Did I Call It? Or Did I Call It.....

By Tim Pafford

         Wow.  I totally called the Daytona 500 this year.  If only I had done so in a printed format like this page before it took place...  Oh well.

        

          I woke up that morning telling my wife:

         

         "I think Clint is going to run super strong all day and get involved in a wreck that takes him out right at the end.  Then we will see a win by some one no one really knows much about."  Well that's what happened!

         Clint Bowyer lead the most laps for the day, but got involved in a crash with four laps to finish the event.  Then, to the shock of many, Trevor Bayne wins the Daytona 500 in only his 2nd points event in a Cup car!

The Jacket

 By Tim Pafford

       I have a Rusty Wallace jacket. To me, it is more than a simple, warm article of clothing. It is a reminder. It is a reminder of good times and beloved memories; for it was a gift to me from my grandfather.
       My grandfather spent his life working hard and reaping the benefits to his hard work, and to this day, he is  a founding contributor to my work ethic and dedication to my occupational duties. If the day was long, the night's rest was shorter. If it meant taking the job unto yourself and letting others blow like chaff in the wind, so be it. The work needed to be completed, and he was the only one who know how to get it to its finishing point.
       My grandfather made this level of commitment his life's work, and he profited greatly. He lived in a beautiful mansion he designed and built himself. He enjoyed a social life of his choosing and found pleasure through his business deals and nights out on the town. I have not reached the grandeur he has. But I look to his model as a blueprint for attainment and use the stories he told me as learning tools so that I can grow closer to being the man he was.
       Some of his stories went with the warm article of clothing (that still nearly looks like new). Grandpa told me stories of the Wallaces. Kenny was very respectful and funny. Rusty was successful and hard working with a growing sense of business. While Mike was a pompous and chauvinistic ass.
       Grandpa made excellent deals and promotions with Rusty. Many say my grandfather's greatest business accomplishment was successfully owning and operating Friction Masters out of St. Louis, MO.  He made sponsorship deals with Rusty, and Rusty used Grandpa's products in his race vehicles. When Rusty won races and championships, Friction Masters received recognition and awareness in the racing community that helped drive business and revenue for my grandfather and seemed to assist in Rusty's racing success.
       So, while others may try to say I look like some one who enjoys or a boring sport or beer (because Rusty's sponsor in Cup racing was Miller Beer), I wear my jacket to remember the stories my grandfather told me and remember the great businessman he was.  My jacket helps me to keep my focus on my goals, dreams, and continuing aspirations. The only thing I lack now is the high profile contact to help me reach the final goals of this current path!  Thank you, Grandpa.

Crank on Fox?

        I have been wondering more and more.... How many hill-billies are cranking it up with crank during the "Crank It Up" sections of the races on Fox Sports? I am sure it is many.
        It seems to be a fitting way for all the flag wavin', war lovin', lack of Separation of Church and State agreein', hole in jeans wearin' - but Republican votin' anyways- hill-billies would do. I never really understood why people saw me as a full oxymoron of sports fanaticism when they found me to be a lover of NASCAR racing. As I have grown older, I see why they wondered. It really is a sport for brain-dead, drunk, drug addicts who love watching cars drive in circles till a huge wreck takes place.
        Do they only root for a winner to not look like a full on barbarian....???  You decide.





By Tim Pafford

Kinda Tough

By Tim Pafford

       It is really tough to want to watch the rest of the season when your favorite driver is knocked out of contention for a championship because of a grossly over blown rule violation.  Clint Bowyer and his team raced their way into The Chase  as hard as any year they made it into the final playoff spot.  But this time after winning The Chase opener, they were penalized to such a great extent that a championship in a pipe dream.

       I could understand the penalty  being so severe if it was a great performance advantage, or if safety was comprised.  But neither were the case.  It was such a small amount out of spec that I can not help but to feel that the severe penalty was more about knocking out a Chase contender that didn't have a tanker load of fans, than truly leveling a playing field for all 12 drivers.

        Just like with the Royals Baseball team, I am going to be waiting to see what he can do in next season, and just seeing what he can learn and improve on in the rest of this one.

Jack Roush is an Ispiration

By Tim Pafford

       This is a man who crashed an airplane. An airplane crash is no car accident.  There isn't an air bag, no crush panels, no drivers to stop and help you; very few of the safety features the automotive companies spend billions on every year, and one is traveling much faster than a vehicle on four wheels.  Some will say he is lucky to be alive.  But several surgeries, a total dedication to duty, and a few weeks later; he's back at the track to watch his teams compete first hand.

        Even when he was in the hospital, he was on conference calls with his teams to do all he could, from a hospital bed, to improve his teams!  That is commitment!  This is especially true considering the slow start Roush Racing has had in 2010.  They have turned the season around and are looking to have all four drivers/teams in the Chase For the Championship this year.  Not a small feat of any racing team.

       My hat is off to the "Cat in the Hat".  This man is a man with a commitment.  This is a man to be looked up to and respected.   May any business man look to Jack Roush as a role model of dedication,  commitment, drive, and tenacity. May only the best be of your future, sir.