Cover pic by painter Alberto Ponno.

By Track Girl

Moonshining honed racing skills

These last two weeks have been a madhouse (sadly, not Bowman-Gray) for me. I got called to Portland, Oregon for a consulting gig last week and then while I was there I got a call from a lovely lady named Sheryl who is the founder of  the Helle Nice Foundation. Helle Nice was a French female race car driver in the 1930′s who came over and hit a circuit of race tracks. The Foundation found me and needed emergency research on the tracks that she had raced at during her stay in the good old United States. They were almost all fairground dirt tracks, with a board track thrown in there too. 

My knowledge of the European traditions that inspired early American racing is more attuned to the beginnings of stock car traditions, but I do know my tracks and was able to help out. Before I write my little piece for tonight, I want to give you a few websites. Here is the Helle Nice Foundation; they are laying a memorial marker at Helle’s unmarked grave this weekend in France. And boy, friends, do I wish I could go too! 

Here are some of the folks that helped me out a whole bunch with last minute research. They have some great forums to dig through! Go say hi! 3WidePIctureVault  and the folks over at LocalRaceChat  Actually, I have loads of links to people if anyone is interested. 

Let’s talk a little bit about Georgia and a little bit of a different kind of heritage, shall we?

The infamous number of moonshiners in the Georgia and the well known Lakewood Speedway outside of Atlanta formed the base for stock car racing in Georgia. Since it opened in 1906, Lakewood Speedway hosted open-wheel racing; eventually the track soon became a popular venue for local stock cars as well.

Lakewood Speedway hosted one of the first organized stock car races in the United States. Bill France’s pre-NASCAR organization, the National Championship Stock Car Circuit, held the first stock car race here in 1938. The gifted racer and notorious moonshine runner Lloyd Seay won this first race. Lakewood Speedway also hosted the final stock car race before World War II, on November 2, 1941. A national ban on automobile racing was instated for the duration of World War II, as the resources of both man and machine were needed elsewhere. The last pre-war stock car race was held as a memorial event to honor Lloyd Seay. After winning a race at the speedway a month earlier, Seay’s cousin shot and killed him following an argument over moonshine revenues.

NASCAR hosted stock car races here from 1951 until the 1959 but the Lakewood Speedway no longer exists; the track is visible at the end of the popular movie Smokey and the Bandit but was abandoned and partially demolished in 1989. Today, the only NASCAR Cup racing in Georgia is at the modernized Atlanta Motor Speedway, a one and a half mile speedway built in 1960.

Illegal liquor did not have a role in the personal history of every early stock car driver, but to dismiss the legacy of moonshine is to dismiss an extraordinary part of stock car racing history. Some of NASCAR’s earliest heroes were involved in running moonshine, “learning driving skills and honing instincts that would transfer perfectly to racing.” For some, the transition from the dangerous curves of the roads to the dirt turns of a race track came easily. “We didn’t have no tickets, no safety equipment, no fences, no nothing,” recounts Tim Flock, a Georgia moonshiner and two time NASCAR Grand National Champion, “just a bunch of bootleggers who’d been arguing all week about who had the fastest car would get together and prove it.”  (Golenbeck; American Zoom, p217)

It is a continuing argument whether the relationship between the moonshine culture of the South and the early development of NASCAR is an exaggeration of a small facet or whether it was indeed a major influence on the history of stock car racing.

I for one, think that it is a very interesting part of our racing heritage. Does anyone have any good moonshine stories? Anyone ever been to the Shine to Wine Festival in North Wilkesboro or to the Georgia Moonshine Festival? My great grandpop had a still on his farm in Connecticut, but that’s a far cry from Southern racing traditions. Anyone have a bootlegger turned race car driver in their family tree? 

Cover Pic from Atlanta Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Ranting and Raving

There is no mistaken what Carl Edwards did today to Brad Keselowski was a big no no in the eyes of anyone watching the race including NASCAR but what kind of penalty is he going to face as a result?

Well Keselowski wants Edwards parked for at least one race, which seems possible but unlikely in my opinion.

Why?  Sponsorship dollars.  Think of the lost revenue by not having the Afflac, Scotts, (name of other sponsors here) car in the race.  Certainly if I were a sponsor of Edwards I would not be pleased that my car was not in the race with my driver behind the wheel.  Of course the 99 car would be in the race, but not with Edwards behind the wheel.

In fact I might just be so upset that I would pull all of my television advertising from the race too which would mean a loss of revenue for NASCAR and FOX.

Get the picture?

So what would you do?

Looking at Edwards’ past history might help NASCAR’s decision, so let’s do that.

1)  In 2006 Carl was wrecked on the last lap while leading at MIS in an incident caused by eventual winner Dale Jr.  After getting fresh rubber Carl went back out on the track and crashed into the driver’s side of the Dale Jr’s car while he was on his cool down lap and while Jr had his hand out the window.  He was given a fine and put on probation.
2) In 2006 Carl retaliates on Tony Stewart for a bone head move Stewart did earlier in the race and Carl spins out Tony while entering pit road for caution period pit stops while pit crew members were over the wall on pit road.  I still have problems with this one even though Carl claimed that he spun Tony away from the pit crews, but Tony could have easily lost control of his car and went in a totally opposite direction.

3) Carl has an altercation in front of cameras with teammate Matt Kenseth after a race where Carl threatens physical aggression on a stunned Kenseth.

4) Carl and Kevin Harvick get into a shoving/wrestling match in the pits after practice – it is reported that punches were exchanged between the two.

These are just off the top of my head too, there might be more.  I do believe that Carl and Busch got into it in Bristol one time, but I’m also sure Busch started it.

So what to do now that we’ve established a bit of ‘history in payback’ as it were?

Look at similar cases;

1)  Kevin Harvick was parked for a Cup race for his actions in a Truck race at Martinsville involving the late Bobby Hamilton.

2)  Ted Musgrave was parked for a race because he went back out on the track and wrecked Kelly Bires after being more than 100 laps down because of an altercation with Bires that caused him to be down that many laps.

3)  Kevin Harvick and Jamie MacMurray are fined and put on probation for banging bumpers on each other.

and the list goes on.

So what now?

Well Dustin Long thinks NASCAR should just fine him a ton of points so its like he has been parked a race.  Not a bad idea really.

Nail him hard so that it is like he missed a race.  I’m OK with that, but I think I might just take it a bit further.

I’d nail him a minimum 200 points and park him a race too.  If they can fine Carl Long 200K for a large motor in an exhibition race then they can fine Carl 250K for overly aggressive driving with the potential to injure other drivers (look at the A-piller on Keselowski’s car – man he is lucky it didn’t collapse any more) as well as spectators.  Then I’d fine Roush/Fenway racing for not controlling their driver, make them take some ownership too.  Roush would get hit with the same amount of point and dollar fines.  Also, I’d make the 99 car ineligible for the next race regardless if they had a different driver in the car.  They can run a different number on the car if they want, just not the 99 so they can’t collect Owner Points either.

Harsh?  Yes.  Unfair?  Maybe.  Unrealistic?  In the world of NASCAR yes.  But if you don’t make an example now then what’s next?  I mean the precedent of a one race suspension was set with Musgrave when, under similar circumstances he deliberately drove into Kelly Bires at Martinsville which is a short track where the speeds are about 1/2 they are at Atlanta, and Bires’ truck didn’t get airborne.

Some of you may think that I’m just saying this because I’m not an Edwards fan, well you have your right to say that, but based on this history and the precedents already established by NASCAR I’d be saying that about any driver out there that would be in Carl’s shoes at this moment – even Dale Jr.

Now don’t get me wrong I’m sure Carl had no intention for Keselowski’s car to get airborne and I’m quite sure that he regrets doing what he did to Brad and if I had thought otherwise I would have said so and made the punishment even more harsh.  We all do stupid things everyday, and we all must face the consequences of our actions – intended or not – and a NASCAR driver is no different in my opinion.

There’s “Have at it boys” and then there’s “Have havoc boys” – which is it going to be and at what cost?

Sunday’s race at Talladega was an exciting one to say the least.

What?

You don’t agree?

You think it was boring?

Really?

The race had fuel mileage strategies, car preservation strategies, rule changes before the race, two major crashes, a red flag period, cars running out of gas, a non-Chase winner on his way out at Roush-Fenway, etc.

What?  You still think it was boring?

Well you aren’t the only one, it seems that some of the blogs and message boards out there are full of upset fans saying the race was boring.

O.k. if you think it was boring then tell me how because I want to know.  Come on think about it, how was this race any different than any other – especially the 1.5 mile tracks?

The only difference I see is that the track is smaller so it looks like there is more racing going on because the leaders are lapping the slower cars, other than that what is the difference?  The cars are all in a line for the better part of the race until there are restarts.

The race at MIS where Brian Vickers won in Aug was similar to the race at Talladega this past weekend, except there were no cars getting airborne or barrel-rolling down the front stretch.

If you don’t understand the strategies playing out before you as you watch the race I guess you will think its boring to watch.

If you are only watching the race to see the wrecks then I guess you would have thought that most of the race was boring – go watch Days of Thunder then, it is only in that make believe NASCAR world where you can beat on each other’s cars at 200 mph destroying the car’s aero-dynamic properties making it look like a brick, then spin out loosing several of your forward gears, pit for new tires because all 4 of yours are flat, and then come from the back without a drafting partner and win the race; all at a 2-mile oval no less.

I guess how you watch the race determines your opinion of it.  I for one liked the race, and even found it funny that Harvick and his Crew Chief were talking about having an I-pod in the car so he could listen to it during the race.  The reason I thought that was so funny is because I always thought that if I were a driver I would want someone piping music to me over my headset to keep me motivated.  You know some AC/DC or Kiss or Metallica (Give me fuel, give me fire, give me which I desire – to win baby!), no Lionel Richie here (Hello?  Is it me you’re looking for? – Nope) – well maybe after the race though.

NASCAR Ranting And Raving

When I went to the race a few weeks ago I walked up and down Pit Road and checked out the various pit boxes sometimes called ‘war wagons’ and I just shook my head at the way technology has changed the way teams build and design their pit boxes.

I have heard that a ‘top of the line’ pit box like what the major teams have can run well over $100K – tools included.

Other teams have to suffer with not so state of the art pit boxes.

After the jump you will find pictures of what I’m talking about along with what Michael Waltrip had to say about the cost of putting a team together for even just one Nationwide race.

Michael Waltrip answered somebody’s Tweet about the cost of putting a entry into a Nationwide race and over several Tweets Michael Twittered back;

“you need a license, bout $5k.entry bout $2k so is a set of tires. rent an engine for prolly $50k. buy used car about $25k. then…all you need is a crew a driver a tractor trailer some hotel rooms and pit equipment. oh a gear and tranny. course sorings an … shocks. to enter a race you will need about $150k. but if you make the race it pays $20k to finish youll need more stuff to race … thats why us racers love our sponsors. NAPA, Aarons,Toyota,Best Western, ect. ect.”

And that is just to enter a Nationwide race.   You have to spend $150K just to earn a guaranteed $20K no wonder you need sponsors to go racing with the big boys.

This picture that Waltrip paints makes it clear that start-up teams or those that are running on a shoe-string budget show up with less than the cutting edge pit boxes.  The disparity of pit boxes on pit road is significant and I noticed it more this year at Michigan than in previous years.

In the past it has only been one or two teams at most that had disadvantaged pit boxes, but the number this year at Michigan had increased significantly.

I also noticed that not every team had a brand new pit box either, some teams were using pit boxes that were several years old, while others had new ones built for this racing year.

Some of the newer pit boxes come complete with up to 4 different flat screen T.V.’s all hooked up to DVD players, Satellite feeds, kick-ass stereo systems and a bank of lap-top computers located at the top of the box.

Each of the newer boxes come complete with weather overhangs with detachable side walls to keep the sun, rain, or wind off of the computers and team members sitting atop of the box.

Speaking of the top of the box some of the boxes also had stadium seating so that those in the back row have a better view of what is going on.  Each box comes complete with new cordless tools, compressors, generators, etc. all stored in specifically designed compartments for easy access and storage.

Of course this is but a sample of what these boxes have – some boxes even had their own refrigerators!

Below are some photos of the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have-Nots’:

Mike Skinner’s team box (note there is only 1 set of extra tires).

Back Side of Dale Jr.s Pit Box.

Front Side of Dale Jr.’s Pit Box.

Front side centre portion of Jeff Burton’s Pit Box.

Tony Stewart’s Pit Box (note the bank of monitors across the top).

Older Pit Box (note the lack of over hang on one of the hottest days of the year too).

The UPS crew takes a break in the shade of their trendy pit box.

Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart needed little time to grasp the driver-owner concept. At the season’s midpoint, he has already:

• Won two races (Pocono and Daytona), becoming the first driver-owner to win a race since Ricky Rudd in 1998, and the first to win multiple races since Rudd in ’97;
• Captured the points lead, the first driver-owner to do so since Alan Kulwicki in 1992;
• Put both of his Stewart-Haas Racing cars in the top 12 in points.

Stewart’s surprising success highlights a season filled with compelling storylines. Competition is strong and balanced, as illustrated by the 11 different race winners this season. There were 12 different winners in all of 2008, including seven drivers who have yet to win this season. In other words, last year’s mark will likely be passed.

Some other statistics gleaned from the first half:

• 7 different teams represented in the current NASCAR Sprint Cup top 12
• 8 different Coors Light Pole winners
• 34 drivers with at least one top-10 finish
• 40 drivers have led at least one lap
• Average Margin of Victory of 1.044 seconds
• 10 races with an MOV under 1 second
• Average of 11 leaders per race
• Average of  20 lead changes per race
• Average of 22 green flag passes for the lead all around the track
• Average of 3,038 green flag passes per race
• 52% of the cars finished on the lead lap
• 85% of the cars were running at the finish
• All four manufacturers have won a race and are in the top 12

The above statistics are the reason for one of the most competitive, yet unpredictable seasons in recent memory:

• There have been three first-time winners. Brad Keselowski, David Reutimann and Joey Logano all captured their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories. With his win at New Hampshire, Logano became the youngest winner in series history.
• Mark Martin’s successful return to a full-time schedule has been one of the most intriguing stories thus far this season. His three victories tie him with Kyle Busch for the most in the series at the halfway point. Still, Martin is outside the Chase top-12 bubble, in 13th. He has eight more races to make a top-12 return.
• In his third full season, Colombia-born Juan Pablo Montoya is looking more and more like a championship contender. With eight top 10s, he has already eclipsed his previous season-best total of six in 2008. Montoya currently sits 11th in the points, 86 points inside the Chase cut-off.
• Four NASCAR Sprint Cup champions sit in the top-four in points, something that has never happened this deep into a season. Tony Stewart (2002 and ’05 champion), Jeff Gordon (1995, ’97, ’98, 2001), Jimmie Johnson (2006-08) and Kurt Busch (2004) rank in the top four.

But 18 more races remain, including NASCAR’s “playoffs” – the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, which consists of the final 10 races of the season. A number of questions hang in the balance going into the second half:

• Will Jimmie Johnson win an unprecedented fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship?
• Who will be the top seed going into the Chase? Once the Chase starts, each driver in the top 12 will have his points reset to 5,000, with 10 additional bonus points added for each win during the first 26 races. Currently, Mark Martin and Kyle Busch lead the series in victories with three – and 30 potential bonus points.
• Will Johnson and Matt Kenseth each make their sixth consecutive Chase? The two are the only drivers to earn a berth in every single Chase since its inception in 2004.
• Will Carl Edwards pick up a win? Edwards has gone winless over the first 18 races since winning a series-high nine in 2008.
• Will Richard Childress Racing have a second-half rebound? After putting three drivers in the Chase last season, all four of its teams are currently outside the top 12.

Arguello: Prolific punching power

Nicknamed “The Explosive Thin Man,” Arguello, 57, was a former WBA Featherweight, WBC Super Featherweight and WBC Lightweight champion won between 1974 and 1983. He was considered to be pound for pound one of the most vicious fighters of his time , ranked 20th in Ring Magazine’s top 100 punchers of all time.

An extremely popular athlete who helped stabilize the Titans organization, Steve McNair had a solid career leading the Titans within whiskers (literally one yard) of sending the 2000 Super Bowl into overtime in what is perhaps one of the most painfully memorable “coming up short” moment in football (even sports) history. The famous play took place with 48 seconds left to play when McNair threw a complete pass to Kevin Dyson who was tackled just short of the end zone. The St.Louis Rams prevailed in that game 23-16.

In his career, McNair through for 31 304 yards, 174 TD’s and 119 interceptions with a 82.8 QB rating. He was also a co-MVP winner in 2003. McNair was 36.

Sad stuff.

*** Let’s see. Oh, Roger Federer won his 15th Grand Slam and 6th Wimbledon title after an epic five-set, four-plus marathon against Andy Roddick. Federer finally broke Roddick in the final set winning it 16-14. With his 15th title, Federer surpasses Peter Sampras on the all-time list. We can leave “who’s the greatest ever” debate for another time.

What a weirdo and creep

***Bernie Eccelstone is a douche. Here, read this. And come back here. What a prize, right? And these guys make so much money. How in this world anyone on any intellectual or spiritual level can cite Hitler and Hussein as “getting things done” or being able “to control” is beyond me. Very disturbing that a person in his position can think this way. If you think this way, you’re a douche as well. More sad stuff indeed.

F1 got rid of one idiot and now needs to purge itself of another.

***Ottawa Senators forward Dany Heatley is a douche as well – albeit a far less reprehensible one in comparison to Eccelstone. Heatley decided he wanted to be traded. It was going to be hard to move his fat contract but the Edmonton Oilers came knocking. It seemed like a win-win situation until Heatley refused to waive his no-trade clause. Let me see if I get this straight Dany boy, you ask to be traded and then nix it because you don’t like the destination? bent. I don’t mean to remind you since it’s a painful memory, but you do realize you’re lucky to be playing hockey, right?

*** La Tour de France is under way. Of course, coming into the race, all eyes and eyes were focused on Lance Armstrong. Armstrong, who finished 53rd at the Giro d’Italia, currently sits in 10 spot overall after two stages. Fabian Cancellara is the yellow jersey holder. Re Armstrong, will the French doping authorities leave him alone?

***Rob Hughes weighs in with this piece about Italy’s early exit at the Confederations Cup (Confederawhat to some) tournament. The United States provided the biggest shock after they beat Spain 2-0 thus ending Spain’s 35 game unbeaten streak. Both Italy and the U.S. should have a sense of what their teams are like in preperation for the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa. Italy coach Marcello Lippi must make some adjustments (Sebastian Giovinco, Mario Balotelli and Robert Aquafresca each impressed at the U-21 UEFA championships and most certainly deserve a fair shot at the senior national team).

Giovinco: He belongs.

The Americans always knew they had character. It’s just that they never could convert it to wins against heavyweight soccer powers. After the Spain win, they took a stunning 2-0 lead into the second half in the final against mighty Brazil. That lead soon evaporated as Brazil scored three unanswered goals for a 3-2 victory. If anything, the Americans need to learn how to hold on to leads. Landon Donovan in particular played excellent-ly and even mustered enough chutzpah to blast David Beckham in his book. Poor David Posh, all marketing and no heart.

As for Spain and Brazil, I wouldn’t worry if I were Spain. And I would be cautious in anointing Brazil as the main favorites in 2010. Quite frankly, any number of nations are legitimate contenders but one still has to put Spain ahead based on recent form. But a lot can happen until the World Cup.

The Confederations Cup is a minor tournament but a good one to use as preperation for nations. Enjoy it for what it is.

There’s some truth to this. I kept reading about how Lebron James “gets it”. A superstar that is the new face of the NBA who is mature beyond his years. For the most part, this has been the case.

But did he “get it” following the Cleveland Cavaliers fall before the Orlando Magic in six games by not shaking the hands of his opponents opting instead to shun them and run for the locker room?

I mean, can’t a guy act on impulse and make a mistake anymore?

I think most people were willing to remember the “nine things” and forget the one mishap. However, this may have changed for some after his explanation:

“It’s hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them,” he said. “I’m a winner. It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them. That doesn’t make sense to me. I’m a competitor. That’s what I do. It doesn’t make sense for me to go over and shake somebody’s hand.”

Perhaps, but we all have to grin and bare things, albeit in different ways, in  life. Call me old fashioned, but it’s how you handle your failures that helps define your character. Just because you’re a competitor that hates to lose doesn’t mean you can’t look your opponent in the eye (yes, that same opponent you just tried to beat silly) and tell him “Good job. You deserve it”.

Really.

His non-apologetic stance reminded me of when Zinadine Zidane refuses to accept responsibility and admit he alone was wrong for his infamous head butt on Marco Materazzi during the World Cup final in 2006.

However, let’s not over blow the situation either. So far, Lebron’s career has had more ups and positives than downs and negatives. The “nine good deeds to one bad one” shouldn’t apply in his case.

The other day I was coaching (if you call it that) my daughter’s U-4 soccer team. After the game, I attempted to rally the girls to congratulate the other team. My daughter couldn’t understand why since her team lost the game. In her mind, there was no point in a handshake. Of all the players, my kid is the biggest competitor who doesn’t tale losing all too well. It’s tough explaining to a four year old the “big picture” on things when their needs are so short-term oriented.

Nevertheless, I persisted and insisted. I summoned the other coach and he rallied his team. I gathered the girls and told them in French and English (I live in Quebec), give your opponents a high five and tell them “Bon match”!

It’s a life lesson I want these kids understanding at a young age. It’s tough but they’ll learn.

It shouldn’t be too hard for Lebron (an Olympian no less) to grasp.

Nascar Ranting and Raving

NASCAR Ranting and Raving

There has been much talk about race team communications during races and who should be listening, especially after Kurt Busch had his blow up with his car owner Roger Penske during last week’s race.

It seems that the garage area has advocates in favour of limiting access to team communicaions during races and then there are those who feel the fans should have access to what is being said over the radios during a race.

NASCAR’s view on this topic is clear; anyone can listen to what you are talking about so you better watch what you say.

I agree with NASCAR on this one, fans should have access to what is being said over the airways.  It adds a whole new dimension into the sport, one that makes NASCAR more unique than any other sport out there.  No where do you here in real time the actual conversations that goes on within a team during the course of the game/event.  The closest thing you get are edited sound bites from special microphones hidden within a chosen player’s equipment and that is it.

Giving fans the access to listen in on team communications gives them insight into team strategy, keeps them up-to-date with events happening on the race track that they can’t see or missed (no luxery of replay) which allows them to watch the race better.

If drivers like Kurt Busch don’t like it then “oh well” for them.

I understand that emotions run high during the course of a race, but if you don’t keep them in check it doesn’t matter who is listening because it’ll effect you on the track and with the TV reporters in the pits the average race fan will find out about it later as people talk about it.  So who cares.

I personally don’t mind the conversations that go on over the radio, even if it consists of more ‘colourful’ language from time to time.  I’ve been at football games sitting halfway up the stadium and have heard the players swearing at each other, so its nothing new here.

I’ll leave the debate here for now, but rest assured there’s a business angle for NASCAR having radio communications available to fans but they are currently selling this debate as if they are looking out for the best interests of the average fan.

What’s your say?