NASCAR Ranting and Raving - For NASCAR Fans

Well it is now official ...

by 4ever3 on Mar 11, 2010 9:57 PM EST in Bob's Articles Comment 1 comment

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I just lost my freelance writing gig for The Hamilton Spectator. I used to write a weekly NASCAR Column for them during the racing season. I thought they were just limited with their space due to their coverage of the Olympics but I was wrong, their freelance budget was significantly cut this year and I was one of the first to go.

Oh well, to be honest with you after the market bottomed out last year I thought I was a goner, but they held on to me for the entire season except for a few missed weeks due to illness and the US Open so I consider myself lucky to have been writing for them at all this past year.

With that being said anyone know of any local papers looking for a freelance NASCAR scrib?

There's not many links to my stuff left over at their site, but here is one about last year's All-Star race that I like because I got to talk a little bit about the history of the event itself.

I've really got to thank Rick Hughes over at The Spec for having the vision of bringing a Blogger into the fold. I never had a contract with him, all we had a handshake deal that lasted almost two years - kind of unheard of in this day and age isn't it? But that's what it was.

After my first article for him, Rick emailed me and told me to stop trying to sound like a reporter, "I want your voice not what you think it should be for a newspaper" he wrote. After that I ran with it and aside from a few changes to my original work due to space restrictions he and his associate editors left my work alone.

I really appreciate the opportunity Rick gave me I really enjoyed my time writing for The Spec and you never know I just might end up back there again one day, especially if the Canadian Motor Speedway becomes a reality.

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NASACR's decision on Carl Edwards' actions against Keselowski at Atlanta: three race probation. Really?

by 4ever3 on Mar 9, 2010 11:29 PM EST in Bob's Articles Comment 34 comments

I will never understand NASCAR's policing of its drivers. Carl Edwards gets a three race probation (only in the Cup series too) for deliberately wrecking Brad Keselowski in last Sunday's race at about 190 mph causing Keselowski to get airborne and fly into the outside retaining wall and catch fence upside down landing hard on the driver's side A - pillar.

Officially Edwards was found to be in violation of Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing - aggressive driving) of the 2010 NASCAR rule book.

Now granted having Keselowski flying through the air with the greatest of ease was not what Edwards intended to happen, all he wanted to do was just spin Keselowski out and into the grass but unfortunately things at 190 mph don't always go as planned.

Mike Helton explained NASCAR's position regarding this incident; "We made it very clear to [Edwards] that these actions were not acceptable and did go beyond what we said back in January, about putting the driving back in the hands of the drivers. I believe [Edwards] understands our position at this point."

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Pictures of new spoiler in action at Goodyear's Darlington tire test today

by 4ever3 on Mar 9, 2010 9:03 PM EST in Bob's Articles Comment 2 comments

Clint Bowyer tests Goodyear tires Tuesday at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. - Credit: MotorRacingNetwork.com

Elliott Sadler takes on the rough track surface at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. Tuesday during a Goodyear Tire test - Credit: MotorRacingNetwork.com

Marcos Ambrose avoids getting a Darlington Stripe Tuesday during a Goodyear Tire test at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. - Credit: MotorRacingNetwork.com

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Light Edwards penalty fits, as the damage is already done

by A_Rosser14 on Mar 9, 2010 5:42 PM EST Comment 22 comments

A lot of people have already launched into tirades that Carl Edwards received a mere slap of the wrist Tuesday when NASCAR handed him a three-race probation for the incident with Brad Keselowski on lap 322 of Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500. and that he should have sat out the March 21 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway

The cries that if Keselowski's car had flown a few inches in another direction, Carl could have potentially killed someone in the stands, if not Keselowski himself, are valid, but what-ifs rarely play into penalties.

When Kurt Busch almost struck Tony Stewart's jackman, Jason Lee, during a road rage incident in the pits at Dover in 2007, there were cries for Busch too to be suspended, but he wasn't because Lee was not hit or injured.

The penalty may not have fit the crime in many eyes, but it would have merely been overkill had NASCAR heavily fined Edwards or sat him down a race, and I'll explain why.

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Carl Edwards must face the music for his actions, but will it be Metallica or Bobby Vinton?

by 4ever3 on Mar 8, 2010 6:39 PM EST in Bob's Articles Comment 46 comments

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ATLANTA - MARCH 07: The wrecked #12 Penske Dodge, driven by Brad Keselowski, sits in the garage after an incident on tack during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 7, 2010 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

There is no mistaken what Carl Edwards did today to Brad Keselowski was a big no no in the eyes of anyone watching the race including NASCAR but what kind of penalty is he going to face as a result?

Well Keselowski wants Edwards parked for at least one race, which seems possible but unlikely in my opinion.

Why? Sponsorship dollars. Think of the lost revenue by not having the Afflac, Scotts, (name of other sponsors here) car in the race. Certainly if I were a sponsor of Edwards I would not be pleased that my car was not in the race with my driver behind the wheel. Of course the 99 car would be in the race, but not with Edwards behind the wheel.

In fact I might just be so upset that I would pull all of my television advertising from the race too which would mean a loss of revenue for NASCAR and FOX.

Get the picture?

So what would you do?

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 500 | Atlanta Motor Speedway Open Race Thread

by 4ever3 on Mar 7, 2010 12:20 PM EST in Race Day Open Threads Comment 19 comments

Hey all. Today's open race thread is going to be a little different in that I'm going to provide you with the link to Jeff Gluck's open race thread too. Feel free in posting either at Jeff's page or here, or even on both, which is what I'm going to be doing at times throughout the day.

Jeff and I are still working out this open race thread thing. To be honest with you I haven't returned Jeff's email on the topic from Wednesday as I've been really busy this week so the ball is resting in my court on this as it were. We'll have it all sorted out by next week for sure.

Anyway, look for the complete starting line-up after the jump. See you on the other side (and at Jeff's page too).

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Nascar Twitter Call

by Nascar_24 on Mar 6, 2010 9:35 PM EST Comment 1 comment

This week Nascar heads to Atlanta. Following final practices most drivers are usually very active on Twitter. Here is what they had to say

jpmontoya had a difficult practice car not great today, gonna have to work on it a lot for tomorrow...

maxpapis I feel good from practice even if speeds where not incredible we improved the car step by step

jamiemcmurray Need to work on our car for tomorrow

BrianLVickers Made some gains today. Car was good in practice. Had a good debrief and chat with the guys today.

Regan_Smith_ still struggling this weekend, just cant seem to get this place figured out....

dennyhamlin had a pretty good set of practices today.. i feel like we have made good progress. trivia tonight at 7pm est

Mc_Driver Car was pretty good in happy hour.

AJDinger Insignia best buy ford was decent during practice. Need to make the right calls tomorrow for setup and guess the track right.

Should be a good race.

Remember you can follow along with the drivers here:

NASCAR Ranting and Raving's NASCAR Driver Twitter List

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NASCAR Camping World Truck Series E-Z-GO 200 | Atlanta Motor Speedway Open Race Thread

by 4ever3 on Mar 6, 2010 1:37 PM EST in Race Day Open Threads Comment 1 comment

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Complete line up after the jump! Don't know if I will be around much for this one today, I've got a busy sched.

How do you think Austin Dillon is going to do?

Oh and hey, two Bodines are starting in the top 10 and its too bad that Carl Long didn't amke the race. Help me out on this if you can, is this the first race that Carl has tried to enter since his huge fine from last May for having an oversized motor?

See ya all on the other side!

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