Crunching the Numbers

I'm not a numbers kind of person. In fact, most of the time, I do my best to avoid anything involving math of any kind, including balancing my check book, measuring for appliances and calculating lunch money for my kids. Numbers perplex and confound me, yet today I find myself putting together a little table of sorts, the kind of table that involves numbers. Yuck.

Yesterday was a good day in NASCAR for me because I like Tony Stewart. Yes, he can be tempramental and he gets pretty excited about stuff, but to me, that's just part of what makes him the amazing driver that he is. His passion for racing shows up in a lot of ways.

Of course, I openly admit that I am not a big NASCAR fan and I am not ashamed of it. To me, racing involves Midgets and Sprints, preferably without wings of any kind. And racing should always be done on dirt. That's just the way it is.

With that thought in mind, I thought it might be kind of fun to start tracking the NASCAR drivers who got their start in the Sprint and Midget arena. Off the top of my head, I could think of five, and I have listed them in a table, along with how they did this week, and their current points. It seemed to me like it might be kind of interesting to track these guys and see how well they do. The chart is over in the right hand column and will be updated after each week's Cup race.

Currently, Jeff Gordon is the points leader, which is great, but poor Dave Blaney is way out of Chase contention, which is a shame. Dave is a great Sprint Car driver, and I think he would do well in NASCAR but he just can't seem to catch a break. Kind of like Junior these days.

Anyway, these are the five I could think of because I know for sure they have raced Sprints and/or Midgets on dirt. Most of them I have seen in action. If anyone reading this knows of other Cup drivers who got their start running at least a full season or two of Sprint/Midget racing, drop me a line and I will add them to the table. I hope you guys enjoy looking at the numbers. Maybe some day it will all make sense to me.

Of course, I could probably come up with a list of Busch and Truck drivers who started out in Sprints too, but with the way they keep showing up on the police blotters for alleged illegal drug possession, I think I'll just stick with Cup drivers for now.

Jack Roush, Cardinals fan?

(Val) At the beginning of the World Series between the Tigers and the Cards, my former boss and I made a bet. He now lives in Detroit, and works for Roush Performance (part of the Roush Racing family) and our bet was pretty open. Whoever won had to send something representative of their area to the other. My thoughts ran the vein of how would I ever get away with shipping a case of Bud, and my hopes went to seeing a Roush Mustang pulling into my driveway. Ha!

Well, this afternoon my payoff arrived. In the mail was a big kraft envelope and inside was a Michigan magnet, a Mustang DVD and, drumroll....a card featuring the Roush Race cars, signed "To Val, Congrats Cardinals! Jack Roush." What a trip! I totally cracked up. This is definitely the best bet payoff I have ever received!

Thanks to my buddy JC in Detroit. Better luck next year with your Tigers....not! :)

Back to the Basics

(Val) There is a scene in the movie The Rookie where Jim Morrisey is torn between hanging up his big league dreams once and for all, or sticking it out in the minors just a little bit longer. He wanders out into the night and hears the sounds of a nearby little league baseball game so he makes his way over to the fence to watch for a while.

A young outfielder sees him, tips his hat, and Jim nods back. That’s it, just a tip of the hat and a nod, not a word is exchanged. Yet in that moment, a whole conversation takes place, and it is that unspoken dialog that sets the wheels in motion for one of the greatest player comebacks in the history of the game.

I have no idea the percentage of kids who start out in minor league sports, dreaming of some day making it in the big time, that actually see that dream through to reality. It has to be low, but not low enough to discourage hundreds of thousands of kids from trying.

Last weekend, Spring and I saw dozens of young athletes who have sports dreams of their own, and those dreams involve not baseball or soccer, but racing. These kids look, sound and more importantly, race like professionals. The only thing missing were snobby attitudes and big paychecks. I think that’s what made it so refreshing.

These kids don’t go out and race for big bucks every week. These cars don’t come into the track via million dollar haulers followed by million dollar motor homes. There are no deep-pocketed sponsors or sleazy agents knocking down their doors. Media circuses don’t exist at this level, and no one seems to mind. These guys and girls race for the joy of racing, for the thrill of taking home a little trophy or an even smaller check. They do it for the sheer love of the game. And I’ll bet those kids are more proud of those little plastic trophies than some professional drivers are of the real thing.

To me, this is what it’s all about. Grassroots racing at its very finest.

All evening long, I wondered if I might be witnessing history in the making because you never know which of those kids might just pursue that dream to the highest possible level. For all I know, I met a kid who may some day kiss the bricks or drink the milk at Indy.

Sure, the odds are against them, but anyone who’s worth their salt doesn’t let a little thing like odds get in the way of their ambitions. And yes, a large number of those kids may get just as tired of trekking to races every weekend as other kids get of making three baseball practices a week. For the majority of those drivers, it won’t be long before these days are all just fun memories tucked between the pages of a dusty scrapbook, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that because kids should be kids.

But a few of them feel the passion, fall asleep running through the turns of the next track in their mind, hands gripped tight, foot mashing the imaginary gas pedal. They live for the rush and even now they understand what competition really is. They understand defeat, and they yearn for victory.

These young drivers have one thing in common with the guys who suit up every Sunday afternoon and climb into cars that cost more than the average American home. And it’s the only thing that matters. They dare to dream and they won’t let it go.

It’s too bad more of the big guys don’t take a night off now and then and head out to a small town Karting event. Maybe they would see that kid in his Daddy’s too-big, hand-me-down driver’s suit nod, tip a hat in return, and then walk away remembering what it’s all about.

Racin' to the alter...

(Ash) Have I been missed? Most likely not, but I have missed my racing "outlet," especially since I have been among family, lots of family, for many days- all for my sister's wedding. (Dubbed the BIG FAT BEACH WEDDING) Of course the members of the family that are from Alabama relate everything "racing" to Talladega or what they see on TV. The family members from South Florida can at least think outside the track with Seabring and other tracks that gain some attention in the cities where they are located. But after all these years of my dad "being in the business" and then here comes tomboy daughter for the past 5 years: They still don't "get it!" But what I did enjoy is the perception of the entire sport/industry that was represented within these 20 or so cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. Remembering that in the south, it is football, football, football, so of course everything was compared to "you know, like tailgating at an Auburn game." Ha, they have no idea. Tailgating goes on for a day and a half-- and if your team is lucky enough to go to a bowl game, maybe several days, but that "loyalty" pales in comparison to NASCAR fans, at the top of the tier, and racing fans in general.
To the southern football fan it is a fun diversion from everyday work and life, a time to let loose and party like you did in college. To the racing fan, it is a way of life: What happens at the track does not necessarily stay at the track. But these true fans will "duke it out" over a bag of ice or a stack of wood.
The stories I was relaying to them from just local track racing (some of them did not know they had a track practically in their own back yard) and then of course the NASCAR weekend long stories- had them in stitches. But, as you know--- they are true, they need no embellishing. One cousin and aunt/uncle had no idea that there was a track that existed on a road that is my last name and to get to that road you turn off of one that is my first name--- I kid you not, if you followed (fallered) that directional.
I was the maid of honor (old maid of honor) at the wedding, which provided me a weekend of jobs and other fun duties, but the best thing I could "bring on" was my ability to further educate yet 20 more people about the seriousness of racing--- or at least entertain them!
Happy motoring!

So you think you are part of the media....

(Ash) So you think you are worthy of Media credentials? If you have 3 websites that supply news feeds to the likes of such: SPEED, Speedway Illustrated, KGKI radio- internet feed, and more- would you not think that you would be WANTED to cover a race, get the top of the time news, feed news that is still NEW (hence the name news) to the racing community and sports community in general. The companies that vest their interest in a company to do such expect it, but when you are denied, what can you do, most of all what can you do for your "customers?'
Let it be known that Atlanta Motor Speedway (October 27-29 racing) decided that "we don't assign credentials to just any websites..."
However, there are credentials given to those who are "affiliated" with vendors, friends of friends, and so on, just like anything else in life. The difference: The credentials we requested were for use of promoting every aspect of the weekend of racing-- more coverage for the track, more coverage for the sponsors, racing news. We were not, are not, and never have been, after the "freebie." Perhaps because some media representatives do abuse this opportunity, we all suffer. But to be denied because we are a "website" that is like saying that AMS is just a track!
Thank you TREY at AMS-- you will NOT be forgotten!

(Ash) Well, now that 'Dega has come and gone, I am lost. I got home tonight and wondered around my house trying to remeber what I was going to do about something...... Oh, sleep may be a good suggestion at this point but not until this Girl GONE Racin' (and came back) puts a cap on the Talladega experience. I have never seen, ok well, since April, traffic on I-20 at 6:15 a.m. This morning I just had pity on the truckers and any other unsuspecting motorist that happened to be headed west from that point until maybe 2:00pm. Of course by then THE race would have started and everyone would be "hollaring" at the track.
As I was sitting in the Media line to go to my "pink" space in the gravel, I was shocked out of my daydream by a roaring, really loud noise, above my car. I looked up through the sun roof and at tree top level there was a small private jet descending into the "mini port" at the track. Well, that was only the first of several-- I could almost see the people on the plane-- I am almost sure on of them was TONY the TIGER waving at me!
On that note, back at home my neighbor's husband works for the FAA and she told me they issued more citations to those "private pilots" this weekend than they were able to keep up with. Scarry--- but, the airport (and I use the term losely) is no more that what most large airports refer to as a hangar: A big metal building.
But that was just some of my entertainment while sitting, waiting, this time anyway-- There was more waiting, of course, you would think that someone would walk along the lines selling things like FOOD while we sat-- at 6 something in the moring. Several times I considered offering (you can do a lot with a hat or shirt, remember) whatever, anything I still had in the back, for some of whatever someone was cooking and I was inhaling. I kid you not, this village and expanded again since Saturday afternoon. Now, believe it or not, there were still people dancing around in the re-directed traffic with tickets to sell. Now, if they could have put two and two or something together they would have walked a half of a mile and been right smack in the middle of people holding hand written signs for "NEED TICKET." Now do you not see marketing potential there?
Onto Speedway Boulevard now; another mecca of people, cars, bikes, trash barrels, port-a-john cleaning trucks, and various other servies and personnel driving around on golf carts. After I parked I tried to figure out where I was (so I could find my car later) and then headed toward the Media Center. How about that, I got there in time to actually use the space that had been designated for me-- watch out BIG news guy that only comesin to mull around, eat bad food, and "be seen."

NOTE: Please help me with turing in info for your tracks if it is not already being done.

I will survive

(Ash) In the words of Glroia Gaynor: I will survive! I did, have, and will survive Talladega Days and NIghts (thanks Val) Day 3: On the road again, again, again, yet it is never the never the day twice. Proven, once again, on the way to, and from Talladega. Not to mention the racing has been spectacular, rookies shocking vets, amazing times turned in during qualifying, and then the restrictor plate "debate" that surfaced this morning.
Just when you think the "mini city" is at full capacity -- scoot over and squeeze in a few more- and they did, they do. However, surprisingly enough, this is a clean, and pretty tame place all things considered. When you consider that people from all over the country, and even a small percent from other countries, alcohol, a dry county, a 'sporting contest' and then toss in; this is the south: A FOOTBALL weekend- for the law officials this was a slow 24 hours. and no out of control fires was even more impressive. I asked one of the security men some generic questions but hey, he was a "hire out" from about 260 miles away and was "just thrilled to be here!" Bad choice and he wasn't even cute!
At this point the first race, won by Frank Kimmel, a personal friend of those of us at RaceFan, gave him a second victory at Talladega. Kimmel qualified in the top 5 but among those in that 5 he was the only one to come out on top- so to speak. I guess the saying "practice makes perfect" holds true. Kimmel and his team recently spent some track time on the newly surfaced Talladega track.
As I write this the Craftsman Truck Series is running the 250 miles of the 1000 total for the weekend and making history for being the first time for that series to run at Talladega.
The interesting thing at this point is that the fans love it all: Racing is racing. Yes, there are certain levels of a "Fan" such as there are many different levels and types of racing. But considering that we are where we are in our War Against Terrorism, maybe someone should look at the simple rules of the ____ (name the track) community during race weekend. Translation: Why can't we all just get along?
1) What is my space is mine, I have been here for years and, who are you?
2) If you need a port-a-potty, we have one-- just clean up after yourself.
3) If you cook, please share. When we cook you are welcomed to "come on by" but do so atyour
own risk,
4) Share your ride (in this case it may be a golf cart or pit bike)
5) Beer is an excuse to make friends and wheel and deal, just have a good attorney with you or
make it a signed deal. All deals under the "gentlemen's handshake" are blown like a bad engine!

Remember the Gremlins?

(Ash) I may be dating myself in this diatribe but remember the movie Gremlins? I do, not real well, don't own the DVD or anything, but I remember there was something about the furry little creatures not having water and/or seeing sunlight. If memory serves, there was a reason for that. With this in mind: Welcome RaceFans to Talladega, Aluhbama, USA, day 2!
Back on I-20 again, a much more congested I-20, I am almost to the temporary metropolis. The thing about the slow traffic headed toward the Speedway (note: the State seems to be doing roadwork every time there is a major race) is that with all the RVs, trucks pulling trucks, cars pulling trailers with PortaJohns strapped in, etc., the slow moving traffic becomes a source of entertainment! If I had been writing this, say 8 years ago, I would have bought stock in KIWI shoe polish. Anyway, passing the time I enjoyed reading the various, um, phrases, driver numbers, 'Dega or BUST!, Gitter Dun, and an assortment of other "polished" phrases adorning the convoy. Looking at some of the car tags, from as far away as Canada, I am just amazed. (I shouldn't be, football in the south is very similar.) Several "vehicles," and I use that term loosely, hailing tags from mostly the mid-west and north, bearing a great deal of rust, bondo, and bald tires- also 'Dega bound, are of special interest. I have to wonder how the 10 individuals packed into the El Camino could 1) know about this place (nevermind) 2) how did that car make it 800 miles 3) the cost of gas alone was enough money for new tires 4) how can/did they afford these outrageously priced tickets, and finally 5) where the *** are these pleople staying/sleeping? (That is the ones without motor homes.)
Kinda makes you think, huh!
Wow, I got off the Gremlins subject- just a "smidge" as we say in the South. Anyway, finally I am back on Speedway Blvd. and of course the place is just as I left it yesterday, with one exception: The people, tents, vendors, campers, fires and all have multiplied-- just like those Gremlin creatures did in the movie. Not stopping to "enjoy," there is more than enought time left for that, I quickly head off to my little cocoon; The Media Center. I need time to think!
Happy Motoring.

The Rednecks are Coming...the Rednecks are Coming....

(Ash) NOPE, there are already here! Live from the heart of Alabama: Welcome to Talladega Superspeedway... lets go racin' ! For me a 20 mile trip down I-20 is no big deal, except for a certain six days out of the year: NASCAR race weekend Spring, NASCAR race weekend Fall! Thurday's trip is unaviodable- getting my media credentials. Actually it is one of the times during the 4-day weekend that I actually enjoy. Imagine, lil ole me just zipping through security, snatching up all my passes, and this time even a HOT (garage) pass!! It has to be fate; there is a full moon, and I am going to march up to the Home Depot Tiger (aka Tony) my secret crush (not anymore) while he is reving up his orange ride to run his qualifying laps, and plant one right on his......... HELMET, SILLY!
Back to the idea of actually enjoying being a witness to the population explosion in this tiny town (new pop. around175,000) for a few days. It is nothing short of amusing to see the small community, if you will, under construction. For five miles on Speedway Boulevard, both sides of the road, there are just people (I use that term loosely) more people, junk being sold, (knock offs), piles of wood stacked 10 feet high and shower houses- that incidently I don't think some people realize are there- if you get my drift or whiff maybe.
Then there are the people all shapes, sizes, and stages of dental distruction, milling about aimlessly and in various stages of intoxication. Like the saying goes: It's five o'clock somewhere! The smell(s) at this point are something like a fair or carnival-- funky, greasy food and as you move further awary from the Speedway entrance, grilling. OK, I admit, early on I partake in some of that food knowing darn well what the Media Centre has instore for my intestines.
This past Spring I was adpoted by a "ban" of about 15 Army Special Forces Men that get together every April in Talladega as a reunion. Actually I was wondering aimlessly as I do anywhere I go without my OnStar or GPS- so I eagerly joined their group. Hey, you would too- 15 fit men, the majority my age, and not a dog ugly one in the group. (And that is a true statement without my "beer goggles") Anyway, for the remainder of the weekend they invited me to eat and hang out when I wasn't working-- if I could find their little spot again. (Thank goodness for cell phones!) Wait, make that big camp, same location every year, a very structured set up with all the amenities of a home away from home, if you can imagine. They had 4 RVs between all of them, cots, chairs, generators and a plethora of food and beverages, ok I promised I would never tell: They had a menu!
Well getting off the subject a bit but this is just the first installment of GirlGONERacin' (girl better return) from the heart of NASCAR- the newly resurfaced (TIGER even drove the paver back in June) 2.66 mile Talladega SuperSpeedway.
Time to pit!

NASCAR Chase drivers not ready for prime time

(Val) In case you're like me, and you just can't stay awake long enough for late night television, here is last night's Top Ten list from Letterman. I actually tried to keep my eyes open, but I just couldn't do it!

NASCAR Drivers Perform Top Ten List on The Late Show with David Letterman

From the home office in Wahoo, Nebraska...

The "Late Show" Top Ten "Things Never Before Said By a NASCAR Driver"

As presented by the 10 NASCAR drivers competing in the 2006 “Chase for the Nextel Cup” on the Wednesday, Sept. 13 broadcast of the Late Show with David Letterman on the CBS Television Network.

10. Kasey Kahne: “Anyone know how to drive a stick?”

9. Jeff Gordon: “Does this gas taste funny to you?”

8. Jeff Burton: “I don’t care much for country music or beer.”

7. Mark Martin: “Switch the ‘R’ and the ‘C’ in ‘racing’ and you get ‘caring.’”

6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: “Wow, Letterman looks so young in person.”

5. Denny Hamlin: “You’re looking at a guy who can drive 500 miles without taking a leak.”

4. Kyle Busch: “A truly great driver doesn’t mind asking for directions, am I right, ladies?”

3. Kevin Harvick: “It would be nice if the guys in the pits occasionally surprised me with a piece of carrot cake or something.”

2. Jimmie Johnson: “The Nextel Cup is great, but what I’m really excited for is the LATE SHOW Ventriloquist Week.”

1. Matt Kenseth: “If you think I’m fast in my car, you should see me in the bedroom.”

The LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN is a presentation of Worldwide Pants Incorporated. Maria Pope, Barbara Gaines, Rob Burnett and Jude Brennan are the executive producers.

Ashley Does 'Dega

Below is Ashley's report from Talladega Superspeedway, where she attended a media function on Monday that involved tossing a few questions to Tony Stewart. Of course, I know there is more to this story, and with a little prodding, maybe we'll get her to spill the rest of it. (Like how she shamelessly flirted with this two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion.)

Anyway, thanks to Ashley for making my week by getting to hang with my favorite NNC driver and sharing all the fun, and for taking the time to snap a few pics along the way. You go, girl!

Tony Stewart climbs the high banks of TSS to get to the paver.

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- How does the 2005 Nextel Champion celebrate the news that he will be inducted into the Talladega/Texaco Walk of Fame during the October UAW-Ford 500? Tony Stewart learned Monday morning that he, along with Rusty Wallace, will receive that honor and to celebrate he spent the morning visiting the Talladega Superspeedway, which is undergoing a massive re-paving project. Not to be left out of the action, Stewart pitched in "hands on" with the resurfacing in progress at TSS by testing his driving skills behind the gears of the paving equipment.

Entertaining the paving crew from Sunmount, (Justin, Texas) the 2005 Nextel Cup Champion scaled up the 33 degree banking of the speedway - which is equivalent to a five-story building - and climbed into the cab of a paving machine.

Later Stewart commented that “it was much easier to drive 180+ mph around the track, than to drive 9 mph in a piece of equipment. I kept thinking about the things that could happen if this thing (the paver) wrecked --- they are far worse than a bad day on the track.”

Tony Stewart chats with the media at TSS.

Stewart, driver of the Home Depot #20, said he was excited about the opportunity that the resurfacing would offer; racing three and four wide on the new asphalt at TSS in October. He pointed out that all of the teams would have to make changes and adjustments to their cars from the April race at TSS, such as tires and stability with the speed they were going to experience on the new surface.

Race fans watching or following Sunday’s Nextel race at Loudon heard Stewart express a very strong opinion regarding the behavior and skill of the rookies and less experienced drivers that led to his team leaving the race early. The candid approach Tony Stewart took with the media, following an upsetting run at New Hampshire International the day before, was refreshing. He entertained questions ranging from the incidents during that race to his philanthropy and stories of local racing hero Red Farmer (AL).

He replied, showing his personality, to the pointed “where do you feel your team is at this point in the season” question with the comment that they were in a “luck slump- that’s all."

The two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion is also a veteran of Sprint and Midget racing, IRL, and the NASCAR Busch Series, as well as being the track owner/promoter of Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Stewart is a philanthropist, and is involved in all aspects of trying to keep NASCAR racing real for the drivers and the fans.

For more information on Tony Stewart visit www.tonystewart.com

For continued update information on the repaving please visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com

Tony Stewart Update

(Val) Ashley just called from Talladega and she is having a ball. Tony is "helping" to re-pave the track and is apparently garnering a lot of attention, as even the workers have their cameras out and are snapping pictures. She's been taking pictures of him driving the paver and it appears that he is enjoying the job. I sure hope the unions don't get wind of this! :)

She will be talking to Tony shortly and assures me that she will relay my offer about the home made pizza. We'll see what he says about that!

A New Spin on Home Improvement with Tony Stewart

(Val) It's 9am CST here and in about an hour, Ashley will be at Talladega interviewing Tony Stewart for RaceFan and GGR. The invitation came via email last week, and when I forwarded it to her, I did so with a kind of "I dare you" attitude. I should have known that since her chat with Will Ferrell regarding Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby, Ashley would never back down from a challenge.

She IMed me this morning to let me know that she has the number one slot for her visit. After his spin yesterday at Loudon, I speculated as to whether or not she should maybe keep her distance. Hopefully, Tony has had a little time to cool down after spending all that time in the garage, and is ready to move on with life. (And hey, I'm not putting him down for being upset. Who wouldn't be?)

Ashley and I had fun putting our heads together with regard to quesions for Mr. Stewart. I hope she has a blast at the interview, takes some pictures and shares them as soon as she returns.

Of course, since we have already purchased three LG appliances from Home Depot this year, and still need to get one more, I told her to let him know that I feel like I own the front bumper on his car. I even offered to let him use our house for his next home improvement project in order to win a race. Since we are really in need of a deck, I thought the offer was very generous. In addition, I just sent Ashley a text message, offering to make home made pizza for Tony, with all of his favorite toppings!

Anyway, good luck to Ashley with the interview. As soon as she gets it transcribed, we will hopefully be able to share it with you here and on RaceFan.com.