Race Journal Online est. October 4, 2006"I believe anybody who tells you he is unbiased is a liar. Being human gives you bias, and you can't avoid that. The best you can ever hope to be is fair." -David Poole
Click to read David Poole tribute
Photo:Chris Trotman/ Getty Images for NASCAR RJO's Favorite Charities
Well, well, well. Now a little more of the story comes out, and it's not a pretty picture over at Joe Gibbs Racing. Surprisingly, though, it seems it's not just Kyle Busch that's in the dog house, either.
On the heels of the announcement that Kyle would be driving some Nationwide races, Joe Gibbs spoke at the Media Tour and what he had to say was that he wasn't in the meeting that resulted in Busch being allowed to race Nationwide, and if he HAD been in that meeting, "we would not be doing this." He said of his son J.D. Gibbs and Kyle Busch, "These two got together and now somehow, we are racing against him."
CHEERS to the notion that a 30-lap rental-car shootout may happen in the parking lot with some old racers who’ve not lost a bit of their competitive nature.
CHEERS to Mike Joy starting the evening with such emotion that we knew we’d be in for a treat. And alongside that,…
CHEERS to NASCAR and SPEED and whoever else is in the mix that chooses hosts for shows such as this. We weren’t entirely impressed with the banquet in December, but using Mike Joy and Krista Voda as our hosts for this kind of event is exactly what it should be.
CHEERS to introducing so many greats in the audience. They've all aged so gracefully!
Okay, WHAT?? Kurt and Kyle Busch will "share driving duties" in the Monster Energy Nationwide car? Weren't we rid of him already in that series? Didn't we have that confirmed??
And now we're hearing that Carl Edwards said that if he finds he's just "a nervous ball of energy on Saturdays," that he may go Nationwide racing again. We've all been duped; you know that, right?
Does any team owner have a better way of announcing things than Jack Roush? I say not. Other teams, despite the worst-kept secrets, will schedule press conferences, or otherwise sit on the information until a time when they can announce with great fanfare. Jack, on the other hand, says that Ricky Stenhouse has a full ride in the NNS series, and follows it with, "I think that was announced. If it hasn't been, I'll have someone yelling at me..." That's the same way we found out about Carl's deal with ESPN, too.
CHEERS to seeing Robert Yates, in his Texaco uniform, and remembering the dynasty that he was.
CHEERS to that initial view from Davey Allison's car, because off the top of my head, I didn't know where the 1989 DieHard 500 had been run until I saw that glorious banking out his window.
You may have read the speculative news about Carl Edwards. Jack Roush spilled the beans that Edwards won’t be racing the Nationwide Series this year because he’s headed to ESPN. And while we may or may not know the real reason behind his decision not to race, this seems a smart move.
Of course nobody can deny his natural TV talent. Whether it’s a pre- or post-race interview, rain-delay filler, chatting to the booth on his in-car camera, or stopping by to visit the broadcast team, he is at ease. He, as a driver and untrained broadcaster, is already a class above some that ESPN have had as lead broadcasters, and if Edwards ends up shoulder to shoulder with Marty Reid in the NNS booth, sadly the limits of the anchor’s ability will be even more apparent. Nothing is confirmed (yet) by ESPN about what seat the driver will fill, but we can expect at least one from the 2011 team won’t be returning.
TAG Heuer Eyewear will sponsor Kurt Busch, and I wonder if he isn't thankful to have a good excuse to hide his puffy eyes from the TV cameras. Welcome to "humbled", Mr. Busch.
And in other Kurt Busch news, his spotter is going to be Phoenix Racing's general manager, Steve Barkdoll. Normally I'd think, wow... the GM is your spotter? Guess you won't be mouthing off to HIM, huh? But then I think... he called Roger Penske "Dude." I wonder if anyone else EVER has called Roger Penske dude. I picture him in a button-down shirt in first grade and even the teacher calling him Mr. Penske.
Bobby Hamilton, Jr. has filed for bankruptcy, and one of the debts I read about was nearly $200,000 owed to the IRS. Can you use bankruptcy to not pay taxes?
CHEERS to NASCAR actually pre-empting something else. Ironically, this race is at Phoenix, where 20 years later, ESPN would dump the race coverage with 34 laps to go. But on THIS day, ESPN chose NASCAR.
JEERS to reports that leader Ricky Rudd's car is overheating.
Facebook? Twitter? I just don't see what all the fuss is about.
Does that sound familiar? I'm sure that it does. I suspect lots of you couldn't care less about joining the ranks of those that are all atweet with social media. But I wanted to introduce you to the Race Journal Online Facebook page, because I think it's something you'd all enjoy.
I visit RJO frequently right here. Why do I need Facebook?
Have you ever looked at racing news on a Tuesday afternoon after reading CHEERS and JEERS, and found some news tidbit that just happened? Or even on a Wednesday? Or even seen something that you wondered what other RJO readers' opinions were?
With a bright, fresh 2012 newly upon us, and most people taking time out to make New Year's Resolution, I thought it might be fun to take a peek at what the drivers are doing to better themselves this year:
I resolve to earn at least one more point than Tony next year. -Carl E.
I resolve to keep my mouth shut more. -Kurt B.
I also resolve to keep his mouth shut more. -James F.
Follow RJO on T E N T A T I V E Sprint Cup 2012 Schedule Saturday night races in red
Feb 26 Daytona FOX 1pm
Mar 04 Phoenix FOX 3pm
Mar 11 Las Vegas FOX 3pm
Mar 18 Bristol FOX 1pm
Mar 25 Fontana FOX 3pm
Apr 01 Martinsvl FOX 1pm
Apr 08 OFF (Easter)
Apr 14 Texas FOX 7:30pm
Apr 22 Kansas FOX 1pm
Apr 28 Richmond FOX 7:30pm
May 06 Talladega FOX 1pm
May 12 Darlington FOX 7:30pm
May 19 All Star SPEED
May 27 Charlotte FOX 7:30pm
Jun 03 Dover FOX 1pm
Jun 10 Pocono TNT 1pm
Jun 17 Michigan TNT 1pm
Jun 24 Sonoma TNT 3pm
Jun 30 Kentucky TNT 7:30pm
Jul 07 Daytona TNT 7:30pm
Jul 15 New Hampshr TNT 1pm
Jul 22 OFF
Jul 29 Indianapolis ESPN 1pm
Aug 05 Pocono ESPN 1pm
Aug 12 WatGlen ESPN 1pm
Aug 19 Michigan ESPN 1pm
Aug 25 Bristol ABC 7:30pm
Sep 02 Atlanta ESPN 7:30pm
Sep 08 Richmond ABC 7:30pm
The Chase
Sep 16 Chicago ESPN 2pm
Sep 23 New Hampshr ESPN 2pm
Sep 30 Dover ESPN 2pm
Oct 07 Talladega ESPN 2pm
Oct 13 Charlotte ABC 7:30pm
Oct 21 Kansas ESPN 2pm
Oct 28 Martinsvl ESPN 1:30pm
Nov 04 Texas ESPN 3pm
Nov 11 Phoenix ESPN 3pm
Nov 18 Homestead ESPN 3pm
When I was a little girl, growing up in Southern California, my grandma would come visit from Indiana for three months a year to get away from the Indiana winters. Oh, the stories I could tell and the memories I have of Grandma's annual visits. But one of my fondest memories is of Grandma's penchant for See's Candy. There are few stores outside of the west coast, so I remember going to the candy store to order something special with my mom, to be shipped to Indiana. Whether it was Mother's Day, Grandma's birthday, or if it had just been awhile, my mom would kindly send candy to her mother-in-law half way across the country.
When she came to visit, there'd be a box waiting for her in the top drawer of the dresser in the spare room where she'd stay, and very rarely, she'd share a piece with me. I think the rarity of the occasion made it all the more special.
It wasn't until I moved to Nebraska that I really missed seeing See's Candy stores. Nuts & Chews. That was the special mix we'd always get in the box. And the square lollypops? There's nothing like them anywhere else. Caramel and chocolate and vanilla. If you've never had See's Candy, you should try a box. I promise you'll be glad you did. I recommend the Nuts & Chews, of course, so that's the picture I've posted for you. Click it and you'll see more. Great for gifts, but even better to order your own box. And if you hide it in the top dresser drawer, I won't tell anyone where it is. -Carol
