It’s a mite difficult to get all that worked up over NASCAR at the moment. Granted, there is always some kind of strife going on in the world; and let’s face it — in the grand scheme of things auto racing doesn’t stand too high on the totem pole. That said, what’s going on in Iran right now is hitting me two ways: hard and home. People being killed by their own miserable government, one led by followers of a false prophet, for the “crime” of asking their vote to be counted is unforgivable bestiality. One can only hope and pray the citizens of what was once known as Persia will rise up in full-fledged revolt against their oppressors the mullahs and drive them out, establishing democracy in a land whose people have never genuinely known freedom. The cost would be terrible and high. But this is, as it has always been, freedom’s price.
In a way, it’s good to have something like NASCAR during times such as these. It reminds us we have an incomparable gift, namely the luxury to watch cars drive fast and turn left, or as will be the case this coming weekend in my backyard left and right. We can argue about who’s who and what’s what knowing we need fear nothing other than splashing from the occasional beer spilled in the stands, not our neighbor’s or our own blood spilled in the streets. The most violence we’ll see is an easily ducked right hand from a drunken aficionado of a driver we detest. Bullets are far less generous when avoidance time draws near.
And so talk about NASCAR I shall, starting with this past Sunday’s race at Michigan although when it comes to discussing this turgid affair the less said the better. Given how one of the intents behind the new car was generating at least some racing action at cookie cutters such as the mother of all cookies, i.e. Michigan, noting one needed a package or two of Mother’s cookies to munch on in order to have something to do as the race trudged forward it’s more than safe to say said intent remains far from fulfillment. It was amusing at the end watching Mark Martin tell the kids as in Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson run along ahead and play now, which they did to the point of both running out of fuel, then smilingly slipping past both for the win. But dramatic? Exciting? Uh-uh. Watching root beer go flat has more action.
In other news, Goodyear has from all accounts found a tire combination for next month’s Brickyard that won’t involve all parties concerned with the possible exception of the pace car having to come in every ten laps — literally — for new tires. For everyone’s sake I hope they’re right. When instead of the national anthem everything sings in unison “Dust In The Wind” as a tribute to the powdery rubber drifting across the track you have an issue. And a humiliating embarrassment.
Welcome information: Johnny Benson has been released from the hospital after suffering burns and broken ribs in an accident last Saturday. This happened during a race he wouldn’t have been in had his truck team not shut down due to SPEED not liking his potential sponsor being a gun manufacturer. Thanks, guys.
Note regarding Danica Patrick and NASCAR: Not. Gonna. Happen. Her red and khaki firesuit with IRL logo permanently attached will be ready in plenty of time for the press conference during which GoDaddy president Bob Parsons and Chip Ganassi will reveal they are in fact brothers. Ever seen pictures of those two?
A far more likely import scenario than Danica to NASCAR is one or more foreign car manufacturers find a large “Welcome” sign outside Brian France’s office, as he has stated. Wherever he’s at this evening, Roger Penske is smiling broadly.
Finally, a hopefully final word on Kyle Busch and race win trophies: perhaps he should ask Carlos Pardo’s family how much one can be worth. Sorry to end on a downer, but life can be that way sometimes.
