FINALLY!!! It’s been an endless winter without NASCAR. Â I typically spend a lot of hours each week with the television tuned to SpeedTV watching NASCAR coverage. Â For the past couple of months, I’ve been without NASCAR practice, qualifying and racing. Â It’s been very sad. Â But that’s all over now! Â The NASCAR season is officially underway.
Yesterday’s ARCA race was delightful as usual.  I’ve quickly grown to love ARCA races.  With the exception of the Dillon boys bringing their big bucks, it is delightful to watch good drivers learn in a relatively equal field.  It is always lovely to see women in the field, though it is beyond me how Milka Duno keeps getting a ride.  At this point I question her ability to drive a point home.  She’s a nightmare on the track weekly.  But the race was fun and the ending was memorable.  I am concerned Brandon McReynolds is going to continue the trend of  ‘sons of’ pressing their unfair advantages and killing some of the fun of the ARCA series.  It was a relief that a deserving winner ended up in Victory Circle yesterday.  Quite a fulfilling win.  The Dillon brothers left me with very few fulfilling wins last year.
The Dillon boys’ (Ty and Austin) accomplishments were marred by the amount of money their granddaddy put behind them. Â They were proof what money can do, though not necessarily proof of their driving skills. Â I think all drivers should really drive the best cars they can build – not the best that money can buy – and prove themselves and their skills that way. Â It reminds me of how few fist fights there are and how many shootings there are. Â Men used to prove themselves with fisticuffs. Â Now they simply pull out the best their money can buy and take down their opponent with excessive force. Â Hollow victory in my eyes. Â Austin or Ty winning a championship using equipment and talent they can’t personally afford is also a hollow victory.
The Sprint Cup race last night – Budweiser Shoot-Out – was exciting at times and boring at others. Â The drivers seemed a bit tentative at times which often makes television boring, but was understandable since they are working with new equipment and having to unlearn (THANK GOODNESS) the tandem drafting of the past year or so. Â When they were getting aggressive it was exciting. Â Kyle’s driving was amazing! Â He wasn’t alone with that – there was some great driving yesterday.
Up next: Daytona Qualifying!
3 Cheers for the Return of NASCAR!!!