It’s chilly in Daytona. The Atlanta metro area is under a winter storm watch. We’re a few hundred miles north of Daytona (over 400) so the weather here is definitely colder, but often its relatively similar. That’s one of the reasons I don’t really consider going to a night race in Daytona – too cold. I love warm weather and avoid cold weather as much as possible. I believe the next place I live will be much warmer.
It’s so good to see Mike Joy and Darrell Waltrip. I’ve missed them in the off season. Today I got to see some of the new hires. Nice to see Vince Welch land a gig. I was lamenting losing him with ESPN so its cool that he’s with the A team on FOX. It was also nice to see Jeff Hammond and JR on the desk earlier today. Kenny Wallace seems to be back in good form, along with Phil Parsons. The ARCA race was surprising. I expected more trouble. Usually there are a lot of rookies and a lot of nerves resulting in a lot of trouble. I didn’t see as much of that today – though I did also leave to pick up dinner.
On the other side of the ‘talent’ roster I’m less than please FOX gave Jamie Little a job. She’s grown organically in the position, but she’s just not very good at the job – it’s not where her talent resides. I’m bummed that Larry McReynolds is still babbling around. I was hoping that a miracle would occur and Michael Waltrip would not return to the desk. Sadly miracles are in short supply for me right now, though they seem to be multiplying for Danielle Trotta who was yelling on the desk during Race Day. She’s another person who doesn’t have the talent for the job, but keeps moving up anyway. Get well Byrnsey. We miss you!!!
I say miracles are in short supply – good luck is in short supply for me. I went for the high of seeing Jamie Cullum in concert for the first time to a trip to the ER after the concert with a concussion and whiplash to spending Valentine’s Day at the hospital visiting my caretaker. She was taking care of me early in the week, went to work on Wednesday, left work early because she wasn’t feeling well, went to the doctor at 10:30 in the morning and ended up in the ER and admitted to the hospital. A crazy week in our house. Jamie was a fantastic concert though!
So far, this race has been less than interesting. The season is starting out like 2014 ended. Let’s hope things will pick up in a positive way.
A dust-up between ‘Kutie’ Kyle Larson and Brad ‘It’ Keselowski sends Keselowski to the garage. Kyle has a child with his girlfriend and Keselowski will soon follow that trend as his girlfriend is now pregnant. It amazes me that Dale Jr and Tony Stewart can get to their 40s in this ‘family sport’ without knocking up someone without a wedding band and the ‘young guns’ can’t seem to manage that feat. I guess you don’t learn the basics when you start out and move up too early.
There was to be a mandatory caution at lap 25 but since the caution would run through lap 25 David Hoots said this caution would count as the competition caution.
Caution is out. Jamie Mc turned around in front of the field and collected a lot of folks including Kasey Kahne, Smoke, Kurt Busch, KHarv, Paul Menard, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Stinkhouse, and Afterburner. Biffle is blaming Jamie Mc saying he was way loose, but it looked to me like Afterburner got into Logano knocking him into Biffle who then jacked up Jamie Mc. Hard to say with the camera angle and of course I don’t believe a thing Biffle says. Jamie Mc says Biffle lifted his tires off the ground. He says Biffle got a big run.
With 14 to go Austin Dillon, and Stinkhouse go around to bring out the caution and Danica gets a little piece of the action.
With 8 to go Tony Stewart goes around into Biffle and Kurt Busch is collected also.
Restarting with four to go and a dozen cars restarting.
Kenseth wins.
Martin Truex Jr finishes second since he had no one to help him at the end. Unfortunately Kenseth’s teammate Carl’s was the closes to Martin so he had no help at all. Looks like KHarv & Logano are having a beef. Whatever KHarv said pissed Joey off and he started cussing and was grabbed by the collar and drug away by a member of his teammate.
In NASCAR news this week:
- Helton Named Vice Chairman of NASCAR.
- Vince Vaughn Daytona 500 Grand Marshal.
- Busch’s Lawyer Accuses Driscoll of Perjury.
- NASCAR Competition Alters Management Staff.
- NASCAR Hall of Fame Adds Five.
- Bowman Joins Tommy Baldwin Racing.
- Pearson Recovering From Stroke.
- Expanded Schedule for Wood Brothers.
- HScott Expands to Two Full-Time Teams.
- France Delivers State of the Sport.
- Jeff Gordon to Run Final Full-Time Season in 2015.
- Reaction to Gordon Announcement.
- Gordon: ‘This is the Right Time’.
- Wood Bros. Recognized as Longest-Active NASCAR Team.
- Explaining New Pit Road Camera System.
- Busch Reaffirms Belief Ex-Girlfriend Is Assassin.
- Driscoll Counters Busch’s Claims She’s An Assassin.
- Hall of Fame Voting Panel Updates Announced.
- Former Employee Sues Michael Waltrip Racing.
- Busch Takes Stand.
- Hornaday Signs With The Motorsports Group.
- Fanatics to Operate At-Track Merchandise.