Mostly
Racin' Stuff
By Tom Avenengo
10/09/2014
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.
Saw my cardiologist
and he made a slight adjustment to the pacemaker.
He also thought I should take a certain
pill to rid me of the excess water. That
pill, along with the condition of my kidneys, could cause problems that could
lead to me having to have dialysis treatments if the kidneys don’t take to well
to the new medication. So far, so good with a small reduction in my weight.
Also, since the end of August, I really do
not have enough monies in my Part D with Medicare to cover my insulin. I’m in the process of changing over to
getting all my medications via the VA.
Now, I’m questioning – do I really need Part D if I get all my meds from
the VA? Anyone know, for sure? I did get all the news on Part D changes last
week. Nowhere does it make any mention
of anyone getting their meds through the VA.
Nice, huh?
I imagine I’ll have to go through the
“cluster” of calling Medicare to get an answer.
Tuesday, 10/7/14 at 1:20 PM:
Seems the weight just doesn’t want to go
down. Been staying at
a steady 190. Had to take a
second “bad” pill at 1:15 – should be interesting to see if I have to go more
often. If not, then it kinda looks like it might be a trip to the “crash house”
for this writer.
Wednesday, 10/8/14 at 10:25 AM:
Maybe that second pill has started to
work? Had to urinate abut every hour on
the hour over night. Not much, but still
was getting rid of water that I was not putting into my system. I weighed myself prior to going to bed. Also, again, when I got up
Wednesday morning. There was a
drop of two pounds.
For the first couple of weeks that I was
down here, my daughter, Judy was with me and Sandy. One can’t imagine how much of a huge help she
was to me while
More
memories:
I worked at the trailer park for a
while. The owner, who was single, took a
liking to the wife’s sister, Sandra. She did likewise. Eventually they married. I’m not sure if that was a good thing or
not. He was quite possessive. And, to me, he also had some “problems”. One thing tht did
happen while they were going together – we had a “double date” and I saw my
first ever stockcar race at the Orange County Fair Speedway – a race won by
Russ Delp driving the “Mushroom” special # 6.
Due to a conflict, I left the trailer park
and got a job delivering bread and pastries, house to
house, for Dugan Brothers Bakery. We
were also forced to leave the trailer park, too. As far as a time frame goes – remember when
the entire northeast was blacked out?
Well, I was with Dugan’s at that time.
Racin’ stuff:
Reading the Lenny Sammons column in this
weeks AARN, it sure looks like the sh*t
has hit the fan between DIRTcar and Brett Deyo. Looks like
Brett has lost the New Egypt SDS race.
He might also lose the Big Diamond and OCFS events, too. Sammons says that DIRTcar
says that both tracks have to decide on whether to have a Deyo
race or stay with DIRTcar. Personally, I can’t see any of it being Deyo’s fault. It’s DIRTcar that is causing the difficulties.
For the way OCFS has been treated over the
years by DIRTcar (their red-headed step child), I’d
love to see OC leave DIRTcar. Hmm, does OC have to pay a weekly sanctioning
fee to DIRTcar?
If so, how much? Would they be better of as running as an
independent track? So far, OC has been
compatible with other tracks as far as car counts go.
I guess time will tell?
A thread on this on DTD’s Forum can be seen here: http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52299-who-pissed-in-dirts-cheerios/
Two
“Black Days” in October 1948:
October 10, 1948:
Ted Horn... Died ... AAA driver from the 1930's and 40's. Ted Horn has
the best 9-year streak of finishes in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Horn
October 12, 1948:
Johnny Ritter ... Died ...
Johnny was fatally injured while changing a tire on the 40th lap during a 100
lap Midget race at the Medford Bowl. He was born in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ritter_%28racing_driver%29
Note: Please excuse the error as to him being
American.
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/ta/JohnnyRitternewpart1.htm
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/ta/JohnnyRitternewpart2.htm
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/ta/JohnnyRitternewpart3.htm
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/ta/JohnnyRitternewpart4.htm
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/ta/JohnnyRitternewpart5.htm
Note:
Yes, he was my all time favorite driver.
I have to imagine that you’ve heard about
this?
Found on the Accord Speedway
website:
Note: Hmm, of course this comes out now, and the proposed
addition for 2015 after I leave the area.
I have to agree with some of what’s being said on the Internet on this –
Accord would have to drop at lest one class in order to get their weekly shows
in. I hope they’re able to get enough
cars, and it doesn’t end up like the “Truck” class at OCFS.
Central NY
Published on Oct 6, 2014
After 4 years, the Central NY
Raceway Park permits for construction are all in. Glenn Donnelly, founder of
CNYRP, takes us for a tour of the 150 acre complex, as he updates us on the
progress.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEQXFkypaKU
Coming up:
I have to imagine that you
all know that this coming weekend is Super Dirt Week up in
At OCFS: OPEN PRACTICE for ALL
DIVISIONS on SATURDAY OCT 18 FROM 1pm - 5pm....Pit Gates will Open at 10:30am
Eastern
States is the following weekend.
Depending on how this old fart is feeling will dictate whether I’ll
attend or not. My son, Eric, did get a
ticket for me, and I’ll be up north those few days, mainly to get some last
things out of our hose to bring back down to Florida.
Found on the Dirt Track Digest Forum:
Note: I’m glad I was not at
Comments found on DTD's forum about the "Outlaw" 200 at
Hasn't the rule always been
they count up to 3 laps under yellow per caution? Its lap 59 and we've had
maybe 12 or 13 green laps
Matt Hulzier flat.
More laps under caution. This so far has sucked.
Brahman, chad
phelps, Mahaney
wreck... More laps counting under caution...lap 66.
Rauscher around, lap
77....more caution laps.
21 racing
laps out of 78, 79, 80, 81, 82.
Green
Caution Darwin Green lap
84...more caution laps counting....truly worst race this year so far.
Lap 88
caution. 45 cars starting is too many. We will have 25 racing laps out of the first
100. Be glad you didn't come.
Why do they keep counting
laps under yellow? Up to lap 91, 92 finally going green
27 green laps out of the
first 100.
Hope the second hundred runs
a lot better and greener than the first, wife said screw this and headed to
car.
Second half
much better, lap 129 caution. T-Mac working on Matt.
spoke to soon..here
come the cautions again!
Okay second half was good, I think we had 109 laps of green flag racing out of
200.
T-Mac purposely takes out
Larry Wight, and both started from the back and Larry somehow finishes
third...wow!
That was one of the better
100 lap races I've seen all year.
This was truly the worst
"race" ive ever seen at
what was the deal woth tmac and Larry, where were they running at the time?
I have to assume last year
they started just as many and I can't remember cautions at all. I am sure there
were a few but nothing terrible.
Was there still a threat of
rain shortening the race? Maybe all the drivers were going extra hard with no
patience?
How was the track?
I think they were 4th and
5th. After the race, Larry said T-Mac put Billy D. into the wall, so it must be
then Larry nudged T-Mac and T -Mac didn't like it. But it definitely looked
like T-Mac spun Larry on purpose and then they stopped and had words on the
front straightaway. Both had to start from the back. Pretty
stupid on T-Mac's part to give up track position for a payback. He later
ended up hitting a tire and going off on a hook and Larry masterfully drove
back up to 3rd. Wonder how T-Mac's feeling today...lol.
I like T-Mac but a really stupid move on his part IF it was as intentional as
it looked.
There was no threat of rain.
Track was slick for the first part and good for the rest. Driver's had
absolutely no patience.
My big complaint last night
was that under one of the early cautions, the driver's where not listening to
race control, arguing about track position before going green, I think 8 or 9
laps ticked off under yellow before getting the field set. In later yellows
more laps were lost to position disagreements under yellow. At halftime they
announced that the last 50 laps were going to be green flag laps. That may have
been in response to the lack of green flag laps in the first half.
My negative posting last
night was out of frustration, as the the race I was
most looking forward to was becoming a joke.
The attrition rate was high
as only 17 or 18 cars were running at nights end.
Second half was good.
Kudos to
I cheered when t mac took out Larry!! The kid has talent but isn't afraid to
rim ride around most of the race and bounce off of everyone else!! They say
rubbing is racing but the kid is a little wild out their, not afraid off
wrecking his metal or car mommy and daddy will throw him another!! Just my
opinion!!
Worst race ever!
Unfortunately
The first 100 was bad prob should make this race 100 laps no caution laps count
towards laps idk. Also the one way radio doesnt seem to help drivers take foreever
to line up!!! Track was good although 3&4 was a little rough
I didnt
go and it must have been frustrating with all the yellows but you have to give
them credit for racing. What time did they finish? I was told they did a good
job considering all the rain.
Was headed
back to the camper around 12:45am.
It was pretty late but knew that going into the day. I mean 12 hrs earlier it
was raining still and the group I was with was just happy to see racing without
having to stay for Sunday afternoon.
What happened to hearn?
Thats all fine but some guys just have to say " I
don't have it today"and pull off instead of sit
on the track to line up 45th only to pull off 10 laps later ridiculous. Great
job by track getting race in, some drivers need to show more discreation like Kenny Rogers
I think part of the problem
with the race last night was that there was good bite on the bottom of the
track and a descent cushion for most of the race but if you were caught in the
middle where it was slick you were going to get passed so everybody fought to
get to the bite especially on the bottom. When that happens especially on a
track that was as fast as it was last night drivers are going to run out of room
at times and that's when cautions occur. Alot of
years by the time the feature rolls around the track has slowed down enough to
where you can run almost antwhere on the track as
long as your car is hooked but last night for the most part you needed to be
where the bite was.
With the line up problems I
think there were two issues, one, there were so many cars on the track that
trying to get everybody straightened out and in correct order is going to take
time unfortunately, two, Corey was having problems with his one way radio so
there were times during cautions that we weren't hearing anybody on the radio.
More specific on hearn... I read he had a flat
early. Did something else happen?
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52041-fultons-outlaw-200/page-6 is where it starts
And this, too:
Being a sprint guy that I am,
wanna let ya know that
Stewart Friesen (modified guy mostly so it's good for this section :) ) has secured a ride for the USAC Silver Crown race at
Super DIRT Week. It's not a piece together deal to fill the field either.
It's a shot to win. He will
be teammates to Jerry Coons and run a RPM Enterprises, Fred Gormly
owned mount.
Many ESS ties as well, Rob
Hart will be crew chief, Tom Bliss team manager and look for Mike Stelter and Doug Emery to be in the pits.
Jerry Coons won the last
Silver Crown race at Eldora a few weeks a go.
The return of Toby Jr. and
now Stewart...that's pretty cool.
Race tracks that are no longer around:
*
Brigante Speedway - 5/8 Mile 5 cornered "Oval" near MalletBay.
CanAm Speedway - (
Catamount Stadium - 1/3 Mile
Asphalt Oval 1965 - 1987.
http://www.catamountstadium.com/
Colchester Raceway - (
Dog's River
Malletts Bay aka Colchester -Bayview
Speedway - (
http://www.catamountstadium.com/race_tracks_in_malletts_bay.htm
Northeastern Speedway - (
http://www.catamountstadium.com/northeastern_speedway.htm
Otter Creek
http://www.catamountstadium.com/an_original_program_from.htm
Pico Raceway - (
http://www.catamountstadium.com/pico_raceway.htm
Sheldon Fairgrounds -
(Sheldon)
Smitty's Race Track - Dirt Oval located between
South Burlington Raceway - (
Stateline Speedway - (
http://www.catamountstadium.com/bennington.htm
Sunset
The
The Sheffield Track - (
Webster Flats - (Lyndonville)
West Brattleboro - (W.
Note: I’m not sure on that
Note: This is the last in this series of tracks no
longer around.
NASCAR Illustrated: Walk the walk, talk the talk
In part: "At 35, in the prime of his career,
Steve Letarte is leaving. Why?
"The Tuesday after
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nascar-illustrated-walk-walk-talk-talk-205100131--nascar.html
Former
OVRP Dirt Oval runners:
Not much to report on this week, as
expected.
In the Outlaw 200 at
Down in
In NEMA action in
JB Morris was 4th in the 4
Cylinder Advanced feature, at
Roger Coss was
20th in the Modified feature at
From
Jayski:
Steve Byrnes' cancer has
returned:
Longtime NASCAR on FOX on-air
personality Steve Byrnes is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence,
effectively immediately, to focus on his health after receiving news he has
suffered a recurrence of cancer. Byrnes, who was diagnosed and successfully
treated for head-and-neck cancer in late 2013, steps away from his NASCAR Race
Hub co-hosting and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series play-by-play duties for
FOX Sports 1 to concentrate on his upcoming medical treatment and time with his
family. Any further updates on Byrnes will come at the discretion of the family.(FoxSports)(10-8-2014)
Note:
I went through this with my wife.
One thinks they’re cancer free, then it comes
back. When it returns, it returns with a
vengeance. I wish Steve and his family
well, but I kinda have an idea as to what’s down the
road.
Earnhardt Jr. may race for
his own team in the future:
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. met
with members of the media at Kansas Speedway and discussed many topics,
including:
Q) WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND
FUTURE PLANS FOR JR MOTORSPORTS WITH REGAN SMITH STAYING AT LEAST THROUGH NEXT
YEAR? HAVE YOUR PLANS CHANGED? IS IT EVOLVING AND WILL WE SEE DIFFERENT THINGS
THERE? WHAT DO YOU LOOK AHEAD TOWARDS?
Earnhardt Jr.: "Well the
Nationwide Series is a year to year deal. Our sponsorships are short term
compared to the Cup level so our relationships with our drivers have to fit in
those windows as well. That is nothing unusual about going year to year or
every two years with a driver contract. We do the same thing with the
sponsorships as well sometimes. We would love to have longer agreements, but
that just depends on the money just like every other piece of the puzzle. The
money really has a big effect on it. I am really happy that we are basically
going to have a carbon copy of what we did this year next season. We have had a
lot of success and I think we can build on that and everything is going to stay
in place and we are going to go on down the road. On down the road is just 12
months. When you talk about the Cup Series you look a little further. I would
like to race for that company one day, so I hope to keep it healthy until that
opportunity presents itself. Whenever I'm done Cup racing to jump in a Nationwide car and do that for a couple of years in my own
shop."(Team Chevy)(10-5-2014)
Regan Smith re-signs with JR
Motorsports, but still eying Cup career:
Though Regan Smith re-upped
for a season of Saturdays, he still wants to be a Sunday driver. In the midst
of a championship battle against teammate Chase Elliott, the driver of the #7
JR Motorsports Chevy recently agreed to another one-year deal with the
Nationwide Series powerhouse owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt
Miller and Rick Hendrick. Smith's longer-term goal is
to return to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, where he last raced full-time in
2012 before losing his ride in the #78 Furniture Row Chevy to Kurt Busch.
That's one reason why Smith signed a one-year deal with JR Motorsports. "I
definitely want to get back to Cup," said Smith, who trails Elliott by 26
points with five races left in the Nationwide Series schedule. "I don't
think I've ever denied that or said that I don't. That's the goal. I want to
prove that I belong there and get to race on Sunday's and get to run the longer
races again." Though there are several seats in the Cup series that have
yet to be filled for next year, Smith wanted to get his 2015 plans squared away
before the 11th hour. "Naturally, there are some openings-on paper, it
would appear-on that (Sprint Cup) side," said Smith, who notched his only
Cup victory in the 2011 Southern 500 at
Nashville Superspeedway sale
delayed:
The sale of the Nashville
Superspeedway in Lebanon (TN) was delayed at the request of the buyer, NeXovation, and Dover Motorsports has issued an Oct. 25
deadline to close the deal. The Nashville Business Journal reported the
development last week, and it was confirmed Monday by NeXovation
public relations director Chris Goodrich. It is unclear what happens if the
deadline is not met, but it is assumed the sale will be voided and
Kyle Busch to get a new crew
chief in 2015?:
Multiple sources say #18-Kyle
Busch and longtime crew chief Dave Rogers will end their long-running
association at season's end, as part of a multi-divisional realignment
involving both JGR and Kyle Busch Motorsports. While
Hornish Jr. to RPM's #9 to replace Ambrose?
The rumored replacement for
Marcos Ambrose in the Richard Petty Motorsports #9 Ford ride for next year now
looks like it will be Sam Hornish Jr. Speculation is
the former Indy Car star and current Joe Gibbs Racing part-time Nationwide
Series driver will get another shot at a full-time Sprint Cup ride next year
when Ambrose returns to his native Australia.(Motor
Racing Network)(10-6-2014)
UPDATE: NASCAR driver and
former IndyCar Series star Sam Hornish
Jr. will move fulltime to the Sprint Cup Series with Richard Petty Motorsports,
the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned. An official announcement of Hornish's hire to replace Marcos Ambrose beginning in the
2015 season could come as early as Wednesday, multiple sources confirmed.
Ambrose is returning to his native
UPDATE 2: Richard Petty
Motorsports announced that three-time IndyCar Series
Champion turned NASCAR winner, Sam Hornish, Jr. will
join the storied organization to drive the #9 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series full-time in 2015. Hornish, Jr. joins RPM from
Joe Gibbs Racing where he competed part-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series
this season scoring one win and four Top-Five finishes in only eight starts. Hornish, Jr. has competed in three full seasons in the
Sprint Cup Series as well as two full seasons in the Nationwide Series for
Penske Racing where he finished second in points in 2013 by a mere three
markers. In 2014, Hornish, Jr. has made the most of
his time behind the wheel while driving a partial Nationwide Series schedule at
Joe Gibbs Racing with two poles and a win. He is now ready to rejoin the Sprint
Cup Series with RPM. "This is a great opportunity to join Richard Petty
Motorsports and the No. 9 Ford team in the Sprint Cup Series," said Hornish, Jr. "Owners Richard Petty, Andrew Murstein and Doug Bergeron have built this organization
into a championship-contending team with world-class sponsors and partners.
Many people have noticed to the progress being made here and I'm ready to build
off this momentum. My goal is to put the #9 team in victory lane in 2015 and be
a competitor in 'The Chase'." The #9 team will continue to be led by Crew
Chief Drew Blickensderfer who has three Sprint Cup
Series wins to his credit. Co-Owner Richard Petty is proud to welcome Hornish, Jr. to the team. "Sam is a really good fit
for RPM and will be a great addition to the team," said Petty. "He's
a family man who fits well with our core values and he will be a great
ambassador for our partners. Sam's also proven that he can win races and
compete for a championship. He came into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with a
steep learning curve from open wheel racing, but has shown in the Nationwide
Series that he is a winner. We feel that he can get the #9 team to
Sad News - Dan Ford:
Robert Daniel "Dan"
Ford, 78, of
Note: I put this into the column this week for the
simple reason that when I was in the Army and stationed at Ft Bliss, we would
often go to White Sands for picnics and sight seeing.
Bayne making Cup debut with
Roush Fenway:
Trevor Bayne will make his
Roush Fenway Racing Sprint Cup debut this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway
behind the wheel of the #6 AdvoCare Ford Fusion. This
marks the first time that a #6 Roush Fenway Ford will start a NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series race since the 2012 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bayne
will take the wheel of the #6 Ford Fusion full time in
2015. "I am very excited to be behind the wheel of the #6 AdvoCare Ford Fusion this weekend," said Bayne.
"The #6 is such a legendary number to both the sport and this company. To
be able to say that I am one of a handful of drivers to race this number in the
Cup series is a huge honor. I can't wait to get to
AND: When the announcement
was made in May at Charlotte that Bayne would be moving full-time to the Sprint
Cup Series, Roush Fenway Racing president Steve Newmark
indicated that there was a strong likelihood that Bayne would run a handful of
Sprint Cup races with the team toward the end of the season. Newmark said at the time, "I still think that you'll
see us try to position something where you'll see the 6 roll out the latter
part of this year." There is no word if
From
Track Forum:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forum.php
2015 Official Silly Season
Thread
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php/189590-2015-Official-Silly-Season-Thread
Fryer takes Goodyear and
NASCAR to task for tire issue at
http://www.racing.ap.org/article/goo...ire-problems-0
From
the AARN:
This Week
In AARN
AARN Super DIRT Week 108-Page
Special Edition: Dirt Mod World Heads To
Gravel Claims Controversial
Grove National Open, $50,000 Prize
‘Wicked Cool Midget’ Group
Aims To Compete With NEMA Lites
Outlaw Mod 200 Win At
Rocco Wins Marathon VMRS 100 At
Richard Tobias, Stewart
Friesen Among USAC Silver
Crown
Bill Catania Is Building A
Danny Johnson Unmasked: The
Mortal Man Behind ‘The Doctor‘ Mystique
Bad Late Model Crash At
Press releases:
Home of the Slingshot by
Tobias
Home of the SpeedSTR
www.speedwayentertainment.com
Subj:
OCTOBERFAST 2014 SCHEDULE OF
EVENTS
Saturday, October 25
Modifieds 130 laps, $5000 to win - $300 to take green. Late
Models 60 laps, $1500 to win - $125 to take green. Street Stocks 75 laps $2000
- $200 to take green. Hobby Stocks 40 laps $500 to win - $75 to take green.
Pit gates open at 10:00 am
Driver sign in is 11:00 am to
1:30 pm
Pre-registration/entry fee:
Pre-registration is $50 for Modifieds and $40 for
Late Model and Street Stocks (Oct. 18 is cutoff for preregister price).
Race day registration/entry
fee: $75 Modifieds, $60 Late Models and Street Stocks
(There is no entry fee for Hobby Stocks)
Pit admission: $40 per person
Practice is from 12:15 pm to
2:00 pm
Drivers
meeting is at 2:15 pm
Heats begin at 3:00 pm (pick
for heats during sign in)
Intermission: Pick for
feature starting spots on front straight. Trick-or-Treat on track for kids.
Grandstand admission: $25 (NO
DISCOUNTS) Kids 10 years old and under are free.
Running order: Modifieds, Street Stocks, Late Models, Hobby Stocks
Sunday, October 26
Dirt Mods
60 Laps, $3000 to win - $250 to take green. SpeedSTRs
45 laps $3000 to win. All Star Slingshots, Stage 1 Modifieds,
Micro Stocks, Sr. Champ Karts, Jr. Sportsman Champ Karts
Pit gates open at 10:00 am
Sign-in from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Race day registration/entry
fee: $40 pre-registration for Dirt Mods (Oct. 18 is
cutoff for preregister price).
Race day registration/entry
fee: $60 registration fee for Dirt Mods
Pit admission: $35 per person
Practice is from 12:30 pm to
2:00 pm
Drivers
meeting is at 2:15 pm
Heats begin at 2:30 pm (pick
for heats during sign in)
Intermission: Pick for
feature starting spots on front straight Dirt Mods
and SpeedSTRs
Grandstand admission: $25 (NO
DISCOUNTS) Kids 10 years old and under are free. $5 discount if you show wrist
band from Saturday show
Running order: SPEEDSTRs, All Star Slingshots, Dirt Mods,
Stage 1 Modifieds, Micro Stocks, Sr. Champ Karts, Jr.
Sportsman Champ Karts
Rain date is November 1 and
2, 2014
SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
TRIPLE PLAY
Stewart Friesen Attempting to
Pull Off NAPA Super DIRT Week Trifecta by Winning
Syracuse 200, Salute to the Troops 150 and Silver Crown Salt City 78
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Oct. 6, 2014
- Stewart Friesen is one of the most versatile racers in the Northeast, and
he'll showcase his skills during this year's NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week,
Oct. 8-12, at the New York State Fairgrounds.
Friesen is a two-time winner
of NAPA Super DIRT Week's premier
Brett Hearn in 1990 and Danny
Johnson in 2006 are the only drivers to pull off the double at the Moody Mile
by sweeping the Big-Block Modified and 358-Modified main events in the same
year. Could Friesen pull off the trifecta and become
the first driver to win the Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified and Silver Crown
feature events during a single NAPA Super DIRT Week?
The all-New York Silver Crown
team is owned by
While Friesen, 31, has had
plenty of racing success in dirt Modifieds and has
been gaining experience in winged sprint cars, in fact he recently won a
360-sprint car feature, he has never driven a Silver
Crown car. He'll get his first seat time during Friday afternoon practice on
the Moody Mile, a daunting proposition for anybody's first laps in a different
type of car, but one Friesen is looking forward to taking.
So how did a dirt Modified
racer from the Northeast hook up with a Silver Crown ride? A connection made a
few years ago at the World of Outlaws World Finals in
"It started with Rob
Hart, who is the crew chief on the car," Friesen said. "I worked with
him a few years ago when he was crew chief for Jessica at the World Finals. I
got to know him a little bit. He's from the
Since he has yet to race a
Silver Crown car, which looks a bit like an oversized non-wing sprint car,
Friesen is trying to find some common ground in his racing experience.
"I think it's going to
be more along the sprint car, but I think having some sprint car experience it
will be a good mix between the two cars," Friesen said. "It's a
longer wheel-base car. I'm glad we have some extra practice on Friday to get
some seat time in it. It won't be like a normal race weekend where you get
three laps of practice and you have to qualify. Hopefully in a couple of laps
we'll get comfortable. I think it'll be more like a sprint car but without the
grip."
Friesen has been compared to
the legendary Billy Pauch because of his versatility.
Pauch has had tremendous success in both modifieds and sprint cars.
"I think that's probably
one of the ultimate compliments," Friesen said. "With what he's done
in the sprint car and the modified, his success is unparalleled between the crossover of the two. Hopefully we can run some more 410
stuff and have some success like he did. He's a really cool guy."
The biggest race of the week,
of course, is the $50,000-to-win Super DIRTcar Series
Syracuse 200, a race Friesen won in 2010 and 2011.
"Both wins were
special," Friesen said. "Winning it the second year was pretty
awesome just to back up the feat that we knew we could do it, which was cool.
The first year was obviously very, very special, just being the first Canadian
with all the Canadians like Joe Plazek, Pete
Bicknell, all the guys who have tried over the years and weren't able to get it
done, and to be that guy who got in there, there's so many Canadian dirt
Modified fans and to be able to represent all those fans and give them some
bragging rights for a couple of years was pretty darn cool. To be the first guy
to get it done from north of the border was very, very special."
Last year, Billy Dunn earned
the first Super DIRTcar Series victory of his career
by winning the
"It's something we've
talked about over the past year, it's just weird the way it worked out,"
Friesen said. "The cars that were fastest all week, ultimately we all ran
out of gas. It's one of those deals where an out-of-the-box pit strategy won
the race. That's something we're not banking on right now to go out-of-the-box
like that and try to get off sequence. We're going to try to do the same thing
we tried to do last year, get up front and be in clean air the last 25 laps of
the race. When the cautions fly that kind of dictates how much of a gamble it
really is. We'll see how the race gets going and see how it unfolds half way.
It's something we're thinking about, but it seemed like a weird circumstance to
have that many cautions in the last 25 laps."
If Friesen's strategy works
out this year, he very well could be in victory lane three times during NAPA
Super DIRT Week.
"Racing's Biggest
Party" kicks off when campers move in on Wednesday, Oct. 8. For more
information and the latest updates on NAPA Super DIRT Week,
clickwww.SuperDIRTWeekOnline.com, follow on Twitter@SuperDIRTWeek,
or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SuperDIRTWeek.
News from the Short Track SuperNationals 7 – The Working Man’s Race
Media Contact: Brett Deyo – bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com or 845.728.2781
For Immediate Release/October
6, 2014
Attachment: Short Track Super
Series Fueled By VP Point Standings
It Boils Down To One Race:
Andy Bachetti Versus Danny Johnson At I-88 Speedway
For Inaugural Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Championship; $53,000-Plus
On The Line This Weekend At Afton Fairgrounds Oval; Two Full Days Of Racing
Planned Friday-Saturday As ‘Working Man’s Race’ Returns Home
The finale of the inaugural
six-race series takes place this Friday-Saturday Oct. 10-11 at I-88 Speedway in
Afton, N.Y., with the seventh edition of the Alpine Building Supply Short Track
SuperNationals presented by Olum’s.
The big-block/small-block Modifieds of the Short Track Super Series culminate their
point battle in a 50-lap main event Saturday (Oct. 11) paying a record purse
for the ‘Working Man’s Race’ special, with $5,000-plus reserved for the winner,
$1,000 for 10th and $600, a new high for BD Motorsports Media LLC, just to take
the green flag. A fully paid 17-lap B-Main for non-qualifiers is also on the
docket, offering $777 to the winner and $100 to start, meaning no Modified will
leave empty handed!
Some $33,202 in base payout
plus bonuses is has been posted for Modified racers at the SuperNationals.
Additionally, more than $23,000 in point fund money is at stake, meaning more
than $53,202 is on the line at the Afton Fairgrounds this weekend.
Entering the point season
finale, Andy Bachetti and Danny Johnson are locked
into a tie for the championship lead. Yes, dead even, with 350 points each.
Bachetti, of
Should Bachetti
annex the series title, he will pocket $10,014 with perfect attendance on the
series. A Johnson championship would be worth $6,000 having used the Accord
August event as a ‘drop race’ on the schedule.
Increased championship points
are on the line at the SuperNationals, with 150
points reserved for the winner, 60 points for last and 25 for drivers unable to
qualify.
The top-12 drivers in the
Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP will share in
point fund money. Any driver outside the top-12 with perfect attendance will
earn $250.
Currently, Jeff Heotzler of
The Sleepy Hollow Golf Rookie
of the Year Award, worth $350 cash, will be handed out for the series during
the SuperNationals weekend, as well.
Two full days of racing are
set for the SuperNationals.
On Saturday (Oct. 11), the
Modified division serves as the headliner with the A-& B-Mains. Also
competing on Saturday: the Crate 602 Sportsman in a 25-lap main paying $1,000
to the winner and $100 to start; the event will offer points toward the 2014
Dig Safely New York GRIT Series championship. IMCA-Modifieds
and Empire Lightning Sprints complete the Saturday card.
Both the IMCA-Modifieds and Empire Lightning Sprints have received pay
increases. Thanks to Vernooy’s Automotive Excellence
in
On Saturday, gates open at 1
p.m. Hot laps for Crate 602 Sportsman, IMCA-Modifieds and Empire Lightning Sprints begin at 4 p.m. with
heat races for the aforementioned divisions underway at 4:45 p.m. Modified hot
laps hit the track at 6 p.m. and heat races begin at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday grandstand admission
is $20 (Adults), $18 (Seniors ages 65 and up), $12
(Students ages 9-17) and Kids 8 and under are FREE. Pit admission is $35, with
no license required.
On Friday night (Oct. 10),
the Open vs. Crate 602 Sportsman division are featured in a 35-lap special
paying $1,500 to the winner and $125 to start. Hefty Crate 602 Sportsman
bonuses will be paid as follows to the top-six across the line: $300, $200,
$100, $75, $50 and a free pit pass for Saturday. Also on the Friday card are
Street Stocks (home track rules), Four Cylinders (generally accepted Southern
Tier rules) and Empire Sport Trucks (home track rules).
Trackside Products of
Modifieds and other Saturday divisions will be permitted to
practice throughout the night on Friday in preparation for the next day.
For Modified racers, a 10-lap
Dash will be held on Friday night involving the top-five fastest cars in
practice, as timed by the speedway’s transponder system. The winner of the Dash
earns a redraw position for Saturday, while all other participants take home
$50 courtesy of Manmiller Electric.
Friday activities kick off at
3 p.m. when the gates open. Hot laps begin at 6:20 p.m., with racing at 7 p.m.
Friday grandstand admission
is $12 (Adults), $10 (Seniors 65 and up), $8 (Students 9-17) and Kids 8 and
under are FREE. Pit admission is $30, with no license required.
Post-race parties are planned
to cap Friday and Saturday evening’s activities.
All Short Track SuperNationals information – pay structures, entry forms,
prices, rules and times – have been posted on the BD Motorsports Media website:
www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com under Events and SuperNationals.
To learn more about 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.
I-88 Speedway is located
conveniently off I-88 Exit 7 (Afton), approximately 25 miles north and east of
NEWS FROM
Orange County Fair
CONTACT
Mike Gurda
845-342-2573
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EASTERN STATES 200 FAVORS
“HOME TRACK” DRIVERS
MIDDLETOWN, NY (October
7)……..Last October, when Brett Hearn took the checkered flag in the 52nd Annual
Eastern States 200 for dirt track Modified stock cars at Orange County Fair
Speedway in Middletown, New York, it marked his tenth win in the fall classic
race. And although Hearn holds most of the racing records on the Middletown
Hard Clay, he has not raced weekly at
In the 52 previous running of
this classic endurance race for Modifieds, 17 of the
winners have been drivers who have raced weekly at Orange County at least one
full season and 13 who can be considered “outside” invaders. But in terms of
total wins, the
In addition to Johnson and
Hearn, among active Orange County weekly competitors, Jerry Higbie
in 2009, Jeff Heotzler, the 2007 victor, Chuck McKee,
the 2000 winner, and Rich Eurich, who won back in
1988, would surely like to take home another Eastern States trophy.
Of the 13 invaders who have
won the Eastern States gold, Tim McCreadie (2010),
Bobby Varin (2003), Alan Johnson (1999), and Billy
Decker (1998) are likely entrants in this year’s race.
The top-6 drivers in time
trials will lead the field in Sunday’s race. The balance of the starting field
will be made up of guaranteed starters and qualified drivers from heat and
consolation races.
In recent years, both Heotzler and Hearn have won the 200-lap grind from the back
of the field, proving that this race can be won from any position. That’s why a
banner field is expected for this year’s edition of the oldest continuously-run
championship race for dirt track Modifieds---the 53rd
Annual Eastern States 200 Presented by Arkel Motors
and Dupee & Monroe PC.
Advance tickets for Sunday’s
race, or the entire Eastern States Weekend, plus camping and parking permits
are available at the Speedway Office Wednesday through Saturday during regular
business hours or through credit card sales (Visa and MasterCard) by calling
845-342-2573. Additional information can be found at the official Orange County
Fair Speedway website, www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net.
EASTERN STATES 200 WINNERS
*Brett Hearn (10)
*Danny Johnson (6)
*Will Cagle (4)
*Frankie Schneider (3)
Gerald Chamberlain (2)
*Frank Cozze
(2)
*Jimmy Horton (2)
*Alan “Rags” Carter
Ron Lux
Al Tasnady
*“Buzzie”
Reutimann
*Bobby Bottcher
*Wayne Reutimann
*Gary Balough
Lou Lazzaro
Kenny Brightbill
*Harry Behrent
C.D. Coville
Dave Lape
Jack Johnson
*Doug Hoffman
*Rich Eurich
Bob McCreadie
Billy Decker
Alan Johnson
*Chuck McKee
Bobby Varin
*Jeff Heotzler
*Jerry Higbie
Tim McCreadie
*Raced at Orange County Fair
Speedway at least one full season
On Facebbok
on 10/6/14:
Erwin Benzee
BenzBenzee Promotions
Early Bird Special for Dover
NASCAR Trip Sun May 31 st 2015 - Pay in full by Dec 1
st cost is $150 , after its
$165 . Payment plans , Two attendees send $ 10 per
paycheck until paid up for next years trip . We will make it work
, hop onboard !!!
paypal accepted as
well
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 6, 2014
DICK JORDAN
14-222
ABREU'S
TITLE CHASE "ON HOLD" UNTIL NOV. 20 AT
WEATHER CLAIMS "GOLD
CROWN MIDGET NATIONALS" AT TRI-CITY
Rico Abreu's
drive to the 2014 Honda USAC National Midget Championship won't resume until
November 20 when the series travels to
The series went into
hibernation last weekend as continuing rains and low temperatures conspired to
force cancellation of the 6th Annual "Gold Crown Midget Nationals"
three-night extravaganza at Tri-City Speedway in
That left Abreu
with a 79-point lead entering the November races at
The 2014 series and the USAC
calendar will conclude November 27 with the running of the 74th "Turkey
Night Grand Prix" at the Perris (
HONDA USAC NATIONAL MIDGET
POINTS: 1-Rico Abreu-867, 2-Christopher Bell-788, 3-Tracy Hines-786, 4-Bryan
Clauson-744, 5-Zach Daum-663, 6-Chris Windom-594, 7-Tanner Thorson-569,
8-Michael Pickens-499, 9-Dave Darland-419, 10-Andrew Felker-378.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER
6, 2014
DICK JORDAN
14-221
FRIESEN, TOBIAS JOIN "
Two of
Stewart Friesen of
The race is part of the
track's NAPA Auto Parts "Super Dirt Week XLIII" slate which includes
a variety of motorsports racing events. The Silver Crown Cars are scheduled to
practice at 2:05 pm Friday, with qualifications at
5:40 pm. Saturday's Silver Crown feature gets the green flag at 1:30 pm.
Friesen, winner of the recent
SEF Small Engine Fuels 200-lapper at the New York State Fairgrounds oval and a
former two-time winner of Syracuse's Big-Block "200", will pilot the
#99 RPM/Fred Gormly entry as a teammate to USAC
Triple Crown Champion Jerry Coons Jr. Coons is the most recent series winner,
taking the September 21 "4-Crown Nationals" at the Eldora Speedway in
Rossburg, Ohio.
Tobias, son of the legendary
Kody Swanson of
Defending Silver Crown
Champion Bobby East also retains hope for a 2014 championship, trailing Swanson
by 45 points with 66 total points available at
Dave Darland
owns the one-lap Syracuse track qualifying record of 119.713 mph. Saturday's
race will be the first for the USAC Silver Crown cars at the New York State
Fairgrounds since J.J. Yeley's 2003 victory. Tobias
finished second in that race ahead of third-place Darland.
Drivers who competed in the
2003
USAC Championship racing at
Note: No idea as to why previous races with Champ
Cars at
I have to assume they were
AAA races and not USAC.
Also, I’m wondering why it
isn’t for 100 miles, and only 78?
2014 USAC Silver Crown
Standings:1-Kody Swanson-522, 2-Tracy Hines-510,
3-Bobby East-477, 4-Chris Windom-418, 5-Jerry Coons Jr.-366, 6-Jacob
Wilson-308, 7-Shane Cockrum-264, 8-A.J. Fike-263, 9-Caleb Armstrong-259,
10-Dave Darland-234.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 7, 2014
DICK JORDAN
USAC ROOKIE CANDIDATES EYE
SERIES FINALES
Drivers competing for USAC's "Rookie of the Year" awards are gearing up
for the final events of 2014 as the National series enter their final two
months.
Drivers Caleb Armstrong,
Patrick Lawson and Christopher Bell are tops among rookies in the Silver Crown
Championship while Jarett Andretti and Shane Cockrum appear to be the top AMSOIL Sprint Car leaders and
Kevin Thomas Jr. sits atop the Honda National midget rookie tally.
Armstrong, of
Lawson, of
The Silver Crown Championship
Series concludes this Saturday in the "Salt City 78" at the New York
State Fairgrounds in
Andretti, of
Cockrum, of
The AMSOIL National Sprint
Cars wrap up the 2014 campaign with four races in
Thomas, of
The Honda National Midgets close out the 2014 campaign with the November 20-22 Sands
Chevrolet '"Western World Championships" at
--USAC--
Darl D.
Darl D.
(June 19, 1937 - October 3,
2014)
Darl D. Harrison, 77, of Bettsville,
passed away at 3:35 p.m., Friday, October 3, 2014 in the emergency room at the
Darl was born on June 19, 1937 in
Darl is survived by his longtime partner, Joyce Buchman of
Bettsville, daughter, Robin Harrison Schumacker of Fostoria, sons, Scott (Theresa) Harrison of Bettsville, Darl
"Derwood" (Claudia) Harrison of Kansas, Jim (Denise) Harrison of Bettsville, David (Teri) Harrison of Burgoon,
Chris (Jonnell) Harrison of Chandler, AZ, numerous
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, a brother, Eugene Harrison of Bettsville and a sister, Ernestine Yoakum of Fremont.
Darl was the owner/operator of
Darl was preceded in death by his parents and a brother,
Evan Harrison.
Funeral services for Darl will be at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, October 8, 2014
at the Engle-Shook Funeral Home & Crematory in Bettsville.
Visitation for family and friends will be on Tuesday, from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m.,
and on Wednesday, from 10-11 a.m., at the funeral home. Burial will follow the
services on Wednesday, at Pleasant Union cemetery in Old Fort.
In lieu of flowers memorial
contributions may be made to the Fremont Speedway Hall of Fame.
This week’s photos:
Oct 9, 1955
Len Duncan won both of the
ARDC Midget feature races at the Old Dominion Speedway,
Some
non racin’ stuff:
Leon Panetta boiled down
Democrats’ criticism of Barack Obama to one sentence
Looking for that expensive
Christmas present? Go no further:
Neiman Marcus' $300,000
slot-car track is the ultimate man toy
This weeks joke:
In church last Sunday, I
heard a sweet elderly lady in the pew d
next to me saying a prayer. It was so innocent and sincere
that
I just had to share it with
you:
" Dear Lord: The last year has been very tough for me.
You have taken my
favorite actor - James Garner;
my favorite actress - Lauren Bacall;
my favorite Comedian - Robin Williams,
and finally, my favorite author -Tom Clancy.
I just wanted you to know
that my favorite politicians are -
Barack
Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Hillary Clinton.
Amen"
Until my next column
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