• lead sports-autoracing story
There's nothing wrong with rooting for losers.
Sometimes, they're lovable.
Like the 1962 New York Mets. Or the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Or the Chicago Cubs for most of the past century.
But that's because they were expected to lose.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't.
He's supposed to be a NASCAR star, the face of his sport, a rightful and fitting heir to a proud stock-car legacy. He's supposed to be racing royalty, the son of a seven-time champion. He's supposed to win.
Views: 7 | Fri, Jul 3 2009• sports-autoracing headlines
McNulty: Earnhardt most overrated athlete in sports
There's nothing wrong with rooting for losers.Sometimes, they're lovable.Like the 1962 New York Mets. Or the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Or the Chicago Cubs for most of the past century.But that's because they were expected to lose.Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't.He's supposed to be a NASCAR star, the face of his sport, a rightful and fitting heir to a proud stock-car legacy. He's supposed to be racing royalty, the son of a seven-time champion. He's supposed to win.
Dire times no longer a big joke for NASCAR teams
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- An April Fool's joke that sent NASCAR nation into a frenzy earlier this year is starting to ring a little too true midway through the season.On April 1 this year, one Web site wrote a mock story saying President Barack Obama forced Chrysler and General Motors to pull out of NASCAR.As NASCAR enters the second half of 2009, both manufacturers have lessened their support and cut their motorsports funding. While no presidential directive is forcing them out, the reality of their precarious situations is being felt by their teams.
Amid an economic crash, Tony Stewart grows new business
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Tony Stewart continues to buck the trend in NASCAR.The economy is struggling, and the effects are being felt at the track. There are more empty seats. Sponsors are harder to come by. Car manufacturers are pulling back their cash.It would seem like the absolutely wrong time to try to get a team off the ground.Stewart is not only proving it can be done, his Stewart-Haas Racing team is thriving like no other in NASCAR.
NASCAR: What a season it's been
It might have been one of the biggest moments the sport has had in years. So big that Larry King called. And Ellen DeGeneres. So big that NASCAR was discussed on National Public Radio. The sport left its shell, its core followers, and resonated with mainstream America. Carl Edwards' race car went airborne at Talladega, flew into the catch fence with bits of it flying into the stands and injuring several fans. Edwards landed upright on the track and he emerged unscathed.
Steering wheel to spinning reel: NASCAR's Bobby Labonte enjoys fishing with his family
On the track, NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte has "been there and done that" -- 510 starts, 21 Sprint Cup wins, including the 2000 Sprint Cup title, and more than $55 million in prize money. He spent 11 years with Joe Gibbs Racing and the past three with Petty Enterprises and now drives the No. 96 car for Hall of Fame Racing. Off the track, the Trinity resident enjoys fishing. We exchanged e-mails recently while he was in Charlotte promoting Safe Search Schools, a program to teach children Internet safety.
Wood, Childress among nominees for Hall of Fame
NEW YORK -- Former drivers-turned-owners Glen Wood and Richard Childress are among the 25 nominees for the first NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class. NASCAR released the two names Wednesday ahead of the announcement of all nominees Thursday night. Wood helped pioneer the modern-day pit stop, while Childress shares the record of 11 owner championships in NASCAR's three national series.
McMurray stays optimistic in disappointing season
Jamie McMurray could hardly wait to get the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season going. After all, he closed out last year with five top-10 finishes in the last six races, including three straight third-place runs to end the season. But after a 33rd-place showing in the No. 26 Roush Fenway Racing Ford at New Hampshire on Sunday, McMurray finds himself a disappointing 22nd in the season standings. Heading into Saturday's race at Daytona -- where the last of his two Cup wins came in July 2007 -- McMurray has just three top-10s this year with his best finish a seventh-place at Richmond.
IndyCar leaders fighting for position in points
INDIANAPOLIS -- Ryan Briscoe was on top of the IndyCar world a week ago. He was the points leader, had three straight runner-up finishes and was the only driver to complete every lap of every race. Then came a disastrous weekend at Richmond, and suddenly Roger Penske's Australian driver found himself behind two Target Chip Ganassi rivals.
Drivers apologetic after race resembling parade
RICHMOND, Va. -- Scott Dixon described the IndyCar Series race at Richmond International Raceway as "a bit of a procession, unfortunately," and said the 300-lap event was frustrating because the lack of passing made it more closely resemble a parade.
Montoya gives Patrick advice on move to NASCAR
LOUDON, N.H. -- Juan Pablo Montoya offered some friendly advice to IndyCar star Danica Patrick, a free agent who could possibly opt to jump to NASCAR in 2010."I think she's got the talent and everything, but I don't think she knows what she's getting into," Montoya said when asked how Patrick would do if she made the move from open-wheel racing to stock cars, as he has done.
Elusive appearance in Victory Lane occurred at opportune time for Petty Motorsports
FORT WORTH, Texas -- For the first time in a long time, things are looking up for Richard Petty Motorsports.First, The King got a car to Victory Lane for the first time in 10 years Sunday when Kasey Kahne won the Toyota/SaveMart 350 in California. Next week, Petty celebrates the 25th anniversary of his 200th and final win, at Daytona International Speedway.
Economic concerns loom as Keselowski eyes Cup
WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- In happier economic times, Brad Keselowski's career might be in high gear. Instead he worries that he's going nowhere fast.
FOTA wants 'independent' successor to Mosley
BOLOGNA, Italy -- Eight leading Formula One teams promised Thursday to slash costs by up to 25 percent in the next two years as part of their accord with the sport's ruling body to prevent a breakaway series.
Adamson: Petty's 200th win sparked NASCAR surge
When racing historians try to pinpoint the beginning of NASCAR's modern era, many cite the 1979 Daytona 500 -- the first event that was nationally televised from start to finish and one that featured the infamous post-race brawl between Cale Yarborough and Bobby and Donnie Allison.
Castroneves sets sights on IndyCar Series
He has won the Indianapolis 500 three times. He beat the Internal Revenue Service's charges of tax evasion. He even shimmied his way to a victory in ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."
In The Pits: Kahne win masks serious issues at RPM
SONOMA, Calif. -- It took eight winless seasons for Richard Petty to realize he was no longer NASCAR's best driver.
Red Bull X-Fighters back in the saddle in Texas
Saddling up at the Fort Worth Stockyards takes on a new meaning when the Red Bull X-Fighters return to Texas.
F1: The sport that is fast becoming a soap opera
PARIS -- It's Sunday and your television is offering a choice. On Channel A, Ferraris and other speed machines you know and love zoom around a track. Channel B has similar fare, but the racing teams and drivers are almost total unknowns.
Kyle Busch a polarizing figure in NASCAR
SAN FRANCISCO -- Kyle Busch conceded that his foil, Dale Earnhardt Jr., is NASCAR's most-loved driver. But Busch also argued that he himself is the sport's most popular.
F1 to sue group over plans for rival series
SILVERSTONE, England -- Formula One intends to sue the eight teams that announced plans for a rival series next season -- the biggest crisis to engulf the sport since the championship began in 1950.
Stewart sizzles in new owner-driver seat
It wasn't supposed to happen this quickly for Tony Stewart, NASCAR team co-owner. His first-year Stewart-Haas Racing organization was expected to have some growing pains.
NASCAR appears to be running out of gas
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- When Jimmie, Tony, Junior and the rest of NASCAR's good ol' boys make their annual pilgrimage to wine country this weekend, they will arrive in the Bay Area with a little less swagger than past years.
Communication seen as key to improving CoT, racing
The Car of Tomorrow has become the Car of Today. What hasn't changed about the race car running in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series since 2007 is that it's difficult to drive.
Owner/driver Stewart is king of NASCAR
BROOKLYN, Mich. -- When the long ribbon of Sprint Cup Series trucks, car haulers and transporters pulled out of Michigan International Speedway in the fading strands of light on Sunday evening, Tony Stewart should have been riding shotgun in the lead vehicle.
Despite doing well in Nationwide races, success still eludes NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch, Edwards in Sprint Cup
Missing out on the championship wasn't any fun for Kyle Busch or Carl Edwards last year. They had to watch the champion take the crown, knowing it was something they could have done had circumstances been a little bit different.
Goodyear seems to be making progress in Indy test
INDIANAPOLIS -- Goodyear appears to have resolved some of the problems that plagued last year's Allstate 400 in Indianapolis.
Why Danica Patrick should remain in IndyCar
Five reasons Danica Patrick either won't or shouldn't move from the IndyCar Series to NASCAR next season:
Tension increases between Kyle Busch and Earnhardt Jr.
Drivers Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. exchanged fresh barbs -- even pulling Earnhardt's fans into it -- ahead of Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.
U.S. team among 13 in F1 for 2010 season
PARIS -- Formula One will feature three new teams in the 2010 season, including one from the United States.
GM making "NASCAR-wide" cuts in support
BROOKLYN, Mich. -- General Motors has told NASCAR teams it is cutting back on its support in all of the sanctioning body's professional series.
Ho-hum Bombardier Learjet 550k disappointing for spoiled TMS IndyCar fans
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Maybe IndyCar Racing fans have gotten spoiled at Texas Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch enjoys being the center of controversy
BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Controversy just seems to naturally swirl around Kyle Busch. And it seems the more uproar, the more NASCAR's bad boy enjoys it.
Peugeot standing in way of Audi at Le Mans
PARIS -- Peugeot stands in the way of Audi's bid for a sixth straight victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Meira recovering from Indy 500 crash
INDIANAPOLIS -- Vitor Meira is off his pain medication, walking one mile a day and hoping to return to racing in time for the IndyCar season finale in October.
Adamson: Kyle Busch does it again - this time to guitar
The NASCAR fans that dislike Kyle Busch -- and they are legion -- are still buzzing about the driver's poor Pete Townshend imitation last Saturday night in Nashville, Tenn.
Grubb enjoying time at top with Stewart
LONG POND, Pa. -- Darian Grubb made his first good move when he decided to leave the Hendrick Motorsports powerhouse to join Tony Stewart's first-year team.
Petty on economy: 'It's hit us between the eyes'
RANDLEMAN, N.C. -- From behind those trademark shades, Richard Petty has seen just about everything during a half-century in racing.
In The Pits: Guitar-smashing Busch alienates fans
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kyle Busch has always bucked the system, embracing the notoriety that comes with being NASCAR's newest bad boy.
Teammates Andretti, Patrick at peace
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Andretti Green teammates Danica Patrick and Marco Andretti say there are no hard feelings between them despite rumors to the contrary.
Benson's truck team folds for lack of sponsor
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Johnny Benson lost his ride Monday when Red Horse Racing folded his team because it couldn't find sponsorship for the defending Truck Series champion.
Stewart wins first Cup points race as team owner
LONG POND, Pa. -- Tony Stewart won his first Cup points race as a team owner, coming from the rear of the field and taking a late gamble on fuel to win at Pocono Raceway.
Massey races to first career win
JOLIET, Ill. -- Top Fuel rookie Spencer Massey raced to his first career victory Sunday in the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, beating points leader and No. 1 qualifier Antron Brown in the final.
Kligerman's wild ride: Pocono to the senior prom
LONG POND, Pa. -- Parker Kligerman took off his helmet after hopping out of the car, revealing a scruffy mop of brown hair.
Venezuela's Milka Duno sets lofty goals beyond racing
FORT WORTH, Texas -- All I know is I couldn't keep up with Milka Duno at Cook Children's Medical Center on Thursday.
Todd Bodine makes a little history at Texas Motor Speedway
FORT WORTH, Texas -- It had been an ugly two months for Todd Bodine.
Bodine becomes first 5-time winner at Texas
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Todd Bodine passed up a chance to refuel on the final pit stop Friday night, and still had enough to win the fastest NASCAR Truck Series race ever at Texas Motor Speedway.
General Motors has to walk fine line in weighing Chevrolet's NASCAR investment
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Back when the high-banking turns of Texas Motor Speedway existed only in concept, before even the purchase of 1,500 acres of flatland north of Fort Worth, Chevrolet raced to the forefront.
Wack: Highs and lows of first half of NASCAR season
NASCAR's "regular season" has hit its halfway point and the season has been fairly memorable so far.
Tony Kanaan is counting on change of luck in Texas
FORT WORTH, Texas -- The man who has the all-time mark for consistency in the IndyCar Series is suddenly struggling to find his groove.
Button offers no apologies for runaway F1 success
ISTANBUL -- Formula One leader Jenson Button offered no apologies on Thursday for Brawn GP's runaway success in a championship that is providing little drama.
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