Messin' around...

Here it is 8 races into the 2008 season and we already have a pretty good idea of which teams are looking good and which teams aren’t. Of course, in the middle of our second weekend off out of three this season (or 4 if you count the All Star race), there isn’t a whole lot of stuff to write about. The time off has got me thinking about how messed up the NASCAR schedule happens to be. Like many things in life, it just sort of evolved into one gigantic mess over the years. What may have made sense a decade or so ago suddenly seems to have no logic whatsoever. For example, why do we currently have 2 weekends off during the first 10 weeks of the season, and then only one more between now and November?

With that being said, your humble blogger will attempt to fix the schedule. Before we go on though, here are my rules:

1. I am the blogger therefore what I say goes. Remember that this is my opinion and if it were ever put into practice, it may make no practical sense whatsoever.
2. Since this is a blog, feel free to mock me as much as you want and offer up your suggestions.
3. I am a New Hampshire guy, so guess what… the two New Hampshire races are not only staying right where they are, but I was tempted to add a third.
4. I was also tempted to add a third Daytona race to end the season, but instead settled on giving Bruton Smith his second cup date. I was also tempted to add another Talladega date.
5. Giving Bruton Smith his second date was at the expense of Infineon. I hate road courses. Sorry if that offends anyone out there.
6. Based on my not liking road courses, Watkins Glen is now no more. See #5.

So here we go… my logic – if you wish to call it that – is below.

The 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule according to Mark

Week #......2008 Race......................................2009 Schedule
1..................Feb 17 Daytona.............................Daytona
2..................Feb 24 California...........................California
3..................Mar 2 Las Vegas...........................Las Vegas
4..................Mar 9 Atlanta..................................Phoenix
5..................Mar 16 Bristol.................................Texas
6..................Off....................................................Off
7..................Mar 30 Martinsville.........................Homestead
8..................Apr 6 Texas....................................Atlanta
9..................Apr 12 Phoenix..............................Bristol
10................Off...................................................Martinsville
11................Apr 27 Talladega..........................Talladega
12................May 3 Richmond...........................Richmond
13................May 10 Darlington........ ................Darlington
14................May 17 All-Star Challenge...........All Star Race
15................May 25 Charlotte..........................Charlotte
16................Jun 1 Dover...................................Dover
17................Jun 8 Pocono................................Pocono
18................Jun 15 Michigan...........................Michigan
19................Jun 22 Infineon..............................Off
20................Jun 29 New Hampshire...............New Hampshire
21................Jul 5 Daytona................................Daytona
22................Jul 12 Chicagoland......................Chicagoland
23................Off..................................................Kansas
24................Jul 27 Indianapolis.......................Indianapolis
25................Aug 3 Pocono..............................Pocono
26................Aug 10 Watkins Glen..................Rockingham
27................Aug 17 Michigan.........................Michigan
28................Aug 23 Bristol..............................Bristol
29................Aug 31 California........................Darlington
30................Sep 6 Richmond.........................Off
Chase for the Cup Begins

31................Sep 14 New Hampshire.............New Hampshire
32................Sep 21 Dover..............................Richmond
33................Sep 28 Kansas...........................Dover
34................Oct 5 Talladega...........................Martinsville
35................Oct 11 Charlotte..........................Charlotte
36................Oct 19 Martinsville.......................Talladega
37................Oct 26 Atlanta..............................Texas
38................Nov 2 Texas.................................Atlanta
39................Nov 9 Phoenix..............................Phoenix
40................Nov 16 Homestead.....................Las Vegas

Ok, heres how I came up with this...

Week 1-3 remained the same. I like the idea of keeping the races in warmer climates this time of year. If I can find a substitute for California for 2010 though, I would certainly consider it.

Weeks 4 & 5 were my first major moves, moving both Phoenix and Texas up into the schedule. It’s warmer in these places in March than it is in Atlanta and Bristol.

Week 6 is the first week off which makes sense as the first five races teams use the previous season’s owner points. This is traditionally a time when teams start making driver and crew chief changes if they aren’t where they wanted to be in the standings and the week off allows some extra time to make those changes. After this week off, the next two weekends off are about every 10 to 11 races, including taking a week off before the start of the Chase.

Week 7/Race 6 may anger those in South Florida, but I moved the Homestead race from November to here. My logic is twofold. First is weather. Yeah, it’s beautiful in South Florida in November, but it’s also beautiful in late March/early April when that can’t necessarily be said for most other parts of the country, including Bristol and Atlanta. More importantly is that NASCAR needs to go out with a bang with its last race, and I just don’t get that warm fuzzy feeling with what could be the championship deciding race being in Homestead.

Week 8, 9, 10: Atlanta, Bristol and Martinsville – these were moved a few weeks later into the season, as the weather situation in mid March for these current dates is sketchy at best (I can say that – I sat through the NCTS and Sprint Cup Races this year in 40 degree drizzle).

Weeks 11-18 stayed the same. I won’t comment on whether the All Star race should be moved around to different tracks each year, because to be honest, I don’t really care. I use it as a week off; but if anyone were to ask me, there is a lot of room for improvement in this event. In a word – it’s BORING.

Week 19 – Infineon. Sorry, Bruton, here’s your second Las Vegas date. But don’t worry, I have been to Las Vegas in late June and I wouldn’t do that to the drivers, crews and fans. 120 degree heat is too much for anyone to take. Besides, I gave you the last race of the year. Week 19 is now a week off.

Week 20 – 22. No changes, New Hampshire has perfect racing weather in late June, while Daytona on or around July 4th is just plain tradition. Chicago at night should offer cooler temperatures and perhaps better racing.

Week 23, formerly a week off, is now Kansas. Yes, Kansas folks are probably not too happy about losing a Chase date, and I struggled with this one, but my deciding factor was that Chase tracks should have a non-Chase race so that those involved in the championship hunt have an opportunity to learn from the earlier date.

Week 24 & 25 Indianapolis and Pocono, remain unchanged.

Week 26 - Sorry Watkins Glen, I know it’s beautiful in upstate New York, but you are a road course. Plus I want to be first in line for tickets to THE ROCK WHEN RACING RETURNS!!!

Week 27 & 28 – Michigan & Bristol. No changes, although I was very tempted to move Bristol into the Chase, but then again realized that may not be such a good idea for those drivers competing for a championship. But then again, maybe it would be… hmmmmmm.

Week 29 – Ok, if I’m not already going to win Blogger of the Year from NASCAR purists, repeat after me – SOUTHERN 500! Sorry California, but a history of boring races, lackluster attendance and bad weather brings another date back to Darlington.

Week 30 – time for the final week off as teams get ready for the Chase for the Cup.

Week 31 has the Chase beginning in New Hampshire as it always has. Besides, New Hampshire in September is even more beautiful than New Hampshire in June. Someone from Virginia might argue that I should have kept Richmond here which would make it the first Chase race, but I am a bit biased as you can tell. (I wouldn’t be overly upset if it were pushed back a week or two because late September in New Hampshire is probably the most beautiful time of the year and I don’t mind showing it off.)

Week 32 Chase race 2. Richmond is now a Chase race, but for teams on the ‘bubble’, isn’t it practically a Chase race now?

Week 33 – Dover is now Chase race 3, replacing Kansas. Again, Kansas, you didn’t do anything wrong, so don’t feel bad. Hey, I still love your BBQ!

Week 34 – Chase race 4 is now Martinsville. Sorry Talladega, late March is a bit on the edge weather wise for Martinsville, so I had to move it up a few weeks.

Week 35 – Charlotte, Chase race 5. No change, just me wishing that Charlotte had better racing.

Week 36 – Chase race 6, Talladega. The weather in Alabama in late October is much more likely to cooperate. Plus I like the idea of this race being closer to the end of the Chase, the probability of the ‘big one’ keeps everyone within striking distance.

Week 37 & 38 – Chase races 7 & 8 - Ok, I flip flopped the Texas – Atlanta dates for no other reason that I am sick of hearing about how attendance during a Chase race in Texas is down because of the start of deer hunting season. Not that the deer will all be gone the following weekend mind you, but if that’s the only excuse they can come up with, I’ll work with it. But boy was it tempting to put a second Rockingham date here.

Week 39 – Phoenix, Chase race 9 – no change here.

Week 40 – Las Vegas. Bruton Smith gets his wish big time, but only because it makes sense. Las Vegas, as one of the top vacation destinations in the country, deserves a second race date and what better date than what NASCAR could market their Championship Weekend. Smith is also correct with his idea that the banquet shouldn’t be held in New York City and that Las Vegas is a better choice. This would allow teams as well as fans to take a long weekend in a great city and enjoy some great racing with all three series then hold the banquet shortly after.

So there it is folks, the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule.

No need to thank me, Brian France… just send me four tickets to the Rock when racing resumes.

When Common Sense is lost...

When Aaron Fike, former Craftsman Truck Series driver who was arrested for heroin possession last year admitted last week that he had used heroin on race day, members of the NASCAR community were in complete shock. Many respected members of the media were in the same boat, unable to comprehend how someone would be able to inject heroin into their blood stream and then strap into a race truck and compete competitively. Discussion filled the airwaves and internet on mandatory drug testing for NASCAR.

If I may change hats for a moment, from NASCAR blogger to career paramedic (which is what pays my bills), I will say I was not in the least bit surprised to hear the news. For the last twenty years, I have dealt with patients who have both severe drug and alcohol addictions and the one thing that amazes me is just how well some of them function while under the influence. Not only do they function well, but they work very hard to hide their problems, and only when they make a mistake does someone catch on. No, I was not surprised at all, and when Aaron Fike mentioned that there may be others out there with the same problems, I believe him.

Unlike other sports, the majority of drivers have been very supportive of the adoption of random drug testing in NASCAR. They all too well understand the safety impact of racing with someone who is under the influence while doing 190 mph in a 4300 pound racecar can have.

What is odd is the attitude NASCAR has taken about this situation. They have given the drivers the safest car to date, the HANS device, the safest seat possible, and the SAFER barriers installed on most spots of all tracks. The Michael McDowell crash last week in Texas highlighted just how well everything works to keep a driver in one piece. Yet, despite the millions of dollars spent on ‘uncompromised safety’, there is still the possibility that any one of the 43 drivers who was on the track last night in Phoenix could have been under the influence.

It’s time for NASCAR to institute mandatory, random drug testing. Not next season, but now. The drivers want it, the fans want it, and common sense dictates it. Let’s stop sticking our heads in the sand and start dealing with the issue.

A Texas sized crash

My heart skipped a beat or two this past Friday. I’ll admit it, I wasn’t watching qualifying on TV, rather I was in the kitchen cooking for a dinner party we were having later that evening. I had my laptop positioned in the kitchen with music from iTunes playing in the background, and the live leaderboard showing qualifying results was displayed. Every so often, I checked to see what was going on, and when I noticed that rookie Michael McDowell was qualifying for what seemed like an eternity, I hit refresh on my browser, figuring that the system was frozen. No change. I refreshed again, then ‘x’ed out’ of the site and went back in. No change. I went back to the home page to click on the PRN broadcast when I saw it… the headline in the video control room that McDowell ‘takes a tumble’. Naturally, I clicked on it and was horrified to see what came next. As soon as he hit the wall, I felt a pit in my stomach, reminded of the same type of hit that took the life of Dale Earnhardt. Then the flips. Not one or two, but nine! And with each flip, pieces of the car being spread all over the track. My heart rate jumped and I waited anxiously as the car came to rest, on fire and completely destroyed. The few moments it took the window net to come down and for McDowell to emerge seemed like an eternity, and when it finally happened I don’t think there was a person who wasn’t completely shocked to see him do it under his own power. I thought for certain we had lost another driver.

Looking at the replay several times, including the damage done to the SAFER barrier made me realize just how far we had come since the death of Dale Sr. While there is no way to ever say for sure how McDowell would have fared in the old car, even with the HANS device; and no way to know for sure what would have happened had the SAFER barrier not been in place, I think we can all agree that he would not have walked away from the crash waving to the crowd.

NASCAR may be guilty of a lot over its history, and it’s almost criminal that it took the death of Earnhardt to finally take driver safety seriously, but lets give credit where credit is due. Every new safety device, from the new car, to the HANS device, to the SAFER barrier and every other device added over the years played a roll in keeping McDowell safe and inside the car. Something tells me he is the happiest guy in the history of NASCAR to be starting 40th.

Martinsville Memories...

Wishing for old times...

This past weekend in Martinsville was bittersweet for the NASCAR purest. It is one of the few remaining tracks that just ooze stockcar history; it’s the polar opposite of everything that NASCAR has been evolving into over the past decade or so. As opposed to venues such as Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with corporate suites and neon all over the place, Martinsville Speedway is pure, old time racing. There is nothing pretentious about this place, the fans come for one reason – the best short track racing around. Part of what makes Martinsville so great is the history, as the oldest track on the tour, the names of those who have raced there are a ‘who’s who of racing’ list. Even the sponsor of the spring race, Goodys Headache Powders, with their spokesman – King Richard Petty – is a reminder of NASCARs past.

Sadly, there was something missing this past Sunday when Kyle Petty, already sitting outside the top 35 in owners points, failed to qualify. A Martinsville race without a Petty running was rare indeed, and there was certainly something missing. Sadly, I’m afraid this is rapidly becoming the norm, as Petty Enterprises has slowly become a second rate team on the track. Since the tragic day almost 8 years ago in New Hampshire when Adam Petty was killed during practice, Petty Enterprises has lost its competitive edge. Kyle Petty has driven the number 45 Dodge, and has been a virtual non-factor on the track. In fact, the entire identity of Petty Enterprises has become a fund raising organization for the Victory Junction Gang; certainly a worthwhile cause, but not one that would translate into success on the track.

That lack of success on the track appears to be taking its toll on the organization. On Monday, it was announced that NCTS driver Chad McCumbee will pilot the car for the Texas race. One has to wonder if this will be the first of many races and with Kyle soon to be stepping out of the car permanently. On Tuesday, General Mills announced that they will be moving their sponsorship of the legendary 43 car to a new, fourth team at Richard Childress Racing. Current driver of the 43, Bobby Labonte, is in the last year of his contract with Petty and is speculated to make the move to the new RCR team.

It is indeed a sad time for NASCARs historic teams. Wood Brothers Racing is barely alive, making races using the past champions provisional with part time driver Bill Elliot. Yates Racing has dropped from being a NASCAR powerhouse with the 28 car of Travis Kvapil running the majority of the season unsponsored. Morgan Mclure is in hiatus, failing to secure any sponsorship at all and therefore not fielding a car. And now the mighty Petty Enterprises may be going down the same path. Lets hope they can find a new sponsor and possibly a partner to help return NASCARs greatest team to victory lane.

Martinsville Notes...

I’m back from our annual road trip to Martinsville, and despite freezing drizzle all weekend - including an inch of sleet on my car Sunday morning – I’m now in full summer mode. After almost 1800 miles of driving spread over almost 30 hours in 4 days, I had plenty of time to contemplate all things NASCAR as well as the two races… so here it is in the Readers Digest version…

It was sad to see Kyle Petty miss the race. I’m not surprised, but with the Wood Brothers on life support and Morgan-McLure also in a deep coma with a poor prognosis, I was reminded that success (i.e. winning) in NASCAR is a long shot without multiple teams and big dollar sponsors. More on this in another blog, because it deserves some thought… The Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Race Sunday was filled will all kinds of great stories. Chrissy Wallace, 19 year old daughter of Mike Wallace was impressive in her NCTS debut. She started 35th of 36 and finished 18th and on the lead lap, more importantly she held her on in one of the most physical tracks on the tour. More than once I saw her stand up for her position against veteran drivers. The best story however had to be the day that Dennis Setzer had. He dominated the second half of the race on his way to his third career Martinsville victory while driving the #18 Dodge owned by Lori Hamilton, wife of the late Bobby Hamilton whom Setzer raced for the series championship… Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway, also owns a part of Setzers team… Brendan Gaughan and Johnny Benson were locked in a duel for second for much of the second half of the race until Gaughan was forced to pit for fuel with 20 laps remaining, almost assuring Benson of a second place finish… almost meaning until Kyle Busch got into him. I have no problem with Kyle’s aggressive driving, providing its at the Cup level. I do have a problem when he goes down to Nationwide or Craftsman races and wrecks guys who are trying to make their living.

Speaking of Clay Campbell, he has to be one of the true gentlemen in all of NASCAR. Despite how busy he was this weekend, he still took time to address the fans and answer questions at the Budweiser Fan Zone (and I’m assuming the other two hospitality tents as well). Campbell and his staff always go out of their way to make you feel like family when you are at the track… while on the topic, it disturbs me that every time Martinsville hosts a race, there is talk of moving one or both dates to a ‘larger’ market. Last year it was David Caraviello while this year it’s Joe Menzer, both of NASCAR.com. I don’t know where this is coming from, but if anyone in Daytona Beach even thinks for a moment about it, it would be the biggest mistake they could make. Moving the Labor Day Southern 500 from Darlington to California was a big enough mistake, even considering moving Martinsville would be a disastrous move for NASCAR. As I have said all along, Martinsville Speedway is one of the few tracks remaining on the circuit that is a throwback to NASCAR’s roots… Incidentally, Joe, if you stopped looking at the restrooms and concessions stands and checked out what was happening on the track, you would have watched one of the best races of the year…On a related note; don’t get too concerned that Sundays Cool Orange 500 was not a sellout. Martinsville Speedway has traditionally relied on a large Sunday walk up crown and keeps several thousand tickets available. Freezing rain with snow in the area kept many away, and while some may not want to admit it, the economy played a factor as well. I compared this weekend with last years trip (adjusted for my side trip to Norfolk Friday night) and noted that I paid almost $70 more for gas for the same number of miles. Two nights hotel was also just over $40 more as well. Whether you think we are in a recession or not, just the fear of impending doom most likely kept peoples money safely tucked under the mattress for a rainy day…

The cream certainly rose to the top Sunday. Jeff Gordon fell to 32nd position after getting caught up in the Aric Almirola/Bobby Labonte wreck; within 100 laps he had picked off just about everyone and was back running up front, finally finishing second. Tony Stewart recovered from an ill timed pit stop (driver error, he stated) to finish 5th, while Jimmy Johnson managed to survive a mid race meeting with Ryan Newman to work his way up a fourth place finish. Is it any wonder that these guys have eight championships between them?... Looks like Hendrick Motorsports isn’t dead yet; all four cars in the top 7… Kudos to Jamie McMurray on his 8th place which moves him back into the top 35 (32nd). Rookie Regan Smith finished a career best 14th which moved him into the top 35, while David Ragan finished a strong 11th. Casey Mears needed a good day and got one, finishing 7th while running top 10 most of the day, while MWR rookie Michael McDowell finished a strong 26th in his Spring Cup debut…. Speaking of McDowell, his drew the ire of veteran Jeff Burton for racing the leaders a bit too hard in the closing laps of the race while trying to protect his Lucky Dog status. Yes, he should have shown some more respect for his elders who were running for the win, but it’s easy to see how he could get caught up in the moment. Like all rookies, he will make plenty of mistakes out there (hence, the yellow tape on the rear bumper), the important thing is that he needs to be a quick learner. Elliot Sadler was a question mark all weekend after a back injury left him in serious pain, NCTS veteran and Kroger 250 race winner Dennis Setzer was on stand by but Sadler took the green flag and ran the entire race, finishing 15th and on the lead lap. I wouldn’t normally mention this; however as someone who has had back pain in the past, I can only imagine just how difficult it was for him. Sadler only needed to take the green flag to get the driver points while letting Setzer jump in the car at the first pit stop, but he showed just how much of a competitor he is by sticking with it. Nice job!

Finally, the chili dog diet that I tried this weekend failed miserably after I stepped on the scale this morning. Final food count: 14 chili dogs (1 Friday at Nathans on the NJ Turnpike, 1 Friday night at the Norfolk Scope arena, 4 Jessie Jones on Saturday afternoon, 2 ‘hots’ at the Texas Tavern in Roanoke, and then 6 more Jessie Jones on Sunday); 2 Bojangles sausage biscuits, 1 steak biscuit, 1 pork chop biscuit, 2 plain biscuits, ‘Cheesy Western Without’ at the Texas Tavern, a BBQ pork sandwich Friday night at the Scope and Sunday in the Budweiser Fan Zone. Yeah, it wasn’t pretty this morning…