I was sorry to hear the Denver event taken off the schedule (and not because I get paid per race) but because it really is a very sports oriented city and they very much took to the race. But, I am not that surprised. Not because of the title sponsor situation, but because that’s the way with street races. We cannot under estimate the magnitude of a Long Beach or a Toronto, races that have 20 plus years on the schedule. The logistic, the expenditures, everything is so big, so beyond our understanding that it’s very difficult to sustain. Denver will be missed because of the track improvements over the years made it a racey track. Oh well, such is life. I hate to cheerlead, but 16 events is still the most on the sked in the last couple of years and it’s the direction the series needs to be heading in.

Every year, we worry about sponsors, about car count, about venues and every year we find ourselves at Long Beach and we’re fine. Maybe the car count isn’t always ideal; maybe the series needs more sponsors and whatnot. But we’re always at Long Beach and there is always a huge crowd and a very exciting race. Things work out. Sure, it helps to have the amigos in control, men who aren’t afraid to take chances and spend money if they have too. They didn’t buy the series to put it to rest. This is going to be a fun year with good drivers, great venues and, as happens every year, the unexpected. Who knows what it will be this year? A new venue blowing everybody’s expectation? Another Tracy-(insert driver here) feud? Seabass contained? We don’t know what’s going to happen and that’s what makes it exciting. The off-season is a terrible time for the series, since nobody has anything to talk about, so they start rumors or spread things that aren’t true or even pertinent. The Internet is to blame for much of this, but with the good comes the bad. With every race control and forum groups comes some blogger with a twisted view or opinion spreading vicious things.

Forget about Ford leaving. They meant (in my opinion) little to the series and I even heard their contribution was more in simple lending us the name “Ford” than anything actual significantly financial. The series will certainly survive without Ford and right now, given their fiduciary position, Ford should NOT be sponsoring any series. I know they are involved with NASCAR, but that’s another story. Speaking of NASCAR, I cannot wait to see the “car of tomorrow”. Why? Because the drivers don’t like it, the teams don’t seem too think too highly of it and the fans, from what I have read, aren’t remotely interested. Not to mention that the car doesn’t look that hot anyway. But, I am going to withhold judgment until Dover when they field the 41 cars in their sponsor’s colors. Maybe then the car will look good. I hope so.

By the way, Bachelart coming back, even if its only with one car, is a huge deal. I never said anything obviously, but I had them written off for financial reason. I am very happy for him since we are going to Europe and I am happy for that crew. I am holding out hope for a second car. But I will be happy with a one-car team.