We Wonder ...
Sure it's the offseason, but there still are points to ponder
By Mark Spoor, NASCAR.COM
... will Travis Kvapil do any better in the No. 32 car than Bobby Hamilton Jr. did?
Granted, Hamilton didn't exactly set the bar to stratospheric levels in 2004 -- he only cracked the top 20 once in 33 attempts -- but the question remains valid. Kvapil's scored two top-10 finishes in the No. 77 Dodge, but the atmosphere can't be great around PPI these days.
On the other hand, the Tide Ride has been in Victory Lane in the not-so-distant past. Ricky Craven put it there twice in his stint there (granted, the last time was March 16, 2003). What's more, Kvapil is a former Craftsman Truck Series champion, so he knows how to win.
... will Bobby Labonte find success at Petty Enterprises?
I don't think there's anyone in the NASCAR community that isn't rooting for this to happen. Labonte's recent fall from grace has been nothing short of heartbreaking for his fans and fans of the sport, in general.
Sadly, it's tough to imagine that Labonte's glory days will return in Petty blue. Sure, they've got Robbie Loomis, but as we all know, one or two guys don't create a successful team. There needs to be dozen of people with enormous talent and desire, as well as a healthy dose of chemistry.
Here's hoping they find it. Old-school NASCAR fans -- and the newbies, come to think of it -- need to see that No. 43 car in Victory Lane.
... did anyone succeed in getting Tony Stewart a memorable holiday gift?
Talk about a tough act to follow. Stewart hoisted his second Cup title -- not to mention a $6 million check last month at Homestead. He owns a speedway and just bought himself thousands of dollars in exercise equipment.
And you thought your crazy Uncle Louie was tough to shop for? Better not show up at the Stewart house with less than a yacht -- or some monkey food.
... which driver would do best on Dancing With the Stars?
ABC's quirky, if not a little scary, reality hit returns in a couple of weeks. Wrestler Stacy Keibler is one of the "celebrities" involved in the coming season, so a NASCAR driver being asked to participate can't be too far off, if it hasn't happened already.
Rusty Wallace has some free time on his hands. Can't you picture him being the John O' Hurley of a coming season? Even if he's bad, there's no way he could be as bad as Evander Holyfield.
Maybe Delana Harvick could do the tango in that firesuit she wears each week on the pit box.
Now we're talking.
... did any sponsors ask their drivers to try out for American Idol?
At the least, it's great exposure. You don't even have to know how to sing to get noticed. Look at William Hung. You just know there's been some meeting over the past couple of months somewhere in Charlotte where the phrases "William Hung" and "What do you think?" came really close together.
My pick: Mark Martin covering a 50 Cent tune.
... how many rocking chairs did Rusty Wallace get for Christmas?
He already got one from FOX earlier this year, but you just know Rusty's got a bunch of smart-aleck friends who just couldn't resist. Then Rusty had to pretend that each one is funny while holding back the urge to peg them in the neck with a lugnut.
Good times.
... did any drivers do the dreaded re-gift?
You know -- take a gift they didn't like when they were given it, rewrap it and pass it off to someone else. We've all done it. You know you've taken a fruitcake or one of those awful nutcrackers that look like an old soldier and passed them on to your Aunt Zelda from Walla Walla.
Drivers have plenty to choose from, too. Kurt Busch alone likely has thousands of things with "97" on them taking up space in his utility room next to the water heater.
... who in our office will take over the Ward Burton crusade now that Elliott Gordon is leaving.
No one on planet earth wants Ward Burton back behind the wheel more than our beloved, soon-to-be-former director of programming Elliott Gordon. Anyone who's listened to his segments on Sirius Satellite Radio -- or worked for him the past three years -- knows that all too well. Now that ol' EG is heading off to Santa Monica, someone will have to take over.
Here's hoping I don't draw the short straw. We'll all miss you, EG, especially Ward.
The opinions listed here are solely those of the writer -- specifically the one about all of us missing Elliott Gordon.
Sure it's the offseason, but there still are points to ponder
By Mark Spoor, NASCAR.COM
... will Travis Kvapil do any better in the No. 32 car than Bobby Hamilton Jr. did?
Granted, Hamilton didn't exactly set the bar to stratospheric levels in 2004 -- he only cracked the top 20 once in 33 attempts -- but the question remains valid. Kvapil's scored two top-10 finishes in the No. 77 Dodge, but the atmosphere can't be great around PPI these days.
On the other hand, the Tide Ride has been in Victory Lane in the not-so-distant past. Ricky Craven put it there twice in his stint there (granted, the last time was March 16, 2003). What's more, Kvapil is a former Craftsman Truck Series champion, so he knows how to win.
... will Bobby Labonte find success at Petty Enterprises?
I don't think there's anyone in the NASCAR community that isn't rooting for this to happen. Labonte's recent fall from grace has been nothing short of heartbreaking for his fans and fans of the sport, in general.
Sadly, it's tough to imagine that Labonte's glory days will return in Petty blue. Sure, they've got Robbie Loomis, but as we all know, one or two guys don't create a successful team. There needs to be dozen of people with enormous talent and desire, as well as a healthy dose of chemistry.
Here's hoping they find it. Old-school NASCAR fans -- and the newbies, come to think of it -- need to see that No. 43 car in Victory Lane.
... did anyone succeed in getting Tony Stewart a memorable holiday gift?
Talk about a tough act to follow. Stewart hoisted his second Cup title -- not to mention a $6 million check last month at Homestead. He owns a speedway and just bought himself thousands of dollars in exercise equipment.
And you thought your crazy Uncle Louie was tough to shop for? Better not show up at the Stewart house with less than a yacht -- or some monkey food.
... which driver would do best on Dancing With the Stars?
ABC's quirky, if not a little scary, reality hit returns in a couple of weeks. Wrestler Stacy Keibler is one of the "celebrities" involved in the coming season, so a NASCAR driver being asked to participate can't be too far off, if it hasn't happened already.
Rusty Wallace has some free time on his hands. Can't you picture him being the John O' Hurley of a coming season? Even if he's bad, there's no way he could be as bad as Evander Holyfield.
Maybe Delana Harvick could do the tango in that firesuit she wears each week on the pit box.
Now we're talking.
... did any sponsors ask their drivers to try out for American Idol?
At the least, it's great exposure. You don't even have to know how to sing to get noticed. Look at William Hung. You just know there's been some meeting over the past couple of months somewhere in Charlotte where the phrases "William Hung" and "What do you think?" came really close together.
My pick: Mark Martin covering a 50 Cent tune.
... how many rocking chairs did Rusty Wallace get for Christmas?
He already got one from FOX earlier this year, but you just know Rusty's got a bunch of smart-aleck friends who just couldn't resist. Then Rusty had to pretend that each one is funny while holding back the urge to peg them in the neck with a lugnut.
Good times.
... did any drivers do the dreaded re-gift?
You know -- take a gift they didn't like when they were given it, rewrap it and pass it off to someone else. We've all done it. You know you've taken a fruitcake or one of those awful nutcrackers that look like an old soldier and passed them on to your Aunt Zelda from Walla Walla.
Drivers have plenty to choose from, too. Kurt Busch alone likely has thousands of things with "97" on them taking up space in his utility room next to the water heater.
... who in our office will take over the Ward Burton crusade now that Elliott Gordon is leaving.
No one on planet earth wants Ward Burton back behind the wheel more than our beloved, soon-to-be-former director of programming Elliott Gordon. Anyone who's listened to his segments on Sirius Satellite Radio -- or worked for him the past three years -- knows that all too well. Now that ol' EG is heading off to Santa Monica, someone will have to take over.
Here's hoping I don't draw the short straw. We'll all miss you, EG, especially Ward.
The opinions listed here are solely those of the writer -- specifically the one about all of us missing Elliott Gordon.
