Dale Earnhardt: A Tribute
Dave Bowles posted this fine tribute to Dale Earnhardt in response to the article about Dale Jr driving the No. 3 car Friday Night at Daytona.
I know the Yellow/Blue was years ago and that’s fine by me! BUT, I would love to see that BLACK # 3 come thundering out of the pits, fire licking the night air from the exhaust, the windows so dark you can’t see inside.
You feel the seats vibrate, the ground quakes, #3 glides out so smooth like it’s rolling on air, not air as we know it, it doesn’t even kick up dust. Down past the start finish line lightning branches through the first turn building speed every second.
Turn two lights up as the stealthy black image explodes from the second turn and rockets down the back stretch so fast the white of the legendary #3 on the side looks like it’s flowing off the rear quarter panel on fire.
Turn three is laid waste as you feel the chill run up your spine. All heads are anxiously looking as turn four comes up, never letting off entering turn four, riding down to the bottom of four everyone waits for the black #3 to come blasting out to the front stretch.
We wait, we wait, since February 2001 we have waited in hopes to see one more time, #3 roar past us, with that familiar shadow leaning left in that seat.
Feel free to add your own tribute to Dale — and please let Dave know what you think about his words. Thanks Dave and Thanks Dale!
Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Last No. 3 Ride
Dale Earnhardt Jr plans to drive the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet one last time Friday night at Daytona International Speedway.
“I just want to go to the racetrack and run it once before I retire, and this will probably be it,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. “After this I’ll probably never drive a car with a 3 on it again.â€
Earnhardt originally said that he hoped to drive the No. 3 for Richard Childress before his career was over. I just didn’t realize it was a one shot deal.
But Childress has a Grandson, Austin Dillon, who currently drives a black No. 3 in the Camping World Truck Series. Dillon is an up and coming driver with a bright future. Is Childress planning to put Austin in the No. 3 Sprint Cup car? After all, the No. 3 was Childress’s number before it was Earnhardt’s.
Or maybe the No. 3 will never be back in Cup.
Would you like to see Junior in the No. 3 permanently?
Jimmie Johnson’s Goal Was to Wreck Busch
Jimmie Johnson Admits That His Goal Was To Wreck Kurt Busch.
It looks like Jimmie Johnson has got his horseshoe back. In the closing laps of Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 301 in New Hampshire Kurt Busch moved race leader  jimmie Johnson out of the racing groove and passed him for the lead. A roar erupted from the grandstand as Busch began to drive away.
“When we got going on the restart, Kurt knocked me out of the way, and I thought, ‘I don’t care if I win this race or not. I don’t care if I finish this damn thing. Â I am running into him and getting back by him one way or another,” Jimmie Johnson said.
Johnson was not done yet. A few laps later Johnson put the same move on Busch and held on to win the race.
“I have to say I was a little shocked,†No. 48 Johnson said. I haven’t spoken to him or really seen any video to know. If it was his intentions, that’s the first time in nine years racing with him that I have experienced that. It will definitely change the way that I race with him.â€
After the race Kurt Busch said that he didn’t think that Johnson would intentionally wreck him to get the win.
“I hate that he felt that I wasn’t going to wreck him because that was my goal was to wreck him,†said Jimmie Johnson. “I usually get caught up in it, so I knew what my thought process was. Wreck his ass.”
The win was Johnson’s fifth victory in 2010 and 2nd in a row.
Kasey Kahne put on a strong showing for Ford leading 110 laps until suffering an engine failure.
Jack Roush, leader of the Ford contingent, was seen walking away from pit road before the race was over. That was a serious statement. Roush never leaves early. But he had seen enough today. His best finishing car was Greg Biffle in 16th place.
Jeff Burton was leading late in the race when a caution flag flew. Burton’s crew chief made the call to stay out when everyone else pitted for tires. But if Burton had pitted everyone else would have stayed out so he was in a no win situation. Burton quickly lost the lead. Then he was involved in an incident with Kyle Busch that sent Busch for a spin and both of them had to pit for tires.
Dale Earnhardt Jr continued to show steady improvement. Junior started 31st and finished 8th. Dale Jr will be in Victory Lane before the end of the year. Maybe as soon as Saturday Night at Daytona.
But it’s what you as a fan thinks that is most important. What do you think about today’s race?
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
Dale Jr VS. Shaq
Shaq challenges Dale Jr to a match race. Who is your money on?
Jeff Gordon Children’s Project
Jeff Gordon is working to help children involved in abusive situations get the help they need. Watch the video to learn more and see how you can help.
Never Miss a Race Again
How To Watch A Race Live On Your Computer
Have you ever missed a race because you couldn’t be at home to watch it on TV? What about those racing news shows that you want to watch but you’re never home?
Well you don’t have to set your DVR any more. I’ve found a way to get live television broadcasts right on your computer.
The only catch is you have to have internet access – but if you do you can pick up the live satellite feed of the race right off the internet.
Satellite Direct is a service that pulls over 700 television satellite feeds from across the United States and pushes them live to your computer. And it’s not just racing. You can watch any TV show right from your computer – from the latest network shows, to breaking news. Sporting events to local broadcasting. Satellite Direct is a sponsor of RacingWin.
Learn how to get live TV on your PC.
Visit the Satellite Direct Website
NASCAR Champion Suspended
Two time NASCAR Busch Series Champion Randy LaJoie was suspended by NASCAR today for violating its substance abuse policy. He tested positive for marijuana.
The violation stems from a failed drug test during the week of June 11, 2010 when LaJoie was serving as a spotter for the No. 18 Nationwide team at Kentucky Speedway.
Unlike Jeremy Mayfield, LaJoie has admitted that he is guilty of the violation. According to LaJoie he was giving golf cart rides to fans in the infield at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Coca Cola 600 weekend in May when he became involved with a group holding a party in the infield.
In fact, LaJoie admitted his guilt on Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody even before the official word came down from NASCAR.
According to LaJoie, “The use of marijuana was an isolated incident.” But He did not try to hide or deny anything.
“I take full responsibility for my actions and I respect NASCAR’s decision,” LaJoie said.  “I did it. No one held a gun to my head.â€
“You can’t fix stupid,†LaJoie said.â€God that’s got to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But I’ve got to turn this negative into a positive. If I can help people out there I’m going to help people.”
“I’m not Cheech and Chong,” LaJoie said. “Guilty? Yes. Did I do it? Yes. Why? I don’t know. It was one those moments.â€
“I screwed up. I’m not blaming business reasons, I’m not blaming personal reasons, I’m not blaming anybody except myself. I did this in Charlotte, and this is the outcome. However quickly I can get back I’m going to do it. I’m going to do whatever we’re going to do to get it done, get it done quickly, so I can be back on a pit box for my kid.â€
LaJoie says he intends to work closely with NASCAR and Dr. Black who administers the drug testing program for NASCAR. He says he will do whatever it takes to get his NASCAR credentials back.
His first step will be to enroll in a substance abuse program.
LaJoie is currently a team owner in the NASCAR K&N Pro East Series. That car is driven by his Son Corey  LaJoie.
He is also very active on the safety side of NASCAR. His company, The Joie of Seating builds custom racing seats designed to keep drivers safe in a crash.
LaJoie is an analyst for Sirius NASCAR Radio and ESPN as well. For the time being he is off the air on ESPN. No word yet on his job at Sirius.
He is the 1996 and 1997 NASCAR Busch Series Champion.
Here is the official release from NASCAR:
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 22, 2010) – Randy LaJoie, a crew member for the No. 18 team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy.
On June 11, LaJoie was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book.
What do you think about all this. Is LaJoie handling things in the right way. Do you want to see him back in NASCAR?
Dale Earnhardt Jr Needs Your Vote
No, he’s not running for office or competing for the most popular driver. He’s trying to help kids learn. Watch the video and tell us what you think. And don’t forget to vote for Dale Jr.
Watch the Race Live on Your Computer
Have you ever missed a race or one of your favorite racing shows because you couldn’t be at home in front of the TV?
Maybe it was a rain delay or you were scheduled to work when the race was on.
Well now you can watch the race – or any TV show – anywhere you’ve got internet access.
Satellite Direct, a RacingWin sponsor, connects you with 702 United States TV channels right over the Internet.
I was a little skeptical at first because I thought I would need a satellite dish or converter box. It turns out you don’t need a dish, receiver or any other equipment. It works right over the Internet using your PC or Mac.
I thought the pricing was a touch high at $49.95 – until I found out that was a one-time fee with no monthly charges.
Visit Satellite Direct to learn how to get TV on your computer.
Chevy Says No to NASCAR
If NASCAR wants to put more fans in the grandstands and in front of their TVs they need to make the cars that win on Sunday look more like the cars you can actually buy on Monday.
They have at least taken steps in the right direction. The wing is gone and the spoiler is back. Next year in the Nationwide Series Ford plans to race a Mustang and Dodge is bringing a Challenger. There is talk that those same cars could also come to Sprint Cup.
Changes to the front end on Sprint Cup race cars seem to be all but a done deal.
Chevy just doesn’t get it, though. They are planning on racing an Impala, when they could be bringing a Camaro.
The car companies have a big say in what races on the track. If Chevy would race a Camaro it would bring some added excitement to racing and help sell more cars for Chevrolet. A Camaro would be good for NASCAR and Chevrolet.
But Chevy is at least keeping an open mind and listening to race fans who can’t believe that GM would pass on the opportunity to race the Camaro GM racing boss Pat Suhy said “I’ll never say never†when asked about the possibility of a Camaro in NASCAR. But so far the word from GM to NASCAR and race fans everywhere is no.
With Mustang, Camaro and Challenger to racing in the Sprint Cup Series – with bodywork that actually looks like the cars down the street in the showroom fans would become more engaged with NASCAR.
There is no Ford vs. Chevy rivalry any more. That’s because no one can tell them apart on the race track. Come on NASCAR – give us our stock cars back.
I know you have a lot of smart engineers working in your R&D Facility in Charlotte. Together with the automaker engineers I know you can come up with a car that looks like a stock car and still keep the cars even aerodynamically.
Would a Camaro, a Mustang, a Challenger and Toyota’s new sports car make NASCAR more exciting for you? Would you be more likely to buy one?
Photo Credit: Ford Racing
