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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
GURSS: A Twitter of a Race Weekend
The biggest story of the weekend deserves more than 140 characters...
Jade Gurss  |  Posted April 29, 2009   Charlotte, NC
Faster. Louder. The weekly column on SPEEDtv.com by Jade Gurss. (Harold Hinson Photo)
The biggest rage right now in social networking is Twitter. It’s an interesting concept: limiting entries to 140 characters each, brief blasts of ideas or information. But I’ve been struggling to come up with a productive style or content for Twitter as a racing publicist. So, to get some practice, here are some inane Twitter-length thoughts while waiting out another Truck Series rain delay on a dreary Kansas Monday morning.

The biggest story of the weekend deserves more than 140 characters, as a disaster was narrowly averted at Talladega as Carl Edward’s car careened wildly into the catchfence. The aging fence did its job, but it is yet another reminder the sport needs to strive for continual safety improvements for the competitors and the spectators. Those who are actively involved know and accept the risks involved in the sport, but it should never impact the customers. Every effort should be made to keep the fans safe and if that means newer, stronger and higher catchfences, then let the construction begin.

So, here’s an online column… Twitter-style.

• I wish a speedy recovery to all who were injured in the grandstands.

• It’s great to see Brad Keselowski get a victory. He’s a likeable kid with a good head on his shoulders.

• I watched the IRL race from the stands as a fan. It’s something everyone in the business should do to remind themselves of the fan experience.

• Which Sebastien is the best driver in the world right now: Loeb or Vettel?

• IRL and NASCAR fans look alike – but NASCAR fans have more scanners.

• There are drivers who are courteous when being lapped while others are a moving chicane. Milka Duno is the latter.

• Be honest: did ANYONE have Keselowski as their Talladega fantasy league pick?!

• It’s bad enough the truck race was rain-delayed until Monday. It was even worse to be shortened again by snow-like conditions.

• 300 miles seemed like the right length for an IRL race. Why does Cup insist on so many 500-milers?

• The audible tone of the IRL Honda engine is still harsh. They need to bring back the glorious sound of the turbocharged engines.

• There was more Dale Jr. clothing and hats on fans at the IRL race than Indy car-related merchandise.

• A lot of young girls were at the Kansas race wearing Danica Patrick clothing and visors. NASCAR is so far behind the game on gender.

• I know we can’t control Mother Nature, but what numbskull schedules a 5 pm start for a truck race at a track with no lights?

• The big question: will a second-place finish be enough to calm Junior Nation this week?

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or Speed Channel

Jade Gurss is the owner of fingerprint, inc., a sports publicity company. He has written two New York Times Best Sellers, including what is believed to be the biggest-selling motorsports book in American publishing history (Driver #8 with Dale Earnhardt Jr.). His two decades of publicity and marketing experience involves nearly every category of motorsports, including nine innovative seasons as NASCAR publicist for the Budweiser brand and Earnhardt Jr. His blog can be seen at: http://fingerprint.typepad.com

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