NASCAR: Not Your Daddy’s Daytona 500!

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I feel stimulated in a way that only another NASCAR fan could understand. The 50th running of the Daytona 500 has re-inspired and re-energized me for 2008. It’s also a chance for me to point out to all of you — this is not your Daddy’s NASCAR.

You may have positioned yourself next to your Dad, at some point when you were little, and caught visions of race car drivers from the past. Did they remind you of someone? You were sitting right next to him! Today’s version is a complete 180. They don’t all look like your dad. Not only can they drive a car 200 mph around a variety of courses, many of them could also model for 2(x)ist.

What about the racing?

In the past few years I have sulked and made unkind remarks about the familiarity of each race and its winners. My participation as a TV viewer and as a spectator in the arena has been on a slight decline. My disinterest was due primarily to my perception that wins were being had by the same heavily sponsored drivers — that the marketing budgets of some race teams were eclipsing the economies of countries — leaving me numb from all the advertising stimuli.

At the beginning of this season, specifically Daytona — the Super Bowl of NASCAR racing — I pessimistically thought I would see much of the same. I believed all the hype. I believed all the commercials. I believed Lowe’s Team Racing and Hendrick Motorsports — Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon — would continue their dominance in 2008. I believed this year would once again be repetitive and predictable. Thankfully, I was wrong.

Near the end of this year's Daytona 500 I was surprised and conflicted! It was becoming clear that the winner would be one of my two favorite drivers; Ryan Newman or Tony Stewart. Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing, drives the hideous orange #20 Home Depot car (which is a retail rival of Lowe’s Team Racing). Tony is one of my favorite drivers for many reasons, such as refusing to cut his hair this year and for his natural ability to speak his mind, which usually leads him to getting fined at times. Ryan drives the blue #12 car for Penske Racing sponsored by Alltel. Ryan is my other favorite. He’s well-rounded — sweet, stocky and smart. Ultimately, I was thrilled that Ryan won.

Like most NASCAR fans, I had high expectations that Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#88 and Wrangler model) could muster better than a ninth place finish. “Jr.” is now with Hendrick Motorsports. I’m hopeful he will do well this year with his new team, his new paint scheme and, most of all…in his splashy new super-suit. I was slightly dismayed that he opposed wearing the original body-hugging black and white prototype fire suit that was presented to him last fall by Adidas (Wow). Maybe he thought the tight fitting gear would have subjected him to some scrutiny in the Cleveland/Kannapolis/Mooresville area of

North Carolina

…maybe…maybe not. A glimpse of him is always a treat. So, the more we see of him, the better.

I will be taking a trip to see the revamped lobby of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) very shortly. I hear there are only scant remnants of Jr. in the house. Expectations are that DEI will do well this year without the reported familial tumult that has plagued them for years. I haven’t been to DEI in years so I’m looking forward to it.

About Dale’s former sponsor, I think they made a great choice by choosing Kasey Kahne (#9). He’s a hot choice for the red Budweiser car. Especially now that he’s had a few years of Nextel Cup experience and he (almost) looks old enough to drink alcohol too.

Ryan Newman’s win inaugurates a new season that will bring unexpected wins and stimulate new NASCAR fans this year. Overall, I am extremely passionate about the 2008 season and the races to come. The drivers of today are rocking the car of tomorrow. And, if hot ‘Bubbas’ are your thing, NASCAR is something for you to discover!

 

Originally posted by Martin Amaya