A few hopefully salient notes as we wander toward the weekend, preferably not daubed with saline from unnecessary anguished tears. But more on that in a bit.
- Denny Hamlin’s pit crew won the whatever it’s called challenge yesterday evening, thus guaranteeing it will be mentioned in every race going forward whenever the #11 is in for service. Especially whenever said crew makes a boo-boo. Of such is the fate awaiting those who seldom receive notice save when things go very right or very, very wrong.
- One can only hope this week’s adventures in legal beagle land have taught Jeremy Mayfield a couple of invaluable lessons. One, going up against NASCAR in court takes the old adage about bringing a knife to a gun fight to a whole ‘nuther level. Second, and far more important, get the eff away from drugs. Lest we forget, wasn’t that long ago when Mayfield made the Chase in consecutive seasons. Now he’s chasing the dragon. Not good.
- There has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth in Junior Nation over his dismal performance in the past couple of races. Which is how fans of any driver should react when their favorite is struggling. However, the let’s-blame-Lance-McGrew-and/or-Rick Hendrick-for-it-all meme needs to go in the round file. They’re not driving the car, and they’re not the one who since the 2008 Chase have been looking, acting and speaking like a whipped puppy.
I like Dale Jr. A lot. But in racing, seldom if ever does the responsibility for everything that befalls a driver not doing well rest solely on their team. Or so much as primarily. The fury of the fans flew fast and thick at Bristol this past March when McGrew chided Earnhardt on the radio to not lay down on hIm when a good run turned sour due to Dale Jr. speeding on pit road. However, lately how often have we seen him drive like he did during the last lap of this year’s Daytona 500 when he tore through the field like a man possessed? Not very.
Winning in NASCAR requires many things. Featured among them is focused anger, the will to win regardless of cost. Mumbled comments delivered with head hung low is not said focused anger’s hallmark. I don’t know what’s eating Dale Jr. It’s not my business to know. What I do know is if he wants to get back to being Dale Jr. he needs to feed it something other than himself. Quickly.
- Today’s video is brought to you courtesy of the mindset that empty sections of stands at Dover are really no big deal because there were a lot of people there anyway. Please stop pretending it’s 2005, kids.
