Tony’s turn? Will Stewart end California 0-for?

Before I get started, I would like to wish NASCAR a happy 60th birthday. On this day (Feb. 21) in 1948, Bill France Sr. incorporated the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. The sport that began as a way of gaining bragging rights for moonshiners has transformed into one of the United States’ most popular sports. Needless to say, this would never have happened without France. Congratulations to the France family and NASCAR. Now onto the post.

Tony Stewart is bad ass. If you don’t believe me, ask bigdave43.

He’s won at 19 different Sprint Cup tracks since 1999, amassing 29 wins — the second most in that time period behind only Jeff Gordon.

But a first-place finish at California Speedway has thus far eluded Stewart and his Home Depot Chevy. So, with Joe Gibbs Racing switching to Toyota this year, will Stewart’s new ride do the trick?

Without a Toyota win in NASCAR’s premier series, Camry drivers are looking to prove the make belongs on the track. And where else would be better for Stewart to pull the Camry to victory lane than California.

Thus far Stewart has collected three top-five and six top-10 finishes at the Rancho Cucamonga track to go along with 225 laps led — the most for any Cup driver without a win in Cali.

In order to take the checkered flag, Stewart will likely have to deal with Gordon — who leads all drivers with three California wins — as well as his Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson, who is one of only two other drivers with multiple wins on the track. Matt Kenseth, who has averaged a fourth-place finish in his last four races in The Golden State, is the other.

So Tony, if you read this — let’s not kid ourselves, WHEN you read this — win Sunday. For yourself. For Toyota. For bigdave43.

-Daniel Price

Why can’t I hate him? — A NASCAR Valentine’s Day Special

Note from Daniel Price, the DTH NASCAR blogger: Because I have no login for the DTH blogs, I will be using Bennett Campbell’s account to keep up with the second-most-watched sport in the United States this spring — and perhaps the summer and fall — at least until I get my own login. Hopefully all four of you that read this will enjoy. And although it says this was posted on Feb. 15, it is now 9:40 p.m. on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day.

It can’t be. It isn’t. Fine, it’s true. I’m a Hendrick Motorsports fan — or, quasi-fan.

When my favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., all but signed his soul over to the devil in June — announcing he would race for the California-lovin’, Jeff-Gordon-havin’, best-engine-makin’ team in NASCAR — I thought that in eight months I could develop a sense of loathing for the son of NASCAR’s most popular driver ever.

I knew it wouldn’t be easy. But I had to do it.

But here we are, three days before the Daytona 500, and I just can’t hate him.

I tried being a Tony Stewart fan. But Toyota ruined any chances of that. I tried rooting for avid Tar Heel fan Dale Jarrett. But he won’t race the truck. RACE THE TRUCK, DALE!

Nothing felt right.

Nevertheless — trooper that I am — I decided to stick it out. If it took until the Coca Cola 600 to find a new favorite driver, so be it. I just simply could NOT root for anyone even remotely affiliated with that Dupont Chevy.

So when Junior won the Budweiser Shootout, his first race with Hendrick, on Saturday, I tried not to care. I really did. And though it wasn’t easy, I refused to be happy for the driver of the — yuck — No. 88 car.

Of course the fact that Earnhardt immediately thanked his new teammate, last year’s Nextel Cup — or is it Sprint Cup? That’s another blog — Champion Jimmy Johnson, for pushing him to the win definitely made that task easier.

But when Amp Energy Drink’s newest endorser won the first of two Gatorade Duels today, securing a thrid-place start in the 500, I couldn’t keep it in.

I let out my best and loudest “WOO!” for the odds-on favorite to win the 50th running of the 500 — And yes, Ric Flair would be jealous.

I’m embarrassed. But on this day dedicated to love, I have to say it. I don’t hate Dale Earnhardt Jr.