A day off may cure my NASCAR addiction

nascar (Photo credit: rogerblake2)

For the first time since the 2004 season, I missed a race--on purpose!

I have been too obsessed for too long. I'm starting to control my addiction. I did record the race, so when I got home I watched it. It was a totally different experience.

Normally, when I watch a race, I have a certain procedure to follow. I generally start up my aged laptop so I can listen to my favorite driver, Ryan Newman's radio traffic. Without that, it is often difficult to know anything about any driver that isn't Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Danica Patrick, Kevin Harvick, or Tony Stewart, the most popular drivers. Now and then other drivers are mentioned briefly, but it just so happens that Ryan is one of the least mentioned. That makes it really difficult to follow his racing progress, unless he is leading the race. That hasn't been an issue lately, but then he is in his first year with a new team which is still trying to iron out the bugs.

I try to watch Race Buddy, but that is pretty taxing for my old laptop. It doesn't always work. Of course I monitor the live leaderboard to fill in some of the blanks about how Ryan is doing in terms of speed, position, and potential to pass other cars. 

Since I recorded the race yesterday on the DVR (digital video recorder), my normal multi-dimensional experience was greatly reduced, which resulted in a very different viewing experience. 

The most glaring difference was that I wasn't just watching Ryan's race, as I usually do. I watched the whole race, in its entirety. I don't think that was a plus, as it was hard to follow Ryan on the track. I had to rely on the crawl line for his position. While I watched, I found I had unanswered questions. I wanted to know why his position changed so drastically from one point to another during the race, exactly what was done in pit stops, what the handling was like in his car, how his speed compared to the drivers around him. None of those things were available to me. All I really learned from announcers were predictions that Jimmy Johnson could win his first Michigan race and how great Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was doing. 

There was one good thing about my single-dimensional viewing of the race however. I was able to fast-forward through the commercials. I knew there were lots of commercials, but I rarely paid much attention to how much time is squandered by the enormous number of them. I was stunned to learn that races don't take up an entire afternoon when you take away all the network garbage. 

Since I've never actually been to a race, I never realized they weren't as long as I thought. I was shocked at how little time is actually spent on racing. 

Jayski's Silly Season Site (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In fact, according to Jayski's Silly Season Site, 132 minutes of racing took place. That is a little over two hours. Add in the 118 commercials and the 64 companies and entities advertised, and the time actually broadcast was 187 minutes, or just over three hours. That translates into almost an hour of garbage I didn't need to see. So, on a given day, as much as one-third of the race is squandered by marketing. Isn't it enough that car bodies and driver bodies are covered in advertisements and products have their logos splashed on the walls and in the grass?

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm sick to death of everyone from politicians with their constant barrage of letters and phone calls to NASCAR and television in general vying for my limited funds. 

While Jayski's didn't have the stats for this, there is always a gushing factor--the time spent when announcers make the equivalent of goo-goo eyes over certain drivers. I was thrilled to be able to skip over that. That said, I genuinely enjoy listening to Kyle Petty, because I think he does a decent job as a broadcaster. While I don't always agree with his opinions, I think he is the closest thing to a professional that NASCAR employs. I also like Dale Jarrett and Larry McReynolds. The two of them seem to try to be relatively fair-minded in their coverage. 


I have to say, skipping my Sunday race ritual was eye-opening. I may become a little less rigid in my NASCAR obsession. I may even opt for NASCAR lite in the future.

Confession; I'm a happy Ryan Newman fan

Ryan Newman

It is too bad Monday's long-awaited announcement by NASCAR driver Ryan Newman about where he would land in the 2014 season was clouded by controversy stemming from this year's final regular season race at Richmond. Newman's state of mind was evident following that race. Just by the look on his face, the way he walked, his entire demeanor was near despondency.

But, what a difference a day makes.

By Monday afternoon, everything had changed. Newman was finally able to reveal that he had been crafting a deal with Richard Childress to drive the #31 Caterpillar car. Just a week earlier, Jeff Burton said he would not be back to Richard Childress Racing, fueling speculation that Newman would take over the ride. Finally, the speculation ended. Newman and Childress made the official announcement.

The news was met with measured enthusiasm, as a pall still hung over the fact that Newman would not compete for a championship after putting forth a monumental effort over several weeks. But then he received a phone call from NASCAR. He learned the sanctioning body was taking action against Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR), the race team that systematically manipulated the results of Saturday's race, stealing a likely win from Newman. It changed everything. Once again, Newman was able to contend for a championship.

Newman's fans were with him, every step of the way. 

There is no doubt what a stressful situation this was for Newman. He admitted as much, stating that losing the coveted spot in the chase was the hardest thing he has endured in his 30 years of racing.

I can only speak for myself when I say my thoughts and feelings mirrored his. For eight years I have watched every race, read every article, and even written a few of my own. I am a devoted Ryan Newman fan.

It was certainly hard to watch what occurred Saturday night, as Ryan's racing future hung in the balance only to be upended by the near fatal kick-in-the-gut conclusion that voided his extraordinary effort.

It wasn't just that race that was affected by the events at Richmond, but as Newman eluded to in interviews following the race, the entire 26 weeks was influenced. There were ups and downs each week, culminating with the news in July that Newman would lose his ride at Stewart-Haas Racing. He turned that around by sheer determination to win the race at Indianapolis.

The tough times are those when we hold our breath because we hear there is a caution and we don't see the #39. When we finally breathe again, we see the #39 limping toward pit road and we hear Matt Borland say over the radio, "bring it to the garage." All hopes are dashed.

These drivers are skilled, but they must dance with Lady Luck. The intense feelings that endure week in, week out on the roller coaster ride that is racing is also an endurance of good luck and bad. During the entire regular racing season, Ryan Newman lived it all, but as a Newman fan, we live it too.

Being a fan is a funny thing. It is almost like when a child has an imaginary friend. It is totally one-sided. Ryan Newman doesn't know who I am, yet, I feel as if I know him well. He is as familiar to me as anyone. If he came to my front door, I'd recognize him instantly, and would feel comfortable inviting him in for a Coke. We'd have no problem finding things to talk about. I love many of the same things he does. All the public information that has been available about Newman, his family, the things he enjoys, it is all out there for public consumption, which adds up to the feeling that I have know him for years. I genuinely like what I've read.

Ryan's racing prowess is laudable, but is enhanced by the other things he and his wife Krissie are all about. These are good, nurturing people with two beautiful daughters to teach about the good work they do with the Ryan Newman Foundation, their love of animals, their conservation work, and their newest project, Rescue Ranch.

I like that Ryan built a log cabin home, restores old barns, and loves the classic cars. He remembers his roots, often talking about happy times fishing with his grandfather or race-related activities he's shared with his dad. I almost felt like part of the family when Greg Newman worked as Ryan's spotter. His voice became so familiar that I can even recognize when he helps out with spotting at huge tracks like Daytona or Talladega. Greg's voice is so familiar. Who can forget hearing him on the radio when Ryan won the Daytona 500. I cry just thinking about what a beautiful moment that was. I would never be a fan if I didn't admire the person.

I'm so happy things have worked out for Ryan. He deserves it. Now, he can end this season on a high note as he contends for the championship. Now, next year holds great promise as well.