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Posted on June 18, 2007
Top of My Head -
Michigan
Happy Father’s
Daze
Well, once again it was
the day to honor all the dads out there,
and I hope those of you who actually are
dads had a great day!
This race day was a whole
lot better than last week – we got a
whole race, for one thing – and better
than last year’s Michigan race, as well,
when the race ended abruptly during a
commercial break and Kasey Kahne was
declared the winner.
It was an eventful race,
following an even more eventful week in
the sport. So let’s
DROP THE GREEN!
Music? Why is it
that the powers-that-be at Speed seem to
think that screeching, shirtless,
sweating rock musicians howling
unintelligible lyrics are what the fans
want first thing on a Sunday morning?
I’ve developed the fastest mute finger
in the northeast. A humble suggestion:
A couple of years ago one of the
networks did a gorgeous montage at the
conclusion of their block of races,
covering the highlights of their races.
It was set to Bruce Springsteen’s
“Thunder Road” – an iconic musician
performing an iconic song, in a rousing
salute to an iconic sport. There are
artists whose music spans generations
and would be palatable to all.
Music! Then what
happens, they turn around and use Aaron
Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” for the
montage from last week’s Pocono race.
Sunday morning music at its best.
“Like A Rock”!
Nice tribute to the often
under-appreciated members of the pit
crew, but does anyone else still
associate that song with Ford
commercials?
Father and Son Segment
– Always a treat. I get a charge
out of Ned Jarrett rooting Dale on to
his Daytona 500 win, and a chuckle out
of Dale with that huge mustache. Also,
if you took the time to freeze-frame the
footage of Coo Coo Marlin’s crew riding
in that pickup truck, you’d easily spot
a mop-headed, gangly teenager named
Sterling in the midst of the group.
Hot Dog! Cheers
to “Big John” Youk, giving Jimmy Spencer
his walking papers, and a batch of hot
dogs to deliver. And more cheers to
that Number 14 hat John was wearing.
Live Mike, Kenny!
I got a good laugh hearing Kenny
Wallace’s voice over what was supposed
to be a promo for the upcoming Hendrick/Earnhardt
interview: “Sign my hat? Don’t tell me
what to do, I’m gonna make you wait!”
Junior! Yes, I did
notice Junior was in the news this
week. I’m glad that he made his
decision, I hope he’s able to
concentrate on the rest of the season
now, and I wish him every success with
his new team. And I also congratulate
all of Junior’s fans who will stick by
him no matter what color his car is,
what sponsor is on the hood, and what
number is on the side. You are his
TRUE fans!
Kyle! Busch, that
is. Now I guess the question will be
where will he end up. I enjoyed Brian
Vickers’ comment that Kyle would
probably notice a change in the group
dynamic toward him for the rest of the
season. Can you say, “Not invited to
team meetings”?
Benny! I was very
moved by the warm, upbeat, and sometimes
downright funny tribute that the Booth
Boys did about Benny Parsons. I’m sure
he was watching somewhere and enjoying
the fact that he was being remembered
with smiles.
Racing! Yes,
there was a race, quite a good one, at
that. Plenty of passing, bumping, and
strategizing – some of it worked, some
didn’t, but it was RACING! I wasn’t
even tempted to fall asleep.
NEWMAN! Exactly
where did he think he was going on Lap
76? He was two laps down, and managed
to mess up the days of Brian Vickers,
Matt Kenseth, and Jeff Green.
Sterling? Where
did he go? He was running in the top 15
and suddenly dropped to 20th
with no explanation from the Booth
Boys. Seems he had to pit for gas, but
the Booth Boys were too busy discussing
the 48 car running out of gas to
notice. Said it before, I will say it
again, ALL THE GUYS ON THAT TRACK HAVE
FANS!
Carl! Last but
not least, Carl Edwards gets his first
win since November of 2005, overcoming a
midrace penalty for speeding on pit
road. It was good to see that backflip
at the end of a Cup race again,
particularly since this was Carl’s 100th
Cup start!
So
CONGRATULATIONS to the whole
Number 99 team for a job well done, and
a special CONGRATULATIONS to Tom Giacchi,
Carl’s coach driver, who had vowed not
to shave until Carl won another cup
race. I hope his family gave him a
brand-new razor for Father’s Day.
NEXT WEEK! A road
course. I’m picking Denny Hamlin to
take the checkers, he’s been threatening
all season and this young man has shown
that he can drive on just about any
course you can throw at him.
Wavin’ the checkers
for now!
ON TO INFINEON!
You can contact
Becky at
marlinmama@gmail.com
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