Denny Hamlin: He's not gonna take it!

First off, let me say, it feels great to write another piece again.  It has been a while.  School has been my priority as I finish up my pursuit of my Masters in Business Administration.  The plan is to start writing more in my free time again.  Anyways, on to the topic at hand.

For anyone who has followed NASCAR this season, the racing with the new car has been sub par AT BEST.  I know it is early with the new car, as does most everyone else.  Denny Hamlin was asked and gave an honest response about the car after the Phoenix Sprint Cup Series race last week, saying they were hard to pass in, and that there was a lot of work to get the cars to where they can pass.  He addressed tires, newness of the car, aero, and so on as the factors to it.  He wasn't snide or disrespectful, just honest and to the point with no sugar coating or political correctness. 

The Hamlin Interview

Denny was fined $25,000 for comments made in this interview by NASCAR for his comments which NASCAR found disparaging to the new, MUCH HYPED Gen 6 car.  The response by the fans was nearly unanimous.  #StandWithDenny trended on Twitter after the announcement, and MANY fans sent messages of encouragement to Denny on the social media site.  Media and fellow drivers were very mixed and not nearly as supportive.  Denny came out and said HE WOULDN'T TAKE IT and WILL NOT pay the fine.  He is in the process of appealing the fine as we speak.  For a series that wanted drivers to be honest and speak up and have personality, this is a total step in the wrong direction.  Some have pointed out other sports fine players/coaches/others for similar things.  My counter to them is simple.  Is it right JUST because others handle matters that way?  If there is something that NEEDS to be said, it SHOULD be said.  I'm not saying someone should just go out and openly bash a series.  State what an issue is, and be done with it.  That is exactly why I, and many others, are irritated with NASCAR.  I STAND WITH DENNY!!  HE'S NOT GONNA TAKE IT!!  Until next time friends, enjoy your racing on the dirt, pavement, road course, drag strip, short tracks and superspeedways.

Weather Safety: Who is responsible for being prepared?

Racing as we all know, 99% of the time is an outdoor sport.  We are out in the various elements nature can throw out at us.  However, thunderstorms, lightning, and other forms of severe weather are issues that have to be taken seriously.  We were reminded one week ago at Ponoco when their event was rained on and severe weather rolled through, and 9 fans were struck by lightning, killing one.  However, who is responsible in terms of being prepared?  Obviously, the track should be prepared.  They should be in contact with the local National Weather Service and law enforcement agencies in order to know what is going on.  Technology is also helpful, as promoters/organizers can have radar and updates in the palm of their hands with smartphone technology currently available. Plans should be in place how they will handle severe/inclement weather situations.  They should use the information gathered to make decisions that are in the best interest of fan/driver/employee safety.  This may not always be popular, but it will keep everyone safe.   However, the fans have to be aware as well.  That same technology promoters have, we do as well.  I was put in the position the night before Pocono at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, as severe weather and lightning rolled through.  I had also been in that position at Peoria during the UMP Summernationals, which were all aluminum bleachers.  Some people don't put much thought into it, but all it takes is ONE strike and it can be devastating.  You have to be willing to leave before being told to, although some are too stubborn to.  I try to hold out myself, but I am not willing to risk my life sitting out in a dangerous situation for too long.
The event at Pocono serves us all a sobering reminder that lightning can, at ANY TIME, strike and injure/kill ANYONE.   We ALL, fans and promoters/track officials alike, ALL have to be prepared to take appropriate actions whenever weather arises.  Remember, no race is more valuable than your personal health and safety.  Be aware, stay alive.

Announcing...an underappreciated art I now appreciate more.

Announcers.  When you go to the track, their voice either graces the PA and informs the people of what is going on, including times, action, driver facts/statistics, and some advertising for the track.  Others can make the track experience much less enjoyable.  From butchering driver names, not being informed, being obnoxious, etc., they can make a fan experience much less enjoyable.  I have always had certain expectations/standards as to what makes a good announcer.   Someone who knows the names of drivers, facts/statistics about the drivers (nicknames, career accomplishments, season to date info), doesn't try to call what isn't there, and doesn't try to be funny and is just natural on the mic are those who I consider good or great.  Names that come to mind in all forms of motorsports include Tom Carnige, Bob Jenkins, James Essex, Rick Eschelman, Bret Emerick, Dustin Jarrett, Chris Nunn, Mike Meurer, Johnny Gibson, Mike Norris,  and Larry Limbach are all announcers whom have honed their craft after many years and who among their respective spectrums in the racing world, are considered the best at their craft.
On the Monday before the Mary Lee Standridge Memorial event at Jacksonville Speedway, I was discussing with a group of fans about Twitter, and the subject of whether I could do it and Tweet(something I have really become known for as of late) came up.  Like I said, I don't think it would be as easy, but promoter Kenny Dobson asked me if I wanted to take a shot at it and call the UMP Late Model portion of the program.  I had thought about announcing for a long time, and with the encouragement of a few friends/followers, I decided to give it a whirl, knowing that this was a big honor and I might just be able to leave my own positive mark on the program.  Needless to say, it just came naturally.  That was because I have watched the sport with knowledgeable people, and heard some of the best in racing call the action.  It was a fun experience, and I ended up calling home a big local/regional fan favorite, and good friend, "The Highside Hustler" Jason Feger.  The look on Jason's face when he got out and realized that I was the announcer and was going to be doing the interview was PRICELESS.  That night on social media and the next night at Macon Speedway, my Saturday night home track, friends and fans were coming up and letting me know I had done a great job.  Needless to say, it was humbling, and I was thankful for all of the kind words.  Apparently I do have a knack for it after all.  I will definitely pick up the mic gain in the future and give it another go.
After being put in the position, I do have a much greater appreciation for those who do this all the time.  It takes constant information, good sources/friends, a personable attitude, and a good presentation style to deliver on the mic.  Some parts of it you can learn.  However, you have to be comfortable speaking publicly. This is really one of those things you can learn some, but you either have it or you don't. 

Daytona Speedweeks...unlike any in years past

I think all of us as fans were expecting some changes in NASCAR.  We knew the EFI engines were coming.  In testing, NASCAR tweaked with the cars to try and bring back pack racing.  They ended up lowering the spoilers and giving the cars/trucks bigger plates.  This combination has been seen in Indy Car in the past to make the drivers have to finesse and drive the cars again.  Early on, the drivers kept trying to do the 2 car tandem draft.  It showed early that the cars weren't as stable, and there were a few wrecks.  I figured they would figure it out and not do it until the very end and on the straightaways only.  Boy was I wrong.  The Budweiser Shootout was a wreckfest, but it ended in exciting fashion, with Kyle Busch timing the pass on Tony Stewart just right to slingshot around for the win.  This finish gave me some hope for some great racing.  Sadly, this wouldn't be the case.  The Camping World Truck Series was an absolute wreckfest.  Eventual winner John King even got into then leader Johnny Sauter.  John is a rookie, so it wasn't a big surprise.  Even the veterans were struggling with drafting..  King went on to win after 3 green white checkered attempts all saw yellows for accidents.  The Nationwide race Saturday also turned into a rolling demo derby.  Lots of cars ended up scrapped in that one.  Winner James Buescher was 11th coming off of turn 4 when the leaders wrecked, and he passed all of the slow and wrecked machines to capture one of the most bizarre wins I have ever seen.  The Daytona 500 last night was a spectacle, and I don't mean that in the good way.  For a while, it seemed like it would be fairly tame.  A few wrecks, always happens.  Then towards the end, the drivers got nuts, and lots of cars ended up wrecked...again.  This doesn't include the most bizarre accident I have EVER seen in all of my years watching NASCAR.  Cale Yarbrough has hit a fire truck in the past, but what happened to Juan Pablo Montoya will be something we remember forever. Seeing his car break and hit a jet dryer that ends up exploding into flames and dumping 200 gallons of fuel onto the Daytona International Speedway pavement, it's just unbelievable.  Thankfully Juan and the driver of the vehicle were okay. It will be one of those incidents that is brought up in the future and no one believes you until you show them the footage.  Also, how about Brad Keselowski using Twitter to interact during the red flag?  I actually find this cool.  Kind of funny that he had the phone in the car with him.  Definitely a sign of the times.  As for the last 40 laps.  Did Tony Stewart have a patton tank?  He got into 2 incidents that would most times damage a car, yet he came out no worse for wear.  Incredible.  Lots of other torn up cars in that final 100 miles.  The finish was one that had a LOT of people talking.  Should Biffle have protected his teammate and let him win, or should he try and pull out with Junior.  Biffle said he couldn't get a good enough run.  I don't buy it.  I'd have at LEAST liked to have seen Biffle work with Junior and make that VERY LAST effort.  I don't think he didn't try to win.  I just don't think he tried his hardest.  In the end, Matt Kenseth won his 2nd Daytona 500.  It wasn't a fluke as he had a great car the entire time in Daytona.  We will be talking about this 500 for many years to come...that is for sure.  I look forward to seeing this new package go to the other tracks this year.  I really think it will work well.  Congratulations to Matt and team on the win.  Let's just say it's good to have racing (NHRA, NASCAR) back in action again.  This season should be fun in all forms or racing.  Until next time friends...enjoy the action on the track/strip!!

SOPA and PIPA...acronyms of destruction

This is a RARE non-racing post on my part, but this topic is one that has wide ranging and serious consequences not only myself but EVERYONE who uses the internet.  The 2 acts currently threatening the internet as we know it are the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA).  These 2 acts are threats to freedom of speech and expression for sites a s large as Facebook, Twitter, etc.  It would also affect small groups/individuals including bloggers like myself.  The simple act of posting a link to this blog could very well be a CRIME if this passes.  A simple link to information, that in no way steals anything from anyone, could result in fines, jail time, and possible ban from the internet.  Is THAT what we need?  I say, emphatically, HECK NO!!  There are already laws in place that work to protect copyrighted materials.  If you have been on YouTube any at all, you can see this by seeing that certain videos have been removed because of copyright violations.  This bill will open the door to censorship, and I DO NOT SUPPORT THAT.  Everyone deserves to have their own voice and opinion, even if it isn't one that I agree with.  I encourage you all to contact your lawmakers, sign petitions available at places like Google, and do your part to protect our freedom.  To quote the wise Benjamin Franklin, T"hose who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

2011: A year to remember and forget

This year has been one that has had the highest of highs.  This includes Trevor Bayne's incredible Daytona 500 win that no one seen coming, Dan Wheldon's improbable 1 off ride to win the Indianapolis 500 in the most unimaginable, dramatic way possible, Tony Stewart's incredible run in the Chase to win the Sprint Cup title by winning the final race and beating out Edwards, Sebastian Vettel's utter domination of F1 that rivals that of his idol Michael Schumacher.  On the local level, several drivers around me either scored their first wins at tracks, won their first ever races, or won their first championships.  However, the sport experienced the lowest of lows this year as well.  I think it's safe to say the death of the Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon tops this list just for the absolute irony of it all.  Other huge lows include the death of MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli, freestyle motocross rider Jim McNeil, the loss of THE voice of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tom Carnige are just a few of the lows the sport have seen this year.  This sport is very bi-polar in nature, and event's can change one's thoughts and moods on an instant.  It truly offers a roller coaster experience rivaled by nothing else I can think of on this planet.  The highs are what we love to see and experience, but the lows, however grim and dismal they may be, bring us all together and make us truly appreciate the highs that much more.  This year was one I hope we don't have to experience for a LONG time, as the lows were especially painful.  What happened afterwards was inspirational and moving, but the pain is still ever present and ever real.  Only time will heal those wounds, and 2012 is the best thing to help that.  Congratulations to those who experience success during this last season.  To everyone in the community, PLEASE stay safe this offseason.  Hope the trade shows are successful.  The same sentiment to those hosting race parties.  Until 2012, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!!

Tragedy shows true reason to love racing...unity. R.I.P. Dan Wheldon

At only age 33, 2 time Indy 500 Champion (2005, 2011) and 2005 Indy Car Series Champion Dan Wheldon, passed away in a violent, fiery crash on lap 12 of the IZOD Indy Car World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Dan was much more than that though.  He was a loving father, husband, and son.  It only seems like yesterday that Dan was streaking by the wounded car of JR Hildebrand to win this year's Indianapolis 500, and celebrating with his trademark smile in victory lane.  Today is a bitter, somber reminder to all of us that enjoy motorsports that it is a dangerous, and it can become dangerous, even fatal, in the blink of an eye.  Moments like this show how fragile human life truly is, and goes to show you just never know when you will meet your maker, and how. However, after the wreck, other things emerged as well.  It showed one thing that I have known about this sport, and is the reason I love it so much.  During this trying time, EVERYONE CAME TOGETHER.  This tragic event brought the drivers and fans alike into unity for a singular cause, celebrating the life and memories of Dan Wheldon.  The sport doesn't always bring us together under such tragic circumstances, but this example proves yet again that, despite who you root for, how you may feel about someone at a point in time, you are ALL part of one big family. We all enjoy close, fast racing that excites us all, but we also enjoy the company and friendship of each other as well. The outpouring from the motorsports world has truly illustrated this point. Drivers and fans from all forms of motorsports have offered their condolences to Dan, his family, and friends.  I also extend my deepest thoughts and prayers to the Wheldon family as well to his friends, fans, and fellow competitors.  I would also like to say THANK YOU to EACH and EVERY driver who straps into a race car, risks their life, and races for the entertainment of us, the fans.  We all meet our maker at some point in time, and in various ways.  Dan met his doing something he absolutely loved doing, driving an Indy Car.  It is somewhat fitting, even though all of us didn't want to see him go.  Thanks for the memories Dan!!  Until next time...have fun up there at all of the different tracks up above!!