Bloggin' is Racin'

Quote of the week

"Obviously, a lot of what is said on the radio, in my opinion, doesn’t need to be broadcasted [by the TV networks]. But, it is up to us to keep that in mind. That is the first time they have ever broadcasted me, obviously it wasn’t a good thing. It is frustrating. It is down to crunch time. Everybody is trying to dig for every inch; I didn’t mean anything by it, just letting off a little steam.”
-- Clint Bowyer on his disparaging comment regarding Michael Waltrip's driving ability during the Sharpie 500. Waltrip didn't appreciate that ESPN aired the comment. The network does not air live driver's radio chatter, and chose to air the comment on a slightly delayed basis after Waltrip and Casey Mears created a multi-car accident.

Photo: Getty Images

SMI proceeding with Kentucky Speedway sale

The sale of Kentucky Speedway to Speedway Motorsports Inc. is on track to be completed this fall.
SMI announced Thursday that it will proceed with its acquisition of the 1.5-mile tri-oval located in northern Kentucky about halfway between Louisville and Cincinnati. The two sides reached an agreement in May, and SMI completed a 90-day review earlier this month. The company expects the sale to be completed by December.
SMI president Bruton Smith says the sale allows SMI to expand its geographic reach and is optimistic he can bring a NASCAR Sprint Cup race to the track. SMI owns seven tracks throughout the country that host Sprint Cup events: Texas Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Smith had hoped the track would land a Sprint Cup race in 2009, but cited an ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by the speedway against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. as an obstacle.
The case was thrown out in January, but an appeal has been filed and current track owner Jerry Carroll said he has no intentions of abandoning the case.

-- The Associated Press

A warning for all NASCAR fans

A good friend of mine and NASCAR fan/guru from the Los Angeles area was at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend and had a rather alarming thing happen to her. Diane (her real name) had her whole credential holder swiped from her belt, including a very-much coveted Hot Pass. This all happened while she was looking for food in the grandstand area. I'll let her tell the story:

I am standing in the line for pizza but sort of turning around to look whatelse might be available when I feel a pull/tug on my waistband. I look down and my credential holder with my hot pass and my ticket for the Nationwide race have been ripped off the industrial clip that is still hooked into my belt loop. I looked around the area in case it just got caught on someone's backpack or something and fell down but its no where to be found and I notice someone sort of hurrying through the crowd. So I think they saw the hot pass and just grabbed it to see if they could rip it off and they got lucky when it came off. I have no ticket for Saturday (Sprint Cup race) -- I was just going to stay in the garage (with the Hot Pass). Now I have no hot pass. I know that the back says they aren't responsible if its lost or stolen, but I don't know if I can pay for a replacement or what. Instead of staying in the seating area -- I head down to the credential office -- forgetting that they closed at 6 and its now 7:30. So now I can't get back in to watch the Nationwide race, and I have no credential.

To make a long story short, after several phone calls Diane never heard back from the man who got her the Hot Pass and so she left Bristol a day early. The lesson to be learned here is always wear your credential holder (with your ticket and other important items) around your neck or store it in your backpack. Maybe also store away any Hot/Cold Passes or VIP passes when you're not using them in the infield/garage area or pit lane. My general rule now that I've also had stuff stolen and destroyed in the parking lot is just make sure you lock everything up and take only the essentials into the track.

-- Michele Vincze
Photo: Getty Images