Still Alive, I Swear. This Is The Customary Daytona 500 Post.
Hi all!
Well, it's been a while. Ever since the fanfic, I hit a fairly deep rut creatively, and just had to stop, y'know? Let's call it a personal sabbatical. I've got a few more ideas bouncing around in my head, but for once l need to write something not featuring characters from NBC's Thursday night line-up.
Let's talk about FOX instead.
Well, the NASCAR race has been delayed for exactly one hour and thirty-eight minutes with 78 laps to go. FOX's commentators have called it a halftime, and I can't agree more. Heck, we get Bruce re-creating his slide into the camera and we'll be set. It's not like Daytona hasn't been red-flagged before, but a pothole in the track is a new one. Apparently the ungodly amounts of rain that have hit Florida were basically sucked into the asphalt track like a sponge, and three straight days of racing have opened up a hole at the lower seam in the racing surface. It took NASCAR three tries to seal it, the usual methods of heat-tack weren't sticking like they were supposed to, because of the wet asphalt. (Imagine trying to stick masking tape to the shower wall with the water running.) Eventually they had someone standing over the hole with a blowtorch, and that seemed to do the trick- thus proving the theory that fire solves everything.
In the meantime, FOX has discussed everything and anything they could that even remotely pertained to NASCAR, from Danica Patrick's debut to Darrell Waltrip's 1989 Daytona win. Anyone and everyone on pit road was interviewed, and viewers were treated to updates on Carl Edward's wife (1st child due in four days, no new news), Jamie McMurray's Haiti relief efforts (eight old firesuits from the attic, autographed and up for auction), who Matt Kenseth thinks should be the starting QB for the Eagles in the fall (McNabb), and even Mark Martin's new diet (He had four protein bars during the break, one more and he'd throw up). Brian France, NASCAR Chairman stopped by FOX's studio, and discussed the current issue with the track, and a new possible rule change for green-white-checker finishes. While it was nice to hear from the Big Man Upstairs, his appearance seemed more like a peace talk; a chance to tide things over with disgruntled television viewers. I'm not complaining though: the fact that NASCAR is now allowing multiple attempts (rather than just one) at green-white-checker's (NASCAR's answer to an overtime) gives me hope for the organization. And has me excited.
Even better was DW's many conversations with Dale Earnhardt Jr. I may be a little (okay, a lot) biased towards NASCAR's most popular diver, but today just added to my addiction fan-ship. Junior's certainly not the most out-spoken of NASCAR's elite *coughTonyStewartcough* but when he speaks, he's heard. This year's Speedweeks have been big media-wise, for Junior as well, his new driver, some Danica Patrick lady, apparently can drive a stock car and might actually be successful in the NASCAR Nationwide (AAA-level) Series. Junior's shown to have a quick wit ("What do the gauges look like?" "Well, they're tiny little circles with little red needles in 'em...") in the past, but today he was shining. With a loose racecar, Junior had one especially scary maneuver where he all but slid across the width of the track like it was an ice rink, and told his crew chief "Man, it's fun being loose, but I don't think it's productive". Later, as he sat in the car during the delay, he suggested that "[NASCAR] should just put a cone over [the hole] and have us dodge it the rest of the day". All I can wonder is why is this man still single, and how can I meet him?
So, another delay with 54 laps to go. The 30 laps run over the patching tore it back up, and NASCAR is trying yet again to patch it up and get these cars going again. FOX is once again going around asking whoever whatever they can. Most drivers are optimistic that the race will go on (It's been more than halfway, so NASCAR can call the race, if necessary.) and some, like current leader Kevin Harvick, are joking about the race's end. However, Daytona has lights for the race to continue well into the night, and it being the 500 and all, NASCAR is going to be very hesitant about calling it. This delay however, will make for one heck of a finish. Everyone's on fresh tires with full tanks of gas, final adjustments have been made, and it's basically gonna be a shootout. There's been an absence of "the Big One" this afternoon (lap 8 was nothing...) and it's not Daytona without it.
Restart at sunset. Junior's shuffled back, so no true hope there. (But I'll still cheer). Scott Speed is up at the front (he didn't pit) and I can't help but cheer for the underdog (Nawlins Saints, anyone?) even though he can't go to the finish without some help. Clint Bowyer's looking strong- to refresh your memory, Clint Bowyer's the guy who finished the 2007 race on his roof, sliding across the line. There's been 47 lead changes, which all but shatters the previous track record of 18. In the last 20 laps, four-time champ Jimmie Johnson's fallen out after something broke in the rear of his car (He's not the best at Daytona) and there have been two cautions, with eight laps and four laps to go... pushing us into a green-white-checker. The last three 500's have ended with last lap passes, and it looks like 2009 will be no different. But there's gnonna be another yellow before this thing's through.
And I'm right.
Less than half a lap after the green, another yellow. Kasey Khane's out after a smokey crash with Robert Richardson. Kevin Harvick's in the lead, Jamie McMurray in second. This is why NASCAR needed to run multiple green-white-checkers.
Restart: Harvick shuffled to the back, Greg Biffle giving McMurray the push of a lifetime, and JUNIOR'S PULLING UP!!! JUNIOR'S IN 3RD... squirreling through turn 3... into 4... he's almost there, and McMurray wins it! Junior in 2nd!
Whoa. Need to breathe here... *slow exhale*
Sorry about the bluntness, that was all pretty much live.
McMurray's crying in Victory Lane, being hugged by his wife. Let me tell you about this guy- I've always had a soft spot for him. He started in 2002 as a back-up for Sterling Marlin after Marlin hurt his neck. His second Sprint Cup start, and he wins at Charlotte. Marlin congratulated him on victory lane via satellite feed. He's had 2 other wins, on in 2007 at the Daytona night Race and 2009 at Talladega. Inconsistency led to him being the one to lose his race team at Roush-Fenway after NASCAR imposed the 4-team limit. He was picked up for a replacement for Martin Truex Jr by Earnhardt-Ganassi racing over the offseason. 30-1 odds in Vegas for this guy. Had I bet $1000 on him, I'd be able to pay off a year of college. (*smacks forehead*)
Junior's disappointed he didn't win after going from tenth to second in one lap. The fact that he pulled off a top-5 after being shown 21st with eight laps to go is a victory in itself- you can say what you want about favoritism, overrating, etc, but what he did tonight took skill. (Had he won, I probably wouldn't be able to finish this, as my computer would've been inadvertently tossed across the room in celebration.)
What a race. Not only was it the longest in Daytona 500 history time-wise, but in distance as well. 21 different drivers led - half the field. There's a reason why the Daytona 500's special, and that was it.
Let's all take some time to relax after that heart-stopping finish. One thing the many breaks brought us were the commercials. Like the Super Bowl, Daytona is the usual debut for NASCAR-themed commercials. And they tend to be pretty good. This year's best is "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke", featuring the Coca-Cola racing family:
Toyota's start into NASCAR was not a popular one, but the commercials were totally worth it. Love Kyle Busch's 'It's not me!!' screaming and Smoke and Zippy running for their lives.
2004: Gillette - 'Nothin'...'
This was the first for Gilette's 'Young Guns' promotion, and it was definitely a popular one. The second installment, 'Newman!' was funny as well, but not beard sabotaging has nothing on "innocent" car sabotaging.
2008: Napa - 'Scale Model'
Michael Waltrip's woes as a driver-owner were well-documented in 2008, and Michael was unafraid to address that in this series of commercials. 'Scale Model' beats out 'Fan Parrot' just for Michael's reaction to the Bristol car.
2003: Napa - 'Teammates'
Michael Waltrip and Dale Jr were known as the '23' car at the plate tracks because of their amazing teamwork and chemistry. (8+15=23, get it?) Napa noticed this and produced a series of ads reflecting this. It soon became a theme, and Junior and Mikey turned into the Odd Couple of NASCAR commercials. Dominos' '
">King of NASCAR?' was another funny one of one-ups-manship.
2001- : Various - Dale Earnhardt Jr
Man, oh man, does Junior have a list. Everything from skipping CD's to forgotten lipstick, two spots on SportsCenter, a brief stint as car number 6.7 and featuring such co-stars as 'crazy mutant desert guys' and a gorilla. It's hard to pick a Dale Jr favorite, but I'd have to go with:
2003: Budweiser - 'This Bud's For You (click for link, embedding disabled.. sorry!)
Because it's been seven years and I still have to sing it.
But that's not the best. nuh-uh. That honor returns to... Mikey.
2004: Napa - I'm At The Wrong Track! (Once again, click away, no embedding. Sorry!)
It's hard not to crack up at something like that.
All I can say is, if this is how it's gonna start, I have high hopes for the 2010 NASCAR season.
Also, Olympic congrats are in order for Johnny Spillane, the US's first ever-medalist in Nordic Combined (cross-country skiing to you normal people), The US women's hockey team on winning their first match vs China, Chinese pair Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao (3rd place at the '02 games behind the Canadians & Russians, disaster in '06) on a world record short program, and of course, Alexandre Bilodeau on Canada's first home Olympic gold.
Well, it's been a while. Ever since the fanfic, I hit a fairly deep rut creatively, and just had to stop, y'know? Let's call it a personal sabbatical. I've got a few more ideas bouncing around in my head, but for once l need to write something not featuring characters from NBC's Thursday night line-up.
Let's talk about FOX instead.
Well, the NASCAR race has been delayed for exactly one hour and thirty-eight minutes with 78 laps to go. FOX's commentators have called it a halftime, and I can't agree more. Heck, we get Bruce re-creating his slide into the camera and we'll be set. It's not like Daytona hasn't been red-flagged before, but a pothole in the track is a new one. Apparently the ungodly amounts of rain that have hit Florida were basically sucked into the asphalt track like a sponge, and three straight days of racing have opened up a hole at the lower seam in the racing surface. It took NASCAR three tries to seal it, the usual methods of heat-tack weren't sticking like they were supposed to, because of the wet asphalt. (Imagine trying to stick masking tape to the shower wall with the water running.) Eventually they had someone standing over the hole with a blowtorch, and that seemed to do the trick- thus proving the theory that fire solves everything.
In the meantime, FOX has discussed everything and anything they could that even remotely pertained to NASCAR, from Danica Patrick's debut to Darrell Waltrip's 1989 Daytona win. Anyone and everyone on pit road was interviewed, and viewers were treated to updates on Carl Edward's wife (1st child due in four days, no new news), Jamie McMurray's Haiti relief efforts (eight old firesuits from the attic, autographed and up for auction), who Matt Kenseth thinks should be the starting QB for the Eagles in the fall (McNabb), and even Mark Martin's new diet (He had four protein bars during the break, one more and he'd throw up). Brian France, NASCAR Chairman stopped by FOX's studio, and discussed the current issue with the track, and a new possible rule change for green-white-checker finishes. While it was nice to hear from the Big Man Upstairs, his appearance seemed more like a peace talk; a chance to tide things over with disgruntled television viewers. I'm not complaining though: the fact that NASCAR is now allowing multiple attempts (rather than just one) at green-white-checker's (NASCAR's answer to an overtime) gives me hope for the organization. And has me excited.
Even better was DW's many conversations with Dale Earnhardt Jr. I may be a little (okay, a lot) biased towards NASCAR's most popular diver, but today just added to my addiction fan-ship. Junior's certainly not the most out-spoken of NASCAR's elite *coughTonyStewartcough* but when he speaks, he's heard. This year's Speedweeks have been big media-wise, for Junior as well, his new driver, some Danica Patrick lady, apparently can drive a stock car and might actually be successful in the NASCAR Nationwide (AAA-level) Series. Junior's shown to have a quick wit ("What do the gauges look like?" "Well, they're tiny little circles with little red needles in 'em...") in the past, but today he was shining. With a loose racecar, Junior had one especially scary maneuver where he all but slid across the width of the track like it was an ice rink, and told his crew chief "Man, it's fun being loose, but I don't think it's productive". Later, as he sat in the car during the delay, he suggested that "[NASCAR] should just put a cone over [the hole] and have us dodge it the rest of the day". All I can wonder is why is this man still single, and how can I meet him?
So, another delay with 54 laps to go. The 30 laps run over the patching tore it back up, and NASCAR is trying yet again to patch it up and get these cars going again. FOX is once again going around asking whoever whatever they can. Most drivers are optimistic that the race will go on (It's been more than halfway, so NASCAR can call the race, if necessary.) and some, like current leader Kevin Harvick, are joking about the race's end. However, Daytona has lights for the race to continue well into the night, and it being the 500 and all, NASCAR is going to be very hesitant about calling it. This delay however, will make for one heck of a finish. Everyone's on fresh tires with full tanks of gas, final adjustments have been made, and it's basically gonna be a shootout. There's been an absence of "the Big One" this afternoon (lap 8 was nothing...) and it's not Daytona without it.
Restart at sunset. Junior's shuffled back, so no true hope there. (But I'll still cheer). Scott Speed is up at the front (he didn't pit) and I can't help but cheer for the underdog (Nawlins Saints, anyone?) even though he can't go to the finish without some help. Clint Bowyer's looking strong- to refresh your memory, Clint Bowyer's the guy who finished the 2007 race on his roof, sliding across the line. There's been 47 lead changes, which all but shatters the previous track record of 18. In the last 20 laps, four-time champ Jimmie Johnson's fallen out after something broke in the rear of his car (He's not the best at Daytona) and there have been two cautions, with eight laps and four laps to go... pushing us into a green-white-checker. The last three 500's have ended with last lap passes, and it looks like 2009 will be no different. But there's gnonna be another yellow before this thing's through.
And I'm right.
Less than half a lap after the green, another yellow. Kasey Khane's out after a smokey crash with Robert Richardson. Kevin Harvick's in the lead, Jamie McMurray in second. This is why NASCAR needed to run multiple green-white-checkers.
Restart: Harvick shuffled to the back, Greg Biffle giving McMurray the push of a lifetime, and JUNIOR'S PULLING UP!!! JUNIOR'S IN 3RD... squirreling through turn 3... into 4... he's almost there, and McMurray wins it! Junior in 2nd!
Whoa. Need to breathe here... *slow exhale*
Sorry about the bluntness, that was all pretty much live.
McMurray's crying in Victory Lane, being hugged by his wife. Let me tell you about this guy- I've always had a soft spot for him. He started in 2002 as a back-up for Sterling Marlin after Marlin hurt his neck. His second Sprint Cup start, and he wins at Charlotte. Marlin congratulated him on victory lane via satellite feed. He's had 2 other wins, on in 2007 at the Daytona night Race and 2009 at Talladega. Inconsistency led to him being the one to lose his race team at Roush-Fenway after NASCAR imposed the 4-team limit. He was picked up for a replacement for Martin Truex Jr by Earnhardt-Ganassi racing over the offseason. 30-1 odds in Vegas for this guy. Had I bet $1000 on him, I'd be able to pay off a year of college. (*smacks forehead*)
Junior's disappointed he didn't win after going from tenth to second in one lap. The fact that he pulled off a top-5 after being shown 21st with eight laps to go is a victory in itself- you can say what you want about favoritism, overrating, etc, but what he did tonight took skill. (Had he won, I probably wouldn't be able to finish this, as my computer would've been inadvertently tossed across the room in celebration.)
What a race. Not only was it the longest in Daytona 500 history time-wise, but in distance as well. 21 different drivers led - half the field. There's a reason why the Daytona 500's special, and that was it.
Let's all take some time to relax after that heart-stopping finish. One thing the many breaks brought us were the commercials. Like the Super Bowl, Daytona is the usual debut for NASCAR-themed commercials. And they tend to be pretty good. This year's best is "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke", featuring the Coca-Cola racing family:
Click to viewToyota's start into NASCAR was not a popular one, but the commercials were totally worth it. Love Kyle Busch's 'It's not me!!' screaming and Smoke and Zippy running for their lives.
2004: Gillette - 'Nothin'...'
This was the first for Gilette's 'Young Guns' promotion, and it was definitely a popular one. The second installment, 'Newman!' was funny as well, but not beard sabotaging has nothing on "innocent" car sabotaging.
2008: Napa - 'Scale Model'
Michael Waltrip's woes as a driver-owner were well-documented in 2008, and Michael was unafraid to address that in this series of commercials. 'Scale Model' beats out 'Fan Parrot' just for Michael's reaction to the Bristol car.
2003: Napa - 'Teammates'
Michael Waltrip and Dale Jr were known as the '23' car at the plate tracks because of their amazing teamwork and chemistry. (8+15=23, get it?) Napa noticed this and produced a series of ads reflecting this. It soon became a theme, and Junior and Mikey turned into the Odd Couple of NASCAR commercials. Dominos' '
">King of NASCAR?' was another funny one of one-ups-manship.
2001- : Various - Dale Earnhardt Jr
Man, oh man, does Junior have a list. Everything from skipping CD's to forgotten lipstick, two spots on SportsCenter, a brief stint as car number 6.7 and featuring such co-stars as 'crazy mutant desert guys' and a gorilla. It's hard to pick a Dale Jr favorite, but I'd have to go with:
2003: Budweiser - 'This Bud's For You (click for link, embedding disabled.. sorry!)
Because it's been seven years and I still have to sing it.
But that's not the best. nuh-uh. That honor returns to... Mikey.
2004: Napa - I'm At The Wrong Track! (Once again, click away, no embedding. Sorry!)
It's hard not to crack up at something like that.
All I can say is, if this is how it's gonna start, I have high hopes for the 2010 NASCAR season.
Also, Olympic congrats are in order for Johnny Spillane, the US's first ever-medalist in Nordic Combined (cross-country skiing to you normal people), The US women's hockey team on winning their first match vs China, Chinese pair Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao (3rd place at the '02 games behind the Canadians & Russians, disaster in '06) on a world record short program, and of course, Alexandre Bilodeau on Canada's first home Olympic gold.