And I thought that MY Dad used to be protective …

Nelson Piquet Sr is threatening to take Flavio Briatore to court in order to prevent his son from continuing to pay the disgraced former Renault team principal 20 per cent of his earnings.

Briatore resigned on Wednesday after apparently ordering Piquet Jr to deliberately crash his car in last September’s Singapore Grand Prix … full story

Could I just ask the smallest question here, tho? Really … it’s sincere …

What. The. HELL??

I don’t care if GOD “Himself/HERself” ordered me to crash my car. Unless I had a REAL damned amazing insurance policy for my son that said, EXPLICITLY, “hey, it’s ok if you screw yourself up beyond repair {ON PURPOSE} for your son, we’ll still pay him mega-freakin’-bucks,” SORRY … NOT HAPPENIN’.

Not even “F1″ is THAT badass of a reason to fly hard into … anything.

I’m just sayin’.

Kahne’s win was one of the most popular victories this season and not because it was Kahne (though he is quite popular, too) that delivered it, but because he brought The King back to his rightful place — basking in the glory of a Victory Lane celebration.

Owens’ Full Story

Max Mosley may run for a fifth term as FIA president after Formula One teams announced plans to break away from the sport because of a dispute over a planned budget cap. Full Story

No … really.

Seriously?

Though, granted, I suppose that whole “boring, boring, boring” statement for each race held at these venues would be pretty redundant – so another ‘hmmmmmmm’, before I get all redundant myself here, anyway, grin …

But, hey – at least in the following excerpts, I am savin’ you from Hammond’s half-hearted cheerleading to “hold on, fans”, because someday NASCAR/ISC will get it right, etc., sigh. Honestly, if the guy’s gonna’ start an article that says “Let’s not sugarcoat this, folks,” mid-section it with “NASCAR is smart enough,” and end it with “don’t give up on this sport”?

Come on, lol … he lost me his second line in: “I know the last couple of weeks have been frustrating from a fans’ standpoint.”

The last couple of weeks? Are you kidding me???

Ah, but it gets so much better – at least if you’re into reading about the terribly obvious:

To be fair, I don’t know that the track in California is the [ONLY] problem. Let’s face it, Bristol has a bunch more banking, and they faced the same issues a couple weeks ago. So are we going to blame the track? What’s the other common denominator here? The answer is this new car. [No ... really?]

[...]

I think we are really going to have to look hard and do some serious analysis about what we can do to make this better. I am just being honest. I just wasn’t that impressed with the racing we saw this weekend. I am looking for the opportunity where these guys can put on more of a show with passing and hard racing. [Wow - and that all just started to gel for ya' this past weekend? Way to be on the ball, there.]

It is frustrating for all those involved. I think we all are disappointed because again, this is not what we had hoped for in this deal. You can’t tell me that the folks at NASCAR right now aren’t the same way. I mean c’mon, this isn’t what they are looking for either. [Dude - they're lookin' for money. Yours, mine, teams', sponsors' - any buck is a good buck to the Frances, long as it's in their pockets. "Racing" be damned, as that's just an expensive side-show now ... and an increasingly lousy one, at that.]

[...]

We are hoping and praying [pray harder, lol] the racing will improve because now we are going back to these tracks with this new car not for the second time but now for the third time. The hope is we can be better and we can work in some areas that will allow us to be better. There clearly is more effort to make these cars handle better at places like Dover and Richmond. We have to build a database and pull the information out that is necessary to fix it. That’s what NASCAR did when they built this car from the safety issue. [Then they obviously need different data - any data. Data, anyone? No, seriously- anyone?? grin]

No one can deny that this car has been tested time and time again. The results have shown less injuries than ever before — everything from broken shoulder blades to broken ribs, even to losing someone, there has been a dramatic decline with this new car. NASCAR set out to make the car safer, and they have passed that with flying colors. [Sigh ... can't dispute at least part of that after McDowell's crash, especially, though all of this will be a very moot point if the RACIN' isn't put back into whatever "safe race car" they're trying to run out there. Sad fact, perhaps - but that's the way it is. NO one in their right mind wants injuries of any kind out there, but it happens; it's part of the sport, and the "risk-factor" part of such adrenaline-rushin' passion for it. Otherwise, we'd all be watching cycling - which, at this point, is actually more exciting than NASCAR , at least from a "racing" perspective.]

Now, by working on the safety side of it, they may have gotten complacent on what they needed to do on the competitive side of it. Maybe they were looking for more help from the teams, but the teams have now had their shot at it. [Bullshit.] So maybe it is time for everyone to sit down and put their heads together and figure out a way to fix this. [Just which "heads" are gonna' do that, Hammond? Ya' think NASCAR/ISC's about to open this up to real discussion and/or input from anyone outside of their own circle - the very brainchildren who created this problem in the first place, have seen it evolving (make that spiraling), and have still accomplished nothing in the way of fixing it yet, OR in the way of letting teams TRY to fix it with engineering prowess presently penalized all to hell and back, IF tried? Think again.] Full Article

Ok, so … tap-dance much, Hammond?

How about truly not ’sugarcoating’ it:

NASCAR/ISC has had their head up their collectively France-esque asses since the day they decided to run this COT-pos for a full season – long before any of the bugs were worked out for “fans”, let alone for racers. Any talk of “help from the teams” to achieve “better racing” is a complete load of crap, as well, because every time teams have tried to tweak anything on this squished-blowfish-lookin’ behemoth, they’ve been penalized up the … well, to be redundant again and again here … ass.

California and Michigan tracks both either need to be revamped entirely, or they need to lose ALL dates. Yet, that sort of major overhaul and thus expense falls directly on ISC’s plate, the buck-thirsty right-hand of “God” in this scenario – which of course is NASCAR. They’re equally evil partners in what appears to me to be a truly nefarious plot to kill stock car racing over, and over … and over. (But only until it’s REALLY dead, lol.) Which means that we’ll probably never see either change actually made before the last fan’s asked to turn out the lights on this once-great sport.

“NASCAR’s too smart” to WHAT, then, Hammond?

I’m sorry, but as much as he’s “trying” to be honest to we “fans” out here, he can’t be – not if he wants to keep his job; because NASCAR/ISC will pull his hard-card faster than I can bitch a blue streak about the COT the moment he steps over ANY line in telling us the truth about any – any – NASCAR/ISC situation.

Of course, the real issue with even that idea of unvarnished “truth” – coming from him or anyone else connected to NASCAR/ISC the way Jeff Hammond is – is that we, as fans, already know what the “problems” are.

And, quite frankly, “NASCAR [FANS] ARE TOO SMART TO” CONTINUE TO PUT UP WITH (MUCH LESS PAY OUT FOR) THIS WHITE-WASHED, LILLY-LIVERED, YELLOW-BELLIED (lol – remind me to tell you about one of my mother’s classic Irish tirades sometime) PSUEDO-RACIN’ CRAP THAT’S BEEN PASSIN’ FOR IT LATELY. (While, not so curiously, nothin’ much is passin’ on the TRACK – any track – anymore … hence the “issue” here, ahem).

How about I review and expound, because God knows we all need to beat this to death, grin:

1. The COT isn’t working; and it ain’t GONNA’ work until they bring us back a RACE car.

The concept of an entirely safe race car is an oxymoron, anyway – and real heavy on the ‘moron’ if any driver thinks that he’ll ever strap himself into somethin’ doin’ around 200mph and not be risking his life. Hell, we can all stub our toes, trip, fall and break our necks at any moment. Life itself is a risk – but somehow, we’re now going to take the ‘risk’ outa’ NASCAR RACIN’?

Get real. Thus far, NASCAR/ISC has only managed to take the RACIN’ out.

Needless to say, then, which is of course why I’m writing it – it’s time to put RACIN’ back into this “safe car” equation, or else NASCAR is over. Done. Finito.

I, along with millions of other true, grass roots RACIN’ fans, will simply start enjoying true “stock car” racin’ again at our local dirt tracks. Meanwhile, NASCAR/ISC can sit there holding a very pretty, overstuffed bag of the money we wasted on “NASCAR racin’” JUST this year alone. Hell … look at the grandstands, if you ever even attend a NASCAR race again (because God knows they won’t let broadcast cameras pan ‘em much anymore) – many true stock car fans are already doing just this already. We’ve not just been priced out … there’s simply nothin’ to enjoy in terms of “racing” at a NASCAR “race” anymore, so we might as well stay home and toss our money on the BBQ. (At least then, we’d spend about the same while truly enjoying the luxury of not being jammed into stifling-hot stands like freakin’ sardines with knees in our backs and JJ fans whinin’ “foul” every other minute over our shoulders (lol), channel-surfin’, playin’ with our kids, drinkin’ ourselves into oblivion without risking a DUI, catchin’ up on our z’s – you know – basic weekend stuff like that.)

2. All “snooze-fest” ovals like California and Michigan need to be retooled, rebanked and rebuilt, or, they need to be eliminated from the schedule entirely. Period.

3. Bruton Smith might be the only hope this sport has left, but only because he’s made his venues into mini-Disney-Worlds for fans who pay a helluva’ lot of money to attend races, only to end up standin’ around starin’ at each other during the races themselves. Dumbstruck, because they can’t actually find a race goin’ on anywhere – unless it’s to the restrooms, of course.

I mean, GEEZ … at least SMI gives them something else to do until they have the unique “fan experience” of spending four hours just trying to get out of the parking lot with a hundred-thousand-plus other equally drunk, pissed off, cranky and otherwise “frustrated” fans.

There. Now, that’s not “sugarcoating” it, lol …

[Hey, Grump!! grin ... thanks for keepin' the torches burning here at anglerred while I've been sleepin' through this mid-season nonsense - fabulous job, darlin'! Are you sure you're glad to see me back, tho? hehe]

Todd Polakoff, a former [NASCAR/] International Speedway Corp. employee, has became the second of two former ISC employees to plead guilty to one count of extortion conspiracy in association with the failed attempt to put a race track on Staten Island.

Polakoff will be sentenced Oct. 16 in U.S. District Court in New York, according to court records. He was scheduled to go to trial earlier this week.

Polakoff and his supervisor, WIllilam Kilgannon, were among 62 people indicted in February as part of a wide-ranging, 80-count federal indictment that targeted alleged Mafia members, including three high-ranking members of the Gambino crime family. Full Story

Background Post: Real Reason Staten Island Track Was, Uh, Whacked. Grin.

Hmmmm … newer logo, newer tag (again), lol. From extensive personal/professional experience with this venue, I can pretty much tell ya’ “who” did it, for how much, and how that’s reflected in its quality – and all of that, just par for the course since ISC took over from Penske and most sense was kicked to the curb right along with Penske’s true professionals, one by one, lol … but I digress already! How RUDE! grin

Now, seriously. MIS:

If I were to pick a “home-track”, then it’d have to be MIS – not only because I’m from Michigan, of course, but also because I spent quite a few years ’round that oval and its wannabe “oval office”, whether there was racin’ goin’ on at the time or not.

I produced far more than tv spots at & for MIS over the years … I worked a lot of “angles” as one of Penske’s-then-ISC’s vendors, continued to work them after we were summarily treated horribly and then dismissed by ISC’s bumbleheads – right along with some of Penske’s best employees AND vendors during the “purge” years. And, even more incredibly – I also fell in love there … and lost an even greater love in my life while at MIS, too, in the end.

So, I’ve felt the full spectrum of personal and professional emotion at MIS, which is why it’ll always remain a part of who I am.

And that’s just part of the non-racin’ stuff, grin. Ah, but so much more there is … (Did that just sound like Yoda? I swear that sounded like Yoda-speak to me, grin … UH-oh … that’s never good!)

I was right above pit lane, at the finish line, when Earnhardt Sr. & Jr. came across – rubbin’ and bumpin’ and playin’ and RACIN’ to one helluva’ fun finish in their last IROC race at MIS.

It was an incredible, unforgettable JOY (and personal privilege, I’ll always believe,) to be witness to that. I’ll always be grateful for being able to see it like that, so close … and to feel it like that, so intensely. Once-in-my-LIFETIME experience, that one.

That very same weekend, I was producing another tv spot for the NASCAR/ISC, uh, knuckleheads, when my Dad died – ah, a sobering memory, but there is more to it than just that monumental loss for me. He was “there with me” in more ways than I can count at the very moment (to the second) he passed away in Lansing, and said his incredibly unique ‘good-bye’ in the only way he would’ve wanted to from such a distance – at least to me. In fact, it was just as Earnhardt, Sr. was takin’ one of his practice laps, and was haulin’ ass by exactly where we were standing – turn two. That’s when I looked up and saw my “Dad’s” hand wavin’ “so long for now” out of Sr.’s window.

Believe me or not – your choice – it was simultaneously the most tragic/wonderful moment of my life. Dad, at last, was FREE from his twenty-plus-year, valiant fight against the ravaging disease we called the “Big C” (and still do); and, he was finally back in his element. You see … he was always a racer at heart, even if he gave it up out of a rather epic love & respect for my mother’s wishes; so, he wanted me to see for myself that he was free and happy, finally, and right then & there.

I got his message, loud and clear.

Dad and I have never lost connection since, although it’s a very different one now – and of course I still grieve his corporeal presence. Every day. Incredibly. Indeed, there is much left to be explained in the world/cosmos, but this memory? This … this wasn’t just my own experience that day. My sister was in my arms at the time, as we were working together and had just received the news; so, we both looked up at Earnhardt, Sr.’s car at that moment, and both saw and felt Dad wavin’ on his way by … and, of course, runnin’ FAST as all hell, grin.

Just for a moment, Earnhardt Sr. was a conduit, perhaps … or, maybe he just let Dad have the wheel for a second, grin, as they were certainly of the same Spirit. Actually, they’re both probably havin’ a ball Elsewhere now, along with so many others we’ve all lost along the way. Like Fireball, Bonnett, Allison, Petty … and so many other both famous and nameless talents … they race on.

But “let us not onto the marriage of true minds” (if you’re into Shakespeare, grin) admit too much sadness today, for this weekend? There are other greats both famous and nameless we can actually see racin’ on … and on! (Inasmuch as is possible in that COT-pos, anyway, lol …)

SO! Along with so many other experiences among the years of foibles and faults on NASCAR/ISC’s part after Penske sold MIS along with his other tracks – now over-run by nubile idiots being paid half as much for about another half as much as many of ‘em are actually worth (grin) – I’ve been around every single part of that track and its infrastructure at one point or another. From the “oval office” (they’d like to think, anyway), to the infield (‘Thunderdome’ on race weekends, lol), to the press box to the suites to the track itself – and yup, drivin’ it, in traffic, in a Cup trainer car, too.

I was even chewed out rather violently after squealin’ to a stop on pit road that day by the racin’ trainer “crew chief” dude – for “drivin’ too f’n fast out there!”

Now, AHEM, 1) he’d asked all who were ‘out there’ that day if we could aim for “pinnin’ the red light on the dash” (supposedly indicating 165mph+, but BS – MAYBE 140, if that) for ONE lap, and I’d pinned it for the last 8 of 10 laps – and, after never having run that track in ANY way but as a passenger in a (CHEVY, grin) SUV before that, 2) I was in no way “endangering” others probably doin’ about 70-80mph when I passed ‘em, lol, AND 3) how the hell do you “go too fast” in a race car??? HILARIOUS concept, at least to me.

His reasoning? “You coulda’ blown the goddamn engine!” My response? “Then obviously you’re not buildin’ ‘em right.” Good times.

That ALL said, then, as much as a “non-racer” with extremely limited track-time could ever truly know, I do know a bit about those MIS “grooves”, I know its multiple lines … and I know at least a couple of its faults (especially up in those marbles, as I found out quickly on my second lap – ‘UH-oh, lol … stay outa’ THAT!’).

As a pro in my work, or as a simple fellow race fan watchin’ what passes for racin’ at MIS, then – unless IROC, which I will always sadly, sadly miss, even IF the COT pretty much took over the concept of THAT series, lol … I also know MIS’ race-weekend fans, I know its aura, and I know its FUN, even when the racin’ gets too boring to watch for a while.

And in THAT sense? I know exactly what it feels like to stand around in incredible heat & noise & chaos (even of the outrageously fun kind, at times,) for hours, watchin’ a freight-train circlin’, without any RACIN’ goin’ on, whatsoever, anywhere on that track … and that was even before that COT-pos came onto the scene and only made it that much more, uh … “exciting”. Yeah, that’s definitely the word, Waltrip (as you’ll see him say below) … “exciting”. (AHEM.)

So … all of this talk of “fuel mileage racin’” (oxymoron) and “multiple grooves” (gotta’ find SOMEthin’ that might work) and “horsepower” (let’s hope an inspector’s half-asleep in tech, shall we?), that you’ll read below? It’s ALL interesting to me – beyond belief, lol …

But I’ll tell ya’ what I think of all of that after you read what we’re hearin’ this week from the REAL racers on the scene. Or, ok – at least as much as they’re willing or able to say about MIS OR the COT, at this point, since NASCAR/ISC has soundly zipped ‘em up about anything remotely like, uh … hmmmmm … “freedom of speech” and “criticism of anything to do with France”. (And for once – hehe, B – I’m not talkin’ about the country, so you can’t get mad at me, grin.)

Oh, and about that silent gag-order? (ha … not an intentional pun, I assure you.) Heaven forbid, in Big 3 country (Detroit mere miles away from MIS), that anyone – ANYone – MIGHT suggest any “date-changes” goin’ ELSEwhere – not with Toyota and OTHER “foreign manufacturers” not just INSIDE of NASCAR/ISC now, but also … thinkin’ about comin’ in soon, too (though I’ll let Grump handle this issue, at least on the DATE-VENUE changin’ front, grin … because, trust me – Grump’s ABOUT to DUMP here soon, lol, and you won’t wanna’ miss THAT.)

So, finally, onto the rather censored experts’ take on MIS and its racin’:

Like a lot of Sprint Cup drivers, Michael Waltrip counts Michigan International Speedway as one of his favorites. That’s because [he's weird, anyway, AND because] the 2-mile track is fast and wide, with plenty of grooves to find speed. [One hopes, as finding speed in that COT-pos, let alone in an MWR ride ... goooooood luck, lol ...]

“It is definitely on my list,” the owner/driver said. “MIS is one of those tracks that a lot of drivers consider one of their favorites. It’s simple why they feel that way – just watch the action on Sunday. There will be guys running up high, down low, all over the place. [LOL ... yup ... handlin' that COT-pos in just one groove has gotta' be really tough, even when you're in 'freight-train' mode, when there's no traffic at ALL around you, grin ...]

“It’s entertaining for the fans and for a race car driver. [HUH? When you become a mere, lowly "fan", MW? Then we'll talk about what's "entertaining" for US, k? K.] All you want to do is have an option when you get to the corner. Go where they ain’t. You can pick another line and Michigan definitely offers that.” [Especially since you're mostly usually in a train-line there, dude - you're right - LOTSA' options at MIS on that score!] Full Story

As Sprint Cup Series drivers and teams prepare to take on Michigan International Speedway for Sunday’s 3M Performance 400, the quest to achieve better fuel mileage is weighing heavily on many minds. [Except Brainchild France's, I'm sure, as we've yet to determine if he really has one, grin ...]

In the most recent race at Michigan, on June 15, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to victory lane after stretching his last tank of fuel the final 55 laps.

I like that: ‘took his HMS Chevy to victory lane’. Didn’t really overstate any big “victory”, as in a RACIN’ one, anyway – because there wasn’t one. Pins & needles ‘EXCITEMENT’ for fans in terms of whether or not a driver’s gonna’ run out of fuel at the finish?? Um, well … is this what all of this “excitement” talk is about for this weekend? Because, if so, and that’s what it’s soundin’ like … I’m tellin’ ya’ … it just isn’t the same as RACIN’ excitement to me, and I highly doubt that I’m the only one who feels this way. But, who knows? Maybe you’ve all become pod-people after this COT-pos season, and thus now think it IS, lol … stranger things have happened. (Oh, and click on Jr.’s pic for a piece on “Relax, Jr. Nation”, as well as links to “What’s Up With Jr.?”, etc. … in fact, for more on everything/everyone pic’d here, click on any of ‘em!)

[...]

Fuel economy has a history of shaping results at the 2-mile track. [Uh-huh ... that's been real "entertaining" for the fans throughout all of this MIS 'history' ... ahem ...]

Will spectators witness another fuel-mileage race on Sunday? Maybe not. But don’t rule it out, some of the participants say. [Ya' think?]

“It could turn into a fuel-mileage race at any time, so you really have to be on your toes and be aware of what could happen,” said Tony Eury Jr., the crew chief on Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 car. [Gift for the obvious much, there, Eury? GEEEEZ.]

“We were pretty good there in the spring race but came up short on the fuel mileage at the end,” [DEI's] Mark Martin said. “It cost us a certain top-five finish. We should be able to take what we learned back there and have another strong run. Hopefully, this time we won’t get burned on the fuel mileage.” [Hmmm ... I'm sure he meant to request pardon for that pun ... or maybe simply for this pretty silly-lookin' pic - which you can click on for some FoxSports "profiling" behavior, of course, as with the others, grin ...]

[Like it or not (Grump, grin) your current Cup points-leader,] Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch likewise got the short end of the fuel-mileage stick when the series last convened at Michigan and he was forced to pit late. [Shrub-haters (obviously not tree-huggers so much, maybe, lol) might have loved that moment, but for those of us who actually think that a race should be won by, well ... RACIN'? Sucked.]

[...]

Whether Sunday’s outcome is determined by fuel economy or not, one matter is certain: Horsepower will factor heavily into the equation at the high-speed track, as always. [Noooo ... really?]

Finding a balance between conserving fuel and going fast is part of the challenge that drivers and teams face. [Sigh ... ]

“Michigan is one of those places that you need the entire package to compete for the win,” Richard Childress Racing’s Kevin Harvick said. “Being successful has a lot do with the horsepower that is under the hood.” [Ya' know - I used to really like this guy. But, lately? He's quite frankly been annoyin' the crap outa' me. I just can't understand "why" yet ... lol. Then again, looks like our formerly-fiery, outspoken, rough & tumble racer might have some catchin' up to do, since he currently sits 11th in points. Ya' think horsepower alone's gonna' do it at MIS, whether he wins or not this weekend? OR, that maybe getting off some of that pretty recent & pansy-assed NASCAR/ISC-"inspired" PR crap and back into the GAME might help his performance for the rest of this season? I'm thinkin' the latter, but, hey - I'm sure that's only me, ahem ...] Full Story

So, grin … wow – I think I’ve actually pretty much said my piece(s) throughout this post, and don’t have much else to add at the end, after all! Whodda’ thunk? Wonders never cease. Amazing. ETC.!

Nah, really … MIS is dear to my heart for a number of reasons, if you’ve truly read this post. It’s also a harbinger of complete and total boredom at times, racin’-wise, and it doesn’t matter how much anyone (ahem, Grump & Marc especially, grin) might try to sway me to the side of the COT-pos in terms of it making RACIN’ more “exciting” – or that MIS, itself, is “always a venue exciting to watch” …

It ain’t happenin’.

If ANY track, located close to “me” OR the Big 3, OR not (since NASCAR/ISC already made us give up THAT ghost), should be “exchanged for a date” – it should be MIS … OR California, its sister-track, though that’s too close to Hollywood, isn’t it? The closer access California provides to the further stardom France/NASCAR/ISC obviously prizes MORE than American manufacturers, then, (or, seriously, than what might merely pass for ‘American manufacturers’, considering the rather unsightly “global” nature of such matters these days) – in NASCAR racin’? France & Co. absolutely MUST keep California at the top of the list, right?

Nevertheless – forget about all of THAT, for now!

WELCOME TO ‘MY SIDE OF TOWN’ THIS WEEKEND!!! AND LET’S DANCE NOT FOR RAIN, THEN, BUT FOR RACIN’!!!! (Every little bit would help at MIS, I’d think, grin …soooo … DANCE!)

Mike Skinner [leading Hornaday at the NTCS race in Tennessee last weekend] will take over Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 00 Toyota in the NASCAR Cup series, replacing rookie Michael McDowell for the next three races.

Waltrip said Tuesday he asked the veteran Skinner to help the team evaluate where it can improve its on-track performance, as Skinner did earlier this year when he drove five races for Red Bull Racing, replacing A.J. Allmendinger. [Uh, maybe by showin' him somethin' like ... "RACE, damn it!" You know ... somethin' like that, lol ... I'm just sayin' ...]

[...]

McDowell, coming off a race at Watkins Glen in which he was involved in a multicar crash, has driven in 17 of 22 Cup races this season without scoring a top-10. The 23-year-old driver is 40th in the standings.

“I support doing whatever it takes to improve the performance of our team,” McDowell said. “No driver wants to get out of the car, but I understand that every part of our program needs to be evaluated, and that certainly includes me. I plan to support Mike Skinner and our team any way I can, and hopefully learn some things that will help when I get back in the car.” Full Story at SI

It’s ABOUT TIME!!

Meaning that it’s great to see Waltrip finally making a call like this, as his organization needs a shot’a Skinner-esque “somethin’” to get in there and MAKE some rough, ragged edges for these guys. Honestly – there’s just been too much “happy-go-lucky” crap goin’ on at MWR (almost gives ya’ a sugar-buzz, then instant crash (pardon pun, lol) nausea, just watchin’ all of their PC/NON-fiery nonsense lately). Point being: all of this happy horseshit on Waltrip’s/MWR’s part simply hasn’t been translating into impressive runs and/OR wins – for McDowell or anyone else, for that matter.

Waltrip, himself, has become so caught up in the business end (as would be expected), that he’s lost his own sense of fierce competitiveness behind that wheel; and he hasn’t acted, in my opinion, as the type of “winning is the ONLY option” leader/drill sergeant, (by example especially), that his team NEEDS … desperately.

Skinner can bring it, IF they take his lead. Let’s hope they do.

Or, let’s just face this: MWR is at a point where “whatever it takes” must become a team mantra, or else they might as well just pack it in altogether. Skinner’ll at least be able to give ‘em ALL some fire/inspiration during these upcoming three races – no matter whether he “wins” or not – as well as a bit more MWR excitement for fans to watch ON-track for a change … so, let’s hope he mixes it up out there, FAST, and the rougher the better!!

Yup … that’s angler’s input on Skinner’s “input”, grin … the rougher the better, as it’s time for MWR to stop, uh, dancin’ around out there and get down to the “business” of hard-as-hell RACIN’ – whatever it takes.

Earnings for ExxonMobil have grown an unbelieveable 734% from its lowest point in the last 10 years. The company headquartered in Irving, Texas had a net income of $40.6 billion in 2007.

Meanwhile, in Detroit the GM boys are swimming in red ink. The $15.5 billion loss is the 3rd worst in the history of GM. There are many reasons GM is bleeding like this. GM, like most of America, failed to see the soaring fuel costs and react to the changing market. At last Americans may be moving away from the highly profitable, but not fuel effecient SUV’s for daily drivers. GM’s product selection across the board is loaded with porky SUV’s and the latest in fashion the so called ‘crossover’ vehicle. Crossover means it ain’t an SUV, but don’t call it a station wagon. These offerings are an improvement to the larger SUV, but they are equipped with All wheel drive. Grumpy thinks AWD is a needless expense that benefit very few. Grumpy’s dream car list includes the Cadillac Escalade. The big Caddy is AWD and thus likely would not be found in Grumpy’s garage.

Now, back to ExxonMobil. The market forces that are in place say that gasoline will continue to hover in the range of $4.00 per gallon due to the weak U.S. dollar vs. other currencies. Oil is traded in U.S. dollars. Grumpy is no expert in world economy. (or any other subject for that matter) The U.S. economy is weak due to deficit spending to support the wars in Iraq and Afganistan. Congress sent us all a little money to spend to stimulate the economy. Since they have no money to give us, it had to be borrowed from other nations like China. The faster our economy sinks with debt, the more we will pay for goods and services from other markets.

Grumpy thinks if ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, ChevronTexaco and the other players in the oil business can rake in this kind of cash, there is plenty of room to make some price cuts that will be seen at the pump. America is being held hostage by big oil and the oil men who were elected President and Vice President. Every U.S. President since Jimmy Carter has said that we need a national energy policy and a plan to reduce our thirst for foreign oil. Not one has been able to deliver a meaningful solution to this problem. 

Hey, everyone … just a reminder that, not only do we encourage and LOVE it when you comment on whatever our stories or rants of the day are, don’t forget to check out our comments link at the bottom of each post, too – even if you’re not commenting yourself. Sometimes they’re silly & conversational … but sometimes? (Especially when Grump or B, or even Marc, grin, correct the crap out of me … or simply enlighten me further … or share their own views – whatever it might be, as they always have somethin’ to add that either questions, challenges or betters anything I ever write here?)

SOMETIMES?? THE COMMENTS ARE MORE FUN TO READ THAN THE POSTS, lol …

Honestly – you’re ALL welcome to participate … and, yes, even when you disagree with us vehemently. (Perhaps even that last Confederate Flag comment will move you to ‘disagree vehemently’ … who knows, lol … lots of subjects and viewpoints to choose from, in any event.)

So, quit wadin’ around, and dive on IN – the water’s great!

Just so you know, though – while we “moderate” first-comments to keep spammers outa’ here, we never disallow comments just because they’re opposite to our own views. Perfect example occurred just last week, when a reader was truly fired up and ended up callin’ me a few pretty nasty names, grin … (Trust me – wasn’t the first, and won’t be the last on THAT score … so, no worries.)

Anyway … get TO it!! Write comments … READ comments … become a true PART of anglerred, and then maybe someday we’ll start talkin’ forum! (hmmmmmm … just a thought, B – don’t panic!) Havin’ fun with anglerred is why WE’RE here, after all … plus, it keeps me off the streets a bit more, which inevitably assists me in my constant quest to remain out of speeding ticket hell, grin …

Be well, and thanks for being a part of anglerred – whether you comment or not,

angler

UPDATE: Click Pic [or Jump Here] for a Comprehensive History of Confederate Flags Of ALL Types. [This is an excellent site for those who desire a true understanding of the Confederate Flag(s) and their respective sources, units, battle-uses, etc. If you want to "understand", then my suggestion is to learn enough to understand it all - especially before you revile a Confederate Flag based upon on traditional stereotypes and/or contemporary "political correctness" alone ... and, yes, as it relates to NASCAR, too. Please see comments section via link, below, for more on the subject - at least in terms of my personal opinion, as a 'Yankee', let alone as an AMERICAN.]

Sometimes, things are precisely what they appear to be. (See United States v. Michael Vick.) Sometimes, they’re not. (See Overzealous, Attention-Craving Activists v. Duke Lacrosse.)

So in the spirit of our society’s newfound interest in fairness, let’s heed the caution flag in Mauricia Grant’s $225 million litigation against NASCAR. The federal courts will assess the merit in the 43-page, 10,424-word denunciation and will proceed accordingly.

Regardless of what a judge or jury will accept, ignore or toss out altogether, Grant’s filing in New York has given CEO Brian France a wonderful opportunity take at least one corrective action: Ban the Confederate flag. Heck, he can even burn it at some dude’s infield barbecue for all I care. A hearty meal of pork shoulder, stars and bars would hit the spot.

Just make sure fans can no longer bring the symbol into tracks conducting NASCAR events.

The whole “Heritage, Not Hate” rhetoric is so old by now that some put the flag on public display to wield a weapon of backlash. Years ago, some people started bringing the symbol to races. Then others dissented. And now we’re seeing the opposition to the opposition. (At the University of Mississippi, one researcher chronicled an obvious increase in the number of flags flown outside the football stadium in the immediate aftermath of a policy forbidding their presence inside the gates.)

As for NASCAR, a ban might even put some fuel in the tank of the organization’s alleged “Drive For Diversity,” which so far has as much movement as rush hour in Boston. Full Story

I’ll have more on this later, but suffice it to say that its category alone should tell you how I feel about this writer’s viewpoint. (His last statement is so ludicrous that I can’t even WRITE about it, I’m laughin’ so hard … except to say: true on the success of NASCAR/ISC’s supposed diversity “movement”, pardon the pun, but bullshit on the “fuel in the tank” if Confederate flags were banned … holy crap, this dude can’t even write an entirely silly article like the one above without mixin’ metaphors & similes & allegories all to hell and back, lol …)

This one deserves FAR more time than I’m givin’ it tonight, granted, but, hey — someone please remind me to get back to it if I forget, as MAN, am I ready to rant on it when I have time, [wicked] grin … freakin’ mediots …

[PS. I'm a proud Yank, with a long history in this country - including my lineage being an integral part of the Underground Railroad, so don't even go there with me. Ever.]