Welcome Back, Boys!

Whew! What a weekend of racing!

Junior wins. Major congrats to him and his new team!

The other big story was, of course Smoke versus Busch. There are a lot of people coming down on both sides of this duel. The behavioral issues, the safety issues. Personally, I think it's great. (Of course, I'm not NASCAR, the owners, sponsors, or crew members of either team, so I don't have to make decisions, make apologies or make new cars.) To me, it's all compelling, controversial, infinitely debatable and watchable. The FOX executives were no doubt opening champagne after Friday night. I see great memoirs for these guys in the future. As a fiction writer, I bow to the greatness of action and emotion.

As for a plot twist, there isn't much of a surprise, though. Do you expect a duck to bark? These guys are both driven, volitile, competitive people. You don't turn that off like a light switch. That's WHY we're riveted to every lap--to see what'll happen. This isn't Gardening for the Elderly Wheelchair-Bound, this is big-time auto racing, and I, for one, am glad it means so much that these guys forget what's proper or PC or kind or agreeable.

It's been a long, cold off-season. Welcome back, boys!

Your Humble NASCAR Correspondent

I'm working, I really am. But I'm also listening to/watching all the NASCAR action from Daytona. For those of you who aren't race fans, Media Day is underway at Daytona International Speedway, where the 50th running of the Daytona 500 will take place in 10 days. Us NASCAR fans are--to say the very least--hyped. So I thought I'd give you a rundown of all the action.

I should probably start on the romance side. First, there's the cover model looks of Jimmie Johnson, who's married to an equally beautiful woman (Chandra). This couple's kids are destined to be stunning. Next, there are the super sexy accents of Dario Franchitti (Scottish), Jaques Villeneuve (French Canadian), and Juan Pablo Montoya (Columbian). I may finally be able to get my buddy, Jennifer St. Giles, to a NASCAR race, as she's known to have a soft spot for those Scottish boys. NASCAR is beginning to have a bit of a United Nations feel, which I think is great.

Riki Rachtman is one of the NASCAR.com hosts of live web-streaming video interviews today. He was a metal rocker back in the 80's, but now does a lot of NASCAR announcing/programming. He's one of my favorite media guys. A little edgy, a little different (in a good way) from the sterotypical racing media personality, and he always seemed relaxed with the guys, managing to ask both the necessary questions, as well as getting the drivers to open up about a variety of subjects. He's just plain fun, and he obviously preps for his interviews. This is no talking head who really couldn't care less about racing. I hear he isn't going to be part of RaceDay on Speed Channel this year, and I'll certainly miss him. I hope NASCAR.com uses him often. He's a gem.

Dale Jr. looks happy and confident, which is so great, though it's still odd to see him in a green and white uniform. I guess The Red Army is just Jr. Nation now. Somehow, The Green Army doesn't have the same punch, does it?

Other highlights: Tony Stewart messin' with everybody to keep his spirits up. He's notoriously not a big fan of Media Day. A.J. Allmendinger and Patrick Carpentier talking on Sirius about how nobody is NASCAR is willing to strap you into your car (which apparently is the standard in open wheel racing). The safety harness in a stock car snaps between the driver's legs. And no crew member is going there.

Everybody at Sirius is working hard, as usual. If you're a NASCAR fan, and you don't have a Sirius subscription, you're seriously (ha, ha) missing out. I'm completely addicted and always have the shows on while I work.

Okay, back to the writing duties.