This is the Statt Mann Baby. It’s time to Scatt a little bit.

Just some wild-haired thoughts as the green flag dropped on the NASCAR race in Phoenix this afternoon. You can agree or not… doesn’t matter.

First, this effort to single out Danica Patrick in the “Drivers Start Your Engines” call is getting real old. She’s a driver. At least she says that’s what she wants to be.

I hope we can get beyond the hype soon but I doubt it. Or better yet, I hope she can tell the rest of the world to stop and don’t treat her any different. That’ll tell me a lot about what’s going on inside her helmet.

Kyle Petty offered some insight in the morning pre-race show. He quoted his Dad, Richard: “Some drivers can go fast and some drivers can race, but not all fast drivers can race.” Couldn’t have said it better.

Remember when Scott Riggs had a future in Sprint Cup racing?

I don’t like FOX using its NFL music for NASCAR. I know it can do what it wants but that theme makes me want to see a kickoff or touchdown and not “boogity, boogity, boogity.”

Finally, I absolutely LOVE the gyro cam introduced by FOX this year. It really tells me something that’s not obvious. And it adds so much to understanding what’s happening on the track. Well done…

I hope someone got a pat on the back for that one.

Peace.