Happy New Year To All

Hello To Everyone. I wanted to take a moment to wish you and your families a joyous and Happy New Year 2009. Let us all take a moment out of our busy days and say a prayer for our country, economy and those that have been hit the hardest by all the problems that have taken place over the past year. We all have seen drastic changes occur and it is going to take some time to get everything back on track but I believe with all of my heart that our new leadership will get us moving in the right direction.

Take care and if you are out and about tonight, please drive safely.

GEM hires Allmendinger and gives Sadler the boot

As we all sit and recover from Christmas, we yet hear some more news from the scene and the 2009 season has not even started. GEM announced it will be replacing Elliott Sadler, driver of the #19, with AJ Allmendinger. I truly feel sorry for ESad and this situation but his numbers really did not help him any this past year with an average finish of 31st. Allmendinger, who ran the last 5 races for GEM in the #10 impressed them enough for them to make the decision to give AJ the #19 and a full ride for 2009. I have been saying all season that this kid does have talent and given the right tools, he will succeed although I hate to see it happen to ESad. I have always liked Sadler and he brings so much to the sport and is a great spokesman. I hope and pray that he will get another ride before the season kicks off.

GEM is in talks with acquiring Petty Enterprises but nothing is written in stone, more like jello. If the merger does go through, who will pilot the famous #43? Could it be Salder?

In other news from the Nascar Soap Opera Box, Bill Davis has sold the majority of his team and engine company. He was unable to secure sponsorship for the 2009 season and with Catepillar leaving and going to RCR, it left Davis short and after 20 years, he is calling it quits. Just like when the series changed from Winston to Nextel, well now Sprint, all good things come to an end. I want to wish Bill and his family all the luck and happiness in their future.

Bobby Labonte Leaves Petty Enterprises

(How many times have I said it? Location, Location, Location!)


Is anyone really shocked over this? I believe Bobby is doing the right thing by parting ways with Petty Enterprises, especially with how unstable it is. Kyle Petty will also be leaving the organization. I really thought it would be Kyle stepping in to take the reigns but I was sadly mistaken. Boston Ventures, who is the majority owner, just released 39 more employees bringing the total up to 65 since the end of the 2008 Season. Can you say abandon ship!!! Bobby is doing the right thing although he did say he appreciated the opportunity to drive for Richard "The King" Petty, here is what he said, "It was by no means an easy decision. I am, and will always be, very appreciative of what Richard Petty and the Petty family, every employee of Petty Enterprises and members of Boston Ventures did to invest in bettering my career the past three seasons.''

Bobby is now without a ride but there are a few options out there for him and I am sure one of these teams will pick him up. First up Earnhardt-Ganassi and the #41 but with all the turmoil in that organization, I am sure Bobby will turn the other cheek. Now, he may go back to his old team owner over at Joe Gibbs Racing to take over a 4th car which may be the best move for Bobby despite he will be driving a Toyota for the first time in his career but with Stewart departing, Bobby would be a great addition to the young team at Gibbs. Will we see Labonte and Stewart driving on the same team? That is always a possibility. Stewart-Haas racing might be a viable option but I am not sure Bobby would go to a new team just starting out. How about Michael Waltrip Racing? Ummm, No! Yet another organization that looks to be in trouble.

Okay Bobby, if I were you, go with your best bet and that would be at Joe Gibbs Racing. That is my prediction for Bobby, we shall see.

What do you think?

Regan Smith wins the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year

It was a tight race between Sam Hornish Jr. and Regan Smith for the rookie of the year honors entering Homestead. Hornish led by a slim margin but it was Smith who came out victorious in Homestead and brings home the honor of being named the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Smith won 236 to 229 which was helped due to the fact that Hornish failed to qualify for the Ford 400.

I am sure that Smith will love taking off the yellow bumper stripes to show that he is no longer considered a rookie but will he have a ride next year with DEI? It has to be a kick in the, umm I will stay politically correct here and say it is a punch in the gut to have the feeling that you are really not sure if you will have a ride next year, it is very disheartening but Smith is staying upbeat and in hopes that he will be in the 01 next year for DEI.

Here a few highlights from his season as Rookie of the Year:

1. Smith was the top-finishing rookie 11 times in 34 races and led or shared the point lead in 26 of the 36 races.

2. Smith is the first rookie in the 52-year history of the award to be running at the finish in every race of a season, and he's also the first from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to win the award.

3. He brings the Rookie of the Year title with him wherever he goes, along with $91,500 in earnings from Raybestos along with a signature leather jacket and $5000 towards his team.

Congratulations once again Regan!!!

Dear Fellow Bloggers...Need Your Help

Good afternoon to all my fellow bloggers out there. I am in a dilemma and would really value your thoughts and opinions on the following subject. As a parent, do you feel it is right to let your teenage son/daughter have their girlfriend/boyfriend over to the house while there is not a parent present? I might sound old fashioned here but I really do not agree with the whole situation. Unfortunately I am faced with such a situation. I am recently divorced and my girls, pictured above, live with their mother. Well I have voiced my concerns over this because I found out my girls have been having their boyfriends come over while she is not at home and it is for several hours. I have put out the offer that if the girls ever want to hang out with their boyfriends at my house while I am at home, they are more then welcome to. I trust my girls and their boyfriends totally but in this whole situation, you are just setting it up for something possibly to happen.

I value your opinion.