Twice in the last week, a magazine story was brought up in conversation with Robby Gordon. With his well-groomed face on the cover, the headline read, “Robby Gordon’s Last Chance.”
The magazine was from the 1990s.
Gordon, the maverick driver and owner, seems to have more lives than a trailer park full of cats.
If you would like to read racesribe author Martin Henderson’s ESPNLosAngeles.com story about Robby Gordon, click here.
I scribbled these words onto a notepad more than a month ago.
The biggest surprise of the 2009 NASCAR season?
Tony Stewart.
And Ryan Newman.
Stewart-Haas Racing.
Not necessarily in that order.
Newman had finished third and Stewart 23rd at Talladega. “Nine races into the season after having taken on the project that was Haas CNC Racing, both Stewart and Newman are surprisingly competitive.” Those words were written back then, too. Stewart was fourth in the standings, and Newman 13th.
Why so much attention to something written but never printed? Because the Stewart-Haas Racing saga was important — not to mention surprising — even before the rest of the country dialed in and Racescribe had a chance to transcribe his notes.
It’s time NASCAR take a good, hard look at Talladega, maybe not from the front row, but from a seat somewhere near the top of its grandstand.
The track provides close racing and huge crowds, but at what price?
NASCAR nearly suffered a disaster. Seven fans were injured when shrapnel from Carl Edwards’ Ford flipped into the catch fence. The injuries to the fans — lacerations and fractured bones — were nothing critical, which is more lucky than important. Edwards, a superbly talented driver, was the least hurt in the spectacular crash and rightfully called out NASCAR after catching his breath. Later, on Larry King Live, he shared more insight
NASCAR can count itself fortunate that Lady Luck’s evil stepsister carried a gun with a faulty sight.
Just a note to all the good people who stop by RACESCRIBE. I haven’t forgotten about you, it’s just that the hardest job in the world is being unemployed, and I’ve been trying to find work in order to, you know, pay my bills.
Having said that, I’m hopeful of getting out to Pomona for the season-opening NHRA Winternationals, which will initiate the 2009 RACESCRIBE season. I’m hoping to post some columns that I’ve already worked on, meaning you will get Gary Scelzi, Hillary Will, and a preview of Funny Car and Top Fuel.
For those with NASCAR allegiances, who would you rather read about, Jeff Gordon or Robby Gordon? Well, columns about both are on the horizon. Might even be able to fit in a Sprint Cup preview before Daytona (the 500, not the Shootout). Plus, a couple of other things are lined up.
Don’t worry, there’s an Indycar column already done, but no sense in wasting it now. The season doesn’t really begin until March when Helio Castroneves goes on trial.
The point is, there’s stuff coming down the pike, even though the site hasn’t been updated for two months. It wasn’t my intent to leave it that long, but it wasn’t my intent to still be out of a job, either.
Anyway, keep checking out racescribe. I’ll try to take care of you.
He has the looks of a movie star from the 1940s, when a charming smile and an imperfect hairline were acceptable to the masses.
Ron Capps would be at home in the Golden Age of Television or the Golden Globes of 2008.
See, Ron Capps gets it. With his easygoing, affable manner he is usually the most likable person in the room, unless the room is Whit Bazemore’s den.
The best compliment Capps can be paid is that he would be at home with the legends of racing.
A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, they were willing to drive anything anywhere. They weren’t specialists, like so many drivers today. They were racecar drivers. Strap ’em in and get outta their way.
Capps is not of that caliber. Those guys are legends. But Capps comes from the same mold, different material. So do guys like Robby Gordon and Max Papis.
In the straight line world of the Powerade NHRA Drag Racing Series, Capps is the sport’s greatest ambassador not named John Force, which is to say that Capps is willing to turn left on purpose.
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