Just Pazzin’ Thru…random racing thoughts!

 

  • I just came off a 4 weekend straight stretch of announcing motorsports events around the country. Started with a Grand Am race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, then the IRL weekend at Richmond International Raceway, followed by the NASCAR Pepsi 400 weekend at Daytona International Speedway and finally, another Grand Am race at (and my first visit to) Iowa Speedway. Lots of different kinds of racing and plenty of memories to go with it. Highlight: I was the MC for the “Daytona Experience Walk Of Fame” ceremony and some “Fan Forums” with 2007 Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick, 1960 winner Junior Johnson, 1970 winner Pete Hamilton (with his owner, 7 time Daytona 500 winner Richard Petty), 1972, 1982 & 1988 winner Bobby Allison, 1980 winner Buddy Baker, 1990 winner Derrike Cope and 1991 winner Ernie Irvan. The Q&A sessions with each lasted about 15-20 minutes and of course, the stories told were priceless!!! It was definitely an honor and a privilege to be among that group!
  • I no sooner got back into Rochester on the Sunday of Iowa Speedway weekend when I found out that Lancaster Raceway Park was running a rescheduled stock car show on that day. So out to LRP I went–just a glutton for punishment, I guess! Thanks to Jim & Marla Reid for allowing me to contribute to the show!!! Also, because I was gone for that long, I am really looking forward to getting back on the mic at Genesee Speedway in Batavia NY. Promoter Mike Lauterborn asked me to join his announcing staff this year along with Rick Vleck, Dan Turner, Ken Hangauer, Jr. and even Dave Buchanan stepping in when he’s available. The track has undergone numerous changes but the racing has been pretty cool to call!
  • I am also privileged to be asked as a “racing expert” guest/analyst on several WNY radio and TV shows: in Rochester, Democrat & Chronicle columnist/radio host Bob Matthews invited me to talk NASCAR every Friday on his show on 1180WHAM; also, their sister station, Hot Talk 1280 WHTK and host John DiTullio, has asked me several times to talk racing on their show; in Buffalo, Dave Buchanan has had me as a frequent guest on his Sunday morning racing show on 550AM Sports Radio WGR; Chris P. Bacon and Pete Dowd on WPGI FM in Elmira has had me call in as a guest the last few years on “Track Talk” and Ron Hoodak from Time-Warner Cable in the Southern Tier has invited me to co-host Watkins Glen International preview/review shows on cable TV. Another cool thing I was asked to do was a podcast, describing a lap around Watkins Glen International by the Democrat & Chronicle’s James Johnston and podcast guru Jay Capers. It turned out pretty well! (Look for the link on the sidebar to the right) I am humbled and flattered that other racing media members respect me enough to talk racing with them! Thanks!

 

 

  • I’m still wondering about the DEI/Ginn Racing merger. I’m not sure why it came about or why it’s good for either side. I had become a big fan of Bobby Ginn ever since he bought out the MB2 Motorsports organization. However, sponsorships for both the #13 and #14 cars did not materialize so he apparently had to do SOMETHING!

  • Ashley Force probably scared 10 years of life out of her father, John Force, with her recent accident at Seattle. She got back on the throttle to “pedal” her funny car when it struck the side concrete wall, eerily reminscent of the accident which claimed the life of teammate Eric Medlen earlier this year. YIKES!

  • Rolex Grand Am Series Daytona Prototype #99 team Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing is HOT!!! They have sat on the front row of EVERY Rolex Grand Am DP race in 2007 and have won 5 races this year, including a 3-peat in the middle of the season! Bob Stallings stated at the season-opening Rolex 24 race that the team’s goal would be to contend for the series title. Even he could not have imagined at that point that his team of young drivers Alex Gurney (son of the legendary Dan Gurney) and co-driver Jon Fogarty would stand on top of the podium at 5 races this year! This all started last season when Stallings, who was driving along with hot-shoe Gurney when the team was first formed, took himself out of the cockpit in favor of finding a suitable teammate for Gurney. They certainly found it with Fogarty!

  • I was saddened to hear this week that former ABC “Wide World of Sports” broadcaster Bill Flemming had passed away. With all the coverage that motorsports gets these days, especially the huge amount of programming covering NASCAR Nextel Cup, a lot of younger race fans might not realize that us veterans had to wait 2 weeks to a month to see an edited broadcast of the Daytona 500 on “Wide World of Sports” back in the ’60’s. Bill Flemming was better known for the traditional “stick-and-ball” sports back then but he was one of those kinds of announcers who was a “utility” guy–he could broadcast anything with professionalism and excitement. His was the first voice I noticed when tuning into the races and I can probably say I tried to emulate him early in my career. Other sportscasters I have admired over the years include Jim McKay, Vin Scully and Dick Enberg. Motorsport voices (and in some cases, mentors) over the year that I have a huge respect for include Dave McClelland (drag racing’s best who inspired and encouraged me to think about announcing as a full-time career), Bob Jenkins (ESPN’s first motorsports pro, still has it!), MRN’s Barney Hall (as smooth as ever!) and Joe Moore, along with their turn reporters Dave Moody and Mike Bagley, FOX’s Mike Joy (a true pro who gets it done, whether it was pit reporting in his early career or now, the booth!), Ken Squier (we wouldn’t have had the in-car cameras here in the US without him), NHRA’s Alan Reinhart (no one handles the “Top End” of a dragstrip like he does) and Alan Bestwick (all the “hair” jokes aside, another pro!). I’m privileged to say that I learned a lot, directly and indirectly, from all these individuals. But mostly, I can count some of them as my friends!

Thanks for reading! More later…

Mike Paz, Motorsports Announcer