[With thanks to roykeane11]

I can’t tell you that I watched the end of today’s Cup race without emotion. In fact, the last several laps were actually exciting, and that had a lot to do with double-file restarts. Kudos to Kahne for making it happen for Petty (et.al.), and kudos (can’t believe I’m saying this) to NASCAR for actually doing something worthwhile for the fans for a change.

However, as much as I was happy to see American (at least formerly Michigan) muscle in the form of Dodge take that checker, just in front of another rarity lately – an owner/driver, and who else could it be but Smoke-can-DO-this-this-year – AND, yet another cool deal with one helluva’ vegamiter in Marcos Ambrose rollin’ in third … wow … all VERY cool … BUT …

Has ANYone been following the rest of the world’s events this weekend … last week … last month?

I feel so blessed to even be able to watch such a race, no matter “who” won … no matter “who” ran well … no matter “who” entirely fucked up out there or in the booth or in NASCAR’s “imperial HQ’s”, which is normally what I gravitate toward writing about when I feel like writing here anymore, granted, grin …

Yet, enough grins.

Who knows who NEDA is?

If you do, then, good. If you don’t, then no doubt you should.

WE ALL SHOULD.

Her death in Iran is no less powerful than our own “shot heard ’round the world”. Simply because what is perceived there can often seem an entirely ludicrously different world-view (to us), and has happened in a part of the world we’ve grown to despise for many reasons NOT directly due to any circumstances the people forced to live there have created in and of themselves … doesn’t mean that this ’shot’ should not be felt by every single one of us.

Neda’s death resonates.

It fucking RESONATES.

Watch the footage. Watch news channels – search ‘Neda’ on YouTube or otherwise. Do NOT let your children see it unless they’re old enough and/or you’re fully prepared to explain it RESPONSIBLY … but SEE IT for yourselves, and then try to tell yourselves “that’s OK – it’s just Iran”.

Screw that prejudice RIGHT now, because NOW’S THE TIME. (Ummmm … might wanna’ take a look at North Korea and China about now, too, but I’m just sayin’ … sigh ..)

Neda, the name/word, is supposed to mean “voice”. The horrific fact AND footage of her death in Iran this weekend? Could not be more clear AS a voice for change.

Does everyone hear it?

I wonder.

Light a candle in your window every night, not just for Neda, but for ALL of those who seek freedom of expression – among so many other freedoms – UNTIL THEY HAVE IT.

Do we have to LIKE or AGREE with Iran, as it HAS stood?

Hell no.

Do we have to like what these brave citizens are trying to work out right now? Their freedom to say ‘NO – ENOUGH.’?

YES.

LIGHT IT UP.

Is this all we can do?

Perhaps, for now. But hopefully not for long.

On this Father’s Day Race Weekend, I salute the fathers of OUR COUNTRY – my ancestors and father, included. Those who fought and died for FREEDOM.

May we always, then, LIGHT IT BRIGHT, for those who follow in their brave footsteps.

* Edit Point: The name/word ‘Neda’ is also said to mean: calling and/or divine calling.

P.S. [much later] … LOL … you’ve really gotta’ hear what Chavez is now sayin’ about Iran’s election’s “triumph”, grin … sorta’ like … well, no, this is a racin’ site, and this shit is truly the sign of some VERY slow …. slllooooooowwwwwwww minds. But, hey … turn on a NEWS channel for a change, and laugh your ass off, at least at the idiots still clingin’ to dictatorship … because, I mean, uh … WOW. SERIOUSLY??

Grumpy’s take: One car was coming fast. One car moved to block. As the field hurled into turn 3 at, oh say 180mph. People, shit happens. If I am Brian Vickers, I will go to the hauler and kick myself in the ass for a reckless blocking maneuver that triggered the wreck that everyone knew was waiting to happen.

If I am Dale jr, I calmly step to the microphones and man up. No driver will deliberately take a shot at another at that speed just to punt the guy or ‘rattle his cage’. If NA$CAR thought there was clear evidence of that, they should have parked him for 5 laps.

Think of the last laps of the cup light race on Saturday. Here was Tony Stewart leading with Kyle Bush on his bumper. No, really on his bumper. Kyle admitted that he was doing everything he could to get Smoke ‘loose’. Most any driver but Smoke would have lost the car in turn 4. Had there been a crash, Kyle would have had a sheepish grin in Victory Lane and say, ‘well thats what the fans come to see.’

If you watched the truck series race on Friday night, you saw Todd Bodine come off the yellow line and make contact with a truck running to his outside and forward. The #10 lost control and collected the front of the field in a big crash. Bodine went on to win the race. Rather than offer any words of apology for causing the crash, he insisted that the #10 ‘came down on me’. Video replays clearly show that the #10 was steady and Bodine came up from the line to initiate the contact.

Bottom line. People will believe what they want to believe in all these incidents. If you already have a low opinion of Dale Earnhardt jr, my comments will not change your mind. Since I began contributing to this blog, I have had to try to be as objective as I can. I am no Rush Limbaugh. Still, at times my views tend to bleed with certain bias. (Grumpy shrugs) With my take, you get your moneys worth everytime. Nobody pays me to write it. Nobody pays to read it.

MARTINSVILLE has joined a long list of tracks controlled by INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CORP. to reduce ticket prices for the ‘09 season.

Grumpy wants to think that I$C is responding to the pain felt by the little people who are faced with tightening budgets or job loss. Call it what you like. The phones are not ringing in the ticket offices. Folks are not renewing long held tickets to what has been for many a tradition for years. Even Bristol (GASP)  has tickets available.  The golden goose that NA$CAR has presided over for decades seems to be choking on the stacks of unsold tickets. It is about time! The day is gone when fans can plan a weekend at the track for a reasonable cost. The fault is not just the soaring ticket prices. It is the whole experience. Hotels, food, swag, you name it. A typical race weekend can easily exceed $1,000 for a couple even if they are within driving distance to the venue.

We are experiencing an economic time that is unprecedented in memory. Everyone knows the news about the stock markets and such. The impact all through the American economy is staggering. Just one year ago, we were eagerly anticipating the new season with the 60th running of the Daytona 500. there were some 50 teams to vie for the 43 starting positions. What a difference a year makes.  Teams that were well funded and seemed solid are now in peril. DEI and Ganassi combines to field what may only be 2-3 sponsored cars where once there were 7. Petty Enterprises now looks to be combining with Gillette (not Evernham). Bobby Labonte not signed to drive anything at this point. Just a week ago, it appeared that Elliott Sadler might lose his ride to A.J. Almendinger. Now, perhaps he is safe and A.J. could wind up in the #43.

Bill Davis Racing is gone. Tommy Baldwin racing is born. Furniture Row may only be a part time gig for Nemechek.  Yet from the ashes of Petty Enterprises, Richard Childress will debut the #33 Cheerios team. From the ashes of Bill Davis Racing, Childress will take the Caterpillar sponsorship for the #31 team. And in this uncertain time, Tony Stewart will step into the arena in his partnership team to field cars for himself and Ryan Newman.

The picture is by no means complete. We are all gonna need a program to get the drivers straight in our minds with their respective teams. Stay tuned.

Oh, and Happy New Year!

Looking forward to the ‘09 season, there will be a lot of transistion in the truck series. CRAFTSMAN has been the only title sponsor for the series that debuted in 1995. The popular tool brand had announced that they would leave the series at the conclusion of the ‘08 season. CAMPING WORLD is set to become the series sponsor beginning with the ‘09 season.

Johnny Benson had previously informed Bill Davis that he would not be back for the ‘09 season whether he won the title or not. It was felt that Benson might retire from the sport to persue other interests. Now, it seems that Benson will return to defend his title, but not with Bill Davis. Benson will join Red Horse Racing to pilot the #1 entry. No sponsor has been named for his ride.

In the mean time, Bill Davis must be wondering when he can get a break. His cup team is likely folded from lack of funding. Dave Blaney may or may not return pending a financial savior. who knows, perhaps Blaney could wind up in the truck vacated by Johnny.

A full story about Bill Davis would be an interesting column alone, hmm.

NCTS: Ron Hornaday will line up tonight in the tightest contest for a championship in the top three divisions of NA$CAR. Trailing Johnny Benson by just 3 points, Hornaday must avoid a repeat of the first lap crash that nearly took him out of contention last week at Phoenix.

Grumpy thinks this will be the best contest of the weekend. It reminds me of the 1992 Winston cup final at Atlanta where Alan Kulwicki won the championship by leading just one more lap than race winner, Bill Elliott. The outcome was in doubt until the checkers were in the air as Elliott lost the championship to Kulwicki by just 12 points.

Ron Hornaday is a three time champion of the series and drives for Kevin Harvick, Inc. Johnny Benson is a past Bush Grand National Series (now Nationwide Series) champion.  Hornaday came to the national series in 1995 as the truck series debuted. A call from Dale Earnhardt brought Hornaday from the NA$CAR Southwest Tour to drive the #16 truck fielded by DEI at the time. Benson, the truck series most popular driver in ‘06 and ‘07 has a single win in the cup series at Rockingham in ‘02. Johnny B. won Rookie of the Year honors in the 1994 cup light series and 1996 cup series. Bill Davis Racing fields a Toyota for Benson. Johnny has announced that he will leave that team following the season final whether or not he wins the championship.

This is a race you are gonna want to see. It will be broadcast on SPEED TV at 8pm eastern.

It is Jimmie’s to lose. It wll take a major problem early in the running of the final race in Homestead to hand the crown to Edwards. It seems the outcome is out of his hands. He can only show up, do his job and wait for the outcome. It must be a helpless feeling. Cousin Carl will have a chance at the same experience on Saturday as well.

CUP LIGHT SERIES: Cousin Carl won the cup light event in Phoenix. He sits second in the championship driver points behind behind Clint Bowyer. There is just 56 points seperating Bowyer from Edwards in that series. Carl is the defending champion.

“Some of the best races I’ve had in my career have come here at Phoenix,” said Edwards, who also won a Nationwide race at the track in 2005. “We’ve got one more race and we’re closing in on Clint. That’s what it’s about.

“If we run like we’ve been running and perform as well as we have, we can close 56 points without Clint having trouble. They just need to have a little bit of an off day. We really needed to win and we did.”

Bowyer brought his #2 RCR Chevy home 4th after a crash that left the nose of his car mangled. The team worked feverishly to keep him on the lead lap.

NCTS: If you missed this event, kick yourself. Ron Hornaday had the pole. Anxious to lead the first lap and secure the bonus points, Hornaday raced his truck too hard into the 3rd turn with Kyle Bush on his outside. The #33 did not stick and was in the wall before completing the first lap. Johnny Benson could have made some real progress on this night, with Hornaday behind the wall for about 30 laps. There was a good thrash going on in the garage area as jack Roush sent some folks over to assist the Kevin Harvick team make repairs. Hornaday returned to the race in about 30th place.

In the meantime, Benson was on track with a seeming bullseye on his tailgate. Everybody hit Benson but Hornaday and Harvick. By the time the checkers fell on Kevin Harvick, driving his #2 entry, Hornaday actually finish one spot in front of Benson. Johnny B will go to Homestead leading the points by just 3 over Hornaday.

“All of those people came to our aid, and we had Ford guys and Chevrolet guys putting our Chevrolet back together to get into this race, and that just shows what this Truck Series is about. There aren’t really any enemies over here,” said Rick Ren, Hornaday’s crew chief.

“We’re all willing to help each other. We just kept digging. I told Ron, don’t give up.”

Did I mention the sun? The sun setting in the west is downright evil to the drivers. As they come off turn 4, all the way down to turn one, the sun is in their eyes. That spiffy high grandstand in turn 1-2 helps with its luxury boxes on top. The challenge is going from the sun in your eyes into the shade at oh, say 150mph. Grumpy has spent a few races in the AJ Foyt Grandstand which is the section west of the start/finish line before you get to turn 1. I came home each time with the whole right side of my face sunburned and my right ear cooked like Indian fry bread.

The #10 GEM entry failed to qualify on speed for the AMP 500 at Talladega last Saturday. Despite the fact that Carpentier’s time was faster than his fellow GEM teammates. Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler made the field because both cars are in the top 35 owner points. Team director, Mike Shiplett berated the effort by Carpentier. A shouting match that took place in the rear of the team hauler was witnessed by many in the area as the doors were not closed.

Mike Wallace has been named to drive the #10 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this weekend. A.J. Allmendinger will drive at Martinsville. A.J. has already been announced to drive the #00 entry from Michael Waltrip Motorsports at Charlotte. 

Reed Sorenson, current driver of the #41 Ganassi/Sabates Dodge had previously been named as the driver to take the #10 beginning with the ‘09 season. Carpentier was in limbo with the team pending a sponsor search to fund him in a 4th GEM car. Failing that, Carpentier was likely out of GEM by year’s end anyway.

************

Speaking of that. Grumpy just saw an announcement that Jack Sprague has been released from the #2 NCTS entry at Kevin Harvick Inc. Gotta look into that too.

HOWEVER … SOME of a LOT is about to change around anglerred, and SOON! Just thought you should know … or, be surprised! Either/or, as it’s happening anyway!

But … let’s give our loyal anglerred readers the FIRST hint first, ok, Grump?

Part of that is ALLLL about what angler’ll be doin’ on Sunday during race-time, thanks to reacquainting myself with a fairly local “establishment” I’ll no doubt be posting far more about soon – provided its venerated owner doesn’t boot me out this weekend, of course!  (Hey – it could happen … ya’ never know, grin, though since he’s not a JJ fan, I think I’ll be safe!)  Then again … being the only TRULY NASCAR-HEAVY such establishment in quite so MUCH of such a wide area here, AND the proud owner of a VERY distinctive infield bus you’ve ALL seen either on SPEED by now, or even in my own former ad work for MIS?  I’m thinkin’ that he and I will get along pretty damned well enough to give you lots more inside info next week, lol …

SO!  If there’s any doubt about what I’ll be DOIN’ during race-time THIS upcoming Cup race?  Please allow me to dispel that mystery by givin’ you a REAL good hint before the POST-race posts come to ya’ later, then, grin:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Yeah, ok … so not so earth-shattering unless you’re actually there “tearin’ it up” with me, of course, grin … but, in lieu of THAT?  Oh, there’s more … FAR more to come to anglerred not so long AFTER this race weekend – especially if this “race”, sigh, (COT-WITHstanding) turns out to be boring as all hell (yet again).

Yet, about THIS NEXT hint?  I’m thinkin’ … “Daddy, ya’d STILL better hide your daughters” once THIS beast hits any street near you, lol:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Yup – you’ve already seen this vid here before, so, what’s the “big deal” about it NOW?

LOTS.

Lots more to come in ALL areas Series3, PitViper and SO much more from TPI – so … don’t just ’stay tuned’, folks … tune UP!!  It’s time for TPI, anglerred, and some other really cool entities & people to come together and start finally ‘tearin’ it up!’ (And not just on race weekends anymore …)

‘Burnin’ it down’, later, of course, is totally up to YOU … but you can guess what angler & Grump are gonna’ be doin’ soon, either way – and thank GOD I don’t have a ‘wife’ to give me that ‘look’ before or after I do! I’m simply stayin’ as smart in that way about this as someone else I know (AHEM – you know who you are, grin), and stayin’ EQUALLY quiet about THAT part. After all … I’m not THAT much of an idiot … yet, anyway …

Much more to come, then, soon … and I’d really hate ta’ see ya’ miss it, lads & lasses, as sure’n enough, it’ll put some TRUE Irish in ya’ – and THEN some, no matter what “your” manufacturer. Because, fast?  Is FAST, no matter the make, especially with TPI behind the build.

And that was my LAST hint, ahem … at least for now.  Once you’re still cravin’ speed after Sunday, tho? REAL muscle again?  Jump back to anglerred, and stick around for some seriously wicked-fast fun comin’ from all different directions, and SOON.

Happy Race Weekend in the meantime!!

(And then … hehehe … wicked grins ALL around for what’s comin’ to truly get yer racin’ rush back – and FAST.)

While presidential candidate John McCain shook hands with potential voters in the garage at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, it was Speedway Motorsports Chairman Bruton Smith [far right, striped shirt, of course, grin] who was the ultimate politician this weekend. If NASCAR wants points on how to accomplish “Back to Basics” racing, they could take a page from Smith — the king of speedways. [And then some!]

On Saturday, Smith sat in the front row for the Craftsman Truck race. He was accessible to fans and patrons as well as able to derive a feel for the current track configuration should he decide to raise the banking or alter the length in the future.

On Sunday, Smith met with season ticket holders in the infield to address their current concerns and wishes for the future.

And Smith is familiar with how many properties are in his motorsports portfolio. Of his seven SMI speedways — soon to be eight once the deal with Kentucky has been finalized — fans and competitors alike won’t find better facilities on the circuit. [...]

As the crowds continued to clear out on Monday, the bulldozers were ready to move in. It’s a short construction season in New Hampshire. If Smith hopes for NHMS to mirror his crown jewel Bristol, there’s no time to waste. [...]

When competitors return next summer, they will be greeted by state-of-the-art garages. When the fans pull into the campgrounds, they’ll experience creature comforts such as restrooms, family sections and a midway complete with carnival rides and state fair-style goodies.

Today’s promoters must discover other ways to entice the fans to the track. Fans are looking for more bang for the buck. Smith is offering just that. [And he'd offer a helluva' lot more, especially in terms of RACIN', if NASCAR/ISC would simply get out of his way - guaranteed.] Full Article

Hmmm, Grump … believe I recently mentioned “something” about Bruton Smith perhaps being NASCAR/ISC’s last (albeit IRONIC) hope for keeping NASCAR race attendance levels up, grin …

So! Welcome yet another mini-Disney – this time, to Loudon! (At least until we can find a way to put that anti-trust suit inside an HONEST courtroom at some point, whereafter NASCAR (vs. NASCAR/ISC) fans might actually find reasons to RETURN to races on their own … and, no doubt just as the trendites start leavin’ the sport, per their normal X-sports-A.D.D. patterns, lol …)

If nothing else, Bruton Smith does care about the fans, AND the racin’ … so, let’s hope he keeps all of his Energies workin’ on all of this – at least until ISC becomes as ineffectual on paper as it is in application to what “we” want kept and/or changed BACK in this once-proud sport.

Or, just as I’ve always opined, if there’s an IRL/CART-type split in NASCAR someday … I’m goin’ with Smith. Not because of his Disney-esque venues I honestly care nothing about except in terms of “fan care”, but, because at least Smith understands that, until the RACIN’ is put back into NASCAR racin’, however it’s to be done … track elimination, entire revamping or not? God knows the fans need “something” to do while all of this basically “wow and edgy advertised”, yet entirely unexciting circular DRIVIN’ is currently goin’ on out there … and he’s been ON IT all along.

That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it, Grump … and, of course, grin – I WILL NOT BLINK on this one, either!