Full Throttle

More than a few issues caught my eye in the last few hours but have little time to expend very much bandwidth on them at the moment. But rest assured that won’t stop the “Half-Vast Staff” of the Throttle to note them in passing.

I’ll start by killing off some enthusiasm and blatant partisanship shown towards one Jeff Gordon. The first 10 blogs and newswire stories I clicked on since Sunday night had variations of “Jeffys BACK,” “problems solved” etc, etc. Sorry I don’t buy the hype. (here is a good example talking about Momentum.) Gordon achilles heel has been tracks of less than two miles in length. There is nothing he, or the team learned at Sonoma that can be translated to say, Chicagoland Speedwy. Same can be said if Gordon pulls off a victory at DIS this weekend. Both tracks (along with Talladega) are so far from NASCAR’s “norm” they should be disregarded as an indicator of things to come. Show me a Chicagoland win and I’ll show you a #24 that is a Chase contender.

As a side note and prelude to DIS everyone should read Tom Higgins piece about Daytona in 1984. Then reread it after the four hundred this weekend and compare.

Paul Menard must have gotten a little boost via a “Brats & Beer vitamin supplement” at The Milwaukee Mile. Congrats to Menard and crew. Throw bricks in my direction if so inclined, but congrats also go to James Hylton for his last place finish at Milwaukee. Yes I know, he completed 4 laps and retired to the comfort of his hauler. (knowing him it may have been a flatbed) He made the race and collected a paycheck. If anyone thinks the 71 year old had another objective I have a used exotic car to sell you. With low mileage, honest!

A quick thanks to “The Dude” for reporting my interest in NASCAR’s Busch Series moving into the Montreal area. It was a foregone conclusion and only a matter of time. The working agreement with CASCAR had been already signed and with the single track leasing agreement assigned to the F1 promoter it was a done deal. If you harbour any thoughts that “genteel” Montreal won’t support stock car racing mosey over to the Stock Car Quebec site (BabelFish translation req’d), it should allay any fears you may hold. And while you’re cruising thru the Great White North’s racing sites take a gander at the future home of a NCTS event. Bank on it, and if anyone gives you fair odds on a Cup event being scheduled there lay a couple hundred on the line.

This should be short.. no it will be short. Anywhere from 1/4 of a mil to $400,000 thousand Cal Wells spent on that Sonoma debacle. Is it any wonder why the team has sucked for so long? Back to the drawing board… er checkbook.

Luke is ranting and raving around the Thunder Lounge this night. Can’t say I blame him but I have a feeling once the story gets wider play the call for NASCAR to create a “Back to the Old Days’ Cup” Championship will grow stronger. Something on the order of The Richard Petty Cup, or Big Bill France Cup would work even if it had “Presented by” tagged on the end.

Bill Ryan owner/operator of Oxford Plains Speedway notes race fans Snob Appeal.

One of the most mysterious things about some race fans is their allegiance to one series or type of racing at the exclusion of all others. Whether it is a modified fan that won’t watch stock cars, a asphalt fan that cannot stand dirt, or a late model racer that thinks enduro racing is a disgrace, it always puzzles me.

I agree but am beyond puzzled. Look around there are a few posts out there that are throwing rocks at NASCAR for holding events at Sonoma. “I really can’t stand road course racing,” is one typical response. Of course if they missed the broadcast and “their” (as if they own stock in him) favorite driver had won it would be a different story.

That’s it, I have taken too much time at this point in a post that was supposed to be a “time saver.” Is there a 10-step program for people addicted to their keyboard?

I’m just askin’, I have “friend” with the problem.

NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Oxford Plains Speedway, DIS, Daytona, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle