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WCNC BLOG |
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May 2008
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There are worse things than a 70-degree day at LMS. What a brilliant afternoon. Despite that I couldn't help but notice that some of the campgrounds aren't as full as years past. Gas prices and the slumping economy are the likely culprits. Some officials are sure that this race is the one that's at or ahead on ticket sales. We might be in for a little bit different look next week for the Coca Cola 600, a race that seems to draw more people from out of town. This year those are "more people" who have to pay $3.89 for a gallon of gas. I paid $63 to fill up my Camry the other day, and I have to admit it stings.
I can't wait to see Dale Jarrett drive the big, brown UPS truck around the track tonight. He tells us that fans everywhere always ask, "When will you do it?" Tonight is the night, and it sets up as a great moment. We got a huge kick out of DJ calling the contest winner to tell him that he gets to ride along for one of the most notable parade laps in recent history. The guy didn't believe it was really Jarrett. He'll believe it tonight.
I'm intrigued by the burnout contest. Some of the veterans don't like the idea. It seems like a great way to tear up good equipment. But it is a show, and Humpy Wheeler loves a show.
Can anybody stop Kyle Busch? I can't see it tonight, but I do love the idea of big brother Kurt starting right behind the No. 18 Toyota. Let's see how well that goes and who's ready to play nice.
Dale Junior tells us that he doesn't care for the new format. 25 lap segments are too much, he says, especially in the final segment. 10 laps is all it takes for Dale. I don't care so much about that, but I do love the idea of this race. Let it all hang out and let's ride.
Sorry I'm late. I was swamped with the TV side and had computer trouble. That's code for I don't know what I'm doing sometimes with the computer.
Kyle Busch stole the show in every way on Friday. His qualifying run was more than a run to the pole. It's another message to everybody else in the Sprint Cup garage -- catch me if you can, but you can't. Busch is in that kind of a roll right now with what looks like a perfect combination of car, crew, driver and team.
The secret nobody talks about enough is the role confidence plays in all of this. Not just for Busch, but for his No. 18 Joe Gibbs team. I'm sure they've never felt better about what they're doing. That showed again in a great pit stop in All Star qualifying on Friday. You could see it in the way the crew moved long before the clock told us that they had sizzled just like their driver does every week. The crew also expects Kyle to dominate. It's a great combination of expecting dominance while it's all still new enough that they celebrate every move and every win.
I stood in Busch's pits late in the Daytona 500. They expected Kyle to do something to win that race. They were disappointed that day, but clearly they also understood that better days were ahead.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr., had a great day with the media on Friday. He was relaxed, confident and honest. The most telling moment came when someone asked Junior if he was still angry about the finish in Richmond. Junior cracked a half smile and said, "I've had worse things happen to me."
That's what makes Dale's honest talk about loving his racing this year so interesting. He smiled when he told us that he says sometimes that not winning bothers him a lot. But he said today that he really only says that so we won't get the impression that he doesn't care. Clearly he does. He'd love to win, but he also loves running up front and having that chance every week. That's what Hendrick has done for Junior. Every week he shows up knowing that his equipment and his team will give him a chance to run well and have fun competing.
We also had a great time talking to Junior about his role as a car owner. What a blast. He admits he's impatient and doesn't like the attitude of his drivers. Talk about a role reversal. We'll bring you that complete story early next week.
See you Saturday. I won't be so late. |
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