Redneck Sports Gifts for Your Southern Gent

GOP incumbent André Bauer, Lt. Governor of the great state of South Carolina, is not running for re-election. He is however, raising money for him campaign account. To that end, Bauer, the country's youngest LG, has put together a very classy website, "André Bauer Presents A Carolina Christmas: Unique Gifts for your Southern Gent."


The site hocks such unique gifts from "hunting trips, to archival prints, to driving a race car, to romantic get-aways...There's something for everyone, but only a few exclusive items."

• Deer/hog hunt for two. $1500.
• Wingshooting for three. $1000.
• Striper fishing for two. $500.
• Signed #3 mini-poster. $200. (SOLD OUT) (Ed Note: Dale Murphy?)
  
• Scale model #00 car. $100.
• Jeff Gordon Racing School. $1000.
• A day at the races with André. (Only two spots available.)

Noticably missing from the items up for grab were:

• Larry the Cable Guy's Greatest Hits.
• An evening with Ronnie Milsap.
• Spurrier-Inspired USC "Baby Cocks" DVDs
  

H/T Palmetto Scoop

Happy Belated, Jr.

Your dirty fans love you very much.

AJC:

Getting a hepatitis shot is standard procedure for travelers to parts of Africa and Asia, but some congressional aides were instructed to get immunized before going to Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., and the racetrack in Talladega, Ala.

Rusty's take on the new 88

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to be downright honest with you. I'm not too keen on June-bug's new paint scheme, or sponsor for that matter.

First, it ain't red. Every one of my other major teams that I really care about N.C. State, the Nationals, and until next year, Dale Jr. are red. It makes it easy cause I can just put on a red shirt and be "rooting" for any one of my teams. Now, I'm going to have a major outlier. For a person as type A retentive as myself, this really complicates things.

Second, one of the primary sponsors is AMP Energy Drinks, which is one of these sugary energy drinks that I just don't like. Mountain Dew's good and all, but I'm not a fan of energy drinks. They taste like cough syrup if you ask me. For the record, I've got nothing against National Guard, in my opinion, they are the only citizens allowed to constitutionally carry guns, but we ain't going there, today.

Third, since the scheme isn't one solid color, how is Jr nation going to be referred to in the stands? Previously, sports writers and commentators could talk about the sea of red that stood applauding as JR rocketed towards the lead. Not anymore! Now, it's going to be the sea of white, blue, and green ?!?! How the heck is that supposed to look daunting?

I ain't saying that my loyalty is anyway going to be affected by the sponsor or color of the car, well long as he's not sponsored by a certain national political Party. Who knows, I may even grow to like it in the coming months and years. But I am a little luke-warm to it right now. All the hype just wasn't worth it for the cars I saw unveiled today.

-posted by Rusty

Rusty's Review on CMT's "Dale"

Now, y'all will have to pardon the typos in this post, cause I'm writing this with 3 fingers held silently in the air. I'm doing so in memory to the greatest man to ever drive a race car, not to mention the best race car driver ever!!!!

I'm talking about Dale Earnhardt, and after having recently watched the new documentary, Dale, I'm feely insanely inspired. Inspired for what, I'm not sure. I take the metro to work, so it's not like I can pretend I'm on the high banks of Daletona every day. But I'm inspired.

This recent documentary puts anything else ever done on the Intimidator to shame. In the words of his son, "awwwwhhsome". Dale had it all, the rivalry with Waltrip, battles with his daddy, the pass in the grass, and even his tragic death. It was in depth like I've never seen before. Even June-bug said it was in depth, and he lived it for crying out loud.

Y'all, if you only watch 2 hours of television between now and next Juvember, watch Dale. CMT will be running it continuously I'm sure. Catch it. Even if you aren't a NASCAR fan, even if you can't even spell Dale, you should watch it. But if you can't spell Dale, you probably couldn't operate a remote, so get some adult supervision first, but I digress.

As we approach the last race before the chase, this weekend in Richmond. And with my boy, driver of the #8, needing a divine intervention to make the chase, I'm feeling inspired. I can only hope ole June-bug's feeling the same way. If anything can do it, though. Dale's gonna be it!!!

NASCAR, Dale Jr, and Why We Don't Hate Jeff!

Why would you care about NASCAR? You are a baseball fan or a football fan. You've never watched it on TV, get angry when SportsCenter does NASCAR highlights, and maybe even drive a foreign car (blasphemer). So, why would you want to spend your precious time reading some North Carolinian yellow-dog southern Baptist's take on the traditional redneck sport? Well, I'll give you 3 quick reasons, and then just challenge you to read my first post (below), and keep coming back for more.

1) NASCAR is American, and if you don't love America, then this blog's not for you, buddy. The Great American Race, hot dogs, beer, and rednecks. These are the very things that make America great, my friends.

2) NASCAR is raw power. 43 drivers in 135 degree 865 hp stock cars racing at close to 200 mph mere inches from each other, beating, banging, and sliding all over the race track. You do the math.

3) NASCAR is hands down the fastest growing sport in America. The NHL is dying a slow death. The NBA is a joke. Each year, NASCAR adds more and more fans, from all walks of life. There may even be a race track in NYC in the coming years.

Now that you are all recent converts to the greatest show on 4 wheels, I give you my (BK's) first post . . .


Hendrick: Junior will have new sponsor next season

Well, it looks like a marriage born in heaven will soon be coming to an end. Starting in 2008, Dale Jr. will not be driving the red Budweiser car that's made him so famous. Rumor has it that he might be in a Pepsi-sponsored car at his new team of Hendrick Motorsports. This is no small change for NASCAR and the legion of Jr fans in the stands and at home. Approximately 80% of NASCAR fans are clad in Dale Jr.'s bright red. When he storms to the lead, especially at places like Talladega and Richmond, a thunderous red tidal wave careens through the grandstands. Well, starting at Daytona in February, 2008, those red clad fans are going to have to deck themselves in some new color or risk being "behind the times". As if the typical NASCAR fan wasn't already a little behind the times in terms of fashion, but that's a post for another day.

Today is also a new day for me and my own loyalties in NASCAR. You see, I'm a big Dale Jr. fan. I too erupt in a cacophony of hoots-n-hollers that has to be translated for anyone not born in North Carolina when that beautiful red car surges to the lead. As such, I've always borne, shall we say, a bit of distaste for Jeff Gordon and his buddies at Hendrick Motorsports. In 2004, when NASCAR in effect gave Jeff the win over Junior at 'Dega, my hatred reached it's zenith. Since then, I've ranted about Jeff's shoving Matt Kenseth out of the way at Chicagoland, Jeff's whining about Jimmie racing him at Martinsville, and countless other "incidents". But last night I had a catharsis. Realizing Jeff would become Junior's teammate next year regardless of my personal feelings and maybe a little bit because I was nearing the end of my 3 mile run, I decided it was time to shelve my dislike of the driver of the 24 car. I mean, he does have a few things I can respect, right? He's won 5 championships. He's won almost 80 races. He's even won more races than Dale Earnhardt whom Jeff respected almost like a father-figure. It was NASCAR's Eagles vs. Giants for the '90's.

So, let this be an official announcement. I no longer hate Jeff Gordon. I ain't a fan, and I don't know that I can ever root for the 24, but I won't hate him. I'll have a competitor's respect for him, and hope he can bring the Hendrick Motorsports team success . . . but not till 2008.

And that's about all I got to say about that!

-posted by Rusty