Like Being Stuck Without A Date To Prom

Going into Sunday's Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega, I was absolutely terrified.  After losing Dan Wheldon last Sunday in a horrific crash at Las Vegas during the IndyCar finale, I was more than a little unsettled at the idea of Denny Hamlin returning to the track.  But it wasn't just any track, it was Talladega, the sight of a scary crash for Hamlin just a few years ago that still has me shaking in my boots and thanking God for keeping Denny safe.  I cried as the cars began the pace laps, kept whispering prayers of protection for the FedEx wheelman and kept my eyes glued to the screen for every single lap.  But what I saw still leaves me baffled.  As the laps started to tick off, Hamlin found himself alone, without a drafting partner, even after Ryan Newman had promised to hook up with the #11 car.  Newman had found his team owner, Tony Stewart, and had abandoned Hamlin for a chance at leading laps with the #14 car.  This left Hamlin a lap down, searching for help anywhere he could find it.

Luckily, the caution came out, Hamlin was the Lucky Dog and he was back on the lead lap.  But still dateless.  He was searching for anyone who would help him, ticking off the likes of Earnhardt Jr, who used some pretty disgusting language to express his frustration.  But Karma is a cruel mistress and the #39 car of Newman was involved in a crash that ended his chances of being competitive and he ended the day 16 laps down.  Fellow JGR teammates, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano had been sambaing their way to the front of the field, only to have Logano involved in a crash and a flat tire destroyed his left front fender.  Finally!  A light at the end of the tunnel for Hamlin, who quickly paired up with Kyle Busch as Logano found his way to Tony Stewart and tucked his damaged fender behind the #14 to reduce the effects of his damage.  But just like the old saying goes, what goes around comes back around and Kyle Busch also found himself in an accident and Hamlin was once again searching for someone to dance with.

It was the #15 car of Michael Waltrip who came to Hamlin's rescue time after time.  He made sure Hamlin always had a partner and if he was needed, he found his way to the #11 and assisted however possible. Talk about your class acts! Thank you Michael Waltrip! You truly are a good friend to Denny and I can't tell you enough how much your support was appreciated.

By the end of the race, Hamlin must've felt like he'd been rode hard and put away wet. He saw more action than a gigolo on a Saturday night and no doubt needed a long hot shower with a good scrub brush to wash the effects of the day away. It was exhausting and heart breaking to witness and his 8th place finish was hard fought for.  At least when he spun in the late stages of the race he escaped with no ill effects and my heart could resume beating normally. 

It was a difficult day to say the least.  The thoughts of Dan Wheldon's wife and her two sons is still heavy on my mind and my heart aches for her and his family and friends. The motorsports community is reeling from tragic loss and this fan is still experiencing some sleepless nights worrying about the driver she cares so deeply for.  It is a dangerous sport made worse by drivers who outdrive their abilities and take stupid chances too early in the race.  Thankfully the day is over, everyone is safe and sound and Martinsville is only a few days away. 

If I were to sum it up, I think my words would fail me. So I'll quote Denny himself "The best I can describe it is we were stuck without a date to the prom, so I was just hitting on everyone's mom."  Well said Denny, and on that note I say...on to Martinsville

The Best And Worst of 2008

The 2008 NASCAR Season has had its fair share of award-winning moments. It has also had a few that I personally would like to forget. So as I was writing out my Christmas cards and checking my list to Santa one last time to be sure I told everyone on my list just what I wanted, I thought I’d take a minute to recall some of 2008s best and worst moments.


Best:
10. Tony Stewart Forms His Own Team - While Smoke’s departure from Joe Gibbs Racing is quite sad, the idea of him owning his own team is quite a good thing for the sport. For once, a driver was thinking past his own career and took control of his destiny. Stewart nabbed fellow Hoosier Ryan Newman away from Penske Racing, returned to his Chevy roots and adopted his former boss’s work ethic and practices. While I question his decision to join forces with Gene Haas, I do commend Stewart for his vision and wish him the very best of luck with his new venture.


9. Kyle Busch Donates $100,000 To Help Sam Ard - After tying Sam Ard for 10 victories in the Nationwide Series this season, NASCAR’s resident bad boy donated $100,000 towards helping the ailing Ard to aid in making his every day life a bit easier. The moment left me in tears. For all the criticism Busch has drawn from fans, competitors and the media, this moment shows that Rowdy is very human and has a good heart. To Kyle it was nothing major, but to Sam Ard and his wife it was priceless. Racking up 21 victories falls short to the act of kindness that Kyle Busch showed to one of the sport’s finest. Say what you want about the Candy Man, you can’t deny that he is a selfless, caring man who deserves fewer boos and more applause.

8. Reed Sorenson Signs To Drive # 10 GEM Ride- Finally Reed Sorenson will be seen for the true talent that he is. At Ganassi Racing, he was the poster boy for wasted talent. His true abilities have never been realized and he has been overlooked since his 2006 Rookie season. He has been the third in line for equipment, personnel and time, but now that he is joining Gillette Evernham Motorsports, Sorenson will finally get first class equipment and the finest crew members and the attention he deserves. Sometimes drivers get what is due them and Reed Sorenson certainly deserves his chance in the spotlight. I can’t wait to see him shine.

7. David Stremme Gets Sprint Cup Ride - After getting the boot from his full time NEXTEL Cup ride at Ganassi Racing, Stremme was sent back to the Nationwide Series and Rusty Wallace Inc.’s # 64 car. While Stremme was successful there and a great mentor to teammate Steve Wallace, it was clear that Stremme still deserved a ride in the premier ranks. Well, with the decision to go to newly formed Stewart Haas Racing, Ryan Newman paved the way for Stremme’s return to Sprint Cup racing and Penske South’s # 12 Dodge. Patience is definitely a virtue and one that David Stremme proved pays off in a very big way. Welcome back to Sprint Cup David Stremme, you have been greatly missed.

6. Yates Racing Operates Without Full Time Sponsorship - The fact that the once thriving Yates team got to the point that it could not secure sponsorship for its two cars is not a high point. But the fact that both Travis Kvapil and David Gilliland were able to run the full 2008 season and finish in the Top 35 in points with limited funds shows just how talented these two guys are and that while things have changed since Robert Yates’ retirement from the sport, they will be back and better than ever. And with Paul Menard coming on board for 2009, the future looks bright. To Yates Racing and it’s never say never attitude and proving that sponsorship comes with persistence and talent, I must give due props.

5. Joey Logano Makes His Long-Awaited NASCAR Debut - Sliced Bread had been touted as the next best racecar driver. When Logano turned 18 on May 24th, he was finally old enough to enter the big leagues and what he did in his debut season was nothing short of spectacular. He won his first pole award in just his second start in the series and captured his first victory in just his third start. He has taken NASCAR by storm and the heir apparent to the two-time championship winning Home Depot #20 Toyota only promises to get better. For making NASCAR exciting and lighting it up with his angelic smile, a giant Thank You to Joey Logano. Welcome to NASCAR Sliced Bread. We’ve been waiting for you.

4. Carl Edwards vs. Kevin Harvick - Following a crash that effected Kevin Harvick’s finish that was clearly Carl Edward’s fault, Harvick retaliated in the media by calling Edwards a pansy. Apparently the well muscled Edwards didn’t appreciate being thrown under the bus, so he left a note on Harvick’s plane to accentuate the point. The fight that followed in the garage area was spectacular. There was no clear winner but seeing Harvick in a choke hold will forever be one of my favorite moments of 2008. Note to self: Don’t call Carl Edwards a pansy unless you want to find yourself in a death grip.

3. Sam Hornish Jr Assists Ryan Newman Back To Pit Road - After spinning out and struggling to get restarted, Ryan Newman was stranded on the race track. Then came teammate Sam Hornish Jr, who thinking not of himself but of his fellow driver, got behind Newman and pushed him to pit lane. It was the ultimate act of selflessness and sportsmanship and simply left me humbled. If only more men took a page from his book perhaps this sport would be quite different. Sam Hornish Jr, a gentleman and a total class act.

2. Kyle Busch Antagonizes Junior Nation - After causing Dale Earnhardt Jr’s early demise from a race, Busch drew the ire of every member of Junior Nation. From then on, when he won a race, and that was often, he did his now signature bow to the crowd just to infuriate them further. For his guts and class, I salute Kyle Busch. It takes a real man to stand up to the sport’s most popular driver and his legion of followers. Kyle Busch, my hero.

1. Brad Keselowski vs. Denny Hamlin at Lowe’s - During an on-track dispute between Hamlin and Keselowski, Keselowski drove up underneath Hamlin and raised his wheels up off the track. Hamlin then retaliated by hitting the #88 car in the left front fender, causing slight damage. This infuriated team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr, who took it upon himself to retaliate and hit Hamlin from behind. But it was the action after the checkered flag waved that makes this my favorite moment of 2008. Keselowski’s entire crew swarmed Hamlin the second he climbed out of the car and the brawl was classic. When interviewed, Hamlin said that he would have preferred to talk to Brad face to face instead of dealing with the crew. Instead of coming off like a hero, the NAVY driver looked more like a princess afraid to face the dragon alone. Then came the best quote ever. “If you throw a rock I’m going to throw a concrete block back” Thank you Denny Hamlin for making 2008 the BEST season EVER!

Worst:
10. Denny Hamlin Spends Night In Hospital After Talladega Crash - Undoubtedly the scariest moment in a Denny Hamlin fan’s season, seeing the Fed Ex Toyota driver grimacing while being put onto a stretcher, and then hearing of his overnight stay in an Alabama hospital is one moment I hope to never repeat again. Thank God for the COT car, safety equipment, safer barriers, and safety workers. Good riddance to crashes, equipment failures and all the like for Denny Hamlin and the JGR Fed Ex team.

9. Michael McDowell’s Terrifying Crash At Texas - The relatively unknown McDowell made quite a name for himself following his death defying tumble during qualifying at Texas. Miraculously, McDowell emerged from the wreck unscathed and even had a smile on his face during the interview. Welcome to NASCAR Michael…it’s a rocking good time.

8. Carl Edwards Makes Runner-Up A Theme - Coming up short is never easy. But doing it twice in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series has got to burn a little. I can’t help but think that had it not been for that 100 point penalty early in the season would things be different? Edwards has nothing to be ashamed of and the way he handled both situations shows what a class act he truly is. I would be proud to see him as the 2009 Champion for both series. He is the epitome of sportsmanship and is a gentleman in every sense of the word.

7. Mark Martin Signs Deal With Hendrick Motorsports - I’ve heard of taking dinosaurs out for display, but some are best left in the museum. Mark Martin is making one last run at a Championship before he finally retires. The only bright spot is that Casey Mears was relieved of his shadow duties in the No. 5 car at HMS for greener pastures at RCR. The fourth team at Hendrick Motorsports hasn’t been successful well, ever, and to think that Mark Martin is going to find success in the shadow of Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr, the sport’s three biggest egos, is simply tragic and laughable. It gives a whole new meaning to Silly Season.

6. Sprint Cup Series Banquet Broadcast on ESPN Classic - For some reason NASCAR felt it best to broadcast the much anticipated Sprint Cup series banquet on ESPN Classic and then replay it on ESPN2. In my town, no one even has ESPN Classic and the only way to get it is to subscribe to the highest tier of programming. I love my NASCAR but my love has a limit and it also has a price tag. NASCAR needs its fans and they need them to be happy. Put the banquet, which is after all for me, on a channel that I can easily get.

5. Denny Hamlin’s Media Massacre - After his brawl with Brad Keselowski’s NAVY crew at Lowe’s, Denny Hamlin became public enemy number one for tangling with the NNS’ golden boy, or atleast the wanna be golden boy. Then when he criticized his crew and declared that he didn’t deserve to be in the Chase after a poor finish at Michigan, the fire began to burn a lot hotter under Hamlin’s feet. Kyle Petty, who had his own conflict with Hamlin in 2007, began crucifying the Fed Ex driver at every turn, declaring Denny Hamlin a spoiled brat who didn’t deserve to be in a race car. With his 8th place finish in the Chase, Hamlin proved that not everything you hear in the media is true. And with Kyle Petty’s departure from NASCAR for a lesser racing series, it just goes to show that Karma is cruel and sometimes it is better to just keep your opinions to yourself. Sometimes lessons are learned a little too late.

4. Kyle Busch Finishes 10th In Chase - After dominating the first 26 races of the season, NASCAR’s resident bad boy fell flat to equipment failure and then became his own worst enemy when he let frustrations get the better of him. Everyone falls but it’s those who are able to rebound that show their true grit. Fortunately Rowdy Busch is still young and has plenty of time to learn from this mistake.

3. Joe Gibbs Racing Crew Chiefs Caught Cheating - Talented and extraordinary crew chiefs Dave Rogers and Jason Radcliff were caught cheating following a test of the horse power of the Toyota engines. Due to near-dominance of the Nationwide season, NASCAR held a test and both crew chiefs were caught with magnets on the gas pedals of their cars. The two were then suspended indefinitely. It was an incident that did not slow down the JGR drivers as they went on to further success with interim crew chiefs on top of the pit boxes.

2. NASCAR Changes The Bud Shootout Format - In an unprecedented act of ignorance, Brian France announced that there would be major changes to the Budweiser Shootout for 2009. Previously, the Pole Award Winners from the previous year and former winners of the Shootout were automatic entrants in the season’s kick off race. Now Pole Awards hold no merit and the top points holders for each manufacturer will be in the race. A very poor choice and one that has destroyed the qualifying process and the race that once drew great attention. If it isn’t broken, why does Brian France find the need to fix it?

1. The Tragic Loss of Brienne Davis - The NASCAR Community lost one of its own this year when NASCAR Inspector Brienne Davis was killed in a single car crash. It left a void in the hearts of those who knew her and even those who didn’t know of her until they heard of her tragic death that will never be filled. She paved the way for women everywhere to find their place in the sport of kings and left a legacy that will never be forgotten.

The 2008 NASCAR season was without question an amazing one for all three series. Johnny Benson narrowly edged out Ron Hornaday for the very last NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Title, Clint Bowyer won the Nationwide Series Title and Jimmie Johnson won a historic third NASCAR Sprint Cup Title. Carl Edwards finished second in two series and Kyle Busch schooled every driver in the sport with his impressive 21 wins. 2009 promises to be another for the record books.

Share your best and worst memory from the 2008 season. I can’t wait to see what you all remember that I may have forgotten or not even noticed.