Only a few more hours until we officially hear what’s up with Dale Jr. Press conference begins at 11:00 am est.

Can’t wait….

It’s been crazy times lately. I have somewhat off the radar for most people. It’s just who I am sometimes. It’s the way I work through things. I have been keeping track of “my other man”. Whew…and he is wearing me out. But that’s Tony…speaking his mind.

I would like to address those fans who feel the need to throw beer cans onto the race track. I have to say I am glad you were arrested and will not be allowed to purchase tickets for yourself. I know you can get others to purchase them for you, but still you might think twice about your actions next the time you attend a race. I am sure you are just as passionate about racing as I am, but there is a difference between you and me, I don’t throw things onto the race track. I have respect for my fellow fans sitting around me at a race. I was not happy at the last race I attended at TMS. I ended up sitting around some not so nice fans. I felt sorry for the family in front of us with their two sons. This was the first race together as a family. What must they have thought when they left the track? I have a high tolerance for bozoes because that’s just me, but about this family? Do you think they will think twice about bringing their sons to a race? That’s a shame. I got a few minutes to chat with them prior to the start of the race and they were very nice people. I would hate to see these future NASCAR fans be turned away from the sport by a bunch of hooligans actions. I like taking my cooler into the race. It saves me from having to overpay for food and drink at the races. If you have even been to a race, you know how “close” you are to fellow race fans. It is not enjoyable when every 20 to 30 minutes people around you have to get up and get some refreshment. I hope the Talladega 14 get the message as well as the others who didn’t get caught that day. I don’t want you at the races. You can stay home and watch the race from your sofa. You can throw beer cans at your tv and have a grand old time.

Congratulations to Jeff Gordon on passing Dale Earnhardt Sr. I am sure if Dale Sr. was here today he would have been one of the first people to congratulate him in victory lane.

Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson. He was Postman’s pick this week for his driver draft. Hey…sometimes it’s about the win. With today’s Johnson, Postman has picked three winners. Harvick at Daytona…Gordon at Phoenix…and today’s race winner Jimmie Johnson. Way to go Postman!

Hey Hendrick Motorsports…whatever you have can you pass it out and share with the rest of us?

Since NASCAR is moving to a new COT, why not me? I have made a name change to my site. Trixie’s Trailer Park is the new View from the Pit Box. I hope I don’t get banned from NASCAR for making a name change. It’s the same place with the same content, but it’s just a new name.

Coming out of Turn 4…

WOO HOO!!!! Way to represent!!!

I would have loved to seen Smoke win, but I have to say I was very excited to see the Texas boy, Bobby Labonte cross the finish line first today!!!! That’s 1…2…for Kevin Harvick Incorporated!!!

I didn’t get to watch much of the race today with moving into new digs, but I took a break and watch about the last 40 laps of the Busch race today.

While at the old digs I saw Kyle’s wild ride. I have to give him style points. Sliding on the roof for some distance, losing a tire, lots of sheet metal, flipping and finally coming to end right side up with his car afire. It is amazing how a driver can walk away from such a dramatic crash like that.

I apologize for not commenting about Phoenix and Tony’s comments. I for one feel he should have gone to the media center after the race last Saturday night. It’s part of your job. There are things about my job I really don’t like to do, but I do them. He has a valid argument about debris cautions. It may be just a coincidence of when they fall during the race. I don’t believe NASCAR would purposely throw them just to be throwing them. Tony has a right to speak his mind, but there are times I am wondering WTF? Tony has been somewhat vocal on a few things this young season. Tony will comment on something because that’s what he feels at that moment. He will get crucified in the media and everything calms down. I think last week, he just wanted to keep his mouth shut, think about things, and then comment. You know the old saying, “if you don’t have anything nice to say…”. Of course…he did speak up on his radio show on Tuesday. Tony’s frustration has set in. He has had some great running cars and for whatever reason has crossed the finish line first. Last week’s race was great. Tony and Jeff going door to door to the end. Unfortunately Tony finished second. It was a gutsy call by the #24 team. We all know if could have gone to the crapper.

I don’t know if Tony will lose fans over his comments. I am sure he has Smoke Nation all abuzz and wondering what is going on. If he loses fans fine. I for one believe a true fan sticks with their driver through the good and the bad. You don’t just jump ship when things are going the way you would like them to. Tony will speak his mind, fly off the handle and say and do things he regrets. We have all done them and we regret them the minute we do them. As a Tony fan, I accept this is the way he is. I don’t always agree with everything he says or does, but I will support him anyway. What’s my theory on Tony? He has started to eat healthy, has regular exercise, and a steady girlfriend. I for one know when I can’t eat all the fun food I enjoy I get a little cranky. Keeping a daily exercise is hard work…and sometimes can be grueling. I don’t know what to make of the girlfriend angle. Just some thoughts…

I was impressed with Jeff Gordon’s tribute to Dale Sr. last weekend at PIR. I have been listening to quite a bit of NASCAR on Sirius and I have heard nothing but positive things regarding the “3” flag. Jeff knows what Earnhardt meant to not only his life but to NASCAR. He wanted to honor him–plain and simple. And what a classy move on Junior to congratulate Jeff on tying his father. I am not a big fan of Gordon, but he is one of the best drivers in NASCAR. You don’t just win 4 championships without some talent behind the wheel.

I am looking forward to tomorrow’s Cup race. I will still be working on moving into the new digs, but it will be last final push to the finish. Just a few more boxes and cleaning job and I will be done! I WILL NOT MISS TOMORROW’S RACE!!!

Happy Birthday to Postman! His birthday was Friday, but we won’t celebrate until Sunday!!!

PS…Cingular DOES NOT make a RAZR cell phone that can survive a washer and dryer.

Coming out of Turn 4…

I know this isn’t NASCAR related, but it could be…

WHY ARE MEN SUCH BUTTHEADS?

I was listening to my tunes on the MP3 player this morning and this song came on. I just thought how appropriate with everything that has happened this week.

You’ve Got A Friend
Ooooooooo Yeah baby

When your down and troubled
And you need some love and care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up Even your darkest night

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come runnin’ To see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there
You’ve got a friend

If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together baby
And call my name out loud
Soon you’ll hear me
Knockin’ at your door

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am I’ll come runnin’
To see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there

Ain’t it good to know that
You’ve got a friend?
People can be so cold oh yeah
They’ll hurt you and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
But don’t you let them

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come runnin’ To see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there
You’ve got a friend

You’ve got a friend
You’ve got a friend

Thinking of the Virginia Tech family from one member of the Texas Tech family.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the fallen students and the Virginia Tech family as they go through this difficult time. In the weeks and months ahead they will probably be more questions than answers as to why such a tragedy happened. Working on a college campus brought everything that happened yesterday at VT to the forefront of my mind. Our campus will be taking a moment of silence at noon today as well as ringing the bells in honor of those who died yesterday. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers today.

God Bless.

Coming out of Turn 4…

When I left work on Thursday night, I wanted so much to call in “sick” Friday morning and head on out to TMS, but alas…I went to work. I am such a good employee.

After leaving my office on Friday afternoon, I turned on Sirius radio hoping to hear qualifying, but to my surprise, Tony Stewart Live was on. I usually don’t mind this at all, but I am thinking…ah…I bet they are having weather issues. Little did I realize…there were tornadoes swirling around. This meant qualifying was canceled and the field was set by the current point standings. Now I didn’t want to wish any ill will or harm on anyone, but I had to chuckle just a little. I figured if I couldn’t be there, then why should anyone else have fun. I know if I had been there the weather would have been perfect.

I watched the Busch race on Saturday. I did have a little remorse for wishing ill will on those attending TMS because I have several of my racing buds out there enjoying the weekend. It was weird watching the race on television. I hadn’t watched a race from TMS on television for the last three race weekends. I am usually in the stands drinking an adult beverage and cheering on my favorite drivers. However, I would like to say the Busch race didn’t disappoint. I was hoping Denny Hamlin would have won. Whatever they are doing over there at JGR it is working. But kudos and major props have to go out to Matt Kenseth. That was some damn fine driving you did. You saved your car and able to bring it to victory lane. Thanks for the cleaning race Mr. Kenseth. You earned that white cowboy hat!

Now…on to Sunday’s race. I was none to pleased with the Texas weather raining out Friday’s qualifying. This meant the HMS duo of Gordon and Johnson would be staring up front. Those were the last two people I wanted to see win at the home track. I have to say to those who don’t know about Texas weather…if you don’t like it…stick around…it will change. This is exactly what happened on Sunday. They had beautiful weather…they same kind they had last April. Thank you racing Gods! I am not a fan of the pre-race festivities on Fox. They usually cover things I already heard about on Race Day over on Speed. I had to laugh when they were interviewing Gordon and Johnson about the Martinsville race and my man, Tony came up behind them like some annoying fan. You know what I am talking about. The fan that looks like a complete goober when drivers are being interviewed on tv….that was classic Tony.

TMS has not be kind to Jeff Gordon. This is one of the few tracks where he has not been able to tame. TMS is not an easy track to tame no matter who is driving. Up until yesterday, there had been no repeat winner for the April race. Gordon dominated yesterday and I thought to myself good thing I was at home. I would have been miserable if he would have won. But as we all know the fastest and best car on the track doesn’t always win. TMS has a way of making things exciting. I know the fans went nuts when Junior took the lead and looked like he was going to walk away as the first repeat winner, but in the blink of an eye…BAM!

I know there are some Stewart fans this morning who will probably curse Juan Pablo, but I thought it was all a racing deal. He did race Tony and Juan Pablo did get loose and cause Tony to spin out, but it was racing. I was a little giddy, when Johnson’s car got collected. But this isn’t where the day ended for Tony. After going in the pits to fix the #20, TMS struck back. Tony spun out and did some great driving by not hitting anything, however, what happened behind was the talk of the grand stands. Junior slowed down to try to avoid Tony and the next thing he knows Kyle Busch at a faster speed hits Junior. Now…we all know how the Earnhardt Nation can be at times. They are some of the most rabid fans I know…and you know I have to say…if you are thinking Tony is to blame…he’s not. I blame Kyle Busch for this one. Earnhardt slowed down to prevent from hitting Tony, Kyle didn’t. And I don’t know if people in the stands knew this at the time, but Earnhardt got into the #5 and drove it the rest of the race earning points for the #5. Apparently Mr. Busch was gone from the premises. I don’t know what that was all about, but the little respect that he earned is gone. Earnhardt showed some definite class. Kudos to you Mr. Earnhardt. You were raised right.

I know the booing from the Earnhardt nation bothered Tony from what I heard from some post race quotes…(taken from NASCAR.com)

“It’s like nothing we can do is right,” Stewart said. “Look at all the Junior fans that are mad at me. I didn’t even see what happened to Junior. I know I caused it, obviously.

“I’m trying to get one of my laps back right there — I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. There’s no way in hell I would ever do anything to put Dale Jr. in jeopardy [but] it’s disheartening when you have 180,000 people booing you every time you come around.

“That’s what makes this stuff not fun anymore. It’s not about the racing.”

I hope he doesn’t let these boos get to him. From my own personal experience…Earnhardt fans boo anyone who may be perceived to “hurt” their driver. Once again this is from personal experience…last year at Texas fall race.

The last few laps were some of the best racing all day. Matt Kenseth once gain put himself in place to win, but there was Jeff Burton lingering behind him. It was a good clean race to the finish. And finally…TMS has a repeat winner. And of course…if we are going to have a repeat winner it should be the man who won the first race at TMS back in 1997! WAY TO GO!!!!

And how ’bout that crazy old man…two weeks away from the track (actually three if you include last weekend)…coming away with a third place finish!!!

WTF has happened to Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler this year. Did they not get the memo about the start of the NASCAR season? Both drivers have proven they can win at Texas? I don’t know what is going on over at Evernham. Is it time for Ray to take stock in the personnel he has in place? I’m not talking drivers because I think all three drivers can drive the wheels off their vehicles. I mean look what Kahne did last year. I think there is more to be done. I know they have good equipment and cars. I don’t know what can be done to stop the bleeding. I know my friend Sadler Fan was been very frustrated by this turn of events with Elliott. I know she had a fun time this weekend, but she would have loved for her man to have a better weekend.

Couple of things…they didn’t even get one lap under the belt when things went all crazy…I don’t think AAA will be able to help the #6 on this one. YIKES!!!!

There was no “chick fight” in the pits this time around. Last spring the now Mrs. Kurt Busch and soon to be Mrs. Greg Biffle got into a heated discussion. But Stone Cold Steve Austin was the Grand Marshall for the race on Sunday and gave the command to start the engines. I was expecting some exciting “Gentlemen Start Your Engines”, but it fell flat once again. Come on people…put some enthusiasm behind!

TMS always has a little something for everyone! See ya in November everyone!

Well….on to the desert for some Saturday night racing.