Danica moving into the fast lane?

With the news reported by ESPN this week that Indy Car driver Danica Patrick was taking her “talents” to NASCAR full time in 2012, you had to just follow the trail of money to understand the move. Patrick, a one-time winner on the Indy Car Series, which took place over three years ago, isn’t the talk of the circuit anymore. The novelty of her abilities, looks and market-ability have maxed out, just like the level of frustration over the amount of attention she’s received for simply being a good looking female in the sport. One would have to wonder if some of the low Indy television ratings had something to do with the over-saturation of Patrick’s place in the sport, as pure racing fans must surely have had enough. Other open-wheel drivers have accomplished so much more in the sport but continue to take a back seat to the one-win wonder. Dario Franchitti (15 wins and three series championships since 2007), Scott Dixon (12 wins and a title) and Will Power, 10 wins are just a few names that fit the bill.

So when you’ve worn out your welcome, you move on and that’s why she’s shifted gears to stock car racing. It wasn’t too long ago Patrick finished fourth, 2005 to be exact in the Indianapolis 500. Could it be possible she not only figured out that not only can she reinvent herself all over again as the new kid on the track, but also this could actually be a little bit easier for her? Let’s face it, left-hand turns with you foot on the accelerator is a much more simple process then left and right turns were you also have to monitor speed and the competition as well. Now, no ones saying she rolls onto the Nationwide series and starts capturing checkered flags but from a marketing stand-point, she is getting the green flag, and going with it! Think about it, a hottie for the good ole boys to lavish over in lap 120 while there is still two hours before the race becomes worth watching and the beer is still cold.

Becoming the first woman to win an open wheel race back in 2008 turned Danica Patrick into an international sports figure and worldly celebrity. It made her rich beyond her wildest dreams with endorsements, commercials, racing paraphernalia and even big time television appearances. If she can even make a little noise in stockcar racing, on either the Nationwide or Sprint Cup series, with its popularity which dwarfs open wheel racing, the money will again come quicker than a tire change! Just think how that will go down in the good ole boy network that is NASCAR?

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Pride and Poise puts off the pain for Keselowski

Brad Keselowski was racing for much more than just the checkered flag Sunday at Pocono. His desire to fight to the finish was inspired by a greater force than a chance to move into one of the two wild card spots for the Chase for the Championship. His ability to overcome adversity for his second victory of the season, fueled out of respect. Respect for the United States and those who serve.

The inspiration that pushed him across the finish line in first, the tragic deaths of thirty American servicemen. The troops, some navy seals were killed when their helicopter was shot down during a rescue mission in eastern Afghanistan a few days ago. In victory lane he said, “I might not be feeling great, but those are the guys who are really making sacrifices. Whenever I got in the car and felt like man this really hurts, it was good inspiration as to what it takes to man up and make it happen.” On Wednesday, Keselowski smashed head-on, into a wall at 100 miles per hour, during a test run at Road Atlanta. The session left him with a fractured left ankle that was swollen to the size of a grapefruit for the Pocono 500. In order to run the race, he was forced to wear a shoe a full size bigger than the one on his right foot. The fact Mother Nature intervened with a one hour and forty minute rain delay couldn’t have helped matters. But Keselowski put on a brace, keep in on, and weathered not only the pain and the storm but several challenges!

Kyle Busch finished second, Kurt Busch third and Jimmie Johnson fourth. Kyle had built a sizable lead up until the final caution flag of the race. That’s when Keselowski made his move over the final 16 laps. Brother Kurt and Johnson battled down the stretch and actually had to be broken up by their crews at the races end. The two exchanged heated words after some final lap contact. Busch said it was simply good hard racing and Johnson over-reacted. Johnson believed Busch was riding all down the side of him on the straight away.

Regardless of the conflict, the day belonged on Keselowski. He moved in 18th place in the point’s standings while picking up just his second win of the season. He remains the only wild-card contender with two victories. The top two drivers with the most victories from 11th to 20th place earn a wild-card spot for the playoffs. With only five races remaining until the field is set, he likes were he sits. “It gives us pretty high chances if we were playing poker,” he said. The odds didn’t look good when he started his engine on Sunday, but all he had to do was think about those U.S. Servicemen that gave up everything for their country. “I came here to win. When you let the pain get into your head that far you don’t believe you can win anymore, you just can’t win the race.” Truly inspired, the pain was no problem at all.

End of the Bull's run at NASCAR

The owner of energy drink Red Bull plans to leave NASCAR at the end of this season, The Associated Press has learned. Multiple people familiar with the decision say a team official traveled to Michigan Speedway and told industry leaders Sunday of the impending move. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made to team employees. Red Bull is both the owner and sponsor of the two-car NASCAR team. The team has struggled since its 2007 entry into NASCAR and consistently has been plagued by rumors and speculation that the Austrian ownership group will leave the auto racing series. No reason for Red Bull's leaving has been given, but the energy drink markets to the 18-to-34 age group -- the demographic NASCAR has consistently lost in its current ratings slide.
The team had a horrendous debut season in 2007, when Brian Vickers failed to qualify for 13 of 36 races. He finished 38th in the final Sprint Cup standings. AJ Allmendinger missed 19 races that year and was 43rd in the final points. Jay Frye, a respected team manager in NASCAR, was brought on the next season as general manager, and the team slowly improved. But Allmendinger was let go late in 2008 for Scott Speed, who had been let go from Red Bull's Formula One team. Like Allmendinger, Speed was not ready for NASCAR's top level, and the lack of experience in Red Bull's second driver hindered Vickers' development. Speed was let go at the end of last year and is currently suing Red Bull. Vickers won a race in 2009 and made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, only to be sidelined most of last year with blood clots. He's back this season, and the team has Kasey Kahne on loan from Hendrick Motorsports, but still isn't among the top NASCAR organizations.

The Bayne of Daytona’s existence

The youngest driver to win the Great American Race gave the historic Wood Brothers team (the oldest team in NASCAR) its fifth Daytona 500 victory, but its first since 1976 with David Pearson, and Bayne did it in a No. 21 Ford that was retrofitted to resemble Pearson's famed ride. In just his second Sprint Cup start, the 20-year-old Bayne stunned NASCAR's biggest names with a thrilling overtime win Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, holding off Carl Edwards after fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashed in NASCAR's first attempt at a green-white-checkered flag finish. Earnhardt had an amazing time trial and was sitting in the pole position to start race making him one of the favorites both in Vegas as well as in some sentimental hearts. It wasn’t just DEJ who got off to the rough start three of the team's four cars, including five-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, were involved in a 14-car wreck early in the 500-mile race Sunday. Four-time series champ Jeff Gordon, who started on the front row, and veteran Mark Martin also sustained damage in the melee. However, Earnhardt Jr. did avoid the mess and was running with the leaders in the begging but his teammates weren't as fortunate. Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet was crumpled front and back, forcing the team to the garage area for major repairs. He returned to the race 30 laps down, essentially running for points while extending his winless streak to 66 races. Ok, enough of who didn’t get it done and more about who did. Trevor Bayne became the youngest winner in NASCAR history just one day after his 20th Birthday, even had to cancel his previous birthday plans because of all his television and print bookings. In fact it was his first appearance behind the wheel at the track so some will write this off as beginners luck but the truth is that the kid kept his cool the entire race, made the most of the opportunities when they came, and gave even some of the vets a lesson in drafting and teamwork when all was said and done. For fans of other teams or drivers that are trying to write this one off, please keep in mind how many of the holders of the racing headlines have not seen the winner’s circle at Daytona that may have to step up their game after Sunday, because if they do believe that had things gone a little different, they would have been the one popin’ champagne, then if they never get that close again Trevor will truly be the ba(y)ne of their existence.

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