The 2012 NASCAR season had many highlights, and a few lowlights. Attendance was mixed at the tracks, TV ratings didn’t exactly soar and the Sprint Cup title was decided just past the halfway point in the final race at Homestead. There were no first time winners in the Sprint Cup series this season but the title went to the unlikeliest of heroes. While the overall story for NASCAR in 2012 might be like a bowl of vanilla ice cream, there were a few sprinkles on top, and a few of those were licorice flavored.
We therefore present the ‘we-didn’t- think-we’d- do-this-again’ best and worst moments from the 2012 NASCAR season.
The season opening Daytona 500 was delayed by rain for the first time in its storied history. It ended up as a Monday night prime time affair watched by millions. It featured what looked like a scene from a movie when Juan Pablo Montoya crashed into a jet dryer during a caution period setting it ablaze in a spectacular fireball. After seeing that everyone was ok, my favorite Tweet of the season was sent out as I sat in the press box and watched the safety crew’s work to extinguish the blaze; I said that Montoya was quoted as saying afterwards (ala Ricky Bobby from Talladega nights) “Help me Jesus! Help me Jewish God! Help me Allah! AAAAAHHH! Help me, Tom Cruise! Tom Cruise, use your witchcraft on me to get the fire off me!” MORE>>>
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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