It’s become an age old question: What do you do during a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series off-weekend? Well, it’s never really and off-weekend, there’s always some form of racing on television and this weekend is no different. There’s the Nationwide Series, the Camping World Truck Series and that other racing league, the IZOD IndyCar Series. They all offer something different and fun, but it’s not quite enough. I guess we’re spoiled in that sense, we want it all, all the time.

Anyway, I thought it’d be fun to brainstorm some other activities you could partake in in the regular, non-racing world while you wait for Sprint Cup Series action to return:

1.) Write a screenplay for a NASCAR drama starring your favorite actors and actresses. I started thinking about a film with Ben Affleck as the super hot and cocky veteran driver on a losing streak and Robert Pattinson as the super hot and young rookie who’s made the jump from Formula 1 to NASCAR and is on a hot winning streak. There would of course be their love interests, Ben’s wife played by me Angelina Jolie, is super supportive but has grown tired of his ego and is on a mission to show him what it means to be a winner on and off the track. Robert’s character will be single (of course!) but will nurse a crush on the hottest female driver in NASCAR, whose already won one Nationwide Series title and is looking to score big in the Cup series, played by Blake Lively.

Clearly I’ve got the synopsis ready all someone needs to do is pay to me to finish it and we can start filming! Yee!! Actually, now that I just wrote that out I really want to see this film happen. I’d be particularly interested in the casting process. Maybe we could get George Clooney to play a team owner?? Hmm. (more…)

I didn’t attend the premiere of “Racing Dreams”, the movie I told you all to go see ASAP, but there are photos from the event in Charlotte in May and the film’s debut at the Tribeca Film Festival last year where it won Best Documentary Film. I know this is late but better late than never I always say. Plus it’s another opportunity for me to remind you guys to figure out a way to see this awesome film.

And I’ll be honest about the fact that I also enjoy getting to look at photos of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who was a producer on the film. I think I’m going to add meeting him to my list of things to do before I die. I’m serious. Have you seen his arms? Holy… Okay, I’m stopping. If you’re an AJ Allmendinger fan you’ll enjoy these pics too, he’s wearing a suit! And there’s bonus Kasey Kahne.

Go see “Racing Dreams”! And if the film isn’t showing in your area why not tell your local theater they should carry it.

(L-R) Producer Dwayne Johnson, racer Annabeth Barnes, racer Brandon Warren, racer Joshua Hobson and producer Dany Garcia attend the premiere of ‘Racing Dreams’ during the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival at SVA Theater on April 25, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)
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People always love to talk about NASCAR needs, ‘cause NASCAR always needs something, I guess. I never like writing or talking about stuff like that because I don’t think NASCAR is in a dire situation for anything. So what’s the point of talking about what would help it if I don’t think it needs help?

With that being said, if NASCAR does need something right now it would be what happened last night. David Reutimann won the LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway and while the race as a whole was kinda boring, it was pure awesomeness to see David win a race without the help of weather issues for the first time. He and his No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine team won the race fair and square. I loved seeing the emotion in his face and that of his crew chief Rodney Childers. Rodney apologized for all of his emotion while talking to the TNT crew, but he shouldn’t have. He earned that win and he should let those feelings roll, he earned it. (more…)

Meeting and interviewing Elliott Sadler, driver of the No. 19 Stanley Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports, was fun. Plain and simple fun. He’s a funny guy, very personable and clearly in love with his 5-month-old son, Wyatt. In addition to asking him those same 10 questions from ITAS, I asked him about being a new father and how, if at all, it’s changed his approach to racing.

“No,” said Elliott. “My feeling about racing has not changed at all other than I’m more determined now than ever because I don’t want my son to think I’m a failure. That’s the biggest thing. I take more things to heart. When we run bad I take it a lot worse now than when I did before he was born just because I don’t want him to think that his dad couldn’t do this or shouldn’t do this.”

When he said that I had, like, 50 internal responses going on at the same time. First, I wanted to tell him that his son is going to love him no matter what place he finishes in a race. Then at the same time I was, like, “For the love of god please let him win a race!!” It broke my heart a little bit, if I’m being honest. I wasn’t expecting him to be that candid. I know Elliott can win and maybe getting back with his former crew chief Todd Parrott will help that happen sooner than later. (more…)

Congratulations to Chandra and Jimmie Johnson on the birth of their baby girl yesterday! They’ve yet to nail down her name so for now they’re calling her “Baby J.” Since they haven’t decided yet maybe everybody should start offering unsolicited ideas. It’s so funny, the baby is here so there’s no drama about that anymore but there’s sill suspense about what her name will be. Can’t wait to find out.

Chandra and Jimmie Johnson welcomed a baby girl Wednesday, July 7 at 1:44 p.m. ET in Charlotte, NC. She weighed 6 lbs., 14 oz. and measured 19.5″ long. Dad offered that she is absolutely beautiful and affectionately referred to her as “Baby J” as the proud parents have yet to decide on a name. While commenting that sleep was at a minimum last night, he is extremely happy about getting to spend time with his girls before leaving for the race weekend in Chicago.

At Infineon I interviewed fellow Bay Area native AJ Allmendinger, asking him ten questions from Inside the Actor’s Studio and he had some good answers.

AJ drives the No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion for Richard Petty Motorsports and he was a very nice & very funny guy. There is a photo of me with AJ but I have made an executive decision to not post it for the very simple reason that I look like crap in it. My eyes were closed too. So I’m sure you all understand why I can’t post it. But wait till I post my interview with Elliott Sadler, that photo came out great. I look respectable in that one.

Without further adieu, here are AJ’s answers: (more…)