The lore of NASCAR is filled with stories of backyard mechanics taking cars right off the showroom floor and winning races, fame, and glory with nearly stock cars. This is why NASCAR is called “stock car” racing after all. However, since the late 1980s, the cars have become less and less related to the showroom cousins. For 2013, Ford is trying to mend that gap, at least aesthetically, with their new 2013 Fusion racer.

Taking its cues from the production Fusion that debuted at the North American International Auto Show, the new Fusion race car adapts the cars dramatic headlight and grill treatment. To make the car look even more “stock,” the overall proportions of the stock car were mirrored. Even the character line that runs down the stock car’s side was replicated on the racer.

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Danica Patrick will be the talk of NASCAR next season now that she’s leaving the IZOD IndyCar Series for NASCAR’s Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series. She’ll get started at the Daytona 500 and then go from there. She’ll be running in 10 Sprint Cup races next year and you can bet she’ll be a huge story at each one. Her schedule was unveiled last month.

In addition to her full-season schedule in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series with JR Motorsports, also in a GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, Danica Patrick makes her Sprint Cup debut at the start of the 2012 campaign in the 54th annual Daytona 500 on February 26th at Daytona International Speedway.

The balance of her Sprint Cup schedule includes Darlington on May 12th, Bristol Motor Speedway August 25th, Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 2nd, Chicagoland Speedway on September 16th, Dover International Speedway September 30th, Texas Motor Speedway November 4th and the penultimate race of 2012 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 11th.

“Between our schedule and her full Nationwide Series schedule for JR Motorsports, Danica will gain a lot of experience quickly. At the same time, we’ll monitor her progress, and if we feel there’s a particular venue or style of track where more seat time would be beneficial,” Stewart noted, “we have two races where we can call an audible and enter her in those events.”

It will be fascinating to see how she does, and you know there will be a ton of interest from the Vegas sports books. Who knows, we could even see a record for Daytona 500 betting next year.

Either way it’s a huge loss for IndyCar and a big win for NASCAR.

When you think of NASCAR, you think of a few key images. First, there must be loud, fast, heavily stickered cars careening around an oval. Secondly, the race will probably take place somewhere in the south. And finally, there must be enough flowing Budweiser and blaring country music twang to annoy Toby Keith. Yes, these are stereotypes, but no one ever mentions just how much fun a NASCAR event is because of it. Bullz-Eye went to the Bank of America 500 in Charlotte as a guest of Valvoline to witness this circus in person.

NASCAR races, like horror movies, are better at night. The reason is the same, drama. The noises seem louder, the speed seems more intense, and the crowds become more restless with anticipation. And really it is the fans that make these events what they are. Their blind devotion to single drivers makes the most ardent sports team fan blush. Depending on their favorite driver’s success in the rest, certain sections of the track may be in utter despair and crazed happiness at the same time.

The venue is also crucial. Charlotte can be described as one of the cradles of NASCAR. This southern city not only contains the track, but the Roush Racing Team as well. With its southern charm, fantastic barbeque, and good times vibe, the city is the embodiment of NASCAR’s attitude.

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Columnist Will Harris got the opportunity to attend NASCAR’s Coke Zero 400 from Daytona a couple of weeks ago and had a blast. He shared his experiences with Bullz-Eye.com and here’s a taste:

Day 1:
As I have never, ever taken a trip for Bullz-Eye that hasn’t involved some sort of flight delay, it doesn’t really come as any surprise that the trip from Norfolk to Daytona finds me stuck in Charlotte for longer than I’m supposed to be. I didn’t even bother to try and find out what the problem was. I just shrugged, sat down and plugged in the laptop, and kept myself occupied until my flight finally did get around to taking off. I did have one brief panic attack when I called the hotel in Daytona to make sure that my delay wouldn’t complicate the rest of the day’s plans, only to learn that there was no reservation listed under my name, but it all worked out in the end. (Turns out everything was booked under the blanket name of “Dodge.”) Once I successfully manage to fly Charlotte to Daytona, I take a taxi to the hotel, check into my room, and gaze longingly at the beach outside my window, never realizing that the weekend will work out such that I will never get to take advantage of it. Still, it sure looked nice…

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