Re-Run

This is an image of what the vast majority of NASCAR fans dream of. I'm not a Johnson hater but I too am discouraged. I actually believe that NASCAR's TV ratings will fall even more if Johnson continues to win races. I read many forums last night after the race and fans as a whole are not happy. My own wife won't even sit to watch a race anymore, she was in another room watching Lifetime movies. This from a woman who used to jump up and down in the living room, now she won't even bat an eyelash. As soon as I saw Harvick scrape the wall with 2 laps to go I took the dog for a walk.

His win yesterday was pure luck. Something he has had time and time again. He did not have the best car in the field. Funny how many think it's a conspiracy.. NASCAR conspire ?? nah! But much of it is just pure good luck.

So we brush ourselves off and hope somebody new wins at Vegas.

Good PR

Credit: Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Toyota's recent woes have not effected TRD. The not so happy Logano pulled off a fifth place finish sliding through the infield and across the finish line as his team mate and fellow Toyota driver, Kyle Busch (no surprise there), takes the checker at the Nationwide ACS race. Although, in Fontana tradition, Logano dominated the race with somewhere around 100 laps led. The final lap was pretty exciting with The Biff tapping Logano's bumper and taking the lead. Busch just had more muscle in the end with Toyota's horsepower and beat Biffle out in a drag race down the final stretch with Keselowski running a close third. The kid I'm watching towards the future is Justin Allgaier.

Steve and Charlie

From my desktop in Upstate NY I can tune into Toledo's finest radio show "On Pit Row". It's broadcast live on Tuesday's from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Steve and Charlie do an outstanding job. I tuned in this past Tuesday to listen to NASCAR Legend Bobby Allison. Somehow these guys managed to get Bobby on the phone, but I must say that it was the most comfortable laid back conversation I've heard. Bobby seemed to feel right at home and I felt like I was right there with them. This is in part due to the live interaction they provide with their Facebook page. Here I listened and left comments on Facebook that were answered live by the guys. One can also call in on 800-645-2946. It's really a fantastic gig these guys have. Thanks Steve and Charlie.

Here we go... from the most highly anticipated week in NASCAR, Daytona, to the hum drum of Hollywood. Boring!! These mile and a half flat tracks are like driving on interstate I-95 although without a speed limit. It's like watching the Pied Piper because whoever takes the lead early on seems to stay there for the entire race while the rest of the field falls in behind... tune in for the pre-race and listen to Styx then come back in two hours to watch the final laps. You'll have a much more productive Sunday. NASCAR needs a track like Bristol in a warmer climate zone.

Twists

Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR
NASCAR Media



Rules change, some benefit, some flounder and the commonly heard cliche' "it's anybody's race" could not have been more prevalent in the 52nd running of The Great American Race. New rules and Mother Nature helped determine the outcome but with a final push from The Biff, McMurray held on to the lead nudging out Dale Jr.

The emotions McMurray demonstrated in Victory Lane were anything but subtle, emotions Jr. Nation were experiencing for the opposite reason. I don't fault Jamie for this and in fact it was a nice feel good finish, but I felt his embarrassment he'll undoubtedly feel when the excitement wears off. Melodramatic but characteristic of McMurray.

I found the race to be decent with plenty of excitement, mostly from the continuous lead changes. The pot holes... well those nasty things played a big role in the outcome albeit causing delays that nearly put me to sleep. Repaving is on the agenda and the old girl may never be the same. Perhaps, as Carl Edwards stated, they can repave the track with a rough surface.

On to L.A.

Same Ole'

Photo credit NASCAR Media

I suppose I too am entitled as a member of NASCAR Media to prolong the agony on the overwhelming coverage Danica Patrick has received. I made up my mind last week not to write about her due to this tsunami, but the hyped up anticipation of her Nationwide debut and the not so surprising early demise to her day has prompted me to at least say... I knew it. But I must add that up until she was taken out just past the halfway point she ran quite well. She avoided another crash very early and like last weeks ARCA race proved she can drive a stock car. Beyond all this I especially liked her post crash interview. She was very honest and seemed content even though her day was over. Danica... welcome to NASCAR.

The Nationwide race was fantastic... at least in my humble opinion. I lost count of the number of lead changes, but they were numerous and record breaking ?? Tony Stewart winning was no surprise but the action was ( I even enjoyed watching Dale Jr. in his acrobatic crash, but thoughts of his dad entered my mind as I watched his car get tossed like a rag doll ). It was not the boring restrictor plate racing we were forced to endure in the past... it was racing !! Will today's 500 prove as exciting ?

Who to watch today... Harvick, Stewart, Newman and my dark horse pick... Paul Menard, even though daddy's money paid for his spot.

Back at the cottage... Happy Valentine's Day and enjoy the race with your sweetheart... I will be.

Bud Shutout

Kudos to Harvick.

His domination has me questioning the larger restrictor plate. It's almost like there was no change and all cars were created equal. The draft was stagnant although at 190 plus mph, still no one could get around him... how many lead changes... what 5 or 6? And only briefly. Could it actually be that RCR nailed this and we'll see Harvick in Victory Lane next Sunday ? That's a feel good story, but what follows throughout the season remains.