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Countdown to Daytona
Here y'all go:Daytona 500 Countdown
Daytona Countdown: '89
By Mark Aumann, NASCAR.COM
After four near-misses, Darrell Waltrip played the fuel mileage game to perfection in the 31st Daytona 500 on Feb. 19, 1989, coasting to victory after getting more than 132 miles on his final tank of fuel. In Victory Lane, Waltrip jumped out of his car and did an impromptu dance, then spiked his helmet.
A 1989 Toyota SR5 V6 two-door pickup with four-wheel drive listed for $14,098, so Waltrip could have purchased 13 SR5s with his winning check for $184,900.
In 1989, N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton" was the first hip hop album to achieve widespread mainstream success. Stacy Compton made his Daytona 500 debut in 2000, finishing 26th.
ALSO in 1989...
• The Sega Genesis is released in New York and Los Angeles (Jan. 9)
• Serial killer Ted Bundy is executed in Florida's electric chair (Jan. 24)
• A United Airlines Boeing 747 bound for New Zealand from Honolulu, Hawaii, rips open during flight, sucking 9 passenger and crew out of the first class section. Most other passengers and crew were still belted to their seats at the time (Feb. 24)
• In Alaska's Prince William Sound the Exxon Valdez spills 11 million gallons of oil after running aground (Mar. 24)
• In Beverly Hills, Calif., Lyle and Erik Menendez shoot their wealthy parents to death in their family's den (Aug. 20)
• Courtesy: Wikipedia
On June 14, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor was arrested in Beverly Hills, Calif., after slapping a motorcycle police officer. If Waltrip had been called to drive Gabor home from jail, the 2,022-mile trip from Franklin, Tenn. to Beverly Hills would have taken him 36 and a half hours in the SR5, or 13 hours and 37 minutes at his race-winning speed of 148.466 mph.
The world was undergoing major political changes in 1989.
On Feb. 14, Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa -- or legal pronouncement -- calling on all Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie, the author of "The Satanic Verses." Ten days later, Khomeini offered a $3 million bounty for Rushdie's death. On June 3, Khomeini died. In 2005, a fatwa against Rushdie was reaffirmed by Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a message to Muslim pilgrims making the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
On Jan. 7, Akihito became emperor of Japan, following the death of Hirohito. On Jan. 20, George H.W. Bush became President of the United States. Four years later, Bush met Akihito on his tour of Japan -- and then threw up on the Japan prime minister during a dinner in his honor.
South African president P.W. Botha resigned his post on Feb. 3, following a stroke. The Soviet Union announced on Feb. 14 that all of its troops had left Afghanistan.
On May 30, the "Goddess of Democracy" statue was unveiled in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. On June 4, Solidarity's victory in the first partly free parliamentary elections in post-war Poland sparked a succession of peaceful anti-communist revolutions in Eastern Europe.
On Nov. 9, East Germany opened its checkpoints in the Berlin Wall, allowing citizens to freely travel to West German for the first time in nearly three decades. The next day, jubilant Germans began tearing the wall down.
In Czechoslovakia, a peaceful student demonstration in Prague grew to 500,000 people within days after police severely beat students. By the end of the year, elections bring about the first non-communist government there in more than 40 years.
On March 23, Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann announced cold fusion at the University of Utah. On Dec. 3, President Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev released statements indicating that the cold war between their nations may be coming to an end. Teri Garr and John Lithgow starred in "Out Cold", which was released in 1989.
On Feb. 14, the first of 24 satellites of the Global Positioning System was placed into orbit. According to GPS, the start-finish line of Daytona International Speedway is located at approximately 29.18768 degrees North, 81.07279 degrees West.
On March 4, Time, Inc. and Warner Communications announced plans for a merger, forming Time-Warner. "Sounds Of the '80s," featuring "your favorite hits from the '80s on seven CDs, plus a free bonus volume", is available through Time-Life products.
Mistie Bibbee
10. Kurt Busch will decide that he believes the Chase for the Championship was not a fair process and will turn his championship trophy over to Jeff Gordon.
9. Dale Jr will decide that his heart just isn't in NASCAR and he'll take up a career in ballet.
8. Elliott Sadler will legally change his name to Sampson Sadler because his strong runs comes from him letting his hair grow out.
7. Rusty Wallace is offered a pension plan from NASCAR. It involves Rusty selling programs at the track next season.
6. In order to avoid some of the tough luck his teams faced last year, Richard Childress has replaced all his this teams' crew chiefs with psychics who will make all the calls during races each week.
5. NASCAR gets bored one weekend and decides to invert the field after the race ends- giving the win to the car that finished in the 43rd position.
4. After deciding to form the mega-super multi-car team, Roush Racing, DEI, and Hendrick Motorsports merge and fields Hyundais.
3. Bristol Motor Speedway decides it would like to attract a higher class audience and bans the sell of beer at the track. The only food/drink permitted to be sold now is wine and cheese.
2. Due to concerns about offending non-US nationals at the races- NASCAR has decided to replace the Star Spangled Banner with the Macarena.
1. The Supreme Court will deem the rule "Actions detrimental to the sport of stock car racing..." as unconstitutional and order NASCAR to pay back all fines to drivers that have been paid in the last 50 years.
And, even more top 10
Voices From the Heartland;
Might as well get a head start…
Jeff Meyer
Please Note: The voices expressed in this column reside solely in the mind of the writer, and are not necessarily heard by anyone/thing else on this planet. Should anyone find that they vehemently disagree with the voices in his head, PLEASE do not, rob a bank, kick your cat or send hate mail to the editors of Frontstretch.com. Simply send the writer a friendly little email saying something like “….you’re a complete idiot….”. The writer will understand. Now, on to the voices…..
With the start of 2005 Nextel Cup season so close I can taste it, (or is that the salami I had last night?) I figured I’d get a head start on a few of this years future ‘Voices’ columns.
From past experience, I just know in my heart that there are a few predictable things the voices in my head are going to make me write and or say in the coming year. So, instead of trying to fight it, I’m just gonna roll with it!
The following “Top Ten” list is by no means is intended to replace the great list my fellow colleague and editor, Mistie, produces each week, so I hope she grants me this special dispensation. I promise I won’t do it but this one time!
Top Ten things I know I’m gonna say or write this year:
10. “I told ya Dale Jarrett was gonna win Daytona!”
9. “Tony Stewart is whining again? Who’d have thunk it!?”
8. “I proved NAMRF was a farce last year. C’mon, give me a challenge!”
7. Ahem! Editors, I’m still waiting for confirmation of those Bristol credentials…
6. “Nanner! Nanner! Nanner!” (After I win the weekly race pool at my local tavern)
5. “I sure do miss Jimmy Spencer.”
4. “Robby was driving like he’d been using to much of his sponsor!”
3. “Help! I’ve lost my camper, my koozie is empty and I can’t get up!”
2. “NASCAR is running things perfectly this year!” (can you say sarcasm?)
1. “Ok, I’ll have ONE more, but then I gotta go!”
So there ya have it! Oh yeah, there is one more…
Stay off the wall,
Jeff
"I'm gonna go with the Eagles. I don't really have a reason other than that our old tire guy "Twinkie" always cheered for the Eagles. So I hope they win."
-- Greg Biffle on his pick for the Super Bowl
"Please beat me to death if I ever own a Nextel Cup team. But I might consider a truck deal."
-- Mark Martin
``I won't predict a three-peat. I never thought we'd get our first championship.''
-- Team owner Jack Roush, on predicting a three-peat after Kenseth (2003) and Busch (2004) won titles for Roush Racing.
"Sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side. But when you get over there, it's harder to chew."
Eddie Wood speaking on why the Wood Brothers have never switched from Fords.
from Karen
lets all say no to the absurdity of hard liquor sponsors on the teams this year it will only put thoughts into young kids minds that it is ok to drink possibly to drink and drive if they see theese sponsors on race cars nascar says it is to target responsible drrinkers but even responsible drinkers are not so responsible they get in cars after the races have accidents and sometimes even kill people theese race car drivers are some kids idols and they should not have to see theese sponsors on cars and what about colectables theese kids are going to be wanting the little cars too from thier favorite drivers they have said no to tobacco sponsors but come on what is really worse are you going to go out and killl someone just because you smoked one too many cigarettes or is it more like you have too many drinks and get in a car maybe you never had one of your loved ones killed by a drunk driver like i have in the past or lost them from liver diseases like i have or maybe even lost your own life like i almost did because some 17 year old kid thought it was kool to get drunk and do drugs nascar is wrong to allow hard liquor sponsors there are way too many other types of companies that will sponsor and many other kinds of products that can be used for the sponsor adds can you just picture a scooy doo theme on a race car along with jack daniels my god what is this sport comming too? GET REAL boycott this absurdity by nascar
Treatment Parsons received is the pits
By Ron Kantowski
Las Vegas Sun
This could never happen at Darlington or Talladega or anywhere else where NASCAR is a religion instead of merely a sport.
Benny Parsons won the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup championship, the 1975 Daytona 500 and was the first man to break the 200-mph barrier in a stock car during an official qualifying lap. More recently, he has become even more recognizable as a television broadcaster.
But the staff at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in charge of credentials for this week's NASCAR Preseason Thunder test session didn't know Benny Parsons from Alan Parsons, the singer and musician.
They were giving ol' Benny the run-around before they would issue him an offical wristband that would allow him access to the garage area Monday. They made him sign all the forms and waivers in triplicate when a flustered Parsons flashed his NASCAR "hard card," which is the racing world's equivalent of a backstage pass to a Van Halen concert.
He was told that would get him in, provided he wouldn't ask for any autographs in the garage area.
Finally, an onlooker who was familiar with Parsons' legacy came to his rescue.
"What if somebody asks for his autograph?" the onlooker said.
Tony Stewart, NASCAR's 2002 champion, won a celebrity poker tournament for charity Tuesday night involving past and current Nextel Cup drivers.
Stewart beat Ryan Newman in the final round of the two-night event at The Palms Casino Resort. Stewart eliminated Jeff Gordon in the final hand of Monday's preliminaries.
The other participants included Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Michael Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Elliott Sadler, Brian Vickers, Kyle Petty, Casey Mears and 1973 NASCAR champion Benny Parsons.
The drivers were in Las Vegas for offseason testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Stewart, whose favorite Las Vegas game is roulette, was traveling to California Speedway on Wednesday and could not be reached for comment. The show, taped by Speed channel, will air sometime between April and June, a spokesman for the cable network said Wednesday.
You can bid through Feb. 11 for lunch with NASCAR legend Richard Petty along with such national stars as R&B diva Patti LaBelle, Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden and rap artist Ja Rule.
Winning bidders must provide their own transportation to meet the leader at the restaurant of the leader's choice.
For more information or to sign up for the bidding, see lunchwithaleader.com.
Voting for the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award began online Tuesday, Feb. 1, at mostpopulardriver.com.
More than 40 drivers are eligible for the only fan-based award in motorsports. Fans may vote once each day at the site through 11:59 a.m. CST, Monday, Nov. 21.
The award, which is NASCAR's oldest and most traditional off-track honor, is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association. The Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award has been sponsored by General Mills since the start of the 2002 season. In that time period, more than 9.3 million votes have been cast. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won the award the past two years.
The Most Popular Driver Award dates back to 1956. It began as a simple poll of the drivers and later grew to incorporate all NASCAR Nextel Cup competitors. Later, it included all NASCAR members. Today, it is a prestigious award voted on by racing fans throughout the world. Through the years, the voters' choices have ranged from the obvious to the surprising.
Bill Elliott's 16 most popular wins tops all drivers. He is followed by Richard Petty, who was won nine times. Earnhardt Jr.'s win last year made him the fifth driver in NASCAR history to win the award in consecutive seasons, while his win in 2003 made him and his father, the late Dale Earnhardt, the only father-son combination to have won. Other past winners have included such notables as Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip.
The eighth annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity last weekend raised $185,225, bringing the eight-year total to more than $1 million.
Maine Gov. John E. Baldacci joined the group of more than 400 riders on the 60-mile course.
"When I think of how we started and where we are today, I'm totally amazed," said Craven, driver of the Roush's No. 99 Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series. Checks for $35,000 each were presented to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Give Kids the World, the Marrow Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network and the Travis Roy Foundation. An additional $5,000 went to the Greenville, Maine, school system along with $2,500 each to the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club and the town of Greenville's groomer fund.
David and Margaret Hemsath made the high bid in Bristol Motor Speedway’s “Tickets For Life” on-line auction, and contributed $31,500 to the American Red Cross International Response Fund for tsunami relief.
In the wake of the Christmas tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia, BMS President Jeff Byrd offered a pair of tickets to every Bristol Motor Speedway and Bristol Dragway event for the life of the person who would contribute the most money to the Red Cross efforts.
In a spirited final day of bidding, the Hemsaths made the auction-ending high bid. Now that they are BMS ticket holders, they will visit Bristol for the first time in April for the Food City 500 and Sharpie Professional 250. They regularly attend races at Indianapolis, Daytona and Las Vegas. David’s father owned and operated a track in suburban St. Louis, St. Charles Speedway, a quarter-mile dirt track where Kenny Schrader and Rusty Wallace and his brothers once competed.
BMS officials plan to recognize the Hemsaths during the Food City 500 pre-race activities on April 3.
The “Tickets For Life” package includes tickets to sold out events like NASCAR’s most popular event, the Sharpie 500 August night race, and the Food City 500 for the NEXTEL Cup Series, as well as the NASCAR races for the Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series, and Bristol Dragway races like the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Also included are events like the Speedway’s late model event, American Outdoor Experience and holiday festival, Speedway In Lights Powered by TVA.
As the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles head into the Super Bowl this weekend, the Roush Racing drivers were asked who their picks are for the new Champions. Here's what they had to say:
Mark Martin, Driver, No. 6 Viagra (sildenafil citrate) Ford Taurus:
"Well, I don't know really anything about football, but maybe I'll go with the Eagles, because I am a fan of Philly Steak Sandwiches. But then again I'm a fan of New England clam chowder as well, so I guess it'll just have to be a toss up."
Greg Biffle, Driver, No. 16 National Guard Ford Taurus:
"I'm gonna go with the Eagles. I don't really have a reason other than that our old tire guy "Twinkie" always cheered for the Eagles. So I hope they win."
Matt Kenseth, Driver, No. 17 DEWALT Ford Taurus:
"I'm going to have to pick the Patriots. Since my Packers lost early in the play-offs I'll go with the defending champions."
Kurt Busch, Driver, No. 97 Sharpie/IRWIN Ford Taurus:
"If T.O. is healthy and stays healthy throughout the game, I've got to think the Eagles can pull it off. If it turns out to be a running game on both sides of the ball I think that will turn out to be an advantage for them. But Tom Brady has obviously proved that he knows how to lead the Patriots, and last year his performance was one of the greatest I've ever seen from a QB in the biggest moment of his life, so we'll just have to see how it all plays out."
Carl Edwards, Driver, No. 99 Roush Racing Ford Taurus/No. 60 Charter Ford Taurus:
"I'm not a football expert but I spoke to my brother Kenny who is and he says Philadelphia is the team to beat so I'll have to go with them. I've watched some of the playoff games and I do think it will be a great game as they are both really strong teams."
Todd Kluever, Driver, No. 50 World Financial Group/Shell Rotella T? F-150:
"I pray that Philadelphia wins so I don't have to listen to Ricky (Craven) and John (Monsam) talk about the Patriots all year. I already have to listen to them talk about the Red Sox and that's enough." Ricky Craven, Driver, No. 99 Superchips F-150: "Of course I will be rooting for the Patriots. Being from New England, that is my team. Tom Brady and the guys are playing at their best right now and I think they will be tough to beat."
FONTANA, Calif. -- Wednesday marked the first day of testing at California Speedway for Nextel Cup Series drivers in the 2005 season. The day was highlighted by press conferences held for Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Elliott Sadler and Jeremy Mayfield, all former winners at the superspeedway.
High winds were the topic of conversation for Wednesday's testing session as speeds neared 35 mph. Jimmie Johnson said, "It just moves your car that much. If anyone has ever driven anything that big in windy conditions, it's amazing to feel the car buffering around that much."
In testing action, Kasey Kahne's tire ruptured, sending him into the wall. After being reviewed by the doctors, the 2004 Auto Club 500 pole sitter was released in good health, with the only damage coming to the backside of his car.
Drivers continued to become more acquainted with the new spoiler and gear ratios that will be implemented for the Auto Club 500 on Feb. 17, just one week after the season opening Daytona 500.
"I think we were all nervous and thought the cars were going to be very evil to drive and undriveable at times, but they haven't been that way," Johnson said.
The day also saw an excited announcement of the Fontana Race Week that will take place later this month. Kicking off the Auto Club 500 weekend will be the Fontana RaceFest, featuring displays, show cars, driver appearances and is sure to be the largest free sports-related fan event in California.
The week will also include the Monte Carlo Night on the eve of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series American Racing Wheels 200. On Saturday, a Hot Rod Cruise will accompany the NASCAR Busch Series Stater Bros. 300. The week will then be capped off with the Nextel Cup Series race on Sunday.
LAS VEGAS -- Carl Edwards stayed in Las Vegas on Wednesday instead of heading to Fontana to run test his Nextel Cup car.
He probably wishes he had just gone ahead with everyone else.
Edwards crashed in the opening minutes of Busch Series testing, which opened Wednesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
David Reutimann, testing Joe Nemechek's Busch car, lost an engine heading into Turn 4, and Edwards ran right through his oil. Johnny Sauter spun and didn't hit anything, but Edwards smacked the wall.
Scott Wimmer was the only other Nextel Cup driver around to test at LVMS's 1.5-mile track. The other regulars are at Fontana for the start of a two-day test at California Speedway.
"I should have been paying more attention," Edwards said. "I was driving down in the corner and I could see the oil on the track. I almost saved it, but ended up tagging the wall."
The crash damaged the rear clip of Edwards' Ford, but the team will replace it and bring the car back for the Sam's Town 300 at LVMS on March 12.
Edwards, who will drive both the Busch and Nextel Cup schedules this year, remained in Las Vegas mainly because he says he needs to get more seat time in his Busch car.
The Roush Racing driver says he likes the new spoiler/tire combination.
"To me, getting used to the spoiler and tire is what I am trying to do," Edwards said. "You can drive with the rear end hanging out a foot. Pretty neat to drive."
"We wanted to test the Busch car a little bit," said Edwards. "I have never really driven a Busch car at a place like this."
Testing for the Busch cars continues on Thursday.
By LARRY WOODY
Staff Writer
GLADEVILLE — Darrell Waltrip said the ultimatum given his kid brother Michael — make the Chase for the Championship this year or lose his ride — is not fair, but may work to his advantage.
''I think he needs the pressure,'' Waltrip said of the edict his brother received from his bosses at Dale Earnhardt Inc. ''In the past when he's faced similar situations he has responded very well. So this might be good for him, make him dig in and focus.''
Waltrip, a retired three-time champion now working as an analyst for Fox's NASCAR broadcasts, held a press conference yesterday at Nashville Superspeedway to discuss the upcoming season.
The Franklin resident starts his fifth season with Fox with the Feb. 20 Daytona 500, and is arguably the sport's most visible spokesperson.
The first race Waltrip called for Fox was the 2001 Daytona 500, which was also the first Cup race won by his younger brother in 16 years.
Michael added another Daytona 500 victory in 2003 and also has two victories at Talladega, another superspeedway at which speed-regulating restrictor plates are required.
''The problem is he hasn't won anywhere except Daytona and Talladega,'' Waltrip said.
Last season Michael went winless and finished 20th in the standings. Since then officials at DEI have said he needs to make this season's Chase for the Championship to secure his job.
Michael was not present when the NASCAR Nextel Media Tour made a stop at DEI last week, and has not commented publicly about his situation.
Waltrip said he has talked to his brother, ''and Michael's in good spirits. He's excited about the season. He knows what he's gotta do.''
Waltrip on some other subjects yesterday:
• Diversity in NASCAR. ''They've got to get somebody who knows the sport and can make that connection. They introduced Magic Johnson (as part of the diversity program) at Daytona last year and I never saw him again.''
As for young minority drivers who have competed in NASCAR's lower divisions but haven't made much progress: ''You've got to have talent. You can't fake it.''
As for Waltrip's 19-year-old Franklin neighbor, Joe Henderson III: ''He's done a good job and he's gone about it the right way. First you've got to get the local attention, let people know what you can do. That's how I got started.''
• Local racing. ''It's almost a dying breed. The Fair Board needs to be wiser about racing. If I had that track (Music City Motorplex) I'd figure some way to get something on TV every week. I'd get races on cable or something. Racing used to be the only game in town, and it's not any more. You've got to get some exposure.''
• NASCAR's youth movement. ''These kids are tenacious. They run flat out all the time and the old guys can't get away with that.''
• His future: Fox Sports has two years remaining on its NASCAR contract, with a two-year option, and Waltrip said he expects to call races for a long time.
''This is the most fun I've ever had,'' he said. ''It's just like when I was racing — I can't wait to get to Daytona.''
Larry Woody writes about auto racing for The Tennessean.
By Mark Spoor, NASCAR.COM
LAS VEGAS -- Through several days of Busch Series testing and one NASCAR West Series race, former Champ Car star Michel Jourdain Jr. sees one similarity between driving an open-wheel car and piloting a stock car.
"The only thing that is similar is that you turn left," he said. "That's the only thing that's the same."
Jourdain, who amassed two wins, 20 top-fives and 25 top-10s in 152 Champ Car starts, is scheduled to run the full 2005 Busch Series season for ppc Racing.
After running some test laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Wednesday, Jordain said that running a stock car makes him feel like a rookie, even at tracks on which he has experience.
"When we ran the Champ Cars here, you would just run wide-open all the time," he said. "Here, I have to brake. I feel like a first-timer. Everything is so different. The cars are so heavy, there's no downforce.
"It's more or less what I expected."
Jourdain says he's getting plenty of help from his spotter, Andy Houston.
"Every time I do something, he tells me why and he tells me what to expect," he said. "It's just getting used to how the car wants to be driven."
The knowledge paid early dividends for Jourdain last weekend when he finished sixth in the NASCAR West Series season opener in Phoenix.
"It was a good result," he said. "I was not expecting anything, but at the end, you always want more.
"I didn't make any big mistakes and that's what I wanted and that's what I want in the first race in the Busch Series, as well."
As his first full stock car season looms, Jourdain contends that he's not entering the campaign with very few expectations.
"Let's see how it starts," Jourdain said. "I want to be in the top 30 in points after the first five races so I have the guaranteed spot, but the thing I need most is laps."
There is however, one race that is circled on Jourdain's schedule -- the Mexico 200 on March 6 in his hometown of Mexico City.
"That helped me make the decision to come over," he said. "I started talking to NASCAR teams in 2002 but at that time there was no race in Mexico. Jimmy (Vasser) was telling me I should make the move and that they were looking for a good Hispanic driver.
"But that was why I stayed with Champ Car last year and didn't go over to the IRL. It's important for me to race in Mexico."
Jourdain says he's not scared off by the struggles that fellow open-wheel star Christian Fittipaldi had driving for Petty Enterprises in the Cup series in 2002-03.
"He told me if I have the chance, I should take it. He's not here, (NASCAR), but it's not because of lack of talent. I don't think he had the right equipment.
"I think me coming with ppc, which is a stronger team with the support of Ford, I think I have the chance of making it."
Preview: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. scored six wins and finished fifth in the standings in 2004, making his fifth Cup season his most successful and consistent to date.
But that's not to say there weren't roadblocks.
He won NASCAR's "Super Bowl" in February, then faced recuperation from burns five months later in a fiery sports car crash. In August, still ailing, he said he'd rather fail with his current team -- led by his uncle and cousin -- than win with another.
Come December, that would change. An offseason crew swap with teammate Michael Waltrip and mediocre testing speeds during Preseason Thunder mean Junior enters 2005 with more question marks than there were in "War and Peace".
"It's hard to tell where we're at in the grand scheme -- from one end of the garage to the other," Earnhardt said.
The first such unknown -- and the one by far garnering the most attention -- is the leadership capability of rookie crew chief Pete Rondeau, who becomes only the second crew chief for Earnhardt's Budweiser Chevrolet program.
"One of the things I like about Pete is that he gives me a lot of respect," Earnhardt said. "When we talk, we listen. He has a similar demeanor as I do in and around the car and at the shop, and away from the track."
Earnhardt's well-publicized squabbles with former car chief (and first cousin) Tony Eury Jr. are at the crux of the decision. Put simply, Junior was tired of bickering with his family, tired of professional opinions of one another turning personal.
"Tony Jr. and I have always been really competitive. The things that we enjoy and what we do and how we treat each other is totally different from what the media have seen during the year," Earnhardt said.
"The situation wasn't so bad where I said 'I have to get out of here.' But I wasn't necessarily the guy who spoke first."
Once someone mentioned the idea of change, it made sense. It became apparent that they were limiting one another's professional progression.
"The two of us kind of held each other up, which maybe made it easier to do this," Earnhardt said of the switch. "He had a lot of talent that wouldn't come to the surface because of our mentality and outlook towards each other."
Earnhardt places part of the blame on himself, saying he must mature as a driver and further respect others' opinions.
"I put myself in this situation so I could be a better person and little more of a professional," Earnhardt said. "I was a good race car driver, but I wasn't necessarily a professional about how I was on the radio. That will be a good situation for me."
Rondeau's arrival means the Eurys will transition to other positions within the DEI team structure. After seven years, 15 Cup victories and a pair of Busch Series championships with Dale Jr., Eury Sr. is now DEI competition director, while Tony Jr. has become crew chief of Waltrip's No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet.
"For (Tony Jr.) it's going to open up a lot of doors to try to be more of a people person," Earnhardt continued. "He's going to have to understand how to motivate people.
"He's going to have to learn now or never. It's good for him to learn those things now. He won't have that opportunity when he's older because he won't change then. It will benefit him.
"It was a difficult situation and I looked across there today and there are things I miss about him and I working together, but working with Pete (Rondeau) is what I need to do."
With the move comes much skepticism. Practically the only folks not questioning the decision are those involved in making it.
"It's going to be tough. People are going to talk one way or another," Earnhardt said. "If Tony Jr. and I had stayed together they would have said something anyway. When we'd get inconsistent last year people would talk and try to figure out who was at fault.
"Tony Eury Jr. is really enjoying himself now, too. He's getting it going on now. He's working with Michael and they're really clicking now. He's able to do things that maybe we couldn't do together before.
"The transition between the two teams was a lot smoother than I anticipated. The work that I see the guys doing on the car with (Rondeau) is really satisfying to see."
But can he handle the pressure? Until he experiences it, Rondeau can't begin to fathom the constant attention that will be paid to his performance.
"It's tough when you're walking around in that red uniform," Earnhardt said. "It was hard on Tony Jr. and Tony Sr. and that team because they just wanted to work and be in their little world. But when you're not in your own world, you can't be. It's going to be a different experience for them.
"Hopefully they'll handle it well. There is a lot of pressure but I can see that this will go either way. Eventually we'll do what it takes to do to get it right and win. If it starts out stumbling we'll just have to work hard to get it right. I'm prepared for that."
But is he prepared to vie for a championship? Last season, Earnhardt was on the cusp of his first title. He was in position to take the championship points lead late in the season, but as the laps would down at Atlanta, he misjudged his position while racing Carl Edwards and wrecked out while running third.
He finished 33rd in that event, and fifth overall in the standings. But he won six times, including the Daytona 500. Can he do it again, and this time carry that momentum throughout the season?
"As far as repeating the 500, we're not that fast right now," Earnhardt said. "We've got a brand new car and one of the cars they ran in the past with Michael.
"The new car was pretty decent and I was really happy with it. We finished practicing yesterday and shut the doors and went home. We jumped back and started and we lost about four-tenths of a second somewhere.
"We'll figure it out. I'm not too worried about it. I think the cars draft well. If we have to start near the back we'll just cut up through the pack. I'm pretty happy.
"The craftsmanship is really good. I'll know what kind of team we have after we get done with this and then go to (testing) California and Las Vegas."
By Mark Spoor, NASCAR.COM
LAS VEGAS -- Jeremy Mayfield knows what it's like to go through problems at Penske Racing like the rift going on between teammates Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace.
His advice for Newman? Realize that it's not his fault -- or Wallace's.
"Ryan and Rusty have this thing going on, but I bet if you ask either one of them they really don't have a problem with each other," Mayfield said.
"So, what's the problem? It was there when I was there. It's there now, and it'll be there after Rusty's gone and Ryan's gone. That's the way I look at it."
Mayfield drove for Penske Racing and was Wallace's teammate from 1998-2001. From the outside, their relationship could best be described as contentious. However, Mayfield said that in reality, that probably wasn't the whole story.
"I look back and if you take the egos out of it, we really didn't have a problem," Mayfield said.
The fact that Wallace and Mayfield are collaborating on a Busch Series team for the upcoming season seems to lend credence to that argument. Mayfield says Penske's problems may not be on the racetrack.
"Maybe you should look somewhere else in the organization, and it's not (team owner) Roger (Penske). Roger does his job. He provides everything they need to race.
Mayfield says the key difference between his current team -- Evernham Motorsports -- and his former team is how on-track issues are dealt with from above.
"If (Evernham Motorsports owner) Ray (Evernham) came in and said the 9 car is this or the 19 car is that, that gets things stirred up at the shop when the leaders do that. Whether I'm involved or Kasey is, the teams get animosity stirred up between them. Guess how it looks like it is? It's me and Kasey.
"I don't know who the managers are over there. It starts at the shop. When they leave the shop the trucks need to be rolling together. It needs to be a team effort everything they do, and it's not that way over there."
The 10th-place driver in last season's Nextel Cup Series says no such problems exist with his current team.
"We don't have that problem at Evernham Motorsports. I have zero trouble with my teammates or anything at our deal," Mayfield said. "Ray doesn't allow that. He's there on a day-to-day basis and he sets the standard, and that's the way it's going to be."
Mayfield said that difference makes quite an impact on the track.
"Ray hasn't been an underdog, but a lot of people stay focused on him and wonder what he's going to do. If you know him, you know he's not going to lose."
By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
Some of the most engaging conversations of my life were with Randy Dorton. He'd been in NASCAR since my pajamas had booties, and my Gen-X analysis of the sport not only intrigued him, but often greatly amused him.
He'd listen intently as I ranted on about whatever frivolous revelation had tripped my trigger that week, then drop his chin to his chest, stare at his feet and grin. And just when it came time for the kicker in my argument, he'd chuckle and tell me how it really was.
For whatever reason, I was blessed to be educated by the most innovative engine builder of his time without ever so much as changing a sparkplug. I love hearing stories about him.
That's why the story newly-appointed Hendrick Motorsports general manager Marshall Carlson told me last week was so personally moving. It was consummate Randy Dorton.
Dorton, you see, was all about depth, loyalty, seeing it through to completion. He dug in, saw to it personally that his boys were NASCAR's elite. And like the boss man, Rick Hendrick, he rewarded the commitment required thereof.
Dorton's employees didn't jump ship for the next big thing. They stood fast, stayed true to their mentor -- some for two decades. He built a hierarchy so efficient that he could walk away and Hendrick Engines would continue running on all eight cylinders.
Then it happened. Dorton was among the 10 individuals killed last October when a Hendrick plane crashed near Martinsville, Va. Carlson's story begins right there.
Dorton's boys could easily have closed up shop, taken time to mourn. But Randy wouldn't have wanted it that way. Neither would Ricky and John Hendrick, for that matter. The loss was devastating, but there was work to do -- and not just for their own in-house teams, either.
That's what's so striking to me about this story. Amid unimaginable grief, Randy's boys followed through with responsibilities to competitors.
"Randy Dorton set up an extremely proficient, deep and structured program, so it was obvious that, in that respect, that (the engine department) was prepared and capable to step up," Carlson said.
"Nemechek leases engines from us -- they show up at 8:30 every (Monday) morning with the engines. Well, that morning, the Monday after the accident - the very next day -- their engines showed up at 8:30."
Wow. I know this: Randy Dorton would have been proud of those boys at the moment those engines showed up at MB2's loading dock. At that moment, two decades spent assembling the best engine department in NASCAR came to fruition.
That was the moment Randy Dorton's devotion to excellence materialized.
Sure, he'd done it all on the racetrack, won championships with Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte and Brian Vickers and Jack Sprague. But what his pupils did in his absence was the true testament to Randy Dorton.
Makes me think of a country song by another Randy, Randy Travis. Travis' lyrics are spiritually focused, but Randy Dorton was a spiritual man, so they most certainly apply to his devotion to his trade, his friends and family:
"It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, It's what you leave behind you when you go."
The opinions listed here are solely those of the writer.
Your
Momma
"Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up there and eat that candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt – 1998
"It's nothin' personal, it's just racin'
-Dale Earnhardt
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Sandra Monacelli
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Countdown to Daytona
Here y'all go:
Daytona Countdown: '89
By Mark Aumann, NASCAR.COM
After four near-misses, Darrell Waltrip played the fuel mileage game to perfection in the 31st Daytona 500 on Feb. 19, 1989, coasting to victory after getting more than 132 miles on his final tank of fuel. In Victory Lane, Waltrip jumped out of his car and did an impromptu dance, then spiked his helmet.
A 1989 Toyota SR5 V6 two-door pickup with four-wheel drive listed for $14,098, so Waltrip could have purchased 13 SR5s with his winning check for $184,900.
In 1989, N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton" was the first hip hop album to achieve widespread mainstream success. Stacy Compton made his Daytona 500 debut in 2000, finishing 26th.
ALSO in 1989...
• The Sega Genesis is released in New York and Los Angeles (Jan. 9)
• Serial killer Ted Bundy is executed in Florida's electric chair (Jan. 24)
• A United Airlines Boeing 747 bound for New Zealand from Honolulu, Hawaii, rips open during flight, sucking 9 passenger and crew out of the first class section. Most other passengers and crew were still belted to their seats at the time (Feb. 24)
• In Alaska's Prince William Sound the Exxon Valdez spills 11 million gallons of oil after running aground (Mar. 24)
• In Beverly Hills, Calif., Lyle and Erik Menendez shoot their wealthy parents to death in their family's den (Aug. 20)
• Courtesy: Wikipedia
On June 14, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor was arrested in Beverly Hills, Calif., after slapping a motorcycle police officer. If Waltrip had been called to drive Gabor home from jail, the 2,022-mile trip from Franklin, Tenn. to Beverly Hills would have taken him 36 and a half hours in the SR5, or 13 hours and 37 minutes at his race-winning speed of 148.466 mph.
The world was undergoing major political changes in 1989.
On Feb. 14, Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa -- or legal pronouncement -- calling on all Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie, the author of "The Satanic Verses." Ten days later, Khomeini offered a $3 million bounty for Rushdie's death. On June 3, Khomeini died. In 2005, a fatwa against Rushdie was reaffirmed by Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a message to Muslim pilgrims making the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
On Jan. 7, Akihito became emperor of Japan, following the death of Hirohito. On Jan. 20, George H.W. Bush became President of the United States. Four years later, Bush met Akihito on his tour of Japan -- and then threw up on the Japan prime minister during a dinner in his honor.
South African president P.W. Botha resigned his post on Feb. 3, following a stroke. The Soviet Union announced on Feb. 14 that all of its troops had left Afghanistan.
On May 30, the "Goddess of Democracy" statue was unveiled in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. On June 4, Solidarity's victory in the first partly free parliamentary elections in post-war Poland sparked a succession of peaceful anti-communist revolutions in Eastern Europe.
On Nov. 9, East Germany opened its checkpoints in the Berlin Wall, allowing citizens to freely travel to West German for the first time in nearly three decades. The next day, jubilant Germans began tearing the wall down.
In Czechoslovakia, a peaceful student demonstration in Prague grew to 500,000 people within days after police severely beat students. By the end of the year, elections bring about the first non-communist government there in more than 40 years.
On March 23, Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann announced cold fusion at the University of Utah. On Dec. 3, President Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev released statements indicating that the cold war between their nations may be coming to an end. Teri Garr and John Lithgow starred in "Out Cold", which was released in 1989.
On Feb. 14, the first of 24 satellites of the Global Positioning System was placed into orbit. According to GPS, the start-finish line of Daytona International Speedway is located at approximately 29.18768 degrees North, 81.07279 degrees West.
On March 4, Time, Inc. and Warner Communications announced plans for a merger, forming Time-Warner. "Sounds Of the '80s," featuring "your favorite hits from the '80s on seven CDs, plus a free bonus volume", is available through Time-Life products.
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Top Ten NASCAR Predictions for 2005Mistie Bibbee
10. Kurt Busch will decide that he believes the Chase for the Championship was not a fair process and will turn his championship trophy over to Jeff Gordon.
9. Dale Jr will decide that his heart just isn't in NASCAR and he'll take up a career in ballet.
8. Elliott Sadler will legally change his name to Sampson Sadler because his strong runs comes from him letting his hair grow out.
7. Rusty Wallace is offered a pension plan from NASCAR. It involves Rusty selling programs at the track next season.
6. In order to avoid some of the tough luck his teams faced last year, Richard Childress has replaced all his this teams' crew chiefs with psychics who will make all the calls during races each week.
5. NASCAR gets bored one weekend and decides to invert the field after the race ends- giving the win to the car that finished in the 43rd position.
4. After deciding to form the mega-super multi-car team, Roush Racing, DEI, and Hendrick Motorsports merge and fields Hyundais.
3. Bristol Motor Speedway decides it would like to attract a higher class audience and bans the sell of beer at the track. The only food/drink permitted to be sold now is wine and cheese.
2. Due to concerns about offending non-US nationals at the races- NASCAR has decided to replace the Star Spangled Banner with the Macarena.
1. The Supreme Court will deem the rule "Actions detrimental to the sport of stock car racing..." as unconstitutional and order NASCAR to pay back all fines to drivers that have been paid in the last 50 years.
And, even more top 10
Voices From the Heartland;
Might as well get a head start…
Jeff Meyer
Please Note: The voices expressed in this column reside solely in the mind of the writer, and are not necessarily heard by anyone/thing else on this planet. Should anyone find that they vehemently disagree with the voices in his head, PLEASE do not, rob a bank, kick your cat or send hate mail to the editors of Frontstretch.com. Simply send the writer a friendly little email saying something like “….you’re a complete idiot….”. The writer will understand. Now, on to the voices…..
With the start of 2005 Nextel Cup season so close I can taste it, (or is that the salami I had last night?) I figured I’d get a head start on a few of this years future ‘Voices’ columns.
From past experience, I just know in my heart that there are a few predictable things the voices in my head are going to make me write and or say in the coming year. So, instead of trying to fight it, I’m just gonna roll with it!
The following “Top Ten” list is by no means is intended to replace the great list my fellow colleague and editor, Mistie, produces each week, so I hope she grants me this special dispensation. I promise I won’t do it but this one time!
Top Ten things I know I’m gonna say or write this year:
10. “I told ya Dale Jarrett was gonna win Daytona!”
9. “Tony Stewart is whining again? Who’d have thunk it!?”
8. “I proved NAMRF was a farce last year. C’mon, give me a challenge!”
7. Ahem! Editors, I’m still waiting for confirmation of those Bristol credentials…
6. “Nanner! Nanner! Nanner!” (After I win the weekly race pool at my local tavern)
5. “I sure do miss Jimmy Spencer.”
4. “Robby was driving like he’d been using to much of his sponsor!”
3. “Help! I’ve lost my camper, my koozie is empty and I can’t get up!”
2. “NASCAR is running things perfectly this year!” (can you say sarcasm?)
1. “Ok, I’ll have ONE more, but then I gotta go!”
So there ya have it! Oh yeah, there is one more…
Stay off the wall,
Jeff
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Quote's of the Week"I'm gonna go with the Eagles. I don't really have a reason other than that our old tire guy "Twinkie" always cheered for the Eagles. So I hope they win."
-- Greg Biffle on his pick for the Super Bowl
"Please beat me to death if I ever own a Nextel Cup team. But I might consider a truck deal."
-- Mark Martin
``I won't predict a three-peat. I never thought we'd get our first championship.''
-- Team owner Jack Roush, on predicting a three-peat after Kenseth (2003) and Busch (2004) won titles for Roush Racing.
"Sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side. But when you get over there, it's harder to chew."
Eddie Wood speaking on why the Wood Brothers have never switched from Fords.
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Comments from the Peanut Galleryfrom Karen
lets all say no to the absurdity of hard liquor sponsors on the teams this year it will only put thoughts into young kids minds that it is ok to drink possibly to drink and drive if they see theese sponsors on race cars nascar says it is to target responsible drrinkers but even responsible drinkers are not so responsible they get in cars after the races have accidents and sometimes even kill people theese race car drivers are some kids idols and they should not have to see theese sponsors on cars and what about colectables theese kids are going to be wanting the little cars too from thier favorite drivers they have said no to tobacco sponsors but come on what is really worse are you going to go out and killl someone just because you smoked one too many cigarettes or is it more like you have too many drinks and get in a car maybe you never had one of your loved ones killed by a drunk driver like i have in the past or lost them from liver diseases like i have or maybe even lost your own life like i almost did because some 17 year old kid thought it was kool to get drunk and do drugs nascar is wrong to allow hard liquor sponsors there are way too many other types of companies that will sponsor and many other kinds of products that can be used for the sponsor adds can you just picture a scooy doo theme on a race car along with jack daniels my god what is this sport comming too? GET REAL boycott this absurdity by nascar
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Bits and PiecesTreatment Parsons received is the pits
By Ron Kantowski
Las Vegas Sun
This could never happen at Darlington or Talladega or anywhere else where NASCAR is a religion instead of merely a sport.
Benny Parsons won the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup championship, the 1975 Daytona 500 and was the first man to break the 200-mph barrier in a stock car during an official qualifying lap. More recently, he has become even more recognizable as a television broadcaster.
But the staff at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in charge of credentials for this week's NASCAR Preseason Thunder test session didn't know Benny Parsons from Alan Parsons, the singer and musician.
They were giving ol' Benny the run-around before they would issue him an offical wristband that would allow him access to the garage area Monday. They made him sign all the forms and waivers in triplicate when a flustered Parsons flashed his NASCAR "hard card," which is the racing world's equivalent of a backstage pass to a Van Halen concert.
He was told that would get him in, provided he wouldn't ask for any autographs in the garage area.
Finally, an onlooker who was familiar with Parsons' legacy came to his rescue.
"What if somebody asks for his autograph?" the onlooker said.
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Stewart wins charity poker tourneyTony Stewart, NASCAR's 2002 champion, won a celebrity poker tournament for charity Tuesday night involving past and current Nextel Cup drivers.
Stewart beat Ryan Newman in the final round of the two-night event at The Palms Casino Resort. Stewart eliminated Jeff Gordon in the final hand of Monday's preliminaries.
The other participants included Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Michael Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Elliott Sadler, Brian Vickers, Kyle Petty, Casey Mears and 1973 NASCAR champion Benny Parsons.
The drivers were in Las Vegas for offseason testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Stewart, whose favorite Las Vegas game is roulette, was traveling to California Speedway on Wednesday and could not be reached for comment. The show, taped by Speed channel, will air sometime between April and June, a spokesman for the cable network said Wednesday.
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Bid for lunch with the KingYou can bid through Feb. 11 for lunch with NASCAR legend Richard Petty along with such national stars as R&B diva Patti LaBelle, Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden and rap artist Ja Rule.
Winning bidders must provide their own transportation to meet the leader at the restaurant of the leader's choice.
For more information or to sign up for the bidding, see lunchwithaleader.com.
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10 millionth vote expected at mostpopulardriver.com Voting for the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award began online Tuesday, Feb. 1, at mostpopulardriver.com.
More than 40 drivers are eligible for the only fan-based award in motorsports. Fans may vote once each day at the site through 11:59 a.m. CST, Monday, Nov. 21.
The award, which is NASCAR's oldest and most traditional off-track honor, is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association. The Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award has been sponsored by General Mills since the start of the 2002 season. In that time period, more than 9.3 million votes have been cast. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won the award the past two years.
The Most Popular Driver Award dates back to 1956. It began as a simple poll of the drivers and later grew to incorporate all NASCAR Nextel Cup competitors. Later, it included all NASCAR members. Today, it is a prestigious award voted on by racing fans throughout the world. Through the years, the voters' choices have ranged from the obvious to the surprising.
Bill Elliott's 16 most popular wins tops all drivers. He is followed by Richard Petty, who was won nine times. Earnhardt Jr.'s win last year made him the fifth driver in NASCAR history to win the award in consecutive seasons, while his win in 2003 made him and his father, the late Dale Earnhardt, the only father-son combination to have won. Other past winners have included such notables as Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip.
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Eighth annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride a success The eighth annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity last weekend raised $185,225, bringing the eight-year total to more than $1 million.
Maine Gov. John E. Baldacci joined the group of more than 400 riders on the 60-mile course.
"When I think of how we started and where we are today, I'm totally amazed," said Craven, driver of the Roush's No. 99 Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series. Checks for $35,000 each were presented to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Give Kids the World, the Marrow Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network and the Travis Roy Foundation. An additional $5,000 went to the Greenville, Maine, school system along with $2,500 each to the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club and the town of Greenville's groomer fund.
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Bristol ‘Tickets for Life’ auction draws $31,500 for tsunami relief David and Margaret Hemsath made the high bid in Bristol Motor Speedway’s “Tickets For Life” on-line auction, and contributed $31,500 to the American Red Cross International Response Fund for tsunami relief.
In the wake of the Christmas tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia, BMS President Jeff Byrd offered a pair of tickets to every Bristol Motor Speedway and Bristol Dragway event for the life of the person who would contribute the most money to the Red Cross efforts.
In a spirited final day of bidding, the Hemsaths made the auction-ending high bid. Now that they are BMS ticket holders, they will visit Bristol for the first time in April for the Food City 500 and Sharpie Professional 250. They regularly attend races at Indianapolis, Daytona and Las Vegas. David’s father owned and operated a track in suburban St. Louis, St. Charles Speedway, a quarter-mile dirt track where Kenny Schrader and Rusty Wallace and his brothers once competed.
BMS officials plan to recognize the Hemsaths during the Food City 500 pre-race activities on April 3.
The “Tickets For Life” package includes tickets to sold out events like NASCAR’s most popular event, the Sharpie 500 August night race, and the Food City 500 for the NEXTEL Cup Series, as well as the NASCAR races for the Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series, and Bristol Dragway races like the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Also included are events like the Speedway’s late model event, American Outdoor Experience and holiday festival, Speedway In Lights Powered by TVA.
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Roush Racing Driver's Super Bowl picksAs the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles head into the Super Bowl this weekend, the Roush Racing drivers were asked who their picks are for the new Champions. Here's what they had to say:
Mark Martin, Driver, No. 6 Viagra (sildenafil citrate) Ford Taurus:
"Well, I don't know really anything about football, but maybe I'll go with the Eagles, because I am a fan of Philly Steak Sandwiches. But then again I'm a fan of New England clam chowder as well, so I guess it'll just have to be a toss up."
Greg Biffle, Driver, No. 16 National Guard Ford Taurus:
"I'm gonna go with the Eagles. I don't really have a reason other than that our old tire guy "Twinkie" always cheered for the Eagles. So I hope they win."
Matt Kenseth, Driver, No. 17 DEWALT Ford Taurus:
"I'm going to have to pick the Patriots. Since my Packers lost early in the play-offs I'll go with the defending champions."
Kurt Busch, Driver, No. 97 Sharpie/IRWIN Ford Taurus:
"If T.O. is healthy and stays healthy throughout the game, I've got to think the Eagles can pull it off. If it turns out to be a running game on both sides of the ball I think that will turn out to be an advantage for them. But Tom Brady has obviously proved that he knows how to lead the Patriots, and last year his performance was one of the greatest I've ever seen from a QB in the biggest moment of his life, so we'll just have to see how it all plays out."
Carl Edwards, Driver, No. 99 Roush Racing Ford Taurus/No. 60 Charter Ford Taurus:
"I'm not a football expert but I spoke to my brother Kenny who is and he says Philadelphia is the team to beat so I'll have to go with them. I've watched some of the playoff games and I do think it will be a great game as they are both really strong teams."
Todd Kluever, Driver, No. 50 World Financial Group/Shell Rotella T? F-150:
"I pray that Philadelphia wins so I don't have to listen to Ricky (Craven) and John (Monsam) talk about the Patriots all year. I already have to listen to them talk about the Red Sox and that's enough." Ricky Craven, Driver, No. 99 Superchips F-150: "Of course I will be rooting for the Patriots. Being from New England, that is my team. Tom Brady and the guys are playing at their best right now and I think they will be tough to beat."
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Daytona Speedway Super Bowl tailgate party planned: On Super Bowl Sunday, Daytona Speedway and Halifax Baptist Association are “pulling out all the stops to attract fans,” according to Dennis Belz, director of missions. Racing fans may enjoy not only the Rolex 24-Hour Race, but also a Super Bowl tailgate party sponsored by area Baptist churches after the race. The Rolex 24-hour race runs from noon Feb. 5 - noon Feb. 6. The race is a favorite of veteran actor Paul Newman, who annually participates in the Rolex event. At age 80, he plans to drive in the 2005 event. At age 80, he plans to drive in the 2005 event. Super Bowl XXXIX will kick off six hours after the end of the race. “When I first met with NASCAR officials at the first of the summer and suggested a Super Bowl party, they had never thought of such an event,” Belz said. Area Baptist churches will provide a tailgate party “with all the fixings,” beginning at 5 p.m., Belz said. A large tent, decorated in the team colors of the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles, will be set up at Turn One, near the main entrance tunnel to the infield. Turn One is also near the designated RV area where more than 200 vehicles will be parked. - Florida Baptist Witness ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Drive for Diversity Forum today: The Drive for Diversity program, recognized as NASCAR's leading on-track diversity initiative, will present "The Drive for Diversity Motorsports Forum," in conjunction with North Carolina A&T State University, on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at the university's New Classroom Building Auditorium. "The Drive for Diversity Motorsports Forum" is a symposium that will acquaint students with career paths in motorsports and bring them up to speed with many diversity efforts within motorsports, and more specifically, NASCAR. Representatives from the racing industry, including NASCAR, will be on hand to discuss both on-track and off-track initiatives. The first session, "Off-Track Initiatives: NASCAR's Driving Force," will discuss opportunities that include roles in event management, licensing, marketing, sponsorship, public relations, business, law, sales and related fields. The second session, "On-Track Initiatives: The Drive for Diversity," will include discussions about how aspiring drivers and crew members get involved in the sport. Additionally, information will be provided to those seeking opportunities in engineering, manufacturing systems, technology, team management/ownership, and related fields. Students from North Carolina A&T State University, along with other regional universities, have been invited to build awareness about the motorsports industry and to provide a setting for future motorsports professionals to network and practically apply their classroom curriculum toward a successful career. Drive for Diversity is also excited to announce that the Army National Guard will be a partner in Thursday's forum. For more information about North Carolina A&T State University, please visit ncat.edu.(Drive for Diversity PR)~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
No Donlavey entry at Daytona..but he'll be there: Junie Donlavey is making his annual February pilgrimage to Daytona Beach, Fla., but for the first time in 50 years, his #90 Ford won't be in tow. The Richmond-based car owner, who will turn 81 on April 8, will skip Daytona 500 qualifying after attempting to make the Great American Race every season since the 1959 opening of Daytona International Speedway. Before the 2.5-mile track was built, Donlavey raced on the beach course. He campaigned cars for more than 100 drivers on NASCAR's premier circuit but hasn't competed full time in the Nextel Cup Series since losing a sponsor at the midpoint of the 2002 season. Donlavey Racing attempted only the season opener in each of the past two years, and its cars haven't stayed abreast of rule changes in NASCAR. "I just don't have anything to take down there," said Donlavey, who attended yesterday's news conference at Richmond International Raceway as a proponent of bringing a NASCAR Hall of Fame to the track. Though the team isn't operational, Donlavey still keeps occasional hours at his Southside shop. He spends much of his time at a new house on Lake Shawnee in Powhatan County and said he hasn't missed the grind of the 36-race Nextel Cup schedule.(Richmond Times Dispatch)~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Victory Junction Gang Announces the Totally for the Kids CDs Fundraiser Campaign Launch: When one thinks of the Carolinas, a few things spring to mind. Motor sports, the Petty Family and the Victory Junction Gang. Another is 'Beach Music' --or Shaggin' as the locals like to call it. The first release in the CD series will be "Totally Beach for the Kids", a music CD featuring the best in Beach Music. Headlining the "Totally Beach for the Kids" CD is Craig Woolard, one of Beach Music's favorite sons. Craig recently received the prestigious title of being the first Beach Music artist ever to have 2 Songs in the #1 and #2 Spots on the Charts. Craig was also named Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year at the 10th Annual Carolina Beach Music Awards Show. Also featured on the CD are 'Beach Music' greats including Coastline, General Johnson and The Chairmen of the Board, William Bell, Gary Brown, The Hardway Connection, Mark Roberts, The Tams, The Holiday Band, Roy Roberts and Casey York. The 'Totally Beach for The Kids' CD campaign will tie-into other themed events that will feature Beach Music artists from the Totally Beach For The Kid's CD. These events will act as a platform to inform audiences about the Victory Junction Gang as well as sell CD's. Also in development are events at designated racetracks, as well as tie-ins to local radio stations. A portion of the proceeds from all of the CD sales go to benefit the Victory Junction Gang. About The 'Totally For the Kids CD's' Campaign: The 'Totally for the Kids CDs' was established in 2004 by Kathy Thompson of the Trinity Marketing Group. Kathy has been a friend of the Petty family for many years, as well as friend of Adams. "This is my tribute to Adam, who brought so much joy to all of us", said Kathy Thompson. "We look forward to making a difference for the Victory Junction Gang, just as Adam made a difference in our lives." Look for the Totally Beach for the Kids CD link on the Victory Junction website victoryjunction.org.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yeley to run Daytona ARCA Race: Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Shaver Motorsports will field an ARCA Remax Series entry at Daytona International Speedway for J.J. Yeley, driver of the #18 Vigoro / Home Depot Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series. The Daytona ARCA event will mark the second time Shaver Motorsports has fielded a car for a Joe Gibbs Racing developmental driver. Denny Hamlin, driver of the #20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series, piloted his Shaver Motorsports ride to an impressive third place finish in the 2004 ARCA Remax Series finale at Talladega. "Shaver Motorsports did a great job working with Denny Hamlin at Talladega, and we wanted to give J.J. Yeley the same opportunity to get some more seat time at a restrictor plate track," said Steve DeSouza, Vice President of Busch Operations for Joe Gibbs Racing. Yeley will drive the #2 Shaver Motorsports entry, and the car will be adorned with the insignia of the new Joe Gibbs Performance Synthetic Racing Oil. Joe Gibbs Performance Vehicles will also be displayed on the #2 Shaver Motorsports entry.(JGR PR)~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So..what is up with Sterling? #40-Sterling Marlin, a regular on the circuit since 1987, wants to drive for a couple of more years and wants to remain with Chip Ganassi so he can close his career with a team that was owned by Felix Sabates when Marlin joined it in 1998. That scenario is far from a lock. Marlin is in the last year of his contract with Ganassi and is winless since 2002. He knows to be asked back he will have to show improvement over the three top-fives and a 21st-place points finish of 2004. Ganassi bluntly called the performance of Marlin's team disappointing in prepared remarks to the press during last week's media tour stop at a mammoth new building that houses the cars of Marlin and teammates Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears. "I don't know if we're going to renew," Marlin said. "I talked to Chip about re-upping a month ago to see what we're going to do and Coors is going to do." Marlin indicated that Ganassi didn't close the door. "Chip was open to extending," Marlin said. "I'd like to stay here. I've got a lot of friends here and they've built a really nice shop. I've driven for Felix a long time. So I'd like to retire here if I can."(High Point Enterprise)~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kahne unhurt in crash during windy California testFONTANA, Calif. -- Wednesday marked the first day of testing at California Speedway for Nextel Cup Series drivers in the 2005 season. The day was highlighted by press conferences held for Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Elliott Sadler and Jeremy Mayfield, all former winners at the superspeedway.
High winds were the topic of conversation for Wednesday's testing session as speeds neared 35 mph. Jimmie Johnson said, "It just moves your car that much. If anyone has ever driven anything that big in windy conditions, it's amazing to feel the car buffering around that much."
In testing action, Kasey Kahne's tire ruptured, sending him into the wall. After being reviewed by the doctors, the 2004 Auto Club 500 pole sitter was released in good health, with the only damage coming to the backside of his car.
Drivers continued to become more acquainted with the new spoiler and gear ratios that will be implemented for the Auto Club 500 on Feb. 17, just one week after the season opening Daytona 500.
"I think we were all nervous and thought the cars were going to be very evil to drive and undriveable at times, but they haven't been that way," Johnson said.
The day also saw an excited announcement of the Fontana Race Week that will take place later this month. Kicking off the Auto Club 500 weekend will be the Fontana RaceFest, featuring displays, show cars, driver appearances and is sure to be the largest free sports-related fan event in California.
The week will also include the Monte Carlo Night on the eve of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series American Racing Wheels 200. On Saturday, a Hot Rod Cruise will accompany the NASCAR Busch Series Stater Bros. 300. The week will then be capped off with the Nextel Cup Series race on Sunday.
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Edwards OK after crash as Busch test opens LAS VEGAS -- Carl Edwards stayed in Las Vegas on Wednesday instead of heading to Fontana to run test his Nextel Cup car.
He probably wishes he had just gone ahead with everyone else.
Edwards crashed in the opening minutes of Busch Series testing, which opened Wednesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
David Reutimann, testing Joe Nemechek's Busch car, lost an engine heading into Turn 4, and Edwards ran right through his oil. Johnny Sauter spun and didn't hit anything, but Edwards smacked the wall.
Scott Wimmer was the only other Nextel Cup driver around to test at LVMS's 1.5-mile track. The other regulars are at Fontana for the start of a two-day test at California Speedway.
"I should have been paying more attention," Edwards said. "I was driving down in the corner and I could see the oil on the track. I almost saved it, but ended up tagging the wall."
The crash damaged the rear clip of Edwards' Ford, but the team will replace it and bring the car back for the Sam's Town 300 at LVMS on March 12.
Edwards, who will drive both the Busch and Nextel Cup schedules this year, remained in Las Vegas mainly because he says he needs to get more seat time in his Busch car.
The Roush Racing driver says he likes the new spoiler/tire combination.
"To me, getting used to the spoiler and tire is what I am trying to do," Edwards said. "You can drive with the rear end hanging out a foot. Pretty neat to drive."
"We wanted to test the Busch car a little bit," said Edwards. "I have never really driven a Busch car at a place like this."
Testing for the Busch cars continues on Thursday.
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Waltrip: Brother will win this year By LARRY WOODY
Staff Writer
GLADEVILLE — Darrell Waltrip said the ultimatum given his kid brother Michael — make the Chase for the Championship this year or lose his ride — is not fair, but may work to his advantage.
''I think he needs the pressure,'' Waltrip said of the edict his brother received from his bosses at Dale Earnhardt Inc. ''In the past when he's faced similar situations he has responded very well. So this might be good for him, make him dig in and focus.''
Waltrip, a retired three-time champion now working as an analyst for Fox's NASCAR broadcasts, held a press conference yesterday at Nashville Superspeedway to discuss the upcoming season.
The Franklin resident starts his fifth season with Fox with the Feb. 20 Daytona 500, and is arguably the sport's most visible spokesperson.
The first race Waltrip called for Fox was the 2001 Daytona 500, which was also the first Cup race won by his younger brother in 16 years.
Michael added another Daytona 500 victory in 2003 and also has two victories at Talladega, another superspeedway at which speed-regulating restrictor plates are required.
''The problem is he hasn't won anywhere except Daytona and Talladega,'' Waltrip said.
Last season Michael went winless and finished 20th in the standings. Since then officials at DEI have said he needs to make this season's Chase for the Championship to secure his job.
Michael was not present when the NASCAR Nextel Media Tour made a stop at DEI last week, and has not commented publicly about his situation.
Waltrip said he has talked to his brother, ''and Michael's in good spirits. He's excited about the season. He knows what he's gotta do.''
Waltrip on some other subjects yesterday:
• Diversity in NASCAR. ''They've got to get somebody who knows the sport and can make that connection. They introduced Magic Johnson (as part of the diversity program) at Daytona last year and I never saw him again.''
As for young minority drivers who have competed in NASCAR's lower divisions but haven't made much progress: ''You've got to have talent. You can't fake it.''
As for Waltrip's 19-year-old Franklin neighbor, Joe Henderson III: ''He's done a good job and he's gone about it the right way. First you've got to get the local attention, let people know what you can do. That's how I got started.''
• Local racing. ''It's almost a dying breed. The Fair Board needs to be wiser about racing. If I had that track (Music City Motorplex) I'd figure some way to get something on TV every week. I'd get races on cable or something. Racing used to be the only game in town, and it's not any more. You've got to get some exposure.''
• NASCAR's youth movement. ''These kids are tenacious. They run flat out all the time and the old guys can't get away with that.''
• His future: Fox Sports has two years remaining on its NASCAR contract, with a two-year option, and Waltrip said he expects to call races for a long time.
''This is the most fun I've ever had,'' he said. ''It's just like when I was racing — I can't wait to get to Daytona.''
Larry Woody writes about auto racing for The Tennessean.
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Open-wheeler Jourdain adjusting to stock carsBy Mark Spoor, NASCAR.COM
LAS VEGAS -- Through several days of Busch Series testing and one NASCAR West Series race, former Champ Car star Michel Jourdain Jr. sees one similarity between driving an open-wheel car and piloting a stock car.
"The only thing that is similar is that you turn left," he said. "That's the only thing that's the same."
Jourdain, who amassed two wins, 20 top-fives and 25 top-10s in 152 Champ Car starts, is scheduled to run the full 2005 Busch Series season for ppc Racing.
After running some test laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Wednesday, Jordain said that running a stock car makes him feel like a rookie, even at tracks on which he has experience.
"When we ran the Champ Cars here, you would just run wide-open all the time," he said. "Here, I have to brake. I feel like a first-timer. Everything is so different. The cars are so heavy, there's no downforce.
"It's more or less what I expected."
Jourdain says he's getting plenty of help from his spotter, Andy Houston.
"Every time I do something, he tells me why and he tells me what to expect," he said. "It's just getting used to how the car wants to be driven."
The knowledge paid early dividends for Jourdain last weekend when he finished sixth in the NASCAR West Series season opener in Phoenix.
"It was a good result," he said. "I was not expecting anything, but at the end, you always want more.
"I didn't make any big mistakes and that's what I wanted and that's what I want in the first race in the Busch Series, as well."
As his first full stock car season looms, Jourdain contends that he's not entering the campaign with very few expectations.
"Let's see how it starts," Jourdain said. "I want to be in the top 30 in points after the first five races so I have the guaranteed spot, but the thing I need most is laps."
There is however, one race that is circled on Jourdain's schedule -- the Mexico 200 on March 6 in his hometown of Mexico City.
"That helped me make the decision to come over," he said. "I started talking to NASCAR teams in 2002 but at that time there was no race in Mexico. Jimmy (Vasser) was telling me I should make the move and that they were looking for a good Hispanic driver.
"But that was why I stayed with Champ Car last year and didn't go over to the IRL. It's important for me to race in Mexico."
Jourdain says he's not scared off by the struggles that fellow open-wheel star Christian Fittipaldi had driving for Petty Enterprises in the Cup series in 2002-03.
"He told me if I have the chance, I should take it. He's not here, (NASCAR), but it's not because of lack of talent. I don't think he had the right equipment.
"I think me coming with ppc, which is a stronger team with the support of Ford, I think I have the chance of making it."
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Preview: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. scored six wins and finished fifth in the standings in 2004, making his fifth Cup season his most successful and consistent to date.
But that's not to say there weren't roadblocks.
He won NASCAR's "Super Bowl" in February, then faced recuperation from burns five months later in a fiery sports car crash. In August, still ailing, he said he'd rather fail with his current team -- led by his uncle and cousin -- than win with another.
Come December, that would change. An offseason crew swap with teammate Michael Waltrip and mediocre testing speeds during Preseason Thunder mean Junior enters 2005 with more question marks than there were in "War and Peace".
"It's hard to tell where we're at in the grand scheme -- from one end of the garage to the other," Earnhardt said.
The first such unknown -- and the one by far garnering the most attention -- is the leadership capability of rookie crew chief Pete Rondeau, who becomes only the second crew chief for Earnhardt's Budweiser Chevrolet program.
"One of the things I like about Pete is that he gives me a lot of respect," Earnhardt said. "When we talk, we listen. He has a similar demeanor as I do in and around the car and at the shop, and away from the track."
Earnhardt's well-publicized squabbles with former car chief (and first cousin) Tony Eury Jr. are at the crux of the decision. Put simply, Junior was tired of bickering with his family, tired of professional opinions of one another turning personal.
"Tony Jr. and I have always been really competitive. The things that we enjoy and what we do and how we treat each other is totally different from what the media have seen during the year," Earnhardt said.
"The situation wasn't so bad where I said 'I have to get out of here.' But I wasn't necessarily the guy who spoke first."
Once someone mentioned the idea of change, it made sense. It became apparent that they were limiting one another's professional progression.
"The two of us kind of held each other up, which maybe made it easier to do this," Earnhardt said of the switch. "He had a lot of talent that wouldn't come to the surface because of our mentality and outlook towards each other."
Earnhardt places part of the blame on himself, saying he must mature as a driver and further respect others' opinions.
"I put myself in this situation so I could be a better person and little more of a professional," Earnhardt said. "I was a good race car driver, but I wasn't necessarily a professional about how I was on the radio. That will be a good situation for me."
Rondeau's arrival means the Eurys will transition to other positions within the DEI team structure. After seven years, 15 Cup victories and a pair of Busch Series championships with Dale Jr., Eury Sr. is now DEI competition director, while Tony Jr. has become crew chief of Waltrip's No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet.
"For (Tony Jr.) it's going to open up a lot of doors to try to be more of a people person," Earnhardt continued. "He's going to have to understand how to motivate people.
"He's going to have to learn now or never. It's good for him to learn those things now. He won't have that opportunity when he's older because he won't change then. It will benefit him.
"It was a difficult situation and I looked across there today and there are things I miss about him and I working together, but working with Pete (Rondeau) is what I need to do."
With the move comes much skepticism. Practically the only folks not questioning the decision are those involved in making it.
"It's going to be tough. People are going to talk one way or another," Earnhardt said. "If Tony Jr. and I had stayed together they would have said something anyway. When we'd get inconsistent last year people would talk and try to figure out who was at fault.
"Tony Eury Jr. is really enjoying himself now, too. He's getting it going on now. He's working with Michael and they're really clicking now. He's able to do things that maybe we couldn't do together before.
"The transition between the two teams was a lot smoother than I anticipated. The work that I see the guys doing on the car with (Rondeau) is really satisfying to see."
But can he handle the pressure? Until he experiences it, Rondeau can't begin to fathom the constant attention that will be paid to his performance.
"It's tough when you're walking around in that red uniform," Earnhardt said. "It was hard on Tony Jr. and Tony Sr. and that team because they just wanted to work and be in their little world. But when you're not in your own world, you can't be. It's going to be a different experience for them.
"Hopefully they'll handle it well. There is a lot of pressure but I can see that this will go either way. Eventually we'll do what it takes to do to get it right and win. If it starts out stumbling we'll just have to work hard to get it right. I'm prepared for that."
But is he prepared to vie for a championship? Last season, Earnhardt was on the cusp of his first title. He was in position to take the championship points lead late in the season, but as the laps would down at Atlanta, he misjudged his position while racing Carl Edwards and wrecked out while running third.
He finished 33rd in that event, and fifth overall in the standings. But he won six times, including the Daytona 500. Can he do it again, and this time carry that momentum throughout the season?
"As far as repeating the 500, we're not that fast right now," Earnhardt said. "We've got a brand new car and one of the cars they ran in the past with Michael.
"The new car was pretty decent and I was really happy with it. We finished practicing yesterday and shut the doors and went home. We jumped back and started and we lost about four-tenths of a second somewhere.
"We'll figure it out. I'm not too worried about it. I think the cars draft well. If we have to start near the back we'll just cut up through the pack. I'm pretty happy.
"The craftsmanship is really good. I'll know what kind of team we have after we get done with this and then go to (testing) California and Las Vegas."
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Mayfield saw problems in Penske organizationBy Mark Spoor, NASCAR.COM
LAS VEGAS -- Jeremy Mayfield knows what it's like to go through problems at Penske Racing like the rift going on between teammates Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace.
His advice for Newman? Realize that it's not his fault -- or Wallace's.
"Ryan and Rusty have this thing going on, but I bet if you ask either one of them they really don't have a problem with each other," Mayfield said.
"So, what's the problem? It was there when I was there. It's there now, and it'll be there after Rusty's gone and Ryan's gone. That's the way I look at it."
Mayfield drove for Penske Racing and was Wallace's teammate from 1998-2001. From the outside, their relationship could best be described as contentious. However, Mayfield said that in reality, that probably wasn't the whole story.
"I look back and if you take the egos out of it, we really didn't have a problem," Mayfield said.
The fact that Wallace and Mayfield are collaborating on a Busch Series team for the upcoming season seems to lend credence to that argument. Mayfield says Penske's problems may not be on the racetrack.
"Maybe you should look somewhere else in the organization, and it's not (team owner) Roger (Penske). Roger does his job. He provides everything they need to race.
Mayfield says the key difference between his current team -- Evernham Motorsports -- and his former team is how on-track issues are dealt with from above.
"If (Evernham Motorsports owner) Ray (Evernham) came in and said the 9 car is this or the 19 car is that, that gets things stirred up at the shop when the leaders do that. Whether I'm involved or Kasey is, the teams get animosity stirred up between them. Guess how it looks like it is? It's me and Kasey.
"I don't know who the managers are over there. It starts at the shop. When they leave the shop the trucks need to be rolling together. It needs to be a team effort everything they do, and it's not that way over there."
The 10th-place driver in last season's Nextel Cup Series says no such problems exist with his current team.
"We don't have that problem at Evernham Motorsports. I have zero trouble with my teammates or anything at our deal," Mayfield said. "Ray doesn't allow that. He's there on a day-to-day basis and he sets the standard, and that's the way it's going to be."
Mayfield said that difference makes quite an impact on the track.
"Ray hasn't been an underdog, but a lot of people stay focused on him and wonder what he's going to do. If you know him, you know he's not going to lose."
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Dorton took much with him, left much behindBy Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
Some of the most engaging conversations of my life were with Randy Dorton. He'd been in NASCAR since my pajamas had booties, and my Gen-X analysis of the sport not only intrigued him, but often greatly amused him.
He'd listen intently as I ranted on about whatever frivolous revelation had tripped my trigger that week, then drop his chin to his chest, stare at his feet and grin. And just when it came time for the kicker in my argument, he'd chuckle and tell me how it really was.
For whatever reason, I was blessed to be educated by the most innovative engine builder of his time without ever so much as changing a sparkplug. I love hearing stories about him.
That's why the story newly-appointed Hendrick Motorsports general manager Marshall Carlson told me last week was so personally moving. It was consummate Randy Dorton.
Dorton, you see, was all about depth, loyalty, seeing it through to completion. He dug in, saw to it personally that his boys were NASCAR's elite. And like the boss man, Rick Hendrick, he rewarded the commitment required thereof.
Dorton's employees didn't jump ship for the next big thing. They stood fast, stayed true to their mentor -- some for two decades. He built a hierarchy so efficient that he could walk away and Hendrick Engines would continue running on all eight cylinders.
Then it happened. Dorton was among the 10 individuals killed last October when a Hendrick plane crashed near Martinsville, Va. Carlson's story begins right there.
Dorton's boys could easily have closed up shop, taken time to mourn. But Randy wouldn't have wanted it that way. Neither would Ricky and John Hendrick, for that matter. The loss was devastating, but there was work to do -- and not just for their own in-house teams, either.
That's what's so striking to me about this story. Amid unimaginable grief, Randy's boys followed through with responsibilities to competitors.
"Randy Dorton set up an extremely proficient, deep and structured program, so it was obvious that, in that respect, that (the engine department) was prepared and capable to step up," Carlson said.
"Nemechek leases engines from us -- they show up at 8:30 every (Monday) morning with the engines. Well, that morning, the Monday after the accident - the very next day -- their engines showed up at 8:30."
Wow. I know this: Randy Dorton would have been proud of those boys at the moment those engines showed up at MB2's loading dock. At that moment, two decades spent assembling the best engine department in NASCAR came to fruition.
That was the moment Randy Dorton's devotion to excellence materialized.
Sure, he'd done it all on the racetrack, won championships with Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte and Brian Vickers and Jack Sprague. But what his pupils did in his absence was the true testament to Randy Dorton.
Makes me think of a country song by another Randy, Randy Travis. Travis' lyrics are spiritually focused, but Randy Dorton was a spiritual man, so they most certainly apply to his devotion to his trade, his friends and family:
"It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, It's what you leave behind you when you go."
The opinions listed here are solely those of the writer.
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Well, that's all for today. Until the next time, I remain, Your
Momma "Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up there and eat that candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt – 1998
"It's nothin' personal, it's just racin'
-Dale Earnhardt
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