Judging by the bacon themed food and novelty items that surround us these days, there must be some strange and growing group of bacon fanatics in the world. Who they are and where they are I do not know, and am not sure I want to know. Since everyone else I have discussed this over abundance of bacon with seems to scrunch their nose and think it as strange as I do, I am left to wonder about the people who would find such things as bacon sundaes at Denny’s, bacon bandages and bacon candy canes from Urban Outfitters, and bacon cotton candy appealing.

Oh yeah, bacon cotton candy! Texas Motor Speedway is unveiling its newly created “Hawg Heaven Bacon Cotton Candy” during the NRA 500. There is even a scratch and sniff shirt to go along with this culinary creation! Executive Chef Joel Pena will prepare over 3,000 bags of “Hawg Heaven Bacon Cotton Candy” and will cook more than 300 pounds of bacon to be used as candy-coated topping to the bacon flavored candy fluff.

The candy can be purchased at where else, but the Pig Rig Food Truck on the concourse between gates three and four, and in the stands by Hawg Heaven Hawkers, and at various concession stands throughout the track.

I guess I really shouldn’t knock something I haven’t tried, but I just can not understand this bacon mania that is taking the country by storm. I wonder how many of you have tried a bacon delicacy or would want to try Texas’ newest treat?! If you do, let us know what you think.

This Friday, September 7th, Las Vegas Motor Speedway is hosting the 7th Annual “Remember the Fallen” Blood Drive to benefit Speedway Children’s Charities. For more information and to register, visit http://www.lvms.com/media/news/speedway-childrens-charities-joins-united-blood-service-for-seventh-annual-blood-drive-friday.html

This is an event that I am proud to take part in each year and encourage all of you, whether you live in Las Vegas or not, to find a blood drive near you and give as we approach the 11th anniversary of 9/11.

I do not generally comment on the personal lives of drivers. I think it is distasteful and wildly inappropriate, but lately I can’t help but notice the “fan” posts and comments circulating on social media sites concerning Tony Stewart and the status of his love life.

Apparently there at least some fans who believe he is incapable of managing a relationship and a championship bid. To insinuate such a thing is not only ridiculous, but it is insulting to Tony’s talent. Are these so called fans suggesting that Tony is less able to juggle a personal life and career than let’s say Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, or Kyle Busch (all of whom have managed to have incredible career success, relationships and families)?

The very first interview BadGroove did with Tony Stewart was eye opening to how Tony feels about this kind of private scrutiny. When we were introduced to Tony, he said. “Oh no—I am afraid of bloggers!” He laughed it off, but after the interview he opened up a bit about what he meant when he said that. He explained that he tries to avoid reading anything on the internet about him because it “hurts [his] feelings when they talk about [his] personal life”. He said, “Some of the things they write – they are terrible”. This is probably one of the main reasons he steers clear of social media. He just doesn’t want to open himself up to more of his “fans” unsolicited advice and opinions.

If you are still reading this, I implore you to do as Tony does and avoid those individuals who can’t seem to keep their nose out of his very personal business. Just because he has a career in the spotlight doesn’t mean we are invited into his personal life. Trust his decisions and his talent and leave it at that. Have some respect!

Monday morning I realized just how much I wear not only my NASCAR fandom on my sleeve, but my 24 pride, too, when I came into my office and started checking my voicemail messages from the weekend and had not one but three voicemail messages from clients of our firm and a business associate calling for the sole purpose to congratulate ME on the win at Pocono. Now, I am sure you can all relate that on Sunday when we are watching our driver navigate his way through the muck and the mire of a race we do indeed feel like a part of the team: making arm chair pit calls and yelling words of encouragement at our driver, or pointing out cars and obstacles like we are the team spotter but to return to the “real world” Monday and have people calling to congratulate you on your driver’s win- well that is when you know that you truly are living and breathing this sport. So much so that every person you come in contact with knows of your addiction and thinks of you when they are watching the sports segment on the evening news and see who won the race. That is cool! I will take those calls and messages any time!

Jeff Gordon has been a household name in my family since he made his way onto the NASCAR scene in the early nineties.  Growing up in Northern California no doubt had something to do with that, and his success certainly didn’t hurt matters.  Amy can attest to the fact that while I have not always followed NASCAR, I have always followed Jeff Gordon and his career.  Always!  So to say that interviewing Jeff in Sonoma this year is an item off my bucket list is a serious understatement.  It well could be my whole bucket list, at least as it pertains to NASCAR. (more…)

Well…it seems with Texas just days away it is time to face reality and finally accept that the 4/1/12 Martinsville race was no April Fool’s joke, despite the number of fools that crowded the race stage in the final laps. What could have been Hendrick Motorsports 200th Sprint Cup win, either from the race lap leader and dominant 24 car, or by 5-time Champ, Jimmie Johnson, turned into madness and disaster for the HMS team when a caution was called for Fool of the Day, Reutimann, who had been circling the track for several laps seemingly without rhyme or reason. I won’t bother to recap the rest, it is done and over and as much as I had hoped that NASCAR was playing a grand practical joke, sadly for Jeff Gordon and his fans that was not the case.

After an abysmal start to the season that includes a mechanical DNF at Daytona, a team mate spurred DNF (don’t even get me started) at Bristol and a couple of mediocre finishes in Phoenix and Vegas, it was AMAZING to see Jeff Gordon’s terrific run at AutoClub Speedway this weekend. After qualifying 21st for Sunday’s race, he quickly moved up the leader board finding himself firmly in the top 5 by the time the race reached its half-way mark. The Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet was strong and Jeff was able to take positions seemingly at will. It truly was AMAZING…amazing right up until it got messy!

With rain imminent and only green flag laps, cars were reaching their fuel window and had to pit. Jeff stayed out on track the longest leading a few laps before coming down pit road for his scheduled stop. This is where it got MESSY (to say the least). After receiving the GO signal from his crew, Jeff pulled away dragging the gas man and the still engaged gas can out of the stall with him, resulting in a pass through penalty that left him a lap down in P19. Even so, his car was fast and strong; he quickly passed some lap down cars and moved up to 16th. His lap times were equal to and at some times quicker than the dominant leader, Stewart. In fact, it looked as if Jeff had a decent shot of racing his way back to the lead lap until Mother Nature intervened and opened her skies over Turn 3, bringing out the Yellow.

Now had the 24 stayed on track and taken the wave around the bleeding could have at least stopped there, but oh no! A poor decision to pit under caution (did the team not have access to the same report we in the stands had? Once the rain started it wasn’t going to let up until Monday, so there was absolutely no chance the race would go back GREEN).

Another pit stop resulted in another penalty when the tire changer lost control of the front tire and went bouncing across pit road. I sat in the stands watching in horror! I could not believe this kind of epic fail from a team of this caliber.

Sure enough within a few laps the race went Red and was shortly called due to the torrential down pour, which everyone knew was coming! Jeff finished P26, and slid two more positions in the points to 25th! I hate to be Debbie Downer, but unless this team gets it together and quick they are not likely to recover from this atrocious start to the season and may just miss the Chase and that is more than enough reason for me to mess my unmentionables!

Far and away the most amazing thing about Race 3 in Las Vegas was Jimmie Johnson’s runner-up finish after crashing in Happy Hour Saturday and having to start from the rear of the field in a backup car.  Within minutes of Jimmie losing control and hitting the wall Saturday afternoon, Chad and the 48 team were unloading the backup car. Amy and I had the privilege of witnessing much of the hardwork that went into getting the car race ready – I am sure it was a long night for the 48 team, but it paid off with that awesome finish.

Where There's a Chad , There's a Way (Photo Credit: Misty Bethany)

Now, the messy moment of the race for me probably didn’t even make it into the TV coverage, but it was a moment that brought out my potty mouth and made me bite my nails literally.  I think I may even have embarrassed Amy by my exclamation!  About 80 laps in, my driver was racing mid pack for P15 (I think) and a certain driver that I have had issues with before decided to go three wide into turn 1, causing my far more sensible driver to fall back a few places, where he then seemed to struggle the remainder of the day!   I wish that someone would pass out my “space bubble memo” at the next Driver’s Meeting, so that my driver can maintain a safe space bubble in which he can freely race however he wants and the heck with the other 42 cars.