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Daytona curse?

Wasn't that a wonderful celebration with Jamie Mac on Sunday at Daytona? That young man was thrilled to win. Heck, he was thrilled just to have a Sunday ride!

Six months ago he was chopped from the Roush-Fenway team, a casualty of downsizing. Not by Jack's idea, but of NASCAR's. Anyone surprised by that? Didn't think so. Seems people took exception to the Cat in the Hat fielding five Cup teams, and all five getting into the Chase in 2005. That would have been Mark Martin, Jamie Mac, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle. Shoot, if he's got the money, I say let Jack have all the teams he can afford!

Flash forward. Jamie is pickup by his old buddy Chip Ganassi (Earnhardt Ganassi) and voila! Got a ride for 2010.

HOWEVER, Daytona winners haven't always fared well the season they hoisted that trophy. The last two winners - Kenseth and Ryan Newman - failed to make the Chase the year they took Daytona.

Then there's poor Kevin Harvick. He's a personal fave of my Lion's Club pal Homer Jimison. Happy Harvick hasn't made a trip to Victory Lane in the Cup Series SINCE winning the 2007 Daytona 500.

Furthermore...

It's been rain-shortened twice (2003 and 2009).

And in 2001, it ended with, well, you know, THAT crash.

This was the year of the pothole, making for one of the longest races we've watched - then listened to the end, because it was how many hours long? Nap-mats anyone? Honestly, you could lose a pace car in that hole.

Don't get me wrong, it was a good race, an exciting race at times, especially the end, if you lasted that long. And no, I don't believe anyone was telling their drivers to hold off and let JR pass. Puhleeze.

Seriously, there's just something about that place that bodes dark.

Yet, in an odd twist of fate, Dale Jr., who's been kind of struggling for a while, finished second. A lot of my friends, and members of the JR Nation, praised the fella for the best drive they'd seen from him in a while.

Well alrighty, then. On to Cali-forn-i-a! Yee-Haw!

Boogity, boogity, boogity - Nationwide Series on the way!

The decision has been made – someone is going to attempt to qualify in the Nationwide contest at Daytona.

The car has a sponsor, an experienced driver and qualifying is Friday.

Danica, you ask? Naw, who cares? Barboursville’s – and Herd Racing’s – Brett Rowe.

Cool looking car to enter the Drive4COPD qualifying belongs to Herd Racing. The #75 Dodge Charger hopes to charge it’s way into the NNS contest, set for Saturday at 1:15 p.m. It will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Here’s the car you’re looking for in practice Wednesday and Thursday and in qualifying on Friday.


Around West Virginia, we don’t need an explanation of the number and green and white color scheme. Although, the Daytona entry is a retro gray and black.

But for the uninformed who don't live in West Virginia, Ohio or Kentucky, or those who missed the movie, We Are Marshall, starring Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox, it dates back to a cold, rainy night in November, 1970. The number, 75, denotes the number of people who died in a plane crash that night – and airline crew, and Marshall University football players, coaches and university boosters.

Driver Brett and team owner Dana Tomes both attended Marshall University, which boasts the Thundering Herd as the team mascot and green and white as team colors.

You get it now? Herd Racing, green and white, 75. Alrighty, then. Let’s move ahead.

Brett has around 30 NNS races under his belt since entering the series in 2007, and he was the 2005 ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series champ. He’s bi-vocational, being the purchasing and sales manager at his family’s business, Imperial Bedding. And he’s also in ministry service as youth director at Roach Baptist Church.

In past Nationwide races, Herd Racing has been a really, really a local team, taking West Virginians to be his pit crew.

Proud Son of Marshall – crank it up and as DW says, “let’s go racin’!” And I add, "let's go HERD!"

Pre-season musings...

The NASCAR community is a group with a heart as big as, well, a super-speedway. And they are quick to act where they see a need.

Since the earthquake in Haiti, Richard Childress has stepped up and has been sending his planes back and forth.

The super-owner has been sending two 45-passenger Saab 2000 aircraft and flight crews and support staff to assist Missionary Flights International.

The mission, to get American citizens out of Haiti and transporting Haitian orphans to the United States.

As late a Wednesday, Hendrick planes were still on their mission, their task, their calling.

I say, “Good for you, Rick.” I guess I can pull for your drivers – a little bit – now. Stewart-Haas will just have to get over it.

Jamie McMurray has jumped into the Haiti relief effort, too. He has donated and autographed 10 firesuits and 2 leather jackets. The auction is through the NASCAR Foundation to the American Red Cross. Jamie Mac also co-hosted a special on SPEED to benefit the Haitian relief funds.
Personally, I missed the special. I’ve been glued to Anderson Cooper 360 and searching the CNN databases for the names of the children I have supported the past five years.

Auction reserves will range from $150 to $750 per item, and are being auctioned online at www.nascar.com/foundation.

Like we learned in the movie The Blind Side, sometimes you do something simply because it’s the right thing to do.


Now for the big jump. The leap of faith. The thing that just leaves me shaking my head.

Danica. She’s already like other “superstars” of racing that are identifiable by one name.
Junior.
Danica.

Yep, she’ll fit in quite nicely there, don’tcha think?
Junior and Danica sittin’ in the cars, c-o-m-p-e-a-ting. Compeating? Well, we can dream.

A couple of years ago, Junior’s step-mom Teresa the lady in black (seriously, it’s been long enough! A little pop of color in your wardrobe won’t hurt!) said the boy needed to decide what he wanted to be – a media personality or a racecar driver.

Well, here comes little Danica, a media personality who drives a racecar, too! BTW, she’s on next Wednesday’s CSI: NY at 10 p.m. on the CBS network. The pic of her with show star Gary Sinese was released from the network. I know, Cousin Carl has made TV appearances on Bill Engvall and Daddy Gordo has co-hosted Live with Regis and Kelly.


And, in the words of Mr. France or Mr. Pemberton, “let ‘em have at it!”

OK, NASCAR changed its mind one more time – shock of the year! – to let the fellas drop the gloves and come out bumping.

Seriously, a year ago, Robin Pemberton was talking about the drivers’ intentions when sheet metal touches. Now, hey, turn them loose!

At least NASCAR has come to understand that rubbin’ is racin’ and just let them go. Last season was pretty dull, you have to admit.

Who'll be the first to whine?

WWMD?

Barring disaster on the part of Jimmie Johnson, just scratch his name on the trophy. Again.

Bah, Humbug. This year's Chase for the Sprint Cup hasn't been any fun. Well, except for last week when good 'ol JJ bounced off the wall. Seriously, you don't really think NASCAR fans across the country didn't laugh either in secret or just out loud? Probably the only ones who DIDN'T chuckle at least a little were my west coast friends Laura and Roberta and all the Jimmie fans.

I'll be honest about it. I was driving back from Gallipolis, Ohio when it happened. I was at the intersection of Route 2 and the I-64 connector. It's kind of like, "Where were you when: A. Kennedy died B. Earnhardt died C. Michael Jackson died?" I'll remember that one.

And I've said all along, I'd pay $20 cash money to any driver who took out pretty-boy Johnson So, I suppose I should send Sam Hornish the payoff, er, I mean, donation to his foundation. Should I just address it: Sam Hornish, Defiance, OH 43512?

Now to the question of the day, maybe of the past 10 weeks. What would Martin do?

He could go whine to Rick Hendrick and say, "But I've been sooooo close soooo many times? Couldn't I trade Jimmie cars, just this one time? Maybe you could tell him to just go slow during the race?"

Here's a thought? "Hey, JR, if you get near the 48, could you walk him up the track into the wall? There's 20 bucks in it for you from a woman in West Virginia." That's believable. Oh, come on, you know it is - wrecking and taking out Johnson, not me sending him $20. Although I really would. Which brings about a whole other series of thoughts and questions about Junior for a later time. How many did he take out at Phoenix on Sunday, 4 or 5?

Mark could hire someone to play golf with Jimmie, no one have on a watch, "lose track of time," and keep him away from Miami Homestead on qualifying day so he'd have to start 43rd.

How about just goin' to JJ and saying, "Look pal, I deserve this. You KNOW I deserve this. Just let me win this one time. Please? (Dropping to his knees, hands clasped at his chin, eyes pleading toward heaven.) PLEEZE PLEEZE PLEEZE? I promise I'll retire for real this time."

So WWMD?

He'd be the fair-minded, clean-driving gentleman he's always been and congratulate his teammate on a good season, his 4th championship and say I'll see you on the stage at Las Vegas.

That's what Mark Martin would do. And probably will.

Did your picks make the HOF?

The votes have been tallied and the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame has been announced. I find it interesting to compare the "professionals" versus the fan-based vote.

These are the official inductees, to be enshrined May 23, 2010. The 1st class is made up of Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Junior Johnson and Richard Petty.

The fans saw it basically the same, but nearly 700,000 fans cast their ballots to The King, The Intimidator, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison and Bill France Sr.

So how did my vote stand up? Fair. I picked Big Bill, Tim Flock, Richard Childress, Benny Parsons and Junior Johnson. I still don't think family members should be individualized. They should be a group. Like the France, Petty, Earnhardt, Jarrett, Waltrip families. You get the idea.

But I will reiterate, Petty said on several occasions, he didn't think he should be in the first group. I believe there were more deserving than Earnhardt. No offense to the dead, but that seems to be more of an emotional choice.

And how were your choices?

Hold the engraving tool...

Let's not be hasty and engrave Jimmie Johnson's name on the trophy just yet. After all, it ain't over 'till the chunky boy shuts down his engine and does the final burnout.

For the last two weeks, everyone seems to have been anxious to hand over the NASCAR trophy to a clean-shaven JJ. "No body can beat him," "It's that Hendrick equipment."

Let's not forget, Mark Martin drives Hendrick equipment. Tony Stewart's car is powered by Hendrick.

So maybe Hendrick stuff WILL be a factor in the Chase.

Well, if they can pass inspections. Ooops. Chad's at it again, maybe.

If I remember my tour of the NASCAR Research and Development Center in May, a place the public isn't welcome, but the NASCAR Members Club got to see, They haul in the top 3 finishers and 1 random selection, chosen before the race begins by pole position and announced to the crew chief of that car just prior to the start.

Here's a couple of shots in the display room of the R&D Center on my trip. There's me with a Fusion that can pass inspection, well, until the whole group puts it's hands on it, kicks the tires and takes photos. If you look in the background, there's a template on a Craftsman Truck Series vehicle.

The room has templates on examples of all three series cars. This photo is just before we went to the "secret places" at the center. Where they inspect cars and the really, really inner sanctum (well, we SAW it) where those "special" parts are kept under serious lock and key.


That would make it Stewart, Gordon and Greg Biffle, plus 1. Ah, but R&D also wants Jimmie's and Mark's cars for being "periously close" to infractions last week. So, they could be taking serious looks at Hendrick.

Which doesn't surprise me. On that R&D tour, the reporter in me tried several times to get an answer to "whose cars do you see the most in a season for 'issues' relating to potential illegalities?"

He didn't outright say it, but about 10 minutes later, totally out of the blue, he said, "Say we see, oh, Hendrick cars more than other teams in a season..." Yeah, hypothetical.

I just smiled. Thanks for the round-about answer.

We'll see what comes next for Hendrick and the boys. Now, remember, Tony's driving Hendrick engines. So, he's in the bunch, too.

Back to the Chase.

Call me sentimental, but Martin deserves the trophy - for sheer stick-to-it-ivness if nothing else. Come on, the dude's 50 years old and if he was a little taller, I bet he could whup up on Cousin Carl. I don't think 5'3" can truly stand up to Carl at 6'1". Heck, Carl's arms probably have a wingspan close to Mark's total height. But Carl IS on crutches with a broken accelerator foot.

Nevertheless. Back to Hendrick stuff.

Being honest, Jeff "dad-o" Gordon has been pretty quiet all season. And Junior. Well, Junior's a part of the team, but not a contender. Sorry JR Nation, he's had one more tough year. Seems like a nice guy, has fair business sense and two really cool dogs. That's Stroker Ace - like the movie - at the window. If you look deep inside the truck cab, there is the famous Killer, with his back turned toward the camera. I guess he's shy.

I judge a man by the dog-company he keeps. How that explains my affinity for Tony, I don't understand. Little ankle biting, yapping chihuahuas.


So, do I think Hendrick will be on the stage in December. Yes. Which way, I don't know. Personally, I'm pulling for Tony out loud. What a story that would be, although last Tuesday he said it isn't quite what Alan Kulwicki accomplished in 1992 with a team built from scratch. Tony came in to an already established team. But it would still be cool.


Johnson, Gordon, Martin, Stewart. My money is on at least one of them inscribed on the trophy. But if you look at the photo, you can see where my heart lies.