Jalan5000A's

NASCAR COMMENTARY

NASCAR Commentary and Observations from Jalan5000A, Founder of the AD NASCAR Family Community on America Online

ODDS AND ENDS

While the Winston-Cup boys sun themselves on the beaches of the world, I thought I'd take a little break myself and compile a few observations of the current state of NASCAR at this halfway point of the 1998 season.

**

Deadwood has already been dispatched with the release of Todd Bodine and Jerry Nadeau from their Winston-Cup rides. Both drivers have had nothing but bad luck. All that I remember of Jerry Nadeau was that every time I noticed him on TV, he was involved in a wreck. And Bodine ........he couldn't make half the races he entered. In Bodine's case, it supports a theory that I've had that, with the exception of the Burton boys, the youngest brothers of Winston-Cup Stars are generally cursed. Just ask Kenny Wallace if he feels an advantage from being Rusty's little brother. Ask Mike Waltrip if he walks with a halo over his head by being Darrell's brother.

**

1998 has been a wicked year, in terms of injuries. Greg Sacks was lost for the season with head injuries, Lake Speed resigns to recover from his injuries, Steve Park sits out half the season for his injuries, and Mike Skinner sits out a few races because of aggravating injuries. No matter what the experts say, complacency in safety rules can be deadly.

**

Rumors are once again surfacing that Chrysler may return to Winston-Cup in the year 2000.  That's just fine with me. I'm getting tired of this GM vs. Ford war. Bring on MoPar!

While you're at it, bring back the Hemi. (Just kidding)

**

While we're on the subject, I continue to hear people say that NASCAR will eventually allow foreign cars to enter Winston-Cup races. Depending on how broad you interpret the definition of ‘eventually,' I think it's safe to say that we won't be seeing Honda's, Volvo's, BMW's and Nissan's taking pace laps in WC races anytime soon. Get real. NASCAR isn't that stupid.

**

ESPN a.k.a. ABC a.k.a. Disney Corporation, needs to lighten up. The reason so many Cable TV systems don't carry ESPN-II (Where a lot of NASCAR racing is aired) is because ESPN holds it hostage for top-dollar. They expect Cable TV Distributors to pay as much money for ‘the deuce' as they do for ESPN. And let's face it; ESPN-II will never rival it's big brother, ESPN, unless it went to a 24-hour racing format.

**

Speaking of 24-hours, think about this; if home gardeners can have their own, 24-hour Cable TV channel, why can't 40 million NASCAR fans have a 24-hour NASCAR channel? I'd love to have a place to tune in where I could watch reruns of classic NASCAR races. But, such a network would never work if NASCAR owned and operated it. Freedom of Speech and NASCAR do not mix, and any news on such a channel would be so sanitized, it would be unfit for broadcast.

**

NASCAR Commissioner, Semon Knudson, passed away recently. For a man with such a lofty title, I'd venture to guess that maybe 1 in 100 NASCAR fans even knew who he was, or that NASCAR even had a National Commissioner.

**

What's this crap about Coolers? I almost tossed my cookies when I heard some NASCAR tracks were banning Coolers, the official accessory of the NASCAR fan. C'mon people! Do you need money so desperately that now you're going to force us to pay $2 for .23 worth of cola? Or a buck and a half for a .9 hot dog? Put your thinking caps on, vendors. If your concessions were reasonably priced, you wouldn't have people hauling-in Coolers.

**

There is nothing that turns my stomach more than watching pre-race activities with interviews being conducted during the playing of the National Anthem. Look..... either air the entire National Anthem, undisturbed by useless interviews, or go to a commercial break. Show a little respect, Broadcasters.

**

First, it was the Buck Baker School, then it was the Richard Petty experience. Now, NASCAR legend David Pearson is offering high-speed rides in a real race car at Darlington Speedway. For about $300, you'll ride with Pearson for five laps and hit speeds of 150 mph. Five laps? Hey.... is this the same David Pearson who, ten years ago, took three laps at Charlotte and had to be helped from the car?

**

See You at the Top!

Jalan5000A

Back to Jalan5000A's NASCAR Commentary

Comments?  Responses?   E-Mail  jalan5000a@aol.com

The comments and opinions on this website are those of the Author, and are not necessarily the views of the staff and management of NASCAR Family Chat, Athlete Direct, NASCAR Family Chat SuperSite, NASCAR, America Online or any of their agents, officers or employee's.