Happy Thursday....WooooHoooo, only one more day! 



Today In Nascar History

6/09/1963-Richard Petty wins at Birmingham, win #9 of the season, and #22 of his career.
6/09/1966-David Pearson wins at Maryville, win #8 of the season, and #21 of his career.
6/09/1974-Cale Yarborough wins at Riverside, win #6 of the season, and #24 of his career.
6/09/1985-Bill Elliott wins at Pocono, win #6 of the season, and #10 of his career.
6/09/1991-Davey Allison wins at Sonoma, win #2 of the season, and #10 of his career

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Quote of the Year

"To be a real, true NASCAR driver, you have to know where the sport came from and you have to respect that history and tradition. The guys that don't respect that history and tradition, I don't think they're going to be around all that long. And those guys who don't know the history and tradition, I think it's upon them to learn about it pretty quick if they want to be a success."
– Richard Petty

Quote of the Day

"He's the guy who likes to play give and take — point people by if they're faster and better — which is very respectful and nice to do. In today's racing, you can't do that, and you have to race every lap and fight for every square inch."
—Jimmie Johnson on Tony Stewart

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Comments from the Peanut Gallery

from Jo
Hmiel
Does anyone else out there notice how his eyes dart back and forth when being interviewed; that he can't stand still; always moving.  So what causes that?  Jo

from Bob S
I suspect something is going on, and you're in a lot of thoughts.

Bless you fair lady, Bob

Welcome back, and my thoughts are with you both. Take your time for the important stuff.

Cheers, Bob

from RD
I watched the Champ Car race this morning, that I recorded Saturday.  It ran long, so the CCWS officials made it a timed event.  Some other racing sanctions do that as well.
 
I think it would be a great idea for NASCAR to do that.  They could take the average race time of a particular event, then  say you have 4 hours, or what ever to complete this event.  This would be good for the TV Networks, and for people recording, or taping at home. 
 
What are some of your thoughts on this matter?
rd

 

Nope, can't say as I agree with ya RD....especially if one of your silly dang drivers is leading at the end of the time....I'd never hear the end of it!

from Tim
Just figured I would let you know that Yahoo help is useless. They are worse than AOL, and you know I fight AOL. Aol blames Yahoo, Yahoo blames AOL. Guess it is time to give up and not waste everyones time and energy. Thanks for everything mama... Tim

from Pixie
Have tried sending request to Yahoo to remove block on my mail with no results, SO, how 'bout if I just subscribe again?

Therefore, please include me on your daily mailing list of KnowYourNascar and I will be eternally grateful to once again be able to receive your entertaining and informative newsletter.  e-mail is:  Hope to find it in my mailbox soon.  Thanks
Pixie429

from Vivien
Please explain to me the rules for impound races, especially what can and\or can't be done to the cars.  Thank you sooo much in advance!          
Vivien  

Ok guys....let's hear your answers!

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Bits and Pieces

Wallace wins at Eldora
By Jerry Bonkowski, Yahoo! Sports
 
 
ROSSBURG, Ohio – The $10,000 winner's paycheck was far from the standard amount that Nextel Cup or the Busch Series award. What's more, there were no points to be won, either.

Yet Kenny Wallace had one of the best times he's ever had behind the wheel of a race car Wednesday night, winning the inaugural Nextel Prelude to a Dream late model modified stock car race at the Tony Stewart-owned Eldora Speedway.

Although the main event was just a 25-lap sprint, the nearly 20,000 fans in attendance saw plenty of action, including a surprise pole-winning performance by 70-something-year-old – he admits to being "somewhere between 75 and 70" – stock car legend Red Farmer, and a surprise appearance and strong fifth-place performance by semi-retired NASCAR great Bill Elliott.

Given the success – and the nearly $75,000 raised for Kyle Petty's Victory Junction Gang Camp (Petty finished 13th out of 14 cars) – Stewart said what started out as an experiment will return for an encore performance next year.

"The people have spoken and it will happen," said a smiling Stewart, who bought the legendary race track during the offseason.
 
Wednesday's race was Stewart's first major event as the new owner and he pulled off an exciting night of racing that had fans on their feet and cheering as if they were at a Nextel Cup event.

The finishing order was Wallace, followed by Stewart and sprint car ace Danny Lasoski.

"I thought I was seeing double out there, with two No. 20s in my mirror," Wallace quipped.

Ken Schrader was fourth, followed by Elliott, Dave Blaney, Bobby Labonte, Farmer, drag racer Ron Capps, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Green, Kevin Harvick, Petty and Mike Wallace, who was the only driver who failed to finish, suffering a blown motor midway through the race.

With nearly a dozen of Stewart's Nextel Cup buddies in the field, Wallace predicted the pressure will be on even more Cup drivers to take part in next year's race.

"I think you'll see a Nextel Cup dirt race here next year," Wallace said.

Playing off the celebrated run-in Stewart had with Jeff Gordon this past Sunday at Dover, Del., Wallace then added the line that drew the most applause and cheers of the night: "What I think everybody will be looking for next year is Jeff Gordon going head-to-head with Tony Stewart. Now that should be interesting."

Veteran motorsports writer Jerry Bonkowski is a Yahoo! Sports NASCAR analyst.

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Speed Weeks shuffle: The Rolex 24 At Daytona is moving up -- to a new date on the calendar. And the focus of next year's Speed Weeks will be different. The Rolex 24 At Daytona is being moved from its normal first weekend of February one week earlier to Jan. 28-29. The move is believed to be permanent, and is designed to end a longstanding first-Sunday-in-February schedule conflict between the race and the NFL's Super Bowl. Daytona International Speedway and Rolex Series officials will announce the move today. The move breaks the Rolex 24's longstanding tradition of being DIS' opening act in a three-week glut of car racing to follow. The NASCAR portion of the schedule remains unchanged, although the switch may affect testing dates. By slating the race's 44th edition for an off-weekend falling between the NFL's conference championships and ultimate game, those connected with the event say the move will allow fans to participate in both, instead of having to choose one over the other. ...Though Speedway officials were mum beyond comments on the Rolex 24, sources familiar with the new schedule say DIS' wall-to-wall January test dates will have to be shifted as well, with Nextel Cup or Busch Series testing -- perhaps a combination of both -- likely to fill the one-week void created by the Rolex 24 move. Seen as a transportation cost-saving bonus for Cup teams, tests done in the week previous to NASCAR's portion of the schedule will allow the teams to arrive and stay, instead of testing, leaving and returning over many different weeks, as has been the case for years. - The Daytona Beach News-Journal

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Rain Cancels Second Day of NASCAR Testing; Robby Gordon Will Return for Test on June 14: The second day of a two-day NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series test session was canceled on Wednesday at Infineon Raceway because of rain. Boris Said (Centrix Financial Chevrolet), who has placed sixth the last two years at Infineon Raceway in the Dodge/Save Mart 350, posted the top time on Tuesday over the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course at 1 minute, 16.50 seconds. Jeff Gordon (DuPont Chevrolet) holds the track qualifying record of 1:15.968, set in 2004. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will visit the Sonoma Valley, June 24-26, for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 weekend. Other testers on Tuesday included: Scott Pruett (Target Dodge, 1:16.60); Jamie McMurray (Texaco Havoline Dodge, 1:16.60); Kyle Busch (Kellogg’s Chevrolet, 1:17.25); Brian Simo (Richard Childress Racing, 1:17.49); and Chris Cook (NEMCO Motorsports, no time). Robby Gordon (Harrah’s Chevrolet) was scheduled for a one-day test on Wednesday, but will return to Infineon Raceway next Tuesday (June 14). Gordon is the only driver scheduled to return to the Sonoma Valley next week. “The rain hurt us today but we’ll come out here next week and get some work in,” said Gordon, winner of the 2003 Dodge/Save Mart 350. “I’ve always performed pretty well here and we can use the work to get ready for the race.” Great tickets are still available for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 by calling 800-870-RACE or visiting infineonraceway.com or ticketmaster.com. - Infineon Raceway PR

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Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon Joins Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced today the signing of Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon to a multi-year sponsorship. The long-term agreement begins with the 2006 NASCAR season. Specific details are to follow at a later date. “The team is very excited about adding Lone Star as an important partner,” team owner Chip Ganassi said. “It is always exciting when you can bring a new sponsor into the sport, and we are looking forward to a very long and mutually beneficial partnership together.” “We couldn’t be happier to add another first-class company to our stable of partners,” said Felix Sabates. “Lone Star is a great company with great people, and we’re excited to build on what we started with them at the end of 2004.” Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon is a restaurant chain that offers full-service casual dining, featuring Texas-style ambiance. The first Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon was opened in October 1989 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon concepts include Sullivan’s, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak Houses, Texas Land & Cattle restaurants and Frankie’s Italian Grille. There are over 300 locations nationwide. “This is an important initiative for our restaurants, our customers and our Lone Star team Members,” Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon CEO Jamie Coulter said. “We’re excited to join the NASCAR community, and we’re happy to be sponsoring an organization in Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates that focuses on partnership, performance, and integrity.” - Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR  - I knew I liked that place for a reason!

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Brendan Gaughan To Relieve Bliss In NetZero Best Buy Chevy At Pocono: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Brendan Gaughan will share driving duties in the No. 0 NetZero Best Buy Racing Chevrolet with Mike Bliss, who underwent successful hernia surgery Monday morning, for this weekend’s event at Pocono (Penn.) Raceway. “When it became obvious to us that Mike would need some help this weekend our thoughts immediately went to Brendan,” said Joe Custer, General Manager of Haas CNC Racing. “Brendan, along with Orleans Racing and its sponsor Jasper Engines and Transmissions, have been gracious enough to agree to let us borrow him for the weekend even though he is competing for his fifth win at Texas Motor Speedway Friday night. A big part of what is great about this sport is the willingness of the competitors to jump right in and help each other out in situations like this. Our main focus is to make sure that Mike is healthy for the remainder of the season and whatever we need to do this weekend to make sure that happens is what we will do.” Gaughan will take part in the scheduled practice and qualifying sessions at Texas Motor Speedway before heading to Pocono Raceway Friday. Bliss plans to make several laps during practice for the Pocono 500 Friday afternoon before Gaughan takes over. Bliss is scheduled to qualify the car Saturday and start the race before giving up his seat in the NetZero Best Buy Chevy during the first possible opportunity. “I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but I think it’s in our best interest to make sure we have a plan in place before we get to Pocono,” stated Bliss. “Obviously if the surgery was something that could have waited until the end of the season that’s what I would rather have done, but it couldn’t, so we’ll make the best of a difficult situation this weekend. I appreciate Brendan helping us out, especially since he’s racing in Texas this weekend, and I know he’ll do a good job for the team. We’ve got a little momentum going, having picked up a couple of spots in the points after last weekend’s race, and hopefully I’ll do a good job qualifying the NetZero Best Buy Chevrolet and will be able to get the job done until we get a caution on Sunday and can make the switch.” - Motorsports Marketing Solutions, Inc.

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Peak Performance Announces Garvey As Driver - Jani-King Will Sponsor No. 66 in Six Races: Peak Performance Motorsports owner Jeff Stec announced Mike Garvey as the driver of the No. 66 Ford Wednesday, June 8. Garvey, a winner in the ASA and USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, will take over the driving responsibilities this weekend at Pocono. Jani-King, a long-time sponsor of Garvey, will follow him to the Nextel Cup Series for a six-race sponsorship package.

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Singer/Songwriter JoJo To Perform National Anthem Before 47th Annual Pepsi 400: Blackground/Universal recording artist JoJo will perform the National Anthem before the 47th annual Pepsi 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Saturday, July 2 at historic Daytona International Speedway. "Over the past year, R&B sensation has created a buzz on the music scene by reaching No. 1 on the Billboard's Top 40 with her first single 'Leave (Get Out),' "Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. "It seems like a natural that she would lend her dynamic voice to another number one - the biggest nighttime motorsports event in America - the Pepsi 400. She's sure to have the crowd pumped up for this year's Independence Day holiday weekend classic with her rendition of the National Anthem." The 14-year-old singing sensation from Foxboro, Mass., first appeared on the music scene at the age of 6 when she appeared on Bill Cosby's "Kids Say the Darndest Things." Her performance led to appearances on "America's Most Talented Kids," "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and the 2000 Republican National Convention in Boston. - Who the heck is JoJo?

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Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure may have to close CORRECTION NOT TRUE: Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure Inc. incurred a net loss for the quarter ended March 31 and says its auditors have expressed reservations about the company's ability to continue operating. The Denver, N.C., company, which operates a stock-car fantasy driving school at several tracks around the country, including one at Lowe's Motor Speedway, says in its SEC filing it has experienced a significant loss from operations, a result of investments necessary to achieve its operating plan. From the company's creation in 1998 through March 31, Dale Jarrett Racing has incurred net losses of nearly $4.8 million. The company has a working capital deficit of more than $1 million. The company says failure to secure equity financing, raise additional capital or attain profitable operations may result in the company depleting its available funds and not being able pay its obligations. This month, Dale Jarrett Racing announced it changed from a fiscal year ending June 30 to a calendar year ending Dec. 31 to better coincide with business planning and strategy.(Business Journal - Looks like they took the article off the site)(6-3-2005)
CORRECTION: Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure says "We are not closing, in fact we are expanding our business:" Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, a company that has provided the thrill of driving a Nextel Cup car around NASCAR tracks nationwide to thousands of customers over the last 5 years, is going strong and growing every year. Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure is a publicly traded company under the symbol DJRT and files financial reports with the SEC every quarter. According to Tim Shannon, President, "Our first quarter, being winter, is traditionally our slowest. This is when the auditor usually is required to add the "going concern" statement which is based on only a few factors and does not accurately reflect the entire dynamic of the company. We have grown by 35% and more every year of the last four and have not had to raise any outside capital in the process and have no plans to do so in the near future. In fact, we are so pleased with our development that we have implemented a strategy to expand our business into other areas where the respected Dale Jarrett brand can bring benefit to companies and shareholders alike." Readers are encouraged to not only review all Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure filings with the SEC but to visit their website for more information about their unique product which features side by side racing and passing at racingadventure.com.(Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, 888-GO-RACE-1)

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New 2006 Sponsor for Ganassi....team? Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced the signing of Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon to a multi-year sponsorship. The long-term agreement begins with the 2006 NASCAR season. Specific details are to follow at a later date. Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon is a restaurant chain that offers full-service casual dining, featuring Texas-style ambiance. There are over 300 locations nationwide.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)

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Marlin says he is out at Ganassi, expects to finish year: Reports have recently circulated that Sterling Marlin might not drive the final seven races of the season for Chip Ganassi Racing. Marlin, the guest driver on yesterday's weekly NASCAR Nextel Cup conference call, said he "feels pretty certain they'll honor the deal," but added: "Some things are out of your hands." The veteran driver from Columbia said he is "100 percent sure I won't be back (with Ganassi) next year," and said he is currently looking for a new ride. Marlin also announced plans to run Saturday's Busch race at the Nashville Superspeedway.(Tennessean)
AND When it comes to determining his future in the NASCAR Cup Series, it's a different matter. Marlin actively has several lines in the water trying to land a ride for next season. "I've been approached by some teams and I'm talking to some teams," Marlin said. Marlin said he hasn't officially received word that he won't be back for a ninth season with the team that Chip Ganassi bought from Felix Sabates in 2000. But Marlin knows which way the wind is blowing as Ganassi grows dissatisfied with not winning.(High Point Enterprise)

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#675 for Rusty: #2-Rusty Wallace will be making his 675th consecutive NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start [684 races total] in Sunday's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. In 42 career starts on the triangular-shaped 2.5-mile Pocono track, he has recorded 4 wins, 9 top-5 finishes, 16 top-10 finishes and 3 poles. He ranks third in career laps led on the track with 735.(Tom Roberts PR), unless Rusty comes back in 2006 for the first three races, his consecutive streak will stop at 697.

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Driver honored: ARCA and part-time NASCAR driver, Bobby Gerhart Jr. was honored yesterday morning by the [Pennsylvania] House of Representatives for his success in the ARCA Series at Daytona International Speedway, where the 46-year-old driver from Lebanon became only the second series driver to win at Daytona three times. Gerhart won there in February. He also won in 1999 and 2002. State Rep. Peter Zug (R-Myerstown) presented Gerhart with a copy of a House resolution. Gerhart was joined by his crew chief and brother, Billy; Drs. Joseph and Rose Mattioli of Pocono Raceway; Don Radebaugh, ARCA media and public relations director; Andy Papathanassiou, director of driver development of Hendrick Motorsports, and several crew members. Also, Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll and Rep. John Payne (R-Derry Twp.), motorsports caucus chairman, took part in the ceremony, which could become an annual event on the House floor. He started 28 races in the NASCAR Nextel Cup (formerly Winston Cup) dating back to 1985. His best finish was a 17th at North Wilkesboro Speedway, which is no longer in operation.(Patriot News)

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Stewart caught speeding, will enter deferral program
Associated Press

SEYMOUR, Ind. - Former NASCAR champin Tony Stewart had the pedal to the metal, but not on a racetrack. Instead he was caught speeding on a rural Jackson County highway.

An Indiana State Police trooper said he clocked Stewart, 33, of Columbus, traveling in his 2004 Humvee at 80 mph. The posted limit was 55 mph north of Seymour, 60 miles southeast of Indianapolis.

Stewart at first decided to fight the May 5 citation in court, but since has said he will instead pay $141 to enter a deferral program.

The program would keep points off of the 2001 NASCAR champion's Indiana driver's license if he remained citation-free for the next year.

Stewart initially pleaded not guilty May 17 to the speeding charge and requested a trial date. Jackson Superior Court Judge Frank W. Guthrie had set for July 26 before the NASCAR driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet Monte Carlo changed his mind. - Ok, now how many of you out there have been busted for speeding....Is this really newsworthy?

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JOHN ANDRETTI MOVES TO TELEVISION - Texas-Style

John Andretti Trying TV... From Other Side Of Camera[Henry, Bob (kr.com)] Winning driver color analyst Friday at Texas

MOORESVILLE, N.C. - A view for which some race fans might mortgage their homes will be further away than usual for John Andretti, the NASCAR Nextel Cup winning driver.

Andretti will be in the television booth during Friday night's Chex 400 at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway, serving as an analyst for SPEED's national broadcast of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.

"Usually I am sitting behind the steering wheel so I guess this will be a little further away than usual," said Andretti, "but I am really looking forward to it. I've worked some with SPEED on its television programs in the past and I am a regular contributor to WIBC Radio (Indianapolis) but this will be my first shot as a color analyst for a live race broadcast."

He has also worked on FOX Sports Net's Totally NASCAR show as a regular contributor, and the Brickyard 400 broadcast last year as color analyst for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network.

Andretti, who has two NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race wins, has not driven in the Truck series but follows it closely.

"I'd love to try it sometime because it is great racing," Andretti said. "I love the side-by-side stuff and the close finishes. I can't think of a racer anywhere who wouldn't want to try the Truck series."

The Indianapolis, Ind., native who now lives in Mooresville has driven - and won - in just about every form of motorsports. He is one of just three drivers in motorsports history with major race victories in NASCAR Nextel Cup, Indy Car and major league sports car racing. In 1994, he became the first driver to run both the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500 in the same day; no other driver had even attempted the feat prior that.

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Earnhardt Junior hopes to fall in love at Pocono
By Greg Engle


Other than the two NASCAR races held there each year, the Pocono area is best known for romance.
 
But for Dale Earnhardt Junior, Pocono could be best characterized as a love-hate relationship considering some of the struggles he’s had there in the past.

"I don't know if I'd even call it a love-hate relationship...,”he said,” I've yet to fall in love with the place. But I'm getting used to it. It was a really difficult place for me when I started out in the Cup Series, but we've figured some things out about the race set-up, and I've figured some things out on how to drive it.

We had a pretty good race at Pocono last year, finished in the top-10. The second race there (in August) wasn't that great, but I was banged up (from injuries sustained in an American Lemans Series crash a few weeks earlier in Sonoma, Calif.) and had to get out of the car, so that one doesn't count (laughing)!"

Dale Jr. enters the Pocono race weekend 15th in the Nextel Cup point standings after a 22nd-place finish in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover last Sunday. This season, the team has scored three top-5s and five top-10s in 13 races. Dale Jr. is 79 points out of the top-10 and 94 points out of sixth.

And other than last years August race, Junior seems to have learned his lessons well about what it will take to begin a much-needed turnaround for his season with a strong run at Pocono.

"Track position is so critical at that place, because if you can get out front in clean air, you can check out and leave 'em in the dust. ”He said,” It’s tough to get comfortable and find a fast and consistent set-up. Pocono can wear you out, and 500 miles there is a long race. -(cont'd from front page)You also hear people talk about finding a good balance -- a happy medium -- in getting the car to handle through all three corners. That's all true. But you really want to be sure you're car is handling in (turn) 3, so you can get that good momentum down the straightaway."

Junior still sits 15th in points and realizes he needs to make it the deficit pretty swiftly.

"Yeah, as much as we've struggled, we're 15th and still less than 100 points from sixth. ”He said,” I feel like we can make that up pretty quick; just need a couple good races here the next two or three weeks and we'll be right back in it. We don't think week-to-week. We're thinking long term. We're trying to do what's best for our race team, and what gives us the best chances of getting into the Chase for the Championship."

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Rockingham adjusts to life without NASCAR
By KEITH PARSONS
AP Sports Writer
 
 
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — The billboards still stand around the countryside as they have for the better part of 40 years, promoting the NASCAR race at North Carolina Speedway.

But a closer look reveals a date more than a year old — Feb. 22, 2004. For the first time since it opened, the track known as "The Rock" isn't on the schedule, one of the losers as NASCAR has grown into a national phenomenon.

"NASCAR has made a decision to move beyond its roots," said Rockingham Mayor Gene McLaurin. "Maybe neglect is too strong a word, but I don't think so."

The track hosted two races a year from 1966-2003, then dropped to only one last season when California Speedway near Los Angeles got a second date. Even then, when the Nextel Cup Series came for what most people knew was the last chance for Rockingham, the crowd fell well short of a sellout, with about 10,000 empty seats at a track that holds 60,000.

This year, Texas Motor Speedway got Rockingham's remaining spot on the schedule, part of a lawsuit settlement last year between NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports Inc. shareholder Francis Ferko.

Another part of the settlement awarded North Carolina Speedway to SMI founder Bruton Smith for $100.4 million. The track had been owned by International Speedway Corp., which is run by the France family that controls NASCAR.

"There are no plans to take a race back to Rockingham,"

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. "And that's all I can say about that."

The change was particularly disappointing to Kyle Petty, a native of Randleman, N.C., who watched as NASCAR dropped two of his home tracks in the past decade. North Wilkesboro Speedway was cut from the circuit in 1997, and, like Rockingham, it sits within 100 miles of Petty's hometown.

North Carolina Speedway provided some of the best side-by-side action on the circuit, thanks mostly to an abrasive surface that chewed up tires and made aerodynamics virtually useless. Matt Kenseth nipped Kasey Kahne by .010 seconds in the finale, the fourth-closest finish in series history.

"It just so happens Rockingham ain't L.A., and it ain't Chicago, and it ain't Kansas, and it ain't Dallas," Petty said. "They just market races now, and that's the only way you can look at it. It doesn't make a difference what the race track is like or how good the racing is, they're going to go to major markets."

At least Petty has gotten a chance to visit the track. He took his team there a few months ago for a test session, running all day to check gear and suspension pieces.

"It's kind of a sad place to go, because they don't race there anymore," he said. "And it is such a good race, and they haven't had a lot of good races this year. You wish it was still on the schedule, but things change."

Through a spokesman, Smith said he is willing to listen to offers for the track, and he has tried to push events that way. The Sports Car Club of America rented the track earlier this year for a weekend of racing, and there's a chance similar festivities will keep people coming to Rockingham.

So far, other than the loss of a little pride, the town and surrounding area haven't felt any dramatic difference.

"We were expecting to see a tremendous drop, but we've had a fair amount of construction going on around here, and our hotel numbers were up in February '05 from February '04," said Bennett Deane, president of the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce. "We only had 550 rooms here, so once they were booked, the other impact was — I don't want to say insignificant — but it was simply pass through."

The state's General Assembly made a futile attempt to help the track keep its spot on the schedule, and saw firsthand how little history and longtime support seem to mean these days in NASCAR.

Charlotte is among the cities bidding for the sport's hall of fame, and state legislators have approved an increase in the Charlotte-area hotel room tax.

The change would increase the local occupancy tax from 6 percent to 8 percent, making it the highest in the state. The estimated $65 million in revenue would help finance the museum and a new ballroom for the Charlotte convention center, next to the proposed site.

The state has put together a total package worth $137.5 million. Atlanta, Kansas City, Kan., Richmond, Va., and Daytona Beach, Fla., also submitted proposals.

"I think if it doesn't come to Charlotte or somewhere in that area, it's going to the wrong place," said Junior Johnson, one of the sport's greatest drivers and car owners. "They can talk about all these other places all they want, but the people who started this sport are from here, and it should stay here. The hall of fame wouldn't be attractive somewhere else."

Unfortunately, a similar argument couldn't stop Rockingham from losing out.

"I don't want to get despondent about it, I don't want to get discouraged about it," McLaurin said. "I think NASCAR made a mistake, but mistakes are made. Maybe there's a chance in the future for Rockingham and the track to be a part of it again."

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No cheers and all jeers for Jeff Gordon these days
Brandon Daun


He can never reach the legendary status of a Petty. He will never be as famous as Earnhardt. However Jeff Gordon is an icon in NASCAR racing, and the accomplishments he has made have helped to raise the standards of success in Nextel Cup competition. Yet time and time again fans in this sport seem to express their displeasure of Jeff Gordon for reasons which I have yet to understand.

There are no on the fence Jeff Gordon fans. People either worship the ground he walks on or cheer triumphantly at any setbacks he encounters on race day. Such was evident at Dover last weekend, when the cheers in the grandstand were deafening when Gordon crashed early in the event. Baffled, I turned to internet forums and fellow NASCAR fans to try and determine what Gordon could have done to lose so much respect from the fans.

Jeff Gordon had a good rookie year, and was quick to find championship success. It was unheard of for a driver to find success so quickly, however Gordon accomplished both feats early in his career. This anti Gordon atmosphere was developed because Jeff Gordon was quick to find success, and managed to win a lot of races in his career. Basically, Jeff Gordon is an accomplished race car driver, which results in a loss of fans. Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Tony Stewart, and even Carl Edwards were quick to find success on the track, and their success in their early careers have led to popularity and respect among the fans. Today, a successful rookie year is a necessity in an established career. If a driver can’t win races in their rookie year, more often times than not the team will find a driver that will. Fans will continue to boo Jeff Gordon for his continued success, however will cheer every week when any other driver runs up front all race long, then earns a top finishing spot each week.

A second reason for the anti Gordon atmosphere at NASCAR events is because of his off track personality. Gordon lost many fans when he entered a winless streak in previous seasons when he allowed his personal life to become the focal point of NASCAR racing. Once his marital problems were resolved, and the NASCAR community had a new story to gossip over, Gordon was back celebrating in Victory Lane. Gordon attempted the seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field recently, and reminded all the fans why he races a car for a living. Gordon does not have the best off track personality, and his personal life and outside engagements has led to a strained relationship between NASCAR fans and himself. Jeff Gordon does act properly off the track, as he has yet to take a punch from Jimmy Spencer or to violate NASCAR’s substance abuse.

Jeff Gordon is a four time champion and has many trophies on his shelf, however seems to be unable to find success with the fans. Every fan has a driver they love to hate, and more often times than not that driver is Jeff Gordon. The reasons for this displeasure seem to be unfounded, as fans will cheer drivers on for the same reasons they would chastise Gordon. Only time will tell if fans can come to accept Jeff Gordon as an accomplished driver and an icon in this sport, but don’t expect Jeff Gordon to be winning any NASCAR popularity contests in the near future.

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Q&A: Sterling Marlin
Veteran doesn't expect to be back with Ganassi team next year


In 39 starts at Pocono Raceway, Sterling Marlin has 16 top-10s and six top-5s. He's also seen the evolution of how racing has changed at Pocono over the years.

Marlin spent some time with members of the media recently to discuss Pocono, his future and the state of Chip Ganassi Racing.

Q: Sterling, there is just nothing quite like Pocono anywhere on the NASCAR Nextel Cup schedule and I know it's a track that inspires a lot of loyalty among the drivers who have been there multiple times. Why is that? What's your take on that?

Marlin: I don't know, like you said, it's a completely different track than we're normally used to. I've enjoyed racing there since the mid-80s when I went up there for the first time. Went really good the first time there and really good every time I've been there. It's just, you've got three different corners and two long straightaways, and this year is going to be a totally different field because we're not going to be able to shift this year, and it's going to be a lot different and take some getting used to again.

Q: You're already busy today. You've got a charity golf tournament today in Franklin, Tenn. that you're working on and participating with us today on the teleconference. And you're going to be busy this weekend while the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series is at Pocono, one of the NASCAR Busch Series standalone events is going to be at Nashville this weekend. And you'll be doing double duty driving the No. 40 Ferris Industries Dodge in that race, too, I hear.

Marlin: Well, they called me Monday, and I guess Scott [Lagasse] couldn't get OKed to run Nashville. And I told him fine, I'm just going to try to hook a ride with Carl Edmondson and going back and running both Nashville and Kentucky next week. So I'll be running a few more Busch Race weekends than initially thought this year.

Q:: That's a big race weekend for the Busch Series, too, isn't it?

Marlin: It is. We ran the first race, cut out some tires and had a lot of trouble. The Busch car's really been quick the last four race weekends, had a chance to win all four race weekends and led them all and want to Charlotte with it, carried same car we had at Charlotte, and it would be nice to get a win; it's your hometown.

Q: With all the reports that are going around, I'm just going to straight out ask you: Is this your last season with Ganassi? And the other report that I saw yesterday is that you may not run the last seven race weekends with Ganassi. How much truth is there to this?

Marlin: Well, I'm not 100 percent sure I'm won't be back next year with them. I don't read all of the stuff on Internet and don't turn the computer on really, but they put out a lot of things. But basically, contract is up with Chip at the end of the year and with Coors. It's a full, complete year, so we'll have a tough six races, last six races. And it's stuff is out of your hands, you can't control, so that's about it.

Q. Are you at this point talking to other teams?

Marlin: Yeah, I've been approached by some teams and I'm talking to some teams to try to get something lined up by the time I get to Daytona July 4 and get your sights set up for next year.

Q. Kasey Kahne was on this morning talking about the Dodges and how they have been inconsistent and how they are just having a hard time with the front end, getting them to steer; has that been your experience, too?

Marlin: Well, we changed chassis last year, and we've been hot and cold with them, run cold and run bad, and kind of going back to old hat this year a little bit and back to what we did have, and we just haven't hit the right combination.

Last six race weekends we had a really good car the last six races, we had a really good car. We had a shot to win the race both at Motor and Talladega, we were second and got caught in a big wreck. But the Dodge seems to me really hasn't been there, Casey run really, really good at Richmond, but, you know, to me, the car leading most laps at least two or three race weekends, we haven't had it this year.

Q: Why are developmental series like USAC, ARCA, etc., important to the industry of racing?

Marlin: Well, I mean, the ARCA guys wanting to come in and run Winston Cup and they can go to the tracks or Nextel Cup, the tracks that we race on. The cars weigh the same. The motors are pretty close to the same. And the only difference, we've got Goodyear tires and they have Hoosiers, and they run with bigger spoilers.

Just give the guys the opportunity to race where we race and get a feel of the track and how the car is feeling, what you need to do to adjust it.

Q: We mentioned Pocono up in the Pocono Mountains, and pretty soon you're going to be back in Florida in the heat of July. Tell me, are you a summer or a winter person, and why?

Marlin: I'm a summer guy. I like it 90, 95 degrees. I used to love racing at Daytona, July 4, the day races. The track hot and got slick and drivers got hot. So always liked it hot for the races.

Q. So you like the hot weather racing?

Marlin: Oh, yeah, you get past 40, I'm froze stiff.

Q: Take us through a lap at Pocono what makes it demanding from start to finish for you guys.

Marlin: You get the long straightaway, and it's pretty sweeping corner, Turn 1, and the grooves right on the bottom, which it is all three corners. Like I said it's just a totally, totally different track, Turn 2, a pretty tricky corner. You've really got to get our bearings and you can make a lot of time up, and to me, one of the most important corners, Turn 3, because it's such a long straightaway. You've really got to get your car working good up off that corner and make your time up on that straightaway.

Q: What kind of drivers do well there as far as driving styles?

Marlin: I don't know about driving styles. If the car drives good and you drive it good, you can run good. We've always seemed to have a pretty good setup at Pocono. Been on the pole there and come close to winning two or three races and just got away from us. Hopefully this year we can get a win at Pocono. Led a whole lot of laps the past two or three years but had a little trouble.

Q: Is this one of those places where you have to have both horsepower, you have to have handling, you have to have set up and everything has to work together? Because I know there's some places that put a premium on one or the other, but this is one of those places where you've got to have horsepower and that car has to handle perfect.

Marlin: Yeah, I think a good handling car, good tires, you can inaudible but when you get 30 laps, 40 laps on tires, I'd definitely take a good handling car over power. But good motor worst you can do at Pocono, like I said, you've really got long straightaways and need all you can do get.

Q: Do you see a lot of passing there?

Marlin: Do I see a lot of passing? Pocono is a good track to pass on. You can shoot somebody on the high side on turn one or low side, and get you get a good run up off the corner and you can get by them on that second straightaway. And a good place to pass is off the tunnel turn, each car working really good, get up under somebody when they are pushed and get loose, and same thing in turn three. So it's not a track that's one groove track is definitely a track you can pass on.

Q: Tell me about that tunnel turn, because almost every conversation you hear going into Pocono, "the tunnel turn, the tunnel turn," that's what you hear. What makes that thing so tough?

Marlin: Well, it's a pretty sharp corner where guess we're running about 200 when we get to it and it pretty much funnels down to a one groove deal and you have got to be in line when you get there. It's hard to one through there side to side. If somebody does go side to side and you're behind them you can let off a real early and they are going to really slow down and pass them both before you get to Turn 3, but it's a pretty sharp, tricky corner.

Q: Your first time at Pocono, what was it like compared to now, do you drive the track any different?

Marlin: No, I mean, back then, it's the same track. We probably ran it 30 miles an hour slower. I remember was running really good the first time there and, at the time they didn't have the turn two, the ripple strip (ph), and people race through, got through and got dirt ran through the radiator and knocked us out of the race.

Q:: Has it changed? Has the track changed any, or is it pretty much the same surface that you saw the first time you came?

Marlin: It's the same. I mean, they haven't moved the walls, moved nothing. They re paved it, but like I said, it's a fun track. I enjoy racing there.

Q: What makes it fun?

Marlin: You can pass. I mean, it's not one of them deals where you just, wide open, just throttle, wide back wide open and everybody nose to tails and you can't pass. It's a hatted (ph) track, comes with the place, and like I said, it's a pretty easy track to pass on if you have a good working car.

Q: When a driver comes there for the first time they have never seen it, what's the most common what's the thing they have to battle the most, or what's the most common mistake you see?

Marlin: Well, you know, I normally don't pay any attention to any of them until you guys come along. Like I said when we first started, we didn't shift, and decided about the mid 90s, started shifting one time. And this year, last year, they shifted three times a lap. So guys really busy shifting gears and you just look for all of the eggs (ph) you can get and Quigley was one of first ones to figure out shifting part. It just evolved back to the don't shift. So it's going to be real key to each car who gets off Turn 3 because you won't be able to come off that third gear and do run offs and be in fourth, the car is going to get really bogged down coming off to the corner.

Q: Jimmie Johnson is going for three straight, won both races last year, what have you guys got for him? Who is going to catch the 48 this year at Pocono?

Marlin: I don't know, [Greg] Biffle's team is looking pretty stout and Ryan [Newman], he's run really good up there. I think Jeremy [Mayfield] has won up there, and we've run awful good. I think we led, look at last spring, and like I said, we've dominated up there a couple of years ago and lost the thing at the end, got by us with six to eight laps to go on the outside and got real loose at the end. You know, you can have a dominant car all day and not win the thing.

Q: You've seen some deer peeking at you through the fence a couple teams, haven't you?

Marlin: I've never seen any deer, but you see them coming to the racetrack, you see the bears last year on the trace for the first time. Always heard about bears at Pocono, just came out in the middle of nowhere.

Q: That part about being out in the rural part of the state there in the Poconos in Pennsylvania is a lot of fun, too, because that's a place that you guys can go and get away a little bit, too. There's a lots of fishing holes, quiet and a lot of guys enjoy that, don't they?

Marlin: Yeah, I mean, the place where we stay, they have got some skiing, no snow when we are there, but they have the deals you can ride I guess a grass sack or something, they about killed two or three of my team last year. They fell off and just come back and skinned up. There's a lot to do outside the racetrack at Pocono.

Q: What's your favorite thing, do you grab a fishing pole and try to fish?

Marlin: No, I ain't got that much patience for fish. We have the lake at the hotel, some of the crew guys bring poles, but I'd rather sit at the pool than fish out of it.

Q: The fan base that comes to see you guys up there twice a year at Pocono, they are definitely one of the more rabid crowds that you guys play to, aren't they?

Marlin: These people, you leave Saturday night and you come in Sunday morning and the whole infield is covered up, and pretty rowdy bunch, they have a good time.

Q:: Let's go to Nashville for just a minute, what makes that place such a good place for racing? I know you're a Tennessee native and you have a soft spot for it anyway, but that place, they love their Busch Series there, don't they?

Marlin: They do. They pack a good crowd in. Kind of like the old fairgrounds, it was a good track and they built, it's a concrete track and just you couldn't ask for any better stuff at the racetrack. So they got a good site.

Q. You're on such a high at the end of the 2001 season and you led through the first half of the 2002 season. What impact has that had on your career from there?

Marlin: It hasn't had any. We come back 2003 and it was pretty good in 2002 and we got a little slack and kind of got the car back toward the end of the year, but by the time we got it back was when I got hurt. Things change and we tried some new chassis and don't know if it's good or bad or any different, but just haven't got the combination that we needed to get back to where we needed.

Two-thousand-and-three -- showed up and dominated Pocono and dominated Michigan, so should have won both race weekends and we didn't. Just have a lot of trouble, a lot of DNFs, and doing stupid things to knock yourself out of the races and about the same thing in 2004. Just got to, you know, get your car back, motor has done a great job, had great motors and just getting the car to drive. Talk to Jamie and Casey, the same thing, the cars just don't drive like they used to. We don't know if it's the spoiler we've cut off or don't have the balance right on the cars or the chassis or what.

Q. Somebody was asking me the other day how in the world Sterling Marlin keeps his spirits up and such a positive attitude with all of the aggravation you've gone through. What's your secret? Do you think you ought to write a book, or sometimes would you like to go by the barn and just kick something?

Marlin: I just never give up. I mean, it's something that you always enjoy doing. And just like Sunday, we had a terrible car to start. We got it fixed and come from 31st to 17th and the wheels come loose. We pitted, let of the wheels loose on the pit stop, get on the green and lose two laps and then you get going good again and I think somebody ran into 22 and tore the back end off the car. So there it is again, just get caught up in somebody else's mess. But just have to I've seen the highs and lows. Just got to work through it.

Q. Some of your stuff, we saw you at Talladega, you come in third, come out 17th, but for whatever reason you just don't criticize people. You don't shift the blame to the pit crew. Why not when sometimes other people are to blame, why don't you stand up and say something like, "I drove my tail off and I got beat somebody because somebody else made a mistake." Why don't you do that once in awhile?

Marlin: Well, I think at the end of the day, when you get out of the car, you give 100 percent. You've done all you can do. And whatever whoever is doing what has got to get up tomorrow and look in the mirror, too, so we've just go to get better at what we're doing and try to fix it. Usually with those things, you get a lot more sugar than you can, whatever. So you just kind of learn and just roll with the flow and try not to complain so much. You hear a lot of teams, you hear all the drivers complaining all the time. I don't think I've ever complained.

Q. With Bill Elliott coming out of the series, full time basis and then next year Mark Martin and Terry and Rusty will be absent from the Nextel Cup Series, how do you feel about that? You've been racing with these guys for a long time.

Marlin: Yeah, I think they are still as good racers as they ever was. Mark is having a good year. Rusty is having a good year. We started off good, we just had a terrible six races. I think Mark's son is coming along and he's wanting to help him get racing. You know, Rusty is, I guess, just, I don't know why he's quitting, but he's still going to do it. I think a lot of it, you get tired of all the travel, all the testing, all the PR stuff you've got to do and it just gets old.

I think down the road, you're going to see drivers not last past 40. Guys they make a ton of money now coming in, and they can make a pretty good living and just drag (ph) up the wheel by 40.

Q. Is it still worth it for you?

Marlin: I still have fun. I mean, it's a deal that since I've been 12 years old, every day you get up and I think about a race car, what you can do to make it better. Working on one when you was a kid and going to the races and still enjoy seeing the fans and racing. And you wake up and you just say, "I'm tired," that's the day you need to quit.

Q. Is that a big distraction for you, having people talking about your future job prospects and all that kind of junk?

Marlin: No, it not a distraction. I've been through it before, not a whole lot, but no, I don't think about it. Just try to do the best we can with Coors Light Dodge and try to get us a win before the year is out and give my guys 100 percent. We just have to work hard. We just haven't had in six races here, there's nothing that can't do, get took out in some wrecks, and then lost the engine and crashed and had two races we just didn't run good in. So we just have to work through it and try to get better.

Q. Can you give me sort of a behind the scenes peak at like what happens when your contract is up and you're looking at, you know, re-signing? Do you talk to Ganassi about this kind of stuff or what's going on?

Marlin: I mean, it's pretty much known last year I wasn't going to be back. My contract was up. I mean, it was up in 2002 or sometime in there, 2001, 2002. We just sat down in April, May and signed a new three-year deal, wasn't nothing to it and figured out what he wanted to do and I said that's fine and got the lawyers and got it done. Some guys contracts up this year, I think Chip's got options on Casey [Mears] and Jamie [McMurray] if he wants to renew them, so who knows what's going to happen.

Q. So right now don't really know what you're going to be doing next year?

Marlin: No, I don't know right now. I mean, just can't tell you that, but definitely going to be in the Nextel Cup and run a couple three years.

Q. When you were with Junior [Johnson], in terms of just did he never even talk to you in that last year; he just never even looked at you or talked to you?

Marlin: No, I never got a pink slip from him. So I guess I'm still driving for him. Never told me nothing. So got to read between the lines, went and got another job.

Q. I've seen Chip on TV say that he hopes that you have a great season and pick it up and win races, etc., etc. Is that just blowing smoke on his part, do you really feel you're [about to leave Ganassi]?

Marlin: Yeah, I do, you've got to read between the lines and what's going on, and I'm definitely still trying to do everything I can do to win a race for him. You do all you can do. Just you know, talk to Chip Monday and just try to figure out what all three teams are going to do. So just got to back up and see what you've changed the last couple of years and get back to basics and plan on stuff that's worked and go from there.

Q. Would you consider a ride in a Truck Series full time if nothing else opened?

Marlin: No, I kind of doubt it. I have a Busch deal laid out and I was going to run some those races next year anyway. One reason I did the Busch thing this year was because the car is more closer now than it ever was and just try to run it. And if you learn something on Saturday with springs or shocks or sway bars or air pressure, adjustments you make during the race, it can help you on the Cup side. So that's the only reason I done it.

Q. Does it seem like a series you would like, the truck series, where everything is so close and less aero and all that?

Marlin: I never drove a truck. I drove a street truck all my life, just about, but as far as the Truck Series, they definitely put on a good show. Not saying I wouldn't drive one, but if I was running the whole circuit on one, I don't think I would.

Q. The question I have for you really gears around, you've been around racing a long time and you've seen a lot of the feuds and you've seen a lot of the in fighting, do you think this year, whether it's Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart or Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon or Michael Waltrip and Green, do you think there's a little more of that, I want to say, angry racing this season than any season you've ever seen in your history?

Marlin: Well, you've always had feuds on and off, and I think Tony and Jeff got into it at Watkins Glen three or four years ago. I don't know, the cars are really equal now and everybody's just real competitive. Everybody is real close to each other, and sometimes, you know, Gordon turns to Kurt Busch at Martinsville, I don't know if he meant to, but they got together in a wreck and I guess Jim got wrecked Sunday. I ain't seen how it happened, but like I said, it's just real tight racing. And sometimes guys will give you a hood (ph) and you don't, it gets turned around. The points are so important and emotions get involved and everybody gets pissed off and they good to next week.

Q. As you've gotten older, have you kind of learned that while you might get heated on the track over something, that the overall goal is the points and you need to stay focused on that and forget something, at least while you're on the track, that somebody might have done?

Marlin: Yeah, if you come back next week for two weeks and retaliate there's a good possibility this will retaliate against you. So that would be two strikes for them and one for you and them two strikes will cost but 200 points. So you have to look at the big picture and look at it like that.

Q. Talking about the Busch race this weekend, the Easter weekend race was your first race at Nashville Superspeedway, correct?

Marlin: Yeah.

Q. And what did you learn during that weekend that might help you win this weekend?

Marlin: Learned not to cut right-front tires down. We made a chassis change right before qualifying, and each car was impounded. And we had a sway bar that was rubbing the right front tire and kept cutting the right front tire down. I think we learned from that and just didn't get a good balance on the car. We had a good car, almost got it fixed and was, almost, 15 laps down by the time we got all the stuff fixed. You know, we've been running really good the past four races with the Busch car and had a chance to win all four and hopefully that can continue and gives us a good run.

Q. What are Steadman's plans, is there any chance we might see him taking over your ride next year?

Marlin: Well, we don't know. Talking to Mondo (ph) , may run some more Busch races next year and may run some races and just have a father-son team and see how it shakes out. I guess right now we just talked about it, but hopefully that's what we can do.

Q. I want to follow up, this situation with Chip, have you guys discussed this, and is this a mutual agreement that it will end at the end of this season?

Marlin: Yeah, I mean, it pretty much is, yeah. I mean, I pretty much know what's going on and you know. Like I said, just appreciate the opportunity that Chip has given me. Back in 2001, they didn't have to sign me up to drive the car, and I got an opportunity to get a good race car and good stuff and won races. Had a good chance to win the championship for two years and things kind of went south on us and we ain't got the cars back to where they need to be.

My contract is up and they want to do some different things and I guess I'll go do some different things and we'll still be friends.

Q. Would you rather it have stayed the way it was?

Marlin: Yeah, we need to look at what we're doing if I stayed there. You know, we're just, like I said, just get cars back to where they was, and you know I'd like to retire driving for the Coors car, but that's not going to happen.

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that's racin' (phrase): Expresses frustration or emotion. 1. When a small part costing just a few dollars fails and stops a $150,000 race car, that's racin'. 2. When you race a competitor for 500 miles and lose to him by just a few feet, that's racin'. 3. When a hot dog wrapper blows out of the stands, gets caught across the air vent on the front of your car and causes your engine to overheat, that's racin'.

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NEXTEL CUP PRACTICE	4 p.m. Friday	Speed Channel
CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES CHEX 400	9 p.m. Friday	Speed Channel
NEXTEL CUP QUALIFYING	Noon Saturday	FX
BUSCH SERIES QUALIFYING	5 p.m. Saturday	Speed Channel
BUSCH SERIES FEDERATED AUTO PARTS 300	7:30 p.m. Saturday	FX
NEXTEL CUP POCONO 500	1 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