Ryan Newman awake, speaking after Daytona 500 crash
Showing posts with label Daytona 500. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daytona 500. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Monday, February 17, 2014
Girl Power
With good reason, Richard Petty is affectionately known as The King, both for his second to none performance on the track during his career, inclusive of seven Daytona 500 wins, but due to his decades of ambassadorship for the sport of NASCAR off the track.
Off the track, Petty made sure he never missed signing an autograph for an adoring fan, and has been a help to anyone who asked for it around the garage area.
As a kid, I considered Petty, racing in his famed Petty Blue 43 STP Pontiac, a hero, and with that in mind, placed him in the inaugural Hall of BAHL class. I have had a handful of personal experiences with King Richard, and he has always been as advertised; friendly and approachable.
As we prepare for Speedweeks 2014 at Daytona, Petty sort of stepped in this past week in negative comments he made about Danica Patrick, the only female driver on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
While Danica Patrick took the high road in response to Petty's comments, many media outlets have called Petty out, even hitting him with the term sexist.
Petty commented when asked if Patrick could win on the circuit said "only if everyone else stayed home" and that her popularity was a "female deal". Certainly, while we know Petty to be a good natured good ole boy who would not seek out an opportunity to launch personal attacks, he is off target with these comments and should be called to task on them.
In two separate stories, writers at The Orlando Sentinel sure did, with lead sports columnist Mike Bianchi calling Petty a hypocrite.
Bianchi, for once, has a point. While Patrick is taking all the advantages that come from being the only female driver, coupled with outstanding looks, this is nothing other drivers would not do if given the chance. As Bianchi points our, the Petty name carried a lot of weight for Kyle as his career emerged. Others have benefited from having the "name", from Dale Earnhardt Jr to Chase Elliott.
Some drivers have their own sponsors, which get them rides they may have secured on their own driving abilities. Paul Menard comes to mind.
None of the above mentioned drivers are poor racers. To the contrary, but they take advantage of the cards they are dealt. I call that capitalism, something my fellow republican Petty should well recognize.
Is Danica Patrick the second coming of Buddy Baker? Heavens no.
But is she a skilled driver who continues to practice her craft seeking to incrementally improve as she adds seat time. While she has had issues, she did win the pole for the 2013 Daytona 500, finishing eighth in her #10 Go Daddy Chevrolet. She gets collected in wrecks more than the average racer, but few seem to be her fault. There are some tracks she could potentially win on, but there are 10-15 drivers in the field every race that, save restrictor plate racing, have virtually no shot to win.
The King would have been much better off to keep these thoughts, which he is welcome to, to himself. Petty rarely makes the wrong call around the race track, but this time, I think he did.
Maybe Petty was being a sport for NASCAR to stir up some controversy, as ticket sales continue to slump. It would be grand if Danica pulled the Go Daddy Chevrolet for Stewart Hass Racing into victory lane on after The Great American Race on Sunday.
I will be there watching.
 |
| Richard Petty |
As a kid, I considered Petty, racing in his famed Petty Blue 43 STP Pontiac, a hero, and with that in mind, placed him in the inaugural Hall of BAHL class. I have had a handful of personal experiences with King Richard, and he has always been as advertised; friendly and approachable.
As we prepare for Speedweeks 2014 at Daytona, Petty sort of stepped in this past week in negative comments he made about Danica Patrick, the only female driver on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
 |
| Danica Patrick |
Petty commented when asked if Patrick could win on the circuit said "only if everyone else stayed home" and that her popularity was a "female deal". Certainly, while we know Petty to be a good natured good ole boy who would not seek out an opportunity to launch personal attacks, he is off target with these comments and should be called to task on them.
In two separate stories, writers at The Orlando Sentinel sure did, with lead sports columnist Mike Bianchi calling Petty a hypocrite.
Bianchi, for once, has a point. While Patrick is taking all the advantages that come from being the only female driver, coupled with outstanding looks, this is nothing other drivers would not do if given the chance. As Bianchi points our, the Petty name carried a lot of weight for Kyle as his career emerged. Others have benefited from having the "name", from Dale Earnhardt Jr to Chase Elliott.
Some drivers have their own sponsors, which get them rides they may have secured on their own driving abilities. Paul Menard comes to mind.
None of the above mentioned drivers are poor racers. To the contrary, but they take advantage of the cards they are dealt. I call that capitalism, something my fellow republican Petty should well recognize.
Is Danica Patrick the second coming of Buddy Baker? Heavens no.
But is she a skilled driver who continues to practice her craft seeking to incrementally improve as she adds seat time. While she has had issues, she did win the pole for the 2013 Daytona 500, finishing eighth in her #10 Go Daddy Chevrolet. She gets collected in wrecks more than the average racer, but few seem to be her fault. There are some tracks she could potentially win on, but there are 10-15 drivers in the field every race that, save restrictor plate racing, have virtually no shot to win.
 |
| 2014 The Great American Race Daytona 500 |
Maybe Petty was being a sport for NASCAR to stir up some controversy, as ticket sales continue to slump. It would be grand if Danica pulled the Go Daddy Chevrolet for Stewart Hass Racing into victory lane on after The Great American Race on Sunday.
I will be there watching.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
High Stakes on the High Banks
Speedweeks 2014 over at The World Center of Racing has begun.
A week from today, the week culminates with the 58th running of The Great American Race, the Daytona 500.
Come getcha some!
A week from today, the week culminates with the 58th running of The Great American Race, the Daytona 500.
Come getcha some!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
No War On Women At Daytona
During the last election campaign, we were led to believe by the Obama campaign and the mainstream media that Republicans were waging a war on women. Obviously, as usual with this group who seek to demonize, ridicule and discredit their opponents, nothing could be further from the truth.
That does not mean they were not successful in creating the false narrative. In threatening a potential domestic policy described as limiting to women with respect to health care issues, women became terrified of a retracement of women's rights eclipsing reality. The left, with a complicit media assisting, were relentless in their attack on the issue, which was personalized for many women.
Although the right is certainly against abortion, the base of these attacks were outside of that argument, utilizing an orchestrated attack on contraception, starting from a seemingly out of left field question to GOP primary contender Mitt Romney. It is recognized that there is a divide with respect to abortion between many women who hold their right to chose dear and those who think the rights of choice end when a human life is conceived. A Mitt Romney victory could not immediately impact the abortion debate, although it was presented it could.
Knowing the falsity of the attacks, the right was somewhat bewildered on why the left would keep running with this seemingly non existent issue. We had the misfortune of being introduced to Sandra Fluke, and got a very strange campaign ad from a television star few had heard of.
As we examined the aftermath of the re-election of Barack Obama, we found that this false issue actually resonated with women voters. Polling shows that women were much more concerned about getting contraception, with several options reasonably priced at retail outlets such as Wal-Mart (WMT:NYSE), than losing gainful employment, watching their housing values plummet, rising gas prices and a declining standard of living.
Welcome to the low information voter, or ones who cannot decipher the truth amongst the waves of propaganda.
There is no war on women from the right, and we champion women with great respect. They are our grandmothers, our mothers, wives, daughters, girlfriends, friends, bosses and co-workers, neighbors, customers and teammates. They are leaders, champions, and competitors who provide a necessary guidance in all of our lives. In one of my employment capacities, the director of the department is a woman. We could not and would not want to live without women.
Women play vital roles in the fabric of society. It was women who led the way in the formation of the Tea Party, as noted in a recent column. Women also excel in inventions and innovation, noted in recent years by Sara Blakely, a fellow graduate of The Florida State University, who invented a "body shaping" innovative product in undergarments called Spanx, now a billion dollar operation.
All Americans should champion the success of women, as their success is our success.
Today, another opportunity exists to celebrate women as Danica Patrick won the pole position for the 55th running of The Great American Race; the Daytona 500. Patrick recorded the fastest time in her Stewart Haas #10 Go Daddy Chevrolet and became the first female to win a pole for a NASCAR race.
Congratulations Danica! Good luck running the high banks when they put the field under green on Sunday. No war on women. We will be at Daytona International Speedway, a place with scarce liberal infiltration, Thursday and Sunday, cheering you on!
That does not mean they were not successful in creating the false narrative. In threatening a potential domestic policy described as limiting to women with respect to health care issues, women became terrified of a retracement of women's rights eclipsing reality. The left, with a complicit media assisting, were relentless in their attack on the issue, which was personalized for many women.
Although the right is certainly against abortion, the base of these attacks were outside of that argument, utilizing an orchestrated attack on contraception, starting from a seemingly out of left field question to GOP primary contender Mitt Romney. It is recognized that there is a divide with respect to abortion between many women who hold their right to chose dear and those who think the rights of choice end when a human life is conceived. A Mitt Romney victory could not immediately impact the abortion debate, although it was presented it could.
Knowing the falsity of the attacks, the right was somewhat bewildered on why the left would keep running with this seemingly non existent issue. We had the misfortune of being introduced to Sandra Fluke, and got a very strange campaign ad from a television star few had heard of.
As we examined the aftermath of the re-election of Barack Obama, we found that this false issue actually resonated with women voters. Polling shows that women were much more concerned about getting contraception, with several options reasonably priced at retail outlets such as Wal-Mart (WMT:NYSE), than losing gainful employment, watching their housing values plummet, rising gas prices and a declining standard of living.
Welcome to the low information voter, or ones who cannot decipher the truth amongst the waves of propaganda.
There is no war on women from the right, and we champion women with great respect. They are our grandmothers, our mothers, wives, daughters, girlfriends, friends, bosses and co-workers, neighbors, customers and teammates. They are leaders, champions, and competitors who provide a necessary guidance in all of our lives. In one of my employment capacities, the director of the department is a woman. We could not and would not want to live without women.
Women play vital roles in the fabric of society. It was women who led the way in the formation of the Tea Party, as noted in a recent column. Women also excel in inventions and innovation, noted in recent years by Sara Blakely, a fellow graduate of The Florida State University, who invented a "body shaping" innovative product in undergarments called Spanx, now a billion dollar operation.
All Americans should champion the success of women, as their success is our success.
Today, another opportunity exists to celebrate women as Danica Patrick won the pole position for the 55th running of The Great American Race; the Daytona 500. Patrick recorded the fastest time in her Stewart Haas #10 Go Daddy Chevrolet and became the first female to win a pole for a NASCAR race.
Congratulations Danica! Good luck running the high banks when they put the field under green on Sunday. No war on women. We will be at Daytona International Speedway, a place with scarce liberal infiltration, Thursday and Sunday, cheering you on!
 |
| Danica Patrick wins Daytona 500 pole positon. |
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Smoke Stands On It!
Lead, follow or get out of the way!
In what has to be one of the best races ever, Tony Stewart held off Carl Edwards to win the 2011 Sprint Cup Chase.
Congratulations to Tony Stewart, who drove the absolute wheels off his Office Depot Chevrolet Impala. Carl Edwards, classy in defeat in his AFLAC Ford, did everything he could but Smoke was not to be denied keeping the floorboard mashed all day.
PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
It was a great race put on by Edwards and Stewart; one for the ages!
Lead, follow or get out the way! Can't wait for the Daytona 500 on February 26, 2012!
In what has to be one of the best races ever, Tony Stewart held off Carl Edwards to win the 2011 Sprint Cup Chase.
Congratulations to Tony Stewart, who drove the absolute wheels off his Office Depot Chevrolet Impala. Carl Edwards, classy in defeat in his AFLAC Ford, did everything he could but Smoke was not to be denied keeping the floorboard mashed all day.
PHOTO/GETTY IMAGESIt was a great race put on by Edwards and Stewart; one for the ages!
Lead, follow or get out the way! Can't wait for the Daytona 500 on February 26, 2012!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Horror on the High Banks
Ten years ago this past February, NASCAR and millions of fans lost legendary seven time NASCAR Champion Dale Earnhardt in a crash on turn four of the high banks during the running of The Great American Race, The Daytona 500.
A group of us found out the devastating news in a limo heading back to Orlando from the race, which was won by winless Michael Waltrip, who was driving a Chevrolet owned by Earnhardt's team, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. Earnhardt's crash did not look all that bad to our naked eye up in the grandstands, however a wild crash on the Superstretch involving Tony Stewart looked like a crash with the potential to create a serious injury.
Like many NASCAR fans, the loss of Dale Earnhardt was a crushing blow to many inside the sport, including Kenny Schrader, Sterling Marlin of course Dale Earnhardt, Jr , and even the NASCAR corporate family. A staggering loss indeed.
But, perhaps the crash had the most negative effect on Michael Waltrip, who Dale was blocking for at the time of the crash, which was coming out of turn four on the final lap. Waltrip, whose older brother Darrell is a NASCAR Champion and FOX Commentator, seemed fine, having won a second 500 and a Pepsi 400 in the following years, as I witnessed pictured below,
and form his own racing team, which after a slow start, is most competitive with drivers Martin Truex, Jr and David Reutimann, and has won a few races.
A group of us found out the devastating news in a limo heading back to Orlando from the race, which was won by winless Michael Waltrip, who was driving a Chevrolet owned by Earnhardt's team, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. Earnhardt's crash did not look all that bad to our naked eye up in the grandstands, however a wild crash on the Superstretch involving Tony Stewart looked like a crash with the potential to create a serious injury.
Like many NASCAR fans, the loss of Dale Earnhardt was a crushing blow to many inside the sport, including Kenny Schrader, Sterling Marlin of course Dale Earnhardt, Jr , and even the NASCAR corporate family. A staggering loss indeed.
But, perhaps the crash had the most negative effect on Michael Waltrip, who Dale was blocking for at the time of the crash, which was coming out of turn four on the final lap. Waltrip, whose older brother Darrell is a NASCAR Champion and FOX Commentator, seemed fine, having won a second 500 and a Pepsi 400 in the following years, as I witnessed pictured below,
and form his own racing team, which after a slow start, is most competitive with drivers Martin Truex, Jr and David Reutimann, and has won a few races. But Waltrip was still hurting, and it appears the writing of this book has helped him come full circle in dealing with the incredible highs and lows of that tragic day for all of us in Daytona that day.
Glenn Beck, who is not a sports guy, attended the Daytona 500 this past year, which was the 10th anniversary of Earnhardts death. Beck and his family had a blast, but Beck did not get a chance to meet Micheal Waltrip. Beck was aware of the his story, and was pulling for him in the race until a crash took out the #15.
Today, on Beck's national syndicated radio program, he had a chance to visit with Michael and discuss the book. The range of emotions Waltrip suffered through that day is something most of us will not have to bear, but hearing how he worked his way through it is most compelling. Take a listen:
I hope you will join me in wishing Michael Waltrip the best, and cheering for him when he races again on the Superspeedway in Talladega in late April.
Glenn Beck, who is not a sports guy, attended the Daytona 500 this past year, which was the 10th anniversary of Earnhardts death. Beck and his family had a blast, but Beck did not get a chance to meet Micheal Waltrip. Beck was aware of the his story, and was pulling for him in the race until a crash took out the #15.
Today, on Beck's national syndicated radio program, he had a chance to visit with Michael and discuss the book. The range of emotions Waltrip suffered through that day is something most of us will not have to bear, but hearing how he worked his way through it is most compelling. Take a listen:
I hope you will join me in wishing Michael Waltrip the best, and cheering for him when he races again on the Superspeedway in Talladega in late April.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Ethanol Eating Away Propserity
It certainly seems that is the case. During the 2008 campaign, video surfaced of Obama commenting that under his plan, energy prices would "necessarily skyrocket". Immediately upon taking office, Obama suspended oil and gas leases previously granted by the Bush administration. The handling of the Gulf Oil spill was juvenile, and just last week the first permit was granted to begin drilling again in the area.
The administration took initiative under the financial crisis to take over car companies and dictate to them to build cars that move away from high consumption of oil and gasoline. It has not been successful, as the love affair with the automobile is another piece of American exceptionalism Obama does not recognize.
No worries though. Corn based Ethanol is here and is a significant player in reducing our energy independence of foreign countries, which will culminate in lower gas prices.
Even the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR, is on board.
Even though NASCAR is all thrilled with themselves for being a corporate leader in going green, there are issues, and they go far beyond the high banks.
At the Daytona 500, Glenn Beck had a chance to speak with NASCAR President Mike Helton and spent time with the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 88 Chevrolet Mountain Dew team, pole sitter for The Great American Race.
While visiting with Steve Latarte and the crew of the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his 88 Chevrolet team, Beck found out that the team is experiencing a 12% decrease in gas mileage in testing thus far in 2011. This does not sound good.
The government has admitted that cars built before 2007 may have issues with the gas. Maybe the only way Obama thinks he can pry us from our muscle cars is to destroy the engines with ethanol?
Furthermore, there is compelling evidence that the ethanol based gas is creating a real problem for small engines, like lawn mower and weed eaters. Although I can attest to this personally, The Orlando ABC affiliate WFTV-Channel 9, recently had a very troubling report on the impact of ethanol on these small engines.
Rather than using our own supply of oil as we turn the private sector loose on the challenge of discovering cost effective fossil fuel substitutes, we have taken to using our own food supply to fuel our thirst for oil by using corn based ethanol. Do you suspect food prices might rise in response to this development?
Indeed. While this is a welcomed development for all my Cornhusker farmer friends in Nebraska, unfortunately, rising food prices across the globe is having a rather nasty residual. One of the reasons we have seen an uprising in the middle east is due to a sharp rise in food prices in nations who already had significant economic difficulty.
Even though government is involved, could it be possible the use of ethanol has lowered oil and gas prices? Click on the chart below for a closer look to the answer you already know.
Even Van Jones, a smart left wing Communist who I rarely if ever agree with, has issues with corn based ethanol.
Certainly, taking a hard look at possible counterparts to oil is applauded, but forcing corn based ethanol down the throats of American citizens is not sound economic or moral thinking. With our economy barely standing, we cannot be so stupid as to burn up our own food supply, destroying carburetor engines and raising the costs of the food along the way, in order to quench our thirst for oil when all we have to do is Drill Baby Drill.
Or can we?
While visiting with Steve Latarte and the crew of the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his 88 Chevrolet team, Beck found out that the team is experiencing a 12% decrease in gas mileage in testing thus far in 2011. This does not sound good.
The government has admitted that cars built before 2007 may have issues with the gas. Maybe the only way Obama thinks he can pry us from our muscle cars is to destroy the engines with ethanol?
Furthermore, there is compelling evidence that the ethanol based gas is creating a real problem for small engines, like lawn mower and weed eaters. Although I can attest to this personally, The Orlando ABC affiliate WFTV-Channel 9, recently had a very troubling report on the impact of ethanol on these small engines.
Rather than using our own supply of oil as we turn the private sector loose on the challenge of discovering cost effective fossil fuel substitutes, we have taken to using our own food supply to fuel our thirst for oil by using corn based ethanol. Do you suspect food prices might rise in response to this development?
Indeed. While this is a welcomed development for all my Cornhusker farmer friends in Nebraska, unfortunately, rising food prices across the globe is having a rather nasty residual. One of the reasons we have seen an uprising in the middle east is due to a sharp rise in food prices in nations who already had significant economic difficulty.
Even though government is involved, could it be possible the use of ethanol has lowered oil and gas prices? Click on the chart below for a closer look to the answer you already know.
Even Van Jones, a smart left wing Communist who I rarely if ever agree with, has issues with corn based ethanol.Certainly, taking a hard look at possible counterparts to oil is applauded, but forcing corn based ethanol down the throats of American citizens is not sound economic or moral thinking. With our economy barely standing, we cannot be so stupid as to burn up our own food supply, destroying carburetor engines and raising the costs of the food along the way, in order to quench our thirst for oil when all we have to do is Drill Baby Drill.
Or can we?
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday Night Song
As we look back this weekend on the 10th anniversary of the crash that took the life of Dale Earnhardt during the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, we think of the many memories we all share.
In that regard, tonights Sunday Night Song is Garth Brooks and The Dance, performed live as a tribute to The Intimidator at the 2001 NASCAR awards ceremony.
In that regard, tonights Sunday Night Song is Garth Brooks and The Dance, performed live as a tribute to The Intimidator at the 2001 NASCAR awards ceremony.
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