a MOXOC Media Production
PACK 24: Matty D, not meant to be, and young Terry
FIRST LOOK: Here we see a rare photo of Matt NOT whining about his lack of a job.
TO THE BACK: Yeah, and he loved the ride so much that he left to go to JGR.
SAY WHAT?: “No comment”.
RATING: 4 post race interviews out of 10
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A MOXOC Media production
Richard Petty driving for Mike Curb (1984-85)
Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).
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| Petty & Curb (courtesy Curb Records) |
Why? Richard Petty left his family-owned team following the fallout of the 1983 fall Charlotte race—a race he won with illegal tires and an oversized engine. Furthermore, Kyle Petty had started running for Petty Enterprises, and it seemed that the team could only properly run a single car full-time. Strangely, Richard Petty brought both his sponsor (STP, of course) and his car number (43, of course) along with him to music impresario Mike Curb’s team.
How successful were they? Somewhat. The previous year, Richard had finished 4th in the final points standings. In his two years with Mike Curb, he finished 10th and 14th. However, he DID score his final two race wins in 1984, so there’s that.
What was the aftermath? Richard headed back to Petty Enterprises in 1986, but both he and the team were unable to recapture any former glory. Meanwhile, the Curb team lasted three more years with no success whatsoever.
Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 6 cowboy hats with feathers in them out of 10—Richard Petty not racing for Petty Enterprises was strange, but he DID keep his trademark car number, sponsor, and shade of Petty blue.
www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly
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Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized
A MOXOC Media production
PACK 10: Three memories of my younger days
FIRST LOOK: Kind of hard to see here, but this car was co-sponsored by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. Cal Jr. was my hero growing up—like Jeff Gordon was to other 90’s kids. And Billy Ripken was an endless source of hilarity—like Robby Gordon was to other 90’s kids.
TO THE BACK: I’ve never moved out of the country, but moving remains a recurring stress dream of mine from my earlier days. Strangely, they never involve me trying to figure out what to do with all my racing cards.
SAY WHAT?: “Much like this author, I too struggle with piloting a race car.”
RATING: 6 associate sponsors out of 10
www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly
Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing
Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized
A MOXOC Media production
PACK 23: Doubletime, dropping a dime, and a quick mime
FIRST LOOK: Two slightly different versions of the same card in the same pack? Booo.
TO THE BACK: Oh wait—so the point of racing is to get the front? Thanks Kev!
SAY WHAT?: “Get me, I’m a skyscraper!”
RATING: 1 post-race argument out of 10
www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly
Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing
Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized
A MOXOC Media production
Matt Kenseth comes out of retirement for Chip Ganassi (2020)
Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).
Why? Kyle Larson’s career with Chip Ganassi Racing came to a sudden end when he said a racial slur online. Needing a replacement, CGR turned to Matt Kenseth, who had run a partial schedule in a reunion with Jack Roush in 2018 before taking the entire 2019 season off.
How successful were they? Considering they’d signed Matt “off the couch”—and the sport was in uncharted waters thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic—the combo did pretty well, typically running in the top-twenty and posting a runner-up finish at Indianapolis. All together, the 42 car finished 22nd in points.
What was the aftermath? Matt Kenseth returned to retirement, while Ganassi put Ross Chastain in the 42 car, which has since become the #1 Trackhouse entry.
Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 9 robots out of 10—the whole Larson incident was stunning, and it was made even-stranger by replacing him with someone with zero attachment to the team, sponsor, or manufacturer…who wound up doing ok for himself.
www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly
Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing
Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized
A MOXOC Media production
PACK 9: A blurry car, Carson Hocevar, and a 90’s star.
FIRST LOOK: Here we see the problem with making slick, glossy cards with metallic elements—they wind up looking like mirages in a bad desert movie.
TO THE BACK: “You want to race on Sundays”. Yup, whether you’re a Nascar fan, an NHRA fan, an F1 fan, or an F1 fan who’s willing to accept running IndyCar instead.
SAY WHAT?: “I was huge! Sure I don’t have a Cup championship, but neither did Mark Martin!”
RATING: 6 pit stalls out of 10
www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly
Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing
Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized
A MOXOC Media production
Dale Earnhardt driving Bud Moore’s Ford (1982-83)
Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).
Why? After winning the 1980 Winston Cup, Dale Earnhardt’s 1981 was one of drama. His team was sold to the controversial JD Stacy, which caused Earnhardt to leave mid-season for Richard Childress. The two hit it off, but Childress felt his team wasn’t up to Earnhardt’s driving abilities. RC suggested Earnhardt ply his trade with a more-experienced team, singling out Bud Moore as a prime destination.
How successful were they? While the Moore-Earnhardt pairing was successful by most drivers’ standards—three wins and finishing 12th and 8th in the standings—it was seen as a major disappointment for Earnhardt.
What was the aftermath? Earnhardt was lured back to Richard Childress Racing and a dynasty was born, winning six Cup championships from 1986-1994. Moore’s team remained a consistent race-winner until the mid-90’s.
Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 9 special paint scheme 1:24 diecasts out of 10—while it was still Dale Sr. running his blue-and-yellow car for an experienced team owner…IT WAS DALE SR. IN A FORD!!!
www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly
Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing
Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized
A MOXOC Media production
PACK 8: On fire, to aspire, and looking higher
FIRST LOOK: I wonder if Dan Patrick knows about this.
TO THE BACK: I really hope that Lawless Alan makes it to the Cup Series and becomes a major star, just so it can confuse the hell out of the mainstream sports media that there’s a guy named “Lawless Alan”.
SAY WHAT?: “That cloud up there looks like Matt Crafton’s head.
RATING: 7 wavearounds out of 10
www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly
Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing
Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized
A MOXOC Media production
PACK 7: A signing, some pining, and the silver lining
FIRST LOOK: Another autograph, this time by Brandon Jones. I don’t know about you, but I find drivers like him (relatively young, backed by millions, moderately though not overly successful in lower series) oddly fascinating.
TO THE BACK: I remember this win—Bill’s first in seven years. Perhaps not incidentally, the six years in between were spent by Elliott as an owner-driver. I also remember him having to cancel making an appearance at a McDonalds by my hometown during that period, which was probably for the best.
SAY WHAT?: “Oh well—at least I can’t possibly do worse than Harrison Burton, Matt DiBenedetto, or Paul Menard.”
RATING: 8 “through the field”s out of 10
www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly
Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing
Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized
A MOXOC Media production