About JoeMenzer

Favorite Driver(s):

No answer

NASCAR fan since:

1995

Legends to me:

Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Ralph Earnhardt, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons, David Pearson, Lee Petty, Richard Petty, Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly, Cale Yarborough

Favorite tracks:

Bristol Motor Speedway, Daytona Int’l Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Richmond Int’l Raceway

First race I went to:

First NASCAR race was The Winston in 1996, but I went to other races to watch my cousin race at Mid-Ohio racetrack in the ‘80s and also saw some open-wheel stuff at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Oh.

Races I regularly go to:

Daytona 500/Speedweeks, Las Vegas

Most memorable NASCAR moment(s):

Getting this job!!!
I also was at The Winston in 2000 when Dale Jr. won, which was also the night the bridge collapsed at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. An amazing night all around. My buddy Jimmy Vogel and I were among some of the first on the scene when the bridge collapsed and you felt like you wanted to do something to help—but the best way to help was to get the heck out of the way of the emergency folks so they could do their jobs, and they did them well. It was even more impressive than what Junior did on the track that night!

Marital status:

Married

Profile:

Not sure what to put here. I’m old, or at least older (46). But I feel young and try to act young.
My greatest accomplishment(s) in life were marrying my wife, Sarah, and raising the four wonderful children we have together - Andrew, Elizabeth, Emma and Michaal. (All great kids!)
Prior to joining NASCAR.com in January, 2007, I covered the NFL and the Carolina Panthers for nearly 12 years for the Winston-Salem Journal - a great job, too, until the Journal decided it needed to save money and didn’t want to invest in covering the Panthers any longer. I also covered the NBA and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Ohio for 10 1/2 years prior to taking the job with the Journal.

Other interests:

I love writing books on the side, and have written five—including The Wildest Ride: A History of NASCAR. It has been the most popular and by far the biggest seller of any of my books.

Here for:

Discussing NASCAR with other fans, Learning more about NASCAR

JoeMenzer's buddies

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pilldk

May 10 2008 12:59

Kyle Bush

Is it possible that Kyle could have cut the wheel to the LEFT not right into Jr. and use him as the wall. Couldn’t he have ” bit the bullit” and have turned to the left down the track? I’m probably wrong but that’s the way I see it.
runbabyrun

May 06 2008 04:22

Bad Choices

Joe, you and your cohorts play a major role in the problem known as Kyle Busch. The media hype has blown his ego up to the point where he is a danger to all of the drivers on the track. He has stated that he will wreck anyone to win, a product of the term you all so lovingly crowned him with “Rowdy”. Go for the win is fine but wrecking someone when you have other choices is not. To compare him with Sr. is a big stretch just to get ink time, shame on you. Bad Boy more like Bad Chooser, but feed the monster if you must but when someone gets hurt I hope you will be the first to stand up and say “Sorry we create him, it’s our fault!”
ohiogrl

May 05 2008 18:56

Bush Bad Seed!

You really don’t want my thoughts on what Kyle did. There is always going to be a “Bad Boy” as you put it but to do what he did was dispisable. Let’s just get to next week. That is the second time I heard Bush compared to Dale Earnhart,there is no comparison and people should be ashamed to let that come out of there mouths. Bush will end up hurting someone, then let’s see if Nascar still needs a “Bad Boy”.
Dale Jr. is the better man in this whole incident!
DARINMILL

May 05 2008 17:21

KYLE BUSH GOOD FOR NASCAR???

You must not be reading what ive been reading. Kyle bush is a dirty driver and we dont want that in nascar and please dont compare him to DALE SR.Kyle bush needs to be kicked out before he hurts someone.
McCall72

Mar 31 2008 21:52

Martinsville is fine.

I wish the pansy journalists would give it a rest about Martinsville and it’s “lack of amenities”. Good Lord, I’ve been going to races long enough to remember when people went to the race to do just that-see a race. Why don’t we just put a dome over it and install air conditioning while we are at it. I sat through some of the worst weather you’ll ever have at a NASCAR event, and not once did I hear anyone out there complaining about it or any of Martinsville’s supposed lack of amenities. The only ones ever making noise about is the Press. Another thing that is overblown is the traffic. I’ve been going there for years now, and can honestly say that I don’t see what all the hype is about. In fact Martinsville probably has some of the best traffic of all the tracks that I’ve been to. Toughen up a little, and ease up on Martinsville. We need MORE Martinsville’s not anymore 1.5 mile oval sleepers.