by richard teague tinynascars@yahoo.com
Well They Heard Me! At least maybe they did. Last week I commented about how the race broadcast on TNT took up most of my TV screen with useless stuff, but this week I got to see the race. I’ll tell you upfront that I don’t get to see every Cup race ‘cause I got some weird work hours, but this week I made an extra effort to watch. I was so very surprised and overjoyed that TNT dropped that wide position crawler along the bottom of the screen, moved it up top and narrowed it down. They made it easier to read and perhaps a little slower for us old folks to keep up with the track positions of the drivers, making me a happy race fan. The best part was that there were no commercials on the split screen while showing the race, so I really enjoyed the whole deal.
Now for the overall broadcast, I will give them an ‘A’ in every aspect. I can only suggest one or two things to improve the next one, but that will be for next year. First, they need to let Kyle Petty do more talking, only because I really like him and he’s fresh from a racecar and has not been out of one for several years. He’s been on the tracks and in the garages with all the guys and knows what’s going on and I think that all the teams open up to him easier than to other commentators. The other suggestion that is perhaps not worth saying: ease up on them in-car cameras just a tad. I’d rather watch the race on the outside not the inside.
OK ESPN and ABC, let’s see what ya’ got next week, because I have been waiting for the return of both networks and, dudes, I’ll have my eye on you. That means your Mr. Rusty, so don’t mess up or I’ll write about ya’. I just know that y’all are quaking in your boots, aren’t ya? Hehe. ESPN has got a hard one next week with the Brickyard. They will probably have fifty cameras trying to give us a good race presentation and I think they can do it. Here I’m going to be honest with y’all again, but I’m not a big fan of the race at Indy unless Danica Patrick is in it, along with another one of them Indy Car babes. Sure would be nice if NASCAR would get out of the “Good Ole Boy” syndrome and get some women in those Cup cars, Ray is sure trying ain’t he?
How About That Tony Stewart? You’d think he was way outta’ shape to climb that fence Sunday, but he went up that thing like a staircase. He should have made that climb at least two and possibly four times already this season. Maybe this is the strong second half, like he has been having these past couple of years. Tony is still in the Chase, at sixth in the standings, and he has seven more races before the field is set. I really don’t think he’s going to miss out this year. Well now, would y’all like for me to go out on a limb and say who the winner will be this year? All right, here is my prediction for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion (small rum droll please)… Gosh, there are so many that could do it, but for my FIRST prediction (now really did you think I would only make one?) The Champion is going to be Jeff Gordon!
As for the rest of the field, driver five moved up a notch, three moved down with Jimmie Johnson, taking not only a big hit into the wall, but losing three spots back to seventh. That shouldn’t affect his shot at the Chase. Four other guys didn’t move at all, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. is sitting on that fence and could go either way. He was the lucky one from DEI that didn’t have real troubles and showed’em how it works with powerful steering. Paul Menard didn’t even get started and Martin Truex Jr. ran a good race, but when he went into the pits near the end, I just knew that Junior would be next. It looked like someone went and put the whammy on that team or something. Junior at 12th could be trouble if he lets it, but he just needs to drive and not think about all the stuff that has happened so far this year.
For all of you that where saying, “sure wish those Hendrick’s guys wouldn’t win every week,” well, you’re getting your wish. The Roush teams are finally starting to finish better than they had been. Now we all knew that Jeff, Jimmie, Kyle and Casey weren’t going to win them all, just like we knew that Tony was way overdue for a win, and I bet ya’ he wins again real soon, like next week at the Brickyard. Stewart gets a win under his belt and he is even harder to beat on a race track than any other driver. Richard Childress has got all three of his cars in the top ten so far and I expect all of them to make the Chase, I just can’t say which one of them will win it all. I would love to see any of his guys do it, cause just like Tony Stewart this week, RCR is overdue for a championship.
You know there is a three-car team out there that doesn’t have a driver in the top twelve and by all rights they should have, but it ain’t because they aren’t trying. Ginn Racing is that team, and with the way they started this season, I thought things would be different for them. Possibly the way Bobby Ginn went at NASCAR racing (at full speed), damn the prices and let’s win races. He hired a bunch of people to start with then got that big dollar shaker to keep up with the bigtime teams and then came within inches of winning the Daytona 500; but didn’t. He’s got three of my all time favorite drivers in his cars and a rookie that needs work, but there are big dark clouds on his horizon.
They need sponsors for this year and next or they might be a one-car show for 2008. Ginn said that he would foot the bills for his cars, but just how long can he do that? Martin will be there next year with Smith, but Sterling wants to do a Rudd or an Elliott and step back with just a part-time season in 2008. Joe’s contract is up next year too, and sponsorship may be a problem. Ginn said that there are teams that have big money sponsors and some of them can’t make a race, but all his guys seem to be in just about every race. How can the companies that put up dollars not get anything for them? Hey Budweiser, are you listening? Or how about the NAPA boys, are they happy with Mikey paying them when he don’t make a race?
I hope that a sponsor or two steps up and signs on with Bobby and the guys, and I also hope that Bobby can get a couple of new drivers. Hey Kyle are you listening? Well I’m done again for this week, and if you got something to tell, say or just want to share with me, you can do it at tinynascars@yahoo.com. Did y’all know by chance that, If it ain’t NASCAR, It ain’t s**t!!
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