Mostly Racin' Stuff

                                      By Tom Avenengo

                                         Volume # 180

                                                   05/08/2014

 

Some personal/family stuff:

 

On Monday, at 3:30 PM the wife had an appointment to schedule her next colonoscopy.  Both of us have an appointment on Wednesday to see a new doctor.  Late Sunday I sent a PM to my daughter Sandy, who we stayed with while in Florida, to have her contact the cardiologist I had down there to see if it’s possible for more adjustments made to my Pacemaker.  Stamina is all gone again.  I had it adjusted while in Florida and it made a huge difference.

I still think it’s the higher altitude and cooler weather that has some effect on how I’m feeling.  I’m due to get my Pacemaker checked out on 6/13.  The wife’s colonoscopy will be on 5/22.

 

On a brighter note – our daughter, Judy Kehlenbeck, asked me a while back if I’d like to accompany her to her daughters (our granddaughter) Kathleen’s  Spring Athletic Banquet Program, at the Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa. this past Wednesday, May 7th, at the Lackawanna College Reception Hall.

We knew that “Kat” was going to get some kind of an award for her playing on the softball team, which she did.  She was also mentioned as one of the women on the women’s basketball team.  The very last award given out during the ceremonies was the Sterling B. Seeley Award.  It was quite a shock to here the name Kathleen Kehlenbeck named as the recipient of that award.  It was quite a shock to “Kat”, too!

 

The Award:

 

The Sterling B. Seeley Award – The Seeley Award is given annually to an individual who demonstrates all-around abilities as a student and an athlete as well as an active involvement in the community. It is named in honor of Sterling B. Seeley, who was an essential part of the administration of this college for over forty-five years. He was the person responsible for the introduction of many of Lackawanna College's athletic programs and for making those programs a vital segment of the college. The Sterling B. Seeley award is the most prestigious honor that can be bestowed on a Lackawanna College student athlete and is the summation of all that the college wants its sports programs to embody.

 

Below is a photo of Judy, me and “Kat”, with her awards.  If Judy looks a little red in the face, she had an excuse.  The tears were flowing!

 

“Kat”:  Special congrats from your Nanny & Pop Pop!!

 

As usual, photos can only be seen on:  http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/

 

 

 

 

Racin’ stuff:

 

Gotta love rainy Saturdays – Not!  Or gotta love when during the morning hours, a track cancels their night time show due to a weather forecast.  Of course those forecasted rains were basically, if anything, a passing shower.

 

Methinks – if your driver has a problem on the track with another driver – it’s best to keep comments off of the Internet and “Social Media”.

 

So, on Tuesday evening, while working on this column, I thought that for the h*ll of it, I’d check out the OCFS website and see if they have corrected their link to MyLaps.  I mean, I did send a request for them to do so via an email, remember?  Guess what?  It still comes up as “Oops, something went wrong” and “Page not found”.   I guess I’ll have to take it that no one else has asked them to make the correction?

 

 

2014 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Month of May Schedule

 

May 3, 2014 – 11:41 am |  123  0  137  1 

2014 INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY MONTH OF MAY SCHEDULE

(All times local, subject to change)

 

Thursday, May 8 GRAND PRIX OF INDIANAPOLIS

PRACTICE - Free Admission

 

9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.,     Public Gates Open

10 a.m-5:30 p.m.,     Verizon IndyCar Series & Mazda Road to Indy Practice

10 a.m.-10:45 a.m.,   Verizon IndyCar Series practice

11 a.m.11:45 a.m.,    USF2000 Practice

Noon-12:45 p.m.,      Pro Mazda Practice

1 p.m.-1:45 p.m.,     Indy Lights Practice

2 p.m.-2:45 p.m.,     Verizon IndyCar Series Practice

3 p.m.-3:30 p.m.,     USF 2000 Practice

3:45 p.m.-4:15 p.m.,  Pro Mazda Practice

4:30 p.m.5:15 p.m.,   Indy Lights Practice

5:30 p.m., Celebration of Automobiles Track Laps Begin

 

Friday, May 9 GRAND PRIX OF INDIANAPOLIS QUALIFYING / RACE - $20 admission, 12 and under free

 

9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.,     Public Gates Open

10 a.m.-10:45,        Verizon IndyCar Series Practice

11 a.m.-11:45 a.m.,   USF2000 Qualifying

Noon-12:45 p.m.,      Pro Mazda Qualifying

1 p.m.-1:45 p.m.,     Indy Lights Qualifying

2:00 p.m.-3:10 p.m.,  Verizon IndyCar Series Qualifying

3:30 p.m.-4:10 p.m.,  USF2000 Race #1

4:30 p.m.-5:10 p.m.,  Pro Mazda Race #1

5:30 p.m.-6:10 p.m.,  Indy Lights Race #1

7 p.m.  Rev Methodist Health Foundation, in Partnership with Indiana

University Health, Event Begins (Separate Admission)

 

Saturday, May 10 GRAND PRIX OF INDIANAPOLIS RACE DAY - Tickets start at $25, 12 and under free

 

7 a.m.-6 p.m.,        Public Gates Open

7 a.m.-4 p.m.,        Celebration of Automobiles

10 a.m.               Firestone "Race Car" Pin Distribution, Pagoda Plaza

11:00 a.m.-11:50,     USF2000 Race #2

12:10 p.m.-1 p.m.,    Pro Mazda Race #2

1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.,  Indy Lights Race #2

2:45 p.m.,            IMS Grid Girl Entrance - Pagoda Yard of Bricks

3:50 p.m.,            Grand Prix of Indianapolis Race Begins

 

Sunday, May 11 - Thursday, May 15 INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRACTICE - $15 admission, 12 and under free

 

10 a.m.-6 p.m.,       Public Gates Open

Noon-6 p.m.,          Practice

 

Friday, May 16 FAST FRIDAY PRACTICE - $15 admission, 12 and under free

 

10 a.m.-6 p.m.,       Public gates Open

Noon-6 p.m.,          Practice

 

Saturday, May 17 QUALIFYING DAY 1 - $20 admission, 12 and under free

 

7 a.m.-6 p.m.,        Public Gates Open

8:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m.,  Verizon IndyCar Series Group 1 Practice

8:30 a.m.-9 a.m.,     Verizon IndyCar Series Group 2 Practice, 500

                      Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard Begins

9 a.m.-10 a.m.,       Verizon IndyCar Series (All) Practice

10 a.m.,              Chevy Pin Distribution Begins - Pagoda Plaza

10:15 a.m.,           Qualifying Pre-Race Show, Pagoda Plaza

11:00 a.m.-5:50 p.m., Verizon IndyCar Series Qualifying

2 p.m.,               LIVE Concert, Pagoda Plaza Stage

 

Sunday, May 18 OLD NATIONAL ARMED FORCES POLE DAY - $20 admission, 12 and under free

 

7 a.m.-4 p.m.,        Public Gates Open

8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.,  Verizon IndyCar Series Practice

9:45 a.m.,            Enlistment Ceremony Begins - Plaza Stage

10:15 a.m.,           Verizon IndyCar Series Group 1 Qualifying Begins (Positions 10 - 30)

11 a.m.               Rapid Fire Concert, Plaza Stage

12:15 p.m.,           American Dairy Pin Distribution Begins, Pagoda Plaza

12:45 p.m.-1:30 p.m., Verizon IndyCar Series Group 2 Qualifying Begins

                      (Positions 31 - 33)

2:00 p.m.-2:45 p.m.,  Verizon IndyCar Series Fast 9 Qualifying

3:00 p.m.,            Verizon Pole Award Celebration

 

Monday, May 19 INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRACTICE - $15 admission, 12 and under free

 

10 a.m.-6 p.m.,       Public Gates Open

Noon-5 p.m.,          Practice

 

Tuesday, May 20 NO TRACK ACTIVITY

 

Wednesday, May 21 AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE 500 FESTIVAL COMMUNITY Day (No Track Activity) $10 gate admission, 6 and under free

9 a.m.-6 p.m.,        Public Gates Open

10 a.m.-10:50 a.m.,   500 Festival Pin Distribution, Pagoda Plaza

11 a.m.-Noon,         Indy Lights Drivers Autograph Session, Pagoda Pavilion

1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.,  Indianapolis 500 Driver Autograph Group #1, Pagoda Pavilion

                      (Wristbands Required)

3 p.m.-4 p.m.         Indianapolis 500 Driver Autograph Group #2,

                      Pagoda Pavilion. (Wristbands Required)

4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.   Indianapolis 500 Driver Autograph Group #3,

                      Pagoda Pavilion (Wristbands Required)

 

Thursday, May 22 INDY LIGHTS PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING - Free

 

8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.,     Public Gates Open

9:00 a.m.-Noon,       Indy Lights Practice

1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m.,  Indy Lights Qualifying

 

Friday, May 23 COORS LIGHT CARB DAY - $30 admission, 12 and under free

 

8 a.m.-6 p.m.,         Public Gates Open

8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.,   Vintage Car Exhibition

10 a.m.-11 a.m.,       Firestone Pin Distribution, Pagoda Plaza

11:00 a.m.-Noon,       Verizon IndyCar Series Practice Begins

12:30 p.m.-1:20 p.m.,  Indy Lights Race Begins

1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.,   Pit Stop Competition Begins

3:30 p.m.,             Carb Day Concert Begins Featuring Sammy Hagar and the Wabos  and Sublime With Rome

7:00 p.m.–9:30 pm.,    Meet Angela Savage, daughter of the late Swede Savage, at the Indianapolis Museum of Art

 

Saturday, May 24 LEGENDS DAY HONORING MARIO ANDRETTI PRESENTED BY FIRESTONE - $10 admission, 12 and under free

 

8 a.m.-8 p.m.,         Public Gates Open, Vintage Car Display, Memorabilia Show

8:45 a.m.,             Rookie Chat - Pagoda Plaza Stage

9:00 a.m.-10 a.m,      Full Field Autograph Session Pagoda Plaza

9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m.,  Vintage Race Car Laps

10:30 a.m.-11 a.m.,    Public Drivers Meeting, Tower Terrace

12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.,  Legends of IMS Radio Q&A, Pagoda Plaza Stage

1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.,   Former Driver Autograph Session A, North Chalet

2:30 p.m.-3 p.m.       Q&A with Mario Andretti - Pagoda Plaza Stage

3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.,   Former Driver Autograph Session B, Mario Andretti Meet and Greet (Wristband Holders Only)

5:30 p.m.,             Tyler Farr Concert Begins followed by Jason Aldean Concert at 6:30 p.m. on Turn 4 Stage (Separate Admission)

 

Sunday, May 25 98th INDIANAPOLIS 500 RACE DAY - Tickets start at $40

 

5:30 a.m.-6 p.m.,      Public Gates Open

8 a.m.,                Parade of Bands

10:50 a.m.,            Vintage Car Laps

11:33 a.m.,            Driver Introductions

Noon,                  Start of 98th Indianapolis 500 (200 laps)

***

2014 ticket information : Ticket information is available for the four events in 2014 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, 98th Indianapolis 500, Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard and Red Bull Indianapolis GP.

 

Fans can order tickets at www.ims.com/tickets , by calling 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday or by visiting the IMS Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.

 

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.

 

Source: Indiandapolis Motor Speedway

 

See more at: http://www.catchfence.com/2014/press/05/03/2014-indianapolis-motor-speedway-month-of-may-schedule/#sthash.dGfm6Rr9.dpuf

 

 

 

 

 

Coming up:

 

Saturday, June 7th at OCFS – Nostalgia Night.

 

Info found on Facebook on Tuesday, May 6th:

 

Nostalgia Night update; Drivers/Owners planning on attending June 7th at OCFS; Carl Van Horn, Sonny & John Strupp, Bobby & Steve Bottcher, Frankie Schneider, Tighe Scott, LeRoy Amy, Hank Goranson, Rich Maranelli, Tony & Anthony Ferraiuolo, Carl Collis, Carl Reynolds, B.C. Wood,Chuck McKee, Jeff Farber, Ed D'Anglo, Rich Eurich, Bill Wilson, Jerry Morgan, Jerry Wildrick, Lou Inzeo, Peter Chichitano, Bud Christman, Bob Decker, Red Muir, Jerry Howard, Ron & Scott Goodrich, Bruce Quinn, Joe Romer Jr, Bob Schmitt, Bud DePuy, Jim Tuit, Steve Makocy, Russ Meyer, Ed Davis, Stan Sherman, Keith Majka, Tom Allen, Roger Horvath, Chris Kelley, Gary Palmer, Terry Zuidema, Loren Holland Sr, Carl Pittenger, Kenny Leach, Harry Shortway, Jack Whitehead, Gary Edwards Sr., Bob Dini, Steve Dodd,Ed Stevens, George Vanderwall, Nick Illobre, Jackie DuBois, Everett Haubrick...That's 59 Drivers ....so far....waiting on call backs for others. Please repost, spread the news, etc. This will be a fun night!! Doug

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, times have changed – but for the better?

 

Facebook - 5/6/14 on the 500:

 

What a modern day father tells his son about the Indy 500

"just think, if you get rich enough one day you too can run the Indianapolis 500."

 

Sad, but true. The 500 went from "The 33 best drivers in the world" to the 33 best funded drivers in the world.

 

It's been that way for a while now.

 

I was just reading how in 1966 Gary Bettenhausen was declined his entry and told to get more experience and come back next year. Times have sure changed.

 

you don't need to be rich, you need to be able to sell a sponsorship program to a sponsor. A background or aptitude in marketing is just as essential of a skill as driving.

 

and therein lies the problem.

 

That said, I am still looking forward to Indy

 

My sons dream was to race Indy, I told him we have to win the lotto.

 

AND a big one

 

Im still tying to figure out how dirt track racers can afford it.

 

They can't.

 

Period.

 

 

 

 

 

Former OVRP Dirt Oval runners:

 

At Accord last Friday, Danny Creeden was 4th, Tom Hindley 9th and Anthony Perrego 20th in the Modified feature.  In the held over Modified feature from the previous week, Tom was 4th, Anthony 6th, Danny 13th.  Tyler Boniface was a DNS.  Joey Bruning was 4th in the Spec Sportsman feature.  Wyatt Clark was 2nd in the All Star Slingshot feature.

 

Brad Szulewski was 9th in the Sportsman feature at 5 Mile.  Danny Creeden was 7th and Mike Mammana 16th in the Modified feature.

 

At OCFS, LJ Lombardo won the Sportsman feature, with Matt Janiak 2nd, Joe Conklin 4th, Brian Krummel 5th, Dominick Roselli, Jr 13th and Andrew Reeves 21st.  Believe Joey Falanga and Johnny Illanovsky were  DNQ’s.  Antony Falanga was 8th in the Rookie Sportsman feature.

As for the CRSA 305 Sprint Cars – they lost their feature to the weather and will open up the May 31st show with their race.  However, in the heat races, Emily VanInwegen was 4th in the first heat and Joe Kata was 7th.  I read on Facebook that Joe lost an engine.  In the second heat, Brittany Tresch was 4th and Danny Hennessey was 6th.  I only saw 15 names listed for the CRSA – I imagine weather kept some away?

 

Nick Pecko was 15th in the Modified feature at Chemung.

 

At Susquehanna, in the Late Model feature, Ben Whitaker was 17th.

 

Danny Buccafusca was 13th in the Rookie Wingless 600 Micro Sprint feature at Hamlin.  The All Star Slingshots, 270 Micros and 600 Wingless Micro features were victims of the wet weather.  The 600’s have been re-scheduled for May 24th.

 

At Bethel, JB Morris was 7th and Joe Morris 15th in the 4 Cylinder Advanced feature. 

 

Tyler Dippel was 25th, Brett Wright 26th and Alex Bell 29th in the Modified feature at A/S.  Hunter Bates was 5th, LJ Lombardo 14th and Brian Krummel 27th in the Sportsman feature.

 

Ben Whitaker was 4th in the Late Model  feature at Big Diamond.

 

Molly Chambers was 16th in the Wingless 600 Micro feature at Linda’s.

 

Davie Franek was 3rd in the 360 Sprint Car feature at Selinsgrove.

 

32 names this week.

 

 

A little trip back in time:

 

A few Midget racing results from 1941:

 

Cedarhurst Speedway, NY

7th May 1941

 

1 Henry Banks Mike Caruso Offenhauser 30 laps 

ARDC Midget races.

 

 

Cedarhurst Speedway, NY

10th May 1941

 

1 Bill Schindler 30 laps

 

ARDC Midget races.

 

 

Danbury Speedway, CT

11th May 1941

 

Feature

1 Henry Banks

2 Bill Schindler

3 Johnny Sweir

 

ARDC midgets

 

 

Yellow Jack Speedway, PA

12th May 1941 – 1/5 mile dirt oval

 

1 Harry Felton

 

AAA Midget races.

 

 

 

Castle Hill Speedway, NY

13th May 1941

 

1 Johnny Ritter Ritter Elto 30 laps

 

AAA midget races

 

 

Cedarhurst Speedway, NY

14th May 1941

 

1 Bill Holmes 30 laps

 

ARDC Midget races.

 

 

West Haven Speedway, CT

15th May 1941

 

25 laps - Feature

 1 Bob Walker

 2 Ted Tappett

 3 Bill Holmes

 

ARDC Midget races

 

 

And, further back in time:

 

There have been some emails back and forth with the Yahoo! Race History Group about some Midget races held in Argentina.

 

Here’s one of them:

 

“The Argentina trip was in 1938; the New Zealand adventure was a year earlier.

Bruce Hiney

Ottawa, Canada

 

The article read:

On November 5, 1938 a group of drivers, car owners and cars sailed from New York on the S.S. Argentina to Buenos Aires for a series of midget races. These included Rufe Anderson, Babe Bower, Frankie Bailey, Jack Moon, Dick Lynch, Red Redmond, Oscar Ridlon, Joe McKee, Norm Bowell, Bill Morrissey, Mike Joseph, Jim McCarron, Clyde Dotter, Buster Warke, Hal Burdette, Bub Walker, Harry Hart, Roscoe Hough,  Ted Hartley, Harry Lewis, Karl Hattel, Lou Hoffer, Cliff Hemingway, Len Golen, Dave Wilt, Don White, (Bill Heiserma and Al Stewart-AAA officials) and “Mr. and Mrs. Duane Carter”.

A total of 25 cars and drivers made the trip. Each driver was to receive $75 per week in salary with two races to take place each week with a minimum purse of $1,000 per race.

Bruce Hiney

 

Ottawa, Canada

 

Note:  During my involvement with racing, as a spectator, I did manage to see Red Redmond, Mike Joseph, Buster Warke, Roscoe Hough, Len Golen and Duane Carter race at various tracks here in the northeast.

 

 

 

Some interesting threads on the DTD forum –

 

Is 20 the new 24?

 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/50629-is-20-the-new-24/

 

Issue with stadium seats?? Anyone else??

 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/50624-issue-with-stadium-seats-anyone-else/

 

Updating track web sites

 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/50631-updating-track-web-sites/

 

Hig Fab Adds Great Incentive To Five Mile Pt. Sportsman Class.

 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/50619-hig-fab-adds-great-incentive-to-five-mile-pt-sportsman-class/

 

 

 

 

Day 4: Richard Petty reflects on retirement

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/day-4-richard-petty-reflects-170400052--nascar.html

 

 

Jeremy Mayfield:

 

Remember him?  It might interest you in what’s been happening.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozcm9OX9_jw

 

 

 

 

From Jayski:

http://www.jayski.com/

 

Kyle Busch cited for speeding:

#18-Kyle Busch was issued a speeding citation on April 29 in Denver, NC on suspicion of traveling 60 mph in a 45 mph zone. According to the police report, the stop happened in front of Beach's Grocery. Busch said he thought the speed limit was 55 mph. The officer commented in the police report that Busch had a "disrespectful attitude." He was driving a Lexus sedan when he was stopped around 7:45 pm. This is not Busch's first documented driving incident. In 2006, he was ticketed for reckless driving after he "chirped" his tires while pulling out of a Richmond, Va., gas station and into a fast-food restaurant next door. Busch was cited for careless and reckless driving and speeding in 2011 when he was stopped in Iredell County for going 128 mph in a 45 mph zone.(WWOC)(5-5-2014)

 

 

Camping World extends NASCAR deal to sponsor Truck Series:

NASCAR announced it has reached a seven-year agreement with Camping World to remain the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series through 2022. The new deal ensures that Camping World will own exclusive rights as title sponsor for a total of 14-consecutive years, equaling the longest entitlement sponsorship in the history of the national series, which is celebrating its 20th season. The renewed partnership aligns two brands in the midst of significant growth. Since originally becoming series entitlement sponsor in 2009, Camping World has expanded its number of stores by 35%, resulting in the company eclipsing $3 billion in annual revenue. The new deal provides Camping World exclusive rights to market its Good Sam Roadside Assistance program as the Official Roadside Assistance of NASCAR. With a network that includes 40,000 tow and service providers in North America, Good Sam Roadside Assistance has provided roadside services to more than two million stranded motorists in the past 30 years. Additionally, the new agreement provides official NASCAR status to two growing automobile companies; CarCash as the Official Auto Buying Service of NASCAR, and AutoMatch USA, as the Official Pre-owned Automobile Retailer of NASCAR. CarCash, featured on Season 1 of CNBC's The Profit, purchases used cars from individuals in return for immediate cash. AutoMatch USA, featured on Season 2 of CNBC's The Profit, specializes in the sale of foreign and domestic pre-owned cars of all makes and models.(NASCAR)

AND The recreational vehicle retailer, which became title sponsor of the series in 2009, signed a seven-year extension that will begin in 2016. The deal is valued at more than $5 million a year in rights fees and media commitments.(Sports Business Journal)(5-5-2014)

 

 

Keselowski comments on Talladega wrecks:

#2-Keselowski, six laps down on lap 136, was in the middle of a big pack when the car appeared to get loose and spun in front of #21-Trevor Bayne, which started a wreck that involved over a dozen cars. Keselowski commented on the wreck and and incident on lap 145 with #10-Patrick:

Q) WHAT HAPPENED?

Keselowski: "I just spun out in front of the whole field. I don't know why, if I just busted my butt on my own or lost a tire, but I feel bad for everyone that got torn up. We had a really fast Team Penske Ford, but I just feel bad for the whole Miller Lite team."

Q) WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST INCIDENT? Keselowski: "We took the lead there and made a really aggressive move to take the lead and then it all just kind of bottlenecked from there. I don't know if I cut somebody off or got ran over, but just enough to get spun out and tear the car up."

Q) WHAT HAPPENED?

Keselowski: "We were just racing really hard towards the front half of the field. I was trying to get my lap back and those guys are trying to lead laps. There's obviously a long way to go and I just had to get to the front and try to stay up there to try and get my lap back. I was racing really hard for that, but for some reason the car took off on me and I spun out. I don't know why, but I feel bad that we tore up a bunch of cars."

Q) WHAT HAPPENED WITH DANICA?

Keselowski: "I'm not really sure what happened. I made an aggressive move to take the lead and the next thing I knew I was spinning, so I'm not really sure. Obviously, there was some kind of contact but I don't know what happened."

Q) A BYPRODUCT OF TALLADEGA?

Keselowski: "Every wreck is a byproduct of Talladega. That's just the track we're on, but racing hard - everybody wants to lead laps, everybody wants to run up front and certainly I wanted to get my laps back and have a shot to win at the end and the only way I was gonna do that was by being really aggressive at the front half of the field."

STILL 41 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP.

Keselowski: "Yeah, and that's even more the reason why I had to race hard to get my lap back because I was at the back half of that."

Q) HOW AGGRESSIVE WAS THIS RACE BY COMPARISON TO THE LAST COUPLE YEARS?

Keselowski: "The cars are handling a lot worse than I thought they would and I think everybody is kind of fighting that. Everybody still has the same level of aggression as when the cars handled a little better and sometimes we learn the hard way."

Q) THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN FRUSTRATION AND SUCCESS.

Keselowski: "Yeah, we had a lot of close calls and I guess most of them were my fault, but I'm just being real aggressive. That's what it's gonna take to win here and whoever wins here will be really aggressive, too."

Q) WAS IT A CASE WHERE DANICA DIDN'T GIVE YOU ENOUGH ROOM?

Keselowski: "I don't know. I'd have to go back and look at it."

Q) WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND AT THE END? IS THERE A FEELING SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

Keselowski: "You assume something is gonna happen, but you don't know. That's why I had to race so hard. I was one or two debris yellows from being back in the race and I wasn't gonna give up."(Ford Racing)(5-5-2014)

 

 

Earnhardt Jr. squashes marriage rumor:

#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. met with members of the media at Talladega Superspeedway and discussed a few things, among them was marriage/weddings. The transcript in part:

Q) FROM EVERYTHING I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE A PRETTY FRUGAL GUY SO COULD YOU EVER IMAGINE IF YOU WERE EVER TO GET MARRIED THAT YOU WOULD SPEND TWO MILLION DOLLARS LIKE THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER SAYS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING LATER THIS YEAR?

Earnhardt Jr.: "I definitely would have a hard time writing that check (laughter)."

Q) WOULD YOU DO IT AT DAYTONA?

Earnhardt Jr.: "No of course not. I would not force everybody to go down to Daytona for my wedding. I probably would just have it right there in the back yard, but whatever is easiest. That was funny. I read that and it was a roller coaster of an article. Pretty good."

Q) DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE GETTING MARRIED?

Earnhardt Jr.: "I didn't. So we just skipped the engagement I guess, went right to the wedding."(Team Chevy)(5-3-2014)

 

 

Florida Legislature Approves Sports Stadium Funding Process Bill:

On Friday, the Florida Legislature approved House Bill 7095, recommending the bill be signed by Gov. Rick Scott. The bill establishes a process by which sports franchises are able to apply to receive sales tax refunds from the state based on the amount of sales tax generated by the facility. Daytona International Speedway's DAYTONA Rising project, a $400 million reimagining of an American icon, is eligible for application under the bill to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. For tickets and more information on Daytona International Speedway events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(5-3-2014)

 

 

Marcos Ambrose Allows Fans to Pay Fine Forward:

Marcos Ambrose and his #9 Richard Petty Motorsports team are on a mission from now to the Sprint Showdown to make the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. If Ambrose does make it to All-Star night, he will pay forward the $25,000 fine he received after the event at Richmond International Raceway to Victory Junction. Ambrose and the team have committed to pay the fine forward from potential All-Star Race winnings and donate it to the camp founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their son, Adam. Victory Junction enriches the lives of children with serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, at no cost to children or their families.

Ambrose first entertained the idea after so many of his fans here in the United States and his native Australia wanted to aid monetarily with his fine. The 2013 All-Star has now found a unique way for fans to not only support him, but to help children experience life-changing moments at Victory Junction and assist the camp helped built by his boss, "The King" Richard Petty.

"I had a tremendous outpouring of support after Richmond from so many fans," said Ambrose. "But, that situation was between myself and another driver. I had to pay the consequences from that and my fans had nothing to do with what happened. But, they have been so supportive of me in NASCAR, that maybe there was something we could do so they could make a difference. If they want to support me, they can vote for me and we'll take the total of the fine and pay it forward to Victory Junction. I've been to Victory Junction a few times. It's a place like no other and really can take your breath away when you see the kids having so much fun. I'm a father and this is a place that really hits home. So, this is an opportunity to take an unfortunate situation and we can all come together to make a difference. The fans can just vote for me for the All-Star race and I'll try to race in. We'll do this together and hopefully do something special." Ambrose will have three opportunities to be eligible for the Sprint All-Star Race. He can win this weekend at Kansas Speedway, finish first or second in the Sprint Showdown before the Sprint All-Star Race and finally fans can vote him in. Fans have three different methods to vote for Ambrose leading into the All-Star Race, including using the NASCAR Mobile application on their mobile device. Votes from a mobile handset count double. Fans can also go online to NASCAR.com/SprintFanVote and also visit the Sprint Experience at the track and vote. Voting will end on May 16.(RPM)(5-6-2014)

 

 

GM Starts Work on New Performance and Racing Center:

Last week General Motors began construction of a state-of-the-art facility for race engine design and development, as well as an electric motor laboratory and gear center. GM's continued investment in motorsports comes from the time-tested belief that racing is the ultimate proving ground for much of the technology that applies to the vehicles GM sells. Engineers and technicians from GM's race engineering center in Wixom, Mich. will move to the new facility in mid-2015. The relocation will centralize North American powertrain engineering expertise for production engines as well as advanced and racing propulsion programs. Condensing the engineering to one large space is an excellent way to develop race-bred engineers whether they work on production or performance vehicles. The move will include about 100 employees who work on powertrain racing development, electric motors and in the gear center. The new building is expected to be opened and in use by mid-2015 and completed by early 2016. The GMPRC is part of a $200 million investment GM announced last January to build a new 138,000 sq.-ft. test wing. At that time, the company announced work at four remote locations would consolidate on the Pontiac campus, helping to reduce development timing for GM's next-generation advanced propulsion technologies. When the moves are complete, about 400 jobs will be added to the Pontiac campus. Engineers at the GMPRC will work on powertrain-related projects for GM's involvement in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Verizon IndyCar Series, TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, Pirelli World Challenge, NHRA (COPO Camaro Program) and Global Rally Cross.(in part from a GM PR)(5-6-2014)

 

 

MWR announces extensions with Bowyer, Pattie and 5-Hour Energy & a baby:

Michael Waltrip Racing announced today it has signed multiyear contract extensions with sponsor 5-hour ENERGY, driver Clint Bowyer and crew chief Brian Pattie to race its #15 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series starting in 2015. The trio joined MWR in 2012 and has scored three wins and earned two Chase berths including a runner-up finish in 2012. "This is big news for all of us," said Bowyer, an eight-time winner in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition. "It creates great stability and excitement about what the next few years can bring. MWR is my racing home and continuing this relationship with 5-hour ENERGY was a high priority. It's time to put the paperwork in a drawer and focus on winning."

"Since the first day 5-hour ENERGY, Clint and Brian showed up at MWR, we have been a contender for wins and championships. I am so thankful that we get to continue and add to what we have built," said co-owner Michael Waltrip. "I am most happy for the employees of MWR who are the foundation of everything we do."

The familiar red, black and yellow brand colors of 5-hour ENERGY will adorn the #15 in 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup events each year starting in 2015. Additional primary partners on the #15 include PEAK and AAA Mid-Atlantic. "We have clearly aligned ourselves with one of the most competitive and energetic drivers in racing and we felt it was really important for us to continue the equity we have built over the past three years," said Scott Henderson, president of 5-hour ENERGY. "We love Clint, the people at MWR and the sport of NASCAR. The extension decision was also based on our racing program's success with our sales team and all of our participating retailers." Bowyer celebrates his 300th start Sunday at Kansas Speedway.(MWR). Bowyer also announced on his Twitter that he and wife Lorra are expecting a baby.(5-5-2014)

 

 

Yates talks about horsepower reduction:

Doug Yates from Roush Yates Racing Engines talks about what's coming in regards to reduced horsepower for Cup teams:

Yates: So where we are today is reducing RPM, talking about taking 500 RPM away. Effectively, that reduces speed on the racetrack and goes along with making the parts last longer. Talking about roller cams. The Cup series is the only series that has a flat tappet cam. It is a really hard application and it is probably the only series in the world that has a flat tappet cam. It gets it more like Nationwide and Truck so the parts could be passed down and they would last longer. If we need to reduce power more, we'd do it through a reduced throttle body size, reducing the air flow through the throttle body. Those are the mechanisms that will be utilized to reduce power.

They are [also] looking at [limiting RPM] through gear ratios. We crossed that bridge years ago when we decided to limit the RPMs and they did it with the final drive ratio. It was a really good way to do it. If the engine will achieve more RPM because it is making more power or the driver gets off of the corner better and he achieves more RPM, then so be it. I think the final drive ratio is a good, easy-to-police way to get there. That is the adjustment they'll make. They do the same thing today in Nationwide and Trucks based on the RPM range they want to run. That has been a good, effective way to run.

NASCAR has had more engagement with the engine building community than they ever have before. We've had five meetings now and Gene Stefanyshyn has done a great job leading those meetings. At first, it was a little bit of going through a process to get everyone to talk and open up. Our lives are about competition so those meetings, at first, were a bit of "I can outdo you on this." Everybody has now settled in to try and achieve Brian France and NASCAR's two initiatives of trying to improve racing through a reduction of horsepower and to try and figure out how to save some cost for the teams."(Frontstretch)(5-7-2014)

 

 

From Track Forum:

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forum.php

 

NASCAR Penalties for Ambrose, and Mears, "Have At It Boys"...

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?185337-NASCAR-Penalties-for-Ambrose-and-Mears-quot-Have-At-It-Boys-quot

 

 

Note:  Some of the comments:

" don't get it. Nascar told everyone they have a "Have At It Boys" policy, so as soon as two guys, in the pits and not on the track, "have at it", they get fined and put on probation. Nascar wants it both ways. But, typical. I don't know why I'd expect anything different. It's all about the Benjamins."

 

"I also thought this was how you settled it back in the good old, old days? Oh, well. I think it's a b.s. call but it doesn't much matter in the overall scheme, I guess. I don't see either of them having an issue in the next month that would lead to any bigger punishment. Besides, there's always double secret probation."

 

"Probation ends just in time for Dover, realistically the first race they could have payback (no one is dumb enough to try it at Talladega, Kansas, or Charlotte, I hope).

 

Probably just a coincidence of a one-month probation, but then they won't complain if this rivalry continues."

 

"What they want is publicity.

 

They encourage the fighting, then fine the particpiants so they can stay in the news cycle all week.

 

It's too bad the on-track action isn't quality enough for them to publicize 90% of the time."

 

 

Some photos of some “Hot” wives can be seen in this thread:

 

Wife shots

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?185550-Wife-shots

 

 

 

 

 

 

emails – racing related:

 

Beginning May 8 The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum will host a display of Speedway turbine racers that will include

 

1955 SAC Fireboid Turbine (yes that is spelled correctly) 1962 John Zink Trackburner 1966 Jack Adams Aircraft Special 1967 STP Oil Treatment Special both 1968 Shelby "Botany 500" Turbines four 1968 STP Lotus 56 Wedge Turbines 1969 Jack Adams Turbine

 

Last year, Gene Ingram and I were fortunate enough to visit an un-named garage to view one of Lotus 56 cars, one of the Shelby turbines and the 1969 Jack Adams car. Based on it's construction, the Shelby cars would have been scary to drive to say the least.

 

Since it doesn't look like I'll make it to Indy this year, I'm hoping that one of our RH members will visit and post a lot of photographs.

 

Kevin Triplett

Walnut Creek CA

 

 

 

Found on Facebook – racing related:

 

Facebook on 5/6/14:

 

One Driver held an AAA, USAC and CART license in his career.....Who is it??

 

Think ya know?  You might be surprised!

 

Answer next week.

 

 

 

From the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

 

This Week

In AARN

 

Danny Dietrich’s Grove

410 Sprint Score Puts

World Of Outlaws On Notice

 

 

Race Of Champions Asphalt Tour

Starts At Chemung:

Matt Hirschman Resumes Winning Ways

 

 

Promoter Dan Harpell

Opens Yates County Speedway

To Rave Reviews

 

 

Wild Opening Night At Riverhead:

Shawn Solomito Wins Mod Main

 

 

Brett Hearn Stays

On Albany-Saratoga Win Tear

 

David Gravel Shocks

World Of Outlaws Community

With Eldora Win With New Roth Ride

 

 

Wet Weather Causes

Numerous Rainouts-In-Progress;

Outright Cancellations

 

 

Billy Pauch Clips Sail Panels,

Still Trims New Egypt Mod Field

 

 

Jeff Rine Flies Highest

In Three State Flyers Bedford Romp

 

 

Mark McKeon:

He tells us that Bear Ridge Speedway, one of the few tracks (the only one?) that runs USAC Midgets and DIRTcar, will now have their Coupe class sanctioned by DIRTcar.  They've been running Coupes at Bear Ridge for 47 years now.  Cars range from 1932 to 1948 steel bodied coupes and sedans and are powered by either crate or home built engines.  Leaf springs are mandatory.

 

 

Ernie Saxton:

He wonders why Ambrose & Mears were fined for fighting after the race at Richmond.  What ever happened to "Boys have at it"?  Goodyear has the NASCAR tire deal through 2017.  Ernie is wondering - how soon before out weekly tracks start charging for parking.  He, like me, wonders how people can live in NYC.

 

 

Lenny Sammons:

In one of his articles, he touches on track handicapping.  One of the major problems today is that most cars are the same, all run the same tires and that makes passing difficult.  Different tracks are now trying different ways of handicapping.  Some get rather confusing to the fans - like "passing points".

In his weekly column, he has quite a bit about Jeff Heotzler, along with Andy Bachetti, Jerry Higbie and the Jackie Brown trip to Bethel a couple of weeks ago, with his Modified, which had to be changed some (using only two barrels of the four in the carb) and having to borrow some tires to run the pavement.

 

 

Brett Deyo:

Tires were the thing at Big Diamond last week.  With the track now being sanctioned by DIRTcar, last week was the first week of the cars having to use the mandatory Hoosier tire.  The purse for the "Dirty Jersey" race at New Egypt on Tuesday, June 17th (rain date the 18th) was announced.  $42,180.00, prior to any bonuses or cash incentives.  That race is a DIRTcar Big Block Series race.  Their portion of the purse will be $6,000.00 for the winner and $29, 405.00 for their portion of the purse.  Also on the card that night will be the 360 Sprint Cars and they'll be running for $3,000.00 to win.

 

 

Todd Heintzelman:

He tells us that for May, the WoO Sprint Cars have 12 races on their schedule yet to run.  They'll be here in the east for some of those shows - Lincoln on May 14th, Williams Grove on the 16th & 17th, May 18th at OCFS and May 20th at New Egypt.

 

 

J R Kennerup:

He tells us that in the area where he lives (near Binghamton), the track promoters are actually talking to each other and are exchanging ideas in order to make the racing better.

 

 

Gary London:

Towards the end of his column he says:  "This points to a pet peeve of mine - too many rules.  A simplified rule book will more than likely keep things fair.  We have enough people straying away from racing.  Having officials or a rule book decide who wins and not the competitors is not racing".

 

 

 

The opening night of racing at the newly names Yates County Speedway, formerly known as Dundee, shows only nine CRSA Sprint Cars in action.

 

And, the write up on the TQ 50 lap race at Borgers shows only a dozen TQ's.

 

A write up about the racing at the Evergreen Speedway shows only three cars for their Modified main event and only four for their Late Model main.  Street Stocks had 15, Pure Stocks 7 and 4 Cylinders had 14.

 

Denny Zimmerman is still at it.  He's racing USAC Midgets at the Bear Ridge Speedway.  A photo in this weeks AARN shows him to be on his side after flipping.  He was not hurt.

 

 

 

Press releases:

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                  APRIL 5, 2014

DICK JORDAN                                                                                                                                                   14-57

 

 

ILLINOIS HOSTS "HUT HUNDRED" & "BELLEVILLE BASH"

 

 

            A pair of Illinois events this weekend will impact the Honda USAC National Midget Series, with Friday's "Hut Hundred" at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City and Saturday's co-sanctioned POWRi "Belleville Bash" at the Belle Clair Speedway in Belleville.

 

            Rico Abreu, who swept the recent "Kokomo Grand Prix," leads teammate and defending Honda National Dirt Midget Champion Christopher Bell by 14 points entering the two races.

 

            Friday's "Hut Hundred" at Granite City begins a new tradition for the event which began in 1954 and has visited several venues through the years.

 

            Brady Bacon, who just took over the point lead in the AMSOIL USAC National Sprit Car series this past weekend, is the most recent "Hut Hundred" winner, taking the 2012 race at Haubstadt, Ind. Last year's Granite City debut for the race which sports a three-abreast 33-car field, was rained out.

 

            Zach Daum, Bryan Clauson, Darren Hagen, Bobby East, Dave Darland and Tracy Hines, like Bacon, have all won the "Hut Hundred" in the past 15 years. Trey Marcham, who leads the 2014 Honda USAC Western Dirt Midget standings, is also expected to compete in Friday's "Hut Hundred."

 

            Hagen and Clauson each scored victories at Belle Clair Speedway last year.

 

 

2014 Honda USAC National Midget Standings: 1-Rico Abreu-139; 2-Christopher Bell-125; 3-Tracy Hines-114; 4-Tanner Thorson & Kevin Thomas Jr.-102; 6-Dave Darland-94; 7-Chris Windom-89; 8-Zach Daum-84; 9-Bryan Clauson-80; 10-Tyler Thomas-75.

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                    MAY 5, 2014

DICK JORDAN                                                                                                                                                   14-56

 

 

"TONY HULMAN CLASSIC" ON TAP MAY 21;

DARLAND GETS #49 AT EAGLE; SCHUERENBERG TOPS AT THE JUNCTION

 

 

            Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, Okla. Is the new point leader in the AMSOIL USAC Sprint Car National Championship and will take a seven-point lead over defending champion Bryan Clauson into the May 21 "Tony Hulman Classic" at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track.

 

            Bacon was third in Friday's "Rumble in the Bullring" at Eagle, Neb. and second in Saturday's race at McCool Junction, Neb. as the series visited back-to-back Nebraska tracks last weekend.

 

            Dave Darland of Lincoln, Ind. earned his 49th series victory Friday at Eagle Raceway, leading the final 17 laps of the 30-lap race in his Racers Advantage Store/Frank Daigh DRC/Foxco Chevy. The win was his 100th in USAC competition, counting regional and National events.

 

            Justin Grant led nine laps before yielding to Darland, then finished second ahead of Bacon, Tracy Hines and Clauson, who led the first four laps.

 

            Hunter Schuerenberg of Sikeston, Mo. passed C.J. Leary on lap five and led the final 26 laps at Junction Motor Speedway Saturday in his Moses Motor Company/Ron Gorby's Howard Johnson Mach-1/Rider. Trailing runner-up Bacon were Hines, Darland and Clauson.

 

 

2014 AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Standings: 1-Brady Bacon-459; 2-Bryan Clauson-452; 3-Dave Darland-431; 4-Tracy Hines-425; 5-Justin Grant-412; 6-Chase Stockon-410; 7-Jon Stanbrough-396; 8-Hunter Schuerenberg-367; 9-Chris Windom-314; 10-C.J. Leary-274.

 

 

Spring Green Rescheduled for Father’s Day at Devil’s Bowl Speedway

American-Canadian Tour to run Sunday, June 15 afternoon event

 

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                         DBS-050614-1

 

WEST HAVEN, VT – Devil’s Bowl Speedway and the American-Canadian Tour have rescheduled the 101.5 The Fox Spring Green 114 stock car event, postponed last weekend, to Father’s Day on Sunday, June 15.  The Spring Green will also include regular championship events for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bond Auto Parts Modifieds, Renegade, Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stocks, and SK Lights.

The Spring Green is now scheduled to be the halfway point of the ACT Late Model Tour championship season and will set up the stretch drive into the summer.  Wayne Helliwell, Jr., of Dover, N.H., has a chance to make history if he can win the event; Helliwell has three consecutive ACT wins at the track dating back to 2012 and would become the first driver to ever win four-straight at a single speedway.

The 2014 Devil’s Bowl Speedway season will open on a Friday night for the first time ever, as Whelen Engineering and Mobil 1 present the lid-lifter on Friday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m.  The event features the Modified, Late Model, Mini Stock, and SK Light divisions, and honors its hometown fans with free general admission for residents of Fair Haven, VT and West Haven, VT who present valid identification.  Regular general admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (age 62+), and free for kids age 12 and under.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT four miles north of Exit 2 on U.S. Route 4.  For more information, call (802) 265-3112 or visit www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com.  Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.

-30-

Contact: Justin St. Louis                                                                                                                                                       Phone: (802) 355-3282

Email: devilsbowlspeedway@gmail.com

 

Devil's Bowl Speedway

Phone: (802) 265-3112

Email: devilsbowlspeedway@gmail.com

 

 

 

Hello all –

Our inaugural Olum’s ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ presented by Rochinski Contracting Services & Husqvarna at Thunder Mountain Speedway on Tuesday, May 20 (rain date: May 21) is fast-approaching. With $30,013 on the line plus contingency awards, the second round of the National Dirt Racing League (NDRL) Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP will be a blockbuster. The NDRL Modifieds run 50 laps for $5,100 to win, $1,500 for fifth, $1,000 for 10th and $500 to start.  Sportsman, Opens and Crates running together, join the program in a 25-lap main paying a minimum of $1,000 to the winner and $100 to start. This will be the richest night ever in the history of Thunder Mountain Speedway!

As at all our events, media coverage is welcomed and appreciated. If you would like to attend, please e-mail Deyo99H@aol.com prior to May 13 with your request.

Media sign-in will be at the pit gate.

Directions for first-time visitors can be found at the following direct link: http://thundermtnspeedway.com/directions/

Special note for photographers: due to the tight confines of the Thunder Mountain infield, we do ask that ALL photographers wear a fluorescent, reflective vest. Light color pants or shorts are also highly recommended.

Writers: any pre-race coverage you can provide is greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Brett

 

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

 

 

 

This week’s photo:

 

One of racings greats – Ted Tappett (Phil Walters), is pictured in the Frank Curtis # 8 Offy Midget.  Ted not only excelled in the Midgets, but was quite good in stock cars, too, back in the day.  Then he hooked up with Briggs Cunningham and got into road racing where he once again excelled.  He was good enough to get signed by Ferrari to drive their Sports/Racing cars and their Formula 1 Grand Prix cars in 1955.  The tragic events of the 1955 LeMans 24 hour race caused Tappett to retire from racing. 

While I was talking to Teds son once, on the telephone, I asked him why his father never tried Indianapolis.  Without hesitation, his son told me that his father thought it was too dangerous.

 

As usual, photos can not be seen on Dirt Track Digest.  To see photos, one must go here:  http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Racing videos:

 

We don’t get to see hardly any wingless Sprint Car racing here in the northeast.  Yes, there was talk about some possible wingless 305 Sprint Car races, and URC was giving it some thought a couple of years ago, but for some unknown reasons, we just have not been fortunate (until USAC comes east for a couple of shows) to get to see some racing as it used to be, back in the day.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JVTZBUhVipw

 

 

 

Not racing related:

 

Don't use aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease, FDA warns

 

http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/6/5686722/dont-use-aspirin-to-prevent-cardiovascular-disease-fda-warns

 

Note:  Really?  Ya know, it's really getting kind of ridiculous.  One week some of this sh*t is supposed to be good for us, and then the next week it isn't?

 

 

 

The highway repair fund is going broke

 

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/highway-repair-fund-going-broke

 

Interesting.  So how might they raise monies for repairs?

 

 

 

email on 5/2:

 

Hmm, interesting, for sure!

 

Jay Carney’s wife is employed by ABC.

 

CNN President Virginia Moseley, is married to Hillary Clinton’s Deputy Secretary  Tom Nides.

 

CBS President, David Rhodes is a brother of Ben Rhodes, a top Obama official who changed Benghazi talking points.

 

ABC President, Ben Sherwood, is brother to Obama special adviser, Elizabeth Sherwood.

 

See a pattern?

 

 

 

From Facebook:

 

Found on 5/6/14:

 

Written By Constitutional Attorney Michael Connelly, J.D.

 

How would you feel if you received a letter from the U.S. Government informing you that because of a physical or mental condition that the government says you have it is proposing to rule that you are incompetent to handle your own financial affairs? Suppose that letter also stated that the government is going to appoint a stranger to handle your affairs for you at your expense? That would certainly be scary enough but it gets worse.

 

What if that letter also stated: “A determination of incompetency will prohibit you from purchasing, possessing, receiving, or transporting a firearm or ammunition. If you knowingly violate any of these prohibitions, you may be fined, imprisoned, or both pursuant to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, Pub.L.No. 103-159, as implemented at 18, United States Code 924(a)(2).”?

 

That makes is sound like something right from a documentary on a tyrannical dictatorship somewhere in the world. Yet, as I write this I have a copy of such a letter right in front of me. It is being sent by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of America’s heroes. In my capacity as Executive Director of the United States Justice Foundation (USJF) I have been contacted by some of these veterans and the stories I am getting are appalling.

 

The letter provides no specifics on the reasons for the proposed finding of incompetency; just that is based on a determination by someone in the VA. In every state in the United States no one can be declared incompetent to administer their own affairs without due process of law and that usually requires a judicial hearing with evidence being offered to prove to a judge that the person is indeed incompetent. This is a requirement of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that states that no person shall “… be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law…”.

 

Obviously, the Department of Veterans Affairs can’t be bothered by such impediments as the Constitution, particularly since they are clearly pushing to fulfill one of Obama’s main goals, the disarming of the American people. Janet Napolitano has already warned law enforcement that some of the most dangerous among us are America’s heroes, our veterans, and now according to this letter from the VA they can be prohibited from buying or even possessing a firearm because of a physical or mental disability.

 

Think about it, the men and women who have laid their lives on the line to defend us and our Constitution are now having their own Constitutional rights denied. There are no clear criteria for the VA to declare a veteran incompetent. It can be the loss of a limb in combat, a head injury, a diagnosis of PTSD, or even a soldier just telling someone at the VA that he or she is depressed over the loss of a buddy in combat. In none of these situations has the person been found to be a danger to themselves or others. If that was the case than all of the Americans who have suffered from PTSD following the loss of a loved one or from being in a car accident would also have to be disqualified from owning firearms. It would also mean that everyone who has ever been depressed for any reason should be disarmed. In fact, many of the veterans being deprived of their rights have no idea why it is happening.

 

The answer seems to be it is simply because they are veterans. At the USJF we intend to find the truth by filing a Freedom of Information Act request to the Department of Veterans Affairs to force them to disclose the criteria they are using to place veterans on the background check list that keeps them from exercising their Second Amendment rights. Then we will take whatever legal steps are necessary to protect our American warriors.

 

The reality is that Obama will not get all of the gun control measures he wants through Congress, and they wouldn’t be enough for him anyway. He wants a totally disarmed America so there will be no resistance to his plans to rob us of our nation. That means we have to ask who will be next. If you are receiving a Social Security check will you get one of these letters? Will the government declare that you are incompetent because of your age and therefore banned from firearm ownership. It certainly fits in with the philosophy and plans of the Obama administration. It is also certain that our military veterans don’t deserve this and neither do any other Americans.

 

 

 

-- Michael Connelly, J.D.

 

Executive Director, United States Justice Foundation

 

Follow Us: @redflagnews on Twitter

 

http://www.redflagnews.com/headlines/disarming-americas-heros-veterans-receiving-official-letters-prohibiting-them-from-purchasing-possessing-receiving-or-transporting-a-firearm-or-ammunition

 

 

And these, too:

 

Why do inmates get free food, but school kids don’t?

 

There are too many people counting calories and not enough people counting chemicals!

 

Please tell me more about how you came to our country and now want us to change our traditions because they offend you.

 

 

Music videos:

 

Here’s a song I’ve always enjoyed listening to.  Something for the truck drivers out there:

 

Kathy Mattea - Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ElCpHuiWkA

 

 

 

Joke of the week:

 

These one liners might be why NBC retired Jay Leno!

 

NBC was upset by the fact Leno's comments were ALWAYS right on target.

 

 

 

"I was going to start off tonight with an Obama joke, but I don't want to get audited by the IRS."

 

On NSA surveillance: "We wanted a president who listens to all Americans - now we have one."

 

On a new IRS commissioner: "He's called 'acting commissioner'

because he has to act like the scandal doesn't involve the White House."

 

On closing the Guantanamo prison for terrorists: "If he really wants to close it, turn it into a government-funded solar power company. The doors will be shut in a month."

 

Concerning the Benghazi, Associated Press, and IRS scandals: "Remember in the old days when President Obama's biggest embarrassment was Joe Biden?"

 

On Obama saying he didn't know about the IRS scandal: "He was too busy

not knowing anything about Benghazi to not know anything about the IRS."

 

"The White House has a new slogan about Benghazi : Hope and change the subject."

 

"It's casual Friday, which means that at the White House, they're casually going through everybody's phone calls and records."

 

"It is not looking good for President Obama. Today his teleprompter took the fifth."

 

"Fox News has changed its slogan from 'Fair and Balanced' to 'See, I told you so!'"

 

On Obama's commencement address: "He told the young graduates

their future is bright unless, of course, they want jobs."

 

On a Chicago man who set a record for riding a Ferris wheel: "The only other way to go around and around in a circle that many times is to read the official report on Benghazi."

 

On White House claims of ignorance on the scandals: "They took 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' out of the Pentagon and moved it into the White House."

 

Now the last, and I think best!--

 

"These White House scandals are not going away anytime soon. It's gotten so bad that People in Kenya are now saying he's 100 percent American."

 

 

Please don’t forget:  Benghazi, The IRS Scandal and all the other scandals that seem to get put on the back burners every week.  When will anyone be “held accountable”, anyway?  Oh, don’t forget my description of “Held Accountable”:  Nothing will get done to anyone.

Note:  Kinda looks like Benghazi is not going to be forgotten, huh?  Next will be the IRS and getting something done on their wrong doings.

 

 

Until my next column – next week

 

 

I can be reached, via e-mail, at:  ygordad@yahoo.com