Mike Smith

Blog Post Archive

Could Richmond be Tony Stewart's first win as an owner-driver?

Friday, May 1, 2009

I have a large drawer full of cartoon sketches that have never been published. These are usually ideas I rejected or didn’t use because their shelf life expired.

Grandstands are the issue at Talladega

Monday, April 27, 2009

Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony to be held at the Wynn

Thursday, April 23, 2009

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Award Ceremony coming to Las Vegas.

Sprint Cup cars are not weapons

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Every time NASCAR places a Sprint Cup driver on probation, I’m reminded of the scene from “Animal House”, where the fraternity hoodlums are placed on “double secret probation.”

Subway Fresh Fit 500 sketch pad

Monday, April 20, 2009

Before we get to the sketchpad from the race, there were a few things I noticed while wandering around the garage area at Phoenix.

Greg Biffle drives Ford's F-150 Raptor in the Nevada desert

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The F-150 Raptor, Ford’s new off-road performance truck was put through its paces by Sprint Cup driver Greg Biffle today at Primm, Nev.

Roger "The Dude" Penske

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

You can always count on the Busch brothers to make news when they speak. Whether it’s in an interview or chatter on the team radios, the Busch brothers rarely leave listeners bored.

Kyle Busch's $1 million oil change

Friday, April 10, 2009

Would you spend $10 million a year for motor oil that would give your car’s engine a little more horsepower?

Greg Biffle to take off-road detour before the Phoenix race (2nd Update 10:30 AM)

Friday, April 10, 2009

Roush Fenway Racing driver Greg Biffle will be taking a detour to the Las Vegas desert on his way to the Sprint Cup race in Phoenix on April 18.

Passion in NASCAR isn't dead yet...and a few thoughts on the race at Texas

Monday, April 6, 2009

Prior to the beginning of Sunday’s race, Fox aired an opinion piece by Darrell Waltrip in which he lamented the lack of fire and passion in the sport today.

Why Car and Driver's April Fools' prank about NASCAR backfired

Friday, April 3, 2009

Car and Driver’s April Fools’ prank ended up being a serious misfire. The prank stated that President Barack Obama had made Chevrolet’s and Dodge’s departure from NASCAR mandatory if the companies wanted to receive further financial support.

Fixing NASCAR's viewership issues may take more than a stellar season by Dale Jr.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

There is no single reason for the decline in interest in Sprint Cup racing. A few of the issues pushing a segment of fans away from the sport include the new car, changes to the racing schedule, the Chase, a general feeling that the sport is more concerned with profit than the fans, and Kyle Busch.

Martinsville as stimulus package

Monday, March 30, 2009

Television viewership is down and attendance at the races has declined. What NASCAR needs is a stimulus package of its own.

Kyle Busch is sending drivers to the gym and a few thoughts on Bristol's "sellout"

Friday, March 27, 2009

How can you tell that NASCAR is increasingly becoming a sport for younger athletes?

I miss the old Bristol

Monday, March 23, 2009

I used to look forward to the racing at Bristol with the anticipation of Pavlov’s dog. Next to watching the Daytona 500, the races at Bristol were my favorite events of the Sprint Cup season.

Does Dale Jr. have enough fire in his belly?

Friday, March 20, 2009

I think I’m experiencing Dale Earnhardt Jr. fatigue. It’s not that I don’t like or respect Dale Jr. I find his honesty to be refreshing.

Bruton Smith's circus act

Monday, March 16, 2009

The P.T. Barnum of stock-car racing was at it again this week. Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc.

Bring the Taurus back to Sprint Cup racing

Thursday, March 12, 2009

In 2010 Ford will introduce a completely new Ford Taurus.

Kurt's domination and Tony's motivation

Monday, March 9, 2009

It looks like the No. 2 team is finally starting to turn its organization around. I always thought Kurt Busch should have remained a driver for Jack Roush to capitalize on the successful, championship winning tenure he had driving for the Cat in the Hat.

Shelby 427 sketch pad

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Surprisingly, the concession stand for Digger, Fox’s animated road-kill candidate, had more customers than the trailer for three-time champion Jimmie Johnson.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway sketch pad

Friday, Feb. 27, 2009

Today and Sunday I will be drawing sketches from the infield of Las Vegas Motor Speedway and posting them here on Bloggity.

Auto Club Speedway sketch pad

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009

I took my sketchpad to Fontana on Sunday and came up with a few observations that I have put to paper.

The hyper hype of NASCAR

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009

Remember when drivers were lavished with attention because their statistical information warranted it?

Who's to blame in racing depends on who's doing the blaming

Monday, Feb. 16, 2009

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then blame for a NASCAR wreck depends on the loyalty of the viewer.

NASCAR underdogs may have more bite than bark (Updated)

Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009

Sprint Cup teams put everything they have into their Daytona 500 efforts. Teams often spend the entire off-season preparing for the premier race of the year.

Hoping for an unexpected Daytona 500 winner

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009

A cartoonist is always looking for the big story. As I drive to work each morning, I find myself hoping that the day’s headlines will be fertile ground for cartoon ideas.

Making predictions about NASCAR is like rolling the dice

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009

I don’t make predictions. Why should I when there are more predictions flying around about the 2009 NASCAR season than there are mosquitoes over a stagnant pool of water?

Sprint Cup drivers should follow Jeff Burton's advice

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009

Last week Jeff Burton, who is often referred to as the mayor of the garage area, stated that Sprint Cup drivers need to do more to reach out to the fans. Burton believes this would help the sport make it through the current rough economic climate.

NASCAR race blackouts wouldn't accomplish much

Friday, Jan. 23, 2009

To say that Bruton Smith, Chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., is a colorful character is like saying Tony Stewart has a temper. It’s glaringly obvious. Smith isn’t afraid to speak his mind, and I like that.

Budweiser Shootout is confusion central

Monday, Jan. 19, 2009

I had planned to try and write an insightful, possibly even intelligent blog post about the recent change to allow a “wild card” team from each manufacturer to be added to the Budweiser Shootout.

Michael Waltrip thinks testing should be banned for good

Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Michael Waltrip thinks the temporary ban on testing should be made permanent. “My philosophy on testing is that it’s a colossal waste of time and money,” Waltrip was quoted as saying on scenedaily.com.

Is this really the best time to start a Sprint Cup team?

Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009

Forget about the stumbling economy. Forget about the automakers’ crumbling fortunes. Forget about the declining sponsorships. Forget that Sprint Cup teams are laying off personnel.

Rough economy produces silence at Daytona

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009

The Wheels blog from The New York Times' online edition has a story about the financial challenges facing NASCAR this year.

Anticipating the excitement that Kyle Busch can provide

Monday, Jan. 5, 2009

As I impatiently await the start of the 2009 Sprint Cup season, I can’t help but think back to how I used to look forward to the beginning of the racing season, largely because I was anxious to watch Dale Earnhardt negotiate the tracks on the circuit.

How to draw NASCAR's Mike Helton

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008

I like faces with prominent, overbearing features. Drawing caricatures is an art form that is dependent on being able to exaggerate facial features.

A stock car can't come from the showroom floor

Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008

As Ronald Reagan said in a presidential debate with Jimmy Carter: “There you go again.”

NASCAR 'fan' questions why sport should exist

Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008

Alleged NASCAR fan Robert Weintraub, a freelance TV producer and sports writer, has written an opinion piece for Slate.com headlined: “Gentlemen, stop your engines—A NASCAR fan makes the case to euthanize stock-car racing.”

Hopefully, the Petty name will remain in NASCAR

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008

Founded in 1949, Petty Enterprises is NASCAR’s oldest and most famous racing organization.

Awarding a second Cup date should be based on quality racing

Friday, Dec. 5, 2008

Kansas Speedway won’t receive a second Cup date by 2010 despite earlier claims by NASCAR Chairman Brain France that a second race was a distinct possibility.

Sprint Cup racing should be affordable entertainment

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008

When times are tough, people need to escape the stress of everyday reality. And throughout the rough patches in this nation’s history, people have escaped by enjoying some form of entertainment that can provide a respite.

Sprint Cup awards banquet should include all Chase competitors

Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008

Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished 11th and 12th in the Chase, won’t be visiting the Big Apple for the 2008 awards banquet since NASCAR only invites the drivers who finish in the Top 10 in points.

Ford, GM and Chrysler need a pit stop

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Government should be run like a business.” Well, the Detroit automakers think business should be run like a government. The automakers, much like the politicians in Washington, are burning through cash, running up huge debts and are allergic to change.

Is Johnson in the same league as Petty and Earnhardt?

Monday, Nov. 17, 2008

Is it time to start comparing Jimmie Johnson to the great legends of NASCAR like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt? It’s an understatement to say that Jimmie’s record-tying third consecutive championship is phenomenal.

Jimmie and Chad must already have 2009 on their minds

Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008

What can be said about Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus that hasn’t already been said? Not much. But I do think one of the key elements to their history making performance is that consistency on the track comes from consistency back at the shop.

Inside the ESPN TV compound

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

Imagine you’re in the trailer portion of a tractor-trailer rig surrounded by anxious people, enough electronic equipment to launch the space shuttle, anywhere from 65 to 70 TV monitors all showing different angles of a NASCAR race, and you are responsible for making all the split second decisions that make the race broadcast possible.

Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 sketchpad

Monday, Nov. 10, 2008

Bad Boy Mowers is the sponsor of the No. 22 car, but it was the No. 48 car that mowed down the field at Phoenix International Raceway.

Junior Johnson and the new administration

Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008

While on the stage at a campaign rally a few days before the election, Barack Obama made the point of introducing an important supporter, NASCAR legend Junior Johnson.

Don't engrave that Sprint Cup trophy yet

Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008

What is it about winning at Atlanta that sets a driver up for a win at Texas? Carl Edwards won both races in 2005, Tony Stewart in 2006 and Jimmie Johnson in 2007.

Is there parity in NASCAR or is it just a theory?

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008

When is the last time that an underdog won a Sprint Cup race?
If you look at the statistics from the past three years you’ll see that there aren’t too many instances where a driver won a race who also wasn’t with one of the powerhouse teams.

No low point for the Lowe's Chevy

Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008

Nothing seems to be able to stop the highly focused and motivated Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus from marching toward a third Cup championship.