You've really got wonder if now-former New Hampshire International Motor Speedway owner Bob Bahre really believes the words that are coming out of his mouth:
"He didn't make any promises, I want to make that clear," Bahre said. "But I don't think he's going to move any dates out of here.
Bahre's speedway was sold last week to Bruton Smith's Speedway Motorsports, Inc. SMI owns the tracks of Atlanta, Bristol, Infineon, Las Vegas, Lowe's, and Texas.
There was rampant speculation last week -- including here at the Fanhouse -- that Smith would immediately move one or both of New Hampshire's Nextel Cup race dates to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Smith denied that such a plan was in place during the announcement, but he didn't necessarily say anything that denied the move could happen, either.
Now we've heard Smith deny that, but he also gave another plausible idea:
Ship a date away from Atlanta Motor Speedway.
If you think about the idea, it makes sense on the level of selling tickets. Atlanta had noticeably open seats two weeks ago while NHMS has sold out for years. Obviously, Atlanta is a bigger market, but California has proved how much that doesn't matter when it comes to selling tickets.
So one date at Atlanta for two at NHMS and Las Vegas? I don't know what I think about that. The history in Atlanta -- albeit an old configuration -- might be a little too much.
But the the Friday one certainly will. (At 12:30pm EST, actually!)
That announcement also won't likely carry any new news along for Lowe's Motor Speedway vs. Concord City Council, either, as Speedway Motorsports CEO Bruton Smith is expected to announce a purchase of Bob Bahre's independently owned track in New England -- New Hampshire International Speedway.
On Friday, Smith is expected to announce only the purchase of the track in Loudon, N.H., and not speculate on any plans to move either of its two Nextel Cup Series race dates, multiple sources said.
Smith has previously stated his desire to add a second Cup date to his track in Las Vegas. He also has expressed interest in an earlier date for his second Texas race to avoid a conflict with the opening of white-tail deer hunting season.
Yes, you read that correctly -- to avoid a conflict in Texas with not an open wheel race, a Cowboys game, or a rodeo but rather white-tail deer hunting season.
Think that just threw out every stereotype that the NASCAR bigwigs in Daytona have been trying so hard to abandon? You can bet Brian France is cringing to hear that a track owner is trying to help the fans that don't drink martinis or Perrier -- but rather is making them us a priority.
And to think, just Tuesday, I was questioning Bruton's commitment to the fans. (And well, I probably still would if he moves LMS, but as for now, he's got some points in my book.)
But the real announcement on this issue, apparently, isn't being made Friday at Texas Motor Speedway.
The folks at Las Vegas Motor Speedway managed to take the story and run with it. And run with it they did:
FREE O.J. !
Fans who stop by the speedway on Wednesday to purchase tickets will receive a free serving of orange juice.
The promotion includes the purchase of tickets to any of the following upcoming events: Saturday night's Smith's Las Vegas 350, the Oct. 25-28 NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals or the 2008 NASCAR Weekend in March.
Impressive. Simply impressive.
I don't know how many tickets the promotion will actually sell, but you've got to applaud the creativity.
With Orenthal James himself in town and in the news, the tongue-in-cheek campaign at least gets some people thinking about racing in Vegas again -- especially with a truck race at the track this weekend.
FanHouse's friends at AOL Sports are compiling a list of the worst uniforms ever. Because they're our friends and the subject matter lends itself to hilarity, we thought we'd join in the fun. We don't get too see too much of the drivers' uniforms in NASCAR, so we set our designs on their cars. Here's our look at the worst paint schemes in recent history.
Dale Earnhardt #3 GM Goodwrench Service Chevrolet Peter Max paint scheme The Winston @ Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 20, 2000
I don't consider myself to be a connoisseur of fine art, but I'm down with the work of cosmic art innovator Peter Max--even have a signed print of my own that hangs behind me as I write this. But Max's rainbow hippie designs proved to be a little too psychedelic for a stock car
2007 again drove home the point that rainbow pastels should not come in contact with a race car:
In an honorable display of solidarity, Las Vegas Motor Speedway has jumped on the "Ban The Bad Talladega Fans" bandwagon and will not allow the trashy offenders to purchase tickets to any events at the track.
Ooooooooooooh. I guess they'll have to ask their friends put the tickets on their credit cards.
That'll show 'em.
No Change In Policy
I hardly expect NASCAR to cancel a race at Talladega. But I would like to see somebody to do something that get will the fans' attention.
It is a serious safety issue that no one seems to want to take seriously.
Talladega officials aren't even seriously considering banning cans:
"At the moment, we're not expecting to make any significant changes to our policies in terms of whether guests can bring in their food and beverages. That's a unique tradition that exists in our sport. There's no other sport that allows you to do that."
No mention of a safety issue. I wonder ... if the track acknowledges a safety concern, does that make them potentially liable for any future incidents? Is there a lawyer in the Fanhouse?
I hate to see the fans lose the BYOB option, too. But in Talladega they've proven repeatedly they can't handle the responsibility.
Isn't it a little irresponsible to be putting tradition before safety at this point?
Funny Car driver Mike Ashley recorded the fastest pass in drag racing history Friday night when he reached 334.32 mph in his Dodge Charger to lead qualifying for the eighth annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals. A mortgage banker by weekday, Ashley admits to a struggle of juggling two careers and this weekend decided to switch off:
"This weekend I decided to shut off the phone, not log on to the computer and only focus on racing. I made the decision that I'd take whatever comes my way and just be happy to be here and enjoy the moment. Being No. 1 and setting speed record, I'll take it."
High finance, high speed ... Yada yada yada. It's not NASCAR ... Even though 334 mph is hella fast, I've already lost interest.
But how about that smokin' paint job depicting Ashley's owner, Evan Knoll, as the "fuel doctor?"
There's a few stock cars I'd like to see make a joyride through Illusions Custom Paint and Body Shop next time they're Bristol, Tenn., starting with those belonging to Petty Enterprises.
Wouldn't The King's mug make a killer hood shot?
I'd also love to see The Intimidator in his shades on the #8 car, but I doubt Budweiser would go for it.
And speaking of owners on cars, how long will it be before we see the Red Sox all over the Roush Fenway cars? Playoff season?
Every week, the #8 Budweiser PR team puts together the "Best Radio Chatter" after each race. Frequently, the best part is left out of the "Best of."
Witness in-car audio highlights from last week, when Junior made a mistake coming down pit road:
Eury Jr: "I'm almost thinking we need to pit here for tires. With this many cars on the lead lap..." Hmiel: (as the 8 car follows the 31 onto pit lane): "Pit lane is closed! Pit lane is closed!" Dale Jr: "He was a lead lap car! I just came down with him. I wasn't paying attention." Eury Jr: "These things kick our ass all the time. We gotta pay more attention.** The NASCAR official says we need to start at the back of the outside line on the restart." Dale Jr.: "We'll probably get another caution."
** What was left out of the "best of" was the Junior's response and the long pause in between Tony's comments:
Eury Jr.: "We gotta pay more attention." Dale Jr.: "Well, then start."
NASCAR helped Robby Gordon Motorsports come up with a "reasonable paint scheme solution" for tomorrow.
Instead of displaying the Motorola logo, which could potentially attract wireless customers away from Sprint Nextel, he will display a Motorola non-wireless product, specifically a digital audio player.
Sounds reasonable to me.
Now Robby can turn his mind to more important things like how not to piss off any more of his fellow drivers. Last week it was Casey Mears:
"It amazes me. Every time I think Robby can't do anything any more stupid than he's already done, he one-ups himself."
I have a feeling Robby doesn't recall the incident the same way Casey does. He mentions it and talks about his sponsors in his Las Vegas 400 Video Update:
What does the media do for stories after a boring race with a boring winner? They create a controversy where there is none. Duh!
This week, the controversy is over loose tires on pit road, specifically those belonging to UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 winner Jimmie Johnson. He had two stray tires on Sunday, but only received a pass-through penalty for the first one. Had a penalty been assessed for the second one, most likely he would not have gone on to win the race.
Johnson didn't receive a second penalty was because a NASCAR official stopped the tire before it rolled onto pit road.
Was NASCAR showing favortism to the #48 team? I don't think so ... this is fairly standard procedure, at least according to Denny Hamlin's front tire changer, Dennis Terry, who brings up another question: Should NASCAR officials make a conscious effort to help out the pit crews? Or should they just call it like they see it and let each crew live with their mistakes as is the case with most sports?
I think they should be hands off and just call it like they see it--for the most part. In this case, I believe the official acted appropriately because more than being a matter of "assisting" the pit crew, it was a matter of safety for other drivers on pit road.
Sunday's NASCAR on FOX event from Las Vegas hit the jackpot this past weekend, posting an impressive 6.3/13 (10.5 million viewers) national rating, according to Nielsen. Sunday's 6.3/13 is up +2% over last year's 6.2/12 for the same race on FOX, and was by far the top-rated sporting event of the weekend.
NASCAR on FOX from Las Vegas outrated CBS' NCAA Selection Show by +47% (6.3/13 vs. 4.3/9 ), the largest margin ever recorded between the two events. Sunday marked the third-straight year in which NASCAR on FOX from Las Vegas has out-pointed the same-day NCAA Selection show on CBS .
Ratings for Sunday's race on FOX opened at a 5.5/13 and grew steadily throughout the broadcast, peaking at a 7.6/14 (13.1 million viewers). Despite direct competition from the NCAA Selection Show on CBS, Sunday's race also enjoyed substantial gains among the younger male demos:
You've really got wonder if now-former New Hampshire 
So that 
O.J. Simpson was 
FanHouse's friends at 
Ya-Ya Trackhood
Every week, the #8 Budweiser PR team puts together the "Best Radio Chatter" after each race. Frequently, the best part is left out of the "Best of."
NASCAR helped Robby Gordon Motorsports come up with a "reasonable paint scheme solution" for tomorrow.
Sunday's NASCAR on FOX event from Las Vegas hit the jackpot this past weekend, posting an impressive 6.3/13 (10.5 million viewers) national rating, according to Nielsen. Sunday's 6.3/13 is up +2% over last year's 6.2/12 for the same race on FOX, and was by far the top-rated sporting event of the weekend. 
