Full Throttle

… as long as the blog is up and running, which at this point thanks to an unresponsive and mostly incompetent hosting service, might actually be read by a human.

Nardelli lauds NASCAR driver Busch: Chrysler LLC CEO Bob Nardelli presented NASCAR driver Kurt Busch with a 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 coupe today, marking 25,000 vehicles produced at the Conner Avenue assembly plant in Detroit.

Nice PR, but I wonder if he will also be awarded a new Dodge Charger? My guess is no, it wouldn’t look to good when the photo-op takes place at the Brampton (Ontario) Assembly plant. You know, where the “all-American” Charger is produced for the “American” sport of NASCAR. (and yes, that is a dig to the ribs of the Toyota haters)

There’s a “Punk pop band” called Junior? I must have missed hearing their alleged hit “NASCAR Man,” during the Daytona 500. Too bad… not. I think I’ll also take a pass on getting “NASCAR Man” as a free ring tone.

Kyle Petty sees a downside to Dale Jarrett hanging them up after Bristol this weekend. Dale gets to work on his golf game that Kyle says “needs no work,” and Kyle will “never be able to beat him.” (go ahead… enter your snarky, snide comment… “so that’s different than on the race track!?” You know you want to.)

Oh… what a shocker! And all this time we thought Robby Gordon or Danica would be on the cover. Well, guess the last idea wouldn’t work out so well. At least not yet.

Can we NASCAR president Mike Helton some credit? Despite the tongue lashing Smoke gave Goodyear & NASCAR this week Helton entered into the lions cage on Tony’s Sirius show and explained what was going on from NASCAR’s prospective.

It may not have soothed the savage beast but at least he was there making the attempt. That’s a large turn around from the past when the Daytona Suits spent a week or so hiding under their collective desks waiting for things to blow over.

While on the subject, Kurt Busch was asked about the tire issue while accepting his new Viper: “I’m happy that my new Viper just came on Michelins.” (laughing).

Ryan Newman is “going home.” Only the fifth or sixth day home since leaving for the Bud Shootout.

Roush-Fenway has decided to lets sleeping dogs lay. Geoff Smith, president of Roush Fenway Racing said, “We realize in the NASCAR system of penalty administration that simple negligence, by itself, is never sufficient grounds to overturn or reduce a penalty. Consequently, no appeal will be made of the penalties assessed by NASCAR.”

Note to Mr. Smith: I beg to differ, simple negligence was found to be the case in the NoseGate Affair. Everything was overturned except the monetary fine.

Mark Tapscott has the ultimate answer for NASCAR pitroad speeding issues.