Full Throttle

As Michael Waltrip continues to struggle, the latest being a crash in Charlotte that keeps him out of the 600, and his seasonal point remains at -27 Toyota’s marquee team has also missed the yearly power list of NASCAR personalities.

Frankly, and despite my continued “snark shots” I take at Mikey, I’m a little surprised he didn’t sneak in among the 43 listed. I mean, come on, as much press he gained by the shift to Toyota, the luring of drivers and their sponsors he IS Toyota’s face in NASCAR.

Obviously the face has gotten as grimy as a 10 year old in a fresh mud puddle but you have to admit other than the Tereasa-Gate story Mikey has had a strangle hold on the press all year.

Moreover, he could easily replace #27 on the list. Jim Hunter while having an impressive title, NASCAR vice president for corporate communications, is nothing more than a bobblehead the Larger Suits prop up before the cameras when something goes wrong. (and the semi-annual “thing that goes right”)

Mikey’s absence is not the only surprise.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and sis Kelly checks in at #3 while evil Step-Mother Teresa and DEI (”Don’t Expect Interest”) is slotted more than a few floors down at #33. That’s a 30 spot difference between a “name” and a “step-name,” if you get my drift.

Boggity, boggity, boggity and Larry McReynolds at #40? “What they say on the air has a lot to do with how fans feel about what’s going on,” it says of their entry.

Maybe their right? Most fans tune out just after hearing “boggity, boggity, bogggity” and crank the sound up on the radio feed to find out what’s going on.

It’s an interesting list but unless you have no life and spend 24/7 drinking NASCAR Kool-Aid a dozen or more on the list are nonentities and so far in the background the average fan goes, “huh!”

OH… and BTW, HWSBO tops the list…. Doh!!