OK 2-wheel freaks, no more Arenacross until January, precisely when Supercross kicks off again… but how about this for news… Monster Energy Drink may be the title sponsor of the ’08 SX season? Yes, it has been thrown out there for a while, but is apparently somewhat close this time to happening. Yet there is a BIG reason it hasn’t yet been announced… a reason that could become big enough to squash the deal completely. Apparently the other energy drink teams, aka Red Bull, are fighting the fact that they would have to run the Green M on their bikes… and they aren’t happy about it! 
Here’s a fun link if you want to weigh in your $0.02: A Monster Announcement Forthcoming?

And speaking of Red Bull, how about the Last Man Standing this weekend… first time winner, 24 yr. old Taddy Blazusiak won the daytime AND night-time laps… while 10x nationals champ Geoff Aaron was the only other rider who survived. For the write up, hit this: Red Bull Last Man Standing 2007

And OK, keeping with the energy drinks… and that ‘Monster’ thang… how about Kenny Bernstein?! The 6x NHRA Champion came on with us Sunday night to talk about his final retirement… or departure… however you would like to word it. Regardless, it was HUGE news to the drag racing community this week that Kenny decided to step out of his seat after only one year back. Veteran driver Tommy Johnson Jr. will be his replacement for ’08 and beyond. To hear Kenny’s exclusive explanation with us, click this link: Bernstein Takes a Monster Step Down

The PRI show was this weekend… and it was full of announcements and racing fun (as usual). First off, the race winners from the event were Michael Valiente in the Stars of Karting throwdown – then Bobby East and Dakoda Armstrong in the USAC Mopar Sprint & Midget Classic.

A new series was announced at the show… how about this, the ‘Old School Racing Champions Tour’. This will apparently be a 10 race series that will kick off in North Carolina in May. Representing at the show were Dave Marcis, Jack Ingram, Larry Pollard and David Pearson… other notables who should receive invites soon include Darrell Waltrip and Mario Andretti.

Advanced Auto Parts was named as the new title money for the World of Outlaws… Mazda announced they have acquired Playboy to sponsor the Pro Racing MX-5 Cup series… and Donny Schatz was the recipient of the Champion of Champions award… YES, again, the voters for that award GET IT! It doesn’t always have to revolve around the ‘N’ word, folks… you, Mr. Schatz were sooo deserving of the accolades! Good on ya! For info on Donny’s sweet season in the World of Outlaws, check this out: Donny Schatz' Amazing Numbers

Speaking of awards, F1 fans… are you as confused as I am that Tony George just received an award from freakin’ Bernie Ecclestone???? Apparently after all of Bernie’s bitching and moaning about the Indy F1 race not being properly promoted, and THAT also being one of the main reasons BE dropped the US from their ’08 schedule, Formula One Management still ponied up this weekend and gave Tony and the US Grand Prix the Race Promoter’s Trophy. Huh? Don’t believe me? Well then go to Autosport to read it yourself HERE… me thinks there is some buttering up that has already started to get the F1 boyz back in The States by ’09… can you hear FOM now?

“Oh Tony, we are so sorry about this year’s misunderstanding… let’s make it up to you and bring back the world’s greatest racing series for the bargain price of a $100 million dollar sanctioning fee by the end of the decade. You in?”

But if that wasn’t crazy enough, there are lawsuits going on in the American open wheel series that just don’t quite add up to me either… Paul Tracy had signed a FIVE year deal with Gerry Forsythe last year, thereby leaving another four years left on the contract. AND, in that cool contract was the statement that Paul would no longer run in the ‘N’ series so as to do all he could to secure another championship in Champ Car for the team. So why is Forsythe telling him he needs to renegotiate the deal or he will be released? Don’t have the money you promised the #1 driver in the series, Mr. Gerry? That’s YOUR problem, not Paul’s… here is a story on it: Tracy Contract

And why does Scott Sharp think he can up and leave Rahal Letterman Racing in the middle of his contract? There is so far no good explanation why he thinks he can pull himself and the big money sponsor, Patron, to greener pastures. Unless you see something here that I haven’t yet: RLR-Sharp Lawsuit

Does anyone else have crazy news?

How about this… rumor has it Cory Mac may be running for Don Schumacher next year…

Grant Langston has just signed on as a star actor in the upcoming Supercross movie “Free Style” currently shooting in Vancouver (link here)…

Poor Bruton Smith’s Christmas lights shorted out this weekend, causing a fire in his front yard WHILE HE WAS HOME: Smith Fire Info…

Fernando Alonso will re-sign with Renault (though we all knew this was coming)…

And finally for the biggest and best news, though not so crazy for those of us in the biz, the Chili Bowl on Jan. 12 will be on LIVE TV baby!!!! Sign up now for HBO Pay Per View and gather the friends for a winter BASH at your place… should be an AMAZING 4-5 hours of winter racing!!!! Chili Bowl TV Info