It's come to this: I am looking forward to the next NASCAR Nationwide race. And if I get drunk and become totally honest -- my anticipation may be more than for any IndyCar race last season.
Damn you, Nationwide. DAMN YOU TO HELL FOR BEING INTERESTING. Judas priest. I really wanted the Nationwide Races Starring Danica Patrick to be boring and uninteresting. I wanted this out of loyalty to IndyCar, even though IndyCar's "story lines" have been perpetually recycled since 2005.
But NOOOOOOO. After just one Nationbusch race, I am intrigued. Even though I fell asleep and woke up with Danica P30, only to learn about The Crash later.
But I will have to tune in Saturday Friday. Why?
To see if Danica kicks James Buescher's ass. Buescher is the guy who may or may not have intentionally taken Danica out of the Fontana race. Video here.
So that means I'm falling for the NASCAR "have at it, boys (and girls)" appeal to my animal instincts. The Eye for an Eye, Kick-Ass section of the racing fan's brain.
Oh, they're good, these NASCAR people. I will give them that. Intrigue, drama, more than five guys and two teams winning, Danica vs. The Haters, story lines everywhere. With all the smack talk about Danica being fake and unworthy, she's even becoming the ... wait for it ... underdog. Are you (rhymes with "hitting") me? I'm a freak for the underdog. The Script Flipper. If this continues I could become ... a Fanica. Oh how the mighty hath fallen.
I hope Danica brings the bitchslap and hipchecks Jimmy into the safer barrier Saturday Friday, opens her mic and says "Oops, my bad."
Sorry. I gotta own up to it. Paybacks are a bitch (no, I won't add "literally" because I don't think Danica is a b-word). In case you want to tune in with me and see how it all THROWS DOWN:
This Week's Nationwide Starring Danica Patrick at Charlotte Schedule (courtesy of her Facebook fan page) -- all times (EST):
Wednesday 10.13 - Practice 10AM & 2PM
Thursday 10.14 - Practice 2:15PM & 6:15PM
Friday 10.15 - Qualifying 3PM & Race 7:30PM (both on ESPN2)
The WWF on wheels has added a new Heroine/Villainess to their cast of characters!
As you so wisely point out, P'Dog, good on them!
As for the actual racing she will learn when to hit back, and I don't think this is the time, not with that big yellow rookie stripe on her bumper.
Posted by: GeorgeK | October 11, 2010 at 12:31 PM
PD, shame you're lagging by a week. You could have been a Fontanica. Or a Dan Tana?
This week they run the new cars, so another element adds to the fun. Advance notice for Beer of the Race would be appreciated!
Posted by: Andy Bernstein | October 11, 2010 at 01:06 PM
Hey, PD. You might want to make sure you're watching FRIDAY night instead of Saturday.
Posted by: DanicaFans (GoDanica7) | October 11, 2010 at 04:21 PM
Friday?? That's not convenient for me. Can we switch it to Saturday? No? OK THEN, I guess, but I'll have to DVR it because it'll get beaten out for my live attention by a high school football homecoming game.
Posted by: pressdog | October 11, 2010 at 04:43 PM
Nascar markets their personalities (drivers) and their personalities (drivers) market the sponsors. Indycar needs to step all that up.
"The Wal-Mart Valvoline Diet Coke Chevrolet was a rocket ship tonight, Jamie, and I couldn't have dunnit without Old Spice, Old Grandad, Old Navy and Old Bay Seasonings and with the help of the good folks at Goodyear tires I'm gonna take this old number 97 out next week at Bristol and put both the Busch brothers asses into the Safer Barrier walls, you just watch and see if I don't."
Posted by: redd | October 11, 2010 at 06:22 PM
After a few seasons in NASCAR maybe we should bring back Robby Gordon and Bubbacito to OWR.
I can remember when Robby, Little Al, and Mikey regularly left donuts on each other's sidepods. With a little PT thrown in for good measure. Aaaaah, dem waz da daze!
Posted by: GeorgeK | October 11, 2010 at 07:43 PM
I too have been a closet Nationwide viewer but it has nothing to do with Whaaanica. Several years back I realized how much hungrier most of the drivers in Busch/Nationwide were, hence competitive. I am not always such a fan of the cup crowd being allowed to also mix it up, however it may ultimately make for even more exciting racing. A case in point would be Kyle the shrub Busch. Speaking of haters, the tin top establishment (sh-tkickers) have been holding a grudge against the younger Busch for years, despite the fact that he has been driving the wheels off of and winning (consistantly) in three of the NAPCAR series. Kyle is a driver in the style of many past NASCAR champions, however he is not a member of the butt smooching word mumbling boys club, nor is he the Intimidator (although he drives like DE Sr.), but is constantly criticized for being too aggressive. The truth is, NASCAR could use every Shrub they can get their hands on, he is one of the best things that has come along for that sport in years. I believe that Danica is something of a curiosity at this point but that it is doubtful that she will remain of any great interest as I do not think that she has the talent to compete in NASCAR. The only shot that she has at remaing in the series for any period of time, is if she can take a lesson from junior and assume the underdog mantle you mentioned in your blog.... Now, all she needs is a famous former top flight racing dad.
Posted by: Ken | October 12, 2010 at 04:16 AM
Danica spent the day at Charlotte talking smack. This is gonna be good.
Posted by: Andy Bernstein | October 14, 2010 at 07:20 PM
Danica knows how to work it for max media attention. Got my DVR cued to capture the mayhem Friday.
Posted by: pressdog | October 14, 2010 at 07:24 PM