I am a lapsed blogger

It’s hard to explain how you can write for a living yet find it so daunting to put down daily (or even semi-regular) thoughts on a blog. I envisioned writing brief musings from Daytona but got so swamped writing for the Post while trying to promote the book that I let the blog slide. Then I got frustrated that Random House wasn’t doing more to publicize the book (a common plaint among first-time authors, I’m told) and figured no one wanted to read rants about that. Finally, the gap in my blog posts became so huge it was paralyzing; I felt if I were to resume after a such a glaring hiatus, I either had to have something seismic to say or some spectacular excuse—like have gone temporarily blind or broken both arms. Neither was the case.

But if anyone questions my courage, my plans for tonight ought to put that to rest. I’m on a flight to Miami as I write, where I’ll be doing my second reading and signing for “One Helluva Ride” at Books & Books in Coral Gables. That alone takes pluck. But I’m following the fabulous humor columnist Dave Barry, who has agreed to introduce me.

The reading was arranged by my dear friend Michelle Kaufman, a terrific sportswriter at the Miami Herald, who also teaches journalism at the University of Miami, where her students still don’t quite believe she is married to Dave. Anyway, Dave knows a lot about NASCAR, believe it or not, having received a certificate of achievement from the Richard Petty Driving Experience in Februaray 2000. His account was side-splitting. Here’s a link to it on his blog, http://www.davebarry.com/misccol/NASCAR.htm

Anyway, Dave could recite the starting lineup for the Daytona 500 and drawl howls. He’s a peach to introduce me tonight. I just hope I’m not pelted with tomatoes when he sits down, and I rise to talk about NASCAR.

A few words about Las Vegas:

It was shocking to see great drivers like Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon slam into the wall so hard—Tony because of a blown right-front tire; Jeff, after his Chevy drifted ever so slightly up the track while battling side-by-side with Matt Kenseth. It could have been calamitous, with Gordon’s car spinning down onto the apron and smacking an opening in the inside wall that wasn’t protected by a SAFER barrier. I’m sure that will be addressed by the next time NASCAR races at Las Vegas, and I hope it prompts a review of all “un-cushioned” sections of retaining walls on every oval.

As for the tires, there have been so many right-fronts blows this season that I can’t help but wonder if the new car—or the way teams have to set up the car to handle properly—isn’t exacting an extraordinary toll on the right front. Goodyear has done such a great job for the sport for decades. I hope smart engineers are looking at ways to help the tires catch up to the pounding, or rein in the car so it’s not so abusive.