NASCAR Missed the Boat at Talladega

Tuesday, November 10, 2009


NASCAR Missed the Boat at Talladega

Cars have been crashing and wrecking in NASCAR for all of the years of its existence. In fact, if most of the fan base was honest, they would admit, that’s why they watch racing: for the wrecks. So, what makes the wreck with Carl Edwards so different this past spring at Talladega? The injury to Blake Bobbitt, the 18 year old young lady featured prior to the race this week in a very poignant story about her recovery from the injury.

After that violent wreck into the catchfence, NASCAR was determined to make changes to the fall race to insure the safety of both fans and drivers. They raised the fence from 14ft to 22 ft and reduced the restrictor plates a little more but then at the last second a new rule was issued in the drivers meeting.

Promoting the Coke Zero 400 with Greg Biffle

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Promoting the Coke Zero 400 with Greg Biffle & his Encounters at the Florida Aquarium, Tampa, FL


By Debbi Willis, Another Viewpoint and StockCar Review.com
with Marisa Jimenez, Photographer

(June 9, 2009-Tampa, FL) The Florida Aquarium welcomed Greg Biffle on Tuesday in Tampa, Florida to promote the 51st annual Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola on Saturday, July 4 at Daytona International Speedway. As part of the 2009 Coke Zero 400 Media Day, the Roush Fenway driver was laid back but straightforward in an easy-going question and answer session with the media. Greg fielded queries about the sport, its biggest stars and his team’s performance this season. The first questions immediately addressed the recent trophy event fresh on everyone’s minds, and Greg admitted he’d broken a trophy, once – unintentionally, when shelving at home failed and a crystal trophy crashed. Of course, he had it replaced. Putting everyone at ease with a great sense of humor, Biffle continued to field questions.

When asked about Tony Stewart’s success this season, Greg answered directly, “Here’s the thing: not to take anything away from Tony, Tony does a fantastic job, but…you know what I’m saying, ‘owner-driver’ it’s a different context today. And I don’t think we’re ever gonna see a true, just driver, you know, just go out and start his completely own team from scratch and go. And I’m not saying, certainly don’t want to take anything there again away from Tony because basically they’ve started from scratch but you know that building equipment some personnel, some cars, to hell, having an alliance already, you know.” Biffle continued to say, “But people were like, aw, he’s crazy, is he gonna be able to do this or that or everything else, oh absolutely! I knew he was going to have success. If the alliance is a true alliance like a lot of these teams are and you’re gonna get the same equipment the 48, the 24, the 5 and the 88 have, why wouldn’t you be successful?”

Jimmie Johnson and Michael Waltrip: A Contrast in Confidence (January 2009)

Daytona, Thunder Fanfest- (ALL PHOTOS FROM THE THUNDER FANFEST EVENT AT DAYTONA ON JANUARY 16-17, 2009 BY Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

For three straight seasons, the racing world has pondered the secret of the 48 teams success. And, while at the Thunder Fan Fest media time with the drivers, I listened to many questions about who they thought they’d have to beat this year and always the same answer came up: Jimmie Johnson was first and then Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch. To hear the drivers explain the season, we’ll be seeing a repeat of last year yet in racing, history does not usually repeat itself. Jimmie Johnson has been that rare exception for the past three years. When I asked Jimmie Johnson, who besides Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch did he think would be a threat, he replied, “You know, I look at the guys that won multiple races last year and think that they're going to be awfully tough. It's hard to ignore what the 18 did. I know you mentioned him, but I think he has the ability to do anything he wants in the sport if he can just focus in on it and keep his eye on the ball and make it happen.” Johnson went on to further explain, “ Carl has his eye on the ball and is refining his game week to week, track to track. I still in my heart feel that the 24 car is a threat for the championship. I think we're putting Mark Martin in some of the best equipment out there, and we all know how badly he wants to win one. I think Jr. showed a lot of strength and maturity last year and really growing inside of Hendrick Motorsports, and I feel he's going to be a threat.” And then Jimmie Johnson concluded with, “I look through the championship contenders, and I guess most of my thoughts go to guys in the big teams, so it's hard to really expand outside of that. I think Hamlin has matured a lot and was really in the thick of things. It's hard to believe that Matt Kenseth won't be a championship contender. So it's really those big team guys that I still look at.”