October 30, 2002

I am not sure what happened Sunday but am pretty sure it wasn’t a race.

The fans showed up like it was a race. That lady sang like there was going to be a race. Mr. Big from Aarons and his two girlfriends told the drivers to start their engines like there was going to be a race. Then we started seeing what was really going on.

You know folks if weather is a concern lets come back another time to decide the fate of a Winston Cup event.

I hit the streets running Sunday morning after hearing that the race schedule was moved up due to weather in the area of the Atlanta Motor Speedway. From that point on it was like how fast can we get to half way so we can call this a race. Believe me folks making it to half way didn’t help this travesty and, certainly doesn’t make a race.

All through the NBC telecast I felt like we were in a strange two minute warning and using hurry up offense. We never really saw any good racing because everyone was worried about when the rain will come.

I ask you folks, is that anyway to treat the fans of this sport? At this point I think half the ticket revenue should be returned to the fans. That was a cheap shot by NASCAR and NBC as well.

This race weekend was a disaster. Qualifying was rained out. The race was actually rained out but they tried to fool us with a hurried up version of cars imitating art. It was clear that rain was in the area. I don’t think it was any clearer than it was this weekend that the event would be rained out.

This race should have never been run in this type of hurried format only hoping to get to half way. The bottom line to this is that the schedule is jammed and can’t take rain delays and the like due to corporate greed. And the drivers are right in there with them too. I want to get home so I have a life. Please! If the fans weren’t here you wouldn’t have a life and hay in the field Ricky Rudd. I don’t care if and when you get home. I came to see a race and I demand satisfaction.

The fans took it in the shorts again and this must stop. And while I am just about fed up lets talk about another scam.

At Lowes Motor Speedway TNT came riding in with this bus. There was a contest to name the bus on a popular site. You know folks I have uncovered a rat. The facts are that the pit reporters for TNT at Lowes that weekend called all four names that the bus would be named before the contest even started. When it was boiled down, only those names were in the mix for final voting. Two of the names had the word “posse” in them which is a popular word that the TNT guys through around. The third name was “The Pit Crewser” Followed by “The Bus of Dreams” Roll the tape it’s all there.

The funny thing is that they never said who actually named the bus. If it was a contest lets say who won. This is another scam pulled on the fans TNT. You people never wanted the fans input from day one. You and your bus can go on parade because I just blew the top off of your little contest. So go stand on the deck and face the fans and tell them the truth. You had the name figured out before there ever was a contest to name the bus.

Can you tell that I am angry fans? I am embarrassed for NASCAR because they actually tried to call this a race. I am embarrassed for NBC for using the hurry up offense in an attempt to put me to sleep. I am further ashamed that TNT tried to scam the fans with this name the bus contest in which they already knew the name before any contest took place.

I will give you one shot at this TNT. Tell us all who the winner from the name the bus contest was. And when you come clean on it you can stand on the deck of your bus and announce to the fans that the fix was in.

You can contact Joe at: Insider Racing News