My personal favorite story, Stewart-Haas Motorsports, how good will they be right away? With Tony running the show, I wonder if his driving will suffer from writing the checks and if he can kee himself together throughout the whole season. I think he can, but he has some growing pains to go through.

The issue that I can’t stop wondering about is the economics of the sport. The Big 3 may get out of racing. If the sport continues without manufacturer’s direct support, it may bring it back to reality. The sport is declining in interest and ass i posted the other day, some radical ideas may be what is necessary. with gas prices coming back down, that concern is not as high as it was but I don’t think we are out of the woods.

All in all, I am praying that the product of 2009 is way better than 2008.

Commissioner Waltrip would get NASCAR on track.

I know I am probably mixing 2 things that really don’t go together, “Hey your politics got into my racing”,  but my internal energy used for concentrating on NASCAR shifted to politics and I could not focus all the enrgy on both. I am completely wore down after trying to keep up with it all. NASCAR was my distraction and either by the intensity of the election or the lack of energy coming from NASCAR over the summer created a unique sensation for me. Apathy. I really didn’t care what NASCAR did over the summer because larger issues were at hand. Oart of it was fueled by my frustration with the state of NASCAR in the spring roled into my feelings of apathy.

I have previously wrote things critical of NASCAR as an organization. They have lost focus on the fans and have become a corporate sponsored copy cat. All the races are the same. All the cars are the same. The tracks look alike. The same guys are winning all the time. And they couldn’t be happier. But the apathy i am feeling is something that NASCAR really needs to address. The sport is built on excitement and passion. If they suck the life  out of it then the fan base will find something else. F1, IndyCar, Rally Racing, or whatever. If I am alone in this feeling then I feel better for venting. If I am not please comment or email me and vent your feelings and concerns. paul@nosebleedradio.com

P.S. I just read about this. Since I didn’t tune in to the race. This is an illustration of what I mean by the fact they are losing audience. America’s Funniest Home Videos over the last laps of NASCAR.

I enjoyed Tony winning a race, he did block, and Ragan Smith did go below the yellow line, so the ruling is correct. I didn’t watch any of the Lowe’s race, but I was interested by the off track stuff between Harvick and Edwards. The only thing I am getting excited about is the Texas race because it is here in my backyard. Will I get a chance to enjoy it, maybe not. I am just trying to hang on to what information that I can get and keep up as best I can. The show’s return, don’t know about that, but I am ready to get going but has anybody noticed?

1. Hendrick Motorsports. They are they one organization in NASCAR that has the experience and the know-how to grab the lead and put a stangle hold on it. Disagree with me please but their record is impressive.
2. Chad Knaus. Something about him rubs me the wrong way and he comes off as holier than thou when talking about race cars. Here’s the thing, he is the Bobby Fisher of crew chiefs. If there is a move to be made he knows what, where, when, and why. He gets it right more often than not. I have to say it is probably preparation and being close to his driver, but he is as close to a closer as this sport can have. He will not allow the lead to be given away.
3. Jimmy Johnson. Just a quick reminder, he is the 2 time defending champ. He knows how to win this thing.

It pains me deeply to say these things but as I watched him win yesterday i couldn’t help but think that it was done. Biffle and Edwards are still in reach and will make it interesting. They have the fact that the are chasing working against them now. JJ needs to stay the course and not force anything unnecessary, while Edwards and Biffle have the pressure keeping up and trying to steal the lead away.

As for the rest of the field, they need a lot of adversity to hit the top 3 quickly in order to get them back in the hunt. The Gibbs guys are leaving me very unhappy at this point so I am looking forward to Stewart-Haas Motorsports to get up and running. Based on Newmans last few performances, Penske is not putting anything into that car and leaving him out there to wither in the vine. I hope that buillds a fire under Ryan and he can bring it to the new team.

I know that is what they say and they might actually believe it but in a sport were everything relies on so many variable. if you think you can get through a season without being snake bit you are quickly reminded otherwise. For the last 3 weeks the 18 car has been getting subtle reminders that the racing gods have no sympathy and don’t care what you have already done. If you take your eye off the prize for 5 minutes, they will jump up and bite you square in the back side. Please understand, this part failure makes me happy that the dominance is suspect. That the field is now closer than it has been all year. and Kyle Busch is not in the lead. I said earlier that I don’t think he has the mental strength to deal with adversity and if it gets in his head he will be done. I think he may be coming unraveled. Another hit, no matter how big or small, will get him to start blaming everybody but himself for everything. He all ready does that for on track incidents almost every time he is involved with someone else. This makes it even more interesting.

BTW, still working on show solutions on my end and hopefully Andy will be settled soon and we can bless you all with our wit and insights.

Bud Shootout format changing. I am getting really close to telling NASCAR to piss off and suck on the sponsor/manufacturers without my support.

In this interview, his perspective supports the things I have been saying. NASCAR is regulating itself into the ground and taking the excitement and joy from all of us. To see him say that the rules are taking the pride out of the car building and making it boring was a real surprise. First, that he would say that surprised me and secondly that it supports my line of thinking is the shocker. Please read the article and tell me what you think.

Edwards, Busch placed on probation

I tell you this, if they are gonna suck the life out of the sport that is built on excitement I need to find another outlet. Only you morons could take a sport were firey crashes, rivalries, physical scuffles, intensity, and 200 mph racing and turn it into something bland. I am once again ashamed of the “leadership” of this sport. But I guess with Bud Selig and Gary Bettman as role models, i should have known better.