Flat Rock Music Festival Videos

I shot two videos while I was at the Flat Rock Music Festival. Here they are for your viewing pleasure:

The SteelDrivers - "If It Hadn't Been For Love"


Skinny Legs and All - "The Weight"

Flat Rock Music Festival

It's not often that I take time off, much less time to go do something I've been looking forward to for some time. For the last two years my parents have been pestering me to attend a music festival with them. Finally, I decided that since I have this paid vacation just collecting dust, I'd best go ahead and use it. With that, I decided I'd join my parents at this years Flat Rock Music Festival in Flat Rock, N.C. Needless to say I was so happy I attended.

The weekend started Friday with everyone waking up early and preparing my parents RV for the trip. When I say RV I mean an old old RV. I don't remember right off what year the RV is, but it's from the early 1970s, I know that much.

My transporation/bed for the weekend. Stylish huh?

We had to stop at three gas stations just to get enough gas to make it to Flat Rock. But once we got fuel and made a few other stops we hit the road to Flat Rock. Of course, once we got there, we were met with the stark realization that Friday was probably going to be a wash. Of course, for those that don't remember, much of the region was met with much needed rain on Friday. Of course, it had to rain on the first day of my mini vacation. Go figure. Oh, I best not forget that in order to get to the festival you had to go ALL THE WAY UP A MOUNTAIN. We parked in a field at the bottom of the mountain and in order to get up to the festival you had to either walk a very bad looking trail (well, it wasn't that bad once it was dryish) or take a shuttle van up to the top (which was one heck of a wild ride in the wet weather on dirt roads).

This is the view from across the pond at the top of the mountain. All the way over there is the main festival stage.

A zoomed in few of the festival grounds.

While Friday was a total wash, Saturday was NOT! I got to see all the bands I was looking forward to from the get go, including The SteelDrivers, Skinny Legs and All, Sonny Landreth and WSNB. I admit my musical taste is a bit out there, so I don't honestly expect many that read this to know who these groups are. Here are a few photos from those sets:

The SteelDrivers

Skinny Legs and All





Sonny Landreth




WSNB

Oh my its been awhile

Boy has it really been more than a week since I last posted on here? Seems like a lot less (or, depending on who you are, a lot more). I've been amazingly busy since my last post with my regular copy editing duties, including laying out the sports section a couple nights a week in addition to my regular role of news copy editor. On top of that I am also designing the syndicated NASCAR page that appears every week in The Star with content produced by Freedom Communications resident NASCAR writer, Monte Dutton.

Anyway, I apologize for not posting my regular NASCAR stories on here. With my additional duties on the copy desk in addition to my work writing the historical racing stories recently I haven't had much time to do anything, with the exception of sleep of course. But, life goes on.

I wanted to note that I've been having a blast writing my historical racing stories. The things I've heard and the stories that have been passed on to me have been amazing and I would never trade the experience for anything. I have even gotten to do a phone interview with former Daytona 500 winner Cotton Owens (he commented on Stick Elliott and the Cleveland County Fairgrounds).

With any luck the stories will keep flowing out of me in the coming weeks. I've already got the next story written and prepared. I'd tell you what it's about but I don't want to ruin the surprise.

I would like to continue to remind you, the readers of The Star, to keep submitting information to me about things you'd like to hear me write about. Want to hear about an old driver from the '60s? Let me know! Do you have old stories or old photographs floating around? Let me know! These stories will keep coming as long as I have great people here in Cleveland County who are willing to pass on their stories to me.

Also, i'm seeking information on the following for possible stories. If you or anyone you know can help me out, that would be great:
Herb Thomas and his career ending crash at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds
Doug Cooper, Gastonia native, former NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 1964

Thanks folks and keep on reading!

Richmond, last stop before the chase

Richmond is the last stop before the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. 12 drivers will be entered into the competition by the end of Saturday's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 and everyone else will just be raising for bragging rights. Five drivers, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Burton, have clinched their spots in the chase. One more, Greg Biffle, only needs to start Saturday's race to clinch his spot. That leaves six chase spots for eight drivers. With that being said, here's who to watch on Saturday...

Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Toyota (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Last Week: 3rd place finish in the Pepsi 500
Career at Richmond: 10.0 Avg. Finish, 2 top 5's, 3 top 10's
Why he could win: This man dominated Richmond in the Spring like Jimmie Johnson dominated at the Auto Club Speedway last week. The only difference is Johnson closed the deal while Hamlin blew a tire and finished back in the pack. I suspect Hamlin and crew will be more determined then ever now to win at Hamlin's home track. Watch out for him Saturday.

Clint Bowyer, No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet (Richard Childress Racing)
Last Week: 10th place finish in the Pepsi 500
Career at Richmond: 8.8 Avg. Finish, 1 win, 1 top 5, 3 top 10's
Why he could win: If there was ever a time for Bowyer and company to pull out all the stops this weekend would be the perfect time. He sits only a few points ahead of 13th place David Ragan and he needs to have a solid run to earn himself a second consecutive trip into the Chase.

David Ragan, No. 6 AAA Ford (Roush Fenway Racing)
Last Week: 13th place finish in the Pepsi 500
Career at Richmond: 13.3 Avg. Finish, 1 top 5, 1 top 10
Why he could win: Much like Bowyer, everything is riding on Ragan's performance in the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. If he were competing for a chase spot this time last year his third place finish in last year's event would have clinched it for him. The problem is that was last year and this is this year. Can Ragan prove everyone wrong and make the chase?

My underdog this week is a driver many consider to be the next big sensation...

Joey Logano, No. 02 Home Depot Toyota (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Last Week: Did not race
Career at Richmond: Attempting to make first career start
Why he could win: Everyone expect's Logano to make headlines fast in the Sprint Cup Series. Who knows, he very well may. I wouldn't put anything past this kid considering how fast he went to victory lane in the Nationwide Series. Watch out for him on Saturday.

California thoughts and observations

Sorry I didn't get to this sooner, its been a busy week.

Jimmie Johnson dominated Sunday's race at the Auto Club Speedway, leading 228 of the 250 laps to win the Pepsi 500. He was followed to the line by Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth.

Thoughts and observations

Johnson was hardly challenged during Sunday's race. The 228 laps that he led are a proof of that. About the only time he was passed was on pit road where Greg Biffle's crew consistently beat the No. 48 team. It ended up not mattering since Johnson's car was far too strong for Biffle to beat.

I was a little disappointed in the Red Bull Racing team of Brian Vickers and AJ Allmendinger. I honestly thought one of those two teams were going to have something for Jimmie Johnson. Guess I was wrong.

Carl Edwards finished ahead of Kyle Busch Sunday, by one position. Again. This is becoming a pattern.

I swear, this year couldn't get much worse for Kurt Busch. He keeps having awful luck and Sunday was no exception with that blown tire relegating him to a 39th place finish, his ninth finish of 30th or worse this season.

David Reutimann did a great job on Sunday keeping his car in tune with the track and bringing the car home a strong 9th. Very impressive to say the least.

Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle are going to win this year, mark my words.

The race for the 12th and final chase spot is going to be a tight one. Clint Bowyer leads David Ragan by only 12 points and Kasey Kahne is also lurking back in 14th place, only 48 points out of 12th. I really feel like this could be a toss up. Ragan finished third at Richmond in the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 only one year ago while just this spring Clint Bowyer won at Richmond. It's anyone's guess as to who will make the chase.

The one positive for AJ Allmendinger after Sunday's race was it catapulted the No. 84 Toyota from 36th in the Owner Point's to 31st. It's the highest the No. 84 team has ever been in the Sprint Cup Owner's standings to date. Meanwhile, Sam Hornish Jr. and the No. 77 team now is forced to qualify for this weekend's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond.