Mostly Racin' Stuff

                                             By Tom Avenengo

                                               Volume # 192

                                                 09/04/2014

 

 

Some personal/family stuff:

 

 

My wife, who left us on July 3, 2014.

 

Remember, photos can only be seen on the New England Tractor/Race Report website, which is linked to at the end of my columns.

 

For some reason, I just could not go to bed this past Monday night.  I really felt like cr*p all day long, and since I couldn’t really go to bed, I thought I’d play some music videos.

I found this one:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbfmTzc4IFA

 

How I wish that the words that start at 3:10 in the video, and go to 3:45 are words that were done for her.

“When she reaches that river, Lord

You know what she's worth

Give her that mansion up yonder

'Cause she's been through hell here on earth

Lord, give her my share of heaven

If I've earned any here in this life

'Cause, God, I believe she deserves it”

 

 

OK, some bad news:

Over these past weeks, I’ve had a problem with retaining water.  Both a kidney specialist and my regular Dr have told me to restrict my intake of water – something I’ve come to find out might not be correct.  When I urinate, I really don’t get too much out.  So, something is messed up.  On top of that, this retaining water has caused me to have some serious breathing problems, too.  I see the kidney specialist on 9/3.  To be honest, if I do need any medical stuff done, it will not be up here, but back down in Florida where I’m not just a number, but the father of a hospital employee down there.  Makes a huge difference, ya know?  So, this might be my last column for a while.

Update:  Things went pretty good with the kidney specialist.  Hardly any change.  Still, I have to keep on top of it.

Plans now are for me to head to Florida around the 16th of September.  Next week will be my last column for a little wile.

 

 

 

More memories:

 

I don’t believe I messed up so badly, in last week’s column!  From last week:  “We really didn’t have too long of a courtship.  We married on September 9, 1960.”  DUH!  It was September 11th!  Geez!

 

So, back to good old Fort Bliss, Texas.  When I signed in, I was greeted by SFC Harold Redfern.  In a way, he was in charge of NCO personnel at the guided missile school – assigning students to various classes, re-assigning them, once they graduated, and also our section handled every thing for those permanently assigned to the school – but not the officers.  My job was to type up the orders.  One good thing about having SGT Redfern ask me if I’d like to work for him was that our section also handled promotions.

I got to Fort Bliss in May of 1961.  The wife, who was in the “family way”, would come down in August – via a bus trip.  A close friend of ours, Judy Richter, would accompany her.

 

 

 

Racin’ stuff:

 

 

Some neat Indy 500 photos:

 

https://autos.yahoo.com/photos/a-collection-of-spectacular-indianapolis-500-photos-from-the-glory-years-1409759480-slideshow/

 

 

I haven’t checked the ARDC schedule for this season, lately, but I’m wondering – have they had more races cancelled due to weather than they actually ran?

 

Speaking of the ARDC – a rather disturbing email was sent out this past week.  Sure looks like the ARDC has more problems than what we know of?

 

360/358 Sprint Car Challenge Race Replaces ARDC Midgets at SSP on Sunday, September 21

ARDC Sanction Dropped from Candy Bowl on Saturday, October 25 with Wingless Midgets Still on the Card

 

Newberrytown, PA (August 27, 2014) – The Inaugural Sprint Car Fall Classic on Sunday night, will now see a 360/358 Sprint Car Challenge race replacing the ARDC Midgets.  The headliner that evening will be the 410 Super Sprint Cars along with a special appearance of the Sidewinder Sprint Cars.

 

The Super 410 Sprint Car feature will pay $3,500-to-win for the 25-lap feature event.  Non-qualifiers for the A-Main feature will receive a complimentary non-transferrable entry fee ($50.00 value) for the Final Showdown to be held at SSP in November.  For the Super Sprint Cars, mufflers WILL NOT be required and Hoosier Brand Spec Tires will be required on all four corners (same as the 2014 rules at Williams Grove, Lincoln and Port Royal Speedways).  All other rules will follow the generally accepted rules for Sprint Cars at local weekly Central PA Sprint Car tracks (1400 pounds weight rule).  Raceivers will be mandatory for all Sprint Cars.

 

The 358/360 Sprint Car feature will pay $2,000-to-win for the 20-lap feature event.  The race will pay $200 to start.  Non-qualifiers for the A-Main feature will receive a complimentary non-transferrable entry fee ($50.00 value) for the Final Showdown to be held at SSP in November. Mufflers WILL NOT be required.  For all cars, the following tires are permitted - Hoosier Brand Spec Tires will be required on all four corners (same as the 2014 rules at Williams Grove, Lincoln and Trailways Speedways), URC2, MC@, or Selinsgrove track tire.  All other rules of the Central PA 358 Sprint Cars will prevail for 358 cars this event.  All cars competing may use ASCS top wing rule and the minimum weight for all cars with driver is 1,475 pounds.  An event flyer with full purse may be found at www.sspracing.net.

 

The mutual decision to replace the ARDC Midgets on Sunday was a difficult choice for Todd Fisher, SSP owner and the ARDC representative Jerry Steward.  “There are many good people within the organization that I respect and like.  The ARDC group as a whole is very challenging to deal with and have some fundamental organization problems.” Fisher explained.  “There are many reasons that have led to this decision.  It was not a knee-jerk reaction.”  The reasons include the numerous leadership changes over the past few seasons, instability in car count and other speedways being given special deals to run the ARDC Midgets.  “I signed a sanction agreement in the Spring and have yet to have a returned copy signed by an ARDC representative returned to me.  It is now the end of the summer.  This is one of the many fundamental issues with the internal workings of the organization.”

 

The on-track action of wingless midget racing was never an issue other than the concern of the newly appointed scheduling director, Jerry Steward expressing his concern that “Drivers don’t want race on a horse@#&$ racetrack following the Sprint Cars and burn off four tires in one race.”  That comment was the final straw that led to Fisher dropping the ARDC Midgets from the September 21 event.  “Jerry and I both mutually agreed that it would not be in the best interest of anyone if he and the drivers felt that way in competing with the 410 Sprint Cars on the same card.”  Even though Steward offered Fisher a “Special Deal for SSP,” Fisher declined to continue with the ARDC sanctioning.

 

The wingless Midgets will remain on the same card for the popular Candy Bowl X presented by J&K Salvage, just without the ARDC sanctioning.  Purse details for the open competition midget event will be released in the near future.

 

Fisher concluded, “I hope that the ARDC group with its 75-year tradition of great racing can get its off-track act together.  As a supporter of the group over the last 10 years and seeing many internal changes within the group, I wish them the best and we will see what the future between us and the group.”

   

On Sunday, September 21, the pit gates will open at 3:30 p.m. Grandstand gates will open at 4:00 p.m. Track Prep laps begin at 5:30 p.m. with qualifying races at 6:00 p.m. followed by consolation races and feature events.

 

General Admission Grandstand ticket prices for Sunday night are Adults (ages 18-59) $18.00; Young Adults (ages 11-17) & Senior Adults (60 & Older) $15.00; Children (10 & under) are free.  Pit pass prices are $25.00.  The minimum age requirement to purchase a pit pass is 12 years of age with a copy of a birth certificate is required for all ages 12 to 14. 

 

The Susquehanna Speedway Park is located off I-83 to exit 32, then 1.4 miles NW on SR382 to York Road, then 1.3 miles south.  For more information, contact the speedway offices at (717) 292-1696 or visit online at sspracing.net.  On raceday, use the track phone at (717) 938-9170 for up-to-date information at the “Big Track” and the “Outback Track.”

 

 

 

In most cases, here in the northeast, the point races were settled last weekend.  Congrats go out to all the track/class champions.

 

Didja hear who is getting married on September 4th?  How about Stewart Friesen and Jessica Zemken?  Friesen said it took a year and a half for him to get his “Green card”.

 

 

A new weekly feature for a few columns, anyway:

 

Race tracks that are no longer around:

 

MARYLAND TRACKS*

 

Beltsville Speedway - 1/2 Mile Asphalt Oval 1965 - 1978.

http://www.thevintageracer.com/tracks/beltsville.htm

 

Cumberland - An Airport Course in Western Maryland. 2.5 Miles South of Cumberland, near Rte. 28.

 

Dorsey Speedway - 1/4 Mile Clay Oval 1951 - 1981.

 

Marlboro Motor Raceway - (Upper Marlboro) 1/3 Mile Dirt Oval 1952 - 1954. 1/3 Mile Paved Oval 1954 - 1969. Road Course was added after 1954. Marlboro Motor Raceway was a counterclockwise Road Course. An effort is being made to revive the facility as a driving school.

http://www.thevintageracer.com/tracks/marlboro.htm

 

Westport Stadium - (Baltimore) 1/5 Mile Dirt Oval 1951 -1963.

http://www.thevintageracer.com/articles/westport_stadium.htm

 

MASSACHUSETTS TRACKS*

 

Eastern States Expo Speedway - (West Springfield) Raced only on Fair Weekend from early 1950's to around 1968.

 

Norwood Race Arena - Off Route 1 ? Operated from 1950's to 1972 .

 

Riverside Park Speedway - (Agawam) Aerial map of Speedway shows the layout as it sits in the former Riverside Park. Track closed in 1999 and was torn up to build 2 Amusement rides after being sold to Six-Flags.

 

Rhythm Inn Speedway - (Millers Falls) 1/3 Mile Dirt Oval located just west of Millers Falls. Track is still there but overgrown with trees. You can still walk around it. 1951 - 1959.

 

The Pines Speedway - (Groveland) Off Main Street. Now a Police Station and Library. 1940 to 1977.

http://www.thepinesspeedway.com/

 

Westboro Speedway - Off Route 9. Now Speedway Shopping Mall. Years of operation were late 1940's to 1985.

 

Worcester Fairgrounds - Raced in the 1920's. Now home to Beckers College.

 

 

 

 

 

Former OVRP Dirt Oval runners:

 

As long as “Mother Nature” behaves, this section will continue until the end of October.  A majority of the local tracks will be shutting down in a few weeks.

 

Ben Whitaker was 3rd in the LM feature at Susquehanna.

 

Kolby Schroder was 8th, Kyle Armstrong 10th in the Modified feature at Lebanon Valley.

John Virgilio was 4th, Brian Krummel 6th and Matt Pappa 7th in the held over Budget Sportsman feature from 8/16.  On 8/30, Brian was 4th, Matt 5th and John 6th.

 

Anthony Perrego won the 50 lap Modified feature at 5 Mile.  Brad Szulewski was 4th in the Sportsman feature.

 

Brett Wright was 15th in the Modified feature at I-88.

 

Tyler Dipple was 23rd in the Modified feature at Penn Can.

 

Davie Franek was 2nd in the URC feature at Delaware.

 

Anthony Perrego was 28th in the Modified feature at U/R.

 

Roger Coss was 18th at Mahoning Valley in their Modified feature.  Tiffany Wambold was a DNQ in Street Stocks.

 

Brian Sobus was 33rd in the Bud International Classic 200 at Oswego.

 

JB Morris was 2nd in the 4 Cylinder Advanced feature at Bethel.

 

Anthony Perrego was 11th, Tyler Boniface 12th and Billy V 15th in the Modified feature at Accord.  Johnny Illanovsky was 6th, Joey Bruning 8th, Winter Mead 10th and Zach Mead 14th in the Spec Sportsman feature.  Wyatt Clark won the All Star Slingshot feature.

 

Bobby Hackel, IV was 19th in the Modified feature at A/S.  Hunter Bates was 2nd and Alex Bell 7th in their Sportsman feature.

 

Danny Buccafusca was 14th in the Wingless 600 Micro feature at Hamlin  He also won the Rookie 600 feature.  Jacob Hendershot was 2nd in the 270 Micro feature.

 

Jacob was 8th in the 270’s and Molly Chambers 13th in the 600’s at Linda’s.

 

Clinton Mills was 2nd, Mike Ruggiero 11th, Tim Hindley 12th, Billy V 14th and Danny Creeden 17th in the Modified feature at OCFS.  Tim won the Small Block feature, with Billy V 2nd, Joe Conklin 16th and Danny 22nd.  LJ Lombardo won the Sportsman feature with Matt Janiak 3rd, Joey Falanga 7th, Joe Conklin 11th, Anthony Falanga 12th, Dominic Roselli, Jr. 20th and Zack Vavricka 23rd.  Winter Mead was a DNQ.

 

I think that’s 39 names this week.

 

 

 

From Jayski:

http://www.jayski.com/

 

Remember, I’ll just make mention of some of the things that appear on the Jayski website, with maybe some exceptions.

 

Labor Day:

How it Came About; What it Means:

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. More at dol.gov or usa.gov

 

 

Current 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Grid:

[after Atlanta, race 25 of 36 if Chase seeding started after this race]

1) #24-Jeff Gordon, 3 wins, 1st in points

2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 3 wins, 2nd

3) #22-Joey Logano, 3 wins, 4th

4) #2-Brad Keselowski, 3 wins, 5th

5) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 3 wins, 6th

6) #99-Carl Edwards, 2 wins, 7th

7) #4-Kevin Harvick, 2 wins, 8th

8) #5-Kasey Kahne, 1 win, 11th

9) #18-Kyle Busch, 1 win, 17th

10) #11-Denny Hamlin, 1 win, 19th

12) #41-Kurt Busch, 1 win, 21st

13) #43-Aric Almirola, 1 win, 22nd

14) #47-A.J. Allmendinger, 1 win, 23rd

14) #20-Matt Kenseth, no wins, 5th in drivers points

(all above have clinched a spot in the 2014 Chase)

Others without a win in contention for a Chase spot via points:

15) #31-Ryan Newman, 9th, +42 points

16) #16-Greg Biffle, 10th, +23 points

On the outside looking in:

17) #15-Clint Bowyer, 12th, -23 points

18) #42-Kyle Larson, 13th, -24 points

drivers 19th thru 30th cannot get in the Chase via points only, have to win at Richmond

See the Chase Grid Outlook page (pdf).(8-31-2014)

 

 

Another sponsor shows support for Stewart - (9-1-2014)

 

Fennig to step down as crew chief at end of season - UPDATE - (9-1-2014)

 

Truex Jr. not happy with Kyle Busch - (9-1-2014)

 

Bass Pro Shops chief supports Tony Stewart - (8-31-2014)

 

Joe Gibbs Racing, new air guns? - (9-2-2014)

UPDATE:

As the JGR team of Denny Hamlin consistently beat the Stewart-Haas Racing team of Kevin Harvick off pit road Sunday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Harvick crew chief Rodney Childers told Harvick that JGR had some new air guns they were using. Mike Lepp, the JGR athletic director who oversees the pit crews, swears that these are the guns that they have been using all year to loosen and tighten lugnuts during a pit stop. He said the team typically has some pit stops under 12 seconds and others over 12 seconds but Sunday whipped off all pit stops under 12 seconds. With JGR not having been in contention to win as many races this year, it just became noticeable Sunday with Hamlin and Harvick battling for the lead. Lepp said he believes it was just Childers trying to calm down his driver. "There wasn't anything new or anything," Lepp said in a phone interview Tuesday with the Sporting News. "It was an attempt to calm his driver down. ... (Like the cars), it's the same thing with these guys, you still have to have good athletes. But there's nothing that we brought to Atlanta that we haven't been bringing. The difference is we were running up front. When you go from 12th to ninth, you're not going to be feature (on TV)." Childers said Monday in an email that he wasn't trying to knock the JGR pit crew ability and talked to Lepp to make sure there were no hard feelings. Childers did say he believes the JGR air guns are better than the current ones SHR uses. But what about the sound of the guns? The guns might sound different depending on the tire changer, Lepp said. Each of the major teams make their own guns, which must be air-powered, and each tire changer is responsible for determining how fast they go. The only rule on air guns dictates that they must be NASCAR approved, air-powered and can only do one lugnut at a time. A NASCAR spokesman said Tuesday that it has "no issue whatsoever" with the air guns that JGR is using.(Sporting News)(9-3-2014)

 

 

Some clinch scenarios at Richmond - (9-2-2104)

 

Trouble with #66/#87 Ownership? - (9-2-2014)

What does this have to do with NASCAR and the #66 / #87 Jay Robinson Racing / / Michael Waltrip Racing team?

UPDATE: There is no trouble with the ownership of the #66 team which is owned by Michael Waltrip and Jay Robinson. The Nat Hardwick situation will have no effect on the plans of the #87 Team either as Nat Hardwick's shares totaled less than 25% of Identity Ventures Racing. "The only remaining race scheduled for the #87 is Talladega in the Fall and the #87 will certainly be there," said team owner Jay Robinson.(JRR)(9-2-2014)

 

 

NASCAR and Comcast reach 10-Year series entitlement agreement - (9-3-2014)

 

 

 

 

From Track Forum:

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

 

Miles speaks to Michael Knight on the future of ovals and foreign schedule concerns

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?188983-Miles-speaks-to-Michael-Knight-on-the-future-of-ovals-and-foreign-schedule-concerns

 

http://spindoctor500blog.blogspot.com/

 

Note:  Some pretty interesting comments/thoughts in the first link, above – especially if you’re a fan of Indy Car.

 

So, have you heard of “Formula E” – electric powered cars similar to F-1?

 

Forum: Formula E

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?49-Formula-E

 

 

 

 

 

From the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

 

This Week

In AARN

 

Georgetown Dirt Mod Win For Teenager Tyler Dippel Worth Five Grand

 

Otto Sitterly Wins Oswego Supermodified Classic For Fourth Time In Six Years

 

Stewart Friesen. Jessica Zemken To Tie The Knot

 

WoO Late Model Selinsgrove National Open Is Darrell Lanigan’s

 

Unruly Teams Forced AMP Promoter Taylor To Close

 

Tri-City Speedway Sale Finalized; New Team Plans ‘15 Opener

 

Cobra (Chuck Hebing) Strikes In I-88 ESS Race

 

Kenny Pettyjohn Takes Two (Of Three) Three State Flyer Races

 

 

 

Found on Facebook – racing related:

 

Exit of financial backers foiled New Jersey F1 race, Ecclestone reveals

 

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/departed-financial-backers-foiled-new-jersey-f1-race-ecclestone-reveals-083114

 

 

Plans for a New Jersey street race were foiled by financial backers that pulled out, Bernie Ecclestone has revealed.

 

A second American race that would be held in New Jersey -- with the iconic New York skyline as the backdrop -- has appeared on draft calendars for some time but the F1 supremo now admits it is unlikely to happen.

 

"I honestly don't think so," Ecclestone said in Belgium last weekend.

 

"They still have the same problems they had in the beginning. Nothing has changed."

 

Now, speaking to the F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, the nature of those 'problems' has become clear -- and it's all about money.

 

"Two or three backers that (promoter) Leo (Hindery) had had confirmed to me that they had an agreement with him and they were going to put the money up," Ecclestone told Forbes.

 

"If Leo had got the money or I had put the money up that race would have been on."

 

Ecclestone admitted that he went beyond his usual efforts for New Jersey, as the teams "were dying to have a race in New York so we were trying to make it happen."

 

Sylt said Ecclestone gave Hindery lots of chances by continually reinstating the race on draft calendars, and he even offered funding.

 

"I had nothing to lose with Leo," Ecclestone insisted. "If somebody had come along and put the money up and he had done the job, I would have been delighted.

 

"He (Hindery) was trying to keep things alive hoping that somebody was going to put money in. It suited us to give him chances. Everybody wanted a race in New York."

 

 

Coming up:

RACING RETURNS TO HINCHLIFFE STADIUM
Exhibition races will be a part of this years Hinchliffe Stadium Racing Expo on Sunday September 14. Anyone that wants to run their car must have all of their up to date New Jersey State approved racing gear. The New Jersey State Police will be on site to make it a safe and memorable event for all. There will be a drivers meeting at 12pm. Come on out and view the cars of yesterday and today up close and get to see them run on the historic Hinchliffe oval. Gates open at 10 am and the show runs from 12pm- 6pm. Hinchliffe Stadium is located on the corners of Liberty and Maple St. in Paterson, NJ. We would like to thank our sponsors for making this years event possible: Haledon Auto Parts of Haledon, NJ, Salomone Ready Mix of Wayne,NJ, and Majka Railings of Paterson, NJ. Please support those that support us. The Flemington Speedway Historical Society, The Vintage Division of the ATQMRA and cars from the Atlantic Coast Old Timers will be attending this years event along with many others.We are still looking for additional sponsors. If you would like to sponsor the show, take part in the show or just want some general information contact Ronny Dennis (718) 344-0502. This is only the beginning of bigger and better things for Hinchliffe Stadium. See you at the SHOW...

 

Directions:

Rt 80 East to exit 56 B for Squirrelwood Road and go over Rt 80 overpass   towards Paterson, then make first left onto Glover Ave, then make first right at the light onto McBride Ave.  Continue on McBride Ave for 9/10 mile.  Turn left onto Wayne Ave and then take the first right onto Maple Street.  Stadium entrance is straight ahead.

 

Below is a poster for the show.  However, I highly doubt that it can be seen on Dirt Track Digest.  You’ll have to go to New England Tractor (link at end of column) to see it.

 

 

 

 

Press releases:

 

NEWS FROM                                                                                                              

Orange County Fair Speedway                                                                                   

239 Wisner Avenue                                                                                                     

Middletown, NY10940 

 

CONTACT

Mike Gurda

845-342-2573

 

FOR RELEASE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

 

 

SEPTEMBER BONUS NIGHTS AT ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY INCLUDE A FINAL NIGHT OF WEEKLY STOCK CAR RACING AND THE ALWAYS EXCITING EVE OF DESTRUCTION

 

 

 

MIDDLETOWN, NY (September 3)……..While the point season concluded with Champions’ Night at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York, racing will continue Saturday evening, September 6, with a “no-points” bonus night. All four weekly racing divisions---Modified, Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, and Street Stock---will see action, with the winner of the 30-lap Modified feature earning a guaranteed starting spot in the 53rd  Annual Eastern States 200 presented by Arkel Motors and Dupree & Monroe Attorneys, set for Sunday, October 26.

 

Added to the September 6 program will be the popular new Thunder Trucks division.

 

Sponsored by Superior Remodeling, this is also 9/11 Tribute Night.

                                                                                                                                                     

Admission prices for the September 6 race meet remain at $14 adults, $12 seniors, and $2 for children 12 and under. The full night of racing begins promptly at 7:00 pm.

 

The final weekly program at Orange County will take place on Saturday, September 13 when All Steel & Aluminum and Middletown Auto Wreckers present the EVE OF DESTRUCTION!!! Folks that enjoy motorized mayhem won’t want to miss this thrill-packed evening that includes crashes of all sorts, an organized Enduro Race (if there is such a thing), and general destruction.

 

Advance sale tickets for the EVE OF DESTRUCTION!!! are available at the Speedway Office and online at the Orange County Fair Speedway website.

 

Tickets for the 53rd Annual Eastern States Weekend presented by Arkel Motors and Dupree & Monroe Attorneys, Friday through Sunday, October 24-26, are on sale. Be sure to check the official Orange County website, www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net, or call the Track Office at 845-342-2573 Wednesday through Saturday during business hours.

 

MEDIA MEMBERS: Credentials requests for Eastern States Weekend should be made to Bobby Armbruster at 201-323-2913, or BArmbr6493@aol.com.  Deadline is October 12, 2013.     

 

 

News from the Penn Can Speedway ‘Hot Summer Night’

 

Media Contact: Brett Deyo – bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com or 845.728.2781

 

For Immediate Release/September 2, 2014

 

Rich Eurich, 66 Years Old, Among 16 Drivers Eligible For Two $250 Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Perfect Attendance Bonuses Next Tuesday, Sept. 9 At Penn Can Speedway ‘Hot Summer Night’ Special; Matt Jester, Ryan Watt & Mike Mahaney BD Motorsports Media LLC ‘Iron Men’

 

SUSQUEHANNA, PA – Sixteen drivers are eligible to collect a pair of $250 cash perfect attendance bonuses when Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. presents the ‘Hot Summer Night’ special next Tuesday (Sept. 9) at Penn Can Speedway.

 

The Susquehanna County track plays host to round No. 5 of the six-race Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP for big-block/small-block Modifieds, headlined by a 60-lap main event paying $5,000-plus to win, $1,000 for eighth and $400 to start in addition to a long list of bonuses and lap money. Sharkey's Fuels of South Canaan, Pa., is an associate sponsor of the rain-postponed midweek special.

 

Thus far in 2014, 122 different drivers have attempted to qualify for at least one Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP main event. Of that number, 16 have attended all four events: Orange County (N.Y.) April 6, Thunder Mountain (N.Y.) May 20, I-88 (N.Y.) July 23 and Accord (N.Y.) Aug. 5. Those drivers will be entered into a pair of drawings to be held at the Penn Can drivers’ meeting for perfect attendance bonuses worth $250 each courtesy of BD Motorsports Media LLC.

 

Among the drivers having attended all five events thus far is legendary 66-year-old driver Rich Eurich of Warwick, N.Y. Eurich, recognized across the Northeast for his successes on the road and at his longtime Saturday home of Orange County Fair Speedway, hasn’t traveled extensively in many years.

 

This season, the newly formed Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP brought him back out on the road. Entering the ‘Hot Summer Night’ at Penn Can, Eurich sits a respectable ninth in the standings on the heels of a stout sixth-place finish at Accord Speedway in August.

 

“We’re enjoying ourselves,” said Eurich, whose blue No. 10 is iconic to Modified fans. “We didn’t really set out to chase points, but here we are in the top-10 with only two races left. We’re committed to finishing out the series now.”

 

Eurich has embraced the challenge of competing against large and talented fields of cars on the bullrings that make up the Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP schedule.

 

“It can be tough to qualify,” he said. “But you know that going in. If you’ve got a good car and a little luck, you will be in the feature.”

 

Eurich has only missed qualifying once on the series this season: at Thunder Mountain in May. In all other events he has been part of the feature starting field. He will hit the road again next Tuesday for Penn Can, a track he believes he has only visited once.

 

“I know I was there once,” Eurich said of Penn Can. “I can’t remember when or what race it was for, it was years ago, but it was the only time I was there.”

 

Other drivers eligible for the $250 bonuses, having signed in at all four series events this season are (in order of point position): Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass.; Jeff Heotzler of Wallkill, N.Y.; Tommy Meier of Waldwick, N.J.; Danny Tyler of Cottekill, N.Y.; Tim Hindley of Fair Oaks, N.Y.; Danny Creeden of Wurtsboro, N.Y.; Matt Jester of Milford, Del.; Anthony Perrego of Montgomery, N.Y.; Tyler Dippel of Wallkill, N.Y.; Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa.; Bob McGannon of Garnerville, N.Y.; Mike Mahaney of King Ferry, N.Y.; Elmo Reckner of Ballston Lake, N.Y.; Craig Hanson of Johnstown, N.Y.; and Ray Jashembowski of Howells, N.Y.

 

Of those drivers, Jester, Watt and Mahaney have distinguished themselves as the BD Motorsports Media LLC “iron men” of 2014. Not only have they been in attendance at all points-paying series races, the trio also competed in the June Super DIRTcar Series ‘Dirty Jersey’ special at N.J.’s New Egypt Speedway and the August ‘Beach Blast’ at Del.’s Georgetown Speedway.

 

Jester, Watt and Mahaney have all set plans to continue their run of attendance at Penn Can Tuesday.

 

Penn Can’s event is the final 100-point event on the ’14 schedule. The best four of a driver’s five attempts will set the standings heading into the Championship Event Alpine Building Supply Short Track SuperNationals presented by Olum’s Oct. 10-11 at I-88 Speedway on the spacious Afton Fairgrounds. The Short Track SuperNationals operates on a 150-point breakdown. Drivers must attend the SuperNationals to be eligible for point fund money and awards.

 

All perfect attendance series drivers unable to crack the top-12 paying positions in the final standings will receive $250 cash at season’s end.

 

There have been four different winners in the four Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP events run this season: Bachetti (Orange County), Matt Sheppard (Thunder Mountain), Creeden (I-88) and Perrego (Accord).

 

Trackside Products, the official parts supplier for Penn Can and Thunder Mountain speedways, has signed on to sponsor a last-chance qualifier to include the drivers missing a transfer position by one spot in the consolations. The winner of the 3-lap dash moves into the ‘Hot Summer Night’ main event.

 

Zubi’s Racing has signed on board to present a Hard Charger Award worth $200 to the driver advancing the most positions from start to finish in the 60-lap main event.

 

Lap money continues to be posted at $20/lap. To reserve a lap today, contact Brett Deyo at bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com.

 

The last time Modifieds were featured on the ‘Hot Summer Night’ bill was Aug. 10, 2010: the event was won in thrilling fashion by Stewart Friesen, who started 25th and executed a last-lap, three-wide pass of both Alan Rudalavage and Duane Howard using the extreme outside lane.

 

Joining the Modifieds on the program for the ‘Hot Summer Night’ special are: the Dig Safely New York GRIT Series Crate 602 Sportsman in a 30-lap event paying $1,000 to win and $100 to start and Doug Borger’s traveling XCel 600 Modified Series in a 20-lap main.

 

Gates, grandstand and pit, open at 5 p.m.  The drivers’ meeting is set for 6:20 p.m., with hot laps to follow. Racing gets underway at 7:15 p.m.

 

Adult admission is $20. Seniors (ages 62 and up) pay $18. Students (ages 13-17) pay $10 and kids 12 and under are FREE. Pit admission is $35, with no license required.

 

Complete race information and rules can be found at the following link: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/penn-can-hot-summer-night-general-information-sheet/

 

To learn more about the ‘Hot Summer Night’ or the Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP, visit www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, e-mail Brett Deyo at bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com or call 845.728.2781.  BD Motorsports Media is on Facebook and on Twitter: @BrettDeyo.

 

Penn Can Speedway is located seven miles off Interstate 81 Exit 230 in on Route 171 Susquehanna, PA. The GPS address, within a block of the speedway, is 98 State Street Susquehanna, PA 18847. The speedway office phone number is 570.853.3434. On race day, call 570.585.9928. For more information, visit www.penncan.com or like “Penn Can Speedway” on Facebook.

 

 

News from Thunder Mountain Speedway

 

Media Contact: Brett Deyo – thundermtnspeedway@gmail.com or 845.728.2781

 

For Immediate Release/Sept. 2, 2014

 

Rain Date Announced For Thunder Mountain Speedway Season Championship Night This Weekend; Wet Weather Saturday (Sept. 6) Will Bring Sunday Evening Show To Conclude 2014 Championship Battles

 

CENTER LISLE, NY – In the event of wet weather on Saturday (Sept. 6), Thunder Mountain Speedway management has announced a rain date for the Season Championship Night of Sunday, Sept. 7.

 

With point titles on the line and a number of heldover feature events from Aug. 16 on the docket, the rare Sunday rain date has been put into place. All times will be moved up by one hour - with gates opening at 3 p.m., hot laps at 5:20 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m. - in the event of racing on Sunday.

 

Season Championship Night is headlined by a 30-lap Modified feature paying $1,500 to the winner. Also on the docket are Sportsman ($700 to win), Street Stocks ($500 to win), Rookie Sportsman, IMCA-style Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Empire Sport Trucks and Four Cylinders.

 

Make-up features from Aug. 16 for the Rookie Sportsman, IMCA-style Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Empire Sport Trucks and Four Cylinders will open the program. Additional competitors will be permitted to tag onto these events, but they must pay a $30 entry fee.

 

Point leaders entering Saturday’s program are Brent Wilcox (Modified), Billy Spoonhower (Sportsman), Steven Deinhardt (Street Stock), Shayne Spoonhower (Rookie Sportsman), Jason Tuttle (IMCA-style Modified), Michael Morse (Pure Stock), Brandon Clapperton (Empire Sport Truck) and Isaiah Forward (Four Cylinder).

 

The Saturday time schedule for Season Championship Night is as follows: gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:20 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.

 

Adult grandstand admission is $10. Seniors (65 and over) and students (ages 10-17) pay $8. Kids nine and under are FREE. Pit admission is $30, with no license required.

 

The Thunder Mountain Season will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 14 with the MjH Oilfield Wade Decker Memorial, twice postponed by weather this season.

 

The big-block/small-block Modifieds headline the Wade Decker Memorial with a 50-lap event paying $5,000 to the winner (with $25 “Gambler’s Fee” posted, $3,500 without) and $250 to take the green flag. The Sportsman will run a 40-lap main with a hefty $1,250 winner’s share (with $20 “Gambler’s Fee” posted, $750 without) and $100 to take the green and the Street Stocks will take part in a 30-lap feature paying $1,000 to the winner (with $15 “Gambler’s Fee” posted, $750 without) and $120 to take the green, honoring Denny Decker. The Street Stock portion of the program has support from Cartrette Logging.

 

Doug Borger’s XCel 600 Modifieds are also on the card for the special event with a touring series 20-lap main.

 

All divisions will draw for their starting positions with a redraw of top qualifiers for the main events.

 

Gates will open at 3 p.m. with a drivers’ meeting at 6 p.m. Hot laps will kick off at 5 p.m. and racing begins at 6 p.m.

 

Grandstand admission is $20 for Adults, $18 for Seniors (65 and over), $15 for Students (ages 10-17) and FREE for kids nine and under. Pit admission is $35, with no license required.

 

Those returning with ticket stubs from the Aug. 31 ‘Sprint Car Saturday’ will receive $2 off grandstand admission for the Wade Decker Memorial.

 

For Thunder Mountain Speedway general information and a complete schedule, visit www.thundermtnspeedway.com. The speedway office number is 607.657.8202. On race day, call 607.849.7899. The speedway e-mail is thundermtnspeedway@gmail.com.  “Like” Thunder Mountain Speedway on Facebook or follow @thundermtnspeed on Twitter.

 

Thunder Mountain Speedway is located at 91 Hunts Corners Road Center Lisle, NY 13797, approximately 25 miles north of Binghamton. The three-eighths-mile clay oval features hillside concrete seating, free parking and camping, a variety of concession items and novelties, a family environment and more.

 

Brett Deyo

Promotions, Public Relations & Marketing

Thunder Mountain Speedway

91 Hunts Corners Road Center Lisle, NY 13797

www.thundermtnspeedway.com

Cell: 845.728.2781

"Thunder Mountain Speedway" on Facebook

@thundermtnspeed on Twitter

 

 

 

This week’s photo:

Note:  To see the photos, you have to go to the New England Tractor Race Report website which has a link at the end of my column!

 

Pictured below is Andy Van Heusen in one of the Pappy Hough “Five Little Pigs” – a Frank Smith photo that was taken at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ.  That roof that is visible is no longer there.  The stands circled from the left side in the photo all the way around the right side.  At the end (in back of the photographer) was a high wall that separated the track from the pit area.  Access to the track and back into the pits was via a huge door at the end of the front stretch, in the first turn.  I’m hoping to make the show there this September 14th – health & doctors permitting.

 

 

 

 

Some non racin’ stuff:

 

 

Islamic Jihadists Steal Eleven Planes, Sparking Concerns of a 9/11 Attack

 

http://www.tpnn.com/2014/09/03/islamic-jihadists-steal-eleven-planes-sparking-concerns-of-a-911-attack/

 

Note:   Hmmm – interesting.  9/11 is only one week away, folks!

 

 

Found on Facebook – not racing related:

 

On Facebook on 8/29/14:

 

Today a funeral was held for a young black man that was tragically killed. Minutes before he was shot by a police officer with a perfect record he robbed a convenience store and roughed up the manager. The young man also tested positive to pot in his bloodstream. The rest of this is yet to be determined due the ongoing investigation.

 

The problem I have with this is that this tragic death is that it’s been the top news story for weeks. The young man that for sure robbed a store and attacked its manager is been made into a heroic victim and martyr before the full story is revealed. His funeral today was attended by political leaders, famous entertainers and thousands of people that paid homage and respects to him. The event was televised on national TV on almost every channel.

 

The most troubling thing to me is that a United States Marine from Wilmington named Sgt. Arron Torian was recently killed defending this country. He had a perfect record and spent many years of his life rising to the rank of Sergeant. While his family, friends and fellow Marines paid their respects, there were no stars of entertainment or national public figures or national coverage at his funeral. No pictures of him lining the streets of Wilmington and no protesting the Islamic fanatics that killed him. Just those that truly loved him.

 

What we do know...minutes before he died, Michael Brown was robbing a store and beating up a clerk. Minutes before Arron Torian died he was defending his country. One got a national heroes funeral and the other did not. This experience tells a lot about the integrity of those public figures, stars and news media. I makes me wonder where our values and have gone.

 

Thank You Sgt. Arron Torian and all those Marines that I have died for this many times ungrateful nation.

 

And this:

 

Hamburger chef Jamie Oliver has just won a battle against one of the largest fast food chains in the world. After Oliver showed how McDonald’s hamburgers are made, the franchise announced it will change its recipe.

 

According to Oliver, the fatty parts of beef are “washed” in ammonium hydroxide and used in the filling of the burger. Before this process, according to the presenter, the food is deemed unfit for human consumption.

 

According to the chef and presenter, Jamie Oliver, who has undertaken a war against the fast food industry: “Basically, we’re taking a product that would be sold in the cheapest way for dogs, and after this process, is being given to human beings.”

 

Besides the low quality of the meat, the ammonium hydroxide is harmful to health. Oliver calls it “the pink slime process.”

 

“Why would any sensible human being put meat filled with ammonia in the mouths of their children?” asked the chef, who wages a war against the fast food industry.

 

In one of his initiatives, Oliver demonstrates to children how nuggets are made. After selecting the best parts of the chicken, the remains (fat, skin and internal organs) are processed for these fried foods.

 

The company, Arcos Dorados, the franchise manager in Latin America, said such a procedure is not practiced in the region. The same applies to the product in Ireland and the UK, where they use meat from local suppliers.

 

In the United States, Burger King and Taco Bell had already abandoned the use of ammonia in their products. The food industry uses ammonium hydroxide as an anti-microbial agent in meats, which has allowed McDonald’s to use otherwise “inedible meat.”

 

Even more disturbing is that because ammonium hydroxide is considered part of the “component in a production procedure” by the USDA, consumers may not know when the chemical is in their food.

 

On the official website of McDonald’s, the company claims that their meat is cheap because, while serving many people every day, they are able to buy from their suppliers at a lower price, and offer the best quality products.

 

In addition, the franchise denied that the decision to change the recipe is related to Jamie Oliver’s campaign. On the site, McDonald’s has admitted that they have abandoned the beef filler from its burger patties.

 

 

 

 

This weeks joke:

 

Love the Irish – continued:

 

Paddy was in New York .

 

He was patiently waiting and watching the traffic cop on a busy street crossing. The cop stopped the flow of traffic and shouted, 'Okay, pedestrians.' Then he'd allow the traffic to pass. He'd done this several times, and Paddy still stood on the sidewalk. After the cop had shouted, 'Pedestrians!' for the tenth time, Paddy went over to him and said, 'Is it not about time ye let the Catholics across?'

 

 

Gallagher opened the morning newspaper and was dumbfounded to read in the obituary column that he had died. He quickly phoned his best friend, Finney. 'Did you see the paper?' asked Gallagher. 'They say I died!!' 'Yes, I saw it!' replied Finney. 'Where are ye callin' from?'

 

 

Walking into the bar, Mike said to Charlie the bartender, 'Pour me a stiff one – just had another fight with the little woman.' 'Oh yeah?' said Charlie, 'And how did this one end?' 'When it was over,' Mike replied, 'She came to me on her hands and knees.' 'Really,' said Charles, 'Now that's a switch! What did she say?' She said, 'Come out from under the bed, you little chicken.'

 

 

 

Until my next column – next week – then more than likely some time off.

 

Columns are available on the Dirt Track Digest at:  http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/ (Click on “Recent Columns – and I hope it works!)

 

And:

 

 

http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/

 

Where I also have some neat photo articles

 

 

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