News for February 14th 2010
Today could be the day for Tony Stewart
There’s not a lot of middle ground when it comes to Tony Stewart.
While Jimmie Johnson — despite winning four consecutive Sprint Cup titles and becoming arguably the best driver on the planet — is often met with indifference by fans, that’s hardly the case with “Smoke.”
His aggressive style and abrasive personality make him either endearing or despicable, depending on which side of the fence you’re standing.
He’s by no means a media darling.
He doesn’t like stupid or pointless questions, and he’d rather have a root canal than sit through an interview. He views sports writers in much the same way that Bob Knight does, and we all know what ‘The General’ thinks of the press.
That’s never bothered me. I always figured if I didn’t ask Stewart a stupid question I was pretty safe. Besides, his fans don’t give a hoot what guys like me think of him. They just want him to race hard and win.
And that’s what he does.
I gained a new level of respect for Stewart several years ago when he was still considered an up-and-comer in the sport. He gave an interview to a foreign magazine and made a remark about Talladega having the most “obnoxious” race fans.
I was working in Talladega at the time and a lot of citizens didn’t take kindly to the statement.
Stewart explained that he didn’t mean it as an insult, but most folks didn’t buy it.
When he came to Talladega Superspeedway for a race an entrepreneur had created tee shirts that had “Obnoxious Talladega Race Fan” emblazoned on the front.
Thousands of fans bought them, wore them and prepared to boo Stewart mercilessly.
During driver introductions they did just that — until Stewart pulled up one shirt to reveal another that proclaimed, “Obnoxious Talladega Driver.”
The boos died down and now he’s greeted with far more cheers when he comes to the track once dubbed “The World’s Fastest Speedway.”
In a world where many sports governing bodies want robots, Stewart is definitely a factory reject.
And I mean that in a good way because the factory mentality has not served NASCAR well.
I’d much rather hear Stewart say what he thinks — even if I disagree with it — than listen to some guy give an answer pulled from the NASCAR textbook.
He’s refreshing, and now that series officials promise to let boys be boys this year (and girls be girls — Danica Patrick has a temper, too) Smoke should be in rare form in 2010.
Stewart has two series championships, 43 Cup checkers and logged a Nationwide win at Daytona on Saturday, but has never finished first in “The Great American Race.”
With 15 victories at NASCAR’s most storied track, it’s only fitting that his next one comes in the biggest race of all.
Valentine’s Day 2010 could be the day.
Edited: February 14th, 2010
The Weekend Starts on Wednesday
NASCAR fans come from all around the country. Fans go to extreme lengths to show their loyalty to their driver(s).
Every race fan has a story, a reason why they tune in on any given Sunday to watch a race, or pay to attend a race.
NASCAR fans stories are one of a kind. They represent the core ideals of this sport and its fans.
Andrew Giangola’s new book, The Weekend Starts on Wednesday, is just a snap shot of NASCAR fans. Their devotion and sometimes borderline obsession with the No. 1 spectator sport in the U.S.
TWSW is a collection of NASCAR fans stories. From the infields of Talladega to victory lane, Giangola spoke with NASCAR fans from all walks of life.
Movie stars, college students, retired veterans, media veterans, and fans from all walks of life. In reading this book, with every story you can relate to some part of it.
For some it may be attending the race with your dad or entire family. Or it could meeting your favorite driver on pit road.
It could be your annual trek to a race with friends that leaves you wanting more. Giangola is able to capture the true essence of a NASCAR fan.
Every story seems to flow into the next leaving you engaged the entire time. There are a lot of NASCAR books out there, some about the technical side of the sport, others about the fans.
There is the NASCAR and Jeff Gordon fan that climbed Mt. Everest. Dr. Pat Hickey climbed to the top of the summit and planted a NASCAR flag at the top of the world.
The climb up the summit was for a cause, to promote nursing and to help support the education of nursing students at USC.
Hickey got his NASCAR fix as he climbed when fans from around the world would give him updates on what was going on back at the track.
That was just a preview of Hickey’s story. There are over a dozen more stories like it. These are stories of everyday people and their love for NASCAR.
Giangola’s witty commentary only enhances the visual that the fans are painting.
If you are a NASCAR fan, this is the book for you. I wish we got more in this book. I wish every fan had the chance to tell their story. Giangola just touches on the passion and the devotion fan have for NASCAR.
Mike Wright, a diehard Richard Petty fan, I think said it best, “I love the fires and the steaks and the cans of beer and the people. This is my lazy boy chair. I’m home here. When I sit and hear the ‘Gentlemen, start your engines,’ I forget everything. Nothing else matters. I’m a kid again. My heart starts pounding, and I can’t sit still. By the second pace lap, when you can smell the fumes of the gas and the rubber coming off the tires, oh man, it is instant adrenaline. If that smell could go into my alarm clock, I’d always wake up happy.”(p.35)
Edited: February 14th, 2010
2010 Bobby Rahal’s Legends of Motorsports Vintage Race Schedule
May 20-23, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL, Featured Marque – Lotus
June 10-13, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY, Featured Marque – Porsche
July 8-11, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada, Featured Marque – Ferrari
December 3-5, Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, FL, Featured Marque – TBA
Sebring is the oldest continuously-operating road racing facility in the United States, holding its first race in 1950. Sebring is considered one of the classic race tracks in North American sports car racing, and its annual 12-hour endurance classic is often called “America’s Le Mans.”
“We are honored to have been selected by Bobby and his team to host a round of Legends of Motorsports,” said Tres Stephenson, President and General Manager of Sebring. “In addition to the on-track action, we anticipate a full slate of automotive lifestyle activities and events, which mean so much to the overall success and attracting new fans to our venue.”
Edited: February 14th, 2010
Papis, McDowell, TRG Set for Daytona 500 Debuts
Max Papis was a relative unknown when he finished second in the 1996 Rolex 24 At Daytona. He went on to become the 2004 Daytona Prototype co-champion.
Michael McDowell took a Star Mazda championship to the Rolex Sreies, where he ran two full seasons in Daytona Prototypes and won two races.
TRG followed up its GT class victory in the 2002 Rolex 24, and followed it up with an overall victory for Kevin Buckler and his team the following year. Last year, the team took 1-2 in the Rolex 24.
Sunday, all three will be in the spotlight when they make their debut in the 52nd Daytona 500.
“It’s exciting that a couple of sports car guys made it,” McDowell said. “It’s going to be a great day. I’ve been through the highs and lows of this deal, and it’s nice to ride the high. I’m excited to be running in both the Daytona 500 and Nationwide Series race this weekend.
“Max Papis were in the media center Thursday after racing our way in to the 500,” McDowell said. “I told him it’s nice to have two sports car guys racing in the Daytona 500.”
McDowell won the 2005 Rolex Series season finale in Mexico City, co-driving with Memo Gidley for Finlay Motorsports. The pair finished second earlier that year at Barber Motorsports Park. He ran the full Rolex Series season in 2006, winning a qualifying race at Virginia International Raceway while joining Guy Cosmo in finishing second in the season finale at Miller Motorsports Park.
Papis is also doing double-duty at Daytona, running in Saturday evening’s postponed NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. He won the 2002 Rolex 24 At Daytona and finished second to open the 2010 campaign. He and Scott Pruett won four races en route to the 2004 Daytona Prototype title.
“I’m so happy for this GEICO team and I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Papis said. “This is special and is huge for our sponsor GEICO and the Germain Racing team. We’ve all worked so hard and it paid off. It’s really great and I feel speechless.”
The Racers Group won back-to-back GT team titles in 2004 and 2005, with Andy Lally and Marc Bunting sharing the 2005 driver championship. Buckler’s organization attempted to make the Daytona 500 last year, but fell short with Mike Wallace at the wheel. This year, former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion used his qualifying time to put the No. 71 TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet in the field.
“Thursday definitely wasn’t an ideal day for us, but when you consider the fact that at this point one year ago we were packing up and heading home because we didn’t make the Daytona 500, we’re really come a long way,” Buckler said. “I know we’ll be able to pull something strong together for Sunday’s race.”
Another graduate of Rolex Series competition making a move up NASCAR’s ladder is Colin Braun, a two-time winner and five-time podium finisher in 2006 for Krohn Racing. He is racing in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.
Edited: February 14th, 2010