I’m sure that was the first and last holeshot race they’ll do. Some drivers aren’t allowed to ride motorcycles in their personal time due to their contracts (considered to be too high of an injury risk) and I’m sure this event proved they shouldn’t be doing it for show.

So this story, which is appropriately filed to “oops” get a writeup, but nothing on the Stewart-Haas switch to Ford? That’s maybe the biggest story in NASCAR related to the teams in the past 5 years (not counting the charter system) and it gets skipped here? I’d like to see some NASCAR coverage of the big events and…

Those are the worst. When I had to back those up I would unhook them from the pickup and either use the center-pivot loader or 4wheeler to back them up. It still sucked.

Asking the hard questions

We’re just as likely to crash every time we’re on a bike and that’s all that matters.

You’re exactly right. I’ve helped pull a few stuck semi trucks and tractors out with a 1/2 ton pickup. You’re not pulling all the weight, just helping it along.

Lots of things have been written about Earnhardt’s death, but Michael Waltrip’s book is still the best thing I’ve read about the day Dale died. Give it a read.

I watched the race live. Thought it was great. Then the power went out at my house for a few hours. When the power came on, I saw the CNN headline that he had died. I was 11 then and remember it like it was yesterday.

Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin didn’t die during the race, but during a race weekend. John Nemecheck as well. There were several fatalities in NASCAR, but this was the biggest name in the sport at the biggest race of the year.

Drafting/strategy/communication practice. It’s a chance to see how you stack up against the competition in a competitive environment and a big draft.

This is the only real drafting practice they get before the 500. The guys on the front row use these races to get a feel for their car in the draft, check their strategy (fuel mileage etc.) and the pit crew gets a chance to make a live pit stop.

Or a place like Brainerd, where the dragstrip is part of the road course. If your chute doesn’t pop, you just get to take Turn 1 of the road course. When I was there last year that happened several times. That’s one of the reasons why drivers like BIR.

Don’t actually take your ear plugs out during a run. It can split your eardrum or cause long lasting hearing damage. The best piece I’ve seen on how loud they are is this one.

Hey Jalopnik staff,

Thanks Sean!

Is there a review of that suit coming up too? I like the way it looks. What is it?

At what point does an auto gearbox have too many gears? 10 speed? It’s not a semi truck. Just develop a CVT if that’s what you want.

Durability. Car tire will last 50-60 thousand miles. Motorcycle tire will be gone after about 8,000

Another Minnesotan here, I also agree.

Depends on what you’re looking for!