Full Throttle

A few notes as NASCAR Nation (or is it Hip-Hop Nation?) heads west to the land of Fruits & Nuts.

First, a story that dots both the Daytona and California “I’s.”

Michael Yaki is an American of “blended Asian ancestry,” including Japanese and has written a piece for the International Herald Tribune.

In The Jingoism 500 he takes on the issue of Toyota’s entry into America’s most popular racing series. In “many Nascar-related forums and chat rooms” Yaki has seen a rise in the use of the “J” word, the Asian equivalent of Amerca’s “N” word.

As one who has noted the same I’ll call this my read of the day. However, his call for NASCAR to “take measures to reject the appearance and insinuation of intolerance and prejudice in its ranks,” is a bit over the top. The sanctioning body has no control over what is written in forums and chat rooms and even if they did someone would haul out the censorship bogyman followed shortly by a battery of lawyers.

Disappointed Mark Martin fans might take heart from his prior performance at Fontana. Martin has one win, three top-five and six top-10 finishes in 13 starts at California.

He also has led 271 laps

Some things in life are just irresistible.

Like double chocolate brownies with walnuts and chocolate chips.

Twenty-something Hollywood starlets (with hair) make some peoples list.

But for gearheads with an extreme fixation on NASCAR nothing, I repeat nothing, is as irresistible as this weeks NASCAR stat of the week:

Pos Driver BPts Points Ldr Nxt Starts Pole Win T5 T10 DNF Money Won
61 M. Waltrip 0 -27 -217 -27 1 0 0 0 0 0 $269,708

Some would say I’m piling on.

To which I comically (or not) retort, that’s a good thing. Mikey can stand on the pile and see outside the hole he’s dug for himself.

If I really wanted to pile on, I would note $269,708 dollars would buy more than a few gallons of jet fuel for “Top Gun” Waltrip’s Toyota.

Oops… I just did! Sorry Mikey.

(hmmm… brother Darrell’s persistent use of the term “hot rod” takes on a whole new meaning now doesn’t it?)

But take heart Mikey, some people (are people and loonbats one and the same?) are “just so excited” to see you and the boys westward-ho this week. On the other hand he hasn’t a clue what the definition of “Sport” is, so you can take any and everything he has to say and toss it into the corner circular file.

Michael Waltrip, NASCAR. NEXTEL Cup, Sports, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire has warmed to the idea of a $500 million plan for a new Seattle SuperSonics arena in Renton, but said NASCAR’s proposal for a racetrack in Kitsap County appears dead.

On Monday, Gregoire suggested moving the NASCAR project to Lewis County near Interstate 5, about 90 minutes south of Seattle. Organizers rejected her comments about Kitsap County being a dead option, but didn’t dismiss the idea of shifting to donated land in Lewis County.

Gregoire said she met with key leaders from the Kitsap Peninsula on Friday and concluded, “They don’t object to NASCAR, they don’t want it in its location in Kitsap County.”

She said she personally pitched Lewis County to ISC, but was told it doesn’t meet the organization’s criteria. Operators of a just-closed coal mine have offered to donate land, and the county would welcome the project with open arms, the governor said.

“So at this point in time, I don’t see the political support to make NASCAR happen at the location that is currently proposed in Kitsap County,” she said.

Grant Lynch, ISC vice president, said his company will continue pursuing legislation, which does not specify Kitsap County. The only site under consideration is Kitsap, he said. Asked about free land in Lewis, he said “That would be very advantageous,” and noted that the legislation would allow that site if Kitsap eventually falls through.

UPDATE: OLYMPIA, Wash - NASCAR is planning to bring in the big guns in support of a $368 million racetrack proposal that has, so far, left many lawmakers unimpressed.

Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Greg Biffle — a Vancouver, Wash., native — will attend a function in Olympia on Wednesday and meet with lawmakers Thursday morning, said International Speedway Corp. Vice President Grant Lynch.

“We think we’ll get a good turnout at the shindig we’re throwing,” Lynch said.

NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Sports, ISC, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Filed under “things you don’t see everyday:” (literally)

Minutes before the cars rolled off Daytona’s pitroad Teresa Earnhardt strolled down pit road toward her Superstar and unsigned driver Dale Jr.

Reports say she was “laughing and smiling, enjoying the pageantry the way she always did before the last lap of this race in 2001. Her glow didn’t fade as she made her way to the side of Earnhardt Jr. They posed for pictures. They hugged.”

The same reports say “Toyota could make a play” for Teresa’s meal ticket.

Connection?

I’d say a connection exists between Teresa making a rare (like hen’s teeth) track appearance, Daytona being NASCAR’s “superbowl,” and having the sports most popular driver unsigned, but beyond that. Not so much.

Toyota has a full compliment of drivers and teams. But then again… the Toy Boys are pissed at “Top Gun” Mikey over the Daytona debacle.

Wouldn’t it be sometin’ if the Toy Boys dropped the entire Waltrip operation into Dale Jr’s lap as an enticement to crossover?

Of course to believe that you’d have to wander into “Hendrick’s is a felon and pays off Brian France” conspiracy theory territory.

I ain’t going there. But some will.

Dale Earnhardt Jr, NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Sports, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Bill Church is the Executive Editor (and blogger) of the Statesman Journal out of Salem Oregon.

He sends his praise to FoxSports for “continuing to provide top-level coverage of NASCAR Nextel Cup,” although he has a problem. He believes Fox should have stuck a sock in Darrell Waltrip’s yap during Sunday’s broadcast.

Let it be said he’s not alone. DW’s boogity shtick has all the freshness of last weeks tuna casserole, and is palatable only because it won’t kill you like rancid tuna.

Church’s concern isn’t with stinky fish and moldy bread, it’s because DW is “mixing business with the race coverage.”

Huh!

Mr. Church admits to painful eardrums listening to Waltrip trying “to convince viewers that Toyota, which is making its Nextel Cup debut this season, is as American as Ford and Chevrolet.” (ah…, well it is, pipes up the peanut gallery)

Church is looking for full disclosure much like a political ad: “I am Blowhard Color Analyst and I paid for and approved this ad.”

Church “missed Waltrip’s on-air disclosure that he has had a business arrangement with Toyota through his racing team. Check out www.waltripracinginc.com and you’ll find Toyota a prominent part of his Web site.”

Huh, again!

Anyone care to guess what percentage of those that viewed Sunday’s race didn’t know DW was associated with Toyota via his NCTS team? I’m guessing something less than 5% and that’s being very, very conservative.

Church has a semi-valid point, and it can be argued how many could be “informed” by any disclosure or caveat made during the Fox broadcasts, but I have a suggestion for Mr. Church.

Watch next weeks Busch Series coverage from Fontana and note ESPN’s color analyst Rusty Wallace. Wallace, through RWI has a very close relationship with Dodge. Then report back to note even the slightest hint of slanted coverage by Rusty. (I noted a little extra Rah, Rah by Rusty this past Saturday when a Dodge was in the lead, but who cares.)

Lets just call it an exercise in being “fair & balanced,” otherwise you’ll run the risk of being painted as just another xenophobe, albeit one cloaked behind an Executive Editors mask.

He wants to dream like a young man

You realize you just cant have it all - Bob Seger

“If they would have thrown the yellow, [the win] was in our fingers,” second place Martin said.

“I didn’t ask for a win in the Daytona 500, I asked for a chance and [my team] gave me exactly what I asked for and I let it slip away, slip through my fingers,” Martin said. “I did my best.”

“Nobody wants to hear a grown man cry, all right?” Martin said. “That’s what it is, and I’m not going to cry about it. This is what it is and that’s it. That’s the end. It’s their decision, they made the decision and that’s what we’re going to live with.”

Martin has caught a lot of hell from a certain segment of “fans,” who have called him everything from mercenary to whore for leaving Ford and Roush Racing and jumping into not only a Chevy but, OMFG, a Hendrick’s powered Chevy.

In another heart-breaking loss Martin shows more class and the nature of a true champion then most can dream about.

JEFF BURTON: “Before I leave, I do want to say one thing that Mark Martin told me this winter. This would be his best chance of winning the Daytona 500 ever, and he was right. He knew what the hell he was doing. I know a lot of people scratched their head, Why is he doing, why is he going over there?”

“He’s not a dumbass. He’s a pretty smart guy (laughter).”

Beautiful Loser - Mark Martin

Mark Martin, NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Sports, Daytona 500, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Jacques Villeneuve has eaten a Crow Croissant over his fierce attack in 2003 on Briton Jenson Button, admitting he now regrets some of the ‘harsh’ comments he made.

Having once described Button as a ‘would-have-been’ and a ‘could-have-been’ who will ‘end up never achieving anything’, Villeneuve now rates the Briton as the equal of Kimi Raikkonen, the drivers championship runner-up in 2003 and 2005. “He’s fast, strong, and nothing disturbs him,” Villeneuve told the March issue of F1 Racing.

The Half-Vast Staff™ Staff of Full Throttle wonders if it be four years hence Villeneuve will get a second helping of Crow Croissant when Jense still hasn’t won a second grand prix.

No sooner does Villeneuve issue this mea culpa, and on the very same day, he has another [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/butt-head.gif]cranial rectal inversion[/avatar]. Jacques Villeneuve has derided Kimi Raikkonen as ‘over-rated’.

Villeneuve feels the Finn, who will race for Ferrari this season following the retirement of Michael Schumacher, lacks the ability to take the German’s place.

A second mea culpa to follow. Sometime.

F1, Formula One, Jacques Villeneuve, Sports, Jensen Button, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

In days gone past Busch Series events held in conjunction with a Cup event weren’t very useful for predicting the outcome of Sunday’s event. That hasn’t been the case the last few years as the amount of BuschWhackers has increased.

The 2007 season should see less Cup regulars dropping down in class this year however, Daytona being the largest stage NASCAR has the Orbitz 300 had a full complement of Whackers. There are things that may point to Sundays final outcome as well as the Busch season.

Topping the list is Kevin Harvick. Although the reigning Champ won’t defend his Busch crown in 2007 he served notice any event he enters the #21 is a threat to capture the gold.

Once he took the lead on lap 79 he was never headed and cruised to his first Busch superspeedway win.

“The car was great today,” Harvick said. “And I told them. I said, if we get all the way to the front, we’re going to be in really good shape. The whole last run, I never had to let off the floor.”

The second lesson learned, and of a personal nature, the Half-Vast Staff™ Staff of Full Throttle may be riding the wrong horse in selecting Busch the Elder to win Sunday. Selecting a Dodge is going against the grain to start because Chevy’s have dominated at Daytona. Couple that with Kyle Busch’s performance Saturday, in a Hendrick’s Chevy, maybe a Busch, Busch finish will be the result Sunday.

Kyle dominated until mechanical ills sidelined him on lap 62.

With all the world’s attention centered on Michael “Top Gun” Waltrip and by association Toyota this week the true strength of the Toyota effort may have been on display in the 300. Bill Davis Racing’s Dave Blaney started the 300 in the 11^th hole, ran strong all day keeping his Toyota in front pack and followed Harvick across the line to finish second.

Blaney’s Cup teammate Jeremy Mayfield didn’t qual for the 500 but had the 15^th quickest time in qualifying then was a victim of a squeeze between the between the #43 and #30 cars during the first Gatorade 150. That ruined any chance to make the 500 field but he was fast when on the track and in one piece.

Bill Davis Racing may be Toyota’s showcase in NEXTEL Cup, “Top Gun” Waltrip may have the name recognition but may continue to be a sideshow attraction if improved performance doesn’t follow the Daytona debacle.

The race put on display Juan “Don’t Call Me Pablo” Montoya’s Achilles Heel. He has the talent and experience on ovals via his Indy car days what he lacks is a team that can be, and stay competitive. Ganassi has always been competitive speed wise but keeping the car from breaking is a recurring problem. If Montoya can finish a few races he can win one or two before the year is finished.

With Cup regulars filling the first 12 spots in the finishing order Marcos Ambrose’s 16^th place finish was impressive and in effect placed him 4^th in the order minus the whackers. His nearest finishing rookie competition was Kyle Krisiloff who placed 27^th. His name wasn’t rolling off the lips of the race announcers (and wasn’t it great to hear Dr. Jerry Punch again!) but he did what he had to do, ride around gain experience and finish and he heads to Fontana the rookie points leader.

The final lesson learned I’ll note is, “yes Virginia, Daytona can be a fuel mileage track.” There were only three cautions for 13 laps, with the biggest incident of the day coming early when a multi-car wreck took out David Ragan, Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne.

The last 20 laps the announcers peppered your ears with reports of who would, or would not have enough fuel to make it to the end.

As it turned out everyone made it. But who’d a thunk it could ever happen? At DAYTONA!

Wonder if the 43 starters on Sunday took note? Hah… that’s too much to ask, I figure the first Big One will happen around lap 25 with 6 cars taken out and another 4 damaged.

NASCAR, Busch Series, Orbitz 300, Sports, Kevin Harvick, Daytona, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

In a mild surprise, it is a Gibbs Chevy after all, a product of NASCAR’s diversity program Aric Almirola won the pole for Saturday’s Busch Series season-opening Orbitz 300.

“This is a thrill, I probably won’t sleep much tonight but I’m excited about tomorrow and feel like we have a great shot at getting our first win,” the Cuban-American Almirola said.

Jason Leffler, who has had star-crossed Cup career, put a little shine back into what has been a lack-luster coming out party for Toyota by placing his Camry outside Almirola with the second quickest time of the day.

The top five is filled out by Jon Wood in a Wood Brothers Ford, Martin Truex Jr. and Leffler’s Toyota teammate John Andretti.

Other notables in the field are Juan “Dont’t Call Me Pablo” Montoya in 16^th, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 20^th and defending Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick 31^st.

Full Throttle’s pre-season pick for Busch Rookie of the Year Marcos Ambrose lines up 37^th.