While perusing NASCAR blogs and sites I came across some news that shocked me.  Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemecheck’s lawsuit against Ginn racing gives some insight into the pay-scale of two of NASCAR’s veteran drivers, and suffice to say, these guys are making some serious cash. From Jayski’s site: Both drivers joined the organization when it was MB2 Motorsports. Marlin began in 2006 with a base salary of $1.1 million, and that increased to $1.2 million for 2007. Nemechek started with MB2 in 2004 and received $900,000 for 2004, $1 million for 2005, $1.1 million for 2006 and $1.2 million for 2007. Both drivers got to keep 45% of their race winnings (Nemechek, who was 27th in points in 2006, had $4,099,914 million total in race... [Read more]

Racing sites and Internet blogs have been awash with articles this week about the alleged mass exodus of some of the IRL’s top drivers to the NASCAR ranks.  Sam Hornish Jr., Dario Franchitti, and Jacques Villeneuve, are three of IRL’s biggest stars, and if/when they join the NASCAR family, they will bring a huge shot of credibility to the sport.  That’s not to say that NASCAR is got image problems, but having more international drivers will also attract a different type of audience and hence, more diverse sponsors. Times are a changin’ in NASCAR and I think it’s a good thing.  Granted, it will take even the most seasoned IRL driver at least a year to feel comfortable driving the Cup cars, but they’re definitely... [Read more]

Jimmie Johnson has come on strong the last few weeks and is now the number one seed heading into the first Chase race at Loudon this weekend.  I’ve said before that I believe Johnson’s team knows how to stretch the rules without getting caught and I’ll go as far to say that they have the ability to “turn it on” when they absolutely need to.  I have no idea how this happens, but I’m convinced they do it. This makes Johnson a prohibitive favorite for sure.   And what about Jeff Gordon.  Let’s be honest about the 24-team as well.  Gordon won a couple of races that he had no business winning, which definitely helped his momentum in the early part of the year.  But I was skeptical of his team’s... [Read more]

If you’re a fan of all types of racing, then you know who Robin Miller is. He primarily covers open-wheel racing, but his down-home, informal, and honest style of communicating is what NASCAR reporting needs. He was one of a handful of racing experts that was calling the old CART-IRL debacle what it really was: an ego trip that was being driven by Indy Speedway owner Tony George. NASCAR needs Robin Miller to keep the pressure on Helton and Co. to keep the decisions coming out of NASCAR HQ honest. That’s not to say that NASCAR would listen to Miller any more than they would anyone else, but Miller does have an incredible amount of credibility, and his voice reaches far and wide. And talk about a breath of fresh air compared to the... [Read more]

This weekend is NASCAR’s first road race of the season, the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. The only other road race is at Watkins Glen in mid-August. However, I think it’s time for NASCAR to add at least one more road race on the schedule, simply because it challenges the drivers like no other track on the circuit. It’s no secret that 90% of current NASCAR drivers hate the road courses, primarily because they have no experience at them, but they’re fun to watch from a fan perspective. Oddly enough, they can turn into parade-lap racing, which I detest, but on a road race there are certain places that you know passes take place, and it’s a matter of one driver setting up another for... [Read more]