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Birthday Boy Jim, Another “Super” Davenport Performance, Plus Big Money January
Happy Birthday to Jim Hitzemann, charter member of the Sunset mafia, race scorer supreme, big boom fireworks aficionado, and all around good guy. Jim has to be close to Craig Kelley in age, meaning 50+?? Ah, to be that young again. Anyway, Happy Birthday my friend.
I just logged on www.DirtonDirt.com for the first time in weeks. Normally I visit the site every day, but in recent weeks I seem to be visiting job sites much more frequently. Applying for jobs takes time. A lot of time. So does applying for unemployment. For the first time ever I am collecting an unemployment check this week. How does that feel?
I would certainly rather have a paycheck-hopefully that will happen again soon. Until then, well, I have it coming, and all I put up with for so many years, it doesn’t bother me in the least to collect unemployment.
OK, got that out of my system. Back to racing. Here I thought all the big races were over and done for the season, but there was an unsanctioned crate engine event at Swainsboro Raceway in Georgia. Not just a typical crate event paying a few thousand dollars to win, the Turkey 100 paid $20,000 to the winner.
That kind of money draws the attention of dirt racing heavy hitters, in this case, the attention of 2015’s heaviest hitter, Jonathan Davenport. And like so many other times this season, Superman added a big dollar win to his resume-this in a borrowed car. Davenport shows no signs of slowing down, and other top drivers better be working hard in the late model off-season to catch up to the North Carolina racer. Oh, and the dirt late model off-season does have another name-it is called December.
Come January, many drivers will be heading to Arizona for the Wild West Shoot-Out in Tucson. In the unlikely event a driver-say Davenport-won all six of the scheduled races, not only would he claim the $36,000 in first place money, but would receive a $250,000 bonus as well. Not a bad way to start out a season. If a driver were to win five races the bonus would be $100,000, while a driver who won four races would receive an added $50,000 from Keyser.
While winning all six races against top flight competition sounds unlikely, Davenport in 2015 and Scott Bloomquist in the past have shown they are quite capable of running off a big first place streak. I wish I could be there like Ivan Tracy. Actually, if TROTD was a moneymaker, I would love to spend a few days at Cocopah Speedway watching the 410 sprints in action during Winter Heat, and then mosey on over to Tucson for the final four nights of the Wild West Shootout.
I will be able to see all the racing action though as Speed Shift TV will carry Winter Heat, and Dirt on Dirt will cover the Tucson shows. Hey, it will be plenty cold outside, but TROTD Speedway will be a comfortable 68 degrees for those 11 nights of racing.
Thanks for stopping by.
A Few More Races, Plus Something From My Heart
I pointed out some late season races in my last blog and received a letter from Ivan Tracy about several more-they won’t be shown on your computer though. You will have to be retired like Ivan to see them.
Tracy will be at Perris Speedway in California tomorrow night for the 75th Turkey Night Classic featuring USAC National and Western Midget Series cars. Among the drivers expected to race is NASCAR star Kyle Larson. Also running will be Christopher Bell, Rico Abreu, Tracy Hines, and Dave Darland. The feature is 98 laps around the ½ mile dirt oval.
Next weekend Tracy will be heading to Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Arizona for the Holiday Hustle 100. Pure Stocks will race against IMCA Stock Cars, while Renegades will go up against IMCA Hobby Stocks on December 5th and 6th.
I have said it before, but I do envy Ivan’s late fall and winter journeys-even though many places he visits feature open wheel racing. My “retirement” has me applying for various part-time, temporary, and full-time jobs in Nebraska, not going to the track in some warm weather state.
Actually, I have had a full-time job this week. Jane is having my mom and Matt’s family for Thanksgiving on Wednesday night. Now I think the house was just fine before yesterday, but Jane thinks different. I liked my job at Total Wellness much better. From take out the papers and the trash-and I didn’t get no spending cash-Google it, to sweeping, vacuuming, raking, and a little heavy lifting, I am tired. The house looks the same to me, but obviously I don’t know what I am talking about.
Ah, the story of my blog, I don’t know what I am talking about, but that doesn’t stop me from talking anyway.
Thanksgiving? This has been a tough year in many ways for my family. Jobs lost, unemployment, fear of never working again, and then just losing a beloved member of our family. But, Amanda now has a job she loves and is starting to heal from all she suffered from on the last one. For sure, I will not die at a desk in an office building on West Vine Street in Fremont as I truly feared I might. Jane continues to put up with me as she has for over 45 years. Yeah, hard to figure. Matt and Amanda never cease to amaze me and make me realize I am lucky to have such children. And though I am writing this with a lump in my throat, I have to be thankful for the nine years little Kahlua worked her magic, made our lives better-changed them in ways I never dreamt possible. And of course, there is Henry, so smart, so funny, simply the light that makes my life, our life brighter.
I thought of all those things about 3:30 a.m. and in the safety of the dark and blankets covering me, thought I should say all those things before we eat our meal-feast as Henry calls it. But I know tears would keep me from voicing all I feel, but tears don’t stop me from typing.
I am also very thankful for my friends, they mean more to me than they would ever believe, and I am thankful to you-for stopping by.
Homestead And More
First, thanks to all who have offered condolences here and through emails over the loss of our grandpuppy Kahlua. I am a person who thinks he should be able to make everything write for his family, and this is one time I can’t. I miss Kahlua, and ache for my wife and daughter, and most especially for Matt who was so close to this furry family member. I wish I could take a pill and wake up in a few weeks-of course, things would not have changed anyway.
Racing? I did watch the NASCAR season finale from Homestead, a track that is on my bucket list. The day started as Jeff Gordon’s, but ended the way Kyle Busch wanted it to. My thoughts on Homestead:
-the cheers when Gordon took the lead for a few laps were amazing. I can remember a time when fans threw trash on the track after one of his wins.
-it seems like all year long Gordon’s crew chief has managed to give him 10th place cars. That was certainly the case yesterday, an arguably what should have been the team’s biggest, most important race ever. That he managed a 6th place finish was a testament to his skill.
-by the midway point of the race it was obvious that barring some miracle the champion was going to be Harvick or Busch.
-I am happy that Brad Keselowski dropped to third. I really did not want a Penske Ford to win, even if it was the Ford ECOBOOST 400.
-As a service to all Roush Fenway Racing fans, I also like to announce where the three RFR drivers finished. I do this because the only times you get to see them on the track are when they are being lapped (Biffle and Bayne) or wrecking (Stenhouse). Yesterday Biffle finished 15th, Bayne finished 18th, and Stenhouse ended up 22nd. That averages out about 18th, which is much better than they usually do. For the year, Biffle was 20th, Stenhouse was 25th (four places behind his girlfriend), and Bayne was 29th.
-The race winner/championship interview given by Kyle Busch was really good. A few years ago he could not have, or at least would not have given such an interview. I was impressed. I mentioned before how his injuries, his wife, and his son brought about changes, but I am almost ready to become a Kyle Busch fan. Yes, I said it, no I have not been kidnapped Ivan.
-Jeff Gordon’s visit to Victory Lane to congratulate Busch was a class gesture on his part. If only all the young drivers would watch what he does off the track as well as what he did on it.
-Matt Kenseth was suspended for two races and he still ended up beating Clint Bowyer for 15th place in the final standings. Interesting-I wish Clint would not have fumbled around his interview yesterday, and just came out and said “I messed up and wrecked all those cars.”
-Joe Gibbs Racing teams finished 1st-5th-9th-15th. Stewart-Haas teams finished 2nd and 8th. Hendrick teams finished 3rd-10th, and 12th. Penske Ford miscreants were 6th and 7th. Work on gaining some class to go with your talent Joey.
No more races in 2015? Not quite. Speed Shift TV will have two nights of racing this weekend-the 27th and 28th, the Turkey Classic from Cocopah Speedway in Arizona. I suppose Ivan Tracy will be there is person-he sent me a photo from Tucson last weekend, explaining what real retirement is. Speed Shift will also be showing the Winter Heat Sprint Showdown from Cocopah in January.
Racefeedx.com has two nights of racing from Bakersfield, California this weekend, two nights from South Texas Speedway the following weekend, and two nights from Greensboro Coliseum in mid-December.
If anyone has ideas for posts, please email me: brutonnb@yahoo.com
Anyone except Randy Palmer. And Tony Anville.
Thanks for stopping by.
P.S.-I almost forgot, Roush Fenway Racing was champion of the NASCAR XFINITY Series-or as the Omaha World Herald called it, a “second tier” series. Kind of the Omaha Storm Chasers won the Triple A crown in 2013 and 2014. Nice, but second tier. Anyway, Chris Buescher was champion of the XFINITY Series.
R.I.P. Special Girl Kahlua
This isn’t about racing, so if that is what you are looking for today, go ahead and sign off.
Matt, Steph, and Henry’s silky terrier Kahlua had to be put down today. She has been sick for some time, the tumor was obvious and growing. The veterinarian did a biopsy last Tuesday and the results showed the tumor was malignant, would rapidly advance, and this beautiful little puppy would suffer greatly.
Matt and Steph made the right decision, but it was not easy, and our entire family is heart-broken today. Before Kahlua Matt wanted nothing to do with dogs. And I did not either. A week after Steph brought her home, Matt still was not convinced he wanted her around. He told Jane and me “if she doesn’t change soon, she is going back.” That was before the magic of this little-and she was tiny even for a small dog-captured his heart too.
And mine. She was precocious, a real diva, and try as I might, I could not help but fall in love with this special creature. My daughter Amanda wanted a dog for years, and Kahlua increased her desire for a puppy even more. Amanda would babysit Kahlua, even have her for a “sleep over” on occasion. Every time I was around Kahlua my defenses were broken down until finally I agreed that Amanda could get a dog. Because of Kahlua, Sophie came to our home and is a big part of our life.
Kahlua changed our life for the better, and I will always have memories of her-when tiny Sophie first met her cousin, and walked under Kahlua-as she grew she became much bigger than Kahlua. I will remember her running down the hall at our house and jumping on me from about five feet away. Kahlua was quite the swimmer, and I will remember this summer when she was in Matt’s pool with Matt and Henry and swam and swam and swam.
Well, all good dogs go to heaven, and Kahlua is there bossing all the other good dogs around. She is no longer in any pain, and can run, play, and be happy again. Thank you for sharing your love with us Kahlua.
Retired-Me Again As Of Today, Jeff Gordon On Sunday
At 12:30 p.m. today I officially became a retired person again. My two month stint at Total Wellness ended as their busy season is now over. I have to admit I very much enjoyed this job-the people, the work, the atmosphere. It reminded me of my first full time job as Assistant Plant Manager at Blevins’ Popcorn Company in North Bend, maybe a big city version of Blevins.
I do have several applications out, one for a full-time position, one for another temporary assignment, so hopefully I won’t stay retired long. This week Jane is getting ready for Thanksgiving, so I know I will be involved with that, and busier than with any job.
Caught up in the hoopla surrounding the retirement of Jeff Gordon, not much is being said about Homestead being the final race for Michael Waltrip Racing. You remember MWR, Toyota’s version of Roush Fenway Racing. I don’t see MWR going out with a bang, unless Clint Bowyer blows an engine on Sunday.
Unfortunately MWR’s demise means Waltrip has more time to spend on his Fox announcing job. I read an article about Fox revamping its NASCAR coverage, but mostly that is adding Jeff Gordon to the broadcast booth. I certainly will welcome that addition come Daytona, but the one revamp I wish the network would do wasn’t mention. That would be to get the other past Sprint Cup champion announcing the race to quit saying “boogity, boogity, boogity” before the start of every race.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he would block for Jeff Gordon at Homestead. Wow, now if Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson go along with the program—–.
Would Joey Logano spin out Jeff Gordon near the end of Sunday’s race? Wouldn’t surprise me. Would anyone else? Brad Keselowski-probably. How the other championship contenders? Chances at a championship don’t happen every year. The pressure from sponsors to grab the cup has to be incredible. I just don’t see Harvick, Busch, or Truex spinning anyone out to win it. They may try every trick possible to make a driver loose, but spin out ala Logano/Kenseth, I just don’t see it.
Will Gordon-Harvick-Busch-Truex need to win the race to win the championship? I don’t think so. I think a second or third place finish could bring home a championship. Of course I am wrong in my predictions 97% of the time.
I am looking forward to a good race-and hopefully one that is over in the afternoon, not late in the evening. With the 24 winning the championship.
July 22nd and 23rd-yup, the 6th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals are just a little over 8 months away. That is the start of dirt late model racing’s big dollar month. SDN will pay $40,000 to win, followed by the Prairie Dirt Classic, the USA Nationals, and the North-South 100. The PDC pays almost $30,000 to win, while winners of the other two races will collect $50,000. No, it is not too early to hype the biggest dirt race in the Cornhusker State.
Thanks for stopping by.
Call It Instant Karma Joey, And Too Bad Brad
No, I haven’t forgotten how to write. Yes, Randy, I never knew that well to begin with. No excuses-well, maybe one. I knew I could not write last week without yucking it up over the Texas tragedies of Penske racing, and I was afraid if I did that it would jinx the outcome of the Phoenix race, that somehow Logano would end up winning in the desert and Keselowski would manage to qualify on points for the championship. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of that.
But the rain in Arizona fell mainly on PIR and for once I cheered a NASCAR call-the one ending the race with Earnhardt Jr. in first and Say It Ain’t So Joe and Too Bad Brad going to Homestead on Sunday with no chance of being champion. And Cousin Carl Edwards finished out of championship condition too. Break my heart-not. And the older Busch came up a little light after jumping the start of the race (Busch Light, get it).
Hey Joe, where are you gonna go? Instant Karma got you, knocked you on the head. And a more deserved outcome could not have happened. So, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Martin Truex Jr. will battle for the Cup. And all are good stories.
How could any ending be better than Jeff Gordon winning his 5th championship in his last race? Harvick winning back to back championships might come close though. Same with Kyle Busch coming back from terrible injuries suffered at Daytona last February. And for a feel good ending, the Furniture Row entry of Martin Truex Jr. would be Cinderella for sure. The little team that could, the team out of Denver, not Charlotte. The team with just one car, not four like the other contenders.
I’ll make no predictions, I just hope for a good race, with the contenders battling for a win, and finishing 1-2-3-4 just seconds apart. Yes, I do want the 24 to win, but for some reason I like Harvick too. Kyle Busch seems to have grown up-thanks to his wife Samantha and his son, and no one should feel bad if Truex won.
Enough NASCAR. No, I did not print up my www.DirtonDirt.com Top 25 last week. For the first time ever I did not submit one. Any reason I would give would just be an excuse, but missing once in several years is not too bad. The main change I would have made is putting Jonathan Davenport back in the number one slot over Scott Bloomquist.
I haven’t watched any racing on the computer lately either. The WoO finals were up against a Nebraska football game, and even an under-performing NU team gets the nod there. And, I am afraid that RaceFeedx was more than a little overpriced for the Duel in The Desert, so I didn’t go there. Speed Shift TV will be showing the Turkey Classic from Cocopah Speedway the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, and hopefully I will be able to tune in then.
This isn’t about racing, just about genuine joy at the Meyer household. My daughter Amanda has a new job, one that is only about 10,000% better than her old one. There are no Three Stooges creating a hostile work environment at this business. She is happy, I am happy. Both of us have discovered there are places to work that aren’t poison. And that is all I have to say about that.
Thanks for stopping by-I’ll try to write again this week.
Collecting Memories At The Track
Following is the second in a series of articles on racing memorabilia by my friend Steve Basch, aka Race Guru, aka Guru. When it comes to dirt, Steve has been there, done that-from the Chili Bowl in Tulsa to the World 100 at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway. When it comes to racing, he knows what he is talking about, especially collecting. From Steve:
September brings my two favorite races, the World 100 and the Knoxville Late Model Nationals. I made my annual trip to both again this year, met new friends, saw great races, and added new items to my ever growing racing collection.
During the World 100 Eldora is an amazing place. You can turn your 3 day race tickets in and for $5 get a wrist band for the weekend. The band allows you to not have to worry about getting passes in and out during the races and also serves as your pit pass. I know not all tracks have a tunnel or the facility that Eldora has, but being able to freely come and go to the pits before and during the races is just another reason I enjoy the place.
This year I wandered too far from camp on Friday and was wet and cold all day long. Friday’s show cancelled due to rain, and two complete shows ran on Saturday. The event also had an autograph session scheduled for Saturday, a welcome addition to an already great weekend.
When I’m at the big races I don’t always make the autograph session but I always seem to have things with me to be signed if I do. At Eldora I purchased a new Bobby Pierce World 100 die cast. The Bobby Pierce car was a special paint scheme for the race and was limited to only 350 pieces. My friends also buy die cast cars and we were able to get $5.00 off each car using the bundling technique. With Bobby’s talent, a fifty-five dollar car with the limited quantity seemed like a good investment-if not it will always remind me of the run he had to finish second in the race behind Jonathan Davenport.
We have stayed in the nearby town of Greenville the last few years during the World, but have befriended a couple from Pittsburgh. He is a great cook and we pitch in for food and tailgate just outside the track. During the rain delay we were looking at a Pittsburgher 100 program they had picked up at the race, and I was able to buy it $10 dollars. It has pictures of the top ten cars in Lucas points and I thought it would be really nice signed.
I haven’t missed any of the Knoxville Late Models Nationals. O.K. I may have missed a D feature standing out by my car drinking beer, but I have been to all of them. The weather and races this year were fantastic, and we are set to return next year. One of our traditional activities is the auction held on Saturday afternoon. I rarely buy anything, but I enjoy seeing the race memorabilia and the crazy prices thing sell for. This year an autographed helmet sold for $900 and a door from this years (blue) Bloomquist car sold for $1150.00. My buddy purchased a signed piece of the deck lid of Bobby Pierce’s Eldora truck for $100.
I did add another piece to my die cast collection, Jonathan Davenport’s merchandise manager caught me looking at the trailer and showed me a special Davenport die cast celebrating his amazing season. I was told it was 1 of just 12 and priced at $150.00. I watched Jonathan win the World 100, and I was very impressed with his interview on Friday at the museum. He won Thursday’s preliminary and he was looking go for the Knoxville title also. It didn’t quite work out as I hoped, as he went up in smoke during the feature Saturday, but the car is signed and proudly displayed in my case.
I managed to hit the autograph session at Knoxville. I had to get my Pittsburgher program signed, along with a Bloomquist die cast, a recently purchased 1995 Short Track Magazine with Bloomquist and the #18 Late Model on the cover, and a few old Billy Moyer driver cards that I had found. I also picked up driver cards from Jason Feger and a few others that were being handed out. I spent about an hour waiting in line but had a good time talking with Scott McBride who was getting stuff signed for his son.
As I sit at my desk looking at the walls of my basement I have over 130 postcards and programs displayed. I have several hundred more in binders and a large file box full of race programs. I am not of sure the value of these programs, but each piece takes me back to the race, the driver, and the family and friends I was with during the event.
My dad passed away few years ago, He is where my love for this sport began. My favorite piece I have ever collected at a dirt track was a 2002 World 100 Brian Birkhofer champion poster. I think I paid $5 and had Brian sign it at a track somewhere. At dad’s first World 100 he had picked Birkofer to win and Birky’s slide job coming out of turn four was one of the greatest moments I have ever had at a race. Every time I look at the picture I relive the moment, and think of all the great times dad and I had at the races.
In my last article I mentioned my dad had worked on race cars when I was young. The Nebraska Hall of Famer Bob Parker drove the #61 in the Late 70’s at Sunset, Nebraska City and Harlan. I remember when I was young they always sold pictures of the cars under the grandstands, but if I ever purchased one it was destroyed years ago. If anyone knows of where those old pictures are or any old track programs from any of those tracks that mentions Bob Parker and the #61 Late Model I would be interested in purchasing them Please contact with information or any collectible questions through the blog.
TROTD: Matt has visited Guru’s “man cave” and was amazed at all the racing memorabilia he owns. Whether or not his collection is a good investment really isn’t important. As you can tell from reading Steve’s article, the memories generated by the pieces in his collection are priceless.
As he mentioned above, if you have any collecting questions, or know of where Steve can find any Bob Parker memorabilia, I can give you Steve’s email address.
Thank you Steve for a great post, and thanks to all my readers for stopping by.
Like Willie Nelson Sang
A couple of happenings the past few days have filled me with wanderlust once again. Yesterday I received my invitation to attend the Myers Brothers Award Luncheon in Las Vegas during NASCAR Champions week. Many of the Sprint Cup awards are presented at this luncheon, and it would be great fun to hobnob with other media types as well as drivers, owners, and NASCAR officials.
Yes, I laugh every time I think of myself as a representative of the media, but because of my National Motorsports Press Association membership, NASCAR considers me as just that. Hey, if Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds, Kenny Wallace, and Kyle Petty are considered as media, I can be too. Anyway, after the luncheon media will have access to the 16 drivers in this year’s Chase. Yeah, Ron Meyer from Fremont, Nebraska could interview 5 time champion-I am assuming he will be-Jeff Gordon. Talk about major cool.
Unfortunately, it isn’t going to happen. Not working in August and most of September left the bank account not quite up to snuff. I am sure my lovely wife would tell me to go if I said I wanted to go-the last few months have been stressful and it would be great to get on a plane, get away from everyday life, and pretend to be important a few days. However, after she would tell me to go, she would stop looking for a much needed couch for our living room. Now Jane puts up with a lot because of me, and no way will I go on a trip and keep her from getting that couch.
So, short of winning the lottery in the next few weeks I’ll be home for Christmas. OK, the Champions week is in early December, and I’ll be home for that too.
The other happening that got me wanting to travel happened at work today. The company has flu shot clinics and health screenings around the country, and today I came across two clinics held in Gaffney, South Carolina. When I saw the first one I thought “I’ve been there.” Matt has been too0-when we went to the Mike Duvall Racing School. When I saw the second clinic I started thinking about how I would love to go to one of the big late model specials held at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney. That isn’t going to happen either.
Oh well, maybe I can go to The Dirt Track at Charlotte this weekend for the WoO finals. No, not in person, but via a www.DirtonDirt.com PPV. Check out the site for information on their Thursday-Saturday programs.
No, I do not like NASCAR suspending Matt Kenseth for two races for his retaliatory strike against Joey Logano. I have already said I think Kenseth deserves a bonus not a penalty, but NASCAR didn’t see it that way. One thing cited was “safety aspects” of the incident. Excuse me, but Joey-I doubt he’ll ever grow up enough to be simply Joe-wrecked Kenseth at Kansas Speedway going over 190 miles per hour. Logano suffered no penalty for his action. Kenseth wrecked Logano at NASCAR’s smallest and slowest speedway. Yes, any wreck has the potential to cause injury, but isn’t the potential greater at Kansas where the cars were traveling twice as fast as at Martinsville?
From my “thumbs” blog, I give NASCAR two thumbs down for this suspension. Perhaps an extended middle digit too. And would like to tell Joey he is damn lucky it was Kenseth doing the retaliation and not Cale Yarborough. Way back in 1979 Yarborough used the noses of Donnie and Bobby Allison for punching bags after Donnie wrecked Cale in the Daytona 500, and the Allisons are 100% tougher than Joey will ever be. Heck, all these guys are in their 70’s now, and they are still tougher than Joey will ever be.
Ah well, the France family owns the sport and they can do whatever they want-even when what they do makes little sense.
Below is my www.DirtonDirt.com Top 25 for the week:
| DirtonDirt.com Top 25 Voting Ballot | |
| Name: | Ron Meyer |
| Date: | 11/2/2015 |
| Position | |
| 1 | Jonathan Davenport |
| 2 | Scott Bloomquist |
| 3 | Mike Marlar |
| 4 | Jimmy Owens |
| 5 | Chris Madden |
| 6 | Shane Clanton |
| 7 | Jared Landers |
| 8 | Billy Moyer |
| 9 | Don O’Neal |
| 10 | Josh Richards |
| 11 | Dennis Erb Jr. |
| 12 | Bobby Pierce |
| 13 | Jesse Stovall |
| 14 | Brandon Sheppard |
| 15 | Dale McDowell |
| 16 | Randy Weaver |
| 17 | Earl Pearson Jr. |
| 18 | Billy Moyer Jr. |
| 19 | Rick Eckert |
| 20 | Chris Ferguson |
| 21 | Casey Roberts |
| 22 | Shannon Babb |
| 23 | Darrell Lanigan |
| 24 | Jason Feger |
| 25 | Steve Francis |
I have to be honest and state that I spent less time preparing my ballot this week than I have any other week this season. Maybe that is why all 25 of my drivers were DOD’s Top 25 as well. Amazing.
One final tidbit-last night Jane told me I have been more pleasant to be around than I have been in years. I don’t get upset at little things and have actually smiled on occasion. She thinks it has a lot to do with my current job, versus the job I left in August-and nope, I do not regret one word I said on that fateful day last summer. It needed to be said, and I am sure I spoke for hundreds of employees and former employees. Anyway, I think she is right. It is fun getting up to go to work in the morning, not girding to go to battle. Even the drive to Omaha hasn’t been too bad-and I go in on Dodge and I-680. I wish I had found a place like this 29 years ago.
And I wish the job wasn’t temporary and ending soon. If anyone knows anyone who needs expensive help willing to work cheap-thank you Social Security, let me know.
Thanks for stopping by.
Under My Thumb
Two thumbs up for Jeff Gordon-his 93rd NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win gained him a spot in the Battle Royale at Homestead in three weeks.
Two thumbs up for Matt Kenseth-retribution. Too bad it wasn’t the last race of this round of the Chase and kept Joey Logano from advancing to the championship round.
Two thumbs up for the Martinsville crowd-
A; cheering loud, long, and lusty when Kenseth punted Logano
- cheering loud, long, and happily for Gordon
- Streaming unto the Martinsville front Stretch Victory Lane and enjoying the Gordon post-race festivities.
Two thumbs up for Kyle Busch-you expect that teammate Jimmie Johnson would visit Gordon in Victory Lane, but for Busch to do so shows this young man is certainly maturing this year.
Two thumbs down-Logano. No remorse for his actions in Kansas, so to me, Instant Karma’s gonna get you.
Two thumbs down-Logano’s dad Tom having to be wrestled into the team trailer by Crew Chief Todd Gordon. Suspend him, not Kenseth.
Two thumbs down-Kyle Petty. He makes Kenny Wallace look like a genius. Petty gets paid for saying stupid things, while I get nothing for this blog. That doesn’t seem right.
Two bandaged thumbs for Roush Fenway Racing. Add up the finishing positions of Biffle, Bayne, and Stenhouse and divide by three and they averaged a 32nd place finish. That is not even mediocre. If RFR was a college football team instead of a NASCAR franchise, they would be the 2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Random thoughts:
-Is there a cooler trophy in all of sports than the Martinsville Grandfather Clock? Gordon has 9 of them. How can you synchronize the chimes of 9 clocks?
-Instead of a typical big trophy that every track gives out, I would like to see I-80 Speedway give out a really nice plaque, but on the plaque have a sealed silver dollar worth several hundred dollars.
-Gordon winning his 5th Sprint Cup Championship in his final season of racing would be the auto racing feel good story of the decade.
-I have never been a great Kyle Busch fan, but my thoughts have changed this season. His injury and then a baby in the family seems to have brought about a different attitude in this talented driver.
-What should be done to Matt Kenseth for wrecking Logano? Well, if I was a NASCAR exec I would do nothing, but tell him that if he wrecked another Penske car this season he would get a $100,000 bonus. And if he wrecked both Logano and Keselowski and kept them out of the championship battle at Homestead, it would be $500,000.
No, I don’t like the Penske drivers. That is obvious. So my bias showed in that suggestion. What really ought to be done with Kenseth? Monetary penalties to athletes worth millions of dollars. To suspend him penalizes the team, the team owner, and most important, the sponsor. Oh, and don’t forget race fans too.
Taking away points is not really going to make much difference at this point in time. I laugh every time I read that NASCAR put a driver or crew chief on probation. So, figuring that NASCAR usually does the wrong thing, they will suspend Kenseth for a race, put him on probation for six months, fine him $250,000, dock Kenseth driver points, and dock Joe Gibbs owner points.
If a driver wants to wreck another driver, he is going to-I said he. Danica Patrick seems to wreck herself when she tries to wreck another driver that has irritated her. Well, unless she is trying to wreck boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
I don’t think you take away retribution, at least if done on a short track like Martinsville. I do think NASCAR should not allow a driver to gain from wrecking another driver i.e. Logano at Kansas wrecking Kenseth. When something like that occurs, put the driver one spot behind the driver he wrecked in the final race standings.
Logano has shown he would wreck his grandmother for a win. I wonder if he would spin out Gordon on the final lap at Homestead for a win.
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