Kevin Harvick Wins First NASCAR Pole Award

Kevin Harvick with unidentified object

I don't spend a lot of time on the sports page. MLB lost me with the strikes. The NFL went SJW and left me behind, so I usually don't give the sports section more than a cursory glance. But something caught my eye yesterday: A NASCAR driver proudly holding a rifle.

This had possibilities!

But I checked several stories, mostly All Pablum, which never got around to telling us exactly what he'd won. Tupperware? A doorstop?? A year's supply of tofu burgers???

Just an educated guess on my part, but it looks a little like a lever action carbine. (Gun, to the uninitiated).
Can't tell the caliber, but it looks like it might be tricked out a bit with some badges, maybe some special engraving. Would have been nice to acknowledge the gunmaker with at least a mention of his name. With the myriad of sponsors' logos on his jacket, NASCAR does not seem averse to capitalism.

Must be an AP thing?

Danica Patrick Takes Pole at Daytona

Really a challenge to write headlines about this that don't sound dirty



Danica in one of her racing racy outfits
Danica Patrick is making history as the first woman to take the pole position at this coming weekend's Daytona 500 race.

She became the first woman to win the pole position for the Daytona 500 — and a Sprint Cup event — on Sunday when the rookie posted a lap of 196.434 mph.

"Pride. I'm proud of all the hard work that goes into making a pole car," Patrick said. "I'm happy for them (the team). It was a fast Chevy. ... If you're anywhere but the front row, it's hard to see on race day. ... This just speaks volumes about Stewart-Haas Racing. I thought we were going to be 1-2-3 for a while."

The previous best starting position for a female in the Daytona 500 was 18th by Janet Guthrie.

Danica is quoted as saying,

“I was brought up to be the fastest driver, not the fastest girl.”

Go get 'em Danica!

Update: Danica finished 8th at Daytona, the highest finish for a woman at the Daytona 500.

Quote du jour

"I feel like I've been driving in circles all day!"

-unidentified NASCAR driver