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Happy Tuesday all...enjoy the day.
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Today In Nascar History
3/08/1953-Herb Thomas wins at Spring Lake, win #1 of the season, and #17 of his career.
3/08/1959-Curtis Turner wins at Concord, win #2 of the season, and #16 of his career.
3/08/1970-Richard Petty wins at Rockingham, win #1 of the season, and #102 of his career.
3/08/1987-Dale Earnhardt wins at Richmond, win #2 of the season, and #22 of his career.
3/08/1992-Bill Elliott wins at Richmond, win #2 of the season, and #36 of his career..
3/08/1953-Herb Thomas wins at Spring Lake, win #1 of the season, and #17 of his career.
3/08/1959-Curtis Turner wins at Concord, win #2 of the season, and #16 of his career.
3/08/1970-Richard Petty wins at Rockingham, win #1 of the season, and #102 of his career.
3/08/1987-Dale Earnhardt wins at Richmond, win #2 of the season, and #22 of his career.
3/08/1992-Bill Elliott wins at Richmond, win #2 of the season, and #36 of his career..
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Did You Know
The last Cup race to occur on March 13th was eleven years ago. In 1994, Ernie Irvan picked up his second win of the new season at Atlanta in his #28 Texaco Ford. It was his second win in a row (won at Richmond the race before). Ernie was having a career season in 1994 and was second in points (27 points behind) to Dale Earnhardt after 20 races. Ernie was a serious title contender when he wrecked his car in practice at Michigan for race #21, ending his season and almost ended his life. Ernie successfully returned to racing in 1995. He would win 3 more races in his career (2 in 1996 and 1 in 1997), before he retired.
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New Poll
Where Should The NASCAR Hall of Fame be Located?
Only 1 Vote Per Day Will Be Counted!
NASCAR is Considering Four Cities as a Site for a NASCAR HALL of FAME. Which City Should it Choose?
Atlanta
Daytona Beach
Charlotte
Kansas City
No Opinion
Where Should The NASCAR Hall of Fame be Located?
Only 1 Vote Per Day Will Be Counted!
NASCAR is Considering Four Cities as a Site for a NASCAR HALL of FAME. Which City Should it Choose?
Atlanta
Daytona Beach
Charlotte
Kansas City
No Opinion
Click here to vote! http://de3fan4.tripod.com/
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Quote of the Day
"No matter what I say, I'm not going to get fired tomorrow."
— Owner-driver Robby Gordon
— Owner-driver Robby Gordon
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Comments from the Peanut Gallery
from Jo
The Mexico City race was about as exciting as watching the snow melt!! "Fer cryin' out loud", we have tracks that are not being used here in the USA! Let's keep OUR sport in OUR country!!
I sure agree with Larry. It's OUR sport, OUR country. Keep OUR tracks open and prosperous. Jo, Florida
from Jack
Momma, that was fast. Thanks for the NASCAR Museum poll. Little hard to find but I got it.
Jack.
Don't thank me, thank Larry....if it weren't for Larry...I wouldn't have any polls!
Bits and Pieces
Minority Sports Execs Described As 'Fed Up' With Jesse Jackson; Forms Own Minority Motor Sports Division: The man who headed the sports division of Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition for more than a decade before being released in January is now organizing former Jackson affiliates into his own minority motor sports division. Charles Farrell told Cybercast News Service that many of his new business recruits admit they were wary about their association with Jackson. "A lot of people were fed up with Reverend Jackson so I think this is a clean start," Farrell said of his newly formed group, One Umbrella Motorsports Association. "We have people coming from as far away as California and Missouri." He called his new venture the "start of something big." ...Farrell launched his new business on Saturday, with a minority motor sports conference in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Clinton, Md. He was joined by Joseph C. Brown, the president of Sports Perspectives International, a marketing firm dedicated to increasing minority participation in motor sports. (Farrell is a principle and serves as a consultant to Sports Perspectives International.) Farrell indicated that the majority of the people who attended Saturday's conference once were affiliated with Jackson's Rainbow Sports division. "We have gotten together many of the people who had been members of [Rainbow Sports] when I was with them," Farrell said. Farrell said he hopes his new sports initiative will be better received than the one he directed for Jackson. - CNSNews.com
Minority Sports Execs Described As 'Fed Up' With Jesse Jackson; Forms Own Minority Motor Sports Division: The man who headed the sports division of Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition for more than a decade before being released in January is now organizing former Jackson affiliates into his own minority motor sports division. Charles Farrell told Cybercast News Service that many of his new business recruits admit they were wary about their association with Jackson. "A lot of people were fed up with Reverend Jackson so I think this is a clean start," Farrell said of his newly formed group, One Umbrella Motorsports Association. "We have people coming from as far away as California and Missouri." He called his new venture the "start of something big." ...Farrell launched his new business on Saturday, with a minority motor sports conference in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Clinton, Md. He was joined by Joseph C. Brown, the president of Sports Perspectives International, a marketing firm dedicated to increasing minority participation in motor sports. (Farrell is a principle and serves as a consultant to Sports Perspectives International.) Farrell indicated that the majority of the people who attended Saturday's conference once were affiliated with Jackson's Rainbow Sports division. "We have gotten together many of the people who had been members of [Rainbow Sports] when I was with them," Farrell said. Farrell said he hopes his new sports initiative will be better received than the one he directed for Jackson. - CNSNews.com
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Martinsville Speedway Unveils New Ticket Office Hours: Race fans will soon have the opportunity to do some Saturday ticket shopping at Martinsville Speedway. Beginning Saturday, March 12, Martinsville Speedway's ticket office will begin staying open on Saturday's from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The expanded hours will be in effect until the Advance Auto Parts 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Martinsville Speedway on April 10. "We know that fans don't keep nine to five hours, Monday through Friday," said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. "We know it's difficult for many of our fans to give us a call during the week. With the addition of Saturday hours, fans will just have an extra opportunity to call our ticket office." Tickets for both the Advance Auto Parts 500 on Sunday, April 10, and the Kroger 250, on Saturday, April 9, are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Advance Auto Parts 500 tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com Ticket prices for the Advance Auto Parts 500 range from $40 to $75. Tickets for the Kroger 250 are $35. Tickets for children ages 6 to 12 are $5. Anyone buying an Advance Auto Parts 500 ticket between now and April 1 can receive $5 off the purchase of a Kroger 250 ticket. Children's truck tickets are discounted $1 when bought with an Advance Auto Parts 500 ticket. The Advance Auto Parts 500 weekend kicks off on April 8 with time trials for both the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The Kroger 250 is scheduled for April 9 and the Advance Auto Parts 500 on April 10. - Martinsville Speedway PR
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Testing at Kentucky: Joe Gibbs Racing teammates #20-Tony Stewart and #11-Jason Leffler are scheduled to test at Kentucky Speedway on Tuesday, March 8. Fans can view testing out side Turn 3 at no charge. Tests begin at approximately 9:00 a.m. and end at approximately 5:00 p.m. The test schedule is subject to change.(Kentucky Speedway PR)
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Seven Drivers in Tylenol Spots: Johnson & Johnson has signed endorsement deals with seven Nextel Cup drivers to promote the launch of Tylenol's Extra Strength Rapid Release Gels, Street & Smiths's SportsBusiness Journal reports. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Elliott Sadler make up Team Tylenol. The campaign will include television ads during race broadcasts and sponsorship at 11 tracks. Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon are scheduled to be featured on packages of the product sold during the third quarter of the year. Exact financial terms of the deal were not reported, but the story by Terry Lefton says the entire campaign is "an eight-figure investment."(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)
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Testing at Atlanta: #12-Ryan Newman was in Atlanta for the first day of a two-day test for the March 18-20 Golden Corral 500. Also testing were #22-Scott Wimmer, #77-Travis Kvapil, #11-Jason Leffler and Busch driver Brandon Miller. Newman topped the unofficial speed charts. He circled his #12 Alltel Dodge around Atlanta's 1.54-mile quad-oval at 29.48 seconds (186.060 mph). Second fastest was Jason Leffler in the #11 FedEx Chevrolet, turning a lap in 29.84 seconds (185.790 mph). NEXTEL Cup rookie Travis Kvapil was third fastest for the day with a lap time of 29.95 seconds (185.109 mph). Wimmer was the slowest among the Cup drivers for the day, turning in a time of 30.16 seconds (183.820 mph). Busch driver #21 Brandon Miller was also on hand for Monday's test, turning a top lap time of 30.53 seconds (181.592 mph). Testing will continue throughout the week as drivers prepare for the March 18-20 Golden Corral 500 weekend. All testing is closed to the public. Those expected to test are Bobby Labonte, Matt Kenseth, Jeremy Mayfield, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Green, Bill Elliott and Carl Edwards.(AMS PR)
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Johnson top young gun at Calif: By picking Jimmie Johnson as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway on February 27th, John B. of Marshall, TX was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 Challenge. John picked Johnson as the highest finishing Young Gun by going to gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline. As the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Johnson. This is the first time this season a donation has been made to the NPCC on behalf of Johnson.(Alan Taylor Communications PR)
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Mark Martin's Official 'Salute to You' Tour Website now open: Mark Martin’s“Salute to You” Tour, which roared to life on the track with back-to-back top-10 finishes in the first two races of the season, has come to life on the Internet. The official Web site of Mark Martin’s “Salute to You” Tour is now online at markmartinsalute.com. Featuring race news, vintage photos, a career timeline, exclusive merchandise and more, the site celebrates the career of one of NASCAR’s most beloved drivers, who retires from full-time Nextel Cup competition this year. Martin himself delivers a special video message to visitors when they arrive at the site. The site will serve as the new home of the official Mark Martin fan club. Current fan club members can use their existing fan club log in name and password to access the “Salute to You” site. Fan club membership is free by registering at www.roushracing.com.(Roush Racing PR)
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VJGC Goes Trackside with Track Scan: Track Scan has agreed to support the Victory Junction Gang Camp both financially with a percentage of their scanner headset rentals going to the camp, as well as promotionally through their marketing efforts both on and off the track. Other programs Track Scan will be doing to support the Victory Junction Gang Camp is to create a racing like atmosphere by donating scanners to the camp so that when the campers and their parents take a tour of the facility they can wear the authentic racing scanners complete with two-way radio for communication. For more information, visit track-scan.com.(Victory Junction Gang Camp PR)
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Edwards has trouble with the language
Carl Edwards, who placed third in the Busch race at Mexico City on Sunday, was a guest on the Fox radio network morning show in Los Angeles on Monday.
Asked by Andrew Siliciano about difficulties with the language, Edwards said that, after arriving in Mexico City, he tried to ask a bus driver how long the trip to the racetrack was.
"I'm trying to figure how to ask him; I'm like `cuando minutos?' and all this stuff," he said.
"He looks at me and goes, `It will be about 20 minutes, man.'"
Carl Edwards, who placed third in the Busch race at Mexico City on Sunday, was a guest on the Fox radio network morning show in Los Angeles on Monday.
Asked by Andrew Siliciano about difficulties with the language, Edwards said that, after arriving in Mexico City, he tried to ask a bus driver how long the trip to the racetrack was.
"I'm trying to figure how to ask him; I'm like `cuando minutos?' and all this stuff," he said.
"He looks at me and goes, `It will be about 20 minutes, man.'"
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Dale Jr. looks for rebound at Vegas
After a miserable race at California two weeks ago, Dale Earnhardt Junior and the DEI team will look to rebound this weekend at Las Vegas. the big question is how?
"By just fixing the problems we had and moving on. It wasn't much fun driving around with tires blowing out all day, but that's what happened and it's behind us. Nobody said it was going to be a cakewalk. We're going to get better because of what happened. I was real happy the way (crew chief) Pete (Rondeau) and all the guys handled the situation. Pete had me calm and chilled-out at a time when I probably would've lost focus and been all over the place. I like that about him."
And now on to Las Vegas, a track where you struggled at last year.
"I'm actually looking forward to it. We tested at Las Vegas (in January), and we learned a lot of stuff in the last half of the California race that should help us there. Once we blew those tires, we turned the rest of the race into a test session. We're taking the same car that we used at California."
Why the same car?
"Because it was a good car when the tires stayed on it. Once we fixed that problem, it was pretty fast, but nobody noticed because we were more than 10 laps down. We tried a lot of things, the car got better, and we learned a lot about the car that should be good for us at Vegas. When I would get behind somebody I would lose a lot of grip in the front. It was slick and hard to pass, but I wasn't the only one with that problem. Clean air and track position is the key to running fast with the new spoiler. The car was never a hassle to drive at any point during the race. It was by far one of the better cars I've driven at the big, flat tracks, so we're taking it this week and seeing what we can do with it."
After a miserable race at California two weeks ago, Dale Earnhardt Junior and the DEI team will look to rebound this weekend at Las Vegas. the big question is how?
"By just fixing the problems we had and moving on. It wasn't much fun driving around with tires blowing out all day, but that's what happened and it's behind us. Nobody said it was going to be a cakewalk. We're going to get better because of what happened. I was real happy the way (crew chief) Pete (Rondeau) and all the guys handled the situation. Pete had me calm and chilled-out at a time when I probably would've lost focus and been all over the place. I like that about him."
And now on to Las Vegas, a track where you struggled at last year.
"I'm actually looking forward to it. We tested at Las Vegas (in January), and we learned a lot of stuff in the last half of the California race that should help us there. Once we blew those tires, we turned the rest of the race into a test session. We're taking the same car that we used at California."
Why the same car?
"Because it was a good car when the tires stayed on it. Once we fixed that problem, it was pretty fast, but nobody noticed because we were more than 10 laps down. We tried a lot of things, the car got better, and we learned a lot about the car that should be good for us at Vegas. When I would get behind somebody I would lose a lot of grip in the front. It was slick and hard to pass, but I wasn't the only one with that problem. Clean air and track position is the key to running fast with the new spoiler. The car was never a hassle to drive at any point during the race. It was by far one of the better cars I've driven at the big, flat tracks, so we're taking it this week and seeing what we can do with it."
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More than 100 drivers entered for NASCAR Weekend at Las Vegas
More than 100 drivers will attempt to qualify for this weekend's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 and Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The large number of drivers will add more intensity to Friday's Pole Day as 49 drivers vie for the 43 spots in Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 and 52 drivers will attempt to qualify for Saturday's Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series event.
There are no surprises among the Nextel Cup entries. Matt Kenseth, who has won two straight at LVMS, local drivers Kurt and Kyle Busch and superstars Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. all have filed entries.
Saturday's Sam's Town 300 will look a lot like Sunday's race. Sixteen drivers will pull double-duty by running both events. Mark Martin, Sterling Marlin, Kasey Kahne, Michael Waltrip, Joe Nemechek, Elliott Sadler, Kyle Busch, Scott Riggs and Dave Blaney all are entered in both events.
More than 100 drivers will attempt to qualify for this weekend's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 and Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The large number of drivers will add more intensity to Friday's Pole Day as 49 drivers vie for the 43 spots in Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 and 52 drivers will attempt to qualify for Saturday's Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series event.
There are no surprises among the Nextel Cup entries. Matt Kenseth, who has won two straight at LVMS, local drivers Kurt and Kyle Busch and superstars Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. all have filed entries.
Saturday's Sam's Town 300 will look a lot like Sunday's race. Sixteen drivers will pull double-duty by running both events. Mark Martin, Sterling Marlin, Kasey Kahne, Michael Waltrip, Joe Nemechek, Elliott Sadler, Kyle Busch, Scott Riggs and Dave Blaney all are entered in both events.
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Ernie Irvan Joins Brain Injury Association of Michigan Event
NASCAR racing legend Ernie Irvan will join The Brain Injury Association (BIA) of Michigan for a major announcement at its annual Legacy Dinner on March 13, 2005 at St. John's Golf & Conference Center in Plymouth. The sold- out event, now in its 7th year, honors outstanding achievement in brain injury awareness, prevention and treatment.
"Ernie's announcement will have a direct impact on the growing epidemic of preventable traumatic brain injury in the United States," said Michael F. Dabbs, President of the BIA of Michigan. "Led by Ernie's desire to make a difference, this event will have the same impact on the legions of NASCAR fans across Michigan as a Super Bowl or Final Four."
Irvan was at the top of the NASCAR standings competing fiercely with Dale Earnhardt for the points championship in 1994 when he sustained life- threatening injuries in a horrific crash at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). Irvan triumphantly returned to the NASCAR circuit after the crash only to suffer a career-ending traumatic brain injury in a crash at the same racetrack exactly five years to the day after the 1994 incident.
The Legacy Dinner is held in March as part of a celebration of National Brain Injury Awareness Month. This campaign strives to build awareness of the BIA's mission to enhance the lives of those affected by brain injury through education, advocacy, research, support and prevention.
"Brain Injury affects 5.3 million people each year, with an additional 1.5 million people sustaining injuries each year." said Dabbs. "It is the leading epidemic in the United States, with an annual incidence rate that exceeds breast cancer and HIV/AIDS combined, and the worst part is that a majority of these injuries are preventable. That is why Brain Injury Awareness Month is so important."
BIA of Michigan was founded in 1981 by family members, persons with brain injury and persons in the brain injury profession. At the time, brain injuries were largely misunderstood and services for those affected were hard to find. In the years since its inception, much progress has been made in treating brain injuries, and BIAMI has expanded its focus to include prevention programs. BIAMI's mission is to enhance the lives of those affected by brain injury through education, advocacy, research and local support groups and to reduce the incidence of brain injury through prevention.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~NASCAR racing legend Ernie Irvan will join The Brain Injury Association (BIA) of Michigan for a major announcement at its annual Legacy Dinner on March 13, 2005 at St. John's Golf & Conference Center in Plymouth. The sold- out event, now in its 7th year, honors outstanding achievement in brain injury awareness, prevention and treatment.
"Ernie's announcement will have a direct impact on the growing epidemic of preventable traumatic brain injury in the United States," said Michael F. Dabbs, President of the BIA of Michigan. "Led by Ernie's desire to make a difference, this event will have the same impact on the legions of NASCAR fans across Michigan as a Super Bowl or Final Four."
Irvan was at the top of the NASCAR standings competing fiercely with Dale Earnhardt for the points championship in 1994 when he sustained life- threatening injuries in a horrific crash at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). Irvan triumphantly returned to the NASCAR circuit after the crash only to suffer a career-ending traumatic brain injury in a crash at the same racetrack exactly five years to the day after the 1994 incident.
The Legacy Dinner is held in March as part of a celebration of National Brain Injury Awareness Month. This campaign strives to build awareness of the BIA's mission to enhance the lives of those affected by brain injury through education, advocacy, research, support and prevention.
"Brain Injury affects 5.3 million people each year, with an additional 1.5 million people sustaining injuries each year." said Dabbs. "It is the leading epidemic in the United States, with an annual incidence rate that exceeds breast cancer and HIV/AIDS combined, and the worst part is that a majority of these injuries are preventable. That is why Brain Injury Awareness Month is so important."
BIA of Michigan was founded in 1981 by family members, persons with brain injury and persons in the brain injury profession. At the time, brain injuries were largely misunderstood and services for those affected were hard to find. In the years since its inception, much progress has been made in treating brain injuries, and BIAMI has expanded its focus to include prevention programs. BIAMI's mission is to enhance the lives of those affected by brain injury through education, advocacy, research and local support groups and to reduce the incidence of brain injury through prevention.
Busch's Truex is one junior on the upswing
By Mike Brundell
Detroit Free Press
The next NASCAR Nextel Cup champion at Dale Earnhardt Inc. probably will have a "Jr." attached to his name, but the question is, which one?
Right now, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the undisputed No. 1 at DEI. But Martin Truex Jr. is red-hot.
Truex drives for Chance 2 Motorsports, which is owned by Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Jr. He won the Busch Grand National race at Mexico City on Sunday and finished second in the season-opening International Race of Champions event at Daytona Beach, Fla.. In the Daytona 500, Truex qualified 10th and finished 34th.
Michael Waltrip is fighting to keep his ride at DEI, but Truex, the 2004 Busch champion, could take his spot in 2006, or at least be added as the team's No. 3 driver.
Truex, 24, was born in Mayetta, N.J., and began racing go-karts at age 11. By 1998, he was running modifieds and moved to the Busch North Series in 2000.
After a couple of part-time seasons in Busch, Truex found a permanent home at Chance 2 last year. On the way to the championship, he won six races and seven poles.
This year, Truex will compete in about eight Cup races in the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for DEI. He is fourth in points in the Busch series, led by Kevin Harvick.
In winning on a road course in Mexico, Truex showed his versatility. In pressuring Mark Martin to the finish line in the IROC race he displayed a special coolness.
If somehow Truex misses a shot with DEI in Cup next season, lots of teams will be knocking at his door.
By Mike Brundell
Detroit Free Press
The next NASCAR Nextel Cup champion at Dale Earnhardt Inc. probably will have a "Jr." attached to his name, but the question is, which one?
Right now, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the undisputed No. 1 at DEI. But Martin Truex Jr. is red-hot.
Truex drives for Chance 2 Motorsports, which is owned by Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Jr. He won the Busch Grand National race at Mexico City on Sunday and finished second in the season-opening International Race of Champions event at Daytona Beach, Fla.. In the Daytona 500, Truex qualified 10th and finished 34th.
Michael Waltrip is fighting to keep his ride at DEI, but Truex, the 2004 Busch champion, could take his spot in 2006, or at least be added as the team's No. 3 driver.
Truex, 24, was born in Mayetta, N.J., and began racing go-karts at age 11. By 1998, he was running modifieds and moved to the Busch North Series in 2000.
After a couple of part-time seasons in Busch, Truex found a permanent home at Chance 2 last year. On the way to the championship, he won six races and seven poles.
This year, Truex will compete in about eight Cup races in the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for DEI. He is fourth in points in the Busch series, led by Kevin Harvick.
In winning on a road course in Mexico, Truex showed his versatility. In pressuring Mark Martin to the finish line in the IROC race he displayed a special coolness.
If somehow Truex misses a shot with DEI in Cup next season, lots of teams will be knocking at his door.
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Belnavis Racing signs Hernandez
23-year-old Fresno, Calif., resident Jesus Hernandez will drive the No. 17 Waste Management Ford in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series for Belnavis Racing in the Drive for Diversity(SM) program for the 2005 season. Hernandez joins Matt Kenseth and Bill Lester to complete Team Waste Management Racing.
Waste Management will support Hernandez through the Drive for Diversity(SM) program in 2005. Drive for Diversity(SM), which is recognized as NASCAR's leading on-track diversity initiative, is a diverse driver and crew member development program created and managed by Access Marketing & Communications. It is this program that has given drivers like Hernandez the chance to live out a dream. Like NASCAR, Waste Management is committed to being an organization that not only embraces diversity and inclusion, but reflects that commitment through its employees and customers.
"We are proud to add Jesus to Team Waste Management Racing," said David Steiner, Waste Management Chief Executive Officer. "Jesus has already proven himself as a trailblazer in the racing industry and he's a remarkable individual off the track as well. We look forward to working with him and continuing our support of NASCAR and its commitment to have the sport of racing look more like America both on and off the racetrack."
"For NASCAR to continue to succeed and grow, no other issue is more important," added Brian France, Chairman and CEO of NASCAR. "The same stands true for our nation, which reflects an exciting and diverse ethnic and racial citizenship that deserves respect, support, and inclusion."
"Our support of Jesus is just part of our commitment to promoting diversity throughout the broader business world, not just in the motor sports industry," said Carlton Yearwood, Vice President Business Ethics and Chief Diversity Officer for Waste Management. "It is not only a corporate initiative we take seriously, it is also an issue of cultural fusion that we are supporting proactively."
Hernandez will be in 20 races from April 2 through September 24 at the Motor Mile Raceway in Radford, Va.
Prior to his selection in the Drive for Diversity(SM) program, Jesus dominated each new series he entered - capturing Rookie of the Year honors in both the Junior Grand American Modified in 1998 and the Grand American Modified in 2000.
During the 2005 season, Waste Management will also sponsor Matt Kenseth, driving the No. 17 Waste Management car in the NASCAR Busch Series, as well as Kenseth's No. 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series car as an associate sponsor. Additionally, Waste Management further supports the diversification of motor racing through its sponsorship of driver Bill Lester, a tremendous ambassador for diversity and for NASCAR. Lester will drive the Waste Management No. 22 Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series throughout 2005.
23-year-old Fresno, Calif., resident Jesus Hernandez will drive the No. 17 Waste Management Ford in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series for Belnavis Racing in the Drive for Diversity(SM) program for the 2005 season. Hernandez joins Matt Kenseth and Bill Lester to complete Team Waste Management Racing.
Waste Management will support Hernandez through the Drive for Diversity(SM) program in 2005. Drive for Diversity(SM), which is recognized as NASCAR's leading on-track diversity initiative, is a diverse driver and crew member development program created and managed by Access Marketing & Communications. It is this program that has given drivers like Hernandez the chance to live out a dream. Like NASCAR, Waste Management is committed to being an organization that not only embraces diversity and inclusion, but reflects that commitment through its employees and customers.
"We are proud to add Jesus to Team Waste Management Racing," said David Steiner, Waste Management Chief Executive Officer. "Jesus has already proven himself as a trailblazer in the racing industry and he's a remarkable individual off the track as well. We look forward to working with him and continuing our support of NASCAR and its commitment to have the sport of racing look more like America both on and off the racetrack."
"For NASCAR to continue to succeed and grow, no other issue is more important," added Brian France, Chairman and CEO of NASCAR. "The same stands true for our nation, which reflects an exciting and diverse ethnic and racial citizenship that deserves respect, support, and inclusion."
"Our support of Jesus is just part of our commitment to promoting diversity throughout the broader business world, not just in the motor sports industry," said Carlton Yearwood, Vice President Business Ethics and Chief Diversity Officer for Waste Management. "It is not only a corporate initiative we take seriously, it is also an issue of cultural fusion that we are supporting proactively."
Hernandez will be in 20 races from April 2 through September 24 at the Motor Mile Raceway in Radford, Va.
Prior to his selection in the Drive for Diversity(SM) program, Jesus dominated each new series he entered - capturing Rookie of the Year honors in both the Junior Grand American Modified in 1998 and the Grand American Modified in 2000.
During the 2005 season, Waste Management will also sponsor Matt Kenseth, driving the No. 17 Waste Management car in the NASCAR Busch Series, as well as Kenseth's No. 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series car as an associate sponsor. Additionally, Waste Management further supports the diversification of motor racing through its sponsorship of driver Bill Lester, a tremendous ambassador for diversity and for NASCAR. Lester will drive the Waste Management No. 22 Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series throughout 2005.
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Shop Talk with ...
Kahne crew chief Baldwin discusses aero and pit-road speeds
By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM
Kahne crew chief Baldwin discusses aero and pit-road speeds
By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM
Evernham Motorsports crew chief Tommy Baldwin has the enviable task in 2005 of putting together Dodge Charger racecars for one of the sharpest new talents in the Nextel Cup Series: Kasey Kahne.
But after two events this season, he and Kahne are mired in 34th in the standings after two different events knocked them further back in the rundowns than they had performed in either the Daytona 500 or Auto Club 500.
The pair is thankful, after a week off, that the series now travels to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where in 2004 Kahne scored the second of five runner-up finishes.
Baldwin sat down at California Speedway with NASCAR.COM senior writer Dave Rodman to talk about momentum, Kahne's phenomenal car control and pit road speeding.
Q: Even while you're looking ahead to Las Vegas, you've got to be pleased when you look back at Speedweeks thanks to the promise and improvement Evernham Motorsports' restrictor-plate program showed.
Yeah, I am. I think from last year to this February we made great strides as an organization. We were right in the position where we wanted to be [in the Daytona 500], toward the last pit stops sitting in the top five.
Then, it seemed like everything broke loose after that and we got involved in every single wreck -- pit-road wrecks and fender-wrecks and three restart wrecks. You name it and we were involved in it.
But it was encouraging. We left Daytona 20 spots further ahead [in the points] than we did the year before so I guess that's a plus. As long as we can keep the same momentum up, like we did last year in Vegas, we'll be OK.
Q: With a totally new aerodynamic, tire and gear rule package in place starting at California, and with as good as Kasey's been on the mile-and-a-half racetracks, how much do you think this new package is going to affect that?
We've had some good tests on all the mile, mile-and-a-half racetracks so far this year. We've been to Kentucky, we've been to Nashville, we've been to California and we've been to Vegas testing, so I think we've got a pretty good understanding of what's going to happen.
The only thing we haven't seen yet is the side-by-side action and what's going to happen with the smaller spoiler once there are cars around you and cars going past you. So we'll see what happens.
Q: Is Kasey's background driving Silver Crown cars maybe the perfect scenario for driving -- if not an out-of-control racecar -- maybe one that seems not so stuck to the racetrack with this package that has less downforce and gradually even less grip?
I just think from his background -- you're right -- he's got great car control. I don't think it's driving an out of control racecar -- at least I hope I don't give him an out of control racecar (laughing).
But I think he just has great car control in terms of knowing what it's going to do before it does it. He just reacts, and he has that niche to do that.
It's fun looking at the data after we've tested, and looking at things that he does inside that car. We laugh about it.
I think it's going to be a very interesting year for this Dodge Charger UAW Dodge team. We just have to get going and get some races under our belt and see where we stack up.
Q: What was the most noticeable set-up difference you observed while you were testing at Las Vegas?
Our biggest thing that we had to overcome was the difference in the tires. That was the thing that we had to fight, both at California and at the Las Vegas tests.
I think we have a pretty good handle on it, now. But then again, it's really early in the year to tell. Some people will get it right away and some people will take three, four, five or six races to get up to speed.
As long as we can beat 'em out of the gate, we'll always be ahead of them.
Q: Does the change to a softer tire compound mean -- particularly near the end of the race -- that you'll always take four tires if you have to make a pit stop?
At times it will. But it's all gonna be dependent on the conditions, where you're running, how the racetrack is and how your tire wear was during the whole race and practices and stuff.
If you're probably seventh, eighth or ninth you might gamble and take two on. If you come in leading and you take four on, you might end up seventh, eighth or ninth and the caution comes out (shrugging).
Man, it's just a gamble. Sometimes it's a pain in the neck because you know that the guys that aren't running that good that day but have a chance for a top-15 finish are going to gamble and try to win.
So you've got to take that all into consideration in a split-second decision and at the end of the day you're held accountable for it. So I don't know -- that's a tough question.
Q: We knew about the aerodynamics, the tire compounds and the gear rule, but at Daytona a bit of a curveball was thrown at everyone with a new method of clocking pit road speed, using electronic loops. What concern do you have with that and what have you done about it?
The biggest thing we have to do is learn the system. The way we set up our pit road speed, before the race, is hard because the cars are zigzagging away and doing everything they could possibly be doing.
So you have to be real precise in figuring you're going to be going the exact same speed as the pace car when you're setting your pit-road speed limit with your RPMs. We don't have speedometers so it's hard to do it.
We've taken one step further from our Daytona issues that we had -- Jeremy [Mayfield] got caught speeding on pit road like four times and [Kasey] got caught speeding once.
So we're going to hook up a light that's going to come on when we're at our pit road speed so we'll know to keep that [speed] steady for as long as pit road is.
But after two events this season, he and Kahne are mired in 34th in the standings after two different events knocked them further back in the rundowns than they had performed in either the Daytona 500 or Auto Club 500.
The pair is thankful, after a week off, that the series now travels to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where in 2004 Kahne scored the second of five runner-up finishes.
Baldwin sat down at California Speedway with NASCAR.COM senior writer Dave Rodman to talk about momentum, Kahne's phenomenal car control and pit road speeding.
Q: Even while you're looking ahead to Las Vegas, you've got to be pleased when you look back at Speedweeks thanks to the promise and improvement Evernham Motorsports' restrictor-plate program showed.
Yeah, I am. I think from last year to this February we made great strides as an organization. We were right in the position where we wanted to be [in the Daytona 500], toward the last pit stops sitting in the top five.
Then, it seemed like everything broke loose after that and we got involved in every single wreck -- pit-road wrecks and fender-wrecks and three restart wrecks. You name it and we were involved in it.
But it was encouraging. We left Daytona 20 spots further ahead [in the points] than we did the year before so I guess that's a plus. As long as we can keep the same momentum up, like we did last year in Vegas, we'll be OK.
Q: With a totally new aerodynamic, tire and gear rule package in place starting at California, and with as good as Kasey's been on the mile-and-a-half racetracks, how much do you think this new package is going to affect that?
We've had some good tests on all the mile, mile-and-a-half racetracks so far this year. We've been to Kentucky, we've been to Nashville, we've been to California and we've been to Vegas testing, so I think we've got a pretty good understanding of what's going to happen.
The only thing we haven't seen yet is the side-by-side action and what's going to happen with the smaller spoiler once there are cars around you and cars going past you. So we'll see what happens.
Q: Is Kasey's background driving Silver Crown cars maybe the perfect scenario for driving -- if not an out-of-control racecar -- maybe one that seems not so stuck to the racetrack with this package that has less downforce and gradually even less grip?
I just think from his background -- you're right -- he's got great car control. I don't think it's driving an out of control racecar -- at least I hope I don't give him an out of control racecar (laughing).
But I think he just has great car control in terms of knowing what it's going to do before it does it. He just reacts, and he has that niche to do that.
It's fun looking at the data after we've tested, and looking at things that he does inside that car. We laugh about it.
I think it's going to be a very interesting year for this Dodge Charger UAW Dodge team. We just have to get going and get some races under our belt and see where we stack up.
Q: What was the most noticeable set-up difference you observed while you were testing at Las Vegas?
Our biggest thing that we had to overcome was the difference in the tires. That was the thing that we had to fight, both at California and at the Las Vegas tests.
I think we have a pretty good handle on it, now. But then again, it's really early in the year to tell. Some people will get it right away and some people will take three, four, five or six races to get up to speed.
As long as we can beat 'em out of the gate, we'll always be ahead of them.
Q: Does the change to a softer tire compound mean -- particularly near the end of the race -- that you'll always take four tires if you have to make a pit stop?
At times it will. But it's all gonna be dependent on the conditions, where you're running, how the racetrack is and how your tire wear was during the whole race and practices and stuff.
If you're probably seventh, eighth or ninth you might gamble and take two on. If you come in leading and you take four on, you might end up seventh, eighth or ninth and the caution comes out (shrugging).
Man, it's just a gamble. Sometimes it's a pain in the neck because you know that the guys that aren't running that good that day but have a chance for a top-15 finish are going to gamble and try to win.
So you've got to take that all into consideration in a split-second decision and at the end of the day you're held accountable for it. So I don't know -- that's a tough question.
Q: We knew about the aerodynamics, the tire compounds and the gear rule, but at Daytona a bit of a curveball was thrown at everyone with a new method of clocking pit road speed, using electronic loops. What concern do you have with that and what have you done about it?
The biggest thing we have to do is learn the system. The way we set up our pit road speed, before the race, is hard because the cars are zigzagging away and doing everything they could possibly be doing.
So you have to be real precise in figuring you're going to be going the exact same speed as the pace car when you're setting your pit-road speed limit with your RPMs. We don't have speedometers so it's hard to do it.
We've taken one step further from our Daytona issues that we had -- Jeremy [Mayfield] got caught speeding on pit road like four times and [Kasey] got caught speeding once.
So we're going to hook up a light that's going to come on when we're at our pit road speed so we'll know to keep that [speed] steady for as long as pit road is.
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Some not thrilled with new tires, spoiler
Several drivers say package makes passing difficult
The Associated Press
So far, not too many drivers are happy with NASCAR's new aerodynamic rules.
Beginning with last Sunday's race at California Speedway, the Nextel Cup cars had a new aero package in place that included a shortened rear spoiler and softer tires. The new spoilers and tires will be used everywhere except Daytona and Talladega, the only tracks where NASCAR slows the cars with horsepower-sapping carburetor restrictor plates.
NASCAR's intention in sawing off an inch on the rear spoilers -- down to 4 1/2 inches -- and asking Goodyear to provide tires that wear quickly is to create less of a dependence on downforce while placing more of an emphasis on a driver's ability to race his car, especially through the turns.
John Darby, NASCAR's Nextel Cup director, said one race is too soon to tell if the changes will work. A lot of drivers were certain they won't.
The most vocal critic of the new rules was Dale Earnhardt Jr., who had a miserable day in the Auto Club 500, fighting handling all day and spending considerable time in the pits after having three flat tires. He finished 32nd in the 43-car field.
"I don't think that makes any sense to take that (inch) off and say it's going to make it better running side-by-side," Junior said. "Somebody's got to wake up here, you know what I mean? The lightbulb's got to come on.
"Taking the spoiler off is going to make it more difficult to drive. The softer tires give us more grip, so it (goes fast) and then it falls off. That's OK. That's not a bad idea. But we need some more downforce."
Jamie McMurray, who finished fourth, said he, too, is not a big fan of the spoiler rule.
"It's really hard to pass," McMurray said. "When you get up underneath the guy, you get tight and you have to put so much wheel in it that you get loose. Then you don't have anything back there to help you."
Greg Biffle somehow drove from midpack to the lead twice during the race, then held onto a very loose car at the end to grab the victory at California.
"They took a half-inch away last year and then to take a whole inch was a pretty bold change," Biffle said.
"I don't know about anyone else's car -- my car was real bad behind other cars. If I'm coming up through there and I could get maybe six car-lengths from McMurray, I stalled out.
"I couldn't do anything and it was just one car by itself.
"It's the same problems that we always have when you're behind another race car."
But Biffle is trying to keep an open mind. He said one race may not have given the drivers a true feel for the new rules.
"When we go to Texas or Atlanta, that's when you're going to see something," he said.
Several drivers say package makes passing difficult
The Associated Press
So far, not too many drivers are happy with NASCAR's new aerodynamic rules.
Beginning with last Sunday's race at California Speedway, the Nextel Cup cars had a new aero package in place that included a shortened rear spoiler and softer tires. The new spoilers and tires will be used everywhere except Daytona and Talladega, the only tracks where NASCAR slows the cars with horsepower-sapping carburetor restrictor plates.
NASCAR's intention in sawing off an inch on the rear spoilers -- down to 4 1/2 inches -- and asking Goodyear to provide tires that wear quickly is to create less of a dependence on downforce while placing more of an emphasis on a driver's ability to race his car, especially through the turns.
John Darby, NASCAR's Nextel Cup director, said one race is too soon to tell if the changes will work. A lot of drivers were certain they won't.
The most vocal critic of the new rules was Dale Earnhardt Jr., who had a miserable day in the Auto Club 500, fighting handling all day and spending considerable time in the pits after having three flat tires. He finished 32nd in the 43-car field.
"I don't think that makes any sense to take that (inch) off and say it's going to make it better running side-by-side," Junior said. "Somebody's got to wake up here, you know what I mean? The lightbulb's got to come on.
"Taking the spoiler off is going to make it more difficult to drive. The softer tires give us more grip, so it (goes fast) and then it falls off. That's OK. That's not a bad idea. But we need some more downforce."
Jamie McMurray, who finished fourth, said he, too, is not a big fan of the spoiler rule.
"It's really hard to pass," McMurray said. "When you get up underneath the guy, you get tight and you have to put so much wheel in it that you get loose. Then you don't have anything back there to help you."
Greg Biffle somehow drove from midpack to the lead twice during the race, then held onto a very loose car at the end to grab the victory at California.
"They took a half-inch away last year and then to take a whole inch was a pretty bold change," Biffle said.
"I don't know about anyone else's car -- my car was real bad behind other cars. If I'm coming up through there and I could get maybe six car-lengths from McMurray, I stalled out.
"I couldn't do anything and it was just one car by itself.
"It's the same problems that we always have when you're behind another race car."
But Biffle is trying to keep an open mind. He said one race may not have given the drivers a true feel for the new rules.
"When we go to Texas or Atlanta, that's when you're going to see something," he said.
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RENAISSANCE MAN
Driver-owner Robby Gordon blazes a trail from the African desert to Nextel Cup
He raced across 100-foot sand dunes for days at a time, swerved to avoid the occasional camel and slept in a tent alone in the African desert.
When it comes to adaptability in auto racing, Robby Gordon has few peers, and his success in the Dakar Rally in January proved it.
He became the first American to win a stage by winning on opening day of the famed endurance race that stretches across two continents, five countries and nearly 9,000 kilometers (5,592 miles). He outdueled rally champion Colin McRae to take the overall lead with another victory in the fourth stage and stuck it out as a support driver to his teammates after his hopes for an overall victory were dashed by a wreck on the sixth day.
Robby Gordon has excelled driving various types of cars. Some of his career accomplishments:
Three-time winner in Nextel Cup
Busch Series winner at Richmond on Sept. 10, 2004
Overall winner of Baja 1000 in 1987, '89
Led 33 laps in the 1999 Indianapolis 500, running out of fuel on the last lap and taking fourth
Two-time CART winner in 1995
Four consecutive class victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona
Won Trans-Am race for Roush Racing at Long Beach, Calif., in 1992; won five GTO races for Roush in 1991
1996 Trophy Truck champion with four wins
Second in the IROC Series in 1996-97
He survived 16 days on four duffel bags full of clothes and food.
"Imagine each Daytona 500 lasting eight hours and doing one every day," he said. "It is a logistical nightmare."
Gordon persevered - even when his Volkswagen was surprised by a marauding band of baboons on a tree-lined road in Senegal.
"We were cruising at 120 mph, and all of a sudden, 300 monkeys jumped out of the trees and started running across the track," he said, recalling the adventure during Daytona 500 media day last month. "I'm not talking about little monkeys like Tony Stewart has. These things are all of a hundred pounds, German Shepherd-size monkeys. If you hit one of those, it will clean the wheel off the thing. . . . I didn't hit any."
Gordon rarely has had a problem with becoming acclimated to foreign environments as a driver, hopping between off-road, rally, Indy, stock and sports cars and winning in every discipline.
But as adaptable as his talent has proved, his strong-willed personality has prevented him from gaining a permanent foothold in any series. A three-season stint with Richard Childress Racing ended last year in the same manner as previous rides with Morgan-McClure and Felix Sabates - surrounded by questions about the 36-year-old's capacity for meshing with teammates and crew members.
So the nonconformist of Nextel Cup Series will try it his way this season.
Gordon is striking out as a driver-owner in the face of long odds. Carrying the No.7 of another NASCAR maverick (late champion Alan Kulwicki), the Robby Gordon Motorsports Chevrolet will employ a unique rotating primary sponsorship program with Harrah's, Jim Beam and Fruit of the Loom.
It also will feature an ownership structure that is a dying breed. Ricky Rudd, Bill Elliott, Darrell Waltrip and Brett Bodine all gave up on the hassles of simultaneously driving and owning a Cup car.
Gordon tried owning his own car in 2000 with disappointing results, scoring two top-10s in 17 starts and finishing 43rd in the standings. But he said he prefers dealing with the startup struggles of being a single-car team to driving for a multicar team, whose technical advantages are accompanied by less freedom.
"I'm fortunate that if I don't like one individual on the team, I can get rid of him now," he said. "Where before I've been in situations where I couldn't do that because I had no say. I'm just the driver. Here, I'm the driver but I do have some say.
"If I get the right people around me, the positives will outweigh the negatives in a big way."
Gordon said his operation will be so highly organized, it's "almost idiot-proof."
That's an interesting choice of words from a driver who has rubbed many competitors the wrong way. The Southern California native has fought for acceptance since heading to North Carolina a decade ago. Before Sunday's Busch race in Mexico City, he and rival crew chief Brad Parrott reportedly exchanged heated words after Gordon was upset by a NASCAR ruling that penalized his car but not Parrott's despite similar circumstances.
Gordon is aiming to be a hands-off owner who leaves the team's day-to-day responsibilities to others, but he isn't intending to temper his outspokenness.
"No matter what I say," he said, "I'm not going to get fired tomorrow."
After missing the season-opening Daytona 500, Gordon's job isn't in jeopardy. With no owners points from 2004, he is facing an uphill battle to qualify for the first five races this season. He has detailed notes of the setups he used at RCR and also plans on applying lessons from Childress on managing employees.
He plans on adapting to the elements in Nextel Cup as he did in the wilds of Mali.
"The biggest thing is worry about the big stuff, and the small stuff will take care of itself," he said. "We will go through our learning curve, and we will make mistakes. But we'll learn from the mistakes we make."
Driver-owner Robby Gordon blazes a trail from the African desert to Nextel Cup
He raced across 100-foot sand dunes for days at a time, swerved to avoid the occasional camel and slept in a tent alone in the African desert.
When it comes to adaptability in auto racing, Robby Gordon has few peers, and his success in the Dakar Rally in January proved it.
He became the first American to win a stage by winning on opening day of the famed endurance race that stretches across two continents, five countries and nearly 9,000 kilometers (5,592 miles). He outdueled rally champion Colin McRae to take the overall lead with another victory in the fourth stage and stuck it out as a support driver to his teammates after his hopes for an overall victory were dashed by a wreck on the sixth day.
Robby Gordon has excelled driving various types of cars. Some of his career accomplishments:
Three-time winner in Nextel Cup
Busch Series winner at Richmond on Sept. 10, 2004
Overall winner of Baja 1000 in 1987, '89
Led 33 laps in the 1999 Indianapolis 500, running out of fuel on the last lap and taking fourth
Two-time CART winner in 1995
Four consecutive class victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona
Won Trans-Am race for Roush Racing at Long Beach, Calif., in 1992; won five GTO races for Roush in 1991
1996 Trophy Truck champion with four wins
Second in the IROC Series in 1996-97
He survived 16 days on four duffel bags full of clothes and food.
"Imagine each Daytona 500 lasting eight hours and doing one every day," he said. "It is a logistical nightmare."
Gordon persevered - even when his Volkswagen was surprised by a marauding band of baboons on a tree-lined road in Senegal.
"We were cruising at 120 mph, and all of a sudden, 300 monkeys jumped out of the trees and started running across the track," he said, recalling the adventure during Daytona 500 media day last month. "I'm not talking about little monkeys like Tony Stewart has. These things are all of a hundred pounds, German Shepherd-size monkeys. If you hit one of those, it will clean the wheel off the thing. . . . I didn't hit any."
Gordon rarely has had a problem with becoming acclimated to foreign environments as a driver, hopping between off-road, rally, Indy, stock and sports cars and winning in every discipline.
But as adaptable as his talent has proved, his strong-willed personality has prevented him from gaining a permanent foothold in any series. A three-season stint with Richard Childress Racing ended last year in the same manner as previous rides with Morgan-McClure and Felix Sabates - surrounded by questions about the 36-year-old's capacity for meshing with teammates and crew members.
So the nonconformist of Nextel Cup Series will try it his way this season.
Gordon is striking out as a driver-owner in the face of long odds. Carrying the No.7 of another NASCAR maverick (late champion Alan Kulwicki), the Robby Gordon Motorsports Chevrolet will employ a unique rotating primary sponsorship program with Harrah's, Jim Beam and Fruit of the Loom.
It also will feature an ownership structure that is a dying breed. Ricky Rudd, Bill Elliott, Darrell Waltrip and Brett Bodine all gave up on the hassles of simultaneously driving and owning a Cup car.
Gordon tried owning his own car in 2000 with disappointing results, scoring two top-10s in 17 starts and finishing 43rd in the standings. But he said he prefers dealing with the startup struggles of being a single-car team to driving for a multicar team, whose technical advantages are accompanied by less freedom.
"I'm fortunate that if I don't like one individual on the team, I can get rid of him now," he said. "Where before I've been in situations where I couldn't do that because I had no say. I'm just the driver. Here, I'm the driver but I do have some say.
"If I get the right people around me, the positives will outweigh the negatives in a big way."
Gordon said his operation will be so highly organized, it's "almost idiot-proof."
That's an interesting choice of words from a driver who has rubbed many competitors the wrong way. The Southern California native has fought for acceptance since heading to North Carolina a decade ago. Before Sunday's Busch race in Mexico City, he and rival crew chief Brad Parrott reportedly exchanged heated words after Gordon was upset by a NASCAR ruling that penalized his car but not Parrott's despite similar circumstances.
Gordon is aiming to be a hands-off owner who leaves the team's day-to-day responsibilities to others, but he isn't intending to temper his outspokenness.
"No matter what I say," he said, "I'm not going to get fired tomorrow."
After missing the season-opening Daytona 500, Gordon's job isn't in jeopardy. With no owners points from 2004, he is facing an uphill battle to qualify for the first five races this season. He has detailed notes of the setups he used at RCR and also plans on applying lessons from Childress on managing employees.
He plans on adapting to the elements in Nextel Cup as he did in the wilds of Mali.
"The biggest thing is worry about the big stuff, and the small stuff will take care of itself," he said. "We will go through our learning curve, and we will make mistakes. But we'll learn from the mistakes we make."
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Where's a cop when you need one?
A post by our friend Trent Cherry struck a chord with me. I'm way more than rusty on my music theory, but I'm pretty sure it was a major chord, too.
Trent laments the lack of actual driving being done by some teens in imported cars with wings mounted over the rear axles and exhaust systems that make the cars sound like a swarm of seriously annoyed bees.
I know a little about that frustration, but also wish stupid behavior behind the wheel were limited only to teens.
Sure, it's been quite a while since I was a teen and felt empowered to drive like an idiot. And I did. I still catch myself being far less than considerate of other drivers, but I generally try to be.
It's almost every day I drive that I experience what for a short time seems to be the silliest danged thing I've ever seen anyone do on a city street. Then I get back in the car and someone tops it.
At the top of my list for the just-ended week is the "lady" tailgating me on Friday. We were doing 40-45 mph, so I don't think drafting was what she was doing. She didn't look much like a fan, of me or stock car racing.
I looked at her in my rearview once, then twice. My third look into the mirror dispelled any notion of her being a lady, cuz she flipped me off. So I slowed down. A lot. And - ooooh, boy - did that tie her undies in a knot.
So she jerked her wheel and cut in front of the guy in the lane next to us and was off. It probably wasn't to the races and if I were allowed any input, that's prolly not where I'd have suggested she go either.
But, if the race fans among us will pardon just a little preaching:
If you think you're Curtis Turner reincarnated, there are two fairly simple things you should keep in mind: No. 1, you're not. No. 2, there are far better places to demonstrate what you believe to be your superior driving "skills" than a public street, road or highway.
There are go-kart tracks and any number of race tracks, speedways and autodromos just waiting for you.
Here are two more simple things to keep in mind when wondering why you should consider one of those options instead of a public thoroughfare: No. 1, at least everyone is going the same way. No. 2, they'll make you wear safety gear, including a helmet, which might keep you from doing more serious damage to what passes - just barely - for your brain.
A post by our friend Trent Cherry struck a chord with me. I'm way more than rusty on my music theory, but I'm pretty sure it was a major chord, too.
Trent laments the lack of actual driving being done by some teens in imported cars with wings mounted over the rear axles and exhaust systems that make the cars sound like a swarm of seriously annoyed bees.
I know a little about that frustration, but also wish stupid behavior behind the wheel were limited only to teens.
Sure, it's been quite a while since I was a teen and felt empowered to drive like an idiot. And I did. I still catch myself being far less than considerate of other drivers, but I generally try to be.
It's almost every day I drive that I experience what for a short time seems to be the silliest danged thing I've ever seen anyone do on a city street. Then I get back in the car and someone tops it.
At the top of my list for the just-ended week is the "lady" tailgating me on Friday. We were doing 40-45 mph, so I don't think drafting was what she was doing. She didn't look much like a fan, of me or stock car racing.
I looked at her in my rearview once, then twice. My third look into the mirror dispelled any notion of her being a lady, cuz she flipped me off. So I slowed down. A lot. And - ooooh, boy - did that tie her undies in a knot.
So she jerked her wheel and cut in front of the guy in the lane next to us and was off. It probably wasn't to the races and if I were allowed any input, that's prolly not where I'd have suggested she go either.
But, if the race fans among us will pardon just a little preaching:
If you think you're Curtis Turner reincarnated, there are two fairly simple things you should keep in mind: No. 1, you're not. No. 2, there are far better places to demonstrate what you believe to be your superior driving "skills" than a public street, road or highway.
There are go-kart tracks and any number of race tracks, speedways and autodromos just waiting for you.
Here are two more simple things to keep in mind when wondering why you should consider one of those options instead of a public thoroughfare: No. 1, at least everyone is going the same way. No. 2, they'll make you wear safety gear, including a helmet, which might keep you from doing more serious damage to what passes - just barely - for your brain.
NASCAR ON TV THIS WEEK
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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Subscribe: KnowYourNascar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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This list is authored by:
Sandra Monacelli
221 W. 57th Street 18B
Loveland, CO 80538
970/663-6967
| NEXTEL CUP QUALIFYING | 6 p.m. Friday | Speed Channel |
| BUSCH SERIES QUALIFYING | 8 p.m. Friday | Speed Channel |
| BUSCH SERIES SAM'S TOWN 300 | 3:30 p.m. Saturday | FX |
| NEXTEL CUP UAW/DAIMLERCHRYSLER 400 | 2 p.m. Sunday | Fox |
| All times Eastern. Times and stations subject to change. | ||
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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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Sandra Monacelli
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