[Bob Tanner]

I believe a few of you find the writings of Matt McLaughlin entertaining. If you didn't already know, his commentaries at RacingStalkers.com apparently got too intense for that site to handle and he disappeared.

I'm happy to say that Matt has resurfaced at the following site:

The Frontstretch: Random Thoughts On The Eve Of The 500

I hope this helps some of you

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I believe a few of you find the writings of Matt McLaughlin entertaining. If you didn't already know, his commentaries at RacingStalkers.com apparently got too intense for that site to handle and he disappeared.

I'm happy to say that Matt has resurfaced at the following site:

The Frontstretch: Random Thoughts On The Eve Of The 500

I hope this helps some of you

Thanks Bob. I had noticed there wasn't an opinion section on RacingStalkers anymore. About the truck race, he's right. That series gives me a reminder of the old cup series, with alot more competition. As for Pemberton saying he's absolutley certain Jeff's team didn't intentionally break the rules, I'm not so sure anymore. Bolts dont misthread themselves.

[Phils20]

I had lost track of him since he quit writing on another site! Thanks for the link. I always lliked his writing!

[Nevadastars]

Thanks Bob! I was wondering what happened to him. I thought the site you linked me to last year, was his own webpage. But I have gone to it a dozen times in the last week, and no sign of him. I read him religously for years, going back to the now defunct SpeedFX site. Thanks again!

Don

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

As for Pemberton saying he's absolutley certain Jeff's team didn't intentionally break the rules, I'm not so sure anymore. Bolts dont misthread themselves.

Did you see the show Trading Paint last night? Chad Knaus and Booty Barker showed exactly what happened with the 24s shock. The shock is mounted on a serrated slider. Supposed, the slider was not tight enough, or tight but "mis-aligned", so the shock eye slid up, which lowered the car. Either way, its very questionable how it could happen if mounted and tightened properly.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

Thanks Bob! I was wondering what happened to him. I thought the site you linked me to last year, was his own webpage. But I have gone to it a dozen times in the last week, and no sign of him. I read him religously for years, going back to the now defunct SpeedFX site. Thanks again!

Don

Matt and Monte Dutton of the Gaston Gazette are, IMHO, two must reads for the NASCAR fan who wants to see good, honest, non-orchestrated, not made-for-TV racing.

If you're a fan who actually likes this new NA$CAR, with its playoffs, its "Lucky Dogs," its NASCARmobiles, and think Brian France is the best thing to happen to major sports since Darrel Strawberry, steroids, and night games at Wrigley Field, don't bother with these links. You're going to really hate the articles you find there.

The Frontstretch: Random Thoughts On The Eve Of The 500

GastonGazette.com - The Website of The Gaston Gazette

[Juggernaut001]

Thanks for posting the new link for Matts articles.


I haven't found anything to back this story up but it certainly made me wonder what had happened to him.

Where Have You Gone Matt McLaughlin?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut001

Thanks for posting the new link for Matts articles.


I haven't found anything to back this story up but it certainly made me wonder what had happened to him.

Where Have You Gone Matt McLaughlin?

Yeah, I read that article.

I've had very short correspondences with Matt and, from what I can gather, he feels about this new brand of NA$CAR much the same way as I do (it's basically contrived, quasi-phony, and no longer about racing but about ISC making money), but Matt is a lot more eloquent than I in expressing his feelings.

For some reason that I can not understand, many blog sites out there have taken a Polly Anna attitude toward NASCAR (Possibly because most sites are managed by people who have a relatively short history with following stock car racing and have no frame of reference to judge this new NASCAR against real stock car racing?) and thinks the product NASCAR is putting out now is just peachy-keen. McLaughlin is the proverbial sliver of bamboo under their fingernails.

I always get a chuckle when I read the following, which is RacingOne.com's way of explaining their letting McLaughlin go:

"Our apologies to our readers with good taste for these submissions remaining in our database. We will remove these when our new site design debuts later this summer. Again our apologies for polluting the Internet with these inane columns written by this obviously untalented writer."

The underlined is the first sign of someone who has no defensible argument against a stand; you don't debate but rather insult and try to discredit.

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

"Our apologies to our readers with good taste for these submissions remaining in our database. We will remove these when our new site design debuts later this summer. Again our apologies for polluting the Internet with these inane columns written by this obviously untalented writer."

The underlined is the first sign of someone who has no defensible argument against a stand; you don't debate but rather insult and try to discredit.

I assume that was Na$car-hugging Pete Pistone, if so, what a jerk.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

I assume that was Na$car-hugging Pete Pistone, if so, what a jerk.

Or Marty Smith, Mike Mulhern, Lee Spencer, or a few others I could mention.

"NASCAR-hugging..." Damn, Don. I like that one. I think I will steal it, and re-use the term. (proving once more that I've never had an original thought in my life) Thanks.

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Or Marty Smith, Mike Mulhern, Lee Spencer, or a few others I could mention.

"NASCAR-hugging..." Damn, Don. I like that one. I think I will steal it, and re-use the term. (proving once more that I've never had an original thought in my life) Thanks.

Since he was mentioned, I should take the oppourtunity to say Marty Smith bugs the hell out of me. NASCAR-hugging, thats great, NS.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

Since he was mentioned, I should take the oppourtunity to say Marty Smith bugs the hell out of me. NASCAR-hugging, thats great, NS.

Wilks, do you remember that Steve Waid, of NASCAR Scene was pretty eloquent and strait forward in his views? Then, around 2003, or so, he gave a couple of interviews which were critical of some NASCAR calls. When was the last time you saw Steve on one of the NASCAR talking heads shows?

David Poole and Ben Blake were on a SPEED CHANNEL show entitled "Pit Bull," a couple of years ago. David and Blake both made some statements about NASCAR which made the shirts mad and I heard that orders came from on high (read: ISC HQ in Daytona Beach) for SPEED to pull the plug on the show. Marty spend half the show contradicting David and Ben.

The ONLY show I've heard Monte Dutton appear on is PRN's Pit Reporters. The only reason he's on that show is because Bruton likes to tweak NASCAR's nose, and Monte is a great tool for doing that, and NASCAR is afraid of the consequences of pissing off Bruton too much (re: Ferkle v. Texas Motor Speedway). Bruton Smith might be the only racing mogul in the USA who isn't afraid to take NASCAR on, mano a mano.

I'm waiting for the day Jayski quits putting links to articles by the above mentioned writers (Monte, David, Ben, and Matt) in his rumor sheet.