[Shotimes] (OT) Re: NASCAR numbnuts

[Mark Nunnally]

> Here's an idea for all you people cussing at each
> other (some more gracefully then others). Yes some of
> you like one sport over another. Thats just fine. But
> have ANY of you actually raced week in and week out
> like the NASCAR, INDY, F1, and all the other types of
> drivers do? I know Mark Nunnally has

I don't race weekend and weekout (although my wife says it seems like I do
<g>), and up till this year most of my timed events are limited to solo type
time trial events. (run all day with your group on a transponder or laser
timer, figure out your lap time range, then "qualify a few hot laps solo
late in the day).  This year I plan to extend (with the SHO anyway) to more
sprint type shoot-outs.  And gander for a shot in the USTCC in '05.  That
being said, one thing I am not is a "I'm the man" personality.  In the
pyramid of racing I would be bacteria that grows on chicken crap.  I'm sure
there are folks on here with more experience and seat time.

Obviously everybody has a different racing preference, sorta like sports and
politics.  My whole point or angle is don't let your view of a racing series
interfere with your view on the driver's, or their abilities.  I grew up in
Gwinnett County GA, right outside atlanta, a pretty large and growing
county.  Big sports area.  Played 4 sports in HS, could run a 40 in sub mid
4 range, made all county in baseball 2 yrs, was 2nd in the county in 3 pt
percentage in b-ball, and scored 21 goals my SR Year in Soccer.  I
trained/played with Clint Mathis and Josh Wolfe in those days ( they played
in the World Cup for the US last-go around, same age guys who grew up
playing in the same area) I thought I was the man back then.  Then went to
college and played NCCA Division I soccer and was benchwarmer with limited
playing time :)  I learned a lot then, mostly that those you jeer and make
fun of on a Pro (or even semi-pro) playing field have amazing abilities.  At
that point I stopped being an armchair QB for most sports, simply because
those guys are better than me.  Same for racing, regardless of what series,
those guys have way more skill and talent than me, so I don't make ignorant
remarks about how little skill, or ability it takes to run an 830 hp 3400 lb
stock car around an oval right on the edge, or a 920 hp 1200 lb F1 car
around Imola, or a WRX rally car in the snow, or a pulling a killer 60' in a
6500 hp top fuel dragster that pulls more G's accelerating than an F1 car
does braking.  I enjoy racing probably more from a tech stand-point, but
still enjoy the cut and dry wheel to wheel "racing" that takes place, and
the combo of man and machine.

I would like to see NASCAR run production type drivetrains, and get away
from the spec templete stuff, and run on more road courses.  I would like to
see F1 a bit more competitive.  I like the factory/production involvement of
WRC, and the very different "approach" that goes with that series layouts
and courses.  But I'm not taking away from the driver's skill of any.
What's the guy that was like 6 secs off the pace at Spain in F1 this past
weekend?  Baumgartner?  He could probably climb in anybody's SHO on this
list and go to a track and pull off laps 3 secs/lap faster than anybody on
there.  Same for Andy Hillenburg in the nextel series who's always at the
back of the pack.  Call him a racist redneck who has sex with this sister
all you want, he'd blow your doors off in his sleep.

mark