[With thanks to roykeane11]

BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS – He designed, helped build, and drives one of the fastest cars in the world.
    So, Tom Burkland of Ogden, what does it feel like to rocket across the Salt Flats at speeds approaching 450 mph?
    “Like going 100 miles an hour down the freeway, only the freeway you’re driving on is covered with ice. . . . There is a lot of slipping and sliding and moving around,” he says with a smile.
    And what’s the feeling inside the jetlike cockpit when it’s time to deploy the car’s two parachutes and stop the Burkland streamliner?
    With his smile turning to laughter, Burkland says, “When those chutes open, it’s like hitting a brick wall with your car at 30 miles an hour. So it gets your attention. But it’s a good feeling, too, because you know you’re slowing down.”
    Eight years ago at the Salt Flats, neither of Burkland’s two scientifically designed parachutes deployed. He ran an estimated six miles off the end of the eight-mile course, but the car stayed in one piece and eventually rolled to a stop at the base of a mountain.
    “It’s a real busy 90 seconds, when you’re in these cars,” Burkland said. “There is not a lot of time to look around and enjoy the scenery. . . . There is an awful lot going. You really have to concentrate.”

Anyone who has a love for speed should experience the thrill of witnessing a machine like the Burklund at over 400 mph as it goes by. If that does not give you chicken skin, I don’t know if you are payin’ attention. Tom Burkland comes by his need for speed honestly, he got it from his dad.

  “I probably enjoyed the designing, fabrication and building of the car more than actually racing out here,” Burkland said. “My dad and I, we have such a good time in the shop, building all this stuff and working on it. . . .
    “[Racing] is kind of the necessary evil of building them because you can’t find a customer who will come into the shop, buy one of these things and bring it out here and race it. So you have to do it all.”
    In his first trip across the Salt Flats, Burkland’s car went over 300 mph and set a record in its class. But it wasn’t enough for father and son.
    “We were still on the access road – we hadn’t gotten back to [I-80] yet – and we started talking about what we wanted to do next,” Burkland said. “We asked each other, ‘Do we want to put more power into this car and go a little faster, or do we want to step up?’ ”

Grumpy’s answer would be …….Well, Yea!

If you want to experience this kind of speed, the next event scheduled is the ‘World of Speed’ coming on September 17-20 on the historic Salt Flats.

Thanks to Steve Luhm and the Salt Lake Tribune for the quotes.

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

Click here to view the embedded video.

I suppose I don’t need to, once again, beat the decomposed horse of the COT and right-front TIRE issues here, do I? Good, because I don’t feel like it today anyway, grin … yet, ok, the note must be taken, as I’m sure it’s being “noted” in the garage area already – Daytona + COT + GoodYear + Right Front Tire Related Wrecks … uh … =? We won’t be seeing OR hearing the last of this this weekend.

So, Kurt Busch walks off into a frustratingly early, colorless sunset, needing to bring his back-up car out for this weekend’s Cup race after a pretty damned hard practice wreck … and Jr.’s considering trading a ride in the #88 for (the obviously not-so-bad-at-racin’-himself-thus-far) Patrick Dempsey in exchange for an appearance on Dempsey’s show, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?

How does that work? lol

Nahhh … just kidding. But someday, something “like” it could happen – if not in Cup, at least in ARCA, NCTS and/or Cup Light first, and perhaps with JRMotorsports (whatever part of it isn’t controlled by HMS now, anyway).

Dempsey’s proven himself to be far more than an actor, and Dale, Jr.’s proven himself to be far more than a racer now. (After all, Jr.’s become a NASCAR marketing genius in his own right – just like his step-mother used to be for Dale, Sr., ironically enough – especially if you consider his recent forays into broadcast with his own production company, thus making him far more than ‘comfortable’ in front of any camera anywhere.) So, yeah … it could happen. (Just not at HMS, of course.)

BUT – seeing Jr. doin’ the V8 SuperCars Series in Aussie-land soon (if you actually watched that vid and thus know he’s headed there for the second time, ahem, grin)? That is a reality, and would be great fun to watch! So, keep an eye out … for Dempsey (as a racer – ice it down, pit lizards, lol), and for Jr.’s next projects, racin’ or otherwise – could get interesting, either way either of them go … just as long as they keep goin’ fast, anyway, lol …

The following vid, by the way, is Dempsey talkin’ about his Rolex 24 run at Daytona, back in January – it’s a long interview, but there’s enough background on his racin’ activities, at least to that date, which might just dispel a bit of those “oh, here’s another actor, just screwin’ around with racin’ cuz he has the fame and the money” attitudes out there, lol. This guy’s pretty cool, actually, and not a bad wheelman at all – so ya’ might wanna’ cut him some slack on the “fame and hot” crap, and just watch him a bit closer once in a while. On the track, ladies, sigh:

Click here to view the embedded video.

His team’s 25th overall and 11th in class finish wasn’t bad the other night, by the way … just in case you were wondering and might wonder a bit more now, grin – if so, just click the icon to the left to jump to full Grand Am race results.

And if you wanna’ know more about Dempsey’s team? Click on this pic, where you’ll find Hyper Sports:

Last couple of notes here, & I’m off to quit opining for a while, grin:

1. Wonder how Busch would fair if he could get away from Penske, who just can’t seem to make it work in NASCAR (except for Newman’s 500 win, of course, but how long did that take?) Besides, Busch having a pretty weak NASCAR team behind him, and God knows a pretty weak teammate in Hornish now? Sigh … it’s like watching Mears have the life sucked out of him by HMS … so maybe it’s time for him to move on, OR, for Penske to consider change (a very difficult proposition for one of his nature, at least as it relates to “how things should be done”). And I mean change in the form of hiring ALL FIERY NASCAR types, just like Busch was and still tries to be, getting rid of Hornish, and most definitely? Maybe letting someone else “captain” this particular ship, because, as a car-owner in NASCAR? Penske doesn’t seem to have any more “it” than Hornish does behind the wheel, and that baby’s sinkin’ … again.

2. While I still hate the COT, that right-tire issue just might be different once the track cools down … got it, get it, and you’ve now seen me write it. HOWEVER, if you really watch those few words Dale, Jr. had to say about THAT car out there – in “slippery conditions” with the heat or not? Even while his #88 was fairly great except for a trivial ignition switch issue? He’s STILL sayin’ what they’re ALL still sayin’, however much more subtly now that NASCAR’s come down on drivers even harder for their criticisms – THAT COT POS AIN’T GOOD YET … ANYWHERE.

Let’s just hope the race will be, grin … but, in any event:

HAPPY JULY 4TH RACE WEEKEND, EVERYONE!!

There’s Always An Angler, er … Angle …Racin Thru The News Feb. 25, 2008

 

9.1	excellent
	Fun content on a variety of motorsports topics. Great format with comments section.
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Pretty neat, huh? Every once in a while I check out where we’ve been listed and/or rated in blogdom thus far, to see if there have been any notable changes, and to my surprised chuckle today, when I looked a bit deeper — the above is our first review (back from February, it appears, lol) at blogged.com! (So, since it’s June … now you know what “every once in a while” means, grin … just felt like diggin’ a bit more today, I guess.)

Lookin’ good, Grump & B!! Our general rating on this site has been 8.6, which is nothin’ to sneeze at, especially considering all of our esteemed colleagues out there & their own ratings, content, etc. … but thank you to this anonymous reviewer for the extra kudos, as they’re most appreciated!

[Guess that means that we'd better keep at this a bit longer, huh, guys? grin ... in fact, it's motivating me to get to those Baja, etc. posts I've had "on my list" for well over a week or two now, and yet haven't had time to tackle yet. Of course, it'll be most helpful for me to accomplish this once I have a massive tree removed from atop our roof after this week's storm, of course -- though some of the 'equipment' these tree-removal men are sportin' turns out to be very distracting, indeed, and some not necessarily in such a bad way, hehe ... ahem, but I digress.]

Keep up the great work, B & Grump! Catch ya’ later!

angler

First … WTH with the AARP operatic version of the Star Spangled Banner??????? UGH. I stood here, PAINFULLY, in my living room while apparently they told her to take it REAL SLOW cuz the planes were late — God knows, but aside from shattering a few of my favorite vases and most certainly hurting me upon many and varied aural levels along — I’m thinkin’ at least 6 specifiic, outward winces, but that’s only when it was REALLY bad … UGH. Did my duty, stood with hand on heart, but sure was happy to hear it STOP … STOP … STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok … happily back in my comfy position with requisite heating pad and Gatorade within easy reach (I know, I know … but I can’t drink even beer tonight, thanks to new med makin’ me about ready to hork every second, and for no legitimate reason I can think of — sucks!!!) … I’m shudding up about the SSB now (maybe) — the “gentlemen & ladies have started their engines” … so, of course, we go straight to a Toyota commericial. (Alright, though I truly hate to say it and only AM because they’re an American ad agency doin’ this shit — this series of Toyota truck spots? ROCKS.)

Pace Laps … to Green … where are they racin’ again?? OH — Texas!! BAD angler, lol … why didn’t I know that? I only dragged my very happily sleeping ass outa’ bed to SEE this, after all … OH — I forgot — this part’s so boring because it’s sponsor-plug to sponsor-plug to sponsor-plug … THAT’S why I usually mute it & jam tunes, instead, grin …

19.4 mph WINDS, and GUSTS … HMMMMMMM … In Texas, down in Turn 3 — watch those gusts!!! (Per Ray Dunlop, of course, as whodda’ thunk?) So, expect to hear “TROUBLE IN TURN THREE” a lot, huh? Hmmm .. time will, indeed, TELL.

Hmmm … alright — enough with the pre-ramble … GREEN, GREEN, GREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WELL … LOOK!! There’s NO COT AND THUS — SOME RACIN’ GOIN’ ON OUT THERE!!!! COOL … lol, lol … & Rowdy’s doin’ his Wild THING thing already, of course, so at least until he wrecks himself or somebody else especially bitchy, this’ll be fun …

Hm — Setzer’s up and off the pace … good God, how many times do we hear that “marbles description” every race?? Is there ANYONE who watches motorsports of ANY kind who doesn’t know that it’s LOOSE UP THERE? Sigh … I really hate hearing the “technical reasons” for that shit being up there EVERY SINGLE RACE, as if we just haven’t gotten it the other 7,882 races we’ve watched over the years … sigh … (Hmmm … I’m doin’ a lot of race bitchin’ vs. race rambling, huh … maybe it’s cuz I just woke up and had my eardrums freakin’ damaged by that woman attempting to honor our flag … could be … I wonder if I should sue, or simply continue to be bitchy … hm. Bitchy. Definitely. I think our society is far too litigious anyway, plus, until I fully wake up over here, I AM bitchy … ok — glad I got that straightened out.)

275rpms?? Who’s losin’ 275rpms? Ooops … sorry, grin … I suppose I should be watchin’ the RACE a little closer, huh? OK! ON it!!

Let’s see … we’re 14 laps in … Skinner & Sprague are up front … hell — I thought Hornaday was in the lead. Hm. Serves me right for being so bitchy … but … TOYOTA spot! Castrol’s “sludge” spot with the two guys on the couch, sigh … too bad — it was an ok concept last year, but this “extension” concept? Tired, overdone, and terribly casted/directed/propped. (Sorry — but in the ad biz? I’m not slouch, and certainly AM bitchy when something’s not right, lol … sue me.)

Back to RACIN’ … lap, uh … hmm … 20. OK, then … yup — still racin’. Lotsa’ trucks. Oh, guess Hornaday WAS leading — HA — see?? I wasn’t hallucinating!!! About a 3-second lead, too. Hmmm … ok, so that’s gonna’ get boring unless it’s just a first-part-of-the-race phenom … THREE-WIDE for second — Sprague & Skinner & (carp — already forgot) — that was fun … S&S making contact … Skinner finally gets the position, now Sprague’s back on the bottom … OH, but those ‘GUSTS AROUND TURN THREE’, LOL …

Scott Speed, by the way — our last winner? He’s kickin’ ass in that #22 … was so surprised to see him come to NCTS, by the way, especially with his creds. I mean, this guy’s a RACER’s racer, from F1 to just about everything else open-wheel … but he’s doing it right. Comin’ in right, earning respect from the trucks up, LEARNING from the trucks up — I just hope he’s testing COT’s, for God’s sake, or when he hits Cup, and he will, he’ll be screwed for a long while. Totally different animals.

By the way — all the ISC-owned tracks have NASCAR-approved tv spots, right? We used to do them, which is why we know — we casted an hilarious fat guy (who is actually a tremendously talented Shakespearean actor, I might add) back when Helton was fat, so Helton thought we were “ridiculing HIM” and pulled the whole series of award-winning spots, right? Well … just have to say this … all of the NASCAR-approved spots for local tracks? SUCK. No, really — they mostly DO. The individual tracks are given shit for budgets, usually hire someone in the local community to do it for as free as possible so they don’t have to actually PAY for quality, professional talent, and … they SUCK. Makes NO sense, really, if you think about it — but nothing NASCAR/ISC ever does really does anyway … LONGGGGGGGGGG, storied situation after Penske sold out to ISC/NASCAR in the track department, but I won’t go into it now. Just … trust me. Managment varies from track to track, but in my “tenure” with MIS, over the course of TWO presidents? One left because NASCAR/ISC was SO awful to deal with, terribly unprofessional and ridiculously cheap & nasty to local community, and the other?? Brought up from a SOUTHERN track — now, THIS GUY?? TOTAL FREAKIN’ IDIOT — in a very REAL sense — AND HATED DOING BUSINESS WITH WOMEN. MAN, the shit I could tell you about that guy, lol — it’d make you laugh, and then wanna’ bitch-slap him. I simply chose to laugh a lot … AT him, which, grin … you can imagine didn’t go over well for a southern IDIOT with a serious, SERIOUS chauvinistic, megalomaniac, autocratic, heartless (to existing, REAL MIS employees, let alone “vendors” like us) attitude to begin with, but … hey — we knew we were losing the account to one of his 20-something’s WIVES’ “job shops” (read: a woman who knew how to use photoshop on her home cp and called herself an “ad agency”, lol, lol) at that point anyway, lol … so … I had MUCH fun during our slow exit, hehe … [evil] grin … ahhhhhhhh … good times. (He’s now been replaced, thank GOD, though I have no clue about the New Guy … he might be the second-coming, and I wouldn’t know it, lol … guess I could get the skinny from some old buds still there, but what’s the point? At least until MIS does something to piss me off, lol …)

IN CONTRAST — SMI-owned tracks’ ad team(s)? Have their shit together.

Crap — RACIN’ back on, and there’s some of it actually goin’ on!! Wow — what a concept … field looks like Dega, though, somewhat broken into two groups with some stragglers … about lap, oh … what — 42? Yeah — looks like it, grin — we’ll go with that. (My eyesight is still MESSED UP with this damned brand new back med, so … hell — could be lap 82, lol, lol … no, really … it’s lap 44, so that was actually right.) MEANwhile, I missed why Bodine got hemmed in during his pit stop, and thus lost some spots he’ll have to make up …

Hmmm … BATTLE for the LEAD — TWO KHI RIDES — Hornaday & Sprague … will probably give him his 5 bonus points, but then … the battling WILL continue, as these two? Yup — Sprage’s out front, got his five points, and now we’ll see how long THAT line-up last, grin … Ah, but of COURSE — let’s go back to a TOYOTA SPOT INSTEAD. (Great as they are, from concept through execution? I’m already getting sick of ‘em WHEN HORNADAY & SPRAGUE ARE UP FRONT, and Hornaday’s not just gonna’ sit back in 2nd FOREVER. GEEEEZ.) (Ok, so the real swearin’ about this bothersome issue will come later … figured I’d start out slow, lol …)

OK — we’re back, it’s last 50-something, and Hornaday’s back up front … they’ll still battle, but I sense they’ll work together if traffic ever catches up, anyway, but for now … not real hard, as it’d suck to take each other out too early. But, later?? LOL … all best’re off between these two.

Looks like, after adjustments, Rowdy & Crafton are lookin’ a bit racier … that’s cool. Crawford make it look pretty easy takin’ 3rd from Skinner, in fact … hmmmm …. he might have somethin’ for those KHI boys — that is, if Rowdy and Speed don’t queer the deal once they get up there. Bensons’s taken 4th from teammate Skinner now … Skinner must need somethin’ major in adjustment.

Scott Speed’s never even SEEN this track since getting here with Busch this weekend, and he’s already up to 14th … Now, Busch & Speed will be TWO to watch every time they’re on ANY track, of COURSE … but I’ve gotta’ find out where/how Lia’s running after his win a couple of weeks ago, too … hmmm … just curious.

Good God … more SPOTS! I’m seein’ more FOR racin’ right now than I’m seein’ the RACIN’ … ironic, don’t you think?? grin

Alright … need a break myself … gonna’ go get some ice for this Gatorade … maybe at least then it’ll sorta’ taste even maybe like a really weird, bad G&T or somethin’ … sigh … how I miss my Bushmills and/or Jameson at times like this, when I’m so meeellllloooooww, it’s a wonderful-weather night — AND

PIT ROAD!!!! Why? I dunno’. Lap? I dunno’. Hornaday’s goin’ out 4th, Benson’s out 1st … Compton gets the Lucky Dog — 27 trucks on the lead lap. Ahhhhh … Almirola’s the reason for the caution — lost it and he wiped the back-end — AH — ANOTHER TV SPOT!!!!!!! SURPRISE!!!!!!!!! For Christ’s sake, I couldn’t even see Aric’s NAME enough to probably spell it right before they’re back into commercial break … sigh.

“Jumper” looks sorta’ cool as a movie, though … weird, but cool trailer, anyway … hmmm … OK, and DirecTV spots lately?? Hilarious. Good stuff. “Keep a little gray with Touch of Gray” from “Just For Men” hair-dyin’ stuff … WONDERFUL change from those horrible sports’ broadcaster spots — still pretty stupid, but, actually, the product ITSELF looks pretty cool — gray is sexy on most men, at least when it’s done slowly/right. On the right men, too, as God knows it wouldn’t matter if they never went gray, some men just can’t look sexy no matter WHAT they do to their HAIR, but I’m sure those babes in bikinis with surfboards just got ‘em all thinkin’. (Who surfs in a string bikini, anyway? I mean REALLY SURFS??? Sigh … it’d be like slalom-skiing (which I used to be damned good at, I might add, having done it since the age of 7) in a bikini — not only stupid, but seriously rather risky when you crash into what feels like concrete at about 45-50mph and you find it GONE, ENTIRELY, LOL … This is why you only ski with trusted friends & lots of extra suits on bored, as God knows a racing suit still gets crammed in places — never mind, lol … wetsuit’s BEST when you’re serious, anyway — that was the point.)

OK — RACIN’ … lap, uh … 70 somthing .. Hornaday takes the lead BACK from Benson after takin’ 1/2 pound of air outa’ the left rear (hope I heard that right, but if not — do you REALLY care??) — whatever he did, sure looks like it served him well, as he’s crankin’ out there. Bodine’s behind a haulin’ Speed right now — wonder how THAT’LL work out, grin … will he “initiate” him, or just see what he’s got and stay cool? Oh, he’s pushin’ it, but … wow — Speed’s not only obviously faster, but, Bodine isn’t bein’ an asshole –ooops — spoke too soon, lol … gettin’ him loose on that very edge of his left rear bumper … didn’t work … Speed just took another position, Bodine’s following. Cool. They’re playing nice, and Speed’s doin’ it WELL.

Hornady & Sprague, back at it for the lead!!! Oh, freakin’ CRAP, of COURSE THAT MEANS WE GO BACK TO A … OH — THIS TIME IT’S THE ROBOTIC CRAFTSMAN SPOT.

SIGH. Shall we count how many ABOUT racin’ spots we’ll see while we’re MISSING RACIN’ right now????

NO. I don’t feel like it, plus I missed getting my ice last break, lol … be back when there’s racin’ AND I feel like it, grin … (OH — this won’t be edited at the end, either, before posting, just so you know — maybe later for pic-additions, IF that, but nothing else. That’s how I “do” it when I do it, so if you think I’m about illiterate right now because of all my typos? Read something else I’ve written when I’ve really been trying, lol … you’ll get over it. This is a RACE RAMBLE — not an academic paper, so … that’s THAT part I forgot to remid you about!) NOW — racin’s back on, Hornaday & Sprague have about a 3-second lead on the rest of the field (I’m sensin’ post-race inspection, grin) … and I’m going for ICE, damn it!!!!!!!!!! Oh, crap — before I tell you that these SAME two trucks are the SAME TWO TRUCKS where they did a one-two finish in K.C. … so … there’s that, and NOW I’m going for ice! No doubt missing the most fun of the mid-race stuff, as they’re doin’ side-by-side, and lookin’ to be having a riot, way ahead of the field, just the two of ‘em … I really DO love seeing these two as teammates …

AH … caution … Compton, who was havin’ trouble anyway — Lap 88 — looks sorta’ terminal with his net down — OH, BIG BLOW (replay) … he’s out. NOW I’M GOING FOR ICE … GEEEEEEEEZ.

Ok … now I have ice for my blue Gatorade (have to hydrate with stuff to keep my electrolytes balanced right now, and honestly — this isn’t a plug — this shit works, and doesn’t make me puke — always a bonus) … and it still tastes like Gatorade. Sigh. Oh well … valiant effort on my part, I thought … though soon it’ll just be watery Gatorade — now THERE’S somehin’ to look forward to, lol!!

OK — Hornaday’s taken the lead BACK from Sprague — Wild Thing’s movin’ up to the front… UH-oh, grin … and Wood’s losin’ a lap. WHY CAN’T THE WOOD BROS. CATCH A BREAK??? UGH.

Bodine’s not impressing me much tonight — though he did “play with” Speed in a cool way, and I think showed him the sort of respect he deserves as an already-well-respected racer, even if not in NASCAR yet. I liked that. Respect. Now, Speed’ll have to continue to earn it, NASCAR style, granted … but — no … that was good stuff back there.

Wild Thing and Skinner … Skinner’s gets back around him for 5th … traffic & aero comin’ into play — or, hey — THOSE WIND GUSTS IN TURN THREE, LOL … no, sorry — it IS a factor … just sounded sorta’ funny and it’s kinda’ stuck with me … you know how things usually DO, so … doncha’ just LOVE it when I do one’a these?

Hornaday & Sprague still 1, 2, with Hornady takin’ the higher line … hmmm … maybe they’re experimenting with who runs best where, how they run best together where — considering they’ve got all that TIME to play with, anyway, as large as their lead is, lol …

OH, JOY — MORE SPOTS … SIGH. I SWEAR — watching NASCAR is like watchin’ race clips during a commercial marathon. No wonder F1 snobs call us the “Moving Advertising Series” or some such nonsense, though it’s true and DOES make me laugh — can’t help it. I’m a realist.

ALRIGHT … more plugs for some damned thing, but what LAP are we on?? Sigh … ah, Bodine & Busch runnin’ side-by-side, grin … THAT might be fun!! Oh — Lap 108, by the way …

Bodine, Speed, Busch and Crawford … hmmmmmmmmmm … NICE line-up, and Speed’s really kickin’ ass tonight. I’m likin’ his look for Cup … soon. Looks like Wild Thing’s not nearly loose enough to do much with anyone as he’d normally be doing … UNLESS?? Since he and Speed flew in together, he’s dedicating some time to run with him?? (Nahhhhh … different teams, and Busch only knows one way to race …. he needs some adjustments, big-time. If he gets to run loose toward the end, we might see something, but I don’t feel much from him right now. Speed, on the other hand?? I’m feelin’ a LOT …

OH, Brown got loose with a back right tire goin’ down, slapped the outside wall, blew the rear to pieces, and pretty much lost it everywhere, tho he did a great job handling what could’ve wrecked him worse …

PIT … lots of 4-tire changes — Hornaday gets out in front of Sprague (and interesting that he went back to ORIGINAL air pressure) … but, wait for it … wait for it … won’t be long now — AH, OF COURSE — TOYOTA SPOT!!!!!!!!! THIS set — all the “fan”-centric spots?? “HATE the set, but LOVE this “Fan Controller” specific one, lol, lol … “RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, ZIPPY!!!” Noticed they re-edited the end — good call. The other one was weak.

Ok … takin’ break to go get a different glass, skip the ice. I’ve found like that I like my Gatorade like I do my single-malt: NEAT. Interesting factoid for you to be aware of next time you offer to send a drink down the bar to me, grin … nothin’ fruity, gopped up with unbrellas or fruit, and most definitely — SINGLE-malt, NEAT. Period. Otherwise, I’ll politely decline, thank you for the thought (via the server), and hand it to the nearest bar-fly wearin’ cheap perfume and too much hair-spray, lol, lol … JUST so ya’ know.

AHHHH … before we could get to anything but a pit-guy’s ankle twist?? BACK TO COMMERCIAL.

NOW I’m going to de-ice my Gatorade … catch ya’ during the NEXT commerical break, considering their FREQUENCY … UGH. FREAKIN’ frequency … and thus starts the pre-swearing, grin … catch ya’ in a sex, er, sec, lol …

AS I was de-icing my gator (sick of pumpin’ their actual drink-hame unless they’re gonna’ put an ad up here at anglerred and makin’ us rake in the plug-bucks just like Larry McReynolds does with his “Sunoco Fuel” and “GoodYear tires” sponsor plugs every THREE SECONDS from the booth, lol), I hear that Marks is “about to pass out”, with Compton standing by to take over the ride, but “come in if it gets too bad — don’t hurt yourself and DON’T WRECK THE TRUCK”???? LOL … uh, how about “get your ass in here before you pass OUT at 170mph, dude.” He already TOLD them he was about to pass out — what do they need — a MEMO??? GET HIM IN. GEEEZ.

Lap 121 — maybe some contact on the restart, lost a tire, hard contact with the wall, Jason White’s out … Setzer gets Lucky Dog. Now … do ya’ think that the WIND GUSTS in turn 4, actually made him slam the turn 1 wall, somehow, since he was already losin’ that tire in four???? HMMMMMMMMMMM … I’m thinkin’ we should investigate this … grin … hah, just kidding … the tire actually went out

ANOTHER TOYOTA SPOT. OF COURSE. MOTHERFREAKIN’ENOUGH, ALREADY … note that swearing’s getting worse, grin … but not QUITE horrible yet, implying the need for some sort of medal of honor over here … and a freakin’ SCOTCH, because I’m getting REAL sick of this ‘ade.

Holy crap — Hornaday’s crew guy really DID mess up his ankle. Sorry, can’t remember his name right now, but he did a helluva’ job as the left front TIRE-changer, and just came down on that ankle wrong after a victory jump b/c they got Hornaday out first. MAN, does THAT suck for him .. sigh … hope it’s just a bad sprain, though even that could have him out for a week or more if serious enough … not cool. (Plus he’s gonna’ feel like an idiot, when he shouldn’t … hell … I do stupid shit like that all the time, and I (usually) haven’t just helped to get Hornaday out’a the pits first right before, grin …

UH-OH — SPEED’S SPINNING in the infield … MISSES PIT ROAD WALL BY MERE INCHES — HELLUVA’ GREAT GRIP ON THAT THING TO END UP NOT CRASHIN’ THE HELL OUT THAT TRUCK –

NOW CRAWFORD’S TRICK … tire blew … uh-oh … contact with Speed cuts Crawford’s tire, then Crawford gets the worst of it, sliding up and slappin ‘the wall, then … the tire’s shredding, doing more damage …

Damn … tho, on replay, looks like Speed got into a side-draft or something he wasn’t expecting, and just got sucked UP to Crawford — it happened too quickly, unless he had something else go wrong — I’m thinkin’ side-draft caught him off-guard. Sigh … Crawford’s night is SUCKIN’, big, even though he’s managing, SO far, to stay on the lad lap … and Speed probably feels pretty bad, even though he made one HELLAVA’ save once across the grass and heading for a wreck against pit road wall … wonder if they’re gonna’ talk about HOW Speed got outa’ line there …

OF COURSE NOT — IT’S TIME FOR A frickin’ TRIVIA QUESTION, SPONSORED BY … screw it — I’m not GIVIN’ you the sponsor, lol …

Man, after how many pit stops during this long caution, and Crawford’s STLL having problems out there … sigh. Rough night, and he drops in points … BUT — that’s racin’! Let’s just hope everyone’s fair with Speed, as it wasn’t intentional/aggressive — I think, just an unexpected side-draft — OR MAYBE A GUST!!!!!!!!! LOL

AH, MY FAVORITE … MORE SPOTS. All the same, really, just mixed up in order for variety’s sake … like that’s gonna’ help the damned IRRITATION FACTOR OVER HERE. I mean, SERIOUSLY — there’s sponsor shit literally EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK on the track, on the trucks … in the stands, said by the announcers … ALL over the tickers and updates and rolling “whatevers” … and don’t FORGET THE “brought to you by’s” … but THIS?? COMMERCIAL BREAKS EVERY FREAKIN’ FIVE LAPS, TOO??????????????????????????

ENOUGH, already.

So … about to restart, and we’re talkin’ about cowboy hats … OH, and the answer to the “X” TRIVIA QUESTION, because, HONESTLY?? It’s REALLY been on my mind between all these race-lips while I’ve been TRYING to concentrate on the tv spots. I mean, seriously — how rude. And the answer?? Kvapil. The question? NO clue, as I was hopin’ to watch the RACE at the time, and was thus too pissed to hear it.

Oh — a RACE SUMMARY!! GOOD IDEA!!!! SINCE ALL THE FUCK WE’RE SEEING ARE THE COMMERCIALS, ANYWAY!!!

OK … finall got to the swearing, grin … I just knew it was only a matter of time, but at least now it’s sorta’ out of my system — we’ll see how I do from here on out … if we go to commericial break directly after this??? Just imagine it, as I’ll just try to be an adult and not TYPE IT for you …

But, NO — it’s BACK TO GREEN! Wild Thing must have his “loose” back, because he’s movin’ on Benson, who’s movin’ on Sprague … 29 laps to go … Bodine watching Busch & Sprague going at it for third … hehe … he’s on the MOVE, and I don’t think Benson (in first right now) is gonna’ have enough for him when he gets there. Can’t remember who’s in second … uh-oh … looks like Bodine should’ve made the same adjustment to “loose” as Busch did, as he’s droppin’ back pretty quick …

Ok — Musgrave’s been quietly comin’ to the front, too … SO quietly that I only noticed with the help of Phil Parsons (I think it was him, anyway …)

Hornaday, Benson, Sprague, Busch, Bodine …. lots of good ones on back (REAL good ones, really, but none of ‘em seem to be handling that great — maybe the day-time set-ups just haven’t been adjusted to night well enough for some of ‘em??) 22 laps left … looks like Marks hasn’t passed out yet — that’s good.

CAUTION — oops … Musgrave blows up, with Starr getting caught up somehow, slammin’ inside wall. GEEZ, could’ve Musgrave stayed in the MIDDLE of the track any longer after regaining control??? Apron, at that point, anyone?? UGH. Starr’s truck is screwed, man … just … screwed. Oil line/cooler/somethin’ gone — don’t think he’s gonna’ make it back out at this point, but … I’m just not thinkin’ so.

Speedy dry on the track — CENTER of the track for a LONG WAYS … again … uh … WHY didn’t Musgrave get DOWN when he knew he was flushin’ fluid all over the damned place?? Hate it when that happens!

Hey — Lia’s up to 12th — doin’ really good, actually, considering he started pretty far back in the field — good job, so he might get outa’ here with a top-ten tonight.

COMMERICIAL BREAK — see — now during a LENGTHY caution, ya’ gotta’ expect this shit, yes — but, sigh … during the first part of this race — 3/4 of it?? GRATUITOUS BULLSHIT. If their philosophy is to get all of the “required” spots out of the way early IN CASE there’s a great finish they actually wanna’ show — that’s just lovely strategy, except if they’re trying to attract new and/or European viewers to NCTS, because I can tell you one thing RIGHT now. Most people I’ve talked to who’ve TRIED to watch NASCAR races in order to “get it”?? OPT OUT DURING THE FIRST THIRD OF THE RACE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT STAND THE FREAKIN’ CONSTANT ADVERTISING.

THEY HAVE A POINT. BIG-TIME. They intended to try to watch a RACE, and a commercial drive broke out … who WOULD stick with this crap, unless they ALREADY knew enough about what little racin’ we’d be seeing to know that it’s MOSTLY worth it?? CERTAINLY NOT NEW AND/OR EUROPEAN VIEWERS, because, HONESTLY?? Our ridiculously puritanistic FCC restrictions regarding tv spots and tv content in general? ALREADY BORE THEM TO TEARS — SO THIS ISN’T HELPING — THEY ALREADY HATE OUR TV SPOTS!!!!!!!!!! SO — HELL … LET’S JUST GIVE ‘EM MORE, and then wonder why ratings continue to DROP.

Ahhhh … at LEAST they’re talking about Scott Speed’s amazing job of avoiding pit road during that contact with Crawford — whew. I was afraid they were gonna’ paint him black for losing control, but they haven’t, and that’s GOOD. One less thing to bitch about tonight, lol …

14 laps to go while they’re still cleanin’ up the racetrack with Hornaday, Benson, Sprague & Wild Thing … at least it’ll be a shoot-out, unless (grin) there’s another caution or five between now and then — OR, if we miss it while they’re in COMMERCIAL BREAK!

SO … THIS is where all of this extra RACIN’ coverage goes at the END, when they use up all the commerical breaks in the beginning — WE GET TEN MINUTES OF CAUTION COVERAGE.

GREAT PLAN.

Final ten laps … ready to go green again … and …. we’re … OFF!!!!!!!!!!!

Busch into third, on Benson’s bumper for second … NOW IN SECOND … now it’s Hornaday and Wild Thing, GRIN … Hornaday’s not going to give it away, but … I’m not thinkin’ he’s got enough left … it’s Wild Thing’s race to lose, at this point.

Then again … Hornaday looks like he has more hp on the straights, so he’s putting distance on Busch … might take a caution and a GWC for Busch to take him … damn. Might be looking at a boring end unless we get a caution, which, of course … ain’t all too great, either.

Ok … Busch pulling back up, but not enough — yet. About 5 to go … TOO much straight-away speed for KHI.

(Ah, and NOW they’re talkin’ about Busch needing a restart, LOL … ya’ think?)

Final three laps — Skinner hits the wall, WRECK — Scott Speed … DAMN IT. He was runnin’ SO hard, SO well … SHIT. His truck looks absolutely screwed. Speed had a LOT of momentum, and it doesn’t look like Mitchell even KNEW Speed was there … and, maybe Speed over-corrected JUST a bit upon contact, heading him straight up into the outside wall — HARD contact. DAMN. He was rockin’ tonight.

WELL, at least we get our Green/White/Checker with Hornaday touted as the “master of restarts”, and Wild Thing … well, grin … WILD on restarts … without a longer run and straight-away hp advantage, he probably wouldn’t have a shot. But, NOW??

I think either Busch’ll take it, or they’ll wreck. That’s my HUGE prediction, grin … and I hate making these, because I’m usually wrong, and I really hate being wrong in front of a global audience, lol …

OH WELL — that’s my story, and I’m stickin’ with it.

Kyle Busch will take it, or wreck it. Either way — it’ll be a FUN GWC, though it absolutely SUCKS for Skinner, and ESPECIALLY FOR SCOTT SPEED. I’d rather have the race end boring as hell, than to see those two taken out — especially Speed, considering how he’s raced lately. Sigh

Alright … now — remember — I’m hitting “publish” the second whoever hits the checker first hits the checker first, so … please forgive all typos, etc., but it “is what it is” — that’s my “Race Rambling” post-style, and for better or worse, it ain’t changin’, grin …

OK … ready for GREEN … NOW!!!!!

Hornady off to a good start … Busch get a run, they get loose, Hornaday blocks … straight-away hp is winning out … but he’s still dodging Busch by movin air around — HORNADAY TAKES IT!!!! TOO much time, and too much hp for Busch to keep up.

OK — that’s IT — HORNADAY WINS IN TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Catch ya’ later!

angler

[Alright, so I can't quite squish him in person right now ... but at least this pic/link is somethin' along the lines of proving my serious desire to do just that ... ugh!!!!!]

Max Mosley overcame a sex scandal and won a vote of confidence Tuesday to remain FIA president in a decision that threatens to divide motor racing’s governing body. [HUH?????]

Soon after Mosley was given permission to remain as president through October 2009 – when his fourth term ends – the German motoring federation broke off its cooperation with the FIA and the Dutch body criticized smaller clubs for letting monetary issues influence their vote. [GOOD.]

The 68-year-old Englishman won a secret ballot 103-55 – with seven abstentions and four invalid votes – at the specially convened assembly in Paris.

The German, American, Japanese, French, Australian and Spanish auto federations all voted against Mosley, while federations from Finland, Canada and Sweden were among 24 club members that had publicly come out against Mosley before the vote. [Just please don't let us find out later that Canada "abstained", or worse ... sigh ... grrrrrrrrrrr ...]

American Automobile Association president Robert Darbelnet did not rule out the possibility of forming a separate body to guard the interests of motorists worldwide. [GOOD -- at least the U.S. is standing UP, STRONG ... per usual, I might add.]

“We don’t think this type of behavior is appropriate for an organization that represents hundreds of million of motorists,” Darbelnet said. “I can’t think of an organization that would arrive at a result that was arrived at here today.” [Who the hell would, especially by THAT margin???]

The FIA said Mosley would not comment until his lawsuit against British tabloid News of the World was settled. Dutch federation member Guido van Woerkom said Mosley had promised to avoid the public spotlight in the future. [Probably best for his personal safety, at this point, ahem.]

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone was “happy” with the results of the vote. [Duplicitous bastard ... changes his "40 year friendship" allegiance probably about as often as any of his freakin' domestic staff who might refuse to anoint his withered, tiny feet every other hour.]

“The one thing I didn’t want to happen, the last thing I wanted, was for Max to go today,” Ecclestone said. “Up until now, I’ve asked him a million times to stand down at the end of November. But today he got what he wanted. He is still there and that’s it.” [Oh, just shut the hell up, ya' fascist git.]

Van Woerkom said most of Mosley’s support came from smaller clubs – which held equal sway in terms of voting power to the national federations – because of the money they received after FIA last year gave Formula One team McLaren a $100-million fine for possessing sensitive documents belonging to rival Ferrari. The FIA and its members received $60 million of that sum.

“(It is) difficult to say, but there is a lot of money going around, and if you get a small piece of that bread it can be very nice to eat,” Van Woerkom said. “Corrupt is not the way (to say it). [Uh -- please tell me you're KIDDING????] But when you look at the McLaren fine, that is a lot of money, and when you get something from that, you are more or less in favor of the people giving you that bread.” [Read: corrupt. Holy CRAP, enough with the PC-BS!]

The German motoring federation ADAC, which is Europe’s largest automobile organization, said it has frozen all its activities with FIA. That decision could affect the country’s possibilities of holding the German Grand Prix, a FIA-sanctioned F1 event. [The only right and decent thing to do under the circumstances -- HUGE respect to ADAC for that move.]

“ADAC will stay with its decision as long as Max Mosley holds the top FIA office of president,” it said in a statement. [Let's hope so, especially considering that, between you and AAA alone, ya' might just find a better situation anyway.]

FULL Story [... and you MUST read the REST of some of the BS statements these "smaller" auto clubs threw out there to justify their "confidence" votes. It probably wouldn't hurt you to note their countries of origin, either ... considering ... certainly didn't surprise me much.]

More later, at least once my anti-emetics start actually workin’, sigh … UNFREAKINBELIEVABLE, and yet … ENTIRELY BELIEVABLE. Hence the serious nausea involved over here.

Apparently this is nothing new for Gravity Entertainment, at least in regard to making huge statements and later coming up with nothing, (as they did the same in NASCAR before the Daytona 500 this year), but we’ve covered most of that in yesterday’s post about both extremely suspicious “sponsors”.

Today … I’d like to cut to the chase and simply give you the info you need to make some decisions for yourself. One of the most important is whether or not to offer whatever help you can to keep Fisher — a seriously determined, talented racer — not just in the field, which is a place she has earned time and time again in Indy racing (and in NASCAR); but, also to keep Sarah Fisher Racing, LLC in the race as a new team owner. Read what other fans have done so far, so you might better understand that you don’t need to loom forth with a large contribution — especially while we’re all feeling the sting of this national economic crunch (to put it mildly). But every dollar counts, and you can be a part of keeping Sarah Fisher Racing, LLC alive until a legitimate sponsor comes back aboard.  [Click on her pic, above, for a comprehensive view of her career to date.]

Not long after word got out this month that the driver Sarah Fisher had lost her primary corporate sponsor [ResQ, as reported at the time, though Gravity Entertainment was also said to be committed], which is as bad as losing all of her tires, fans stopped her at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and offered more than sympathy.

They gave her money, the most precious material in racing. One fan wrote her a check for $100. Another fan gave her $20, with an apology that he wished it were more. Including those who mailed in checks, Fisher said, her race team received about $30,000.

“It gives me goose bumps,” she said Thursday.

Of the three women in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 — Danica Patrick and Milka Duno are the others — Fisher is the only team owner. She is the first female driver/owner to make the Indy 500 since Janet Guthrie in 1978, but the joint venture has been rugged since it began this year.She had planned to drive in three IndyCar races this season, but when money promised by an energy-drink manufacturer [RESQ INC] never materialized, Fisher, 27, was left with just enough to pay the bills to cover what will be her seventh Indy 500 as a driver. […]

On April 8, at the ribbon-cutting at the team’s new shop in Indianapolis, Fisher announced that the new ResQ Pure Energy Power Drink would be the primary sponsor for three races, including Indianapolis. But now, Fisher said, that sponsor has disappeared.

Messages left at the company’s headquarters in Gulf Breeze, Fla., were not returned, but Fisher said: “They’ve come up with different excuses. They’ve said different things about it every day. I have bigger things to focus on.” Full Article at the NYTimes

I find it appalling that a true racer like Sarah Fisher, who made her 68th start in IndyCar this past weekend, faces the very real possibility that her on-track wreck with Tony Kanaan might have destroyed her chances to compete in her next scheduled race — much less, without further funding, (since her family has already sacrificed nearly everything they have/had to try to put this team together already,) to compete in any other race these season or beyond. It’s appalling that this could happen in America, of all places, where drivers or sponsors certainly don’t even have to be American — and, apparently, now the drivers out there don’t even have to be racers anymore, either … just adequately sponsored.

Witness a driver like Milka Duno — a woman with far less overall (let alone IndyCar) experience, not to mention far less talent behind the wheel than Fisher, currently enjoying absolutely no sponsorship worries whatsoever — no matter how she’s performed in her Indy races thus far (finishing only 5 of 10 starts, to date). (Click on her name, by the way, to perhaps further clarify a few of the general misconceptions about her “great racing performances” before coming to IndyCar last season.) Nope — Duno certainly doesn’t lie awake at night, wondering if or how she’ll be able to afford to keep racing IndyCar.

But, really, why should she worry? She’s sponsored by Citgo, owned (as nearly everything else in Venezuela), by Chavez — one of the most adamantly hateful anti-American sonuvabitches on the planet, also in league with a number of other, equally adamantly hateful anti-American sonuvabitches. Literally. (Read on for the links to prove this, just in case you haven’t been keeping up with his antics of late.)

Though, really, should Chavez & Co. affect how we feel about Milka Duno? Who knows … but what I do know is that I’ll walk 1,000 miles to the next gas station, AND back, if I ever run out even right damned next to a Citgo station and can’t reach my road service guys, as every decent American should.

Citgo, especially, has no place in America, NOR in American motorsports. I mean, for God’s sake, people, this dictator/communist actually, publicly “dared” the U.S. to put Venezuela on its “terror watch list”, [this second click'll jump you straight to an article that obviously covers it better than one of my March piss-me-off posts on the subject did] among other lovely sentiments he expressed to us about our country. Yet Americans are still buying anything from ANY Citgo stations scattered across this country? (Isn’t it about time that some of you REthink that, by the way? I’m just sayin’ …)

But, hey — as long as Milka Duno is adequately “sponsored” by this rabidly anti-American company/nation (which she also happens to remain a citizen of, last I heard), it’s OK for her to continue to spin all over the track from event to event, right? Especially while America’s Sarah Fisher struggles with scammin’ sponsors (of as yet unidentified citizenship themselves), struggles to assemble enough resources simply to run races (which she actually manages to show well in far more often then not — after all, a pole, 3 top-5’s and 9 top-10’s are nothin’ to sneeze at), and still presents one helluva’ an amount of American Spirit by having pushed on in an American motorsport as tough as IndyCar (not to mention as tough as NASCAR, too), against enormous obstacles entirely unrelated to her gender — but that’s all ok, right?

Wrong.

This has nothing to do with Sarah Fisher being a woman and everything to do with Sarah Fisher representing what’s best about this country — “never give up, no matter the odds.” She didn’t last weekend, and I hope she won’t be forced into it by a lack of American funding in the coming weeks and months, while other drivers (vs. racers) out there continue to log laps fueled by foreign interests entirely contrary to our own.

I hope you feel the same about at least some of this, and will send Fisher’s team whatever you can spare until she finds legitimate sponsorship, and can keep runnin’ up with the boys (and even Danica, grin) — as she has been for quite some time … and not merely in IndyCar.

SO! Now that I’ve climbed down from my well-worn soapbox, if you’d like to be yet another amazing fan who is generous enough to help Sarah Fisher keep racin’ this season, here’s donation information provided at Fisher’s site, as of 5/21:

Please send donations to this address, and thanks for your support of Sarah!
Sarah Fisher Racing, LLC
4701 Rockville Road, Suite D
Indianapolis, IN 46222

Lewis Hamilton recovered from an early contact with the barriers to win a frantic Monaco Grand Prix and take the lead in the drivers’ championship. Robert Kubica drove a clean race to take second ahead of Felipe Massa. [For a terrific article & comprehensive coverage of this rather tumultuous (NASCAR-esque? grin) race,] make this jump to GPUpdate!

Lewis Hamilton’s father “speechless” — ever? grin … hardly, but he sure seemed proud of his son’s Monaco victory, and how can you not adore a Dad/son picture like this one (click on it for his “speechless” comments, lol):

And, of course, while it’s always nice (and of late, pretty rare,) to see an actual smile on Ron Dennis’ face, you can still tell where his team priorities lie –at least in terms of putting Kovalainen out there to “test” conditions for Hamilton, during the race, which certainly cost Heikki any chance at all of approaching Hamilton’s position at the finish — let alone Hamilton’s position within and without the team … sigh.

“I’m disappointed for Heikki because we had the pace for a one-two, but there’s pace and the opportunity to come,” [Dennis commented]. “We switched Heikki to dry tyres a bit earlier than Lewis to see if it was the right time, but we didn’t want to take any other risks because you never know when the safety car is going to come out.” Full Story

I realize that we all knew that this would happen to Kovalainen when he signed on with McLaren this season, but it still annoys the hell outa’ me. Who’s to say, if he hadn’t been Dennis’/Hamilton’s tyre guinea pig during the race, that it wouldn’t have been him on that podium in Monaco instead of Hamilton — or at the very least, upon it with him? How long will a strong, talented, fiery competitor like Kovalainen be content to be playing even less than what we’d consider Hamilton’s “second fiddle”, but, in general … an obvious McLaren afterthought, which so many “second-tier teammates” seem to be within the F1 realm? It certainly wasn’t Kovalainen’s intention to be forced to run second (or worse) to Hamilton when he signed on at McLaren, as he stated many times … but reality is still a kick in the ass whenever anyone’s dealin’ with Ron Dennis, isn’t it?

Honestly … this is at least one area (and most likely the biggest) where I respect NASCAR’s general organizational ethics regarding team dynamics far more than I ever will F1’s seemingly collective “team” paradigm.

In NASCAR, at least a team is a team. Whatever F1 elitists might think or say about NASCAR’s ‘plebeian roots’ and/or incredibly ‘unsophisticated’ nature of racing, (and, hey — just keep those insults comin’, grin, since we’re still kickin’ F1’s ass all over the place in terms of everything from race attendance, broadcast viewership, brand loyalty, fan demo-stratus, to profits, and so much more … factors I’m absolutely confident have nothing whatsoever to do with this new F1 “Speedcar Series”, lol … but, really, guys — quit while you’re, well … not ahead and never will be in the “stock car” arena, at the very least).

But, I digress. (Go figure, grin.)

Individual stars and/or stand-outs do exist among individual NASCAR teams, certainly, but these also vary greatly from as little as week to week at times — pending skill-sets between drivers & preferred tracks, crew chiefs & pit strategies … etc. However, at least NASCAR teams never put their “second-” or “third-” or even “fourth-rated” team driver out there during a race wherein they’re still in contention, just to “test” how one decision or another from the pits might directly affect the current front-runner’s chances for a checker. It’s simply not done.

Perhaps, fair and ethical competition — even if solely within & between NASCAR teams for the purposes of this post — is merely one more reflection of the American Way. Which is why I’m so damned proud to be one … who knows. (Not the least bit interested in that complex discussion today, grin …)

In any case — I wish I would’ve caught the Monaco GP this weekend, as it looked to be an exciting, beautiful race from beginning to end. Alas … most Americans here in the U.S. and elsewhere had a few rather more important “American” things to attend to upon our Memorial Day Weekend, with racing interests certainly not the most weighty of them.

With that in mind, then:

To all non-U.S.-citizens who have served with us over the years — in front, behind, beside or otherwise — from wherever you hail upon this planet … please know that we, as Americans, also remember our fallen foreign friends upon Memorial Day Weekend. May they all rest in peace, with our unfailing respect and gratitude for standing with us throughout so very many tragic, vagarious eras in our collective history.

While I plan to find out more on his condition (and exactly how he conjured it, apparently, lol) as soon as possible (and share it with you in the comments area of this post — if he doesn’t threaten me with ugly consequences for doing so, at least, grin), all I really know at this point is what Grump told me in a brief message: he was “clumsy” (lol) whilst on a job, and broke it near the elbow (UGH — terrible spot for that, I’d imagine).  So, other than that, all I know is that Grump’s hurting a lot, and obviously unable to post for a while (or, if he gets stubborn about it (grrrrrrrr), at least not as much as usual) — and,  I’m sure we’re all already missin’ his uniquely “Grump-like” insights & generally wonderful coverage of racin’ stuff a ton!!!

So, needless to say, I’d think — I hope you’ll all send Grump your best wishes for a quick & comfortable recovery (certainly feel free to do so right here, in our comments area, so he can see them sooner, and/or merely send out a whole bunch of good, healing vibes and/or prayers from your nearest wishin’ WELL!!!)

MY PERSONAL WISH(ES) FOR GRUMP:

THAT YOU’LL FEEL BETTER, AND FAST, DAMN IT …

THAT YOU’LL ENJOY THE CRAP OUTA’ BEIN’ SPOILED ROTTEN BY YOUR LOVELY WIFE WHILE IN YOUR PRESENT RECUPERATIVE STATE … EXTENDING IT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, OF COURSE, BECAUSE YOU JUST LOVE IT WHEN SHE SPOILS YOU ROTTEN, AND APPARENTLY SHE’S VERY GOOD AT IT, GRIN …

THAT YOU’LL CHECK IN AND LET US ALL KNOW HOW YOU’RE DOIN’, AS SOON & OFTEN AS YOU CAN! (Have any of that voice-activated writing software??  That might be fun, since it always comes up with the most hilarious shit you never “meant” to type… could provide for endless amusement on our parts, anyway, if for no other reason to use it, lol …)

THAT YOU’LL ENJOY WATCHIN’ RACIN’ THIS WEEKEND, JUST TO WATCH IT & ENJOY IT, RATHER THAN WORRYIN’ ABOUT “TOPICS” TO OPINE ABOUT HERE LATER — MIGHT BE A FUN BREAK FOR YOU!! [uh, grin ... pardon the unintended pun there ... wince.]

THAT YOU’LL KNOW, WITHOUT QUESTION, THAT WE’RE ALL MISSIN’ YOU ALREADY!

THAT YOU’LL TAKE YOUR TIME IN GETTING WELL, AND WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU, FIRST — SO DON’T BE WORRYIN’ ABOUT WRITING, ETC., FOR PETE’S SAKE … JUST WORRY ABOUT YOU!!

[Even with the above said, AND extremely sincerely, by the way] THAT YOU’LL GET YOUR ASS BACK TO ANGLERRED SOONEST, BECAUSE IT’S NEVER THE SAME WITHOUT YOU AROUND HERE, GRIN …

GET WELL SOON, MY DEAR FRIEND.

MANY HUGS AND GOOD VIBES BEING SENT, PROBABLY ABOUT PRETTY MUCH EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR RIGHT NOW, GRIN — CATCH YA’ SOON,

angler

[Side-note, just so that our loyal, wonderful readers are aware: I'm currently out of town myself, in order to help take care of a few medical matters for my Mom, so, while I'll do my best to help keep you entertained with as much racin' nonsense & news as possible, especially in Grump's absence -- even IF we all fully realize that it won't be with any of Grump's grace, fairness or style, lol -- please bear with us until things get back to normal!!  What that really means is:  be sure to still drop by anglerred often, comment on stuff lots, etc., because we'll be sure to keep as much new content up as possible during this "situation", and we'd miss all of you if you stayed away too long! Happy Mom's Day to all mothers out there, by the way -- and, of course -- happy race weekend!]