"Shine" the Mechanic

Well, yesterday was fun. Time to turn the page, though. I’m retiring the “Jeff Bluck-Gianchi” moniker. I originally made it on a whim for fun, but its run its course. Time to just be me and get back to sharing cool racing stuff, which is why I got on here in the first place 1/3

@ArchivesDe @BLyonsDesign I still don’t understand the 29, since Harvick was originally going to run the 30.

Ok, a lot of parts here so let me break it down: The corvette paint scheme is a concept that a graphic artist @BLyonsDesign) came up with in late 2024/early 2025 to celebrate the anniversary of Dale’s running in the Rolex 24 hr race. It was never a concept from back in the day. There is some skepticism as to whether the white Oreo Grinch car was even a concept and I’m one of the skeptics too. The timing of the paint scheme was well after Christmas and there are some very big collectors about there that don’t believe the Grinch Oreo prototype is even a real prototype. Also, based on my research I cannot find anyone at RCR who can confirm that it was a concept. With that being said, if it was a concept it certainly is possible that a white Oreo car could have been considered for the All-Star race but I doubt it. It is long believed that Harvick’s white GM Goodwrench paint scheme was the All-Star scheme that Dale was going to use that year. I even believed that for a while but it is not true. I have spoken with actual team members that were sitting at the table with RC the first day back at the shop after Dale died and they both said the exact same thing, that the white paint scheme idea came up at that meeting because they didn’t want the car to be black and that they just took the next available number because they didn’t care what the number was as long as it was not the #3. So based on that I believe that the white ‘Harvick’ concept was not a possibility for Dale at the All-star race. With all that being said, I believe that the concept would have either been an AOL or Hershey’s sponsorship combined with GM Goodwrench, like the previous few yrs with Wheaties, Wrangler, and Peter Maxx - maybe even a combination of all three sponsors, but maybe not. A fan (corvetteracing48) created a possible Hershey’s scheme that Dale could have used and posted it at stunoracinf.net I included his concept here.

@MotorsportsKrw @BoziTatarevic He’s in very sub-par equipment. Put him in the 33 and it’s a whole different story.

@BoziTatarevic Smithley needs to move tf on from the sport. Dude sucks ass then thinks he have a podcast to criticize other drivers. Never even see bro get a top 20

Cleetus McFarland versus William Sawalich on that last run.

@PackofPatriots It was a little gimmicky.

Content to never see this again

@MattWeaverRA Lee would make such a great cornerstone for an O’Reilly/Truck team - like Allgaier at JRM. But I agree, he should at least be the face of the CARS Tour. Lee needs to be racing. He would also be a huge asset to any race team in the future (maybe JRM?). He’s such a Legend.

Spent part of today listening to the Dale Jr Download Lee Pulliam conversation. At the bare minimum, Lee needs to be the face of the CARS Tour, the standard that every weekend warrior or young prospect measures themselves against. The man has to be racing somewhere.

Thats all I did. So 20 years later, here I am. The first crew chief I ever worked for in Busch North nicknamed me “Shine” because I tend to obsessively wipe/clean every part, nut & bolt before it goes on the car (OCD-ish). Always “shining” something. It has stuck ever since.🤷‍♂️

I’m originally from the Northeast where I cut my teeth at the regional tracks. I eventually moved to NC with a buddy to work the more prominent regional scene and some occasional Busch North/ARCA races. Folks often ask how one gets into NASCAR. Its really all about networking

Well, yesterday was fun. Time to turn the page, though. I’m retiring the “Jeff Bluck-Gianchi” moniker. I originally made it on a whim for fun, but its run its course. Time to just be me and get back to sharing cool racing stuff, which is why I got on here in the first place 1/3

@dudemandude89 In ARCA, sure. Not O’Reilly. Doing 3 races a year will spike ratings for only 3 races a year, and at the expense of delegitimizing and devaluing the series, as well as being an unnecessary liability. Parker expanded on this after the race and was spot on.

@Jeff_Bluck So my question is do you not want the lower orvek drivers to get the exposure he brings them? Di you think those stands would be full without him racing?

Well, ol’ Cleetus didn’t tear up the car, and finished the race, which is good. However, today proved what anyone knowledgeable has said - he has no business being in this series. Also, contrary to popular belief, I don’t hate him at all. Just having fun w/ the triggered folks.

@Dcntee @FWRobbins45 Incorrect. But the only crying going on is the overly-emotional Cleetus fans who scramble for excuses to justify him being in a series he shouldn’t be in. I’m having fun.

Look, credit where credit is due, that was an impressive 32nd place run for Cleetus McFarland. I take back everything I've said, put this man in a Cup car stat. Shoot, pull Austin Dillon and put this guy in the #3 full time. Hell yeah brother

@mullins_racing Hell yea! What’s the Late Model chassis? Hedgecock?

@Jeff_Bluck Big sister and her little lmsc sister

Having a little local fun tonight. Got some carb issues, but we'll give it a go.

@GeneAWitt Totally different. Sawalich has been racing since he was 6.

@Jeff_Bluck Maybe if he spent a year in ARCA with the best equipment and just dominated the series he’d be surefire ready? Because today’s winner did that in 2024 then proceeded to completely shit the bed in Xfinity last year and destroyed who knows how many cars. Did Gibbs demote him?

@nascarmallard Says one of the most triggered inflammatory accounts around here…😆 I didn’t know you were funny, too!

@Jeff_Bluck What a miserable fucking loser you are every single day

Seriously? And he’s trying to get approval to run a plate track? Good God…

@jgarman81 That’s not how it works…

@Jeff_Bluck You sound jelous he gets a shot. If you got the money is all that matters. This work your way up shit is not a rule. Its not how it should be. Its a waste of time and money. Its for 16 year olds to build to legal age to race in upper series. Hes old enough.

@bluedog373 I said he’d be lucky if he finished 2 laps down. I thought it would probably be 7-8, but it ended up 6.

@Jeff_Bluck Wasn't it you that said two the other day ?

@chanover41 @Nemechekfan_87 @psychedalex68 It’s just a different skill set. Same as short tracks, intermediates, road courses, etc

@Jeff_Bluck @Nemechekfan_87 @psychedalex68 So takes less skill than short track? And or more luck than skill?

@zatchritcher 👍

@Jeff_Bluck Because you have too much free time to cry on twitter.

@bluedog373 He was 6 laps down. Alfredo crashed and Sawalich won.

@Jeff_Bluck I just watched the in car. Nobody else crashed or spun? Who won ? I saw he was holding off passing Jesse Love at one point.

@mathelm64 Right on🍻

@Jeff_Bluck Me either... It's Saturday night and I'm on my second Beam n Pepsi so...

@DCodamc @BrakeHardBlog When? When he’s got WAY more experience that warrants being in this series…

@BrakeHardBlog I agree to a point but he ran fine in the ARCA race and if not today then when

Cleetus McFarland spins and nearly collects the leaders. Didn’t hit anything though