Full Throttle

A few thoughts on Monday’s NASCAR news, that in all honesty take my mind away from the lunacy ongoing on Capital Hill at the moment.

Within a matter of hours it’s expected Paul Menard will announce he’s leaving the floundering, but not yet sinking, ship that is DEI (”Don’t Expect Interest”). Reportedly Menard is headed to Yates Racing and dragging his sponsor, his father’s midwest-based hardware chain, with him.

Should I amend my “but not yet sinking” remark now? Sorry Teresa, the days of pimping Sr.’s memory as salvation of the company are over, you lost your meal ticket to Hendrick and he ain’t comin’ back.

Have you been pondering why all the Chase troubles have fallen on the collective heads at Joe Gibbs Racing? Dustin Long has the answer. And it ain’t “purty” as they say in much of NASCAR Nation.

It kinda figures the gaming community would latch onto Carl Edwards remarks after Kansas. Not that I have a problem with it, the NASCAR gaming license is one of the biggest and most popular of the non-shoot’em-ups.

Rookie Landon Cassill will return to drive the Randy Moss Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado for the Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega this weekend. In addition to Cassill’s return, the National Guard will jump on board as sponsor of the #81 ride for the event as well.

Hummm… more NASCAR Modified wrecks in the North than the South? Wonder why that is, a resurgence of the Southern Gentleman? Or the simple fact a 17 year old has been kicking some serious arse by staying out front more than being in traffic?

Ricky Craven says he’s “captured a glimpse of what separates Johnson from other competitors.” Do ya think that means he’s “an average of six “steps” away from each person on Earth?” Probably not, but he sure seems intent on winning his third Cup crown.

What the ink-stained wretches are paid not to do, ask stupid questions during the Dale Earnhardt Jr.teleconference: “Q: With TV shows debuting all over the place right now, I know you may have had a connection with the NBC show The Office, do you have a show you watch? Could you maybe compare your season to a show on TV right now?”

If that’s what 4 years of high cost “journalistic edumacation” gets you… no thanks, I’ll sign up for an online Martha Stewart cooking class with about the same improvement in my ability to string a couple syllables together.

That’s it for now, but maybe not the last for the day. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Confirmed, Menard is leaving DEI for Yates Racing. And DEI isn’t panicking.