My 2010 season thoughts

It's amazing how time flies.  We are already to the end of 2010, and a lot has occurred in racing over the last 12 months.  It seems like every year the time flies during the season, then drags along during the winter months.  I am going through that feeling now as a fan.  Thank goodness for racing DVD's haha.  I will give my thoughts about what I saw in the world of racing.

National Late Model Scene: Billy Moyer.  Hands down, he was the best driver in dirt late model racing this year and THE force to be reckoned with in 2010.  Moyer scored 24 feature wins overall, but it was the races he won and how he won them that made this season so spectacular.  Moyer scored 9 feature wins that were worth over $10,000 to win.  That is impressive, but what's more impressive is his sweeps at Eldora and Knoxville.  Moyer had struggled over a decade to win at the Eldora Speedway highbanks.  This year, he did something no one else had done except himself once before.  He won BOTH the Dirt Late Model Dream and the World 100.  His win in the Dream was textbook Moyer.  He took care of his car on a dry track and kept the tires under him and didn't bounce off the walls.  The World was a clinic as he knifed his way stealthily through the field from his 21st starting spot to hold off a late charging Scott Bloomquist and win his record 6th globe trophy.   In Knoxville, Moyer went out and did something that had NEVER been done before.  He swept the entire weekend of the Knoxville Late Model Nationals.   He won all 3 nights in convincing fashion, much to the delight of his hometown fans (For those who didn't know, Billy is originally from Des Moines, Iowa).


NASCAR: I appreciate history, and what Jimmie Johnson did is difficult.  However, I do believe he did it a LOT easier thanks to the current Chase format, which I absolutely hate.  It doesn't reward someone for a whole season's body of work.  The lack of consistency in fines by NASCAR was something that really, quite frankly pissed me off.  It's garbage like this and the fact that the racing isn't as good as it has been in past years that has led to the decline.  There have been a couple bright spots.  Kyle Busch is one.  Love him or hate him, he gets your attention.  He has immense talent behind the wheel.  His win record proves it.  He too did something that no one in NASCAR history has done.  He swept a weekend in the Cup, Nationwide, and Truck series.  He did it at Bristol, and I have to admit it was cool to watch.  It's so hard to get things to go right to do that, and few drivers will even attempt it to start with.    His attitude isn't always great, but at least he isn't a corporate sock puppet like most drivers have become anymore in this day and age of political correctness.  NASCAR's "Have at it boys" was another good idea.  Let the drivers take care of things.  Physical altercations may happen.  Taking swings at one another is much better than using cars to vent one's frustrations.  In the case of that, just keep an eye on it so it doesn't get out of hand and step in if you see it is.  Otherwise, let them settle it man to man, possibly punch to punch.  I'd much rather see that than the same 2 drivers wreck each other weekly and possibly take others out not involved.  I don't mind seeing drivers rub and bump some, as racing IS a contact sport.  The COT is still hideous, but they have made it somewhat better, although the cars still don't even closely resemble the cars on the showroom floors.  It'd be nice to see the cars be different enough you could identify them without the company stickers on them.

Local Racing Scene: Economy.  This word has had a big impact on the local racing scene.  High fuel prices have wreaked havoc on the industry, as it has made it harder for drivers to travel, fans to travel, and promoters to do the day to day things necessary for a track/series.   It has forced all in the business to be smarter, and it has weeded out some who weren't cut out for it.  Unfortunately, it has hit those who are good at what they do but just couldn't keep up.  This is true of drivers and track promoters/track owners.  While this was the case, some places did well due to promoters who had good resources, good business sense, and good common sense. 

My Race of the Year: North/South 100, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.  This 100 lap race featured the most side by side racing throughout the field I have seen in a long time.  The finish to this one was very similar to the previous year's race where Jimmy Mars beat Don O'Neal going into 3 on the last lap.  Jimmy Owens found something up top with about 20 to go to take the lead, but then Earl Pearson Jr. came on strong to take it away from Owens, only to have Owens reel him in as the laps wound down and he got bogged down in lapped traffic.  At the white flag this year Jimmy Owens and Earl Pearson Jr. were dead even at the start finish line.  Going into 3 it was still either driver's race.  Owens got a good run off of turn 4 and won the race, and the crowd went nuts knowing they had seen a good one.  This one was my choice of my Race of the Year because of the overall quality of racing.  My other pick would have been the 2010 World 100 as there were a couple of drivers who came deep in the field to post solid finishes.


Well, that is a wrap on the 2010 racing season.  I know I enjoyed it.  I am looking forward to see what 2011 has in store.  I know I am not alone.  Happy New Year's everyone!!  Celebrate safely!!

Winter 2010

Winter is a dirty word to some of us.  There is no racing for a majority of us.  The racers do need a break though.  However, few actually get it.  Some have race parties to raise money for their programs and celebrate good seasons with fans.  There is also the trade show circuit.  IMIS in Indianapolis wrapped up last week and currently PRI is going on in Orlando.  There is a Crate Race running at East Bay Raceway Park in conjunction with PRI.  All of this means little free time for racers.  Some are getting their cars ready as they may race as early as January in the Ice Bowl in Alabama, or out in Arizona during the Wild West Shootout.  Others race overseas in sprint cars and midgets.  In some cases, off season means just hustling to get things ready to go.  There really is no rest and relaxation.  Racers are a special breed, and some of us will never understand the hell they go through to do what they do.  Local racers do get more of a break during the winter time wise.  Rather you like or hate a driver, they ALL put a lot of work into what they do, and you should at least respect them for it.  I always try to let my favorite drivers know I appreciate what they do.  You should as well.