Racin'
& Different Stuff:
By Tom
Avenengo
02/21/2013
First:
It bothers me
when they say that Kevin Harvick is a three time winner of the Sprint Unlimited
race. Hell, they’ve only had ONE of
them! Also, it bothers me when they say
Jeff Gordon has “x” amount of Sprint Cup Championships.
As an example –
from Jayski’s website:
“Harvick wins the Sprint Unlimited:
#29-Harvick
led 40 of 75 laps and won the Sprint Unlimited Sprint Cup Series race at
Daytona International Speedway for his third event win.”
Second:
Yes, there are
some “Conspiracy theory” postings out there about Danica winning the pole for
the Daytona 500. In a way, I can see
their point. Uh, what if she wrecks on
Thursday? To the rear, right, for the
500? As long as the weather in Daytona
doesn’t screw up things next Sunday, I expect that TV viewership for the race
will be close to record setting – as long as she’s on the pole, that is.
Third:
I said, previously, on the Internet, that I
did not think the racing on the “new” track at Daytona would be any good. Flat track does not allow for good racing and
legitimate passing. I fully expect a
“Freight Train” type of race and in order to pass the car in front of you –
you’ll have to bang your way through.
Please note:
I’m doing this part of my column at 9:15 PM on Sunday. They race on that new track on Monday and
Tuesday nights.
On Monday:
NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series UNOH Battle at the Beach from 7:00 to 8:30 PM on
SPEED.
On Tuesday: NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series UNOH Battle at the Beach, again from 7:00 to 8:30 PM
on SPEED, followed by NASCAR K&N Pro Series UNOH Battle at the Beach from
8:30 to 10:00 PM.
Please note: I’m doing
this part of my column on Tuesday at 1:15 PM.
Well, it was, in my opinion, basically a “Freight Train” race. Some passing (clean) was observed, if a car
could get under the car ahead of it, as they came out of a turn. The pass for the lead and win, to me, was not
the best racing, for sure. As I said
above, “you’ll have to bang your way through.”
I doubt that Kyle Larson, who I’ve had a lot
of respect for, made many friends last night.
I’d venture to say that over 95% of those that posted on Facebook were
not in favor of how he won the race. I
fully expected NASCAR to put him back a spot or two, but that didn’t
happen. Shame on NASCAR for that. I’d love to know what Chip Gannasi might say
or has already said to Kyle about the winning move. It’s remarkable how so many compare that
winning move to what the late Dale Earnhardt would have (and has) done.
Note: I’m doing this
part on Wednesday a little after noon:
One can’t imagine the talk on Facebook on the racing on that
new 4/10 mile track. Most are against
any races ever being run there, again – myself included. Way too many cautions – in all races. As far as attendance goes – quite a bit more
for the Tuesday night races, although with two $20,000.00 to win races, no way
the fans in the stands covered those purses.
Will the TV people ever get it through their damned heads to
stay away from a driver that just got taken out, with a win in view – a
$20,000.00 win? Of course the driver
will not be in the best form for an interview.
I think part of the problem with all they yellows on that
small track has to do with some of the drivers – the younger ones. 14 & 15 year olds just up from racing
somewhat smaller cars and being turned loose on a crummy, flat track that did
not really allow legitimate passing.
Some say that the NASCAR fans of today are ok with all the crashing. That
could very well be true, since drivers, today, are so much safer than they were
in the past. Personally, I think if
NASCAR had clamped down on Kyle Larson, in that Monday night race, things might
have been somewhat different in the other races. Once you let a driver take out another, with
no penalty, well, you really can’t penalize other drivers that do the same,
later on.
Fourth:
Who is Ricky Ehrgott?
Well,
he finished 3rd in the ARCA race last Saturday.
He’s a former midget and sprint car driver who almost had his racing
career cut short because of one accident – an accident that resulted in the
tearing of an artery in his neck. Here’s
a little about him:
http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20121216/sports/121219809
Fifth:
Hmmm, Indy Car in my
backyard? This track is less than ½ hour
from my front door.
MMC
intends to build up to 200 private garages, 70 condos, a larger clubhouse and
make infrastructure that would enable the racetrack to host professional races,
such as American Le Mans/Grand-Am and IndyCar. These include building longer
pits, a parking paddock and a trolley to shuttle spectators.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130214/NEWS/302140348
Sixth:
In case you missed it last week:
Seventh:
Last week, I had this in my
column – picked up via news from the AARN:
“Also, it looks like Donnie Wilson won’t be doing
much racing in 2013, citing his being to busy during the off season to get his
race car ready.”
Correction:
Apparently that
news was in error, per Donnie, himself, on Facebook messages.
Eighth:
Looking at the
results for the Midget races in the Kingsbridge Armory, in the
1948-49
Dec.
4 1. Charlie Ethier Curtis Offy #8
2.
Dutch Schaefer
3.
Art Cross
4.
Bob Disbrow
5.
Larry Bloomer
6.
Earl Krouza
7.
Andy Van Heusen Mower #43
8.
Jiggs Peters
9.
Steve Yanigan
10.
Tony Bonadies
25
laps 5:27.26
Dec.
11 1. Art Cross Wheeler Offy #21
2.
Tony Bonadies Bourgnon Offy #5
3.
Charlie Miller Paxson Ford #68
4.
Charlie Ethier
5.
Larry Bloomer
6.
7.
Pickles Bickelhaupt
8.Jiggs
Peters
25
laps no time
Dec.
18 1. Stan Disbrow Clark Ford
2.
Pickles Bickelhaupt Frick Ford #1
3.
4.
Johnny Zeke Wozniak Offy #53
5.
Art Cross Wheeler Offy #21
6.
Bill Schindler Caruso Offy #3
7.
Larry Bloomer
8.
Harry Sheeler
9.
Steve Yanigan
25
laps 5:31.51
1949
January
8 1. Bob Disbrow Trio Offy #5
2.
Dutch Schaefer #6 (Kurtis Kraft)
3.
Stan Disbrow
4.
Johnny Zeke
5.
Pickles Bickelhaupt
6.
7.
Larry Bloomer
25
laps 5:21.08
January
15 1. Joe Barzda Black Barzda Ford #33
2.
Stan Disbrow
3.
Bob Disbrow Trio Offy
4.
Larry Bloomer Allen Offy
5.
Johnny Zeke Wozniak V-8
6.
Bill Schindler Caruso Offy #3
7.
8.
Dutch Schaefer
9.
Art Cross
10.
Pickles Bickelhaupt
25
laps 5:20.68
January
22 1. Larry Bloomer Allen Offy
2.
Bill Schindler
3.
4.
Bob Disbrow
5.
Johnny Zeke
6.
Art Cross
25
laps no time
January
29 1. Tony Bonadies Bourgnon Offy #5
2.
Bill Schindler Caruso Offy #3
3.
Larry Bloomer Allen Offy
4.
Steve McGrath Falk V-8
5.
Len Duncan
6.
7.
Art Cross
8.
Charlie Ethier
9.
Bill Randall
10.
Mike Nazaruk Golden Arrow Offy
25
laps 5:20.76
February
5 1. Russ Klar Maier Cycle #9
2.
Charlie Ethier Clayton Young V-8
3.
4.
Bill Schindler Caruso Offy
5.
Johnny Kay Pauley V-8
6.
Len Duncan Fray V-8
7.
Stan Disbrow
8.
Art Cross Wheeler Offy
9.
Joe Barzda Barzda V-8
10.
Steve McGrath Falk V-8
25
laps 5:21.39
February
12 1. Stan Disbrow
2.
Tony Bonadies
3.
50
laps
February
19 1. Steve McGrath
2.
Johnny Zeke
3.
Bill Schindler
25
laps
February
26 1. Bob Disbrow
2.
Larry Bloomer
3.
Bill Schindler
25
laps
March
5 1. Larry Bloomer Allen Offy #18
2.
Bill Schindler
3.
Bob Disbrow
4.
Steve McGrath
5.
Tony Martino
6.
Stan Disbrow
7.
Al Keller
8.
Johnny Zeke
9.
10.
Don Morris
25
laps 5:13.47
March
12 1. Al Keller Willetts Offy
2.
Bob Disbrow
3.
Ernie McCoy Vargo Ford #1
4.
Larry Bloomer
5.
Art Cross Golden Arrow Offy
6.
Tony Bonadies
7.
Russ Klar
8.
Bill Schindler
9.
Stan Disbrow
10.
Johnny Zeke
25
laps 5:15.95
March
19 1.
2.
Larry Bloomer
3.
Johnny Zeke
25
laps
March
26 1. Bob Disbrow Trio Offy
2.
3.
Larry Bloomer Allen Offy
4.
Len Duncan Bonadies V-8
5.
Andy Van Heusen Mower V-8
6.
Bill Schindler
7.
Joe Barzda
8.
Stan Disbrow
9.
Ernie McCoy
10.
Tony Martino
25
laps 5:29.44
April
2 1. Bob Disbrow
2.
Bill Schindler
3.
Al Keller
4.
Johnny Zeke
5.
Art Cross McIlrath Ford #16
6.
Stan Disbrow
7.
Larry Bloomer
8.
Russ Klar
9.
Andy Van Heusen
10.
Don Morris
50
laps 10:32.38
April
9 1. Bill Schindler Caruso Offy #2
2.
Stan Disbrow Chervanka V-8 #2
3.
Tony Bonadies
4.
Charlie Ethier
5.
Bob Disbrow
6.
Larry Bloomer
7.
8.
Steve McGrath
9.
Jiggs Peters
10.
Ernie McCoy
25
laps 5:19.41
April
16 1. Steve McGrath Jolson Offy #5
2.
Larry Bloomer Allen Offy
3.
Bob Disbrow Trio Offy
4.
Stan Disbrow Chervanka V-8
5.
Bill Schindler Caruso Offy #2
6.
Tony Bonadies
7.
Art Cross
8.
Andy Furci
9.
Jiggs Peters
10.
Russ Klar
75
laps
Champion:
Larry Bloomer
Ninth:
A few weeks ago, down in
But what gets me is this:
79 entrants for a two day
show – a show where there’s a pretty good chance you will not qualify for the
feature, along with a pretty good chance of bringing your race car home in
pieces, yet for the 2013 season, I don’t think there was one TQ race at any
track here in the northeast that drew 20 cars.
Why?
Tenth:
Cooking tip:
You like French Toast? How about
Waffles? You have a Waffle
Iron/Maker? Something that was on
Facebook – make your French Toast in your Waffle Maker. Hey, we’ve tried it – works great!
Eleventh:
A short story about two race drivers, both of whom competed in the Indy 500 – one ended up winning it
three times - Johnny Rutherford and Jim
McElreath.
From an email
on the subject:
“There is a nice article about Jim
McElreath and Johnny Rutherford celebrating Jim’s 85th birthday in the Fort
Worth Star-Telegram.”
“As the article states Rutherford and McElreath go way back
together. I don't know all of the details but one old story is told about the
two of them attending the
Twelfth:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nascars-redesigned-race-cars-receive-223157204--nascar.html
Huh? Rave reviews?
Damn! I could have sworn that
there were some “problems” with the new design cars as far as drafting goes.
Thirteenth:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nascar-launches-largest-brand-campaign-135500304--nascar.html
Found
on Jayski’s website:
Thursday race info:
http://www.jayski.com/news/stats/2013/story/_/page/2013-NASCAR-Sprint-Cup-Budweiser-Duels#lineup1
http://www.jayski.com/news/stats/2013/story/_/page/2013-NASCAR-Sprint-Cup-Budweiser-Duels#lineup2
Race is on for NASCAR TV
rights:
The race is on to see which
network fills the broadcast gaps of the next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
television deal. Fox Sports got the jump on its broadcast rivals by inking an
eight-year extension, including the rights to the prestigious Daytona 500,
worth $2.4 billion. The package includes rights to the first 13 Cup Series
races of the season. It breaks down to approximately $300 million per season,
up from the current $220 million a year deal. The current TV deal with all
broadcast partners is worth $2.8 billion. The current NASCAR TV contract
includes TNT, which lost its exclusive rights to NASCAR digital content on Jan.
1, and ESPN. TNT broadcasts six Cup Series races during the summer.(Daytona
Beach News Journal), Fox's deal is thru 2022. ESPN's and TNT's is good thru the
2014 season.(2-16-2013)
Fourth Childress Car?
The
#78-Furniture Row Racing team that fields Kurt Busch's Chevrolets is based in
NASCAR will no longer provide attendance estimate:
NASCAR
will end its policy of providing estimated attendance figures in its race
reports this season. Spokesman Kerry Tharp said tracks still will have the
option of providing crowd estimates, but it will be their prerogative.
"NASCAR's race reports generally becomes a box score for the media, and
box scores from sporting events do not generally provide estimates," Tharp
said. Of the 23 tracks that play host to races in NASCAR's premier series, 21
are owned by publicly traded companies such as International Speedway Corp. and
Speedway Motorsports Inc. Officials with those tracks have said they don't
provide attendance figures because they don't want to provide earnings
guidance.(USA Today)(2-17-2013)
Chevy may have left NASCAR without Gen 6 car:
Chevrolet
may have pulled out of NASCAR had the governing body not developed the new
"Gen 6" car that returns brand identity to the sport. "It would
have been a good chance," team owner Rick Hendrick said on Saturday at
Daytona International Speedway. "As a matter of fact, I'm sure they might
have." Hendrick, the owner of Hendrick Motorsports and one of the top
owners of automobile dealerships in the
New Fox camera's to debut at Daytona:
As
Speedweeks coverage begins this weekend, FOX Sports and SPEED announced plans
to showcase exciting, never-before-seen looks of racing at Daytona
International Speedway and the Great American Race, courtesy of newly deployed
technologies. Coverage this year includes a collection of new cameras and
graphics that are expected to add a dynamic new dimension to the viewing
experience, including in-car Gyro-Cams, the FOX Super Zoom 4K camera, virtual
3D graphics and the return of a suspended cable camera over the length of pit
road.
Gyro-Cam:
Gyro-Cam
is a gyro stabilized, in-car camera mounted in the center of the cockpit that
rotates as cars enter DIS's extreme 31-degree banked turns, keeping its view
level with the horizon at all times. The resulting look demonstrates to viewers
just how dramatic Daytona's turn angles are at race speed. Click here to see a
simulation of Gyro-Cam in action.
FOX Super Zoom 4K:
Introduced
last year during FOX Sports' coverage of MLB and the NFL, the 4K "Super
Zoom" camera produces pictures with five times the resolution of normal HD
cameras and captures the action at 300 frames per second. The resulting detail
is remarkable and can zoom into an area of interest during the race with
incredible detail.
VIZ-RT Encoded Camera:
The
VIZ-RT encoded camera graphically places three-dimensional virtual objects on
screen. These graphics include delineating the "restart box," where
cars can accelerate toward the start/finish line during a restart and
highlighting the entire track in yellow to emphasize that a race is under
caution.
CAMCAT:
Supported
by two gigantic cranes outside the track, CAMCAT is an advanced, two-point
flying camera system developed in
FOX Sports Media Group's new arsenal of
enhancements is available and ready for coverage of Daytona Speedweeks this
weekend.(Fox)(2-16-2013)
Problems with NASCAR's new laser inspection system
on Sunday:
NASCAR
experienced issues on Sunday morning with its new laser inspection platform,
which measures cars at the track. The software problem had most of the Daytona
500 qualifying field backed up outside of the inspection bay for more than an
hour before officials elected to return to the manual route. "Early this
morning, we experienced start-up issues with the laser inspection platform ...
but the two systems parallel each other," NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp
said. "We're working through those things right now. Inspection went along
fine. We got qualifying started on schedule, and hopefully we can have it back up
and running the next time we need to use it. It is a new system. We put it
through a lot of testing late last year as a parallel test at
Another Truex to make Sprint Cup debut:
Ryan
Truex, Martin Truex Jr's younger brother, announced on his twitter that he will make his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut
at Richmond [in April], driving the #51 Phoenix Racing Chevy and could drive in
some additional races.(2-18-2013)
First Wednesday practice for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona
International Speedway is over, most cars did drafting during this practice,
after 90 scheduled minutes, top five and notes:
#26-Waltrip 198.347
#34-Ragan 198.133
#14-Stewart 198.133
#27-Menard 197.946
#18-Busch 197.511
slowest: #52-Keselowski 170.950 & #36-Yeley
186.027 (each only ran a lap)
31 of 45 cars have made a run.
no speed listed for #24 #35 #98
notes: #2-Keselowski lost power early in the
practice and had to be pushed to the garage, Keselowski said there was some
fuel system problem.
Fifteen minutes into the practice #39-Newman
came down and #99-Edwards came up, making contact, the #39 spun around, the #39
has damage, slight damage on the #99 and some cosmetic damage to the #55. The
#55 says they are done practicing for the day.
#88-Earnhardt lost an engine 50 minutes into
practice, #88 goes to the rear for Duel only, not the 500.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10-lap
averages on the Daytone 500 Practice 3 Speeds page (pdf).(2-20-2013)
Final Wednesday practice for the Daytona 500
Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, most cars did
drafting during this practice, after 90 scheduled minutes, top five and notes:
#5-Kahne 197.737
#16-Biffle 197.702
#24-Gordon 197.628
#10-Patrick 197.555
#99-Edwards 197.507
slowest: #52-Keselowski 183.135 & #39-Newman
189.625 (1 lap)
only 27 of 45 cars have made a run, many teams
have decided not to run in this practice.
#88-Earnhardt Jr. got back on track after the
team made the engine change and ran the most laps with 34. #39-Newman, involved
in a practice 1 wreck, got on the track with about 10 minutes to go to shake
down the car.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10-lap
averages on the Daytone 500 Practice 4 Speeds page (pdf).(2-20-2013)
Earnhardt Jr. loses engine in first practice on Wednesday:
#88-Dale
Earnhardt Jr. comments following engine failure during practice for the
Budweiser Duel at Daytona Qualifying Races:
Q) WHAT HAPPENED?
Earnhardt Jr: "We broke a motor, it's as simple as that.
They'll figure out what happen. I'm sure there is some logical explanation as
to what happened, but, we'll just put a new one in and start at the back of the
Qualifier tomorrow, and race up through there."
Q) WILL YOU GO TO BED A LITTLE WORRIED TONIGHT?
Earnhardt Jr: "No, it's just part of racing."
Q) IS THIS ANY SORT OF A SETBACK?
Earnhardt Jr: "Not really. Everything is good. We were just
making some single car runs by ourselves. Everything seemed like it was
working. Just trying to find a little more speed, and we found a few things
that seemed to help the car. We'll try to get out in this next practice, and
see what else we can learn, but everything should be fine."
Q) DID YOU HAVE ANY WARNING THAT IT WAS GOING?
Earnhardt Jr: "No."
Newman discusses drafting accident in Wednesday's practice:
#39-Ryan
Newman crashed during first practice run; will repair the car - not going to
back-up.
Q) WHAT HAPPENED OUT THERE?
Newman: "I don't know. I want to watch first (after
watching the replay). My car came around. I don't know if it was the air off of
Carl's (Edwards) car or what. My car just came around. (Referring to the
replay) You can see the backend getting light there. I think it's just an aero
situation, but that was news to me. Carl (Edwards) came over and said 'hey
man'& I said 'I don't even know what to tell you yet'. It was unfortunate
for our Quicken Loans Chevrolet, but that is why we had practice. That was my
first experience, but I guess my car just got light in the back going into the
corner."
Q) HOW BADLY WOUNDED IS YOUR CAR?
Newman: "I think it's totally fixable, it's just a matter
of time and getting practice and everything else. Matt (Borland, crew chief)
and the guys are assessing the situation."
Q) CARL (EDWARDS) CAME OVER IMMEDIATELY TO TALK
TO YOU. WHAT DID YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT?
Newman: "Just what happened. I didn't know what happened
and he honestly admitted that he didn't know what happened. Just all of a
sudden my car was going across his nose. He did say that he tried to come up
and put the air brakes on me. I think in doing so it just made my car that
loose. I hadn't been loose the entire time. It was just something new and a
different characteristic of this car I guess."
Q) YOU HAVE NOT FELT THAT SIMILAR SITUATION WHY
IS THAT DIFFERENT? A
Newman: "I think some of it has to do with the huge shark
fin that we have on that side. When you pack air up on that side it's not going
to the spoiler it's getting blocked off from the spoiler. There are a lot of
things to think about and talk about."
Q) YOU GUYS
ARE PLANNING TO FIX THE DAMAGE RIGHT?
Newman: "We are going to fix it. It's a Catch-22 we
brought this car for a reason. The engine is fine; it never spun backwards all
that stuff is good. We don't think we will make it back out for the second
practice, but we will be fine."
Q) EVEN IF YOU DID WOULD YOU PRACTICE DRAFTING
OR DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DONE?
Newman: "No, we will still practice drafting. That is
what it is going to take to win the (Daytona) 500."(Team Chevy)(2-20-2013)
Congrats - Jamie McMurray:
#1-Jamie
McMurray and wife Christy recently celebrated the birth of their second child.
McMurray's and son Carter welcomed Hazel Leigh McMurray into the family on
Monday February 11. Hazel weighed in at 6 pounds 15 ounces, mom and baby are
doing great, and will be watching from home as dad makes his first start of the
2013 season.(EGR)(2-29-2013)
Daytona 500 to be Johnson's 400th start:
The Daytona
500 will mark #48-Jimmie Johnson's 400th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start,
his 23rd career points-paying Sprint Cup start at Daytona and his 118th career
points-paying start in a restrictor-plate race. In his first full Sprint Cup season
in 2002, Johnson earned the pole in his very first race, the Daytona 500.
Johnson has one win, six top-five finishes and nine top-10s in 22 starts. His
only win came in the 2006 Daytona 500 with Darian Grubb as crew chief.
Johnson's last top-five finish in the Daytona 500 was his win in 2006. His
average start is 9.6 and average finish is 19.0. Johnson has completed 3,536 of
3,865 laps (91.5%) and led 60 laps in 22 starts.(HMS/Lowe's Racing)(2-19-2013)
Note: I’m not sure if you’ve seen the video of
Jimmie when he had his little “to-do” at Watkins Glen, back in 2000. He’s one lucky son-of-a-gun, that’s for
sure. Video is towards the end of the
column.
Guthrie congratulates Patrick on Daytona pole:
Danica
Patrick has found more than the success that eluded Janet
Guthrie in
her brief NASCAR stint. Patrick also has the acceptance in the garage that
Guthrie never did. Guthrie struggled in an era when women were still viewed in
stock car racing as unwanted outsiders. Guthrie, the first woman to race in
NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 in 1976, received an icy reception from the sport's
biggest drivers as she tried to build her career. It was in stark contrast to
the scene on pit road moments after Patrick clinched her Daytona 500 pole -
with a hug from Tony Stewart and a handshake from Jeff Gordon Guthrie
congratulated Patrick on Sunday for becoming the first woman to win the top
spot for any race in NASCAR's top circuit. But Guthrie was more proud of the
way NASCAR's attitude toward women has evolved over the last 30 years. Guthrie
was heartened at seeing a women succeed in a man's world. "It took time
for that attitude to change, but it did change," Guthrie told The
Associated Press by phone Sunday. "That was one of my biggest pleasures
was seeing that attitude change." Guthrie was the previous best female
qualifier in a Cup race. She started ninth at
The entry list for the Daytona Nationwide
race – 46 cars:
http://www.jayski.com/news/nationwide/2013/story/_/page/NNS-01-Daytona-Entry-List
The entry list for the Truck race – 39
entrants:
http://www.jayski.com/news/campingworld/2013/story/_/page/2013cts01daytona-entry
News from the AARN:
Note: Don’t forget – if you’re a subscriber to the
AARN, you can have the free digital version.
That is available on Tuesday mornings.
From their
February 19th edition – picked up from the Digital Service:
Next year, the
AARN’s Moto Sports show will be a week earlier – January 10th – 12th,
and the
In the column by
Lenny Sammons, he makes mention of “luck” in racing – like luck with
weather. He goes on to say how lucky
they were that the indoor race a few weeks ago could have been a week later –
in the middle of a “N’oreaster”.
Note: Back in the late 50’s, when they raced
indoors in the Teaneck, NJ Armory, with TQ’s, we never worried about the
weather – to the point that when we left on Saturday night, after the races,
we’d order our same tickets for the following Saturday. Also, in all the race results that I have for
the winter indoor racing in the Kingsbridge Armory, in the
Also, in the
Sammons column, he makes mention of Ray Evernham and his son, Ray J – who has
successfully battled Cancer, but now, at 21, has Asperger’s syndrome. Ray, with the help of others, made a special
car – a 1964 Plymouth Belvidere ForPly – to be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson
Auction. A check for $280,000.00 was
presented to the Autism Society of North Carolina to benefit IGNITE. IGNITE is a program operated by the Autism
Society of North Carolina, with founding support with the Evernham Family for a
Reason.
There will be
more than one full midget race in
Sad news: The Dirt 600 Micro Sprints will not be part
of the racing program in
The race results
from that Monday night race were in this weeks issue – headlined by the crowd
booing Larson for his win.
Note: Crowd?
OK, those backstretch stands at Daytona are HUGE, but I would not go as
far as saying there was a CROWD in attendance.
From what I had seen, it looked like most of those in the seats were
probably associated with some of the teams that were racing.
Brett Deyo will
be involved with being the co-promoter to the “Crazy 8’s” Modified special at
the I-88 Speedway on July 24th.
48 laps for Small and Big Block Modifieds with $4,888.00 to win, or
$6,888.00 to win if one wants to “gamble”.
Lucas Wolfe has
landed a Sprint Car ride with Todd LaHaise and his # 82 Sprinter.
Note: Seems to me that Lucas was supposed to get
into some open wheel road racing cars, too?
Pretty sure I made mention of that a couple of columns back.
Dave Blaney is
looking to run more Sprint Car races in 2013.
Jason Leffler
tried out a winged Sprint Car at Volusia, and loved it.
Lincoln Speedway
in PA is scheduled to open this Saturday.
I guess that’s weather permitting, huh?
The “Clash at
the Can”, a big block and small block race being held at Penn Can Speedway on
June 11th, will have the following pay off:
1. $5,000.00
2. $4,000.00
3. $2,500.00
4. $1,800.00
5. $1,500.00
6. $1,400.00
7. $1,300.00
8. $1,200.00
9. $1,100.00
10.
$1,000.00
$500.00 to take
the green.
Kevin Rice had
this headline for his column: “Modified
teams were ready for Daytona’s “Short Track” Challenge.
Note: Uh, I don’t think they were quite ready for
the mayhem that occurred, though!
As of now, it
looks like Jackie Brown, Jr., will be
racing at Accord on Friday nights and OCFS on Saturday. Depending on how things go, that is.
Keith Kauffman
will be 63 on June 9th. Yes,
he’s planning on running all of 2013.
On Wednesday
afternoon, via Facebook, I watched a video of the Sunday night Midget race at
the New Smyrna Speedway, a race won by Kyle Larson. I noticed just 14 USAC Midgets taking the
green, although 18 are shown in the race run down. I also noticed a rather small crowd,
too. No idea as to how many cars or how
the crowd was for the Midget show on Monday night. I’d venture to say that “back in the day”
when one did not need a “Special” Midget for dirt or pavements, there would
have been quite a few entrants from here in the northeast. I do believe that NEMA had one driver – Randy
Cabral, tow down for those races?
60 drivers
showed up for ARCA practice at Daytona, but only 44 showed up for qualifying.
Quite a large
article about insurance and racing that covered Waivers/Releases of Liability,
Insurance, Motor Sports, Health, Disability and Life insurance, as well as
legal documents.
Speaking of
insurance, you might recall that on occasion I do put a link in for insurance
for racers – those that have a cage and are belted in. It saddened me to read of the slow progress
that is reported in the AARN of Denny Decker, who was seriously injured, last
June 24th. He still has no
feeling below his chest. He’s able to
move some fingers in his right hand, but can’t grip with it. His left arm is weak and not very
usable. Doctors are not really sure how
much he’ll improve. Everyone is
different, they say. He says he can’t
really do too much now except ride around in his wheelchair. Financially now, thing are pretty tight for
the Decker family. There is no mention
of how much insurance he had/has in the article, I should note.
There was quite
extensive coverage of racing from
Some of what was
covered in this weeks edition:
Pitkat, Hossfeld Are Weekend
New Smyrna Mod Winners
Danica On The Pole For Daytona 500
Don O'Neal Is Lucas Oil
DLMS Champ At East Bay
Pittman, McCarl, Lasoski
Share WoO 410 Feature Wins
Townley Wins ARCA; Gerhart Denied
AARN’s Annual Trailer & Safety Issue:
Value In Transport;
Tips For Racing Health
Kyle Larson: Second With ARCA,
First In USAC Midget At Smyrna
Santee Takes ‘For Sale’ Sign Down
At Mahoning
Lanigan Still WoO LM Man To Beat
In Ocala
Press Releases:
NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release
Contact: Coastal 181
info@coastal181.com
978 462-2436 tel MA 01950
978 462-9198 fax
COASTAL 181 ACQUIRES ROSE RACING
PUBLICATIONS’
OPEN WHEEL RACING BOOK
INVENTORY
Buzz Rose built his publishing
company into a highly regarded source for authoritative books on open-wheel
racing in
Rose Racing Publications’
titles include definitive histories on the East Coast’s URC, the California
Racing Association (CRA), and IMCA, AAA, USAC, and CSRA. The most recent w or k is the robustly
researched but sobering volume, “RACERS AT REST: The Checkered Flag,” profiling
the considerable number of drivers who have perished in open-wheel competition.
Coastal 181 is well known in
the racing community as both a mot or sports publisher and distributor of
racing books, DVDs, and mot or sports art.
The company has published 17 books to date and carries over 1000
additional titles on its website www.coastal181.com. The site is also visited
frequently by readers of Lew Boyd ’s semi-monthly racing commentaries,
“Tearoffs,” and the engaging “Photos of the Day,” which highlight interesting,
colorful and often offbeat aspects of oval-track racing.
Both companies having strong
racing backgrounds. Rose Racing Publications and Coastal 181 have collaborated
closely over the years and plan to continue that association. Coastal 181’s
Cary Stratton said, “We are very pleased to be able to continue to make Buzz
Rose’s excellent titles available to the racing community. We look f or ward to having him join us at
various shows and entertaining all comers with his wonderful racing yarns.“
From Pocono Raceway:
Danica Patrick’s qualifying
effort on Sunday, becoming the first female driver in NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series history to earn a pole award, has seen much attention worldwide in
the media. But, we want to know what YOU, the fans, think. So…we came up with a
ticket giveaway!
Simply click the question
below and complete the form provided. This will automatically enter you into a
random drawing where one fan will win (4) Terrace Club Tickets, including
Pre-Race Pit/Paddock Passes, to one of Pocono Raceway’s two NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series events!
What does Danica Patrick’s historic
feat at Daytona mean to you?
We also did a little research
about female drivers in Cup Series competition at Pocono…
Only one female
driver has ever competed in NASCAR’s top circuit at “The Tricky Triangle,”
Janet Guthrie. Guthrie raced in three events here from 1977-1980 and recorded
her highest finish of 11th during the 1977 Coca-Cola 500. What will Danica do
when she makes her Pocono Raceway debut this summer?
Although we’ll have to wait
until Sunday, June 9th to have this question answered, we’re putting the June
9th Cup Series race in your hands! We’ve teamed up with Walmart to allow YOU to
rename the former Pocono 400! It’s all part of the Fan Driven 400 Program! Click here for details!
Additionally, all Concourse
Grandstand Tickets have been reduced to just
$25! Yes, you read that right…tickets start at just $25!!!
Come see Danica Patrick and all of NASCAR’s top drivers at Pocono Raceway
this June by clicking here to purchase your tickets today!
1-800-RACEWAY (722-3929)
Ticket Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 9 am - 5 pm ET
XCEL CHASSIS 600 MODIFIED FITS RACERS BIG AND SMALL
The Xcel Chassis 600 modified may be
classified as a small car until you see the speeds on any size race track and
the same could be said for the competitors that drive them. The discussions
over the years have been the labeling
of a small car and the perception that you have to be average size or below to
be competitive.
Doug Borger, founder of the 600 modifieds,
wants to throw that idea out the window. " I can't tell you how many
people come up to me and ask if they can fit in one of my cars. As they put it, Can this fat boy get
in the car and run up front? The best part is when I tell them some of the champions
are some of the big guys in the series and I make it a point to have them talk
to one of the drivers. When
you look at the numbers these guys have accumulated, you just can't deny the
fact that one size does fit all when it comes to a 600 modified. Just like
Harley Davidson has their Fat Boy motorcycle, we also have a FB set up but we
don't call it fat boy, we call it "Forward Bite"
Modifed stand out Brian "Big
Daddy" Mady was the first to put the set up to the test and in his first
year of racing garnered "Most Improved" followed up by a championship
one year later. "I thought my height and weight would put me at a
disadvantage until I hit the track. Once we figured out the set up I needed,
there was no looking back. The minimum weight for the car and driver is 900
lbs. and I usually ran around 1100 the year I won the championship. The biggest
fear for me was when I lost my weight how much it would affect the set up which
I have to say it never did.
If you want to talk from one extreme to the other compare me, Eric Whitby and
Aaron Bowes to Abbey Price or Steven Sherwood. It's kinda like have a Cadillac
Escalade versus a Smart Car. Doug helped us a lot during our first year and now
we start with the basic FB set up and go from there."
Aaron Bowes easily one of the tallest
drivers topping out at
6'3" doesn't see his height as a problem. Just as Mady adjusted his car to
his liking so has Bowes. " My dad actually bought the car Brian won the
Championship from his owner Wayne Kuehn. After talking with them and Doug, my
set up is really not that
far off the average guy. I run the average guy set up and move my seat back
farther."
" I think the best part of
talking to the fans is when I tell them I drive the #12e at Lindas Speedway on
a weekly basis," stated Eric Whitby, "and their jaw drops to the
floor or when I point out guys like Brian and Aaron. It doesn't matter if you
run a 1/4 mile track like Lindas or the 3/8 mile at Penn Can Speedway just like
it doesn't matter how big or tall you are. If you spend the time working
in the garage and at the
track, you're gonna run upfront every week."
The Forward Bite or FB set up, as it's
called in the shop, is nothing drastic compared to a basic set up.
Every Monday I call the person
who has the rental for the following weekend and I ask them height and weight
and make the adjustments. When I started building the modified, the only time I
wanted weight or height to be an issue was the minimum the car and driver must
go over the scales after the race. It doesn't matter whether your big or small, short or
tall, we can accommodate anybody who wants to race."
The Xcel Chassis 600 modified Series
will open the 2013 season on April 7th at Five Mile Point Speedway located in
More from Pocono Raceway:
Walmart is putting race fans
in the driver’s seat with the “Fan Driven 400” – an innovative, socially-driven
program that gives fans a voice in branding the June 9, Pocono 400 race at
Pocono Raceway. Starting today through May 27, fans can submit ideas and vote
via Walmart’s Local Facebook pages on details including the official race name,
a signature concession item and the pace car design.
Additionally, Walmart is also
making the Pocono 400 race on June 9, 2013 more affordable by offering 16,000
Concourse Grandstand tickets at a discounted price of $25. Tickets can be
purchased online starting Feb. 14 at www.walmart.com/NASCAR or through the
Pocono Raceway website at www.poconoraceway.com.
If you already have Concourse
Grandstand tickets, you’ll save too! A Pocono Raceway representative will be
reaching out to you regarding a potential credit to your account.
Fan Driven 400
Beginning today through May
27, 2013, fans can vote online to customize the “Fan Driven 400” at
walmarturl.com/fandriven. The timeline for voting on various race components
will be as follows:
Race Name Submission (2/14 –
2/25): Customers can submit a name of their choice (32 character limit).
Race Name Vote (3/11 – 4/8):
Vote for one of the three race name options and see the Facebook user’s name
and photo who developed each submission.
Concession Item (4/9– 5/6):
Vote for one of three types of pierogies, sourced via the Pocono Raceway Fan
Council.
Pace Car Design (5/7 – 5/27):
Users are allowed to vote on one of three designs for the Pace Car, sourced via
Pocono Raceway.
In addition to the Fan Driven
400, Walmart will once again offer its $99 Walmart Family Track Pack, which
includes four discounted race tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas– a savings
of more than $100. Walmart will also be hosting in-store events with race car
displays, racing simulator machines and special appearances by fan-favorite
drivers in every NASCAR Sprint Cup series race market. For more information,
please visit www.walmart.com/NASCAR.
Join the conversation on
Twitter throughout the season with the hashtag #RaceTime, and follow us at
@Walmart, @Walmartnewsroom, @NASCAR and @poconoraceway.
1-800-RACEWAY (722-3929)
Ticket Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 9 am - 5 pm ET
Contact: DIRTVision.com
Katie Boyer - Production
Coordinator
kboyer@dirtcar.com |
(704)707-0275
Don’t Miss LIVE Late Model
and Big-Block Modified Coverage from the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by
WATCH LIVE AT DIRTVISION.COM.
Off season is officially in the past, and after eight days are in the books,
the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series and DIRTcar UMP Modifieds have
vacated
Racing is scheduled to begin
nightly at 6:00 p.m. EST, but DIRTVision will be on the air at 5:30 p.m. with a
prerace show to break down the previous night’s event, and prepare you for the
incredible racing scheduled for the night. Our events feature multi-camera
coverage, a pit reporter, graphics and so much more. Plus, if you can’t watch every
show live, the video will be available in the archive shortly after the event.
By purchasing any of the races, you will have the access to come back and watch
as many times as you’d like, all year long, at DIRTVision.com.
Here is what you have to look
forward to through the rest of this week!
Date / Series
2/20 UMP Late
2/21 World of Outlaws Late
Models / Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds
2/22 World of Outlaws Late
Models / Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds
2/23 World of Outlaws Late
Models / Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds
Subscribe today at
www.dirtvision.com!