Spade Racing presents The Hero Card Project 2024 Part 6

 

CLICK HERE FOR PART 5

On March 15th, I mailed out to every major, mid-major, and minor Nascar team in the three touring series for Hero Cards, the free glossy card-stock giveaways provided by race teams.  Last week I posted my first responses, but I got so many this past week I wanted to post what else I’ve received!  See what came in below, and click here to learn more about collecting Hero Cards:   

Two signed cards from Truck Series team FRE

Three series, three cards from AM Racing

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Nashville Race Picks: Uncle Max vs. 13th Place

On the plus side my work’s air conditioner is finally working again, which is a pleasant change of pace—nobody likes sweating, especially not inside.  But on the minus side, corporate decided to change the music on the intercom—to COUNTRY.

Now let me just say that I don’t have anything against Southerners.  Heck—Nascar’s become one of my favorite sports in the past few years.  But I have NEVER been able to get into any form of country music—no, not even Johnny Cash.  So now I’ve had to stock shelves, help customers, and deal with returns all to the tune of songs about pickup trucks and growing up in the middle of nowhere.  Seriously—how many songs can people write about how great small town living is—if its so great, then why do so many people live in cities and the suburbs?

Friday Night TRUCK SERIES (2 wins) Rackley Roofing 200: CHRISTIAN ECKES—I’d have gone with Frankie Muniz, but life is unfairrrrr.

Saturday Evening XFINITY SERIES (3 wins) Tennessee Lottery 250: COLE CUSTER—awaiting a return to the Cup Series…and 25th place finishes.

Sunday CUP SERIES Ally 400: 13th Place Picks ERIK JONES.  FAVORITE (1 win): ROSS CHASTAIN—back to back years for Music City watermelon smashes.  NEXT FAVORITE: DENNY HAMLIN—feeling like it’s about time he gets on a roll.  DARK HORSE: TY GIBBS—about time for a breakthrough.

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Spade Racing Opens a Box of 2023 Panini PRIZM Cards, Pack 6 of 12

PACK 6: Hailie D, in front of me, and a rambling Rusty

FIRST LOOK: I find it odd that the two drivers who seem to have Ford Performance sponsorship are Hailie Deegan and Frankie Muniz.  Oh well—life is unfairrrr.

TO THE BACK: Fun fact—I was at this race!  Well, not so much “fun” as “mundane to most of the world”.

SAY WHAT?: “Ah tell ya, ‘Ah tell ya’ is the best phrase in the world, ah tell ya.”

RATING: 6 caution laps out of 10

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NASCAR ROTY RANKINGS 1996: Ranking the Rookie of the Year Classes Through the Years

Join me as we take a look at every NASCAR Cup Rookie of the Year class from 1972 (the start of the modern era) through 2021, going from the worst to the first in terms of overall careers of each year’s rookie class.

1996

Johnny Benson's sophomore-year car

Winner: Johnny Benson Jr. (Bahari).  Runners Up: none.  Aborted Attempts: Randy MacDonald, Stacy Compton

How their careers turned out: Johnny Benson had a solid Cup career, posting a single win and making glasses cool (well, relatively speaking).  That being said, Johnny’s single win is probably what keeps this dog of a class from being at the bottom of the list.

“Fun” “Fact” about the winner: How hot was Nascar?  In 2001, Valvoline so wanted to secure its place in the sport that they bought an ownership stake in Benson’s ride (the “V” in “MBV”).  Yeah!

Ranking: #41 out of 50

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Christopher Bell Announces New Sponsor: Chase-something

Early this morning Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell announced a new sponsor would be joining the team in the 2025 season: Chase-something or other.

“As I announced on Friday, Chase will be joining the JGR team in 2025”, Bell announced while looking haggard and sleep-deprived.  “Oh, I’m sure some of you thought that I meant (Stewart-Haas Racing driver) Chase Briscoe, but what I actually meant was Chase-whatever, a new company that’s just getting started and can’t wait to become a sponsor in the Cup Series.

Though there was little evidence of the company’s existence, Bell offered proof of its veracity.

“See? See? I have a signed contract with Coach (Joe Gibbs) right here”, Briscoe said, holding up what appeared to be a one-page hand-written agreement.  “It says right here—Chase-so on and so forth will sponsor a JGR Cup car for at least two races in 2025, thus absolving Mr. Bell from any previous contract violations.  Uh, scratch that last part.”

Bell would not reveal what the company does, produces, or provides to consumers or businesses, although he showed the company’s incorporation forms.

“They were just started yesterday, isn’t that something?” Bell said.  “And they were incorporated right here in New Hampshire—that’s a pretty big coincidence too, don’t you think?  I just hope that Chase-blah blah blah is as happy with Joe Gibbs Racing as I am, now that my contract is fully iron-clad against any statements that anyone may make.”

Nobody at Chase-et cetera could be reached for comment, although the lone officer listed on the incorporation forms, a “Bistopher Chell”, had yet to return their calls.

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New Hampshire Race Picks: Uncle Max vs. 13th Place

Hey—you know what’s NOT fun?

No, it’s not getting picks wrong.  It’s not having air conditioning at your place of work during the summer.  The HVAC system went on the fritz on Tuesday, and we’ve barely had it be any cooler than the heat outside since.  According to my boss, the repair guys should be back this afternoon to fix things, and boy do I hope so!

You see, I don’t exactly do well in the heat.  As much as I like spending time at the beach, I also do that in early June, because even going into the ocean when it’s 95+ isn’t enough for me. I always thought I’d do best working in a cold storage warehouse, but I think that ship has sailed.

TRUCK SERIES (2 wins) off

Saturday Afternoon XFINITY SERIES (3 wins) SciAps 200: RILEY HERBST—revenge is a dish best served Terrible.

Sunday CUP SERIES USA Today 301: 13th Place Picks JUSTIN HALEY.  FAVORITE (1 win): RYAN BLANEY—back to back is a possibly for a non-HMS, non-Gibbs car when they’re not at intermediates.  NEXT FAVORITE: KYLE LARSON—best way to avoid crashing?  Winning.  DARK HORSE: KYLE BUSCH—do they serve lobster at Cheddars?

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Spade Racing Opens a Box of 2023 Panini PRIZM Cards, Pack 5 of 12

PACK 5: Cole Moore, the Nascar tour, and a word choice that’s poor

FIRST LOOK: Here we have our first autograph!  And…it’s someone I don’t know.  Oh well—from the looks of it he races for the Better Business Bureau.

TO THE BACK: Well, of course someone would appreciate winning somewhere.  Who’s shown up to a track, won, and been unhappy?  Well, besides Kyle Busch.

SAY WHAT?: “Oh, I get it.  Well, THIS widescreen is worth more than you card geeks will ever seen in your lifetimes.”

RATING: 4 associate sponsors out of 10

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Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

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NASCAR ROTY RANKINGS 1995: Ranking the Rookie of the Year Classes Through the Years

Ricky Craven

Join me as we take a look at every NASCAR Cup Rookie of the Year class from 1972 (the start of the modern era) through 2021, going from the worst to the first in terms of overall careers of each year’s rookie class.

1995

Winner: Ricky Craven (Larry Hedrick).  Runners Up: Robert Pressley (Leo Jackson), Randy LaJoie (Bill Davis), Davy Jones (Jasper).  Aborted Attempts: Steve Kinser, Mike Chase, Gary Bradberry, Terry Byers

How their careers turned out: Ricky Craven’s career is a story of “what might have been”, as injuries stymied what appeared to be a great racing talent.  The other three drivers in this class, however, saw far greater success in developmental series like the Busch Series and the IRL.

“Fun” “Fact” about the winner: Ricky’s famous 2003 Darlington win by a nose was the last win for Pontiac, the last win for a Tide-sponsored car, and the last time Kurt Busch appeared likable for a decade.

Ranking: #27 out of 50

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The Nascar Charter Crisis Explained

Lately you may have heard about the slow-moving and often contentious negotiations between Nascar and its team owners about renewing its charters.  Or you may actually have a life.  Well, for those of you with a fulfilling existence outside of racing, here’s a quick breakdown of the…well, breakdown.

Q: What are charters anyways?

A: Charters are guaranteed spots in the field for 36 different entries currently controlled by 14 different owners.  OK, OK—15, I’ll count JGR and 23XI separately.

Q: Why don’t they just call them “franchises”?

A: Fear of Bill France Sr. and Bill France Jr. climbing out of their graves to stalk the earth.

Q: What’s the biggest issue?

A: Nascar wants to keep them to a limited time period (concurrent with their tv rights deals) while team owners want to have them in perpetuity (concurrent with Kevin Harvick’s level of patience with Clint Bowyer).

Q: What’s the other big issue?

A: Teams want a bigger “slice of the pie” when it comes to media rights.  Currently Nascar “double-dips” with payouts to itself and ISC, tracks owned by the France family.  And we all know that Nascar drivers would NEVER double-dip on anything—isn’t that right, Kyle Busch?

Q: What’s the oddest thing to come out of the negotiations?

A: The France family wants to retain the right to purchase charters, because I guess they want a repeat of Vision Racing from IndyCar.

Q: Is this a case of Nascar showing a reluctance to adapt to the way much more successful series like Formula 1 operate, or just team owners seeking ways to gain even more control despite most of them showing they probably should be kept far away from the rule book?

A: Yes.

Q: Is there any chance of the team owners starting a CART-like breakaway series?

A: Not really, although teams could conceivably leave the sport entirely—but what would we do without Rick Ware Racing coming in 35th?

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

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Iowa Race Picks: Uncle Max vs. 13th Place

AND I’M BACK!

My annual beach vacation went splendidly.  Good food, good beers, good friends old and new, and not too bad of a sunburn.  Of course I’ve spent the past few days reacclimatizing myself to work, which is nevvvver fun.  Some people just can’t read detailed emailed instructions I guess.

As for my picks, well, they haven’t been all that great over the past few weeks.  So, much like most Nascar teams will be doing after the Olympic break, I’m hoping to get on a hot streak coming off of some time off.  Here goes!

TRUCK SERIES (2 wins) off

Saturday Afternoon XFINITY SERIES (3 wins) HyVee Perks 250: JUSTIN ALLGAIER—home state win for “Thunder”.

Sunday CUP SERIES Iowa Corn 350: 13th Place Picks BRAD KESELOWSKI.  FAVORITE (1 win): CHRISTOPHER BELL—I mean, he DID win here in the last Xfinity Series race in 2019.  NEXT FAVORITE: WILLIAM BYRON—similarly, he won here in Xfinity in 2017.  DARK HORSE: CHRIS BUESCHER—and HE won here in 2015.

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

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Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

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A MOXOC Media production

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