Original artwork: Malinda Lordache
MOST UNHEEDED MANTRA OF THE WEEK
The hood of Tony Stewart's dash (Photo: Rusty Jarrett)
+ + +
QUOTING NASCAR DRIVERS ON THEIR WAGs
Most "Awwwww" Quote of the Week
Chad McCumbee: "I also want to thank my future wife Stephie for her continued support. Racing is a tough sport on relationships and she has made so many sacrifices; thanks for being there and making this happen for me."
Most Awkward Quote of the Week
Kurt Busch: " [Eva] is an incredible amount of support. Couldn't do it without her. And at this point, to have her in my life, it's very solidifying. And just the love that we share, she's the one that's right there letting me know how good the team did one day. And she's there just being that person sitting on the porch, watching all of it, as well."
+ + +
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE WEEK
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike and his fiancée, Casi Davidson, were arrested on drug charges, specifically possession of heroin.
+ + +
GENERATION NEXT
Great Expectations
Congratulations to Craig and Lisa Smokstad! The #83 car chief and #25 tire specialist are expecting their first child in early September.
Canine Birthday Surprise
Ricki Hendrick and her new buddy, Ero
More: NASCAR Children
+ + +
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN FAQ OF THE WEEK
Q. Who was that blonde woman with Tony Stewart on pit road? (I don't currently have a screengrab or photo, please let me know if you have one.)
A. That was Miss Hurst Golden Shifter Linda Vaughn,
the "First Lady of Drag Racing." I have no knowledge of her relationship with Smoke other than that they share a passionate appreciation for classic cars and both attend frequent Barrett Jackson Collector Car Events.
+ + +
THE MOST FAQs
Q. Are Jamie and Christy still together?
A. Frequent question as always. This week you can see for yourself.
Q. Are Elliott and Amanda still together?
A. Yes.
Q. Are Brian and Mara still together?
A. No. They broke up about a month ago, but one source tells TGOM that the possibility of reconciliation still exists.
Q. Are Dale Jr. and Elizabeth still seeing each other?
A. No. Elizabeth has recently and publicly declared her singledom and word 'round the track is that she was tired of Junior "being mean" to her. In TGOM's non-professional opinion, "being mean" is non-confrontational Junior's passive-aggressive way of "expiring" her. Whatever the case, at the risk of jinxing myself, I dare say this should be the last FAQ on this particular subject.
Q. Did Denny and Kristin break up?
A. Yes. There has been a dramatic change in the status of this long-term couple's
relationship within the past three weeks. TGOM's sources confirmed that Kristin has cashed out of the relationship and skipped town. This pair has a long history and whether the split
is temporary or they are finito forever remains to be seen. For now, my money's on the latter. This split can
be attributed to indiscretions in the relationship and numerous hindrances to reconciliation remain. In my humble opinion, recent events that have transpired have pushed this relationship past the point of no return.
Blast from the past
Last time Jamie McMurray went to victory lane, he was accompanied by his ex-girlfriend, Cielo Garcia. Cielo was in Daytona this weekend with her pre-Jamie boyfriend, Larry Foyt. The former couple rekindled their relationship several months ago.
More: Female fans want to know this...
+ + +
Relationship FAQs: Part II: Cheating on this...
TGoM Commentary
Since I began researching and blogging about NASCAR wives and girlfriends in response to Answer this...
visitor inquiries almost three years ago, I've learned a lot, shared a lot and kept a lot under my hat. I've also been stunned by a lot, disappointed a lot and wish I could "unknow" a lot.
Saints and Sinners
Prior to this venture, despite the sport's notorious roots, I had this perception of NASCAR being
a Christian, family-driven sport of higher moral standards than other professional sports. I am no longer of that opinion, not only due to news that makes headlines, but because of that which doesn't. Much of it makes its way to my inbox. Lots of it stays there.
As it turns out, not only does NASCAR have its share of drug, financial and other socially unacceptable behavioral issues, when it comes to personal relationships, it seems that many drivers are not much different than other professional athletes. Just like the NBA, NFL and MLB, NASCAR is full of playboys, playa haters and philanderers.
Q. Why do NASCAR drivers cheat on their significant others?
A. Because they can.
This..., of course, being the simplest of endless answers to the question.
NASCAR drivers cheat on their wives, help themselves to other mens' wives and toss racer chasers around like they're playing a game of hacky sack. They steal quickies in the hauler and/or motorcoach with [Insert flavor of the day here. Choose from pit lizard/helmet licker/garage girl/PR girl/fan/sponsor hostess/crew member's sister/team guest/make up your own].
Drivers have an endless supply of available women to choose from on any given Sunday--or any other day of the week for that matter. Some of them simply cannot resist temptation, especially when the risk of getting caught by their significant other is low. For some, even getting caught isn't enough to make them stop.
TGoM's moniker of choice for these "side dishes" of dessert is "ho-hos." And would you believe these ho-hos actually think they're hot stuff 'cause a NASCAR driver nailed 'em on the fly? Even worse are the ones that go down on the fly ... without any regard for what's dared to go down there before her.
Of course, some drivers wouldn't be caught dead diving into the bottomless pool of track trash but rather develop intimate relationships outside of their primary relationship
with people they work or spend a lot of time with. Hardly an uncommon phenomenon. It's probably going on where you work.
Q. Are you aware of any current drivers cheating in their current relationships?
A. Of course.
Q. Why don't you expose them?
A. Because I'm not in the business of ruining relationships. People do an ok job of that themselves. And once they do, well, then all bets are off. And when they don't? That's what blind items are for!
Q. Why does [insert WAG here] stay with [insert driver here] when everyone knows he is cheating on her?
A. Again with the impossible questions. No psychology degree here. Observation, however, leads me to believe that, just like in "real life," it's because they either love him or the lifestyle enough that they're willing to put up with a certain level of misbehavior, humiliation and damage to their self-esteem.
Q. Are they all cheaters?
A. I doubt it. The percentages on men who cheat vary from study to study anywhere from 22% to 37%
and beyond. But that's for regular people. The celebrity factor only
increases the percentages. According to an expert on the subject, those numbers are low. She says the majority of men cheat. And a healthy number of women, too.
+ + +
Recommended Reading for All NASCAR WAGs
"The Monogamy Myth: A Personal Handbook for Dealing with Affairs"
Peggy Vaughn, who's been featured on Oprah! and CNN, has helped thousands of folks recover from affairs. As the extramarital-affairs expert behind AOL's "Ask Peggy" forum and as a woman who's been married for 40 years to her high school sweetheart--who cheated on her for seven years while she kidded herself that he was remaining faithful--she certainly knows what she's talking about. She says that to successfully overcome an unfaithful spouse or companion, you have to work through the myths of monogamy. It's not just men, or men who travel a lot on business, or women with supermodel good looks, who cheat. It's people of all ages, all occupations: from pastors to postal workers to, well, presidents. In other words, everyone is at risk for betraying or being betrayed.
Studies conservatively estimate, Vaughan reveals, that 60 percent of men and 40 percent of women will have an affair. "These figures are even more significant when we consider the total number of marriages involved, since it's unlikely that all the men and women having affairs happen to be married to each other," she says. "If even half the women having affairs (or 20 percent) are married to men not included in the 60 percent having affairs, then at least one partner will have an affair in approximately 80 percent of all marriages."
Vaughn outlines the societal causes and supporters of affairs, from the commercialization of sex in every visible nook and cranny of our world to our lifelong tendency to surround sex with secrecy. She also lists the common desperate measures that people take when they suspect they're being cheated on, and why they don't work. (Vaughn herself resorted to becoming a gourmet cook, wearing sexy underwear, and acting like a sex fiend in bed, all to no avail.) She also tells what to expect during a confrontation, and includes copious techniques for rebuilding self-esteem. There's also information about how to choose a marriage counselor or group therapist and, even more important, when to stop seeing one. For couples--especially those with children--debating whether to divorce or remain married, there's plenty of proven guidance to be found here.
+ + +
BLIND ITEMS
Who needs a girlfriend when you have lollipops?
Which NASCAR Nextel Cup driver celebrated his singledom in Daytona with the help of two strippers from Lollipops Gentlemen's Club?
Tearing down the house that love built
Which former NASCAR champion built his wife her dream house only to have her later refuse to move in? She wasn't too keen on the place after discovering that her husband christened it with his mistress.
Note to readers: Feel free to leave your guesses in the comments, but the tallglassofmilk won't confirm, so don't bother inquiring about this... Keep the comments short and sweet. Unwarranted personal attacks on the subjects of this site and your fellow readers will not be tolerated.
Q. What is a *blind item*?
A. Urban dictionary: blind item
+ + +
TUNE-IN ALERT
Four-time NASCAR Cup champion Jeff Gordon will co-host "Live
With Regis and Kelly" on Monday, July 9. The appearance will be Gordon's 10th
time acting as co-host. Check local
listings.
Blind Spot (Rpm) by Chris Fabry (July 2, 2007)
Tim Carhardt is drifting through life with one goal--survival. Jamie Maxwell believes she can become, no, will become the first female winner of the cup. But life isn't always as easy as it seems. What happens when dreams and faith hit the wall?
REMINDERS
