I'm Just Sayin'...
By Matthew Scott

Mother Nature is not a Racing Fan
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Notes, observations, and ponderings from a day (and night…and next morning) on the couch.

There may be no more depressing place on Earth than a race track during a rain delay. Believe me, I know whereof I speak.

A couple of years ago, I accepted an offer from a friend to attend an IndyCar race at the Michigan International Speedway. My buddy was working the event, so once we got to the track, I was on my own, free to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of racing in blissful solitude. So, I did what came naturally; I sat in the car, reclined my seat, and took a nap. When I awakened, the command to start engines was just minutes away, but unfortunately, the bright, hopeful skies of a beautiful Michigan morning had turned dark and ominous. Within moments, the lightning flashed, the thunder clapped, and the skies opened. Trapped in the car with just a book and some Pop Tarts (that's right, I read and keep a keen eye on my diet…a true Renaissance man), I would spend the next five hours planted in that bucket seat. If you haven't been there, MIS, while not a bad place by any means, is not Daytona or Indianapolis. There's no museum, no fan zone, no place to whittle away hour after hour of falling rain. So there I sat, reading page after page; eating Pop Tart after wonderfully tasty Pop Tart. Occasionally, I caught some tunes on the radio. I watched a few brave and hearty souls wander through the deluge. Eventually, my persistence paid dividends. Eventually, the rain subsided. Eventually, the track dried, the cars took to the track, and a thrilling, heart-stopping race convened. And so, it was to that bank of memories I escaped as the rain fell on the California Speedway, and afternoon turned into evening, which turned into night, which turned into the next morning. If I could survive that damp, depressing day at Michigan, I could survive a green flag, a red flag, another green flag, and another red flag, this one for over five hours. And I knew the stars of Nascar would reward my perseverance with a thrilling Auto Club 500, about which I could write something pithy and perhaps poignant.

Eventually.

A few observations from my Day of Waiting:

-The only people who might hate racing rain delays more than drivers and fans? Try pit reporters. Between the Nationwide rain delay on Saturday night and the Sprint delay Sunday, you've got about ten hours of TV time to fill, and almost all of it was filled with talking. Bet whoever hired Darrell Waltrip is getting a big, fat bonus today. But seriously, give some credit to ESPN's crew of Mike Massaro, Jamie Little, et al, and FOX's Dick Berggren, Matt Yocum, and Krista Voda. There are only so many different ways you can ask a driver how much they hate rain delays, and the Nascar pit guys and gals used just about each and every one of them.

-On a related note, during the second red flag on Sunday, in the middle of his "rain sucks" interview, Dario Franchitti claimed to be "bloody freezing." I'll bet a dollar to your dime that's the first time that phrase has been used in Nascar.

-Sometimes, I think Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is the only person who realizes how silly it is that so many people fawn over and make such a fuss about him. To wit; following Casey Mears' spin that ultimately collected both Junior and Sam Hornish, and ended with Mears sitting strapped into a sideways car while fire erupted a few feet away, Junior was asked by an almost-breathless Berggren, "Are you okay?" Earnhardt appeared to do a double take, then incredulously responded that Casey was the one everyone should be asking about. Good on you, Junior.

-With that heartfelt moment behind us, um, what gives with the 88? I thought Junior's move to Hendrick meant we would all be treated to the first 36-win season in Nascar history. I guess we'll have to settle for 34 out of 36.

-Peanut Butter and Jelly, with a side dish of spaghetti can make a tasty little dinner. (Cut me some slack…the cupboard was close to bare, and I didn't feel like getting pizza.)

-I know Nascar has made it abundantly clear they won't tolerate "modifications" (i.e., cheating) with the CoT, and I know the Nationwide cars are a different beast than the CoT, but can someone explain to me how Robby Gordon can get docked 100 points for an infraction that was discovered before the car ever took the track, yet Junior's illegal equipment infraction at Daytona, an illegality with which the car was actually raced, only nets a 50 point reduction? And don't start with the "Junior-hater" label…I don't think it has anything to do with the people involved. To me, they're similar crimes with very dissimilar punishments. I'm just saying.

-It's fitting that Tom Cruise was at the race. Remember the scene in "Days of Thunder" when Cole Trickle drove his car backward down pit lane? I will not be surprised if the day finally comes when Kyle Busch decides to do that just for the hell of it. Love him or loathe him, that kid can flat-out get it done behind the wheel.

-I don't know about where you live, but in my neck of the woods, there appear to be a large number of people who are up late, and are looking to chat with available singles in their area. So I called one, and asked if they thought anyone had anything for the 24. Best $4.99 I've ever spent. P.S…Bambi is a Kasey Kahne fan.

Oh, by the way, the race was won by Carl Edwards. There were so many lead changes, I think I actually led laps 145-148. What is it about that place that suits the Roush-Fenway Fords? But more importantly, two races in, and still no wins for Team Hendrick? What a horrible slump. They must be pulling their hair out in that 24/48 shop. All sarcasm aside, anyone who thought Jeff Gordon wasn't going to make a Drive for Five (it should be Seven, but that's an argument for a different time), um, wrong. I know Ryan Newman won at Daytona, but Toyotas dominated the day, and the only car that could run with them was the 24. Then, he has the piece he had at California, a more accurate harbinger of things to come. Not good news for the rest of the field…except for that 48 car. Jimmie's Charge over the last forty-plus laps should put a scare into the rest of the good ol' boys.

That's a very truncated version of today's events, but you'll have to forgive me. I stopped caring about two o'clock this morning.

Until next time, stay dry.

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