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Racing Observations Listings

Aug
31

Stock Cars Were Not Meant To Race In The Rain

I’m sorry, they just weren’t.  After what happened last year at Montreal, and the debacle that took place on Sunday at the Circuit de Gil...
Aug
27

No, I Never Wanted To Be A Driver

Once people figure out what I do for a living (you know, changing tires in big time auto racing), there are always the same usual questions.  One tha...
Aug
26

With Brad K., Hendrick Comes Out Smelling Like a Rose

This past weekend it was all but confirmed that Brad Keselowski would make his way to Penske Racing next season most likely replacing the struggling D...
Aug
23

The Chase Isn’t Disappointing (For Me At Least)

We have just two races to go before the chase for the Sprint Cup begins and at this point there is still a lot of room for change. Off the top I know...
Aug
20

Why Cost Saving Measures Don’t Matter

Doesn’t it seem lately that many of the moves made by NASCAR have dollar signs attached to them in terms of the teams?  Let me briefly give you...
Aug
17

Mounting Frustration Evident At RCR

One of the bigger story lines of the 2009 season has been the downfall of Richard Childress Racing.  After putting all three teams into the Chase in...
Aug
16

Has Sam Hornish Jr. Figured Something Out?

He may no longer be the winningest driver in IRL history (that honor now belongs to Scott Dixon), but I don’t think Sam Hornish is complaining...
Aug
09

On Track Retaliation: How Much Is Too Much?

We’ve all seen it happen.  From the Friday night local short track race all the way to the Daytona 500.  One driver gets wrecked; then he gets...
Aug
06

NASCAR Needs One More Road Course Race

Since we are at a road course this week, I thought this would be the perfect time to bring up the NASCAR road course debate.  Some people, both insid...
Aug
02

The Other Side of the Garage

You know in a lot of neighborhoods how there is that one street that’s just different from the others. It’s not necessarily a bad street...
Jul
27

Montoya Only Has Himself To Blame

It never ceases to amaze me how people can turn seemingly non-controversial issues into vast conspiracies (especially this season). Of course this wee...
Jul
22

The State of the IRL and IMS

Much like NASCAR’s own France family, the IRL (and IMS)’s Hulman-George family is a racing dynasty that began two generations ago. Soon...
Jul
16

Do You Remember Why You Love NASCAR?

Do you remember why you love racing? I want you to stop for a minute and think about it. For me, the love is deep-seeded. From an early age at the loc...
Jul
15

Is Running The Nationwide Series Full Time Hurting Cup Drivers?

One of the many problems facing NASCAR going forward is what to do with the Nationwide Series.  In recent years it has become a Saturday playground f...
Jul
12

Do You Know Who Johanna Long Is?

If you don’t know who she is or haven’t heard the name, don’t worry, you will. We get asked on a fairly regular basis about the pros...
Jul
06

Why Tony Stewart Will Win The 2009 Cup Championship

I know I’m going way out on a limb here, seeing as how he is the current points leader and most recent race winner, but I’m calling right...
Jul
05

Montoya Making Strides

I have to say when Juan Pablo Montoya entered NASCAR in 2006 I was a skeptic. I recognized the talent and credentials he brought with him: a Formula 3...
Jun
30

Rumors, Rumors Everywhere

I’m going to let you in on a NASCAR secret: rumors run rampant in this sport. I know this is hard to believe, so take some time if you need it...
Jun
26

It Can’t Be All Racing All The Time

I love racing.  And when I say that, I mean I LOVE racing.  There aren’t too many things that make me as happy as I am when I’m at the t...
Jun
25

Why The F1 Coup Would Never Happen In NASCAR

I’ve been watching in anticipation the last few days as the showdown between the Formula One Teams Association and the FIA (Max Mosley) played o...
Jun
12

In NASCAR, Perception Isn’t Always Reality

People. Just like any other sport on this planet, the basis of NASCAR is the people involved.  The only real difference between NASCAR and other spo...
Jun
03

Carl Long Did The Crime. Now He Needs To Serve The Time

*DISCLAIMER: We ask you beforehand to fully read the post before responding. We encourage good discussion and well thought out opinions. What we are n...
Jun
01

NASCAR’s Perception Problem

I think I should probably just start a problem series. I have been writing about it a lot lately. But I digress… At the beginning of the season...
May
28

Dale Jr. Isn’t Just Another Pretty Face

While I was involved in about 20 separate conversations today on Twitter, all about Danica Patrick and all at the same time, this post idea came to me...
May
28

Politics Is NASCAR’s Problem

I have been thinking this week a lot about ways to improve NASCAR. I’m sure you have too. This is something NASCAR is also doing as their avid f...
May
25

NASCAR Wants You To Be Happy

So I’m about to blow your mind. Are you ready? NASCAR wants their fans to be happy. I know this is a tough thing to swallow but they really do...
May
22

The Sad Demise of American Open Wheel Racing

On the eve of the biggest motorsports weekend of the year I can’t help but reflect on what Indy Racing once was and could have been. *I know thi...
May
14

NASCAR’s Poor Response to Positive Drug Tests

We are now five days into Mayfield-gate and I am sure everyone is starting to get sick of hearing about drugs, drug testing, positive tests for drugs...
May
05

Brad Keselowski and Why Winning At Talladega May Not Be A Good Thing

Let me preface what I am about to write by saying I think Brad Keselowski has a lot of talent and potential. Without a doubt he is positioned to be th...
May
03

I Freakin’ Love Darlington

With Richmond in the rear view, we now focus our attention this week to night racing at Darlington.  The Nationwide Series will again race on Friday...
Apr
30

Mark Martin: Nice Guys Finish Last (Or Second)

If you are a regular to TNI, and you spend time in the comment section of posts, one name you have no doubt seen is that of Neon.  He comments regula...
Apr
28

The Weekend’s Forgotten Storylines

There were some great stories this weekend. Unfortunately they were hard to hear over Carl Edward’s spectacular last lap wreck and the ensuing c...
Apr
22

Why Danica Patrick Is Not Coming To NASCAR

It seems as though at a certain point each year, for the past few years anyway, we invariably get into the “will Danica move to NASCAR” de...
Apr
20

Hey You Wanted Emotion, You Got It

When I get some free time during the day, I try and bounce around the Internet and see what other folks are writing about NASCAR.  I think part of be...
Apr
16

Hoping For More Wrecks?

No it’s not me who is advocating for more wrecks. But it does seem there are some people who are. A couple of weeks ago I popped onto our twitte...
Apr
14

Track Security: “Let Me See Your Pass”

If you’ve ever worked in the sport or have had the opportunity to get a pit pass for a race, you’ve no doubt encountered the overzealous t...
Apr
06

Team Radio Traffic Should Be Beyond Reproach

So Kurt Busch got mad about his racecar at Martinsville and called Roger Penske “dude” on the radio.  Who cares?  Sometimes that kind of...
Mar
30

Short Tracks Rough up Roush

I went blog topic fishing today on Twitter to see what I could come up with, and Becca hit me up with this one (thanks!).  We just had two straight...
Mar
24

Dale Jr. And The Top-35: Notes From Bristol

So I know I am probably a day late and dollar short on this one, but I figured I would throw my two cents into the Dale Earnhardt Jr./Tony Eury Jr. di...
Mar
22

Sometimes A Win Doesn’t Mean Winning The Race

Everyone wants to win.  It’s the reason why any of us compete.  We want to win and we want to be the best.  But sometimes, a win doesn’...
Mar
19

On The Bubble

This weekend’s race at Bristol is the last chance for Cup Series teams to make their way into the top-35 in owner’s points before the poin...
Mar
16

Where’s The Truck Series Love?

In past posts here at TNI, we’ve made no bones about the fact that we think the Truck Series gets the shaft.  The series proves its worth week...
Mar
16

Start And Park Teams Aren’t Ruining NASCAR

Are you getting sick of the start and park discussion? If you said yes then I’m on board with you. But before we call it quits I figured I would...
Mar
13

Some Advice For Trail Motorsport

Starting a race team at NASCAR’s highest levels is not an easy thing. It takes a lot of time, money and experience. Now I don’t claim to...
Mar
10

The Incredible Revolving Drivers

You know the ones I’m talking about. The guys who, despite a lack of any spectacular on track performance, continue to find quality rides. More...
Mar
05

To All The PR People Out There

You know I think one of the harder jobs in motorsports is being a public relations representative with a team, driver or both. They are constantly tra...
Mar
01

USF1? Yeah, We’ll See (and Jake Elder)

I’m going to get a bit off topic today, sorry, but the more I learn about this, the more I want to talk about it. I am always a little skeptical...
Feb
26

Let’s Not Forget Logano is Rookie

I’m not normally one for writing stuff about the same, tired, worn out topics that every other motorsports writer seems to focus on.  I mean, w...
Feb
23

Bored With The TV Broadcast?

Do you get bored watching the race on TV? Well you’re not alone. Millions of fans suffer this debilitating condition every time NASCAR takes to...
Feb
20

Kentucky, Really?

Bruton Smith amped up his Kentucky Speedway rhetoric this week, with the help of Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, as they announced plans for a $75 m...
Feb
17

A Drag Race To The Board Room

This past week I was flipping through Sports Business Journal when a back page ad caught my eye. The advertisement was for the NHRA. The headline of t...
Feb
15

…And Daytona Is In The Books

Wait, that’s it?  The 500 is over?  Oh, well, okay…  Pack it up boys, its time to go home.  Oh yeah, and congrats to Matt Kenseth....
Feb
12

I’m In A Daytona State of Mind

We finally made it to the opening weekend of the 2009 NASCAR season.  As I write this, all we’ve got left to do is qualify the Nationwide cars...
Feb
12

Trucks Back On Track

If anyone has ever been in the garage area of a Truck Series race they can tell you it has a different feel. It is less corporate (though just as pr...
Feb
04

The Show Must Go On

I think it’s interesting that over the last few weeks we’ve seen a major divide develop among those who cover this sport.  The divide exi...
Jan
28

EGR’s “Technical Alliance”

A month or two ago we heard from a good source that officials from the newly merged Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing had approached a team that will remain na...
Jan
26

Wow, What A Race!

We don’t normally do this, but I’m going to go a little bit off topic with this post.  This is neither NASCAR, nor “inside,”...
Jan
25

It’s Zero Hour

As it stands right now there are only 13 days until the Budweiser Shootout and 20 days until the Daytona 500. That’s good news for all the fans...
Jan
22

Teams Putting The Cart Before The Horse

How many times in the last couple of days have we heard, “we have sponsorship commitments, but we’re not ready to announce anything yet.&...
Jan
21

Drivers On The Hook For Their Own Insurance

Tim McCreadie’s recent violent crash at the Chili Bowl (see video here) has prompted a few of you to email asking about the situation with driv...
Jan
19

Don’t Blame Max Siegel

When bad things happen people naturally look for someone to blame. We need someone who we can peg our frustrations on and someone to explain away ofte...
Jan
07

New Teams Finding Opportunities in Down Economy

When we look back at this off-season, what we will remember the most were all the teams we lost to closings and mergers, and all the employees who lo...
Dec
21

$12.8M Isn’t That Much

Ok so $12.8 million is a lot of money. I certainly don’t have anywhere near that kind of money; but for an engine program it really is a pretty...
Dec
15

I Got Swag

Well…  I do.  But don’t worry, it isn’t some horrible disease or condition.  I promise.  What it is, is all the race team and s...
Dec
14

Franchising Needs to Stick to Stick and Ball Sports

As more and more storied NASCAR teams struggle to survive the downtrodden times, the question of NASCAR franchising has become a topic for discussion...
Dec
09

Wood Brothers and Petty in a Predicament of Their Own Making

Wood Brothers and Petty are a big topic of discussion around the sport these days. Much of the talk centers around how sad it would be to lose these t...
Dec
07

NASCAR, Your Banquet. Wow.

Everybody else is doing it, so I figured I would get in the game. How many of you watched the Cup Series banquet this weekend? It was over three hours...
Nov
26

The Rules Haven’t Changed

I’m not sure who sent out the memo that everything we have done in the past to get jobs has changed, but it seems a lot of people have gotten it...

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