wolfgirl995 <wolfgirl995@...> wrote:To: TheFRONTSTRETCH@yahoogroups.com
From: "wolfgirl995" <wolfgirl995@...>
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 00:25:46 -0000
Subject: [TheFRONTSTRETCH] 5-12-05



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Thursday, May 12, 2005
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Voices From the Heartland: This close (look at my fingers) to quitting
Jeff Meyer
Thursday May 12, 2005
Picture in your mind, if you will, my thumb and pointer finger an
eighth of an inch apart.
That is how close I am to giving up on following NASCAR with any more
than a passing interest, let alone writing about it.
It's too bad really. I like racing and for the most part, I like to
write about it. However, in the last 8 years since I "got it really
bad", the sport has changed dramatically.
Like cute little kittens that grow up to be cats, like cute little
puppies that grow up to be barking dogs at night, and like cute little
pet alligators that grow up to be… well, big, ugly, flesh eating
alligators, NASCAR has grown about as far from its roots as it can go.
Oh sure, they will keep having races, but it is no longer about
`seeing who is the best and the fastest'. It has turned into a single
family run business that doesn't see fans of racing in the stands, but
100,000 little ATM machines, to each of which they have the PIN.
It's not that I pine for the old days. Change and growth is good, but
how big is big enough? How big does that little pet alligator have to
get before you turn it loose or make a few pairs of boots out of it?
Take a look at the cars. Do they resemble anything remotely close to
`stock' to you? Now they are developing `the car of the future' along
with the `engine of the future'. The difference between the cars now
is so miniscule as not make a difference.
Does any one else see the future but me?
Equal bodies and engines ARE coming, that is a fact. Look at all the
tracks that have been built lately. They aren't known as `cookie
cutter tracks' for being different. The tracks that have ANY kind of
character are being phased out. Even the BIG tracks are now TOO BIG.
The race cars are racing around them TOO fast. Something must be done.
We can't have race cars going too fast now can we? Someone might win
by too big a margin. The ATMs would suddenly stop showing up.
The new impound rule is another example of future. After all, when was
the last time IROC racers got to practice before a race? They don't.
They are all equally prepared, identical cars. The day is fast
approaching when we will hear, "Kasey Kahne! You have been assigned
the chartreuse colored car in stall 19. Go paint your number on the
car (with this `Official NASCAR paint provided by DuPont), then step
away from the car and wait patiently until the NASCAR `Painted Number
Official' inspects your paint brush, after which you may return to
your seat." Tell me, am I out in left field here?
How about tires? We already have only ONE tire provider. Why? Well,
the long and the short of it is, they PAID big bucks to have that
privilege. What else could they possibly do with the tires to
encourage even more parity? Well, believe it or not…it was recently
confirmed by Goodyear officials that NASCAR has proposed a program
that prohibits race teams from `buying' tires. They want the teams to
`lease' the tires. The teams would still have to pay 1600 dollars per
set of tires at each race, but, at the end of the event, all tires,
used and un-used, must be returned to Goodyear. The reason? To prevent
the teams from TESTING! After all, you can't test your car in race
trim at any particular track if you don't have actual race tires.
Traditionally, teams would stock unused tire inventory to use during
tests. Not in the future if NASCAR has its way. All tires must be
returned.
Oh, did I mention NASCAR's `official' reason for all this? Why to save
the teams money of course! Aren't those teams lucky to have uncle
NASCAR to look out for their bottom line? Don't be fooled you coveted
ATM you! It is all about parity. Every one MUST be equal. You MUST
conform. You cannot bring your own beverage into the race. You MUST
drink beverages provided by the offspring of the parent NASCAR
company. You MUST conform. They know what is best for us. Give Brian
France your PIN NOW! No PIN, no admission to see "The Show".
How stupid do they think we are? Or maybe we should ask ourselves, how
blindly stupid have we let ourselves become?
Something to think about.
Stay off the wall (but send your account information),
Jeff
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Top Ten Meanings for "Debris on the Track" Cautions
Mistie Bibbee
Wednesday May 11, 2005
10. We value are TV sponsors more than we do the fans watching the
race. Time to make some sponsorship money.
9. The race is getting really, really boring. Let's find some way to
mix it up.
8. Oh no! is about to get lapped. They're NASCAR's golden child and
must be kept on the lead lap.
7. It looks like the pit crews are napping. Time to make them earn
their keep instead of getting money for nothing.
Read the rest of Mistie's "Top Ten" here:
http://www.frontstretch.com/mbibbee/406/top-ten-meanings-for-debris-on-the-track\
-cautions
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NASCAR Trivia:


(answer below)
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Mirror Driving: Darlington
Thomas Bowles
Wednesday May 11, 2005
Welcome to Frontstretch's newest addition, "Mirror Driving." Every
week, your favorite columnists will sit down and chat about what went
right, what went wrong, and what was just plain silly about last
week's race. And if you don't like it, or don't agree, well, just make
a comment below and tell us how you feel!
Tom: Was Saturday night's race and thrilling finish enough to save the
Lady in Black for 2006?
Toni: It should be. But why would NASCAR base a decision on facts? The
race was sold out, but they'll find something else if they're
determined to.
Jeff: I think it's safe. NASCAR is just threatening so they will sell
out and make the fans THINK they have to save it. This is all part of
a big marketing ploy.
Amy: Right. The drivers want the track to stay, and even the newer
fans do, too…it would make sense to keep it. I can't see ISC spending
the money they did on SAFER barriers and lights at Darlington to use
them once.
Toni: I can't either. And that money had to come from ISC.
Tom: It's hard to see Darlington NOT on the 2006 schedule. The
argument about ISC making all these improvements is a good one…seems
to me like we're looking at starting a new tradition here instead of
ending it for good.
Read the rest of "Mirror Driving" here:
http://www.frontstretch.com/md/408/mirror-driving-darlington
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Thoughts of a NASCAR fan
Brandon Daun
Wednesday May 11, 2005
The number of the day is three. We celebrate the number three today
because this past weekend at Darlington, Greg Biffle earned his third
win of the 2005 season and also elevated himself to third place in the
driver standings. There have been ten checkered flags flown in the
2005 Nextel Cup season, and I think that we've seen some incredible
feats this season. New qualifying procedures have made making the
field seemingly harder than racing the field. NASCAR has taken a
firmer stance on penalties, making pit road a troublesome place for
many, especially those named Dale Jarrett. Most importantly, we've
seen some great racing this year.
Read the rest of "Thoughts of a NASCAR Fan" here:
http://www.frontstretch.com/article/402/thoughts-of-a-nascar-fan
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Trivia Answer:


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What drivers' Moms had to say over Mother's Day dinner
Cheryl Walker
Tuesday May 10, 2005
No, I wasn't invited to any of the drivers' Mom's houses this past
Sunday. But I do not think I would have to stretch my imagination too
far to consider what some of the drivers' Mom's might have had to say
to their racing sons.
Can't you just imagine the following, over stuffed pork chops or lasagna?
Greg Biffle's Mom: "They can call you names all they want, dear. But
it seems to me that the bug-eyed dummy has been hoisting those
trophies a lot more than they have. Don't pay any attention to them.
Just keep doing your best."
Tony Stewart's Mom: "I see that you're up against Dale Jr. in the
`Sexiest Driver' poll next weekend. Now we know you'll win. Women love
the dark, smoky, and tempestuous type."
Dale Earnhardt's Mom: "I see that you're up against Tony Stewart in
the `Sexiest Driver' poll next weekend. Now we know you'll win. Women
always prefer a blue-eyed rebel with southern charm."
Read the rest here:
http://www.frontstretch.com/cwalker/401/what-drivers-moms-had-to-say-over-mother\
s-day-dinner
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Every Reason to Bring Back the Lady in Black (Bowles-Eye View)
Thomas Bowles
Monday May 9, 2005
For longtime NASCAR fans, Saturday night was a little bit eerie. Cars
were racing on NASCAR's oldest superspeedway…but under the lights? In
May? It was the first time a race had been held at Darlington during
that month since 1971. However, after a few years of first moving
Darlington's race dates around, then chopping them down from two to
one, a Saturday night before Mother's Day was all Darlington had left
to prove that it still belonged in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series ranks.
Now, of course we know there's no reason Darlington should have to
prove anything. NASCAR's oldest track steeped in tradition, NASCAR's
best and brightest stars have proved themselves at the Lady in Black
through the years, from Petty to Yarborough to Pearson to Gordon. Over
100 races have been run here, at a track unique for its shape and size
(1.33 miles) in a racing series that has way too many "cookie-cutter"
tracks. But this is the modern-day NASCAR, and Darlington's 60,000
seats make it the smallest arena on the circuit. When most of the
other tracks double your seating capacity, it's tradition be damned,
and Darlington is continually on edge about losing its final race date.
Read the rest here:
http://www.frontstretch.com/tbowles/388/every-reason-to-bring-back-the-lady-in-b\
lack-bowles-eye-view
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FEEDBACK: If there's something you'd like to tell us, here's your
chance to have your voice heard! Send your comments, ideas and
suggestions along with your first name, last initial, and
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edition! Let me know what you think and if there's anything you'd
like to see in an upcoming newsletter.
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