Video: Christmas Joye Abbott trains to make NASCAR pit crew

Christmas Joye Abbott is training to make history as the first woman to be a tire change or a NASCAR pit crew. (Dec. 10, 2012 video by Corey Lowenstein, newsobserver.com)

Is NASCAR ready for Christmas? from The News & Observer on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday, NASCAR!

   Dec. 14, 1947 - On this day, a group of businessmen led by Bill France Sr. met in the rooftop bar of the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fla., to write out the rules for the then-chaotic group of dirt track races born from the days of running moonshine in Prohibition. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing would emerge a few months later.

   Enjoy the video testament to the "good 'ol days"
 

What Joey Logano thinks of his new NASCAR teammate

   Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano have wasted no time in breaking in their new teammate relationship at Penske Racing. The two participated in this week's test at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    On Wednesday, Logano was asked how he and Keselowski can help each other this season. Here was his answer:

    "It’s really cool to have a teammate that’s a student of the sport, that really studies it and will push me to do things differently. I think the coolest thing that Brad is able to do is he’s able to think outside of the box – like way outside the box. I think that’s interesting to me, to see the way his mind works," Logano said.

    "I’ve learned a lot the last couple days and the ways he thinks through a race car is a little bit different than normal, and I think that’s cool. I think it’s good to have a little bit of both on a team, so I can learn a lot on the way he leads a team and drives a race car and the way he sets up his car. I seem to be a little bit different, the things he looks for. There are a lot of different things. The way he drives his car is a little bit different than me, too. Taking some of his techniques, I’ve tried them out there and there are pros and cons to everything, but it gives me a few more tools to work with when I’m out there.”

How NASCAR can teach leadership lessons

   Leadership lessons don't always have to come from traditional places like the military and football. New perspectives for bosses also flow from jazz and rock climbing. The chiefs can use the different angles to ease their pressure.

   A University of Michigan study reveals a CEO's average tenure is down to 3.5 years vs. 9.5 years just a decade ago. That's courtesy of Bob Parsanko and Paul Heagen, authors of "The Leader's Climb." They also see Nascar and golf as leadership incubation centers.

   Read more at Investor's Business Daily here. 

Count Dale Earnhardt Jr. in as fan of 2013 Sprint Cup cars

   One morning practice session of less than three hours and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is already sold on the 2013 version of the car which will be used in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.

   Tuesday's test at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the first time Earnhardt had been behind the wheel of one of the cars, which will feature much more manufacturer identity.
  
   "I think the car has really awesome potential and I like it already leaps and bounds beyond the COT," Earnhardt said. "This car really gives me a lot of sensations that are similar to the old car that we ran 10 years ago.

   "Just personally, I didn't really like the car for what it was. The (new) cars that you see in the garage, you'll stand there and you'll see Fords and Toyotas and Chevrolets driving by and it's great because everything looks different and everything is recognizable.

   "That's a great feeling for me. I can appreciate the cars for that fact."

   Earnhardt also believes the cars drive better, at least from his brief experience behind the wheel.

   "They feel like they have a ton more downforce.That could change in different weather conditions, but it's a promising start," he said. "Today is feeling good and driving good and I think that there is good potential."

Tony Eury Jr. returns to the Sprint Cup Series

   Tony Eury Jr. is back in the Sprint Cup Series.

 

   Eury will be the crew chief for Swan Racing's No. 30 Toyota in 2013 driven by David Stremme. The move comes just days after the new team, owned by Brandon Davis, was formally announced.

 

   "We have a long-term vision for Swan Racing and the addition of Tony Jr. is another step in that process. Tony brings a world of experience to Swan Racing and will be part of our long-term success," said Davis.

 

   Eury began his NASCAR career in 1991 when he was hired to work for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. He has been a part of 19 Cup series victories with Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. including wins in the Budweiser Shootout in 2003 and 2008. In 2006, Earnhardt qualified for the Chase for the Cup and finished fifth in points with Eury making the calls on race day. Most recently, Eury was was co-owner of JR Motorsports and served as Danica Patrick's crew chief in the Nationwide Series until he left that organization late in the 2012 season.

 

   "I am really impressed with the team Swan Racing is building and I am proud to be part of it," said Eury. "I am looking forward to working with David Stremme behind the wheel and with competition director Steve Hmiel."

 

There's nothing like NASCAR Gangnam style

   This isn't new but I came across it again today looking back at some stuff from NASCAR Championship Week in Las Vegas. It's still funny.

   And Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage never looked better!