Monthly Archives: June 2007

RIP, Bill France Jr.

Posted on by
Reply

Bill France Jr, who became NASCAR’s second president when he assumed the reins from his father, has passed away at age 74.

He oversaw NASCAR’s growth from a regional Southeastern US sport, to the coast-to-coast, border-to-border, and even international attraction is has become today.

Just a few of the things that molded NASCAR racing on Bill France Jr’s watch:

  1. All NASCAR races run on paved tracks – 1971.
  2. First live flag-to-flag coverage ov the Daytona 500 – 1979.
  3. First million dollar purse for the Daytona 500 – 1980.
  4. NASCAR’s post-season awards ceremony moved to New York City – 1981.
  5. Anheuser-Busch assumes title sponsorship of the NASCAR Busch Series – 1984.
  6. The Winston Million, a bonus for winning 3 of 4 of the Daytona 500, Winston 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500 is established – 1985.
  7. NASCAR’s top series becomes knows as the Winston Cup Series – 1986.
  8. Every Winston Cup event is televised live – 1989.
  9. Inaugural Brickyard 400 is run from Indianapolis – 1994.
  10. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series runs its inaugural event – 1995.
  11. A demonstration race is run at Suzuka, Japan – 1996.
  12. 2.4 billion TV deal with Fox, NBC and Turner Sports – 1999. Coverage started in 2001.

He passed the presidency to Mike Helton in 2000, but stayed on as CEO. Since then, we’ve seen XM and now Sirius Satellite radio, with 24×7 NASCAR coverage, the unveiling of the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord NC, and the series major sponsor changed to Nextel from RJ Reynolds.

Quite an impressive list. I didn’t always agree with everything NASCAR did; I wish they could have found a way to keep the North Wilkesboro and Rockingham NC facilities open, and I don’t like the way they’ve marginalized the Darlington SC facility.

Still, I’m amazed every time I tune in to a race; I remember the humble beginnings. And all fans owe a large part of what we take for granted about to the sport to the vision and fortitide of Bill France Jr. His contributions were great, and he will be missed.

-k-

[tags][/tags]

NASCAR HotPass Lineup

Posted on by
Reply

Via Jayski, this week’s DirecTV HotPass driver channels for the running of the Autism Speaks 400 from the Monster Mile in Dover DE are:

#24-Jeff Gordon, 795
#12-Ryan Newman, 796
#18-J.J. Yeley, 797
#16-Greg Biffle, 798
#8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 799

Lots of rain clouds over Dover, according to weather.com. and rain chances 70-90% for the rest of the day. The weather in Topeka KS looks more favorable for the NHRA O’Reilly Summer Nationals. So I’m guessing I’ll be watching the nitro-burners, where the Thunder on the Plains comes from engines, and not the sky.

-k-
[tags], , , , [/tags]

Time Shift

Posted on by
Reply

OK, so I’m posting this so I can figure out how WordPress entries get time stamped. I think, nay even believe, that I’m using UCT for times here at tbbs WorldHQ, and at the tbbs host in Delaware.

So, pardon the test post, pretending to be content. 1

-k-

1 Pardon the other 1000+ posts, if you see fit. I ain’t stopping.

Nitro Burning Funny Cars

Posted on by
1

I was true to my own self today, and upon my arrival back at tbbs World HQ, watched the Busch Race from Dover.

At the conclusion of the Busch race, ESPN2 then switched to NHRA drag racing coverage, from Heartland Park in Topeka KS. It’s qualifying run coverage as I type this; man, unleashed horsepower on a quarter mile is an awesome thing.

I’ve never seen NHRA live, but if I get a chance, I’ll be there. John Brute Force, a long time fave of mine in funny car, has a daughter who now competes in the same division1. Her name is Ashley, so you see these things on the screen that read A Force 2.

Hot damn, I love racin’.

-k-

[tags], , , , [/tags]

1 Am I old, or what?

2 And she’s qualified for the race, too, thus far.

Soap Opera in Real Life

Posted on by
1

And the story of sad sack Andrew Speaker continues to unfold. The poor mope has known about his tuberculosis since the first of the year, but he’s engaged to be married, and heads off to Greece 1 on his honeymoon or whatever.

On the way, we’ve seen DHS/TSA/Customs doing what they do best: pissing away taxpayer dollars, claiming that their screening process keeps us safe, when they can’t even stop one mope, with a presumably valid passport, who is flagged as not suitable to travel. Damn, I wonder.

And then, his daddy-in-law turns out to be a CDC microbiologist specializing in of all things TB.

Tearful apologies from Andy, and Diane Sawyer there to document the whole cluster eff for us.

In the unlikely event I ever fly again, what are the gel and liquid rules for carry-ons?

Man, this is gonna be a “news” story for a while. 2

-k-

[tags], , , [/tags]

1 SWMBO and I went to Kansas City

2 How ’bout the rack on his missus. eh? At least in the photos I saw.

Lucky Me

Posted on by
1

I get to go to work on Saturday, to complete portions of a job that no one knows are missing, other than me. The project, from inception to implementation, is destined to fail, and I and my group will be severally and jointly blamed when that occurs. In the unlikely event it succeeds, our group will get zero credit.

Still, I soldier on.

To thine own self be true.

-k-