I was watching the practice sessions at Texas Motor Speedway today and ESPN put up a segment dedicated to the creation and evolution of their Draft Track technology. While I have the deepest respect for the people who made this stuff possible, if I’m being honest I have to say that it’s not that useful. I’m sorry.
I understand how the draft works, that’s enough for me. I don’t need to “see the draft” to know it’s there. Sometimes I think networks come up with stuff hoping that we as fans are going to fall all over ourselves to tell them how fabulous it is, and in this instance I can’t do it. Stick with the in-car cameras. I love seeing the drivers hands on the wheel turning left and right, and their feet pushing the gas and the brake. Show how bumpy the ride really is, they’re not driving around in a Lexus ya know.
I’d rather they put together great stories about people instead of showing me what wind looks like in color. Go ask Carl Edwards about his engagement. Ask Casey Mears and Sam Hornish Jr. what it’s been like to be a new father this year.
And for the record when I saw Carl and Jimmie Johnson talking in the garage during today’s practice session coverage I knew Jimmie was congratulating Carl on his engagement. When I saw Carl say “Thank you, thank you” I knew it. Yes, I read lips. 
In other news…
– Jeff Gordon scored his first-ever pole at Texas Motor Speedway today. That’s awesome and I truly hope he can overcome his bad luck in Texas and come out a winner this time around.
– I found out that I’ve received media credentials to the Phoenix race weekend next week, which is awesome. However, I lost my day job due to our crap economy and so I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to go which hurts my heart more than you can ever know. Of course the “I Love Lucy” area of my brain (there’s gotta be a way I can still get in the show!) is working overtime trying to figure out a way to make it work, but I wouldn’t bet on it producing any viable plans.
– This just popped into my head: things that I’m excited about for next year’s NASCAR season. Namely, Scott Speed and Joey Logano in the Sprint Cup Series full-time. I think they’ll be fun to watch and talk about. That’s pretty much it. Oh and David Stremme will be back too! Yay Stremme!
Brad Keselowski focuses in practice Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. A NASCAR Nationwide Series regular, Keselowski qualified 37th for Sunday’s Dickies 500 as he’ll make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut. (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Sitting in second in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Carl Edwards straps into his car during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. Edwards was third-fastest in practice and qualified 16th for Sunday’s Dickies 500 at the track. (Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Here’s some stuff you should know about, if you don’t already:
– Jamie McMurray’s paint scheme for this weekend’s Dickies 500 serves as a reminder to all NASCAR fans that they need to get crackin’ if they want to be the latest winner of the Crown Royal ‘Your Name Here 400′ Contest. Just think, your name could be title sponsor of the May 2009 Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway:
Before Nov. 21, fans 21 years old and over can visit www.CrownRoyal.com to enter the contest by describing an accomplishment or honorable act worthy of toasting with Crown Royal. Selected finalists will enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip in February to the Daytona 500 where they will participate in an unveiling ceremony to announce the ‘Your Name Here 400′ grand prize winner.
In addition to having their name officially incorporated into the race, the grand prize winner will serve as the Grand Marshal in Richmond — allowing them to do everything from delivering the trophy in Victory Lane to yelling the most famous words in racing, “Gentlemen, start your engines!”
– Most Popular Driver voting ends today for the Nationwide Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. Submit your vote today before it’s too late!
– A man bid over $15,000 to take three high-speed laps around Lowe’s Motor Speedway with Dale Earnhardt Jr. proving that men love Dale Jr. just as much as women do:
When the auctions closed Oct. 3, Thomas Mendiburu from New Jersey had won the ride-of-a-lifetime with Dale Jr. for three warp-speed laps around Lowe’s Motor Speedway with a winning bid of more than $15,000! Wrangler® flew the generous high bidder to Charlotte for two days of unforgettable NASCAR experiences. Not only did he strap in for the 170-mph ride with Dale Jr. – Wrangler® also gave Mendiburu a glimpse of life in the driver’s seat when experts from the Richard Petty Driving Experience taught him to drive a racecar before letting him cruise around the track once again…this time as the driver!
The cool thing about all of this is that the entire Dale Jr./Wrangler auction raised $17, 475 for the Victory Junction Gang camp. Niice.
– Brian Vickers showed off his new digs in SoHo to the New York Times. Apparently the Big Apple bug bit him after former teammate Jeff Gordon extolled its awesomeness. Check out the accompanying photo gallery of his zen, modern bachelor pad!
– Interested in watching more funny videos from the Americans for a Gunk-Free Nation campaign? Check out the debate and a very interesting interview with Gunk. Yes, I said they’ve got an interview with Gunk.
‘Cause he just tells it like it is.
Apparently the new “in” thing is to call for changes to the Chase format. Whatever. You can’t build in suspense, no matter what you do someone can always run away with it.
It was great that Carl Edwards won at Atlanta this weekend. What wasn’t great was that it didn’t really matter. I still have hope that something amazing will happen, but I can see the writing on the wall just like everybody else. It makes me want to puke.
But it didn’t keep me from wondering out loud to myself why Tony Eury Jr. can’t be more like Chad Knaus. Have you ever wondered what Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s career would be like if he had Chad as his crew chief? Hmmm??
So here’s my suggestion on how to make the Chase better for next year: All of the race teams, that aren’t the 48, need to get BETTER!
Driver David Stremme checks out times during Friday’s practice at Memphis. (Photo Credit: Dak Dillon for NASCAR)
So cute!
Sam Hornish Jr. driver of the #77 Mobil 1 Dodge with his Daughter Addison before practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on October 24, 2008 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Marc Davis waits for his turn to qualify Saturday at Memphis Motorsports Park. Davis will start from the fourth position. (Photo Credit: Dak Dillon for NASCAR)
Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet, talks with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Courtesy Hendrick Motorsports)
Apparently it was beanie day for a couple of the Hendrick drivers.
Casey Mears, driver of the No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet, started 22nd and finished 12th in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Courtesy Hendrick Motorsports)
Jeff Burton, driver of the #31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet, stands on the grid with wife Kim and daughter Paige, during the national anthem sung by “American Idol” alum and Atlanta resident Michael Johns Sunday before the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)
So there went yet another qualifying session called off due to rain. This is so crazy. I guess at this point in the season it’s not such a big deal, at least to me, because it puts the top 12 drivers in the Chase up front and right next to each other at the start of the race. I think that makes the race more interesting at least for the first few laps.
I was able to catch a portion of the qualifying session coverage on ESPN2 and I watched a segment devoted to Jeff Gordon and his career. I found it kind of odd to be completely honest with you. I was starting to wonder if he had suddenly announced his retirement and I had just missed it in the news somehow. He was talking about how his career and life in racing has changed over the years, about where he is with it all now. It just seemed like they were laying down the groundwork for him to start to make his way out. I know he’s getting there, but it seems a little premature to start humming his swan song.
For the second time, rain has dashed driver Joey Logano’s hopes of starting in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Logano was going to qualify for Sunday’s Pep Boys Auto 500, but rain cancelled qualifying and the field was set by owner points. (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Ken Schrader, driver of the No. 96 DLP HDTV Toyota, goes through Tech Inspection before practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday. Schrader will start Sunday’s race in 40th position (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Johnny Benson and Ron Hornaday Jr. joked with each other at a news conference Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but on the track, the two veteran drivers are battling for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
I have some homework for you and I recommend that you do it right now. Not because it’ll enhance your life but mostly because it’s super fun!
I’ve been playing with the ESPN Results Simulator for the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship for the past 2 hours and I love it. You get to try out different race result scenarios for the upcoming race.
I immediately dropped Jimmie Johnson way in the back in the 43rd position and set it up so that Jeff Burton, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards finished first, second and third at this weekend’s race in Atlanta. With that finish in place it would push Jimmie back to second, 4 points behind Jeff Burton. Hehe. I looove it. And get this, when the race is on this weekend you can go into Live Race Mode and see how your predictions stack up in real time. I know my little race simulation isn’t super plausible but it makes me happy and that’s all that matters.
One really funny thing about the simulator is that when I picked up Jimmie and placed him in 43rd he said, “You’re a really negative person aren’t you?”
In other news…
– To prove that I’m not a negative person and that I do actually like Jimmie in general I’m posting this video from ESPN The Magazine’s “For Love Or The Game” feature. Let’s find out who knows Jimmie better: his wife Chandra or his crew chief Chad Knaus.
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