The Daytona 500: Like No Other Race In The Motorsports World

The field is already set for the 52nd running of "The Great American Race" on Sunday.

The who’s who of NASCAR, as well as the rest of the sporting world, will have their eyes set on the 43 hard charging warriors who will do battle on one of the sport's most famous and historic asphalt battlegrounds.

With the days leading up to the start of a new decade of NASCAR racing, the fans have already been treated to a sneak preview of what to expect once the green flag drops and the season officially begins.

The story lines that have followed each team from the end of the 2009 season are beginning to quickly take shape, with the hopes and expectations once again taking center stage.

The fans are hungry after their short, and what seemed like a never-ending, hibernation since last season’s final race at Homestead-Miami.

So is it any wonder that while taking a look outside the box at the many story lines that continue to clog the daily internet airwaves, they are not about the drivers or the teams, but instead are a little more internally focused on what is happening to the sport itself?

The sport has gone through a transformation period in the past 10 years, with some of the changes not taken too lightly by those fans who have remained faithful through the trial and error periods.

Change, as we all know, can be for the better depending on the circumstances, as long as they are carefully researched before being put to use.

Now on the flip side, there are those changes that for one reason or another have been instituted at the most inopportune times.

One thing is for sure, and that is once the month of February rolls around, even if for a brief moment, all is forgiven because of the love that each fan has for the sport, along with the excitement the Daytona 500 generates.

Many of our heroes from the past and present have graciously given of themselves, knowing that the fruits of success are not always waiting in the wings.

Exactly what the beginning of the season means to each one of us as individuals can be as precious as the foundations we have built from the very first day we set eyes upon this great sport of ours.

Many challenges and obstacles have stood the test of time, yet the dreams that each driver envisions are carefully withheld in the grasp of destiny’s hands, along with the fans that are there in spirit to also partake of them.

This is Daytona, and for this one weekend the track will come alive, while shining down its glory upon the one driver who can tame the wicked high banks of this hungry asphalt beast.

Good luck to all our drivers, and may the 2010 season be one to remember.


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Jeremy Clements: Jeremy Clements to drive JD Motorsports No. 0

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Boudreaux's Butt Paste, Jeremy and his team will be heading to Daytona for the first race of the season on February 13, 2010.
They have come on board to sponsor JCR for the first three races of the season. Jeremy will be driving the Clements Racing Engine powered "0" car owned by JD Motorsports for the Daytona race; sporting a great new yellow paint scheme featuring Boudreaux's famous blue blanketed baby. Boudreaux's Butt Paste has sponsored Jeremy in the past for a few ARCA races and we're thrilled to re-establish this relationship.


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Without sister Kelley, there is no JR Motorsports

Kelley Earnhardt is the general manager of JR Motorsports. In other words, she runs the place.

But she says her famous little brother, Dale Earnhardt Jr., has to pull rank in the company every now and then.

Kelley gave a funny example last week during the annual NASCAR media tour.

"One day recently we were talking in my office and it got heated," Kelley said. "I used the F-word a couple of times, so [Dale Jr.] just turned around and walked out.

"I thought, 'Good. He's gone for the day. He won't be back.' Then about 15 minutes later he comes strolling back in my office and he's got a yellow slip of paper in his hand. He hands it to me.

"I said, 'What's this?'

"He said, 'It's from HR [Human Resources]. I had you written up. You said the F-word to the president of the company.'

"I looked at him and said, 'That was between brother and sister.'

"He said, 'Not here it's not.' Then he walked out again." Even now in their mid-30s, the Earnhardt siblings still have their territorial moments. But Kelley is the glue that holds everything together in her brother's growing empire.

While Junior is off racing his No. 88 Sprint Cup car for Hendrick Motorsports and handling the many duties that entails, Kelley runs the show for Junior's numerous other endeavors.

Kelley, 37, handles the day-to-day decisions of the Nationwide Series team (she was instrumental in bringing Danica Patrick to the program) along with making sure all of her brother's other businesses run properly.

Right now, Kelley's top priority is making sure Patrick is ready for her stock car debut, which comes in the ARCA race at Daytona on Feb. 6.

Is dealing with the hype around Patrick any different than dealing with her celebrity brother?

"Oh no," she said. 'It's totally the same. We definitely can handle that. We have that part figured out."

At least Patrick won't write her up for cussing at the boss.


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