Well, maybe I exaggerated just a bit with the "I promise" but if you see me through this, I think you will agree that you will be happy you took the time to read this short post.
Jeff Gilder and I met with Free Pennington and David Brassell of Free American Racing today in Augusta, Georgia. You don't know those gentlemen? Don't worry, you will. Free Pennington is a race driver on the way to The Cup series and one of the finest individuals you will ever hope to meet. It is so absolutely refreshing to encounter someone in today's world with his talent and committment not only to racing, but to God, his family and his country.
This little post here is to entice you to be on the lookout for a blog I will post later this week (I need more time to digest all the events of today) which will more fully introduce you to Free Pennington and Free American Racing and to let you in on some very exciting news coming out of today's meeting.
So, stand by folks. Watch for the blog post later in the week.
Tim
After watching today's Daytona 500, the Great American Race, I would offer the following thoughts of the man formerly known as "The Legend".
1. This was racing the way I like it. Competitive, close, fairly accident free, definitely free of "the big one" and a close finish with drama.
2. Jamie McMurray is a CLASS ACT. I first knew that when he missed the Chase a few years ago (the October after Katrinia) where he finished 11th (10 in the chase then) and he didn't make it. The interviewer asked him how he felt about missing it and he said something to the effect that considering what had happened in New Orleans, missing the Chase was so inconsequential. He impressed me that night as a human being. After that night, whether or not he ever won a race, I would be a fan of Jamie McMurray. Today, he did us all proud! The win means a great deal to him as it does to all of us who truly believe that, in the end, good guys will prevail.
3. Greg Biffle is a CLASS ACT as well. We knew this the way he stepped up with support for the Memory Lane Racers Reunion Hall of Fame. We knew this from the interview he did with Jeff posted right here on Racers Reunion. To see him in Victory Lane celebrating and complimenting Jamie was, simply stated, awesome. Greg drives a Ford, Jamie a Chevrolet. That doesn't usually happen. Even more, when the guy just beat you when it was you who should have won, it takes a real class act to show up like Greg did, smiling and laughing, having just lost the biggest race of the year. I'll be adding Mr. Biffle to my list of drivers I'll be pulling for each week.
4. I am disappointed that, on a day when NASCAR had the opportunity to really shine, a hole in the track brought what is surely embarrassment to Daytona and NASCAR. I've already had one fan question me on the mentality of a major sport who cannot seem to patch a hole on a race track in two attempts, the first of which far exceeded an hour. NASCAR didn't need such a distraction, especially on a day when there were possibly a few extra million folks watching because the weather up north and in the mid west is keeping folks house bound. For sure, the hole was not exactly NASCAR's fault, but such a clownish effort to repair it should not have occurred.
5. I am very privileged to have a nice high def television to watch the races and am amazed at the picture quality that allows me to see every detail of what is going on both on the track and in the pits. Unfortunately, that same tv allows me to see such travesty as Brian France attempting to explain the repair of the hole in the track. I did observe, of at least I think I did, that he never referred to the hole as a "pot" hole.
6. I continue to question the people behind the advertising campaigns such as the "Digger" situation on Fox and several other companies as to how they view the demographic race fan. I cannot, for the life of me, understand what people would rush out to buy some of these products based upon the commercials that are run during the race. Either I am so under educated as to miss the point of those commercials, or there simply is no point to most of them. The "Gillette 500"????? Someone please explain that to me, especially the Kyle Busch comment "we don't do hamburgers".
7. I think when Ned Jarrett got to "call the last lap" of the Daytona 500 his son won, it was classbroadcasting and a very heart warming event. To hear D.W. screaming into the microphone on the last lap "Go June Bug" was disgusting, disturbing, and totally unprofessional. I have major issues with D.W., which I will be happy to address to his face as I once did at Rockingham, but I doubt I'll ever be given that opportunity. Having him in the booth makes it a chore to watch races on Fox but,apparently, he must be loved by some fans. Then again, considering where the fans of today have put the sport, maybe that is a reason for such indulgence. I simply am not now, nor was I ever, a fan of D.W. Want to know something funny though? The first time he came to Darlington with the Terminal Transport car, I remarked to several friends on top of our motorhome after the race that "that guy is going to be a star". I've only said that about a handful of drivers over my long association with the sport and I was right about him. A star he did become. Unfortunatelly, he never got the class to go with it.
8. I think that NASCAR's effort to put some part of the history back in the sport it admirable. However, I twice heard today, once from Larry Mac and once from D.W., that the history of the sport began in 1980. I can't help but wonder what it was I was watching those 28 years before that history began. At the very least they should have let 1979 begin the history because NASCAR likes to present the 1979 Daytona 500 as THE event that attacted the attention of the nation.
9. When I was watching the early part of the race and Allmendinger had that number 43 out front, I was wondering how emotional I would get if 43 ended up in Victory Lane. I didn't get that chance today but I admire and applaud Jamie McMurray for showing the emotion he did. Now I should be ok to shed a few tears of joy to see the number 43 back in Victory Lane. Just wish it could have been in The Daytona 500.
10. Next Sunday the crew will be in California, probably the most boring speedway in the country. I admit part of my total dislike for that Planet Hollywood hole in the universe is because it took my beloved Southern 500 from Labor Day weekend. I've never been to that track, never liked that track, never will like that track and, if I was financially able, I would rent the bulldozer for Robbie to bulldoze that track into oblivion. Speaking of Robbie, I glad he is/was my friend because he is one dude I want on MY side.
So, there you have my thoughts. Hit me with yours. We have some of the smartest and most sincere race fans on the planet as members right here on Racers Reunion. I say what I think and I want to hear what you have to say. You probably won't change my mind. Oh, and one more thing, I'll supply the duct tape to anyone who'll use it on D.W.'s mouth.
Tim
