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 Valley Hospital, in Ridgewood, NJ, with my son, Eric.  Two days later I had five arteries by-passed.  Somehow, I lost a whole week while there.  The night before, Danny Johnson won the feature at the Accord Speedway.  I’m kinda glad that God saw fit to keep me around a while longer, and that the last race I might have seen was won by the Doctor!

 

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 Sonoma.  He was caught twice for speeding on pit road, still managed to finish 4th.  I’m wondering – will Kurt be in an Indy Car at Pocono in a couple of weeks?

Note:  On Wednesday, I read that he will not be at Pocono, but later in the year in California.

 

 

I watched most of the Nationwide race from Road America.  Heck, even the wife watched it.  Somehow I enjoyed that race more than the Cup race at Sonoma.  Must say though, I did not see much of the Sonoma event.

 

 

With today’s technology, why do they hide “Victory Lane” away from the paying fans?  Why can’t it be held at the S/F line?  I’m no talking about local track, but the bigger organizations like NASCAR and Indycar.

 

 

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 Speedway

 

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 Paterson, NJ.  I imagine my daughter, Judy, and I will attend.  To be honest, I was quite disappointed when I first ventured back to where I first started seeing Midget races – to me as a kid, the place was big or maybe even huge.  It’s actually quite small.  Heck the track circled a football field, and was only 1/5 mile.  Time, among other things, has really done a job on the place.  Some, I’d venture to say, in their dreams, have thought about a return of car racing there, but I highly doubt it will ever happen.

 

 

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 Grandview, too.

 

 

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 Albany guys. Any stamp on the Racers will be fine, too.

 

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 Battle of the Bullring on Tuesday, August 6. Look for more details as we get closer!

 

 

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 Quebec and also out in Michigan.  What are the odds of him being at Accord on the 6th?

 

 

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 Allentown (9/20/52) they made it the Ted Horn/Bill Schindler Memorial race.  That is no longer an event, either.  However, the Grove does have a Memorial race for Tommy Hinnershitz.

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 Middletown, and there was a Fireworks display.  My favorite driver (at that time) Johnny Ritter was sitting on a hay bale watching the show, and a hot ember made its way down to right where he sat.  Some things we never forget, it seems. 

I don’t see Fireworks scheduled at the Bethel Speedway, either.  Lebanon Valley has – per their website, this coming Saturday – “The MOST UNBELIEVABLE FIREWORKS DISPLAY IMAGINABLE!!!”

 

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 Sonoma, just behind Alex Kennedy, who was also making his first Cup Series start. As the field made its way off of pit road to start the pace laps before the race, David Reutimann slowed to a stop in front of Kennedy. So Kennedy did the same.

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.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/craziest-moment-paulie-harraka-runs-alex-kennedy-leave-232733525.html

 

 

 

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 Indianapolis 500 in May.

 

“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.”

 

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/20/sunoco-named-as-presenting-sponsor-for-indycar-at-pocono/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

 

 

 

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, Pa. -- Eight IZOD IndyCar Series teams took an opportunity to get a look at Pocono Raceway during a test day at “The Tricky Triangle.”

 

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 Milwaukee. Another corner that's like Kentucky and one like Road America with a kink-like corner. It’s very unique and very difficult to get right."

 

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 Phoenix a little bit. It's its own animal.”

 

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 Indianapolis, Pocono and Auto Club Speedway. A driver who wins two of the three will receive a $250,000 bonus.

 

 

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:

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?176039-THE-INDY-LIGHTS-SERIES-IS-IN-TROUBLE-Here-s-Why

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like our area might lose a talented driver to the “South”?

 

Found this on the DTD Forum:

 

Tyler Dippel Heading South

 

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 Russia.  Where is he now?  We have no idea?  Don’t we have top grade spies working for us?  How can he elude them so easily?

  

 

NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Not on Cuba Flight But 'In a Safe Place'

 

http://gma.yahoo.com/nsa-leaker-edward-snowden-fails-board-flight-moscow-114338727--abc-news-topstories.html

 

Note:  Comments under the article – ya have to read them!

 

 

 

Fugitive Snowden in Russia seeking Ecuador asylum

 

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, Secret Service, U.S. Military, TSA, FBI, CIA, ATF, FEMA, STATE, etc.. Yet, they want Snowden not to find out what he knows, but how they can do Damage Control, Coverups, and more lie to the American People.”

 

 

 

 

From Jayski:

http://www.jayski.com/

 

 

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 Sonoma and starts 20th in Sunday's race. Allmendinger drove for the team last week at Michigan, finishing 19th - the team's best result since Richmond in late April. Allmendinger also is scheduled to drive for the team at Watkins Glen. The other two races he's scheduled to run with JTG have not been determined. Geschickter said that Labonte will drive for the team in all three NASCAR Sprint Cup races in July: Daytona, New Hampshire and Indianapolis.(MRN)(6-23-2013)

 

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 Kentucky," Labonte said. "I'm trying to work on some things." Although Labonte tested with the #47 JTG/Daugherty team on the 1.5-mile track earlier this month, team owner Tad Geschickter says "mechanical problems at Michigan" have forced the organization to move up its second of a five-race schedule with AJ Allmendinger. "Some of what we were trying to read at Michigan wasn't accurate," Geschickter said. "We had a sensor go bad, a right rear hub go bad, so we want to get that extra reading at a high speed, low grip track like Kentucky so we know what direction to go in. Then (Allmendinger's) next race will be Watkins Glen and Bobby will get back in after Kentucky. Labonte is scheduled to drive at Daytona  where he finished a season-high 15th in February  followed by New Hampshire and Indianapolis. As of Sunday's green flag at Sonoma, Labonte has a consecutive race starting streak of 704, second only to Jeff Gordon's 705 straight races. Although Labonte piloted the #51 Chevy last weekend at Michigan to a 43rd-place finish, Austin Dillon is currently scheduled to drive that car.(Fox Sports) (6-24-2013)

 

 

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 New Jersey if he'd had a full containment headrest similar to what is used in NASCAR, multiple safety experts told ESPN.com. Racing safety pioneer Bill Simpson and Randy LaJoie, a two-time Nationwide Series champion who now designs and builds race car seats, have studied the wreck. They agree that a 180-degree surround headrest might have saved Leffler's life at the 0.625-mile dirt track. Medical examiner Dr. Fredric Hellman, who performed the autopsy, said the death resulted from a blunt-force neck injury caused by a head-whip-type motion. New Jersey State Police have not released results of their investigation, although Simpson and others who have looked into the wreck have been told by those at the track that a failed part on the front end likely caused the car to angle into the wall at a high speed. LaJoie, who once served on the New Jersey safety board, has been in contact with investigators regarding the accident. Simpson has talked to mechanics and other eyewitnesses who were at the track. Both were told that Leffler, who was wearing a head and neck restraint designed to protect on frontal impacts, did not have a headrest sufficient enough to keep his head in line with the rest of his body on a lateral impact. "He wasn't contained," [LaJoie] said. "That's why we haven't killed anyone in NASCAR, because we learned not to let the body and head move. Your head, chest and pelvis need to stay in line as close as possible."(ESPN)(6-21-2013)

 

 

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 Kentucky's inaugural race and was fifth a year ago.(NASCAR)(6-26-2013)

 

 

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 Bedford and a 7th at the Winchester, VA Speedways with the URC.

 

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 Afton.

 

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 Lebanon Valley, Kolby Schroder was 5th, Kyle Armstrong 20th and Bobby Hackel, IV 22nd in the Modified feature.

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 Bethel, while Rich Coons finished 3rd.

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:

http://www.aarn.com/

 

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 Cornwall, Canada Speedway.  Friesen is a regular at the Utica-Rome track, which also races on Sunday.  Friesen would love to chase for the championship, but isn’t in a position to go to the Quebec races or the Michigan race, too.  Of course, things could change quickly.

 

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 Lincoln on Saturday, Big Diamond on Sunday, Grandview on Tuesday, Hagerstown on Wednesday, back to Lincoln on Thursday, the Grove on Friday. (I know, that’s only seven races and eight days.  That’s what’s in his column, folks!)

 

 

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, Gary takes us back in time with his stories.  This week it was how they got stock cars to the track, back when the stock car racing started out.  Most teams towed the stock car with a rope.  Yes, someone had to be in the stock car as it was towed, so they could steer it. 

He makes mention of the Dexter Park Speedway in the Queens, NY – the track being  up a steep hill.  Going there raised heck with the clutches in the towing vehicles.  Coming out of the track, at times resulted in more accidents than what happened on the track that night.

Marty Himes, a Novice racer at the Freeport track, rented a large building that was across the street from the track.  He rented out space to about 15 other Novice drivers.  The Novice class raced on Sunday nights, with the pit gate opening at 6:00 PM.  A half hour prior to that, a cop would come along and stop the traffic on Mill Road, a busy four land road that the track was located on.  Mill Road was the road used by many beachgoers for nearby Jones Beach.  The stock cars were driven across Mill Road to the track while that cop had traffic stopped.  After the nights racing there was no cop to stop traffic and of course it was dark and the race cars had no lights on them.  Gary says it might have been Freeport’s version of a figure 8 race.

 

 

 

 

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 Egypt

Is Laubach's First DIRTcar

Big Block Victory

 

From Wall Stadium To Sonoma: 

Martin Truex, Jr. Wins

Sprint Cup Race

 

Pennsylvania

Sprint Car Speedweek

Starts Friday

 

Preece Stays Red Hot;

Wins Controversial NASCAR

WMT Waterford Main

 

Five Mile Point's Heath Memorial

Goes To Pat Ward

 

Allmendinger Completes Comeback

With Road America

NASCAR Nationwide Win

 

McCreadie, Lanigan Top

World Of Outlaws

In Northeastern Swing

 

Easterners Darrah And Gravel

Best In World Of Outlaw

Midwest Races

 

 

 

 

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,Mechanicsburg, PA.

Spider Webb won the AAA Sprint Car race at the Salem Speedway, Salem, IN.

 

1952

Johnny Kay won the AAA Midget race at the Lafayette Stadium, Lafayette,IN.

 

1953

Johnny Thomson won the AAA Midget race at the Freeport Speedway, Freeport,NY.

Mike Magill won the URC Sprint Car race at the Orange County Fair Speedway, Middletown, NY.

Bert Brooks won the NEMA Midget race at the Westboro Speedway, Westboro, MA.

 

1954

Len Duncan won the AAA Midget race at the Reading Fairgrounds, Reading,PA.

Bob Sweikert won the AAA Sprint Car race at the Salem Speedway, Salem, IN.

Buzz Barton won the IMCA Sprint Car race at the Winchester Speedway, Winchester, IN.

 

1958

Len Duncan won the ARDC Midget race and Ralph Smith won the Modified Stock Car race at the Vineland Speedway, Vineland,NJ.

 

1959

Gig Stephens won the ARDC Midget race at the Wall Township Speedway, Belmar,NJ.

Hank Rogers won the URC Sprint Car race at the Lincoln Speedway, Hanover,PA. Bill Holland was second followed by Lou Johnson, Dave Humphrey and Hal Rettberg.

Chuck Rodee won the 50 lap USAC Midget race at the Kil-Kare Speedway, Xenia,OH.

 

1963

Johnny Benson Jr. ... Born ... NASCAR driver and the son of former Michigan modified driver John Benson Sr. His career highlighs include 1993 American Speed Association AC-Delco Challenge series championship in 1993, The 1995 Busch Series championship, and The 1996 Winston Cup NASCAR Rookie of the Year award.

 

1964

Bob Tattersall won the USAC Midget race at the Danville Speedbowl, Danville, IL.

Dick Tobias won the Modified race at the Selinsgrove Speedway, Selinsgrove,PA.

Dutch Schaefer won the ARDC Midget race at the West Haven Motordrome, West Haven,CT.

Al Tasnady won the Modified Stock Car race at the Flemington Fairgrounds, Flemington, NJ.

"Pee Wee" Griffin won the Modified Stock Car race at the Middletown Speedway, Middletown, NY.

 

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, Freeport,NY.

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, Toledo,OH.

 

1971

Larry Dickson won the USAC Sprint Car race at the Winchester Speedway, Winchester,IN.

Duane (Pancho) Carter and John Hubbard each won the ARDC Midget feature races at the Grandview Speedway, Bechtelsville, PA.

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 Pacific Coast championship in the USAC Stock cars. He won the 1957 Indianapolis 500 at his thirteenth attempt at the race, the most tries of any Indy winner, and announced his retirement from racing in Victory Circle. Hanks was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1984, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000. He drove the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 from 1958 to 1963.

 

 

1999

Jeff Gordon won the NASCAR Winston Cup Save Mart/Kragen 350 over Mark Martin at the Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA.

 

2004

Jeff Gordon won the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Dodge/Save Mart 350 over Jamie McMurray at the Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA.

 

 

 

 

Press releases:

 

NEWS FROM                                                                                                              

Orange County Fair Speedway                                                                                   

239 Wisner Avenue                                                                                                     

Middletown, NY10940 

 

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 SPEEDWAY

Bone Marrow Donor Drive on Speedway Grounds During Race Meet

 

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 Bloomingburg , New York .

 

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 Goshen , New York , and Hutchings Insurance are the evening’s sponsors.

 

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  ---  ANNUAL ORANGE COUNTY FAIR BEGINS

 

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 Martinsville.

 

 

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

 

 

 

U.S. warns countries against Snowden travel

 

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 Protestant Schools Encourage “Fear” And “Division”

 

http://www.mrconservative.com/2013/06/19550-obama-says-catholic-and-protestant-schools-encourage-fear-and-division/

 

Chicago Teachers Union Boss Blames 'Rich White People' For Windy City's School Woes

 

http://www.ijreview.com/2013/06/60390-chicago-teachers-union-boss-blames-rich-white-people-for-school-woes/

 

 

 

How Bank of America Defrauded America

 

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 US banks are dong something illegal to take care of the higher ups.  Eventually, they'll get bit in the butt, is ya know what I mean.

 

 

 

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."

 

http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/poll-shows-public-split-border-approach-immigration-reform/story?id=19468005#.UcdiRNJ-9JE

 

Note:  I guess I, and most everyone I know, are in the minority on this?  Then again, it came from ABC.

 

 

 

 

 

McCain Visits Syria, Meets With Allies of Al Qaeda

 

In part:  "John McCain traveled to Syria in favor of the US giving weapons to rebel forces in the country. The catch? There are thousands of Al Qaeda militants among the rebel forces, and the rebel troops are strong allies of Al Qaeda and other radical Islamic extremist groups.

 

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 New York Be the Next State to Ban Tesla?

 

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 U.S. after hurricane "Sandy" & the Oklahoma Tornado's

 

  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 United States of America monetary and  physical help when "Sandy" ravaged our East Coast leaving dead,  homelessness, and pure disaster along

  with the tornado's that have hit Oklahoma towns.

 

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 America can join in and THANK ALL  of our neighbors, to whom we have given BILLIONS!!!

 

 

  1.   Israel

 

  2.

 

  3.

 

  4.

 

  5.

 

  6.

 

  7.

 

  8.

 

  9.

 

  10.

 

 

 

  Yes, the "list" is complete .  So, THANK YOU to the People of Israel !!!

  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 Wayne County village of Clyde, midway between Rochester and Syracuse.

 

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 Ravi flows in which state? ** liquid*

 

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