MOORESVILLE, N.C. — All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth … my two front teeth.
Since I’ve been lucky enough to keep my two front teeth, the popular Christmas song of our youth has inspired us to make some other Christmas wishes.
All I want for Christmas is:
– A third engine manufacturer for the NTT IndyCar Series to play alongside Honda and Chevrolet.
– Tony Stewart to race in the Indianapolis 500.
– A battle among engine manufacturers in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. It’s coming with Ford already in the fray and Toyota laying the groundwork to enter this arena.
– A series of doubleheaders featuring the NTT IndyCar Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series to be run at three or more high-profile race tracks.
– A milk crate full of $20 bills.
– Some competition for Joe Gibbs Racing during the coming NASCAR Cup Series campaign.
– A high-profile non-NASCAR driver to land a ride for the Daytona 500. Let’s say Fernando Alonso, or perhaps Josef Newgarden?
– Bonus points toward the NASCAR Cup Series championship for drivers who win short-track races in other types of cars.
– A sneak peek at Roger Penske’s plan for the future of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
– More wing dances for Danny Smith. Have the medics on alert.
– A sponsor for Top Fuel ace Tony Schumacher.
– A Knoxville Nationals victory for Brian Brown.
– Cold beer.
– An Indy car or NASCAR ride for Tyler Courtney.
– Danny Dietrich to hit the road with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series or the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions.
– A large advertising contract from Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, etc.
– More fender-rubbing stock car racing and less manufactured drama.
– Christmas cards from A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Richard Petty and Steve Kinser.
– More NASCAR races on dirt tracks.
– More racing legends being part of the show at big racing events. Whether it’s Bobby Allison, Johnny Rutherford, Jack Hewitt, Hurley Haywood or Bob McCreadie, our sport should do more with heroes from the past to help build a path to the future.
– A triple crown bonus payable to a winged sprint car driver who can win the Knoxville Nationals, Kings Royal and National Open in the same season.
– An all-star racing series similar to the once-popular International Race of Champions tour.
– Rolling Stones concert tickets.
– Someone to step up and challenge Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari in Formula One.
– More television broadcasters who see racing as more than a paycheck.
– A new domestic Rallycross series, but ideally one with cars that are more affordable for teams and competitors.
– Promoters to continue to challenge themselves and others to come up with new events such as USAC’s Hangtown 100 at California’s Placerville Speedway.
– Someone to pose a legitimate challenge to Kody Swanson in the USAC Silver Crown Series.
– More off-road racers in big-time racing. Think Jimmie Johnson and Rick Mears.
– John Force versus fencing, round two.
– More football and less soccer on television.
– To be a teenager and possess the racing talent of Zeb Wise or Buddy Kofoid.
– Every major racing series to adapt NASCAR’s Throwback theme that is utilized during the Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Think about the great NHRA and Indy car paint schemes that would be introduced to a new generation of fans.
– Well, alright, since it’s unlikely that a lot of those things are going to happen, we’ll settle for a nice bottle of bourbon or an oatmeal raisin cookie.