Stenhouse Jr. takes the title as Smith takes the checkers

A winning combination - Mike Kelly, Jack Roush, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
on the grid at Texas Motor Speedway - Credit: Skirts and Scuffs 

When the green flag flew on the final NASCAR Nationwide Series race of the season, just 20 points separated defending series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and his closest threat, Elliott Sadler. Lurking and hoping one of the two leaders would have a catastrophic issue was Austin Dillon.

Although Dillon and Sadler fought hard, Stenhouse Jr. clinched his second straight title with a sixth place finish. Stenhouse Jr. becomes the sixth driver in series history to repeat joining Sam Ard, Larry Pearson, Randy LaJoie, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. Second place points finisher Elliott Sadler finishes behind Stenhouse Jr. for the second year in a row with Rookie of the Year winner Austin Dillon wrapping up third place in the title hunt. Joe Gibbs Racing led by Joey Logano and the No. 18 team captured the Owner's Championship.

Starting from the pole position, Kyle Busch looked to have the strongest car of the afternoon dominating the first portion of the race. As the race progressed, the No. 54 lost track position finishing second marking the first season since 2004 that Busch, the all-time series leader in wins, hasn't won in the series.

Regan Smith, who will join JR Motorsports in 2013 to contend for the Nationwide Series Championship, took home the win. In his victory lane interview Smith said he was sad to see the season end now, but looks forward to what the team can do in the future.

Top 10 in standings:  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Elliott Sadler, Austin Dillon, Sam Hornish Jr., Michael Annett, Justin Allgaier, Cole Whitt, Mike Bliss, Brian Scott, Danica Patrick

Final running order:

1. Regan Smith
2. Kyle Busch
3. Brendan Gaughan
4. Sam Hornish Jr.
5. Austin Dillon
6. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 
7. Brian Scott
8. Ryan Blaney
9. Elliott Sadler
10. Cole Whitt
11. Justin Allgaier
12. Michael Annett
13. Danica Patrick
14. Joey Coulter
15. Kenny Wallace
16. Joey Logano
17. Brad Sweet
18. Joe Nemechek
19. Mike Bliss
20. Scott Lagasee Jr.
21. Kevin Swindell
22. Jeremy Clements
23. Jeffrey Earnhardt
24. David Starr
25. Dakoda Armstrong
26. Mike Wallace
27. Eric McClure
28. Andrew Ranger
29. Jason Bowles
30. Hal Martin
31. Danny Efland
32. Joey Gase
33. Robert Richardson Jr.
34. Johanna Long
35. Erik Darnell
36. John Blankenship
37. Juan Carlos Blum
38. Ryan Truex
39. Blake Koch
40. Jeff Green
41. Chase Miller
42. Josh Wise
43. Dexter Stacey

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From Second to the Bottom

Clint Bowyer, left, and crew chief Shane Wilson hug after Bowyer's
victory at New Hampshire on Sunday. (Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Just a couple of days ago we were calling Clint Bowyer the comeback kid, but today he’s the guy everyone wants answers from. Conspiracy theorists are calling this NASCAR’s way of helping Jimmie Johnson to a fifth consecutive championship while members of the media are left wondering what’s really going on. Regardless of what happened and how it’s being perceived one thing is for sure. Clint Bowyer just went from second to 12th in the points in a matter of minutes.

It was revealed on Wednesday that Bowyer’s car, which he won with this past weekend at New Hampshire, failed post-race inspection. If you remember last week, Bowyer and his team were warned about their car from Richmond being very close to the edge of what is allowed. While no penalties were given out after the close call, the team wasn’t as lucky this week.

Below is the release issued by NASCAR regarding the fines, suspensions and points deductions for the #33 RCR team.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 22, 2010) – NASCAR has issued penalties, suspensions and fines to two teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rules infractions discovered this week during post-race inspection at the NASCAR Research and Development Center following last Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. 

The No. 33 team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-3 (car body location specifications in reference to the certified chassis did not meet NASCAR-approved specifications) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book.

As a result, crew chief Shane Wilson has been fined $150,000, suspended from the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Nov. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Car chief Chad Haney has also been suspended from the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Nov. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Driver Clint Bowyer and owner Richard Childress have been penalized with the loss of 150 championship driver and owner points, respectively.

The No. 46 team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1, 12-4-J, and 20-5.8.4.C (engine exhaust valves did not meet the minimum weight requirement) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book.

Crew chief Jeremy Lafaver has been fined $50,000, suspended from the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Nov. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Driver Michael McDowell and owner Dusty Whitney have been penalized with the loss of 50 championship driver and owner points, respectively.


Readers, what do you think about the penalties? Skirts and Scuffs would like to know. Please leave your comments below.

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What To Read: The Weekend Starts on Wednesday by Andrew Giangola

If people are the glue binding a sport, NASCAR fans are Krazy Glue, not the milky wait-all-day-for-it-to-dry stuff. NASCAR fans can create strong, lasting bonds, and they do it fast without a whiff of pretension or self-confidence – Andrew Giangola

Each and every NASCAR fan has a story. A story of the moment they knew this was their sport. A story of the tracks they have visited and the friends they have made either in the infield or in the bleachers. A story of the time they convinced a friend to just “watch it and you will understand” and that friend became a passionate fan. A story of the time they climbed into the chair with dad as a child and became enamored with the bright shiny cars on TV. A story of the time they held their breath with hopes their driver would emerge from the wreckage in one piece. We use these stories to connect with other fans and they are usually part of the opening conversation with a fan we are meeting for the first time…well that and how much better our driver is than theirs.

At the beginning of the 2010 Season NASCAR “PR Man” Andrew Giangola published a book entitled The Weekend Starts on Wednesday: True Stories of Remarkable NASCAR Fans. From the moment I heard about the book I’ve been wanting to read it. I’d read reviews by other bloggers and had heard great things about it, but like and crazed NASCAR fan I wanted to read it for myself. I wanted to dive into the lives of other NASCAR fans just like me and learn their background and their passions.

Admittedly I have read a lot of NASCAR books in the last year. Some I have read for the site while others I have read for education. This one just looked like a fun read and I’m happy to say I wasn’t disappointed. Taking time away from his desk job, Giangola dived into the heart of NASCAR to get in touch with some of it’s most well known and not so well known fans. He spent countless hours in the infield of some of the most notorious party destinations on the circuit and spent time in the homes of some fans with museum-worthy NASCAR memorabilia displays. Giangola rubbed elbows with movie stars who claim NASCAR as their sport and spent time with a physicist who, along with trying to cure cancer, is attempting to make the science of NASCAR understandable to the fan sitting at home on the couch watching the broadcast. Along the way the author found out that what he had been hearing about NASCAR fans was true; they are indeed the heart and soul of the sport.

For me this book was like getting acquainted with new friends. Regardless of who they were rooting for, what they did to pay the bills, or how they became a fan, each person in The Weekend Starts on Wednesday was at their core a fan just like you and I. Some of the fans profiled in the book have experienced great tragedy and have used the sport as a way to grieve. Others have nothing buy joy in their lives and see NASCAR as an extension of that joy. These remarkable fans weren’t shy to share their stories and were not taken aback when a man in a NASCAR logoed shirt showed up on their campsite or doorstep unexpectedly. They did what most NASCAR fans do and opened up their hearts, their souls, and their grills.

For me the best part of The Weekend Starts on Wednesday was reading the stories of the female fans. While stores of female fans pepper the book, Part VII was undoubtedly my favorite. In reading the introduction to the "Ladies Love Racing” section I felt as if Giangola understood exactly what Skirts and Scuffs is about, even if he didn’t know we existed until last week. Giangola has this to say about female NASCAR fans:

…there are female fans who take apart engines and will take you apart if you have a problem with that; who are drawn to the danger and mystery of the sport; who watch races on TV to witness pure passion and unscripted emotion; who love the camaraderie of these family-friendly festivals; who feel the nervous anxiety of the lip-biting wives atop the pit boxes.

Giangola admits that some female fans are watching because of an attractive driver, but for most of us the looks are irrelevant. We want the speed and the emotion that make the sport of NASCAR amazing.

In all honesty I could go on and on about this book and dive more deeply in to the individual stories, but I’m going to leave that up to you. If you are looking for something to read on a hot summer day, a cold winter night, or a Sunday without a race pick up a copy of The Weekend Starts on Wednesday by Andrew Giangola and meet some new friends.

A special thanks to author Andrew Giangola who provided us with a copy of the book for review purposes.

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Beyond the Byline: Getting to know Summer Dreyer

Welcome back to Skirts and Scuffs for the third installment in our Beyond the Byline series. This series looks into the lives of some of our most popular and well-known columnists in an attempt to find out a little more about them.

If you are one of those people who think female NASCAR fans, especially teenage fans, are your typical “fangirls,” this interview is going to be a wakeup call. Today’s interview subject is the complete opposite of those stereotypes. She’s bright, funny, charming and very opinionated. Don’t let her age fool you, Summer Dreyer (pronounced Dreer) is a force to be reckoned with.

In today’s post I ask Summer to address her thoughts on some of the stereotypes and some of her goals. It’s my hope that this interview will force readers to take a deeper look at female fans (of any age) before you lump us all together.

And just for the record I don’t #blamesummer for anything.


There tends to be a stereotype associated with young race fans, especially females. Most people see them as fangirls who are only tuning into races because they have a crush on a driver. When most people find out how old you are, do they automatically assume you are that stereotypical teenage fan girl or do they see you as more than that?

I get that all the time. I remember one instance I was talking to a fellow race fan on Facebook and he asked me, "So let me guess. You're a Kasey Kahne fan?" I'd never felt so insulted. I get it a lot though with a few other drivers that people will automatically link me to just because I'm young. Honestly, when I started watching NASCAR I was never compelled to watch a driver for his looks. I can't remember one time where I saw a driver and thought "Wow, he's cute!" and decided to start pulling for him. I've always been a serious NASCAR fan. I loved the racing, the storylines, etc. But I was never in it for a driver I thought was cute. That hasn't ever changed. It's really frustrating, because I've never really given anyone a reason to think that I'm in it for the "cute drivers." What makes it even more frustrating is that there are fans out there my age who cement that stereotype. I'm just not a part of it.


Sorry to keep harping on your age, but I find it remarkable that at only 17, you know exactly what you wanted to do with your life. Tell us where Summer Dreyer will be in 5 or 10 years and what her ultimate goal is.

I want to be living in North Carolina, traveling the NASCAR circuit every week. I believe I've set myself up to be in a position where I could do that. If not, I think as long as I'm involved in NASCAR somehow I'll be OK. I don't care if I'm just the travel coordinator for a race team. I want to be a part of the sport. Writing and media have just proven to be the best method for getting involved. But no matter what, I want to be a part of the sport and be involved in it on a weekly basis.


Some of our readers may not be familiar with your work. Tell us a little bit about your writing career and your internet radio program “Next Time By.” When and where can we listen to “Next Time By”?

Basically my writing is on a freelance basis. There are a couple I get paid for but I could never make a living off of what I make right now. I write for Frontstretch.com and Examiner.com on a pretty frequent basis (along with Skirts and Scuffs of course). I also write for ElementOfSpeed.com and AutoRacingNews.org on a freelance basis. I pretty much just write whatever is on my mind and send it to them. There are also a couple websites that I've done some work for, but it's not consistent.

As far as Next Time By, I started it in December. I really had wanted to do just a podcast that was just a few minutes and we could just talk about NASCAR with some friends. It turned into so much more than that.

We've had guests on such as Kenny Wallace, Matt Crafton, Ryan McGee and so many others! The future of the show is really bright!

I don't really know exactly who an "ultimate interview" would be. I'm pretty much OK with talking to anyone in the sport.

NTB is really unique in that we have a "fan panel" every week. We let just regular, everyday race fans call in to the show and play "Monday Morning Quarterback." The show airs every Tuesday and Thursday at 10PM ET and streams live online at www.blogtalkradio.com/nexttimeby. If you want to call in and be a panelist, you have to call the number listed exactly 15 minutes before the show starts. Space fills up within seconds (only six callers allowed) so you need to be quick! We have some really neat guests coming up here in the next few weeks. If you aren't able to call in, though, we have an interactive chatroom where fans can ask the guests questions and have their comments read on air. We are VERY fan friendly!


I understand that NTB didn't start out as a radio program but as a blog. Can you tell us what prompted you to make the move to radio? Do you still do the blog as well?


I had thought of the phrase "Next Time By" a couple years ago and kept searching around for a way to use it. When I decided to start a blog, it just seemed to fit! Originally the blog was intended as a way for fans to get their voice heard. I'd interview fans or send out surveys and have fans respond to questions about a NASCAR hot topic, the weekend's races, etc. I quickly realized that one or two articles a week (or even a day!) wasn't going to get people's thoughts out there. At least not at the level I wanted to! So I started the podcast. I had fans call in and voice their opinions. I can't tell you how much it has grown in just a few months. We have regular listeners and callers and have really established ourselves. It is a fantastic outlet for fans to just get out what they want to say, and it really shows how much people appreciate the effort. I don't update the actual blog as much anymore just because it became so hard to keep up with. But I do update it when I can.


Tell us about your AHA! moment. The moment you realized NASCAR was your sport

That is a very difficult question. I really don't know that I had an "AHA!" moment. Honestly, I got into the sport through the EA Sports video game. I'd always enjoyed racing games but never gave the actual sport a thought. However, after learning all the sponsors, drivers, racetracks, etc, I had to tune in. My curiosity got the best of me. I tuned in pretty inconsistently. For the first few months I'd tune in for the first or last hour of the race and just check to see what happened later. Slowly but surely though it pulled me in. I started looking around on Google for different drivers, websites and shows. It was like discovering a whole new world that I had no idea even existed! I don't remember my first full race. It had to have been sometime in the late summer or early fall. All I know is, before I knew it, I was a diehard NASCAR fan. Every weekend I'd spend Friday-Sunday in front of my TV soaking it all in. During the week I'd read every article, listen to the radio shows, watch the mid-week television shows. I just loved it! I couldn't get enough! Needless to say it has sky-rocketed. I really didn't become serious about getting involved in NASCAR as a career until last season. I decided to give it a try and if I didn't like it I wouldn't do it. I found I enjoyed the racing more looking at things objectively and having to think up storylines. It made me feel more involved in the sport! The more involved I got, the more I enjoyed myself! There have been times where I thought, "Is this really what I want to spend my life doing?" And every time I think, "What else is there that I'd rather be doing?" I can't think of anything else I enjoy more and devote more time to than NASCAR. It's my life and it's my passion ... and I wouldn't have it any other way!


Summer, you are very active on Twitter. I have to ask what your thoughts are regarding its longevity. Do you think it's something NASCAR fans will stick with or is it just a fad? Who is the one driver or personality you would love to see with an account? Who should never have an account? What is your honest opinion on the #blamesummer hashtag - do you find it amusing ... and what is the funniest thing you have been blamed for?

Twitter is here to stay! I'm sure people thought Facebook, YouTube and MySpace were fads as well. Heck, they probably thought the Internet was a fad! The fact is, though, Twitter allows an interactivity on a level that fans have never had before. We're getting information within seconds after it happens. The site is only going to continue to grow. I don't know that it will replace actual media, but it will definitely add to it. Honestly, I hope it doesn't get too big. I liked it when it was small and drivers could still interact with fans and reply to their "tweeps." Now they have around 20,000 followers (if not MANY more!) and just can't. I really hate that! At the same time, though, it's not like the personal level goes away. Fans want that. If drivers are willing to give it, I say go for it!!

There aren't any NASCAR personalities I WOULDN'T want to see on Twitter. I wish everyone in NASCAR would get one! I wish Twitter was just for NASCAR fans to be honest with you! However, I do wish at least one of the bigger names would get a Twitter. Someone like Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon would be a blast to see on there. To be honest with you, I can't think of who would be the most likely of the four to get one. I think the very reason I would love to see them on there, though, is one of the reasons they shouldn't join. I've seen fans get nasty with drivers like Kyle Busch, Scott Speed or Denny Hamlin on Twitter. I can't imagine how nasty they'd be to some of the bigger names. It'd still be nice to at least have one of them on though!

As far as "#blamesummer," I find it hilarious! The first time it was used was when Genna (Genesis Short, fellow S&S writer!) and I were talking on instant messenger and I told her that I have a habit of attending races that Jimmie Johnson wins. Seriously, any race or qualifying session I've stuck around for in person Jimmie has won. So Genna started #blamesummer. However, it really didn't catch on until Daytona. I'm not your "traditional" fan. I like when NASCAR implements some of these new rules to make things more exciting. I was pretty disappointed when NASCAR started the consistent start times. While ultimately I think it was good for the sport, I hated that some of these races would no longer end under the lights. The Daytona 500 was one of them. I don't know why, but seeing the cars under the lights makes it seem so much more exciting and more dramatic. So I was really hoping that somehow we'd have a primetime NASCAR finish. The pothole wasn't really a thought but I didn't mind it in the least! Everyone else noticed my happiness and wanting the delay to last just a little bit longer so we could race under the lights! So I had a few people say #blamesummer and it just grew from there. By the end of the race, many of my followers were using it. With many, it's stuck! It even has its own Twitter account, though I believe that the name changed due to another hashtag started by Genna (#ISupportSummer).

I can't really think of one instance that this happened, but I tend to be a jinx. I will say something along the lines of "There hasn't been a caution in a while" or "Wow, Carl Edwards sure is running well today!" Without fail, things will go south. A caution will come out or that particular driver will wreck. I prepare for a rush of "#blamesummer" hashtags to come in. They always do. And it always makes me laugh! I love it!


What compelled you to write for Skirts and Scuffs?

I'd actually had the idea of an all-female NASCAR site a while ago, but figured one already existed or there wouldn't be any means of getting it going. Plus I was worried about coming off as sexist. But when I saw you (Katy Lindamood) looking for writers for this site, I was all for it! I love to write, and this just gave me another avenue to spout off at the mouth! I'm very pleased at the progress this site has made and love Lindi Bess's "Women in NASCAR" series.

**FYI: Summer writes a twice weekly column for Skirts and Scuffs called “5 Questions.” It’s one of our most popular series and is a fun read. Look for it (usually) on Thursdays before the race and Tuesdays after the races.**


When you aren't tweeting, writing or hosting your show what do you do? Do you have hobbies that aren't NASCAR-related? What do you do during your "me" time?

You mean there are things out there that AREN'T NASCAR-related?! Wow! ... Seriously, though, I can't really think of much I don't do other than NASCAR. Even on the rare occasion I don't have a show to do, an article to write or homework to complete, I'm still talking about racing with people on Twitter. I'm still thinking about it or talking about it with someone. If I'm not, I'm not home! Even then, I get tweets sent to my phone from select NASCAR people so I'm always in the know! Occasionally on off weeks I'll go to the movies with my mom or my brother just so I'm not bored to tears with no racing on. Otherwise, I really don't do much else. I meant it when I said racing is my life. It takes up every moment of my free time. It doesn't bother me though. NASCAR IS my me time. It's mine and I don't have to share it with anyone else. No one else in my family watches it. I'm at my happiest when curled up in my little computer chair in the basement in the storage room, watching my NASCAR, with a laptop on my lap desk. I may seem very focused and very intense, but inside I feel very content and happy. So don't worry that I seem to have no life! NASCAR is my life! I truly wouldn't have it any other way!


Do you have personal and professional role models?

I really don't have role models. I am who I am and I'm not easily influenced by anyone else. There are some people I look at in the industry and I think, "Gosh I'm glad there are people like them still around." But I don't really model my life, personality or writing style after them. I'm an individual and want to be seen as such. I am who I am!


Sum up Summer Dreyer in one sentence....if you can.

I'm an enthusiastic, witty and imaginative girl who loves NASCAR, God and country music!
___________
Pictures used with permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the interviewer or the subject and may not reflect those of Skirts and Scuffs other contributors.

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Beyond the Byline: Getting to know Genna Short

Welcome back to Skirts and Scuffs for the second installment in the “Beyond the Byline” series. Beyond the Byline is designed to give Skirts and Scuffs readers a glimpse into the lives of some of our contributors beyond what you see in their submissions or on Twitter.

When I started Skirts and Scuffs last fall I knew I wanted today’s interview subject to be part of the team. She’s one of the first people I personally connected with on Twitter and has become a friend to me over the last year. Today I sit down with Skirts and Scuffs contributor and Hour of Horsepower Co-host Genesis (Genna) Short to get to know her a little better.

You will learn a little about Genna’s background, the struggles of finding an audience for her budding radio show, and her hopes for the future. Sit back and relax as we go “Beyond the Byline” with Genna.




First of all tell us about your background. Where are you from? What do you do for a living?
I'm 25 years old and I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. Never really been out of here much. I’m sort of a homebody. I’m half Mexican, my mother was born in Mexico and came here to Tucson as a young child. I’m really proud of both of my backgrounds. I think, sometimes, I’d like to be more Mexican than white. Mexicans are just more interesting, and we can dance better.


I’m also the proud mommy of a 3 year old Australian Shepherd and a very proud US Marine sister!

I am an finance escalations specialist at Sprint. It’s not as glamorous as it sounds, believe me! I basically take payments all day. One thing I really do enjoy is that I get to really help people. I help people who are in bad times by setting up payment plans for them to be able to pay their bills when it’s more convenient for them. I’ve always been the type that enjoys helping people, that’s one of the best parts of my job.


Some of our readers might not know that you co-host a radio show. Tell us a little about Hour of Horsepower and where we can listen and when you are live.

About a year ago when I met Aaron Rosser, who is now my co-host, I was on a couple of racing podcasts. It can be very addicting, once you get over the nerves. Aaron said he had always wanted to start his own, but he was not sure where to start.

Well, I went to Blog Talk Radio and opened an account. We never did anything with it because we thought we had to have special equipment so we were waiting until we could get some headsets and such. Well, one night we were on Summer Dreyer’s show, Next Time By, and we were hooked. We started our show, Hour of Horsepower, the very next day, January 14. It has been a really fun ride and we’ve had some amazing guests on the show. I feel very fortunate to be a part of something like this, something that not many other people are doing.

Podcasting is getting a lot more popular but Aaron and I pride ourselves on being one of the first NASCAR podcasts. Sure, we definitely weren’t the first, but we’re coming into this at a time when it’s becoming a little more popular, but it still has a unique feel to it. Our live shows are always on Mondays at 10:30pm EST, Wednesdays at 10pm EST, and Saturday nights/Sunday mornings at 12am EST, Fridays at 12am EST on weekends when we have night races. During the week, our shows are mostly news, discussing the races, previews, basically all your normal NASCAR coverage. On the weekends, our shows are raunchy, dirty, and generally off-color. Pretty much anything goes. Weekends we discuss off-beat and fun topics. Just a little disclaimer: if you’re naive, faint of heart, suffer from high blood pressure, are taking any drugs for a heart condition, undergoing chemotherapy, under the age of 27, pregnant, nursing, or elderly, then please do not tune in.


What's been the most difficult task in developing the show? Where have you found advice for how to make things work?
Wow, there have been a slew of issues to keep this show going. First of all, getting guests on the show is really not as easy as it seems! Sometimes, we’ve had to really jump through hoops to have some of the great guests that we’ve had. We really struggled after about 10 episodes or so with an identity issue, figuring out who we wanted to be as a show, as hosts. We finally worked out some things and found what really works for us. We really enjoy where we’re at now as hosts and as a show altogether. I feel we’ve really grown as hosts and our friendship has really improved as well. The very best part is that no one else that we know has a show quite like our weekend show. No one else out there discusses the things we do. I feel that makes us unique and fun.

Some advice on the show? If you’re out there wanting to start your own show, not quite sure of what to do, I say just jump into it. Write down some topics, get some good panelists, and just go for it! You can start a free podcast on Blog Talk Radio with a hosting account. All you need is a phone and a computer. As far as panelists go, try and choose 3-4 that you are familiar with and trust. Also pick people who’s opinions in NASCAR you greatly respect. Of course, a little debate is always fun.

Most of all, I can’t stress how important it is to have good control over the show. When you have guests and panelists on the show, make sure that you have a good format, whatever works for you, and don’t let people talk out of turn too often. Have your topics picked out beforehand and don’t try and discuss too many things in one night. Also, try to, respectably, ask your guests and panelists to try and keep their answers to a reasonable time frame.

One more thing to add is to try and start a companion blog or website for the show. Aaron and I have one, www.HourofHorsepower.com, and we have a site archive where we have a list of all of our shows. We also have links and posts that we put up, as a companion to our show.


I know you dabble in graphic design (see our awesome logo). photography, and pr. are you hoping to make one of those a full time career?
I’d really love to make a career out of graphic design but I just don’t see that in my future. This mostly being because I’m a terrible artist and drawing/painting is a pretty large part of graphic design. I still really enjoy making my own designs on my computer, I think I’m pretty good at it and, I guess, it’s still just a hobby.

I have done a little public relations for a driver in the K&N Pro Series West named Moses Smith. We were able to get him elected most popular driver in 2009. It was a good feeling to know that you’ve been able to help someone achieve their goal. I was proud and excited to be a part of Moses’ career in that way. I found some new friendships through the street team that I believe will really last.

Photography is really my niche. I took a photography class in college and I found that I may really have a talent for it. Not only that but I really just adore photography. I definitely think it’s reasonable to try and make my future in photography. I mostly do fine art but I’ve dabbled in sports/action photography and will be looking into doing some photos at local race tracks. I really don’t like to photograph people. I know that sounds odd, but people don’t seem to hold my interest as far as photography goes. I suppose, if I want to get into sports, I’d better get used to it. But portraiture is definitely not something I’m interested in.

One thing that people may not be aware of is that I’m a novelist. I wrote a novel in 2008 for National Novel Writing Month. It is just what it sounds like: to write a novel in 30 days, around 1500 words a day. I finished mine in just 18, which is roughly 2777.7 words a day! I’m more of a dramatic fiction novelist than anything, although I have tested the waters in fantasy fiction. Both genres are really fun. I really have to say that it was my proudest moment when, at around 4pm on November 23, 2008, I finally typed out the 50,000^th word to my novel. There was just no feeling like it in the world. As of right now, the novel has been put on hold and is still unfinished, but I plan to finish it one day.


if you could only ever interview one driver on your show who would it be? Who would be your ultimate interview and why?

Oh! That’s a great question. There are so many great guests we’ve had on our show so far that I’m not sure who I’d choose for my ultimate interview.

If I could only choose one driver, I think I’d choose Jeff Gordon. He really is a legend and there are so many questions I’d love to ask him. I know it seems like he’s really been eclipsed lately by Jimmie’s success, but I still think he is full of talent and I just love to watch him race. He really is one of the best racers out there and is exciting to watch.

I think my ultimate interview would be Bill France Sr. I mean, how cool would that be??


Tell us what drew you to write for Skirts & Scuffs? Do you contribute to other sites? Which ones?
I was drawn to write for Skirts and Scuffs because I just love NASCAR. I’m a fairly new fan to the sport and I love the concept of the site. I really love that us ladies can group together to dispel all the myths of female race fans and just connect on a personal level. I’ve made a few friends writing for the site.


I got to meet up with a couple of the ladies from the site in April out in Phoenix when they were in town for the race. Rebecca Kivak and Farrah Kaye were out there. As you know, Bec was one of he members of the Tweet Crew Team. We all hung out for a few hours, Bec and I visited a kart track in the Valley where we got to meet Michael McDowell (pictured with Genna and Rebecca), Brian Scott, and the Speed Freaks. I really love the friendships that I’ve made with these ladies and hope they last a long time.

I don’t really write for anyone else at the moment. I do plan on starting up some more writing, but I am so busy with my show right now that finding the time to write is very difficult.


When did you realize that NASCAR was your sport? What was your AHA! moment?
Oh this here’s a fun story. I was supposed to go with my ex fiancé to a demolition derby in 2003 or early 2004 and because I’m never on time anywhere, we missed the event. I felt really bad so, knowing how close we were to Tucson Raceway Park, I offered to take him to the race track. We got there and sat down and that was it, I was completely hooked. I started watching NASCAR the very next season, the 2004 Daytona 500. Ever since then, I’ve been watching racing.

It was definitely an odd moment when I became a racing fan because I grew up in a house that was devoid of all sports. We didn’t watch or really play. In fact, no one really watched any sports until my mom married my step dad. Then it was all NFL. My brother was a linebacker on the football team and also captain of the 943^rd armed drill platoon at Catalina HS here in Tucson but even being a drill/football sister, racing was always my thing.


You are pretty active on twitter and it's a huge part of where our readership comes from. What driver do you think should have an account and who do you think should NEVER have one?
Oh I think Michael Waltrip and Kenny Wallace should never have had one. Their tweets are sometimes way too much information! I have to say though, they are fun and they reply to fans a lot. It is really neat just to watch their interactions with the fans on Twitter. It makes them seem more like real people instead of guys we watch on TV every week.

I’d love to see some guys like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and maybe Clint Bowyer open up some personal accounts. It would be really fun to get into their heads. I can understand why someone like Dale Jr wouldn’t really want to subject himself to something like that, but I still think he should do it.


Who are your role models?
My mom and grandmother. My nana worked so hard to bring her children here to the United States so they and their children could have a better life. I admire my mother because she raised three children for many years on her own until she married my step dad when I was 19.

They are two of the most amazing women I have ever had the privilege to know in my life. I get my love of traveling, tea, and books from my nana. I get my pride, ambition, and strength from my mother. I couldn’t have asked for two better people to learn from in my life. When my grandmother died in 2008, I felt like every little thing I did from that point forward was to be just like her.

My racing/media role model would have to be Nate Ryan. I really admire him as a person and would really like to find myself in a position like he is. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet him at a race in 2009 and I really loved that he is so down to earth. I also had the great joy of having him as a guest on my podcast. He will also be on the show again this week, Wednesday the 5^th of May.

Also, I have to say I really love the Speed Freaks. Crash and Kenny had a vision and really made it happen. I look to them as some great role models to get into radio and I try and glean as much information as I can. Crash has been a wonderful source of information and advice for me. I always ask her advice when I need it for my show. She’s always willing to help me in any way that she can. I love all that she did for the show the week that I met her. Kenny is just bizarre but he is fun and hilarious. He has a really zany sense of humor and I feel like I can learn to let myself go just a little more from him.


Describe yourself in one sentence.
I’m a fun loving, bizarre, giggly, loud, obnoxious, loveable, cute, fat, half bred Mexican tomboy who loves NASCAR and heavy metal.
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Thanks Genna for taking the time to tell us more about yourself. We wish you luck with Hour of Horsepower and can't wait to see what the future brings.

If you are enjoying this series don't forget to come back next Tuesday May 11 for the next installment. My next interview subject? The one and only Summer Dreyer

All photos used with the permission of Genna Short.

Related Posts:

• Beyond the Byline: Getting to know Rebecca Kivak

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Beyond the Byline: Getting to know Rebecca Kivak

You see our names here on Skirts and Scuffs and you may even follow us on Twitter. Sure, you know we are NASCAR fans and writers, but who are we really? What makes us tick? What was that moment we knew this was our NASCAR?

In this new column. Beyond the Byline, the creator of Skirts and Scuffs, Katy Lindamood (hey, that’s me) will go beyond the byline and behind the tweets in an attempt to learn more about some of the amazing women making Skirts and Scuffs a success.

Today we sit down with Skirts and Scuffs Associate Editor, Tweet Crew Member, and Twitter enthusiast Rebecca Kivak. We hope you enjoy this series and grow to love Rebecca as much as we do.

Here goes!



Rebecca, tell us a little about your background. Where did you go to school? Do you have a degree? What do you do for a living?

I’m an alumni of Penn State University. I graduated with a double major in English and Economics in 2004. Unfortunately, the further I got in my Economics major, the less I liked it! But I’ve always loved writing and editing, and that lead to me to work at a local newspaper. I was first hired as an obituaries writer, then had the opportunity to write a few stories and learn page design. About two and a half years ago I was promoted to a copy editor/page designer. I read stories for clarity and accuracy, create headlines and design local news pages (I do not work in sports).

You are a copy editor by trade. Do you have any advice for women wanting to get into that field? Are there are a lot of opportunities with the current economic climate with many newspapers and websites closing down?

For young women who seek a career as a copy editor, I would suggest joining your school newspaper and seeking out copyediting internships. Keep a portfolio of stories you have edited and pages you have designed. If you have done reporting, keep those clips too – clips are very important, and the more you have, the better to show a potential employer. If you write stories or do interviews for blogs, keep copies of those too. I’d also suggest learning Adobe Photoshop and page design programs like Adobe InDesign (that will be replacing traditional programs like Quark).

With the current climate, a lot of newspapers are cutting staff and folding, so I’m going to be honest: it is hard to get a job in the industry right now. As more readers seek their news from the Internet, any kind of website skills you can acquire is a plus, as most newspapers have companion sites and post breaking news, as well as multimedia to accompany stories. Some newspapers have also become Internet-only. The future of journalism lies with the Internet, so any kind of web skills you have can only help you.

Rebecca, our readers are dying to know about your recent experience in Phoenix regarding the Tweet Crew Team. Tell us about your trip and some of the amazing things you got to take part in.

The trip to Phoenix International Raceway was amazing. Randy Martin, Nancy E. Mills (both of whom I have profiled for Skirts and Scuffs) and I were chosen to be on the first official Tweet Crew, sponsored by Best Western and Michael Waltrip Racing. We followed MWR driver David Reutimann at PIR, had behind-the-scenes access in the pit and garage areas and tweeted about everything we experienced. We got to stand on the 00 hauler during Cup qualifying and hang out inside the hauler that day and on race day. David is a sweetheart and I’m glad we got to hang out with him. He was suffering from allergies that weekend, which I can relate to. We got to meet Michael Waltrip and appear in a press conference with him and David announcing the Tweet Crew before the race. Everyone from MWR who we met was great to us.


We also got to attend the drivers’ meeting, which I never thought I’d get to sit in on. Before the meeting I spoke a little bit with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brad Keselowski, and afterward I spoke with Jeff Gordon (I shook his hand) and Mark Martin. During the race I was positioned on top of the 00 pit box, then later I sat with the 56 (Martin Truex Jr.’s) crew and later on I was near turn 4, tweeting updates. Unfortunately the phones we were tweeting on died, so every so often they had to be recharged and we had to tweet on our own phones. I tried to send texts to Twitter from my Razr, but had trouble sending some through (not sure if there was a reception issue). I want to thank all those who stuck with the Tweet Crew during those times.

The hardest part was trying to tweet what was going on at the race. Even though I was there, you miss a lot of it because your view of the track is limited to what’s in front of your pit box and what you can see as you try to look out over the rest of the track. I could listen to the MWR teams’ scanners, look at the scoring on the laptops on the pit boxes and listen to PRN on the scanner, but it was difficult to know what was going on with other drivers besides Reutimann or what was happening on the track. I already had a lot of respect for the media who cover the races, but it was amplified after seeing firsthand what they have to do and how hard it is. I also have an even greater appreciation for the pit crews, drivers and other NASCAR officials after seeing what they do firsthand. They’re so good at doing something so difficult.

It's pretty obvious you are a NASCAR fan, but you haven't always been one, right? How did you get into the sport? When was your AHA! Moment? You know, the moment you thought “this is my sport?”

I got into NASCAR in 2006. My dad had been a fan when I was younger, and I used to say I liked whoever drove the McDonald’s car, because, well, I really liked McDonald’s, lol. I knew Jimmy Spencer drove it at one time, and I knew he was from my area (he’s from Berwick, about 30 minutes away from where I live in Wilkes-Barre). But it wasn’t until 2006 that I actually watched a race. While my boyfriend and I were at a friend’s house, he asked to change the channel to the NASCAR race. We’d been going out for over a year, and even though I knew he was a NASCAR fan, he’d never watched a race in front of me before. This was my first opportunity to see a race, and I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. It was the May 2006 Richmond race, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the winner. With the exception of football, I’ve never liked sports very much, so I was shocked that I got into this race. The following Saturday, I was my boyfriend’s house when I took his remote and started hunting for the NASCAR race. I found it on FX – it was the Darlington race. Greg Biffle won. I knew I was hooked when I realized I actually wanted to find the next NASCAR race and watch it. It’s been a weekly tradition ever since!

How did you come to be a blogger for Skirts and Scuffs? Are there any other NASCAR sites you work with or any other projects you have in the works?

It started with Twitter. I joined Twitter to talk about NASCAR and find more NASCAR fans to talk with. While I like Twitter’s concept of tweeting in 140 characters, sometimes I felt that I had more to say about an issue in the sport that went way over the 140-character limit. I was considering starting my own blog to write about NASCAR when a NASCAR fan/writer who I talked to a lot, Katy Lindamood (yup you!) came on Twitter one day and said she had an idea for a NASCAR blog for female writers only. I’ve always been one to try and break stereotypes about women, as well as encourage women to bond together over, well, whatever we wanted. Joining with fellow female NASCAR fans to write about the sport sounded great to me, so I contacted Katy. You know the story from there!

I also am a contributor for a site called NASCAR Tweetups (nascartweetups.com), which assists NASCAR fans who meet on Twitter to plan meeting up with other fans in person. In addition, I recently became a contributor for Element of Speed (elementofspeed.com) and am working on posting my first story for the site.

We know you are an active Twitter user. How do you think that Twitter has affected the NASCAR fan base? Is it hurting it or helping it? Are there any negatives in your opinion? Any particular driver you wish had an account? Is there one who you think should NEVER get an account?

I think Twitter has been a good thing for the NASCAR fan base because it’s allowed many of us to get to know each other from across the country when otherwise we probably wouldn’t have. The best example I can give of this is when I went to Phoenix. Fellow Skirts and Scuffs writer Genna met me at the airport! And I met at least 10 more fans or reporters who I had known from Twitter, including another Skirts and Scuffs writer, Farrah, at Phoenix. If not for Twitter, I wouldn’t have known a single soul in Phoenix. One of the most amazing results from Twitter is that fans have a chance to interact with NASCAR drivers, reporters, crew members and other insiders directly. Kevin Harvick can ask what networks we think give the best coverage of races, and I can actually answer him and tell him what I think. Twitter has also given NASCAR fans a forum to sound off about the sport, a place to offer praise or give complaints. NASCAR has an official presence on Twitter, so they can hear directly from the fans if a new rule works or not.

There are negatives to Twitter. For instance, many users can engage in a respectful debate about an issue in the sport, but some can be disrespectful and personally attack others for not sharing their views. I like to think of Twitter as a place to air opinions, not to impose them on others. We each have our own views, and I think healthy debate is a good thing. Sometimes it can be overwhelming on Twitter if you like a certain driver in the sport but others constantly rag on that driver. There can be a lot of negativity fans express over certain drivers or when fans don’t agree with a call made by NASCAR. While I’m for everyone giving their opinion, sometimes the negativity can be a lot to take. In that case, it’s better just to log off while others get it out of their system.

As for drivers on Twitter, I would like most, if not all drivers to get an account on there so they can connect with their fans. The driver I most want to see on Twitter is Dale Earnhardt Jr. But he’s also the one who maybe should never have an account. He’s the most popular driver in the sport and has a lot of demands on him the way it is. But I think even if he tweeted just a few times a week, that would be enough. He’s open with the media and with fans, so if Twitter would just be an extension of that, I think it could work for him. But if it’s something that would be annoying for him to keep up with, then he probably won’t do it.

**Follow Rebecca for updates at @becbeat555

Are you looking to turn your NASCAR writing and editing jobs into a full-time career in the future? Maybe something in public relations or working with a major website? Or are you just happy to let it take you where it leads?

I’m certainly open to my NASCAR writing and editing gigs leading to a full-time career in the future. It would be a great way to combine my interest in the sport with a job. While I enjoy my work and like my co-workers at the newspaper, it’s an uncertain time in the industry, as well as the economy, and it’s smart to keep other avenues open. I know a lot of people who have worked either as reporters or editors who have gone on to do public relations, so I can see myself taking a similar path someday. If an opportunity arose doing PR or with a major website, I would definitely consider it. I’m open to whatever the future may hold.

When you aren't being an editing genius or penning your own work what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies? What do you do to relax? How do your spend your “me” time?

LOL, you’re very kind. I read a lot. Right now I’m into the “Twilight” saga and the “Vampire Diaries” series. I like reading books about vampires. I’m not sure what that says about me, lol. I also like watching movies and seeing them in the theater. I try to spend time with friends, family and my boyfriend when I can. The people in my life are important to me. I work in the evenings, which makes it hard to get together with everyone, so I try to make the most of the afternoons and days I have off.

Do you have a role model? Personally or professionally?

My mom is a strong woman who doesn’t get the credit she deserves, in my opinion. She was a teacher, but stayed home to raise me. Being a homemaker is not an easy job, not by any stretch of the imagination, and I admire her and all homemakers, whether mothers or fathers, who are taking care of kids and a household.

In NASCAR, I admire Amy Walsh, account manager at Hendrick Motorsports for the 48 team. She’s also from Northeastern Pennsylvania and went on to work for several teams in NASCAR. Now she’s working for Hendrick Motorsports, the powerhouse of the teams. It’s inspiring to see someone from my area go so far in NASCAR. I also look up to female NASCAR reporters like Wendy Venturini, Nicole Briscoe and Becca Gladden, to name a few. They are smart women who know the sport inside and out. Frankly I also consider Danica Patrick a role model. I admire how self-assured she is knowing that so many eyes are on her. Yet she goes out there on the racetrack or a talk show, does her thing and then goes out and does it again, despite the cameras and the criticism. She runs with the boys on the track and she is used to it; it’s what she does. She knew running in NASCAR would be out of her comfort zone, but here she is, doing it anyway. All of that requires an amount of fearlessness I wish I had.

Describe yourself in one sentence. What's the one thing you want people to know about you?
I’m grateful for the people in my life, and I’m open to new experiences.

___________________

I would like to thank Rebecca for taking the time to answer these questions and for all the hard work she does behind the scenes of Skirts and Scuffs.

I look forward to continuing this series in the coming weeks and hope you will come back for the next Beyond the Byline post. If you have a particular contributor you would like to hear from, just let me know via Twitter or email (admin@skirtsandscuffs.com).

Photos used with permission: Top - Rebecca poses on top of the 00 hauler at Phoenix International Raceway. Photo 2 – the view from on top of the 00 pit box. Photo 3 – David Reutimann awaits the start of the race. Photo 4 – Pit Crew Members prepare for the race. (Courtesy of Rebecca Kivak) Photo 5 – Farrah Kaye, Genna Short, and Rebecca Kivak meet up in Phoenix. (Courtesy of Farrah Kaye)

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Will they stay or will they go? Miccosukee

Last week news began swirling that Miccosukee Indian Resort and Gaming might be leaving NASCAR. Today the news was confirmed, at least partially, that the sponsor would not be back for 2010.

Miccosukee had previously penned deals with James Finch’s Phoenix Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports to be the primary sponsor for several events throughout the 2010 season.

On Thursday evening Lee Spencer of FoxSports confirmed that Miccosukee would not be sponsoring Finch’s team. Though news is still pending on the whether or not Kyle Busch will have sponsorship from the resort, he does have a backup plan in place should the deal fall through. Given Finch’s response to the news it seems that the official announcement is just around the corner. This leaves many wondering if Busch will be able to field two full time teams in KBM’s inaugural season

In 2009 Miccosukee went to victory lane in all three of NASCAR’s top series. Brad Keselwoski snuck by the competition at Talladega to earn his first Sprint Cup Series victory in April. Mike Bliss drove the #1 to victory in the rain shortened Nationwide race at Charlotte in May edging out defending race winner Kyle Busch. Busch put the #51 Miccosukee Tundra in victory lane seven times in just 15 races.

Sounds like money well spent to me.

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Katy's 2010 Championship Picks

Is anybody else excited for the racing to begin? We are! In preparation for the 2010 season our team of contributors have been making their picks for the NASCAR Series Champions.

Today Katy shares her predictions for 2010. Let her know what you think of her picks in the comments below.

Sprint Cup Series - KURT BUSCH

I like Kurt Busch's chances for 2010 given his strong 2009. Kurt might not be at the top of most people's favorite driver list, but let's not forget this guy was the Nextel Cup Champion back in the inaugural season of the Chase format. In 2009 he had his best season since '04 and finished forth in the points behind the Hendrick teams of Johnson, Martin and Gordon earning two wins and 21 top 10's.

In 2010 Kurt has the potential to become series champion yet again. The addition of Steve Addington as crew chief to the #2 and Brad Keselowski as his teammate could give Kurt what he needs to break past the Hendrick domination and give Penske their first Cup Series Championship.

Nationwide Series – JUSTIN ALLGAIER

I’ll admit it. I’ve changed my pick for Nationwide Series Champ at least half a dozen times. I tossed the Keselowski and Edwards choices around for a week. Finally chose Edwards and yet here I am again making a change.

I’m sorry. I love seeing Cup guys in the Nationwide Series if for no other reason than it makes the Nationwide regulars try harder. For a NNS regular to beat the likes of Busch, Edwards, or one of a dozen other drivers is a good thing. They can say they raced against some of the best in the business and came out on top.

Unfortunately, having them run full schedules and constantly come out on top (Harvick, Edwards, Bowyer, and Busch have won the last 4 seasons) is stifling the up and coming talent. Drivers who should be getting the attention are looked over because they aren’t a Kyle Busch or a Carl Edwards. I can’t begin to imagine what goes on in the mind of a NASCAR driver, but you have to think the Nationwide regulars just hope the Cup boys will take a weekend off so they have a chance to claim some of the spotlight.

In 2010 I am looking for a Nationwide Series regular to reclaim the title of Champion. It won’t be easy for him, but the driver I am putting my money on is Justin Allgaier.

Allgaier showed tremendous potential in 2009 in Penske Racing’s first full season in the Nationwide Series. Capturing one pole and 12 top 10 finishes, the 2008 ARCA Champion is the best non Cup candidate, in my opinion. Having Brad Keselowski as a teammate certainly won’t hurt matters. Keselowski has finished third in the standing for the last two seasons and has experience on his side.

Camping World Truck Series - MATT CRAFTON

Here I go out on that limb again.

I get it! Ron Hornaday Jr. is awesome. He's the only guy who has won five races in a row in the truck series. He's the only guy who has won four Truck Series titles. He deserves props for that. He might be awesome but, he didn't win the most races in 2009. He didn't even have the highest average finish. Both of those honors went to Busch, but because of his part-time schedule he had no chance of beating Hornaday in the points.

With Hornaday's crew chief Rick Ren heading over to KBM as the director of competition, it's gonna take ol' Ron a while to get back in the groove of things. And while I would love to see Kyle run the trucks full-time for one season, it won't be this season.

I know next to nothing about Matt Crafton other than he finished second in the points in 2009 and that he only has one career victory to his name. I still like his chances though, especially with Roush-Fenway pulling out of the truck series. Crafton got a lot of attention for what happened at Gateway, but what impressed me the most was how he didn't back down when everyone was calling for his head on a platter. I’m going to be the first to go against the grain and pick Matt Crafton as my choice for Camping World Truck Series Champ.  (Side note: Did you hear Matt Crafton on Next Time By with Summer Dreyer and Mike Patrick? You can listen to Tuesday night’s podcast here.)

Even I am surprised by some of my picks. It's hard to choose a possible Championship winner or even a contender before the season begins. One thing's for sure, though, I'm ready for that command to start engines!

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The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and may not reflect those of this site or its other contributors.

Photos courtesy of NASCARMedia and ThorSport Racing

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Forget everything you know about Keselowski

Few drivers can say they have had the support of JR Nation behind them or that they won a Sprint Cup race while driving on a part-time basis for an underfunded team. Fortunately for Brad Keselowski, he can say both. 

In just a few short seasons, Keselowski has gone from a virtual unknown to the face of JR Motorsports. Now preparing for his first full season behind the wheel for Penske Racing, Keselowski is poised to put the #12 back in victory lane, a place it hasn't been since the 2008 Daytona 500. 

Will Keselowski be able to capitalize on his past success in 2010? That's anyone's guess. Looking at his past stats, it's easy to see Keselowski has the potential to make it as a driver in NASCAR's top series. In 104 Busch/Nationwide career starts, Keselowski has 53 top-10 finishes and six wins, and in just 17 Sprint Cup starts has 4 top-10 finishes and one win.

Most drivers would be ecstatic over those stats and the fan base that Keselowski has behind him each and every weekend. The support of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick didn't hurt Keselowski's chances of success in the past either, but in 2010 Brad's the small fish in the big pond that is Penske Racing. 

Many fans believe that 2010 will be his year to win the Nationwide Series championship, as reigning champ Kyle Busch has decided not to run the full season and instead focus on his Cup program. Keselowski's only real competition comes from Carl Edwards, who will also be competing full time in both series. 

The problem with this prediction is that Keselowski won't have the same equipment, sponsorship or team as he has had in the past. That could hurt his chances, at least in the short term. You can't expect the team to gel overnight or come out of the gate strong. It happens for some, but most take a while to adjust to a new situation. 

Penske Racing is a wonderful organization that has fielded great teams in the past, but don't forget Penske is fairly new to the Nationwide Series. The team's first full-time Nationwide season came in 2009 with Rookie of the Year Justin Allgaier piloting the #12 Verizon Dodge. Also the new COT for the Nationwide Series might throw the team for a loop once it's put into use later in the season.

In the Sprint Cup Series, Keselowski will be playing second fiddle to Kurt Busch, who is coming off his best season since 2004 after finishing forth in the 2009 Chase for the Championship behind Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon. The good news for Keselowski is that Busch will also be dealing with a new crew chief as Steve Addington, former crew chief to Kyle Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing, joined the team in the offseason. 

2010 is the test for Keselowski. Forget everything you know about his career up to this point. It's a whole different ball game, but the stakes are just as high. 

At the end of the season, will it come down to Edwards and Keselowski fighting it out for the Nationwide championship, or will one of the Nationwide regulars surprise us all and walk away with the trophy at Homestead? Will he be able to prove himself worthy of a full-time Cup ride or will his 2009 win at Talladega be considered a fluke?

You tell me.


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The opinions expressed in this post are those of the writer and do not reflect those of Skirts and Scuffs or the sites other contributors
Photo courtesy of NASCARMedia
Article republished with permission from the author: Also posted on the Penske Racing Examiner

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Lights or no lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway?

NASCAR is marketed as a family-friendly sport. Drivers, teams, and tracks are involved with children's charities and many tracks offer a family-seating section where parents and children can view the events without the alcohol and tobacco use that is prevalent among race fans.


I bring this up because on Monday, the newly renamed Charlotte Motor Speedway announced it would be moving the start time of its May Nationwide Series race up to 2:30. In the past, the race has begun after 7 p.m.


In making the announcement during the Media Tour, CMS President Marcus Smith said, "We’ve enjoyed running our May Nationwide Series race under the lights in recent years, but many of our fans and parents with young children have asked us to consider an earlier start time. Charlotte Motor Speedway has always been a family-friendly place, and this will make the race even more convenient for fans of all ages, as well as hundreds of boy and girl scouts who make this race an annual outing.”


As a lover of Charlotte Motor Speedway and what it represents to our sport, I have to say this is a bad idea.


I admit it. I prefer night races to afternoon races. Something about racing under the lights makes the whole experience more exciting for me. I've attended both night and day races, and for my buck, a night race is always going to win. I'd trade an afternoon at Indianapolis for a night race at any track on the circuit in a heartbeat. I'd trade the bright sunlight for the glisten of the cars under the lights without hesitation. You wouldn't even have to ask me twice.


You can argue all you want that the fans' input was largely taken into consideration, and that most of the other Nationwide Series races are run at night. That's a good point, but for the sake of the speedway and its die-hard fans who travel from all over to attend events in the heart of NASCAR country, shouldn't they want to provide the biggest and brightest spectacle possible? Isn't CMS the center of NASCAR? The home track for the series? I'm sorry, but by taking the Nationwide Series race and moving it, you aren't enhancing the experience at all. In my opinion, you are diminishing what CMS is known for: Night racing under the lights.


The track is perfectly designed for night racing, and teams spend weeks preparing their cars to race under the lights. Specialty paint schemes and drivers who don't always race in the Nationwide Series come out for these events. Come on Dale Jr. fans, you can't tell me Jr. winning under the lights in the Nationwide event wouldn't be more exciting than him winning in the middle of the afternoon. (Granted, you all would be ecstatic if he won either).


I guess what I am trying to say is that CMS isn't capitalizing on one of the things that bring fans to the track. In a time of economic downturn and poor ratings across the board, shouldn't they be looking into what draws the crowds?


What's next the Coca-Cola 600 at noon?


It's time for your input on the situation. Have I gone completely off my rocker? Am I just complaining to complain or is this something you agree with? Are you reading this and thinking, "It's just a Nationwide Race! Calm down!" Let me know in the comments below.
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The opinions expressed in this post are those of the writer and do not reflect those of Skirts and Scuffs or the sites other contributors
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Eblin - May Nationwide Series race at the then Lowe's Motor Speedway

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LMS is now Charlotte Motor Speedway

Eleven years ago it seemed like a great idea for Lowe's to become the end all be all sponsor for the NASCAR track located just minutes from Charlotte, NC. It was a time when MLB and NFL stadiums were being renamed for the corporate giants who gave them money. NASCAR figured it might as well jump on the bandwagon, so to speak.

After a decade of being Lowe's Motor Speedway it was announced in late 2009 that Lowe's would not be renewing their contract with the speedway at the completion of the season. For many who have only know the 1.5 mile track as Lowe's Motor Speedway it was one of those "oh no moments." But, for those of us who remember it before the corporate name change the track always has been and always will be Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Monday it was announced that the track is being renamed Charlotte Motor Speedway and that renovations are under way to remove the Lowe's signage from the track.

All I have to say is welcome back Charlotte Motor Speedway!

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Kyle Busch Motorsports: What's in store for 2010? Your thoughts on the matter

Kyle Busch Motorsports - Brian Ickler, Kyle Busch, Tayler Malsam

Rumors flew over the latter part of the 2009 season concerning Kyle Busch and his desire to field a Camping World Truck Series team in the near future. Some said it would never happen while others just waited for the official announcement. That announcement came last Friday (December 11) when the 24 year old Las Vegas native made the annoucement that Kyle Busch Motorsports would field two full time teams in 2010 with the possibility of a third once sponsorship had been secured.

Busch, who began Kyle Busch Motorsports back in 2007 as a late model venture is stepping into the big leagues with major sponsors, recognizable drivers, and a desire to win. Kyle Busch doesn't do anything half way and that's evident by the men he has hired to lead and drive his stable of Toyota Tundras.

Heading up the effort for Kyle Busch Motorsports will be Rick Ren. Ren is best known for leading the Kevin Harvick Incorporated team driven by Ron Hornaday Jr. to two NCWTS titles over the past three years. Ren who left KHI at the end of the season will serve as the director of competition for Kyle Busch Motorsports and said," I like the mix of experience and youth. Kyle is one of the most natural-ability guys who has ever come along in the racing world. There have been great racecar drivers, but Kyle has the opportunity to be one of the all-time greats. Getting the chance to help a guy like that who has a  dream of building his own race team is an honor."

Behind the wheel of the #56 will be up and coming driver Tayler Malsam. The 20 year old Washington native is a relative newcomer to the series with just one season behind the wheel. Joining Ren and Malsam will be Brian Ickler. Ickler is another newcomer to the sport having driven a second Billy Ballew Motorsports team in 2009 alongside his mentor and now team owner. Ickler is set to drive the #18 which will be sponsored by Miccosukee Resorts and Gaming. Ickler will share the ride with Busch competing in events that do fit with Busch's Sprint Cup or Nationwide Series Schedule. A third team is in the works with Johnny Benson set to drive once sponsorship is found. Benson, the 2008 Series Champion, will provide experience and gudiance to this relatively young group of drivers.

What You Had to Say

Of course this annoucement has only fueled more questions concerning Busch. These questions were asked of our writers as well as those following us on Twitter.

1. Are you happy about the announcement for KBM in the truck series?

Overall the response to this question was positive. Most of our writers agree that the addition of KBM to the Camping World Truck Series lineup is a boost for the sport. Especially in filling the void left with the departure of Roush- Fenway Racing from the Truck Series. Our writer Rebecca said, "KMB's announcement has sparked anticipation of the series return for many fans." Also weighing in on this side was Kiara who said "This racing team is going to be good for him (Kyle).  I think because it will give him something to look forward to if he is having a bad day on the Cup side.

On the other side of the debate comes this comment from Melissa who said, "I think that it's too bad. I applaud his drive and his desire to own racing teams.. but you know, I think that he's this *holds up two fingers verrrry close* to being able to compete with Johnson. If he worked on his racing and his consistency I bet he could do it. " That's a great point. Focus is often the reason given for why Busch hasn't been able to capitalize on his talent in the Sprint Cup Series over the past two seasons. It will be interesting to see how much of his focus goes into the Truck Series team and whether or not it hurts his efforts to dethrone Johnson and the Hendrick organization he once drove for.

2. Is 3 teams too many?

While KBM is set to field two full time teams in 2010 a third team is in the works.. Some people think that Busch would be better suited for success if he were to field only one team for his first season. Some believe he is biting of more than he can handle this early in the game, but others say the more the merrier. Gina said, "As much as I want JB to find sponsorship, I think starting out with 2 teams is better than jumping to 3 right away. Next season though, if everything goes good, I say go to 3."

3. Will becoming a team owner calm Busch down?

That firey personality is what Kyle's fans love about him. They love cheering for a guy who isn't afraid to say what he's thinking and they see his "tantrums" as passion. We've seen it before though. A driver who is known as a hot head becomes a team owner and suddenly some of that fire we love so much is gone. Just look at Kevin Harvick. Since the creation of KHI he's been less confrontational and the number of heated words between himself and his competitors has decreased tremendously, though on occasion the Happy of old rears his head. Let's not forget Tony Stewart who has been known to throw a helmet or two. He seems to be more relaxed as an owner and his success in 2009 proved that a new team can contend.

Our responsents were split down the middle as to whether owning team would be good for Busch and his attitude. Gina said, "I think it will calm him down. He'll see that he has a lot more responsibilities and I think it'll make him a better driver too." and Melissa chimed in again saying, " I sure hope not, I like his fire."

4. What about the choice in drivers? Like them? Hate them? Indifferent?

Most people don't care one way or another. To be honest most of the answers we got to this question were more happiness over the prospect of Johnny Benson getting a ride in 2010. Ickler and Malsam are relatively unknown names in NASCAR. While most agree that it's great that Busch is looking into young drivers for his team they are just waiting to see what Busch himself does in the weekends where he will be behind the wheel of the #18.

5. How long will it take the team to win a race?

@ronfrankl petty much summed up the responses we got to this question when he said, "KBM will be successful, particularly when the boss is behind wheel. Hiring Rick Ren from KHI put them on fast track to success." You can't argure with that. Ren was an asset to the Hornaday team at KHI and his experience will help Busch get his dream up and running. Most people aren't expecting Kyle Busch Motorsports to bring home a victory with Malsum or Ickler, but when you put Busch himself behind the wheel anything can happen.

Author's Reactions

For myself there are two sides to this story. There's the writer trying to be impartial and look at it from all angles. Then there is the the fan who knows what she wants to see happen. The skeptic writer Katy wonders if Busch is letting his dreams take over his life at such an early age. Is he more concerned with building a dynasty of his own as an owner than he is with earning a Sprint Cup Series title? Is he setting this up now in case things fall through on the cup side in the next few years? Is this his backup plan? Or is he getting in on the truck series at a point when it's actually growing in popularity? Is he taking a page out of the Tony Stewart Business Plan and taking advantage of everything he has been given in his short career? Will he see the same success Kevin Harvick has seen with his truck series teams? Will Kyle Busch Motorsports become the end all be all team of the future? That's the question on all of our minds.

The fan in me is jumping up and down having a field day with this. She's already been to the Kyle Busch Motorsport website and looked into ticket prices for the 2010 Truck Series races. She's waiting for that first piece of KBM merchandise to show up online and is pinching her pennies in order to pay for it. Fan Katy is exicted about the prospect and can't wait to see what KMB has in store for us in 2010.

Which Katy will be left standing at the end? Will it be skeptic writer Katy or will it be fan Katy? One things for sure with Kyle Busch Motorsports in the mix for 2010 it's going to be an awesome season!

A huge thanks to those who provided input for this piece!

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Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect those of Skirts and Scuffs or its contributors.
Photo credit from KBM via NASCARMedia

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