Larry Woody, Senior Writer
Larry Woody is a native of Nashville, Tenn. He was the motor sports beat writer at the Nashville Tennessean from the early 1970s until 2008. He continues to live in Nashville.
Articles by Larry Woody
Larry Woody | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
According to Mr. Nielsen, the TV ratings for last Sunday’s Daytona 500 were down 16 percent, the lowest recorded in 19 years.
At the same time Mr. Nielsen reported that over 3 million more viewers turned into the race, a 14 percent gain over last year’s race.
Ratings were down while viewership was [...]
Larry Woody | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
It’s the most significant rule change in NASCAR history.
It will alter outcomes, it will assure last-lap drama and toe-curling excitement.
It will change racing forever.
It’s the new three green-white-checkered rule that NASCAR slipped into the rule book last week at Daytona almost at the last second.
After RacinToday first reported the change at [...]
Larry Woody | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Forty years ago when my sports editor told me to go to Daytona and cover the race, my reaction was, “Go where and do what?”
I had absolutely no interest in spending a week with a bunch of sun-burned beach Bubbas.
Then I glanced out the widow of my Nashville newspaper office, saw [...]
Have you heard the news? Danica Patrick knows how to drive.
And this just in: Danica also can draw a crowd.
Judging from the reaction of some of the TV commentators and sports columnists during/following Patrick’s stock car debut Saturday at Daytona, some folks didn’t realize she had either potential.
After Patrick finished 6th in the ARCA 200 [...]
Larry Woody | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
I was flipping though a magazine the other day and came across a 2010 Sprint Cup pre-season driver ranking.
I looked for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And looked.
And looked.
I finally found him, buried somewhere down around 20th.
Meanwhile his Hendrick teammates, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin all were ranked in the top 10, [...]
If you glance on the side of the road as you travel to the track this season you may see Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart huddled on the corner holding hand-scribbled cardboard signs:
“WILL RACE FOR FOOD”
Then, again, maybe not.
The financial pinch that has prompted NASCAR to make a 10-percent cut in race purses [...]
By Larry Woody | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Back on my grandfather’s farm there was this crazy old goat (no, I don’t mean my grandpa) who broke into the feed bin one night and literally ate himself sick.
I won’t go into the graphic details but let’s just say if you’ve ever seen a sick goat the vision sticks [...]
Larry Woody | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Several weeks ago, NASCAR announced its new criteria for the Bud Shootout and as I understand it, everybody is eligible except Carl Long.
Only kidding. Robby Gordon can’t get in either.
Other than that, there should be few who fail to meet the more liberal requirements. Those eligible include:
All 12 Chase drivers
Chevy Chase
Past [...]
By Larry Woody | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Nashville – Gary Baker has had experience hitting hard walls.
During his driving days he once cracked the concrete at Talladega at over 200 mph.
Now Baker, speaking as a team owner, says stock car racing has hit an equally hard economic wall. He’s not sure when – or if – it [...]
By Larry Woody | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Good thing Mark Martin and Brett Favre didn’t listen to us sports writers.
About this time a year ago Martin was planning a return to full-time racing after a two-year hiatus and shortly afterwards Favre announced plans to suit up with the Vikings.
Some of us thought it was a bad idea [...]