Motorsports FanHouse

Formula One Boss Enjoyed 'A Nazi-Style Orgy'

Enrico Campitelli Jr. — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:28:00 EST

Filed under: Formula One, The Word, Other Racing Series

The FIA is an organization best known for being the governing body of Formula One racing. The FIA's president, Max Mosley, had been known to organize social activities for strange fascist parties during his teen years.

Mr. Mosley has grown up since then but his odd tendencies have continued. Now, at the ripe old age of 67, Max is shocking the auto world for organizing another kind of social activity: a Nazi-style orgy.

Mr Mosley was caught on video by the News of the World with five women in an underground "torture chamber" in Chelsea, where he spent several hours allegedly indulging in sado-masochistic sex.

The Oxford-educated former barrister, who is president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), reenacted a concentration camp scene in which he played the role of both guard and inmate.

It is believed Mosley whipped the prostitutes and submitted himself to "humiliating" acts. Not surprisingly, Jewish activist groups are outraged. Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, called the acts "sick and depraved."

Neither Formula One nor Mosley are commenting on the story and it's believed Mosley is pursuing legal action against the News of the World paper who broke the story.

For more on Lesbian Nazi hookers, I defer to Weird Al Yankovic.

Update: *Warning* NSFW: Here is an alleged video of the encounter.

Formula One Boss Enjoyed 'A Nazi-Style Orgy' originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

2007 NASCAR Season: My Top 35 Memories

tallglassofmilk — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 23:54:00 EST

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Fans, The Word, Car of Tomorrow

The 2007 NASCAR seasons is in the book and oh ... the memories and monotony. I will remember it most as the year Dale Earnhardt Jr. left the company his father started, Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus dominated and the season droned on in the car of tomorrow.

Here are the Top 35 things I will remember most about the 2007 NASCAR Season, in (mostly) chronological order:

1. AOL Sports welcomed NASCAR into the Fanhouse

2. Mark Martin didn't win the Daytona 500

3. Michael Waltrip Racing's Intake Gate

4. Washington State dissed NASCAR fans

5. Juan Pablo Montoya won in Mexico

6. Car of Tomorrow debuted at Bristol

7. Team Red Bull mechanic Jimmy Sprinkle murdered

8. The Virginia Tech Tragedy

9. Kevin James' Engine Command

10. NASCAR sued AT&T

11. Michael Waltrip fell asleep at the wheel

12. Tony Stewart's beef with NASCAR

13, Kasey Kahne called David Stremme fat

14. Announcement of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s departure from DEI

15. #8 Budweiser team assessed first COT penalty

16. Busch brothers took each other out in the All-Star race

17. Kurt Busch endangered a crew member without stiff penalty

18. Miss Ella Sofia Gordon arrived on the scene

19. NASCAR on ESPN on ABC debuted and sucked

20. Aaron Fike's Arrest

21. Ray Evernham and Erin Crocker came out

22. Robby Gordon got parked for a Nextel cup event for his actions in a Busch race

23. The Blaniac Challenge (VJGC is going to collect $45 from TGOM)

24. Labor Day at California Speedway was HOT

25. Mears yielded a position to Busch (honorable mention: Mears gets first career win)

26. It rained in Kansas

27. The government dissed NASCAR fans

28. Tony Stewart's beef with ESPN

29. Tony Stewart's beef with Paul Menard

30. Carl Edwards beef with Matt Kenseth

31. Paris Hilton discovered NASCAR drivers

32. Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s struggles

33. Jimmie Johnson's dominance

34. We lost Bill France Jr., Benny Parsons and Bobby Hamilton

35. 'Twas the season of breakups and the Biffle wedding

Thanks for the NASCAR memories, 2007. Don't go anywhere, readers. The Fanhouse will be blogging throughout the off-season and will be back with more commentary on many of the aforementioned items. Tomorrow we begin the 92-day countdown to the 2008 Daytona 500.

2007 NASCAR Season: My Top 35 Memories originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 18 Nov 2007 23:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Why Are NASCAR Ratings Down? You Decide

tallglassofmilk — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 13:18:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Media Watch, The Word

The one-trick pony is back to kick ESPN on ABC while they're down.

Way down:

ABC's broadcast of last Sunday's Pep Boys Auto 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway earned a final Nielsen Media Research rating of 4.0 ...

20 percent lower than the 4.8 NBC earned for the same race in 2006.

20%?! Can't blame that one on ~~arson~~ the California wildfires.

So ... what do you want to blame it on?

Why Are NASCAR Ratings Down? You Decide originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 03 Nov 2007 13:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Infighting in Roush's House, Edwards A Bully?

tallglassofmilk — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, NASCAR Fights, The Word

Is NASCAR's Carl Edwards' clean cut, nice guy behavior all a front? That's what his Roush Fenway teammate Matt Kenseth says:

"I thought it was good in a way that the cameras were there because a lot of us see that, and nobody else does because he kind of puts on a different front.

"His behavior has been real erratic lately, honestly. You don't know what to expect with him. That's the thing that's a little bit troublesome. One minute, he has so much respect for you, and he's real friendly and everything's so much fun. The next minute he wants to kick your butt and he's swearing at you. It's a little scary. You never know what you're going to get."

I'm not sure Kenseth is unbiased in his opinion, but I must say, Edwards' post-race behavior in Martinsville speaks for itself. Kenseth's comments immediately got the attention of a reader who emailed me asking:

"Now I know Carl takes good care of his body telling from the pics on the cover of whatever mag he was on. Maybe this is coming from me being a nurse and hearing about it a lot, but do you think Carl suffers from roid rage from using steroids? I am not sure if NASCAR tests for them or not.

"I hope you don't consider me a nut case, but that is the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw the altercation."

Carl Edwards on steroids? I hadn't considered it, but I'd hardly say it's nuts for the thought to cross someone's mind. I do wonder if it's crossed NASCAR's.

Infighting in Roush's House, Edwards A Bully? originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

NASCAR Chief to Step Down? Doubtful.

tallglassofmilk — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 08:17:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, The Word

Speed Channel's open wheel racing reporter Robin Miller, known to many NASCAR fans only as a frequent guest on "Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain," reported a rumor Saturday that Brian France will step down as Chief Executive Officer of NASCAR.

The rumor claims that Brian would be replaced by his uncle Jim, brother of the late Bill Jr. and current CEO of NASCAR's International Speedway Corporation. That move would presumably open the door for current ISC President Lesa France Kennedy, Brian's sister, to move up.

Ok ... so that sounds unlikely, but plausible. Until you get to the part about where the rumor has Brian headed: to the non-NASCAR related Grand Am Road Racing Association.

No way. I think we can assume that if they younger France were to step down, it wouldn't be by choice. But even if the family forced him to step aside from the big role, I don't see them pushing him completely out the door. And unless NASCAR is somehow acquiring Grand Am (they're not ... right?), I really don't see France leaving the family business to go there--or any place else, for that matter.

Then again, we've all seen how the dynamics of a NASCAR family business can change after a principle member of the family passes on. Still, I say this is a highly doubtful scenario.

NASCAR Chief to Step Down? Doubtful. originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 21 Oct 2007 08:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Stewart Menard Spat Gets Personal

tallglassofmilk — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Tony Stewart, NASCAR Fights, Nextel Cup, The Word

What began on pit road at Dover as a war of bumpers between two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart and rookie Paul Menard has turned into a war of words on the road from Charlotte to Martinsville.

Stewart says money can't buy talent. On his radio show this week, he had some harsh words for the son of his 1997 IRL Championship team owner:

"You can have your father buy your ride and write DEI a big check, but you can't buy talent. And that's what John Menard's been good at his whole life, is just buying success. He's bought his son a Nextel Cup ride and he's just got enough talent to just be in the way most of the time."

Ooooh. That stings. But I can't say I disagree.

Paul Menard says age doesn't imply maturity:

"I've known Tony for 10 years. He's not a very mature person. Yeah, I wouldn't be here if my family didn't support me. I don't think he would be either if his family didn't support him. You can't get too wrapped up in it. I know him well enough to know he's a 50-year-old kid in a six-year-old's body. He's got the platform to say that stuff. Good for him. I hope he feels better about it."

I'll go with him on the maturity thing. But show me a six-year-old with a body that looks like Stewart's and I'll show you parents that need to be locked up for child abuse.

I gotta give Menard this one, too:

Menard said it was the responsibility of Stewart and his spotter to make sure he was clear leaving the pit box, not his. "If he doesn't want to take the blame for it, there is nothing you can do about that."

And this one:

"[Stewart] better get used to it, because there are always going to be 43 cars out there, not 12."

Except for NASCAR, the Chase teams and their fans, no one expects the non-Chasers to park their balls in the garage for 10 weeks.

But this sounds like a threat:

"He can say what he wants. But when push comes to shove, I'll be ready for him."

These two better plan this pushing and shoving to take place away from the track ... 'cause if they bring this BS on to the track and let this affect the 12 Chase drivers, then we've got a problem.

NASCAR Ringside, anyone?

Stewart Menard Spat Gets Personal originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 20 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Fans: NASCAR on ESPN on ABC Sucks

tallglassofmilk — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:06:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Fans, NASCAR Media Watch, The Word, ESPN

Everyone has a different complaint about ESPN on ABC's coverage of NASCAR, so this one's going to be a bit of a free-for-all.

What's your beef?

Is it the way they miss the restarts because they haven't learned what the different colored racing flags mean yet? Let's help them out.

Green means go. When the green flag is waving, the camera should be focused on it and that camera's feed should be transmitted live to the viewers' televisions. Not just some of the times. Every time. No exceptions. The drivers manage to be on the gas when the green flag drops every time. They certainly don't join the restart "in progress." ESPN gets the same head's up. Why should they have such difficulty heeding the "one-to-go" warning?

And how about their on-air talent? Do you just want Rusty Wallace to can it, or what? I cannot be the only one bugged by his uncanny ability to know what is going through every driver's mind at any given moment on the track. Or maybe it's his mastery of the obvious that rubs me the wrong way, like yesterday when Dale Earnhardt Jr. passed teammate Martin Truex Jr. and Rusty said something like "It just goes to show ya how much Junior wants to win this race." How profound. Imagine that ...a driver wanting to win a race.

Don't even get me started on the "fans' reporter," Brad Daugherty, or the obligatory female presence of Suzie Kolber.

If you'd asked me last season, I would have argued there was no way ESPN/ABC could be worse than NBC, but ESPN and their talking heads are certainly giving the peacock a run for the money.

Give me FOX, more Speed on FOX and Krista Voda! Boogity, boogity, boogity, boys (and girls), give us some good coverage!

Previously on Fanhouse
ESPN Viewers to 'See the Air'
Nextel Cup Coming to an ESPN Near You
Bestwick Back in the Booth

Fans: NASCAR on ESPN on ABC Sucks originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Pepsi: It Was Like Hitting the Lottery

tallglassofmilk — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 19:44:00 EST

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Fans, NASCAR Sponsors, The Word

"Six months ago, it seemed like there was no possibility something like this could happen. Then all those dominos began to fall. It was like hitting the lottery."
~ Ralph Santana, Vice President of Sports Media and Interactive Marketing for Pepsi

Let there be no doubt about Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s value to a sponsor:

Fans of NASCAR drivers are far more loyal to sponsors than they are in any other sport.

About 277,000 tuned in to watch the press conference for Dale Jr.'s sponsorship announcement on the Speed Channel ... More than 200,000 more logged on to watch the streaming video of the announcement on NASCAR.com.

That's almost 500,000 people on a random weekday morning. 500,000 people who already knew what he was going to say and tuned in anyway.

It's tough to imagine even the most devoted fans of Tiger [Woods] or Peyton [Manning] taking time to watch a press conference for their next endorsement deal. But for NASCAR fans, the sponsor becomes a big part of their favorite driver's identity.

Indeed. Junior's #88 merchandise is already flying off the shelves:

"It makes sense," [Joe] Mattes [JR Motorsports VP of licensing] said. "There's two sponsors -- it's a double-hit. It's not like a [typical] guy coming out with a new sponsor. It's Dale Jr. with two sponsors. His fans have to have one of each.

"They're shipped and ready to go. We hit it right. Everyone kept quiet about it. By end of weekend, all said and done, there's a couple hundred thousand t-shirts sold. A lot of them are pre-booked. NASCAR.com and dalejr.com are close to record days. There's so much pent-up demand, [fans] are hitting it hard."

200,000. In four days. Got yours yet? How about a #88 Mountain Dew/AMP cap or a #88 National Guard T-Shirt? Or do you want a powerful combination of both?

Hey ... where's the chic gear?

Pepsi: It Was Like Hitting the Lottery originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 22 Sep 2007 19:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Raw Video: Spectacular Drag Racing Crash

tallglassofmilk — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:07:00 EST

Filed under: The Word, Other Racing Series

It's hard to believe that any race car driver could walk away from this crash.

Australian drag racer Phil Lamattina was doing more than 300 mph at Willowbank Racway near Ipswich when his in his Top Fuel dragster busted into pieces, burst into flames and went tumbling down the strip. Lamattina walked away from the crash and was admitted to the hospital for observation. He was released the next morning with nothing more than a cut finger.

Previously on FanHouse:
NASCAR's 10 Most Spectacular Superspeedway Crashes

Raw Video: Spectacular Drag Racing Crash originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Gordon's Wife Among Hottest in Sports

tallglassofmilk — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:36:00 EST

Filed under: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR Gossip, The Word

The "Who Is the Hottest Wife/Girlfriend in Sports?" Finals are underway at OurBookofScrap.com and Ingrid Vandebosch is among the three finalists.

48 sports star wives and girlfriends and 45 match-ups later, Jeff Gordon's wife, who was the 1st seed in the contest, has held up against the competition.

Her rival finalists are Elisha Cuthbert, former (?) girlfriend of New York Ranger Sean Avery, and former Playboy Playmate of the Year, Carmella DeCesare, wife of Tampa Bay Bucaneers' quarterback Jeff Garcia.

Ingrid isn't the hottest of NASCAR WAGs--at least not according to the drivers--but for the purposes of this exercise, she's our girl. Should you care if she's voted hottest? How about if you just care that they included NASCAR as a sport?

She's already crushin' 'em, but head over to OurBookofScrap.com anyway to show your support--click the poll below the photos at the bottom of the post--and stay tuned for some pics of the hot mama's gorgeous daughter.
%Gallery-7156%

Gordon's Wife Among Hottest in Sports originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Inmate: Gordon Tied Me To His Bumper

tallglassofmilk — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:44:00 EST

Filed under: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR Gossip, The Word

Jonathan Lee Riches, Inmate # 40948-018 at the Federal Correctional Institute Williamsburg in South Carolina, has filed a complaint against NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon for "recklessly drivin' his life crazy."

Riches, a serial-suer who has filed "dozens of complaints against hundreds of companies, organizations and individuals--living and dead," (24 since 2006, according to Wikipedia) accuses Gordon of a variety of crimes, ranging from "poisoning fans with chemical weapons to wrecking other drivers by dropping Tic -Tacs and oil on the track through a secret trap door under his race car."

Other highlights include:

"I was physically kidnapped by Gordon's pit crew. Tied up at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Gordon's pit crew took turns driving over me."
"Plaintiff seeks 22 (Billion) dollars and Gordon's #24 car for relief."
"Jeff Gordon told me, 'I have secret plans to release exhaust pollution into the crowds at the next Lowe's Motor Speedway race."
"Plaintiff's life is in danger from Mr. Gordon and the #24. The daily trauma inflicted on me by Jeff Gordon is torture. Plaintiff prays for relief."

The rest of us pray for mental rehabilitation and reformation of the legal system that allows this bullsh*t to continue to burden the courts and taxpayers' wallets.

Riches also claims in the suit that Gordon "tied him to his bumper at the Talladega race." Now, there's an idea.

Inmate: Gordon Tied Me To His Bumper originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Lame Duck Out of Chase, DEI Shifts Priorities

tallglassofmilk — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 13:46:00 EST

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Inc., NASCAR Fans, The Word

"I don't want to drive this car anymore for the rest of the year if I don't have to."
~ Dale Earnhardt Jr., over his in-car radio during the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway

My heart stopped when I heard Junior say those words yesterday. It has been my hope, and the hope of all of Junior Nation, since his announcement in May that he would finish the season at DEI in the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet.

As it turns out, that's still Junior's hope, too. When he said he didn't want to drive the car anymore, he actually meant that specific car--the seat makes his back hurt. Phew. Although, at this point I wouldn't have any issues with him jumping ship right now. Even if Hendrick couldn't put him in a car, someone would.

For now, it seems Junior will still finish the 2007 season with DEI. But he won't be a priority. Within just a few hours of missing the Chase, Junior's spotter was reassigned to "help Truex around the garage." It could the first of many changes. A few members of Junior Nation are up in arms about this. To them I must say, "What's the worst that could happen? He already can't get an engine to finish a race."

"We've been a top-five car and a top-five team almost every week and yet we struggled with engines that wouldn't get us to the finish line. I'm really sad for my fans, but especially for my team. If you knew how hard they have all worked this year, and to run as well as we have, it breaks my heart. "

Ours, too. DEI gave him five crappy engines that couldn't go the distance this season. Finishing even one of those races could have made the difference in the race to the Chase.

T.J. Majors, Junior's buddy and spotter for the JRM #88 NAVY team, will replace Hmiel for the last 10 races and I'm sure Junior will smack any additional curve balls out of the park accordingly. But 2008 can't get here fast enough for Junior Nation.

Lame Duck Out of Chase, DEI Shifts Priorities originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 09 Sep 2007 13:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

NASCAR Gains IRL Driver and Celebrity WAG

tallglassofmilk — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:45:00 EST

Filed under: Chip Ganassi Racing, NASCAR Gossip, Nextel Cup, The Word

NASCAR is about to get a bit more diverse and a little prettier.

If the AP's sources are correct, and I suspect they are, IndyCar driver Dario Franchitti is headed to NASCAR and he brings along his gorgeous wife, actress Ashley Judd.

The Italian Scot has reportedly been tapped to replace the ousted David Stremme in the #40 Chip Ganassi Dodge, which is currently sponsorless for 2008.

Franchitti, the 2007 winner of the Indianapolis 500 and current IndyCar points leader, joins Juan Pablo Montoya from Formula One and A.J. Allmendinger from CHAMP on a growing list of drivers leaving other series to race in NASCAR.

Judd, a feminist and YouthAIDS activist, joins an ever-growing list of beautilicious NASCAR spousal arm-candy and activist wives and girlfriends, which includes driver favorite Athena Barber; animal activists Nicole Lunders and Krissie Newman; and former models Chandra Janway and Ingrid Vandebosch.
%Gallery-7156%

NASCAR Gains IRL Driver and Celebrity WAG originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Keselowski's X-Rays Negative After Crash

tallglassofmilk — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Crashes, The Word

I was in the pits with a bad vantage point yesterday when Brad Keselowski went for a horrifically wild ride at California Speedway, so I didn't know anything had happened until I saw a NASCAR pit road official give the signal that the caution was out. That was my cue to jump over behind the pit box and check out the replay, which you can see here:

It looked like a bad crash for sure--slamming the wall ... riding the rails in a ball of fire ... landing on top of another driver's car ... but I wasn't panicked until I saw the paramedics rush down pit road. Then the broadcast showed all the emergency workers gathered around a car, but by that time there were so many people hovering, I couldn't get close enough to see which driver couldn't get out of their car on their own. Mom was watching at home and filled me in--and was sure to let me know it was all my favorite J.J. Yeley's fault.

Seconds and minutes seemed like hours waiting for word that he was ok. When the California crowd roared, we knew he'd gotten out of the car, and even though he couldn't walk on his own, there were huge sighs of relief all around.

Word then spread quickly through the garage and down pit road when Keselowski self-diagnosed his broken foot and he was airlifted to a nearby hospital. But X-rays proved negative--he will follow up with a neurosurgeon this week.

Yea for safer barriers.

Keselowski's X-Rays Negative After Crash originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Follow TGOM at the Racetrack Today

tallglassofmilk — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:38:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Fans, Nextel Cup, Busch Series, The Word

TGOM is off to the races--or qualifying at least--today. Nextel Cup and Busch Series quals are today and I'll be Twittering all the way, sending updates via the mobile phone from pit road. Wanna follow me? It's gonna be a hot one - expected high of 104°. And no tank tops or open toed shoes allowed on pit road. Sigh. They're trying to kill the fans.

TGOM Tweets from California Speedway

Follow TGOM on Twitter: www.twitter.com/tallglassofmilk

Follow TGOM at the Racetrack Today originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Shocking Photos of NASCAR Drivers

tallglassofmilk — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:08:00 EST

Filed under: Brian Vickers, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Gossip, The Word

Speaking of playboy tendencies ...

When I saw the Fanhouse post about the Iowa high school football players got suspended for gesturing in a team photo, my mind immediately went to all the photos of NASCAR drivers that I have seen displaying "the shocker."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. ... Brian Vickers .... Denny Hamlin and Reed Sorenson ... the list goes on.

Boys will be boys? Well, maybe that flies for the high school kiddos, but what's up with our drivers in this "family" sport? What's their excuse?

Do these guys really hold true the belief that "women are sexual objects, toys, things with which to be played and dominated?" Or have they just not matured yet? I'm sure Sherry Pollex, Truex's girlfriend, is real proud to claim her man in that photo. At least it's from 2004 and predates their relationship. She seems to have straightened him out--I don't recall a more recent one of Truex doing the shocker. Wish I could say the same about Junior.

Could this behavior have more to do with why he is single than he "hasn't run into any winners yet?" What "winner" is going to respect a guy who goes around giving women the fingers in photos? Nasty. Do you know where those fingers have been?

So, fans, we gonna tell the boys their shocking opinion of women just ain't cool? or do we just let the boys be boys?

Shocking Photos of NASCAR Drivers originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Junior Won't Drive the No. 8

Geoffrey Miller — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Crew Chiefs, NASCAR Fights, Nextel Cup, NASCAR Sponsors, The Word, Car of Tomorrow

Gather the kids, sound the alarms -- for Dale Earnhardt Jr. himself will not be piloting a car with a No. 8 emblazoned on the side in 2008.

Hendrick Motorsports announced Wednesday that Junior's new ride (yeah, we know it's a Chevrolet, and that's about it) won't be carrying the number that would seemingly never leave the driver.

"We've been working hard to secure the No. 8 for Dale Jr.'s car number next season," said Marshall Carlson, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports. "Obviously, he has a tremendous history with that number, and we know how important it is to his fans. Unfortunately, we couldn't reach a point where the terms made sense, and now we have to move forward with other options.

"We appreciate the efforts of Max Siegel and his team (at Dale Earnhardt Inc.), and are excited about unveiling our plans for 2008 in the near future."

I guess this means that the folks campaigning to "Free the 8" -- because it's obviously the most important thing that people in society need to join behind, right? -- have not succeeded in their soon-to-be efforts to raid and destroy Dale Earnhardt Inc.Maybe, just maybe, those Junior crazies could focus on better things in NASCAR -- like, say, the racing itself?

Who's really going to care if Junior isn't in the No. 8 anymore? Sure, it'll hurt some in the pocketbook for souvenirs come 2008, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. will continue to be Dale Earnhardt Jr.

What more does the Junior Nation need? An assortment of tissues and a DEI engine that lasts for a race?

That's what we call progress.

Junior Won't Drive the No. 8 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

10 Drivers, 7 Races, 5 Spots in the Chase

tallglassofmilk — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 15:13:00 EST

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr., Jamie McMurray, Hendrick Motorsports, The Word, Kyle Busch, Chase for the Sprint Cup

The first three of ten races to the chase are in the books, but the chase picture hasn't become much clearer since the Fanhouse posted its Race to the Chase Power Rankings prior to New Hampshire.

Barring multiple, unpredictable and unforeseeable crash and burn scenarios, the top seven drivers in the points standings are most assuredly guaranteed a spot in the 2007 Chase to the Nextel Cup Championship:

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Matt Kenseth
4. Jeff Burton
5. Carl Edwards
6. Tony Stewart
7. Jimmie Johnson

The five remaining spots will be given away in a game of musical chairs to be played by 10 drivers over the next seven races:

8. Kevin Harvick
9. Kyle Busch
10. Clint Bowyer
11. Martin Truex Jr.
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

13. Ryan Newman
14. Kurt Busch
15. Jamie McMurray
16. Greg Biffle
17. Casey Mears

Fanhouse odds
The Fanhouse doesn't expect too many upsets, so while it's not yet set in stone, what we see in the top 12 now is pretty close to what we're gonna get at the end of seven more weeks.

Kevin Harvick (1:1) - With the exception of his Daytona 500 win, Harvick has had a fairly uneventful season. If he can maintain the status quo, he'll have a spot in the Chase.

Kyle Busch (2:1) - As long as he doesn't do anything crazy, like quit Hendrick in the next seven weeks, Shrub should be a shoe in.

Cilnt Bowyer (3:1) - He doesn't have as much experience at the upcoming tracks as his competitors, but he's sitting on a nice points cushion so if he can continue to bring home top 10 finishes, he'll be racing in his first Chase.

Kurt Busch (4:1) - His performance at the upcoming tracks gives him a high driver rating than both DEI drivers who sit ahead of him in the standings. If he can stay out of trouble and catch a few breaks, he may be the only driver currently on the outside looking in that has a chance to upset and secure a spot in the top 12--at DEI's expense.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. (5:1) - Only Junior's experience gives him a better shot at avoiding the unlucky 13th spot than his teammate. Truex's recent performance, however, trumps Junior's and then some. Look for one of the DEI drivers to make the Chase but not both.

Ryan Newman (6:1) - Only if the Rocketman can match his number of race wins to his poles will he have a shot at climbing his way in.

Greg Biffle (7:1) - Remember when he almost won a championship? Yeah ... me neither. He barely remembers it, too. If he does manage to climb his way in, it will be done quietly.

Jamie McMurray (8:1) - One win isn't gonna do it for him, but if he can upgrade a few more top 10 finishes to top 5s and some others don't fare as well, he's the long shot to bet on.

Casey Mears (9:1) - His only chance would be to benefit from multiple, unpredictable and unforeseeable crash and burn scenarios. Don't bet on it.

Got Predictions?
What are you guys thinking? Will there be surprises or no surprises?

10 Drivers, 7 Races, 5 Spots in the Chase originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 22 Jul 2007 15:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Competition In NASCAR Tougher Than Ever

tallglassofmilk — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 02:37:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Fans, Nextel Cup, The Word

Steven Wallace is right--the competition in NASCAR is tougher than ever and NASCAR whipped up some stats to prove it.

Taking into account such statistics as cars on the lead lap, average leaders per race and margin of victory, racing since 1970 has become more competitive and more unpredictable than ever.

Gone are the days when only a handful of drivers could win a race:

1970s - 8.4 different winners
1980s - 10.8 different winners
1990s - 11.7 different winners
2000s - 15.3 different winners

We just passed the half-way mark of the 2007 season and have already seen 13 different winners.

While the number of winners increases, the margins of victory decrease.

In the early 1970s, it was common for a race-winner to have a margin of victory of multiple laps. In 1973 at Darlington, for example, David Pearson finished 13 laps ahead of second-place finisher Benny Parsons.

But the days of only one car finishing on the lead lap are long gone:

In the '70s, 110 races were won by more than one lap
In the '80s, it happened 16 times
In the '90s, it happened twice

A race has not been won by more than one lap since 1994. These days, races are won by fractions of a second:

Closest Finishes

Rk	Date	Track	MOV	Winner	Runner-Up
1.	3/16/03	Darlington	.002	Ricky Craven	Kurt Busch
2.	7/7/07	Daytona	.005	Jamie McMurray	Kyle Busch
3.	7/25/93	Talladega	.005	Dale Earnhardt	Ernie Irvan
4.	3/11/01	Atlanta	.006	Kevin Harvick	Jeff Gordon
5.	7/2/94	Daytona	.008	Jimmy Spencer	Ernie Irvan
6.	3/12/00	Atlanta	.010	Dale Earnhardt	Bobby Labonte
6.	2/22/04	Rockingham	.010	Matt Kenseth	Kasey Kahne
8.	11/20/05	Homestead	.017	Greg Biffle	Mark Martin
9.	2/18/07	Daytona	.020	Kevin Harvick	Mark Martin
10.	7/24/94	Talladega	.025	Jimmy Spencer	Bill Elliott

That trend won't quit anytime soon either with the car of tomorrow (or whatever we're supposed to call it these days) leveling the playing field. This season, the margin of victory has been under a second in 10 of the 19 races, six of them in the COT. Both wins at Daytona made the top 10 list.

Of course, this is all fantastic news for race fans. Unchallenged runaway victories come fewer and farther between. Good riddence. I'll take a race all the way to the checkered flag any day of the week.

Competition In NASCAR Tougher Than Ever originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 02:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

NASCAR Drug Testing? Bring It On

Geoffrey Miller — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 06:28:00 EST

Filed under: Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, NASCAR Gossip, Nextel Cup, Richard Childress Racing, The Word

Aaron Fike is a relative unknown in NASCAR circles. The 24-year-old driver has dabbled in ARCA, the Busch Series, was the youngest-ever USAC Silver Crown race winner, and won an IRL Indy Pro Series event.

That doesn't matter, though, to the national media.

Fike was a NASCAR Craftsman Truck series driver -- eighth in points before his heroin arrest -- but nonetheless he was headlined as simply a "NASCAR driver."

Sure, the title is correct, but for folks that skim that headlines, he's automatically grouped in with Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Tony Stewart -- or any other driver or team member that stays clean and doesn't need to be attached to a drug scandal stigma.

And that, as Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick have said this week, is wrong.

Their solution?

Test everybody. From Gordon to the gas man on Ward Burton's No. 4 team. Everyone.
Harvick called NASCAR out, saying "shame" on them.

"We owe it to the sponsors and the fans to 100 percent know this is a clean environment. [Testing everyone] would eliminate a lot of those problems of the younger guys that disrespect the sport and the system," said Harvick.

"Shame on NASCAR for not policing our garage better than what they police it right now," he said. "We're all professional athletes and should be treated like professional athletes in other sports and shame on them for not doing that."

He does have a point. NASCAR right now only tests through a physical at the beginning of a season, and then tests on suspicion on an as-needed basis the rest of the time.

Burton agreed that the safety of this sport is so paramount that each person who drives or works on these cars at the tracks should all be tested regularly.

"There's too much at stake for this sport, too much at stake for the drivers, the racetrack, the crew members on pit road," Burton said.

Of all the changes we campaign for, I say put drug testing at the top of the list. Credibility is something that no sanctioning body can ever have too much of.

NASCAR Drug Testing? Bring It On originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 15 Jul 2007 06:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments