Sorry For The Delay...........Anyway Whats Up With DW?

its taking some getting use to that we are back in racing season.....

Anyway, as you can guess i have something more to say about ole, Darrell Waltrip.

During the Daytona 500 he was of course talking about the person i hate the most, Danica Patrick, well while explaining how racing in Nascar would make her a better IZOD Indy Car driver, he brought up how Dario Franchitti has become a better IZOD Indy Car driver after he raced in Nascar.

I was literally yelling at my TV screen when i heard this because i thought that Dario was a good Open Wheel driver before he came to Nascar, i mean he won the Indy Car championship in 2007 (thats the year BEFORE he came to Nascar DW), as well as 18 wins, and 68 top fives and 104 top tens. So all that sounds to me like he was a good open wheel driver before he came to Nascar.

After hearing Darrell say that i'm starting to think that he doesn't pay attention to things that go around outside of Nascar because even i knew Dario was a good driver before he came to nascar AND I DON'T EVEN LIKE OPEN WHEEL RACING!!!

I hate to say it but i believe Fox should replace Darrell with someone who is a little more, how do i say it, "INFORMED" about the other racing series other then Nascar.

Danica or Junior, whose the one that is going to breathe new life into Nascar?

Back in December when it was announced that Danica Patrick was going to be running in a select number of Nascar Nationwide events, people where saying that she was going breathe new life into the sport and save it from the downturn of falling attendance and falling TV ratings. In other words the savior of the sport.

Well you can bet i was surprised when i saw This Article on Nascar.com by David Caraviello which states that some people are wondering how many victories Junior will need to breathe new life into Nascar.

But wait, isn't Danica suppose be, according to some Nascar's "Wonder Woman"?

Now i know that article is Mr. Caraviello opinion, but could have sworn back in December he said that Danica was going to save Nascar.

How can two people both be the person to breathe new life into Nascar?

Has Danica Patrick Proved Anything To You?

The answer to that is a simple no, she hasn't proved to me that she can drive a stock car.

Now for those of you that believe that she has proven that i say, that's nice that you think that. There are some of you that will say that i should look at where she finished, and i know that she finished in 6th which is respectable for a rookie.

But what gets me is, and i believe almost everyone has forgotten, is that she raced in a 80 LAP ARCA race. Now sure the race was at the famed Daytona International Speedway and it was 200 miles, but considering that The Sprint Cup is 500 miles and 200 laps, The Nationwide Series is 300 miles and 120 laps, The Camping World Truck Series is 250 miles and 100 laps. The ARCA race seams smaller compared to the Nascar races huh?

I mean i bet you could put a Monkey in a ARCA car and it could spin out and still come back to finish sixth.

Now i mean no disrespect to all the ARCA drivers by saying a monkey could probably driver a one of their race cars, i have the up most respect for Frank Kimmel, Bobby Gerhart, Alli Owens, Patrick Sheltra, and the countless other drivers in the series.

I needed a way to point out to you readers that for a driver who races in the IZOD Indy Car Series, where they go that far on most of the road courses the race on, and race almost the same amount of laps as a Nascar race at their oval races, then an 80 lap ARCA race shouldn't be a problem.

Now if Danica hadn't raced in a race car, including a IZOD Indy Car and still finished 6th, then i would be impressed and would probably agree that she has proven that she can drive a stock car.

Now sure the ARCA race at Daytona is one where a driver could use for practice or to get a kind f test, but it ISN'T one in my opinion to use for proven oneself. Why, because you teams in that series who are serious about that series, and have almost no money, and they just want to win a championship.

Now, some of you are probably saying well the Nascar Nationwide series and Sprint Cup series are the same way, and you may be right, but there is one BIG difference.

The Nascar Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series get NATIONAL coverage by FOX, TNT, ESPN, and ABC. That not only means that they, they are Marketed heavily by those networks, but can be seen not only Millions of fans across the country or even the world, but they are also seen by potential sponsors. That means that even the smallest, barley funded team, if they run well enough or get spoken about enough, can find a sponsor.

But ARCA is only seen on SPEED, a sister channel to FOX, but its only marketed on that channel and i doubt any potential sponsors would be watching that channel, they aren't getting noticed as much as a Nascar Sprint Cup Team, or Nascar Nationwide Series team would be.

So if Danica were to have wrecked another car in the ARCA race, which she came close to almost doing when she was doing a "great job" at avoiding Dakoda Armstrong (but i doubt anyone besides me saw that), they would lose hundreds if not thousands having to either rebuilding the car, building a new one, or buying a new one for a Nascar team; which could spell the end of that team because unlike most Nascar teams that have the money to rebuild or build a new race car, some ARCA team don't.

So sorry Kelly Earnhardt, Danica may have in your words "proved to everyone that she can compete in stock cars at a high level" to you, you brother, and cousin, as well as her millions of fans; but she hasn't proven anything to me.

Does Darrel Waltrip and Phil Parsons have a double standard?

While watching todays ARCA Racing Series Presented by ReMax and Menards race at Daytona, i came across something interesting.

Now some of you may not agree with me, or may say that i misunderstood what was said, well to all of you that say or think that i have one thing to say. GET YOUR OWN BLOG!!!

This is my blog and i'll say what i believe and what not. If i made a mistake with a fact, then you can say something about what i wrote.

Well anyway, after a early wreck, i believe it happen around lap twenty or so, involving the Number 22 of Dakoda Armstrong and the Number 81 of Craig Goess who are both rookies in the series. Darrell Waltrip, who was one of the three men in the SPEED Booth, and Phil Parsons started to got on Goess case because, after Armstrong was bumped by John Wes Townley while he was losing his right rear tire and sent up the race track, he made a last minute move to try and avoid Armstrong's car but instead hit the Number 22.

Waltrip and Parsons said that even know Goess was a rookie, that he should have known that if a car goes up the track at Daytona it would have to come back down. They would later admit that he did try to go low to avoid the number 22, but did it to late. In other words it was a normal rookie Mistake.

A Commercial break later, and while the field was under caution, Pit Reporter Wendy Venturini gave a report about how Danica Patrick had studied tapes of past races at Daytona that involved accidents like the one that unfolded to being out the caution. Waltrip and Parsons praised her for doing so, though she did according to them later on in the broadcast sustained some damage in the accident, and said how rookies and drivers with no experience should do the same.

Now thats not what got me mad and claiming that the Speed broadcasters, well more like Waltrip and Parsons has a double standard for regular rookies and Danica. While commenting about how Danica studied tapes either Parsons or Waltrip, i think it was Waltrip, said that rookies and drivers with no experience should be giving some slack when they do something wrong.

HELLO, about five minutes before you were getting on the case of a rookie who had made a ROOKIE MISTAKE, and now you are saying that they should be giving some slack?

What gives?

Since they were talking about Danica at the time, i guess DW was trying to say that if Danica makes a mistake or does something wrong it ok because she is a rookie, but if any OTHER ROOKIE makes a mistake or does something wrong they should have known better.

Can anyone else smell that Waltrip and Parsons has a double standard for Danica and other rookies.

Kyle Petty Sees what Danica Is Really Upto.

Well Danica Patrick has finally announced that she is coming to Nascar and will be driving for JR Motorsports for a select number of races for 2010.

And while many may say this is a good thing for the sport, Kyle Petty has a few words about Ms.Patrick joining Nascar.

I for one am not happy that she is coming to Nascar.

Finally Someone has a clear head on the Matter

Finally after all these weeks and months where writers have written how it looks like Danica Patrick will be driving in Nascar next season and how good it will be for her and the sport, i have found one writer who, even though he leaves it open that there could be a chance that she will come over; also writes about how she shouldn't.

The writer's name is Joe Menzer who writes for Nascar.Com.

Now i am a fan of Mr. Menzer, and it has nothing to do with the fact that he has written an article saying that Danica shouldn't be racing in the IRL and The Nascar Nationwide Series at the same time.

But i do think that she shouldn't be driving in two different series at the same time.

Hendrick says there isn't any Danica Deal......... Yet

Nascar Sprint Cup Owner Rick Hendrick, who just got back from a week long vacation in Israel, said Sunday that any reports about Danica Patrick coming to Nascar are "premature".

"I just think that they are not even close to making a decision on whether to even do it this year or next year."

-- Rick Hendrick

Reports claim that Danica has said very little about her 2010 plans, and her apparent contract extension with Andretti Green Racing.

However there are reports that do contradict this claim, one by Sports Illustrated which says that she indeed has a three year contract extension with Andretti Green Racing.

Now i know that there is a change of ownership going over there at Andretti Green Racing, and i do know how rumors can get started when something like that happens, I mean just ask Elliott Sadler.

But come on if Danica Patrick is suppose to come over to Nascar don't you think she or anybody with knowledge would say so by now, i mean like everyone says she gets a lot of media coverage and i doubt no body would want to miss that, especial in this day and age when sponsorship is hard to come by.

Now if someone like Mr. Hendrick says that "Nothing is imminent", then everyone should stop talking about the matter until there is something imminent.

The only thing i have a problem with Mr. Hendrick is when he said he likes her approach.

"I've been impressed with the way her approach has been, She wants to do the right thing and the right pace, and that's the only way she should do it."

-- Rick Hendrick

Hello, she will only be able to run a few races for the next three years, that is if the rumors of her three year contract extension are true, how is that acceptable by any owner?

There are drivers in the Nationwide series right now that have driven in a handful of races every year and prove that they can drive stock cars, but aren't looked at by big teams.

And You know why that is, its because they don't have sponsorships.

Its time that writers stop writing about weather or not she will be coming to Nascar and start writing about how owners only see a cash cow in Danica. Now many may say that, thats a rude thing for me to say about her, but thats the truth plain and simple.

There are many drivers who have already proven that they can drive stock cars and deserve a ride in the Sprint Cup Series, But they aren't looked at because they can't draw the sponsorships or get the owners the money or recitation.

Now i agree that there should be women driver in Nascar, but i think they should work from the bottom up, like Erin Crocker, Ali Owens, Johanna Long have or are trying to do; and Sarah Fisher did do to show that they want to race in stock cars. I don't think a female driver should be giving a ride just because she's a woman and has popular, that to me defeats the purpose of sowing people that woman re able to drive stock cars.

Would I Hire Danica?

Nascar.com's Head2Head columnists Bill Kimm and Jason Schoellen were asked if they were team owners would they hire Danica Patrick. Mr. Kimm was the yes and Mr. Schoellen was the no.

Well i decided to ask myself the same question, if i was a team owner would i hire Danica Patrick.

The answer would be no, i would not hire Danica Patrick if i was a team owner in any of Nascar's top Series.

The Number one reason that she has yet to prove herself in the Open Wheel series, sure she has one win and a few top three finishes, but how many other drivers in the Nationwide or Camping World Trucks have done almost the same yet fail to produce at the next level. There are a few names that come to mind.

I wouldn't give the time or day to any driver, Male or Female, if they have not had any stock car experience. I would weather have a driver with one season of ARCA or Camping World East/West experience under His/Her belt then five years of Open Wheel experience.

The next reason is that she isn't going to be committed to running a full season for at least three years, so that means i would have to find another driver to race all the other races, while she is racing in a series that i feel is alot dangerous then Nascar. Its not fair to a crew or crew chief to have to work with a rookie who not only has no experience and won't be around half the time to get that experience. It takes hard work to learn to do something, you just can't learn it a few weekends a season.

That also brings me to the next problem, what if she gets hurt driving in that other series and can't drive my car at the next race, that means i'm not only stuck having to find another driver for that race, that is if i'm a part time owner, and paying not only that driver for the weekend but paying her for a race she wasn't even in.

I also don't want to be known as a team owner who likes to have high marketable drivers, now i know thats what it takes to get sponsors, but i would like to be an owner who has to work hard in order to get a win, top 5 or top 10.

The Bottom line is this, i wouldn't give Danica Patrick a ride on my team ever.

Is Danicamania Overrated?

I have to say yes, Danicamania is very overrated.

Everyone compares what her to Tony Stewart, which she is not. Sure Tony use to drive in the IRL and made the switch to Nascar by driving the whole IRL season and select races in the then Busch Series now Nationwide, But Tony then went Nascar racing full time the next year. Something Danica will hive to wait three years to do.

That delay alone makes me feel that she will have little to no success with the Heavier stock cars then Tony Stewart has had in Nascar.


Tony also had three wins in the IRL before coming over, one at Pikes Peak International Raceway in 1997 and the other two coming in 1998 at Walt Disney World Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Danica has only one and that came at Twin Ring Motegi which is in Japan.

I don't think Danica fully knows what she will be getting herself into, she may say she does, and Tony Stewart, may say she understands but just because Tony and her sing the same tune doesn't mean thats the facts.


And If Tony believes that she is commented to racing in Nascar then why doesn't he offer her a ride in a car owned by his race team, oh yeah thats right his team doesn't have a Nationwide team and besides he said he doesn't have the money, but hasn't everyone said that said that Danica's sponsor will probably be GoDaddy.Com since they are her sponsor in the IRL and already sponsor a car in the Nationwide series, you telling me that Tony Stewart will turn her down even though she may have a sponsor and he surely could get a few cars from Kevin Harvick Inc, which is run by his friend Kevin Harvick or his friend Dale Jr and Supplier Rick Hendrick who are owners of JR Motorsports. And if Danica is going to be such a big thing then team owner Tony would be crazy not to cash in on her, so the question is does Tony know something everyone else doesn't?

It is time that everyone started to take notice that all this "Danicamania" is either a big stunt or just a way for Danica to get money.

If Danica really wanted to race in Nascar she should wait until the last year of her contract with Andretti Green Racing so then she can do exactly what Tony Stewart did, run one year in the IRL and in select Nationwide Series races then go full time in Nascar.

Whose to say that she won't race selected Nationwide races for the next three years, then resign with Andretti Green Racing, or sign with Chip Ganassi Racing or Penske Racing in the IRL, then declare that she has experience in Stock cars and starts hitting up owners for rides in the Sprint Cup.



To convince me that she is serious about driving in Nascar, she should finish out her contract in the IRL then join Nascar like last three IRL transfers Juan Pablo Montoya, Sam Hornish Jr and Dario Franchitti did to show that they were truly committed to running in Nascar. I do know that Franchitti did leave Nascar but i contribute that to lack of sponsorship.

Otherwise i feel that the term 'IRLwhacker' will have to be invented.

Open Wheel: Can Another Female Driver Steal Danica Patrick's Thunder?

Well ESPN The Magazine believes that can happen.

In their annual countdown of emerging stars, at number 14 was Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda driver Simona De Silvestro.

Simona is a twenty one year old female, and hails from Thun, Switzerland.

In 35 races De Silvestro has five wins, ten podium finishes, and four poles. Danica Patrick, in the same series from 2003 to 2004, made 24 races with no wins, five podium finishes, and one pole.

Had De Silvestro not had a snafu on the opening lap in the finial race this season, she would have been the first female in history to win a open wheel championship.

So if Simona De Silvestro is doing better then Danica did, then how long will it be until Simona makes it to the IRL and doing better then Danica there and stealing her thunder as the best female open wheel driver.

Are rumors just rumors or is Dale Jr a big fat liar

Earlier this season when Nascar announced that they were going to launch a Car Of Tomorrow (COT) for the Nationwide Series, starting for four races next year and running full time in 2011, Dale Earnhardt Jr owner of JR Motorsports said that the team didn't have enough money to make the switch from old to new.

Well if that is so, then why is ESPN.com reporting that JR Motorsports is close to signing Danica Patrick to drive in the Nascar Nationwide Series for two years?

Now if the rumor is true, then it would make Dale Jr a liar because, Danica Patrick is looking for a 300,000 a race. And If it cost near a million dollars to switch from the Nationwide Car of now to the Nationwide Car Of Tomorrow, then How can he do it. (that is a rough estimate of the cost, that was mentioned by either Earnhardt or another owner)

Now i know most will say, well Junior's Cup owner Rick Hendrick will help with the cost, but if that was the case then why didn't help Junior keep the number five Nationwide team running the whole season, since Hendrick has shown that he has the money. The reason is because there was no sponsorship to run the five the whole Nationwide season.

The only sponsor that has been mentioned is GoDaddy.com, who sponsors Danica in the IRL, where she has just signed a Three year deal with Andretti Green Racing. And I Doubt That they can sponsor her 12 Nationwide races and her IRL team, i mean the most races i've ever seen GoDaddy.com on a JR Motorsports Chevy where about four.

And it also presents a problem with the GoDaddy.com Commercials because Nascar has a policy that censors sexually suggestive ads on cars and television broadcasts, and Godaddy.com's advertising is typically contains sexually suggestive material. And i doubt Godaddy.com would want to lose their Danica Patrick sexually suggestive advertising.

Racing in both Nascar Nationwide and the IRL would also would hurt her modeling career, since i doubt she would have that much free time.

Sprint Cup Driver and former IRL driver Juan Pablo Montoya said this past weekend that Danica shouldn't jump back and forth between the two different racing series and only concentrate on one series.

It was also stated that she would make either $50,000 and $100,000 a race, which other Nationwide Series driver make, instead of the 300,00 or 1,000,000 a race she was reported to have wanted. It was also stated that she isn't in it for the money, she was in it for the experience.

Well, i fine that hard to believe since in the same article it was reported that people have admitted that the potential financial windfall might be worth the grind of logistics and the learning curve of stock car racing. Now i don't know about everyone else but that sounds like she's being told to do it for the money instead of for experience.

I know of a few ways that Danica could get experience in a stock car that doesn't involve milking cash strapped owners.

I wonder how long Danica Watch, will take to turn into Danica Gate.