Too Tough To Tame

/ Trixie / 1 Comment

I can’t wait to watch the race tomorrow night. Once again the boys are short trackin’ it. After last week’s excitement, this week should be interesting. I am definitely going to be watching how the #18 and #88 race if they get near each other.

I am also excited about the new racing surface. It will be interesting to see how it affects the race tomorrow night.

“I know the track is going to be awesome,” said two-time Darlington winner Jeff Burton. “It’s just what tire do they have to bring to match the track. I know the first tire there was just incredibly fast, and I think their next tire they pulled a lot of speed out of it and I heard it takes a while to get going. Really, it’s just the first couple laps getting a feel for the tires. That’s how I look at it. I don’t have any answers, I just feel like I have all questions.”

“We all know when the speeds pick up through the corners like that, it takes away from the racing a little bit,” Jeff Gordon said. “The cool thing is, I had a blast. That track is unreal right now. It’s smooth, it’s super-fast, but it’s the same Darlington. The track is just really black right now from the new pavement.

 

I hope the race is fast and there is a lot of excitement. I know there will be because, well, it’s short track racing. Short track racing…lots of cars and not enough track for all them.

Speed Racer

/ Trixie / 4 Comments

I haven’t really had time since Monday to sit down and write a post.  This time of the year it is super crazy at work…it’s like trying to get off pit road during a caution flag…total and utter chaos, but it’s a controlled chaos.

As you all know Speed Racer-The Movie opens up this Friday.  I am a big fan of Speed Racer from way back hence my blog name.  So to my surprise when I walk into our local Toys R Us and see this.

That’s right folks…Barbie has put out the Speed Racer and Trixie doll set. 

And yes, I bought it! 

How could I pass this up?  I mean this is my namesake after all.  And one of the scary parts about this…I used to wear my hair like that. 

Hopefully I will get a break in the next couple of days to get something posted before the race on Saturday night, but you never can tell how these things work.

Richmond

/ Trixie / 5 Comments

I wanted to post after the race, but was too…well what’s the word…amazed.  Before I get into the discussion on the “hit heard ’round the world” on Saturday, I want to congratulate Clint Bowyer for the win on Saturday!

Now on to what has probably been the topic of discussion on all the message boards, blogs, etc.  In case you missed it…here is the incident that has sparked quite a bit of discussion.

Now that everyone has had a chance to review things let me continue on with my post. I want to begin by stating what I have to say will probalby set off some of those Earnhardt fans out there, but if are a frequent reader to The Park, you know I have never claimed to be a part of the Junior Nation. I am a fan of his father, but that doesn’t mean I have to be a fan of his son.

If you caught the race on Saturday night you knew exactly when Junior took the lead. Thousands of people in the stands cheered. This is a usual occurence no matter when Junior is in the lead. And we all knew when Kyle got behind Junior after the last cauation it was going to get interesting. Kyle does have documented evidence of moving drivers out of the way to win. And if you watch NASCAR on a weekly basis, you knew there was a strong possibility Kyle was going to go for the win. And that’s what happened. Both drivers were pushing their cars to the limit. Both drivers wanted the win, Junior probably wanted it a little more, but that’s what it was–two pasisonate drivers wanting victory. Kyle’s car did get loose if you caught the numberous replays. Could each of them given each other a little bit more room? Why sure they could have, but I wouldn’t have expected them to. The result…Earnhardt is spun and finishes 15th and Kyle 2nd.

With all this talk about the incident, I forgot about Denny Hamlin.  Denny Hamlin dominated the race Saturday night.  He lead I don’t know how many laps of the race, I lost count around 200, but he should have one the race.  He had the best car, but as we always know the best car doesn’t always win.  It isn’t always about where you start, but where you finish.  Not to diminish the win by Clint, but somtimes racing in NASCAR is about being in the right place at the right time and that is exactly what happened Saturday night.

Way to go Smoke for your 4th place finish!

One more

/ Trixie / 2 Comments

Carl Edwards is done with the silly season before it kicked into high gear. It was announced today Carl Edwards has resigned to driver for Roush-Fenway racing. One free agent down…so many more to go.

Now on to some Friday night racing. I really didn’t watch much of the race. It was on in the background, but to be honest it was mostly background noise for me. I would like to congratulate Denny Hamlin for winning the race from the pole. In the closing laps, there was a caution and race leader Kevin Harvick chose to stay out on old tires while Denny decided to go in to get fresh new ones. This was Denny’s home track and he had never won at the track either in Nationwide or Cup. In the closing laps Denny passed Kevin and took the lead for good. But Kyle Busch was headed towards the front. I changed the channel for just a second and switched back and it was over. Denny was doing his victory burnout. And ESPN was showing Kyle and Steven Wallace “discussing” the race. Of course we all know how tempers can flare at the short track. I am sure they were both called to the “principal’s office” after the race. Congratulations Denny!

I will be watching tomorrow night more closely. I really do like short track racing. With the momentum from tonight will Denny sweep the weekend? Will Junior get his first victory in roughly two years or will his teammate Jeff Gordon come away with his first win of the season? Of course as well all know, just when you think you have everything figured it, you don’t.

Oh…blurb running across the bottom of my tv screen…Eddie Gossage offering a wee bit of money to run at the IRL race in June at TMS.

Just another day in NASCAR….

Dale Earnhardt Fan Photo Mosaic

/ Trixie / Leave a comment

This article courtesy of NASCAR.com

The Hershey Company honored the life and career of racing legend Dale Earnhardt with the unveiling of a replica of a large fan photo mosaic during the Dale Earnhardt Day celebration in Mooresville, N.C., on Tuesday.

Bearing Earnhardt’s likeness, the 6-foot-tall, 8-foot-wide mosaic is comprised of approximately 1,400 photos from fans across the country, including actress Carmen Electra, racing team owner Richard Childress and drivers Mark Martin and Martin Truex Jr. The mosaic, previewed to fans, will serve as a permanent tribute to “The Intimidator” at Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) headquarters in Mooresville when completed later this year.

In recognition of Earnhardt’s impact on the racing world, Hershey is paying tribute to Dale Earnhardt by producing a series of Collector Edition Dale Earnhardt Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almonds Bars and Kit Kat Wafer Bars. The specially moulded bars feature a distinctive on-bar design, including Earnhardt’s signature and stylized No. 3.

The Collector Edition bars will be available at select retail outlets nationwide while supplies last. Hershey is also encouraging fans to honor the racing legend by inviting them to visit http://www.hersheys.com/dale to upload a photo for inclusion in the permanent mosaic and to make a donation to The Dale Earnhardt Foundation. Fans can still upload their photos and tribute messages through June 3 for inclusion in the final mosaic.

“Dale Earnhardt touched the lives of many people both on and off the track, and The Hershey Company is honored to recognize his legacy and fans through this promotion,” said Michele Buck, Senior Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer, The Hershey Company. “We are proud to give our consumers a chance to show their support and be part of history through the Dale Earnhardt photo mosaic and online tribute.”

“This mosaic, presented by The Hershey Company, is such a unique and fitting tribute to Dale Earnhardt,” said Dick Baker, executive director, The Dale Earnhardt Foundation. “We want to thank the loyal fans for all of their passion and support in helping Dale’s legacy live on forever.”

I found this very interesting.  I have to say I uploaded a photo to be included in the mosaic.  Hopefully I will be one of the lucky ones to have their picture included in the final mosaic.  If you are interested in uploading your photo and would like to leave a tribute, stop by Hershey’s and leave your mark.

Do you have your collective Hershey bars? I do. They are carefully stowed away amongst my Tony Stewart shrine. I figured this was the safest and most secure spot away from Little Smoke and Postman.

The Intimidator

/ Trixie / 1 Comment

I still can remember when and where I heard the NASCAR family lost Dale Earnhardt Sr.  I was glued to every sports, race, and even news programs trying to make sense of all it.  Postman and I were married in June that same year.  Since we were staying at the Sahari in Vegas, we went down to the NASCAR Cafe.  In the gift shop located in the same area was one of Dale’s cars.  It was covered with cards, letters, and everything you could think of.  It was amazing.  I have a picture of it somewhere amongst my treasures from that trip.  Dale Sr. was missed by all. 

There was no other driver like Dale Sr. and to be honest there will never be another one like him.  Dale Sr. was the man.  You don’t get to be a 7-Time Winston Cup Champion (that’s right I said Winston Cup) by sitting back and watching everyone else go by.  I still remember his first and only Daytona 500 win.  I cried right along with I am sure quite a few us in the NASCAR family.  For all the attempts and near misses, it was as if he was winning for us as well.  Little did we all realize that he would be gone in a few short years.

His memory is still alive and if you don’t believe me, look around the next NASCAR race you attend or watch on television.  He is still one of the most repsected drivers to ever race around the NASCAR circuit. 

We miss you Dale!

Bing, Bang, Boom

/ Trixie / Leave a comment

All I can say is WHEW!

Yesterday’s race kept me very glued to the television set even while cooking bbq ribs for Postman’s birthday festivities.  I was worried this race would turn out like last Fall’s race when the COT made it’s debut.   But on the contrary, it was well worth it.

Going into yesterday’s race, I knew it was going to be the Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart show.  Sorry for all the fans of other drivers out there, that’s just the way I saw this particular race shake out.  And it pretty much was that for majority of the race.  Except there was that #11 guy, Denny Hamlin.  Denny was either challenging for the lead or leading the pack.  But looming in the distance, you could see that big #20 and the #88.  But just when you think you have everything all figured out at Talladega, you don’t.

Earlier in the week, I did a comparision between Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr.  I gave the edge of Dale Jr. and the rest of the field and that includes over my driver Tony Stewart.  Prior to yesterday the highest Kyle ever finished a race at Talladega was 11th.  And yesterday it looked like once again Talladega was going to get him again.

On Lap 44, Kyle was having difficulties with his car.  He tells his crew “This is a bad sign.”   Then comes the miscue on pit road where Kyle cannot get over to pit on Laup 62, thus having to go around and come back through.  This puts him 35th and almost a lap down.   He will eventually go a lap down and on lap 117 will get the infamous lucky dog.  But retarting at the back of the pack at Dega compared to staring at the back say at track like Bristol, is different and it was going to be a matter of time before Kyle made his way up front.  After all most getting sideways with Jamie McMurray, Kyle takes the lead on Lap 170.  I have to give major props to both drivers for not creating the Big One at this point of the race.  I believe if this were the old car, Kyle Busch would not be celebrating in vicotry lance.  At this point in the race, however, it was on as we say here in The Park.  Gloves are off and it’s ever driver for himself.  I know some of you Gordon fans out there didn’t like the way Kyle blocked Jeff, but hey it’s racing and that’s that.  I have seen Gordon do the same thing.  Like I said, it’s Talladega baby!  You do whatever and/or draft with whoever to get yourself to the front–and that’s just what Kyle did to capture his first win at Talladega.

CONGRATULATIONS KYLE! 

Talladega didn’t disappoint us with the Big One.  The Big One occurred on Lap 173 when it looked like mass chaos.  When it’s three wide and everyone is jocking for position, it’s just a matter of time before BAM!  Bobby Labonte gets sideways and heads up the track and well…collects Tony, Martin Truex, Kurt B. and Jamie McMurray.  Dale Jr. sustains damage to his vehicle.  However, it was the end of the day for Smoke.  He finished a bismal 38.  This wasn’t the only Big One for the day.  Just as white flag is thrown, Michael McDowell spins on the frontstretch, but no caution is thrown.  However, there is a big crash towards the back.  Apaprently #26 shoots up the track and collects quite a few cars including David Stremme who was having a great day substituting for Dario Franchetti who was injured the day before in a crash during the Nationwide race.  David finished 28th.

I have give some kudos to Juan Pablo Montoya.  He finished second to Kyle and I thought ran exceptionally well.  Where did Denny Hamlin end up?  That would be third.  And which HMS driver finished the highest in yesterday’s race???…wait for it…Casey Mears.  I turned to Postman at one point yesterday and jokingly said…Casey is racing today right?  I know it must be difficult at times when your other 3 teammates get all the press coverage before, during, and after the race.  Way to go Casey!  David Ragan and Travis Kvapil had good days as well both finsihing 4th and 6th respectively.

All in all this Dega race did not disappoint.  On a side note, yesterday we had Postman’s birthday celebration.  The race was over by the time all the non-NASCAR guests arrived, but like with any good party there were some beatin’ and a bangin’.  We had a sprainged knee, broken piggy bank, knee to the groin, and the final accident…a knee to the nose which caused some minor bleeding.  That’s when I knew the party was over.  Once you have blood drawn, the party’s over!  That’s what you get from a party over in The Park.

Now we move on to Richmond and some Saturday night short track racing!