(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!

(workingonmyredneck file photo)

Danica Patrick could still run the Indianapolis 500 even if she makes a full-time move to NASCAR, The Associated Press has learned.

Two people familiar with Patrick’s 2012 plans said she is in the final stages of a deal to run a full-time Nationwide Series schedule with JR Motorsports . . . → Read More: Danica Signs With JR Motorsports For Fulltime Nationwide]]>

(workingonmyredneck file photo)

Danica Patrick could still run the Indianapolis 500 even if she makes a full-time move to NASCAR, The Associated Press has learned.

Two people familiar with Patrick’s 2012 plans said she is in the final stages of a deal to run a full-time Nationwide Series schedule with JR Motorsports and limited Sprint Cup Series races with Stewart-Haas Racing, the team owned by two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart. The people spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because the deal won’t be finished until she has secured a release from Andretti Autosport.

The talks also include her continuing to run the Indianapolis 500, one person told AP.

JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. said last weekend he wants Patrick to run a full Nationwide schedule with his team. She has driven 19 Nationwide races for his team over the last two seasons and has six more scheduled starts this year.

“I would like for her to run fulltime, and I’m sure she is considering that, and I think she would enjoy it,” Earnhardt said at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “I feel confident that she’s content where she is and happy with what we’re doing. I think things are looking positive for us to put something together.”

Earlier this year, Stewart said he would love to work with Patrick but only in the Sprint Cup Series. He has wanted to expand his two-car Stewart-Haas Racing organization but had no interest in fielding a Nationwide car.

“Anybody that’s got a Cup team that would have the availability would jump at the chance to do something with her,” Stewart said in May. “You would be crazy not to entertain an offer like that and an opportunity for her to drive a race car for you.”

So it readily appears that Danica is about to sign a deal with JR Motorsports for a full season of Nationwide Series calendar with a few races in the Sprint Cup Series with Tony Stewart’s Stewart-Haas Racing.

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

(workingonmyredneck file photo)

For those of you who may not have watched the Nationwide race Saturday night from Nashville, you may have missed the most creative and entertaining invocation in NASCAR history!

The invocation was given by Pastor Joe Nelms from the Family Baptist Church in Lebanon, TN.  It started out as . . . → Read More: A Most Unconventional NASCAR Invocation!]]>

(workingonmyredneck file photo)

For those of you who may not have watched the Nationwide race Saturday night from Nashville, you may have missed the most creative and entertaining invocation in NASCAR history!

The invocation was given by Pastor Joe Nelms from the Family Baptist Church in Lebanon, TN.  It started out as your ordinary invocation.  However, shortly after beginning to give thanks the prayer made a very different, creative, and entertaining left turn!

Pastor Nelms started out by quoting some Biblical scripture, as most invocations begin.  Pastor Nelms specifically quoted the phrase that states that “in all things give thanks”. 

Pastor Nelms then breaks with the traditional invocation and begins to give some rather unusual thanks.  His invocation now sounds more like a commercial for all the entities that are involved within the NASCAR racing community.  He begins to give thanks “for these mighty racing machines”.  He goes on to elaborate and gives thanks to the Fords, the Dodges, The Chevrolets, and the Toyotas,  He then goes on to thank Roush and Yates, Jack Roush and Doug Yates, for partnering in producing these engines with “the mighty horsepower”.  He thanked GM for producing those R07 engines.  He also took time to thank Goodyear for producing those fine racing tires.  He also wished to give thanks to Sunoco for mixing up that fine racing fuel.  The latter two partnering in great performance.

But most importantly, and extremely personal to Pastor Nelms, he expressed to God his heart-felt thanks “for his smokin’ hot wife, Lisa”!  That reference was reminiscent of the movie, Talladega Nights!

Now if this wasn’t entertaining and creative enough, he concluded his prayer in a totally unconventional way!  He concluded his invocation with,” In Jesus’ name, boggity. boggity, AMEN”! (ol DW, Darrell Waltrip, would have been very proud!)

Now the analysis by workingonmyredneck of this prayer is, that it was totally creative and not blasphemous in any means!  What Pastor Nelms did accomplish, however, was to get the undivided attention of all the race fans, the drivers, and the TV viewers last Saturday night.  There was no doubt that he was giving thanks from the bottom of his heart.  Additionally, there was no doubt that he was a die-hard NASCAR race fan, exhibiting his knowledge of all the components that make up a successful NASCAR racing event.

Notwithstanding the commercialism of the invocation, what Pastor Nelms did accomplish was to get the race fans, the sports writers, and the news media discussing his creative, and rather unconventional pre-race invocation that was delivered last Saturday night!  If enough people hear about, view it, and discuss it, then just maybe he was doing his job as a pastor.  After all, isn’t his job to teach, enlighten, and recruit people for God?

He is my kind of Baptist minister!

What is your thoughts on Pastor Nelms, and the job he did last Saturday night?

Check out the video!

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbDIzJ-CnqY

The John Deere Dealers 250 Nationwide race at Newton, Iowa was a Roush-Fenway Racing 1-2 finish.  However, it was not the traditionally favored Rouch-Fenway driver, Carl Edwards, who won the race Sunday.  It was second year driver, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., who garnered the victory at the Iowa Speedway.  . . . → Read More: Stenhouse Breaks Thru With A Win!]]>

(photo courtesy Erik J.Perel)

The John Deere Dealers 250 Nationwide race at Newton, Iowa was a Roush-Fenway Racing 1-2 finish.  However, it was not the traditionally favored Rouch-Fenway driver, Carl Edwards, who won the race Sunday.  It was second year driver, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., who garnered the victory at the Iowa Speedway.  It was Stenhouse’s first victory in the elite touring races of NASCAR in just 51 starts.

This, and the few other, stand alone event always gives an opportunity for the Nationwide regulars to showcase their racing talents without most of the “double duty Sprint Cup drivers” over-shadowing them.  So that is just what Stenhouse did Sunday afternoon.  Stenhouse held off his RFR teammate, Carl Edwards, to break out and become a first-time winner on the Nationwide circuit.

Rick Stenhouse has come a far piece since this time last year.  His initial foray into the Nationwide was not too pretty.  Last season Stenhouse seemed to hit everything except the pace car!  It seemed like every race his RFR #6 Blackwell Angus Ford was being put back in the hauler as a crumpled pile of sheet metal.  So much, in fact, that Jack Roush took him out of the car for a few races to try to let Stenhouse try to regroup.

Regroup he did!  Once Stenhouse got back into his ride, he steadily improved his racing skills and finishes.  Currently, Stenhouse is in third place in the Nationwide standings, just 8 points behind the leader.   If he continues to have excellent finishes, the reward just might be elevating him into the UPS #6 RFR Ford in the Sprint Cup series, replacing the under-performing David Ragan, who’s contract expires at the end of the 2011 season!

What is your thoughts on Ricky Stenhouse, Jr’s future with Roush-Fenway Racing?

Here is  the unofficial results of the John Deere Dealers 250 at the Iowa Speedway.

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

(photo courtesy Christa L. Thomas)

The pieces to the Kimi Raikkonen Nationwide Series puzzle are coming together. FOXSports.com has learned that the car is being assembled by Kyle Busch Motorsports but the owner points will come from Joe Nemechek’s #87 entry, registered under NEMCO Motorsports, which is currently . . . → Read More: Raikkonen To Try Nationwide Series Next]]>

Friday, 20 May 2011

(photo courtesy Christa L. Thomas)

The pieces to the Kimi Raikkonen Nationwide Series puzzle are coming together. FOXSports.com has learned that the car is being assembled by Kyle Busch Motorsports but the owner points will come from Joe Nemechek’s #87 entry, registered under NEMCO Motorsports, which is currently 19th in the NASCAR Nationwide Series points standings.

The crew will come from NEMCO with additional support from KBM employees. NEMCO will provide transporter, equipment and back up car for the race. Raikkonen finished 15th in his NASCAR Camping World Truck debut. The 2007 Formula One champion was approved to compete in next Saturday’s Nationwide Series race prior to Friday night’s event.

Raikkonen’s progression up through the NASCAR ranks continues to escalate rapidly.  It appears that both Kimi Raikkonen and Foster Gillette have very deep pockets in order to facilitate the 2007 Formula 1 Champ’s progression rapidly this season in NASCAR’s elite touring series.  Raikkonen’s progression goes hand and hand with their ability to “rent-a-ride” in each of the racing series.

There have been quite a few of those open wheel invaders try their hand at racing “dump trucks”, however, only a very select few have made the grade in NASCAR.  Can Raikkonen be counted in with the select few?

What are your thoughts on the former Formula 1 Champ’s jump into NASCAR?

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

(photo courtesy Erik J. Perel)

Little did anyone know that after watching Denny Hamlin win his own charity race Thursday night at Richmond International Raceway, that it was a omen to what would transpire at that race track Friday night!

Denny Hamlin won the Bubba Burgers 250 Nationwide Series race at Richmond . . . → Read More: Hamlin Doubles Up With A Nationwide Victory At Richmond]]>

(photo courtesy Erik J. Perel)

Little did anyone know that after watching Denny Hamlin win his own charity race Thursday night at Richmond International Raceway, that it was a omen to what would transpire at that race track Friday night!

Denny Hamlin won the Bubba Burgers 250 Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Friday night when his closest pursuers began running out of fuel with less than 10 laps to go.

Hamlin, who led 199 of 251 laps, had the victory sealed for him when, a lap after a restart with two laps to go, a caution came out just as he took the white flag.

The victory was the second at RIR for Hamlin, a native of Chesterfield, Va., as he won the spring Nationwide race there in 2008. Hamlin also has won three Sprint Cup races at RIR, including last fall’s.

But, the start to the 2011 season has been frustrating for Hamlin and his Joe Gibbs Racing teams. On the Cup side, he has yet to win a race, has just one top-10 finish and is 17th in points heading into Saturday night’s race at RIR.

Hamlin, who finished second in points in Cup last year, said he was grateful for Friday’s win and hopes it is the start of a turnaround.

“Any small victory goes a long way,” he said. “Maybe I won last night (in a charity event at RIR) because I had a record round of golf on Wednesday, I don’t know.  It’s just one big snowball that’s just rolling and rolling and hopefully it goes on and continues on.

“For me, this is a particularly special win because I started my career with the 20 car and basically built, I felt like, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Nationwide program to what it is now.  It’s good to see these guys back in victory lane.  We were able to get Kevin Kidd (No. 11 crew chief) his first win last year and obviously Adam (Stevens, crew chief) this year.  JGR is so deep within their personnel they are able to just put guys in positions and they’re able to succeed because of the people around them and what they’ve learned.  Adam is just another, I guess you could say chip off the old block as far as the crew chiefs at JGR continuing to be successful.”

As a side note to ol Denny’s comment that he basically built the Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide program to what it is now, that might be quite a bit of self grandiose embellishment!  The last time I checked out the spelling of team, there was not a single “I” in the word!  Not to take away anything from Hamlin’s driving ability, but NASCAR is a team sport.  It takes effort from many individuals to make a championship caliber operate effectively.

Could Hamlin sweep the Richmond weekend?  What is your thoughts?

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

(workingonmyredneck file photo)

If this is Bristol, then it can only mean that Kyle Busch is in Victory Lane once again.

Last August, Busch swept the Bristol weekend by winning in all three of the elite touring series races there.  Today he added a fourth race victory in a row to his . . . → Read More: Kyle Four-Peets Bristol]]>

(workingonmyredneck file photo)

If this is Bristol, then it can only mean that Kyle Busch is in Victory Lane once again.

Last August, Busch swept the Bristol weekend by winning in all three of the elite touring series races there.  Today he added a fourth race victory in a row to his resume at Bristol Motor Speedway, winning the 29th Annual Scotts EZ Seed 300.

This is his second victory, and his third top 10 finish in the four Nationwide races in 2011.  Likewise, it was his third victory and eleventh top 10 finish in fourteen total races at Bristol!

In addition to this victory, number 45 in the Nationwide Series, Busch crossed over another milestone in the series.  It has only taken 206 races for him to pass the 10,000 laps led in his very short Nationwide career, remember he is only 25 years old!  Ol Kylie has led almost 2,000 laps more than any of his competitors in this series!  Add to the fact that this is the first back-to-back victories at Bristol, in the Nationwide Series, since Steve Grissom did it back in 1995.  Now you see why all the fuss over this talented, but very childishly immature race car driver!

To say that Kyle Busch had a dominating race car would be a gross understatement.  He only led 268 laps of the 300 lap race!  Maybe Bruton Smith ought to change the name of the track to Kyle Busch Motor Speedway?

Here is the unofficial results of the 29th Annual Scotts EZ Seed 300.

Is Kyle unstoppable in the Nationwide Series this year?

What do you think?

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

(photo courtesy Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Well, ol Kylie nearly got to do some house cleaning on the last weekend that Phoenix International Raceway exists in its present configuration.  When NASCAR returns in November the racing surface at PIR will have an entirely different look.

On Friday night Kyle . . . → Read More: Ol Kylie Nearly Sweeps In The Desert]]>

Friday, 25 February 2011

(photo courtesy Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Well, ol Kylie nearly got to do some house cleaning on the last weekend that Phoenix International Raceway exists in its present configuration.  When NASCAR returns in November the racing surface at PIR will have an entirely different look.

On Friday night Kyle Busch took the lead on lap 44 and never relinquished it after that, leading 107 laps of the race.  Busch held off a fast Kevin Harvick, Inc. truck driven by Harvick’s RCR teammate, Clint Bowyer, for his 25th career victory in the Camping World Truck Series.

Here are the unofficial results from the Lucas Oil 150 from PIR.

On Saturday, Kyle Busch really stunk up the race, leading all 200 laps of the Basha’s Supermarket 200!  Busch had the overwhelming dominate race car on Saturday, collecting his 44th career Nationwide Series victory, 4 wins behind the all time leader Mark Martin.  His JGR #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota was the class of the field!  Notwithstanding, Carl Edwards was able to mount a decent challenge in the final 20 laps.  Edwards did gather enough steam to get to Busch on two different attempts, only to fail in making the pass for the lead.

Here are the unofficial results for the Basha’s Supermarket 200.

On Sunday, however, his steel stallion just wasn’t strong enough to complete the sweep of PIR.  Busch was involved in an early race “dust up” that put Carl Edwards in the garage for about 66 laps for repair.  Notwithstanding that small confrontation with Edwards, the JGR #18 Combos Toyota rallied to eventually gain the race lead in the latter stages of the race.  However, it was Jeff Gordon who mounted the ultimate challenge to Kyle Busch’s weekend dominance, taking the win for his first victory since April 2009 at the Texas Motor Speedway, 66 races ago.

All in all, it was was a very entertaining race weekend from Phoenix.

What is your thoughts on ol Kylie?

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