UPDATE: I'll be on NASCAR SiriusXM Friday at about 1 p.m. (ET) to talk about this weekend's Phoenix weekend.
As promised, I've posted on YouTube the video of Jeff Gordon taking me, Mark Armijo and Chris van der Beeck around the new Phoenix International Raceway layout. This happened during the Sprint Cup test at PIR last month. Click this link to watch:
http://youtu.be/IqIzbV6uZm0
Mark and I will be covering PIR for the Arizona Republic all weekend. Please check out the newspaper or read us on http://azcentral.com/ . I'll have notebooks every day plus the Nationwide race story in Sunday's paper and my traditional newsmaker Q&A.
Thursday notebook -- (Jeff Gordon's lap of the new PIR)
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/speed/articles/2011/11/09/20111109nascar-jeff-gordon-pir-track-impressions.html
Thursday -- Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/speed/articles/2011/11/09/20111109nascar-team-chemistry-phoenix-race.html
Wednesday notebook -- (Track preparation; Danica says no reality show) http://www.azcentral.com/sports/speed/articles/2011/11/08/20111108nascar-pir-track-grooves-repaved.html
I guested Wednesday on my friend Larry Henry's Pit Pass USA show. Here's an audio link and I'm on right at the start:
http://www.voiceamerica.com/Show/1547
Yes, I'm thinking NASCAR, but here's a link to my November "Drags, Dollars & Sense" column on CompetitionPlus.com. It's about the pressure on Courtney Force and others to "move the needle" for NHRA:
http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/editorials/19568-drags-dollars-a-sense-will-they-entice-interest
[ more next Monday . . . ]
Michael Knight's news analysis and commentary on NASCAR and the motorsports industry, public relations and journalism issues, and the politics of sports. (Plus, other topical roads not otherwise traveled.) Gold medal for commentary, 2010 International Automotive Media Awards. Best blog, 2007, 2008, 2009 American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association journalism contest. Recipient of 51 awards for PR, journalism and contributions to motorsports. Blogging since 2006.
- UNCONVENTIONAL WISDOM: Phoenix International Raceway, NASCAR and Subway sent the wrong signal to the family-friendly fan base by naming Detroit Lions' defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh -- one of the NFL's dirtiest players -- as Grand Marshal for the March 4 Subway Fresh Fit 500k. With Arizona celebrating 100 years as a state, having one or more of AZ's greatest sports heroes in the role would have been appropriate. (AZ Diamondbacks World Series hero pitcher Randy Johnson will be at PIR as a photographer.)