle track and modified Racing..... the guys in that show series are people I grew up with and around in my earlier years up until I was around mid twentys, and ol Junior Miller once Tee- Boned me at the local Amusement Go-Cart Track one time, completely launching me out of the car......( he did get pay back though ).....

Junior Miller has raced in the Daytona Dash series back in the day, but is just an old salty racer these days.......

Nascar is in the blood kind of.......... and yes my family roots ... lot of family members were Shine Runners back long ago......

times have really changed a whole lot from then to now........

sorry for rambling.........

[Saxman]

as for her spunkyness........ back in the Indy 500 Race ( thinkit was the 09 race ( may have been the 08 Race? ) she was taken out coming off of pitroad........ she got out of her Indycar and was heading to the driver that ran into her, and fixin to open a can of "whipass" on him.but they grabbed her and walked her away back thru the pits from him......

I love that sort of fire. First I think it makes her even hotter, (if she's explosive on the track, she must be no less hot in other areas off it, right?) and it's just awesome to see that despite her size she's not afraid to tear into anyone. I don't know if she's REALLY that hot-tempered or if she just feels the need to act tough because she's a woman in a male-dominated sport, (I REALLY hope it's the former) but I was sort of disappointed when I read she was toning things down.

Ultimately, there's a line between being a fiery competitor and just being a jerk, but the former are just so much fun to WATCH.

[Stoney]

sorry for rambling.........

Good stories TC.  My aunt used to work for Harry Gant's team back in the early 80's.  I'd go up to the shop in Denver, NC and visit.  I remember my first race, the International 500 at Charlotte, in October of 1982.  Saw Dale Sr. driving his own hauler back to the shop after the race.  Pretty wild watching the sport mature like that.  My great uncle used to drive with Lee Petty and those guys back in the '50s until he hurt his arm and had to give it up.  Its a great, grassroots sports, especially here in NC.  I'm glad to see the new rules and the prospect of Danica driving--both will help the sport going forward.

Anyway, cheers...