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Published Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 | 5:04 p.m.
Updated Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 | 5:11 p.m.
While talking with members of the media on Thursday at Daytona, Dale Earnhardt Jr. mentioned that he might be willing to race for another 15 years. Well, that has got to be sweet music to NASCAR’s ears. Having the most popular driver in the sport continue to race will keep a tsunami of fans interested in stock-car racing and will keep the Dale Jr. merchandise machine rolling. Even if Jr. never wins another race, I bet there would continue to be a legion of dedicated fans that would follow his every move.
I did notice one thing that was a little striking as I watched him being interviewed by the Speed Channel during yesterday’s practice. His speech and mannerisms are reminding me more and more of his father. It’s always been unmistakable that he’s an Earnhardt when he speaks. Maybe I’m a little crazy, but as he gets older, he seems to resemble his father more than he has in the past.
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Larry McReynolds mentioned during Thursday’s practice that the Cup cars are now running the largest restrictor plate in 20 years. With a little more room to play with in the throttle, the drivers will have some extra power when they need it as opposed to running a smaller plate that would require racing with the throttle wide open just to maintain momentum. This, combined with the lifting of the no-bump drafting rule, could keep us on the edge of seats our tomorrow.
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You may have heard that the Las Vegas Motor Speedway has invited President Barack Obama to be the grand marshal for the Sprint Cup race on Feb. 28. The offer was extended after the president made the comment in New Hampshire that American’s shouldn’t “blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you’re trying to save for college.” President Obama should take the speedway up on its offer and bring Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood with him. The plain-speaking, no-nonsense LaHood has aggressively taken Toyota to task over the sudden acceleration problems with a number of its models. Imagine the reaction in the garage if NASCAR put LaHood in charge of pre- and post-race inspections.
What is the latest on NASCAR's golden-boy #24 retiring due to back pain?
I haven't read anything new on Gordon's back pain issue. Here's a link to a story:
http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/...
Having OBUMA as Grand Marshall is not a good idea as he will probably screw that up to....We will never get to watch the race....
Since President Obama didn't accept an invite from the NYSE to visit, I doubt if he would accept one from LVMS. I prefer keeping politics out of sports, though from time to time (especially in election years) both the politician and the venue/event may, unfortunately, find synergy.
Sarah Palin is available if LVMS wants a political figure to be Grand Marshall. She can ride around the track with Danica Patrick and all of the fans will be entertained...
I can't wait until the green flag falls and all the distractions can fall away and we can get down to racing.
I second the motion of keeping politics out of racing but it's here to stay (Palin is rumored to be at Daytona this weekend). It would be a very smart move for O to be at LVMS but I think he has to get Gried's permission first.
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The new plate and the bump rule means a lot of breakaway, two-car team racing. The draft-and-bump masters will definitely have the edge. There's still going to be a lot of scrap metal for sale come the 15th. Just hope there's nobody in a coffin.
The President has better things to worry about right now than Na$car...besides, as the head of the largest shareholder organization of GM stock, it would look like he was rooting for 'the boys in bowties'...Palin on the other hand, is a lightning rod for media coverage still, since when they keep a camera on her long enough, another scandal always drops into or from her lap. Na$car loves media coverage so the synergy is there!
I second the hope that everyone stays safe...including the fans in the 'cheap seats' by the fences.
Maybe another 15 years would be great if it was someone that could drive a car, but it sure isn't Jr. He runs on his father's shirttail. He couldn't race his way out of a brown paper bag.
Just wondering how many of you play Yahoo Fantasy racing?
Been doing it for years and it is a ball! Not too late for you to join and get in a league to see how good you really are at knowing your stuff.
Dale who?, oh that boy wonder that hasn't proved anything except his problems with not winning wasn't his stepmoms fault. He doesn't seem to be winning with Hendricks either. Did ya ever notice he's never got a girl around him? ,whats up with that? , please tell me that boy aint gay. Too bad NASCAR has become what it is today, No fighting,no cussing, no tempers,ya have to talk to the media or ya get suspended, what a crock of crap.Boycott NASCAR and get rid of the Frenchs' bring back the good ole days.
Who cares what Jr. does? Far too many "fans" think he's his dad and he's not,...never will be but they keep hoping against hope that Dale Jr. will become the dirty obnoxious driver his father "just racin" Dale Sr. was. For all those long haul truckers with the big 3, or a big 8 in their grill,...get a life, the Earnhardt era is over,...whoopie!
Very true,fedup....i stopped watching na$car when sr died. it sucks,now
IMO Jr. doesn't "ride his dad's shirttail", it's all the Jr. NationFans that EXPECT him to be like Dale Sr. (since they were all Dale Sr. fans to begin with). Jr. needs is own fan base. People need to see and accept Jr. for who HE is NOT for who's son he is!!!