Five Things to Look Forward to in 2011

Kasey Kahne dons the Red Bull Racing firesuit
at the Fall Talladega race.

Good news: NASCAR fans are on the tail end of the off-season slump.

Pre-season thunder is a mere week away.  And the Daytona 500? Just one month to go.

We're on the verge of a NASCAR  tabula rasa. There are second chances for drivers who need redemption. And endless possibilities for the new kids on track who have something to prove.

There's no telling just what will play out this season, but there are five things I can't wait to see:

Team Earntarte: By all accounts, December testing at Daytona went well for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and new crew chief Steve Letarte.  Letarte has already brought some much-needed positive vibes to his new team - and Junior Nation is feeling it. Letarte could well be the golden ticket that gets Junior back to Victory Lane.

The Boys at Red Bull:  Brian Vickers will be back behind the wheel at Daytona and fans couldn't be happier.  Though it's a hackneyed cliche, Vickers has a new lease on life after his medical leave of absence.  And, to make things even more interesting, he'll be working with new Red Bull teammate Kasey Kahne.  Look for them both to exceed expectations this year.

Edwards vs. Keselowski Part Deux: Edwards ended 2010 with a whole lotta momentum.  And, if he keeps it up, he could be a serious threat to Jimmie Johnson's title dynasty.  And now that neither Carl Edwards nor Brad Keselowski can battle it out for the Nationwide Series crown, look for these rivals to settle their unfinished business on the Cup side.

Chaser McMurray: Although it doesn't affect my life  in any way whatsoever, I'm still dismayed that Jamie McMurray didn't make the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup after sweeping the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 and Charlotte's Bank of America 500.  In the words of my cousin (also named Jamie), "That ain't right."  Given Jamie Mac's stellar year, I have no doubt he'll be in the top 12 post Homestead.

Waltrip Getting the Nod: In 2010, Darrell Waltrip was left out of the NASCAR Hall of Fame class for the second year in a row.  But I seriously doubt he'll get the cold shoulder again.  Waltrip rejoice - you'll get your moment in 2011.

The Ninth NASCAR Day of Christmas: 9 Car-a-Swappin'

Uncertainty.

That's the word that best describes the state of Richard Petty Motorsports in 2010.

It was a tough year for The King and those in his employ.  They went from four cars to two.  Lost their primo driver.  And they suffered through layoffs and cutbacks in the process.

But there is one bright spot on what has lately been a dim horizon - and that's the 100-watt smile of Marcos Ambrose.

Ambrose will drive the No. 9 Ford for RPM next season.  He takes the wheel from Aric Almirola, who drove the car when Kasey Kahne made a late-season jump to Red Bull Racing.

And Ambrose's infectious personality and determination to succeed may be just the shot in the arm the organization needs to regain momentum.

"I feel like I've got all the ingredients I need," Ambrose told the Associated Press in August. "I wanted to eliminate any question marks about the stuff around me and people around me."

"I feel like I can win four championships like Jimmie Johnson has done," he continued.

Time will tell if the racer from down under can top the five-time champ.

But one thing is certain - Richard Petty Motorsports is back in the game.

A Cure for the After-Dega Blues

The day after Talladega is kinda like the day after Christmas. There's so much buildup to the big event - it's a slow letdown when the party is finally over.

On the day after Dega, you wake up still on an adrenaline high from the sights, the sounds and the excitement. You  keep turning on your camera just to scroll through your race photos again and again.  You relive and retell the weekend's highlights with your buddies or any poor soul who will listen.

Then you gradually come back to reality as you pack for the journey home, return to work, or stand in an interminable airport security line.

Alas, it's too bad every day can't be Dega.

Personally, I can't quite come to terms with the real world just yet.  So I'm sharing some of my favorite photos from this weekend in the hopes they'll help alleviate those after-Dega blues ...

Jeff Burton and the No. 31 crew
await their turn to qualify.



Kevin Harvick laughing it up on pit road.



Jimmie Johnson chats with the boys from ESPN.

I'm still not used to seeing Kasey Kahne in
a Red Bull Racing uniform.

The "Lucky Dog" gets a place of honor
on David Reutimann's No. 00

Best off-track activity at Dega?
Playing "Costume or Not a Costume" -
sometimes it's hard to tell ...

American Idol alumnus Josh Gracin sang a
fantastic National Anthem.

There's always a camera crew following
Kyle Busch and fiancee Samantha Sarcinella

The fans are loving Tony Stewart - this was taken right after
he gave his Coca-Cola to a little girl who was decked out in No. 14 gear.

If fan adoration equaled good luck at Dega, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. would
have led every lap and won by a mile.

Scott Speed and company head down pit
road before qualifying.

The answer is "subtle".  The question is
"What is one thing Talladega fans are not?"

SB Nation reporter Jeff Gluck interviews
Clint Bowyer before qualifying.

Top Bristol Moments Happened Off Track

After the beatin' and bangin' on the Nationwide side Friday night, fans were hyped up for a wreckfest during the Cup race Saturday night.

But alas, the Irwin Tools Night Race was more run than bump.  And even though Kyle Busch did manage to pull off the Bristol sweep, the race itself wasn't quite the fender-banging, helmet-throwing spectacle that fans have come to expect.

There were several long green flag runs for one. And even when Juan Pablo Montoya sent reigning champ Jimmie Johnson out of contention with an ill-timed hit, Johnson was quick to say post-race that he knew it wasn't intentional on Montoya's part.

And you call this Bristol?

In fact, the most memorable moments happened off the track - and here they are:

5. National Anthem - Bristol does the anthem right. And when the driver/crew kids sang The Star Spangled Banner during Sunday's pre-race ceremonies, even Tony Stewart cracked a smile. From the little boy on the front row who held his ears to the T-shirts wishing Bristol track president Jeff Byrd a speedy recovery, the anthem was a feel-good high point (and thankfully, the polar opposite of last week's drunken rendition).

4. Edwards' Musical Intro - the beloved Bristol tradition of allowing drivers to pick their own "theme song" before they are introduced didn't fail to disappoint.  And Carl Edwards wins the prize for most apropros song selection with "Why Can't We Be Friends?" by War - a pointed (and amusing) reference to his long-running feud with Brad Keselowski.

3. Vickers' Revelation - A few hours before the green flag waved at Bristol, Red Bull Racing driver Brian Vickers told the media that he underwent open heart surgery July 12 to repair a small hole in his heart. Vickers, who has been out of the No. 83 Toyota since being diagnosed with blood clots in May, also revealed that he had a stent placed in a vein in his left leg the day after heart surgery. 

"I had heart surgery, and I never thought I would never have that at 26," Vickers said.

Vickers told reporters his doctors have cleared him to race in 2011 and he plans to race at next year's Daytona 500.  Although he didn't have any comment about what this means for teammate's Scott Speed's prospects next year, the result seems pretty clear. With Kasey Kahne joining Red Bull Racing and Vickers returning, Speed may well be out of a NASCAR ride.

2. Brooms in Victory Lane - Whether or not you're one of his "loving fans," you can't deny that Kyle Busch accomplished an impressive feat this weekend. With his Cup victory, Busch became the first driver to win all three national series in one week. And that prompted his crew to break out the brooms in Victory Lane and do their own version of the "Bristol Sweep". 

1. Keselowski Gets Personal - The crowd went crazy when Keselowski took the mic after being introduced pre-race and said simply, "Brad Keselowski, driver of the Penske Racing Dodge. Kyle Busch is an ass."  Although the offending word was bleeped out on the ABC broadcast, Keselowski did ask a clergyman's permission before referring to his fellow driver in such terms.

It turns out, Keselowski had an on-track chance to repay Busch for a hit that cost him the Nationwide win Friday night.  But Keselowski (who is currently on probation for a dustup with Edwards) settled for racing Busch hard as Busch was trying to lap him, rather than bumping him into the fence.  And Busch cruised to the win.

Menard and RCR - a Win-Win Partnership

It may not have made as much news as Kasey Kahne's temporary move to Red Bull Racing, but Richard Childress Racing announced today that Paul Menard will be the team's newest driver in 2011.

Menard will bring a fourth car back to its stable next year, and Menard is the guy who's going to wheel it.  What sweetened the deal is that Menard comes with a multi-year sponsorship courtesy of Menards  (the third-largest home improvement company) which happens to be owned by his father.

The move gives Menard, who has four full seasons of Cup racing to his credit, an opportunity to prove himself with one of the best teams in the biz.

RCR is having a banner year.  Its drivers currently hold first and third place in the Chase standings - and Clint Bowyer is on the bubble, in 13th spot.

From the more mercenary finance side, the move gives RCR the relief of knowing its fourth car will have solid financial backing for the entire season. And that's nothing to be sneered at in the current NASCAR economy.

Although Menard hasn't been to Victory Lane on the Cup side, this year has been his best. So far, Menard has racked up one top five and three top 10 finishes.  In 2009, he failed to finish in the top 10 even once.

From RCR's official press release:

"Paul has developed into a very good race car driver, and we see his move to RCR next year as an opportunity for him to continue that progress," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR.

"Richard Childress Racing has shown this year that they're headed on the right track," said Menard. "Having three cars competing for the Chase and, ultimately, the championship is no small feat and they're on top of their game. With that in mind and having known Richard for the past 10 years or so, when this opportunity to join RCR came about it was a no-brainer. I have always had the utmost respect for Richard and what his organization has accomplished in the past and what they're capable of achieving in the future."

What's not to love?

Things They Are A-Changin'

Will this guy be at Red Bull Racing
next year?

The hottest topics in NASCAR today?

Babies, Red Bull and Chi-town.

First, driver Jeff Gordon and wife Ingrid Vandebosch  welcomed their new addition into the world this morning. Leo Benjamin Gordon was born at 8:53 a.m and weighed in at seven pounds, two ounces.

Per the driver's web site, "He's happy and healthy, and Mom is doing great."

Second, ESPN's David Newton wrote today that Red Bull Racing is close to announcing that current Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne will join their team in 2011. 

The announcement would end months of speculation that began after Hendrick Motorsports announced Kahne will take Mark Martin's ride in 2012. 

What Kahne's interim move will mean for Red Bull driver Scott Speed isn't clear.  And there's also no news yet as to whether Red Bull driver Brian Vickers, who is out for the season due to health issues, will return next year. 

Stay tuned.

Rumors are also flying that Red Bull may be leaving Toyota (or vice versa).  If so (and Kahne does join the team), Chevrolet could well be the make of choice.

Finally, NASCAR announced today that Chicagoland Speedway will host the first Sprint Cup chase race in 2011.  Jenna Fryer with the Associated Press reports that Chicago will trade its traditional night race for a prime spot on the NASCAR schedule.

More schedule changes will be announced Tuesday. Kansas Speedway will get a second Cup date.  And Kentucky Speedway will get its first - thanks to Atlanta, which will lose one.

To better understand the political maneuverings involved in NASCAR scheduling, be sure to read Jeff Gluck's great explanation over at SB Nation.

And that's - in the words of Walter Cronkite- the way it is.

(For right now at least).

Driver Safety or Solar Panels? Pocono Incident Stirs Debate

Elliott Sadler made the list of worldwide trending topics on Twitter today.

Not because he won the Craftsman Series truck race at Pocono Saturday.  And not because he had a stellar finish in the Cup race.

But  because he suffered one of the hardest hits in recent NASCAR history.  A hit so hard, it knocked the engine right out of his car.



It all began with 36 laps to go.  That's when an impatient Jimmie Johnson tried to bump draft with the No. 2 Dodge of Kurt Busch.  Busch lost control, hit the outside wall and spun into the infield.

Meanwhile, back in the pack, the incident caused another, more serious crash.  While most drivers checked up to avoid the Busch incident, early reports indicate that A.J. Allmendinger did not. Instead, Allmendinger hit the No. 19 car of Sadler

As a result, Sadler's car slid down the track and hit the inside fence head-on.

Hard.

To make matters worse, the fence Sadler hit doesn't qualify as a "SAFER barrier," a foam-enhanced wall which would have absorbed some of the impact. Pocono officials have said they will upgrade that portion of the infield guardrail to SAFER standards next year.

Unfortunately, Sadler's wreck happened a little too early for him to benefit from Pocono's planned improvements.

But what really set fans and pundits like Kyle Petty talking, is what Pocono did choose to spend their budget on this year.

Instead of getting the safety barriers up to snuff in time for this month's race, Pocono Raceway  opted to build a solar farm next to the track in order to make the venue more energy efficient. The cost of the solar farm? 15.5 million dollars.

Energy efficiency is all well and good.  But what about driver and fan safety?  What would the fallout be if Sadler had NOT been released from the infield care center?  Would folks give a rip about the track's reduced carbon footprint then?

It's not like this is the first time a serious incident, that could have had tragic results, has occurred at the tricky triangle.  As recently as June of this year, Kasey Kahne went airborne in the middle of a multi-car smashup on the backstretch.  There is no catch fence on the backstretch. Just trees:



And Cup drivers, including today's winner Greg Biffle, have recently expressed strong concern about Pocono safety.

"They could probably still do a little bit of work at Pocono," Biffle told Sports Illustrated on July 5. "They're going to kill somebody there."

And let's not forget the 2002 incident between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Park :



I don't begrudge Pocono their solar farm.  But such investments should be prioritized.  Driver and fan safety should come first. Period.

Luckily, Elliott Sadler will not be too worse for wear. He tweeted not long after his accident, "Just want to let everybody know I'm ok,prob gonna be sore but glad to walk away.Hardest hit I've ever had. Huge difference from a safer wall."

Good news indeed.

But to lessen the likelihood of such a wreck happening again, I propose that track officials who don't make necessary safety upgrades lose a race date. 

I don't care if a raceway boasts a wind farm, organic concessions, compost toilets and Al Gore as the Grand Marshal. 

If track owners fail to invest in obvious and necessary safety features (like SAFER barriers) then the race track should suffer the consequences.

Not the guy in the driver's seat.

Debris or Not Debris? That Is the Question

The most interesting part of Sunday's race was what did or maybe didn't happen.

With Denny Hamlin running away to victory, NASCAR officials threw a late-race yellow flag for debris. Hamlin still managed to cruise to Victory Lane. And  he then proceeded to give fodder to conspiracy theorists who have long claimed NASCAR uses the "phantom debris" caution all too often to liven things up.

So was there or wasn't there debris on the Michigan track Sunday?

"I understand this is show business," Hamlin said. "I didn't see any debris, if that's what you're asking. I mean, we typically get (a debris caution) every single week. I'm not going to say it's accepted, but what can you do?"

Indeed.

Kasey Kahne said he did see the debris in question, and so did some fans watching Race Buddy.  Others aren't so sure.

Which begs the bigger question - if NASCAR does indeed indulge in the occasional fake caution, is that a good thing or a bad thing for the sport?

Bloggers and fans are divided.  While the Heluva Good! 400 (other than a pseduo-feud between Scott Speed and temp teammate Casey Mears) was a little lackluster and needed some livening up, purists decry anything that makes the sport phony. 

Looks like Logano/Harvick get a pass this week.  The spotlight is now on "Jacques Debris."

Logano Should've Asked Cena for Pointers

After watching (and re-watching) Joey Logano's confrontation with Kevin Harvick post-Pocono, I'm inclined to believe Sliced Bread could have learned a thing or two from John Cena.

He certainly had the chance.

Logano and the rest of the Gilette Young Guns hung out with the WWE Superstar before the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 on Sunday. Leading up to the race Cena, Logano, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman invaded the campgrounds in an effort to turn NASCAR fans from “skeptics” to “believers” of Gillette’s newest razor.

Too bad Cena didn't teach Logano his trademark "Attitude Adjustment"  whilst they were hanging out. Joey could have used it on his father Tom and gained a little more respect in the NASCAR garage.

Or better yet, when you need to move six crew guys and a camera man out of the way, take Cena with you.

Regardless, Cena and the Young Guns had a blast before Sunday's race.  Here are a few shots from the day.

WWE Champion and race Grand Marshal John Cena and Gillette Young Guns Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Kasey Kahne chat before the start of the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 Presented by Target.

WWE Champion and the Gillette ProGlide Believers command the drivers to start their engines prior to the start of the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 Presented by Target.

WWE Champion and race Grand Marshal John Cena waves the green flag to start the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 Presented by Target.

Some Unexpected Pocono Drama

There were potholes, flying cars, green white checkers and a pit road feud.

And no, I'm not talking about Daytona.

Except for a nap-inducing green flag run somewhere in the middle, Sunday's race at Pocono had more action than we've seen there in years.

Here are a few of the highlights:

Rain, potholes and wind, oh my: Fans can deal with rain delays.  And in NASCAR, they happen often enough.  But when the word "pothole" began to be bandied about after the rain moved through, the NASCAR collective uttered an audible groan.  As a fan who sat through Daytona's pothole-gate in person, I was expecting a similar multi-hour delay at Pocono.  Fortunately, the offending pothole was at the exit to pit road and track officials solved the problem with a smack of epoxy and some strategically placed orange cones.

Bowyer dominates early: Clint Bowyer had the car to beat early on.  But The Pocono 500 makes for a long race - and once Bowyer lost his lead position, he never regained his mojo.  Blame it on the dirty air.

Hamlin's boneheaded burnout: Denny Hamlin had the smoothest moves of the day during the race.  So it was lucky for him that he saved his most boneheaded move for last.  While smoking the tires and celebrating his victory in front of the grandstand, Hamlin tagged the wall  leaving some damage on the left front of his car.

Teammate trouble: This is the year of family feuds.  Charlotte brought us the latest round with Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin.  And, thanks to A.J. Allmendinger, Pocono was no honeymoon for Richard Petty Motorsports.  Allmendinger's last lap block of his teammate Kasey Kahne could have consequences that were much more severe than loss of position.  After being pushed by Allmendinger into the infield grass, Kahne slid back up the track and into the path of a passle of on-coming cars.  He flew into the catchfence and the result was a scary multi-car smashup that could have resulted in a few injured drivers. Fortunately, all those involved were treated and released, but there was no love lost between Kahne and A.J.  Per Kahne, "I don't talk to AJ hardly ever and I doubt I'm gonna talk to him about this."

Logano throws down: When Kevin Harvick bumped Joey Logano and sent the No. 20 car spinning during the last few laps, nobody expected Logano to go after the intimidating Harvick in such a vehement fashion.  But Pocono was full of surprises and lo and behold, the sophomore racer drove right up to Harvick's car on pit road and barraged Harvick with an ephitet-laced tirade.  The only thing that didn't help Joey's cred was his father who was right there telling him to go for it.  Seriously, Joey. If you're gonna get any respect in the garage, tell your Daddy to stay out of it. 

Whether or not Logano won over any fans or gained garage-side respect for his callout of Harvick is up for debate.  But he does win for best sound bite of the day. When asked by a TNT reporter about his incident with Harvick, Logano worked in an insult aimed at Harvick's wife Delana, "His wife wears the firesuit in the family and tells him what to do."  Touche.

Busch Steals Big Bro's All-Star Thunder

Even though Kurt Busch held off the field for an impressive All-Star win Saturday night, he was once again upstaged by his little brother's red hot temper.

While some members of the press made an appearance in Victory Lane to interview the champ, there was also a large media contingent surrounding the No. 11 hauler.

Why, you ask?

The journos were assembled to see a potential smackdown between the irate Kyle Busch and his teammate Denny Hamlin.

When the ruckus began, Hamlin and Busch were first and second on the leaderboard Saturday night, when Busch got a run on the No. 11 and tried to pass .  Hamlin had other plans and blocked his teammate, causing Busch to slap the wall.  And this caused Busch to want to slap Hamlin.

Busch wrecked out a few laps later when his damaged car lost control and hit Kasey Kahne.  Per Busch's radio comments, "Somebody better keep me away from Denny. I'm gonna kill that $#@!."

Busch then proceeded to park his banged-up Toyota right outside Hamlin's hauler.  And wait. 

Once Hamlin arrived at the truck it was at least 20 minutes before the pair emerged from their conversation with team owner Joe Gibbs.  And although Hamiln left the meeting with a smile and positive things to say about his fuming teammate, I admit I disappointed.  I was hoping for something a bit more colorful.  After all, Hamlin's guys bested the No. 18 team at the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, and then bested him again during the race.

In fact, the words of the great competitor Ricky Bobby come to mind, "you can't have two number ones, cause that would be 11."

However, the Busch/Hamlin kerfuffle was only one of the many story lines which emerged during last night's All-Star race.  In case you missed it, here's a recap:

Fans Doubt the Edwards Vote - Carl Edwards couldn't drive his way into the All-Star race, but he won the right to run after being voted in by fans.  However, conspiracy theorists abound online and accusations were flying via Twitter that the vote could have been rigged. Folks were even demanding a recount. If you believe the hype, there's almost as much mystery surrounding the Edwards fan vote as there is around "The Case of the Loose Lugnuts".

Truex Knows How - Could Martin Truex, Jr. be the sleeper of the season? Truex snagged a win in the showdown segment, which secured his spot in the All-Star main event.  Then he pulled off a second place finish in the big race.  That NAPA/Michael Waltrip Racing team is looking better and better.

A Prayer to Remember - Five-year-old Taylor Gibbs gave the invocation Saturday night and by the time he said  "Amen" I doubt there was a dry eye or a frown left in the house.  Taylor, who is the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, is now cancer-free after a three-year battle with leukemia.  His was the sweetest, most touching pre-race prayer ever.

Quite Possibly the Understatement of the Season - "We got somebody mad," Hamlin's crew chief Mike Ford explaining to his driver why he should stay away from his own hauler after the race.

Not an All-Star Night for HMS - The powerhouse that is Hendrick Motorsports didn't have the best of nights.  Heck, they didn't even have a mediocre one. Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon were entangled in the first on-track pileup, ending their evenings early. Then Jimmie Johnson made an uncharacteristic slip and slid through the infield turf, losing his chance at the checkers.  Dale Earnhardt Jr. brought home the best finish for HMS in 12th spot - and even that wasn't pretty.

Photo info: Kyle Busch and teammate Denny Hamlin battle it out on the track.

Dale Jr. Could Take a Lesson From Playbook of Stewart and Kahne

After witnessing what some have dubbed Black Sunday, fans of Dale Earnhardt Jr. are understandably discouraged.

For the No. 88 team, the entire weekend was a bust. A big ugly bust.

It only takes a few minutes of reading post-Dover comments to realize that Junior Nation is also angry.  Some are calling for the head of crew chief Lance McGrew on a platter.  Others are casting aspersions upon team owner Rick Hendrick.  A superstitious few are even claiming that if Junior had kept his beard, he wouldn't have suffered such a disappointing setback.

Well, in the words of The Office's, Michael Scott, "I'm not superstitious, I'm just a little stitious."  And I doubt Junior's beard had anything to do with it.

Yes, Dover was dismal.  Yes, Junior hasn't won a race since 2008. But on the flip side, it only takes one good night to build season-changing momentum.

Look at Tony Stewart.

Last year about this time, Stewart hadn't won yet.  In fact, his year started with crashing his new teammate during Daytona 500 practice. But Smoke's emotional victory at the All-Star race became the key to propelling his fledgling team to four more wins - all for points.

And then there's Kasey Kahne.  In 2007, Kahne was winless.  His 2008 season didn't start out so hot either.  But winning the 2008 All-Star contest flipped a switch.  He smoked the very next race at Charlotte. Then he won again at Pocono.

In fact, four of the last five All-Star champs have proceeded to win at least one more race in the same season.

And, this may be woefully oversimpified, but that's all Junior's fans are asking for. A win. Points would be great, but seeing the No. 88 car in Victory Lane Saturday night would do much to soothe the restless Nation.

Not to mention, the timing couldn't be better. Saturday marks the 10th anniversary of Junior's memorable rookie season All-Star win in 2000.  It's also the eve of Dale Earnhardt's induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

If you're Dale Jr. there would be no better way to pump up your fan base than by taking the checkers this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. And if history is any indication, a win there could mean the start of a beautiful season.

How's that for positive thinking?

A Little Dega Eye Candy

For those of you who weren't present at Sunday's Talladega race, my sincere condolences.  It was NASCAR Nirvana.

Unpredictable. Exciting. Dramatic. You name it, this Dega race had it. And after such a fantastic day of racing, it's hard to get back to workaday reality.

Here are a few of the sights I captured before the race.  Enjoy the photos and take my advice - order your ticket for the Fall Talladega race as soon as you can.  No self-respecting NASCAR fan should miss this.

Tony Stewart's Old Spice Chevy - I didn't get close enough to sniff him, but I wonder if Smoke actually wears this stuff?  My granddad used to ...

In the words of Martina McBride, "This One's for the Girls". NASCAR hunk Carl Edwards takes a moment in the garage to talk to broadcasters and sign a few autographs.

Talladega is a heartless mistress.  And no driver has suffered her scorn more severely than Ryan Newman. I wonder if he'll take the advice screen-printed on his shirt when he returns to Dega this autumn?

Roll Tide! University of Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore served as the Grand Marshall Sunday. He's Bama diety, but even he seemed impressed with the boys of NASCAR. I heard him ask one of the photographers if he could get copies of his photos after the race.

The inside of Dale Jr's National Guard No. 88 Chevrolet, as it sits on the starting grid.

A.J. Allmendinger, David Reutimann and Jeff Burton chat it up before driver introductions.

Brad Keselowski may have exited the Cup race with an oxygen mask strapped to his face, but he rebounded in grand style to win the Nationwide race later that day.  Not too shabby.

Future teammates talking about 2011? Or two buddies catching up pre-race? Only Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman and Rick Hendrick know for sure ...

My favorite Talladega snapshot - is Kyle Busch giving big brother Kurt some driving lessons?

Talladega's favorite son, Dale Earnhardt Jr.  And rest assured you Junior fangirls, that hand with the wedding ring isn't Junior's. It belongs to Kurt Busch.

Jeff Gordon's Dupont Chevy on the starting grid. Such a promising start.  Such a disappointing finish.

Greg Biffle wins the day for the driver who signed the most autographs. Say what you will about The Biff, he knows how to treat the fans.

Martin Integral In Naming His Successor

It's official.  Kasey's coming to Hendrick Motorsports.

Kasey Kahne will drive the No. 5 car  for HMS in 2012 and Mark Martin will run his final full season in 2011.

The ink on the deal is still wet, but Rick Hendrick told the media today, via  teleconference, that Kahne has been in his sights since Ray Evernham hired the youngster back in the day.

More intriguing is what Hendrick revealed about Martin's role in the deal. Apparently, Martin was key to naming his own succssor.

"Mark came to me a year ago saying that’s the guy you oughta put in the car," Hendrick explained. "It’s been on the radar for a good while."

About a year ago, Martin was also encouraging Kahne to take a serious look at Team Hendrick.

"I talked to Mark Martin and learned a lot about the place from Mark and talked to him about things," Kahne explained. "He had a lot of really good advice."

Kahne's ride for 2011 has yet to be announced.  Hendrick declined to give any specifics today regarding where Kahne will go during that one-year interim.

However, the team owner did say fans will have the answer to this and other questions soon enough.

"I don’t think it's something we've got any deadline on," Hendrick said. "But surely we should have something done in the next 90 days."

Stay tuned ...

Kahne's Move Begs a Couple Questions

You may think it's a bit early for silly season - but don't tell that to Kasey Kahne.

News broke today that Kahne will leave Richard Petty Motorsports at the end of 2010. And the early word is that he'll join Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, as the driver of the No. 5 car.

Which begs a couple questions.

First, what's Kahne going to do in in that pesky year between 2010 and 2012?  The speculation has begun, with most folks opining that Kasey will take his curly-headed good looks over to the tough guys at Stewart-Haas Racing for 2011.  This theory makes sense given that SHR is, for all intents and purposes, practically an extension of the powerhouse that is HMS.

Second question - does this mean NASCAR fans have just one more year to cheer on Mark Martin?  Martin hardly seems ready to  replace his race car with a rocking chair.  However, Martin has already almost retired before.  Maybe he's finally ready to hang up his firesuit.

OR will Kahne not take the No. 5 car at all?  There have been online rumblings that ever since Gordon found himself in the family way, he has decided against racing into his dotage. It sure would be something if Gordon was the driver to exit HMS instead.

One thing's for certain.  If Kahne wants to fit in at HMS, he's going to have to try to grow a beard.

Photo Info: Top - Kasey Kahne signs autographs at Talladega last Fall.  Bottom - Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson pose at Daytona 500 practice in 2010.

Notes From Atlanta Motor Speedway

There are two things race fans should remember to pack before heading to future races at Atlanta Motor Speedway - earplugs and cash. 

First, the racing at Atlanta is fast and loud - and if you don't have protective earwear, sitting through the race is going to be tough/borderline impossible.  I tried it and then grew worried that I might develop a certain degree of permanent auditory damage.

Second, the concession stands don't accept credit/debit cards, so be sure you take enough cash to purchase food and drinks. If not, you'll have to find an ATM and then wait in line to use it, or else beg an obliging tailgater for a spare morsel or two.

I learned both of those lessons early on Sunday.  But other than that, Atlanta is a great place to watch a race. I don't think there's a bad seat in the grandstands - and for a girl who'se used to the behemoth venues of Daytona and Talladega, I appreciated the all inclusive sightline.

I also enjoyed the pre-race hours in the garage, meandering down pit road and hanging out in the infield for driver introductions.  And though I love NASCAR, the day's highlight for was getting a close-up look at the gold medals of the United States' Men's Bobsled Olympic champs.  Photos below:

Driver of the No. 12, Brad Keselowski signs autographs for fans on his way to the driver's meeting.  Little did he know he'd be sent on a high-flying wreck fest in a few hours by this guy:

A calm Carl Edwards is interviewed in the garage area before the race.  He wasn't so calm a while later.

Country music star Blake Shelton and Robby Gordon's car both hit the wall in the beginning laps of the Kobalt Tools 500.

The happiest looking tires on pit road ...

Olympic gold medalists in the men's bobsled - Steve Mesler and Steven Holcomb pose for photos back stage at driver introductions.  I asked Mesler if his was a real gold medal or just a fake one he used for events like this.  He assured me it was the real deal!

Dawsonville's  favorite son and NASCAR legend - Awesome Bill Elliott

Dale Earnhardt Jr. handed Kyle Petty a big check Sunday morning for $1 million. The generous donation will go to Petty's Victory Junction camp.  Before they took the stage however, the two spent a few minutes chatting.  From what I could hear of their conversation, it sounded like Kyle Petty was telling a racing story.  I would have liked to hear the whole thing, but it would've been ill-mannered to tell him to speak up...

Kasey Kahne is announced at driver introductions.

Gillette Young Guns Kick Off Different Sort of Race

If you've seen the commercials this weekend, you already know that the drivers known as the Gillette Young Guns are participating in a different type of race this year.

Beginning in Daytona, a Gillette-branded motorcoach will travel coast-to-coast, making special pit stops at all the drivers’ hometowns. The Gillette Young Guns “shave teams” feature Clint Bowyer with Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch with Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin with Kasey Kahne. Throughout the competition, the teams will be on a mission to record a goal of more than 500,000 shaves – the equivalent of 500 miles of skin – with the Gillette Fusion MVP™ razor before April 30.

“We are looking for interesting and personal ways to connect with our drivers’ loyal fan base,” said Michelle Potorski, Associate Marketing Director, Gillette North America. “The Gillette 500 provides fans with an opportunity to support their favorite driver and to see the Gillette Young Guns recruiting guys to join their team.”

The campaign will be supported by a series of webisodes, along with a television spot that will debut during the Daytona 500 on FOX. All the “shave teams” were featured in the creative spots in various comical settings recruiting fans to become a part of their team. One team visits an ice skating rink, while another stops by a local book club meeting to reinforce how even guys with sensitive skin can use the Gillette Fusion MVP™ razor everyday.

For all the race details, fans can log onto Gillette500.com. In addition to joining one of the shave teams in the goal to achieve 500 miles of shaved skin, fans have the opportunity to enter the Gillette 500 sweepstakes. The sweepstakes will award one registered fan with the opportunity to receive a hometown visit by one of the Gillette Young Guns. Fans can come back to Gillette500.com everyday to submit both their shaves and an additional entry to the sweepstakes.

The Eleventh NASCAR Day of Christmas: Eleven Racers Tweeting

The NASCAR community on Twitter is growing by leaps and bounds. Fans, media members and NASCAR officials have all embraced the social networking site to varying degrees.

The good news is, so have many of the sport's drivers. Michael Waltrip, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kevin Harvick and Kenny Wallace are the most prolific. Their amusing and sometimes curious status updates give fans a real-time glimpse not only of their personal lives, but of their off-track personalities.

Personally, I think every driver should Tweet for himself - or herself (and she does, by the way, @DanicaPatrick).

So as a Christmas Eve treat (or should I say "tweet") - I've posted a few of the most recent Tweets by the 11 drivers on Twitter who post the most regularly - and have the most interesting things to say. Happy Holidays!

Michael Waltrip @mw55: "Anyway merry christmas to all. Cause I ride on the christmas bus. If ur on a different bus, bless u too. Good night."

Juan Pablo Montoya @jpmontoya: "Missing a present for the wife hopefully shows up!!!"

Kevin Harvick @KevinHarvick: "just got home from a full day.feeding the dogs now then time for dinner."

Kenny Wallace @Kenny_Wallace: "Hello My friends!.. Kim and I have decided this will be the first Christmas we Do Not Buy each other Big Gifts... All about our 3 Girls.."

Brian Vickers @brianvickers83: "is at the CV Products Holiday party and finishing up Christmas shopping today."

Kasey Kahne @kaseykahne: "Getting my hair cut off then I need to start christmas shopping. Should be a great week"

Denny Hamlin @dennyhamlin: "got half my christmas shopping done. did i mention that i dont know what to buy anyone.. i hate that about xmas. gift cards it is!"

Max Papis @maxpapis: "http://twitpic.com/usy99 - Relaxing from my room ...this is close to paradise"

Elliott Sadler @Elliott_Sadler: "Eatin dinner tonight for christmas eve eve. Let the diet have a rest for few days!! Should be fun!!"

Ryan Newman @RyanNewman39: "Put up some more deer cams & fed the deer. Wonder who we will see on there this time? http://bit.ly/7sCuFb"

Bobby Labonte @Bobby_Labonte: "Saw this photo at a friends house tonight. 1984 In Bristol. Left side 2nd row up. Good times. http://twitpic.com/ulhmb"

They're Not Just NASCAR Pretty Faces ....

Who's the fairest of them all?

Sporting News may not be an enchanted mirror, but according to the mag's NASCAR "50 Most Beautiful People" edition, the answer is Krissie Newman, wife of Stewart-Haas driver Ryan Newman.

Read the article and you'll find that Krissie is far from just another pretty face - she plays an integral role in Newman's career, works tirelessly on behalf of animal rescue and is also learning to pilot a helicopter.

In addition to the mag's behind-the-scenes look at Mrs. Newman, the pub is replete with interesting (and in one case mistaken) facts about some of the best-known personalites in the world of NASCAR.
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• When Jimmie Johnson visited the White House this summer, President Barack Obama mistook Johnsons' Chevy for a Ford. In my book, that's a chief offense...

• For the record, Dale Earnhardt Jr's birthday is in October. The magazine erroneously stated that Junior was born in August. But I'm sure the editors have received plenty of e-mails from Junior Nation about this by now.

• Kasey Kahne keeps it all in the family. His younger brother Kale drives his motorcoach and is his personal chef. His sister Shannon helps run the Kasey Kahne Foundation and his mother Tammy oversees his fan club. Plus, his cousins drive his motorcoach and help run the Kasey Kahne Motorsports Shop.

• The sometimes cerebral Brian Vickers supports the proliferation of nuclear energy as a way for the U.S. to gain energy independence. In his own words, he's "not part of the whole Al Gore bandwagon".

You can purchase this special edition of Sporting News on newsstands now - although it might be tricky. I visited a few different book stores and grocey stores before finally finding it on the shelf at Wal-Mart.