20-2.1E (parts or components of the car not previously approved by NASCAR that have been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance will not be permitted); and 20-2H (fenders may not be cut or altered except for wheel or tire clearance which must be approved by the Series Director) of the 2007 NASCAR rule book. The violations were found during the initial inspection process last Friday.
Now, Johnson’s car is found to be out of tolerance, which is violating the intent of the rule for the COT (which he and Gordon got nailed for in 2007), and yet there’s no penalty and only a warning. Mark Martin’s was “close“according to NA$CAR. So how close is close? Gee, what’s wrong with this picture? When Johnson and Gordon got nailed before for violating the intent rule, it was 100 driver and owner points, $100,000 fine, and a 6 week suspension for the crew chief. And now, the car is outside the letter of the law and yet all that is done is a warning not to bring that car back to the track? Sorry, but this just isn’t right. Could it be that 2009 Chase for the Chumps winner is being cut a sprout for his affidavit in the Mayfield lawsuit? Something to consider.
It also says something about the certification and inspection process too. If it was off by “two sheets of copier paper” at the tech center after the race, what does that say about the actual certification process at the super secret R&D center to begin with which cost the teams about $22,500 per car? The cars have to be 100% approved by NA$CAR at their R&D center before they can even be taken to the track. So if it’s off at the R&D center, then it should’ve been caught during the inspection at the track. And if it wasn’t caught at the inspection at the track, what does that say about NA$CAR’s inspection process and the inspectors at the track? This whole inspection process for the cars and engines reeks worse than a locker room full of moldy jock straps.
While reading through the comments on this article Did Hendrick taint the Chase? I read the comments relating to it. If the second comment, posted by joesam, is taken at face value it means that NA$CAR is definitely playing favorites and is lying to us fans, the team owners, the drivers, and the media. But then lying to the fans, drivers, team owners, and media is nothing new to His Highness and his merry henchmen.
Second on today’s menu, the AP and their bias. Funny how the AP writer said lawyer Marc Geragos, who is taking over Mayfield’s representation, is based in Los Angeles. He also has a second office in Washington DC, which the AP failed to mention. The AP writer also failed to mention the clients that Geragos has won for and what their cases were about. Not to mention the usual piling on of garbage this is so typical of the AP writer. How about a little “fair and balanced” coverage their AP? Isn’t that what a true journalist does? I’m a curmudgeon, commentator, or whatever and don’t have to be “fair and balanced” but at least I’m a lot closer to it than what the AP and the rest of the NA$CAR controlled lamestream media is.
One interesting line from an article regarding the Mayfield case makes you wonder:
If the case is not settled, a trial could come next September.
If the case is not settled? Interesting. I don’t believe I’ve read or heard anything about Mayfield settling. From what I’ve read and seen so far, he’s wanting full re-instatement without the attached NA$CAR caveats because of his innocence and some monetary damages. Some of the monetary damages figures I’ve heard run from $100 million upwards. A loss or even a settlement has far reaching implications too, reaching Wall Street and how financially weak I$C/NA$CAR is perceived by Wall Street. That means major reclassifications on their worth and how banks would make loans to them. Not to mention some of the networks looking for a reason to leave the losing business proposition they signed into with the TV contracts. And NA$CAR hasn’t said anything to their controlled media about settling. They want to bury Mayfield. The one way we’ll know for sure is when it comes out that NA$CAR is willing to settle like they did with Mo Grant. But by then, the damage will have been done with Wall Street, and whatever changes the rest of the France family makes may not be enough to stave off bankruptcy, a merger, or a buyout. Replacing the Emperor of All Things NA$CAR right now is like closing the barn door after the horse is gone.
What does the change in lawyers mean to Mayfield? Geragos is a high profile lawyer who knows how to work the media. This means media that NA$CAR can’t control, influence, or use to put spin on until after the fact. One network that’s been losing their shirt because of their contract with NA$CAR will throw them under the bus if it means that Geragos will boost their ratings by appearing on some of their shows. The other networks will follow their master’s dictates from Daytona until it looks like they’ve lost their case and then they’ll turn on NA$CAR like a pack of wolves after a wounded animal and tear them to shreds.
And chalk up another one for Judge Mullen. It seems that he is able to tell an honest mistake from a deliberate lie when it comes to the affidavits. (Judge denies NASCAR request for rebuke of former Jeremy Mayfield attorney) The affidavit from Harvey MacFenerstein said there were mistakes in his credentials and as such is no longer being used by the Mayfield. Now if the Judge could sort through some of the other bogus affidavits that have been filed on NA$CAR’s behalf, things might look a little more interesting.
And speaking of opinions, it seems that some folks in the racing community are coming to Laidback Racing to get the rest of the story which isn’t being put out there by the controlled media. One comment was made regarding what I wrote about Doug Reichert and his being involved with Robby Gordon’s off-road racing operation. "Reichert is smart guy. He'll be getting a paycheck during the holidays - we won't." So if folks in the garage are reading us, and we know the folks in the Ivory Towers are, you have to wonder how long it will be before we get an “invitation” to join the Civilian Journalist Media Corps. Not to worry though, as I said before in the words of the immortal Grouch Marx, “I’d never want to be a member of a club who’d have me as a member anyways”. Besides, Kool Aid has too much sugar in it for a diabetic like me.
No fuel injection til 2011? NA$CAR must be having a tough time finding a fuel injection company to buy. Either that or because of the way the ledgers are bleeding red ink, they can’t afford to buy one right now. By 2011, it may be a moot point if their financial losses continue on the way they are.
And thanks to Bobby for this bit of info regarding Otto Klubb Speedway:
The Los Angeles Times reported (thanks to Jeff Gluck on his Twitter) that Gillian Zucker proposed rebuilding the Auto Club Speedway from 14 to 23 degrees of banking, but ISC said no, it was too expensive.
"From @jeff_gluck L.A. Times reports Auto Club Spdwy Prez proposed tearing up track and raising banking 9 degrees but ISC deemed too expensive for now" -- dalyplanet.blogspot.com
Wow! Finally, an almost real solution to try to improve things at Otto Klubb Speedway and the Ivory Towers Gang shoots it down because it’s too expensive? Gee, maybe if they didn’t build that amusement park and zoo in the infield at Daytona they could’ve afforded to fix Fontana. But now, with their finances in tatters, they’re going to be stuck with the Fontana Snooze Fest for many more years. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. I wonder how many fans will be shopping under the grandstands next time?
I got an e-mail from Terry, one of our long time readers, who goes to both Phoenix and Las Vegas. I think NA$CAR, I$C, and $MI need to pay attention to this:
How are things? Been a long hot summer even for this area but was finally able to open the windows last night YEA! Thought I'd let you know how Vegas and Phoenix lowered their prices for next year. SMI went down $16 for our Vegas tickets however we were able to move our seats 5 sections closer to the start/finish and move 12 rows higher. However ISC lowered our tickets for 2 weekends $165 for the same seats. They must really be hurting. However neither lowered camping prices.
10 years ago Wal-Mart entered the supermarket wars out here, sadly Bashas is now in Ch. 11. They are getting a lot of support locally and will still have their store at PIR this fall but not sure how this will affect the showers in the campground or the Busch race next spring. Wal-Mart is putting a hurting to the Kroger owned chain, Safeway and Albertsons let alone Bashas.
Now onto the chase, neither mine or Becky's driver made the chase, oh well but god knows they no longer exist in coverage on TV so we've come up with a great idea. We don't watch the entire race anymore. We've become so fed up we're thinking of selling our Sunday seats for the fall race and staying in the campground, a friend of ours is most likely going to buy them so he and his son can go. Could be a win/win for all parties, and this would be the first Cup race missed at PIR. Becky pointed something out when HRH was talking about the chase, "The storylines for the chase are compelling" or something very close to that. She brought up the WWE and said now you know who's going to win it, a Hendrick car! Doesn't he remind you of Nero?
Sad to hear about Basha’s having to go Chapter 11. They took care of the race fans at PIR by having a store at the track and didn’t gouge the fans either. Plus they also helped the fans out with showers. The lowering of ticket prices is a great deal for race fans but does show the desperation of the two big track owners to try to fill the seats. Take very close notice Your Highness:
“neither mine or Becky's driver made the chase, oh well but god knows they no longer exist in coverage on TV so we've come up with a great idea. We don't watch the entire race anymore. We've become so fed up we're thinking of selling our Sunday seats for the fall race and staying in the campground, a friend of ours is most likely going to buy them so he and his son can go.”
Fans that are dissatisfied with the play-offs, dissatisfied with the coverage, and dissatisfied with the racing. Hello? Are you getting a clue yet Your Majesty? These are just two fans and I’m sure there are a lot more out there like Terry and Becky. And also pay attention to this Your Imperial Ineptitude:
Becky pointed something out when HRH was talking about the chase, "The storylines for the chase are compelling" or something very close to that. She brought up the WWE and said now you know who's going to win it, a Hendrick car!
If fans are seeing the similarities to the WWE, there’s only one person to blame for that Your Royal Intoxicant. Look in the mirror across from you when you’re drinking “sodas” at the Chart House. That’ll be your first clue. If fans are able to predict the outcome of the races, something is very wrong Your Imperial Pomp-assness. “Storylines” are what soap operas, movies, and the WWE have. After 6 years, the play-offs and the Chase for the Chumps has proven to be a lose-lose situation. You’ve lost fans and you’ve lost money. That’s not how your family does business and why you’re still in charge is beyond me. Might I suggest working a deal out with Vince McMahon so you can borrow his writers to liven things up a bit and make the race finishes and the championship a little less predictable?
The best way to describe the Alphabet Networks Cup coverage for Kansas? Deplorable? Abysmal? Terrible? Awful? Dreadful? Horrible? Appalling? Miserable? Bad? Disjointed? And that’s without going to slang or some adult content words. The Emperor of All Things NA$CAR isn’t worried about the poor ratings or bad coverage. To him, every things is just peachy keen. Maybe somebody needs to remove those rose colored glasses he’s wearing, give him a cranial-rectumotomy, or arrange another trip to the Betty Ford clinic for him because I don’t know of any race fans that are satisfied with the poor coverage or poor racing.
Three races into the Chase for the Chumps and 3 big losses in the ratings column. You can make the race at Otto Klubb Speedway another loss in the ratings column. The only question is will it be in the negative teens or will it top -20.1% ? I guess we’ll know sometime the week following the snooze fest. Providing anyone stayed awake to check the ratings scale. Somebody might set up a betting pool on just how bad the ratings will be for the next Fontana Flop. The winner gets the pool money and doesn’t have to watch any more Cup races the rest of the season. The losers in the pool have to watch the rest of the races. I know, that’s bordering on cruel and unusual punishment. What would make it cruel and unusual punishment would be for them to have to sit through all of DW’s Owensboro stories and His Royal Highness’ speeches and announcements.
What I suggested for the drug testing program many moons ago was that everyone, from the guy pushing a broom inside a race shop all the way up to The Emperor of All Things NA$CAR, be tested. Now, it has come to my attention that a certain team owner has been heard saying on more than one occasion that he’s bought enough cocaine to fill a barrel. And yet, nobody is after him about using drugs, the lamestream media isn’t all over it like they are with Mayfield, and this same team owner continues to field a car week after week. Perhaps it’s because of a recent private party he held in which a high ranking NA$CAR official was in attendance which involved lots of alcohol, strippers, and rolls of dimes for all the male guests. Since I try to keep this family oriented, I won’t go into the details of the party but will just say that this is probably why the team owner hasn’t been drug tested.
The number of Kool Aid drinkers in the lamestream media defending the Chase for the Chumps seems to be dwindling. They’re not out in force like they use to be, defending the Imperial Inebriate’s decision for a half-baked play-off system that doesn’t work and has driven fans away from the track and TV. Maybe the Beach Boy Bubbas need to change the flavor of the Kool Aid to punch rather than the stale grape they keep serving up. That might bring more of them back to the trough. Drink up boys and girls and forget all about objectivity or being unbiased. Put on the rose colored glasses and repeat after Pharaoh Ramses Posthole, “His Highness knows what’s best for the sport”.
And as in previous play-offs, drivers who aren’t in the play-offs are being asked not to race the play-off contenders as hard. The most recent victim of this is Brad Keselowski. During the post race interviews, IBPN asked Brad about it and he gave them an answer. Finally, we have it out in the public with a face and a name that NA$CAR doesn’t want the non-contenders to do what they’re supposed to be doing. Racing. Another reason why fans aren’t tuning in to the “wonderful” Chase for the Chumps. As I suggested before, if you don’t want these non-play-off drivers racing, then make it just the play-offs contenders on the track, like with the stick and ball sports. After all, isn’t that what the play-offs are supposed to be as exciting as and competing against? When you’re eliminated from the play-offs in the stick and ball sports, you go home. And since His Imperial (Im)Potent-ate has been trying to jam the “square peg in the round hole” since he started this half-cocked play-off system, then why not go all the way and be like the stick and ball sports and send the non-play-off teams home. At least then, you’d know for sure if people just hate the play-offs or only support certain drivers. You could remove all doubt Your Infernal Rectaltude.
One of the things the revisionists keep dragging up is how some seasons are blow-outs and that’s why the Chase for the Chumps is the greatest things since sliced bread. They omit the fact that some seasons were also very close too. But as it doesn’t fit the revisionist mold, they ignore that.
Possible changes coming in some FTC rules could have a very deep impact on the teams, broadcasters, the lamestream media, and the Civilian Journalist Media Corps. Based on the proposed rule changes, all of these folks could be taxed for endorsing a product. NA$CAR. They could also be taxed for endorsing a product when they mention the make of the cars and the driver’s sponsors. The pit road reporters could be taxed for mentioning the names of the official fuel and tire providers. Imagine how this would impact the Owners of Motormouth Motorsports since they’re both walking, talking endorsers for one of the auto manufacturers and every one of the sponsors the younger Co-owner of Motormouth Motorsports has on his teams’ cars. This could also impact the sponsor speech the drivers give since it could be considered a product endorsement. They get paid to drive the cars, not to endorse the sponsors products, unless they have a separate services contract. Every speech His Royal Highness would cause him to be taxed as it would be one, long endorsement for his product, NA$CAR. If these proposals go through, we could see some major changes in the broadcast. Some drivers are themselves a product, so mentioning them could open the door for the Booth Buffoons to be taxed whenever they mention one of these drivers’ names. Imagine the Motormouth Brothers having to keep their mouths shut out of fear of being taxed for their continuous product endorsements. The pit reporters only saying, “the #69 car took 4 tires and fuel” instead of them mentioning the tire and fuel
providers. The drivers only being able to mention
thanking their team owner, providing he’s not a
product, God, and their competitors, providing
they’re not considered to be a product. Of course,
DW’s parrot probably wouldn’t get taxed since
nobody can understand what he’s saying most
of the time anyways with the way he butchers
the English language. This change could mean
making the races about racing again instead of
being about sponsors. Big Ouch to His Majesty’s
enormous alcohol infused ego.
It's off to Charlotte this weekend, so let's see if
the race is better live than it is from the
monotonous monotone of Out-to-Lunch Punch.
While the lamestream media mentioned the recent tsunami that hit the Samoan Islands and New Zealand’s efforts in helping out, not much has been mentioned about the US efforts. C-17’s from Hickam Field Hawaii have been flying relief supplies into the Samoan Islands and both airmen and soldiers have been helping out the relief effort on the ground. So to those folks helping out with the relief efforts, you’re doing a great job and many thanks from one who has been involved with some natural disasters in the past.
Motherhood, Apple Pie, and John Wayne
Mad Mikie, Curmudgeon at Large
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