Thoughts from an Island Girl

​Wow!!  While not winning the Second race yesterday at Daytona,  Regan Smith took a strong second place finish and qualified in the 6th starting position for Sunday's Daytona 500!  A race won by Matt Kenseth in the last two laps.  The first race was won by a very hot Tony Stewart.  So yes,  I am very glad.

One of my other favorites is Trevor Bain.   I love the underdogs and there are so few of them these days.   At least the ones who have the potential to win.   And even some of those who have had it all,  find themselves on the outside looking in.  

Take Kurt Busch.  His virtual demotion has fostered a good sense of what team play is all about.  After acting his way out of the #22 Penske sled,  he has grown a deeper appreciation of what he had.   He is also learning what it means to have to work harder and be more conservative in his approach on and off the track.   He,  like his brother has more than enough talent to dominant but a lack of appreciation has caused them a lot of negative feedback and in the case of Kurt,  the loss of big money sponsorship.

But the NASCAR silly season is even more evident in Camping World Truck Series.  Great drivers like Todd Bodine are again struggling for sponsorships and one has to wonder what was going on at the end of last year.    Bodine and his teammate were acting out,  as were other drivers and I think that truck owners were are now are,  even more hesitant to sponsor and own drivers that like to mix paint.   Just my take on all that.     I think Bodine might find some help and have stated that he will be racing in the first race.   Let's hope he and some others get that financial boost they need to competitive and even show up for the races.

​As I mentioned in my last article on NASCAR,  there is other racing going on now.   This includes the Sprint 360s at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Florida.   The event know as King of the 360s kicked off last night with Shane Stewart picking up the victory.   42 cars lined up for the feature event, with five heats an A and B-Main and of course the final race of the evening,  take by the Canadian born Shane Stewart.

​East Bay will have it's second night of racing for the King of the 360s this evening,  with the final night and championship race on Saturday evening at the 1/3 mile clay track.  Down the road at Volusia Speedway in Barberville, Florida was the running of the season opener in the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars.  The racing was held on February 18th and 19th with double features on the 19th.    On opening night Danny Lasoski picked up the A-Main feature event,  while on the 19th, the first feature was taken by Donny Schatz.    For the big A-Main feature championship,  Wisconsin's own Craig Dollansky took the checkered.

​The 410 sprint series doesn't race again until the first week of March,  when they travel to 'The Dirt Track in Las Vegas" for one night of racing.  Following that on the 10th of March they travel to Perris Speedway in California.

​But the World of Outlaws have their Late Model Series.  On the opening night of late model action,the race was won by Billy Moyer of Arkansas age 54. Good for him.  One Wednesday  the track succumbed to the rain and so that action was postponed until Friday afternoon.

​One Thursday evening, 39-yr old Dennis Erb Jr. took the A-Main checkered, winning $10,000 dollars for his efforts.

​The final night of racing will be this afternoon,  so if you get this early enough you can always get out there.   Otherwise, for you at home,  simply register at Dirtvision.com and listen to the race free of charge and meet some other racing fans who share your robust love of racing, in one of the premier racing divisions in America.