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StumblePublished Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 | 8:32 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 | 8:32 p.m.
A cartoonist is always looking for the big story. As I drive to work each morning, I find myself hoping that the day’s headlines will be fertile ground for cartoon ideas. This can be dangerous, as my truck has been known to leave the pavement when my mind wanders.
Hopefully, that drive to work next Monday will find me contemplating a big headline from Sunday’s Daytona 500.
We’ve been hearing a lot about Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch. But, frankly, if one of these drivers wins on Sunday, it won’t be a surprise. A victory by Gordon would break his winless streak and a win for Dale Jr. would be a fan favorite, but we wouldn’t be shocked.
NASCAR needs an emotional win by an unlikely driver to start the season off with a spark that would create a lot of water cooler talk on Monday.
So I’m hoping we see someone like Robby Gordon, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Sam Hornish, David Ragan or Brian Vickers hoisting the trophy in Victory Lane after the 500 miles are complete.
Then again, the biggest headline I could hope for would be to see Scott Speed taking the checkered flag. Just think of the great cartoon ideas the toenail-painted, puffy-shirt-wearing, former Formula One driver could provide.
Mark Martin has a reasonable chance of winning, but the other guys don't have a prayer.
So I'm not the only one that would be happy to see Speed win. I'd be super pleased to see a Speed/Vickers 1-2 finish, as it would show that NASCAR is being infiltrated by established Euro teams.
I'm looking (not hoping) for a Toyota this time and it could be Marcos Ambrose...
Dale Jr.'s wins will help the sport during these tough economic times.
If Sam Hornish wins then I do not expect a flock of fans watching the next race to see if Hornish wins again.
The media outside of the normal NASCAR group will not give a hoot if somebody like Hornish has a run on wins.
But if Dale Jr has a run a wins....the exposure to NASCAR will be tremendous. New fans will be brought in and regular fans will more closely watch the races.
Higher TV ratings, more tickets sold and more NASCAR items sold then it will bring more money for race teams this year and next year.
A rash of Hornish wins will not help with that.
Sam Hornish?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Mark Martin, been retiring for years!! Scott Speed, open wheeler! Vickers, the guy that wrecks people to win! Marcos Ambrose, Australian beginner! Toyota, Japanese, sort of! Dale, Jr.? at least he's American and drives a Chevy!! But it doesn't matter, Kyle Busch and his quasi-Jap car will win!!
Does this thing plan on acknowledging there was a race yesterday or is it taking off for the three-day holiday?