Mostly
Racin' Stuff
By Tom
Avenengo
05/22/2014
Some
personal/family stuff:
I usually start these columns on Sundays. This week, I got started a day later. The wife has had a “stomach bug” for a week
now, and I felt like cr*p on Sunday.
Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t plan on going to the WoO show at OCFS,
huh?
So I’m going over the paperwork for the
wife’s colonoscopy due this Thursday, and seems one can’t have anything to eat
and/or drink that is red in color. Of
course I bought some Cherry and Raspberry Jello for her to eat the day before. Then, with her “icky” stomach, she took a
couple of Excedrin on Saturday and Sunday nights. THAT’s something she is not allowed to take
for a week prior to the deal. So, now
she’s waiting for a call back to make sure Thursday will still be a go.
And another thing on the wife – she’s been
having it in her head that the cancer has returned, mainly because of the way
her stomach has been feeling. Lab work
done a couple of weeks ago said that it hasn’t.
Head games – can be a big time problem at times. Been there – done that, myself.
So, for supper on Wednesday
night, since she can’t have solid foods, only clear liquids because of the
colonoscopy due tomorrow AM, I fixed mom some chicken broth from some home made
chicken soup that I made, and had put it in the freezer. About the only other thing she had today was
some Jell-O. She had four table spoons
full of the broth – mainly because it tasted so good. Then, up it came.
Now, I’m really wondering,
might she need her stomach checked out too, maybe with an Endoscopy?
Looks like I might miss most of the Indy
500 this Sunday. Have an engagement
party (son Eric’s) to attend. I suppose
it would be a lot worse if a majority of the drivers were more known to me?
Racin’
stuff:
Some sad news:
EagleTribune.com,
May 21, 2014
Leonard W. Stephens, 87
North Reading — Leonard W.
“Gig” Stephens, 87, a lifelong resident of
He was a 1941 graduate of the
North Reading Public School System. He attained an MBA degree in national and
international air cargo, rail, surface and waterway
transportation from
Leonard was a U.S. Navy,
World War II veteran, having served in the North Atlantic Theatre of Operations
as a Gunners Mate aboard a “Liberty Ship.”
Gig was a 30-year airline
executive, Massachusetts Registry official, and
professional race car owner and driver. He was a former owner and founder of
McDonalds Associates Detective Agency in
Gig’s love was in
professional race car competition and antique car restoration. He completed his
“Rookie Drivers Test” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May of 1956. On July
26, 1959, he broke the world’s speed record for Midgets at Trenton New Jersey
Speedway, starting in 33rd position.
Family members include his
loving nieces, Marilyn “Peachie” Stephens Sakaleras of
Memorial donations may be
made in his name to Care Dimensions (Hospice),
ARRANGEMENTS: His funeral
will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading, on
Saturday, May 24, at 9:15 a.m., followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass at St.
Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St., Route 62, North Reading. Calling hours will be
held Friday, May 23, from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial will be
in
Note: Gig was exceptional on the paved mile at
One of the reasons I was not that
interested in going to the WoO race at OC this past Sunday, is the day the race
is held - Sunday. It sure seems to me that a lot of the PA
Posse just doesn’t want to come to OC on a Sunday night, especially when a good
part of them have regular jobs and would have to be at work on Monday AM. I read that there were only 22 WoO cars at
OC.
What is sadder is that at Williams Grove,
for two WoO Sprint Car races, they sent home 19 & 15 cars that didn’t
qualify for the main event. At
From what I’ve read on the Internet (can’t
believe everything, right?) the biggest problem at OCFS is tire wear. Track just eats them up. No, don’t look for new clay being put down,
folks - at least not in my life time.
Sad!
Note:
I find it kind of ironic that OCFS can have their Saturday night racing
results on their website on Sunday, yet, here it is Wednesday afternoon (4:45
PM), and no results from one of their biggest races of the year – the WoO from
this past Sunday.
Guess what? The Sunday results are now listed, but in
with the Saturday results. Saw that at
5:00 PM on Wednesday.
Kurt Busch had an accident at Indy in his
car on Monday, after turning a fast lap of 225.623 MPH. From what I’ve heard on the live stream, the
car was going to be repaired. The next
time Kurt will be in it will be on Carb Day – Friday. As of 3:00 on Monday, the fastest time so far
was turned in on Sunday by Mikhail Aleshin.
What? You’ve never heard of
him? Neither have I. But he’s the first Russian driver to run at
Indy for the 500. His speed: 232.917.
This past Saturday, at the Selinsgrove
Speedway, during the ESS 360 Sprint Car feature, there was a serious accident
that involved Jamie Collard, Shawn Donath and Duane Mausteller. Donath was not injured, but Collard and
Mausteller were, both with critical injuries.
From what’s on the Selinsgrove website, Collard has 2 broken vertebrae,
broken ribs, bruised esophagus and more tests will need to be done to determine
if there is any damage to his aorta.
Mausteller was air-lifted to the
How about keeping both drivers in your
thoughts and prayers, ok?
Any time I read and/or hear
of a race driver getting hurt, I always wonder if they have any additional
insurance, like STIDA. http://www.stida.com/
More on the above:
As far as Randy Mausteller is concerned,
that would be the last race for his son, Duane.
And this, from the DTD Forum, on
Wednesday:
INJURED DRIVERS UPDATE
by STEVE INCH
Collard was involved in a lap
three crash in Saturday night’s 25-lap Empire Super Sprint-sanctioned 360
sprint car race at the half-mile oval. Collard was transported by ambulance to
Geisinger, where he has been receiving treatment for injuries to his back and
ribs.
Duane Mausteller, 41, of
Shawn Donath, of
Racing
on TV:
Coming up:
This Sunday is the Indy 500
and the 600 mile race at
The starting grid for the
98th
ROW 1
20-Ed Carpenter, 231.067
27-James Hinchcliffe, 230.839
12-Will Power, 230.697
ROW 2
3-Helio Castroneves, 230.649
77-Simon Pagenaud, 230.614
25-Marco Andretti, 230.544
ROW 3
34-Carlos Munoz, 230.146
67-Josef Newgarden, 229.893
21-JR Hildebrand, 228.726
ROW 4
2-Juan Pablo Montoya, 231.007
9-Scott
26-Kurt Busch, 230.782
ROW 5
98-Jack Hawksworth, 230.506
19-Justin
7-Mikhail Aleshin, 230.049
ROW 6
10-Tony Kanaan, 229.922
11-Sebastien Bourdais,
229.847
16-Oriol Servia, 229.752
ROW 7
28-Ryan Hunter-Reay, 229.719
15-Graham Rahal, 229.628
18-Carlos Huertas, 229.251
ROW 8
63-Pippa Mann, 229.223
14-Takuma Sato, 229.201
68-Alex Tagliani, 229.148
ROW 9
6-Townsend
83-Charlie Kimball, 228.953
5-Jacques Villeneuve, 228.949
ROW 10
33-James Davison, 228.865
41-Martin Plowman, 228.814
8-Ryan Briscoe, 228.713
ROW 11
22-Sage Karam, 228.436
17-Sebastian Saavedra,
228.088
91-Buddy Lazier, 227.920
Note #1: Out of all the names above, I know of only
one that has raced open wheel cars (Midgets Sprints and Silver Crown) on dirt
and pavement, and that’s Ed Carpenter.
Note # 2: Two drivers in that list above have raced on
the road course at the
Note # 3: Any idea as to which driver in the above list
is only 19 years old?
I can be reached, via e-mail, at: ygordad@yahoo.com
with your answer, if ya have any idea!
June 7th is “Nostalgia Night”
at OCFS. I’ve seen up to 59 driver names
listed as possible attendees. ACOT
(Atlantic Coast Old Timers) also come to OCFS on that day, too, with some
members bringing their restored race cars with them. Yes, they are supposed to get some track
time.
Note:
A photo that I had taken some years ago at another “Nostalgia Night” is
below in my “This week’s photo” section
Former
OVRP Dirt Oval runners:
I missed this one last week: At
Ben Whitaker was 4th in the Late
Model feature at Susquehanna.
At OCFS, on Saturday, in the held over
Modified feature, Mike Kolka was 1st, Tim Hindley 2nd,
Mike Ruggiero 5th, Clinton Mills 8th and Billy V 13th. In the nights
regular feature, Tim was 4th, Clinton 8th, Billy with
another 13th, Kolka 15th and Ruggiero 19th.
On Sunday, with the Sportsman, Matt Janiak
was 7th, Brian Krummel 8th, LJ Lombardo 9th,
Joey Falanga 13th, Zack Vavricka 14th, Johnny Illanovsky
19th, Joe Conklin 21st and Andrew Reeves 22nd.
Kyle Armstrong was 3rd, Bobby
Hackel, IV 11th and Kolby Schroder 14th in the Modified
feature at
In CRSA 305 Sprint Car races, Joe Kata was
9th, Emily VanInwegen 10th, Billy V 13th and
Josh Pieniazek 17th at
At Fonda, Josh was 1st, Kata 2nd,
Emily 17th, while Dan Hennessey and Brittany Tresch were both DNS’s.
At
Tyler Dippel was 7th in the
Modified feature and AJ Filbeck 6th in the Sportsman feature at U/R.
Roger Coss was 7th in the
Modified feature at
Danny Creeden was 6th at
At 5 Mile, Anthony Perrego was 9th
and Mike Mammana 15th in the first Modified feature, while Perrego
was 5th and Mike 21st in the second feature.
Brad Szulewski was 9th and Mike
Traver 20th in the first Sportsman feature, while Brad was 7th
and Mike a DNS in the second.
Anthony Perrego was 20th in the
SpeedSTR feature at Kutztown, while Molly Chambers was 23rd in the
wingless 600 Micros. Danny Buccafusca
was 3rd in the All Star Slingshot feature.
In URC Sprint Car racing, Davie Franek was
3rd at Delmar and 4th at
Nick Pecko was 17th in the
Modified feature at the Shangri-La II Speedway.
Tyler Pirone was 4th and Joey
Lawrence 17th in the All Star Slingshot feature at Hamlin. Jacob Hendershot was 2nd in the
270 Micro Sprints, while Danny Buccafusca was 4th in the Rookie 600
Micros.
Kyhle Rohner was 4th in the
wingless 600 Micro feature at Airport Speedway.
At
Note:
There were 73 entrants for the Modified class. Also among those that did not make the feature
was Brett Hearn, who was involved in an accident in his heat race.
Looks like 44 names this week. Some how the name Cole
Hentschel comes to mind. He ran
at Hamlin and won the All Star Slingshot feature and was second in the Stage
One Modified feature. If so, that would
be 45 names. I’m wondering if there are
any more I might have missed this week?
A
little trip back in time – racing wise:
One of the best – Sir Jack Brabham!
Some interesting threads on the DTD forum:
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/
358 vs BB,
from a fan's point of view.
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/50767-358-vs-bb-from-a-fans-point-of-view/
Glens track:
My question is , If the state has a 3 million dollar grant for this
fantasay track, why not put some of that money into the mile at the
fairgrounds?
Last i heard the state fair
wants the track gone to better utilize its real estate. Now that there's a
proposed concert facility going in across 690, on the lake (on the back side of
the fair parking) I'm guessing there is even less reason to keep the grandstand
and the track at this point. So in turn Glenn's track would provide the perfect
opportunity to move super dirt week to a state of the art facility. All of this
is hypothetically speaking of course.
I've heard that
This will add more jobs to
the economy than the 150 that we talk about.
This is very
interesting. I teach at
I definitely think it would
be cool to see happen and really be a big boost for the area. The
We have updated our
website. You can check it out at
www.CNYRP.com
We will be submitting our
Final EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) in early May. We hope to begin construction by this
summer. Check our website for updates.
Will this partnership make
CNYRP eligible for the Start-Up NY program?
This partnership with
We are interested in the program
to develop an internship program for the project and to add qualified employees
into the workforce to benefit CNYRP and our industry. it will also help to
build the economy in
We are hoping to begin
construction in around 20-30 days.
We will have more exciting
news that we will release as the time is right..
John Lehmann
Vice President
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/41797-glens-track/page-6
From
Jayski:
Ganassi, McElreath, Mehl,
Rahal, Simpson to be inducted into Auto Racing Hall of Fame:
The five 2014 Auto Racing
Hall of Fame inductees who will be honored on Thursday night, May 22, as part
of the annual Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers dinner at the Marriott Hotel in
downtown Indianapolis are as diverse as any class in recent history. And with
A.J. Foyt being recognized for not only his four
Kligerman headed to Indy to
search for IndyCar ride:
Parker Kligerman, who
filled-in Kurt Busch in the #41 Chevy on Friday for Sprint All-Star race
practice, is headed to
Kahne Frustrated With NASCAR over wreck:
#5-Kasey Kahne watched $1
million slide away in Saturday night's Sprint All-Star race when he said a
patch of oil sent him into the wall. Kahne won two of the first three 20-lap
segments before pancaking the wall and ruining his chances for the win in the
fourth segment. Instead, he finished 14th, while Jamie McMurray won the race.
"NASCAR just didn't clean the track,'' Kahne said in the garage after the
race. "They cleaned it after that session. (Ryan)
Newman hit it harder than I did. I hit it right behind him. We're trying to
race. These short runs, you've got to go, go, go and the track is not capable.
I don't mean to point too many fingers. That's not our deal, that's their
deal.'' Kahne said the oil came from the incident with Jeff Gordon, Martin
Truex Jr. and Greg Biffle earlier in the fourth segment. "They put speedy
dry down and they didn't clean it off and you could also see the oil through
the speedy dry,'' said Kahne, who led 20 of the race's 90 laps. "When we got up there, we're all racing two or
three-wide. That's where I ended up and Newman and we shot into the wall like
we hit ice. They cleaned it after the fact.''
NASCAR issued a statement in
response to Kahne's comments, stating: "The caution came out and the track
had oil and debris on the surface in Turn 4 onto pit road. Oil was covered up
by two clean up trucks and broomed in by the same. Vacuumed up and then blown
by jets. Competitors drove past the area in question twice at reduced speed
under caution. No drivers or crew chiefs passed along any reservations of the
restorations. NASCAR Officials in the pace car confirmed the track was ready.
The race was restarted.''(Motor Racing Network)(5-18-2014)
Is Joe Gibbs Racing ready to
expand? with Edwards?
With silly season in full
swing, it's not surprising that Joe Gibbs is in the middle of it. Over the last
month, the rumors of Carl Edwards considering a move to JGR have picked up
considerably. But Coach says it would take a lot for JGR to add a fourth team.
"I'm not going to guess on stuff and the rumors and everything,"
Gibbs said. "We get into this every year and there's a period we kind of
got to go through, I've come to feel." When asked specifically about
Edwards, Gibbs would not offer a definitive answer. "Anything that's going
on right now, to me, is kind of that rumor time - and I don't think I need to
be commenting on it," Gibbs said. "So many times
when the top guys come up, everybody in the sport kind of looks at it. There's a couple of guys this year - that are on their last
year, so it kind of happens." JGR expanded to three full-time teams in
2005, but moved to three full-time drivers with the addition of Denny Hamlin in
2006. Inevitably, it's a question as to whether a fourth team makes sense for
JGR. "We have said for the last five years that when things come up we
have always looked at it," Gibbs said. "But it's hard to do. Like
I've said, it's extremely hard to do cause you've get so many things to work to
make it happen. I'd say for the last four to five years we've looked at it, but
it's hard to do and we haven't been able to think it's best for
us."(Motorsport)(5-18-2014)
Earnhardt Jr. not in a rush to push Elliott to Cup:
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr met
with media on Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway and was asked about Chase
Driver who drives for JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series:
Q) REGARDING CHASE ELLIOTT,
DO YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO SPEED UP HIS PREP BASED ON WHAT HE HAS BEEN DOING, OR
DO YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN HIS PREP?
Earnhardt Jr.: "I don't
think you do either one. I think you just set a plan from the start, and you
stick with it. We have like a two-year plan I suppose, that he runs in the
Nationwide Series and I think you just stick with the plan regardless of the
success he is having. You have the commitments in line with sponsors and what
have you, so I think it will suit him well to relax and not have to worry about
that and just follow the plan that he has had in front of him from the start.
He is really young too, so he has a lot of time on his hands and time to get to
Cup level to realize that potential, one day. But yes, I think he can just sit
there and relax knowing what we tried to set out to do from the start and not
really adjust."(Team Chevy)(5-18-2014)
2015 NASCAR Hall Of Fame
Class Announced:
NASCAR announced the inductees
who will comprise the 2015 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The five-person
group - the sixth in NASCAR Hall of Fame history - consists of Bill Elliott,
Fred Lorenzen, Wendell Scott, Joe Weatherly and Rex White. In addition, NASCAR
announced that Anne B. France won the inaugural Landmark Award for Outstanding
Contributions to NASCAR. Next year's Induction Day is scheduled for Friday,
Jan. 30, 2015, broadcast on NBC Sports Network from
Next year's class was
determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, which for the first time included
the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion - in this case, Jimmie Johnson.
The panel also included representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame,
track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members,
manufacturer representatives, retired competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders and a nationwide
fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com - which counted for the 54th and final
vote. In all, 54 votes were cast, with two additional Voting Panel members
recused from voting as potential nominees for induction (Jerry Cook and Robert
Yates). The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation
of the votes.
Voting for next year's class
was as follows: Bill Elliott (87%), Wendell Scott (58%), Joe Weatherly (53%),
Rex White (43%) and Fred Lorenzen (30%). The next top vote-getters were Jerry
Cook, Robert Yates and Benny Parsons.
Results for the NASCAR.com
Fan Vote, in order of votes received, were Wendell Scott, Bill Elliott, Benny
Parsons, Rex White and Terry Labonte.(NASCAR)(5-21-2014)
Vickers crashes in
#55-Brian Vickers crashed at
Kentucky Speedway Wednesday during a Goodyear Tire test. The #55 Aaron's
Final Sprint All Star Race TV
Ratings:
Ratings and viewership for
NASCAR's All-Star Race were the lowest ever on Fox Sports 1 (previously Speed
Channel). Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race drew a 2.1
See TV Ratings for the 2014
races and a 5-year comparison chart on the 2014 TV Ratings page.(5-21-2014)
Haas Formula game plan taking
shape:
Gene Haas could decide on a
technical partnership for his Formula One team as early as this week. As for a
Formula Haas debut, all indications are that the newest F1 licensee is leaning
toward a 2015 start which could inevitably determine the entrant's supplier
based on availability. Haas met with his team principals over the weekend at
Charlotte Motor Speedway to hash out their plans. "We're still finalizing
the numbers, so I don't want to say anything wrong," Haas told
Motorsport.com. "We should know something in the next week or so what year
we're going to go with and everything else. We really only got a license a
month ago, so there's been a lot of going back and forth. There's
just a lot of things to cover. Obviously, we want to partner with a partner
that can help us the most because we don't have much time - and that's a little
bit of it, too. One partner might be saying 2016. One partner might be saying
2015. My thing is, no matter what year it is, it's going to be a tough year
that first year, so I'd like to get it over with myself." With the current
race season nearly reaching the halfway point, Haas is concerned that
"schedules have to be met" for both Ferrari and Mercedes that could
affect which manufacturer would best be able to accommodate an additional team.
While the choice of a technical partner is still in the works, the applications
are pouring from potential drivers-roughly 25 of them at this point. Haas said
they've already had 200 to 300 aspiring employees looking to join Formula Haas,
but prior to obtaining a F1 license, perusing the submissions was impractical.(Motorsport)(5-20-2014)
More about RPM possibly
switching manufacturers:
During a visit to
Goodlettsville (TN) on Monday, Richard Petty says he is considering move his
racing team [Richard Petty Motorsports] from Ford. "We talk to everybody
all the time; I've been talking to Volkswagen," said Petty, who visited
Dollar General's annual Race Day at the company's headquarters. After getting a
few chuckles from a group of reporters Petty's tone became more serious as he
talked more about his team's future. Richard Petty Racing currently has two
Fords driven by Aric Almirola and Marcos Ambrose in the Sprint Cup Series. News
outlets have reported that Petty met with representatives from
Special website follows Kurt
Busch's attempt at 'the double':
Join Kurt Busch as he becomes
the 4th NASCAR driver ever to attempt the "Double" - racing in both
the
Kurt Busch isn't the only one
doing the double this Memorial Day weekend. Country music star Brantley Gilbert
will be attending the
Basis will be with Kurt Busch
every step of the way - literally - as he prepares for 1,100 miles of grueling,
intense racing. Fans will be able to see his progress as he focuses on getting
in tip-top shape, ensuring the right amount of rest for recovery and keeping
things under control with his frequent heart rate checks. Basis is a
revolutionary wrist-based device that tracks physiological data like heart
rate, sweat level, skin temperature and movement 24/7. Basis is the world's
most advanced health tracker and will be tracking Busch's progress, including
his races and workouts, leading up to this epic racing challenging. You can
check out Basis, info on donating by laps to Armed Forces Foundation and follow
Busch at kurtbuschdouble.com.(5-20-2014)
From
Track Forum:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forum.php
For this
years Indy 500:
I hope attendance is good
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?186173-I-hope-attendance-is-good
From
the AARN:
This Week
In AARN
Three Straight: Pittman
Sweeps
WoO Grove Races,
Hirschman Keeps On Winning
On RoC Asphalt Mod Tour
Worth $10,000, Is Chris
First Jennerstown Race
In Six Years
Goes To
Hard Selinsgrove 360 Crash
Hospitalizes Two Drivers,
One Critical
It’s No ACT:
Ray Parent Scores
First Career Series Win
At Airborne
Stevie Smith, Fred Rahmer
Team For
Popular
Technical Breakthrough:
New Motor Could Revive
Ten Grand To
Chris Ferguson
After Virginia Motor
LM Victory
Press releases:
NEWS FROM
Orange County Fair
CONTACT
Mike Gurda
845-342-2573
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Small-Block Modifieds and
Thunder Trucks Racing on the Hard Clay
MIDDLETOWN, NY (May 19)……..As
part of our country’s celebration of Memorial Day, all military personnel in
uniform and veterans with appropriate identification will be admitted at the
reduced rate of $10.00 for the Saturday, May 24 night of stock car racing at
Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York.
“We owe so much to our
military people. Their sacrifices have kept us free, allowing us to enjoy a way
of life that is the envy of all the other nations,” says Mike Gurda, speedway
promoter. “We’re happy to recognize our active and veteran military folks at
the speedway on Memorial Weekend.”
Defending point champion and
current point leader Tim Hindley leads a strong corps of DIRTcar Big-Block
Modified drivers in their quest for
Admission prices for the May
24 race meet remain at $14 adults, $12 seniors, and free for children 12 and
under. The full night of racing begins promptly at 6:30 pm.
Advance ticket sales,
including the 53rd Annual Eastern States Weekend, and track information is
available at the
Upcoming: May 31 – Rock
Fantasy Concert & Smoke Shop “Banner Night”
June 7 – Tire King of
News from the
Media Contact: Brett Deyo –
845.728.2781 or bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com
For Immediate Release/May 21,
2014
First Race, First Place: Matt
Sheppard Wins Olum’s ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ Presented By Rochinski
Contracting Services & Husqvarna In Thunder Mountain Speedway Debut; Waterloo,
NY Driver Earns $5,640 For Car Owner Norm Hansell In NDRL Short Track Super
Series Fueled By VP Round No. 2
CENTER LISLE, NY – First
race, first place!
In his debut at Thunder
Mountain Speedway, superstar Matt Sheppard drove to a hefty payday Tuesday
night at the Olum’s ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ presented by Rochinski
Contracting Services and Husqvarna. Sheppard, leading wire-to-wire in the
50-lap National Dirt Racing League (NDRL) Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP big-block/small-block Modified event, earned $5,640 in
cash plus other incentives: $5,000 from the posted purse, $490 in lap money,
$100 from Simplicity Designs and $50 as a Tonarlo’s Pizza Heat-Race Hard
Charger.
Sheppard, of
A huge crowd filled
“The hardest part about
tonight was the unknown,” Sheppard said of his first
“It was definitely cool to
win in my first race at the place.”
Despite a poor draw (97 out
of a possible) that placed Sheppard ninth in the seventh heat race, he raced to second place on the track and topped the
passing points chart to make the redraw.
“That was tough after they
drew 97 for me,” Sheppard said of qualifying. “I think we were 72nd of the 73
cars that drew. I was really happy to end up qualifying, let alone getting to
the redraw.”
The 31-year-old driver picked
No. 2 of 16 available numbers for the 50-lap main event and outgunned pole
starter Chad Cook to take the lead at the outset. Through a number of early
restarts, Sheppard maintained his lead aboard the Hansell Motorsports No. 357
Troyer.
As the laps would down, Cook
– a
Sheppard encountered lapped
traffic, slowing his pace. Cook powered to the outside lane – almost pulling
even at the exit of turn two with 47 laps complete – before Sheppard prevailed.
He beat Cook to the line by two car-lengths.
“My right-front tire was
going away,” Sheppard said. “We went too soft and the car got tight. I knew he
was right there and he was quick.”
Sheppard credited
“It’s a great deal,” Sheppard
said. “Norm has the best equipment and Jay works really hard on the cars. I
have to thank them for the opportunity.”
Cook, 37 years old, settled
for second position driving Mike Costello’s No. 2c Bicknell.
“Yeah, I thought I had a shot
at him there,” Cook said. “It felt good to be the best of the local drivers
tonight and run with those guys.”
Cook earned $3,160 in cash
plus other incentives as the runner-up.
Vic Coffey of
Rounding out the top 10 were
Jeff Heotzler of Wallkill, N.Y., who started 10th in Mel Schrufer’s No. 2a
($1,510); 22nd-starter Duane Howard of Oley, Pa., driving Mike Petruska’s Atlas
Paving No. 66 ($1,260); Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass., who started 26th
($1,150); 29th-starter Matt Jester of Milford, Del. ($1,050); and Bob McGannon
of Garnerville, N.Y., who started 31st via a Short Track Super Series Fueled By
VP provisional. McGannon’s earnings, including the $450 Zubi’s Racing/Joe
Sarvis Motorsports Hard Charger Award, totaled $1,200.
Top passing points-earners in
the eight heat events were Johnson, Coffey, Brian Weaver of Windsor, N.Y., Alex
Stanton of Jackson, Pa., Heotzler, Elmo Reckner of Ballston Lake, N.Y.,
Sheppard and Bob Hamm Jr. of Windsor, N.Y.
Consolation victors were
JaMike Sowle of Fultonville, N.Y., Bachetti, Brian Malcolm of Lake Ariel, Pa.,
and Danny Tyler of Cottekill, N.Y.
Kevin Jordan of
Former track regular Eddie
White of Candor, N.Y., returned to
Sportsman heat winners were
John Morse, Ryan Olsommer and White.
THUNDER THOUGHTS: Pre-race
fan activities included a live remote by 98.1 The Hawk, displays of the Nick
Rochinski and Mike Mahaney race cars with driver meet and greets, a bounce
house for kids and more. Three sets of fireworks lit up the sky during the
evening….
Track owner Karl Spoonhower
confirmed the night’s attendance as the largest ever in the history of Thunder
Mountain Speedway, which first opened in 1992….
After post heat-race
mechanical issues sidelined the Sherlock Motorsports No. TEN, Billy Van Inwegen
picked up the ride in the Crash Palace No. 14 owned by
The busy program was spun off
efficiently despite the huge car count. Eight NDRL Modified heats, three
Sportsman heats, four NDRL Modified consolations, the Wade Decker Memorial Last
Chance Qualifier and the 50-lap NDRL Modified main event were completed by
10:14 p.m., with only the Sportsman main to follow….
Next up for the NDRL Short
Track Super Series Fueled By VP is the I-88 (N.Y.) Speedway Sowle Trailer
Repair ‘Crazy 8s Special’ presented by Olum’s on Wednesday, July 23 (rain date:
July 24). The 48-lap big-block/small-block Modified event, Round No. 3 of the
series, offers $8,888 to win from a massive purse as the richest event ever to
be held at the Afton Fairgrounds facility. GRIT 602 Sportsman will complete the
two-division program.
To learn more about the NDRL
Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP, contact Brett
Deyo at 845.728.2781, e-mail Deyo99H@aol.com or visit
www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com. Like “BD Motorsports Media” on Facebook or follow
@BrettDeyo on Twitter.
OLUM’S ‘LIGHTNING ON THE
MOUNTAIN’ PRESENTED BY ROCHINSKI CONTRACTING SERVICES & HUSQVARNA RACE
SUMMARY – MAY 20, 2014
NDRL Short Track Super Series
Fueled By VP Modified Feature Finish (50 Laps): MATT SHEPPARD ($5,640) Chad
Cook, Vic Coffey, Stewart Friesen, Danny Johnson, Jeff Heotzler, Duane Howard,
Andy Bachetti, Matt Jester, Bob McGannon, Steve Cummings, Rick Laubach, Danny
Tyler, Mike Colsten, Dale Welty, Tommy Meier, Tim Hindley, Billy Decker, Ryan
Watt, Brian Weaver, Bob Hamm Jr., Billy Van Inwegen Jr., JaMike Sowle, Brent
Wilcox, Don Hart Jr., Elmo Reckner, Mike Clapperton, Alex Stanton, Ryan Jordan,
Bobby Varin, Donnie Lawson, Brian Malcolm.
Did Not Qualify: Dale Planck,
Scott Van Gorder, Erick Rudolph, Barry White, Mitch Gibbs, Alan Johnson, C.G.
Morey, Paul Jensen, Kurt Hundeland, Darrell Ford, Nick Rochinski, Ken Titus,
Sam Allen, Brett Hearn, Mike DuBois, Craig Hanson, John Siedlecky, Brett
Tonkin, Doug Manmiller, Donnie Elliott, Gary Tomkins, Rob Rowe, Rich Eurich,
Byron Worthing, Mike Kolka Jr., Alan Rudalavage, Tyler Siri, Lou Cicconi Jr.,
Roy Shields, Anthony Perrego, Nick Nye, Mike Ricci, Darwin Greene, Ray
Jashembowski, Marcus Dinkins, Tyler Dippel, Pat Ward, Mike Mahaney, Tom
Collins, Tim Currier, Danny Creeden.
‘Lucky 7’ Lap Money
Distribution ($1,508): Matt Sheppard ($490), Vic Coffey ($168), Jeff Heotzler
($165), Chad Cook ($160), Stewart Friesen ($160), Danny Johnson ($120), Steve
Cummings ($105), Duane Howard ($60), Billy Decker ($40) & Tim Hindley
($40),
Accord
Allstar Performance Bonuses
($50 certificates): Vic Coffey (third) & Andy Bachetti (eighth)
American Racer/Lias Tire
Bonuses (free tire each): Matt Jester (ninth) & Rick Laubach (12th)
Amsoil/Bud Leizear Longest
Distance Towed (Oil Change Supplies): Scott Van Gorder
ATL Fuel Cell Bonus ($100
credit): Danny Johnson (fifth)
Behrent’s Performance
Warehouse Bonuses ($50 each): Stewart Friesen (fourth) & Matt Jester
(ninth)
BFP Specialty Bonus ($100
shock servicing credit): Danny Tyler (13th)
Bob Hilbert Sportswear
Bonuses ($100 credits): Vic Coffey (third), Steve Cummings (11th) & Barry
White (DNQ)
Diversified Machine Inc./Bulldog Rear End Bonuses ($50 credits): Steve Cummings (11th)
& Mike Kolka Jr. (DNQ)
DRACO ‘Spring Forward’ Award
(free spring): Bob McGannon
Finish Line Web Design $150
Credit:
Hoosier Racing Tire Bonus
(free tire): Darwin Greene
Manmiller Electric DNQ
Bonuses ($100 cash): Danny Creeden & Rich Eurich
PM3 Digital Imaging Hard
Charger Bonus ($25 credit): Bob McGannon
Recycle Your Entry Fee
Program: All drivers unable to qualify will receive complimentary car entry to
the July 23 ‘Crazy 8s Special’ at I-88 Speedway
Schaeffer Racing Oil Bonus
(two cases of oil): Matt Sheppard
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck
Award (bumpers and rubrails): Craig Hanson
Simplicity Designs $100
Winner’s Bonus (added to the $5,000): Matt Sheppard
S&W Awards Custom Trophy:
Matt Sheppard
Tonarlo’s Pizza Heat-Race
Hard Charger Awards ($50 cash each): Danny Johnson, Steve Cummings, Rick
Laubach, Andy Bachetti, Brian Malcolm, Dale Planck, Matt Sheppard, Bob Hamm Jr.
VP Racing Fuels DNQ Bonus
(Drum of VP Racing Fuel): Doug Manmiller
Whirlpool Appliances $250
Halfway Leader Bonus: Matt Sheppard
Zubi’s Racing/Joe Sarvis
Motorsports Hard Charger Award ($450 cash): Bob McGannon (31st-to-10th)
Sportsman Feature Finish (25
Laps): KEVIN JORDAN ($1,000), Billy Spoonhower, Eddie White, Brian Krummel,
Andrew Ferguson, John Morse, Ryan Olsommer, Marshall Balzer, Chance Spoonhower,
Randy Green, Lanson Albanese, Larry Hillis, Kenny Hammond, Chris Jordan,
Charlie Hendrickson Jr., Josh Butler, Mike Decker, Colton Wilson, Butch Green,
Randy Gates, Alec Gennarelli, Mike Wilmot, Rich Powell, Tyler Ward.
Did Not
Start: Claude Hutchings Jr., Randy Brokaw.
Turn 5 Podcast Hard Charger
($55.55): Brian Krummel (15th to 4th)
Trackside Products Best
Appearing Cars ($100 credits): Ryan Olsommer (Crate 602) & Andrew Ferguson
(Open)
Shiley Fabrication
Certificates ($50 credits): Randy Green (10th) & Claude Hutchings Jr. (DNQ)
The ‘Lightning on the
Mountain’ special is presented by Olum’s, Rochinski Contracting Services,
Husqvarna, Zubi’s Racing, Accord Speedway, Whirlpool Appliances, Manmiller
Electric, Trackside Products, MjH Oilfield, VP Racing Fuels and many other fine
marketing partners
The National Dirt Racing
League (NDRL) Short Track Super Series is presented by VP Racing Fuels, Pioneer
Pole Buildings Inc., East Coast Speed/ECS Auto, Rochinski Contracting Services,
Allstar Performance, American Racer/Lias Tire, Art’s Radiator, ATL Fuel Cells,
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, BFP Specialty, Bicknell Racing Products, Bob
Hilbert Sportswear, COMP Performance Group, Dirt Track Digest, DMI/Bulldog Rear
Ends, DRACO Springs, Driven Racing Oil, ERK Steering, Finish Line Web Design,
FOX Shox, H.B. Steele & Son, Henry’s Stainless Steel Exhaust, Hig Fab
Chassis, Hoosier Racing Tire, Jack’s Used Race Car Parts & More, Kirkey
Racing Products, PM3 Digital Imaging, Quarter Master, Race Pro Weekly,
Schaeffer Racing Oil, Shiley Fabrication, Sleepy Hollow Golf, Teo-Pro Car,
Troyer Race Cars & Vahlco Wheels.
Email I received:
“Hi Tom
I just read on DTD that OCFS
is offering our military (current and veterans), if they come in uniform or for
veterans if they bring ID they can get in at the reduced rate of $10.00 in
celebration of Memorial Day. I am not a
member of DTD or I would be writing in - in answer to that notification.
What kind of patriotism is
that????? Come in uniform in order to
pay $10.????
This isn't clean black-top racing. This is dirt racing and who can go to the
track clean and walk out clean???? I
can't believe that Gurda has the audacity to claim to be honoring our military
and not allowing them to get in free, wearing whatever they want to wear,
Anyway, Tom, I hope you can,
without mentioning my name in your column, allow people to know that some fans
think it is a disgrace that Gurda has the nerve to charge our current and past
military men one red cent for this weekend's race.
IMHO, at half time they
should invite every military man down on the track and allow one of them to
lead us all with our salute to the flag and the singing of our National
Anthem. JMO.”
Note: Hmm, interesting, to say the least. Hope ya don’t mind, but I’d like to add my
two cents to this:
How about OCFS putting out a
notice that effectively immediately, ALL Veterans, and ALL current members of
our Armed Forces, will be admitted FREE, as thanks for their service to our
country – and a uniform will not be required, just proper ID to any Saturday
night races. It’s not like there are not
seats available for them, ya know?
How about it, Mr. Gurda?
No, I’m not suggesting this
because I am a veteran, myself. My trips
to OCFS are getting to be fewer and fewer, as time goes bye.
Hey, if you agree, why not
contact OCFS yourself? They seem to
delete most every thing I send to them – whether they read it or not, so it
seems.
This week’s photo:
From a past “Nostalgia Night”
at OCFS:
Who can you name in the above
photo? Hint: The closest to the camera is Ralph Heotzler.
Racing videos:
Personally, I’d rather see
Sprint Cars minus their wings. To me, it
just somehow is better racing. Here is a
short video from the WoO at the New Egypt Speedway this past Tuesday. At the 2:05 mark, the “King”, Steve Kinser,
makes contact with some big tires that are at the end of some metal guard rail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mQxlGvzY3Iw
Note:
Can you imagine any of this years Indy 500
drivers in a Sprint Car – winged or wingless?
I can’t. Well, maybe just one –
Ed Carpenter.
Not
racing related:
Not sure if the figures in
this video are correct, but if so, we will have major problems down the road.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/xOAgT8L_BqQ
On Facebook on 5/21/2014:
If you get arrested in this
country for hunting and fishing without a license, but not for entering this
country illegally, you might (would, really!) live in a country run by idiots.
Going
back in time – not racing related:
Just to prove to ya that time does fly –
it’s been 34 years already!
May 18th: Mt St. Helens – 1980
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_St._Helens
Music
videos:
Ever since I can remember, I’ve always
listened to “Country Music”. Heck, I
used to lay in bed when I was a kid and listened to WWVA on the radio. I guess I could say it’s my mothers’ fault,
since she also liked to listen to that kind of music. I’ll admit, when I was in my teens and early
20’s, I also liked some “Rock and Roll”, too.
My kids were brought up on it – Country Music -
heck, it was always on my car radio. I’m
pretty sure that both sons, Tom Jr. and Eric more or less despise it,
today. Our daughters though – that’s a
different story.
Somehow, the song listed below, one with
the lyrics and the other with the video of Miranda Lambert has kind of grown on
me. For some unknown reasons, both the
radio stations up here in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVYLN4_IZgc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ksWKOy665o
Joke
of the week:
This year's Darwin Awards may
be the best ever! In case you have been
waiting breathlessly for this year's Darwin Awards----awards
are given each
year to bestow upon the remains (or estate of in most
cases) that
individual, who through single- minded self-sacrifice, has done
the most to
remove undesirable elements from the human gene pool. Just
think... until
these events occurred, these same people were walking the
streets just like
normal people.
Note: And, more than likely they multiplied and
voted, too!
CentralMammothHospital. The accident occurred about 3 a.m., the Mono County
Sheriff's department said. Hubal and his friends apparently had hiked up a ski
run called Stump Alley and removed some yellow foam protectors from lift
towers, said Lt. Mike Donnelly of the Mammoth Lakes Police Department. The pads
are used to protect skiers who might hit towers. The group apparently used the
pads to slide down the ski slope and Hubal crashed into a tower. It has since been
investigated and determined the tower he hit was the one with its pad removed.
in a
grabbed a hot dog, shoved it into his mouth and walked out
without paying.
Police found him unconscious
in front of the store. Paramedics removed the
six-inch wiener from his throat where it had choked him to
death.
(probably
related to the winner last year, a man in
.22 bullet
to replace the fuse in his pickup truck) popped a blasting cap
into his mouth and bit down, triggering an explosion that
blew off his lips,
teeth, and tongue. Jerry Stromyer, 24, of Kincaid, bit the
blasting cap as a
prank during the party late Tuesday night, said Cpl. M.D.
Payne. "Another
man had a blasting cap in an aquarium hooked to a battery
and was trying to
explode it. It wouldn't go off and this guy said," I'll
show you how to set
it off!" He put it into his mouth, bit down and it
blew all his teeth out
and his lips and tongue off, Payne said. Stromyer was
listed in guarded
condition Wednesday with extensive facial injuries, according
to a
spokesperson at Charleston Area Medical Division "I just
can't imagine
anyone doing something like that," Payne said. (Note:
Maybe that's why they call these the Darwin Awards)
SECOND PLACE: Doctors at
PortlandUniversityHospital said an
weekend during an initiation into a men's rafting club,
Mountain Men
Anonymous
(probably known now as Stupid Mountain Men Anonymous) in
millimeter to the left, a major blood vessel would have been cut
and Roberts
would have died instantly. Neurosurgeon, Doctor Johnny
Delashaw, at the
of brain with the tip protruding at the rear of his
skull, yet somehow
managed to miss all major blood vessels. Delashaw also said
that had Roberts tried to pull the arrow out on his own he surely would have
killed himself. Roberts admitted afterwards that he and his friend had been
drinking that afternoon. Said Roberts, "I feel so dumb
about this."
THIS YEAR'S WINNER: John
Pernicky and his friend, Sal Hawkins, of the
great state of
the George Washington amphitheater. Having no tickets
(but having had 18
beers between them), they thought it would be easy to
"hop" over the nine
foot fence and sneak into the show. They pulled their
pickup truck over to
the fence and the plan was for Mr. Pernicky, who was 100
pounds heavier than Mr. Hawkins, to hop the fence and then assist his friend
over. Unfortunately for (the late) Mr. Pernicky, there was a 30-foot drop on
the other side of the fence.
Having heaved himself over,
he found himself crashing through a tree.
His fall was abruptly halted
(and broken, along with his arm) by a large
branch that snagged him by his shorts. Dangling from the
tree with a broken
arm, he looked down and saw some bushes below him.
Possibly figuring the
bushes would break his fall, he removed his pocket knife and
proceeded to
cut away his shorts to free himself from the tree. Finally free, Mr. Pernicky crashed into holly
bushes. The sharp leaves scratched his ENTIRE body and now, without the
protection of his shorts, a holly branch penetrated his rectum. To make matters
worse, upon landing his pocket knife penetrated his thigh.
Hawkins, seeing his friend in
considerable pain and agony, threw him a
rope and tried to pull him to safety by tying the rope to
the pickup truck
and slowly driving away. However, in his drunken haste,
he put the truck
into reverse and crashed through the fence, landing on his
friend and
killing him.
Police arrived to find the
crashed pickup with its driver thrown 100
feet from the truck and dead at the scene from massive
internal injuries
upon moving the truck, they found John deceased under it
half-naked,
scratches on his body, a holly stick in his rectum, a knife in
his thigh,
and his shorts dangling from a tree branch 25 feet in the
air.
Congratulations gentlemen.
You win. Five more idiots have been removed from the gene pool and we are richer
because of your supreme sacrifice.
Please don’t forget:
Oh, and now it looks like the VA, with its
problems, will be in the news, too – well, if you watch the news on any network
other than ABC, CBS, CNN or NBC – you know, the main stream media.
A couple of things found on
the Internet regarding the VA:
Obama
Crisis Action Checklist (GM, IRS,
1 - Ignore previous
statements made to fix the problem - take no action to address known issues
2 - If/when crisis occurs and
gets media attention, claim to have first heard about the issue from media
reports
3 - Delay action - just
respond that the issue is a concern, will not be tolerated and needs to be
looked into
4 - Search for someone to
blame (Bush, Republicans, local office, weather, etc.) and point them out to
the media
5 - After sufficient delay,
defer actions to an 'investigation', staff member or committee to be formed
6 - Continue delay, deferring
comments until 'investigation' is complete
7 - Find new topic (climate
change, war on women, congress, etc) to distract the media and public
8 - Continue delay, deferrals
and distraction until next crisis
9 - Go to step 1
If Comrade "Nikita the
Liar" Obama wants to show Veterans he cares, he should fire the management
and it's staff at all 1,700 VA facilities and
Temporarily replace them with Active Duty Military Officers and NCOs. While he investigates, how to never let this happen again.
When that's over Replacements should be Only, Veterans, National Guard,
Reserves and Spouses/Children(add Active Duty) of the
same. Step 2, Decertify the VA's Civil Service Unions,
Void their Contracts, and put a Code of Conduct and Service in place with
Criminal Punishment and/or Fines, for breaking it.
The above were two comments that can be
found here:
http://news.yahoo.com/carney-slips-slights-president-obama-video-215035367.html
Until my next column – not
sure just when it will be! Please keep
checking either Dirt Track Digest or New England Tractor/Race Report on
Thursdays!
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/
I can be reached, via e-mail, at: ygordad@yahoo.com