What Goes On???

Ah the days of summer are slowly winding down and the fall is just around the corner. The past few months have been extremely uneventful but here's a run down of what went on between my last post and now...

April:
5 - WrestleMania 25 showcased what many people consider a contender for the greatest match of all time, Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker.

26 - Carl Edwards flipped at Talladega in a horrifying crash that he miraculously walked away from.

April - June:
The Stanley Cup playoffs dominated much of my time and I watched almost every single Red Wings playoff game w/ Joe and Aaron.

June 6: Went to Kentucky. Dropped off my folks and stayed a week w/ my cousin.

June 22: Came home from KY.

June 27: Met the greatest wrestler to ever lace up his boots: "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair

Dad spent some time in the hospital down there and it was to hard on Mom taking care of both Dad and the kids sooo...

July 3: My brother and I drove down to KY to pick up the parents and the kids and bring 'em back home.

July 6: Came home from KY. I drove 8 hrs straight for the first time.

Since then my Dad spent another few day in the hospital but is feeling better now. I have not done much of anything. I did go to the Highland Games this past Sat. but that's pretty much it.

One bright spot for the summer is that I've found a new show to watch: True Blood on HBO. I'll post a blog about it soon. Also I spent time drooling over any new info that come out regarding The Beatles: Rock Band. I'll blog about it soon.

There's the recap. Check ya later.

H

Since Tuesday this blog has been focusing on the upcoming opening for the NASCAR Hall of Fame and listing the results of a poll regarding who should be the first 5 inductees into the inaugural class. So far we have 7-Time Cup Series Champions Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR, the cofounder of NASCAR Bill France Sr., and NASCAR legend David Pearson.

The fifth and final spot came down to a tie vote between two of NASCAR's early superstars, Lee Petty and Junior Johnson. Both men received 8 votes out of 28. While both men are sure-fire hall-of-famers, my vote for which one should go in first goes to the man who could haul ass on Sunday and haul moonshine on Monday.

Robert Glen Johnson, Jr., nicknamed Junior, grew up on a farm in Wilkes County, North Carolina as the son of a moonshiner. As a young man, Junior aided his father's moonshining business running 'shine through the Carolina hills. He consistently outran and outwitted local police and federal agents in chases, and was never caught while delivering moonshine to customers. After being talked into driving a car in a local dirt track race, Johnson found he enjoyed racing so much that he'd do it all the time. Working his way up through the ranks, he eventually started racing in the Cup Series in 1953. Although he'd officially given up on moonshining, Junior was helping out his sick father in 1956 by tending to his daddy's 'shining still when he was caught by federal tax agents who'd been staking out his father's operation for some time. He was charged with moonshining and sentenced to serve two years at the federal prison in Chillicothe, Ohio. He was released after serving 11 months and went right back to racing. During his career as a driver, Junior won 50 races out of 313 starts. He is credited with discovering "the draft" at Daytona, using the then-mysterious concept to win the 1960 Daytona 500. Junior retired from driving in 1966 but his life in racing was far from over. Johnson began his career as a car owner in 1965 and in 30 years of owning cars he'd amassed 132 wins and 6 NASCAR Cup Series Owners Championships. In that time span he fielded cars for some of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. In 1986, Johnson, a life long Democrat, was given a Presidential Pardon from Ronald Reagan for his 1956 moonshine conviction. Johnson has seen and done it all in the sport and is deserving, in my opinion, of the final spot in the Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class.

Most folks that watch NASCAR today have never seen Junior Johnson behind the wheel of a racecar, but tonight on ESPN2 there will be a race featuring some of NASCAR's legendary drivers of the past, including Junior Johnson. I emplore you to check it out tonight at 6PM.

I hope you've enjoyed this series on who might should go into NASCAR's first Hall of Fame class. If you agree or disagree with any of the names listed, leave me a comment and tell me why. Thanks for reading.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame - Who Should Go In? Part 3

On Tuesday we took a look at the fact that there will be a NASCAR Hall of Fame opening in the spring of next year. We also went over how the induction process will work to select Hall of Famers. Finally we talked about the list compiled on a website made up by taking five votes from 28 folks who know their NASCAR. On Wednesday we took a look at the top two vote getters, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty, and why they should be inducted. Yesterday we focused on the third highest vote getter, the co-founder of NASCAR, William Getty France Sr.

Today we'll talk about the man who tied with "Big Bill" in the poll, the driver with second largest number of wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, "The Silver Fox" David Pearson.


Before the "Modern Era", it was not uncommon for many of the sport's top stars to pick and choose which races they would run, as some races were more "valuable" in points and pay than others. David Pearson, who appeared on the scene in 1960 and continued racing until 1986, was one of those kinda drivers. Only three times in that time period did Pearson run the full schedule. All three of those times (1966, 68, and 69) he won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. Pearson also had a storied rivalry with "The King" Richard Petty. Between 1963-1977, Pearson and Petty finished 1st and 2nd (not respectively) sixty-three times! Also, despite only running 574 races in his career (compared to Petty's 1184), Pearson won 105 races, the second most of any driver and the only other man to have more than 100 wins in the Series. Had Pearson raced the full schedule more often, it's not entirely improbable that he would have won more races and championships than Petty or Earnhardt. With stats like that, you'd be hard pressed to argue against putting David Pearson in the Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class.

Richard Petty and David Pearson

Tomorrow we'll profile the final top-five vote getter, a man who was hard to beat in an automobile, whether he was haulin' ass on the track or hauling 'shine on dirt roads. We'll also take a look at some other NASCAR legends whose names and credential make it worth considering their induction in the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. See ya tomorrow.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame - Who Should Go In? Part 2

On Tuesday, we took a look at the fact that there will be a NASCAR Hall of Fame opening in the spring of next year. We also went over how the induction process will work to select Hall of Famers. Finally we talked about the list compiled on a website made up by taking five votes from 28 folks who know their NASCAR. Yesterday we took a look at the top two vote getters, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty, and why they should be inducted. Today we'll focus on the individual who tied for the third most votes (22 of 28), but will slide solely into third with my executive vote, William Getty France Sr.

The story of William Getty France Sr. and that of NASCAR are completely inseparable. The tale is really too long to regale in this post, but to keep it short: Prior to World War II, stock car racing was a growing attraction. Despite the sport's rising popularity with fans, drivers were often victimized by shady promoters who would leave events with all the money before drivers were paid. On December 14, 1947, a man named Bill France, who was well known in the racing community as a driver and promoter in his own right, gathered with influential drivers, mechanics, car owners, and promoters at the Ebony Bar inside the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Florida. In these meetings, they decided that this form of racing would not grow without a formal sanctioning organization, standardized rules, regular schedule, and an organized championship. Through this, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) was formed. France ran and controlled NASCAR from it's inception until 1972, when he handed the reigns of the business over to his son, Bill Jr.

Although "Big Bill" was no longer in control, he still remained very active and influential behind the scenes. While he certainly didn't create NASCAR single-handedly, it's probably safe to say that without Bill France Sr., we may not have a nationally recognized stock car racing organization like NASCAR today. "Big" Bill France, who passed away in 1992, should certainly be inducted into the Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class.

Some may argue that because he took all the credit for creating NASCAR and because he ran the company like a dictatorship, he should not be honored so highly. The fact remains, however, that under France's leadership, NASCAR reached the "crest of the hill" before exploding into the massive, money-making machine that it became under his son's reign.

Tomorrow we'll look at the individual who tied with France in the unofficial poll, a man that could have rivaled Petty and Earnhardt in wins and championships if he'd only raced the full Cup Series schedule more often. See ya then.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame - Who Should Go In? Part 1

Yesterday we took a look at the fact that there will be a NASCAR Hall of Fame opening in the spring of next year. We also went over how the induction process will work to select Hall of Famers. Finally we talked about the list compiled on a website made up by taking five votes from 28 folks who know their NASCAR. Today we will take a look at the top two vote getters and why they should be inducted.

For those of you who are not into NASCAR, there are really only two names that can go at the top of the list when inducting the Inaugural NHOF Class.

Petty and Earnhardt... or Earnhardt and Petty.

The most die-hard fan will tell you that it must go one way or the other.

The panel that was polled voted unanimously on only one name.

The individual who received the most votes (28) was the man with more NASCAR victories than any other driver, "The King" - Richard Petty. In a career that spanned from 1958 until 1992, "King Richard" has certainly earned all of that and I wouldn't be surprised to see him unanimously voted in by the actual voting committee. With 200 NASCAR Cup Series victories and 7 NASCAR Cup Series Championships (tied with only one other driver for most Championships), Richard Petty should undoubtedly be in the inaugural class.

This means that the individual to receive the second most votes (25 of 28) is the man who tied Petty for most NASCAR Cup Series Championships in 1994, the late Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt won 76 NASCAR Cup Series races between his first start in 1975 until his death in 2001. Earnhardt also won 7 NASCAR Cup Series Championships, tying Richard Petty's record. Many of his peers and fans, including yours truly, consider "The Intimidator" the greatest stock car driver of all time! Whether you put him above, beside, or below Richard Petty, the margin between them is so close that Earnhardt is certainly worthy to be in the Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class.

Why is there a debate? Because there are too many factors that allowed Petty to accomplish what he did in the era that he did it.

Petty fans will say, "200 wins and 7 Championships vs. only 76 wins and 7 Championships... DUH!", but in the 1950s and 60s, NASCAR sponsored races on small tracks all over the south, mid-west and north-east. A driver could accumulate points by driving around to small tracks 4 and 5 times a week, beating up on the locals. This explains how Petty was able to attain 200 wins. Once a stable points system was established and NASCAR tightened their way of picking the races that are sanctioned as Cup Series events, this was no longer possible. Also during this time period, many drivers did not have much sponsorship or backing from car manufacturers, while Petty was backed by Dodge for a large majority of those years. What he did at the track translated as a testing ground for Dodge on equipment, parts, etc. and translated into money that poured into backing Petty's racing efforts. Such an advantage over the other drivers for so long must be taken into account.

Meanwhile, all of Earnhardt's wins came in NASCAR's "Modern Era" (1971-today), which has been a time when a larger group of the competition had factory money coming in combined with large corperate sponsors funding more race cars/teams, making more drivers capable of winning any given week.

Certainly, the debate will rage regardless of logic and reasoning and there is no doubt that both of these men deserve their place in the Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class.

Tomorrow we'll look at the individual who got the third most votes. It would be blasphemy not to put him in the first year, since with out him there probably wouldn't be a NASCAR, much less a NASCAR Hall of Fame. See ya tomorrow.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame - Introduction

The NASCAR Hall of Fame (NHOF) will open in the Spring of next year. It will be located in Charlotte, NC, just a few miles from the sight of the first NASCAR Cup Series Race. It's goal is to "honor NASCAR icons and create an enduring tribute to the drivers, crew members, team owners and others that have impacted the sport in the past, present and future."

Ever since the process of creating the NHOF began, the two big questions in the NASCAR community/fanbase has been who will go in the first NHOF Class and how will potential inductees be selected. Well recently the NHOF announced how their selection process will work.

1. To be eligible for induction, drivers as well as other candidates will be considered eligible after 10 years of competition or work in the industry. Careers of shorter duration can be considered under unusual circumstances. Individuals must be retired from the sport for at least three years.

2. The nomination committee, who will nominate the potential NHOF inductees to be voted on, will consist of (1) seven top-ranking NASCAR officials (chairman of the board, president and five vice presidents); (2) the NASCAR Hall of Fame executive director and its historian; (3) two track owner representatives from International Speedway Corp. tracks, two from Speedway Motorsports tracks, one from Indianapolis, one from Dover and one from Pocono, and one representative from each of four historic short tracks - Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina, Riverhead in New York and Irwindale in California. This comes out to 20 members of the nomination committee. These committee members must nominate no more than 25 candidates by June each year.

3. Once the nominees have been selected, a voting committee will vote on which nominees will go into the NHOF. The voting committee consists of (1) members of the nominating committee; (2) 14 media representatives (three each from the National Motorsports Press Association, the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Eastern Motorsports Press Association and one each from Fox, Turner, ESPN, Motor Racing Network and Performance Racing Network); (3) one representative from each manufacturer; (4) three retired drivers; (5) three retired owners; (6) and three retired crew chiefs. (7) Also, a fan vote will take place between June and Sept. 1 and their selections will count as one vote in the process. This comes out to 47 members of the voting committee plus one vote representing the fans. The voting process is to be completed by Sept. 15.

4. Once the votes have been received, the top five vote-getters each will be elected to the Hall of Fame. Ties in voting will be broken by the Hall of Fame nominating committee. The NHOF class is scheduled to be announced in October with induction the following May.

With all of that said, all we know so far is that we will see the list of the first 25 nominees for the Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class this upcoming June.

Although the opinions of a large majority of the nominating committee are not known, stockcarhistoryonline.com surveyed 28 people, including well-known motorsports competitors, journalists, officials, and one super-fan to see who would go in if they were choosing the first Class of NHOFers. Some of the folks polled are or may be involved in the process, others are not. Those polled includes Jim Hunter - Vice President of NASCAR Corporate Communications; Retired driver - Richard Petty; Current drivers Kyle Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Tony Stewart; Track presidents Roger Curtis (Michigan) and Eddie Gossage (Texas); and NASCAR media personalities Dr. Jerry Punch, Jay Adamcyk, Steve Waid, Randy Hallman, Monte Dutton, Rick Minter, Godwin Kelly, Marc Fein, Joe Menzer, Mark Aumann, Dick Conway, Duane Cross, Mike Fresina, Bryan Hallman, Mike Hembree, Jeff Owens, Dave Rodman, Jim Utter, David Poole, and Rick Houston; and one "super-fan". Some of these names are known by every fan, some are not, but trust me when I tell you that these folks (except for maybe the "super-fan") KNOW their NASCAR! Each person was allowed to name 5 picks for who should go into the Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class.

Over the next few days I'll be reviewing their picks for the Hall and commenting on each possible HOFer. Without revealing the list, let me say that these folks put out a very good list of five who should go in during the first year. I agree whole heartedly with the top 4. Tomorrow I'll profile the first two picks. If you follow NASCAR at all, it won't be any surprise who they are. See ya tomorrow.

RIP - The Rev. Hal Marchman... Shalom and Amen

I just read on several websites that the Reverend, Hal Marchman has passed away.

In 1959, shortly after becoming the Pastor of a Baptist congregation in the Daytona Beach area, Rev. Hal Marchman was asked by his friend to say the invocation (opening prayer) at an upcoming event that the friend was hosting. The friend was Bill France Sr., founding member and President of NASCAR; The event was the 500-mile stock car race at the newly built Daytona International Speedway, an event now known as the innaugural Daytona 500.

Marchman said the prayer that day and continued saying the opening prayer at each year's Daytona 500 for 45 more years. Marchman retired from his role at the track after the 2004 Daytona 500. He had been fighting dementia and memory loss for several years, but a sudden bout of illness ended his life, according to his daughter Anne Marchman-Jones.

On a personal note: when I started watching NASCAR, we began the tradition of standing up for the prayer at the beginning of each race, even though we were watching at home. Over time, there have been many men that have said many prayers before the start of the many races I've seen. The only one who stands out to me is Rev. Hal Marchman. I feel honored to have been in attendance for his final time saying the invocation.

Memorably, he closed every Daytona 500 invocation with a word of peace for those in the Jewish community. Why, I'm not sure. Regardless, I feel that it is only fitting to close the blog the same way...

God, I ask that you would be with the family of Hal Marchman. I ask that you grant them peace and comfort in this time of grief. I thank you for Hal's life and for all the work you did through him. May his life story ever be a testimony to your glory. In Jesus' name I pray...
SHALOM AND AMEN


Rest in Peace
The Reverend - Hal Marchman
1919-2009

A Tiny Tribute to a Great Fictional American (24 Spoilers, CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED!)

Out of respect for those of you who may read my blog and happen to be a fan of 24, this post will contain spoilers on last nights episode. If you do not want to know anything about what happened then PLEASE DO NOT CONTINUE....
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At 8:11 PM (24-Time), the clock ran silent for Bill Buchanan.

Since season 4 Bill has been serving his country on screen and his death on the show is a huge loss for Jack, the fictional USA, and the fanbase.

R.I.P. Bill Buchanan.

Season 4, Episode 15 - Season 7, Episode 13

And second place goes to....

right behind Nannerpus.

I Love Nannerpus!!!!

...and so should you!

Getting Ready for The Great American Race

This Sunday is the 51st running of the Daytona 500 and that means that there will be lots of smiling come race time on Sunday. Whatever day the Daytona 500 occurs on every year is like a holiday for me and my brother. I have lots of stuff to get ready and plenty of cleaning here in the basement as I prepare to welcome folks over to watch the race.

As I write this, I understand that not everyone is a NASCAR fan, so let me help you understand why you should watch the 500 on Sunday...

Everyone enjoys a big event. Whether it's a competition, an awards show, a brand new season of your favorite TV show, or even a reality television extravaganza, there's almost always a big television event that someone will enjoy.

Most guys and a lot of girls all across America enjoy watching sports. For many there is nothing bigger than the World Series, the Stanley Cup finals, the Final Four, WrestleMania, the Masters, the BCS Championship game, or the Super Bowl. All of those are examples of the biggest event that their respective sports have to offer.

Every February, there is a 10 day period of time that captivates millions of people known simply as Speedweek at Daytona. The event takes place at a magical place. This place is one where time can stand still, where history lives and breaths all around you. Here you can feel 50+ years of excitement, passion, triumph, and tragedy swirling around you as you bask in the glory of these hallowed grounds. This place is the Daytona International Speedway.


After the preliminary events have taken place over the first nine days, the main event is set. The greatest race in the world. The Daytona 500. Since it's inception in 1959, the Daytona 500 has become an annual tradition of great racing and great racing moments.

In the first Daytona 500, Lee Petty sped toward the finish line in a side-by-side battle with Johnny Beauchamp, a hiccup finish made even more complicated by the fact that Joe Weatherly, two laps down, was wedged in beside the two leaders. The three cars crossed the finish line in a dead-heat blur. Who won? Nobody knew. It was too close to call. It took three days of studying still photos of the finish before NASCAR president Bill France Sr. finally proclaimed Petty the victor. The margin of victory was determined to be 24 inches, give or take.


The 2007 edition of "The Great American Race" was another barn burner that came right down to wire. Kevin Harvick, driving for the same team who's driver died in the race six years prior to the day, edged out Mark Martin for the win in a finish that saw a major crash happen as the top 2 crossed the finish line. The margin or victory? Mere inches. Two or three at the most. NASCAR now measures the margin of victory using how many seconds it takes the second place finisher to cross the finish line after the winner. Using this formula, Kevin Harvick beat Mark Martin by 0.020 seconds. This was the closest finish in the Daytona 500 since Lee Petty won in 1959.


Last year was the 50th Daytona 500. In celebration of this race's history, NASCAR gathered all of the living winners of the 500 on stage to honor their status as Daytona 500 Champions.


Over the past 50 years, there have been many other memorable Daytona 500s. Each running is special in it's own way. As an event, you can't get any bigger. It's a brand new season of your favorite TV show since it's the start of the NASCAR season. It's a competition where drivers, cars, and crews are pitted against each other in an effort to be the best at managing all three well enough to beat the other drivers, cars, and crews. It's a reality television extravaganza where emotion is raw, tempers flare, and at any given moment someone could make a mistake and the consequences could be as little as an inconvenience or as big as the loss of a life. Finally, it's an awards show where the man who can survive and do it faster than anyone else rolls into Victory Lane and gets his name enshrined in immortality as the winner of the Harley J. Earl Trophy, signifying that he will forever be known as a champion of the Daytona 500.


As the days pass coming to the 51st Daytona 500, I will be watching lots of Speed Channel. I'm so ready for this race. It's time to reach up, pull those seatbelts tight, and brace yourselves for what could be another great Daytona 500! Wanna join me?

R.I.P. Billy Powell - Piano Player for Lynyrd Skynyrd

R.I.P. Billy Powell
Piano/Keyboard
June 3, 1952 - January 28, 2009

Billy Powell passed away yesterday morning. Another Rock & Roll legend has joined those that "belong to the ages."

Billy started taking piano lessons as a young boy. He was such a natural that his instructor stated that she was not needed. He was that good. After starting high school in Jacksonville, FL, Billy was introduced to a young fella by the name of Leon Wilkeson. After he was done with high school, Billy enrolled in a local community college where he majored in music theory. He played music with some local groups and was also did work as a roadie for an up and coming band called Lynyrd Skynyrd for about two years.

One night while with the band members, Billy sat down at a piano and played a piano rendition of a song that Skynyrd had been playing called "Freebird." After hearing Powell do his thing on the keys, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant said, "You mean to tell me, you've been playing the piano like that and you've been workin' for us for (over) a year?" Billy replied, "Well, you know, I've been classically trained most of my life." He was then informed that not only had they been searching for someone to play the keys, but that they felt he was the man for the job. Not long afterward, Lynyrd Skynyrd hit it big and soon became a household name. From 1973 until 1977, Powell and the rest of the Skynyrd boys blazed a musical trail across the world, becoming a planet wide sensation as they brought their brand of southern rock to the masses.

It all came crashing down, literally, as the band was involved in a fatal plane crash that claimed the lives of their newest guitar player, Steve Gaines, and the leader/front man for the group, Ronnie Van Zant. Billy suffered severe facial lacerations, almost completely losing his nose but was otherwise relatively uninjured. He was the first released from the hospital and was the only member of the band able to attend the funerals of the fallen.

In the first decade following the crash, Billy briefly joined a Christian rock band named Vision. Powell often spoke during the concerts about his newly found faith in Jesus Christ. He still claimed Christ as his Lord and Savior at the time of his passing.

In 1987, the surviving members of Lynyrd Skynyrd went on tour with some former members who were not with the band at the time of the crash, and with Ronnie Van Zant's younger brother Johnny on vocals. The tour went fairly well and the group continued to tour up through January 2009.

Since 1987, nearly all of the members of the original group have passed away. The group that has gone on with the name Lynyrd Skynyrd is far from the real thing without Ronnie's direction and guidance, but for whatever reason, Billy and original guitarist Gary Rossington have contributed to the tribute band since 1987.

Billy Powell suffered what is believed to have been a heart attack yesterday morning shortly after 12:00 AM. He was pronounced dead at 1:52 AM. He is survived by his wife, Ellen, and his son, Brandon.

Billy was a legend and had a legendary story to tell. Today, he is hopefully reunited with all those Skynyrd members who have already gone on. In remembering Billy Powell, we also take a moment to reflect on those other friends who have left this world.

Ronnie Van Zant - Lead Vocals
January 15, 1948 - October 20, 1977

Steve Gaines - Guitar
September 14, 1949 - October 20, 1977

Allen Collins - Guitar
July 19, 1952 - January 23, 1990

Allen died from complications of an automobile accident that occured in 1986.

Leon Wilkeson - Bass
April 2, 1952 - July 27, 2001

Leon had apparently been suffering from chronic liver and lung disease; the cause of death was deemed 'from natural causes.'

The surviving members of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd band are: Gary Rossington - guitar, Ed King - guitar, Bob Burns - drums, Artimus Pyle - drums.

Billy Powell in 2003. The last time I saw him perform in person.