While I know never to say "never", but I don't see pay-for-view coming to NASCAR. It is too sponsor driven to go to pay-for-view. I've been wrong before on several issues and I realize that you, Pkl, are most times right, but I have to respectfully disagree with you on that one.
August 19, 2012
Dear ESPN,
We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to your organization for interrupting your afternoon of commercial filled television with the brief episodes of Cup racing. It is not our intention to deprive you of your advertising income. Indeed, we wish to share in that income.
Also, as to your Sports Center Commercials and your Fantasy Football Commercials, both self-serving, granted, it is difficult to estimate the level on intelligence required to produce and film such commercials. ESPN can be rightfully proud of the highly intelligent employees, all graduates of the stick and ball sports obviously, who are responsible for these advertising ploys.
Rest assured that we will not, in the future, attempt to interrupt your commercials with more than 5 minutes of continuous racing action at any one time.
Sincerely,
NASCAR
Jerry Smith and his staff did an excellent job with the Festival in South Congaree today. I am so pleased I attended the event and hope there will be another soon. Thanks, Jerry and all of you who made the day so great.
Tim
Rex has an incredible memory as Harlow said. I enjoy my times with him and never fail to learn something I never knew. One of the best things about the get togethers with these pioneers of the sport is the wonderful memories these guys have of their careers. Many times I've heard stories from these guys who lived it and when I research the web for more information, I find their recollections are spot on!
I hope everyone will take a second or two to add to this post. Today, our very own Cody Dinsmore is celebrating his 16th birthday. Cody is a most special young man who adds a great deal to the Tuesday night radio show with his talent and knowledge. He is a young man who is destined to go far and will deserve every good thing that comes his way. So please join me in wishing Cody A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! You go Cody!!!!!
Jim, we have not had one in a long time. Most of that fault is mine as there was a period of time when trying to find a suitable place and arrange a convenient time for most to attend just wasn't working. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. You know I always enjoy hanging out with you so we'll need to get cracking with that. Watch the site and the Team SC Midlands e-mails to see what we can work out.
From the very beginning of this ethanol mess, I have believed it is another bungled government project. Corn is for food stuff (and moonshine) and should not be wasted as an additive to gasoline. The person who came up with that idea should be made to go without ANY food that includes corn. That would, of course, include all meat that is fed by corn. Ignorance is cured by education. There is no cure for stupid so those folks are put to work in government.
Now that the discussion on this post has died down, I have a confession. I was cutting my grass Monday while trying to think of ways to get discussions going on the site. What better avenue, I thought, than to raise issues about the honesty and trustworthyness of NASCAR. I pointed out that it was not directed at Kyle Busch because, even though I may not be a fan of his, per se, after seeing him with the kid from Make-A-Wish, or whatever organization, I realized Kyle and I have that in common and someone who can do things like that for a kid deserves my respect, so he has earned that much. The post was more tongue-in-cheek than an outright blast of NASCAR. One day I will write my expose` on what I feel is pretty substantial proof that NASCAR has manipulated race results for years. The yellow flags seem to appear when needed for certain drivers for that elusive debris rarely seen by the human eye. I have my opinion on all that (of course) and when logically reviewed, I am supported by evidence I think proves my point. But that is for another time.
What the race at The Glen proved to me, and many others, is that NASCAR needs to run more road courses. Certainly the road course provides much better competition than those cookie cutter abominations Bruton Smiths seems to over dose on. The racing on a road course is good racing, close racing, and several of those drivers proved you CAN pass on those tracks and do it well. The finish of the race was, as has been stated by others, the best I've seen in a long, long time. I have to think all the way back to Daytona 500, 1976, for a finish with more interest. Ask Billy Biscoe about that one.
Many of us here have issues with the way NASCAR continues to do the things we feel are leading to the eventual end of the sport. While I doubt it will ever "end", the continuing decline is evident. I hope someone wakes up before the final checkered flag flies. What racing was when I fell in love with the sport, it is no more. But, the dedication of some of the drivers to the sport outweighs the money issue of so many others and it those drivers for whom I hope the sport will re-invent itself. To me, the answers are simple. To NASCAR, I'm not sure they are aware of the questions. Sort of like playing Jeopardy. The answers are out there, it's the questions they need to find. But I won't go on rant about that today.
I just want to thank all who took time to respond to this post. I always appreciate input from all sources and you folks who commented here didn't let me down. Keep it coming. You can always e-mail me on the site here or at: legendtim83@yahoo.com
****** IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER******* THIS IS NOT A NEGATIVE COMMENT POST ABOUT KYLE BUSCH.
For any of you who have ever read of the conspiracy theroies, of which there are many, regarding the assinaton of President Kennedy, or of the moon landing in 1969, you know such theroies are easily contrived by the minds of those, like me, who read things into events. Even the most innocent of actions can sometimes lead someone to believe that there is indeed a twilight zone. So, here we go.
I have read several discussions on Facebook and other sites today regarding the end of the race at The Glen yesterday when NASCAR failed to throw a caution flag when there was oil all over the track (per several drivers' statements) for at least one complete lap, if not two. NASCAR has gone to great lengths to stress that they could not determine oil was on the track and has even posted on their own site the statement of John Darby that the "tower" (NASCAR speak for head honcho) kept asking the turn workers if they could see oil on the track. Per Darby, all turn workers said "no". The flagman said "no". This all from the organization that throws "debris cautions" to bunch up the field for a close finish whether or not the debris exists.
Please note that all the drivers interviewed yesterday said there was oil on the track and plenty were slipping and sliding, yet, after being "guided" by NASCAR, all drivers now say you could not see the oil.If you are a race fan, you should know if a driver feels something is wrong, he is going to radio his crew "oil on the track". Did that not happen? Funny how TV failed to let us in on any of the in-car radio transmissions addressing that.
Ok, being one who believes Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone, I will proffer this conspiracy theory from the grassy knoll at the Glen (I'm sure they have one).
Point 1: Kyle Busch was leading and on the way to a sure win. It is a big deal for NASCAR to have Kyle in The Chase. I'm sure M&M Mars would not be happy to have their car outside looking in. A win would have greatly enhanced his chances to be in the big show.
Point 2: By the time Kyle slipped and spun, it was too late for NASCAR to do anything to help Kyle who is now 14th in points with only ONE win. Besides, it all happened so fast, no one in "the Tower" has the reaction time necessary to make such a call.
Point 3: Preacher Joe has only Denny Hamlin in The Chase at present and while he looks pretty secure in his 10th place standing with two wins, the way he has flamed out a couple of times recently, Preacher Joe wants to be sure FexEx is not getting ready to ship their sponsor dollars elsewhere.
Point 4: Speaking of sponsor dollar problems for Preacher Joe, I understand Home Depot is so disenchanted and enraged with "Sliced Bread" that they have forbidden their employees to bring sandwich lunches to work.
So, state your opinion. Was NASCAR trying to ensure Kyle's win yesterday and then screwed it up royally because Kyle was the one to spin?
Whatever you may think of my conspiracy theory, you have to say the final lap with Marcos and Brad was the way racing should be. Both drivers said it and I agree. It was slam-bang, racing for a win the way I remember those Petty-Pearson duels. For one brief shining moment, I was back in the 70s and it felt good.
Sunday evening, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Ked Deiter, a Canadian Musician of the highest calibre and a very good friend of Ron's, intends to do a tribute to his late friend on his radio show. The link, at Ked gave it to me, is: www.mixposure.com/?t=mixstream radio. I clicked that link this morning and it worked for me and my lack of computer skills means it should work for you as well. You may want to tune in. Ked lives music like we live racing and Ron was a dear friend of his.
