Racin'
& Different Stuff:
By Tom Avenengo
Volume # 159
10/10/2013
Please don’t forget:
And, who directed those in the parks to
make it as difficult as possible and make it hurt, for the
And, why would we want to do that (Help a
child with Cancer) – Harry Reid.
And our gov’t not paying the families of those that have paid the
supreme price? Of course Hagle
must go!
Classic example of how main stream media
(news) is for the Dems:
http://www.caintv.com/awesome-video-gop-freshman-sch
So, come Monday evening, I had a little
time on my hands, so I thought I’d put out a small column this week.
Kinda looks like it will be an every other week column for
a while, folks!
This past weekend, the wife, our dog Max
and I took a trip up north to visit # 1 son, Tom, Jr. and his family, wife
Penny and daughter Marisa, figuring that when we head south in early November,
we sure won’t get to see them until after March of 2014. Once we got past the
If you recall, a couple of times, in
different columns, I put in the traffic warning that JR Kennerup
had in the AARN earlier this year – the warning of work being done in the area
of the I-81 and Rt 17 area, with possible traffic tie
ups. Well, it’s still there – two lanes
down to one, in both directions. A slight hiccup in our travel.
Racin’ & short’ stuff:
From the last two columns – remember this?
From last weeks
column:
This weeks quiz:
Who was the first woman to turn laps in an
Indy car on the Indianapolis Speedway?
Hint: She did it in a
Guess what? I received exactly zero responses on the
above. Makes me wonder – am I wasting my
time – and yours, too? Just another reason for me to maybe take a break.
Anyone want to try this week?
Well, I did get a couple of responses and
one was correct – Paula Murphy was the first woman to drive a race car around
the Indianapolis Speedway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLcxvjN1ASU&feature=player_embedded
Didja hear about the gun wielding guy in a train, out in
What with the racing season
coming to a close, I’ve dropped how former OVRP Dirt Oval racers have done in
racing, last week, with one exception:
Kenney Johnson, son of Jeff
Johnson, who has New England Tractor, finally got his first NEMA Lights feature
win last week at the Waterford Speedway!
The Dario Franchitti
Houston accident – article & video:
Some comments on the Internet
on the above:
Anyone else find it odd, the
"Catch fencing did it's job" but it was the
catch fencing is what flew into the stands (And a pretty good distance too).
You never see the fence come apart like that unless it is one of these shoddy
temp street races. This was the wrong fencing/walls to use. A purpose built
track would never have a fence failure like that, it
would break, but not fly away in large portions. These temp.
street courses need to go if they cannot provide the
correct barriers between the crowd and cars.
Nailed it. Even when Kyle Larson hit the fence at Daytona with a
much heavier stock car at ~170 mph the fence remained mostly intact. All that
failed there was a pass-through gate.
In this case a whole section
of the fence came down.
I also agree. I am NO fan of
street courses.
Seems like
NOTHING was learned from the death of Jeff Krosnoff
way back in 1996.
It the same
old thing.
Correct. The catch fencing
clearly failed.
That failure further
endangered the driver and the fans.
Note: I’ve never been a fan of these “temporary”
road courses. First, because almost
every turn is a blind turn due to the Jersey Barriers so close to the “track”. Next, at some of them you’re restricted to
the stands your in and can’t see sh*t.
222.971 mph: Michael Shank Racing sets new Daytona record
In part: "Colin Braun knocked Bill Elliott off
the top of Daytona International Speedway's all-time speed chart after being
clocked at 222.971 mph over the 2.5-mile tri-oval in a private session
Wednesday.
Elliott, who sent his
congratulations to Michael Shank Racing's effort, has sat on the top of the
Daytona chart since 1987 when he posted a 210.364 mph effort in Daytona 500
qualifying.
“I'm surprised it has taken
this long,” Elliott said in a telephone interview.
The record stood all these
years in part because NASCAR restricted stock-car engine horsepower in 1988.
Braun, wheeling a Daytona
Prototype Riley powered by a 3.5-liter, six-cylinder, twin-turbocharged Ford EcoBoost engine, actually broke his own Daytona speed
record."
It was reported in our local
paper the other day that an inmate in the Orange County Jail received $4,000.00
in Social Services benefits over two months last year. Other inmates in NY have received over $230,000.00
in Social Services payments. Don’t ya just love how backasswards and
corrupt the system is?
This could be big for local
racing. Maybe drive profits up for
promoters and owners and cost to fans down.
NEW SPORTS PLATFORM WITH 50
MILLION ATTENDEES
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 8,
2013) - Today, H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler introduced “Speedway Benefits,” an alliance
of grassroots race tracks throughout the country which, collectively, has
greater attendance than the NFL, NHL, NBA and NASCAR-combined.
There are approximately 1,200
grassroots race tracks in the United States that host 50 million fans annually.
This represents over $1 trillion in consumer spending, equal to 6.5% of U.S.
GDP. This demographic consists primarily of working class people located in
suburban and rural
The alliance will benefit
grassroots race tracks, race track vendors and corporate marketers. Race tracks
collectively represent over $200 million in buying power. Speedway Benefits is
organized to pool these tracks together, allowing an opportunity for vendors to
provide high-volume discounts on a national level for products and services
that race tracks commonly purchase. The cost savings go directly to the race
tracks’ bottom line.
Corporate sponsors and
marketers are — for the first time — given an opportunity to directly market to
50 million primarily middle-class Americans through a brand new national sports
property. Additional sponsorship dollars also go to the race tracks’ bottom
line.
Tracks will still be able to
maintain and secure local and regional sponsorships and vendor partnerships by
category, if they choose. Race track owners/promoters can opt in or out of any
aspect of the program, allowing them to customize a program that meets their
specific needs. Speedway Benefits membership comes at no cost to founding
member tracks.
“As the motorsports scene changes, grassroots racing is seeing significant success
because of its tremendous appeal to the working people of this nation,” said
Wheeler. “However, they are doing it alone. Our new alliance will bring them
more fans, higher revenues and less expense.
“We are going to stick
strictly to these grassroots tracks and not the big tracks ofNASCAR,
Indy and NHRA. This collectivism of all the short tracks will change the face
of racing.
“Short track racing,
including ovals, drag strips and road courses, are the backbone of our sport
and yet they have been shorted on television, advertising and media coverage.
It is our intention to help fire the rockets to change this. There is more
excitement in racing at such tracks as Carolina Speedway, Lebanon Valley,
Skagit, Bowman Gray, Eldora and
“We just need to help these
operators let the world know this. These grassroots tracks just never got the
investment that fueled NASCAR’s growth in the last 25 years,” Wheeler
continued. “Imagine what can be accomplished by bringing a newly-united sport with
50 million avid race fans into the next decade.
“Big time racing has never
been healthier than its grassroots base, so what we are doing is going to help
the big tracks by growing new fans in places like Tulsa, Susquehanna, Traverse
City, Ukiah and other heartland cities and, at the same time, bring these
tracks what they have been missing for so long.”
Speedway Benefits is expected
to grow to 50 employees and create 1,000 new jobs across the country.
“We have put together a very
capable team of people and are investing significantly to make this happen,”
said Wheeler. “And some of the premier grassroots race tracks around the
country — from Steve Beitler’s Skagit Speedway in
“And for corporate
“This is a great idea to get
us sponsorship and cost savings,” said Beitler,
Speedway Benefits’ first member. “You are the guys to pull this off. I’m all
in.”
Speedway Benefits is a
partnership alliance and not a sanctioning body. Not only will Speedway
Benefits help secure discounted goods and services and sponsorships for race
track owners and promoters, but Humpy, his team and other top national
promoters will provide consulting services to include direct access to the
Speedway Benefits team, regularly scheduled webinars hosted by Wheeler, newsletters,
blog posts and exclusive content on the Speedway Benefits web site for members.
One of the most acclaimed and
admired short track promoters in the country is Commander, who was one of the
first to sign on as a Speedway Benefits member.
“Anybody who understands
business, understands that this is a no-brainer and something we should have
done a long time ago,” said Commander. “Fifty million people not only represent
more than $1 trillion in consumer spending, they have the power to elect the next
president of the
“The opportunity this
presents to corporate
Speedway Benefits is a
marketing alliance that consolidates the sponsorship negotiating rights and group
buying power of the approximately 1,200 grassroots race tracks in the
From Jayski:
Entry List for the Bank of
America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 43
teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #51-Kyle Larson(debut),
#33-Brian Scott(debut), #32-Hill, #47-Bobby Labonte,
#95-Sorenson, #40-Cassill. Since only 43 cars are entered, all drivers will
make the race.
Stewart Undergoes Third
Surgery on Leg:
#14-Tony Stewart underwent a
third surgery on his right leg early on Monday, Oct. 7 to examine and close a
wound on his shin stemming from the broken tibia and fibula he sustained in a
sprint car crash Aug. 5 at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Stewart
will remain hospitalized for observation. The surgery served as a proactive
measure and team officials do not expect it to impact Stewart’s return to the
No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet in 2014. Stewart’s first surgery on
Aug. 6 in
Franchitti, fans hurt in
Four-time IndyCar
Series champion Dario Franchitti was injured in a
multicar accident near the end of Sunday's Grand Prix of Houston. According to IndyCar medical director Dr. Michael Olinger,
Franchitti was awake and alert at the scene of the
crash. He was transported by ground to
Keselowski asks NASCAR about "100% effort":
Defending Sprint Cup champion
#2-Brad Keselowski asked NASCAR to clarify its
definition of 100% effort at the drivers’ meeting prior to Sunday’s NASCAR
Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Keselowski,
who was sent in to the wall by Kyle Busch during Saturday’s Nationwide series,
wanted to know if intentional wrecking fell under the guidelines established
after the controversy at the end of the race at Richmond last month.
The answer is whatever NASCAR
decides. It’s still on us to decide whether it’s aggressive, hard, NASCAR-type
racing, NASCAR president Mike Helton told Keselowski,
and when that racing turns out to be something other than that. That’s a
subjective call, but NASCAR-style racing is expected to be close, aggressive
and hard. It is possible to cross that line, and if that happens, we will step
into it. It’s a subjective line for us to decide when it happens, what the
difference is between NASCAR-style racing and something that’s intentional.(Kansas City Star)(10-7-2013)
2013 Sprint Cup Driver Chase
Championship Points Standings:
[after
1) #20-Matt Kenseth [7 wins], 2183
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson [5
wins], 2180, -3
3) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 2158, -25
4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 2151, -32
5) #18-Kyle Busch [4 wins],
2148, -35
6) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 2139, -44
7) #78-Kurt Busch, 2136, -47
8) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.,
2129, -54
9) #15-Clint Bowyer, 2128,
-55
10) #22-Joey Logano [1 win], 2124, -59
11) #99-Carl Edwards [2
wins], 2123, -60
12) #39-Ryan Newman, 2110,
-73
13) #5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins], 2100, -83
TNT & ESPN will finish
out TV contracts:
Statement from Steve Herbst, NASCAR Vice President of Broadcasting and
Production: "Despite speculation over the last month that NASCAR’s new
television agreement could be pushed up to the start of the 2014 season, NASCAR
has informed our broadcast partners today that FOX, Turner and ESPN will finish
the current term as originally planned. While we were humbled by the desire of
NBC and FOX to start 12 months early, we now consider this matter closed and
look forward to finishing our current agreement in 2014 with our great partners
at FOX, Turner and ESPN."(NASCAR)(10-6-2013)
MWR to lose another crew
chief:
#56 crew chief Chad Johnston
has asked for his release from Michael Waltrip Racing
at the end of the 2013 season. Johnston remains committed to driver Martin Truex Jr. and the #56 team and intends to battle for wins
in the next seven races. But with two children and another on the way, the
33-year-old engineer turned crew chief must consider his options. Everything is
uncertain,
Truex Jr. still unsure of 2014
plans:
#56-Martin Truex Jr. remains in limbo regarding his plans for 2014. Truex, who qualified 13th, is keeping his options open
while NAPA decides what direction it will take after the sponsor announced it
would terminate its’ relationship with Michael Waltrip
Racing at season’s end. I have no idea what I’m doing yet, Truex
said. I wish I knew.(FoxSports)(10-5-2013)
79-year-old Hylton says good bye to racing:
James Hylton
gingerly climbed out of his #48 car after an ARCA test at Kansas Speedway on
Friday, and nobody could blame him for moving a little bit slower than his
competitors. He's 79 years old, after all. The oldest driver to race in each of
NASCAR's three highest divisions, Hylton was calling
it a career after Friday night's race. The Cup rookie of the year in 1966, Hylton has spent the last several years of his career
racing in the ARCA series.(Associated Press)(10-5-2013)
Richmond International
Raceway president Dennis Bickmeier said on Friday
that RIR will remove the
Jeff Burton is nearing a deal
that will keep him in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next season.
The nasty court battle
between NASCAR CEO Brian and former wife Megan France has come to an end. For
years, much of that legal fight was hidden to the public because a judge sealed
the
MWR hoping to unveil new plan
soon:
Michael Waltrip
Racing majority owner Rob Kauffman told FOXSports.com on Sunday he hopes to
unveil the company’s reorganizational plan "relatively soon." The
moves will come following MWR’s penalties for
attempts to manipulate the outcome of the Richmond International Raceway race
on Sept. 7 and the subsequent announcement from
Sad News - Crystal Pauline
Jones Pistone:
Crystal Pauline Jones Pistone, 84, passed away peacefully at
Kvapil charged with assault:
Police in
From Track Forum:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forum.php
Found on the Track Forum:
Derrick Walker on
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?180817-Derrick-Walker-on-Houston-by-Marshall-Pruett
IndyCar's Derrick Walker on
http://www.racer.com/indycars-derrick-walker-on-houston-issues-resolutions/article/315475/2/
From the AARN:
Special items in this weeks edition:
This Week
In AARN:
Dominick Buffalino
& Pat Michael
Head For
The
Big Changes Coming To
Thompson;
Six-To-Eight Race Sched Seen
Fred Rahmer’s
Final
Grove National Open
Is A
Winning Ride
Brett Conkling
Rumbles Loudest
In
Big Block Mods
Bow To Jimmy Phelps
How (Nick) Sweet It Was
At Thunder Road’s Milk Bowl
New
Small Block Challenge
To Track Regular Gary Butler
Tarheel Riggins
Boots URC (Twice)
In
Mills Mod Win
In
To Deny Jester
The Track Crown
On Eve Of
Jimmy Horton Reflects
On His Hall Of Fame Career
Press releases:
NEWS FROM
Orange County Fair
CONTACT
Mike Gurda
845-342-2573
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NON-STOP RACING ON SATURDAY
OF EASTERN STATES WEEKEND
Small-Block Modifieds and 305 Sprint Cars Star on Saturday
MIDDLETOWN, NY (October
7)……..The Small-Block Modifieds, powered by 358-cubic
inch engines, will be the Saturday, October 25 headline attraction during the
52nd Annual Eastern States Weekend at Orange County Fair Speedway in
Middletown, New York. This year’s 37th Annual Eastern States Small-Block
Modified Championship Presented by Arkel Motors and
Dupree & Monroe PC race will be 100 laps in distance.
A star-studded lineup of top
Small-Block Modified drivers from the entire Northeast dirt track Modified
circuit will battle Orange County ’s weekly competitors for the trophy and top
prize money in this prestigious event.
Since its inception in 1977,
the Small-Block Modified race has had several different formats, having been
run at 50-, 75-, 100-, and 150-laps distances. The field for this year’s
100-lap race will be set through time trials and heat races, with the final
starters coming from consolation races all run prior to Saturday’s main event.
Two drivers, Brett Hearn,
Single Eastern States
Small-Block Modified champions include 2011 winner Jimmy Phelps, Bill y Decker,
Jerry Higbie, Alan Johnson, Dickie
Keiper, Mike Petruska Sr.,
Harry Behrent, and Anthony Ferraiuolo
IV.
Saturday’s card is one of the
busiest in all auto racing. In addition to the Small-Block Modified
Championship 100 race, the y will be joined by the 305 Sprint Cars, with timed
hot laps and qualifying races leading up to the ir
25-lap Eastern States Championship feature race. To cap off the day’s
activities, the big-block Modifieds will get a last
practice session during a break in the racing action.
Advance tickets for Saturday
or the entire Eastern States Weekend as well as camping and parking permits are
available at the Speedway Office during regular business hours, or credit card
sales (Visa and MasterCard) by calling 845-342-2573. Additional information can
be found at the official Orange County Fair Speedway website, www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net.
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/Oct. 2,
2013
Champions Congregate At Five
Mile Point Oct. 11-12 For Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc.-VP Racing Fuels Short
Track SuperNationals; Colsten,
Brown, Lawson, Pauch, Howard, Creeden,
Watt, Hartnett, Varin & Mahaney
Among Title Winners Taking Aim At ‘Working Man’s Race’ 2013 Cash; Lap Money Now
$1,830; Bonus Awards Top $10,000
When the sixth edition of the
Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc.-VP Racing Fuels Short Track SuperNationals
gets underway at Five Mile Point Friday-Saturday Oct. 11-12, a diverse
cross-section of talent will be present for the ‘Working Man’s Race’ of 2013.
The event is headlined on Saturday (Oct. 12) by a 50-lap big-block/small-block
Modified main paying $5,000-plus to the winner, including the Alpine Building
Supply ‘Roll the Dice Challenge’ cash and offers $455 just to take the green
flag.
Bonus money continues to
stream in for the event, promoted by Brett Deyo of BD
Motorsports Media. More than $10,000 in bonus cash, contingency awards and
product certificates will be distributed. Lap money for the 50-lap feature has
climbed to $1,830, including a hefty $500 Halfway Leader Bonus presented by
Dale and Sue Smith of
A complete list of the perks
and special awards can be found on the official Short Track SuperNationals
website: www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com under the SuperNationals
tab.
A number of Northeast
champions have set their sights on the SuperNationals,
led by 64-year-old Mike Colsten of Binghamton, N.Y.,
who not only fought off serious health issues, but earned his fourth career
Five Mile Point championship and first since 1991. Colsten
was diagnosed with mesothelioma during the off-season
with a grim prognosis. Colsten miraculously not only
returned to driving, but never finished outside the top 10 in 20 events
contested at Five Mile Point during the season. ‘The Recycler’ looks to defend
his home turf at the SuperNationals.
Jackie Brown Jr., a
first-time Modified champion at N.Y.’s Accord
Speedway, will make his SuperNationals debut with his
family fielded Hig Fab
Chassis No. 6X. Brown earned the most lucrative victory of his career at Accord
on Sept. 20 when he topped the Race of Champions Dirt Modified Tour ‘King of
the Catskills’ event, worth $5,000, by defeating superstar Danny Johnson.
From the high-banked Woodhull
(N.Y.) Raceway, Donnie Lawson brings short-track experience to the SuperNationals. Lawson, who resides in
Adding another chapter to his
Hall of Fame career, Billy Pauch of
For the third time in four
years, Duane Howard utilized his 358-Modified prowess at
A former winner at Five Mile
Point – including the prestigious Southern Tier Open in 2011 – Danny Creeden of
Representing the wide and
fast Bridgeport Speedway in South Jersey, Ryan Watt of
Kevin Hartnett of
Bobby Varin
of
Mike Mahaney,
a 24-year-old rising star from King Ferry, N.Y., took home his first
championship at I-88 Speedway in
The aforementioned champions
will be part of a talented field for the ’13 SuperNationals,
with two full days of racing on tap.
Saturday’s (Oct. 12) program
includes the Modified 50-lap event plus Race of Champions Street Stocks (25
laps) and Four Cylinders (18 laps). There is a rain date of Sunday (Oct. 13) in
place.
On Saturday, pit gates open
at 2 p.m., with grandstand gates swinging open at 3 p.m. RoC
Street Stock and Four Cylinder hot laps get underway at 4 p.m., with their
qualifying set to start at 4:45 p.m. Modifieds hit the track at 5:45 p.m. with hot laps and
qualifying at 6:30 p.m.
Fans attending the Saturday
portion have the option of purchasing a ‘Family Five Pack’ for just $45 to
include two Adult tickets, three Senior or Student tickets, five hot dogs and
five sodas.
Purchased individually, Adult
tickets sell for $19. Seniors (ages 62 and up) and Students (ages 13-17) pay
$15. Kids 12 and under are admitted FREE. Pit admission is $30 with any track
or series license and $35 without.
Touch of Green Landscaping in
For the first time since the
inaugural SuperNationals in 2006, there will be a
full Friday night racing program this year. On Friday (Oct. 11), the Sportsman
will headline a three-division show with a 30-lap event paying $1,500 to the
winner. Open and Crate 602 Sportsman with steel or aluminum wheels are eligible
to compete. Sail panels are permitted.
IMCA-style Modifieds, outfitted with optional sail panels, will run a
20-lap main event paying $400 to win and $100 for 10th (no entry fee). XCel 600 Modifieds complete the
program with a 20-lap main event. As in previous years, Friday open practice
for Modifieds will be available. Practice is set from
5-7 p.m. and between race events for those looking to shake down their
equipment in advance of Saturday’s program.
On Friday night, pit gates
open at 4 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 5 p.m. Modified open practice runs from
5-7 p.m. Hot laps for Sportsman, IMCA-style Modifieds and XCel 600 Modifieds begins at 7:15 p.m., with qualifying at 7:45 p.m.
Friday pricing is as follows:
$12 for Adults, $10 for Seniors (ages 62 and over) and
Students (ages 13-17) and Kids 12 and under are admitted FREE. Pit admission is
$30 for the backstretch (Sportsman, IMCA-style Modifieds
and XCel 600 Modifieds) and
$20 for Modifieds practicing (turn-four pit area).
The Red Roof Inn, located on
590 Fairview Street in Johnson City, N.Y., 13790, is offering 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.
Camping is permitted on the
speedway grounds free of charge off the backstretch area.
Full race information has
been posted on the BD Motorsports Media LLC website at
www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com under the SuperNationals
tab.
Event promoter Brett Deyo can be reached by e-mail at Deyo99H@aol.com or by
phone at 845.728.2781. “Like” BD Motorsports Media on Facebook
or follow on Twitter @BrettDeyo. Marketing opportunities
and lap sponsorships remain available. Five Mile Point Speedway is on the web at www.fivemilepointspeedway.net.
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/October
9, 2013
Sixth ‘Working Man’s Race’
Set For Green Flag This Weekend At Five Mile Point Speedway; Pioneer Pole
Buildings Inc.-VP Racing Fuels Short Track SuperNationals
Event Offers Two Full Days Of Racing; Modifieds
Headline Saturday Program With All-Star Field Expected; More Than $10,000 In Bonus Money Awaits
Racers
KIRKWOOD, NY – One year after
Danny Tyler popped a celebratory bottle of champagne in Victory Lane at Five
Mile Point Speedway, his 2012 Short Track SuperNationals
victory remains a topic of conversation.
“The best part about that
race,”
Originated as an affordable
Super DIRT Week alternative for weekend racers – not touring series stars
- the Short Track SuperNationals
has fit its ‘Working Man’s Race’ moniker. Budget racers mark their calendars
for the event – founded and promoted by Brett Deyo –
and fans know they’ll see a diverse field of big-block/small-block Modifieds in the pit area annually.
This weekend, Friday-October
11-12, Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. and VP Racing Fuels present the sixth
edition of the Short Track SuperNationals at the
centrally located Five Mile Point in
The Saturday portion (Oct.
12) is headlined, as it has been for the last five editions, by a 50-lap
Modified main event. The base winner’s share, including the ‘Roll the Dice
Challenge’ sponsored by Alpine Building Supply of Schuylkill Haven,
Race of Champions Street
Stocks (25 laps) and Four Cylinders (18 laps) complete the Saturday card, which
is run as a split program.
For the first time since the
event’s inaugural running in 2006, a complete racing program is set for Friday
night. Sportsman, Open vs. Crate 602 and outfitted with optional sail panels
and steel or aluminum wheels, run 30 laps paying $1,500 to the winner on
Friday. The Sportsman division has not been part of the SuperNationals
since ’06. IMCA-style Modifieds (20 laps) –sporting
sail panels for the first time in the Northeast – and Doug Borger’s traveling XCel 600 Modifieds (20 laps) join
the Friday night line-up, which also includes the traditional open practice for
Modifieds and other divisions shaking down equipment
for Saturday.
Rules packages for all
divisions are designed for maximum participation. Complete race information can
be found online at www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com.
“We’re very proud of the race
that the Short Track SuperNationals has become,” said
promoter Deyo. “Throughout the racing season, people
tell me how much they look forward to this race. It’s really taken on a life of its own and I
hope it continues to grow.”
SuperNationals History
It was spring of 2006 when
the first press release was issued for a new Modified race called the Short
Track SuperNationals. It was to be held as a
co-promotion involving Deyo and Pat and Janet Jordan,
the operators of N.Y.’s Afton Speedway where the race
was to be held.
“Everybody said we were crazy
running another race on
When Columbus Day weekend ’06
dawned, the naysayers were proven wrong. A healthy field of Modifieds
– 54 strong – and a total of 220 race cars converged on the
The ’06 season proved to be
the last for the
On Oct. 10, 2009, a tradition
was born.
Seventy Modifieds
turned out for the race’s ’09 running and Hirthler, a
Sportsman driver Justin
Holland, who at that juncture of his career had made less than a handful of
Modified starts, put his name on the map in the ’10 running. Holland, of Kauneonga Lake, N.Y., took home $6,650 by holding off Billy
Pauch Jr. in the 50-lap run, and prompting those not
in attendance to ask “Justin who?” when given word of the winner. The Short
Track SuperNationals checkered served as a
springboard for
Picture-perfect weather
conditions in ’11 prompted the race’s largest Modified car count in history:
79. Duane Howard,
During last year’s event, it
appeared Pauch Sr. would utilize an outside-pole
starting position to lead from green-to-checkered and earn his first-ever Five
Mile Point victory. However, Pauch’s hopes faded with
his right-rear tire and he fell to fourth as Tyler, Varin
and 22nd-starter Brian Weaver swept past to take the podium.
All five previous event
winners – Ricci, Hirthler,
Best of them all
Racing official and
statistician Doug Zupan compiled point standings
encompassing the five Short Track SuperNationals
editions run. Besting a total of 187 drivers who have attempted to qualify for
the event in his history is inaugural winner Ricci. The only driver to start all
five SuperNationals features, Ricci has a win (’06),
second (’09), eight (’11) and a pair of 11ths (’10 and ’12). Last year, Ricci
drove from 32nd starting position for his result.
Ricci has driven cars owned
by Jim Winchell, Jeff Mastrocola and Tony Kawalchuk to top the all-time point standings. This year,
he is slated to drive a No. 831 owned by his nephew Jimmy Wells. Ricci guided
the car to a win at Accord (N.Y.)
Eight drivers have attended
all five SuperNationals events: Ricci, Weaver, Grammes, Shaun Walker, Bobby Varin,
Mike Colsten, Dan Hineline
and Glenn Knapp. All are expected to extend their attendance record this
weekend.
Champions Congregate
No less than 11 champions
will descend on Five Mile Point to compete in the SuperNationals.
Previous event winner Howard,
for the third time in four years, topped the $10,000-plus American Racer East
Coast Modified Cup championship fight. The Oley,
Other track champs planning
to take part include Mike Colsten (Five Mile Point),
Jackie Brown Jr. (Accord Speedway), Pauch Sr. (N.J.’s
New Egypt Speedway), Donnie Lawson (N.Y.’s Woodhull
Raceway), Danny Creeden (N.Y.’s
Orange County Fair Speedway – 358-Modified), Ryan Watt (N.J.’s Bridgeport
Speedway), Kevin Hartnett (Pa.’s Penn Can Speedway), Varin
(N.Y.’s Glen Ridge Motorsports Park), Mike Mahaney (N.Y.’s I-88 Speedway)
and Rusty Smith (N.Y.’s Spencer Speedway – pavement
Modified).
Major Money
The ’13 Short Track SuperNationals boasts the most lucrative bonus money payout
in the history of the event. More than $10,000 in cash, lap money, product and
contingencies has been collected by event management for the two-day program.
The wealth will be spread throughout the roster of drivers: from those unable
to qualify to the event winner.
Field Takes Shape
The Short Track SuperNationals is known for its cross-section of Modified
talent.
Five Mile Point’s home-track
stars set to battle include Colsten, Kevin Bates (a
top-three SuperNationals finisher in ’10), Season
Championship Night winner Chris Wood, Barry White (top-10 finisher last year),
Brian Malcolm, Knapp and others.
Big Diamond and
Frank Cozze,
an inductee to the DIRTcar NorthEast
Hall of Fame in June, will participate in his first SuperNationals
since the inaugural race in ’06 driving Norm Hansell’s
No. 357. Cozze brings a guaranteed starting position
from
Southern Tier star Weaver, a
17-time track champion in the Southern Tier, is set to contend for victory with
Ron Dieffenbach’s No. 1A. Weaver has three top-five
finishes in four SuperNationals events he has started
(engine problems sidelined his efforts in the ’09 event prior to the main
event).
Five of the top-six drivers
in the point standings at I-88 Speedway are expected to attend, led by champion
Mahaney, runner-up
Mike Schane
and Adam MacGeorge are two first-time Penn Can
representatives who have filed ’13 entries.
From Woodhull, Billy Van Pelt
– who has endured a trying SuperNationals record –
joins track champion Lawson in an attempt to bring a victory to the contingent
from Ted White’s high-banked oval.
Accord
Tommy Meier, an Accord and
Orange County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway regular, plans his second SuperNationals visit driving Jeff Behrent’s
No. 33 1/3 small-block.
Versatile Billy Pauch Jr., who splits his time in SpeedSTRs,
Midgets, Sprint Cars and Modifieds, has finished no
worse than ninth in three SuperNationals attempts,
including a second in ’10, and brings his self-owned No. 15 to the SuperNationals.
Sportsman Stars
With the Sportsman division
competing on Friday night, a number of drivers are planning double-duty.
Included in that group is Grandview Speedway Sportsman champion Jared Umbenhauer, who will drive Barry Bashore’s
No. 5 on Friday and Ed Nowotarski’s No. 11 Saturday.
Anthony Perrego
brings his No. 18 Sportsman for Friday’s headliner, while driving the Gary Mann
New York Truck Parts ride on Saturday.
Nick Petrilak,
Five Mile Point champ in the Sportsman ranks, is set to run for the Friday
$1,500 payday Friday. He will also drive a No. 72 Modified entry in Saturday’s
event: his first outing in the SuperNationals.
Sportsman competitors are
invited to stick around and compete with the Modifieds
on Saturday. Their entry fee will be discounted to half-price should they stay.
Among the Sportsman regulars planning to take up the offer is third-generation
driver Randy Green.
A healthy mix of Crate and
602 Sportsman talent have indicated they will try their hand at the ‘Friday
Night Lights’ portion of the SuperNationals.
Busy Schedule
Saturday’s (Oct. 12) schedule
is once again staggered. Street Stocks and Four Cylinders, with hot laps at 4
p.m. and heats at 4:45 p.m., will have their qualifying events completed before
Modifieds hit the track for their hot laps at 5:45
p.m. The first Modified heat takes the green at 6:30 p.m.
On Friday, the speedway will
be open for practice beginning at 5 p.m. and running for two full hours through
7 p.m. Hot laps for Sportsman, IMCA-style Modifieds and XCel 600 Modifieds get underway at 7:15 p.m., with racing to follow
at 7:45 p.m.
Affordability First
The Short Track SuperNationals is the ‘Working Man’s Race’ for competitors
and fans. Saturday grandstand admission for the event is affordable, with
Adults paying $19, Senior (ages 62 and over) and Student (ages 13-17) admission
at $15 and kids 12 and under FREE. Saturday pit admission is $30 (with any
track or series license) or $35 (without).
A ‘Family Five Pack’
promotion offers two Adult tickets, three Senior/Student tickets, five hot dogs
and five sodas for $45.
Additionally, Touch of Green
Landscaping (
Friday night admission is $12
(Adults), $10 (Seniors ages 62 and over) and Students
(ages 13-17) and kids 12 and under are FREE. Friday pit admission is $30.
Both camping and parking are
free for both days.
The Next Chapter
Short Track SuperNationals ’13, the most lucrative in event history,
will likely offer its share of surprises and memories. With the higher-funded
teams at Super DIRT Week, could another Justin Holland or Danny Tyler shock the
Modified world? Will there be a first repeat winner?
A full weekend of racing will
tell the tale.
“I’m very optimistic about
this year’s event,” Deyo said. “We’ve had so many
positive phone calls and inquiries. Sponsorship is up, so the racers will
benefit, and the fan interest is there. The Friday program is shaping up
nicely. I can’t wait to be part of another ‘Working Man’s Race’ weekend.”
To learn more, contact Five
Mile Point Speedway at 607.775.5555 or event promoter Brett Deyo
Motorsports Media LLC at 845.728.2781. Five Mile Point
The Short Track SuperNationals is presented by Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc.,
VP Racing Fuels, Touch of Green Landscaping, All Fab,
Dale Smith, Small Engine Fuel, American Racer/Lias
Tire, Manmiller Electric, Alpine Building Supply,
Trackside Products, BFP Specialty, Behrent’s
Performance Warehouse, Sleepy Hollow Turf, Court Street Subway, Accord
Speedway, Jack’s Used Race Car Parts, Troyer Race Cars, Hig
Fab, New Egypt Speedway, Keith Sweigart
Electric, S&D Bodyline, Tonarlo’s Pizza, Shiley Fabrication, Tim Long, Penn Can Speedway ‘King of
the Can’ Weekend, Crunchco Snacks, Mirabilis Cattle,
S&W Awards, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Elmo’s Auto Body, S&W Awards and
more fine marketing partners.
Short Track SuperNationals Five-Year Event History
October 6, 2012 (Five Mile
Point): DANNY TYLER – Bobby Varin – Brian Weaver –
Billy Pauch Sr. – Mitch Gibbs
October 7, 2011 (Five Mile
Point): DUANE HOWARD – Danny Tyler – Billy Pauch Sr.
– Jeff Strunk – Jeff Heotzler
October 9, 2010 (Five Mile
Point): JUSTIN HOLLAND – Billy Pauch Jr. – Kevin
Bates – Brian Weaver – Danny Tyler
October 10, 2009 (Five Mile
Point): KEVIN HIRTHLER – Mike Ricci – Mike Gular –
Sean Merkel – Joey Grammes
October 7, 2006 (Afton): MIKE
RICCI – J.R. Hurlburt – Brian Weaver – Joey Grammes –
Each event victor earns a
guaranteed starting position in the VP Racing Fuels-Pioneer Pole Buildings
Short Track SuperNationals at Five Mile Point
Speedway Saturday, October 12, 2013, worth $455
Friday, March 15, 2013 –
Selinsgrove Speedway/Selinsgrove, PA – DUANE HOWARD
Sunday, March 24, 2013 – Big
Diamond Speedway/Minersville, PA – CRAIG VON DOHREN
Saturday,
July 6, 2013 – New
Saturday, July 13, 2013 –
Tuesday, July 16, 2013 – Five
Mile Point
Saturday, August 3, 2013 –
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 –
Utica-Rome Speedway/Vernon, NY – MATT SHEPPARD
Friday, August 23, 2013 –
Penn Can Speedway/Susquehanna, PA – ADAM MACGEORGE
Friday, August 30, 2013 –
I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY
-
Friday, September 13, 2013 –
Accord Speedway/Accord, NY – JEFF HEOTZLER
Friday, September 27, 2013 –
Glen Ridge Motorsports Park/Fultonville, NY – PAT
WARD
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
Going back, in time:
October 10, 1948 is the date
that Ted Horn ran his last race.
October 12,
1948 us the date that Johnny Ritter ran his last race.
October 12, 1950 is the date
when Drew Fornoro was born.
October 12, 1997 is the date
we lost singer John Denver.
Note: Linked below are the links to the photo
article I did a while back on Johnny Ritter.
The Johnny Ritter articles:
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/ta/JohnnyRitternewpart1.htm
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/ta/JohnnyRitternewpart2.htm
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/ta/JohnnyRitternewpart3.htm
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/ta/JohnnyRitternewpart4.htm
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/ta/JohnnyRitternewpart5.htm
I get emails:
email:
Subject: Observation
OBSERVATION
The difference between the
Supreme Court and the Ku Klux Klan is
that the members of the Supreme Court dress in black
robes, and scare
white people.
And, this one, too:
Amazing it really works this
is my all-time favorite movie.
I am very good at math, so I
did it in my head, then on paper, and finally on a calculator just to confirm
my numerical capabilities.
Each time I got the same
answer, and sure enough it IS my very favorite movie EVER!
DO NOT cheat. DO YOUR math, THEN
compare the results to the list of movies at the bottom
You will be AMAZED at how
scary true and accurate this test is
1. Pick a number from 1-9.
2. Multiply that number by 3.
3. Add 3.
4. Multiply by 3 again.
5. Your total will be a two
digit number. Add the first and second digits together to find your favorite
movie (of all time) in the list of 17 movies below:
Movie List:
1. Gone With the Wind
2. E.T.
3. Blazing Saddles
4. Star Wars
5. Forrest Gump
6. The Good, the Bad, and the
Ugly
7. Jaws
8. Grease
9. The Obama Farewell Speech
10.
11.
12. Shrek
13. Pirates of the
14. Titanic
15. Raiders of the Lost
16. Home Alone
17. Mrs. Doubtfire
Now, isn't that something?
Racing videos:
When Phil Walters started out
in his racing career, he used a different name, so his family would not know of
his participating in such a dangerous sport.
He used the name “Ted Tappett” throughout both
his midget racing career and also his stock car racing career. He went back to his original name when he
started racing Sports/Racing cars for Briggs Cunningham.
Now I always thought I knew
quite a lot about the drivers that I was able to see race when I started going
to the races back in 1946 – watching the mighty midgets here in the
Northeast. I never knew that the “Tappett” name was a “secret” from his family, for only
about a week. That comes out in the very
first minute of the video, below. No, I
have no idea as to why he didn’t drop his fake name and race under the family
name, right away, and not years later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rTAOurW6lFo
And, the 1955 LeMans disaster:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KPbdEick5w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZQkGXBFjhE
This weeks
photo:
Ted Horn at
Langhorne – Frank Smith photo.
Notice how
high the stands are over on the left (1st turn end) of the stands
are? At the other end they’re not raised at
all. The track, for drainage, was lower
at the first turn end. More than likely
that helped form what was called “Puke Hollow” in turn one – if you can call it
turn one when the track was a circle.
Music video:
Some John Denver tunes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkGS263lGsQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt4Omw6NGLc&list=PL55EEB2BEB96F2536
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4aVEbHR8UE
Joke of the week:
Groups of Americans were
traveling by tour bus through
As they stopped at a cheese
farm, a young guide led them through
the process of cheese making, explaining that goat's milk
was used.
She showed the group a lovely
hillside where many goats were grazing.
'These' she explained, 'Are
the older goats put out to pasture when they no longer produce.'
She then asked, 'What do you
do in
A spry old gentleman answered,
'They send us on bus tours!
Note: As of now, there will be no column next
week!
Until the next column!
I can be reached, via e-mail, at: ygordad@yahoo.com