First Juan Pablo Montoya announced that he will be joining the NASCAR Nextel Cup ranks next season and also news that Indy Racing League star Danica Patrick’s father was “sniffing” around the Nextel Cup garage.

We do know that Montoya is ready to roll next season for Chip Ganassi racing and will drive the number 42 car being vacated by Casey Mears. Montoya is a proven winner on the Indy car circuit having won the Indianapolis 500 plus he has been driving in Formula One for a number of years now.

Not every open wheel racer who has made the jump to NASCAR has succeeded but I believe once Montoya gets used to driving these heavier machines his natural racing ability will come out.

Let's not forget that Tony Stewart is a former IRL champion. Also, the addition of Montoya, a native of Colombia, to NASCAR will be a huge boon in NASCAR’s continued efforts to bring more Latino’s and minority fans into the sport.

In regard to Danica Patrick, her potential move to NASCAR would also be huge. She is arguably the most well known female driver in racing history. While I believe her learning curve will take a little longer than Montoya’s, I do think that if she does move to stock car racing she will be in some of the best equipment on the circuit so she’ll at least be competitive.

World Cup

I must admit I was very much into watching the World Cup final between Italy and France. I’m not the world’s biggest soccer fan, but when the stakes are huge I will watch.

The stamina these soccer players possess is amazing and what they can do with their feet and their heads is pretty cool. I must admit that the constant fake injuries and whining throughout the tournament got a little old but the television ratings were through the roof Sunday, which is a sure sign that perhaps soccer is catching on.

If the United States could lure one of those big European stars over to “our side” it would not only help our team’s efforts but interest in the game and World Cup even more.

NASCAR

And back to NASCAR. How quickly NASCAR fans forget. The late, great Dale Earnhardt made a handsome living from knocking drivers out of his way and I mean knocking them out of his way.

Jeff Gordon barely tapped Matt Kenseth in Sunday’s race and he gets cans and beer bottles thrown at his car after winning. One of my biggest criticisms of stock car racing in recent years has been the lack of good competitive racing. Gordon provided that Sunday. Sure he hit Kenseth’s car but the old adage in racing is “if you are in my way and my car is faster, get out my way”. Get off Gordon’s back or hood.