And then there were two.
Phoenix and Homestead are the only two remaining races before we put the 2009 season in the books. And I’ve got to say, I’m a little bummed.
This time of year is always a little bitter sweet for me. I know there are a ton of guys that look forward to off weekends during our short offseason, but I’m not really one of them. Yeah, it will be nice to spend some time with friends and family this winter, and maybe get in a nice vacation (or two), but as soon as we leave Homestead I’m going to be counting the days until Daytona. As I’ve said here before, I’m very fortunate to be doing what I love, and it’s a pleasure to head to the track each weekend. There is nothing else I would rather be doing.
It has definitely been an interesting year, not only for my own team, but for our sport as a whole. From brutal layoffs, to Jeremy Mayfield, the emergence of some young drivers, and Jimmie Johnson’s continued dominance have all made for intriguing story lines. Who knows what 2010 will bring the world of NASCAR.
For those teams out there right now without sponsorship or who are unsure about the future, it can be a very uneasy time. Many crew guys don’t know if they will have a job following Homestead and the Thanksgiving break. There will certainly be more layoffs in the coming weeks. Teams like the new RPM/Yates group, RCR, Roush, and many smaller teams including those in the Truck and Nationwide Series may have a tough couple of months ahead. The last few races always bring the inevitable “so do you know what you are doing next year” conversations. Some years that question is okay to answer, other years you’d rather not hear it.
I’ve still got two races left, but looking back over the year, I’ve got to say that I’m pretty happy with how things went. I’m a better tire changer then I was when I started the season and my career continues to progress. And a year always has to be looked upon as a success if you make it to every race! I was able to work with a great group of people all year, and that always makes the race weekends even more fun.
When we head down to South Florida next weekend for the finale, you can be sure I will be both excited and disappointed. I really enjoy going to the track at Homestead, as it is a great venue. But knowing it’s our last hurrah for 2009 will be tough. Hopefully the offseason goes by quickly though.
Before I end this post, I’m curious what your thoughts are as we close out 2009. Are you bummed it’s over? Or are you ready to forget ‘09 and hope 2010 gets here quick? What will you now spend your weekends doing? Will you have a countdown timer set for that first weekend in February?
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on Nov 9th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the end of the season, T.C. It had never occurred to me how difficult it must be for crew guys who are not sure where they’ll be working in just a few weeks. And this economically-challenged season must be harder than most. It’s a precarious life, I guess, less than ideal for a guy who has started a family, or one who has started to think about the rest of his life. A young man’s game.
Although many fans have spent the entire season moaning about how lousy everything is in NASCAR, I thought it was a pretty decent year. Plenty of drama, and more than a few surprises, and just when you think it’s all but over, Jimmie wrecks on lap 3.
How many days until Speed Week?
on Nov 9th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Very bummed about Season ending. But 2009 was so hard I’m glad its coming to an end. Usually I am lost for a weekend or two without racing. I also catch up on blogs I missed. Clean out the garage and become very thankful for the NFL. LOL
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 1:57 am
Honestly, both me and my wife got a bit tired of NASCAR this year. Not the sport itself, but the uninterrupted racing. We used to watch every weekend – but not anymore. We just follow the results and maybe catch up using TWIN. It would be easy to simply say “Well, if you’re not interested, don’t watch the races. No harm done by the long season.” But there is harm done… there’s so much racing that it’s hard to care about each race, because the meaning of each race is diminished. Who cares if X wins or Y crashes? There’s a new race next week.
I know the cry for a shorter season isn’t new. I applaud you for being so in love with the sport that you don’t want the season to end. Personally, I wouldn’t mind a longer break, to remember what we loved so much about the sport. I can’t wait for baseball to start up again… because it’s already been a month since my team got eliminated, and because it’ll be another 5 months until they start again!
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 3:29 am
I swear I have withdrawls. LOL! I’m truly lost on Sundays – it’s “my” day to enjoy the race (pre shows, too!).
I’m disappointed the year is almost over, and I must say the ending is no longer a fore gone conclusion thanks to Texas! JJ may still win his fourth, but now there will be some excitement to it.
As always, the new year brings new beginnings. 2010 will see me at the All-Star Race, the Coke 600 and the Nascar Hall of Fame (got a brick waiting to be visited!) as I plan to take up residence in N.C. for two weeks , along with Sonoma and who knows? Maybe Phoenix or Vegas!
TNI has definitely added to my enjoyment of this season – here’s to February! : )
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 6:24 am
From Thanksgiving until Valentine’s Day is definitely like an eternity for me especially with winter Daytona testing being eliminated. I don’t watch NBA basketball, can’t stand NHL hockey so I watch a little football and count the days until the Bud Shootout in February!
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 7:52 am
My season ended after Phoenix in April. It was time, after not missing a race for nearly 20 years, to give it up. No bitterness, no angst, no over-riding frustration with the state of NASCAR. I just realized it was taking way too much of my time, and I wasn’t enjoying it as much as I used to. I remember many years after the Atlanta finale, giving myself a week before pulling out tapes of old races and counting the days until the Busch Clash. In recent years, I was glad for the break after Homestead.
I still love the sport, and still keep up online. And that’s enough.
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 8:03 am
I used to go crazy between the seasons waiting for Daytona, it seemed like it took forever. Since the Brian France era (the dark ages of Nascar) started I am not as into it as I used to be. I watch Daytona, and most of the other races, but it’s just not the same anymore. The horrible racing, the new car, the chase, and the inconsistency of rules enforcement have soured me to the sport I used to dearly love.
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 9:41 am
I hate the off season. I wish they raced all year around! Lol! I know the teams need the time off but I miss it until it all starts up again.
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 11:02 am
TC – yes it is an interesting time of year.
It has been a long time since I was concerned about having a paycheck on the Monday of Thanksgiving. However, I remember that feeling way too well and I know too many people that are going through that now.
Then you have all of your friends that you will not see much of (if at all) until Daytona. I have friends from all over the US that I see almost every week from Feb-Nov and then will not really talk to until Daytona. My daughter says it is like the last week of school for her. She is ready to not have homework and get up early, but she will miss her friends.
Then, you have the weird feeling of being home. During the season, between races and travel to sponsors, I will spend 5-6 nights/week in hotels. In the offseason (after the banquet) it will be more like 1-2.
During the season, my family gets very used to me not being there. They have their own routines down, who does what chores, how they do those chores, homework schedules, discipline, etc. In the offseason, it is very difficult to not interrupt that routine.
Plus, for me at least, after “being on the go” for 40 weeks or so, it is difficult to settle down and relax. Just too much nervous energy I guess. I always take 10 days or so off around x-mas. After 2-3 days of that is when I start to settle down. It drives my wife nuts!
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 11:35 am
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on Nov 10th, 2009 at 11:46 am
I’m a bad fan. I love racing but will not give up a nice day outside to sit inside in front of the TV.
Like knobcreek, I have a hard time relaxing at home — if I am home and have the race on, I feel I should be doing laundry, cleaning up, whatever. I can’t really justify just sitting on the couch watching TV. (Oddly though, I can justify sitting in a boat with some friends and a cooler of beer all day so I guess I’m just a nut.) That said, if the race is on, I’ll listen to it on the lake — and that’s just about perfect.
T.C.: If weather were not an issue, would you rather have the races spread out and the season go year round?
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Ross: Yeah, that might work. I do like having races almost every weekend though…
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Amen, Bobby#7 fan. Too bad a great sport has turned into Sports Entertainment, and from the ratings and attendance at the track – it’s not so entertaining any more….
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
TC- Cheer up!!!
The Florida Keys are waiting…
The time really goes by quick…Daytona will be here before we know it.
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
T.C. If you’re really bored, my tires are gonna need rotating in the next month or so…
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Ross: Ten four, I’ll bring the boys. We’ll be done pretty fast though…
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
RE Brenda-We call that “racertainment” and yes it does get old quick. You think it’s bad now…just wait till Danica moves in. The hype will be unbearable.
The off season does allow for some good football time. For me, the real start of the season begins at Daytona, albeit a couple of weeks earlier than the shootout w/ the Grand Am 24 hr.
Folks, I’m here to tell ya the best deal in NASCAR is a trip to Daytona in Feb. Every year we take in some Florida rays, hit the Gatorade Duels on Th, the trucks on Fri and the NW on Sat. For a fraction of the cost you get all three series and don’t bother staying for the restrictor 500 on Sunday.
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Its nice to not have to battle with my non-NASCAR fan friends over wanting to watch every second of every race… but yeah, i want the season to start the second the previous one ends. Plus Daytona is such a great race, I’d be looking forward to that even if the season was 52-weeks long.
I’m a bit bittersweet about 2009. Barring a miracle, Johnson has it locked up. That’s great for him, I don’t hate him- he just bores me. Like the Yankees winning the World Series. Congrats, but a big yawn from me.
I’m happy the #14 and #39 did so well in their first year with SHR. I’m excited to see Tony in contention for a championship in 2010!
I also don’t like Dale Jr., but I’d like to see him do well in 2010. Its good for the sport, and I’d like to see him win a championship sometime in his career.
The only thing I don’t look forward to in 2010 will be the incessant “Jimmy’s Drive for Five” talk.
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Ross: good one!
Yeah, TC: if y’all have an extra 8 seconds I could use two new right-side tires, fill-up on gas, windshield tear-off, grille clean.
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I am bumbed it’s over. I like knowing that basically every single weekend we have a race.
I still remember the Budweiser Shootout and the Duels…Time has really gone by fast.
I remember a year ago feeling the same way, bumbed the season was over, but the 3 month offseason goes by fast.
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I’m ready for the season to wind down and looking forward to SpeedWeeks. We’re Junior fans, and the last couple of years have been so painful watching him, that this year I haven’t watched near as much as I used to. Hubby still does, but it’s just too heartbreaking for me! (This is my personal thoughts behind why viewership is down-the Junior Nation can’t stand to watch his bad luck!)
We plan to maybe get some stuff done at home on Sundays, get ready for the holidays, and start make preparations for our annual trip to Daytona for all the racing events. Let’s get this year behind us and hope for a better 2010. See you in Daytona!
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I miss it already. A Panama Canal cruise will fill some of the time in January. As a member of Jr Nation, I can’t wait for 2010.
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Maybe with the season ending the TV coverage will improve next year. Probably wishful thinking.
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I’m sorry the season is almost over. I have enjoyed watching Montoya progress and seeing Martin’s amazing season. Stewart and Johnson have been great stories. The guy I root for most, though, has had a terrible year in the 31 car.
I join SearsPointer in wishing the season were shorter. I’d rather see them run every other weekend all year than face this gap of about 12 weeks without a race. Run a PGA Tour-type schedule – January until Thanksgiving – with races every other weekend. That gives you 20 or so races, each one significant. But next year we have uniform (more or less) start times, a full season of double-file restarts, and a new season to see if anyone can derail Hendrick!
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I’ll be OK until after Christmas, the holidays will keep me busy but after that I’ll be aimlessly switching channels on Sunday afternoons but at least the house will be clean.