I work entertainment, too!

So, now, SPEED Channel is doing entertainment...we're doing an American Idol type talent show called "Fast Track to Fame". It is in its infancy, so it is hard to judge how successful it will be. I can tell you this much...I hope I don't have to keep working it. It is a pretty hard show to pull off, but, man, there is a lot of yelling and fixes and re-do's. I really like live tv. You do it and it's gone. If it's not right, you have already done it, so don't sweat it. Just get it right the next time. Wow.
I have heard these quotes tonight..."I need to hear more banjo!" and "Font the dog!" Entertainment is so exciting.
So for the racing...Dale, Jr. got the pole and has been real fast in practice. This may be his weekend. Also keep an eye on Kevin Harvick. He leads the points race and has finished 2nd two weeks in a row.
I think Mark Martin will finish 3rd, Dale Jr. 2nd and Kevin Harvick 1st.
Have a great Sunday and Raceday!

Vegas...

Good early morning from Las Vegas...Since no one is really reading this, I'll get straight to my prediction for today.
I think Kevin Harvick will sweep the weekend following his Nationwide win yesterday with a win today.
Yours very truly,
Joel

Viva Las Vegas...

I got to Las Vegas yesterday...worked a long day...then headed back to my room. I was asleep by 8:15pm. That, in itself, I believe, breaks many local ordinances. I don't give Vegas my hard earned money...anymore.
More to come on this great weekend!

West Coast Racing

We're back in Fontana, also affectionately known as Fontucky, for today's Cup race. Yesterday's Nationwide race was pretty boring all day, except for Danica speeding twice in pit road and the green/white/checkers finish. Joey Logano led about 140 of the 150 laps, but got buffaloed out of the way on the final restart by Greg Biffle and eventually spun out by Brad Keslowski to finish 11th.
Kyle Busch edged Biffle at the line to win the race and did his customary bow while standing on his car.
Today's race probably won't be much different. This track gets the drivers spread out and is pretty wide so there won't be a whole lot of side by side racing until the end which, I predict, will be yet another green/white/checkers. Biffle is always strong here, so I predict he'll be in the top five. All Roush cars tend to do well at the Auto Club Speedway. Jamie McMurray followed up last week's Daytona 500 win by winning the pole at ASC. That is the first time a driver has ever won the 500 then took the pole the next week. His Earnhardt/Gannassi teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya, is next to him in the front row. I'd like to see either one of these guys take the checkers. Happy Raceday, everyone.
PS. My son, Zach, a junior at Franklin High School in Franklin, TN, took home 5th place in the Tennessee State Wrestling Championships yesterday...I am a proud papa!

The Great American Race 2010

The 52nd running of the Daytona 500 is today! The Superbowl of motorsports gets the green flag a 1pm eastern time. Let me take a few seconds to make some observations. NASCAR has made a few changes for this season and actually keep making changes all weekend long. One of the more practical changes is making the start times uniform. All east coast day races will begin at 1pm eastern. Many of the venues and tv kept changing around the start times to make an extra buck or whatever. The other two start times are 3pm and 7:30pm. 7:30 will be for all night races, and 3pm will be the start time for Western and Central US races. DVR's across the country voted to make that a done deal. For the superspeedways, NASCAR has now made a ruling saying that the drivers are allowed to bump draft and NASCAR won't be as involved in the policing of any incidents. The drivers need to police themselves now. I am in agreement with that. NASCAR is also doing away with the wing on the back of the Cup cars and replacing it with the old blade on the back deck. I think they are trying to alleviate all the flying cars they had last year, but Jr.s' Nationwide car rolled yesterday and it had a blade, so who knows what'll happen.
Well, I must get ready for Raceday, so I gotta run!
Alex and Zach both qualified for the state individual wrestling tournament by finishing 2nd and 3rd in their respective weight classes yesterday in the regions! Congratulations, boys!

On the Road Again...

The 2010 NASCAR season has begun for me. I arrived in Daytona last night for 2 glorious weeks here in Florida. This year's Daytona 500 falls on Sunday, Feb. 14th, Valentine's Day. But we have about 90 hours of programming before that little race rolls around. Nearly all of the same group of co-workers are back and we are ready to go!
This is the third season I've been blogging from the NASCAR circuit, so I want to try something different. This season I want to answer any questions you have for me. If you want to know an answer to a technical question or something about a certain driver, just drop me a note and I'll include your question and hopefully an acceptable answer in a future blog.
I'll blog a few more times during SpeedWeeks, so stay tuned!

Short tracking in Irwindale, CA

I have arrived for the weekend in Irwindale, California. There is a short track here that will host a couple of all star races in late models. I think these are cars that look kinda like cup cars, but are flatter. I'm happy to be working, but I don't really know much about this series. The weather outside is nice! Inside the truck is dark and 65 degrees. That's the update.
Only 4 days until I head out to Daytona for SpeedWeeks!

MMX...2010

This year is perhaps the coolest Roman numeral year so far...MMX!
So, we're back at it. I am in Daytona for FanFest. FanFest is a made up NASCAR holiday that brings a handful of the drivers down to do some press junkets, meet and greet with some fans and kiss babies. There are no race cars, engines, fuel or anything truly mechanically related happening. Just smiles and pressing flesh. Our shows air on SPEED on Friday and Saturday. We'll have a couple of sets that drivers will come to and we'll talk with them about the upcoming season and such. At least it's pretty warm here. Currently the temperature is 65 degrees and it's sunny. Yippee!
While it's still the off season, I have some more basketball and hockey happening. We also are going to Irwindale, CA at the end of the month for a Toyota Challenge race, which I think is a late model stock car race. We'll see. Southern Cal in January is great with me no matter what they're racing.
I do have an interesting proposition in front of me that I am going to jump at if it truly comes to fruition. Our Australian houseguest who lived with us for two years has joined up with a few other gentlemen who are also in the construction business. They are gathering funding to travel to foreign countries, ie Kazakhstan, and build schools, houses, community centers. They want to hire me to go with them and video tape their adventures and then edit them for distribution. It is still in an infancy stage, but if it happens, I would love to travel internationally and still have more time at home. Don't get me wrong...I am not leaving my NASCAR job until this new one is secure for at least one year. I need that kind of stability. They say the pay will be amazing, so I am looking forward to it. I'll keep you updated!
From sunny Florida...have a great day!