Tragic News For Bill Davis Racing/NASCAR Community

I'm quoting from the Bill Davis Racing statement, regarding Steve Spahr, 48, Jackman for the #55 NAPA Auto Parts Team, who passed away suddenly Friday evening.

"Obviously our thoughts and prayers are with Steve's family," said Bill Davis, owner of Bill Davis Racing. "Steve was an important part of the Bill Davis Racing family for many, many years. He was a quiet mentor to his peers and was both respected and well-liked by everyone on our race team and many others in the NASCAR Nextel Cup garage. He will be missed and remembered fondly by everyone associated with our team." Steve worked both at the shop and at the track performing a wide range of tasks from engine tuning to suspension work in the shop and in the past had served as jackman for the #22 team. Most recently, Spahr was the jackman for the #55 NAPA Auto Parts Racing team. A long-time employee of Bill Davis Racing, Spahr had recently been hospitalized with a tear of the aorta and had undergone surgery in the Greensboro, N.C. area. Steve was recovering at home with his family when he passed away suddenly Friday evening.

I am sure that I speak on behalf of all "The Wal-Nutz" (Michael Waltrip's Fan Club Members)when I say that Steve's family will be in our thoughts and prayers, as well, as they go through this extremely difficult time.

Harvick Wins The Sam's Town 250 ! ! !

Kevin "Happy" Harvick won his eighth Busch Series race of the season at Memphis on Saturday. Has Kevin been "on it", as Michael Waltrip would say, or what ??? He's already won the Busch Series Championship, in record time, I might add !!! I would have to say that "Happy" Harvick looked like he was having a GREAT time "spanking them boys" on that track !!! Or was he just teaching a clinic on how to win a Busch Series race for the likes of David Regan and the rest of the younger than the "Young Guns" crowd ??? Either way, this NASCAR fan has really enjoyed watching Kevin "Mr. Reese's Pieces" Harvick come to life in 2006. Sort of like another driver, who shall remain nameless, tried to do in 2005 ! ! !

Juan Pablo Montoya's NASCAR Debut

I have purposefully stayed away from this subject, because I'm really not quite sure how I feel about drivers from other forms of auto racing, coming into OUR NASCAR, especially those from a foreign land. To be honest, I think it has a lot to do with the whole immigration issue in our country today, but that's a subject for another blog, and/or another day. Speaking of the race Montoya said, "It was pretty wild, to be honest. I learned today you have to pace yourself."

As Chip Ganassi surveyed his damages to the #42 Texaco Dodge, he declared it "mission accomplished" for the former Formula One star and didn't seem to mind the crushed fenders.

Montoya qualified ninth and spent the first 148 laps of the race running in the Top-10, until Jason Keller tagged him from behind, but all in all he finished the race in 11th position - - not too bad for the first NASCAR race.

General Motors NASCAR Roundup

General Motors is taking advantage of the introduction of NASCAR's new Car of Tomorrow in 2007 by expanding it's marketing program. Hmmmmm ??? Why am I not surprised ???

GM's Chevrolet Division will field it's COT as an Impala SS, while continuing to use the current Monte Carlo SS in the rest of the Nextel Cup races. This announcement was made Friday at "Hot-lanta" Motor Speedway. NASCAR's plan is to phase in the bigger, bulkier and maybe safer and LESS EXPENSIVE Car of Tomorrow over the next three years, starting with 16 races in 2007, with the first race at Bristol Motor Speedway in March.

Dodge reportedly is also jumping into the frey, retaining the current Charger for the bulk of the schedule. In my humble opinion, that is a joke because MY favorite driver currently drives a Charger and I would not give Bill Davis a dollar for it !!! Okay, that said, where was I ??? Oh, Dodge will also be using a brand new "Avenger" model for it's COT, but Dodge officials said Friday that they cannot comment on any model until it is in production and the "Avenger" is currently just a concept car. May I ask a question Gentlemen ??? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR ??? The next NASCAR Season rolls around every year in February, I think even the public, in general, is aware of that fact. And you ask me why I think TOYOTA will kick some serious butt in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series ??? DUH !!! Like the Boy Scouts - - - they will be prepared !!!

Jack Roush Is Still Whinning ? ? ?

I see Mr. Roush is still whinning, but then I guess he wasn't the one who admitted on national television that he does, in fact, whine. Now Jack says that he needs to increase the amount of research and development he does, away from the track, in order to make his full-fleet of NASCAR teams more competitive, which what he's really saying is that he has to spend more of those all mighty dollars, that he hates to part with so much !!!

I have a plan for you Mr. Roush !!! Why don't you cut back on the number of teams you are currently running, to four teams, which is what NASCAR asked you to do in the first place. That would certainly save you some of that money, you refuse to part with. What do you think, Jack ??? Sound like a plan to you ???

A. J. Allemindinger Jumps To NASCAR ? ? ?

Well, looky here, NASCAR fans, we have yet another defector from open-wheel competition, headed to the "sheet metal" of NASCAR.

A. J. failed to qualify on Friday, due to the "Rain-Out", I guess he'll have to wait now until 2007 to run with the boys at Team Red Bull, but don't you dare worry yourselves now, cause I happen to know that my pal Brian Vickers will be over there, to hold down the fort until A.J. can come make his splashing debut. I just want to know, who opened the flood gates to all these drivers ??? Did NASCAR send out an "invite" that we, the fans, were not made aware of, or something ???

Kudos To The Man ! ! !

Tony "Smoke" Stewart wins the Bass Pro Shops 500 race in "Hot-lanta" Motor Speedway yesterday. But that's not all !!! Tony also won the IROC Championship for 2006 !!! How cool is that ??? I don't think there could be too many more Championships that this guy hasn't won, but if you run out of room for all your trophies, Tony, let me know, I have lots of room over here to display them all !!! Way to go "Smoke" !!!

Race Birthdays For The Week (Oct. 29th thru Nov. 4th)

10/29 Teresa Earnhardt, Billy Woodriff, Steadman Marlin, Joseph "Papa Joe" Hendrick, Bob Dotter, Roseanne Adamczyk, Nicole Belber & Sandy 'the dog' Adamczyk

10/30 Linda Rudd & Tony Bennenhausen, Jr.

10/31 Kip Childress

11/1 Jayski, Eric Vance, Larry Flynt, Doug Ingerson & Marissa Garrow

11/2 Larry Pearson & Judy Allison

11/3 Derrike Cope, Tony Gibson & Greg Sacks

11/4 Charley Pressley

Happy Birthday To All ! ! (Obviously, some of these are "In Memory Of")

That's all for now. Have a Great Week. Enjoy the races this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway !!! I'll see you all there (from my recliner, of course).

GO MIKEY GO ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Later !!!

The Wal-NutzManiac