Full Throttle

Those familiar with MB2 Motorsports (now Ginn Motorsports after the teams purchase by Bobby Ginn) and their history in Cup should also be very aware of their checkered history in NASCAR’s top level.

Over the last ten years of competition the team has had only 2 victories. One by Johnny Benson Jr. in 2002, the second by Joe Nemechek three years ago.

All things considered, you must ask if this is putting lipstick on a pig. (If that link doesn’t cement my position as NASCAR’s Chief Smartass nothing will!)

Thought #3: (Hey, there isn’t a #2 in that title!) Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp gets a hugh boost tonight in Nashville, Tennessee from a large group of fellow drivers and C&W stars.. Although I would disagree with one of Petty’s quotes discussing NASCAR’s southern roots and it’s connection to Country music:

“It’s the same demographic. It’s the same fan. It’s the same person,” NASCAR driver Kyle Petty said Friday. “Why can’t we put them together? For 20 years for some reason, no one’s been able to really put country music and the NASCAR community together.”

He’s certainly entitled to his opinion but I’d be willing to bet without checking more C&W stars have sung the National Anthem in pre-race festivities than any other genre of music in the last decade. A decade, it should be pointed out, both NASCAR and the various broadcast partners have pushed Rock & Roll acts and American Idol Pop Singers into the breech as Anthem crooners.

Anyway, more to the point of this “thought,” this is the second annual Sound & Speed in Music City event. Last January’s event attracted 25,000 and collected $300,000 in total donations.

This weekends event has attracted a vast array of musical talent and Cup stars.

Singers include Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Aaron Tippin, Jo Dee Messina and classic stars Brenda Lee and Mel Tillis. Both Petty and his father, Richard, and Michael Waltrip, Ryan Newman and Jaime McMurray are among the drivers attending along with Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison.

“They’re coming on their own dime,” notes Kyle Petty’s wife Patty.

Thought #4: (or is it #3, I’ve lost count.) Also on hand in Nashville for Sound & Speed is NASCAR legend, 1960 Grand National Champion and member of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers list, Rex White.

Now 76 years young White ruminates on NASCAR’ past and present. For example White’s 1960 championship paid the grand total of $13,000 dollars. “Guess I came along too soon,” White, said with good humor. “We had more fun back then, even if we didn’t get paid much for having it.”

White was asked what current driver of today could compete against his generation that included the likes of Lee and Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett, Fireball Roberts, Junior Johnson, Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly and Buck Baker.

True to my nature, as NASCAR’s self appointed Chief Smartass, I’m not tellin’.

Below is a list of possibilities. The honor system is in effect. Anyone caught peeking at the Sound & Speed link prior to dropping your choice in the comment section will be severely dealt with. Comment Owners point reductions and fines will be announced Tuesday.

1. Ken Schrader
2. Tony Stewart
3. Robbie Gordon
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Good Luck!

An After-thought: Gotta luv this headline, “Ex-NASCAR ace wins Dakar rally stage.” I suppose the source of the headline, the Taipei Times, could be excused for calling Robby Gordon an “ex-NASCAR ace.” By the same token it wouldn’t have been too hard to verify his status in the age of Google.

Congrats to Robby for his stage six win, his third career Paris to Dakar stage win.

NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Rex White, Sports, Nashville, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle