Spade Racing Picks: Uncle Max vs. Mystery Picker—Martinsville

Before I head out on my weeklong vacation (last one of the year!) I’d like to ask this simple question—what the heck was Garrett Smithley thinking on Saturday?!?  He ruined my C.Bell pick in the Xfinity Series race!  And this isn’t the first time this has happened.

I suggest a system similar to the one we have at MY job for safety violations:

First—Verbal warning, must clean up mess

Second—Written warning, must review training procedures, loses spot in break room seating “pecking order”

Third—Reported to corporate, may result in termination, if not the employee is required to supply donuts to the next all-staff meeting

Fourth—Automatic termination, all contents of locker available to all

CUP SERIES First Data 500: Mystery Picker (1 win) picks Jimmie Johnson.  Favorite (4 wins): Kyle Busch—I’ll keep picking Rowdy till he comes through—or I get tired of it.  Next Favorite (3 wins): Chase Elliott—about the only place a Chevy can win (but I got the right one).  Dark Horse: Matt DiBennedetto—why not?

TRUCK SERIES Hall of Fame 200 (8 wins): Harrison Burton—about time he starts showing why he’s getting the 20 Xfinity ride next year (well, besides connections and sponsorship).

Opening a Sealed Box of 2019 Donruss Racing Cards PACK 22

Recently I got a sealed box of 2019 Donruss Racing Cards—24 packs, 8 cards per pack.  Join me as I go through the entire case, pack-by-pack, to see what awaited me. (Click any picture to enlarge)

PACK 22 OF 24: RP, Bobby, and Smiley

OVERVIEW: Another nice mixture—even if we get some repeats—of the past, present, and future.  We also get the full range of facial expressions, from Daneil Suarez looking like the happiest man in the garage to Bobby Labonte looking like he’s about to be audited.

SPECIAL SPECIAL: I don’t know why, but Donruss chose a picture of Brad Keselowski for his RACE KINGS card where it looks like he’s dancing a jig.

IN FOCUS: So you’re doing a card on Richard Petty.  And you’re mentioning how much he smiled when at the track.  Why the HECK would you choose a picture where he’s NOT SMILING?!?

SPOTLIGHT: Derek Kruas is NEXT IN LINE as his derring-do against Kevin Harvick is promoted.  Also, is it just me or is every driver in the K&N West Series sponsored by Napa?

SCORE: 7 contingency decals out of 10

Toyota to Withdraw from Nascar Due to Complains on Facebook Post

In a move that has shocked the Nascar world, Toyota Racing Development has announced that as of the end of the year they will no longer be involved in stock car racing.  The decision comes after a string of complaints posted to a Toyota Racing Facebook post earlier this week.

"WhAt AbOuT jEfFrEy EaRnHaRdT?"

“The will of the people must be honored”, said TRD spokesman Herman Blanche.  “We only realize now the amount of anger our mere presence in Nascar has caused the sport’s many fans, and will retreat from the sport effective the end of this season.”

The post in question—one in which three Toyota Camry’s were seen dueling for position with the caption, “Ready for Kansas?  We are!” prompted vitriol from a number of Facebook users, who took to the sponsored post’s comments section to register their disgust.

“Toyota in the sport is KILLING nascar!”, one user said, continuing with “This is why i don’t watch anymore!!!1!”  Another user said “I will NEVER support a company that sends money overseas—bring back Dodge to Nascar!”

The decision has already caused a major shakeup at Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota’s lead team.  A team executive was said to be frantically making phone calls to Chevrolet and Ford, as well as “a kind of a ‘Hail Mary’” email to a former Pontiac Motorsports marketing director.

“When we joined this sport over a decade ago, we were in it for the long haul”, Blanche said.  “But the complaints of a dozen or so people on a corporate social media post speaks volumes.  We’ll be pulling out our equipment, sponsorship, technical support, and millions of dollars as soon as possible.”

When word of the decision reached those who complained on said Facebook post, most celebrated while others wondered if this weekend’s race was on ESPN or TNN.