CAN YOU SAY "OVERKILL?"

10,600-some-odd.

That's the number of occurrences, as determined by a Google search undertaken over the past weekend in which were included the terms "Allmendinger," "NASCAR" and "stimulant, defined as amphetamine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA), MDA, PMA, Phentermine, and other amphetamine derivatives and related compounds."

Whew!

Frankly, your correspondent thought the last in-quotation-marks "object" would've contained enough and specifically ordinal words so as to be the search's death knell, perhaps then only returning a few hits and, more likely expected a, "Huh!? 'Sup wit you, dude?"

Instead returned in the results were the equal of one story appearing on The Web every minute for seven consecutive days' worth of ‘round-the-clock hours, with leftovers.

Yet, the requested oldest of the 10,600-some-odd stories originated only four days prior to the performed search.

Granted, some of the stories may have solely arisen from one source, like the Associated Press, so there weren't 10,600-some-odd stories anew.

But there were 10,600-some-odd times the search terms simultaneously appeared within stories, along with a heckuva lot of cutting and pasting of that last defined search term.

As much as this author may think himself a speed-reader (as compared to, say, a literate tortoise of some sort) he wasn't going to even attempt reading a sizeable fraction of those 10,600-some-odd stories. Yet, a spot check revealed very rare in-story references to NASCAR's ability, as stated in the same NASCAR Sprint Cup Series substance abuse chapter (specifically, 19-4-B), that the program administrator, medical review officer and "NASCAR" can theoretically deem any substance as abused, dangerous, detrimental to the sport and so on.

This observer of the situation believes the distinction important, because commonly encountered drugs like "nicotine" -- arising from a chemical class known in general as alkaloids and in which cocaine is likewise chemically classified, if not "statutorily," BTW) -- and in which fully a quarter of the U.S. population many times daily, um, "indulges," easily is among those drugs which in its "abused" usage is considered a "stimulant."

(Nicotine is a widely available drug absent of prescription requirements.)

An excerpt from Section 19-1 of the NASCAR substance abuse policy specifically states: "NASCAR prohibits the misuse of alcohol, prescription drugs, and any other substance used in a manner that affects safety or impacts the integrity of the competition, including -- but not limited to -- illegal or performance enhancing substances." (italics added)

In Section 19-4: "Prohibited Substances - For the purpose of this policy, prohibited substances are those substances that, in the PA's (program administrator) and MRO's (medical review officer) determination, in consultation with NASCAR (nascar), may adversely affect the safety and well-being and performance of a NASCAR Member at a NASCAR Event, including without limitation illegal drugs." (italics and parenthetical notes are added)

Notice the preceding citations pretty well cover the bases on the legal and illegal sides. Thus, the reason 2012 NSCS Rulebook Section 19 is partially entitled "substance" and not specifically "illegal drug" abuse. It's a catch-all that can nail a competitor, theoretically, for having eaten too much ice cream.

"Outlandish!" you enjoin?

Not if the driver may have a contrary or "allergic" reaction to milk fat. Imagine such occurring in the middle of Daytona International Speedway's 31-degree banking.

"Stupid!" is the rejoinder.

Not should a negative reaction lead to the carnage of innocents.

This writer, hisownself, as a youngin' went into anaphylactic shock after ingesting alpha S1-casein protein. We're talking ambulances, sirens, flashing lights, hospitals and edge-of-death stuff that afterward led to years of goat-milk drinking. All from a simple swig of cow’s milk. (BTW: the preceding condition and “lactose intolerant” aren’t the same.)

"C'mon! How many times might that happen!?"

Few, if the percentage of milk-triggered negative immune-system reactions is measured against a population's whole, but one cannot entirely rule out something merely for the sole reason of a probable rare occurrence -- especially when such may involve great risk to participants and fans, alike.

Can you say, "commercial aircraft" and "World Trade Center?"

Somebody did not at one time.

How about "commercial aircraft" and "no firearms allowed" when, in the case of 9-11, razor-sharp box cutters got through airport screeners, legally?

In short, that which a general citizen may routinely employ to effect an end result -- such as grabbing a cigarette (nicotine) just after silencing an end-of-sleep alarm clock -- may no longer fly insofar as NASCAR is concerned, especially should a member of that organization fail to precisely discern such on paperwork accompanying an annual request for membership or, put more commonly, a "hard card."

The Allmendinger camp probably was ill-advised to release, even though having done so in good faith, anything that connected him and "stimulant" because its greatest "stimulation" was to cause a rush to judgment by those who were quick to place Allmendinger in some crack shack -- instead of otherwise awaiting the whole deal's conclusion.

What else is new in a society that impolitely taps its foot when someone else is using the break-area microwave for all of 90-seconds?

Later,

DC

A GIANT IS GONE

It is said that good things are built on the backs of giants.

If such be the case, the racing community lost one of its giants Wednesday -- albeit a quiet one.

Motorsports has been built through those who have stepped forward and said, "I'll do it," regardless of whatever "it" may be, have been or will be.

Many, if not most have done it not for the pay, but because of the sport. A love, perhaps an even inexplicable love for the sport.

Indeed, if not for those "volunteers" -- a descriptive word that falls way short of describing the feeling inside of those performing the service -- it's doubtful the sport would exist today, absent of some stray traffic light or back-road country lane challenge (indeed, it would be reasonably argued, it's probable far fewer of those dangerous activities occur because of organized motorsports).

One of the most interesting aspects of motorsports -- and this writer believes sportscar racing is heads-and-tails above any other activity -- is its attraction to a broad socio-economic, demographic cross section of its participants, whether in the cockpit or pit lane.

In the Rolex Series -- about which this writer writes because he knows no other as well -- just about every professional discipline, and specialists within a larger discipline are found not only in the car but toiling in sportscar racing's pits.

Indeed, your correspondent knows a doctor who has for at least a decade worked for one prominent team, taking time, multiple days, away from his practice each time a Rolex Series race is scheduled. He does whatever is needed to be done, grunt work included.

Another of those "elsewhere" professionals in the 1990's began his sportscar involvement working for Bob and Bill Riley after following in the footsteps of his older brother.

The two brothers were so doggone good at their jobs that they've seen very nearly every major worldwide racetrack from where most sportscar fans would give much to be -- from the inside.

"It's a dream-come-true," the little brother said earlier this year when asked by a reporter about working in a pressure-cooker environment, the Rolex 24 At Daytona, with his family.

"We're truly fortunate because we get to do something together, as brothers, and with my son, Ian. We're a tight-knit family."

Mark Menego, little brother to Jim Menego and a very proud father of Ian Menego, unexpectedly passed on Wednesday, July 11.

Technology sales director for Herr-Voss Stamco at the time of his death, the Penn State grad remained true blue. Period.

So "blue," though, that he also wore the color on race day while in the SunTrust pits -- his last race being this month's Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen.

This pit wanderer, who has known the Menego family for but a few years but who feels as though a decades-long part of that family, can remember Mark Menego not smiling about two or three times.

Always a smile on that man's face. Always.

It's an odd thing, but on Wednesday past, this writer, sitting before his laptop with fingers poised above the keyboard, suddenly thought of the three Menegos simultaneously, thinking "what a truly wonderful family they are."

And then he learned of Mark's death.

Three guys; all family; one following the other, all deeply dedicated to racing -- and to each other.

A family now one less, such seems so implausible when one considers Mark was all of 54 years; vibrant, youthful.

Such age seems, like, forever or, perhaps, "ancient" to someone half that age.

Myself well above that age, one almost expects everyone should live through it. Especially one of the world's genuinely good guys, from whom this person never, ever heard a bad word spoken.

May God rest your soul, Mark Menendez.

Later,

DC

ROAD TO RECOVERY, Duex

Should the reader be otherwise divorced of shocking, damn-near unbelievable motorsport news: A.J. Allmendinger has been nailed for having in some manner violated NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy.

Before someone starts with the "crystal meth" stuff, someone else hollers back "crack" or still some other person goes ape with "Δ9-THC!" please take the time to consider that NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy isn't quite as simple as Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No!" because there easily exists more than a few ways one can violate the "policy."

Otherwise, exactly why, pray tell, does one need to explain "Just Say No!" using roughly 6,000 words?

Yep, six big ones.

THE FACTS, JACK

An otherwise unannounced "bodily fluids" sample was taken at random from Allmendinger (and, by inferred practice, four additional drivers, 10 crewmembers and five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series officials) while NASCAR was hanging at Kentucky Speedway (June 30, give or take).

The generally accepted sampling procedure includes capturing a sufficient bodily fluid quantity so as to enable a second test if demanded by a believed policy violator.

About one week later at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR competition vice-president Steven O'Donnell told those who would tell the world of Allmendinger's failed test and NASCAR's rendering an immediate "temporary" 72-hour suspension.

The suspected substance abuser can within that time period ("three days," Menendez) exercise a number of options, including the aforementioned secondary test (not "retest"), to executing an admission agreement and entering into treatment, Aegis Sciences Corporation "Road to Recovery," which NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy states as being "tailored to the needs" of the inculpated ("accused" seems, well, "damning," no?). All things considered, Hosni Mubarak is more likely to reemerge as Egypt's leader than will the original test results be overturned.

One supposes also available to Allmendinger is his letting rip a rendition of a particular Johnny Paycheck song, though doubtful would be its execution given the sheer weight of involved money, reputations and that prima facie evidence -- Jeremy Mayfield -- points to futility in successfully fighting a NASCAR suspension, especially given that Mayfield's fight has succeeded to the equal extent of tossing across a room NASCAR's Mike Helton.

EXCUSE ME, BUT WHERE AM I?

Who on God's Green Earth hasn't seen "Vacation," the 1983 National Lampoon masterpiece starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid and "Aunt Edna" (Imogene Coca)?

Still, somewhere along the "Griswold" family's journey to fictional Walley World, patriarch "Clark" (Chase) makes the first of many seriously wrong turns into a ghetto, within moments changing a fresh-off-a-dealer-lot "Family Truckster" automobile into an everyday graffiti-riddled, hubcap-less ghetto chariot.

The incident merely served as an introduction to many more, um, uncomfortable moments to come inasmuch as announced on the eve of his 72-hour response period's end -- and probably not before tens-of-thousands in attorney fees were already spent -- was Allmendinger's desire to have the second sample tested. Allmendinger was described as "dumfounded" and "shell-shocked" in the aftermath of NASCAR's action, Allmendinger's business manager, Tara Ragan, told the AP's Jenna Fryer late Monday.

"Vacation" kinda reminds of where Allmendinger is now; somewhere between the ghetto gangstas and the, er, "enhanced" Truckster's return to earth after later launching from an asphalt highway's abrupt termination.

For sure, the Griswold car's axle-bending, suspension twisting impact wasn't the end of their "adventure" any more than the end of this week -- presumably when the B-sample results are made available -- will close Allmendinger's woes. The sad part about the comparison of the two is that "Vacation" was fictional but Allmendinger's is a bad, bad dream to which he'll repeatedly awaken in the real world for an indeterminate time – one that’ll time and again feel like an eternity to he and those around him.

And before Allmendinger's blind-faith defenders get in a wad, there really is a moment in time when it's best to accept reality and move along -- which Allmendinger is hopefully doing while the second test is being undertaken in the lab.

If played correctly, Allmendinger's exercise of the second-test option will allow a fuller exploration of his options and, most importantly, a cooling of emotions because that initial three-day "temporary suspension" period hardly affords sufficient time to catch one's breath when life itself has suddenly jumped from one lane to another quicker than a race car heading northeast at full-tilt-boogie on Daytona International Speedway's SuperStretch.

POLICY MATTERS

Section 19 of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2012 Rule Book is the part dealing with substance abuse and tells its readers a number of things over its nearly 10 pages of figurative and literal "fine print." (By the way: "Grand-Am Substance Abuse Policy 2012" is found here.)

Sub-section 19-3 defines those who are subject to the policy, stating that, "Although this Policy is intended to apply principally to drivers, mechanics and crew members (hereinafter 'Competitor' or 'Competitors') as well as NASCAR Officials as determined by NASCAR … all other NASCAR Members are required to adhere to NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy and are subject to reasonable suspicion testing . . ." (italics added). In short: Those who hold NASCAR hard cards beware.

Add to the above Section 19-3A, which adds that "NASCAR will regularly test any Competitor or Official whose performance at a NASCAR Event potentially affects the safety of themselves, other NASCAR Members, spectators and guests, including but not limited to: NASCAR Officials and Competitors . . ."

More or less continuing the theme is Section 19-3-B, but which slightly switches gears and provides for "the testing of those competitors ". . . whose use of illegal or performance enhancing drugs (PED) or substances could alter or enhance . . ." a competitors ability " . . . to create an unfair advantage or impact the integrity . . ." of the competition. (italics added)

Well, given the inclusion of not necessarily illegal "performance enhancing drugs," there goes the steroids or, perhaps, available-almost-everywhere milk thistle. Really. Milk thistle is a herbal product touted, among 23,437 other things, as “enhancing brain function.”

How can NASCAR ban an otherwise licit substance along with the illicit or, for that matter, any substance at all?

On the simplest level -- the one at which are found those whose life goal is to damn any capitalistic enterprise for any number of reasons -- because NASCAR allows itself sufficient latitude to do as it will so as to protect and defend the "franchise."

Oh, NASCAR will at times use the term "stakeholder," here, or "stakeholders," (the plural form, Menendez) there, but it's "the business" as a whole that is and should be getting protected.

"Stakeholder," though, has a stuffy feeling to it when the folks who have an interest in NASCAR's success go well beyond just Richard Childress, Jack Roush, Coach Gibbs or the capitalist's capitalist, Roger Penske.

All things considered, NASCAR not only has the right but responsibility to protect its business because of the tens-of-thousands, if not hundreds-of-thousands and, probably, millions of people dependent on those cars making left turns at the sanctioning body’s points-paying races each year.

Yes, the Family France makes money. Good money at that. But so, too, do a lot of others: hoteliers, restaurateurs, the grocery stores who supply food for those who wish not to eat at the restaurants, or the campground owners who cater to those who like to "rough it" in $250,000 RVs purchased from some dealer somewhere and built by men and women who, in turn, wish to attend the very same race as that made possible by the expertise of the Family France.

The whole gig is one seriously huge circle and one guy shouldn't be allowed to screw it up.

Now, such is not to say that Allmendinger has attempted to do so, consciously or subconsciously; whether with malice and forethought or entirely absent of malice and having no forethought of anything other than showing up and racing.

However, there are a whole bunch of folks who, after having recklessly caused a life-ending accident, invariably will say, "I didn't mean to" or "I didn't know . . ."

Those words, however true -- and they certainly can be -- or sorrow filled and deeply felt, have ever repaired damage incurred before having been said.

Maybe NASCAR is wrong here . . . but maybe it isn't.

Those who aren't disposed of finding conspiracies around every corner will likely think it altogether doubtful that someone within NASCAR or its "drug police" awoke on or about Saturday, June 30, and said, "Let's take out A.J., today! He's such a likeable guy!"

In the end, NASCAR is trying its best to do the right thing. In the end, all will work out if those with good intentions -- and, thankfully, there are many in this world having such -- will focus on doing the right thing by helping those who not only need help, but who sincerely want that help.

Remember: May he who has never missed a shift cast the first transmission.

Later,

DC

ROAD TO RECOVERY, Part One

MOSTLY QUOTES

AN UNPARALLELED PERSON

"A.J. has driven for me for seven years, I stand behind AJ 100-percent . . . I . . . I . . . just don't how to put it," said an emotional Mike Shank (at far right, below, with Allmendinger behind) who was trying his best to put into just a few words all of what flooded his mind about a friend, a driver and, at still other times, a business associate.

A.J. Allmendinger, who with Shank, Ozz Negri, John Pew and Justin Wilson earlier this year teamed to win the 50th Rolex 24 At Daytona, is in trouble of a kind that only would a true friend care to belly-up and help shoulder a burden, whatever that burden may be.

"He's been a vital part of my business for seven years and a large reason behind our winning the 24 hours," Shank continued, talking about what is the most important win to date in Michael Shank Racing's history.

"Time after time, for years we came so close to winning that race only to come up short, but A.J. was loyal, wouldn't leave the team. Even when I told him there wouldn't be any hard feelings if he left. A.J. stayed with me. He not only stayed with me, he bucked me up when I was down, said we'd get it someday.

“Well, I don’t care what’s going on, I’m not leaving him."

But did A.J. at any time give any reason to believe, any indication that he was somehow transgressing?

"No. And I say it with 100-percent certainty, and I have been around him a lot; I mean a lot," Shank parsing and emphasizing each of his four preceding words.

"I've been around him in all scenarios, from race day to flat-out having fun on a Friday night, and I've never, ever, ever seen A.J. do anything, overtly or otherwise, that would even remotely give me any sort of suspicion or clue that A.J. was doing anything wrong. This guy has never, ever lived anything but a clean life, in what I've seen, in what I've heard, in what I personally and professionally know about him."

"A.J.'s made a huge positive contribution to my business, to my personal life and to the lives of those he's known."

"No matter the outcome he will always be my friend. Always."

LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE

"AJ's an amazingly talented guy. I'm not sure what happened or why," John Pew, reached while in British Columbia, said.

"But I can't help but think about all the people who are hurting right now because they love A.J. because of what he's done for them. He's done a lot for me, taught me a lot, helped me win the biggest race in my life," Pew said, recalling the 50th Rolex 24 At Daytona and the winning Michael Shank Racing entry the two shared (pictured above flanking Rolex 24 trophy: Pew nearest left; Allmendinger, nearest right) along with longtime co-driver Oswaldo Negri Jr. (far right) and open-wheel, IndyCar Series star Justin Wilson (left).

"A.J.'s got a wonderful heart and remembers where he came from, a working-class background with parents who sacrificed a lot to help get him into racing's highest ranks. You know, to that end A.J. set up his Walldinger (Racing) scholarship to help those in similar situations.

"Kyle Kirkwood (recipient of an A.J. Allmendinger Karting Scholarship) was in Indiana for the MKP Nationals this past weekend because of A.J.'s help. I know his family, too, they're all wonderful people. They just think the world of A.J., as we all do. A.J.'s got a lot of people in his corner."

"I care a lot about A.J., he's a great guy and I would do whatever I can do to help him.

"Right now only A.J. truly knows what's going down. But if it's really as bad as it appears, if it turns out that the test was accurate, then when he comes out of the other side Roger (Penske) should give AJ another chance. I know I won't hesitate to do it."

HE AIN'T HEAVY, HE'S MY BROTHER

"First and foremost, I'm nobody to judge anybody. Second, I am a friend and a fan of A.J.," Ozz Negri (pictured at far left with John Pew, right) said from his Miami-area home.

"I'll will never drop a friend because I am a friend both in good times and bad.

"That does not mean I agree with all the things that a friend may do, but I am here to help my friends because my friends help me. That's what friendship is all about. It's not about (being) 'convenient.'”

"There are some people who can, who are able to bear a heavier cross than others; people who can tolerate stress better than others. It's not to say that I believe A.J. is in such a situation, but we don't know, we just don't know what kind of situation he's going through.

"I know I'm sad, not for myself, but for A.J. and what he's having to go through. I'm not talking about who is right or who is wrong, but the situation itself. I wish A.J. didn't have to go through it, no matter the reason.

"When you don't know the circumstances it's very hard for me to judge others. So, we cannot judge; we can only help."

"The thing that makes relationships stronger, any relationship whether marriage, or family or friends, true friends, isn't the good times, it's being able to get through the bad times as a husband and wife, as a family and as a friend.

"Third, and this is one of the highest compliments, I think, I can pay to anyone: A.J.'s a guy I would have in my car at any time.

"I've known AJ (above left with Wilson, right) since he first jumped into Karting. I watched him and came to like and admire him; his ability; his love for racing.

"A.J. has a talent few others share. One of the things that I most worry about now is A.J.'s love of racing. If racing is taken away from him, well, I just don't know what'll happen . . .

"But A.J. is my friend. He is my brother. I am here for him."

                 

Later,

DC

THROUGH THE NOTEBOOK DARKLY

 

DOUBLING UP

The Watkins Glen International post-Sahlen’s Six-Hour media-room news conference was positively bubbly, darn-near giddy when was the subject of tires arose.

Usually dreaded by some and feared by others, the rote question inevitably comes when a tire manufacturer’s PR flak arises to ask those present a question whose answer is specifically intended to generate positive comments no matter how poorly a race car’s tires may have performed.

In defense of tire manufacturers, much of a tire’s (or shock absorbers or widget’s) performance, good or bad, is found the manner in which the tire is used: an engineer can establish right or wrong numbers; a mechanic can set the wrong numbers; one driver may be particularly adept with a setting, while his cohort may hate it. Like the drag-racing, brake-stomping wannabe street racer who complains his purported 70,000-mile tire got only 10k (or that his gas mileage isn’t anywhere close to CAFE standards), one doesn’t know what a driver will say until it is heard. Of course, the odds of something positive coming out are vastly improved when faced is a winning race car driver. (At above left: Gratuitous Patrick Dempsey picture. But, really, he is a handsome chap.)

Much like a revolver’s spinning cylinder in a game of Rooskie Roulette, when the tire company’s PR flak puts the subject on the table by pulling the question’s trigger, one doesn’t quite know what the report may bring.

Usually disposed of giddiness whether from too much carbon monoxide, the lingering aftereffects of massive testosterone dosages or having actually consumed champagne between sprays, winners have been known to become whiners when the subject of tires is broached and the simple task of getting positive tire comments rarely goes beyond monotones that, when actually heard and not read (rhymes with "red"), sound something akin to a dental patient’s moan.

At The Glen, the question quickly turned into an orgy of, "I wanna answer first!" the comments, coming fast and furious (oops, now a bad phrase, huh?) as everyone on the podium wanted to answer at the same time, were effusive in praise of Continental Tires having often lasted two stints, having grip and so on - none of it being trash talk or monotone praise.

For Sheri Herrmann, The Glen ‘twas a good day. Then again, just about every race day is a good day this year for Herrmann.

BIG HEARTS BEWARE

Crusty and proud of it is Brad Francis, a motorsports hall-of-famer who has been overseeing Jack Roush Junior's racing efforts since the chip off of "senior's" block got deeply involved in the sport.

After the heavily penalized (not points; just an ability to gain those points) Roush Performance No. 61 Ford Mustang Boss 302R (below, left) fell well short of taking the checkered flag in the CTSCC race at The Glen a week after scoring a second place at Road America, Francis noted that this sport can have its ups and, especially, downs.

"Don't be in racing if you don't have a big heart," Francis said when nearly all around him were wailing the blues.

SEE THE FUTURE

Speaking of Roush Performance . . .

Billy Johnson is a name some may have heard by now and, likely, even more haven't.

Such condition really shouldn't last long, especially since Will Turner started using Johnson services at this year's Rolex 24.

Things kind of went awry at the Rolex 24 when Johnson's car, shared with Bill Auberlen and Paul Dalla Lana (who as an "amateur" ain't that bad) died hardly after sundown Saturday.

A rarity for a BMW (unless it's a BMW-March GTP) or, more so, a Turner-prepared BMW, the threesome came back at Watkins Glen in the second leg of the inaugural North American Endurance Championship, at the end of which (Indy, in fact) some serious money will divvied between the top finishers.

Scoring a third place in GT,

Before that, however, Johnson's been teamed in a Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge GS Ford Mustang Boss 302R with Jack Roush Jr. since middle-2009.

If you need any proof of this Cal-Tech degreed youngster's abilities, just take some time to watch the No. 61 Roush Performance Mustang sometime, usually during the second shift of the CTSCC race.

There are some in this business who have a pretty good track record of identifying talent and, to a person, they like what they see in Johnson.

CHALLENGING PEW

Now that Enzo Potolicchio, who with Ryan Dalziel,co-drives the No. 8 Starworks Motorsport Ford-Riley, has overtaken John Pew in the race for the season-long Jim Trueman Award for the best "amateur" race car driver.  Pew, who along with Oswaldo Negri Jr., drives Michael Shank Racing’s No. 60 LiveOn.com Ford-Riley and is the awards defending recipient, even if he doesn't wish to be. (Below right, L-R, Negri, Pew, Shank)

Pew's an odd soul who doesn't want, doesn't like to be compared on an amateur level as much as a professional level.

“I could go elsewhere and drive something that has some level of competitive compensation or, put another way, that gives amateur drivers an advantage a pro doesn’t have (such as tires having more grip) but I’m not interested in competing on a ‘special’ level. To me, a win is hollow if I get different equipment than the others get. I want to be able to compare myself, to test myself directly against a Scott Pruett or an Alex Gurney,” Pew said.

Yet, for the preceding two seasons Pew kept winning those doggone Trueman Awards -- a nagging reminder that he made his financial mark other than in a race car's driving seat.

As of the Watkins Glen checkered flag, though, Potolicchio is 72 points ahead in the 2012 contest.

Readers might recall the Pew v. Potolicchio Mid-Ohio door-to-door action that, on the race's first lap, put Pew and Negri in a huge hole from which they wouldn't, really couldn't escape.

Over on the Bob Akin side of the awards spectrum, Emil Assentato is leading second-place Wayne Nonnamaker by a hefty 227 points.

Driving the No. 69 FXDD Mazda RX-8 to the 2010 championship, Assentato has been there before, along with co-driver Jeff Segal, who joined Assentato this year in switching from SpeedSource's all-but-2011 team championship dead Mazda RX-8 to an AIM Autosport-prepared and fielded Ferrari 458 Italia (at lower left) of the same number and sponsorship.

In their successful 2010 GT points championship season Assentato and Segal would lead the championship early then yield mid-season and, in the season's last race, could only watch as fate took command of other contestants’ steering wheel in that season's final race at Tooele; winning the championship by five points over SpeedSource's Sylvain Tremblay.

CHARLES ATLAS CANDIDATE

This writer a once-heavy consumer of comic books (yes, it’s supposed one could say such is the reason this writer is warped), one of the most frequently seen advertisements of decades ago was that of former world-champion bodybuilder Charles Atlas suggesting insisting he'd make a man of anyone who wasn't.

No, it had nothing to do with Renée Richards (ask your great-grandfather) but it did have everything to do with the now iconic "99-pound weakling."

You know, the skinny dude at the beach who was bullied (yes, true, 'tis not a new thing) by a, well, bully who, in his zeal to win the affection of the skinny dude's accompanying "hot babe," kicked sand in the aforementioned skinny dude's face.

It was all just hoo-hah, of course, excepting those possessed of too much testosterone and too little matching muscle mass.

Which brings us back to race car drivers (um, just kidding lads, heh, heh).

Mark Wilkins (left), who made a rare Rolex Series appearance as third-man-out with Scott Mayer and Colin Braun in Starworks Motorsport's No. 7 Ford-Riley DP2 (at right, below), was assigned various other duties besides driving.

In an imaginative way to gain time from a presumably slower Gen-2 DP (owner Peter Baron's mind is, well, really, really unique), when not sweeping the pit (heh, heh, just kidding again, Mark) Mr. Wilkins was assigned the task of quickly extracting one driver so as to make room for the incoming fresh driver.

In the case of the No. 7, Mr. Mayer was the outgoing driver; Mr. Braun the ingoing.

So, here's Mr. Wilkins, all 145 or 150 pounds of him (and such probably is giving him a stone or two) (ask Jeremy Clarkson) trying to yank a fellow who easily had 50 or 60 more pounds on his frame than did Mr. Wilkins.

We're talking, well, a serious thrash as "David" thrice mightily pulled "Goliath" (it's all relative, gents, no offense intended).

Wilkins is due an "A for effort," though.

GT GONE?

In theory, a sanctioning body can have a class full of available spots for manufacturers and teams but if no one shows up to race then, in practice, the class doesn't really exist.

The above is a bottom-line opinion for a few GT teams and at least two manufacturer representatives who are chafing under the results they claim are thus far exhibited in the Class of 2012.

A close 2011 championship fight that went down to the wire and a final four-point spread over the top-3 spots containing three different car builders this year has yielded a "blow-out" and "those two teams (champs Brumos and runners-up Autohaus) are nowhere close today to where they were then" insisted one team owner.

"One team can screw up and not do the same (a following year) like they did (in contending for a championship) but to have both do it (tank) at the same time (the following year) just isn't something that happens."

In 2011, Brumos Racing's Andrew Davis and Leh Keen got off to a rough start in their No. 59 Porsche but started clicking with a third place at Lime Rock and a win the following week at The Glen.

Autohaus' Camaro did similarly, scoring a first at Virginia International Raceway, followed by consecutive second-places at Lime Rock and The Glen.

In all, though, team and driving championship winners Brumos finished on the podium all of three times in 2011, with Autohaus claiming but one additional podium in 12 races.

Third-place 2011 team championship winner SpeedSource snared four podiums, total. Currently holding fourth place in the 2012 team championship standings, it already has three podiums through eight races with five to go.

"All we want is equal footing," one source said while refusing to be publicly identified, insisting retribution would likely follow otherwise.

"Let the teams fight it out," the manufacturer representative continued. "If a driver or a pit crew member screws up, so be it! But just leave the fight to the individual teams. That's all we want."

Still, one can't help but wonder if those complaining would be inclined of such if they be on top?

For complaining most often is reserved for those who always would if only could.

Later,

DC

Images by Brian Cleary, who retains copyrights. See more, buy some of his work at http://www.bcpix.com/.