THIS WEEKS STORY LINES:
1. ROBBY GORDON REMAINS IN 3RD @ DAKAR RALL(nascar.com)
2. 2009 BUD SHOOTOUT FORMAT CHANGES:(2009 Bud Shootout)
3. KESELOWSKI TO RACE SEVEN CUP RACES:(HMS PR)
4. RUETIMANN TO RUN FULL CUP SEASON:(scene daily)
5. TESTING AT MANY NON NASCAR SANCTIONED TRACKS:(speedtv)
6. TIM MCCREADIE INJURED @ CHILI BOWL:(chili bowl.com)
7. VERIZON BUYS ALLTEL:(AP)
8. GILLILAND POSSIBLY OUT AT YATES:(scenedaily)
9. MAX SIEGEL LEAVES DEI:(espn.com)
10. MIKE SKINNER LOOKING FOR A RIDE(daytona beach news journal)
11. REGAN SMITH IN #78 FURNITURE ROW CHEVY:(KUSA9NEWS)
12. YATES AND HALL OF FAME RACING PARTNER UP:(sports business journal)
13. BOBBY LABAONTE IN THE #96 HOF FORD:(nascar.com)
It oftens seems that even before one NASCAR season ends, the teams are already looking forward to the next season. That is especially true for the non Chasers!! Fortunately, thanks to one of the shortest off-seasons in professional sports, the wait is just about over ( 29 days,15 hours and 10 minutes from this writing)!!
You know that song you hear every New Year’s Eve? You know that one about not forgetting old acquaintences? Did you ever wonder what that phrase is in the chorus?
The most common song for most English-speaking people to sing at New Year’s Eve is the old Scottish song “Auld Lang Syne”. Isn’t it a little bit odd how we sing that song and have no idea just what it means. Would it be funny if it meant “Old Slow Buick Roadmasters” or something like that???? Actually, a good translation of that phase “auld lang syne” is “times gone by”. So when we sing this song, we are saying, “We will drink a cup of kindness yet, for times gone by”
That might be true for the fans of the 2008 Champion. As for the rest of us, our cups are brimming over with something else!!!! It is extremely true for this reporter, last year was good but this year will be great! A new year brings in all the hope and excitement, much like a child opening presents on Christmas morning. This year is by far no exception. There are more changes in the garage area than husbands on Elizabeth Taylor’s and Zsa Zsa Gabor’s resume!!! There are drivers that are changing teams, crew chiefs changing teams, mergers of teams, emerging new teams, sponsors changing teams, and some established teams running a limited schedule. Many of the teams are still searching and scrambling for that ever elusive sponsorship dollar! The global recession has had a huge impact on the NASCAR community this off season.
Most of us don’t want to reminisce about the blown tire, Kyle Busch (aka The Las Vegas Weasel) crashing our favorite driver on the last laps of the race, or a bad pit stop. Did I mention that we really didn’t want to waste time reflecting on TLVW crashing our favorite driver( read #88 JR) at Richmond and winning the race??????? All those memories are now relegated to the book called HISTORY! History books are good to read, but the only books that I am intersted in reading regarding NASCAR focus on the future and this season!!! The only Eve that I am now interested in is February 14, the night before the Daytona 500!! I have an appointment with the Sprint Cup Tower row 48 seat 6 for the Dual 150’s, Trucks race, Nationwide race and the Daytona 500!!!
COMMENTARY:
As you can see in the story lines listed above, there are tumultuous activities going on in the garage area. I strongly suggest that you click on to each of the links above and read those articles. They are a good resource to what is happening this week in NASCAR! There are drivers with new teams, sponsors with new teams, merged operations, and a couple of new race teams all together!! So get out your scorecard and sharpen up you memory skills, cause I can hear those V8’s starting to get warmed up!!
This reporter’s New Year’s resolutions:
1. I resolve to be in front of the TV when the green drops each Sunday!
2. I resolve to solidly root for #88 each week and defend him against all detractors, foreign and domestic!
3. I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NEVER EVER FORGET TIMES GONE BY!!!!
Now if you will go back and look at the picture of the Daytona Speedway above. Notice the black square of seats just on the upper tight side of the Palm tree. If you squint your eyes you will see this reporter sitting there waiting for the drop of the green flag for the Daytona 500!!!
REMEMBER, I LOOKED IT UP SO THAT YOU WOULDN’T HAVE TO!!!