JWack's Blog: Wack at the Track
Fresh off his ARCA RE/MAX Series win at Rockingham Speedway Joey Logano was on hand to watch Tony Stewart race to another NASCAR Nationwide Series win.

In three weeks Logano will make his first Nationwide start at Dover with Joe Gibbs Racing - a team that has won eight of the 12 races (No. 18 and 20 Teams) this season.

With the start coming just a week after his 18th birthday, Stewart was asked after his first Darlington win if Logano if "licking his chops" to get in a JGR Nationwide car.

Even with the bar already set high, Stewart replied, “He was licking his chops, standing on the pit wall tonight.”

Stewart also said he would be making headlines by the end of the year with a win or more.

“He won’t be intimidated. I think he has the chance to win some races.”
Posted: 5/10/2008 10:15:45 PM Total Comments: 0

The highlight of the Aaron's 312 wasn't Dario Franchitti's crash, "The Big One" or even Tony Stewart's first Talladega win.

In fact I thought the highlight was what took place after the race was over.

NASCAR drivers do a great thing when they participate in the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

During Saturday’s Nationwide race we got to see up close a wish being granted and how special it really is for the child. As part of a wish, Stewart had a young girl as a visitor at Talladega. And when he ended up wining the race the wish became even more special.

Wearing her No. 20 hat and Tony Stewart shirt she glared into Stewart’s eyes with the biggest smile as he proceeded to dedicate the win to her during the victory lane interview.

"I told her we'd try extra hard to get her in Victory Lane today, and I'm glad we got you here," Stewart said  to her. "Now we're going to have to take her on the road the rest of the year."

And just as soon as the interview came to an end Stewart held her and gave her a big hug.

Say what you want about Tony Stewart, but when it comes to charities and helping others Stewart is one of the best.

And for that little girl, this is one day she will never forget.

Earlier this season Jeff Gordon surpassed the 200th wish mark. Recently, Gordon gave a 15-year-old boy the VIP treatment at Phoenix International Raceway for his wish.
Posted: 4/27/2008 12:12:35 AM Total Comments: 1
Rookie Michael McDowell made National headlines earlier this month with his horrific crash at Texas Motor Speedway, but should they be using the crash to make a buck?

One of McDowell’s first NASCAR t-shirts released last week showed his totaled Aaron’s No. 00 Toyota on the back.

I’m not exactly sure this is what McDowell had in mind for his fans to be wearing at the track. Some might think the shirt is actually funny, but here’s what the shirt said on the back:

Brand new Toyota Camry: $200,000
Stress Tested SAFER Barrier: $50,000
Soiled Uniform: $2,500

Being the Real Lucky Dog: Priceless

I’m going to disagree on this shirt ever being produced. It sounds like a shirt a bootlegger would be selling in the parking lot or across the street from the track.

I think it was in bad taste, but what do I know it probably will become a big seller.

What’s next a qualifying crash replica 1/24 scale No. 00 Toyota?

Image of the shirt
Posted: 4/21/2008 2:21:26 AM Total Comments: 6

In February I wrote a blog about NASCAR teams becoming interested in the NHRA POWERade Series since a drag strip is being built in their backyard.

I was a little shocked to see Kevin Harvick be the first to express interest in the sport. I thought the first would be one of the bigger teams like Hendrick, Ganassi or even Gibbs again.

But on the other hand, Kevin and DeLana Harvick are proven winners as owners in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Nationwide Series. They have put together one championship and 12 wins in a short period of time.

Partnering with Bob Vandergriff Jr., who also grew up in Southern California, is the perfect match for the Harvick’s. Vandergriff landed sponsorship for his up and coming team when he secured UPS on his Top Fueler in his return to competition full-time in 2006. One of KHI’s major sponsors is Camping World which is becoming more involved in the world of motorsports. I could see Camping World stepping up to sponsor the Harvick-Vandergriff owned Top Fueler. Currently, Camping World is an associate sponsor of Vandergriff, a deal which was put together this season. Cross-marketing between the NASCAR and NHRA teams could also help bring on more new partners in all three series.

Over the next few months Harvick and Vandergriff will plan to put the components together to start the team, including a driver and sponsor.
 
Posted: 4/14/2008 11:24:26 PM Total Comments: 0

The recent enhancement in safety in NASCAR was a real testament to Michael McDowell walking away from his horrific crash during qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway.

If not for the SAFER Barriers, HANS Device and new Car of Tomorrow, who knows if McDowell would have walked away from the crash, which was one of the worst I have seen in years.

So I applaud NASCAR in the safety innovations over the years. And if you are not a fan of the Car of Tomorrow I bet you just became one.
Posted: 4/4/2008 6:30:18 PM Total Comments: 0

Today in qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway David Reutimann will have to qualify on time.

After a disappointing run in his first outing in his first run behind the wheel of the No. 44 Toyota at Martinsville, Reutimann dropped to 37th in the owner’s standings.
Prior to Martinsville, Reutimann was 27th in owner points in the No. 00. So that prompted the team to ask NASCAR to transfer the points along with Reutimann’s transition to the No. 44, which was denied.
Now I can understand denying a possible points swap between drivers in the middle of the season, but if the driver does indeed switch numbers they should be allowed to take those points with them if that’s the decision. After all, Reutimann played a big part in getting the No. 00 in its current position.
Now Michael Waltrip is faced once again with one of its biggest sponsors outside the top 35. And if they don’t start making races again with UPS, they could lose the sponsor now that Jarrett is officially gone at MWR after May.
Roush Fenway Racing could you use the UPS sponsorship as a perfect ploy in the resigning of Greg Biffle.
Posted: 4/4/2008 10:18:12 AM Total Comments: 0

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Posted: 3/28/2008 1:54:33 AM Total Comments: 1
Air Asia recently unveiled their Williams Formula One paint scheme on one of their aircraft, which got me thinking how cool would it be to see a NASCAR paint scheme on a U.S. air carrier.

Since 1982 when Piedmont Airlines sponsored Ricky Rudd’s No. 3 and then Terry Labonte’s No. 44, the airline industry hasn’t had a large presence in NASCAR.

There were talks last season that NASCAR was looking to partner with Jet Blue.

Like NASCAR, Southwest Airlines currently utilizes the special paint scheme on their planes with the designs including Shamu, the NBA and many paying tribute to U.S. States.

But if one U.S. air carrier was to partner with a NASCAR team which car design would you like to see on a plane?

I think a Jeff Gordon plane would be the best choice. One of the most recognized drivers and what plane wouldn’t look cool with flames painted on the side.

Southwest would also be my pick to partner with NASCAR or to sponsor a team.

After all they recently failed inspection.
Posted: 3/22/2008 1:43:00 AM Total Comments: 0
This weekend one of NASCAR's greatest drivers will step aside.

Dale Jarrett will hang up his helmet in points-paying competition after Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor speedway.

Growing up, Jarrett was one of the main drivers that got me interested in NASCAR, which ultimately led me to pursue the sport as a career in college.

In the mid-90's my family and I would make the trek to Michigan Int'l Speedway, a track in which Jarrett won four times. I had the chance to witness Jarrett win many races live as a fan, including his 1996 wins at Indianapolis and Michigan.

Although he will retire driving a Toyota, I will always remember DJ as a Ford driver, and rightfully so, as he captured 30 of his 32 wins, and the 1999 title with the manufacturer. His No. 88 became an icon in the sport and I think it was great to see Robert Yates pass the legacy on to Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Let’s also not forget his relationships with sponsors. He sported the red, white and blue colors of Ford/Quality Care, my personal favorite, and helped bring UPS into the sport with the innovative "Drive the Truck" campaign. Jarrett also helped Joe Gibbs Racing get off on the right foot by winning the 1993 Daytona 500 with Interstate Batteries, a company that still remains with JGR to this very day.

As for the memories, there were so many. From his Dad calling him to the checkered flag in the Daytona 500, to his championship season that saw him score four wins and 29 top 10s.

The decals on David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip’s cars this weekend pretty much sum it up the best.

Thanks DJ – A Champion, A Legend, A Friend.

What will you remember the most from Jarrett's racing career?
Posted: 3/14/2008 5:13:00 PM Total Comments: 0

Robby Gordon’s sponsor is showing their support for their driver after he was hit with a 100 point penalty after violations were found during opening day inspection for the Daytona 500.

Jim Beam President & CEO Thomas Flocco has already submitted a letter to Mike Helton, Robin Pemberton and John Darby. The sponsor is also looking for fans to support them by signing an online petition at http://www.jimbeam.com/beam/v5/contactus.aspx

Dodge is also supporting Gordon, who just recently made the move to the manufacturer from Ford, for the mistakes that led to the unapproved Dodge Charger nose being given to Robby Gordon Motorsports from the Dodge/Evernham Performance Parts warehouse.

"While the nose meets the template, it has not yet been approved by NASCAR. The prototype parts were in the warehouse and share the same base part number as the approved Dodge Avenger nose,” said Kipp Owen, director of Dodge Motorsports Engineering. "Dodge has taken the appropriate steps to make sure that prototype parts can not be mistaken for approved parts in the future and hopes that the circumstances surrounding this error are considered."

“It was something that we didn’t build, we didn’t make, we didn’t supply,” Gordon said. “It was completely a clerical error from the manufacturer’s supply warehouse who delivered it to us. All we did was install it on the race car.”

Do you think the penalty was too harsh or did NASCAR do the right thing by staying consistent?
Posted: 2/23/2008 12:50:00 PM Total Comments: 2

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