The first stop was a visit to The High Octane Theater to see a short [...]]]>

I woke up early in anticipation of my visit to the Hall of Fame.  After a stop to meet up with a pal, we were on our way and finally arrived around 11:30am.

The first stop was a visit to The High Octane Theater to see a short film about the evolution of NASCAR.  It was just enough to get the adrenalin pumping and we walked out eager to explore.

The first thing that caught my eye was Dale Jr’s bright yellow and blue No. 3 Wrangler car.  As I approached to get a closer look, I found myself grinning from ear to ear.  His emotional win in the Nationwide Series race at Daytona just a few weeks earlier will probably always be one of my favorite NASCAR memories.

I was especially pleased to see that the car had been brought from the track perfectly preserved, down to the mud splattered hood and windshield.

Next, we walked up “Glory Road,” the ramp leading to the second level. It has something for everyone. It’s like a candy store for NASCAR fans with the likes of David Pearson’s No. 21 Purolator car, the Intimidator’s black No. 3 car, Jimmie Johnson’s #48 car and many others.

The cars sit on a platform that mimics the various degrees of banking at different racetracks. The steepest banking simulated is the 33 degrees of Talladega.  You might be surprised to find that it’s almost impossible to even walk up this incline.

It’s these small details that make the Hall of Fame a complete experience.

Making our way along the ramp, I stopped to take some pictures of the famous “Petty Blue” No. 43. As I stood there, an employee happened to walk by.

“Come back in an hour,” she said,” Richard Petty will be stopping by to film some commercial spots.”

We couldn’t believe our luck and made sure to stake out a spot in front of his car.

While we waited, I saw Winston Kelly, the Executive Director of the Hall of Fame, and I introduced myself to him. My husband had worked with him at Duke Energy so we stood there and chatted a few minutes.

I asked him how he had made the leap from Duke Energy to NASCAR. Of course I knew that he’d been involved with NASCAR for most of his life but I was curious as to what he would say.

He told me that he had always been a fan and had worked as a radio broadcaster for Motor Racing Network for several years. He was approached and asked if he would like to be a part of the Hall of Fame.

Kelly smiled and went on to say “In a weak moment, they asked me and in a weak moment, I accepted. “

The next thing I knew, Richard Petty was standing just a few feet away from me in his trademark hat and sunglasses.  He had walked in alone, with no security, and joked with the staff as they prepared to shoot his part in the commercials.

The entire process was over in about twenty minutes and then came the hard part.

Petty looked over at Winston Kelly and jokingly asked “How are you getting me out of here?”

To no one’s surprise, he was almost immediately surrounded by a crowd of eager but respectful fans.  As Petty slowly made his way out, some were brave enough to ask for a picture with the King but most settled for an autograph.

We were later told by an employee that Petty has become a regular visitor. You never know who you might happen to see on any given day at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. On this day, we considered ourselves very lucky indeed to have been in the presence of one of NASCAR’S icons.

The second level features a celebration of the Hall of Fame Inductees and highlights their individual achievements.  It’s also known as the interactive level and can provide hours of entertainment with the different displays.

You can try running a couple of qualifying laps on a simulator at the current track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule.  I tried two laps at Bristol and believe me; it’s not as easy as it looks, but loads of fun.

There’s also a pit crew challenge with a daily prize. You can compete as an individual or as a two person crew.  We saw an awesome father and son team and a few that weren’t so memorable but everyone was having a blast.

They also have racing simulators where you can try your luck in the car of your choice and compete for the best time of the day.

There are too many activities to list and almost too much to do in just one visit.  We still had one more level to explore so we headed up to the third level.

It’s named Heritage Speedway and tells the story of NASCAR with countless displays. Each case is filled with a slice of history and as I walked down the aisles I felt a sense of awe.

The pioneers of NASCAR, those we have lost, past champions and today’s best are all represented. There are tributes to Wendell Scott, Louise Smith, Herb Thomas, Smokey Yunick, Rob Moroso, Davey Allison, Alan Kulwicki, Dale Earnhardt and countless others.

Almost four hours and 200 pictures later, we finally left, tired but satisfied. I’m proud of my hometown and what they’ve accomplished with the NASCAR Hall of Fame.  I can hardly wait to visit again and see the progression of this tribute to NASCAR history.

As I rode home and reflected on our trip, I found myself grinning again. I had in my hands an autograph from the King, Richard Petty.

How cool is that?

Jimmie Johnson grabbed his fourth win of the season at Sonoma today with a little help from Marcos Ambrose.  It was his fourth win this season and his 51st career win.

While Johnson was celebrating his victory, the rest of the NASCAR world was still in shock [...]]]>

Image by BiggerPictureImages.com via Flickr

Jimmie Johnson grabbed his fourth win of the season at Sonoma today with a little help from Marcos Ambrose.  It was his fourth win this season and his 51^st career win.

While Johnson was celebrating his victory, the rest of the NASCAR world was still in shock at the heartbreaking mistake that handed him the win.

On the final caution of the race, Ambrose failed to keep up with the pace car and maintain his position during the caution laps.  This unfortunate error gave the lead to Johnson who easily cruised into victory lane.

Marcos talked to the media after the race.

“Just cut the motor off, trying to save a bit of fuel there,” Ambrose said. “It’s NASCAR’s house, you play by their rules. I don’t agree with it. I don’t like it, but that’s the way it is.

Movers and Shakers:

The biggest gain in the points standings was made by Jimmie Johnson who moved up four spots to second place. He is now only 140 points behind leader Kevin Harvick.

Johnson also made some history today. His 51^st career win puts him 10^th on the all-time winners list. Hendrick Motor Sports broke another record with its 15^th victory on a road course, the most for one organization.

Jeff Gordon moved up two spots to fifth place in the standings but seems to have lost the respect of some drivers in the process.  His controversial run in today’s race puts him firmly in the role of villain, so more about him later.

I’d also like to give a quick nod to Dale Earnhardt Jr who finished today in 11^th place. This is no small feat for a driver who joked last week that he’d like to blow up the racetrack with a stick of dynamite.

Earnhardt moved up one position to 13^th in the points standings. It’s a small gain but gives hope to Junior Nation that he may still make the Chase.

Snoozers and Losers:

Marcos Ambrose is without a doubt the biggest loser in today’s race. His error in judgment has to be the biggest disappointment of his NASCAR career.

He obviously had the best car all day but had to settle for sixth place. This was his best finish of the season but was certainly cold comfort to Ambrose who saw a win slip through his grasp.

What makes it even more confusing is why he was told that he needed to save fuel.

Let’s hope that this blunder from down under doesn’t define the remainder of Ambrose’s season.

Joe Gibbs Racing also took a hit today.

Joey Logano was involved in a wreck with Juan Pablo Montoya on lap 85 and ended up with a 33^rd place finish.

Denny Hamlin got caught up in the first crash of the race along with teammate Kyle Busch. The accident sent Busch to the garage and he eventually finished in 39^th place.

Hamlin’s hood was damaged in the accident and would eventually pop up, blinding him during the race. His crew had to cut off the hood from his car and he ended up with a 34^th place finish.

His comment on twitter after the race says it all.

“We hit everything but the lottery,” Hamlin tweeted.

Heroes and Villains:

Johnson once again proved that you should never count him out. With his win today, he sits in familiar territory near the top of the points standings.

There’s no question that he was about the only one smiling after a race fueled by heated exchanges between numerous drivers.

Jeff Gordon made it to the top of NASCAR’s most wanted today.  The normally mild-mannered Martin Truex Jr was livid after a run-in with Gordon ruined his day.

Truex had been running in the top ten when he got spun out by Gordon.  Just a few laps later, he got caught up in a multi-car crash, effectively ending his day.

After the incident, Truex’s anger was focused solely on Gordon and he indicated on his radio that he would get his revenge.

“I guess Jeff figured if he couldn’t catch us on the racetrack he was going to spin us out on the restart,” Truex said.  “How many times have I spun Jeff Gordon out? How many times have I spun anybody out? I lifted for them guys on those restarts; they get all stupid and crazy and wild, and I lift and wait and they just run into you. It’s stupid.”

Gordon was apologetic saying, “”There are some things that I’m not proud of that I did today; certainly with Martin. I mean, I completely messed that up and I will try to patch that up. Other things that happened out there were just really hard racing incidents.”

Despite Gordon’s apologies, I’m guessing that this is just the first installment of what looks to be a serious rivalry.

Truex wasn’t the only one who expressed their criticism of Gordon after the race.

“It’s always kinda been about him,” Sadler told ESPN columnist Marty Smith. “I’ve always raced him clean. No more.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Gordon also managed to earn the wrath of Kurt Busch, David Ragan and Clint Bowyer.

So paint a target on Gordon’s back as we wait to see who will take the first shot at him in upcoming races.

Gordon was not the only one that had people talking after the race.

Tony Stewart ended his day by running into Boris Said after the race as payback for an earlier incident.

Frank Stoddard, Said’s crew chief, confronted Stewart in the middle of the garage and a screaming match ensued.

Boris Said was disappointed in Stewart’s behavior.  “At the end of the race, Tony Stewart just ran in and took the side of my car out after the checker,” he said. “He’s one of my heroes, so that kind of upset me a little bit.”

Stay tuned as things continue to heat up in the Chase for the Championship next week at Loudon.

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The Samsung Mobile 500 finally got underway on Monday and pole sitter Tony Stewart led the field to green. Stewart was strong all day but the competition was fierce.

Teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson were up front much of the day and raced each other aggressively, making contact [...]]]>

Image via Wikipedia

The Samsung Mobile 500 finally got underway on Monday and pole sitter Tony Stewart led the field to green. Stewart was strong all day but the competition was fierce.

Teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson were up front much of the day and raced each other aggressively, making contact at one point.

Dale Earnhardt Jr led 46 laps but lost the handle of his car and wasn’t a factor at the end.

But the most excitement came suddenly on lap 318 when Carl Edwards and Stewart made contact coming off Turn 4.  Stewart then hit Gordon and after the dust cleared, a total of nine cars were involved.

Jeff Gordon saw another win slip away and Denny Hamlin saw his chance.

The race was re-started and Denny Hamlin pulled ahead for the lead. With two laps to go, Jimmie Johnson was in second place trying to close in on Hamlin, but he ran out of time.

This is Hamlin’s second win this season and his 10^th Sprint Cup victory.

More importantly, this win brings him one step closer to his ultimate goal of becoming a championship contender.

Rounding out the top five finishers were Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne.

Movers and Shakers:

Hamlin won the race and gave himself a fighting chance in the Chase for the Championship. He gained seven spots and is now in 11^th place in the points standings.

The Busch brothers both struggled but ended the day up front.

Kyle Busch’s patience paid off with a third place finish, gaining six positions to 6^th place.

Kurt Busch was in the right place at the right time and benefited from the crash that took out some of the race leaders. He moved up five spots to 9^th. 

Snoozers and Losers:

Thanks to the wreck on lap 318, several drivers took a nose dive in the points standings.

From my viewpoint, it’s impossible to place blame on any one driver. However, Tony Stewart accepted responsibility for the accident and apologized to all those caught up in the incident.

Asleep at the wheel, his victims include:

Carl Edwards lost 4 positions, dropping to 12^th.

Tony Stewart lost 5 spots and now sits in 14^th place.

Clint Bowyer was the biggest loser moving down nine positions to 15th.

Jeff Gordon remains in 5^th place in the standings but once again failed to deliver.

Heroes and Villains:

At the end of the 2009 Sprint Cup season, Denny Hamlin’s name was on everyone’s lips. “This guys going to contend for the championship next year,” they said.

Fast forward to 2010 and the news that Hamlin had a torn ACL in his left knee that would require surgery and suddenly almost everyone in the media wrote him off.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the media got it wrong.

Hamlin’s win at Texas propelled him from 18^th to 11^th in the points standings. He still has a long way to go but the season has just begun.

The media may have written him off but Hamlin obviously didn’t get the memo.

Keep your eye on this “hero.”

The two villains of the race were brought to us courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports.

Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson provided the entertainment with their version of the Texas Two-Step. They may be teammates but that didn’t stop them from exchanging sheet metal during the race and thinly veiled insults afterwards.

Both tried to downplay the significance but I think these two will continue to duke it out as Gordon tries to reclaim his top dog status.

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PRESS RELEASE

CONCORD, N.C. (April 14, 2010) – Beginning with the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Kasey Kahne will drive the No. 5 Chevrolets of Hendrick Motorsports after signing a long-term contract with the organization.

Mark Martin, 51, the current driver of Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 team, will [...]]]>

Image via Wikipedia

PRESS RELEASE

CONCORD, N.C. (April 14, 2010) – Beginning with the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Kasey Kahne will drive the No. 5 Chevrolets of Hendrick Motorsports after signing a long-term contract with the organization.

Mark Martin, 51, the current driver of Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 team, will complete the 2010 and 2011 seasons. When Kahne takes over in 2012, he will join teammates Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Hendrick’s four-car stable.

“In Kasey, we saw an opportunity to cement a big piece of our future,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “He possesses incredible talent and a tremendous dedication to his craft, and we know he’ll be a great fit within our company.

“Kasey has earned the respect of his future teammates by the way he’s handled himself on and off the racetrack, and we know he’ll be a contributor to the success of Hendrick Motorsports for many years to come. To have someone of his caliber join our team is an unbelievable opportunity for us.”

Kahne, who turned 30 on April 10, is an 11-time Sprint Cup race winner. Now in the midst of his seventh full-time season at NASCAR’s elite level, the Enumclaw, Wash., native also has earned 16 pole positions, 43 top-five finishes and 79 top-10s on the tour.

“I have a comfort level with Mr. Hendrick, my future teammates and the culture of the organization,” said Kahne, whose contract with Hendrick Motorsports will run through the 2015 Sprint Cup season. “For me, it’s the right fit on every level, and I think it gives me a great chance to win races and compete for championships.

“Determining the next step in my career has been an important process, and I’m excited and relieved to have the decision made and announced. Now it’s my responsibility to put all of my energy into winning races and having a successful 2010 with my current team and our sponsors.”

Although 2012 and beyond has been solidified, Kahne is not scheduled to drive a Hendrick Motorsports entry in 2011 due to NASCAR’s four-car limit. While who he will race for has not yet been determined, Kahne intends to drive a full Sprint Cup Series schedule next season.

“If this opportunity was going to happen, I knew having some unanswered questions would be part of the scenario at this stage,” Kahne acknowledged. “Hendrick Motorsports has a commitment to Mark Martin that they want to fulfill, and that’s important. It’s part of what attracts me to the team.”

ABOUT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS:
Since 1984 Hendrick Motorsports has earned 13 championships in NASCAR’s top three divisions and 191 victories in the sanctioning body’s premier series, the Sprint Cup. Now in its 27th season, the organization fields four full-time Chevrolet teams on the Sprint Cup Series circuit with drivers Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Headquartered in Concord, N.C., Hendrick Motorsports employs more than 500 people. For more information about Hendrick Motorsports, please visit www.HendrickMotorsports.com,  www.twitter.com/HendrickInfo and www.facebook.com/HendrickMotorsports.

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I’m not sure of the reasoning behind the changes but the result was an extremely long [...]]]>

The Subway Fresh Fit 600 at Phoenix International Raceway was a little different this year. It began a little earlier and 63 laps were added to the race.

I’m not sure of the reasoning behind the changes but the result was an extremely long and often boring race. But as most NASCAR fans will tell you, the ending is usually worth the wait.

Most of the race was led by Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch, both leading 113 laps. Montoya also had a dominant car and led for 105 laps.

But in the end, it all came down to strategy. On the last caution, the leaders pitted and decisions were made. Would it be two tires or four?

As it turned out, the two tire call was the right one. Jeff Gordon came out first with Ryan Newman in second position.

The green-white-checker race to the finish was on. Gordon spun his tires on the restart, Newman saw his chance and took the lead.

“The last restart I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Newman. “It was the right place at the right time. Two tires paid off.”

Gordon, Johnson, Martin and Montoya rounded out the top five.

Movers and Shakers:

There wasn’t a whole lot of moving and shaking going on in this race but there were some big moves in the Sprint Cup points standings.

Carl Edwards had a solid run at Phoenix and finished in seventh place. This marks his third consecutive top ten finish and he moves up six spots in the points standing to 8^th place.

Marcos Ambrose finished in 11th place but it may be too little, too late. He moved up five spots and now sits 24th in the points, 400 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson.

Kurt Busch is our big mover, but he’s moving in the wrong direction.  Busch brought out the first caution of the day after contact with Kasey Kahne sent them into the wall. He’s had an up and down season and his 35^th finish at Phoenix drops him eight spots to 14^th in the standings.

Kasey Kahne lost six spots and moved down to 26^th in points. More importantly, he has probably lost any chance at making it into the Chase.

Snoozers and Losers:

The biggest loser award is a toss-up.

1) One contender is Kyle Busch.  It looked like he had this win in the bag until the last caution. With a green-white-checker finish ahead of them, his crew chief made the decision to take four tires.  Busch lost the race lead and finished a disappointing eighth place.  Even though he still gained four spots in the points, this has to be a crushing blow to his ego.

This was another missed opportunity for Busch and his team.  Busch is the ultimate wheel man but winning a championship is a group effort and this group seems a little out of sync.

2) The biggest loser may have once again been the NASCAR fans. In hindsight, the decision to extend this race was not the smartest move.  Even the fans at the race complained about how boring it was and the television coverage didn’t help.

There were ill-timed commercial breaks that missed cautions and we came back to the race only to see a recap of the action we had missed. After the race, we only saw three driver interviews and were left wanting more.

What was Kyle Busch’s reaction after losing the race?  And we were all left wondering about how Denny Hamlin was doing after his decision to stay in his car for the entire race.

Heroes and Villains:

This one was easy.

The villain of the race had to be…the bugs.

Even the pre-race coverage included an extensive analysis of the problems they were causing the drivers, the media and the fans. We even got a look at the numerous tear-offs on the cars that were needed as a result of the bugs hindering the driver’s vision.

And of course the hero of the race has to be Ryan Newman. His car was up front all day and when it mattered most, his crew chief made the right decision.

On the restart, leader Jeff Gordon spun his tires.  Newman, in second place, took over the lead and he never looked back.

It was Newman’s first win since he won the Daytona 500 in 2008. Newman was ecstatic and the fans were happy to see a new winner in Victory Lane.

For my last thoughts on the race, I’ll go with a quote by Ryan Newman, who said it best.

“It’s racing all the way up until the checkered flag falls,” said Newman. You never know what’s going to happen.”

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