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NASCAR Again Lets the Tail Wag the Dog

by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Over ten years on the air and three on the net; see what can happen when I don't let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

February 12, 2011 8:24 am UTC 3 Comments

NASCAR has put Michael Annett on probation for the 2011 season.

Annett takes over the #62 Nationwide Series ride for owner Rusty Wallace that Brendan Gaughan drove in 2010. Once again NASCAR is showing how two-faced it can be with its drug/alcohol policy.

Annett was charged with DUI after being involved in a traffic accident and blowing a .32 when the legal limit is a .08; four times the legal limit. He has not had his day in court; so all the innocent until proven guilty talk is still appropriate. However; that fact has not deterred NASCAR in the past from “suspending now and asking questions later” when a driver or crew member has connection to drugs instead of alcohol.

Drivers have been to quick to chastise their own when the talk of drugs are associated with them. Annett’s probation doesn’t seem to be raising the same ire of his fellow drivers. Arguements have always been that drivers have to rely on the good judgment of their competitors while at speed on the track.

How can Annett’s competitors feel confident on the track racing him at Daytona where on-track speeds hover near the 200 mph mark? NASCAR has indicated that along with the probation they may ask Annett to participate in random drug/alcohol testing. Isn’t that NASCAR’s standard procedure?

Maybe having Rusty Wallace proclaim that Annett, “doesn’t have an alcohol problem” is enough for NASCAR officials, drivers and crews to have confidence in Annett’s decision making. Along with Wallace’s car ownership and his TV work he must also have become an expert in alcoholism detection and treatment. Wallace refused to suspend his driver because he was afraid to loose sponsorship money needed to fund his Rusty Wallace Racing teams.

Annett brought with him a sponsorship deal and without Annett in the car that sponsorship money, in theory, would be gone. What this gets down to is Pilot Travel Centers is running RWR and if the sponsor is running the team; then in essence that sponsor is running NASCAR and the decisions it makes.

Once again NASCAR has brought its credibility into question. The NFL has had no problem suspending its stars for questionable off field activities; just ask Ben Rothlisberger or Michael Vick. We all know that NASCAR continually compares itself to the football league; so why not now?

Annett should have been suspended for a period of time to investigate the incident and his ability to make decisions on the race track. And he should have to be evaluated by someone other than his unqualified team owner. Blowing four times the legal limit is not having an extra beer at a party. It is serious over consumption.

At least some of Annett’s competitors have to be wonder about their safety when they take the track with him out there…and that just isn’t right.

photo credit: Icon Sports Media

Filed under: Nascaholics, NASCAR, NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR Conspiracies, NASCAR officials, Rusty Wallace

Tagged with: Ben Rothlisberger: Michael Vick; Pilot Travel Centers, brendan gaughan, Michael Annett, Rusty Wallace

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2012, I mean, 2011 NASCAR Astro-Predictions

by Clance' McClannahan, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2012 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

Clance' McClannahan, famous author behind The Church of The Great Oval and also one of the much appreciated Contributing Authors at Thunder Lounge.

January 25, 2011 11:24 am UTC 2 Comments

2012, I mean 2011 is a very special year, both Numerologically and Astrologically.

Are you curious about how your driver is going to do? Is Jimmie Johnson going to win again? How will Dale Jr. fare? Tony Stewart has already started his year a bit aggressively…Will Smoke be smoking hot in 2012? I mean, 2011? Will Brooklyn’s affect on new Daddy Ryan Newman change the way he drives? What about Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Carl Edwards? Will they continue to drive as phenomenally, now that they have had to choose which series they will earn point in? Will the feuds continue?

I dare YOU to use my prediction’s in your Fantasy Racing.

I dare ME to remember to play.

I dare Charlie to beat me.

I dare Steve to prove he is not an Idiot.

I dare ALL the Stat guys to a challenge of accuracy.

Stats vs. ‘Scope’s.

2011, I mean 2010, brought us some of the most exciting racing in years. Will the changes in NASCAR rules, affect the excitement for the fans, or dampen it? Will it be possible that actually winning races will matter?

We will be taking a look at all the full time NASCAR Driver’s for the first six months of the season tomorrow. I will also be looking at the year and make my predictions as to who may be the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion. I have to do it early, so no one can say I cheat. Oops. 2011. So far this year I am losing in the accuracy challenge. By a year. I was spot on last year…

Well, not quite. Only 97%.

It’s tough to be a Goddess. ~ Me.

WTH?

Filed under: Nascaholics, NASCAR, NASCAR Astro-Predictions, NASCAR Fantasy Gaming, NASCAR Predictions

Tagged with: Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards, Charlie Turner, Clance' McClannahan, jimmie johnson, Kyle Busch, NASCAR Astro-Predictions, NASCAR astrology, NASCAR Predictions, ON PIT ROW, One and Done, One and Done NASCAR Fantasy Racing, Ryan Newman, Steve Wronkowicz, Tony Stewart

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THA TOAD DUZ VEGAS…”VIVA LOST WAGES” !

by Art Almond, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2012 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

Awright y'all... I'm tha crazy dude that is known as... "Drawer-Dude" I draw funny pictures of this racin' cartoon character that I created... known as "PIT-ROAD-TOAD! You can see more Toad-Toons at my blog site... RACIN' RUCKUS

February 23, 2009 8:31 pm UTC 4 Comments

Hey y’all… we goin’ tahh VEGAS! Can Kenseth do ahh repeat? Can Jr. Keep in his pit box ‘n not blow ahh motor? Can Kyle leave um sittin’? Can Gordon finally prevail? Stay tuned …the saga continues!

The Las Vegas Speedway is known as the “Diamond in the Desert”… however, it has another less official moniker and that is… “House of Roush”! This came from the past success of Roush drivers… Matt Kenseth… Mark Martin…and Jeff Burton.

Some cool facts about this 1200 acre complex are that it has a drag strip known as simply “The Strip”. The Las Vegas Police Department uses the facility for their pursuit and driver training. It is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. The very first Winston Cup victory at the track belongs to non other than Mr. Mark Martin. This accomplishment came in 1998!

I created the cartoon in 1998 to commemorate the opening of the new facility.

Gitcha Sum!

Filed under: Comics, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Monday Morning Crew Chief, Nascaholics, NASCAR, One and Done NASCAR Fantasy Racing, Pit Road Toad, Roush Racing, Sprint Cup Series

Tagged with: Art Almond, Drawer-Dude, Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Las Vegas, Matt Kenseth, Pit Road Toad

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THA TOAD TREKS TO FONTANA!

by Art Almond, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2012 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

February 18, 2009 5:46 pm UTC 1 Comment

Hey y’all… tha TOAD actually attended tha very first race to be held in Fontana, California in 1997! Here is an actual photo… with provided captions that will explain this impromptu trip!

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

Filed under: Comics, Nascaholics, NASCAR, NASCAR Bidness, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Pit Road Toad

Tagged with: Art Almond, Drawer-Dude, Fontana Speedway, Pit Road Toad

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THA TOAD TALKS TURNS!

by Art Almond, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2012 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

February 10, 2009 4:30 pm UTC 2 Comments

Hey everyone… the TOAD just wanted to talk a little bit about banked turns. Since we are on the subject, let’s talk about the “mac-daddy” of high-bank turns… Daytona International Speedway! This is where we’ll see the Daytona 500 this Sunday… February 15, 2009!

Each year the “World Center of Racing” is host to a two-week event that is dubbed as Speedweeks. In February of each year Speedweeks is concluded with the running of the Daytona 500.

Here are some interesting facts about Daytona.

It was built in 1959.

The banking in the turns is 31 degrees.

The seating capacity is 168,000.

The track length is a 2.5-mile tri-oval.

The front stretch is 1,900 ft (Measured from center of tri-oval)

Dale Earnhardt Senior won his first, and only Daytona 500 victory in February of 1998. Dale is still considered to be the best driver ever on this track.

Filed under: Comics, Craftsman Truck Series, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Daytona 500, Hall of Fame Racing, Lowes Motor Speedway, Nascaholics, NASCAR, NASCAR video, Nextel Cup Series, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Pit Road Toad, Sprint Cup Series

Tagged with: Art Almond, Daytona Speedway, Drawer-Dude, Pit Road Toad

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One and Done NASCAR Fantasy Racing from OnPitRow.com

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

February 3, 2009 10:27 pm UTC 2 Comments

NASCAR fantasy racing for dummies. That’s one way our old NASCAR Chain Game fantasy game was described. I took comfort in that.

Quite a few astute players of the game took home some very nice prizes. And then, we lost the ability to offer it to OnPitRow.com readers and ON PIT ROW listeners.

Well, it’s back. Actually, we have a new, upgraded, fancified version that required renaming.

We call the new game One and Done, the NASCAR fantasy racing game from ON PIT ROW and OnPitRow.com.

It will be a bit flashier looking. And we will have stats and commentary that just wasn’t there in the old game. A weekly newsletter will recap the results and preview the upcoming race. We’ll laugh at Steve. And me. But, if you like your fantasy NASCAR simple – if you want your fantasy racing picks to be easy, One and Done NASCAR Fantasy Racing is the game for you. It truly is, NASCAR fantasy racing for dummies. No offense.

Pick one driver, every week – but choose wisely Obi Wan, you can only use a driver once – and that’s it. Get it right often enough, and you will be rewarded with terrific prizes.

We will run three games. Two 13 week segments and then the Chase for the One and Done Cup.

The winners of each segment will get a fantastic Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure package. And the first ten finishers in each segment will win a prize package from OnPitRow.com. Details to follow.

So play One and Done fantasy NASCAR. Tell your friends and co-workers to play too. This is the perfect, NASCAR trash talkin’, water cooler braggin’, Monday morning conversation starter. It takes about 30 seconds to sign up. Tell your friends. It’s fun. I wouldn’t lie to you.

Photo credit: Icon Sports media, Inc.

Filed under: Bench Racing Contests, Dale Jarrett, It's Only Cheating if You Get Caught, Nascaholics, NASCAR, NASCAR Fantasy Gaming, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, One and Done NASCAR Fantasy Racing, Prelude to the Dream, Sprint Cup Series, Stewart Haas Racing, The Pettys, Tony Stewart