Daytona “News” and Notes

—Well, it’s the first “return date” of the year, as Nascar’s best will strap on the restrictor plates at historic Daytona International Speedway Saturday Night on NBC!!! …unless it rains.

—From The “Blind Squirrel” Dept: Brian France will NOT be speaking at the GOP Convention.

—Good on Indianapolis Motor Speedway for building a dirt-track inside turn three as a “gift” for Tony Stewart.  Just think—something ELSE for the remaining 734 IndyCar “fans” to complain about!

—In somewhat-breaking news, John Wes Townley has withdrawn the #05 car from this weekend’s Xfinity Series race.  Just goes to show ya—you get into a fight with your daddy’s car, you lose driving privileges for the week.

—Oh, and David Starr is going full-time for RSS Racing in the 93 car.  This.  Changes.  EVERYTHING.

Spencer Gallagher vs. John Wes Townley: Tale O’ The Tape

(NOTE--not my video or edit)

Everybody was talking about the same thing on Sunday morning—the impending seven-month layoff from Darrell Waltrip.  Oh, and the fight the night before between Truck Series regulars Spencer Gallagher and John Wes Townley.  While the Truck Series is off this weekend, both drivers are entered in the Xfinity Series race at Daytona.  Just in case the two have another slow-dance/fight, here’s the Spade Racing Tale O’ The Tape:

Source of Daddy’s Money:

Gallagher—Really cheap flights

Townley—Really cheap chicken

Non-Family Sponsorship:

Gallagher—Alamo, a rental car company

Townley—Jive, a type of Soul Bro

Worst Thing He’s Done:

Gallagher—This fight

Townley—This fi—oh, wait, the whole “driving drunk” thing

Teammates:

Gallagher—Johnny Sauter, Kaz Grala, Ben Kennedy, Grant Enfinger

Townley—n/a

Where He’ll Be In 10 Years

Gallagher—“Business Development” for family business

Townley—“Business Development” for family business

Tony Stewart Back On Tony Stewart Bandwagon

Using fortuitous pit strategy and defensive driving from the lead, Tony Stewart won today’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma.  This was enough for Tony Stewart to get back on the Tony Stewart Bandwagon in his final season.

"Just keep me away from Ernie Irvan"

“I’ll admit it—I wasn’t following Nascar as closely as I usually do, what with my driver running so poorly for the season so far”, Stewart said from victory lane.  “But now that I have a win, I’m ready to be a fan of myself again, AND be a happy Nascar fan.”

Stewart has been a fan of himself since he entered the sport in the late-90’s, although his confidence in expressing this in public has waned since his last championship.

“The way we were able to hold off Denny Hamlin, man—that’s what I look for in a driver to root for”, Stewart explained.  “You hate to see a guy just running around the back of the pack in his final year and ruin his legacy.  Having waited so long for a win makes it all the more sweeter, and having waited so long for a win make it all the more sweeter for me as well.”

Stewart said that his focus will now turn to making the Chase for the Cup, although he is planning ahead for the future.

“I’m not gonna lie, I’m looking at some of the younger drivers to see who to follow in 2017”, Stewart said.  “I mean, Chase Elliott looks like the real deal, but something just doesn’t feel right.  Then again, it would be better than having to root for someone in a Ford.”