February 17, 2008 marks the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on the high-banked Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. The first Daytona 500 was won by Lee Petty on February 22nd, 1959.

I’ve read that former NASCAR driver Jimmy Thompson remarked, “There have been other tracks that separated the men from the boys. This is the track that will separate the brave from the weak after the boys are gone.”

When Bill France was asked why he had the turns banked at 31°’s he quipped, “Because they couldn’t lay asphalt any steeper.”

Daytona International Speedway is one-of-a-kind.

In the same vein of looking back at the history of this race, James, a friend of mine, had the great idea of exploring the past drivers of NASCAR history matched up with their car number. He will share with us some of the history and interesting tidbits of information about the drivers that raced the cars numbered 50 through 0. James will post one a day as we all count down these last 50 days to the 50th running of the Daytona 500.”

Merry Christmas to everyone from Onebadwheel!

May all your stockings be filled with something NASCAR and your hearts ablaze with the love of family and friends.

I hope y’all have a great holiday season and take time to enjoy the gift of life.

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I’ve been going to races for 35 years and never been in a car on the track. I’ve dreamt about it. I suppose most race fans have.

I received an email from the Dale Jarrett Racing School asking if I was interested in blogging about their race school. I make no secret I’m a huge Dale Jarrett fan. Still, I won’t speak favorably about something on a whim. You mean more to me than that.

I’ve known about the handful of racing school opportunities, tightwad I am, I always considered them out of my league.

Intrigued though, I clicked over to the Dale Jarrett Racing School website and was surprised. As little as $150.00 will get you a 3-lap qualifier package to hop in a real NASCAR Nextel/Busch Series race car, go fast and turn left. Want to do more than whet your appetite? Packages range from 6 to an amazing 80 laps of on-track fun.

This is actually looking like a viable late Christmas gift my wife can get me! You are reading this post, right honey?

Three things puts their program on my A-list and sold me on sharing their racing school with you.

• The ownership includes Ned Jarrett, Dale Jarrett, Brett Favre and Joe Nemechek. Respected names for sure.
• They use real NASCAR cars. Not neutered show cars, but real race cars that have been used in real races.
• You’re not just one lone car turning laps. You’re out there with up to 7 other drivers passing and drafting!

The school operates almost year round and has an excellent safety record. They provide racing suit, racing helmet and hans device.

The current 2008 schedule is running at 5 different tracks: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Lowe’s Motorspeedway, Kentucky Speedway and Kansas Speedway.

If you live or travel anywhere near these tracks and you are a NASCAR fan or love someone who is, I couldn’t think of many things more memorable than doing this. They have Christmas gift certificates available right now, so it’s not too late!

I’d love to hear from anyone who has participated, is planning to or wants to do this!”

“They say that “A picture is worth a 1000 words.” But sometimes, I’m more interested in just what it was that they were saying.

David: “Go ahead and look in the trunk Ricky. I swear I ate all of them. I don’t have any more M&M’s.”

“They say that “A picture is worth a 1000 words.” But sometimes, I’m more interested in just what it was that they were saying.

Mike Helton: “Dale. You have something right there on your lip. No. Right there. Here let me get it off.”

“They say that ‘A picture is worth a 1000 words.’ But sometimes, I’m more interested in just what it was that they were saying.

Jamie: “Like check it out dude…nerves of steel. I’m not shaking like that Kasey Kahne kid.”

“They say that ‘A picture is worth a 1000 words.’ But sometimes, I’m more interested in just what it was that they were saying.

Eva: “Oh c’mon Kurt. You know it’s only like about that big.”

What do you think they are saying?”

“They say that “A picture is worth a 1000 words.” But sometimes, I’m more interested in just what it was that they were saying.

Bobby Labonte: “You’ve won 4 races in a row. That’s just not fair Jimmie. I ain’t won a race in 4 years…you see?”

What do you think they are saying?”

“They say that ‘A picture is worth a 1000 words.’ But sometimes, I’m more interested in just what it was that they were saying.

Jeff Burton: “The idea is to go as fast as you can on that qualifying lap. Then they will let you race in the race on Sunday.”

Ward Burton: “Gribble-grabble-hmmm-hmm”

What do you think they are saying?”

“My NASCAR Bad Boy Moment™ #1 of the 2007 NASCAR season goes to Nextel.

#1: Nextel Bullies Sponsors

Yep, that’s right. I think the biggest Bad Boy of the 2007 NASCAR season is none other than the series sponsor. I’ll label their dastardliness as actions detrimental to stock car racing sponsorship under section 12-4-A-OBW of the rule book.

I find it so interesting that Nextel has the audacity to demand that AT&T be disallowed to decorate the #31 Jeff Burton ride. It’s a “Do as I say not as I do” scenario if ever there was one.

As mega giants of the business world they both have merged with rivals. Cingular merged with AT&T and branded themselves as the new AT&T. Nextel merged with Sprint and branded themselves Sprint Nextel.

So why the letter of the law that the Cingular/AT&T merge breaks the ‘grandfather’ exemption that Cingular was granted to continue sponsorship of the RCR car?

It’s just dirty rotten business. Truly an offense far worse than any of the bad boy drivers of NASCAR committed this year.

• #2 NASCAR Bad Boy Moment

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