Back in the cockpit again

Those last three words are a tribute to a Nashville pastor and not Darrell Waltrip who coined the phrase.

It figures just when I take some time off that a preacher giving an invocation before the July 23 Nationwide race would thank God for auto manufacturers, gas and tires before invoking the spirit of Ricky Bobby from “Talladega Nights” to prove why pre-race invocations are unnecessary and outdated.

Poor timing on my part. That would have been a funny column or blog.

Not, however, as funny as the preacher’s prayer.

 

Kahne wants IndyCar shot; Pastrana out

As we reported a few weeks ago, Cup star Kasey Kahne wants to be one of the five “non-regulars” to compete in the Oct. 16 IndyCar race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a chance at winning a $5 million bonus.

The money is appealing, but he won’t let anything hurt his chances in that weekend’s Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kahne is 15th in Cup points with a chance of making the 12-driver Chase for the championship. The Charlotte race is the fifth of 10 in the Chase.

The first driver who committed to take the challenge also is the first one out of it, but he had as much chance of winning the bonus as I did.

Travis Pastrana had accepted an invitation to try to qualify for the Las Vegas IndyCar race despite having very limited oval track experience and none in anything like an IndyCar.

But he carries a big name with a young demographic that makes him appealing.

His remote chances were dashed in Friday’s X Games when a crash during a motorcycle trick left him with broken bones in his right leg and foot that will require surgery. The missed landing also forced him to miss his NASCAR Nationwide debut on Saturday.

But the world’s greatest active daredevil refused to miss Sunday’s rally-car event in the X Games and using a hand-controlled throttle. He finished fourth.

Not enough see Menard win

Good to see Paul Menard win his first Sprint Cup race in his 168th try. And better yet he did it at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where his Wisconsin family has been a mainstay for a few decades.

Only problem was a paltry crowd by Indy standards got to see it in person. Estimates range from 100,000 to 128,000. That pales to the 250,000 that watched the inaugural Brickyard Cup race in 1994 and a comparable number four years ago.

Team gives Force the finger

John Force set the all-time NHRA record Saturday at Infineon Raceway for most No. 1 qualifying spots earned — 139 — and moments later his team presented him with one of those giant foam “No. 1” fingers for the milestone.

Edwards ducking future

Carl Edwards is not playing fair by refusing to comment on whether he will return to drive a Ford for Roush Fenway Racing next year.

Rumors abound that he is heading for Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing with Aflac tagging along to share Home Depot sponsorship of the No. 20.

This leaves current No. 20 driver Joey Logano hanging in limbo.

Edwards is leading the points and believes his Roush Fenway team will stand by him regardless of future plans.

He might be more nervous if owner Jack Roush will stay behind him … and if Roush does will it be to get leverage to push him out the Roush Fenway door.

It’s hard to blame Edwards for delaying his decision — or announcement of it. When Kurt Busch told Jack Roush he’d be leaving to join Penske Racing in 2005 Roush showed him the door early.