Racin'
& Different Stuff:
By Tom
Avenengo
Volume # 152
08/15/2013
Racin’ & short’ stuff:
Last Saturday, I went to the Bethel Motor Speedway
with Pete Kessler and my grandson John Rizzo.
It’s a track I’ve never been to, and Pete wanted to go there too, so we
hooked up. John, being a big 4 Cylinder
fan, had gone there the previous Saturday.
I expected to see “Freight Train” racing,
since
Classes at
Sportsman, Legends -
Pro/Masters, Legends - Young Lion/Semi Pro, Bandolero, Pro Stock, Street Stock,
BMS Modified, 4 Cylinder Advanced, 4
Cylinder Novice and Twin
Car counts in classes, per
their point standings, goes from 7 in the BMS Modifieds to 40 in the 4 Cylinder
Advanced.
This coming weekend, August
15th to the 17th they are holding the Bandolero
Nationals. The Bandoleros’ get around
pretty good, too.
A bit of history was made
last Saturday when John Cote won his 100th BMS Modified feature.
Info on
http://bethelmotorspeedway.com/BethelMotorSpeedway/Home_Page.html
Here’s one post that is in
the thread, below:
Things have changed so much
over the years.
With karts at age 6, and low
formula at 16, if you don't make it by 21, you're passed by, which is kind of
unfortunate.
In my view, mental skills are
so important for race driving, and those certainly don't peak at age 21.
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?179402-What-Luca-Filippi-Means-for-Open-Wheel-Racing
Fox Sports 1 Waits On Deals
With DirecTV, Dish Network, And Time Warner Cable
In part:
"The publication says
that Fox wants distributors to pay a monthly fee of 80 cents per subscriber for
Fox Sports 1, rising to $1.50 in a few years. Speed costs just 23 cents. Fox
Sports Media co-President Randy Freer sounded confident about reaching carriage
deals when he spoke last week to analysts about his plans. Fox Sports 1 “will
be available in up to 90M homes at launch,” he told them. Execs also said that
they expect the channel to become profitable in 2016."
http://tv.yahoo.com/news/fox-sports-1-waits-deals-directv-dish-network-203323533.html
Note: Nothing new on this as of early Wednesday
evening.
OCFS – by the numbers (Car counts for
2013):
Thanks to Jeff Lambert for these
interesting and disappointing car count figures from OCFS for this current
racing season. What really hurts was how
we’ve “progressed” from, say, 1977 when there were 214 names listed for the
Sportsman (Small Blocks) and 126 listed for the Modifieds.
What also hurts is that the
Modified car counts at
One interesting post on the
above:
“Bethel Motor Speedway , had
125 cars in the pits Saturday. They are
in the same geographical market as OCFS.
The top division races for
$500.00 to win, they ran races from 6:00
start till 11:00 curfew, for $6 admission.
Orange county modified and
sportsman divisions are too expensive to compete in.
Orange county Street stock
would be a good healthy class, if it ran for the old Pro-stock purse.
Orange county pit pass is too
expensive, you can't get any help.
Orange county general
admission is too high, can't attract any new fans.
Remember the T-shirts that
used to say "If you can't run with the big dogs...stay on the porch"?
Around
And these comments, too:
I think they are kind of
stuck. They know they need to make improvements but don't have the money coming
in to pay for it. Everyone thinks the owners and promoters are getting rich and
are being greedy. I disagree, in my opinion I think OCFS is just barely holding
on. I have been hearing commercials on 92.7 so they are still spending money on
SOME kind of advertising. I hate pointing out all these problems but I deal
with reality. Im just making an observation. Im not going to let my emotion for
the place twist around the facts. Saturday night was very deflating for me. The
place had no energy whatsoever. One of us needs to win the lottery.
This is probably my third or
fourth time bringing this up on here, but OCFS is what
IMO Middletown's promotion is
operating in the stone age. For example, their Facebook statuses are some of
the most unprofessional things I have ever read. Please, whoever moderates that
page if you're reading here, use proper grammar, capitalization and
punctuation. Although it may not seem like a big deal, I'm sure your FB page
gets as many, if not more hits than your website and by using misspelling and
simple grammatical errors you're definitely turning some people off.
It just irritates me seeing
the lack of effort being put in to what could be a marquee track on the DirtCar
circuit. I know for a fact people are leaving to go to the Valley and other
tracks on Saturday nights. There's only so much supporting a track you can do
without seeing your support rewarded. It really is a shame
Very well said. The facebook
pages are not official. Seems like they are run by teens that are fans. Their
intentions are good but those pages do more harm than good. I believe there is
one that is official but you have to ask permission to get added, like an
exclusive club?
Its getting to the point
where change will be forced upon the management. Things are getting so bad that
they either have to make adjustments or close down. You cannot continue to run a
business at a loss for very long. They really do need a professional company to
do public relations/advertising to turn things around. But like everything else
I don't think its in the budget. Like I said I think they are stuck and just
trying to make it work.
I do my best to continue to
support the track, I have only missed 3 races all year. I usually bring at
least 3 people with me. One night I roped 12 people into coming. It gets old
trying to talk up the place to friends who haven't been there before and then
have them sit through a boring night with no real action. You can only make so
many excuses for the track and its product. The 2nd to last night I was there I
left after the heats, I never do that. This past week I had to go alone because
no one else was interested. I decided to
go to the furthest seat down in turn 1 for the features for a change in
perspective. All that did was allow me to see the entire facility in its
despair. I was one of about 25 people sitting in ALL the turn 1 stands combined.
The drive in had 106 cars. The pits had under 70 racecars. Track maintenance
during intermission consisted of 2 trucks sputtering around the track. Victory
lane consisted of 15 people by the fence who were just trying to get into the
pits and could care less. Part of the problem is everyone being in denial about
the situation. Its time to wake up. "Denial ain't just a river in
I stopped to put gas in the
stock car, 2 blocks from the track. A
guy walks up to me, asking to take a picture, then he says "where do you
race a car like that?"
The best advertising the
tracks ever had, was open trailers.
Note: Putting gas in the stock car at a gas station
– he’s talking about
I have a lot of friends that
have moved here from other areas. Some of them have been here for 10 years and
they still have no idea where the track is.
More from Jeff Lambert on
OCFS:
http://jeffersonlambert.weebly.com/ocfs-history-new.html
A list of what has happened
regarding OCFS, its drivers etc etc on a day to day basis throughout the year
and years.
I have no qualms about
putting something in a column if you think you want to submit it to me for my
approval. Most everything would be
approved, as long as it isn’t too harsh or contains vulgarities. My email address is always at the end of my
column.
Here is one that was
submitted to me by a concerned race fan:
Rest Race In
Peace
The patient is 156 years old,
born on
The clock ticks away as
experts examine her chart and try to find a solution to keep the old gal
alive. Her pulse is faint but she is
still alive, hanging by a thread.
DOCTOR: “Has the family been notified?”
NURSE: “She has no family doctor. She is on her own.”
DOCTOR: “Prepare 20ccs of Epinephrine, stat. I want the patient prepared for
defibrillation, stat. Get the crash cart
in here, set up the EKG and order 3 pints of blood, stat. Code TRAUMA now!
NURSE: “But Doctor, nobody cares. Nobody cares that she’s in need. The word on the street is Do Not Resuscitate,
no life support.
DOCTOR: “We WILL make an attempt, nurse. We WILL do our best and we WILL not give
up. Notify all residents and specialists
on duty, prepare the O.R., scrub for surgery and notify a priest to get in here
to administer Last Rites. STAT!
NURSE: “Yes doctor.”
She’s dying. The patient is dying right in front of
us. It is painfully obvious that her
best years were long ago and everyone knows this. In her heyday they used words like famed,
historic, prominent, exciting, celebrated and welcoming.
The words that describe her
now are words like rundown, decrepit, neglected, abused, dilapidated,
ramshackle, rickety, ugly and haggard to name a small few.
Now she lies on a
white-sheeted gurney, eyes open, motionless, staring aimlessly at the ceiling
while the life-support team goes through the motions and the chaplain recites
Our Father softly with clasped hands, as his Rosary oscillates back and
forth.
A few curious passersby peer
into the triage, just to get a glimpse of what all the commotion is about but
they quickly turn their heads and walk away.
Others meander and pace back and forth with tools, ready to begin the
task of laying the first shovelfuls of earth into her grave. The news reporter arrives; his pencil
sharpened and begins to pen her eulogy on blank white pages.
NURSE: “Her pressure is dropping, doctor. 80 over 55 now. EKG is erratic and we’re CTD” (close to
death)
DOCTOR: “Get me the paddles and stand back. We’re going live everyone. She’s beginning to flat line. CLEAR!!!”
Shoof! The electricity descends into her as the
trauma team gasps and the chaplain crosses himself for what’s about to happen
in front of him. She tremors
uncontrollably and lifts off the gurney as the current shocks her muscles and
they involuntarily stiffen.
DOCTOR: “Again!
Stand back! CLEAR!”
Shoof! The process repeats itself as her eyes
flutter momentarily and then begin to close.
The room goes silent except
for the beep of the electrocardiograph monitor which slowly begins to beep
again as the asystole begins to reverse.
NURSE: “Doctor, the vasopressin is ready. Vitals are stabilizing.”
DOCTOR: “Get her into the OR, stat. This one has a chance and we’re going to do
everything we can.
PREIST: “Doctor, is there anything that I can do to
help?”
DOCTOR: “Keep praying. She needs all the help she can get right
now.”
She’s in ICU now, resting
quietly on her deathbed. For now, she’s
stabilized but on life-support however her final breath, for now at least, has
been put on hold and averted. She’s
dodged a bullet and the last nail has not been driven yet but it hovers over
the coffin, just waiting for the hammer. The embalming fluid is wheeled in and
on standby just in case.
A handful of the concerned,
congregate outside the room and watch it all unfold and scratch their heads in
disbelief. Her demise didn’t happen
overnight. They watched as she became
tired, neglected and sapped of all of her glory over a period of a couple
decades. Many of the faithful lost their
hope, became angered and refused to tolerate the public murdering of her. She was good to many and entrusted by some to
keep her alive and well but the truth is that her survival was not a priority
and her longevity was questioned long ago and no one came to ever stop the
bleeding. It started as a scratch and
since has grown into a festering, infected, open wound.
In her 62nd year
of existence, she began a new purpose in her life that made legions of people
extremely happy and proud to be part of her.
That began on August 16th, 1919 almost a century ago. Through two world wars, a great depression,
the 1940’s, the 1950’s, 60’s and the 70’s, she was roaring and vibrant and
cared for and loved by many. Sometime
within the last 25 years, that shine began to dim and the destruction began and
the downward spiral increased and steamrolled into oblivion.
Where she was once majestic,
she was now tarnished. Where she once
thrived, there was now struggle. Promise
and future was replaced with cascading, empty darkness and incompetence. Her heartbeat, once rhythmic and strong was
now shallow and hardly visible.
Some came and tried to
resurrect her storied past and build her up again. Many began to document this collapse and
wrote and wrote and wrote until their pencils were worn down to nubs, but no
one was listening and the concerns fell of deaf ears. Hope was abandoned, loyalty was disbanded and
the decent into obscurity piled on, year after frightening year. 9-1-1 was never called and she sat there in a
state of disrepair until her time came to lift her up onto her deathbed so she
can quietly take her last breath.
No one alive today was there
at her birth, but before our eyes, we just may witness her death. When that happens, there will be no service,
there will be no funeral and there will be no epitaph. We’ll get the call one day and we’ll each
mourn her passing in our own, individual way without so much as getting one
last goodbye. Many say this day is just
around the bend and that the fat lady is beginning to warm up her chops.
As I chew my fingernails down
and pace methodically outside her room, I see the doctor and stop him in the
hallway.
ME: “How is she, doc? Is she going to pull through? Will she make it to fight another day?”
DOCTOR: “Well, she isn’t out of the woods yet, not by
far. Her days are numbered, as we all
know. She’s got some terrible issues
that may be insurmountable to overcome.”
ME: “How much longer does she have? Is there anything that I can do? What are her chances?”
DOCTOR: “We can’t say right now, son. Pray for the best but expect the worst. There’s many, many things that needs to be
done if she’s going to pull through.
It’s not in your hands. You have to
be strong and allow history run its course.
ME: “But I don’t want history to run its
course. She isn’t finished yet.
DOCTOR: “Then get involved, son. She needs help out of that bed right
there. She needs to walk again before
she can run. She needs tender loving
care and she needs to be appreciated and she needs to be provided with what she
deserves. She needs attention and help
and reinventing, to erase this part of her past. Most of all…she needs some guidance and
leadership.”
As the doctor walks away to
resume his rounds, I see the coroner coming, walking down the hall of the ICU,
a folded black body bag tucked underneath one arm. His eyes are darting from room to room,
looking for her as he comes toward where I’m standing. He stops in front of her room and peers in to
have a look at her lying on her bed, her chest slowly rising and falling as the
monitor rhythmically beeps every 2 seconds, a sign of life. He pushes his hands into his pockets and then
keeps walking down the corridor and leaves her be for now.
I ponder what the doctor said
and I sit back down in the waiting room with the others and bury my face in my
hands. For now, we wait and we think and
we write and we hope for the best possible outcome. The room is quiet and full of sorrow and pity
as our frail lady lies in the ICU room awaiting her recovery or for her plug to
be pulled. I sigh, a breath of relief
escapes me and stare at her and weigh the pending scenario out in my mind and sit
quietly with the rest of the faithful.
She is alive, although her
pulse is shallow and weak, she is ALIVE! That’s all that matters for right now and
because of this, I will wait outside her room and be there waiting to see what
happens next. I will always care for
her, I will always be there for her and I will always do my best to give back
to her, because she has been so good to me.
I stare off into space and
think of better days gone by and I can hear the whistling of the coroner as he
heads deeper down the corridor and rounds a corner and takes with him his empty
body bag and melancholy whistling.
Not today, my friend…not
today I say to myself as I look back into her room and watch over her like a
sentinel. She is old, she is tired and
she is weakened, but she is still alive.
Tyler Clem debuts in an
805-hp sprint car -- at age 11
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130812/MOTORSPORTS/130819985
Note: I saw photos of him on Facebook with a Late
Model and a sprinter and figured that Daddy had deep pockets. I was right; "Bubba the Love
Sponge" is his father.
Hope this works!
The ARDC ran at New Egypt
last Saturday and drew 21 cars.
The ARDC is about ready to
make a second trip to race down in
NEMA ran at
TQ’s (ATQMRA) seem to suffer
from low car counts, too. Some of the
reasons I’ve heard about low car counts in these three organizations is engine
cost, travel cost and “politics” being the main reasons. Back in the day, ARDC & NEMA would
co-sanction events. Today that can’t be
done since ARDC is now strictly dirt and now wings while NEMA is pavement only
with wings. Also, back in the day, one
could/would use the same car on both dirt and pavement – even on the same
day. Now, excuses are made why they
can’t run a dirt car on a paved track. Hey,
back then a second car was not a necessity.
It shouldn’t have to be one, today, either.
50/50: Lately I’ve noticed at some tracks that the
50/50 numbers get called out after a good portion of the fans have left. Bad!
Humpy Wheeler: We got too
fancy and messed up NASCAR
http://www.wbtv.com/story/23127646/humpy-wheeler-on-nascar-weve-messed-it-up-got-too-fancy
Do you ever go to Yahoo! and check out
their news stories? If so, have you
noticed how many NASCAR items there are lately?
Wonder why?
From Facebook – racing stuff:
Facebook - Sunday, 8/11:
Well back home to unload
thanks to Ocfs canceling a hour before race nice ride for nuttin
Not enough cars?
at 12 noon there was not
enough cars in any division, sorry you drove john i did the same
Every once in a while fans
come away from a speedway and tell a story that starts with 'You should have
been there.' Last night at Grandview Speedway proves that point as Duane Howard
took a back-up car from the 24th starting position and passed Craig VonDohren
in the closing laps to pick up the win in the Forrest Rogers Memorial.
We finished 10th last night.
Kinda let down with track surface. With all the rain you would think track
would be good. It was locked down and went 30 Laps with out a yellow. What we
call a train race, no passing.
Hard to believe there will be
no more Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
Sad, Hope FOX has a clue..
What's the deal with all
this? Speed is officially gone?
Note: Yes, some people are not aware of what's
going on in the world!
SPEED wil be gone, butFOX
Sports 1 will replace it. It will have a lot of content, not all motorsports.
But it will be a player.
I was sad to see Wind Tunnel
go to 30 mins..... Now not at all is going to take some adjusting. Hope Dave
gets a new show with same format
A sad, sad day for all real
race fans. I thought Dave did a great job for his last show and went out with
class as well as still looking out for the real "average Joe" race
fan and racer. His replay of the end of the first show 11 years ago regarding
the duck tape was timeless and Vintage Dave.
As the short clips during the
show by racers around the world shows, Wind Tunnel was respected and watched by
a virtual whose who in racing. Their comments are strikingly similiar to those
expressed when NSSN printed it's last edition and Chris wrote his final column.
Hopefully Dave will return to
TV and be able to continue his great TV racing journalism. It will take a network
whose executives can open their eyes and lift their heads above the corporate
bottom line.
From Dave to Robin Miller to
Bob Varsha and the others who contributed to the show, "you will all be
missed"
Monday, just after midnight:
MY POST ON
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Have been waiting for the
MyLaps report from last nights
Facebook on 8/7: 8/8
A video came up on Facebook
on an asphalt modified doing some laps on a dirt track, somewhere down south.
Some made mention that OCFS should try that. Well, it was proposed a while back
- supposedly OCFS having two test days - had to be maybe 2011 or early 2012?
Nothing ever came of it though, that I know of. I know I made mention of it in
my columns. Anyone else remember that? Might even have been in the AARN, too.
OK, found it. My column - Vol
# 96 from April 12, 2012:
Hmm, interesting stuff that I
just found (Wednesday evening at 8:00 PM) on Facebook. It’s posted that this
was found in this weeks AARN about OCFS:
“Whelen modifieds will have a
few test sessions this yr and possibly a scheduled tour race in 2013”
From what I can recall in the
article in the AARN, they were under the impression that a change in ride
height and different shocks would be sufficient - kinda like the ARCA cars on
dirt.
Note: As far as I know, it never happened. Knowing how much news one gets from OCFS,
maybe it did happen and sucked?
HINCHLIFFE STADIUM RETURNS TO
THE RADAR SCREEN
On 8/13:
I truly do feel sorry for
race track owners,promoters and operators in this day and age.When I went to
the races in the 60's,70's and even the 80's we drove to the track whether it
be Reading,Nazareth,Flemington,East Windsor,,Grandview,Williams Grove or
Middletown and if it was pouring we didn't care,we went anyway and waited it
out with everyone else.Now,if there is a cloud in the sky at 7 AM,people stay
home.I realize it's a business and to attract the talent that many tracks
have,the payouts have grown as well as the gas costs,admission prices for the
fans.If a track cancels too early they hear it ,if they try to run and it
rains,they hear.It's truly a shame that auto racing is so weather dependent
compared to football or in most cases baseball.Most tracks do try to makeup
events missed if a rain out occurs.The days when they started a race at 10:30
because of rain are basically gone and with it many of those fans.
Problem is mike the economy
is bad people spend everything they have to go racing they wanna try to save
where they can on fuel can you blame them
People want info quick we drove to the track
to see if they were running, no cell phone,no twitter, no Facebook, I think the
promoters new everyone would show up so they hung in and tried.
I know what you're saying Mike. Last month I
drove up to Big D even with the threat of rain all around. the drops started
falling when I got on the parking lot. Waited it out until the cancellation
announcement came, and then was told I was nuts for driving that far and
wasting gas. Believe me, I've wasted a lot more money on a lot of less
important things. Well written post Mike!
Regardless of the weather
assumption, even if its raining all day if the track doesn't call it ill go up
there... Nothing I rather spend my money on but the races. It's my life, it
always has been and always will be
I think that is why tracks
cancel so early,because they know these" fans"will just stay home
even if the weather has cleared hours before.Yes,the want it now generation has
really taken over when it comes to racing.
We used to drive all over the
place with our Legends car to find out it was cancelled sometimes. That used to
suck and we were only paying $1.20 or so for gas back in '97! But 5mpg towing a
big heavy trailer was still expensive. We made the best of it and at least
found a good diner in our way back LOL
Coming up:
Lebanon Valley Speedway has
its annual “Mr. Dirt” race on Thursday (today).
That’s about the only time we make it up there. It used to be over a 200 lap distance, but
now it’s half that – 100 laps and $17,500.00 to the winner. For us to go this week, we’ll need two cars.
From Jayski:
Stewart-Haas firming up
replacement driver plans:
Dillon at
UPDATE:
As NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
driver Tony Stewart continues to recover from a broken right tibia and fibula
suffered in a sprint car crash Aug. 5 at Southern Iowa Speedway in
MWR to announce Vickers as
2014 driver of #55?:
Michael Waltrip Racing has
scheduled a "major media announcement" for Tuesday morning at the
Hall of Fame. The release has the Aaron's logo and a picture of Brian Vickers
on it. Vickers has split the #55 with Mark Martin the last couple years and is
widely expected to be the full time driver next season.(8-12-2013)
UPDATE:
Brian Vickers on Tuesday will
be named the full-time driver of the #55 Michael Waltrip Racing Sprint Cup car
for 2014, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com. Team officials were not
available for comment, but team owner Michael Waltrip has made it clear for
several months that Vickers was his choice to take over the 55 car after this
season.(ESPN)(8-12-2013)
UPDATE 2:
Aarons announced it has
reached a multi-year agreement [2 year deal] to sponsor Brian Vickers in
Michael Waltrip Racing's (MWR) #55 Toyota Camry in every NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series race. We at Aarons are thrilled about this partnership. Were building a
championship organization and we know
that Brian Vickers and the No. 55 team, under Michael Waltrip’s tradition of
winning, are focused on building a championship caliber team," said Ronald
W. Allen, Aaron's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. So many of
our customers are enthusiastic and loyal NASCAR fans and we are proud to be a
part of a sport they are passionate about. We are looking forward to continued
success with Brian Vickers both on and off the track. Vickers has raced the #55
on a part-time basis the last two seasons for MWR posting several impressive
performances including his third career victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
on July 14. Beginning in 2014, he'll pilot the #55 Aarons Dream Machine with a
fresh new paint scheme, unveiled today at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in
I can’t put into words how
this makes me feel, said 29-year-old Vickers. I’ve really found my home at MWR
over the past few years, and I've enjoyed getting to know the Aaron's
associates and customers. I am honored that Aarons is welcoming me into their
family full-time. Knowing that I have a top-notch team and a dedicated sponsor
for a full season is a really great feeling every driver dreams about, and like
everyone else, I want to win races and win a championship. Michael and co-owner
Rob Kauffman are really building something special at MWR and are giving me the
tools to accomplish those goals.
Aarons is a cornerstone to
MWR's success. This is a big announcement today because it shows a tremendous
vote of confidence in the sport of NASCAR and the entire Michael Waltrip Racing
organization, said Michael Waltrip, founder and co-owner of Michael Waltrip
Racing. The relationship with Aarons is very personal to me because they helped
place Michael Waltrip Racing on the map in 2000 when I was running a half dozen
Nationwide Series races from a small garage in my backyard. Now they are
enabling MWR to continue its growth as we will have three drivers racing for
the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in 2014 and beyond. So much of this
confidence comes from the NASCAR fans who continue to support the sponsors of
our teams. I want to sincerely thank the NASCAR fans who are Aarons customers
because you make this all happen, said Waltrip.(MWR)(8-13-2013)
Stewart released from
hospital:
According to a Tweet from
Stewart Haas Racing, "Tony Stewart is out of the hospital & resting as
comfortably as he can at home. Thx for the thoughts &
prayers."(8-11-2013)
McaArdle joins Childress:
Newman to the #29? Richard
Childress Racing has named Mark McArdle as their Director of Racing Operations
on a full-time basis, effective this weekend at Watkins Glen International. For
the past four years, McArdle was with Furniture Row Racing, first as Director
of Competition and this year holding the title of Executive Director of
Competition. This season, his duties have included operating on a shared basis
between RCR and Furniture Row Racing, which has had a technical alliance with
RCR since 2010. McArdle will report to Dr. Eric Warren, Director of Competition
for RCR, and still work closely with Furniture Row Racing, but from the RCR
facility and not traveling to FRR's facilities in Colorado.(RCR)(8-11-2013)
AND:
The move comes at a time when
RCR is looking to fill the ride vacated by #29-Kevin Harvick and hoping to
retain its technical alliance with Furniture Row and is in exploratory
discussions with JTG-Daugherty Racing to add the organization's # 47 team to
the fold as well. Currently FRR is weighing its options with other
manufacturers since its contract with Chevy runs out at the end of the year.
Cable providers still
negotiating with Fox over Fox Sports 1:
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
practice sessions and the Camping World Truck Series race Aug. 17 from Michigan
International Speedway will be among the live telecasts on the first day Fox
Sports 1 goes on air in place of the Speed cable network. And that could be a
problem. Among those still negotiating carriage fees with Fox Sports 1 are
DirecTV, Dish and Time Warner Cable. Spokesmen for DirecTV and TWC said
Thursday that discussions are ongoing and Dish also has not signed a deal,
according to the SportsBusiness Daily. Speed is in nearly 86 million homes, but
millions of its current subscribers won't be able to see Fox Sports 1 unless a
carriage deal is finalized. According to the SportsBusiness Journal, Speed
costs about 23 cents each month per subscriber, and Fox is looking to increase
that to 80 cents per month. It's not surprising that these negotiations go down
to the wire, but it's enough to make NASCAR fans nervous as the channel they
know as Speed will cease to exist when Fox Sports 1 is launched in its place in
about a week.(Sporting News)(8-9-2013)
Montoya will not be back with
EGR in 2014:
The Associated Press has
learned #42-Juan Pablo Montoya will not be back for an eighth NASCAR season
with Chip Ganassi. The team owner informed Montoya he will not bring the
Colombian back for an eighth NASCAR season. Ganassi president Steve Lauletta
announced the decision to the team Tuesday, multiple people present for the
announcement told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Ganassi
does not comment on driver contracts.(Associated Press)
AND Team co-owner Felix
Sabates later confirmed the move to SiriusXMs NASCAR channel. "We did not
renew the contract for next year," Sabates told the channel. "It was
a difficult decision. He understands. You have to move on in life sometimes.
It’s frustrating for everybody when you know you’ve got good equipment and you
can’t seem to put everything together still." Target is set to sponsor the
#42 car next year. Several drivers could replace Montoya. Chase contenders Kurt
Busch and Ryan Newman don't have contracts for next season. There are also
several Nationwide drivers who could be available, including rookie Kyle
Larson, who reportedly has several years remaining in a contact with Ganassi. #1-Jamie
McMurray is expected to return to the other EGR car in 2014.(Sporting
News)(8-13-2013)
What is up with #55 crew
chief Childers & Mark Martin with MWR in 2014?
There is still work to be
done even before the 2014 season begins as Michael Waltrip Racing must sign
crew chief Rodney Childers to the #55 car, something [Michael] Waltrip will
want to do as soon as possible with Stewart-Haas Racing combing the garage to
find a crew chief for #4-Kevin Harvick next year. "We’re really close to
putting Rodney together with Brian for many years to come," Waltrip said.
"Brian and Rodney have a great relationship. Theyve known each other since
they were kids. They love working together. There is a lot of harmony and
confidence in one another."
As far as Mark Martin (who is
running part-time in the #55 car for MWR), whether he has any sort of role at
MWR is still to be determined. "We’ve talked a lot and we haven’t made any
formal decision," Waltrip said. "He certainly has put his footprint
all over our company with the role he has played the last two years, not only
driving the car but his commitment to physical fitness. & He’s just been a
huge part of who we are today."(Sporting News)
AND The deal gives MWR two
fully-sponsored cars for 2014 with Vickers and Aaron's on the #55, Martin Truex
Jr. and
Dale Earnhardt's Grandson
Arrested On DUI Charge:
The grandson of the late Dale
Earnhardt was arrested in
Sale of Phoenix Racing
finalized?
Multiple sources say the sale
of the #51-Phoenix Racing Sprint Cup Series team to Turner-Scott Motorsports
principal Harry Scott, Jr. is now complete, and will be officially announced on
September 1 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Finch will continue to operate
the team until then, in an effort to maintain its 27th-place owner points
standing.(Godfather Motorsports)(8-13-2013)
Former OVRP Dirt Oval racers:
Johnny Guarino was 5th in the
Small Block Modified feature at New Egypt.
Ben Whitaker was 7th in the
Late Model feature at Susquehanna.
Roger Coss was 6th in the
Modified feature at
Kenney Johnson was 4th in the
NEMA Lights feature at
Davie Franek was 5th at
Selinsgrove and 8th at Black Rock with the URC sprinters.
Brittany Tresch was 22nd in the
TSRS 305 Sprint Car feature at
Danny Buccafusco was 7th and
Kyle Rohner was 11th in the All Star Slingshots at
Jacob Hendershot was 9th and
Rick Casario 14th in the 270 Micros at Hamlin.
Danny Buccafusca was 5th and
Tyler Pirone 16th in the All Star Slingshots.
Paul Tigue was 2nd in the
Junior Slingshot feature.
Kyle Rohner was 2nd in the held
over 600 Micro feature and 4th in the regular feature. Molly Chambers was 18th in the
regular nights feature.
Kyle Armstrong was 3rd, Kolby
Schroder 23rd and Bobby Hackel, IV 24th in the Modified
feature at
Alex Bell was 11th in the Small
Block feature.
AJ Filbeck was 19th in the
Sportsman feature at U/R.
Clinton Mills was 4th, Tim
Hindley 10th, Billy V 13th and Mike Ruggiero 14th
in the Modified feature at OCFS.
Brian Krummel was 3rd, Danny
Creeden 8th, Tim Hindley 18th, RJ Smykla 19th
and Andrew Reeves a DNS in the Small Block feature.
Krummel won the Sportsman feature with
Anthony Perrego 4th, Matt Janiak 7th, LJ Lombardo 10th,
Joe Conklin 11th, Andrew Reeves 14th and Joey Falanga 15th
in the Sportsman feature.
Bob Morris was 1st and Rich
Coons 2nd in the held over Sportsman feature at
Coons won the regular nights feature with
Morris 2nd and Kyle Redner 5th.
Anthony Perrego was 5th and
Brad Szulewski 9th in the Sportsman race at Penn Can on Tuesday,
8/13.
38 names this week, I think.
From the AARN:
From their August 13th
issue:
Lenny Sammons:
He confirms, more or less,
that Keith Kauffman, 63, will be retiring at the end of the 2013 racing
season. Keith just had his best finish
this year, a 2nd place at
Mark Berkenstock, 18, has won
the Billy Kimball Memorial Scholarship Award - $2,500.00 towards his upcoming
college education. Back in July, 1910,
Mark had a serious accident at the Hamlin track, when his belts loosened up
while flipping his 600 Micro Sprint.
Serious injuries were the end result.
Mark now uses a wheel chair to get around, and with hand controls can now
drive his passenger car.
Ernie Saxton:
He tells us of a “proposed”
“Bull Run” to be held at the
In an Autoweek survey of its
readers, the most exciting racing is Formula One. They were two to one over NASCAR. Indy Car was third and American LeMans 4th.
Todd Heintzelman:
“Stay calm”. That’s his
advice to the Sprint Car world, right now.
What we don’t need is a knee
jerk reaction to this season’s unfortunate deaths and serious injuries.
Is Sprint Car racing
dangerous? Yes.
Is every form or motorsports
dangerous? Yes.”
“Anyway, the national media
has really jumped on the Sprint Car world lately since NASCAR driver Jason
Leffler was killed at Bridgeport Speedway in mid-June.”
There’s quite a bit more on
the subject that he has to say.
In the 25 car Knoxville
National race, 11 were WoO drivers. Nine
were not really associated with any particular organization. Only one, Greg Hodnet was representing the PA
Posse. Cap Henry the only one from the
All-Stars. There were three
Some things said by Jeff
Gordon about Tony Stewart, Sprint Cars and Sprint Car racing:
“I was in
“I was looking over these cars, trying to understand what happened. You’re there and you’re in awe of these
awesome beasts of race cars; 930 horsepower, 1400 pound cars with tons of down
force. They just fly and it makes me
want to get behind the wheel of one, so I totally understand the appeal.”
I couldn’t do that, and I
don’t choose to do that because of different things that are happening in my
life. But I applaud him and definitely
support him in that effort.”
Yes, there is more said from
“Jeffy” on the subject.
The “Friends of Mike” race
will be held at the Bridgeport Speedway this year – on Thursday, August 29th. No winners purse mentioned for this event,
but it is said that there will be a $1,500.00 to win Crate Sportsman race that
night, too.
On Sunday, August 25th,
racing historian Marty Himes will present his annual Long Island Racing History
Open House. It will be held at his
“Museum” at
This Week
In AARN:
Schatz, From Twenty-First,
Wins
And $150,000 Prize
Damion Gardner To Attempt
In A Sprint Car
Kauffman Comes Close
To
His Tribute Race
Big Night For Rocco
At
Wins VMRS Tour Race
And SK Mod Main
Thrilling Forrest Rogers
Memorial
At
McKennedy Grabs
ISMA Checkers At
For Kramer Williamson:
J.J. Grasso Wins Big One At
Selinsgrove
Biggest Win Of Danny
Creeden's Career
Comes In Accord's
'
Hearn Adds
To State Conquests;
Wiins SDS Big Block 100 At
I-96
Kekich's Mercer 410 Win
Dedicated To
Recently Deceased Grandfather
This date in racing history:
Just some of the events on
August 15th in:
1927
Eddie Rickenbacker bought the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway from Carl Fisher and Jim Allison for about
$700,000.
1948
Johnny Mantz won the AAA
sanctioned
1952
Jimmy Campbell won the IMCA
Sprint Car race at the Jackson Speedway,
Deb Snyder won the IMCA
Sprint Car race at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds,
1953
Bill Holland won the AAA
Eastern Sprint Car race over Tommy Hinnershitz at the Bedford Speedway,
Pat OConnor won the AAA
Sprint Car race over Mike Nazaruk at the Illiana Motor Speedway,
Johnny Fedricks won the AAA
Midget race at the Motor City Speedway,
Charlie Miller won the URC
Sprint Car race at the Orange County Fair Speedway,
1954
Larry Crockett won the AAA
Sprint Car race over Mike Nazaruk at the Dayton Speedway,
1956
Robin Pemberton ... Born ...
Pemberton was a crew chief for several NASCAR teams over 17 years, heading
teams for Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and Kyle Petty. Pemberton was field
manager for Ford Racing immediately prior to being named VP of Competition for
NASCAR in 2004.
Jud Larson won the IMCA
Sprint Car race over Bobby Grim, Ed Loetscher, Jerry Blundy and Red Hoyle at
the Algona Raceway,
Johnny Pouelson won the IMCA
Sprint Car race at the Crawford County Speedway, Denis
1958
Andy Petree ... Born ... A
NASCAR veteran who has been a driver, car owner and two-time NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup-winning crew chief for the late Dale Earnhardt, made his television debut
in 2007 as an analyst on ESPN and ABC's multi-platform NASCAR coverage.
1959
Bob Wente won the USAC Midget
race at the Illiana Motor Speedway,
Chuck Arnold won the ARDC
Midget race at the West Haven Motordrome,
1964
Sam Schmidt ... Born ... A
former Indy Racing League driver and current IRL and Indy Pro Series team
owner. While testing in preparation for the 2000 season, Sam Schmidt suffered a
crash at Walt Disney World Speedway that rendered him a quadriplegic.
Jud Larson won the USAC
Sprint Car race over Mickey Rupp, A.J. Foyt, Don Branson and Bud Tingelstad at
the Allentown Fairgrounds,
Red Riegel won the URC Sprint
Car race at the Bedford Speedway,
Jerry Richert won the IMCA
Sprint Car race over Jim McCune, Greg Weld and Gordon Woolley at the Austin
Fairgrounds,
Mel Kenyon won the USAC
Midget race at the Ionia Fairgrounds (1/2d),
Russ Klar won the ARDC Midget
race at the Freeport Speedway,
1971
Bobby Unser won the USAC
sanctioned Tony Bettenhausen 200 on the 1 Mile Paved Oval The Milwaukee Mile in
Bobby Allison won the NASCAR
Grand National race at the Michigan International Speedway in
Sammy Beavers won the
Modified Stock Car race at the Nazareth Speedway,
Gerald Chamberlain won the
Modified Stock Car race over Hal Browning and Harry Moore at the Reading Fairgrounds
Speedway,
Will Cagle won the Modified
Stock Car race over Terry Edwards and Ed Ortiz at the Cayuga County Fair
Speedway,
Pancho Carter won the ARDC
Midget race at the Grandview Speedway,
1998
Danny Lasoski won the
Knoxville Nationals at the Knoxville Raceway,
1999
Jeff Gordon won the NASCAR
Winston Cup Frontier at The Glen over Ron Fellows at the Watkins Glen
International, Watkins Glen, NY.
2004
Tony Stewart won the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Sirius at the Glen over Ron Fellows at the Watkins Glen
International, Watkins Glen, NY.
Press releases:
NEWS FROM
Orange County Fair
CONTACT
Mike Gurda
845-342-2573
ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY
DRIVERS BATTLE FOR POINTS
AS SEASON WINDS DOWN
MIDDLETOWN, NY (August
11)……..When the exhaust fumes settle from Saturday’s race meet at Orange County
Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York, the re will be just three more weeks of
competition before the track point champions are crowned. For drivers in each
of the speedway’s stock car divisions this makes the Saturday, August 17 racing
program even more important as point championships include trophies, cash
bonuses, and all-important bragging rights get closer to being determined.
Three of the four racing
divisions---Modifieds, Sportsman, and Street Stock---will be in action on the
17th, with a full program of qualifying and feature races. In addition, the
Rookie Sportsman drivers will compete in the ir own “learning session” heats
and feature race. The Small-Block Modified division will not be racing on
August 17. Holiday Inn of Middletown and M. Falanga Trucking are the night’s
sponsors.
In the headline Modified division,
the point battle is between current leader Tim Hindley and 2009, 2010, and 2012
champion Jerry Higbie. Hindley holds a 48-point edge over the defending
titlist.
In Sportsman competition,
2010 champion Brian Krummel currently holds the top spot with Anthony Perrego
his closest pursuer. Krummel’s lead is 34 points, but in the unpredictable
Sportsman division, his championship is far from assured.
Stephen Kammer is the point
leader in the Street Stock division, with an 18-point edge over 2011 and 2012
champion Charles Donald. Jim Maher in third-place is the only o the r driver in
contention for the crown, but he trails Kammer by 35 points.
The closest point race is in
the idle Small-Block Modified division, where Danny Creeden leads by just four points
over Bob McGannon and Scott Flammer. And
just to make it more interesting, John Finley, in fourth-place, is only eight
points behind leader Creeden. The Small-Block racers return to action on
Saturday, August 24.
Admission prices for the
August 17 race meet remain at $14 adults, $12 seniors, and free for children 12
and under. The exceptionally full night of racing begins promptly at 6:30 pm.
Advance ticket sales for all
remaining 2013 races, including the September 21 Eve of Destruction and the
October 25-27 52nd Annual Eastern States Weekend, and track information are
available at the Orange County website, www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net, or
from the Track Office. Call 845-342-2573 weekdays during business hours.
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 24 --- Accord
Media Contact: Brett Deyo –
845.728.2781 or Deyo99H@aol.com
For Immediate Release/August
13, 2013
Short Track SuperNationals
2013 Modified Registration Now Open; Early Entry Incentives Include Free Pit
Passes & $50 Gas Cards; Red Roof Inn Offers Rate Discount; Sixth ‘Working
Man’s Race’ Set For Five Mile Point Speedway October 11-12; Modified Rules
Outlined
The sixth edition of the
Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc.-VP Racing Fuels Short Track SuperNationals is
planned for Saturday, October 12 at Five Mile Point Speedway. The event, run as
the affordable option for the dirt Modified community on Columbus Day weekend,
is headlined by a 50-lap main event for the big-block/small-block Modifieds.
Once again, the racy quarter-mile Five Mile Point oval centrally located in
Thanks to the Alpine Building
Supply “Roll the Dice Challenge” the Short Track SuperNationals winner earns a
minimum of $5,000. Even more impressive is the mammoth $455 posted just to take
the green flag in the 50-lap main event!
The base payoff is annually boosted greatly by lap sponsors, contingency
awards, bonus cash and prizes contributed by a long list of marketing partners.
Registration for the ’13
Short Track SuperNationals is now open for Modified competitors. The pre-entry
fee is $15. Late/race-day entry is $20 (after Oct. 1, 2013). The entry fee for
this event has not increased since the event was first contested at Five Mile
Point in 2009 despite dramatic a dramatic climb in the posted purse over the
last four years. In fact, the entry fee
has decreased since the inaugural Short Track SuperNationals running in October
2006 at N.Y.’s Afton Speedway.
Competitors entering the
event early will be eligible for a pair of incentives.
The first 10 completed entry
blanks received by the BD Motorsports Media LLC office will be entered into a
drawing for two FREE Saturday pit passes.
Additionally, all entries received prior to the final stop on the
“It’s a benefit to us for
teams to enter early so we can properly advertise to fans which drivers will be
in attendance for our event,” said Short Track SuperNationals promoter and
founder Brett Deyo. “Our racers can save some money by entering early and now
have the opportunity to earn some bonuses before we even open the gates.”
A complete Short Track
SuperNationals schedule and format is forthcoming. All Modified racing will
take place on Saturday (Oct. 12). Teams will be able to practice on Friday
night (Oct. 11). Saturday’s race program will also include Street Stocks and
Four Cylinders. A staggered starting time will be in effect with
support-division qualifying run first.
The Red Roof Inn, located on
590 Fairview Street in Johnson City, N.Y., 13790, is offered a special Short
Track SuperNationals rate for Friday and Saturday nights of the event (Oct.
11-12). Standard King Rooms are available for $79.99 plus tax. Deluxe double rooms
are $89.99 plus tax. To reserve a room, call the Red Roof Inn directly at
607.729.8940. When prompted, use Option 4 to speak with a Guest Services
Representative directly to book the room. Mention “RACE FAN 2012” to receive
the discounted rate.
Modified rules for the Short
Track SuperNationals are again designed to produce a diverse field. Big-blocks
(over 361 cubic inches) must weigh 2,500 lbs. Small-block (maximum 361 cubic
inches) minimum weight is 2,400 lbs. Sail panels, 68 inches maximum height and
even, are permitted. Any American Racer or DIRT Hoosier tire used at a weekly
dirt Modified track in the Northeast is permitted. A draw for position will set
heat-race line-ups.
The Short Track
SuperNationals produced a “working man” winner last October when Danny Tyler of
Cottekill, N.Y., an Accord Speedway regular, emerged from a three-wide battle
with New Jersey legend Billy Pauch Sr. and Capital District star Bobby Varin to
earn the biggest win of his career and more than $6,000 in cash and prizes.
Previous SuperNationals
winners include Duane Howard of Oley,
Marketing opportunities and
lap sponsorships are now available by contacting Brett Deyo by phone at
845.728.2781 or via e-mail: Deyo99H@aol.com. BD Motorsports Media LLC is online
at www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/BDMotorsportsMedia and on Twitter @BrettDeyo. Five Mile Point Speedway is on the web at
www.fivemilepointspeedway.net.
The Short Track
SuperNationals is presented by Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc., VP Racing Fuels,
Small Engine Fuel, American Racer/Lias Tire, Alpine Building Supply, BFP
Specialty, S&D Bodyline, Shiley Fabrication, Tim Long, Penn Can Speedway
‘King of the Can’ Weekend, Crunchco Snacks, Mirabilis Cattle, S&W Awards,
Bob Hilbert Sportswear, S&W Awards and more fine marketing partners.
Lias Tire-American Racer
“Road to the SuperNationals” 2013
Brett Deyo
BD Motorsports Media LLC
Phone: 845.728.2781
E-Mail: Deyo99H@aol.com
Web:
www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/BDMotorsportsMedia
Twitter: @BrettDeyo
News from the Pioneer Pole
Buildings Inc.-VP Racing Fuels Short Track SuperNationals – ‘The Working Man’s
Race’
Media Contact: Brett Deyo –
Deyo99H@aol.com or 845.728.2781
For Immediate Release/August
13, 2013
Friday Night Lights:
Sportsman Highlight Friday, October 11 Short Track SuperNationals Program With
30-lap Main Featuring $1,500 Winner’s Share; Modified Practice, IMCA-style
Modifieds & XCel 600 Modifieds Complete ‘Working Man’s Race’ Preliminary
Show
On Friday evening, October
11, as a prelude to the sixth annual Modified spectacular to be run on Saturday
at Five Mile Point Speedway, Sportsman will top the weekend kick-off with a
30-lap main event paying $1,500 to the winner.
Also on the preliminary program will be IMCA-style Modifieds and XCel
600 Modifieds. As in past years, Modified teams will have track time available
to practice in advance of Saturday’s headline show.
Sportsman will draw for heat
races leading up to the main event. Open and Crate 602 combinations are legal,
with a weight break granted to crate engine teams. There is an option for steel
or aluminum wheels for both engine combinations. In a unique twist, sail panels will be
permitted (but not mandatory) on Sportsman cars. Teams can run American Racer
or DIRT Hoosier tires. Green money is $100.
“The Sportsman event has been
added as a result of significant interest from drivers looking to be part of
the Short Track SuperNationals,” event promoter Brett Deyo said. “We have put
together a schedule that should make for great racing on Friday night with
plenty of time for Modifieds to practice, as well.
“We’re returning to our roots
with this event, having run Sportsman when we held the first Short Track
SuperNationals in 2006 at Afton (N.Y.)
Sportsman teams are
encouraged to stay for Saturday’s Modified program. Any Sportsman wishing to
attempt to qualify with the Modifieds will receive a discounted car entry fee.
Sportsman entry forms can be
found online at www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com. The early entry deadline is October
1 for $15. After that point, the entry increases to $20.
During the 2006
SuperNationals at Afton, Mike DiMorier of
IMCA-style Modifieds (20
laps) and XCel 600 Modifieds (20 laps) complete the Friday card.
Sportsman, IMCA-style
Modifieds and XCel 600 Modifieds will utilize the backstretch pit area on Friday
night and will pay a $30 pit admittance fee. All Modifieds looking to practice
in advance of Saturday’s race will use the turn-four pit area and will be
charged $20.
Pit gates will open at 4 p.m.
for the Friday event. The track will be open for Modified practice starting at
5 p.m. It will remain open through 7 p.m. At that point, hot laps for the
Sportsman, IMCA-style Modifieds and XCel 600 Modifieds will get underway.
Racing will start at 7:45 p.m. Rounds of Modified practice will also be
incorporated through the program.
Friday night grandstand
admission is $12 for Adults, $10 for Seniors (62 and over) and Students
(13-17). Kids 12 and under are admitted FREE. Pit admission is $30 (backstretch
pit for those competing) and $20 (turn-four pit for Modifieds practicing).
Saturday’s Short Track
SuperNationals program is headlined by a big-block/small-block Modified 50-lap
event paying a minimum of $5,000 to win with the Alpine Building Supply
“Gambler’s Fee” and a mammoth $455 to take the green flag! Street Stocks and
Four Cylinders complete the program with a staggered starting time in effect.
Support-division qualifying takes place first on the docket.
Marketing opportunities and
lap sponsorships are now available by contacting Brett Deyo by phone at 845.728.2781
or via e-mail: Deyo99H@aol.com. BD Motorsports Media LLC is online at
www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BDMotorsportsMedia
and on Twitter @BrettDeyo. Five Mile
Point Speedway is on the web at www.fivemilepointspeedway.net.
The Short Track
SuperNationals is presented by Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc., VP Racing Fuels,
Small Engine Fuel, American Racer/Lias Tire, Alpine Building Supply, BFP
Specialty, S&D Bodyline, Shiley Fabrication, Tim Long, Penn Can Speedway
‘King of the Can’ Weekend, Crunchco Snacks, Mirabilis Cattle, S&W Awards,
Bob Hilbert Sportswear, S&W Awards and more fine marketing partners.
-----
Brett Deyo
BD Motorsports Media LLC
Phone: 845.728.2781
E-Mail: Deyo99H@aol.com
Web:
www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/BDMotorsportsMedia
Twitter: @BrettDeyo
Racing video:
I haven’t thrown any crash videos out to
ya lately. Here ya go:
Crashes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RaCgbeS6mU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5LDF2uMhgU
Earnhardt, Jr. – Corvette:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGR0KWLs51c
Johnny Heydenreich – Silver Crown fire:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq6NYS58Ihc
Jimmie Johnson – Watkins Glen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbkIBWEp91Q
Photo of the week:
Note: Not available on DTD. To see the photo, you have to go to:
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/
An arial photo of the Bethel
Motor Speedway – photo taken by Sportsman driver Kyle Redner on August 6th. The front stretch is at the bottom of the
photo, with the pit area over on the left side.
Parking is on the right, mostly hidden by the trees.
I get emails:
Received on 8/9/13:
I have been sensing something
about the mood of many Americans that I think is unprecedented in the history
of the nation. It is a fear of the President. A fear that one observer, Daniel
Henninger of The Wall Street Journal, calls “the president’s creeping
authoritarianism.”
Obama has had four and a half
years to pursue his goal of “transforming” America and, along the way, he has
continually expressed his disdain for the constraints of the Constitution, his
contempt for Congress and the Supreme Court, and, if his recent speeches are
any indication, his belief that enough Americans are so dumb they will believe
anything he says.
Overall, there is a growing
sense of foreboding as four in five Americans are facing some degree of poverty
and a small chance of finding work. One can feel the nation slowing down, its
momentum sapped, its national sense of optimism being drained.
The bankruptcy of a major
American city,
I had my own fears evoked by
a news report that “The U.S. government has demanded that major Internet
companies divulge user’s stored passwords, according to two industry sources
familiar with these orders, which represent an escalation in surveillance techniques
that has not previously been disclosed.”
In countless ways, the
Constitutional protection of privacy is being eroded along with reports that
the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been purchasing huge quantities
of ammunition and military-style vehicles. A new book discusses the way local
police forces have been developing SWAT teams with similar capabilities. What
kind of domestic uprising is DHS anticipating? And why is it anticipating it?
The National Security Agency
is building a huge complex in
Why hasn’t Congress acted to
repeal the National Defense Authorization Act that permits the government to
arrest and detain any American without recourse to an attorney or the courts?
The Department of Justice
(DOJ) has been on a tear, presumably to find out the sources of leaks in the Obama
administration, seizing the telephone records of the Associated Press without
giving the AP due notice.
Americans are beginning to
suspect that there is little justice to be found in the DOJ, particularly since
the revelations about “Fast and Furious”, an idiotic program of the Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms agency to purchase and “walk” guns into Mexico in order to
“track” them. It was obvious they would end up in the hands of the drug
cartels. It took an executive order by Obama to shut down a congressional
investigation into this bizarre scheme. His administration has done everything
it could to undermine the Second Amendment.
Over at the Internal Revenue
Service, one of its officials accused of targeting patriot organizations
seeking tax except status has plead the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering a
congressional committee’s questions.
Meanwhile, the Affordable
Care Act—Obamacare—is in the process of expanding the IRS as the government
begins its takeover of one sixth of the nation’s economy with a piece of
legislation that has already been declared a “train wreck”, unmanageable and,
most importantly, so intrusive into our personal lives that no previous
generation would have ever allowed it. Obamacare is already wrecking the
economy as businesses large and small try to anticipate its costs.
The appalling lies about the
terrorist attack on the U.S. Benghazi consulate are evidence in themselves that
the Obama administration is prepared to deceive Americans about the killing of
a
Millions of Americans out of
work have very real cause to fear for their well-being, but the President
recently told them the real threat was “climate change”, not an economy that is
not producing jobs, but in fact shedding them, keeping the rate of unemployment
unchanged for years.
There is a point when one
must ask if this is deliberate and not just the result of bad domestic
policies. If the answer is yes, then Americans have real cause to fear the
President and the prospect of living in a surveillance state where everything
they communicate and everyone with whom they communicate can be identified.
There are those raising
warnings about the direction in which the nation is going, but unless there are
demonstrations by Americans that want to see an end to these laws and trends,
the progress toward tyranny will continue.
Marches are being planned for
And, this one, too:
This man, Obama, is
despicable, read below..........Under
his alleged leadership this country is almost ruined. I hope NSA recorded this email. Just make sure you spell my name
correctly. William F. McDermott
Four times in 69 years!!
�
�
SHAME ON
HE IS ABSOLUTELY A DISGRACE
TO ALL WHO FOUGHT FOR THIS NATION AND GAVE THEIR LIVES.
VETERANS - PLEASE FORWARD
THIS TO YOUR VETERAN FRIENDS AND CONTACTS!!!!!!
�
June 6, 2013, the 69th
anniversary of "D-Day", the largest invasion ever attempted, where
200,000 Americans stormed the beaches at
Today, European heads of
state make it a point to recall and honor the sacrifices of those who landed in
well, most of them....
In the 69 years since D-Day,
there are four occasions when the President of the
The occasions were:
1. Barack Obama, 2010
2. Barack Obama, 2011
3. Barack Obama, 2012
4. Barack Obama, 2013
For the past 69 years, every
American President except Obama have taken the time to honor the memory and sacrifices
of the 6,000 American soldiers killed on D-Day. ...Except Obama!
June 6 2010, Obama had no
events scheduled.
June 6, 2011, Obama met with
the National Security team and was interviewed by WEWS Cleveland and WDIV in
June 6, 2012, instead of
honoring our fallen soldiers, Obama made a campaign trip to
June 6, 2013, Obama was doing
ANOTHER fund raiser with the multimillionaires in the Democratic Senatorial
Campaign Committee in
Found on the Internet – non
racing:
Broadcast Networks Drop the
Ball on Obama’s Smarmy ‘Phony Scandal’ Mantra
Obama Administration Denies
Federal Assistance for Yarnell Fire
From Facebook – non racing
stuff:
Found on 8/14:
When did “Free Loaders”
become more important than tax payers?
You gotta read this one,
folks!
An apology letter to Mr.
Obama
http://themattwalshblog.com/2013/08/13/an-apology-letter-to-mr-obama/
Non racin’ stuff:
Whistleblower: Terrorists
Stole 400 Missiles in
http://www.capitalisminstitute.org/missiles-in-benghazi/
In part: "In yet another example of foreign
policy completely backfiring, a whistleblower has instructed his lawyer to come
forward with information about how terrorists took 400 missiles in
On August 12, Joe DiGenova,
attorney for one of the
DiGenova represents
He claimed his information
“comes from a former intelligence official who stayed in constant contact with
people in the special ops and intelligence community.” He said the biggest
concern right now is finding those missiles before they can be put to use.
“They are worried, specifically according to these sources, about an attempt to
shoot down an airliner,” he claimed."
Music video:
BRAIN FART!
Sent column out and never put
a video in here. Damn!
Here ya go – Connie Smith –
who turned 72 on 8/14.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I54dILXLfo
Joke of the week:
Water in the carburetor:
WIFE: "There is trouble
with the car. It has water in the carburetor."
HUSBAND: "Water in the
carburetor? That's ridiculous "
WIFE: "I tell you the
car has water in the carburetor."
HUSBAND: "You don't even
know what a carburetor is. I'll check it out. Where's the car?
WIFE: "In the pool"
And this one, too:
HE MUST PAY
Husband and wife had a tiff.
Wife called up her mom and said, "He fought with me again, I am coming to
live with you."
Mom said, "No darling,
he must pay for his mistake. I am coming to live with you.
One more:
Today's Short Reading from
the Bible...
From Genesis: "And God
promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the
earth."
Then He made the earth
round...and He laughed and laughed and laughed!
Until the next column!
I can be reached, via e-mail, at: ygordad@yahoo.com