Respect
Sunday, February 21st, 2010 11:51am UTC
By Clance' McClannahan, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
Respect, a word we are taught as children, and usually take with us into adulthood. Now this isn’t the first time I have spoken out about Respect, and the lack of it in my sport, some days. It has been a couple seasons since I felt the need to discuss it, But now? I am really feeling the need. Respect is so important in NASCAR, especially on the track! At the speeds of which the boys compete, the lack of respect when behind the wheel, can become deadly, or have career ending consequences. Now I grew up with this sport, and love to watch the boys rub, bang and bump. But When I see OVER aggressive driving, IT pisses me off! Now I am glad that NASCAR has loosened the reins, but to go from a check rein to a cutting horse rein all at once is a obvious mistake! I agree, let the boys be the boys, let them show their personalities. But when you might have a Hannibal Lector among the drivers, it is time to penalize for constant aggressive actions behind the wheel. 12-4-A- Actions detrimental to the sport of Stock car racing. And I say that wrecking someone every time you hit the track is Aggressive! And already in both Nationwide and Sprint Cup, I am seeing it, and one driver has made my list. No longer will Juan be my target, he has done well and managed to come off my radar, unless I am cheering him on. Now everyone knows, I really do not have a favorite, I love this sport as a whole, and all the drivers are pretty nice guys, who happen to have great and exciting jobs, I know a lot of people like that. But I will always cheer Chevy over Toyota, Will cheer Ford over Toyota, After all, I am a American Backwoods Country Girl, and both Chevy and Ford has treated me great, and served me without fail for years, so there my loyalty will always lie! And I am not going to give away just who is on my radar this season, I hope he calms down, learns about Respect, and does well in this sport. But I am watching him, closely, as I hope NASCAR is as well. So with Respect on my mind I am thinkin a poem about it is in order.
Had this talk
From the youngster we hear;
I’ll use my bumper, Up against yours.
Up to the front,
And I’ll continue to dump.
Anyone, who gets in my way.
I’m a rookie of NASCAR,
And I’m here to stay!
Hello,
Just a veteran here.
You just spun me, So now I fear.
A Lesson,
Must now be learned.
I think I’ll wait, Til you’re in the turn.
Then with a bump, Grinning so wide.
I’ll teach you,
Not to mess with my ride!
You have so much,
To learn here son.
If you seek success,
When it’s all said and done.
And wreckin’ race cars,
Is not the key.
See some of your moves,
Can cause you to bleed.
So just calm down,
Run a good race.
Or in the future,
We may meet face to face.
I’m really glad,
We had this talk.
Maybe today,
I won’t have to stalk.
Cos’ I’ll use my bumper,
Up against yours.
And to be real blunt,
I’ll wave as I pass you,
On my way to the front.
©2010 K. A. Steffek
All rights reserved
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Filed Under: Poet K. A. Steffek
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By Clance' McClannahan, Thunder Lounge
Sunday November 15, 2009
3:43pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
With their HONOR
Without these brave men and women,
There would be no Christmas, no spending of time,
Not under the American flag would we fly!
The freedoms, The liberties,
That which we know.
None would happen,
If they didn’t GO!
With Their HONOR,
And our right to CHOOSE.
These are the things,
That they give to me,
And to you.
So this Holiday,
And all of the rest too.
As you’re warm and so safe,
Thank an American Soldier,
They have what it takes.
They stand for our nation,
And they know they may fall!
But for us,
They will sacrifice all.
With their HONOR,
Their lives, they will always stake.
Just for the citizens of,
The United States!
©2009 K. A. Steffek
All rights reserved
Dedicated to our brave soldiers,
Especially those lost at Fort Hood, Texas,
If it wasn’t for you and your sacrifice,
I would not have the freedom,
To do what I love.
Thank you!
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Filed Under: Poet K. A. Steffek
Tagged As: PoetSteffek
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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Monday October 26, 2009
4:03pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
What would a weekend at Texas Motor Speedway be without Thunder Lounge™.
That’s right, it’s time to kick things back into gear and get ready for the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
This fall, we have some really, really cool things going on. Of course this is on top of the normal party goodness you’ve come to love and expect from your ol’ buddies at Thunder Lounge. In addition to the normal high profile crowd which mingles amongst the fog, we’ve got some special guests coming down from the great state of Ohio to get their groove on under the full moons light. Oh yes, the moon is always full at Thunder Lounge™
Thunder Lounge™ is pleased to announce that our brothers from another mother, On Pit Row will be joining us for the Dickies 500 weekend coming up next week at Texas Motor Speedway. We’re pleased as punch to have these guys come down all the way from Ohio, and look forward to showing them a rockin good time.
What, you’ve never heard of On Pit Row? They’re only the biggest NASCAR radio show in the Midwest, syndicated on the Fox Sports radio network, hailing and broadcasting from the Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio. Expanding onto the web, they have one of the best NASCAR news and information sites around. On top of that, their NASCAR statistical services are the best out there, and did you know they run their own dead ass simple fantasy racing game? With kick ass prizes like a dozen laps around Rockingham while YOU DRIVE an actual stock car?
These guys are great, and if you haven’t checked them out, get your biscuits on over to On Pit Row right now.
A full moon over Thunder Lounge.
I’ll be the first to admit to being busier than a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest over the past many moons, but I’ll always make time for a full moon at Thunder Lounge.
When the sun goes down, bring your party essentials on over to the one, the only, world famous Thunder Lounge™
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Filed Under: Nascar, Texas, Thunder Lounge
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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Thursday May 28, 2009
9:32am UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
I didn’t stutter.
Lance McGrew has been named the interim Crew Chief on the #88 AMP/National Guard Chevy of Dale Earnhardt Jr. starting with the June 7th event at Pocono. Team Manager Brian Whitesell will handle the duties this weekend at Dover.
In addition, Whitesell and Rex Stump (Hendricks’ lead chassis engineer) have been assigned to support McGrew on a full-time basis.
Tony Eury Jr. will move to a key position within Hendrick Motorsports’ research and development group.
Read the release at Hendrick Motorsports.
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Filed Under: Nascar
Trackback URL for: New Crew Chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr: McGrew Replaces Eury Jr
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Friday April 3, 2009
11:51am UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
There’s only one way to sum up the following headline: About. Damn. Time.
NASCAR has seen the light, and found the source. The annual awards banquet is coming to Vegas.
That should make Bruton Smith happy, as well as a large chunk of the NASCAR Nation who have let their voices ring with a distaste for the previous location in New York. A location which shunned NASCAR’s attempt to build a new track there, and turned its back on it.
It won’t save the bad jokes, but it’s a step in the right direction.
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Filed Under: Las Vegas, Nascar, Sprint Cup
Trackback URL for: They’ve Seen The Light…
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Thursday April 2, 2009
12:31pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
That’s right, it’s Texas Time. And when it’s Texas time, it’s Thunder Lounge time.
By now, you should know the drill. In case you’ve forgot, here’s the scoop.
Come on down to the infield when the sun goes down, bringing your party essentials of course. We’ll handle the rest, as we always do.
Have a shockingly good time. We sure will.
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Filed Under: Nascar
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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Monday March 9, 2009
1:36pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
This is getting out of hand. Completely.
In case you’ve been in a hole since they ran the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta, let me catch you up real quick.
The scenario: All but 6 cars have made green flag pit stops, early on in the race.
The situation: A tire escapes from the crew of Marcos Ambrose’s #47 Toyota Camry, which quickly takes off and rolls across pit road, and along the “road” of that little flat track in the infield.
So here you have a tire rolling towards cars moving at 180MPH+. Needless to say, it’s a horror story waiting to happen.
In a quick response the Gas Man, Mr. Jimmy Watts, scans for cars coming down pit road, and then hauls the mail after it. NASCAR throws a caution, all but 6 cars are trapped at least a lap down, and the drama ensues.
No, it’s not smart to run into the infield grass when cars are running 180MPH+ on the track. It’s dangerous, and foolhardy.
After quickly scanning the situation (noticing that it was clear to make a dash not only across pit row, but also noticing that there wasn’t and cars wrecking into the infield grass), Jimmy made the dash.
Let’s get a few things straight. As I said, it wasn’t smart. Look at the situation though. A tire is rolling quickly towards the racing surface, and at the time there was no indication it wouldn’t make it. How many cars would it have tore up? Could it have possibly been booted into the stands? Into the infield campgrounds? A lot of people could have been hurt. So the one (Jimmy Watts) sacrifices himself (and his NASCAR credentials) to make an effort to stop it before a lot of people could have been hurt.
Before you call bullshit, I kindly remind you of an incident at Charlotte recently. Remember the tire that got bopped into the infield and hit that camper? Yes, it can happen.
Now, a lot of blame has been placed on Jimmy for causing the caution. Again, that’s bullshit too. NASCAR would have thrown one anyway because the tire was in the infield. Like it or not, the yellow laundry was coming out, regardless of whether Jimmy went after it or let it play out.
It was a quick decision to try and ensure the safety of all, by sacrificing the safety of the one. No, it wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but hindsight is always 20/20 (or Logano/Logano if you prefer). At the time the tire was rolling, there was no way to know it wasn’t going to stop. By the time it was evident, Jimmy was all but on top of the tire.
While he did violate NASCAR rules, this is being way over dramatized. Not only in the garage, but in the media as well. The caution would have come out anyway. Period. So get over it, it was coming. Instead of nailing this guy’s ass to the wall, grow a pair and at least show a little thanks as this situation could have been much, much worse. If you want to hang someone out to dry, the tire shouldn’t have been in that situation to begin with. But things happen. The tire got away, a car knocked it and sent it rolling, and there you have it.
Quit busting this poor guy’s chops over it. It was reckless, yes, but it was also a self-sacrifice to potentially save someones life. It didn’t come to that, but it could have. Something which was unknown until he was well across the infield.
Update: March 10th, 2009
“DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jimmy Watts, a crew member for the No. 47 team in the Sprint Cup Series, has been suspended from the next four races (until April 22) for rule violations during this past Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Watts was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 9-15-U (crew members must not go on the race track for any reason while the cars are racing or while the cars are running under the yellow flag or the red flag, unless otherwise directed to do so by a NASCAR official). Watts has also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.
In addition, Frank Kerr, crew chief for the No. 47, has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Sections 12-1 and 9-4-A (crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of the team).”
You know what? That’s just fine. The potential loss of human life is worth it. Hold your heads high, guys. While there are always consequences for our actions, this is by far the lesser of two evils. Don’t listen to all the arm-chair crew chief’s out there, they weren’t there. Sometimes the right thing is the hardest thing to do, and the toughest pill to swallow. Had Jimmy not went after it, and something happened, they would have been bitching that you guys sat there and did nothing. End result, they’re always going to bitch no matter what happens.
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Filed Under: Atlanta, Nascar, Tracks
Tagged As: Atlanta, Jimmy Watts, Marcos Ambrose
Trackback URL for: Jimmy Watts, Tires, and Cautions at Atlanta
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Wednesday December 3, 2008
10:25am UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
No racing, no real news, the world is going to hell in a hand basket and thanks to Ol’ Uncle Willie we’re all reminded that no matter how damn slick we think we are, there is but one true master of the art…
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Filed Under: Nascar, Thunder Lounge, WTF? Wednesday's
Tagged As: blog
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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Friday November 14, 2008
7:23pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
The image pretty much sums it up.
NASCAR, you’re f***kin’ up. With a ban on testing at tracks where NASCAR plays ball in any of the touring series (Cup, Nationwide, Trucks, and East OR West), you’ve forced these teams (who are going to damn well test anyway, and you know it) to travel that much further to run a car.
How dumb is that? Pretty lame, if you ask me. Although I bet Andy Hillenburg is chomping at the bit. Silly to add a half-mile right outside the backstretch? I think not.
What NASCAR has done
NASCAR has saved face, and created positive press. Does anyone really think this is going to save anyone any money? Are there tracks out there where the teams can go?
The answers to those questions are, “No”, and “You bet your ass”.
Teams need data to make their cars better. They get the best data from a car on a track, with telemetry.
Ever hear of Texas World Speedway? From their website:
“TWS is located on approximately 375 acres with direct access to Highway 6 south of College Station, Texas. In addition to the two mile “D” shaped oval with 22 degree banking turns with 8 degree banking in the front of the grandstands, TWS is a road racers speedway with a 1.8, 1.9 and 2.9 mile high speed road courses. These are the primary track layouts for TWS; however, there are other layouts that can be customized (for example, a 3 mile grand prix road course).“
Sure is a long drive from Charlotte.
What NASCAR should have done
Ban any and all testing at tracks other than Charlotte, Martinsville, Rockingham. Period. Sanctioned by NASCAR or not.
Let teams test all they want, whenever they want, but keep it close enough to home to make it cheap.
OK, the only real benefit there is Charlotte. There are several short tracks in the area they could test at, and (unfortunately) Rockingham is still fair game.
However, what makes up the meat of the schedule? Mile and a half cookie cutters. Where do teams spend a ton of time testing at? Kentucky. See where this is going? Now those will shift to more runs down in Texas. More fuel, further distance, more days away.
So NASCAR may have put on a good game face for the media, but all we have to say is, “Gentlemen, hit your buttons.”
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Filed Under: Nascar, Nationwide Series, Sprint Cup
Tagged As: Bullshit, NASCAR Policies, testing
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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Wednesday October 29, 2008
5:15pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
You’re two days away from the biggest Halloween party on the planet.
You know how we roll, and unlike Wheaton, we won’t be rickrolling you on this one. Come one, come all, come often. Halloween was made for Thunder Lounge, racing, watching NASCAR and drinkin’ beeeeeer.
(Someday we’ll get back to covering the series, we swear. Until then, check out some posts from a few of the Lounge Lizards.)
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Filed Under: Nascar, Texas, Thunder Lounge, Tracks
Tagged As: Nascar, Texas Motor Speedway, Thunder Lounge
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