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.

And don’t forget to re-read my Inside the Actor’s Studio interview with David. hehe.

In other news…

– At race time yesterday Jimmie and Chandra Johnson had yet to announce the name of their new baby girl, but today they finally shared her name, Genevieve Marie Johnson, along with a picture of the cutie pahtootie newborn. Raise your hand if you have the same middle name as Genevieve. I do! I do!

– 20-year-old Austin Dillon, grandson of team owner Richard Childress, won his first career NASCAR race today in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 200 at Iowa Speedway. Congratulations Austin! Who doesn’t love a first-time winner?

They’re hugging like this because they’re friends in real life.

Actor Angie Harmon greets Jimmie Johnson, driver of the Lowe’s Chevrolet during driver introductions for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LIFELOCK.COM 400 at the Chicagoland Speedway on July 10, 2010 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)

“Big Mac”, love that.

Jamie McMurray waits for the race action to begin for the LifeLock.com 400 race at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL.

Austin Dillon, driver of the Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet poses with his little brother Ty Dillon, driver of the Karl Chevrolet Arca car after both of them won the pole awards at Iowa Speedway on July 10, 2010 in Newton, Iowa. Austin won the pole award after qualifying first for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 200 and Ty won the pole award for the ARCA Prairie 200. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)

Carl Edwards and his mother, Nancy Sterlin, during pre-race ceremonies for the Dollar General 300 race at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL.

David Ragan (6) during practice for the LifeLock.com 400 race at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL.

Kevin Harvick, driver of the Jimmy John’s Chevrolet and his wife DeLana stand for the National Anthem during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 Powered by Coca-Cola at the Chicagoland Speedway on July 9, 2010 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Reed Sorenson, driver of the Red Bull Toyota looks on from the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LIFELOCK.COM 400 at the Chicagoland Speedway on July 9, 2010 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Clint Bowyer, driver of the Cheerios Chevrolet looks on from the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LIFELOCK.COM 400 at the Chicagoland Speedway on July 9, 2010 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Duncan Keith of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks gives the command for the drivers to start their engines during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LIFELOCK.COM 400 at the Chicagoland Speedway on July 10, 2010 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Something I hadn’t realized about the garage at Infineon is how perfect it is before the cars roll out for the first practice session of the day. Infineon’s garage stalls are all in one long row. You walk a straight line and you get to see everyone. This is especially eerie when all the drivers are sitting in their cars with their visors up just waiting for the call to drive out to the track.

It’s the only time when they’re basically a captive audience. You could jump out in front of their cars and do a little dance or hold up a big sign saying whatever you want and they have to watch because they can’t go anywhere. I didn’t do a little dance, I just tried to take pictures but I recommend that if you’re going to get a garage pass make sure it’s on a day when the guys are practicing. It’s the best time.

At one point I went down to the pit area behind the garage, next to turn 11 and found a wall of crew chiefs. Because a portion of the garage stalls overlook the track, and there are windows, crew chiefs pop their heads out to check on their drivers. At each window there was a different crew chief, from Alan Gustafson to Steve Addington to Todd Berrier to Steve LeTarte to Chad Knaus. It made me wish I had one of those panoramic cameras to capture them all in one shot. Click here for a great picture of Chad Knaus that looks like he’s sitting on top of a port-a-pottie.

On Friday and Saturday I spied Casey Mears (at right) walking around the garage. I thought it was sort of odd that Casey made it out to Sonoma for the weekend considering he’d been released from Red Bull Racing earlier that week. I felt bad for him, honestly. It just seemed awkward, but I guess you stick around so that people don’t forget about you? Whatever, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed about Casey and it’s the fact that he’s a total cutie.

After the two Cup Series practice sessions were over and people left, it was time for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race, the Thunder Valley Casino Resort 200. I watched driver intros, the invocation and the National Anthem from a very empty pit road. The K&N Pro Series races always have a different, much more grassroots feeling to them. One driver was introduced and a group of people, clearly friends & family of the guy, cheered for him like crazy. It’s a heartwarming feeling, it’s fun getting to see the beginnings of a person’s career. You can tell that a lot of those guys were just proud to be in the race and anything else that happened would be gravy.

I headed down to the front row to watch the cars roll out on the track. It was there that I saw Boris Said’s adorable 6-year-old son Boris Jr. (at left) sitting on the pit wall. Boris Jr. would wave at his father and Boris Sr. would wave back from inside his car in the second starting position. So cute, you guys!

Richard Childress came down and spoke to pole-sitter Jason Bowles before his window net went up. Then the guys got the call to start their engines. I watched a portion of the race from behind the start/finish line where I ate my free sample of Perky Jerky, the first ever caffeinated beef jerky. It’s pretty tasty, except for a faint aftertaste.

After David Gilliland’s unfortunate luck with a transmission problem, Canadian Andrew Ranger, in the No. 35 Waste Management Chevy, won the race. I was really excited for David, he was leading the race, things looked great and then the transmission broke. That sucked, I can’t tell you how much. I really wanted him or Boris Said to win. It’s been far too long for both of them.

Anywho, in the post-race presser I discovered that Andrew Ranger sounds like a male Celine Dion, which makes sense because they’re both French Canadian’s from Quebec. To see what I mean, go here to hear Andrew. I doubt he could hit Celine’s notes though.

Mattias Ekstrom with Sirius Satellite Radio’s Claire B. Lang

Crew chiefs Todd Berrier, I think, second from the left and Steve LeTarte on the far right

Crew chief Greg Erwin on the right.

(left) The No. 5 Happy Daze RV Sacramento Chevrolet driven by Jonathan Hale, and (right) the No. 15 S&S Fence Chevrolet driven by Jack Sellers

Boris Said Jr. and Boris Said (in the blue car)

Andrew Ranger makes his way to Victory Lane

Andrew Ranger

There was talk about things maybe being awkward between the Earnhardts, mostly between Dale Jr., Kelley and Teresa. Since Dale Jr. did leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. (and didn’t get to take the no. 8 with him) I’m sure it’s not all roses and kittens, but let’s all take a moment and think about it this way: Are they really all that different from us? The answer is no. Take five seconds and think about your own family’s issues and I’m sure you’d agree that we’ve all got our own stories, tensions and baggage. The only difference is they have to answer reporter’s questions about said baggage.

Anywhooo, besides all of that it was very cool to see all of Dale Sr.’s children together, Taylor and Kerry were also on hand for the unveiling. I think this — the No. 3 at Daytona — will be an awesome way to remember him.

Photos!!!

(Left to right) Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. share a smile Thursday during a news conference at JR Motorsports in Mooresville, N.C. unveiling the No. 3 NASCAR Nationwide Series car that Earnhardt Jr. will run July 2 at Daytona International Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands next to the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet at JR Motorsports in Mooresville, N.C. Thursday. He will run the car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Daytona International Speedway on July 2.

(Left to right) Taylor Earnhardt, Kelley Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Richard Childress, Craig Errington with Wrangler, Teresa Earnhardt and Kerry Earnhardt pose for a picture with the No. 3 NASCAR Nationwide Series car at JR Motorsports in Mooresville, N.C. on Thursday.

(Second from right) Kelley Earnhardt talks during a press conference Thursday at JR Motorsports in Mooresville, N.C. as (left to right) Teresa Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Richard Childress and Wrangler VP of Marketing Craig Errington look on.

Host Winston Kelley begins a news conference Thursday at JR Motorsports in Mooresville, N.C. unveiling the No. 3 NASCAR Nationwide Series car that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will run July 2 at Daytona International Speedway.

(All photos credit: Mary Ann Chastain/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway has been moved to Monday where hopefully it’ll get started and run in it’s entirety. IndyCar had a race in the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida but that got rained out too and is supposed to take place tomorrow. And if that wasn’t enough, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway had to move too, to Monday, because of rain.

Rain is not the friend of motorsports that’s for sure.

I must apologize for my lameness in not updating this site for two weeks. Trust me, I really, really wanted to but I’ve had stuff to deal with. Everything is settled for now so I’m back and will be writing as usual from now on.

Here are photos from the weekend, so far, at Martinsville:

David Gilliland cranks his engines before Friday’s practice for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. (Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Ryan Newman posted the quickest speed in Friday’s practice for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. (Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Austin Dillon stands with his team owner — and grandfather — Richard Childress before the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. (Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Kevin Harvick celebrates winning the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway, his fourth consecutive victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. (Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Johnny Sauter and Ron Hornaday Jr. exchange words after the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway after several on-track incidents. (Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

While I didn’t watch the race live on Sunday I was able to listen to some of the race on Sirius Satellite Radio when I was driving to Nordstrom to have my make-up done. I heard about Kyle Busch’s troubles and then after the photo shoot was done I heard about Greg Biffle’s win.

I love the fact that Biffle won because for one the guy deserved a win without a doubt and two because it totally changes the landscape of The Chase. It reinforces the fact that there are more than just two guys that have a real chance at winning the Sprint Cup. That’s really the way it should be because the minute someone runs away with the points lead with a bunch of races still to come it’ll become incredibly boring and I am entirely against that.

I did Tivo the race at home so I saw it last night but of course I couldn’t resist fast forwarding through all of the slow parts, so it wasn’t really the same. I still need to watch all of the post-race interviews with the drivers, I kept falling asleep.

Atlantic Records recording artists OAR meet Carl Edwards after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Drivers’ Meeting at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)

(Left to right) Richard Childress talks with his driver Clint Bowyer in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage after Bowyer turned the fastest lap in Saturday’s first practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Bowyer will attempt to defend his Sylvania 300 title on Sunday at the track. (Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Jimmie Johnson takes a break during Friday’s practice for Sunday’s Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Johnson was second-fastest in practice. (Photo Credit: Elsa/Getty Images)

Tony Stewart straps into his ride for Saturday’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Sylvania 300, the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Stewart was ninth-fastest in the practice. (Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Someone’s oversight was our craptastic and yet intriguing race. I’m sure everyone probably thought the race was boring but I thought it was fun (and Dale Jr. agreed with me, not in the exact same way, but still). It kept me watching, waiting for someone’s tire to blow. It never got old watching the pit stops and waiting for the shots of the used up tires to pop up. It made pit stops that much more important because at the end whoever got out of there first was pretty much sure to lead the race and ultimately win it.

And that’s what happened for Jimmie Johnson and the fact that it was he who won and not Kyle Busch pretty much left me on cloud nine. I was all set for a one woman riot if Kyle won again.

The thing that bugged me the most about the race came at the end when I had to wade through SportsCenter in order to get to some short interview clips and a shot of Jimmie & his team kissing the bricks. ESPN did a good job before the race with their taped interviews with Jeff Gordon and Richard Childress, but they missed the mark with their post race coverage.

I’m sorry but I don’t care about baseball scores or Brett Favre’s stilted comeback, at least not when it’s RIGHT after the NASCAR Cup race and I want to hear from the drivers and I want to see if the drivers faces are covered in rubber and dust like everybody said they would be.

But yea, I didn’t get that. I didn’t have enough patience to sit and wait and see if they would have more different coverage later on in the show. I just hope they don’t do this with every race.

Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon congratulates Jimmie Johnson on his Allstate 400 at the Brickyard victory. (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

(L-R): Crew chief Chad Knaus, Jimmie Johnson, Chandra Johnson and owner Rick Hendrick kiss the yard of bricks after winning the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. (Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Isn’t she cuuute?!

Six-year-old Lucille Nace of Farmerville, Ohio gets an autograph from Scott Riggs prior to practice for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. (Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

A view of a Goodyear tire with excessive wear after a competition caution during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Introducing “sexy” Tony!

Tony Stewart is all smiles in the garage after unveiling his new car number and sponsors at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

I made sure I was there early, like half an hour before it was all supposed to begin. Matt Kenseth arrived first with a Sirius satellite radio DJ in tow. Matt was very punctual on Saturday, he was also first at driver intros. So as per usual I tried to take as many photos as possible. My attempts at getting shots of guys and their shoes were foiled by guys from TNT filming people right in front of me.

In the drivers meeting they go over what’s going to happen before, during and after the race and what the rules are, or if there’s going to be a competition caution, etc. There’s a lot of stating the obvious, but it’s something you have to do. I couldn’t help but wonder though what it would be like if someone raised their hand at the end and said “So, what do I do if I win the race? Where do I go?” That’d be fun.

Kurt Busch walked into the drivers meeting with none other than pop singer Gavin DeGraw. I didn’t know who was singing the anthem until I saw him arrive. I have lukewarm feelings about Mr. DeGraw. I want to like him, he has a nice voice, but his music always leaves me wanting something more. Anywho, I ended up seeing him a lot after that. I almost bumped into him coming out of the bathroom in the media center; he was pacing around warming up his vocal cords.

After the drivers meeting came driver intros. I trekked out onto the grass and proceeded to get my socks and shoes totally soaked by the soggy field. I decided to stake out the opposite side of the stage that no one was on because it was the best angle to get great photos. Of course security had to come over and rain on my parade and told me I had to go to either the front of the stage or the other side. They had to keep that area clear. Dagnabit!

Okay, so let’s talk about that tribute to Richard Petty and his 50 years of NASCAR racing. It’s amazing it’s been that long. I thought it was such a great idea to have all the drivers wear, what has become his signature accessory, the cowboy hat. However, it was clear that he should be the only person wearing those suckers. The King is the only person who looks good in them as far as I’m concerned.

Check out the photo below. Who’s missing from it? In spite of what they were saying at the time all 43 drivers weren’t there to take this photo. Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards all showed up later just in time for the actual driver introductions. Oh and someone else is missing from the photo too but I can’t remember who it is. Any guesses?

The 43 drivers starting the LifeLock.com 400 pose with Richard Petty, who was celebrating his 50th anniversary in NASCAR. (Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

He’s always got a smile on his face!

Richard Petty stands behind the stage before his tribute begins at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday July 12, 2008. (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Robby Gordon walks with Richard Childress to the drivers meeting at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday July 12, 2008. (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. walks to the drivers meeting at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday July 12, 2008. (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Singer Gavin DeGraw (left) walks to the drivers meeting with Kurt Busch at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday July 12, 2008. (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

David Gilliland walks to the drivers meeting at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday July 12, 2008. (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Jeff Gordon walks to the drivers meeting at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday July 12, 2008. (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Martin Truex Jr. walks to the drivers meeting at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday July 12, 2008. (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)