The F1 paddock must be rolling on floor in laughter

UPDATE A reader writes, Dear AR1.com, After some research I saw where Kimi in 2007 was one of the most highly paid athletes in the world earning as much as Tiger Woods and Michael Jordon making $53 million a year. My question is why would he be interested in NASCAR? I see he is going to be in the Camping world race at Charlotte and paid 100,000 to do it with a laughable sponsor? If he is paying for it why does he even need a sponsor and why wouldn’t he rather spend that one hundred grand on a Indy 500 ride? Certainly more of a prestigious race than the Camping world 200! Wouldn’t the IRL be a better fit for him than NASCAR? Doug

Dear Doug, We have a sneaky suspicion that Kimi is doing it to spite Bernie, knowing that Bernie is worried about NASCAR's international expansion interests. Perhaps Bernie did not support his return to F1. It's only speculation, but how else would you go from making $53 million per year (with endorsements) to buying a ride in the lowly Truck Series? Mark C.

04/06/11 Former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen will be sponsored by Perky Jerky (is that corny or what?), a beef jerky that includes an energy boost, when he launches his NASCAR career next month.

Perky Jerky calls their product "Meat with a Motor," which sounds like a porno movie. NASCAR fans can wash down their Perky Jerky with a ice cold BUD or maybe an AMP energy drink that Dale Jr has as a sponsor for a double kick in the pants. The F1 paddock will get a real laugh out of this we assure you.

Raikkonen, the 2007 Formula One champion, plans to drive in three to five Camping World Truck Series races for Kyle Busch Motorsports. His first race with the Perky Jerky logo on the hood of the truck will be May 20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“Kimi Raikkonen is a savvy competitor and marketer worldwide, and he is a perfect fit for the culture of our lifestyle brand," said Perky Jerky founder Brian Levin in a news release.