‘Old guns’ thriving in NASCAR

Trying to touch as many bases as possible. … AUTO RACING: Do you realize that four of the top 10 drivers in the Nextel Cup points chase are at least 46 years old? Rusty Wallace, who is third in points, is 48 as is Dale Jarrett (10th); sixth-place Sterling Marlin is 47, and seventh-place Mark Martin is 46.

The sport has become enamored with the so-called “young guns,” but these four veterans are proving age isn’t a major obstacle. Experience, savvy, and track smarts count for something. Hopefully, Jack Roush will give “youthful” Ricky Craven (age 38) an opportunity to get some Nextel Cup seat time this season (i.e., New Hampshire International Speedway) in addition to his full-time truck ride in Roush’s No. 99 Superchips Ford F-150.

Craven is second in points in the Craftsman Truck Series, just 19 points behind Bobby Hamilton. Hamilton’s son, Bobby Jr., is driving the No. 32 Tide Chevy that Craven piloted for 31/2 years and is currently in 36th place in the Nextel Cup points, meaning he has to earn his way into the starting grid through his qualifying time or he could be sitting out the next race. Only the top 35 drivers in points are guaranteed a place in the starting grid.

This should vindicate Craven and the poor runs he had over his last 50 races with PPI Motorsports.

BASEBALL: Do you realize there are probably people out there who feel New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner’s tirade in which he blasted his team for its subpar performance actually motivated his Yankees and they responded with a 19-8 thrashing of Tampa Bay on Monday night? His rantings and ravings had nothing to do with it. The Yankees are the richest team in baseball with a payroll of $200 million and the Devil Rays are the poorest at $30 million. When will Major League Baseball ever address this issue so there is a semblance of parity in the sport?

BASKETBALL: It’s a shame Bangor is losing the Eastern Maine Class A tournaments to the Augusta Civic Center beginning next year.

There’s nothing like the atmosphere at the Bangor Auditorium. The fans are right on top of you and the emotions are elevated.

The newer facilities are more attractive and the seats are more comfortable but the atmosphere is sterile.

However, the move makes perfect sense.

Fourteen of the 21 EM Class A schools are closer to Augusta than to Bangor.

And nothing has been decided on the fate of the Bangor Auditorium. It needs to be replaced or renovated.

Here’s hoping that, someday, the Maine Principals’ Association will consider alternating the EM A tournament between Bangor and Augusta.

And we get a new auditorium complete with a regulation-size ice arena so hockey tournaments (i.e., NCAA regional) and ice shows can grace our community.

(I know this last request is nothing more than wishful thinking and won’t become a reality in my lifetime.)

GOLF: Hey, it is spring. Seriously. It’s time to slice and hunt. Or hook and chase. There is nothing like zigzagging across a golf course wondering why a stationary ball is so difficult to hit straight.

And it’s one of the few times I get to count beyond 100.

Seriously, it’s a wonderful sport and you don’t have to be good at it to enjoy it.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by e-mail at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.