It’s a great day to be a race fan! Three races in race day! Loving it! Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton for winning the Monaco Grand Prix in the rain. Congratulations to rookie Alex Rossi on his first Indy Car win at the 100th Indianapolis 500.
Congrats to Raymond Park, Rick Hendrick and Benny Parsons on their inclusion in the 2017 Hall of Fame. I’m pleased Richard Childress was added to the Hall of Fame though I feel his addition to the Hall of Fame is premature. I, like MRN’s Pistol Pete Pistone, feel the Hall of Fame has neglected the pioneers of the sport. Pioneers are overlooked in favor of people recently seen on NASCAR broadcasts like this year’s inclusion of Mark Martin. There’s no doubt Terry Labonte, Bill Elliott and Dale Earnhardt belong in the Hall of Fame, but I their inclusion before Raymond Parks or members of the Flock family feels wrong. While those guys are more well known to the current fans and to many of the voters, that doesn’t make them more worthy than the people who made their NASCAR careers possible.
I advocate creating two additional categories for the nominees – a foundation or cornerstone category and a millennial or new wave category. Each class would include 2 foundation/cornerstone nominees. Cornerstone or Foundation nominees would date from the inception of NASCAR (or before) until around 1960 – basically until the sport became a full-time career that earned the majority of the participants a decent living. The millennial nominees would include drivers that ended their careers after 2001. One millennial could be inducted in a new class – though their inclusion in the pool of inductees wouldn’t be required annually, like the foundation nominees. The fan vote winner would take the place of the millennial category when none of the nominees qualify for the millennial category. Every generation (20 years) the qualification date would be changed – so in 2041 the qualification date would increase to 2021. The general Hall of Fame voting would still nominate five members to the new class.
The addition of the Foundation/Cornerstone category and required induction of 2 members annually would compensate for the previous exclusion of these pioneering members of the NASCAR community. Also the millennial category would allow for those NASCAR folks with special circumstances – like Dale Earnhardt – to earn inclusion without eliminating a deserving driver, crew chief, or other NASCAR participant from getting a timely induction as one of the 5 inductees per year. So the NASCAR Hall of Fame class would increase to 8 members added annually – 2 foundation members + 1 millennial member (or fan vote) + 5 HoF nominees.
Fans and voters would always vote for someone from the past, someone probably not in the forefront of the current NASCAR conversation. There are several people currently in the Hall who are simply well-known today, people with whom they have an emotional connection. Those sorts of connections are fine for current honors, passing honors, like the Most Popular driver award, but I feel they are inappropriate for lasting honors like inclusion in the Hall of Fame. I believe those who should, will be added to the Hall of Fame. I just feel as though there are some who are getting in earlier than they should. Some of the foundation folks are nearing the end of their lives. It would be best to honor them when they are alive to receive the praise, rather than their family members accepting the ring and jacket after the driver’s death.
There will be a competition caution at lap 25. Tropical Storm Bonnie has been raining on the Carlina coast today resulting in the closing of a portion of I-95 due to flooding. The skies are gray and look heavy with clouds. Martin Truex Jr will lead them to the green flag. Congrats to Martin on the pole.
Lovely bagpipes and bugler during the tribute to the troops. Darius Rucker did a masterful job of the National Anthem.
Kasey Kahne in the 5 is having a tire issue. His car is by the wall on lap 13 of 400. He comes on and changes right sides due to a flat right rear it appears. Kasey’s streak of bad luck continues.
Caution on lap 114 of 400 for Brian Scott in the 44 going around.
Green flag pit stops come and green flag pit stops go and the song remains the same overall as Martin Truex Jr continues to lead the field.
On lap 287 of 400 Kasey Kahne has come into the pits complaining of a tire going down. He’s been unable to make up the laps he lost early in the running.
Caution on lap 339 of 400 for debris.
Late in the race Kevin Harvick’s car seems to have come alive.
We’re listening to the radio broadcast instead of the television broadcast – we began listening to it during the pre-show instead of getting aggravated by Michael Waltrip and never stopped. The radio announcers said they’re supposed to be impartial, but they can’t help rooting for the guy who’s a good guy on and off the track and a guy who has come so close to victory only to be denied.
With 7 to go Kyle Busch heads to the garage after smacking the wall. No caution so far.
Ryan Blaney has hit the wall with 3 to go and is trying to coast to the start-finish line.
MARTIN TRUEX JR WINS!!!! He led 392 of 400 laps tonight. No one in NASCAR has ever led that many miles. Martin now holds the Charlotte Motor Speedway for laps led. Sherry Pollex has shown her post-cancer-treatment hair at the track for the first time tonight and is sporting a gorgeous short do. She’s in tears. The entire team is elated.
Sherry gets a big hug from Delana Harvick as she heads to pit road.
Various drivers and crew members are congratulating Martin and 78 crew chief Cole Pearn.
Jimmie Johnson finishes third. Chase Elliott finished eighth. Dale Earnhardt Jr finished 14th.
NASCAR News:
- 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class Announced.
- Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress thought they had to ‘retire or die’ to make Hall of Fame.
- Opinion: My Call to the Hall.
- Majeski Signed to RFR Development Program.
- Hamlin Charges to Charlotte Win.
- NASCAR Regrets Confusion.
- Roush to Honor Old Friend at Charlotte.
- NASCAR Notebook: Dollar General Leaving.
- Roush, Fastenal Sign Multi-Year Extension.
- Earles Voted Recipient of Landmark Award.
- NASCAR to Be Featured in 2017 Movie.
- More Aerodynamic Rule Changes.
- Truex Takes Coca-Cola 600 Pole.
- Martin to Drive Pace Car for Coca-Cola 600.
- Greenwood proud to add voice to Charlotte, NASCAR salute.
- Despite confusion, NASCAR got a memorable All-Star Race.
- Channing Tatum, Daniel Craig set for NASCAR-themed heist movie.
- Brian France shows NASCAR not afraid to make changes to improve racing.