A New Chapter In This Blog's History Has Just Begun

by 4ever3 on May 23, 2008 11:04 PM EDT Comment 12 comments

Two years ago I accidentally started this blog site. May 18, 2006 to be exact.

Wow, 2 years.

A lot has happened in NASCAR in those 2 years, and a lot has happened with this blog site. I've moved from having just 5 visitors a day to about 250 daily visitors. Not too bad. I have on occasion topped over 1000 visitors a day.

This blog has also been recognized as being one of the most influential NASCAR Blogs out there, and the list collected by Sports Media Challenge has some pretty good sites on it too, including Jerry Wilson's site called 'Restrictor Plate This'.

Jerry is the one who got me started on this whole journey. When Jerry switched from AOL to Blogger I accidentally signed up for a blog instead as a user - all because I wanted to leave comments at his site. After that I just ran with it.

I now get press releases, and promo offers almost daily. I've even been given tickets to go to a race from one of the race's sponsors - that was cool.

This blog has given me opportunities that I never would have had before, like interviewing current NCTS Champion Andrew Ranger, and being a guest on 'On Pit Row' with Steve and Charlie.

Now, almost two years to the day I started this blog, I'm headed into another chapter of my NASCAR writing experience and it too all started by accident (sort of).

One day I checked my site email and there was an email from the the sports editor of the local newspaper. Apparently he got an email from a fan asking him why I didn't write for his newspaper, so he decided to check out my site. He liked what he saw and invited me down to his office to talk about it. So I went thinking he wanted to do a story about my site or something like that.

We met for about an hour and discussed various things about blogging and the newspaper's desire to have more NASCAR coverage. We talked about ways that we could work together that would be beneficial to us both and left it kind of up in the air while we both sorted out the logistics of our teaming up.

Well he sorted things out on his end a week or two later, he then called me and we reached a mutual understanding. He then put his proposal together and approached his bosses with the idea. They listened and they monitored my site for almost 5 weeks (I'm assuming this of course, why else would it take 5 weeks to get back to me?) before letting the sports editor know that they would support his idea.

Another phone call later (last Friday to be exact), and we end up at this moment.

I now have a weekly NASCAR column called, oddly enough, 'Ranting and Raving' for The Hamilton Spectator that will run every Friday.

In addition to it being in print form, the column is also on their website with links back to here.

It has certainly been an interesting journey. When I started this whole deal, I never imagined that it would go this far, this fast. But it is NASCAR that I'm writing about, they strive to go far and do it fast, so why should it be any different here?

Thanks for reading this blog everyone and for being a part of the journey.

A special thanks also goes out to the person who took it upon themselves to email the newspaper and let them know about me, I am grateful for the opportunity you've provided.

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I am honored and humbled to have had some small part in you getting out there. Congratulations, my friend.

by Diecast Dude on May 24, 2008 1:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fantastic!!! Your writing talent and dedication have paid off.... next we'll see you in NASCAR Illustrated

Congratulations

by michael on May 24, 2008 8:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks guys. NASCAR Illustrated? Pipe dream - unless it is NASCAR Illustrated Canada. Hmmm ... there's an idea. What's the number for American City Business Journals, Inc?

by 4ever3 on May 24, 2008 4:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Congrats... but I'm jealous, still waiting for my call from the Manila Bulletin but somehow don't think it will ever come.

Presumably you're at Cayuga about now, if not, for shame. You're the only blogger I know close enough to give first hand reports of the Canadian series opener.

Besides, you could meet up with Ranger again.

by marc on May 24, 2008 6:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As much as I'd like to be at Cayuga right now, I'm not. I'll be going to the ARCA race next month instead, and maybe in August when the NCTS returns for race 2 at Cayuga.

by 4ever3 on May 24, 2008 6:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That is great! Congratulations!!

by Ernie on May 24, 2008 8:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow!! Congrats! You deserve it. Glad I came out of hibernation. I better get on the stick and start writing again, huh? Maybe some pay by the minute psychic network will want me. lol:)

by Clance' on May 25, 2008 10:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks erinie and clance (that psychic thing might work you know).

by 4ever3 on May 25, 2008 11:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Very cool. Congrats, Bob.

by Mike on May 26, 2008 11:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well done Bob. The Hamiltonions are lucky to have you. See you at Cuyuga.

by Charlie Turner on May 26, 2008 11:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bob.....don't kid yourself, you deserve this. Congratulations. Peace and God Bless, Mike.

by Anonymous on May 28, 2008 2:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mike, Thanks.

Charlie, Thanks and you are going to Cayuga? Then I'll see you there.

Mike, Thanks. This has also be very humbling for me, but I certainly appreciate the chance to do this that's for sure.

by 4ever3 on May 29, 2008 1:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs