Well, let's try it again -- Race Day at Watkins Glen -- after it was rained out yesterday.
As much as I love rainy days, and I do love rainy days, how can we get it across to the rain gods that NASCAR races as well as qualifying and practice is off-limits?
Hey, interesting news about Ryan Newman saying races should be shortened. Perhaps he read that here at CH on Track. Sprint Cup Race at Indy was boring
Only kidding. I'm sure I picked up that idea from something Ryan said earlier -- certainly not the other way around. The timing was coincidental however, since I only wrote that post Sunday, July 26 after the Indy race. Then a week later, Ryan said just what I wrote. I'm not fool enough to believe that he was influenced by CH on Track. But what it does prove is that I am in complete agreement with him on many philosophical issues. That is probably why he is my favorite driver.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
New race day tradition!
Happy Race Day!
I think I'm going to start a new tradition. Every race day, I am going to watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCND2MM6DWw&NR=1 to serve as inspiration for every upcoming race.
The video is my favorite NASCAR moment -- the 50th running of the Daytona 500 in 2008. Even for those who are not Ryan Newman fans, though I can barely believe anyone would fall into that category, this win was special on so many levels. It is my answer to why I am a NASCAR fan.
It was the first Daytona win for the Captain, Roger Penske, after so many victories seemed to elude him. There was a built in bias favoring whoever won this race because it was the 50th running on the historic racetrack, filled with pomp and ceremony for the entire week preceding it. Has there ever been a better feel-good moment as when Greg Newman, Ryan's father who also serves as his spotter, knew his son was going to win?
As a Ryan Newman fan, I recorded the moment on our Dish Network DVR. All of the interviews were there. I recorded the final laps. I watched often, just to relive that heart-stopping moment when I saw the #12 which I had coveted for several years, cross the finish line in the biggest race of the year. But, our DVR bit the dust. It was all lost. It had been a while since I was able to watch again, until this morning. I just happened to see it, even though I wasn't looking for it. That is when I decided -- for me, a tradition is born.
Good luck today on the road course, Ryan. May you have many more of these moments.
I think I'm going to start a new tradition. Every race day, I am going to watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCND2MM6DWw&NR=1 to serve as inspiration for every upcoming race.
The video is my favorite NASCAR moment -- the 50th running of the Daytona 500 in 2008. Even for those who are not Ryan Newman fans, though I can barely believe anyone would fall into that category, this win was special on so many levels. It is my answer to why I am a NASCAR fan.
It was the first Daytona win for the Captain, Roger Penske, after so many victories seemed to elude him. There was a built in bias favoring whoever won this race because it was the 50th running on the historic racetrack, filled with pomp and ceremony for the entire week preceding it. Has there ever been a better feel-good moment as when Greg Newman, Ryan's father who also serves as his spotter, knew his son was going to win?
As a Ryan Newman fan, I recorded the moment on our Dish Network DVR. All of the interviews were there. I recorded the final laps. I watched often, just to relive that heart-stopping moment when I saw the #12 which I had coveted for several years, cross the finish line in the biggest race of the year. But, our DVR bit the dust. It was all lost. It had been a while since I was able to watch again, until this morning. I just happened to see it, even though I wasn't looking for it. That is when I decided -- for me, a tradition is born.
Good luck today on the road course, Ryan. May you have many more of these moments.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
NASCAR at Pocono
I learned first hand Monday, about the difference between actually being at the track, and watching the race on TV. As a real fan of the sport and all its nuances, I have always considered watching at home to be superior, in terms of following the action, to watch racing from the living room, rather than live from the track. I know the sacrifice is the experience -- the smell of burning rubber and race fuel -- the electricity of being with other fans, and the sense of how fast 205 miles per hour really looks like when a pack of 43 cars whizzes past. But I figured that with the help of commentators, the in-car radio, live leaderboard, and control of the mute button on the remote during mindless talk and endless commercials, generally provides a good picture of what is happening as my favorite driver -- Ryan Newman -- makes his way around the track 200 times.
But, I'm starting to wonder if being there wouldn't provide more of a sense of just what happens. I may never know the other side of the equation, however, because I've never been to a race. I don't see myself going to the track anytime soon, for many reasons, not the least of which is the distance I live from a track.
It appears there was some major action on the track that was completely lost in the shuffle.
All of a sudden, I watched in horror as, with virtually no explanation, Newman, who had been driving in or around the 7th position for most of the day, was suddenly in 28th place. I heard tidbits of an angry Newman on the radio mention the #33 car of Clint Bowyer causing him to hit the wall, but it was never mentioned by the ESPN crew. That is nothing new. They rarely talk about Newman unless he moves mountains. I'm not sure why. He is funny, engaging, and intelligent. Over the years he has gotten more comfortable with a camera too, so he does a good interview. I have to admit that he is less ignored since he is driving for Stewart-Haas racing, but he doesn't get the air time that some of the other drivers do.
It was exciting to watch Newman come from behind to finish 14th. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough since he dropped two positions in the Race for the Chase standings. He is dangerously close to that precarious 12th place cutoff. I'm confident though, that he will not only remain in the top 12, but will better his position. Still, it is a little more pressure, and that is never fun -- for Newman, his team, or his fans.
I'm not sure why his team didn't use one of a couple of different opportunities to lead a lap for the five extra points. That would have put him in eight place with Montoya in ninth, rather than the other way around.
Congratulations to Denny Hamlin. I'm sure his first win of the season was a great comfort, despite his grief over the death of his grandmother.
And how about Jimmy Johnson? It looked like he was done at first, but to go from three laps down to a 13th place finish was nothing short of incredible.
And isn't it nice that we didn't hear much burbling over Dale Earnhardt, Jr. I imagine the poor runs he's had of late, at least give him some relief from the mindless gushing he has to endure. I doubt anyone could live up to all he's received.
It seemed as though Juan Pablo Montoya had his mind set on retaliation over being robbed last week, even though from all accounts, it doesn't appear he was robbed. It appears that he attempted to speed on pit road to increase his lead and he got caught. Still, he played the victim, practically running down everyone in his way. It paid off for him because he gained positions in the standings, putting him solidly in 8th place.
All-in-all, waiting for the race at Pocono to finally commence on Monday following Sunday's washout, was worth the wait. It was a sharp contrast to last week's race at Indianapolis, which was boring.
But, I'm starting to wonder if being there wouldn't provide more of a sense of just what happens. I may never know the other side of the equation, however, because I've never been to a race. I don't see myself going to the track anytime soon, for many reasons, not the least of which is the distance I live from a track.
It appears there was some major action on the track that was completely lost in the shuffle.
All of a sudden, I watched in horror as, with virtually no explanation, Newman, who had been driving in or around the 7th position for most of the day, was suddenly in 28th place. I heard tidbits of an angry Newman on the radio mention the #33 car of Clint Bowyer causing him to hit the wall, but it was never mentioned by the ESPN crew. That is nothing new. They rarely talk about Newman unless he moves mountains. I'm not sure why. He is funny, engaging, and intelligent. Over the years he has gotten more comfortable with a camera too, so he does a good interview. I have to admit that he is less ignored since he is driving for Stewart-Haas racing, but he doesn't get the air time that some of the other drivers do.
It was exciting to watch Newman come from behind to finish 14th. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough since he dropped two positions in the Race for the Chase standings. He is dangerously close to that precarious 12th place cutoff. I'm confident though, that he will not only remain in the top 12, but will better his position. Still, it is a little more pressure, and that is never fun -- for Newman, his team, or his fans.
I'm not sure why his team didn't use one of a couple of different opportunities to lead a lap for the five extra points. That would have put him in eight place with Montoya in ninth, rather than the other way around.
Congratulations to Denny Hamlin. I'm sure his first win of the season was a great comfort, despite his grief over the death of his grandmother.
And how about Jimmy Johnson? It looked like he was done at first, but to go from three laps down to a 13th place finish was nothing short of incredible.
And isn't it nice that we didn't hear much burbling over Dale Earnhardt, Jr. I imagine the poor runs he's had of late, at least give him some relief from the mindless gushing he has to endure. I doubt anyone could live up to all he's received.
It seemed as though Juan Pablo Montoya had his mind set on retaliation over being robbed last week, even though from all accounts, it doesn't appear he was robbed. It appears that he attempted to speed on pit road to increase his lead and he got caught. Still, he played the victim, practically running down everyone in his way. It paid off for him because he gained positions in the standings, putting him solidly in 8th place.
All-in-all, waiting for the race at Pocono to finally commence on Monday following Sunday's washout, was worth the wait. It was a sharp contrast to last week's race at Indianapolis, which was boring.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sprint Cup race at Indy was boring
Friday night's Truck race and Saturday's Nationwide race at O'Reilly Raceway Park was great. Not so much for the Sprint Cup race Sunday at the beautiful 100-year old Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In face, the race was b-o-r-i-n-g. And I am an avid race fan.
There was some side-by-side racing, but passing was virtually impossible. Tire wear was not a problem this year -- thank goodness -- due to extensive testing by several teams and folks from Goodyear, but perhaps a few extra cautions -- with double-file restarts -- would have livened things up a little. It is sad that one of the most prestigious tracks on the circuit was home to a dull race. Even the end, because Mark Martin was unable to slip past or even run neck-and-neck with Jimmy Johnson, was not worth watching.
I even felt sorry, for the first time ever, for Juan Pablo Montoya who got robbed by a speeding penalty after he carried almost the entire race single-handedly. I actually wanted him to win because he earned it.
Personally, I'd like to see the COT scrapped. But, if we must be stuck with the COT, and NASCAR wants to keep fans interested, then races should be shortened or super speedways eliminated from the circuit.
There are some bright sides for me, anyway. My favorite driver Ryan Newman maintained his points standing. Tony Stewart, who is now my second favorite driver, had a great run and is probably the 2009 champion, and I got to get some work done on my latest crocheting project.
There was some side-by-side racing, but passing was virtually impossible. Tire wear was not a problem this year -- thank goodness -- due to extensive testing by several teams and folks from Goodyear, but perhaps a few extra cautions -- with double-file restarts -- would have livened things up a little. It is sad that one of the most prestigious tracks on the circuit was home to a dull race. Even the end, because Mark Martin was unable to slip past or even run neck-and-neck with Jimmy Johnson, was not worth watching.
I even felt sorry, for the first time ever, for Juan Pablo Montoya who got robbed by a speeding penalty after he carried almost the entire race single-handedly. I actually wanted him to win because he earned it.
Personally, I'd like to see the COT scrapped. But, if we must be stuck with the COT, and NASCAR wants to keep fans interested, then races should be shortened or super speedways eliminated from the circuit.
There are some bright sides for me, anyway. My favorite driver Ryan Newman maintained his points standing. Tony Stewart, who is now my second favorite driver, had a great run and is probably the 2009 champion, and I got to get some work done on my latest crocheting project.
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