Who among us can say their heart didn’t beat just a little faster on the last lap of the Daytona 500 this year. To see the heartbreak of David Ragan as he dove low too quickly and was penalized for the move and then feel the elation of the 20 year old Trevor Bayne winning the race in the historically significant Wood Brothers number 21 with the retro paint scheme. I think all of us who have been around the sport for a long time were happy because the Wood Brothers scored the win while the younger and new fans were thrilled that a youngster like Trevor could get the job done. As we older folks learned what kind of a kid Trevor Bayne is, we were very happy that someone with such class was coming into the sport in a big way. It was a good feeling.
What a tremendous run the Darlington race turned out to be. To see Regan Smith in an underfunded car hold off the big guys while running on tires with many more laps on them than his chasers win that race was so satisfying to me personally and I’m sure to many of you. The fact that Busch and Harvick had to spoil the Victory Lane celebration with their actions is sad, but the true fans are going to remember what a trip down memory lane it was to see Regan and Furniture Row win that race. Having been at the 1962 Southern 500 to see Larry Frank overcome such odds to win the race and then be deprived of his Victory Lane Celebration it was easy to think back and compare the two races in my mind. I was very happy.
When the tour returned to Daytona in July, whether or not David Ragan was intent on exonerating himself is irrelevant. He won the 400 and deserved the win and the celebration. Where David will be in 2012, at this writing, is unknown, but wherever he goes, he is sure to be an asset to the team. I wish him well in 2012.
That Paul Menard won at Indy is not so much a surprise as the fact that Paul Menard won a race anywhere at any time. Folks had written him off as a kid spending Daddy’s money to race and one who bought his way into the Childress operation. Let me say this and listen carefully. There are many instances in the history of stock car racing where someone will say that so and so “lucked into that win”. While I have heard The King, D.W. Bill Elliott and others refer to the “luck factor” and, I suppose it is, to an extent, a true statement, there is much more to any win than luck. Someone defined luck as “where preparation meets opportunity” and I think I’ve even heard my friend Billy Biscoe use that statement. So, no matter how you want to state it, to be in a position to win any race on any track at any time takes much more than just luck. There is much more to that. As I recall watching that race at Indy, Paul drove just as hard, or harder, than anyone else on the track. I’ve never met the man, but I would be proud to shake his hand.
Brad Keselowski. What can I say about the kid? I like him. I would like him even if he wasn’t driving a Dodge but I have to admit I like the Mopar connection. Seems like there are a couple of us Mopar guys hanging out here on Racers Reunion. Brad broke his foot in a crash in testing and then goes out and wins three races and gets into the Chase. Think what he may have done if he broke BOTH feet. The Keselowski name has been in racing for a long, long time. I have a personal story of a certain Keselowski that got the pole for the Columbia Speedway race in 1969, and even before that one or more Keselowskis were tearing up tracks across the country. For Brad to have accomplished what he has in 2011 is justification for all those years of trying to put the Keselowski name in victory lane in the Cup Series with regularity. I expect big things from Brad as he assumes his rightful place as the number ONE driver in the Penske stable. Should be an awesome 2012 for the young man.
The Chase certainly did what NASCAR had hoped it would do to spice up fan interest. To have two such diverse personalities and Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart running as they did couldn’t have been scripted better by those fantasy writers in Hollywood. To come down to a last race with a 3 point separation and to know that whichever one of those two won the race would be champion was great promotional material. I have heard many confess, and I’m included in the group, to watching every lap of that race in anticipation of something that would decide the championship. What it came down to was the best possible scenario at the end with the two top dogs running first and second which would result in a tie in points to be decided by the the tie-breaker, the number of wins. Tony had a remarkable run in the Chase winning 5 of the 10 while Carl had won only one event all year. The Cup goes to Tony. I’m sure NASCAR and most of us are hoping for another great outcome next year although most of us are NOT fans of the Chase format. It’s here and we have to live with it. So, I may not be a fan of the format, but I’m a fan of the way the competition came out this year as it was truly a remarkable finish to a fairly remarkable year for NASCAR.
The down side? Yep, there is that to consider but not to dwell on. I think the sagging tv rating for so much of the year has adversely effected the ability of the networks to sell sponsors on the NASCAR deal. Sooner or later, that is going to take a huge toll on what we are seeing on tv coverage. Hopefully, the interest generated by the close points race and the new winners in 2011 will carry over to 2012.
Darian Grubb. Yep, that is a downer to the extent that the man wins the title for Tony knowing that he would not be with the Stewart/Haas team in 2012. As it turns out, Darian is fine and will start his new deal with JGR and getting Denny Hamlin in a position to win the Cup. Not wishing Tony any ill will, but when he racing Hamlin next year I hope he will remember that strategy at Homestead that helped Tony win the race and the championship. Darian, always hold your head of high and be proud of what you have accomplished. No one can take away from you the honor that you earned fair and square.
Of course we can’t conclude a discourse on the season without at least a comment regarding the Busch Brothers. I will, however, leave it at this. I, personally, do not believe NASCAR needs either one of these young men. I realize there are many out there who pull for one or the other of the guys and I respect that. I just feel that the continuing disgrace they bring upon themselves, their teams, and the sport has reached the breaking point. It did a long time ago with me. Kurt is already suffering for his transgressions, as he should, but the younger Busch is being coddled by Joe Gibbs. I hope such coddling does not end in the death of someone on the track because young Mr. Busch cannot control his temper.
So, we wind down 2011. Nothing much left now but to wish NASCAR the best going forward and the best to all the drivers and teams as they prepare for next year. Just one final note here. Some of us went to check out the NASCAR Hall of Fame on November 18th. Not an “official trip” but quite a fun trip for those of us who went. I personal thank you to all who went and a very special thank you to Randy Myers who kept after me until we made it work. I, for one, had a most erroneous opinion of the HOF. While I still don’t agree with the selection process, I think Winston Kelley and the folks there are trying to give a representative display of the historic side of the sport even to having a still on display. Whether or not it makes White Lighting is not as important as the fact that NASCAR has acknowledged that part of its history right there on the third floor of that impressive building. I would encourage anyone with any interest in racing to visit the Hall of Fame and enjoy every bit of it. For those of us dedicated to the preservation of the heritage, that third floor is the place to hang out but the entire place is an adventure for every race fan.
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