Darrell Waltrip is good for quotes every time he’s close to a microphone.

And, while I could go without hearing “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity” ever again, his fresh comments are blogworthy for sure.

Here’s a couple of Waltripisms from the Auto Club 500 at California:

Back in my day we raced for checkered flags not yellow flags.

Patience and Kyle Busch do not go together.

I’m gonna (try to) add it to my race watching duties to immortalize the words of ol’ DW for future generations of NASCAR fans. I just hope it doesn’t result in eternal damnation.

Bear with me the next few weeks as I try to include Waltrip-ism’s in the blog and let’s see if he doesn’t get somebody’s ire up.”

Radio Shack has dropped it’s sponsorship of the Spring race at Texas Motor Speedway here in Fort Worth. Along with Samsung, they have been the marquee sponsor of the event for the last 5 years.

I’ve known Radio Shack since I was a kid growing up in Ohio. Ricky, Billy and I would buy parts to create Frankenstein electrical creations in acts of juvenile ignorance to the ‘zap’ power of electricity.

I’ve lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex for 24 years. Fort Worth is the home and birthplace of Tandy Leather Products which evolved into Radio Shack (read that story here). Through the years my life has intertwined with employees, business-to-business dealings and local news about Radio Shack. As a company, the corporate executives have historically had their noses so far up their own butts to the detriment of the company as a whole. CEO after CEO either resigns or is fired. But, not before lining their own pockets with a lot of cash, rampant overspending and fiscal irresponsibility in every form.

Their stock value chart for the last 7 years looks like the first hill on the Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas.

In 2003, Radio Shack bought out one of the remaining ‘housing projects’ downtown and built the new Radio Shack corporate office Riverfront Campus. It’s colossal and beautiful. The $200 million dollar question though, ‘Why the heck did Radio Shack build new digs while in the midst of financial decline?’

I found information at the as-of-late disreputable ‘W’ (that’s Wikipedia…not George) which takes a little snark out of this post towards Radio Shack’s former nameplate prominence at Texas Motor Speedway and aims it at NASCAR and their ‘Official Sponsorship’ monopoly.

In 2004-2005, RadioShack was under the premises of NASCAR’s grandfather clause when they and Samsung sponsored a race at Texas Motor Speedway. NASCAR had prohibited the two from sponsoring a Nextel Cup Series event because of Nextel’s exclusivity with Motorola; however, when Sprint and Nextel merged, the ban was removed, since Sprint is being sold at RadioShack stores. – Source Wikipedia

This random NASCAR-economics post was inspired by our local rag’s article about Radio Shack posting it’s first profit in 3 quarters as a result of “Overhead costs coming down $89.5 million to $482 million as the company cut more than 400 jobs at its Fort Worth headquarters campus, reduced its advertising expenditures, reworked the staff scheduling process at its stores and got rid of its worst-performing locations.” Still not sure how that is good news in light of a “13% drop in revenue.”

I’ve got to say though, I am happy about their decision to cut expenses. I’d hate to see a big ‘For Sale’ sign on the 38 acres in North Downtown Fort Worth.”

Imagine with me or nod your head that you’re a small business owner.

Plus, you’re a diehard NASCAR racing fan.

How would you like to see your company name on the rear of a top-shelf car like Roush-Fenway’s #99 Carl Edwards car?

Office Depot is sponsoring a sweepstakes to become the Official Small Business of NASCAR.

But wait! Not so fast! Better read the fine print first.

Ineligible businesses include those that are competitive to:

• Existing sponsors of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR, Inc.)
• Other Roush-Fenway Racing sponsors (as determined by Sponsor in Sponsor’s sole discretion)
• Any business found in the list of categories outlined at www[dot]officedepotracing[dot]com

I can’t find this ‘list of categories outlined’ mentioned in the fine print. Unless they’re referring to the categories of products listed for sale on Office Depot’s web site. Which then would include: Office Supplies, Furniture, Office technologies (ie Computers, phones, cameras, electrical) et al.

Narrows the field of eligible participants doesn’t it?

The extremes NASCAR went to at Daytona to ‘ensure fair competition’ among the race teams is hypocritical in light of the sponsorship monopolies they nurture. Therein lies the real ‘NASCAR Cheating Scandal’.

Cingular.
Shell.
What’s next?”

The classic NASCAR race broadcasts each week on ESPN Classic are solid gold nuggets of 1980’s and 1990’s NASCAR history. Yesiree Bob. ESPN Classic and a Dish Direct DVR [Tivo][VCR] are your best friends right now for redeeming lost years of great NASCAR races.

If you’re not tuning into these races your starving your inner-NASCAR child of much needed love. Stop the insanity! Show yourself some love.

Although the Daytona Speedweeks hoopla got me a little behind in classic NASCAR nurturing, I just finished watching the final 100 laps of the 1989 First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

North Wilkesboro Speedway

North Wilkesboro Speedway is a 5/8th mile oval. It’s one of the great old NASCAR tracks that was phased out to bring us not-so-great cookie-cutter race tracks like my beloved Texas Motor Speedway. From the television footage, it very much resembles the race track you see each weekend in your hometown. Bleacher style stands along the front stretch filled with ball-cap wearing fans. A catch fence and 3-foot jump down onto the track pavement the only thing separating you from the racing action. Trees and grass are everywhere.

New Goodyear Radial

The big talk of the race was the new Goodyear radial tire. It was a divided battle between teams running the new Goodyear and those running Hoosiers. Goodyear tires came out dominate, lasting many laps longer than the Hoosiers.

The race turned out to be a nail-biter as Darrel Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Alan Kulwicki and Mark Martin all had strong runs. In the end, Dale held off a hard charging Kulwicki to win the race.

Dale Wins Sale

In victory lane Dale gave a shout out to his daughter Taylor Nicole. I’m not a Earnhardt fan, but it’s fascinating to watch Dale Sr. and see the resemblance in body language, mannerisms and speech rhythms that Dale Jr has picked up from him. Dale also made a plug for his Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet dealership. He dubbed the next day the ‘Dale Wins Sale’ at his dealership and promised any car on the lot he would sell for dealer cost.

Many fans took him up on the offer. Lines formed at 7:00 am and the dealership stayed open until 10:00 pm. Earnhardt Chevrolet normally sold 35 cars per month. They sold 23 cars that one day.”

Some interesting numbers for trivial talk and NASCAR fantasy race games relating to this Sunday’s Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.

California Speedway

2: Poles by Kurt Busch (most)

3: Wins by Jeff Gordon (most)

4th: Carl Edward’s average finish (best)

5: Mark Martin & Kurt Busch have each scored bonus points for leading laps in each of the last 5 races at California Speedway (longest streak)

5: Average number of cars that start in the top-10 and finish in the top-10

8th: Jimmie Johnson’s average finish

9th: Clint Bowyer’s, Denny Hamlin’s & Jamie McMurray’s average finish

13: NASCAR Cup races run at California Speedway

13th: Average starting position of race winner

16th: Average finish position of pole winner

18: Average number of cars to finish on the lead lap

168: Number of laps led by Greg Biffle at the 2006 Auto Club 500 before blowing an engine

903: Days since Elliott Sadler last race win (California Speedway Pop Secret 500)

6209: Days (17 years to the date) since the 7th largest NASCAR penalty was doled out against Mark Martin (docked 46 points) and crew cheif Robin Pemberton (yes! That Robin Pemberton) fined $40,000 for unapproved equipment

2.25.2007: The earliest date of the year that NASCAR Cup has ever run at California Speedway”

Its been said ‘The woman makes the man.’ To which I wholeheartedly agree (especially in my life).

But, in the world of NASCAR, is it the driver that makes the car?

Or, does the car make the driver?

What is it that brings a mediocre team out of the shadows and into the chase for the NASCAR championship?

I wager it’s the hunger in the driver that produces the results. With the big ‘if’ depending on the financial resources for the team to bring a quality car to the track each week.

Compare these driver changes in the past few years.

#97/#26 Roush

2005 Kurt Busch vs. 2006 Jamie McMurray
Kurt Busch: 3 wins, 9 top-5, 18 top-10 (in only 34 races)
Jamie McMurray: 0 wins, 3 top-5, 7 top-10

#5 Kellogg’s Hendrick

2004 Terry Labonte vs. 2005 Kyle Busch
Terry Labonte: 0 wins, 0 top-5, 6 top-10
Kyle Busch: 2 wins, 9 top-5, 13 top-10

#31 Cingular Childress

2004 Robby Gordon vs. 2006 Jeff Burton
Robby Gordon: 0 wins, 2 top-5, 6 top-10
Jeff Burton: 1 win, 7 top-5, 20 top-10

#18 Fed Ex Gibbs

2005 Jason Leffler vs. 2006 Denny Hamlin
Jason Leffler: 0 wins, 0 top-5, 0 top-10
Denny Hamlin: 2 wins, 8 top-5, 20 top-10

#43 Cheerio’s Petty

2005 Jeff Green vs. 2006 Bobby Labonte
Jeff Green: 0 wins, 0 top-5, 0 top-10
Bobby Labonte: 0 wins, 3 top-5, 8 top-10

Then you have teams like the #22 (Bill Davis Racing), #49 (BAM Racing), #4 (Morgan-McClure Motorsports), #40 & #41 (Chip Ganassi Racing), #66 (Haas CNC Racing) who struggle through driver change after driver change in search of the winning combination.

The phrase ‘chemistry between the driver and crew’ is always thrown out there as the reason a team makes a good run. Is that really what turns a team around? Does the owner suddenly throw all his money and resources into a new driver/team combination? Is it a matter of talent?

What do you think?”

Auto Club 500

Now That Daytona Is Over

Congratulations to Kevin Harvick for winning the 2007 Daytona 500. I would also like to thank Mark Martin for once again giving all of his fans, including myself, his best effort. We really appreciate it Mark.

Not the most stellar of starts to the year but it could have been worse. I haven’t seen a lot of high scores in any leagues at all so no harm no foul as the saying goes. Let’s get to this week’s race in California.

My Pick to win California

I’m picking Carl Edwards to win this week.

The cars should be spread out more and drafting won’t be much of a factor this weekend. Carl had a car with a lot of horsepower last weekend and has never finished worse than 6th at California in 5 races.

California Speedway Frontrunners

The Roush teams are all fairly consistent at California with Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle each notching a victory there and Jamie McMurray having one of the better average finishes at this track. Many drivers are going to be looking to dig themselves out of a hole this weekend.

Tony Stewart finished 43rd last weekend and I do believe that the last time he did that at Daytona he won his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship that year.

Last spring Tony and Greg Biffle were the class of the field at California until both of them lost engines late in the race.

Jimmie Johnson is also looking to dig himself out of a small hole while trying to defend his NEXTEL Cup Title. Jimmie a win and three 2nd place finishes at California in 8 starts there. Jimmie would like nothing better than to get himself back in contention with a win this weekend.

Kasey Kasey won the race at California last fall and could repeat once again. I don’t see any reason why Kasey won’t continue where he left off last year and win a bunch of races once again this season. The only stumbling block that he might encounter is the loss of his crew chief for the first 4 races of the season.

Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch each have a win at California and no matter what you hear in the media you can never count either of these drivers out of any race. When someone suggests that these guys are struggling they usually put that rumor to rest in a hurry.

Kurt Busch also has a win at California but that was while he was with Roush Racing. Kurt hasn’t faired quite as well since joining Penske last year but I look for this team to make big strides this year. In any event he might be one of the better qualifiers once again this season even if racing success doesn’t come until a little later in the season.

Yahoo! Fantasy Picks

Group A

• Carl Edwards (starter)
• Kasey Kahne

Group B

• Denny Hamlin (starter)
• Clint Bowyer (starter)
• Kurt Busch
• Kyle Busch

Group C

• Reed Sorenson (starter)
• David Ragan

Dark Horse

• Denny Hamlin
• Clint Bowyer

Stay Away From

• Dale Earnhardt Jr

“

NASCAR. The ultimate reality show.

Survivor doesn’t come close to the controversy, division and name calling that NASCAR racing generates among its fans. Or, some would challenge, that NA$CAR generates among its fans.

The Diecast Dude (one of the more respected voices of reason…unlike myself) rants in his Nice Job NASCAR post, “Congratulations, NASCAR. You’ve done it again. Once again you’ve managed to pull a complete boner…”

While on the other side of the island Vroom! is bringing the Harvick love and a photo to prove it!

At the end of the day, the challenge over, the losing tribe is at tribal counsel and Mark Martin is voted out. Nothing personal, just part of the game of NASCAR.

And like Jeff Probst, we have Marc (the smartest man in NASCAR blogging) to give us perspective until the next show in his 2007 Daytona 500 post.

And what is my take? Wish Martin had won. Wish Harvick could have let up. Wish Martin hadn’t bobbled twice on that final stretch. A caution would have saved my disastrous day in the fantasy racing leagues. Glad Clint Bowyer’s car flipped back on its wheels for him to safely get out. Looking forward to California.”

Watching Brian Vickers & A J Allmendinger in Chasing Sunday: The Race to the Cup before the pre-race show was interesting.

My opinion towards Allmendinger prior to the show was leaning towards cynicism. He’s wrecked everytime he’s gotten on the track at Daytona. Then Team Red Bull’s failure to make the Daytona 500 only compounded those thoughts.

I honestly don’t know anything about him or his Champ Car days. Didn’t even know what a Champ Car was for sure. I’ve learned it looks like the IRL cars, but nothing beyond that.

What struck me was how likable Vickers and Allmendinger are. These guys are young, good-looking and hungry. As the faces of Red Bull in NASCAR I think they are perfect for the demographic.

The show really won me over with the various photo shoots in New York City. One with the Red Bull boys sporting black leather jackets in a dark building entryway, the other with Vickers skillfully spinning circles in the Brooklyn streets.

Brian Vickers made an excellent decision to jump from the Hendrick stable. He was destined to be the low man on the totem pole for years to come. Joining with Red Bull and Toyota is his chance at being a NASCAR superstar.”

“Down to the wire almost, but I have posted Jeff Gutowski’s Fantasy Racing Preview for the Daytona 500.

If you need some final advice before setting your team, check out his article. He has specific Yahoo! Fantasy racing information as well. Plus, it’s not too late to join his fantasy racing league at Yahoo!”