Forum Activity for @andy-denardi

Remember When Every Driver Wanted One?

Stock Car Racing History

I haven't seen one since. They were also nylon, the bottom 2/3 was red and the top was a goldish-yellow. They had a big Schaefer logo on the back, the first year was cloth then they went to a simpler iron-on kind of thing. I don't know if this was a local distributor thing or an official Schaefer promotion. Schaefer was sponsoring the Trans-Am weekends with SCCA Production classes running beforehand. I was stuck in Regional events and the jackets were for guys that ran National.

I don't frequent eBay any more but believe me, if I saw one Chase would be first to know.

Remember When Every Driver Wanted One?

Stock Car Racing History

I was looking for the picture of me in my jacket with the race queen but apparently it didn't make the transition to digital. All those old pictures were taken by friends with 110 Instamatics and they were soft focus with faded colors.My jacket was more lightweight then those shown here, mainly because they were from sports car racing, which was held in the daytime instead of Saturday nights. Mine was sturdy nylon with a racing stripe going down and four or five sponsor patches. I was eager to move up because Schaefer beer gave out gold and red jackets at the higher levels, but they pulled out before I got there.

Cup schedule changes...Darlington Labor Day?

Current NASCAR

I don't know how much responsibility Bruton has for Atlanta getting screwed. Near as I can tell, it's all Francis Ferko's fault . I'm in favor of Atlanta getting the season finale back but would prefer that all the tracks run only one race. Cutting some of the duplicate races would allow for a race at Road America and one in Toronto or Montreal. And more short tracks if they can find them. I think everyone would benefit if the season was about five races shorter, avoiding problems with cold weather.

Cup schedule changes...Darlington Labor Day?

Current NASCAR

I'm curious to see the new schedule. It seems like they'll have to move up both California and Texas to do make these changes. That also cuts down on a little bit on the long travel between events. I don't care so much about Bristol but the Southern 500 really belongs on Labor Day.

Should Tony Stewart take the rest of the year off?

Current NASCAR

Yeah, I didn't phrase that as well as it was in my mind. I meant for him to grab a Nationwide driver and start & park for the rest of the season. I think there's a rules that makes it desirable to stay in the top 30 in points so they can't just park the car. Stewart is 35th now, and if my memory is correct then they'll want to run enough laps with a substitute to move it up a few spots. I agree that it would be best for Tony to take some time off. He's got two guys in the chase and it would probably be beneficial for the team to worry about one less car.

Should Tony Stewart take the rest of the year off?

Current NASCAR

I read an absolutely horrible article in the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday. It seemed clear that the author was a stick & ball reporter who had no understanding of the sport or of Tony's day-to-day personality. If I was Tony Stewart's handler, I'd tell him to take the rest of the year off. You have to start all of the races in order to get into the Chase, so he's already out.

There are twelve races to go and I don't see what good can be accomplished by racing. It will only reignite a story that is taking a long time to fade away. I think that SHR should spend very little time on Tony's car and and start-and-park for the rest of the season. Concentrate on Harvick & Busch in the chase. His sponsors won't be pleased but they must also realize that this is a no-win situation.

He has to stay in the top 30 doesn't he? Something about having a guaranteed spot in the field?

updated by @andy-denardi: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM

ITS FOURTH AND DO YOU PUNT OR GO FOR THE GUSTO

Current NASCAR

An uneventful announcement. I was hoping for something that would live up to the "unprecedented" hype. I don't see how this has any great impact "across four NASCAR divisions". Everybody's known where Carl was going for at least a month.

I don't see Carl as the major star that some claim but he slots into the driver lineup well. Kenseth will be retiring soon and Carl becomes the veteran that can train new drivers. I feel he's better than Denny and more consistent than Kyle. I hope Gibbs tells him to ditch the backflips. The fans like them but he's gonna hurt himself one of these days.

ITS FOURTH AND DO YOU PUNT OR GO FOR THE GUSTO

Current NASCAR

I don't feel great about Lesa in the big chair either. She hasn't been able to fill the grandstands. Hard to say whose fault that is - TV, Brian or hers. She's Brian's sister, so I assume she's applied the screws to him for dragging down her end of the business. I hope they're grooming Ben Kennedy.

Ford Motor Company has soared since Bill Ford stepped aside and let a competent man run the company. Maybe the Frances can learn from that. Maybe we put Jeff Burton or Dale Jarrett in charge. Hey, John Force seems to be able to get things done and has built a pretty good empire. He definitely knows what it's like to start a race team from nothing. Put Danica in charge of marketing. She understands how to take a mediocre product and sell the heck out of it.

ITS FOURTH AND DO YOU PUNT OR GO FOR THE GUSTO

Current NASCAR

Probably for the best. I liked Ambrose but he didn't have a fantastic career on ovals. Ran well at Michigan but never won. If you need a road course expert you may as well bring one in just for those races. I liked Ambrose's attitude and personality and am disappointed that he didn't make it.

Despite his recent win, I don't have the same confidence in Allmendinger. I'd trade him for a hot protege of Roush or Penske that they need to keep on ice. In fact, if I were RPM I'd be upset that Penske lined up with the Wood Brothers instead of me. Especially since they just stole my driver.

They only have one race in the US but there are a lot of younger folks that like the Supercar series. The audience that NASCAR is trying so hard to get. With Penske's involvement there, and the owner's organization, I have to wonder if some folks are setting up an escape plan in case NASCAR keeps sinking. Is there a France family member waiting to step in during a coup at NASCAR headquarters?

ITS FOURTH AND DO YOU PUNT OR GO FOR THE GUSTO

Current NASCAR

I think Rodriguez is probably the only Mexican. NASCAR was pushing their Mexican series for a while and had those Busch series races in Mexico City from 2005 to 2008. That time period would seem to be the most likely time for a Mexican to run the 500. But I don't think it happened. The other possibility would be a Mexican born Winston West driver running the race. It's pretty easy to hide a one-time entry in the back rows.

I think we've had a German (can't remember his name), at least two Englishmen (Elford, Hobbes), a Scot (Franchitti) an Aussie (Ambrose), a Columbian (Montoya), several Canadians, a Mexican (Rodriguez). Have there been any Japanese?