Cats on the Hot Tin Track: Brat Pack: Sprint Schooling 101


The Young Guns are not as Young as they once were not so very long ago,, not that they are or could be considered elderly,, nope,, not by no means,,, nevertheless,, it is very apparent that these Young Fellars are looking over their shoulders to see a new a more youthful group,, dubbed the “Brat Pack” by David Caraviello, they are more than ready to fill a seat,, any seat,, Why I have seen Babies look older than some of the Up-and-Comers that are in the wings of every garage in Charlotte,, heck fire,, them owners,, they got them boys in all states of the union,, not just NC any more do they go searching for the next great driver,, but,, there is one thing that is different than in years past,,


Knack: Accompanying Credentials Required


These days when drivers are more of a commodity than they are a part of a team,, owners tend to look at the next butt that will fill a seat a little different than they used to,, it is not enough no more to just have ability on the track,, it is kinda like they used to do for the “Debs” when I was little for girls,, Prep School,, were they learned stuff like how to be polite or sit “Properly” and stuff like that,, now days,, drivers,, theses yougnuns they got a coming in,, well they are sorta getting that from the more experienced drivers and team members on the team,,, not only in how to drive,, but what to say,, when to say it,, how to dress and for the Love of Pete,, Smile,,, they have to market themselves and in some cases like Joey Logano,, the prospective owner does the marketing for them,, before a seat is even empty or cold from the last butt that sat in it,,,


Anxious Anxiety: Turn Up the Heat


Others like a one year “Seasoned Veteran” Brad Keselowski, who are trying to keep his seat with only a year of experience in it,, Sponsors leaving making it even more difficult for Jr. to concentrate on driving or perhaps vacationing, and focusing on whose name will be on the hood of a car with a driver who has little experience in the series he is currently racing in,, much less one up,,,,, It will not be easy even for Jr. due to the fact that the market is poor and add on the fact that they (sponsors) have multiple teams to look at if they want to look at all,, shame too,, most of these young fellars have plenty of talent,, unfortunately it takes more than that now,, One thing Jr. does have on his side is the fact that Mr. Hendrick will probably either offset any unexpected expenditures or totally absorb the team as well as JR Motorsports,,,,


Experience: Positively Pessimistic Plots


Drivers with Big Names are getting older,, they will be being replaced soon by younger men,, maybe even a woman or a whole group of women,, who knows,, but they will be replaces one way or another,, some will go with grace,, some,, like screaming banshees that want nothing to do with no leavings,, none the less,, they will be replaced, some by new teams like Smokes,, some by well established owners,, some,, the more wealthy will try and start a team,, Jeff could do it with his name alone,, but they will struggle as times and situations will be different than they are now,, costs,, is but one factor that some are overlooking is that the “Green Movement” that is currently Sweeping the Nation,, with everyone’s attention on how something affects the environment,, it is only time till NASCAR will either by choice or some kind of Government Controlled Regulation mandates change,, that in itself will Bankrupt many a team as there is no way of knowing just how regulated or strict the changes will be,, but one thing that certainly looks inevitable is that it is coming,, and Soon,,, Heck,, you got to be some have an Engineer now where a Mechanic once stood,, soon,, you will have to have a Resume that NASA might want to consider,, Some drivers now have degrees that can easily fit somewhere else instead of on a Track somewhere,, so who knows,, soon,, maybe you will have to be an Astronaut in order to drive a Racecar,,


Tomorrows: Ch Ch Changes,,,,


The NASCAR of Tomorrow may or may not be the Sport we now know and love,, who knows,,, I know I don’t own no Crystal Ball,, but,, I am smart enough to know that there is no way of stopping the inevitable from occurring,, whining ain’t gonna stop it,, and I can see, and what I see is Change,, more now than ever before,, Change,,,, for the Better,, not sure,, perhaps,, perhaps not,, Changes,,,


Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the stranger)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don’t tell them to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the stranger)
Ch-ch-Changes
Where’s your shame
You’ve left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can’t trace time


Keeping the Faith