Happy 2008! And Here Is My 2008 Wishlist!

Well, it's now 2008. The teams are now in the midst of their "Winter Thunder" testing at Daytona, Las Vegas, and for some reason, at Fontana. I guess they're choosing to test at Fontana to see if they can generate some excitement at that facility. After all, since Californians can't seem to fill the seats at this particular track, maybe a "pre-show" might help, but I sincerely doubt it! Take a date away and see what they do then! I'll touch on this later!

Getting back to the New Year, like any race fan, I have some wishes for the new 2008 season.

First and foremost, I wish for another Roush Cup Championship. And I really don't care who wins the title, but in order of preference, I pick Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, and my last choice is David Ragan, but only because of his lack of experience. Give him a couple of really good seasons, and he will be a force to be reckoned with!

I wish for David Ragan to have his break-out year and get, not only his first Cup win, but also add at least one other victory. Then maybe his critics will shut up.


Next, I wish for Greg Biffle and Jamie McMurray to both have very stellar years with at least three wins each! and maybe too, have them both make a run for the Cup, and both make The Chase. If there are any drivers who deserve to win, it's these two, and they should not be denied this year.


Next, I wish for Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards to be the two drivers to fight it out for the title, both to race #26, then through the chase to the title. Then, may the best man win! And if it did come down to being between those two, that Homestead race will be the quietest race ever watched in my house!


And speaking of Matt and Carl, I wish for them to resolve this personality problem between them, and that they become the best of friends. (Too bad Mark Martin wasn't still with Roush! He would straighten this situation out!)


And speaking of Mr. Martin, as much as I'm a bit disappointed in the fact that he's not only driving for a Chevrolet team, but for D.E.I. as well, and as much as he's now driving a number I've despised for the last seven years, I wish for him to stick that car in Victory Lane just once this year! Take that, Junior!


Digressing from Roush Racing, I wish first time Cup wins for several drivers who also deserve to win. First off, for Travis Kvapil and David Gilliland to win, taking advantage of Yates Racing's new alliance with Roush making the car bodies for Yates. Next, I wish for Toyota's first three wins to be given to them by Dave Blaney, David Reutimann and Jacques Villenueve . Take that, Tony!


Next, I wish for the end of the domination by Hendrick. I would like to see their collective butts get a good whipping at Daytona by Roush, and for that to set the stage for the rest of the 2008 season! I really don't like wishing ill-will on anyone, but I do not like Hendrick Motorsports, or any of their "chosen ones", and I would love to see Jeffy, Jimmie, and Junior to be held win less all year, then for the three of them to all miss the chase! Take that, Junior Nation!


Next, I wish NASCAR would do something about their precious C.O.T. For the most part, the car has merit. But, for crying out loud, get rid of that dorky NOPI wing and cut down the size of that splitter! Here's an idea, keep the basic car, but make it so that the entire front and rear sheet metal has to be "factory original". That would give the car a somewhat stock appearance.


Next, I wish good fortune for two Rookies, Patrick Carpentier and Jacques Villeneuve. Like I said, I hope Jacques hands Toyota their third victory, after Blaney and Reutimann hand them their first two!

Next, I wish for another Roush Nationwide (formally Busch) Series Championship, and I'll even go as far as to say I hope it's David Ragan who does it!


Next, my wish for the Truck Series is that Eric Darnell goes on a tare and wins several races and the title. And I wish for Colin Braun to win a race or two on his way to the "Rookie Of The Year"!


Next, I wish for NASCAR to really pay attention to the races and the attendance, and to really shake up the schedule for 2009. Here is what I would like to see: First, get rid of Martinsville all together. As much as NASCAR is in a downward path, they have out-grown this facility. NASCAR should just bite the bullet, settle this ludicrous lawsuit, and replace a Martinsville race with one race at Kentucky, and another race at a track in either Memphis or Nashville. Take one date away from California, and I suggest the September date, and give it back to Darlington. Replace Darlington's May date with a race at this really cool track in North Carolina, at a place called Rockingham. Further, take one date each away from New Hampshire, Dover, Atlanta, Pocono, and believe it or not, until they find a viable solution to boring restrictor plate races, Talladega. And for that matter, find another road course to replace Watkins Glen, say Brainerd in Minnesota or Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin, two of the most beautiful road courses in the United States. Wouldn't a race at one of those tracks be a hoot! And maybe too, replace one of those oval track dates with a Cup Race at "The Milwaukee Mile". While they're at it, replace another oval track date with a race at Rusty's track in Iowa. After all, it just doesn't seem like the west coast or New York, or the Northwest, are truly interested in having NASCAR tracks in their area! But most of all, I wish for one race a year that pays homage to NASCAR's roots. I'm talking about a dirt track at one of the Illinois Fairground tracks where ARCA races! Bet that race would sell out in one day!


And saying all that, I wish that everyone would get their act in gear and get on with the major remodeling of the Cayuga Speedway! For those of you who don't know, the Cayuga Speedway owners want to expand the track from the current 5/8 of a mile (reputed to have been designed after the famous North Wilksborough Speedway) to a mile in length, and with 80,000 seats! I know it would take a while to convince the Mandarins of NASCAR that the track would deserve a Cup date, but we can hope, can't we?


Next, I wish that both Brian France and Bruton Smith see the error of their ways and let someone whose interest is in keeping fans happy, and not lining their pockets take over the NASCAR merchandising. And when they do, and the licencing gets straightened out, I wish for Jack Roush to buy back the Checkered Flag Sports Company, and give us back the quality diecasts we grew accustomed to from the former Team Caliber. Maybe then, I'll feel like I'm actually getting my dollar's worth when I buy a diecast.


And saying that, I wish that Brian France would wake up and realise that not all NASCAR fans are Junior, Senior, or Jeff Gordan fans! In fact, I know there are fans who do not like, never have liked, nor ever will like, those three drivers. I am one of them! Which leads me to my next wish. Not only do I wish that from France, but I wish the TV commentators would realise it too! Last year, I got so sick of "All Junior, all the time", and for thinking that there was only two drivers in the race (the two from Hendrick), that watching a race was sickening! The best one was Richmond in September. David Ragan finished third, and the gang from ESPN/ABC seemed shocked! "Where did he come from?" they asked. Well, Messrs. Punch, Wallace, and Petree, David was in the top-10 all race, but you three were so wrapped up in Junior, Jeffy-poo, and Cheater-boy, that you didn't notice! Wake-up!


And here's one that makes my blood boil every time it happens. Next time Chad Knaus gets caught breaking the rules, I wish NASCAR would ban him for life! And make sure that he stays away from the track! And set a precedent, park the #48 team for at least five races, driver and all! And once the team returns, if Knaus is caught making contact through the cell phone, or internet, or whatever way, sit the team out again! And make them sit out until Knaus is permanently removed from Hendrick Motorsports and racing altogether! You would have done that long ago if Knaus had of been a Roush Crew Chief, and you know it! Hey Mr. France, and Mr. Helton, show us that you are not as partial to Hendrick and his band of cheaters as everyone thinks you are! I dare you!


But most of all, I wish for a safe year in racing, and that this "Car Of Tomorrow", which is now the "Car Of Today" , doesn't make a total dud out of the racing.


Now, bring on 2008!