Ever feel like the salmon who missed the memo and begins swimming downstream while the others are parading upstream where all the fun beckons?

Thought of this last weekend when NASCAR took a deep dive into the electric-vehicle world while current trends — not to mention market forces — are suggesting hybrid is the hotter ticket.

NASCAR announced a partnership with the Swiss/Swedish firm ABB, described as a “global leader in electrification and automation.” A prototype EV was unveiled and it showed off its speed and maneuverability on the Chicago street circuit.

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According to the accompanying literature, “the body sits on a modified Next Gen chassis, and the steering, suspension, brakes, and wheels all derive from the NASCAR Cup Series car.”

Panic, naturally, set in among many but the fine print should ease concerns for now. NASCAR leaders say they’re looking to decarbonize its operational functions and not the racing product.

Per the news release: “While NASCAR is committed to the historic role of the combustion engine in racing, it is also committed to decarbonizing its operations and reducing its own carbon footprint to zero across its core operations by 2035 through electrification and innovative solutions.”

Smart, logical thinking as alternative (and, on occasionally cleaner) energy sources are the ultimate goal? Or just political posturing and virtue-signaling to help facilitate future business dealings with groups in, let’s say, California?

It can be both, you know …

Hey, Willie!

Your (July 5) article, “When Reagan saw Petty get win No. 200,” was a real good read.

One thing I wished you had mentioned was that country music queen Tammy Wynette was at that luncheon, dressed in a glittering low-cut white dress, and sang a few tunes to all gathered. She was only 42 then and still gorgeous beyond belief! And what a sexy, twangy voice.

BARRY

HEY, BARRY!

Courtesy of the Reagan Library, you can find edited video of post-race festivities from the ’84 Firecracker in Daytona. During the lunchtime segment, you hear the unmistakable voice of Tammy in the background. But alas, no shots of her wardrobe.

You can make the case (as I do) that Tammy Wynette’s voice was the purest and strongest of any woman in country music history, and how remarkable that ever so briefly (and speaking of combustion) she was married to our Pavarotti, George Jones.

This & That

From time to time the need arises to remind folks — even well-read, on-the-ball types — that while there’s no i in team, there’s also no i in realtor. But for every time you hear someone say real-i-tor, you hear two people say Wimble-ton. You still have a few days to master this, people: It’s Wimble-DON …

After a Wimbledon win earlier this week, Novak Djokovic lamented the rise of pickleball (or paddleball, as he calls it) at the apparent expense of tennis. There's a go-to suggestion whenever these glacial shifts are occurring, and right on cue Novak said better marketing is necessary from the worldwide tennis industry.

“... When we look at Formula 1, for example, and what they’ve done in terms of marketing, in terms of growth of the sport, in terms of the races around the world and how popular they are, I think we need to do a better job on our respective tours,” he said.

Not sure a Netflix series, for instance, would slow the current recalibration of racquet sports. Novak also took note of the obvious economics of it all.

“You can build three paddle courts on one tennis court,” he said. “Do the simple math. It’s just much more financially viable for the owner of the club to have those courts.”

He overlooked two huge reasons for pickleball’s march: 1. Less running, especially for the aging and hobbling; 2. For the ever-younger pickling crowd and its collective attention span, quicker games.

Hey, Willie!

I have never written to a journalist until now. After reading your article about the 1984 Firecracker 400, I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it and the history you painted behind the story. I’m not even a race fan but was pulled into the article.

I cut it out and I’m sending it on to share with my brother-in-law. Yes, “snail mail” is fun sometimes, too.

JILL

HEY, JILL!

Careful with those scissors, Jill, I’m afraid that’s become a lost art. I’d suggest finding it online and sending him a link, but the post office has mouths to feed, too.

Speaking of which, did you know that the U.S. Postmaster General, Louis Dejoy, is a Stetson University grad?

An immediate brand

Commercial brands, and branding, have been around since the advent of currency. As the worldwide markets erupted and began hyperventilating in the instant-communication age, proper branding has become an important task — not just on the grocery shelf, but in politics and entertainment.

What does this have to do with a new baby? Not sure yet, it’ll take a while to see how this plays out. But NASCAR racer Ricky Stenhouse and wife Madyson announced the birth of a son this week, and they have seemingly destined the kid for future star power, should he choose to use it.

Stetson Steele Stenhouse. Born on the Fourth of July, no less.

What a strong name, to use another word starting in s-t. Whether it’s a Nashville stage or NASCAR cockpit, he’s halfway home since marketing is such a key factor in both endeavors.

Thinking back to dad Ricky’s right-cross knockdown of Kyle Busch two months ago, maybe Stetson Stenhouse is destined for the middleweight championship.

Hey, Willie!

I'm Polk County, born and raised, and now live in the northeast Georgia mountains. Your Firecracker 400 article caught my attention because my wife and I were at that race in 1984, and in the Pepsi booth, which was next to the broadcasting booth where Ned Jarrett and President Reagan were calling the race. 

We are in the background of the photo and what a surprise when I saw it. What a day that was but never would I have thought I would see this 40 years later. Thank you for sharing.

RONNIE

HEY, RONNIE!

I was there, too, as a young tag-along on the News-Journal staff, but was buried so deep in the garage, I didn’t even see Air Force One swoop in, much less the president himself.

While Godwin Kelly got the main coverage duties in the upstairs press box, and our Jimmy Nasella got to write about David Pearson decking Tim Richmond in the post-race garage, I believe I was handed Buddy Baker, who was driving a fast Wood Brothers Ford before it blow’d up just four laps into the race.

That’s racin’.

Reach Ken Willis at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR embraces e-car, Djokovic hates pickleball, and branding is big