(Photo courtesy of the Rolex GRAND-AM Sports Car Racing Series)

It has been a long, long time, since A.J. Almendinger visited Victory Lane. In fact, “The Dinger” has not won a race since his days in the Champ Car Series, five years ago.  However, the brand new Penske Racing driver of the . . . → Read More: The Dinger Rings In The New Year With The Rolex 24]]>

(Photo courtesy of the Rolex GRAND-AM Sports Car Racing Series)

It has been a long, long time, since A.J. Almendinger visited Victory Lane. In fact, “The Dinger” has not won a race since his days in the Champ Car Series, five years ago.  However, the brand new Penske Racing driver of the #22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge has inaugurated 2012 with a win in the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway!  What a time to shine, with all the media covering the golden anniversary of this event!

Almendinger drove his #60 Michael Shank Racing Ford-powered Riley Daytona Prototype to a 5.1- second victory over the second-place #8 Starworks Motorsports Riley Ford which was driven at the end by Ryan Dalziel.

Finishing third  and on the lead lap was Allmendinger’s sister Michael Shank Ford Riley, which was driven in the final stint by Felipe Nasr.

Sharing the seat with Allmendinger were John Pew, longtime mentor and friend,Oswaldo Negri, and IndyCar driver Justin Wilson.

“This is for Shank, man,” Allmendinger said afterward, referring to his owner, who got his first 24 victory.

Winning the GT class was the #44 Magnus Racing Porsche GT3. At the wheel on the final stint was Richard Lietz.

Could this be the beginning of an ascending Sprint Cup career for The Dinger?  There is no doubt that A.J. has moved up in quality of equipment in the Sprint Cup series with his move over to Penske Racing.  This could be the greatly needed shot in the arm for The Dinger.  Let’s see what the Bud Shootout holds for the driver of the #22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge.

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(WOMR file photo)

So guys, stop me if you have heard this one. Billy Moyer,Sr. has now won three of the first five A mains in the 2012 Wild West Shootout for Late Models!  So far in this year’s show, . . . → Read More: Billy Moyer,Sr. Wins Again At The Wild West Shootout]]>

Getting ready for a night of dirt tracking' @ USA Raceway

(WOMR file photo)

So guys, stop me if you have heard this one. Billy Moyer,Sr. has now won three of the first five A mains in the 2012 Wild West Shootout for Late Models!  So far in this year’s show, Moyer has shown why he has won 755 A main events over the duration of his fabled Late Model career.  Moyer started from the outside of the front row, and it only took two laps for “Mr. Smooth” to drive around the leader, Jeff Provinzin, never to be challenged for the remainder of the race!

Following Moyer across the finish line was Provinzin in second, John Kirby running third, Terry Phillips,and rounding out the top five was Don Shaw.

Waiting to get on the track

(WOMR file photo)

On the modified side of The Wild West Shootout, it was Stormy Scott, who once again, showed the rest of the modifiers the fastest and shortest way around USA Raceway.  Even though Scott had a very serious challenge from RC Whitwell, who started along side of Scott on the front row, Scott was able to keep a very comfortable margin separating himself from Whitwell.

Trailing Scott and Whitwell to the finish line was Jason Hughes in third, Ronny Sanders, and rounding out the top five was Johnny Scott, Stormy Scott’s twin brother!

Over the past nine days, the level of competition at USA Raceway has been outstanding.  While all the rest of the country is experiencing the throes of winter, Tucson,AZ,  has been enjoying clear skies, temperatures in the low 70′s, and some extremely hot racing!

The Wild West Shootout culminates tomorrow with a Sunday afternoon shootout!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(WOMR file photo)

While most of the rest of the USA is suffering from either extreme cold, snow, or rain, here in Tucson the sun was shining, the temperature was balmy 71 degrees, and the best late model racers were getting ready to put on a world class race clinic for the . . . → Read More: Billy Moyer, Sr. Wins Night #4 Of the Wild West Shootout]]>

(WOMR file photo)

While most of the rest of the USA is suffering from either extreme cold, snow, or rain, here in Tucson the sun was shining, the temperature was balmy 71 degrees, and the best late model racers were getting ready to put on a world class race clinic for the race fans!

The warm sunshine was only a precursor for what was to happen on the 4th night of The Wild West Shootout.  As the sun was setting in the west, the race cars rolled out on the track, and the drivers began to mash on the “loud pedal”.

The late model A main was won by extremely fast, and silky smooth Billy Moyer,Sr.  Moyer started on the outside front row, along side of T-Mac, Tim McCreadie.  For the first two laps those two were running door-handle to door-handle.  However, it was Moyer who was able to slowly drive away from McCreadie, and established a comfortable lead for the entire 30 lap race.

Following McCreadie in the late model A main, was Will Vaught in third place, Brad Looney finishing in fourth place, and rounding out the top five was Shannon Babb.

Not to be over showed was the modified A main this Friday night.  The winner of Friday night’s modified race was Stormy Scott.  Following Stormy Scott to the checkered flag was Johnny Scott.  Finishing in third place was Aaron Turnbull, followed by Dereck Ramirez, and filling out the top five was Fito Gallardo, all from Las Cruces, NM!

So with just two races left in this year’s Wild West Shootout here in Tucson, the racing is getting as hot as the Georgia asphalt in the middle of July!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Late Model in the pits @ USA Raceway

(WOMR file photo)

The first two races of the  Wild West Shootout are in the record books. This was only the first two races of the Wild West Shootout.  The annual event hosts some of the best drivers throughout the USA, as well . . . → Read More: The First Weekend Of The Wild West Shootout]]>

Late Model in the pits @ USA Raceway

(WOMR file photo)

The first two races of the  Wild West Shootout are in the record books. This was only the first two races of the Wild West Shootout.  The annual event hosts some of the best drivers throughout the USA, as well as Canada.  The Wild West Shootout races consist of six races spread out over a ten-day period.

Billy Moyer, Sr. and Tim Mc Creadie struck gold at the USA Raceway in Tucson, AZ.

Even though the beginning of the races were delayed for two hours, it didn’t dampen  the anticipation of the beginning of the winter race for all the devoted race fans.  On Saturday afternoon/evening, the Batesville, AR native, Billy Moyer, Sr. out-ran and out-drove the field of 24 late models to capture the A main in the first night of the annual Wild West Shootout in the warm southern Arizona sun.  Moyer manipulated his #21 Victory Circle chassis through the field like a warm knife going through a stick of butter!  Once again showing that he is sell not past his racing prime!

On Sunday afternoon, under threatening skies, it was the young gun of Watertown, NY native, T-Mac, better known as Tim Mc Creadie, who was able to power  through, and around ,his contemporaries to work his way to the lead in the final stages of the 30 lap A main.  By skillfully maneuvering his late-model into the lead, McCreadie was able to pocket a cool $5,000.00 for his Sunday afternoon work day!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(WOMR file photo)

After viewing the moments that were leading up to the violent crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that prematurely took the life of Dan Wheldon, it is not precisely clear who caused the incident.  More importantly, it is not going to make the incident go away.  And that is . . . → Read More: Las Vegas IndyCar Race Questions Unanswered?]]>

(WOMR file photo)

After viewing the moments that were leading up to the violent crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that prematurely took the life of Dan Wheldon, it is not precisely clear who caused the incident.  More importantly, it is not going to make the incident go away.  And that is ok.  No good will come out of “fingering” the guilty party, in this instance.  Again it is impossible to cite any one individual Sunday.

However, there are some circumstances that need to be examined that led up to one of the most devastating IndyCar wrecks in recent memory.  The IndyCar officials must examine these elements and correct them immediately!

Items that the officials need to re-examine and apply a correction are as follows:

The first: Was INDYCAR in violation of its own rules? Rules which govern the number of cars in races at specific tracks.

It appears that the series may have been in violation of those rules.

On page 93 of the 2011 rule book, it says:

“The starting fields for each Race shall be a maximum of 28 Cars (which includes 2 provisionals), except as follows:

(a) Brazil – 26 Cars (which includes 2 provisionals)

(b) Indianapolis 500 Mile Race – 33 Cars (no provisionals)

(c) Toronto – 27 Cars (which includes 2 provisionals)

(d) Mid Ohio – 27 Cars (which includes 2 provisionals)

(e) Motegi – 26 Cars (which includes 2 provisionals)

(f) Baltimore – 26 Cars (which includes 2 provisionals)”

So, according to the rule book, the field at Las Vegas was six cars larger than it should have been. The fact that INDYCAR has rules in place that govern the size of fields would seem to acknowledge that problems could occur from excessively high car counts.

Rules aside, putting 34 Indycars on the Las Vegas track seems to violate common sense. Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile tri-oval. Its surface is banked to 20 degrees in the corners. It is lightning fast to put it mildly!

Both the drivers, as well as the teams, were nervous about the impending race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  IndyCar officials only gave the divers 3 1/2 hours of total practice time prior to the race at a facility that had not seen an IndyCar race since its reconfiguration.  Probably that was not in keeping with safety standards of the IndyCar procedures, as well.

After the fatal wreck, which occurred on lap 11 and prompted INDYCAR to cancel the remainder of the race, driver after driver questioned the decision to hold the event in the first place.

Veteran drivers such as Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti used terms such as “unsuitable” when talking about the track vis-a-vis modern Indycars and the size of the field.

This, too, is common sense for virtually everyone who follows racing, but it still needs to be said: Indycars are not NASCAR cars. The drivers of Indycars are much more vulnerable to the kinds of things that happened at Las Vegas than are NASCAR drivers.

The second: Were there people on that track who should not have been on that track?

Perhaps. I think it fair to argued that there were people on that track, and other tracks, simply because they could drum up enough sponsorship to be there. So-called ride-buyers.

That belief here is; ride buying can be a dangerous practice.

That is nominally so in stock cars where the drivers are surrounded by steel and composite cocoons. In open-wheel racing, a lack of talent and experience can be highly dangerous.

One of the things that has kept more crazy wrecks from happening, and fewer medical helicopters in the air at Indycar events over the years, has been the fact that the vast majority of people in the cars were qualified to be there.

Drivers knew and could trust the person next to them on the track. They knew dumb moves would be kept to a minimum.

But the new economics have caused changes when it comes to hiring and keeping drivers. Sponsorship money is having a bigger say in who pilots the cars that teams put on the tracks.

INDYCAR says an investigation has been launched. And you can bet it will be as thorough as possible, no matter who it is doing the investigation.

My hope is that any and all investigations result in the adoption of measures which will prevent a replay of lap 11 at Las Vegas from ever happening again.

Drivers’ and spectators’ lives are on the line. Additionally, the future of the sport may also be on the line.  From the viewpoint of WOMR, it’s a good sport, very exciting, and a very exhilarating sport to watch.

What are your thoughts ?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(Dan Wheldon with my son, Jeremy, @ Las Vegas Friday)

A record number of race cars racing just inches apart in abnormally large packs at lightning fast speeds that exceeded 220 mph.  A newly concocted “bounty” of $5 million for a victory from a non IndyCar season participant who could start from . . . → Read More: Indy Car Racing: Risks vs. Rewards]]>

(Dan Wheldon with my son, Jeremy, @ Las Vegas Friday)

A record number of race cars racing just inches apart in abnormally large packs at lightning fast speeds that exceeded 220 mph.  A newly concocted “bounty” of $5 million for a victory from a non IndyCar season participant who could start from the back of a larger than most starting grid, and win the finale.  The driver who was anointed to receive the $5 million “bounty” was the two-time Indy 500 winner, the latest victory being 20111, Dan Wheldon.  A fiercely contested season championship.  A media frenzied driver leaving the series, driving her last race in the IndyCar Series before jumping to a higher paycheck in the NASCAR side of automobile racing.

Last Sunday the IZOD IndyCar World Championship races at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway incorporated all of those elements in one very short captivating afternoon in a racing series that is attention and media starved, compared to NASCAR.

However, the spotlight has intensified for the IndyCar Series since Sunday, and for all the wrong reasons!  As the whole racing world mourns the death of the affable British IndyCar driver, Dan Wheldon, who perished in a horrendous, fiery 15 car crash, there are many questions that need to be examined and answered.

First and foremost the question to be answered should be:  In an effort to come out of the shadows of the NASCAR circuit, is the fastest racing series in the USA over-stepping the limits of safety?  Additionally, are the Indy Car officials putting their race car drivers at an undue risk?

The death of Dan Wheldon, who was the “poster boy” for the $5 million dollar prize for the non-IndyCar driver that would start at the back of the grid and ultimately win the last race of the year at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, is the lastest blow to an already struggling open wheel racing series.   That series has been reeling every since Tony George drove a wedge into the open wheel racers by starting his own Indy Racing League in 1996.  From that point, in 1996, the infighting between CART and the IRL resulted in a very weak open wheel series, thus confusing the fans.  That same infighting resulted in a once prominent racing series desperately gasping for life.

To that end, two years ago The IndyCar Series hired Randy Bernard as CEO.  Bernard was hired away from the Professional Bull Riders, where he earned a reputation as a bombastic promoter by merging bucking Brahmans with glitzy pyrotechnics.  Bernard brought the same flair to IndyCar, tweaking and toying with the rules to try to increase action.

The season finale was intended to be an attention-getting master stroke of genius for the  IndyCar Series.  Last weekend there was a glitzy parade down the Las Vegas Strip saluting the end of the current chassis that dated back to 2003.  The newer chassis will make its debut in 2012, is sleeker and incorporates many more safety features.

The $5 million dollar prize was a failed attempt to snare moonlighting drivers, like Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya, and possibly Kasey Kahne to try capture that bounty.  When Bernard could not find any takers, Dan Wheldon and his Sam Schmidt Motorsports team was selected as the only driver eligible for the $5 million dollar prize.

Sunday’s crash was not the first time that an IndyCar has gotten airborne during a race on a mile and a half race track, however, it was the first fatality in recent years.  Two drivers, Davey Hamilton (Texas 2001), and Kenny Breck ( Texas 2003) suffered significant major injuries. in their similar type crashes.

Is this the time that the IndyCar officials take a hard serious look at the risks vs. the rewards of running this series on high banked, high-speed race tracks?

I must add, that having been a spectator last weekend at Las Vegas, the small portion of the race that occurred was  intense, exciting, and very dramatic.  However, the horrendous, fiery debris field that resulted from a very small mistake made by one driver makes one pause to think that maybe IndyCar needs to re-evaluate their mission statement.

The racing world will long miss Dan Wheldon!  Hopefully Weldon’s death won’t be ignored.  Instead, it is the opinion of WOMR that all the officials of the IndyCar Series conduct a transparent and thorough investigation.  Additionally, those same individuals need to implement the findings of that investigation to further increase safety in the series!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(WOMR file photo)

The official end to the 2011 summer has come and gone for most parts of this country.  However, in Chico, CA, the summer comes to an end with the culmination of the four day dirt tack event entitled The Gold Cup Race of Champions!  This event is the . . . → Read More: The 2011 Gold Cup Race of Champions]]>

(WOMR file photo)

The official end to the 2011 summer has come and gone for most parts of this country.  However, in Chico, CA, the summer comes to an end with the culmination of the four day dirt tack event entitled The Gold Cup Race of Champions!  This event is the pinnacle of the Silver Dollar Speedway race schedule each year.

The four night event started out on Wednesday with the Civil War Race for 360 winged sprint cars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd5UZ_YjMd4

Additionally, the Joe Hunt Magnetos wingless sprint car series was the companion race on Wednesday night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZymuNjWopQ

On Thursday, the show consisted of the USAC Western Classic Racing Series wingless 410 sprint cars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHnOBTo5s3o

Accompanying the the sprint cars on Thursday night’s show was the USAC/BCRA “mighty midgets”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Ops3Vmnso

Then the last two days consist of “The Greatest Show on Dirt”, The World of Outlaws sprint cars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-F4T1DBaTw

So the summer “officially” ended in Chico, CA with the running of Gold Cup Race of Champions.  It was an action packed, aggressively driven, exciting four nights, of dirt track racing.  The competition each night was  keen, the racing surface was excellently prepared, and racing was superb!

Needless to say, I am looking forward to stopping in Chico on my return from central Oregon next summer, to, once again, partake in the 2012 Gold Cup Race of Champions!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(WOMR file photo of a late model)

As the Labor Day weekend comes upon us, I would like to review three dirt tracks that I had the privilege to visit on my summer tour of Oregon.

The Saturday night racing programs included the traditional local dirt track divisions of stocker classes, with . . . → Read More: Dirt Track Racing In The Pacific Northwest]]>

(WOMR file photo of a late model)

As the Labor Day weekend comes upon us, I would like to review three dirt tracks that I had the privilege to visit on my summer tour of Oregon.

The Saturday night racing programs included the traditional local dirt track divisions of stocker classes, with a few twists on mini trucks with 4 cylinder clangers, as well as, the mini/foreign compact cars with those same 4 cylinder motors.  But  the main attractions to all three of these race tracks were the faster racers that belong to the sprint car, late models, and modifieds.

The first race track that I had the opportunity to enjoy was at Cottage Grove, OR.  This race track produced some superb racing on its 1/4 mile high banked clay surface.  The wingless sprint cars were racy and fast.  Watching the sprinters “backing it” into the turns just brings out the REDNECK in me!

However, the best race of the night was the A main for the late models!  The late models have a little more “downforce” from their body designs that allows them to carry more speed into the turns, and can also get after the throttle quicker coming through the turns.  Overall, the late models ran a faster lap time at Cottage Grove!

The next track that I hung out for a Saturday night program was Coos Bay Raceway.  On that Saturday night, again their program consisted of the lower budgeted stocker classes, mini outlaws, and the likes, but included again was the wingless sprint cars, as well as, the late models.

Coos Bay Raceway consists of a high banked, 3/8 mile lightening fast, clay surface.  The lower budgeted divisions created some very good and competitive racing.  Likewise, the wingless sprinters put on a very close and exciting race.  However, once again the most thrilling race of the evening was the late models.

The third race track that I have visited in Oregon this summer was in a small little town in central Oregon, Madras.  The Madras Speedway is a semi-banked 1/4 mile clay race track.

Like the race track in Coos Bay, the programs at Madras consisted of the lower budgeted stock classes, the late models, modifieds, wingless sprinters, and on my second visit to Madras, the dwarf cars.

For those of you who have not seen the dwarf race car, that class puts on some fantastic, competitive, fast racing.  The cars are replicas of the sedans and coups of the 20′ and 30′s.  The motors are usually 1200cc motorcycle engines.  The results are some high pitched, screaming, racing machines!  All in all, these three race tracks put on a very good program, at a reasonable price…… $6 for seniors!

I will be returning to central Oregon next summer, and no doubt a return to these three tracks are in order for some good ol REDNECK racing!

Notwithstanding the fact that the Labor Day Weekend upon us, on Monday I will be pulling up stakes, leaving central Oregon, and heading the ol Fleetwood Expedition south for some classic wingless sprint cars, winged sprint cars, including The World Of Outlaws, and the mighty midget racing at Chico, CA.  This four-day racing event is called the Gold Cup Race of Champions.  It promises to be four fantastic days of high quality, very competitive, lightening fast, and very energetic racing, with some of the biggest names in the sport!

As one of my long-time friends relayed to me, it could be called “The Earl Hickey Classic”!  (From My Name Is Earl!)

After the pit stop at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway, there will be just one more stop before I head back to Yuma for the winter.  I will be pulling onto my old hometown of Fresno to visit with my family, and see the ol cardiologist!

Needless to say:

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy IZOD IndyCar Series)

Now that Danica Patrick has jilted the IZOD IndyCar Series, in favor of the bigger money of NASCAR, the sports writer’s keyboards have been set ablaze with stories of DANICAMANIA!

However, nobody is really sure how she will fare in “the door slammer series”.  There are a . . . → Read More: Is There IndyCar Life After Danica?]]>

(photo courtesy IZOD IndyCar Series)

Now that Danica Patrick has jilted the IZOD IndyCar Series, in favor of the bigger money of NASCAR, the sports writer’s keyboards have been set ablaze with stories of DANICAMANIA!

However, nobody is really sure how she will fare in “the door slammer series”.  There are a couple of things that are certain, Danica will be driving very good equipment, JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series, and Stewart-Haas Racing at the Sprint Cup level.  Secondly, Ms. Patrick will be bringing a huge boat load full of GoDaddy.com money, media hype, and frenzy to the 2012 season beginning with the Daytona 500!

Meanwhile back at the forlorn IZOD IndyCar Series, there is one thing that is definitely certain:  Danica Patrick’s departure will leave a huge vacuum that will be impossible to fill. From many aspects, that spells MAJOR trouble from a racing series that is gasping for its collective life!

These days, it appears, that the only media press given to the IZOD IndyCar Series has been the stories about Ms. Patrick’s divorce from the IndyCar Series and her marriage to NASCAR.  Aside from the Indy 500, the only press coverage of that open racing series was her rumored move to NASCAR.  Her press conference, last week, got more media attention than all the races on the schedule to date.

When Patrick exploded onto the scene seven years ago, open-wheel racing was wobbling, wheezing, and gasping for air.   Open wheel race fans can thank Tony George for his brilliant idea of taking his football and going home!  Patrick’s presence infused fresh interest and attention into the series.  Some felt that she single-handedly dragged it to shore and pumped life back into it.

So what happens after Danica departs?

I can only imagine that the answer keeps folks in the IndyCar Series awake at night and pulling out their hair. If they’re not worried, they really ought to be!

The IndyCar Series has been a one-trick pony for years, did I say thank you Tony George!  Other than the Indy 500, I doubt that Joe Sixpack could name another race on the circuit. (It doesn’t help that 12 of the league’s 17 races are carried on a cable channel that many fans can’t get, Versus.)

Notwithstanding, for seven years the series has long been a one-star show in terms of mainstream following.  Now that lone star has departed the fix for the big leagues of NASCAR.

What will Danica’s long-term impact be on NASCAR?  Nobody knows for sure.  But we do know what the impact will be on the IndyCar Series, and the future is gloomy for life A.D (after Danica).

Someone call 911!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy John SommersII/Getty Images)

There is no doubt that Thurday’s “DANICA DECISION DAY” was a huge news deal in American automobile racing.  Additionally, WOMR was a very sad to see that it was also a very big news event, a sad commentary.  If this is a clear barometer on the state . . . → Read More: Danicamania: Judgement Day For NASCAR?]]>

(photo courtesy John SommersII/Getty Images)

There is no doubt that Thurday’s “DANICA DECISION DAY” was a huge news deal in American automobile racing.  Additionally, WOMR was a very sad to see that it was also a very big news event, a sad commentary.  If this is a clear barometer on the state of American automobile racing, Danica Patrick moving over to Nationwide full time in 2012 with JR Motorsports then a move up to Sprint cup in 2013 with Stewart-Haas Racing, then folks we are in big trouble!

It is sad to see that a race car driver with just one victory in her entire “big time” racing career has stopped the presses!  It appears that DANICAMANIA is back in full swing in NASCAR!  It is quite unfortunate that, to be a news-worthy race car driver at the Sprint Cup level, money and not necessarily talent is the underlying requirement. Nevertheless, it appears that GoDaddy.com is willing to pour huge dollars into financing Danica Patrick’s racing career!

For WOMR, the only aspect of her public persona that is objectionable is an insistence of being treated just like all the male sports stars, all the while basing that persona on her obvious attributes as a female.  Therein lies a double standard!

And, wasn’t it crazy about how she kept referring to herself and that kind of wierdly-creepy Go-Daddy CEO, Bob Parsons, as “we” during her teleconference on Thursday.  Her deal/relationship with that guy and the company seems to draw driver/sponsor attachment a little too close for comfort!

Patrick’s IndyCar career has been defined as nothing more than a journeyman driver, in spite of her one victory at Motegi, Japan.  Likewise, her IndyCar career appears nothing more than a media blitz of beauty and branding the Danica persona.  What she will bring to NASCAR is more of the same, big sponsorship money and media hype.

As far as Patick’s ability to win races at the Nationwide and Sprint Cup level, there are only a couple of names, in which, to draw a comparison.  Both Sam Hornish, Jr. and Dario Franchitti tried their hand at NASCAR and were woefully unsuccessful in their transition to NASCAR.  Needless to say, both of the previously noted drivers won IndyCar championships, as well as, the Indy 500.  Neither of those accomplishments are annotated on Danica Patrick’s resume!

It is WOMR’s opinion that this announced deal for Danica Patrick is strictly all about money.  You know that old saying, money talks and BS walks!  She brings to the negotiation table a whole truck full of money.  Let’s face it, what team owner wouldn’t be willing to take her GoDaddy.com money, especially in light of these harsh economic conditions, where sponsorship money is extremely hard to find?

Scouring this Danica-GoDaddy.com deal, it allows Tony Stewart, at Stewart-Haas Racing, to start up their third race team at the expense Danica’s GoDaddy.com sponsorship dollars!

So just what does Danica Patrick bring to NASCAR?  On closer examination, it would appear that what Danica brings to NASCAR is big GoDaddy.com money, possibly some new demographics (women and some new male chauvinists pigs), and some diversity that NASCAR has been longing for, for so many years!

The question that begs to asked is “will Danica pose a threat for logging some victories during her Nationwide and Sprint cup career?”  It is the opinion of WOMR that she will not threaten the current crop of drivers in either the Nationwide or the Sprint Cup drivers for wins.  However, Danica Patrick will command/steal much of the limelight away from most of the current crop of drivers.  It will be big news, worthy or not, whether she finishes in the top 10 or the bottom 10 of the race.

What is your opinion on the NASCAR DANICAMANIA?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!