HOWDY, I’M BACK
It’s been a while since we’ve visited.
Time to put the heavy pedal to the metal.
One day into the season and we’ve had big crashes, drag racers testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Danica Patrick’s first official laps in a stock car.
Time to shake off the dust and recharge.
Green flag, green flag, green flag.
Or, if you prefer: boogity, boogity, boogity.
THAT DIDN’T TAKE LONG
Two big crashes in opening practices Thursday for Saturday’s Budweiser Shootout in the Sprint Cup series could have resulted from rusty drivers and/or NASCAR encouraging them to be more aggressive.
In the first session, Denny Hamlin and Mark Martin made contact to trigger a seven-car crash at Daytona International Speedway.
When Hamlin hit Martin, he was being pushed hard from behind by Joey Logano in a tight line of cars.
"Yeah, it's aggressive bump-drafting," said Greg Biffle, one of the drivers caught in the melee. "That's what we were looking for — aggressive bump-drafting.
"What are we, 20-30 minutes into practice? It's gonna be awesome," he added sarcastically.
In the next session, Kurt Busch was turned into a wall by Juan Pablo Montoya.
Saturday night’s Shootout will be exciting, and I can’t wait to see a wild Daytona 500 on Feb. 14.
How long until NASCAR pulls back on the reigns?
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS FOR KYLE
Not even bad news kept Kyle Busch from proposing to long-time girlfriend Samantha Sarcinella on Thursday night at Daytona in a new motor home they designed.
On the same night he took what might be a $2 million hit when he lost Miccosukee sponsorship for one of his two new truck teams in the Camping World Truck Series.
Miccosukee, a Florida Indian tribe, has a new chief and he opted not to use NASCAR to promote its casino and resort operations even though contracts had been signed.
James Finch had the sponsorship contract that was to provide funding for his Phoenix Racing team’s full Nationwide season and 18 Cup races this year. Through Finch, Miccosukee was to back one of Busch’s trucks.
“They’re not going to do anything,” Finch told FoxSports.com about Miccosukee’s future involvement in NASCAR. “We had a contract, but our only recourse is to go in front of the tribal council and that’s not a case I’m going to win.
He could try to sue the tribe but you won’t beat a sovereign nation. That’s pay back for the white man stealing tribal land and nearly killing off buffalo.
When I talked with Kyle a couple weeks ago he knew the loss of Miccosukee was possible and vowed to field his trucks regardless.
Fortunately for his fiancé, he bought her engagement ring before the Indians backed out of their deal.
NICE JOB, DANICA
Danica Patrick gets some props for a solid qualifying effort Friday for today’s 1:30 p.m. (Speed, 329) race in the ARCA regional stock car series at Daytona.
She’ll start 12th.
DRAG RACING AT LVMS
The NHRA Pro Stock Shootout at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has qualifying Friday with championship eliminations scheduled for Saturday.
The dragstrip plans to be closed Sunday so everyone can watch the Saints upset the Colts. But if Saturday racing is rained out it will be held on Sunday.
Call 702 644-4444 or visit lvms.com for updates.
