On FB, NASCAR and economics

Ya gotta love Facebook. About 5 p.m., I got a post from Roush-Fenway announcing Matt Kenseth has a new sponsor for next year.

No big surprise here, folks. With DeWalt declining to re-up with Roush-Fenway, Matt Kenseth needed a sponsor, and oh, my! Crown Royal stepped in to fill the void on da’ hood.

Like ya didn’t see it coming? The hard liquor company will sponsor 18 of Kenseth’s Cup races next year.

Matt said he likes being able to promote drinking responsibly. That’s been the message with Jamie McMurry while driving under the purple and gold hood, too. Well, duh. If you’re gonna drink, be responsible and don’t get yourself or someone else hurt or killed. Ya think? OK, I’ll get off the soap box. But I’ve had decent backpacks ruined by guys at the track drinking in the row behind me and knocking over (not back) a few brewskis. I'm not bitter. It was a brown, suede backpack with leather trim. But I'm not bitter.

“We will miss Jamie (McMurray) as he has been an amazing partner both on and off the track taking our ‘Be a champion. Drink Responsibly,’ campaign to new heights. We were lucky to have him as part of our team and whatever sponsor aligns with him will have a great person working on their behalf. We wish him well,” said Dan Sanborn, Sr. Director, Corporate Relations for Diageo, Crown Royal’s parent company.

And fans may miss McMurray, too. Roush-Fenway president Geoff Smith said the 4-car team will be Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan. The team is hoping to find a sponsor and transfer Jamie Mac’s and his ride to Yates Racing.

At’d be nice. Keep more Blue Oval presence on the track and the crews employed, especially after last year’s mega downsizing in the Charlotte area shops.

Now, personally, I like Jamie Mac. I have a life-size standup of him from a Coke Zero campaign. It’s scares friends of mine when they walk through the front doors of my house the first time. Yep, they’ve let out a screech or two. Heck, so have I on occasion. But we digress.

You hate to see any of these guys lose their ride, because you know that means job loss to not just the one, but dozens of people on the pit crew, hauler drivers, shop crew and support personnel in the immediate. Then there's the trickle down effect to service providers in the community. For every $1 spent in salary the multiplier is that it generates at least $7 more in the community.

So you guys at Roush-Fenway, listen here. Find the boy a sponsor and keep the money flowing through your community. No pressure, but a lot of lives are looking toward you right now.

So how much economic pressure is there on NASCAR right now? If you look in the stands, there are empty seats. But in a venue that will seat 200,000 people, and only 150,000 show up, what's that mean. How many basketball, football or baseball places will hold 200,000? Or, for that matter, 150,000? So really, 150,000 people putting down cash money for a 4- or 5-hour event isn't really so bad after all, is it?

It's a crunch we're all feeling. I've been to the All-Star, 600 and going to Bristol next month. But I'm probably not making the Bank of America race in Charlotte in October. A financial move, actually. I've had good deals to go to all the others through the NASCAR Members Club, group trips and the like. But the last one of the year is on my own. So, it may be a trip I don't take.

But there's local racing in a few spots, so the need for live racing gets filled. The local economy gets some stimulus and everyone leaves happy for the evening. Well, except for the guys who don't place first in the race. You know. Second place is just the first loser.

Everyone wins with Victory Junction

Want a chance to win an autographed diecast from Kasey Kahne, Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin or Denny Hamlin? Then, there is my personal favorite, an autographed diecast of Tony Stewart’s Daytona winner Burger King car.

How about a race-used tire autographed by The King Richard Petty?

Kasey’s diecast has a certificate of authenticity and a special note from his mom, Tammy Kahne.

I really like Tammy. She’s so sweet and unpretentious. She’s called up club members to come over to Kasey’s new shop – before it opened to the public – and take a look around. She personally conducted a tour, showing the offices, machining shop, car floor and even Kasey’s Toy Room, where his “toys” will be housed – cars, dirt track cars, motorcycles, etc. You know, the fun stuff guys need.

Here she is with me and National Advisor Paul Mullins during All-Star week. Gee, I'm short.

The West Virginia chapters of the Official NASCAR Members Club are looking to raise enough money from this event to send a child to Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C. The cost for one week is $2,500 and no child or family is ever asked to pay for participation.

“This is an exciting time in NASCAR history. This fundraiser is about creating more smiles at a camp which dedicates everything they have to helping children who need it the most. With the enthusiastic grassroots program we have, I am 100 percent confident that our Chapters will successfully complete the goal,” said ONMC Charleston Local Chapter president, and National Advisor, Paul Mullins.

To participate, call Paul at 304-553-4180 to donate to this worthy cause. 100 percent of the money raised will go to VJC and sponsorship of campers.
Donations are suggested at $50, but any amount is acceptable, and should be mailed to Paul by August 15 at PO Box 6823, Charleston, WV 25361 Attn: Victory Junction Gang, or call him at 304-553-4180. His e-mail is NascarMembersWva@yahoo.com.



Drawings will be held each Friday through August 22. So the faster you get the donation to him, the more drawings you’ll be eligible.



The Official NASCAR Members Club is the only official fan membership organization licensed by NASCAR. Membership enables fans to become Official Members of NASCAR, and thus enjoy VIP Insider status and access to exclusive events, information, merchandise, deals, discounts, and other benefits. The Club aggregates rewards and assets from the entire sport, enabling its members to get closer to the sport, and the sport to more accurately and efficiently connect with its fans.

Here are a few shots around the camp I took in May on my visit with the club. There are all sorts of neat things there to do and see. The bulldog butler dispenses sunscreen. There's mini golf with all sorts of animals around, and maze sponsored by Tony Stewart. The maze can be changed around by opening and closing parts of the fence. Sometimes, during play the patterns are tinkered with by the camp counselors.

On the road with Herd Racing

The #75 Herd Racing Chevy Impala SS will take on the upcoming NASCAR Nationwide Series road courses at Watkins Glen and Montreal during the month of August.

It's been a while since we've seen the #75 Herd car on the track, and it will be nice to see it again. The driver remains Brett Rowe of Barboursville, W.Va.

Brett, you will recall, has driven part time in the NNS the last three seasons, and was the 2005 ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series champion.

Now all you Chevy fans, listen up. The #75 will have a Richard Childress engine under the hood. OK, it's not a Hendrick, but it's pretty reputable.

And if you'd like your name or company name on the car somewhere, sponsorships are available for both races. Just call Brett at 304-617-1012 and he'll get you set up.

I think that would be pretty cool - somewhere in a nice script, my name and Official NASCAR Members Club chapter number. I know what my friends are thinking. I'm God's mighty woman of faith, but John 3:16 is already there. (Good job, Brett!) Why muddy the waters. Keep the message simple.

But I digress. Seriously, help a brother out, and if y'all love racing as much as everyone claims around here, call Brett and put some money into it. Sponsor a tire, the entry fee, or just a couple of feet on a quarterpanel.

And be sure to watch for Herd Racing at Watkins Glen on August 8 and at Montreal on August 29.

Go Herd!

Who belongs in the Hall of Fame?

NASCAR Hall of Fame: The First Class will be seen at 8 p.m. Thursday on SPEED, hosted by Ken Squier. The 25 nominees for the inaugural group of five will be made.

Making appearances on the program will NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France and NASCAR Hall of Fame historian Buz McKim.

The official opening of the Hall will be May 11, 2010. Buz said there will be a “soft opening” in April next year before the big blowout events. And, if the NASCAR Members Club has anything to do about it, next year’s annual convention will be at the Hall in mid-May.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame has announced May 11, 2010, as the official grand opening date for the state-of-the-art facility under construction in Charlotte.

OK, the leak from those who know, says DW and Bobby Allison are 2 of the 25 nominees. On NASCAR Live Tuesday, when asked if he deserved to be in the first HOF class, Bobby Allison said, “yes, I believe I do.” You gotta love honesty.

At the NASCAR Members Club convention in May, Buz McKim said The King, Richard Petty doesn’t believe he should be in the inaugural class. Does that surprise anyone? No, the Richard Petty we’ve met is a humble, grateful man.

I tried to get Buz to tell us his picks for the first group of enshrines and he threw the question right back at me. But then again, he IS a member of the selection committee. But I still want to know who he'd pick.


So, who would I pick? Remember, I’ve only paid attention to NASCAR for not quite 9 years now.

Bill France Sr. DUH! I would be tempted to lump the entire France family together as one member. Heck, they could fill the first class by themselves.

I’d go Bobby Allison. He’s already in four motorsports halls of fame and was NASCAR’s most popular driver six times.

Darrell Waltrip, yep, he’s a keeper here. Driver, owner, commentator and Emmy award nominee, and motivational speaker. Like Bobby Allison, named one of top 50 NASCAR drivers of all time.

There’s three. Who else?

Maybe the Petty family as a whole and certainly Richard Petty at least. Yeah, The King doesn’t think so, but plenty of people do.

OK, four. One more to go.

What about the RJ Reynolds Company. Winston Cup 1971 to 2004. The company certainly stepped up and promoted the sport to a new level. Buz said crew member, crew chief, driver, pretty much anyone related to the sport in any way. But I’d contend the tobacco company made a substantial contribution to stock car racing. Go ahead, say it, “tobacco’s not good for you, you’re promoting smoking.”

There you have it. That’s my five. Well, two were already givens, actually three including the France family individually or as a whole.

Who would you choose?