Mostly
Racin' Stuff
By Tom
Avenengo
07/17/2014
Some
personal/family stuff:
It’s been a pretty hard month, folks. As many of you know, my wife of almost 54
years passed away on July 3rd.
What we were hoping was scar tissue being the problem turned or far
worse. It was maybe a couple of months
ago, while we were watching something on TV when she looked at me and told me
her cancer had returned. I asked her why
she that and she said she felt the same way she felt a couple of years
ago. Funny how we can sense things,
isn’t it? She was correct. The cancer returned with a vengeance, with a
tumor surrounding part of her intestine and closing it up, thus the blockage.
Once surgery started, it was seen that she
had numerous tumors inside. She could
hardly eat for maybe a little over three weeks.
I learned later that our bodies will tell us if we can or can’t
eat. I felt bad when I pressured her to
eat more – not knowing her body was saying, “No”.
There have been times when I’ve had some
surgeries, and I always had someone from the family with me just prior to them
– even her, when I had my by-pass back in 1996.
I have to say that next to losing her, the next thing that hurt the most
was that I was told her surgery would be early in the afternoon. When I asked if I were to get the hospital at
11:00 in the morning, would that be early enough, I was told that it would be. I arrived at 10:30 in the morning. Sad to say, she was already in the “OR”. Yes, I have tears in my eyes as I type this –
sad that I could not accompany her on her last trip out of that hospital room
and to the “OR”. I can’t imagine how she
felt. I just hope that in her heart, she
knew I was with her.
Her obituary, for those that might have
missed it:
So,
as of now, I’m not really sure as to just what I’ll be doing. Keeping our house is just about out of the
question, financially. Oh, I have so
many offers from family members to live with them, but I think for a while,
I’ll be a traveler, me and our dog, “Max”, and do some lengthy or short
visiting. More than likely, I’ll be a
“Snow Bird” this coming winter, and spend some time in
Me,
being a race fan since 1946, I’d like to get in more racing up here – even the
November race at Accord. A lot depends
on how my health is – especially my kidneys.
So far, so good with them. Just
have to watch what I’m eating!
Medical
up-date on me:
I
had an appointment with a kidney specialist today. I’ll have to be pretty careful as far as my
diet goes. Diet worked wonders for me
down in
If I’m able to, it looks
like I’ll hit Accord on Friday and Hamlin on Saturday. Yay!
Racin’
stuff:
I’ve been told that I should
continue with these columns. I plan to –
at least for a while.
While going through some
things in my room last week, I came across the book that the late Keith Herbst
wrote that covered all the midget races that were held in the
Note: To see some of my very first writings, you
can check them out, here:
http://www.thevintageracer.com/historians_corner.htm
You can also check out Racer
Rich & Jim Nise, too.
Special thanks go out to
whomever it was that was responsible for the announcement over the PA system at
OCFS about my wife’s passing.
I have my own thoughts about
the Sportsman “Demolition Derbies” that have been occurring weekly at
OCFS. I’m surprised that they’re still
able to keep their Sportsman car count up – what with all the expenses to
repair damages done.
Car counts are down in the
modified classes at both OCFS and the Valley.
Some other tracks, too. Can we
really blame it on the economy or is it the rule books?
I read that there is someone
that keeps track of modified car counts here in the northeast. Seems like the top three are all Brett Deyo
promoted races –
The Brett Hearn “Big Show”,
like so many other races this season, ran into weather problems and only got in
11 laps. Oh yes, there are comments made
about the rain date and having to buy a new ticket. I’ve hinted to Brett that maybe an ARDC
midget race to help fill the program on the 30th of July and it did
bring some interest from Brett, but word I have received from the ARDC is that
their schedule is “frozen”. Huh?
Robin Miller has some
interesting thoughts and comments about Indy Car racing which can bee found if
you go here:
Back in 2003, while writing
for the now defunct OWR website, I had the privilege of going to the IRL/USAC
races held on the
http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=7796
When one looks at the Silver
Crow race results, one can see quite a few names still at it in open wheel
racing today. More remarkable? Today, Silver Crown races on pavement are
very few and far between.
USAC Silver Crown:
http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=27115
More and more we’re able to
see more empty aluminum seats at major league races.
Again, I read that at Pocono
for the Indy Lights race on Saturday, there were only 8 cars. That race could easily be run on Sunday along
with the Indy car race, I think. Hell,
the track looks empty when there are 20-22 Indy cars on it! And, as Robin Miller said in his article,
Pocono is trying to get away from that July 4th date.
The 500 mile race a few days
ago – average speed was 202+MPH.
From Facebook on 7/14:
Veteran motor sports
broadcaster Gary Lee found dead
From Facebook on 7/15/14:
Message from Gater Racing
news:
"
The Gater Racing Photo News,
and the Patrick Family specifically, would like to address all of our wonderful
and loyal readers, contributors, advertisers, supporters and friends of the
Gater Racing Photo News. We have been blessed and honored to have served you
for nearly 50 years with the Gater Racing Photo News publication. It has truly
been our pleasure providing everyone with the best auto racing publication
possible.
It is with saddening heart we
announce the Gater Racing Photo News will no longer publish. We have not been
successful in finding a printing replacement that was able to satisfy all of
the different components needed to uphold the same standards everyone has come
to expect.
We are however, proud to
share that all of our subscribers to the Gater News will have their account
transferred to the Area Auto Racing News (AARN). Len Sammons, his family and
entire crew at AARN are delighted to welcome all of the Gater News readers to
their fine pages effective immediately. At this time, you should have already
started receiving Area Auto Racing News. You will also be receiving a letter
from Area Auto with more information about their product, as well a special
offer to extend your subscription. We urge you to extend your Gater loyalty on
to these wonderful and professional people at AARN. Area Auto Racing News, like
Gater, is focused on covering the Northeast short tracks as well as all
National Touring Series on both dirt and pavement.
If you have any questions
regarding your subscription, please do not hesitate to contact AARN direct
Mon.-Fri.9 am to 4:30pm at (609) 888-3618, or email to: sub@aarn.com. To send
questions by
From the bottom of our
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Photo News. We wish you all the best of luck in your racing endeavors. Please
continue to support the sport we all love.
Sincerely,
The Patrick Family and
Everyone at Gater Racing Photo News"
More from 7/15:
Glenridge Motorsports-park
RULE CHANGE
ATTENTION RULE CHANGE: The
modified and sportsman class will no longer be allowed to run dzus on wheel
covers on any corner of the race car. The only mud rings allowed will be the
type that bolts on and double as a bead lock ring or the foam style.
Found on
I-88, ACCORD & PENN CAN
SUPER SERIES INFO & PRICES
Author: Brett Deyo Date: 7/15/2014 8:58:00 AM +2/-0
The rules, prices and general
information have now been posted for the next three Short Track Super Series
Fueled By VP events: Wednesday, July 23 at I-88 Speedway (rain date: July 24);
Tuesday, August 5 at Accord Speedway (rain date: Aug. 6) and Tuesday, August 12
at Penn Can Speedway (rain date: Aug. 13).
The race for the $10,014
inaugural championship will heat up over the next four weeks. Andy Bachetti currently leads by three points
entering the Crazy 8s Special at I-88. Here are the top-15 as they stand now.
Short Track Super Series
Fueled By VP Point Standings
*After
Position Car No.
1 34 Andy Bachetti* 100 68 168
2 86 Danny Johnson 85 80 165
3 2A Jeff Heotzler 80 76 156
4 1WGC Stewart Friesen 65 85 150
5 97T Danny Tyler 90 56 146
6 94 Tim Hindley 95 48 143
7 21M Bob McGannon 58 62 120
8 TEN Billy Van Inwegen 76 42 118
3 Tommy Meier 68 50 118
10 66 Duane Howard 43 72 115
11 62 Matt Jester 41 65 106
12 14W Ryan Watt 56 45 101
13 357 Matt Sheppard* 0 100 100
14 2C
15 32C Vic Coffey 0 90 90
Rules and general info for
each event can be found below:
I-88 July 23: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/i-88-speedway-crazy-8s-special-information-sheet/
Accord Aug. 5: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/accord-speedway-battle-of-the-bullring-general-information-sheet/
Penn Can Aug. 12: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/penn-can-hot-summer-night-general-information-sheet/
NASCAR introduces new paint
scheme for Chase drivers
Former
OVRP Dirt Oval runners:
This week I won’t be covering how they’ve
done over the last weekend, if you don’t mind.
I’m starting this column on Monday night, so time just might not allow
it. Sorry!
From
Jayski:
Note:
Some “old news”, to begin with, then some current stuff:
Logano not happy with
Shepherd's driving:
#22-Joey Logano was involved
in an accident on lap 211 when he made contact with #33-Morgan Shepherd at New
Hampshire Motor Speedway, his comment: "I got taken out by the slowest car
out there. You would think there would be some courtesy to the leaders. We were
in second place. He gets out of the way on the straightaway and then goes into
the corner and slides right up into the lane I was in. Whatever. I don't know.
We will fix it and go at it again. Daytona is Daytona and everyone else crashed
but this week - we were doing a good job after having a left rear flat in
practice and we were running second with our backup car. I can't get too mad at
ourselves over this. It is just dumb that it happened. I feel like that should
be stuff that shouldn't happen at this level of racing."(Ford
Racing)(7-14-2014)
NASCAR has no problem with
Morgan Shepherd:
NASCAR vice president of
competition defended Shepherd saying the veteran "met all of the
requirements" established by the sanctioning body. He qualified the
situation by calling it "an accident, that could have happened to
anybody" and maintained that the #33 Chevy had no issue dropping "to
the minimum speed" required at Loudon, "so there wasn't any issue
with that."
"Morgan Shepherd has
always been approved," Pemberton said. "He's been approved for
decades. Under our situation here, you take a physical at the beginning of the
year, you pass your physical, you pass inspection with your car, you qualify
for the race and you run the event. He met everything he needed to
meet."(Motorsport)(7-14-2014)
NASCAR And Turner Sports
Culminate 32-Year Broadcast Partnership at NHMS:
For more than three decades,
NASCAR and Turner Sports have partnered to tell the stories of stock car racing
- longer than many of the drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have been
alive. On Sunday when the checkered flag flies at New Hampshire Motor Speedway,
it will mark the conclusion of a long and prosperous partnership between NASCAR
and Turner Sports.
"There is no question
that the folks at Turner have been fantastic partners for the past 32 years,
and we can't thank them enough for everything they've done to grow the sport
during that time frame," said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and chief
executive officer. "Their dedication to producing first-class, innovative
NASCAR broadcasts has never wavered, and this weekend's race from
Turner has been instrumental
in helping grow the sport through innovative and creative NASCAR coverage and
promotions. Some highlights in the history of the partnership include:
- 1983 - 2001: TBS was the
longtime home for select races in all three national series, including events
from
- July 2001: The first NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series race was aired on TNT from New Hampshire Motor Speedway;
Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach manned the broadcast booth.
- September 2004: TNT
presented its first race in HDTV, the Rock and Roll 400 from Richmond
International Raceway.
- December 2004: TNT
announced it would carry their entire portion of the 2005 season in 1080i high
definition.
- May 2011: Turner
implemented new "directional audio" marketing technology in public
areas of
- June 2012: NASCAR and
Twitter launched a first-of-its-kind editorial partnership for the first TNT
race from Pocono Raceway, creating a unique complementary second screen
experience to enhance TNT's broadcast of the race.
- June 2013: TNT introduced
"all-access coverage" during the Countdown to Green prerace show, a
feature where the network follows a different driver throughout the week to
document how they prepare for the race.
Finally, there are countless
memorable moments on the track that Turner has covered over the last three-plus
decades. But most notably, TBS will always be known as the network that carried
the first-ever race in which Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. competed
against each other. In a 300-mile exhibition race at Twin Ring Motegi in
Sprint Cup teams form Race
Team Alliance: A group of nine multi-car teams participating in the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) announced today they have formed a collaborative
business association called the Race Team Alliance (RTA). The purpose of the
organization is to create an open forum for the teams to explore areas of
common interest and to work collaboratively on initiatives to help preserve,
promote, and grow the sport of stock car racing. The organization intends to
open up its membership to all full time NSCS teams in the very near future. In
providing a vehicle for the teams to work together, the organization creates for
the first time a single entity to engage with stakeholders on creative ways to
market and experience the power of the sport's teams and drivers. As part of
its focus, the RTA also plans to explore innovative ways to harness the
combined purchasing power and scale of the teams' operations to drive
efficiencies in costs. Rob Kauffman, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, has
been elected the first chair of the RTA.
"With the encouragement
of NASCAR and the manufacturers, the teams have met in various forms and forums
over the years to explore areas of common interest. This simply formalizes what
was an informal group." said Kauffman. "The key word is
'Collaboration'. We all have vested interests in the success and popularity of
stock car racing. By working together and speaking with a single voice, it
should be a simpler and smoother process to work with current and potential
groups involved with the sport. Whether it be looking for industry-wide travel
partners or collaborating on technical issues - the idea is to work together to
increase revenue, spend more efficiently, and deliver more value to our
partners."
The following teams are the
executive members of the RTA: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Hendrick
Motor Sports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Richard Childress
Racing, Richard Petty Motor Sports, Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing
and Team Penske.(RTA)(7-7-2014)
UPDATE:
Statement from NASCAR:
"We are aware of the alliance concept the team owners have announced, but
have very few specifics on its structure or purpose. It is apparently still in
development and we're still learning about the details so it would be
inappropriate to comment right now. NASCAR's mission, as it has always been, is
to create a fair playing field where anyone can come and compete. Our job is to
support and strengthen all of the teams, large and small, across all of our
series and we'll continue to do that. NASCAR is a unique community with
hundreds of stakeholders. They all have a voice and always will."(NASCAR)(7-7-2014)
UPDATE 2:
#55-Brian Vickers doesn't
know much about the newly formed Race Team Alliance, but he knows plenty about
the man who's running it. The RTA, whose creation was announced Monday, is a
business alliance of nine Sprint Cup teams that is being chaired by Rob
Kauffman, who is the co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing. Vickers, who drives
the #55
Kauffman, RTA talking to
prospective members: Five days after its formation was announced, the Race Team
Alliance is in the opening stage of expanding its membership beyond nine
charter Sprint Cup teams. RTA chairman Rob Kauffman said he's talked over the
past few days with Tommy Baldwin, Tad Geschickter (JTG Daugherty Racing) and
other owners of the smaller organizations in NASCAR's premier series. The RTA
is open to any teams that attempted to qualify for at least 95% of Cup races
the past two seasons. Kauffman said the response were "quite
positive" but demurred when asked about which teams would join.
Representatives from smaller teams have deflected or declined comment about the
RTA.(see full story at the USA Today)(7-13-2014)
Bruton Smith blasts Race Team
Alliance: Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith, a longtime critic of
NASCAR, became the sanctioning body's biggest supporter Friday, blasting the
recent formation of the Race Team Alliance. "What I know about it, of
course I don't like it," Smith said after Sprint Cup practice at New
Hampshire Motor Speedway, which is one of eight SMI-owned tracks that play host
to NASCAR's premier series. "I don't know anything about it that's good
for what we do. I don't see anything that's going to be good for the sport.
Nothing. What little bit I know about it right now, it seems it will damage the
sport. If NASCAR needs us, we're there with NASCAR on the deal. We're there
every day, every hour, if they need us."
Announced Monday, the RTA is
comprised of nine teams that have aligned with the objective of saving costs.
Smith, though, said it won't improve NASCAR and likely would hurt it, though he
was vague when pressed about how. "If you're NASCAR or Speedway
Motorsports, show me one thing that's going to help the sport," Smith
said. "I don't see anything I've heard or read about it."
Smith often feuded with
former NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr. about race scheduling and the sport's
direction, and there was speculation that the RTA might view him as an ally,
given his maverick streak and vast business holdings. But Smith snuffed any
such perception. "Absolutely not," he said. "I'll be standing
shoulder to shoulder with NASCAR on this one. I know (the RTA isn't) going to
like it. I like this sport. I've been in it forever. We have a huge investment
around $4 billion. I don't sit up at night worrying about it, but I do not like
the people to damage the sport."(see full story at the USA
Today)(7-12-2014)
Ty Dillon to make Sprint Cup
debut:
Ty Dillon is scheduled to
make his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut next month at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Mike
Dillon, vice president of competition at Richard Childress Racing, told Motor
Racing Network. Mike Dillon says that Ty Dillon, his son, will drive the #33
Chevy at
Earnhardt Jr. and Keselowski
clinch Chase spot:
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and
#2-Brad Keselowski have clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup,
assuming they attempt to qualify for the remaining seven races in the regular
season. Both Earnhardt and Keselowski have fulfilled two of the three
requirements to guarantee their spot in the Chase - multiple wins and locking
in to the top 30 in points. With Keselowski's third win of the season this past
weekend he could be seeded first in the Chase - each win is worth three Chase
bonus points. A number of other drivers can join Earnhardt and Keselowski as
Chase clinchers. #24-Jeff Gordon has already clinched a top 30 spot, but with a
single win has yet to clinch the "wins" portion of the criteria. A
win at Indy would clinch him a spot. To clinch a top 30 spot, the clinching driver
must be 289 points ahead of 31st place after Indianapolis.(NASCAR Wire
Service)(7-15-2014)
Gordon talks about the RTA
and minimum speed:
#24-Jeff Gordon was the guest
of this week's NASCAR Teleconference and discussed many topics including the
RTA and minimum speeds, the transcript in part:
Q. There was a lot of talk
about the Joey Logano crash with Morgan Shepherd and a lot of discussion about
minimum speeds and whatnot, and I think 10 years ago at
JEFF GORDON: "No, I'm
not comfortable with that. I don't think they have any place out there if
they're running that slow, whether you're a car that's had damage and you can't
maintain the minimum speed, or is the minimum speed the proper speed. I think
it probably needs to be raised up at certain tracks where there's not a lot of
falloff in the tire, then I think that minimum speed probably needs to be
adjusted. I don't know if that really contributed towards what happened with
Morgan and Joey. The video doesn't show everything. You see Joey go by him.
Obviously Morgan got loose and got into him.
The tricky thing about
minimum speed at a place like
Q. What do you think about
the owners forming the RTA? Do you see that as a positive or a negative, and if
it's a positive, what are some things that you think they can accomplish?
JEFF GORDON: "Well, you
know, I don't really see where things have changed a whole lot other than it's
more official. They've been meeting for years to get together and communicate
about where the sport is at, things that they can do to strengthen their teams,
be more efficient. I think it's really just more of an official way to create
that alliance, and I think it's a positive because our sport, in order for it
to be strong, the teams need to be strong. They need to be profitable. They
need to be able to do business, and it's turned into a big business, and it's
constantly growing, and so I'm in support of it because if the teams are strong
and more successful, then that's good for us that are part of the team and it's
good for the sport, it's good for the fans, and so I think that this is
definitely going to be something that we're all going to learn from and grow
from, but I think it's something that definitely is only going to be good for
the sport in general."
Q. I'm not using the word
union, but would it be helpful to the drivers if they were organized in the
same way the owners are attempting to be?
JEFF GORDON: :Well, I think
the way I look at this, this is a team alliance. It's not an owner alliance.
Some people are saying that, but to me it's what's going to make the teams more
efficient, stronger, more profitable, and to me that includes the drivers. That
includes all the employees on each of those teams. I think that it's in a lot
of ways covering us, as well. We're aligned with the teams. I have a contract
with a team and I want that team to be strong because I know if that team is
strong, then that secures my position as a driver. It secures our sponsors and
only helps us with our partners and our fans."
(Team Chevy), see full
transcript at Jeffgordon.com and see a video of the interview at
ESPN.com.(7-15-2014)
NASCAR TV ratings:
http://www.jayski.com/news/pages/story/_/page/NASCAR-Televison-Ratings-2014
NASCAR to test possible 2015
rule changes:
NASCAR has scheduled a test
on August 18, 2014 at Michigan International Speedway to test possible rule
changes for the 2015 season. "We're very pleased with the competition on
the track so far in 2014,'' said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR vice president of
innovation and racing development, in a statement to Motor Racing Network.
"The evolution of the racing product continues as we look to 2015 and
beyond. The test at Michigan International Speedway will be a great opportunity
to gather more information, help us validate much of the great research done by
engineers in our sport, and drive us one step closer to our 2015 race
package." NASCAR states that the number of teams testing hasn't been
finalized. NASCAR also states that no other tests have been scheduled, although
indications in the garage are that a follow-up test could take place at
Charlotte Motor Speedway later in the year.(Motor Racing Network)(7-16-2014)
Note: Hmm, wonder how much that will cost the
teams?
NASCAR tracks rev up lobbying
for tax break:
Racetrack owners are revving
up their efforts to protect the "NASCAR tax break" from critics who
portray it as pure corporate pork. The provision, which allows motor sports
tracks to use a shorter depreciation schedule, is among the more than 50 tax
preferences that expired at the end of 2013 after Congress failed to pass a
so-called "extenders" bill. Fiscal watchdogs say the motor sports tax
break, enacted in 2004, is the kind of narrow giveaway that gives the
"It's an asterisk in the
extenders, yet it gets all this attention, mischaracterized," said
Saunders, whose company owns the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, the
Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama and about a dozen other NASCAR tracks.
Congress is expected to restore at least some of the expired tax provisions by
the end of the year, and motor sports companies are employing high-priced
Note: Somehow, I'm against these so called
"tax breaks" that are being given out.
Winston to be made in
Reynolds and Lorillard announced
Tuesday morning that they have entered into a definitive agreement in which
Winston-Salem-based Reynolds has agreed to acquire Greensboro-based Lorillard.
Reynolds will keep the
Note: Hmm, interesting! How will this affect the southern labor
market?
From
Track Forum:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forum.php
A couple of threads about Pocono:
Pocono traffic issues?
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?187738-Pocono-traffic-issues
Pocono Survey.
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?187775-Pocono-Survey
And one about the Race Team
Alliance in NASCAR
A Storm be a Brewing
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?187685-A-Storm-be-a-Brewing
From
the AARN:
Some things covered in the AARN this week:
Kerry Madsen Is Eldora’s New
King Of Sprint Cars
Mod Tour Star
Paige Polyak: Next Big Sprint
Star Or Just Another Pretty Face?
IMSA Stanout Dave Shullick Is
Oswego’s Newest ‘King Of Wing’
Tom Sears Sweeps Brewerton.
Mahoning Mod Teenage
Sensation Kris Graver Keeps On Winning
‘Doctor’ Danny Johnson Keeps
RoC Rivals In Five Mile Point Waiting Room
New LFR Modified Chassis
Tested, Proven At Loudon By Todd Szegedy
Gater Racing Bows Out After
Nearly Fifty Years Of Publication
NASCAR Team Owner
Coming
up:
The fair returns to
Vintage Racing Celebration
Friday, August 01 - Monday,
Aug 04, 2014 | 9:00am - 5:00pm
Road Course Days: Aug. 1-2
Oval Days: Aug. 3-4
Note: As of now, I’m not sure if Judy & I will
be attending. More than likely “Max”
would be allowed in the motel, but I dunno about taking him to the track. Everything is paved, and hot pavement raises
hell with their pads.
And, rumo5s have been out
there that this could be the last Vintage meet at Loudon. Sad how they have NASCARized it and raised
the cost so much.
WoO Sprint Cars at the Valley
this Sunday.
Accord – August 5th:
Sponsored by
Modifieds $5100 to WIN -
Sportsman $1000 to WIN
Rain date August 6
Note: Looks like I’ll make this show.
NASCAR Truck Race from Eldora
next Wednesday night. Will be on FOX
Sports 1 as far as TV goes. Just wish
they would not just take four from qualifying.
JR Heffner is entered. Last year
he got shafted due to the ony 4 going into the race while others were
guaranteed. Kinda sucks, ya know?
Racing
on TV:
Press releases:
NEWS FROM
Orange County Fair
CONTACT
Mike Gurda
845-342-2573
TWO NIGHTS OF STOCK CAR
RACING ON TAP DURING THE
174TH
MIDDLETOWN, NY (July
14)……..Two evenings of stock car racing on the five-eighths-mile Hard Clay
speedway will be run during the 174th Annual Orange County Fair in Middletown,
New York.
First up on Saturday, July
19, Middletown Collision and lawyers Dupée & Monroe, P.C. present a
four-division stock car racing program anchored by the DIRTcar Big-Block
Modifieds competing for the top prize of $2,500 in a 30-lap feature race. Also on the card are the Small-Block
Modifieds, Sportsman, and Street Stock divisions in qualifying and feature
event races. And as a special attraction, the Thunder Trucks are making a
return appearance to the famous Orange County Hard Clay. There will be two
Sportsman feature races, with the program opening with the previously postponed
20-lap July 5 Sportsman feature.
Saturday, July 26 the DIRTcar
Modifieds, Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, and Street Stocks return to action on
the historic speedway. Two Modified features are on tap, with opening race the
30-lap DIRTcar Modified feature postponed from July 5. The Holiday Inn of Middletown is the night’s
sponsor.
Tickets purchased on the day
of the event are $12.00 plus Fair admission.
Ticket prices, starting
times, and other important information for the Orange County Fair are available
at www.orangecountyfair.com/entertainment/grandstand.
Advance ticket sales and track information for
all remaining Orange County Fair Speedway race dates, including the 53nd Annual
Eastern States Weekend, can be found at the
Note: With the fair in town, parking really is at a
premium. The drive in is only so-so as
far as seeing the cars on the front stretch.
Basically you only see silhouettes of the cars, since the lighting is from
the stands.
This week’s photo:
He excelled in midgets, and
then he excelled at Indy, darn near winning four in a row, 1952, 1953, 1954
& 1955. A tiny part broke in his
steering in ’52 while leading with 8 laps to go. He came back and won in 53 & 54. In 55 he was leading when he went against
something he said you should never do at Indy – turn right. He had to turn right to miss the car driven
by Al Keller, then had contact with Johnny Boyd’s car and did some vicious
flips off of the track and was fatally injured.
Bill Vukovich
To this day, my brother,
“Jim” refers to me as “Vuke”.
Racing videos:
A couple from OCFS from last
Saturday and Vintage at Pocono
Note: Both found on Facebook.
Last Saturday, at OCFS, Josh
Pieniazek wiped out the nights sponsors sign, after he hit the inside Jersey
barrier, then barrel rolled across the track and through the sign, ending up on
Wisner Avenue. No, he isn’t the first to
end up on Wisner!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=O608nB9f-iY
Note: After posting the link, I found it is a
“Private” video. Sorry!
The Sportsman feature from
last Saturday. Thanks to Jeff Lambert!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KZT6pYINcbo
Pocono – sad thing is – they
were on the track around 11:00 AM and the stands, as you can see, were
basically empty. Same as last year. I feel they should have them on the track
just prior to the Indy Car race.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UU9MUw4qbQree5XOWm_kr2_w&feature=player_embedded&v=8kHZNuJU7fY
Email that I received a while
ago:
WELCOME to 2014:
• Our Phones – Wireless
• Cooking – Fireless
• Cars – Keyless
• Food – Fatless
• Tires –Tubeless
• Dress – Sleeveless
• Youth – Jobless
• Leaders – Shameless
• Relationships – Meaningless
• Attitudes – Careless
• Babies – Fatherless
• Feelings – Heartless
• Education – Valueless
• Children – Mannerless
• Country – Godless
We are SPEECHLESS,
Congress is CLUELESS,
And our President is
WORTHLESS !
I'm scared - shitless *
GOD HELP US !
This weeks joke:
Hope no one gets offended!
TOLERANCE
Jiggs McDonald, NHL Hall of
Fame broadcaster speaking in
Until my next column – more
than likely, next Thursday!
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/
(Click on “Recent Columns)
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/
I can be reached, via e-mail, at: ygordad@yahoo.com