With all the rule changes. The New Car of Tomorrow. Green-white-checker finishes. Controversial Finishes.
The Economic Climate . Fines,suspensions, TRACK CLOSINGS , track openings,etc.,etc.,etc. There
probably will come some times when I have a thing,or 3 to say.
Therefore I have decided to set this section aside for that purpose.
However ,I beg you to pardon my grammar !!! It was never one of my better subjects !!! LOL !!!
(12/4/09)
Email from received today from Jayski :
Need you to stop just posting my posts word for word and my
article links, which are just copied from
the site, u can use
stuff from those other sites all you want, that is not my problem
or issue, but you basically
just copy stuff from my sites and
pages and post the code on your own in many cases and places, u
use my wording in
the posts, even if I credit them elsewhere,
they are mine, unless you put a co-link to my site with the
proper link.
You are not doing the same thing as I am, as I go
to each article, read it, reword it a bit and make surte to link
them or credit them, you just copy my code, word for word, with
no credit. A good hint, I am the only major
news site that used
the # symbol, everyone else uses the 'proper' grammar No. of
like No. 88, I use #88, so
I can tell when someone gets it from
me. Not the original intention, just that when I started the
site in 1996,
I liked the look of using # instead and it saved a
few characters back when bandwidth was an issue. ESPN is pretty
strict about use of their code and images and would rather not
unleash those folks on you, even I can't use their
images per
their request.
also hotlinking images, such as
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2009/12/03/nascar-lede.jpg
is a huge no-no in the internet world and is considered bandwidth
stealing and just plain lazy
thanks
Jay
( Folks...please send me an email. Tell me what you think .I can no longer use anything from Jayski.
Effective today. I have removed all of Jayski's news from todays news. The older news will disappear over
the next few days,as the current/somewhat older / even older news pages get edited .
That means I lose the ability to post about 50% of the news that I can put in here.
I have been working this website ( and the older / now defunct )website for over 2 years now. Never had
any problem with Jayski. Nor any of the other major websites.
Why now ?
Under these circumstances I urgently need some advice
Should I keep this site going, or shut it down ?
I've enjoyed doing this,all that time. I take pride in trying to make it easier for you,the site
viewer, to have one site to go to.
ONE SITE ! For all of your NASCAR news,as well as ,as much as I can,of other auto racing news !
I've been doing this for free. No sponsor is paying me. NO ONE!!! Yet I keep doing it, and I keep thinking
about it...shutting it down . But I continue to be crazy,and do it !
So I really do need your advice.
What should I do ?
Please email me @ :
I apologize for "venting / ranting" like this. But it has upset me.
Sincerely
Joe )
(11/26/09)
A few comments from me re, JJ winning another title, and NASCAR's winning the fans back (mostly the NASCAR
thing though)
1. I am most impressed by the performance of Jimmie Johnson,Chad Knaus,and the entire Lowes team .
They are the superior team right now. Have been for the last 4 years,and who knows how much longer
that dominance will continue.
2. For NASCAR to start winning the fans back. Several things, I think,have to happen
A. Brian France must step down . Or at least start dealing with reality. But he seems incapable of doing that.
B. The Car of Tomorrow has got to go
C. The track ticket prices have to be reduced
D. The prices for the souvies (not just at the tracks,but also at the malls,and your local / on-line stores)
have to be reduced also. While the vendors don't have much control over that. Guess who does ? NASCAR. So if NASCAR reduces
their prices to the vendors. Then the vendors can reduce their prices to their loyal buyers,and in doing so,create more sales
all around.
" Just my humble opinion "
Joe
(11/16/09)
In with the old. Out with the New !
It's time to scrap the Chase point system ! Just throw it into the trash heap !
Courteousy of Jayski :
UNOFFICIAL Sprint Cup CLASSIC - the OLD way - Driver Points Standings
[after Phoenix, race 35
of 36]:
pos, car#, driver, points, behind
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson(X), 4996
2) #14-Tony Stewart(X), 4983, -13
3)
#24-Jeff Gordon(X), 4940, -56
4) #5-Mark Martin(X), 4635, -361
5) #11-Denny Hamlin(X), 4611, -385
6) #2-Kurt Busch(X),
4593, -403
7) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya(X), 4454 -542
8) #16-Greg Biffle(X), 4420, -576
9) #39-Ryan Newman(X), 4353,
-643
10) #18-Kyle Busch, 4310, -686
11) #9-Kasey Kahne(X), 4276, -720
12) #17-Matt Kenseth, 4265, -731
13) #99-Carl
Edwards(X), 4252, -744
14) #33-Clint Bowyer, 4224, -772
15) #00-David Reutimann, 4103, -893
16) #83-Brian Vickers(X),
4024, -972
(X) a chase driver.(11-15-2009)
(11/12/09)
The Fans don't want to see the COT anymore !
Courteousy of ESPN.com :
Car Of Forever?
NASCAR's perception is this car is the best it's ever had, and it won't be changed. Fans can't
seem to hate it enough. The fans' perception should be what counts. Ed Hinton » Hinton chat wrap »
{ Personal note .
I agree with the fans !
" Just my humble opinion "
Joe }
(10/10/09)
ISC,and SMI looking to jointly buy Dover ?
Courteousy of Jayski :
ISC, SMI looked to jointly purchase Dover in 2007: Speedway Motorsports Inc. and International Speedway Corp. formed
an alliance two years ago to look into the possible purchase of Dover International Speedway, according to a letter from Dover
Motorsports Inc. general counsel to one of its shareholders. The letter was sent last month to Mario Cibelli, managing member
of Marathon Partners, which owns 16.3 percent of the company's common stock (but only 1.5 percent of voting stock) and a harsh
critic of Dover management who wants the company to be sold. In a filing Thursday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
Cibelli asks for a forum on issues pertaining to Dover Motorsports shareholders, and the letter is posted on the forum project's
Web site. Dover general counsel Klaus M. Belohoubek writes in the letter that Cibelli's actions might have thwarted the potential
sale by driving down the asking price. A Dover spokesman said the company had no comment but did confirm the authenticity
of the letter. The letter states that on May 2, 2007, Dover Motorsports Chairman Henry Tippie, Belohoubek and other Dover
Motorsports executives met with SMI Chairman Bruton Smith and now-ISC CEO Lesa France Kennedy in an airplane hangar in Dallas
to entertain an offer to acquire Dover.(SceneDaily)(10-10-2009)
Personal Note Here ! Whatever they want to do with Dover is fine with me. BUT ....DON'T EVEN CONSIDER
TAKING AWAY ANY RACE DATES !!!
The Philadelphia / Baltimore/ South Jersey area has the largest NASCAR fan base North of the Mason- Dixon
Line.
To even take away 1 race date from Dover,or Pocono , would be a serious mistake by NASCAR .
But that's " just my humble opinion"
(7/13/09)
Speedway reducing ticket prices
Phoenix offers $25 Reserved seats for November Cup race: Phoenix International Raceway is offering a $25 reserved
seat to fans for the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil on November 15 – an unprecedented value
to watch the semifinal race in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup. Beyond the hard-charging Sprint Cup action of the
Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, fans can secure three full nights of NASCAR action for a mere $47 by purchasing the
NASCAR Extreme Value Ticket Package. PIR is offering a $15 reserved seat to its Nationwide Series race on Saturday, November
14 and a $7 reserved seat for the Lucas Oil 150 in the Camping World Truck Series on Friday, November 13. PIR kicks off the
November race weekend with grassroots USAC racing as part of the famed Copper World Classic on Thursday, November 12. Tickets
for the November NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway are available now by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223)
or visiting www.phoenixraceway.com.(PIR)(7-13-2009)
{ Personal opinion and the reason that I'm using this as tonights headline .
In todays down economy .This is an excellent idea. All the major tracks should do this. Not just for one
race. Or racing weekend. But for EVERY RACE on EVERY RACING WEEKEND.
Permanently !
But that's " Just My Humble Opinion ! "
Joe}
(6/4/09)
Double File Restarts
Courteousy of Yahoo Sports
NASCAR implements double-file restarts
I also saw similar stuff on other NASCAR news sites
I have somewhat mixed feelings on this.
1. I can see it making for better racing,and more interesting for the fans.
2. I can also see it making for more trouble on the
tracks. Especially late in the races.
Most of the times. Under the old format, of lapped cars starting on the inside. The
lapped cars did,eventually , move over . Usually without much of a fight.
Now there will be more of a fight.
Is it a good thing ?
Yes.
Do I like it ?
Yes !
Am I concerned about the potential for more wrecks ?
Yes.
But that's "Just my humble opinion" !
Joe
(4/13/09)
Courteousy of ESPN.com :
Live on ESPN2: NASCAR Now
The Blame Game
If you're looking for someone to blame for what's happened to Dale Earnhardt Inc. -- and the apparent demise of the No.
8 -- Teresa Earnhardt isn't the place to start. David Newton » Your thoughts »
{ My "humble opinion" on this ? She should've sold to Dale Jr. when she had the chance. The sponsors tend to follow
the Earnhardt name. Whether Dale Jr. is winning ,or not.}
(3/7/09)
Bruton Smith is blaming President Obama for declining
track attendence.
Courteousy of Yahoo Sports :
Hey, Mr. President
Bruton Smith places some blame for lower ticket sales on President Obama.
Busbee blog
{ Personal observation. Apparently Bruton Smith has forgotten,that this process began months before
President Obama was even nominated by the Democratic Party,to be their Presidential candidate.
Now let's think about it. Who was President then ? Not Barack Obama. Instead ,it was George
W. Bush.
"Just my humble opinion"
Joe }
(2/18/09)
Several opinions re. the Daytona 500 (aka Jr. and the rain )
Re. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
LOL ! I know I'm not the only one wondering why Dale Jr. wasn't penalized. Not just from Carolyn SS. Hastings "Jeff
Gordon # 24 " newsletter. But also from other newsletters,and conversations I've had,plus emails I've received.
(And 2 of them are Dale Jr.fans !!!)
We're all agreeing that it probably was because his name is EARNHARDT.
Re. the rain.
Calling it when they did. I believe it was the right call. For the comfort of the fans,and the needs of the drivers and
teams.
HOWEVER !!!
NASCAR knew the rain was coming.
What they should've cancelledwas not the last 1/4 of the race.
Instead, they should've cancelled ,the pre-race concert .
Don't get me wrong.I like Keith Urban !. But with the rain coming,and most of the fans already there.
They should've avoided all the hoopla ,and started the race early.
That's "just my humble opinion" !
(2/8/09)
With the current state of the nations economy,and an increasing number of empty seats at the NASCAR tracks. It is time
for NASCAR to take drastic action.
Here is what I think,is some of the things that NASCAR must change in order to win back the fans . Not necessarily
in this order:
1. The COT. If they want to keep it,and it looks like they do. Get rid of that ugly nose. Make it look more like
the vehicles we drive. The wing is okay,but the nose must go
2. The Chase doesn't work. At least not in it's current format.
Until they can come up with something that will work. Go back to the old "classic" format.
3. Only an idiot still believes that these restrictor plates DO NOT PREVENT "The big ones" on the superspeedways. The cars
are now,so bunched together,usually. "The big one" is more likely to happen.
4. LOWER THE TICKET PRICES ! Most of the fans can't afford to pay the $ 95 - $150 -$200+ for these tickets.
In todays economy,I firmly believe a 50% drop in these prices,will help bring more fans to the tracks.
5. The track vendors should also lower their prices too. It's ridiculous to have to pay $3.50 for a slice of pizza. $4.00
for a plain burger,or hot dog. $3.00 for a bottle of water.$ 3.50 for soda . ( I don't drink beer,but those prices are in
the $ 5-6-$7.00 range.
Throw in the souvies. $25.00-$35.00 for a hat . T-shirts are approaching $40.00. Die-cast cars ? HA ! $65.00,and that's
probably getting you an '07 car !
Granted,the vendors have to make their money,or they wouldn't even be there. But they have to pay rental /licensing
fees to the tracks. Or they wouldn't be allowed to operate on track grounds.
AND...we all know who owns most of these tracks. So it's very much time,for ISC,and SMI,along with Dover,Pocono,and
Indy,to lower their licensing fees.
What it all comes down to is this. The fans can't afford to go to the races anymore,and when they do go. They don't
quite like what they're seeing.
HOWEVER... Lower those prices. The fans will like it more.
That's all I can think of . For now ,at least.
"Just my humble opinion "
Joe
(2/7/09)
Shootout race attendance observation.
What if they ran a race,and nobody came ?
WOW ! No one on the backstretch, but I believe those stands were closed anyhow.
HOWEVER...The main grandstands look less than 1/2 full. The bad economy is really hitting
NASCAR's fans , HARD.
(1/4/09) Are we going to lose another "local" short track ?
Courteousy of Jayski (with a comment from me) :
Tucson Raceway Park in trouble: The operator of Tucson Raceway Park has pulled out of his agreement with the Southwestern Fair Commission, putting in doubt the future of stock-car racing at
the 3/8-mile track southeast of Tucson. The fair commission and the leaseholder, Deery Sports West, are looking for a new
operator and said they are optimistic they can find someone before the season starts in March. They said a number of groups
have expressed interest in running the track, but they were not ready to name names and no deal is imminent. The track, which
is owned by Pima County and leased along with the Pima County Fairgrounds to the Southwestern Fair Commission, is the only
paved short track in Arizona. The fair commission leases the track to Deery Sports West, which ran the track for several years
before subleasing it yet again to Innovative Racing LLC 2 1/2 years ago. It is Innovative Racing that has pulled out of the
agreement, saying it can no longer operate the track. Deery Sports remains the primary leaseholder, but the family that runs
it now is based in Illinois, running tracks there. Southwest Fair Commission Executive Director Jon Baker said Deery needs
to either run the track or find someone to run it. "We do not intend to shut it down," Baker said.(Arizona Star)(1-4-2009)
{ Personal note. This is an all to familiar tune,across the country,and especially
here in New Jersey.
When is NASCAR going to realize that ,without these local short tracks. The sport
will die ? }
(12/21/08)
My Opinion on "The Big 3 Auto Bailout" :
Courteousy of MSNBC.com :
Federal-loans lifeline means United Auto Workers union accepts changes that some view as surrender.
Full story
{ Being a union member. While I do recognize that the economy is in very bad shape. It's NOT...I
repeat NOT...due to the American workers,and their unions.
Instead it is the direct result of the 'We don't care about the employees. Just
the big dollar owners / CEOs' ,and major shareholders'. Who are running rampant with wasteful / shameful spending
and the fact that, Washington DC politicians have allowed this to go on for years,and years,and are continuing to do so.
" Just my humble opinion "
But I'm sure I'm not alone here
Joe }
(12/6/08)
Several personal comments on the 2008 Sprint Cup Awards Banquet
1. It sure was great to see Cale Yarborough, the only other 3-peat winner ,at the Cup Level,on the
stage with J.J.last night !!!
2. With all the money he won. I'd like to be J.J's. next best friend .
3. NO Jay Mohr !!!
4. I loved when Denny Hamlin told Joe,and J.D. Gibbs,about he sleepless nights they might be having
until Daytona. Thinking about Denny being their Senior driver next year.
5. Why was Tom Cruise really there ? Other than to sit next to Jeff Gordons wife Ingrid,and receive
an "honorable mention" by Rick Hendrick, of Cole Trickle being one of his favorite ,retired drivers.
6. Did it seem that Tony Stewart was getting a little bleary-eyed,talking about his 10 years with Joe
Gibbs Racing,and Greg Zippadelli ,ending. It sure looked like "Zippy" had a little tear there.
7. Carl Edwards seemed a little uncomfortable with a 2nd place finish. Didn't he ? (Should make
the 99 team very,very interesting to watch in 2009 .)
8. Kyle Busch was really funny ! He also seemed uncomfortable with his 10th place finish. ( The 18 team
should also be "very,very interesting to watch",next year.)
9. Several of the drivers reminded us of our soldiers who are fighting to keep us free.
10 . Richard Petty on the stage !!! This sport would not have achieved it's popularity without "The King" .
(Did you notice the many looks of concern,amongst the drivers,evidently regarding the future of ,and possible loss of, Petty
Enterprises ?)
11. Yes ,the banquet did run a little long,and had some slow moments. However...it had many good moments.
Overall ? Not a bad banquet,at all.
Just my humble opinion
Joe
