"Blog Extra August 8, 2010"

When reading Jim Donnelly's collaboration with Don Miller (retired VP Penske Racing South), I wasn't expecting to find out much more than what he did with Penske and the full fendered cars.

The book ("Miller's Time A Lifetime at Speed, Coastal 181 Publishing http://www.coastal181.com/) opened a window into the life of someone who changed the way drivers in all of auto racing make money. For it was Miller, working with Roger Penske, who put together what today would be looked at as a tiny trailer with what at the time was called "trinkets and trash" and discovered a revenue stream that, today insures racing drivers in all series a comfortable income--that is, of course the souvenir trailer. Miller was a drag racer of some repute, but was an even more effective marketer and builder of relationships. His relationship with the Captain's long time PR whiz Dan Luginbuhl, and what those two men would do to get the job done, were crucial to the success of Penske Racing.

Miller and Donnelly didn't sugarcoat the incident at Talladega in 1974 which cost Miller's right leg, and left him with injuries that plagued him through the years. Those would have sidelined a less dedicated person.

The most interesting facet of this book is the relationship building; not just those with Roger Penske, the Goodyear tire people, sponsors, drivers, media and fans--it includes the relationship he built, and maintains with Pat, his wife of some 48 some years. Some were fruitful, others not so much.

The net proceeds from this book are pledged to help fight child abuse and neglect in the Carolinas, which is reason enough to buy it. The other is for the window that Miller and Donnelly opens into the world of big time stock car racing.

We'll also link to Coastal181 (who's published books with Ken Schrader and the racing equivalent of the Eveready Energizer Bunny, Kenny "Herman" Wallace) from our listener page. That link is http://bit.ly/pHP28 .

Now more comments.

If a person or organization has built a relationship on openness and candor, then it causes the parties in the relationship--be they customers, fans, employees, contractors or competitors--cognitive dissonance when the first party in the relationship backs away from the openness and candor, and begins to suppress that in the name of protecting the "brand" or "relationship" (Our Twitter page says we tweet for thinkers; we've always blogged that way, and encourage you to research cognitive dissonance). Hint: it concerns perception and reality and the differences between what you think, and what really is.

If a party to a relationship backs away from candor, or punishes it, it begs some questions:

1. 
   
   Can the relationship ever regain full trust?


2. 
   
   What is the other party hiding?


3. 
   
   Is the relationship mutually beneficial, or is the other party trying to exert unfair control over the other party, when confronted with a show of equal power?

Let me state for the record that NASCAR is a private organization, and can do or say anything they please that is legal--and will most likely continue to do so. Their past history shows that they like to have a "gotcha" sanction and vague hammer that they can hold over the independent contractors who drive and compete in their series (Rule 12-A actions detrimental to stock car racing, and the absolute lack of specificity in all but the construction of the cars that compete in its series).

One does not build trust for the long run by having "gotcha's" in a relationship, be it personal or business. When Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, there were no vague clauses--just simple, measurable, definable rules on a tablet for all to see.

NASCAR--get back to being Moses, and not a Pharisee.

Comments are welcomed, and moderated for propriety, grammar and length. The best ones may be mentioned on a future "Race-Talk" program.

"Soggy Harley J Earl"

An mid morning shower sprinkled upon this trophy as it was hauled into the Infield Media Center for photos and presentations before the start of the 51st Daytona 500. As a reminder, the Daytona International Speedway does have lights, and you may be assured that NASCAR will pull out all the stops to get the race in today--even though it may end at midnight or later. Here's what they are facing: Local weather forecasts call for a 60 percent chance of showers today. That's not so bad if it's a sprinkle. If something more than that falls, the ServiceMaster Clean track crew will go to work to dry the track and do so for at least 2 hours and 15 minutes, as they circle the 2 1/2 mile trioval.

The US Army crew and the Office Depot/Old Spice crew of Stewart-Haas Racing are taking advantage of each minute...we just saw the Army car enter the "room of doom", a/k/a NASCAR Inspection room. Team co-owner Tony Stewart was taken out when Ryan Newman had a right rear tire explode in final practice yesterday morning. Stewart was, as you might expect, less than pleased with the official tire sponsor, Goodyear. Stu Grant, Goodyear's racing boss, had his engineers look at what was left of the tire, and said that a hole in the tire caused the explosion and subsequent crash. Mr. Stewart was not impressed, even though he won the Nationwide Series race (on Goodyears) yesterday.

Kevin "Bono" Manion likely enjoys the focus being placed on Stewart and Newman (who'll go to backup cars and start from the rear of the 43 car grid when the green flag flies) so his driver, pole sitter Martin Truex, Jr, can prepare for the race, whenever it runs.

We'll update definitely with a winner's snapshot, either in the Media Center or in Victory Lane. When, depends on the weather.

"Army Strong?"

Ryan Newman kinda thinks so...he smiles when he talks about Hendrick Racing horsepower for his #39 Army sponsored Chevy Impala SS. That should put a big spring in the step of his fans. Newman and new crew chief Tony Gibson chat about more than setups...both are outdoorsmen--although I don't think Ryan can sign out the sniper rifle he shot on the range at Fort Bragg to plink whitetails at 2600 feet. He's ready for practice at Daytona on/about February 5.

Boss Tony Stewart says he'll spend more time in North Carolina than he did back in Indiana now that his name's on the door and the checks. Smoke says he is the same driver who won two Sprint Cup titles and has the same get-after-it attitude that appeals to the old-time fan. Tony, however, was polished and charming while talking with us assembled scribes at his shop.

Jimmie Johnson won the SpeedTV Mario Andretti (best race car driver in the world) award. The trophy was presented by the feisty native of Montona Italy himself at the media visit at Hendrick Racing. Mario waxed elequent about the cost of racing, confidence, stupidity and cupidity in Formula One.

Johnson and teammates Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. are antsy and similarly ready for February 5. This weekend, Johnson will try to win his first Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona...and has a pretty good chance to do so with teammates Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, and Jimmy Vasser. If Johnson's team wins...it would be the first All American team to win overall honors since Rocky Moran, PJ Jones, and Mark Dismore did it 16 years ago.

"Forgotten Man?"

Jimmie Johnson, 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winner (and may I remind you, the defending Sprint Cup Champion), sits on the pole for this year's edition. His lap of 181.763 miles an hour around the 2 1/2 mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway was good enough for his first ever pole at Indy, 2nd pole of 2008--15th top 10 start of 2008...and of 239 races...the 15th time he's started on the pole. Mark Martin almost nipped Johnson for the pole...he'll share the all Chevy front row with a 181.393 mile an hour lap. Ryan Newman starts 3rd...best of the Dodge Boys at 180.970 miles an hour. Jamie McMurray heads the Blue Oval Ford gang, starting 8th at 180.321 miles an hour. The winner of last year's race--Tony Stewart--is the best of the Toyota crew starting 14th with a speed of 179.480.

Practice for a couple hours beckons.

UPDATE: We're seeing the same thing ESPN folks are seeing on their broadcast of "Happy Hour" final practice--some unusually quick tire wear. Competition VP Robin Pemberton said something about giving the teams an extra set (rights and lefts) of Goodyear Racing Tires. The powers that be (NASCAR Prexy Mike Helton, Pemberton, Series Director John Darby among others) will huddle after the practice finishes. Greg Stucker, Goodyear Racing Marketing Boss, says the teams will have up to 10 sets of tires for the race...and believe they have enough here in Indianapolis to take care of the teams.

We'll join you on raceday with some musings.

Smoke, Super Tex, Newman and the Captain

• Tony Stewart will formally apply to NASCAR for the numbers 4 and 14 for his Stewart-Haas Racing Team entries in 2008. The number 14, if you remember, was displayed on the cars driven by racing legend A. J. Foyt in Indy style competition. What drew "Smoke" to Super Tex? " I saw him (A. J.) get out of a car during the Indy 500 one year to beat on his car with a hammer. He then climbed back in and went back on the racetrack. I thought 'That guy is nuts.' " AJ gave Stewart his first Indy Car test in 1995 before the Indy Racing League was founded by Anton H. "Tony" George. They spent some quality time together during that test, and from that experience Smoke and Super Tex became fast friends.


• Tony's #14 Impala SS will be co sponsored by Office Depot and Old Spice, who distributed small towels to the news conference attendees. Wags wondered if the towels would survive the Milka Duno toss test.


• Still no word on the second driver at Stewart-Haas Racing--it's down to a short list of three and 2008 Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman is likely on that list.


• A controversy between Rusty Wallace and Newman concerning Newman's departure from Penske Racing South reared its head when Wallace stated in a Brickyard news conference that Penske let Newman go. Newman said that was not the case; the decision was more his than Roger's, and that their goals didn't align...that lack of alignment was, in Newman's words, "for that reason alone--we decided not to continue after 2008."


• In the first of two Sprint Cup practice sessions, Elliott Sadler was quick. In the second, past Brickyard winner Jimmie Johnson (you did remember that he is the defending Sprint Cup Champion?) set the fast time.

That's it for us on practice...we'll blog some pole stuff tomorrow.

Robosaurus and Rocketman Ryan Newman tame "The Beast of the Southeast"

Penske's Ryan Newman took his familiar place on the pole for Saturday's Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway; Robosaurus, the car-eating robot, munched on some tasty morsels after Newman's pole run of 189.394 miles an hour--his 42nd Pole of 219 career starts. You might not realize it...this is Newman's 5th pole of 2007...for a few breaks, he might have been in the chase. Jimmie Johnson starts 2nd...Bobby Labonte 3rd...and point leader Jeff Gordon takes the green from 4th.

Robo will also entertain the crowd on Saturday in pre race festivities for the 1/2 way point in NASCAR's 10 race Chase for the Championship.

Robo could make the Chase more interesting...he could eat the first car that is out of contention on Saturday night. No cars of tomorrow for our metal muncher...we wouldn't want to give him anything that anyone would have to be vaccinated for.

Aside: What in tarnation was the House Homeland Security Committee thinking of when they had their investigators get full vaccinations against everything except the bubonic plague before they came to NASCAR races?

Pocono Spring 2007

The pit picture is that of the Nextel Cup pointleader, Jeff Gordon. Not a lot of room behind pit wall; even less on pit road itself...so it is no wonder Kurt Busch was whacked 100 points for getting close to a crewman at Dover...the other half of Team Penske, Ryan Newman, has his 3rd straight pole...and would like nothing better than to complete a Penske Racing IRL/NASCAR double...

This was a busy pit on Sunday, when the boss of that pit, Steve Letarte, made a call that put Gordon on a different strategy for fuel and tires (good thing, since the brakes were a bit flaky and that upset the balance of the car) and that put him in the lead...just enough to hold off Newman for the win on lap 106 of a 200 lap race...when the skies opened up as only they can over the Pocono Raceway.

Would you rather be lucky than good? Gordon now has enough points over Matt Kenseth in the Nextel Cup Championship, that he can take off with no real worries.