Bud Shootout did not disappoint

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Not only did the Bud Shootout not disappoint, but it probably breathed new life into NASCAR's 2012 season.

For anyone who didn't watch the Bud Shootout, you really missed something. Hurry over to NASCAR.com and catch the highlights, or watch the video of the entire race. It is well worth your time.

The race was certainly a nail biter from start to finish.

For me, the most memorable part involved two incredible saves by Kyle Busch. Ordinarily what occurred on the track would have resulted in the "big one," except that Busch saved it; not once, but twice. He did an incredible job and has certainly earned my respect for his driving ability.

Sparks flew as his car was literally sideways, seemingly taking on a life of its own, as it hurled itself back and forth between the racing surface and the apron. Then, as it was completely sideways, what seemed impossible, Busch saved it and got it headed in the right direction. He didn't even lose too many spots as he fought his way back up to draft with Tony Stewart. That same kind of driving allowed him to finish the race just inches ahead of Stewart. It was amazing--almost as amazing as how Stewart won five of the ten final  races that secured him the 2011 Championship title.

The wrecks were nothing short of spectacular. Personally my heart was in my throat. I admit being more than a little nervous as the cameras panned in on the cars wobbling perilously close to one another at such breakneck speeds. Those camera angles illustrate just how challenging it would be to drive a race car.

Needless to say Saturday night saw plenty of on-track wrecking action,. It was scary to watch Kevin Harvick's flaming race car unable to stop because he had no brakes. The worst though was when Jeff Gordon's car, was lifted by several others, causing it to do a pirouette several times only to land upside down on its roof. Thankfully Gordon was okay. And so were all the other drivers involved in one melee or another. There was not one "big one" but several. This was only 75 miles with 25 drivers. I shudder to think of what will happen on Sunday with 43 drivers in 500 miles. I can just about guarantee it will be a wreckfest.

Some of the wrecks were due to the changes made by NASCAR this year, with the hope of putting an end to the much maligned tandem racing. Both fans and drivers alike felt the two-car draft racing was boring. Saturday night, the tandem racing was minimized in favor of pack racing, which was their intent.

In accomplishing their goal however, another problem surfaced. In changing the size of the spoiler, the side fin, and other rule changes, caused it to be really easy to turn a car in front around simply by touching the left bumper. It was evident not just during the race but in practice when Tony Stewart got into Kurt Busch.

One other change this year, is that drivers are no longer able to communicate with one another on the track. Previously, if a driver changed his line, he could warn the driver behind him. He could also communicate if a driver is slow in front. That is no longer the case and it seems to have added to the chaos.

The racing season has begun and we now look forward to the biggest race of the year--the Daytona 500--now just days away. I'm a little on edge, but excited just the same.

Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle will start on the front row. The remaining field will be set by the Duels races on Thursday. Those two races promise to be exciting as well. It is all in preparation for Sunday, the day we have all been waiting for, probably since the last Great American Race.

Danica Patrick, a new dimension in the Daytona 500

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There will  be no more "Gentlemen start your engines," at least for 10 races this season. 

Danica Patrick should provide a new and exciting dimension to the Daytona 500, just 16 days from now, as of this writing.

Despite how she came to be listed among the participating drivers in the prestigious first race of the 2012 NASCAR season, her presence in the race will likely add to the NASCAR devotees looking forward to Sunday afternoons, starting, Feb. 26. Imagine; she could give Dale Earnhardt, Jr. a challenge for that most popular driver moniker. Feminist types, if there are any that follow NASCAR, as well as other females will root for her, because she is a woman. And women are still a rare commodity in the NASCAR garage. Men will root for her because, let's face it, she's stunning to look at, even when she isn't donning a bikini atop a race car. 

Granted, her guaranteed spot in the Daytona 500 was a little weird and certainly complicated. It was controversial and caused major aggravation for some. 

Basically Patrick was the beneficiary of a deal between Stewart-Haas Racing, (SHR) and Tommy Baldwin Racing, (TBR). In the spirit of cooperation, and perhaps a bit of cold hard cash, TBR will transfer owner points from TBR which finished in the top 35 in points last year. TBR's No. 36 car finished the season 33rd in points. It was piloted by Dave Blaney who remains a TBR driver this year. 

Because the No. 10 is brand new this year, it had no standing as far as last year's owner points were concerned. This deal between the two race team blurs the lines between the two teams, giving Patrick the golden opportunity to run in the 500.

Points earned by the No. 36 car ensured a starting spot in the first five races of the season, including the biggest race of the year--the Daytona 500. The deal will transform the No. 36 into Patrick's No. 10 car, fielded by TBR, but with all other aspects belonging to SHR. Greg Zipadelli, of SHR will be her Crew Chief. GoDaddy.com will be her sponsor. 

Patrick will run a limited schedule--10 races--in the Sprint Cup series. In those races where she doesn't compete, TBR driver David Reutimann will fill in. Otherwise, he will drive his No. 36 car for TBR. 

In addition to sharing a car, the two will also share team support and sponsorship. 

Patrick will also run a full schedule in the Nationwide Series, driving for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. which will likely  boost ratings on Saturday afternoon as well.

Some are furious that Patrick didn't have to race her way into the sport's most prestigious race like all the other drivers. They also say it isn't fair that Blaney who did earn his way in will have to race his way to a spot on the starting grid. Some blame Tony Stewart and Tommy Baldwin for taking advantage while others blame NASCAR for allowing such large loopholes in their ownership points rules. 

Personally, I'm just going to just be faithful to my gender. I'm excited to see Danica Patrick in the Daytona 500. If testing a few weeks ago is any indication, her presence in the sport will prove to be another exciting factor. The lady can drive. The fact that she is driving for my favorite race team doesn't hurt either. Wow, just 16 more days. I can hardly wait for the command, "Drivers, start your engines."

Ryan Newman is still the Rocketman!

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The season hasn't even started yet and already we read things like, "These days, a more suitable nickname for Newman might be 'Mediocre Man.' The 34-year-old driver seemingly does just enough to keep his ride--making the Chase every now and again and good for about one win a season."

This was a horrible mischaracterization from Scene Daily this morning.

Now I don't know what races Scene Daily is watching, but mediocre certainly does not describe the Ryan Newman I've observed during the 2011 season and before. While it may be true that team 39 only one won race last year, but for cripes sake, Newman's team finished in 10th place last year. That is better than 33 other drivers. How can you call a top-10 driver in the sport mediocre?

And need I remind anyone that in some cases, the end result of a race may not be reflective of the driver's ability alone. Ryan Newman is a top-notch driver, but some things are out of his hands. This is a team effort. In To win a race, the entire team must perform flawlessly. Ryan Newman doesn't change the lug nuts or refuel his race car. He does not go out of his way to run into other race cars.  

I just wonder why Newman is too often treated differently by some reporters/analysts/critics, not to mention NASCAR brass, than some of the other drivers. Yes, Dale, Jr. certainly comes to mind.

Newman has done some incredible things on the race track. I've listened to him when he is forced to limp an inferior race car to the finish line after being involved in someone else's mess. I've heard the never-ending determination, always striving to be better. I've heard his frustration. I've held my breath when a lug nut gets wedged in the nether reaches of a wheel causing a vibration; or some of the other bazaar things that have occurred. I've seen him go a lap and still finish in the top 5. Ryan Newman drives his heart out--every lap. There is nothing mediocre about him.

Let's go racing!

Image by Hans J E via Flickr

As if it was not exciting enough to know that we are just 31 days away from watching the Daytona 500, I just read the transcripts of an interview with the teams at Stewart-Haas Racing at Charlotte's NASCAR-CUP: Stewart-Haas Racing Media Tour at Charlotte, day 1 Media Tour.

It sounds like every member of this race team is pumped--ready to strap on their gear and go racing.

With so many changes--good changes--like bringing in the most popular woman in racing, Danica Patrick, Tony's new Crew Chief Steve Addington, and Tony's best buddy, Greg Zippadelli as competition director--this group is fired up. In addition, Ryan Newman has just announced new sponsorship from Aspen Dental, which is completely new to NASCAR. That is quite a coup! The mood, quite apparent in the interview, is contagious!

The last days of this off-season will be painful, at best, but filled with anticipation. Let's go racing!

Looking forward to Daytona 500

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Oh boy, in just 35 days, I will be busy preparing for the debut of the 2012 racing season. Hubby and I have been counting down the days until the Daytona 500 since the off-season began.

We will forgo a usual Sunday supper for our favorite flavor of Tornados. I like the Cheesy Pepper Jack while hubby prefers the Cheese and Pepperoni. We like to show our support for Ryan Newman's sponsors wherever possible.

We are a Ryan Newman family after all.

I anticipate that while I make for the first course of our decadent race day dining delight, something I call race-day guacamole, with the hot peppers I have been growing from last year's plants, on the sun porch. While I'm in the kitchen and hubby is putzing with who knows what in the garage, the living room will be alive with familiar voices as Race Day on SpeedTV fills our not-so-high definition television screen. We have not yet acquired that flat screen TV we have been dreaming about. We just can't afford to replace a perfectly good television set, but when this one breaks, that will be the first order of business. I can't wait to watch Ryan strap into his race car on a big, high-definition TV.

My morning preparation for the Daytona 500 will also include cranking up the laptop computer. I want to make sure its Windows Vista is fully updated, spybot has checked for any nasty bugs, and the hard drive defragged. I want the computer to run at top speed, which isn't great to start with, and certainly want no surprises while listening to Ryan being directed by his spotters. I want to hear every word from Tony Gibson as he talks to Ryan who will be flying around the racetrack at speeds nearing or surpassing 200 mph.

I used to sew during races, but no more. These days, I don't want to miss a moment of the action on the track. I'm sure I will wear my t-shirt that bears Ryan's name and likeness, as well as the #39 hat. Anything I can do to steer a little good luck Ryan's way, I'm happy to do.

Good luck Ryan for a great 2012 season.