Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

It's Feb. 19, 2006, and time for the real sports season to get underway with the running of the 48th Daytona 500. Unlike other sports which play their biggest games at the end of the season, NASCAR starts their season with their biggest race. Let the gearheads rejoice!

It should be a good race. The weather in Daytona is overcast, windy and cool, which can be a mixed blessing. The cooler weather means the cars can generate more horsepower which will cause the engine tuners and gear guys some heartburn. The wind will make things exciting as the huge pack of cars exit turns 2 and 4, the usual locations for big wrecks. The cars dance around enough with the added influence of gusty winds.

There are a number of interesting stories in this race. The #48 Lowes Chevy will be operating without its regular crew chief who was suspended earlier this week for technical violations. There are a number of drivers who are working for different teams than they did last year, and today is their first points race with the new crew.

And to me, one of the more interesting stories is that of Kirk Shelmerdine. Kirk was the long-time crew chief for Dale Earnhardt, and was involved with four of Earnhardt's championships. Some years back Shelmerdine left the #3 team and began a quixotic attempt to run his own Cup team. I've seen him attempt to qualify for many races, but have seen him succeed very rarely.

Thanks to a good qualifying time, Shelmerdine's unsponsored car just barely squeaked into the race, which guarantees a minimum $275,000 payday for the owner/driver. He had stated that if he didn't make the race he'd probably have to sell his equipment and leave racing.

There was some talk that Shelmerdine might sell his ride to someone else. The highly sponsored #10 Valvoline Dodge missed the race after problems in qualifying, and there was a possibility that Valvoline would buy Shelmerdine's car and put their decals on the side and their driver in the seat. That didn't happen, so Valvoline will not be represented in the biggest race of the year.

I haven't heard if Shelmerdine picked up any sponsorship after qualifying for the race. His quarter panels were suddenly worth a lot more money once he was in the starting grid. Kirk will start 42nd, and I wish him well. He earned it.

If you've never watched a race before, watch this one. You'll see two and three wide 190 mph racing all day and plenty of exciting action. It'll make a fan out of you before you know it.