OK, so I missed a few races. Hopefully that stops. But I'm back with 10 more jewels of observance excellance, or at least observance mediocrity.
10) Michael Waltrip's a coy one, best evidenced by the fact that he got well-respected motorsports writer Ed Hinton to say on a recent edition of Trading Paint on Speed that, basically, journalists write for entertainment instead of to inform. The two were talking about the rampant rumors that Toyota's going to spend everyone out of NASCAR, with Waltrip trying to refute recent media assertions and Hinton attempting to back the media. Mr. Hinton has lost a good bit of my respect (not that he cares, I'm sure).
9) Speaking of Speed, it may be time for me to pry myself away from the TV. Every show is starting to carry the same lame jokes (the Prilosec joke last weekend between Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds was funny once. The fourth time I heard it ... not so much) and same surface-level interviews each show.
And am I the only one that thinks Bob Dillner should be reassigned within the organization? He's way too over-the-top and fake for this viewer, but at least he's better than last year.
8) How much does NASCAR protect its veterans? Mark Martin, a total class act, loses his cool during practice after being raced hard into in a corner by Mike Wallace and wrinkles up two cars out of anger, yet it seems as if no action is taken. If that had been Robby Gordon or Kurt Busch, I'm not so sure that would be the case.
7) Speaking of Gordon, what happened? The year starts, and he's on top of the world and running well. A couple of engine failures and wrecks later, and he's off the map.
6) Very sad to see Brian Vickers wreck late after the way he ran at Talladega. Speculation seems to indicate he's on the hot seat despite team reports to the contrary, but I hope that's not the case. I' d love to see him win in a Hendrick Cup car considering his history with the late Ricky Hendrick, and I'm sure I'm not alone on that.
5) Greg Biffle finally secures a good finish. There's not anybody running better that's worse off in the luck bank than he is. Ryan Newman's close, though.
4) Tony Stewart didn't lead a race for the first time this season at Richmond. Still finished sixth. There's the definition of "wheelman."
3) I absolutely love the night racing. Bright, shiny cars with lots of power and drivers on edge racing in close quarters (insert Tim Allen-like grunt here). I know, I'm a very simple individual.
2) So let me get this straight -- Denny Hamlin cuts his hand so badly he needs 19 stitches to close it, then is able to use the hand to drive 300 miles in the Busch race one night and 400 miles in the Cup race the next night, saying afterward that when he was in the car he was so focused he didn't feel a thing.
Apparently I'm not focused enough at work to get past the occassional headache. Sorry, boss. (And, by the way, Monopoly money is the best way to bet when you're afraid you may lose, Drew Bledsoe and Terrell Owens personalities aside.)
1) Dale Earnhardt Jr. is happy, so that means 3/4 of NASCAR's fans are happy. At least.
