Worlds collide at the Fens
It's Roush-Fenway Night at Fenway Park, a merger between the mainest of mainstream stick-and-ball sports and the world of wheels. All five Roush Fenway Racing drivers are in attendance, as are some folks from New Hampshire Motor Speedway (including GM Jerry Gappens). Some notes so far:
*The Sox draped a gigantic checkered flag over the Green Monster during the pre-game ceremony, taking the space typically reserved for Old Glory and title pennants and using it to salute the hometown race team.
*Roush's five Cup drivers were paraded around the field prior to the game in -- what else? -- Ford F150s, and each wore a replica Red Sox jersey with the Roush logo on the front and his name on the back.
*... or at least it was supposed to be his name on the back. David Ragan's No. 6 shirt was misspelled "Regan." Oops.
*Ragan threw out the game's first pitch, delivering a strike to Alex Cora. If the 22-year-old were to make a career switch to the national pastime, it'd certainly be as a pitcher. He also took batting practice -- in jeans and a collared shirt no less -- and was excited about his "four or five balls to the outfield."
*Jamie McMurray also took some beeps, his hacks only a little bit better.
*For the second consecutive season there'll be a Red Sox-sponsored car at NHMS, as Ragan's decorated ride was rolled around the warning track prior to the game. Last year Carl Edwards's 99 donned the Sox logo, and was in contention for the win when his car fell off the jack and he was shuffled back to finish outside the top 10.
*The drivers presented Red Sox lefty Jon Lester with an autographed jersey as a reward for his no-hitter earlier this season, and Lester was joined by Josh Beckett among the players who chatted up the drivers during BP.
*Ragan said he doesn't know many of the Sox, but did train at the Athlete's Performance Institute in Arizona this winter with Dustin Pedroia.
That's all we've got for now. Check tomorrow's Monitor for more on the Roush roll through Fenway, and sit tight -- NASCAR in New Hampshire is now just a few hours away.
