NASCAR, apparently not content to merely own the racing business, wants to dominate it. Team sponsors are hard to come by. At $15 million and up for a season, small wonder.
Now, NASCAR sees fit to sue AT&T for $100 million.
Man, when your sponsor is acquired by another, it seems to me there should be some kind of understanding. NASCAR wants $100 mil worth. I might take my business to local dirt tracks.
Let ‘em understand that.
-k-
[tags]NASCAR, nextel, at&t, richardchildressracing[/tags]
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:
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]billfrancejr[/tags]
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.
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]aforce, ashleyforce, heartlandpark, Johnforce, NHRA[/tags]
Racing has resumed at the Brickyard, and green has fallen on Charlotte. They’re racin’ their brains out in both places.
Danica Patrick now runs 4th at Indy. There’s a boatload of laps to go at Charlotte.
I think I’ll see if history unfolds at the Indy 500. 1
-k-
[tags]indy500[/tags]
1
Well, the Indy 500 is under a rain delay right now. And I can salute the teams that saw it coming, and planned their strategies accordingly. We’re past halfway in the race, so the race is official, if they can’t get back to racing.
According to the ABC/ESPN coverage, Roger Penske, legendary team owner, sends one of his jets out to scout for rain during these events. The Penske jet reported back that about 40 minutes remained until rain. About 40 minutes ago.
Man, competition is really turned up for these events.
Hoping to see the green at Indy, before the green flies over Charlotte.
-k-
UPDATE: My admittedly challenged readings of weather maps reveals that we could go green yet again. Weather Underground rules!
[tags]indy500[/tags]
Jim Nabors won’t be singing this year at the Indianapolis 500. I can remember very few Indy 500′s where he hasn’t sung Back Home Again(in Indiana). When I hear it sung, I never fail to tear up a bit, not because I’m an expatriate Hoosier, but because I know about the longing for places one holds dear.
There have been few Indy 500′s where Jim hasn’t sung the song; and over the course of those years, I think I’ve learned to belt out a good rendition myself.1 So, I’m offering my services to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this year; if you need me to sing the song in Jim’s stead, send your jet to Dulles Airport. I can be to the ‘port in 10 minutes, from whence you can whisk me to the Brickyard, and I’ll perform.
Since it’s not bloody likely the foregoing will happen, here’s the song. 2 Jim will be shown on the Brickyard’s Jumbotrons tomorrow, leading a sing-along.
Back home again in Indiana,
And it seems that I can see
The gleaming candlelight, still shining bright,
Through the sycamores for me.
The new-mown hay sends off its fragrance
Through the fields I used to roam.
When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash,
How I long for my Indiana home.
May your mimosa-fueled singing be as joyful to you as mine is to me.
-k-
How ’bout that Curlin? By a head, the winner of this year’s Preakness. He survived a stumble at the start, his jockey survived having to bail off a horse in an earlier race, and ran down Street Sense in the final lengths of the Preakness.
If you’d followed my advice in the previous post, you’d have $8.80 in your pocket, for every $2 you bet.
I hope my automotive picks for this evening are as good.
Today is another great day of racing, whether it involves horseflesh or the roar of 850 HP engines. The Preakness, followed by the Nextel All-Star Challenge. Here are my picks for the events; feel free to call your investment advisor bookie and invest a few bucks.1
Preakness Stakes2: Curlin’
Nextel All-Star Challenge Open: Clint Bowyer
Nextel All-Star Challenge: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
-k-
[tags]barbaro, NASCAR, preakness[/tags]
1
2
I had incorrectly assumed that there would be no HotPass coverage for tonight’s running of The Nextel All-Star Challenge1 from Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte. But a quick check of the Tivo TV Guide reveals the following:
Let’s see: no points awarded, a million bucks on the line, night racing on the ragged edge, and 5 of the sport’s best on HotPass.
I think I’ll take it in.
-k-