NASCAR's Biggest Fan – Girl of the Week | Ron Ripple

Last weekend was incredible for both Offshore Powerboat Racing and RonRipple.com. It was the  Offshore Super Series’ National Championships, so this past Thursday I loaded the cooler with a few cases of beer and headed to good ol Lake Ozark, Missouri.

I was so excited to see my new race team out there representing my website as well as the best sport in the world… NASCAR.  I couldn’t wait to see my boat out on the water and watch MY team “Ron Ripple Racing”…  (sounds good doesn’t it?) prepare for Sunday’s big race.

So I rolled in on Thursday evening at Lake Ozark, MO, checked into my hotel, and headed to the bar where I met up with my new team and competitors.  Thursday night seemed to be the night where all the teams, drivers and fan’s met at the local bar and threw down as many beers as they could.  Offshore Racing has their fair share of drinkers but they don’t call me Beer Drinking Ron Ripple for nothing… I showed the boys how it’s done!!!!

Thursday and Friday the teams started rolling in with their semi tractor trailers and equipment.  Friday was a day of rest… a.k.a…. a day to nurse my hangover.

Before I go any further I want to thank all of the teams and fans for welcoming me with open arms and with a cold fresh beer as I entered into the pits. Steve Page (driver) and Joey Gratton (throttleman) of the Ron Ripple Race Team were incredible and instantly made me feel at home. The fans and spectators of Lake Ozark are huge race fans and I enjoyed meeting all of you!

Ok… back to my weekend!  So Friday was a day of nursing my hangover and socializing with the teams.  I met so many incredible people this past weekend… the rumors are true… Offshore racing is like one big family.  I’m glad I am officially a part of it.

Saturday was the start of the horse power and rooster tails!!! (A Rooster Tail is the water that shoots out the back of the boat when a boat is hauling ass)  My team worked on preparing the boat for Sunday’s race and made a number of laps around the course testing propellers and set ups.  After timing the competiting it looked like we were the fastest so it was a great feeling going into Sunday’s race.

Take a look below at a photo my new buddy Pete Boden was able to grab as the Ron Ripple boat was screaming at 140mph down the lake during testing on Saturday!!

(unfortunately Pete Boden Does not have a website to show off his other photos)

Sunday finally came, and I woke up with butterflies in my stomach and had a bad case of what I liked to call my own ”Rooster Tails.”  There were thousands and thousands of spectators and fans that lined the course…  I was shocked as to how many race fans were out… I figured everyone would be at the NASCAR race which was only 3 hours away in Kansas City.

It was finally race day… and the day started with 5 different classes of racing which lead to the biggest race of the day (The Ron Ripple Team Debut). I was vibrating with anticipation and in order to control myself like I do for NASCAR racing, I shotgunned 2 quick beers which calmed my nerves.

The start of the race was intense as 6 of the fastest boats in the world were all racing to the first turn. The CRC boat shot passed all the boats on the start, with Ron Ripple and WHM fighting for second place. The first lap was crazy with the WHM boat almost flipping in the first turn allowing for the Ron Ripple boat to slide underneith them securing their spot in second place. The 5 mile course seemed like a 1 mile course and before I knew it, the boats were back around and somehow Ron Ripple was out in front. It was only the second lap when the Ron Ripple boat had a HUGE splash that went like this….

My team ended up hooking in turn 6 which caused the boat to spin out violently.  The skegs ripped off, the motor mounts broke, and the boat was a mess.  My heart skipped a few beats when I saw a HUGE splash!!!!  It was a sad moment for both the team and myself but I was just excited to experience what most call NASCAR on the water.

Both the driver and throttleman were unsure of exactly how the boat hooked but we’re all fortunate they were okay with only a   few bumps and bruises.  In total the boat suffered about $100,000 in damages.  One thing is for sure the crowd got an incredible show as you can see on the video above.

Congratulations to all the racers this weekend for putting on a GREAT Show and I look forward to many more races. A special thanks to all the OSS staff and racers. I’ll be heading to the World Championships in November hosted every year in Key West, FL.  I’m not sure if my team will be getting the boat together in time but with or without them I will be down there supporting my second favorite sport of Offshore Racing.

It’s pretty hard to admit but for once in my lifetime I chose to miss a NASCAR race for an Offshore Powerboat Race.  It probably will never happen again… but this weekend Offshore’s finest were competing for the National Championship, and I guess I was OKAY with that!

Take a look at some of the photos below and let me know if any of you guys have ever seen this sport in action? If so what have been your experiences and who’s heading to the World Championships in Key West?

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These are the type of events that I get excited for.  NASCAR is going to introduce a new competition on May 17th where five allstars attempt to do two doughnuts and then enter into Victory lane.  The fastest time gets $10,000 and is the official BURNOUT KING.  NASCAR in itself is a very exciting sport but when you ad little things like this… it just makes my ears tingle.  Stuff like this will only make NASCAR victories more fun to watch because you know it’s going to be a show at the end. 

The funniest part about this whole new addition is when they asked Clint Boyer to test out the idea in front of the staff and media, let’s just say he didn’t do it flawlessly.  They let Boyer demonstrate the burnouts with a Richard Petty Driving Experience car and after the first two successful burnouts he then attempted to drive the car back into pit row and he kissed the wall.  Haha… Clint Boyer kissed the wall driving the borrowed car back into pit row.

 Here’s Clint’s response, “It was Practice man.  That’s what you’re here for – to see what to do and what not to do”

Let’s just hope this was a lesson on “what not to do.”

After I heard about this new competition I wanted to see how tough it would be to complete two doughnuts and then slide it into my driveway.  I ended up doing about a dougnut and a half before I almost flipped my car… then I decided it may not be such a good idea trying to slide it into my driveway.  I never claimed to be the sharpest tool in the shed but I’m obviously not the dullest tool in the shed either.  Here’s a picture of my attempt… and YES my neighbors think i’m crazy. 

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I’ve been dying to get to a computer since the crashes that took place during this past weekend’s practice.  I know NASCAR is trying to go back to the basics with letting personalities come out and not having such strict rules and penalties, but this past weekend was unbelievable.  I only have two words to describe how the 2008 season is going to be “Complete CHAOS.”

The first crash seemed as if was an accident and didn’t look like there were any hard feelings.  Clint Boyer simply went up and tapped Ryan Newman which caused a huge pile up including Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and a few others.  Obviously a lot of pissed off drivers but it didn’t seem intentional so I assume no hard feelings. 

The second crash is what in my opinion sets the pace for the 2008 season and of course you see who’s in the middle of it, Tony Stewart.  Tony Stewart was trying to sneak by Kurt Busch’s #12 car but taps his right rear bumper causing him to get up into the wall and destroy his car.  Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch already had some bad blood from last year’s Daytona 500 when Kurt Busch got up in the back of Tony Stewart during the race.  The difference was that they were racing for the lead, and this time they were just practicing.

The title of this article is what I think will continue to be a reoccuring incident throughout the 2008 season “Busch and Stewart’s Love Tap!”  Kurt Busch, who has been NASCAR’s number one driver for the past two years, was not scared this past weekend to show the world how he really feels.  He drove up to Tony Stewart after the crash and traded paint with him that was clearly intentional.  There’s nothing like a little NASCAR drama… it’s what makes this sport so exciting.  But I think trading paint intentionally is a poor way of getting back at someone.  Kurt Busch would have really earned my respect if he would have got out of his car and traded words with Tony Stewart instead of trading paint.   If you listen to the commentators from the video, they mention that Tony Stewart was trying to get out of his car which I think is the proper way to discuss your matters instead of tearing up the cars themselves.  I’m sure Stewart was getting out of his car to shake hands and apologize.  Yeah Right!  The CHAOS from this practice makes for an exciting season.  I’m so jacked up now that I haven’t been able to sleep and probably won’t sleep until they throw the checkered flag come Sunday.

Above is a video of the second crash for those of you who haven’t seen it.  Just remember… this is PRACTICE and not even a race.  It just goes to show you what a competitve sport this is and the different personalities this sport has.  What do you think about this crash?  Do you think Kurt Busch took it too far?  Do you think wrecking cars is the way to get back at someone or do you think racers should take care of their drama face to face?

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With the Daytona 500 coming in less than 17 days, I wanted to post the test times from earlier this month. It looks like Dodge has the advantage over the manufacturers going into the race with 5 out of the top 10. But Toyota’s 2008 debut looks pretty strong with 3 of their drivers coming in the top 10. My boy Tony Stewart just squeezed into the top ten with the new Toyota but let’s wait and see how he does when he gets out on the track. I can already see him driving by Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin and then pushing Franchitti and Kasey Kahne into the wall. Should be some interesting racing especially with all the changes NASCAR has implemented as well as the number of team and car changes.

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With two consecutive points Championships in the last two years, Jimmie Johnson is unstoppable.  We haven’t seen a domination like this since Cale Yarborough back in the 70′s.  So will Jimmie Johnson make it a three peat and earn a title that will put him down in the history books?  

As much as I enjoy going to races and watching these guys battle it out on the track, I never like to see a singe guy dominate the field.  Jimmie Johnson is a great guy, and I can’t say a bad thing about him, but I truley do not want to see him number one in the points by the end of the 2008 season.   I have a feeling that this is going to be the year where people start routing for the under dogs again.  The Hendrick Motorsports team is exremely stacked this year especially with the addition of Dale Earnhardt Jr.  They’ve got Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Casey Mears, and Dale Earnhardt… all finished top 16 in last years points.  Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon were number 1 and 2 and Dale Earnhardt and Casey Mears were 15 and 16.

Jimmie Johnson already has displayed his dominance in the new 2008 season and it’s only January 21st.  This past Monday during both test sessions in Daytona he had the fastest car.   I haven’t decided who I’m going to route for this year but I’m hoping that the three peat doesn’t happen.  Who are you going to be a fan of this year?  We’ve got about a month left till the start of the 2008 season and I’m champing at the bit waiting for it to begin. 

Make sure you check back daily and see what I’m talking about because it’s going to be a crazy year and I’m going to have all the dirt and drama for you to discuss.

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