Tag Archives: Daytona

Crank it Up!

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At 8PM EST tonight, the Budweiser Shootout on FOX. From Daytona. Regardless that Coors Light is now the Official Beer of NASCAR, we have the Budweiser Shootout1.

I remember when the Shootout was known as the Busch Clash.

I don’t remember when it wasn’t excitement on the speedway.

8 tonight – FOX – Be there, or be square.

Boogity-boogity-boogity!

-k-
[stags]NASCAR,Daytona[/stags]
[tags]NASCAR, Daytona, Bud Shotout[/tags]

1 NASCAR not being shy about ringing the cash register and all.

RIP, Bill France Jr.

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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-

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Talladega Memories

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They’ve been racing NASCAR Cup cars at Talladega Speedway since 1969. And I’m plenty old enough to have seen them all. I haven’t, because consistent teevee coverage didn’t arrive until 1979. But that old 2.66 mile, high-banked monster has brought some memorable moments:

  • In the mid 70′s there was a hellacious crash on the backstretch; it took out the majority of the field. I think it was either Benny Parsons or Buddy Baker who later remarked “It looked like a 747 had crashed on the backstretch.”
  • In 1988, Bobby Allison’s car became airborne, pivoted multiple times on an axis from the roof of the car to the floorboards, and came perilously close to entering the grandstands. This ushered in restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega for the next season.
  • Somewhere in the 80′s, a “fan” who is the poster child of the “Whiskey for Breakfast Bunch”, stole the pace car, and made nearly a lap around the track, before several of Alabama’s finest took him into custody coming off turn three.
  • The late, great Dale Earnhardt won his last NASCAR race at Talladega in 2000. He came from 20th with 2 or 3 laps to go, to win the event. Today, he would have celebrated his 56th birthday. Racing still isn’t the same without him.
  • What other track could spawn such jokes as “What has 50,000 legs and 100,000 teeth?” A: The infield at Talladega.

Maybe SWMBO’s and my “Search for America Tour” should head to Alabama someday. I think that would be great.

-k-

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Checkers

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Hats off to Kevin Harvick, as he runs the Daytona Table this weekend. From yesterday’s Busch race, to the Cup race today, he was in position. And ran hard when it counted.

If’n you didn’t see at least parts of this race on HotPass from DirecTV, you have missed a huge experience, if the sound of engines revving moves you at all.

If I never see another race, I’ve seen one as I can only imagine it. Only 35 more to go.

-k-

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‘Citin

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It’s butt-scratching exciting time, as 43 cars roll off at Daytona. HotPass starts live at about 3:29PM EST. This week’s HotPass guys are:
Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Dale Eardhardt Jr, and Michael Waltrip.

Boogity-boogity-boogity!

-k-

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Daytona 500 Pre-Race Hype

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NASCAR and the NFL are a lot alike. I wrote here about the pre-game hypage for SB XLI. Not to be outdone, here’s the pre-Daytona 500 coverage, all times EST:

  • 10:00 – 11:00 ESPN2 – NASCAR Now
  • 11:00 – 12:00 ESPN2 – Michael Waltrip Racing: A New Era
  • 11:00 – 2:00 SPEEDtv – NASCAR RaceDay
  • 2:00 – 7:30 FOX – The 49th Daytona 500

    • The FOX coverage also includes about an hour of pre-race hype; the green flag flies around 3:15. Also not included was ESPN2′s airing of the movie 3 at 8:00 this morning, as well as SPEEDtv’s marathon 70+ hours of broadcasting from Speed Weeks.

    I plan to ass up and watch all the action on the new big teevee, and tune to one of the NASCAR HotPass channels (794 – 799 on DirecTV), to see a race as never before.

    And, on this date in 2001, Dale Earnhardt was killed on the last lap of the 500. Another reason the racing’s not the same.

    -k-

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    An Outpouring of Support

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    Thanks to all the commenters and emailers who have offered suggestions and help with my hosting woes. Especially since I threw so many little snit-fits about the whole thing. I just never thought it would be so difficult to get a provider that fits my needs without opening a vein.

    I’m pursuing yet another provider; I’m all signed up, and kicking the tires a bit. The Daytona 500 runs this afternoon, so I hope to start the move tomorrow or later today.

    Thanks again, everyone!

    -k-

    I Have a Home

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    I appreciate PJ Cabrera’s efforts in finding tbbs-land a new home. And, of everything, I like DreamHost. They can’t take my money on my terms, so I trolled Dave’s place, for a discussion that took place a while back.

    I’ve signed up with Web Intellects for the upcoming year. A baby plan with them, but expandable. Meets my current needs, with room to grow.

    And, irrespective of the intellect, I’m still on the web. One for two isn’t bad, at least. And I’m looking for the intellect from them.

    Move to commence, hopefully over the weekend. After the Daytona 500, that is.

    -k-

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    Crank ‘em Up

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    The 2007 NASCAR season kicks off tonight with the running of The Budweiser Shootout from Daytona. As I’ve said here on at least one occasion, I remember when the event was called the Busch Clash.

    No points, a butt-load of money, run flat out.

    Saturday night. Under the lights. It doesn’t get much better than that.

    -k-

    Prerace prediction: Tony Stewart.

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