Here She Comes!!!

Did anyone think this day was not coming?

Danica Patrick, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, highly successful advertising actress, and top 10 IRL race car driver is coming to NASCAR.

She will participate in the Nationwide series for JRM, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team with substantial Hendricks backing. Sponsorship is a done deal as both she and Junior are highly recognized sponsorship recipients from Go Daddy, who sponsors Patrick, Earnhardt’s Nationwide ride that was held by Brad Keselowski who graduates to Sprint Cup’s #12 Penske ride, and will be the full time sponsor for Mark Martin’s #5 ride for Sprint Cup.

Is this a deal made in NASCAR heaven or what?

Danica Patrick will drive car #7 with Go Daddy sponsorship for about twelve races. The races before the Indy season begins and the races after the IRL season ends with a few races interspaced during the season as IRL has more off dates.

JR Motorsports is one of the top operations in Nationwide racing with Brad Kesolowski being the top non-Sprint Cup driver in the standings the last two years.

Further, there is a likely career path that if she succeeds at this level especially considering the sponsorship alignment, she could surely be groomed to race the #5 car for Hendricks when Mark Martin retires. Ideally, she would get a couple years Nationwide experience and get to know the tracks before moving up to Sprint Cup.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains NASCAR’s most popular driver despite having completed an absolutely dreadful season that if it weren’t for bad luck he wouldn’t have had any luck at all. Whether it was driver or crew error, being in the wrong place at the wrong time on the track, or just inexplicable weird things, the #88 ride was a horror. The more attention fell on Junior’s shoulders the worse it seemed to get.

Danica Patrick is the most popular driver in the United States outside of NASCAR. Working with Dale Earnhardt Jr. unites two bright stars the media loves to go bonkers over in their coverage.

White Ms. Patrick has about the perfect setup to move into NASCAR, the pressure will be enormous. There is a yokel element that simply cannot stand the thought of a female attempting to compete in what they see as a man’s (or good old boy’s) world. Much will be made of her sexuality, the swimsuit covers, the racy ads that delight some and invoke sanctimonious moral reactions from others.

Her hard work and talent alone are what matters when she’s strapped into her ride. Success will be judged by finishing races gaining top 10’s, then top 5’s, then achieving that first win. Being able to do so consistently will be her ticket to move up to Sprint Cup.

She’s leaving an environment where she is the biggest fish in the IRL pond. She’ll be just another driver in Nationwide apart from the publicity she brings with her. Nationwide is not NASCAR’s top series, but she will bring huge attention and ESPN hopes TV ratings the series badly needs.

Open wheel drivers have participated to various degrees in NASCAR for decades with some experiencing tremendous success, some putting in cameo appearances, and others failing miserably. While the legacy of A.J. Foyt is part of NASCAR lore, Tony Stewart was well on his way to being an IRL champion, then spent a year racing for Joe Gibbs in the Busch series before moving on to Winston Cup. Patrick would hope to follow his path to success. Meanwhile, Juan Pablo Montoya struggled when first making the switch but did not season in Nationwide first. He is now a legitimate contender. Sam Hornish and Scott Speed still have a ways to go before being considered successful. Patrick Carpentier, Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti were not successful. Anyone expecting overnight success for Patrick should think again.

She is also entering a sport where female competitors have not had much fortune most recently seeing Patty Moise and Shawna Robinson experience some success on the Nationwide/Busch series. Erin Crocker looked poised for success in the Truck series but her relationship with Ray Evernham among other concerns torpedoed that effort. There is no compelling reason a good woman driver with a good team can’t be a tremendous success. Danica will be the first woman who truly will have first rate equipment to prove her talents as a driver. Other female competitors at the Nationwide level never had the opportunity to drive for top flight teams. Add to the mix, her crew chief will be Tony Eury Jr. who knows a thing or two about supporting a high profile driver and dealing with extreme frustration. He could be the perfect translator to help Danica become oriented to the world of NASCAR.

We welcome Danica Patrick to NASCAR reminding her nothing will be given her and her determination and professionalism are essential to her success. We also send out this message to some on the lunatic fringe, those who traffic in denigrating Danica Patrick for the sake of being a gorgeous female in what had been a man’s business, any sexist demeaning behavior will not be tolerated.

Danica’s entrance into NASCAR will make this February one of the most anticipated season openings in Daytona ever. How much attention will be on Jimmie Johnson racing for his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship versus Patrick’s arrival can surely already be predicted. It will be Danica, Danica, Danica!!!!

Frankly, we can’t wait.

IRL In Baltimore: Al Unser Jr. Supports It!!

Okay race fans, don't get your hopes up too high picturing Danica Patrick hoisting up the winner's trophy after a Grand Prix style IRL victory on the streets of Baltimore. We had our hopes stoked in the early 1990's when local investors saw great possibilities erecting a world class race track that could host NASCAR, IRL, and other series either in White Marsh off of where MD-43, White Marsh Blvd. has been extended to Middle River or near Arundel Mills in between Baltimore and Washington close to the Baltimore/Washington Parkway.

Racing in Baltimore makes sense. The city has plenty of attractions to support race fans and is within a day trip from the north, as Yankees fans gladly flock into Camden Yards or from NASCAR's power base in the Carolinas.

Environmentalists and former Governor Paris Glendenning would have nothing of it smashing any plans of building a real racing facility. Those investors pulled out and helped invest in what would become the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois.

Ah, but an IRL Grand Prix? The cost to the city would be minimimal, no permanent construction required, and downtown hotels, restaurants, and entertainment facillities not enjoying the roar of the race cars half as much as the "cha-ching" of their registers ringing up sales, and likewise the State of Maryland gets its six percent sales tax on every transaction.

What's not to like?

Here's the article from today's Baltimore Sun. Can it happen?

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal-irl0817,0,6695719.story

Race Day Pit Stop: Indy Done - Charlotte Soaks

Mama said drinking milk is good for you!!

Congratulations to Helio Castroneves, now a three time Indy winner adding another victory to the long racing legacy of Roger Penske's operation who will urge on the team of Kurt Busch, David Stremme, and Sam Hornish Jr. (an Indy 500 winner) in the Coca Cola 600.

When Indy cars hit the wall, the event is always more breath taking and traumatic to witness when they're clocking speeds at over 200 mph. Among today's crashers were points leader, tony Kanaan, Graham Rahal, and Marco Andretti, the Kanaan crash perhaps being the most heart stopping.

Dan Wheldon finished second with Danica Patrick finishing third as Castroneves clearly dominated the race extending his lead powerfully at race's end securing the widest margin of victory since Juan Pablo Montoya bested Buddy Lazier by more than seven seconds in 2000. Though Castroneves won from the poll, that difficult feat was accomplished now, in four of the last six Indy 500's.

Though Danica Patrick did not contend for the win, nobody else did either. Her driving was good enough to finish third in a very competitive, caution riddled race not only showing her ability to finish well but to avoid trouble. She has learned the value of consistency and drivers who do that will win. She did nothing to devalue her status as one of the series' most intriguing and talented drivers.

Meanwhile, it's soaking wet in Charlotte as a line of tropically enriched thunderstorms pass through the area. The main line has just passed through the area with pockets of local storms still capable of bearing down on the Concord, NC speedway. The pit area is full of puddles while the jet driers move in to prepare the track for competition.

The drivers will face a green track that will transition substantially as the race continues, but how late past the bewitching hour will it last?

Here's something to think about. While much attention has focused on Dale Earnhardt's miserable season, another Daytona 500 and All-Star victor who has been in the chase regularly is having a worse season than Junior for sure. Ask Kevin Harvick how life is for team #29 these days.

Can we make Helio Casteneves a little bit of a folk hero in our attack on Washington's tax and spend madness? Casteneves faced substantial prison time for tax evasion charges, the last of which were dismissed just moments before he began final practice. While we are obligated to pay taxes, we should never have to fear heavy-handed intimidating enforcement by a government out of control.

Race Day Pit Stop: Indy 500 3/4's Complete - More on Danica & NASCAR

Racy racer's next move?

We call your attention to today's Sporting News, article by Matt Crossman, he discusses five factors in her possible switch to NASCAR essentially highlighting the same points we made and that Johnny Benson discussed in the posting we noted in our article.

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20090524/?pg=1

The big sticking point would appear to be her need to season a little in the trucks or Nationwide series before moving to Sprint Cup. Darrell Waltrip indicates the heavy, hot hard to handle "monsters" she'd have to deal with if she made the move. Excuse the possible sexist connotation to the reference, but Sprint Cup cars require a lot of "manhandling." Danica is a tiny person, but if strong and fit, she should be able to master the massive machinery if she truly has a racer's heart, and who'd argue she doesn't?

Currently, she's a big fish in a small pond. In Sprint Cup, she's a small fish moving to the Lake Norman zip code with notables like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and the entire field of well-known Sprint Cup drivers all of whom have immediate name recognition.

IRL a second tier sport with the ultimate first tier event, the Indianapolis 500. Sprint Cup and Formula 1 are the premier motorsports series though sadly, F1 lacks exposure in the United States. The Sprint Cup/F1 dichotomy is much like NFL (football)/Football (soccer). We have our sports. The rest of the world has theirs. Danica Patrick could be the racer who could bring F1 into the SportsCenter world across America. Just another thought....

Meanwhile, it seems like the Indy 500 field has the jitters today, too many cautions from judgment lapses.

Could Danica Patrick Move to NASCAR?

IS NASCAR READY FOR THIS???

YOU BETCHA!!!! .......... WELL MAYBE

For Danica Patrick's sake, it must be the right move, under the right conditions, at the right time as the clock is ticking...

Down boy, down!!! Bad race fan!!!

The potential for marketing millions and eye-popping media attention could be overwhelming, but for Danica Patrick to consider a move to NASCAR, she could raipidly become but a shooting star if she did not handle the move properly. NASCAR veteran, Johnny Benson discusses the possibility in the following column. We urge you to read this posting so we don’t have to repeat his key points. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30865990/

We believe the move directly to Sprint Cup would be ill-advised. When and if the time comes, she’d surely push aside Dale Earnhardt Jr., fellow Go Daddy client, as the sport’s media sensation. We must look at the success other open wheel stars have had moving to Sprint Cup. Tony Stewart moved from being IRL champ in 1997 to being NASCAR rookie of the year in 1999. In 1998, he got his feet wet running a full-time Busch season.

Juan Montoya has had some success but is not yet positioned to be a Chase contender. Ganassi racing was not a tier one team when Montoya started. How successful Earnhardt/Ganassi racing will be has yet to be determined, but from a driver’s standpoint that is in Montoya’s and Martin Truex Jr.’s hands. Sam Hornish begins his second year with team Penske and is just beginning to show true Sprint Cup ability. Other racers have not been so successful.

How much does Danica Patrick have at stake as she would be well-advised to spend a couple years in Camping World Trucks or the Nationwide series before making her Sprint Cup debut. Perhaps, trucks could be an attractive option if she could split time between NASCAR and IRL.

If she passes the test, would there be a place for her with Hendricks, Roush-Fenway, Joe Gibbs, or Richard Childress? Maybe not. How’s this as a possibility, Danica Patrick racing as a third or fourth car for Tony Stewart’s operation. Stewart, of course, is an open wheel champ and knows the challenges. Could Stewart play second fiddle no matter how well he races to the media draw Danica Patrick would bring to the sport?

We would see the road leading her to Stewart-Haas as the most interesting possibility, and folks, you heard it first from your friendly Right Minded Fellow!

2009 Indy 500: Bittersweet Bricks

Back home in Indiana, the 2009 Indianapolis is struggling to get the media attention the most historical event in motor sports deserves, as the race only interrupted six times since 1911 by World War I and World War II, prepares to crown its 2009 champion to join the legends since Ray Harroun won the first event on May 30, 1911.

A ninety year old event is rich with tradition. Did you know, peanuts are not served at the track because they are considered bad luck? Maybe because struggling teams don’t like the reputation of working for peanuts. The race quickly became an international sensation when a French driver, Jules Goux won driving a Peugeot in 1913. Three drivers hold the distinction for most wins, four victories: A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Rick Mears. Many traditions follow the race for several days right up to when the green flag starts the action. A special Midwestern style pork barbeque sandwich is the favored menu item. The event features one of the largest balloon launches as thousands of balloons are released at the race’s beginning, and no sports venue is more attached to a singer and a song except maybe Wrigley Field with Harry Carey and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” with Jim Nabors, Gomer Pyle, singing “Back Home Again in Indiana.” The 78 year old actor made famous playing, ironically a North Carolina small town’s folk, missed the 2007 race due to medical issues which prompted race officials to have the fans in the stands sing the song. For your sentimental joys, here’s a link to ol’ Gomer’s performance last year.
http://www.indy500.com/videos/watch/1023-Jim_Nabors_Sings__Back_Home_Again_In_Indiana

This year all eyes will be on racer Danica Patrick for obvious reasons, but more seriously, she starts 10th in the fourth row in Sunday’s action. More importantly, this year’s front row lines up, Hellio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe, and Dario Franchitti in the front row. Castroneves returns as the last consecutive winner in 2001 and 2002. Last year’s winner, Scott Dixon, lines up in the middle of the second row between Graham Rahal and Tony Kanaan, current IRL points leader. 2006 winner, Sam Hornish, jr. will be nowhere to be found in Indiana as he’ll represent team Penske in Charlotte. 2005 winner, Dan Wheldon, starts 18th on the outside of row 6th. No other winners from the decade will compete, as 2000 winner, Juan Pablo Montoya starts in the top 10 at Charlotte while Gil de Ferran and Buddy Rice are not in the event. Besides Danica Patrick starting in 10th, two other ladies join the field, Sarah Fisher in 21st and Miko Duno in 30th.

Racing is often considered a family business, and the classic names are in this event: Foyt and Andretti. Marco Andretti, Michael’s son and Mario’s grandson, starts in the middle of the 3rd row in 8th. A.J. Foyt IV starts in 19th in the 7th row, and Mario Andretti’s nephew, John starts row 10 in 28th starting position.

This is the second year after what was left of CART folded and was absorbed by IRL making it the only regular open wheel series in the United States. While the Indy 500 will surely attract plenty of viewers, it’s not the big landmark on the sports calendar it used to be with stiff competition from NASCAR, NBA playoffs, and baseball all playing into the crowded sports media picture. Further, a hard reality for IRL is once major figures prove marketable stars, NASCAR and Formula I become attractive alternatives as Juan Pablo Montoya and Sam Hornish are entered in Charlotte. Furthermore, few drivers burst on the IRL scene the way Tony Stewart did winning the IRL championship in 1997. Two years later, he’d be a full-timer in Sprint Cup as rookie of the year en route to two championships currently #2 in Cup standings.

IRL needs more exposure. Most of its television coverage is on Versus, the same network that hosts the NHL, but is far less available than ESPN. One would think the media sensation Danica Patrick creates would draw more attention to the tradition bound series; however, with Fomula 1 getting full coverage and much exposure on the gear head’s channel of choice, SpeedTV, and NASCAR clearly the dominant force with all but six races on EPSN, Fox or ABC, IRL seeks its spot in a crowded market. Perhaps that there is only one car left competing, a Honda powered racer, creates less a competitive field when NASCAR sports a race between Fords, Chevy’s, Dodges, and Toyotas. As NASCAR is the family business of the France family, IRL is the product of the George family.

We will be glued to the television for both the Indy 500 and Coca Cola 600, but IRL has much work to do before it would become part of our steady sports viewing diet even though we enjoy the sport.

PS: In finding pictures for this posting, it was very hard to find pictures of Danica Patrick that weren’t cheese shots in bathing suits or other pure sex stuff. WHOA BABY!!!