The Real Season

Back in February when the NASCAR season begins, it is always exciting, but in March when the IRL joins them, the North American racing scene has officially started.

I enjoyed the IRL opener in St. Pete.  Their new cars are without a doubt capable of wheel to wheel racing, and it seems like the whole field is pretty evenly matched.  Having said all of that, I find them UGLY.  If they would just put a little more body work over those wheels, (sarcasm) they would officially be sports cars.  As it is they are not "open wheel" Indy Cars.  I was pleased to find out that their are new engines in the ranks.  Chevrolet got off to a great start, and Lotus will surely get going.  I will admit that in my day, Lotus was a chassis manufacturer, and I had no idea they made engines.  Honda of course is still there too.  I congratulate Helio Castroneves.  Helio won zero races and finished 11th in points last year, and it appears as though he is going to make a statement this year.

It was unfortunate that the NASCAR 400 miler in Fontana, CA was rain shortened,but the chances are very good that Tony Stewart would have won anyway.  When Stewart limped into the chase last year I would not have given him one chance in hell, to win his third championship.  Since then he has done nothing but win.  Whatever woke him up late last year, still holds.  He should bottle it and sell it.

A glance at the World of Outlaw (WoO) Sprint Cars shows that they will be at Merced, CA on 3/30/12 and at Calistoga, CA on 3/31/12.  The current top three in the point standings are..
1st Donny Schatz  2 wins
2nd Joey Saldana
3rd Sammy Swindell
 Tied  Jason Sides

The WoO Late Models will be in Farmer City, Ill (Farmer City Raceway) on March 30 and the 31st for the Illini 100. The top three in the point standings are.............
1st Darrell Langan 2 wins
2nd Josh Richards
3rd Shane Clanton

Have fun,
The Outsider