Trouble in Turn2

To borrow a quote from Rerun, “What’s Happening?” In what is essentially an off week in NASCAR’s world, the answer is not much. Potential free agents no doubt used the week to visit other teams on their “Tell Me I’m Pretty 2008” tours (diecasts coming soon). Struggling teams hit the test track-again. And all of the PR people apparently either took vacations, the fax machine at the AP newsdesk is broken or there is just nothing happening. Maybe it’s all three. So what other news, notes and thoughts could I scrounge up for a Friday morning?

• Tony Stewart won the Nationwide race at Darlington last Friday, his first NASCAR win at the track. It was also his fourth Nationwide win this year. Check out his post-race audio.

• This is the last off-week until mid July. That means this week is a midterm exam of sorts. With less time during the weeks to test or improve their cars, whatever teams have in their arsenal is what they will take to the fight for the next two months.

• Brian Vickers’ #83 team won the Pit Crew challenge. Considering Red Bull Racing is the only organization in NASCAR to employ full time pit crew teams, it shouldn’t be a surprise. Fair play to them.

• Don’t expect the winner of the All-Star Race to have any advantage in the Coca-Cola 600. The only two drivers to win both races since 1994 are Jimmie Johnson (2003) and Jeff Gordon (2007). It makes sense. One is an 80 lap sprint race where the other is a 400 lap endurance race. Comparing the two is about as accurate as comparing Bristol to the Brickyard. My pick for the All-Star Race? My heart says Dale Jarrett, but my head says Jeff Gordon.

• I haven’t been a fan or viewer of any All-Star game for a long time. The games are never a reflection of the actual sport, people play at 75% speed, and they are usually more about celebrities and hype than actual substance. And then there’s the Pro Bowl. As for NASCAR’s version, I view it as a free Saturday night and always pass (that and the fact it’s on Speed means it won’t be available in my house anyway). For a great guide to the All-Star race, Rev’ Jim has a great breakdown of the participants.

• Go and make a difference, Rock the Vote. I voted for Boris Said. Four More Years! Four More Years!

Off the Beaten Path

Last week I was jokingly(I think) admonished for my lack of non-NASCAR content, and that’s true, there is more than NASCAR in all of our worlds. So I thought I’d try something new this week and expand. So here’s a few morsels of what else is going on in my world.

I watched Lars and the Real Girl earlier this week and it was a really good movie. Watching the preview the inclination is to get hung up on the fact that the main character, Lars, is “dating” a blowup, sex doll. But that sells the movie far short, there’s actually no sexual content. It’s a strange premise, but the movie is actually about family relationships, community and working through struggles. It’s smart, Ryan Gossling is really talented and funny (he improvises many of his lines) and the characters are all excellent. There isn’t an antagonist in the movie, just a family trying to figure things out. I definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoy slightly quirky movies with good characters that are both funny,and emotional.

Have a good weekend and enjoy the race. I’ll be spending the time dodging the mid 90 degree weather in Portland. [shaking fist] Curse you Al Gore and your global warming!