RickKarle's Blog

     As we head toward what will be a wild and crazy weekend of racing at the Talladega Superspeedway, Sprint Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson offers up an interesting opinion:  The fall Talladega race should not be one of the ten Chase races. His reasons? There are many, but Johnson is primarily looking out for his points lead. Allow me to explain!

     Johnson knows that the Sunday Cup race at 'Dega is the wild card in the Chase.  You know that anything can and usually does happen.  Johnson can see it now: He's leading the points chase, gets caught up in "The Big One", and the crash sends his chances to win a series title into a tailspin after finishing, say, 35th.  Johnson insists the Talladega race is exciting, and he has no problem with the spring race. It's the fall race that he feels offers up the possibility of too much damage to the top three or four Chase drivers.
 
   My take? I say these drivers are big boys, and the 'Dega race offers not only excitement for fans, but bladder control problems for drivers.  It's edge-of-your-seat racing, and it's exactly the kind of race that puts a rush back into the sport in the middle of football season. Besides, every driver in the field is up against the same conditions. So while a a few drivers near the top of the points list may find themselves in "The Big One", it's a risk these professionals are expected to take as they entertain race fans worldwide.

     Be sure to gas up before heading to Talladega this weekend, and if your'e drinking a Budweiser, please be courteous to the family with small children sitting next to you.

     And while I'm at it:  Did you see the paint ball battle between NASCAR bad boy Kyle Busch and members of the media? Here's my question? Which has a worse reputation, a media person of Kyle Busch. Put another way, which would you rather plaster with a paint gun, Busch or the media? Tough choice, eh?  Harkens me back to the early 90's. I was in a paint ball war against the late Davey Allison, and Davey plastered my on the top of the head with a perfect shot.  I was sore for 2 years (maybe that explains my mental problems- kidding).

     I'm outta here- gotta head down US-280 without restrictor plates. And remember, Race Car spelled backward is Race Car! See you on TV!