Should I stay or should I go?

To coin a Clash phrase.

Should Tony stay at Gibbs Racing or should he go?

Seriously. Sports Illustrated is reporting Smoke is in talks with Haas CNC Racing to join them and move back to Chevrolet.

Really? There's not a named source in the entire article, which also claims Tony would have an owner's-stake in the team.

Let's look at this for a moment. Tony and Gibbs have won two titles together. Tony's won 32 races and two Brickyards. Of course, every bit of that was with General Motors cars.

How's Toyota been for JGR?

Let's see. Denny Hamlin's won. Kyle Busch's won. Tony hasn't. If I was ol' Smoke, I'd be a little torqued over that fact. But he's been pretty gracious overall about his teammates taking the checkered flag before him in the new, new cars.

He's not said much about Toyota performance. Tires yes, Toyota no. It's pretty well noted he's a fan of GM as a manufacturer.

Tony's contract runs through 2009, and he's said several times this year he wants to concentrate on driving and hopefully the contract thing will be settled mid-season.

As for being an owner in Sprint Cup? I remember him saying that wasn't something that he was espeicially interested in being. He was happy with Eldora, World of Outlaws and his other ventures.

He's the one in the driver's seat in more ways than one. It's his name on the champion's trophies. He's marketable. He's someone you either love or love to hate. When you see orange, Home Depot or #20, you think Tony Stewart. He's outspoken. And very, very charitable.

Maybe SI can get something from a named source, like maybe Tony himself or J.D. Gibbs.

Some things just aren't right

This isn't about motorsports, but it is about vehicles, horsepower and paint schemes.

Some things just aren't right.

At first it was the Cadillac Escalade. We both know there is no way someone with enough paycheck to buy a Cadillac is going to be driving through a mud bog.

Really. I'm just saying. They aren't the off-road types in general.

Same thing goes for the Porsche - yes, Porsche - SUV or Cross-over parked in downtown Huntington the other day. That's a speed breed, not something you should be taking cross country.

Then I saw a pink Jeep Cherokee. Pale pink, but still pink. Picture that off-road. It wasn't a Mary Kay car. Just a pink Cherokee. But yes, Mary Kay does put out a pink Cadillac SUV for its folks. A pretty, pearlized pink. Very feminine color.

And by the way, have you seen the Pepto-pink Hummer? That's just wrong on every level. A Pink Hummer. If I was going to pay that kind of money for a huge, tank-like, gas-guzzling, get outta my way, serious emissions damaging the environment vehicle, I sure wouldn't want it the color of a stomach medicine. I don't have issues with the type of vehicle and the carbon footprint you leave behind. Just the color. Black, Gunmetal Gray maybe, but not pink in any way, shape or form.

And let's not get into the stretch-Hummer limosine. What must gas for that cost? My Taurus tank carries a hefty enough price tag.

This isn't a criticism of any of these car owners. I'm certain these folks love their vehicles and seriously considered the purchases.

OK, I'm done. Thanks for letting me rant about vehicles that just don't make a lot of sense to me.

New site for Scites

www.davinscites.com has a new look.

I was navigating around it today. His handler Francine said last week it was getting a facelift. And a nice facelift it is. It's got Davin in his new firesuit, some more photos and an expanded message board. It's easier to navigate. Current year photos are on the way.

I couldn't find a racing schedule for Davin, but one of the message board posts from him said he's racing the schedule at Motor Mile this season, and if memory serves me correct - and on a Friday after a week of writing obituaries for The Herald-Dispatch, it may not - he should be racing there this weekend.

So be sure to check out his Web site for a post at the race from Francine.

I haven't heard from the MM Race Director this week, so I would tend to believe Davin's win stands. The race director had to take a part to NASCAR for inspection after the second place finisher lodged a protest.

So, go Davin, go!

Everyone check out his new website - same address, just a new look.

Test day set, season ready at Ona

The annual test day at Ona Speedway will be Saturday, May 3.

Admission is $10 per person at the gate, which opens at noon.

Pre-tech begins at 12:30 p.m. and practice starts at 1 p.m. Everybody is out by 8 p.m., and race director Jerry Skeens says all safety rules will be enforced.

If you have questions, call Jerry at 304-523-2808 or 304-634-0925.

An update on special events at Ona:

Regular racing will begin May 10 and continue through Oct. 25.

Dates for racing are May 10 and 24
June 7 and 21
July 12 and 19
August 2, 16 and 30
September 13 and 27
October 11 and 25

There will be a Demolition Derby on the frontstretch asphalt on May 31, beginning at 4 p.m., presented by Demolitioninc (Demolition Inc.)

General admission is $7 for adults and kids age 7 and younger get in free. Season passes are $91.

Pit passes are $20 for adults, $10 for kids 8 through 12 years, and 13-years and older are adult price. Kids 7 and under free. Season pit pass is $260 for 13-years and up, and $130 for kids ages 8 through 12.

Pit gates open at noon, general admission gates open at 5 p.m. Hot laps run at 1 p.m. and the green flag drops at 7 p.m.

In the event of rain outs, races will be scheduled on Sunday the following day, gates open at noon, racing at 4 p.m.

One win, one out

Sorry, Ralph, I thought I had published your last comment. Unless you're rude, crude and socially unacceptable, I'll publish it. You have a right to opinions and comments, and I for one won't stifle it. It's a First Amendment thing.

On to the weekend news.

Davin Scites wins! Woo-hoo!

The Saturday race was rained out at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., and rescheduled for Sunday.

Davin qualified fifth and went on to smoke the field and bring home the win!

His Web site, www.davinscites.com is getting a new look this week, according to his PR folks. So let's all be sure to check it out later this week.

As for Brett Rowe, he was once again out of the running. It sounds like you guys believe it's the equipment, and it probably is.

He finished 38th, out after 40 laps due to overheating. Given more money and better equipment, he could probably do much better. But that's the issue $$$$$$$, and I'm sure his age getting up to this level could factor in it, too. There are drivers much older than Brett that qualify and run in the Nationwide series, so other than money and equipment, there's no reason he can't have a long career on the track.

Update on Brett Rowe

Brett Rowe is entered in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series O’Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Today (April 3) is qualifying and practice for Brett and his car.

Air time for the race is 2:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2.

Brett will drive the #05 31-W Insulation/ CertainTeed Chevrolet for Wayne Day and Day Enterprises. Sorry the photo is from his former team, Revelocity, but it's the best photo we have of Brett.

Right now, he ranks 37th in five starts, and is 551 points behind Nationwide Series leader Clint Bowyer.

At some point this season, hopefully at the end of May, Brett will get to roll out in the Herd Racing Marshall University car. Keeping our fingers crossed and prayers going out it will be at Lowe's Motor Speedway May 24.

Drive on, Brett, drive on.

Davin and JR team up

Go Davin, Go!

Wayne native Davin Scites has entered into an agreement with a premier NASCAR driver, Dale Earnhart Jr. and JR Motorsports for the 2008 season.

Davin will drive the late model #06 Champion Chevrolet (no relation to Champion Industries and The Herald-Dispatch) this season throughout the Southeast section of the country.

Here’s what Junior had to say about Davin in a statement.

"Davin is a great race car driver and a great friend,” Earnhardt. said. “He worked out of a shop near my house last year and I was impressed with the number of wins he racked up during the season. It seemed like every time I walked into the shop there was a new trophy Davin had won over the weekend.

“With all his success, JR Motorsports is proud to be associated with Davin Scites Motorsports for the 2008 season. I'm looking forward to seeing Davin put the No. 06 Champion Chevy in Victory Lane."

Davin’s 2008 campaign starts Saturday at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va.

Last year, Davin racked up five wins, 15 top-five finishes and 18 top-10 finishes, in addition to setting a Martinsville track qualifying record in late models last September.

He moved into JR Motorsports’ HUGE Mooresville, N.C. facility at the end of 2007.

In case you’ve forgotten, Davin got his start at Ona Speedway, you know the slogan, “Where Legends are Born.”

He also took part in the ill-fated “Racin’ for a Livin’” proposed reality show, which I don’t think ever aired, did it? Although, he garnered many, many votes and led voting frequently from fans.

Hey, that’s water under the bridge, or asphalt under the tires, so to speak.
He’s at JR Motorsports with NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver! And Roush Racing thought Davin was a little long in the tooth a couple of years ago to get into their Gong Show.

You show ‘em Davin, you show ‘em.