Racin'
& Different Stuff:
By Tom
Avenengo
Volume # 145
06/27/2013
Racin’ & short’ stuff:
Back on June 26, 1996, I had my last
cigarette. I remember it like it was
last week. I was walking up the sidewalk
to
Well, it’s officially summer now. Nice warm weather, and for every day this
week, a chance of thunderstorms. Don’t
be surprised if we lose a couple of races this coming weekend because Mother
Nature miss-behaves.
I’m not a fan of this so called “Lucky
Dog” – giving a lap back to a car that is a lap behind, whether due to misfortune
or just not being able to keep up with the rest of the field.
Kurt Busch had a heckuva run this past
Sunday at
Note:
On Wednesday, I read that he will not be at Pocono, but later in the
year in
I watched most of the Nationwide race from
Road
With today’s technology, why do they hide
“
At the Iowa Speedway this past weekend,
the Indycar Series had heat races on Saturday, and their “Feature” on
Sunday. No, the heat races were not
televised. I don’t think the Indy Lights
race was televised, either. There were
only eight cars in that Indy Lights race.
Somehow, I don’t think eight Indy Lights at Pocono will cut it. That series is in big trouble. A while back I had quite a lengthy piece in
one of my columns as to what part (most) of the problems are. The link to that is below.
Bobby Labonte's start streak
to end at 704
In part: "Bobby Labonte's consecutive start
streak will come to an end at 704 races.
Labonte is not entered to
race Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway, which will bring an end to the
second-longest active starts streak in NASCAR behind Jeff Gordon's 705 starts.
Labonte confirmed his status
on a chat with fans on the JTG Daugherty Racing website."
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bobby-labontes-start-streak-end-201323703--nascar.html
Watching some of the 24 Hours
of LeMans, and wondering just who Bruno Senna is. He’s a nephew of the late Ayrton Senna,
former world driving champion. I’m not
positive as to how he ended up with Senna as his last name, since he’s the son
of Ayrton’s sister. His mother is
Ayrton's older sister, Viviane. His father, Flávio Lalli, died in a motorcycle
crash in 1996.
Note: For a little info on Bruno, go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Senna
An engine for the future?
http://www.wimp.com/combustionengine/
The other night at OCFS they
had a 51 lap Small Block Modified feature.
The winner, Chuck McKee, has been awarded the 7th starting
spot in the Eastern States Small Block race.
A few weeks ago, Brett Hearn won the feature (Small blocks?) at the
Albany/Saratoga Speedway, and he was also awarded a guaranteed starting spot at
Eastern States. I finally got the
message that Hearn has that spot in the Big Block race.
Speaking of OCFS – I found
this posted over on Facebook on Sunday evening:
Ocfs Sportsman
NEWS: There is a rule change
for the Sportsman! Starting next week the Crates will be no longer running a
Rev chip and will have a 4:86 Gear rule!!
And this also, on Facebook,
on Monday:
Orange County Fair
6-24-13: Attention Sportsman
and Rookie Sportsman Competitors
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
SPORTSMAN & ROOKIE SPORTSMAN WILL NOW HAVE A 486 RATIO GEAR RULE. REV
LIMITER WITH CHIP IS NO LONGER NECESSARY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE
CONTACT BOB DINI.
Note: Sorry, but I really am not a fan of mid
season rule changes. Any time there’s a
change in the rules it always ends up costing the racer more.
Sunday September 1, 2013
there will be a race car show at Hinchcliffe Stadium in
Car counts:
I, like quite a few others am
a little concerned about car counts at our local speedways. Has it gotten too expensive to field a stock
car or midget, today? Have the tracks
also have had a hand in the car count figures, too, with an increase of costs
to the racers – not only in pit fees, but in an endless (it seems) additions to
their rule books, which always ends up costing the teams more money. The next tome you see John Snyder, ask him
about an old rule book he has for OCFS.
I’m pretty sure it was only a page or two.
It’s hard to compare car
counts and even fan counts of today to what it was like back in the 60’s, 70’s,
80’s and maybe early 90’s. One has to
think back to maybe the 70’s and think about what was racing back then. Yes, there was some Kart racing, but nothing
like what we have today. So instead of people
being in the stands, they’re now racing at other tracks with their kids doing
the driving. Granted, some of those kids
– some 13, 14 & 15 years old, have graduated to stock cars and where their
allowed, because of their age, into Midgets and Sprints. Oh, right!
There is so much more out there for the entertainment dollar today, too.
Craig Von Dohren won the
feature at Big Diamond last weekend.
That was his 300th career feature win. Yes, he won the next night at
There’s a thread on the Dirt
Track Digest’s forum about “Track prep”, and that got me to thinking – are
there any tracks in this area (NY, NJ & PA) that use a “Sheeps foot”?
Back in the day we didn’t
have a lot of things that we have today – like the “Social Media”. Today, all things come out – especially on
Facebook. As an example, there was a
problem last week at a NEMA Midget race.
I guess you can say it was an interpretation of the rules? Anyhow, things got put out on Facebook that
more than likely wouldn’t have been seen by most everyone without the social
media we have today. From what I can
see, that can only hurt the sport more than help it. Hard feelings, sown out in public for all to
see, can and could lead to on track problems in the future – if you get my
drift.
Here is the admission
information for the Accord mid-week show on Tuesday, August 6, 2013:
Pits: $35 (everyone)
Grandstands:
Adults - $20
Seniors(65 and over) - $16
Kids 11 and under - $5
As for that Accord show –
this came out on Facebook on Monday:
Hey Brett. Speaking of the
mid week show at the ulster county bullring, I was wondering if drivers will be
allowed to compete in both races that night?
Yes. As long as there are two
separate cars.
Cool beans. Any tire rules
apply to the sportsman race?
Working on them today. Your
regular deal will be legal but I am also going to allow Hoosiers for the OCFS
and
And Accord weight/motor rules
will apply?
Prob the RoC weights for Sportsman.
For Mods, everybody will be 2,400. Will have it posted by tonight in full.
And this, too:
Brett Deyo
Here is something cool for
fans, like me, who grew up around Accord Speedway. We will be running a Joe
Winne Memorial Dash for Cash as part of our
The above made me think a
little – I went to the Accord schedule and there is no Joe Winne Memorial race
scheduled. They used to have a 55 lap
race in his honor. The Scott Harvey
Memorial race on opening night is it, as far as Memorial races go for Accord
this year – until the above mentioned dash.
It’s a shame the Bob Green Memorial race no longer exists. Last Saturday, at OCFS, they had the Charlie
Loder Memorial race for Small Block Modifieds.
I wonder if that will be around next year?
Note: Rain date is August 7th for the
Accord race.
Further down in this column,
in the AARN section, I make mention of Stewart Friesen and the possibility of
him not attending some of the DIRTcar SDS races in
I’ve only been to the
Williams Grove Speedway one time – back in October in 1951, and that was for
the Ted Horn Memorial race. A couple of
years after Bill Schindler was fatally injured at
I have no idea as to why
Memorial races cease to exist and just go away.
This Friday, at the Accord
Speedway, they have their Chicken BBQ along with a Fireworks display. Usually they have some pretty good ones
there.
I checked over the OCFS
schedule and could not find any night shown when they might have
Fireworks. I can still remember – had to
be back in 1946 or 1947 when we went to the midget races at
I don’t see Fireworks
scheduled at the Bethel Speedway, either.
Hmm, Howie Commander is
promoter at the Valley and a co-promoter at OCFS – wonder why no Fireworks at
OC?
Craziest Moment: Paulie
Harraka runs into Alex Kennedy before they leave pit road
We've all had mishaps while
leaving our driveways. Maybe you've knocked a rear-view mirror off on the side
of the door. Maybe you've run over a trash can on the side of the street. Maybe
you've started to leave your garage before the door's gone up or you've even run
into another car in the driveway.
Paulie Harraka had one of
those moments Sunday. It's just that his came on pit road before officially
making the first Sprint Cup Series start of his career.
Harraka, making his 16th
NASCAR series start, was set to start 40th on Sunday at
Harraka didn't until it was
too late and attempted to swerve to the left. That too, was futile, and he
plowed into the back of Kennedy, bashing in the front of his car and damaging
the rear of Kennedy's.
Both cars immediately
returned to pit road for repairs, and Harraka was forced to start the race
without much of the front of his car because of the severity of the damage.
Bizarrely, they weren't the only two drivers with issues before the race even
started. Jacques Villeneuve spent extended time on pit road with a transmission
issue and Bobby Labonte had to go to the garage before he even took to the
track after his car leaked oil on pit road.
And if the incident on pit
road wasn't bad enough, Harraka had an issue between turns one and two on lap 7
and brought out the first caution of the day. He ended up completing 89 laps
and finished 39th.
Race Car Deaths: The Medical
Causes of Racing Deaths with Examples and Resulting Race Car Improvements.
http://blog.parathyroid.com/race-car-deaths-medical-causes-racing-deaths/#.UchIHe3m0y4.facebook
Sunoco named as presenting
sponsor for IndyCar at Pocono
Because their names sound so
similar, it was only natural for Sunoco and Pocono to join forces for the IZOD
IndyCar Series’ return to “the Tricky Triangle.”
Sunoco has signed on as
presenting sponsor of the IndyCar race at Pocono on July 7, now termed the
Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by Sunoco. The 400-mile event at Pocono Raceway, the
second leg of the Fuzzy’s Triple Crown, will be the first open-wheel event at
the 2.5-mile, triangular-shaped track since 1989.
It’s also a natural tie-in
given it’s a race where the Sunoco/ “Turbo” livery will be running on Tony
Kanaan’s car for the race and it’s the second-to-last IndyCar race weekend
before “Turbo” opens nationwide on July 17.
Kanaan is the only driver
eligible for the Triple Crown after his win at the
“Sunoco has been a great
partner of the Raceway for many years,” said Brandon Igdalsky, President and
CEO of Pocono Raceway. “We are thrilled they came on board as the presenting
sponsor for such a historic race as this one, marking the first open-wheel race
at Pocono in 24 years. We cannot thank them enough for all their continued
support.”
On the subject of Pocono – I
see there was a closed practice session scheduled for this past Tuesday. Don’t forget – there’s a free to the public
practice session at the track on July 4th. The race – 400 miler, is on the 7th.
So far, Marco Andretti did
218 MPH at Pocono, today – Tuesday.
While on the subject of
Pocono, this was posted on the Indy Car website on Tuesday:
By Arni Sribhen
Published: Jun 25, 2013
LONG POND,
Seat time and race setups
were the order of the day as Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe, Ryan
Hunter-Reay and E.J. Viso (Andretti Autosport), Sebastien Bourdais and
Sebastian Saavedra (Dragon Racing), Ed Carpenter (Ed Carpenter Racing), Ryan
Briscoe (Panther Racing), Simona De Silvestro and Tony Kanaan (KV Racing
Technology), Helio Castroneves and Will Power (Team Penske) logged laps on
2.5-mile tri-oval as part of a Chevrolet manufacturer’s test.
James Jakes and Graham Rahal
of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Josef Newgarden of Sarah Fisher Hartman
Racing also tested their Honda-powered cars.
Pocono Winners TrophyAn Open
Test is scheduled for July 4 in advance of the Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by
Sunoco on July 7.
"It's always good to be
out there,” said Castroneves, the IZOD IndyCar Series points leader. “It
doesn't matter if it's today or next week. We're always learning things that
can help us. There aren't 20 cars here, but (the test) gives you the knowledge
of where to start for the race weekend. It's a good opportunity."
While some drivers, such as
Castroneves and Power, have been to Pocono for a Firestone tire test, it was
the first chance for others to see the circuit that will host its first Indy
car race since 1989. Newgarden came away impressed.
"Pocono is pretty
incredible,” he said. “I've never been to an oval like this. It's a challenge
and unlike anywhere we've been. It almost combines a bunch of ovals. You have
one corner that's like
Added Carpenter: "Turn 1
(at Pocono) is a beast in the IndyCar. It's going to be a fun corner to drive
in the race and I think the fans will enjoy watching it. It's definitely
different than any place I've ever been to. We were trying to compare it to
places we've been in the past and it reminds me of
The race will be the middle
leg of the Fuzzy's Triple Crown, which carries a $1 million bonus if Kanaan can
sweep the races at
Also, for Pocono – I read
that there will be some Vintage Indy cars at Pocono, and that they’ll have some
track time. I’m willing to bet they get
more Vintage Indy Cars than they do Indy Lights. Well, maybe not more, but an equal amount,
maybe?
I inquired about the vintage
Indy Cars at Pocono to several people, and here is what I was sent by one of
them:
The following list are
scheduled to appear:
1971 Brawner/McGee Ford #64
Current owner/driver Dr. Doug
Winslow
1967 Lola Super Charged Offy
#26
Current owner John Darlington
Drivers Brad Edwards and Gary
Mondschein
1988 Lola Cosworth #69
Current owner/driver Norbert
Ziemann
1961 Kurtis Offy Roadster #43
Owner/driver Raymond
Boissoneau
1988 March Cosworth #30
Owner/driver Toney Edwards
1968 Gerhardt Chevy #26
Owner Toney Edwards
Driver Gary Mondschein
1947 Kurtis Offy #3
Owner/Driver John B. Haines
1962 Watson Alfa (COPY) #2
Owner/Driver Wayne Lausius
In addition, the Mario/Aldo
Andretti Three Quarter Midget # 2 will be on display
representing the first open
cockpit win of his historic career as well as another
vintage TQ supporting The
Vinatage Division of the ATQMRA.
The Vintage Indy cars are
scheduled to take to the track for (2) sessions on
Friday, July 5th (12:05 and
5:05) Each session will be approx. 15 minutes.
The cars will also take to
the track for parade laps prior to the start of
the Indy Lights on Saturday
as well as the Indy Cars on Sunday.
Speaking of the Indy Lights –
a few columns back I had a link to the Track Forum about how the Indy Lights
Series was in trouble. Here’s the link,
again, but I believe there are more postings now, than back then:
Looks like our area might
lose a talented driver to the “South”?
Found this on the DTD Forum:
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/47990-tyler-dippel-heading-south/
Hostess: Twinkies to return
to shelves July 15
http://news.yahoo.com/hostess-twinkies-return-shelves-july-15-163913503.html
Our “Spies” – failures?
Edward Snowden – leaves Hong
Kong and goes to
NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Not
on
Note: Comments under the article – ya have to read
them!
Fugitive Snowden in
http://news.yahoo.com/former-nsa-contractor-snowden-leaves-hong-kong-moscow-080843121.html
Found on the Internet:
“U.S. Government has a
Scandal in every Department of Government. IRS, NSA, DOJ,
From Jayski:
Allmendinger returning to #47
at Kentucky UPDATE:
AJ Allmendinger will drive
for JTG Daugherty next week at Kentucky Speedway, car owner Tad Geschickter
told Motor Racing Network on Saturday. It will be the second of five races
Allmendinger is scheduled to drive the #47 car in place of Bobby Labonte, as
JTG Daugherty seeks to uncover what has caused its struggles this season.
Labonte is driving the car at
UPDATE: Bobby Labonte is
still uncertain of his plans for next weekend's race at Kentucky Speedway.
"As of today, I'm not sure yet about
Gordon would like to see
change to car for road courses: After racing the new Gen-6 car for the first
time on a road course, runner-up #24-Jeff Gordon has a note for NASCAR's
suggestion box. "There's one thing I'm going to talk to NASCAR about with
this car," Gordon said after posting a much-needed top five that vaulted
him three positions to 13th in the Cup standings. "We don't have the body
in the right position for the road courses to turn right. When we go to Watkins
Glen, as fast as those right-handers are, we're going to have some issues.
There's nothing to lean on. You have plenty of grip on the lefts, because the
body still has a little bit of rake on the rights. It has nice sideforce for
the right side of the car for those left turns, but on the right turns, the
cars are just so out of control." That's an issue Gordon hopes NASCAR will
address.(NASCAR Wire Service)(6-24-2013)
KHI branches out to
professional athlete management: A perennial powerhouse in NASCAR in its 10
years of competition, Kevin Harvick, Inc. (KHI) has reached outside auto racing
and into the world of professional athlete management, inking a deal to
represent UFC fighter Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone. KHI, co-owned by
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and his wife, DeLana, is renowned
in the motor sports world not only for its on-track success, but also for its
efficacious and innovative sponsorship relationships. In its NASCAR operations,
the company has demonstrated expertise in marketing through sponsor activation,
sales and promotion, event management, advertising and public relations. More
recently, KHI transferred its primary concentration to athletes and sponsors in
and out of the auto racing industry, including Harvick, Cerrone, Jeff Burton
(NASCAR) and Jason Gore (PGA). "One of KHI's strongest qualities always
has been our ability to sell and maintain sponsorship in NASCAR despite the
economic challenges," Kevin Harvick said. "With that solid foundation
and the template we've created over the last 10 years, I think we are ready to
take the next step to represent other athletes in other arenas. Donald is our
first client in the UFC, and I'm excited about all the possibilities that lie
ahead."(KHI)(6-24-2013)
Headrest may have helped
Leffler:
Jason Leffler would have had
a better chance of surviving his fatal crash in a winged sprint car in
Childress could run the #3 in
2014: Richard Childress is still mulling whether to bring Dale Earnhardt's
famous #3 back to Sprint Cup competition. Childress, who owns the rights to the
car number that Earnhardt made famous, has said since last November that he
believes that fans would accept a return of the slanted design that marked
Earnhardt's car for six of his seven Cup championships. Speaking on SiriusXM's
NASCAR channel Wednesday morning, Childress reiterated that only a member of
his family or the Earnhardt family would race the number in Cup. Childress
grandsons Austin and Ty Dillon have raced the number in the Truck and
Nationwide series in recent years, and Austin Dillon could run a full-time Cup
schedule in 2014. "We're definitely in the process of discussing
that," Childress told the network Wednesday. "Austin Dillon, Ty
Dillon did a great job representing it." He said he wouldn't want to run
the #3 in Sprint Cup with just a partial schedule. The #3 has not been used in
Cup since Earnhardt's death in 2001.(in part from the Sporting News)(6-26-2013)
Keselowski in rare territory
for defending NASCAR champ: #2-Brad Keselowski's 21st-place showing at Sonoma
marked the seventh time in the past eight races that he has failed to crack the
top 10. This comes after a blistering start to the season in which he had four
top-5 finishes and seven top 10s in his first eight starts. Since then, he's
dropped from third to ninth in the point standings and is only 10 points away
from falling out of the top 10 entirely. In fact, the standings are so crowded
that Keselowski is a mere 29 points ahead of 17th place #78-Kurt Busch. He's
also only one early crash or mechanical failure away from dipping into
territory rarely seen by a defending Cup champion.
Over the past 40 years, since
NASCAR consolidated its schedule, no defending Cup champion has finished worse
than 12th in the standings (not including 1992 champ Alan Kulwicki, who died in
a plane crash in April of 1993). In fact, only five drivers have finished worse
than seventh. The average finishing position for the defending champion over
the past four decades has been fourth place.(Sports Illustrated)(6-26-2013)
Gordon Looks For Schedule
Sweep: Kentucky Speedway offers #24-Jeff Gordon additional motivation. The
1.5-mile track, which became part of the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in 2011, is
the only blank line on the 87-race winner's resume. He's won at every other
stop on circuit, crossing off previously missing Homestead-Miami Speedway last
November. "I'd love to win at every track," said Gordon. "That
would be a special accomplishment." Gordon finished 10th in
Drivers, owners start looking
to 2014: It was curious when [#78-Kurt] Busch slipped last Thursday after he
was asked a silly question about who he would prefer to have dinner with when
given a list of drivers. His focus turned to #39-Ryan Newman, his former Penske
Racing teammate with whom he experienced a not-so-friendly feud on and off the
track as the two free agents searched for rides last year. "Maybe Newman
and I need to have a sit-down, because we're both out there charging hard and
trying to get into the Chase, and we're looking for rides," said Busch,
who almost immediately regretted the last few words. Busch, 34, signed a
one-year deal with Furniture Row Racing last year. Although team owner Barney
Visser attempted to extend the contract with Busch after he posted three
consecutive top-10 finishes to close out the 2012 season, the driver believed
it was best to hold off.
And as Busch learned on
Sunday - before he made the error of speeding down pit road twice, dropped to
38th and battled back to a fourth-place finish - FRR can produce cars capable
of winning. That's a prospect not lost on his rival Newman, who has inquired
about the possibility of a second team at FRR for 2014.
Yes, Busch is accustomed to
competing with high-profile teams but those coveted seats are few and far
between. There have been talks with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Michael Waltrip
Racing and Richard Childress Racing but the driver landscape remains in flux.
On Sunday, Childress admitted
that Newman, who will likely have the support of sponsor Quicken Loans, is
topping his list of candidates for the #29 ride being vacated by Kevin Harvick.
In the winner's post-race interview, Michael Waltrip acknowledged that Brian
Vickers "is our guy." "We're trying to get all the pieces
together so he can drive the #55 and race for the championship next year,"
Waltrip said.
Furniture Row Racing has no
issues with Busch testing the market - as long as it doesn't become a
distraction for the team.(Fox Sports)(6-25-2013)
Former OVRP Dirt Oval racers:
Last Wednesday, at New Egypt, Anthony
Perrego was 3rd in the Sportsman feature at New Egypt
Davie Franek had a 3rd at
Alex Bell was 5th and 13th
in the Modified features at Devil’s Bowl.
Nick Pecko was 16th in the RoC
Modified feature at Spencer Speedway.
Paul Quear was 3rd in the
Wingless 600 Micro Sprint feature at Borgers.
Kenney Johnson was 3rd in the
NEMA Lights feature at the Monadnock Speedway.
Brad Szulewski was 11th in the
Sportsman feature at
Ben Whitaker was 8th in the
Late Model feature at Susquehanna.
Johnny Guarino was 11th in the
358 Modified feature at New Egypt.
Mike Mammana was 2nd in the
Modified feature at Big Diamond.
Molly Chambers was 14th in the
Wingless 600 Micro Sprint feature at Kutztown.
At Accord, Danny Creeden was 4th
and Kyle VanDuser 9th in the Modified feature.
Tyler Dippel was 2nd and
Anthony Perrego 19th in the Sportsman feature.
Tyler Boniface was the winner in the Spec
Sportsman feature.
Jason Roe was 6th and Lex
Burrit 9th in the Lightning Sprint feature.
At
Tyler Dippel was 19th in the
Small Block feature.
John Virgilio was 8th in the
Sportsman feature and Tyler Dippel 21st.
At OCFS, Tim Hindley won the Modified
feature, with Mike Ruggiero 7th, Billy VanInwegen 8th and
Clinton Mills 15th.
Danny Creeden was 4th, Brian
Krummel 9th, Billy V 11th and John Lodini 14th
in the Special 51 lap Charlie Loder Memorial Small Block feature. Tim Hindley was a DNS.
Matt Janiak won the Sportsman feature,
with Krummel 2nd, Perrego 4th, Joe Conklin 7th,
Andrew Reeves 8th, LJ Lombardo 12th, Joey Falanga 18th
and John Illanovsky 19th.
Bob Morris won the Sportsman feature at
Rich Casario was 8th and
Brother Mike, 9th, in the ATQMRA Vintage Cage TQ feature.
At Hamlin last Friday, Tyler Pirone was 24th
in the All Star Slingshots. Jacob
Hendershot was 7th and Tiffany Wambold 14th in the 270
Micro feature.
Kyle Rohner was 15th and Molly
Chambers 19th in the Wingless 600 Micro feature.
Paul Tigue was 5th in the
Junior Slingshots.
On Saturday, Charlie Lawrence was 8th
in the All Star feature.
Jacob was 18th in the 270’s.
Rohner was 14th and Molly 19th
in the Wingless 600’d.
Corey Ziegler was 15th in the
Rookie 600’s.
Jacob won the Wingless 270 feature.
At Mahoning, Roger Coss was 7th,
16th and 7th in the triple Modified features.
BJ Wambold was 17th and his
sister Tiffany, 18th in the Street Stock feature.
Tyler Dippel was at I-88 on Wednesday,
June 26th. One set of results
posted had him as 16th in the Modified feature. A poster on another thread questioned the
finishing position of Bobby Varin, it not being shown in the run down. One of the last up-dates on the race showed
Varin in 10th, so Dippel could have finished 16th or 17th.
Note:
A new result posted shows Dippel as 17th.
44 names this week, I believe.
From the AARN:
From their June 25th
issue:
Lenny Sammons:
In his column he talks about
Earl Paules and his night at the Mahoning Valley Speedway. Paules arrived with four trailers, each with
a car inside. At the end of the night,
one of the trailers was empty. A hard
hit into the wall with his primary Modified almost destroyed the car. Paules did win the Late Model feature later
on in the evening. It was Paules who had
a Modified at Mahoning a few weeks ago for Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. to drive. Stenhouse wants to do it again, the next time
NASCAR is at Pocono. Paules says if
Danica Patrick (who was also at Mahoning) wants to try her hand at racing at
Mahoning, he would have a car for her, too.
Sammons wrote about Stewart
Friesen and his “roadblock” to the $35,000.00 champions ship dollars that goes
to the DIRTcar SDS Champion. The next
SDS race is Sunday, June 30th at the
Danny Johnson will race for
Tyler Siri on the DIRTcar Series, but he’s also starting his own team – yes,
the “Doctor” has a car of his own. It
will be powered by a Spec 358 engine.
Lenny also had a write-up
about the Hirschman-Hossfeld rivalray, which ended up in a crash between the
two at the Spencer Speedway RoC race.
Quite a tussle ensued. Hirschman
ended up outside the ball park from the accident between the two.
Ernie Saxton:
His column has this as its
headline:
“Now is the time to get your
sponsor (s) some exposure so they can re-sign for next year.”
The majority of his column
dealt with sponsorship. However, at the
end, Ernie makes mention of how the Daytona Speedway will end up after its
major overhaul. There will be a little
over 100,000 seats. The front grandstand
will be completely rebuilt. There will
be elevators and escalators, 53 suites, new and more restrooms and concession
stands.
Todd Heintzelman:
He makes mention of PA
Speedweek starts this Friday. Each race
will pay at least $5,000.00 to win.
There are nine races in ten nights.
Things get started at Williams Grove on Friday, then
Four people were mentioned as
having left us.
Jerry Stover, former race
driver, passed away one day prior to his 77th birthday – leavin gus
on June 16th. He competed
with the ATQMRA, ASMRA, ARDC, UMRA, NEMA, URC and USAC.
William Theodore Christopher,
80, passed away on June 19th.
He was the father of Ted and Mike Christopher.
Amelia (Amy) Strupp, 88, left
us on June 24th. She was the
wife of Sonny Strupp, and mother of Johnny.
Allan Simonsen, 34, was
fatally injured on the third lap of the 24 Hours race at LeMans.
Gary London:
As usual,
He makes mention of the
Dexter Park Speedway in the
Marty Himes, a Novice racer
at the
This Week
In AARN:
VonDohren Eclipses
300-Win Career Mark
With Back-To-Back 358 Mod
Scores
Leaty's Spencer RoC WIn
Overshadowed
By Hirschman - Hossfeld Fight
Dirty Jersey 60 New
Is Laubach's First DIRTcar
Big Block Victory
From Wall Stadium To
Martin Truex, Jr. Wins
Sprint Cup Race
Sprint Car Speedweek
Starts Friday
Preece Stays Red Hot;
Wins Controversial NASCAR
WMT
Five Mile Point's Heath
Memorial
Goes To Pat Ward
Allmendinger Completes
Comeback
With Road
NASCAR Nationwide Win
McCreadie, Lanigan Top
World Of Outlaws
In Northeastern Swing
Easterners Darrah And Gravel
Best In World Of Outlaw
This date in racing history:
Just a few of the events on
June 27th, in:
1948
Ted Horn won the AAA Eastern
Sprint Car race at the Williams Grove Speedway,
Spider Webb won the AAA
Sprint Car race at the Salem Speedway,
1952
Johnny Kay won the AAA Midget
race at the Lafayette Stadium,
1953
Johnny Thomson won the AAA
Midget race at the Freeport Speedway,
Mike Magill won the URC
Sprint Car race at the Orange County Fair Speedway,
Bert Brooks won the NEMA
Midget race at the Westboro Speedway,
1954
Len Duncan won the AAA Midget
race at the Reading Fairgrounds,
Bob Sweikert won the AAA
Sprint Car race at the Salem Speedway,
Buzz Barton won the IMCA
Sprint Car race at the Winchester Speedway,
1958
Len Duncan won the ARDC
Midget race and Ralph Smith won the Modified Stock Car race at the Vineland
Speedway,
1959
Gig Stephens won the ARDC
Midget race at the Wall Township Speedway,
Hank
Chuck Rodee won the 50 lap
USAC Midget race at the Kil-Kare Speedway,
1963
Johnny Benson Jr. ... Born
... NASCAR driver and the son of former
1964
Bob Tattersall won the USAC
Midget race at the Danville Speedbowl,
Dick Tobias won the Modified
race at the Selinsgrove Speedway,
Dutch Schaefer won the ARDC
Midget race at the West Haven Motordrome,
Al Tasnady won the Modified
Stock Car race at the Flemington Fairgrounds,
"Pee Wee"
1965
Greg Weld won the 100 lap
USAC Sprint Car race at the Indianapolis Raceway Park (5/8p) 100 laps, Indianapolis,
IN. Carl Williams was second followed by Roger McCluskey, Al Smith and Bruce
Jacobi.
1967
Todd Gibson won the IMCA
Sprint Car race at the Illiana Motor Speedway, Schererville,IN. Karl Busson was
second followed by Jerry Richert, Cy Fairchild and Jay Woodside.
1969
Jerry Wall won the ARDC
Midget race at the Freeport Speedway,
Bob Shaw won the Super Sprint
Car race at the Williams Grove Speedway, Williams Grove,PA. Ray Tilley was
second followed by Johnny Grum, Mitch Smith and Lynn Paxton.
1970
Gary Bettenhausen won the
USAC Sprint Car race over Rollie Beale, Bill Puterbaugh, Todd Gibson and Sammy
Sessions at the Toledo Speedway,
1971
Larry Dickson won the USAC
Sprint Car race at the Winchester Speedway,
Duane (Pancho) Carter and
John Hubbard each won the ARDC Midget feature races at the Grandview Speedway,
Dave Kneisel won the Modified
Stock Car race at the Twin Valley Speedway, Chenango Forks, NY.
1976
Al Unser won the Schaefer 500
USAC Championship race on the 2.5 Mile Paved Oval Pocono International Raceway,
Long Pond, PA. Mike Mosley was second followed by Wally Dallenbach, Johnny
Rutherford and Mario Andretti.
1994
Sam Hanks ... Died ... He won
his first championship in 1937 on the West Coast in the AMA. He barnstormed the
country, racing on the board tracks at Soldier Field in Chicago and the Los
Angeles Coliseum Motordome. Hanks reportedly won the first two board track
races at Soldier Field in 1939. Hanks won the 1940 VFW Motor City Speedway
championship. After World War II, he captured the 1946 URA Blue Circuit
Championship. He won the 1947 Night before the 500 midget car race. He was the
1949 AAA National Midget champion. He won the 1956
1999
Jeff Gordon won the NASCAR
Winston Cup Save Mart/Kragen 350 over Mark Martin at the Infineon Raceway,
2004
Jeff Gordon won the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Dodge/Save Mart 350 over Jamie McMurray at the Infineon Raceway,
Press releases:
NEWS FROM
Orange County Fair
CONTACT
Mike Gurda
845-342-2573
FOR RELEASE BEGINNING MONDAY,
JUNE 23
SPOSTSMAN ELIMINATION RACE
PART OF THE ACTION JUNE 29
AT ORANGE COUNTY FAIR
MIDDLETOWN, NY (June
23)......In addition to a full program of Modified, Rookie Sportsman,
Sportsman, and Street Stock racing, the top-ten Sportsman Drivers will take
part in a special added Elimination Race this coming Saturday evening, June 29
at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York.
Beginning with those ninth
and tenth in points, the track’s top Sportsman drivers will race each other in
one-lap dashes. The winner goes on to the next round, while the loser is
eliminated. The last driver remaining in the elimination rounds will challenge
the number one driver in points to determine the Sportsman Elimination Race
champion. At the final checkered flag, there’s a cash bonus and trophy waiting
for the winner. Especially popular with the fans---and bragging rights for the
drivers---this event is sponsored by Dr. RV of
During the race meet, between
3:00 and 10:00 pm, the Icla da Silva Foundation, the largest recruitment center
for the Be The Match Registry, will be hosting a bone marrow drive at three
locations--- the drive-in, pits, and grandstand areas---on the speedway
property. Adults between ages 18 and 44 may participate. By simply using a cheek swab, potential
donors will help grow the Be The Match Registry. Registry members will be
included in every patient’s search for a matching marrow donor.
Potential donors may register
free it the y meet the age requirements. The total cost to add a new member to
the Be The Match Registry is about $100. The cost is covered by financial
contributions. Those joining the registry are asked to give what they can.
Admission prices for the June
29 race meet remain at $14 adults, $12 seniors, and free for children 12 and
under. The full night of racing begins promptly at 6:30 pm. Hig Fab, of
Advance tickets are now on
sale for the 52nd Annual Eastern States Weekend, October 25-27, 2013, headlined
by the Eastern States 200, the oldest continuously-run championship race for
dirt track Modifieds.
Information for all Orange
County Fair Speedway action is available at the speedway website,
www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net, or from at the Track Office. Call
845-342-2573 during business hours.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 06 ---
Little League Night; Kids Club; Small-Block Modifieds; Vintage Modifieds
added
July 12 ---
July 13 ---
CRSA 305 Sprint cars added
Note: No idea as to with whom or how they’ll be
doing the bone marrow drive starting at 3:00 when gates are still closed.
Jack Johnson has been
hospitalized. What follows is (in part)
from the Dirt Track Digest Forum:
2013 This Is Very Sad News
Jumpin Jack Johnson Has Been Admitted In ICU At The Hospital! Please Pray For
The Johnson Family This Is A Very Difficult Time! Thoughts And Prayers Go Out
To the Entre Johnson Family!
I remember Jack had that bad
wreck at Fonda. they took him to get checked out at the hospital and that's
when they found the cancer in him. they thought they caught it in time, and at
that point it looked like that crash actually saved him because if it wasn't
for that they would of found it in time. But I guess he has Lou Gehrig's
disease. it's just attacked him over the past few years. I heard a quote from
Ronnie I believe in which he said "a man who once made magic with his
hands, now can't even use them". it's a terrible disease and it's sucked
to watch it attack jack the way it did. he's such a great man, he doesn't deserve
this one bit. I know he was in really bad condition, and now that he's in
intensive care, it doesn't sound good. we all certainly need to send him
prayers
What you said in the original
post here reminded me of the first time I interviewed the SDS guys a few years
back. One of the questions I asked was "what driver did you admire
most"? Almost every one of them listed Jack Johnson first and foremost.
Some of those guys don't even like each other, but they all seem to love and
respect The Jumper.
Lou Gehrig's disease is a
terrible disease. Local driver Bob Savoie lost his wife three years ago to the
same disease. Your brain remains healthy while you slowly lose body muscle and
functions. From what Bob told me, the Doctor told him that if the gene is in
you, it can be triggered by a trauma to the body. This would explain when Jack had his crash
and his cancer treatment it may have triggered it in him.
It's been said in a prior
post. It's not the same without the orange 12a on the track.
Thoughts and Prayers and hoping
for all the best for Jumper.
It seems like not to long ago
I remember back when we went to fonda and everybody was wearing anybody but
Jack Johnson shirts to Fonda.The man is a true legend to our sport and my
thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.
WE WERE TOLD TONIGHT THAT
JACK IS IN ELLIS HOSPITAL , SCHNECTADY , INTENSIVE CARE UNIT ...WE THEN PROCEEDED TO WATCH LAPE HIT THE FIRST TURN WALL.....THE LAST TIME WE SAW JACK RACE, HE HIT THIS SAME WALL AND NEVER RETURN TO RACE AGAIN ...YOU KNOW
WHERE I'M HEADED.
SAY A PRAYER FOR THESE 2 LEGENDS ......
you know i was going to post
a "how is jack johnson doing" topic on here..... used to see him at
fonda once in a great while soon after
he stopped racing but havent seen him at the track or any discussion in a while
about what he is up to or how hes been.... i remember ronnie went out to his
hall of fame ceremony i thought then something was up health wise....i remember
his accident and injury but thats not the cause right? im guessing hes been
sick?..........hope all goes well my thoughts and prayers are out to the
johnson family tonite
The Lape crash was also on
lap 12 of the modified feature. Thoughts and prayers go out to both these GREAT
Champions of The Track of Champions. Since Jack left racing it has taken
something away from the sport I love. These are two of the very best to ever
strap into a Modified.
Who can forget back in 1985
when Jack started last in the ES 200 and won it. That was the same weekend his
"teammate" via the DeWitt sponsorship, Richie Evans was fatally
injured at
I have had the great pleasure
of spending a bit of time with both Jack and RJ this year.
I can tell you that I have
met men of their caliber, but not many. And none recently. Jack has gone out of
his way to ask me about my racing, offered advice, and suggestions. Jack
friggen Johnson. Talking to me. Genuinely interested in what I am doing. It is
a very humbling experience.
Those two are both totally
class acts, brilliant men, and all around good people.
Note: There have been no postings on this since
Tuesday, June 25th.
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/47954-jack-johnson/
Racing video:
Last Saturday, Jack Duffy was honored at
the Bethel Speedway. Jack first started
racing up here in the Northeast a “few” years ago. He is still active. Here’s a video from a few years ago when he
was all of 79 years old. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=N_oTl9QPV-g
Photo of the week:
Sorry, but photos can’t be seen on
DTD. To view them, you would have to go
to: http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. (June 23,
2013)—Rico Abreu passed Tracy Hines following a restart with nine laps
remaining and led to the checkered flag to finish five car lengths in front of
runner-up Darren Hagen to win the 11th annual Sue Thiel Memorial against an
outstanding field in an event tri-sanctioned by the POWRi Lucas Oil National
Midget Series, Honda USAC National Dirt Midget Series and the Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State
Equipment Badger Midget Series on Sunday at Angell Park Speedway.
Why is that message above? Well, I’m not trying to be a comedian or
anything like that, but as you can see, it was a “Midget” race, right? Rico Abreu is a Dwarf or as some of us refer
to them as little people - a “Midget”.
He even drives Sprint Cars, too!
A photo after his win that’s mentioned in
the above article:
Non racin’ stuff:
This is really getting tiring
already! If this individual did nothing
wrong, why use the Fifth Amendment, anyway?
IRS official refuses to
testify before Congress
http://news.yahoo.com/irs-official-refuses-testify-congress-140619025.html
http://news.yahoo.com/u-warns-countries-against-snowden-travel-014740817.html
Note: You should read the comments under this
article!
Obama – born where? Listen closely to what he says and also what
his wife says:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gBJM48sr9QY
Obamacare is Causing 41% of
Small Businesses to Stop Hiring
In part:
"This means that almost
20% of small businesses have actually had to fire workers because of Obamacare.
This is one of the most predictable economic fallouts in history. Literally
millions of people tried to warn them of what would happen — and they didn’t
care.
Their religious-like faith in
the state was more important than economics and now millions will suffer.
People are now turning away from Obamacare, realizing that it was a horrible
idea all along. Fewer than 1/3rd of people support it, the White House admits
its backfiring on the young, and even unions are turning against it."
http://www.capitalisminstitute.org/obamacare-small-business/
About a week ago I was
talking with a friend of mine. Said
friend works for IBM. I made mention
that I had heard that IBM was laying off, again, and he confirmed it. Unbelievable what he was telling me. Then, what follows came out on this past
Tuesday:
IBM to customers: Your hand
is staining my window
In part: "A month ago I began hearing about
impending layoffs at IBM, but what could I say beyond “layoffs are coming?”
This time my first clues came not from American IBMers but from those working
for Big Blue abroad. Big layoffs were coming, they feared, following an
earnings shortfall that caused panic in Armonk with the prospect that IBM might
after all miss its long-stated earnings target for 2015. Well the layoffs began
hitting a couple weeks ago just before I went into an involuntary technical
shutdown trying to move this rag from one host to another. So I, who like to be
the first to break these stories, have to in this case write the second day
lede: what does it all mean?
It means the IBM that many of
us knew in the past is gone and the IBM of today has management that is,
frankly, insane."
http://www.cringely.com/2013/06/20/ibm-to-customers-your-hand-is-staining-my-window/
So, the question is – who can
be referred to as “Racist”? Whites, of
course. But how about these two?
Obama Says Catholic And
http://www.mrconservative.com/2013/06/19550-obama-says-catholic-and-protestant-schools-encourage-fear-and-division/
How Bank of
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/06/22/how-bank-of-america-defrauded-america.aspx
Note: What sucks is I'm a BoA customer, and I
really don't appreciate reading this kind of stuff. Still I imagine that over 95% of the
Public Is Split Over 'Border
First' Approach to Immigration Bill
In part:
"When questioned about
when undocumented immigrants should be allowed to get legal status, 49 percent
said it could happen while improvements were being made on the border, while 43
percent said it should happen only after the border is under control."
Note: I guess I, and most everyone I know, are in
the minority on this? Then again, it
came from ABC.
McCain Visits
In part: "John McCain traveled to
This shows us just how
delusional and insane DC politics are. McCain has shown himself to be a massive
ally recently, not of liberty, but of tyranny in almost any and all
forms."
http://www.capitalisminstitute.org/mccain-al-qaeda/
Will
http://wallstcheatsheet.com/stocks/will-new-york-be-the-next-state-to-ban-tesla.html/?ref=YF
Note: Gotta love politics!
IRS chief: Inappropriate
screening was broad
New IRS chief says
inappropriate screening was broader, lasted longer than previously revealed
Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/irs-chief-inappropriate-screening-broad-193046792.html
I get emails:
AMEN
Thanks to ALL of the countries who helped the
I think it is highly appropriate at this time we send THANKS to
all of the countries that have reciprocated for our help with their disasters, misgivings, social turmoil, &
poverty by returning the favor, and
sending the
with the tornado's that have hit
Listed below are ALL the
countries, and worldwide organizations, that are giving us gracious assistance.
Please assist me in Thanking
these entities by passing on this email so people from all over
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Yes, the "list" is complete . So, THANK YOU to the People of
And to the rest of the World it's time to
PULL the PLUG on American foreign aid !!!
DO I HEAR AN AMEN?
Music video:
Last week I posted links to
four songs by the late Slim Whitman. At
that time the first video had been seen by 83,900 viewers. Those number increased to 84,891 on 6/20,
85,355 on 6/21 and 85,571 on 6/23. On
June 26th, it has been viewed 85,705 times. Maybe not some huge increases, but it looks
like there were quite a few to view that video – not necessarily from the link
I supplied, just more than likely doing a search on Whitman.
This week a Clint Black song
– Like the Rain. Clint isn’t all that
big of a guy, but listening to this song, when it first came out, and even
today, I wonder – when does he breathe?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxdrGY7JUkM
This week I’m continuing a
five part series of things about our bodies.
Enjoy!
SOME FACTS ABOUT YOU THAT YOU
PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW
The human body is a treasure
trove of mysteries, one that still confounds doctors and scientists about the
details of its working. It's not an overstatement to say that every part of
your body is a miracle.
Here are 21 through 30 of the
fifty facts about your body, some of which will leave you stunned...
21. The three things pregnant women dream most of
during their first trimester are frogs, worms and potted plants. Scientists have no idea why this is so, but
attribute it to the growing imbalance of hormones in the body during pregnancy.
22. The life span of a human hair is 3 to 7 years
on average. Every day the average person
loses 60-100 strands of hair. But don't
worry, you must lose over 50% of your scalp hairs before it is apparent to anyone.
23. The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much
information as an encyclopedia. Your brain uses 20% of the oxygen that enters
your bloodstream, and is itself made up of 80% water. Though it interprets pain
signals from the rest of the body, the brain itself cannot feel pain.
24. The tooth is the only part of the human body
that can't repair itself.
25. Your eyes are always the same size from
birth, but your nose and ears never stop growing.
26. By 60 years of age, 60% of men and 40% of
women will snore.
27. We are about 1 cm taller in the morning than
in the evening, because during normal
activities during the day, the cartilage in our knees and other areas slowly
compress.
28. The brain operates on the same amount of
power as 10-watt light bulb, even while you are sleeping. In fact, the brain is much more active at
night than during the day.
29. Nerve impulses to and from the brain travel
as fast as 170 miles per hour. Neurons
continue to grow throughout human life.
Information travels at different speeds within different types of
neurons.
30. It is a fact that people who dream more often
and more vividly, on an average have a higher Intelligence quotient.
From last weeks column:
Another disturbing bit of
news:
NY man who says 4 kids
vandalized home is charged
In part:
"CLYDE, N.Y. (AP) — A
man who says he caught four boys vandalizing his father-in-law's home has been
charged with child endangerment after corralling them in a closet until police
arrived.
Jesse Daniels was arraigned
on four counts of endangering the welfare of a child after authorities say he
interrupted the vandalism at the empty home in the
http://news.yahoo.com/ny-man-says-4-kids-vandalized-home-charged-181132470.html?vp=1
Note: Hard to believe some of this crap, really!
Some good news:
Jesse Daniels Will Not Be
Prosecuted For Locking Kids In Closet
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/20/jesse-daniels_n_3472619.html
Joke of the week:
*STUDENT WHO OBTAINED 0% ON
AN EXAM*
*I **would have given him
100% for his wit!!!** *
Q1. In which battle did
Napoleon die? ** his last battle*
Q2. Where was the Declaration
of Independence signed? ** at the bottom of
the page*
Q3. River
Q4. What is the main reason
for divorce? ** marriage*
Q5. What is the main reason
for failure? ** exams*
Q6. What can you never eat
for breakfast? ** Lunch & dinner*
Q7. What looks like half an
apple? * *The other half*
Q8. If you throw a red stone
into the blue sea what it will become? ** **I**t
will simply become wet*
Q9. How can a man go eight
days without sleeping ? * *No problem, he sleeps
at night.*
Q10. How can you lift an
elephant with one hand? * *You will never find an
elephant that has only one
hand..*
Q11. If you had three apples
and four oranges in one hand and four apples
and three oranges in other
hand, what would you have ? * *Very large hands*
Q12. If it took eight men ten
hours to build a wall, how long would it take
four men to build it? ** No
time at all, the wall is already built.*
Q13. How can u drop a raw egg
onto a concrete floor without cracking it? **Any
way you want, concrete**
floors are very hard to crack.*
Until the next column!
I can be reached, via e-mail, at: ygordad@yahoo.com