Wanna Ride With Junior Anyone?

This just in from the Bristol Motor Speedway... bid on a ride with Dale Earnhardt Jr, help a good cause and receive two cold pit passes to boot! Read on:

If you're one of the thousands rabid Dale Jr. fans out there, you're going to want to check out the "Ride of a Lifetime" online auction at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The auction, which begins March 2 and ends March 16 gives fans the opportunity to bid for their very own "Ride of a Lifetime" with Dale Jr. during pre-race introductions at the March 22 Food City 500.

The winning bidder will meet Dale and then climb into a Ford Mustang to take a lap around the World's Fastest Half-Mile along side him, in front of nearly 160,000 spectators.

In addition to the Ride of a Lifetime, the winning bidder will receive two cold pit passes for Sunday's race and also have the opportunity to purchase two tickets to the Food City 500.

To bid, visit http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/. The auction for Dale Jr. will end at 3 p.m. EST March 16 so get your bids in early! Proceeds benefit the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Foundation as well as the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities, a non-profit organization which aids children's agencies in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

Digger, I Propose a Truce

Digger is one polarizing little varmint. From sites touting that "Digger Must Die" to polls showing that viewers would rather see Digger take a hike than Dale Jr. win a race, this is one gopher that really gets folks riled up.

I can see why the furball is so hated. Every time anything of note happens on the track, there he is, popping up from his underground lounge to obscure all the action. My beef is that Digger makes raceday coverage seem less like a major sports broadcast and more like a Saturday morning cartoon.

And that's where NASCAR has made a critical miscalculation.

Grownup race fans may hate Digger (and keep hoping that his furry little head will get smashed by a set of Goodyears). But their kids don't. The kids LOVE him. My nephews get excited every time Digger makes an appearance on screen. And I've heard the same from several of my friends. As much as they hate to admit it, their children dig Digger too.

So it would appear that as a potential revenue stream to lure younger viewers into the NASCAR fold and turn them into paying customers at the merchandise trailer, Digger makes sense. But what doesn't make sense is expecting the parents of the those kids (and fans without children) to enjoy each and every time Digger and his irritating posse break into the broadcast.

NASCAR and FOX would be better served to go for broke with Digger. Why not create full half-hour episodes that air each Sunday (or Saturday, in some cases) before the real race coverage begins? That way we could nix the abhorred mini-sodes that muck up the pre-race works on Sundays and get back to live driver interviews and commentary. And NASCAR wouldn't lose an opportunity to entice the younger set to buy Digger gear and become lifelong fans.

Then, if we could convince DW and the gang to rein it in and keep gopher sightings to a minimum during the race--Digger might not be so bad after all.

Mike Bliss Put On the Hits In a Sam's Town Thriller

If the Sam's Town 300 had been a demolition derby, Mike Bliss would have been the car to beat.

In a hard-driving, caution-filled slugfest, Bliss made contact with just about everyone and everything on the track--Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, The Wall.

And you thought Dale Jr. had bad luck.

Truth be told, Bliss' loss was the race fan's gain. With caution after caution and smash-up after smash-up the race didn't have one dull moment in the mix. And that's why folks tune in. There was so much insanity, the announcers in the broadcast booth were even more tongue-tied than usual. At one point, they confessed there was too much happening at once and they couldn't keep up. Unfortunately for him, we have Mike Bliss to thank for most of that excitement.

The most memorable wreck of the day came with just five laps to go. Denny Hamlin's car blew a tire and Bliss powered right into his bumper, lifting Hamlin's back wheels off the ground and starting a fire under the hood. This made for some great replay footage, and some deliciously tense moments as Hamlin had to wait for his car to roll to a halt before climbing out of the steel-can inferno.

All's well that ends well, as the saying goes. Hamlin walked away unscathed to race another day and Bliss left the track to face the cameras behind the wall. I couldn't help but feel for the guy as he told a reporter that it was just a "weird day" and he couldn't wait to go home.

Hey Mike B., don't fret. If the series gave out points for entertainment value, you'd be leading the pack. And besides, if this racing thing doesn't pan out you might just have a future in roller derby.

Vegas the Pits for Hendrick Motorsports

In the words of Shooter Jennings "If life's a bowl of cherries, why is mine the pits?"

And that well may be what the folks at Hendrick Motorsports are wondering after the checkered flag waved at the Shelby 427.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. All five HMS teams ran impressively in practice, pulling some of the fastest times of the weekend. In pre-race interviews Jeff Gordon was confident. Mark Martin was pleased. Junior was optimistic. Brad Keselowsi was just happy to be there. And when the green flag dropped, the Lowe's car was an early lap leader, quickly outpacing the field.

The good vibes didn't last long.

It all started on lap two when Brad Keselowski slid up the track and into the wall. Chalk that up to a rookie mistake.

Then Mark Martin, a favorite to win the whole shebang, blew an engine for the second race in a row. Night over. Unfortunately, there's not much ol' Mark could have done differently there.

But the real fun started when Jimmie Johnson, the hands-down car to beat, overshot his pit stall and had to be rolled back into the box under the green flag. At almost the same moment---as if the planets were cruelly aligned for their mutual destruction---his teammate Jeff Gordon missed the entrance to pit road completely. And as Gordon's car spun in a cloud of haze and dust, the caution came out and bad news along with it.

Johnson lost several positions. But guess who else happened to be on pit road with him? Yup, Dale Junior--who had worked his way from back in the field up to eighth place. Junebug sure does seem to have an extraordinary talent for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Then it went from bad to worse for Jimmie J. As the race wound down, Johnson got loose and had a close encounter with a safer barrier, thus ending his shot at the top five. Gordon somehow managed to limp into sixth spot with his taped-up car. And, thanks to an Edwards' engine failure, Junior eked out his first top 10 of the season.

If you're a fan of HMS, the night's chain of events often left you shouting at the television in frustrated disbelief. But take heart Hendrick Nation. Racing is a lot like life. And sometimes, as Greg Biffle could tell you, pits happen.

Race Weekend Ramblings

Am I the only chick out there who thinks roughneck American Idol contestant Michael Sarver and a certain NASCAR driver share more than a slight resemblance? As my friend T pointed out ... Sarver looks like a big Dale Junior. Judge for yourself.

Cheers to Brad Keselowski, Regan Smith, Joe Nemechek, Max Papis, David Gilliland and Todd Bodine. They'll be racing on Sunday in the Shelby 427.

Earlier tonight, while the boys on Trackside were discussing the whereabouts of Darrell Waltrip, the director cut to a shot of DW driving a golf cart. Lying across the back of the cart like a piece of freakish plush roadkill was a gi-normous Digger. At first, I thought Darrell had finally had all he could take of that irritating varmint and had mowed him down in a fit of manic rage. Too bad that wasn't the case.

Mark Martin had the fastest car in Sprint Cup practice and qualified eighth. The man has seen success in Vegas before. Does he have checkers in his future?

Why "The Nation" Likes Junior

Dale Jr's taken a lot of heat since Sunday from just about every corner of the racing world and blogsophere. But he didn't let the brutal week end before doing the right thing. He called Brian Vickers and apologized for the wreck heard 'round the world.

Whether Vickersgate was intentional or not is a moot point. What matters to Junior Nation, is that once again, their driver "manned up" and took the hard road--because it was the right thing to do.

There are tons of reasons why folks initally pick Junior as their favorite driver. But the reason so many fans stay loyal to him come hell or highwater is because of Junior himself--not his father, not his track record, and not his marketing.

He may not be the smoothest talker or have multiple championships under his belt, but Junior is who he is and he makes no apology for that. There are folks who likely think Junior's every move, and even his apology to Brian Vickers, are all part of a public relations ploy to further ingratiate himself with race fans. But if that's the case, the man deserves an Oscar. You can fake smarts and you can fake professionalism, but you can't fake real. And that's what Junior is.

Dale Jr is like your Uncle Ervin, your brother Clint and your buddy Jimmy all rolled into one. He's the type of guy you might find in the stands at the I-20 Dirt Track, fishing on Smith Lake or gettin' loud and knockin' back a few at the Stumble Inn Bar and Grill. He reminds you of someone who can change your oil, build a deerstand, and make you laugh at the same time. He looks comfortable in camo, at ease in a pick-up and dressed up in blue jeans.

In short, Junior is good people. And that goes a long way with folks who know good people when they see them.

And the Academy Award Goes to...Kyle Busch?

Although the dummies at "The Academy" have scheduled their piddly little awards ceremony for the same time slot as the Auto Club 500 (again), I'd hate for race fans to miss out on the parade of golden trophies, acceptance speeches and red carpet couture. So, per special request, the Academy members have held an emergency, private meeting and cast their votes for the best performances in NASCAR. May I have the envelope please?

Best Lead Driver in a Dramatic Role: Though other drivers have campaigned hard for this award, was the outcome ever in doubt? This Oscar goes to Kyle Busch--the man who's bringing drama back to motorsports. Bold, brash and pretty darn talented, this hothead has single-handedly instigated rivalries with just about everyone in the sport including Dale Jr, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Ron Hornaday, Kevin Harvick, Rod Blagojevich (OK, now that last one I made up, but you get my point). To tell the truth, there's something curiously admirable about a guy who can make so many enemies and still win so many races.

Best Paint Scheme Design: Now that the Academy has finally figured out that Tony has traded one Depot for another and that Bobby Labonte drives the car with the big Ask.com, they've been able to cast an educated vote. In an almost unanimous decision, this award goes to the #24 car, Jeff Gordon. His new paint job is both fast, furious and fabulous.

Most Uncomfortable On-Screen Moment: When Michael Waltrip pretended his beer bottle was a (ummm, how shall I say this in polite company?) "private appendage" during the Bud Shootout Selection Show, was I the only one who felt violated? Two things: not funny and ewww - there are kids watching! Note to Michael: no one wants to see your bottle.

Best Signature Post-Race Move: Like, the burnout is so cliche already! It takes some real creative types to come up with a new way to celebrate a checkered flag. From Carl Edwards' back flippin' to Tony Stewart's fence climbin' there are a few drivers who know how to put their own spin on a win. But again, this award goes to Kyle Busch. Who else could bow to a crowd with such bravado, while being pelted with a fusillade of boos and seat cushions?

The "There's No Crying In NASCAR" Acheivement Award: As evidenced by his remarks on the radio as the Daytona 500 wound down, Elliott Sadler was clearly distraught by his inability to pull out a win. Although I could not see his face for the helmet, glare and safety net, I have it on good authority that he did not burst into tears--for which race fans are grateful. Elliott, look on the bright side, you're in the top five in points!

The Best Director Award: There were some strong contenders in this category: Steve Addington, Bob Osborne and Todd Berrier, just to name a few. But for sheer performance when it counts and the ability to lead his team to win after win, this Oscar goes to Chad Knaus. In addition to being a record-breaking crew chief, he may also be the smartest man in the Sprint Cup Garage.

Best Soundtrack: This one's easy. Tony Stewart's heartfelt and melodic rendition of "Ole, Ole, Ole" while taking the lead in the Daytona 500. Tony, do you take requests? I hear that "Freebird" song is pretty popular...

5 Life Lessons From Daytona

1. Life, like racing, is mostly about the decisions you make. You run with the wrong crowd at Daytona and you get sucked to the back faster than you can say "Dick Trickle". You work with your team and, if you're prepared and play it smart, you can all get to the front for a possible win. You find yourself a lap down? You never give up until you get back in a position to win. The importance of teamwork and smart decision-making - a metaphor for life.

2. Sometimes, you need to see the world through the eyes of a child. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend, no adult should go to Daytona (or any race, for that matter) without a child in tow. Watching a youngster's excitement over the zoom of the cars, the roar of the engines and bump drafting down the frontstretch can really put things in perspective. Sometimes we lose our zest for life. We become cynical and bored. If that's the case with you, take a kid to a race. Their enthusiasm will be contagious.

3. In tough economic times - some things are still worth a splurge. I'm speaking of the Fanzone at the Daytona International Speedway. This was my first experience "in the zone" and I'll never forget it. Hanging out on the fandeck over the garages is about more than seeing your favorite drivers and crew up close -- it's about making new friends and feeling a part of the NASCAR community at large. Mark Martin signs autographs from his garage- the crowd goes wild. There's Richard Petty - cameras start snapping. Ryan Newman's wrecked car rolls into the garage area - gasps of dismay erupt from the fans. Kyle Busch drives by - let the trash talking begin. For my money, I'd rather splurge on an experience in the Fanzone, than a driver T-shirt or ballcap. T-shirts fray, but memories live forever.

4. An unexpected kindness can make someone’s day, year or life. While hanging out in the infield before Saturday's Nationwide race, I met a US Army soldier and his six-year-old little boy who was wearing a Jeff Gordon Halloween costume and hat. An Army airborne ranger (who was standing near the stage before driver introductions) came over and talked to them and gave them what looked like Dale Jr. merchandise. Then a NASCAR official brought the boy a lugnut from one of the racecars. As if that weren't cool enough, minutes later, the CEO of Camping World (the folks who sponsored the Nationwide race) asked the soldier if he and his son would like to ride in the pace car and lead the field to the green flag. The folks standing around them burst into cheers and applause. And then, like NASCAR royalty, the soldier and his child were ushered under the yellow rope and into the driver area to take their places. I'd say the kindess of the person who made that little guy's dream come true will be remembered as long as he lives.

5. Keep the memory of your heroes alive. When NASCAR fans pick a driver, they are fiercely loyal. Perhaps no fans are moreso than those of Dale Earnhardt. From the hushed picture-taking by Earnhardt's statue in front of the Daytona 500 Experience to the wistful conversations of middle-aged men standing outside the Earnhardt merchandise trailer, Daytona is sacred ground. But it isn't only the fallen NASCAR heroes that are remembered with reverence. Fans don't forget second-chance heroes like Mark Martin (who got almost as much fan applause during Sprint Cup practice as Dale Jr) and veteran Bill Elliott, who had one of the fastest cars early on in Speedweeks. The moral of the story: don't forget where you came from - and who got you there in the first place.

In Defense of Dale Jr

God bless Dale Earnhardt Jr. Whether you love to love him or love to hate him, you have to admit that this guy's under more pressure than any other driver in Sprint Cup. And, according to Darrell Waltrip, we're all supposed to believe the pressure from his fans and critics alike is finally getting to him.

I don't buy it. Sure, he clipped Vickers. Sure he missed his pit box and then was penalized for being "on the line." But two things became clear to me as the laps wound down during the Daytona 500: Dale Jr. is serious about winning this year and the biggest pressure he's under is coming from himself.

He drove the wheels off his car as night came on, managing to get himself from the back to the front. From a lap down to the lead lap. And his intensity and irritability during the rain-delay interview cemented that fact. He knows this is his year. And he's got something to prove.

And he also knows he can't please everybody. If he had just sat pretty, eased up and failed to get back on the lead lap, NASCAR fans would have questioned his commitment to winning. He tries to pay back Vickers for 'Dega - AND put himself in a position to finish well (while unintentionally causing a pileup) and bloggers call him a bonehead who doesn't know how to drive. If the contact with Vickers would have sent Vicker spinning into the infield, Junior would be a hero. Instead, according to one online pundit, Junior is now a goat.

But that's temporary. If Junior keeps that fire to win burning all season long, he'll silence those critics easily enough. And he'll prove he can handle the pressure that comes not from his fans and critics, but from himself.