As the race Ain’t over until the checkered flag
flies…
Suppose I should be thanking Liberty Media for
moving Formula 1 television coverage to Apple TV this year. As I got quite
perturbed over my latest Spectrum bill informing me of a $23 price increase for
February, Mutha Fokkers!
Vowing to myself upon returning from Arizona,
I’d be cancelling my Cable TV! Since after all Spectrum’s motto is: Spectrum,
We Care!
About our profits. Although the thought of
cancelling my long overpriced Cable TV service has felt quite liberating! While
I’m really not sure if I want to subscribe to the Apple TV Paywall just for
Formula 1?
Thus it seems pretty funny that initially, the
final racing program I’ll “watch”, Err listen to on Ye boob-tube would be the G-R-R-reat!
American Race, ergo the Day-Toner’ 500, since I almost never turn Thy Telie’ on
these days. Then again, if I can stomach them? Perhaps one of the first three
IndyCar races, but I digress…
Although I did tune-in for the entirety of the St Pete RASSCAR PickEmUp’ Trucks race…
Alas, I decided to tune into qualifying
Wednesday night for thee Day-Toner’ 500 and was bemused that some College
Basketball game knocked Qualie’ from (Sox Sports) FS-1 over to FS-2.
Whilst musing to Thyself, Arse-sumedly the
older one gets, the more anxious they become? Saying just start the G-Damn
Qualifying will Yuhs? As Thar’ were some 15+ minutes of pre-amble, including
commercials before the first car took to the track.
Whomever was doing the pre-race prattle handed
off to Mike Joy, Kevin Harvick and Clint Fisti-cuffs’ Boyer. When it suddenly
donned upon Mwah, that I’ve been listening to the soothing sounds of Mike Joy
forever. Wonderin’ how old He was?
Which took a little “sleuthing” to learn He’s
76 years old, born on Nov 25, 1949. Being born just some nine months after NASCAR was formed on Feb 21, 1948, Youza!
As I think of Joy broadcasting with the Voice
of NASCAR’s Ken Squire and Chris Economaki. Along with ‘Ol Hobbo, aka
HobbsCap’, ergo David Hobbs as Pit reporter, Youza!
As it was funny how many drivers names I’d
never heard of, being most impressed by rookie Corey Hein. Who’s the reigning
NASCAR Craftsman PickemUp’ Trucks champion. Having won a record 12 races,
smashing Greg Biffle’s record of nine wins in 1999.
Like I said, since I’m ditching my cable, I
went “All In” on Roundy-round this weekend. Thinking the first Day-Toner’ Duels
Thursday night also began at 5PM Pacific. So naturally, I was surprised with
only eight laps remaining in Duel #1. As it was Hilarious that Casey Mears
snuck His way into the race when a last lap Turn-3 crash eliminated Cory Lajoie
from Sunday’s Daytona 500.
As Mears entry had some dubious history behind
its team owner Carl Long. As Long once a driver, was caught with an oversized
engine in the 2009 All Star race, with NASCAR throwing the book at Him! Bein
fined $200,000, the largest fine to that date! Docked 200 Driver and Team
points and suspended for 12 races.
NASCAR’s sanctions effectively shut the team
down, when Long was unable to pay the fine. Before returning to the NASCAR
garage in 2017…
Then I, like most people Thursday night, turned
off Thy Telie’ after duel #2 thinking the unheard of Anthony Alfredo had raced
His way into the Big Dance. Only to learn later that week His No. 62 Beard
Motorsports entry had been DSQ’ed (Disqualified) due to post-race technical
issues regarding unconnected cooling hoses. With B.J. Mcleod getting the final
transfer spot instead.
Then according to the Daytona News Journal, Alfredo’s
torrid “Speed Weeks” continued when failing to qualify for the newly renamed
O’Reily’s Auto Parts series Cup “lite” race Saturday. Before His team bought
Him a ride. Then getting involved in a three car “Pile-up” (Spin) at races
start before ultimately finishing 11th.
The race was pushed forward one hour due to the
possibility of impending rain and thunderstorm predicted Sunday evening.
Although with the green flag not scheduled until 11:13AM Pacific, I skipped the
first 40-plus minutes of Daytona 500 preamble.
Thought it was a nice touch of both Kaulig Racing’s
No. 16 A.J. Allmendinger and RFK (Roush Fenway Keselowski) Racing to run their
cars with the corresponding numeral font that the late Greg Biffle had run on
His No. 16 for Roush Racing.
Along with a Biffle No. 16 Ford Fusion Roush
Racing car on display with other assorted NASCAR Cup racecars. With an
ex-Martin Truex Joe Gibbs Toyota and Ron Bouchard’s racecars in the Fan zone…
While still cannot believe its 25 years ago
that Dale Earnhardt died! Having also watched that race live, Zoinks!
Unfortunately, Mcleod had some sort of
mechanical trouble with His right rear tyre on lap-4; collecting Justin Allgaier,
William Byron and Casey Mears in the wreck.
Although not a fan of Josef Schlick’
Newgarden’s, it was G-R-R-REAT! Having FOX run an IndyCar promo during the
race’s first commercial break during the first caution. As this would have
never happened before FOX bought 33% of IndyCar, and all I could say was Sweet!
Swear Kevin Harvick prattled on about Corey
Hein not lining up correctly behind His Boss Denny Hamlin’s racecar, during an
attempt to push the Toy-Yoter’s to the lead. As both drivers, plus 18 others
would be involved in the ritual “big One!” As Clint Bowyer said leader Justin
Allgaier threw a lazy block upon a hard chargin’ Hamlin. With the wreck
occurring on lap 123.
But I thought it was even funnier how Mike Joy
was singing the praises of Connor Zilisch. As the most exciting rookie since
Jeff Gordon, before Joy shouted wreck on lap-85! Involving you guessed it,
Messer Zilisch, Chuh-Ching!
As believe it was Zilisch who triggered a nine
car crash, which involved two-times defending Daytona 500 winner William Byron
in His second crash of the day, and ending His chances of Three-peating’…
Whilst won’t even try describing the race’s
final lap. Other than we know as typical, all Hell broke loose! With Tyler
Reddick “stealing” His first Daytona 500 win with 500 yards remaining!
As how ironic, but refreshing and enjoyable for
Michael Jordan to be in victory lane hoisting the coveted Harvey J. Earle
winners trophy!
While it took me forever to figure out whom
this Riley Herbst Cat was? As they kept talkin’ about 23XI Racing having four
entries in the field. Before finally learning that Herbst drives the team’s No.
35 entry. And probably is the only Cup driver with two Baja 1000 Trophy Truck
Spec Class wins (2023-24) on His resume…
As congratulations to Reddick for maneuvering into the right position to win the Day-Toner’ 500, and with “Help from His Friends”.
