A Hand Full of Races Until the Chase

Paul Schadt

......Juan Pablo..... arrrrriba! How bout Tony Stewart in those Burger King adds..... glad it's the new Tony and not the 5 year ago Tony..... no one needs a Whopper of the back of the head.......

Kasey Kahne driving the Red Bull car for a year.... looks like that might happen.... hurry back Brian Vickers..... a hand full of races until the Chase....... think they should open it from 12 to 15 drivers?....... thanks so much for listening to zMAX Racing Country and don't forget to visit us here in Charlotte..... I just checked and they still have some great seats for the 500 in October...1 800 455 FANS...... PS

I'm Moving

Cathy Martindale

I'm currently looking for a new home....in Siberia, please. GIMMEABREAK! If I ever complain about being too cold again, somebody needs to remind me how much I can't stand this hot weather!   It's kinda' put a damper on the outdoor concerts, too, as you don't wanna clap too hard or you'll work up a sweat. Thank goodness the Brooks and Dunn concert finale will be indoors. It's been rescheduled for Sept.2 in the big arena here in Nashville. They're still not saying just who the "special" guests will be....but, they are good friends with Reba and Strait, y'know....hmmmm...the scaplers aren't even sweating this one!

Jimmie Johnson

Paul Schadt

Jimmie Johnson................... maybe we should put him in a bunny suit........ would that even things out a bit..... I did like him chasing down Kurt Busch, we got to see a little of the other side..... Maybe if you were allowed to have a paint gun..... how would that be.... Jimmie shooting thru the netting....Kurt's helmet visor gets all painted up and he has to pit..... Jimmie follows... paints up a few pit guys then peels out..... it probably doesn't matter some of the odd makers say Jimmie is almost even money to win 5 in a row...... do you think he'll be nominated for the Hall this week...... lets go to the beach.. PS

Heat Wave

Cathy Martindale

Guess it's always SOMETHING! Last time I blogged about too much water here in Nashville and now I'm BEGGIN' for it! We've had a heat wave here that everyone is complaining about..... it's so hot that I saw two trees fighting over a dog, the other day!

We got thru two huge, international music festivals here in Middle Tennessee that claimed the lives of two fans and sent hundreds to the hospitals when humidity was over 50% and the heat index went above 100 degrees. But, in spite of the weather, the CMA Music Festival was a huge success that had fans sitting in the sun to see their favorite country artists dripping with sweat onstage... but not too many people minded, as long as they got to see or meet their favorites before the week was out. Some stayed cool when Taylor Swift spent 13 hours in a huge arena to hang with 10,000 of her closest friends/fans. Trace Adkins just thanked the fans who were sitting on the very spot that was under water a month ago... thankful they didn't cancel their vacation plans when they'd heard Nashville had historic flooding.

And, speaking of hotness... Tim McGraw just got People (country edition) Magazine's "hottest guy" award. No wonder Faith will pummel any "grabber" if she has to! Ok... timeout for a lemonade!

Two Weekends in Charlotte

Paul Schadt

..... two weekends in Charlotte..... one winner, congrats to Kurt Busch and Penske racing..... both the All Star and 600 trophies get mailed to the same place.....

how about Jeff Burton and his finger in Kyle Busch's face..... were you thinking there was going to be a smack down..... were you disappointed..... me too.....

lots of great reviews from the fans that came to Charlotte and stopped in at the new Hall of Fame..... if you didn't make it this time try to get here this summer, you will love it..... PS

Tune Town has Drowned

Cathy Martindale

Gimme a towel, PLEASE!! As you may or may not know (because the national news media has just about ignored this crisis) TUNE TOWN HAS DROWNED. Nashville and surrounding counties came under attack from Mother Nature this past weekend, giving us historical amounts of rain...

Some are even saying MORE than we've had in 500 to a thousand years, altho I'm not sure how the Native Americans rain gauges made it to that news anchor's desk.

Anyway, I've been busy with Red Cross duties, as I volunteer to help in mobile feeding and have been representing them at news conferences. It's bad, really bad... in the billions of dollars BAD. As of yesterday, not only did the 13-20 inches of rain flood neighborhoods, but our Grand Ole' Opry Stage was filled with people in canoe's, instead of Brad Paisley and Little Jimmy Dickens, submerging all the staging and electrical equipment, along with the hallowed wood floors that have supported so many legends over the last century.

Next door, the Opryland Hotel evacuated 1,500 guests as the bottom floor filled with 10 feet of water. It will be months before it opens again and that could affect plans for fans coming in for the CMA Music Fest next month. Of course, the area where the festival stages the most events, Riverfront, is completely under the Cumberland River right now. The Wildhorse Saloon is flooded, as is the Hard Rock Cafe. Everyone is working 24/7 to pump the water out, but it has no where to go right now.

If you want to help those in Nashville effected by the flood you can visit www.nashvilleredcross.org and click DONATE NOW to make an online gift, mail a check to the Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203, Call (615) 250-4300 to make a donation by phone, or Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation on your mobile phone.

Random Thoughts from the ACM's

Cathy Martindale

Next year, guys, mix up the groupies that you use to surround the side stage acts... retreads all night.

Hey, I usually don't care for the Hollywood "stars" they stick in as presenters, but it was kinda interesting to hear Cher say that Hank Williams was one of the first singers she ever remembers... some 60 years ago, uhm... well, however old her OLDEST body part may be!

My girl Miranda won the award that she most deserved... ALBUM OF THE YEAR... if you haven't heard every song on REVOLUTION, go buy it or download it... worth every penny.

Broadway's Laura Bell Bundy is a heckuvan entertainer (and sings "countrier" than most), but can she ever get a radio hit? Finally... just realized Charles Kelly of Lady A HAS to be Ronnie Dunn's lil bro'!!! (somebody needs to do a DNA check).....

Guess there's an opening for an awards show sound guy... the highly-promoted fan-voted swansong that Brooks and Dunn were to sing was barely audible... and Miranda, you're right... producer Frank Liddell deserves a few seconds to thank... oops, we're outta time! That's Vegas, baby!

Kasey Kahne to Hendrick Motorsports

Paul Schadt

.....So..... Kasey Kahne to Hendrick Motorsports..... what a perfect match..... it's too bad he has to wait till 2012..... so where to next season?.....

Teaming up with Tony Stewart's gang seems to be the best option unless mark Martin decides to call it a day a year early, either way I'm glad for Kasey but the rest of this season could be tough..... 20 some odd races with a driver that won't be back next year..... it'll be interesting..... off to Texas! PS

Spring is Coming

Cathy Martindale

Know what? We're just holding our breath as Spring is trying its hardest to show some new life around here. Y'know, I think it's been the quietest winter EVER here in Music City as people just wanted to stay home and stay warm.

It was one of the most brutal winters on record for Nashville, but I know the nastiness wasn't just a Tune Town thing. Even FLORIDA treated us like a cold, wet dog on Spring Break! But, now, the sun is out... the birds are chirping.... the songwriters are scribbling lyrics on their Pancake Pantry napkins again........ Taylor Swift is blooming, as usual.... and Kenny Chesney is ready for a little Margaritaville in this town. Break out the Hawaiian Tropic!

Off this Weekend

Paul Schadt

Off this weekend... what do the stars do when they're off?... Greg Biffle was taking part in a local charity to help raise funds for dogs in the area... I know he also likes to fly his helicopter and go fishing in the Gulf...

I heard Tony Stewart might play some cards and shoot a little pool... Dale Jr is up on his ranch putting one of his "had too many beers" friends in his very own pokey... Carl Edwards was seen at a local grocery store bumping Brad Keselowski over isle 2... next week Bristol... should be fun! ...PS