Mostly
Racin' Stuff
By
Tom Avenengo
Volume # 211
02/05/2015
Some
personal/family stuff:
If you'll excuse me - I'm starting off
this weeks column a little different.
At times, at night, prior to going to bed,
I'll watch some musical videos. This
past Thursday night I came across a couple that kinda hit me - basically about
my life with my wife.
Alan Jackson with "He stopped Loving
Her Today", is the first one. One
has to wonder, when one leaves this earth, does one continue to love another
one, or does it die, as we do? I'd like
to think that our love for someone that's dear to us goes on eternally. I'd have to imagine that one day, we'll find
out for sure?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbjpbqowX3Y&index=2&list=RDGCtIoJ5hhpE
More
memories:
And, the second video - again Alan Jackson
with "Remember When". Watching
this video brought back so many memories of the life I shared with my wife and
children - almost to a "T".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTA2buWlNyM&index=20&list=RDGCtIoJ5hhpE
Might I have made mention that my two
sons, Tom, Jr. and Eric, will be down for a visit later on this month? They'll still be coming down (weather
conditions up north could always throw a monkey wrench into things), but as for
us hitting Volusia on Friday for the DIRT modifieds and LM's - for what they're
charging, and the distance involved (more than likely a stay over would be
best), motel rooms are rather outrageous.
So, they've decided that going to the races has been dropped from their
list of what they (us) will be doing.
They do head back north on Sunday - of course, we'll be keeping an eye
on "Mother Nature" and her wintry hi-jinks, ya know?
Racin’
stuff:
ELLIOTT TO RUN FULL-TIME CUP CAMPAIGN FOR HENDRICK IN '16
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news
media/articles/2015/1/29/chase-elliott-hendrick-motorsports-2016-no-24-sprint-cup-series.html
This, from last weeks column:
Rico Abreu schedule: http://www.ricoabreu.com/#!schedule/ckra
And an update as of Jan 28,
2015:
Rico schedule as of 1/28:
http://www.ricoabreu.com/#!schedule/ckra
114 races
Brazilian officials say canceled IndyCar race was too costly
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article8617589.html
Daytona Schedule:
http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Tickets-Events/Events/2015/Budweiser-Speedweeks/Schedule.aspx
NASCAR Hall of Fame sponsorships fall to $110,000 from $1.5 million
Read more here:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2015/01/28/5477245/nascar-hall-of-fame-sponsorships.html#.VM6vdZ3F8_p#storylink=cpy
NASCAR issues several rule
updates for coming season
http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/02/nascar-issues-several-rule-updates-for-coming-season/#comments
Allmendinger’s car owner
explains why team will skip Sprint Unlimited
Just a little: "AJ Allmendinger will not compete in next weekend’s Sprint Unlimited because
his team was unable to find sponsorship for the exhibition event."
http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/02/allmendingers-car-owner-explains-why-team-will-skip-sprint-unlimited/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs
Note: Yes, it's getting harder and
harder getting sponsor, today. From
NASCR, Indycar and down to local tracks.
Face it - it's getting too damn expensive.
Cody Darrah a sponsorship victim, will run part-time
schedule with Kasey Kahne Racing in 2015
http://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/01/cody_darrah_a_sponsorship_vict.html
NBCSN To Broadcast Ten NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour Events In 2015
http://racedayct.com/2015/02/nbcsn-to-broadcast-ten-nascar-whelen-modified-tour-events-in-2015/
Thompson - Friday Apr 17 TBD
Thompson - Thursday June 18, 6:00 PM
Riverhead - Thursday July 2, 7:00 PM
New Hampshire (All Star) - Thursday July 23, 4:00 PM
New Hampshire - Thursday July 23, 6:00 PM
Monadnock - Thursday July 30, 7:00 PM
Bristol - Friday August 28, 7:00
PM
New Hampshire - Thursday October 1, 7:00 PM
Stafford - Saturday October 10, 4:00 PM
Thompson - Thursday October 22, 8:00 PM
Tony Stewart sounds off on qualifying, a rule change and his pet pig
http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/03/tony-stewart-sounds-off-on-qualifying-a-rule-change-and-his-pet-pig/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs
Note:
Only 5 trucks will be locked in at Eldora.
MAVTV SCORES HUGE RATINGS WITH 'LIVE' CHILI BOWL COVERAGE
http://www.chilibowl.com/news/?i=27009
Note: I really think we need more shows like they
had years ago, like "Thursday Night Thunder". Remember them?
Robin Miller's Mailbag for February 4, presented by Honda Racing / HPD
http://www.racer.com/robin-miller-s-mailbag-for-february-4-presented-by-honda-racing-hpd
Note: Majority of it is about Indycar hiring back
Brian Barnhart.
Back
in time:
From February 9th to February 15th:
FEBRUARY 9
1909
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation incorporated with Carl G.
Fisher as president.
1939
Jan Opperman... Born
FEBRUARY 10
1917
Danny Kladis... Born
1919
Eddie Johnson... Born
1959
Marshall Teague sets an unofficial closed course speed record of
171.821 mph driving the "Sumar Special" streamliner, actually a
Kurtis-Kraft chassis with a Meyer-Drake Offy 270.
1987
Andy Linden... Died
FEBRUARY 11
1888
Fred Offenhauser... Born
1901
Anton "Tony" Hulman... Born
1934
John Surtees ...Born
1959
Marshall Teague... Died ... NASCAR, AAA and USAC driver. Finished 7th in
the 1957 Indy 500. Teague, 37, died in a crash during a closed course speed
record attempt at the new Daytona International Speedway. Teague was driving a
Chapman Root owned Indy roadster with an enclosed canopy and covered wheels. He
had just turned a 3rd lap at 160.25 mph before losing control in turn 1. The
record at the time was 177.038 mph set by Tony Bettenhausen at Monza, Italy the
year before. In an earlier shakedown run, Teague had unofficially gone 171.82
mph.
1994
Neil Bonnett ... Died
2001
Dave Schultz... Died ... Legendary, six-time NHRA Pro Stock Bike champion
died of colon cancer at age 52.
FEBRUARY 12
1904
Floyd Roberts... Born
1920
Jack Turner ... Born
1932
Dick Tobias ... Born
1962
Kevin Doty... Born
1980
Floyd Samuel "Sam" Nunis ... Died
FEBRUARY 13
1948
Jim Crawford... Born
1976
Paul Russo... Died
Note: A photo of Paul is in this week's photo
section.
FEBRUARY 14
1932
Edwin Keith "Banjo" Matthews... Born
1968
Scott Sharp... Born
2000
Tony Bettenhausen Jr. ... Died
FEBRUARY 15
1929
Graham Hill... Born ... British racing driver and two-time Formula One
World Champion. Graham Hill is the only driver to win the so-called Triple
Crown of Motorsport, which is alternatively defined as winning either: the
Indianapolis 500 (won by Hill in 1966), the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1972) and the
Monaco Grand Prix (1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969) or the Indianapolis 500, the
24 Hours of Le Mans and the Formula One World Championship (1962, 1968). Using
either definition, Hill is still the only person ever to have accomplished this
feat.
1948
NASCAR , a week before the organization was officially incorporated,
held its first race for modified stock cars on a 3.2 mile-course at Daytona
Beach.
1957
Jimmy Spencer ... Born
From
Jayski:
Key Changes at Tommy Baldwin Racing for 2015:
The 2015
NASCAR season signals a year of change for Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR). Key
personnel changes took place over the offseason, strengthening the foundation
on which the team stands.
Bray Pemberton, General Manager and Chief Legal Counsel: Pemberton joins TBR as
the newly named General Manager and Chief Legal Counsel. Pemberton has a rich
family history in the sport paired with a deep knowledge of racing as well as a
true passion for the sport.
Danielle Randall, Director of Business Development: Randall joined TBR as the
Director of Business Development, procuring new sponsorship and
business-to-business relationships for the team. Danielle has worked
successfully on both the business development and management side of the
industry.
Kevin "Bono" Manion, Crew Chief of the #7 Chevrolet: Returning for
the second year atop the pit box with the 7 team, "Bono" brings his
veteran experience and winning resume to work with Sprint Cup series sophomore
Alex Bowman. The efforts of Manion and his team to assemble the most
competitive cars will also be enhanced by TBR's new state-of-the-art
fabrication shop.
Mark Gutekunst, Lead Engineer: The depth of Mark Gutekunst's engineering
background elevates him to the lead engineer position on the #7 Chevrolet.
Doug Campbell, Spotter: 21-year-old Doug Campbell has worked with Tommy Baldwin
Racing for over three years. Prior to working in NASCAR, Campbell got his start
as a spotter in the Valenti Modified Racing Series. Moving to the #7 team in
2015, Campbell will be the "eyes in the sky" for Bowman.
"With Bono leading the #7 team again this year, Alex Bowman driving and
all the changes put in place at the shop, we looking forward to the drop of the
green flag at Daytona," said owner Tommy Baldwin Jr. "As always, we
are happy to be a part of Team Chevy for another year."(TBR/140 Buzz)(1-31-2015)
Gordon doesn't want car number 24 retired:
Jeff Gordon
knows some of his fans would rather not see the #24 on the car of another
Sprint Cup driver. But he believes Chase Elliott will have so much success, his
fans eventually will change their minds. So he convinced team owner Rick
Hendrick that Elliott, who will replace the four-time Cup champion starting in
2016, should drive a Hendrick car with the #24 on the side. "Rick wanted
to retire that number for maybe one year or a certain period of time - you
never know what NASCAR allows," said Gordon, who will retire from
full-time racing after the 2015 season. "He definitely threw that idea out
to me, and I said, 'No.' I love the #24. I want to see the 24 go on to do great
things. I did say if Chase was really adamant or (his dad) Bill and Chase and
(his mom) Cindy all felt like that another number was more suited, that I was
open to it. But I think our fans want to see the 24 continue on with the right
person and be successful with the right guy, and he's the right guy."
Elliott, who just turned 19, didn't try to lobby to drive the #9, the car
number he mostly remembers his dad racing and the number that adorns the side
of his JR Motorsports car. Richard Petty Motorsports currently runs the #9, but
it could have been possible for Hendrick to negotiate with RPM to get it that
number for Elliott. NASCAR issues car numbers each year but with the
understanding that the teams will have the same number year to year because
they build equity in numbers. NASCAR officials said Monday they had no plans to
retire the number. "When you look at the sport, Jeff Gordon has certainly
made an unbelievable impact on the sport and has been transcendent,"
NASCAR executive vice president Steve O'Donnell said Monday. "If you talk
to Jeff, and we haven't had that dialouge yet, I'm not sure he would even want
that. So we'll wait and talk to Jeff and see where he's at." NASCAR has
not retired a number in its three national stock-car series.(Sporting News)(1-31-2015)
Earnhardt Jr. interested in driving in Truck Series race:
#88-Dale
Earnhardt Jr. on Thursday admitted an interest in making at least one start for
JR Motorsports' new Camping World Truck Series program, which will field a
part-time entry for 17-year-old Cole Custer this season. "I've never
driven a truck before and I've always had that interest to race in the
truck," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I'd tell you I would run Martinsville,
today, but Cole's going to get all the shorter tracks due to his age, and we
need to get him that experience when we can, and it's a great opportunity at
Martinsville for him to run. So if I run a race, it'll be at a bigger track
where Cole's not quite cleared to run through NASCAR's process. It ain't going
to be Daytona."(FoxSports)(1-30-2014)
#28 Back on Track?
It's been
more than five years since the famed #28 Yates Racing Ford last spun laps
around a NASCAR track. March 22, 2009 to be exact. And while the #28 is free
for teams to use - with NASCAR's permission, of course - there is a certain
respect that follows that number. It's with that respect that former team owner
Doug Yates occasionally fields a call for permission to use the number that was
driven famously by the likes of Fred Lorenzen, Davey Allison and Ernie Irvan.
"I got a call at the beginning of last season from a driver that asked me
if it would be OK to use the number," said Yates. "He asked that I
think about it and he'd check in a little later." Yates did think about
it, and even talked it over with family. And when that driver called back, it
didn't take long for him to figure out the answer. Said Yates: "I answered
my phone and immediately the driver said to me - 'I get it. Don't say any
more.' "(CMS)(1-30-2015)
Gappens faces misdemeanor charge after Manchester arrest:
Jerry
Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor
Speedway, was arrested last week and charged with indecent exposure and
lewdness, a misdemeanor. Manchester Police said Gappens was engaged in sexual
activity with a woman inside a car. His attorney released a statement to News
9: "Mr. Gappens acknowledges using poor judgment that has resulted in a
misdemeanor charge that is both embarrassing and devastating to him and his
family, and for that, he sincerely apologizes. He regrets his actions. While he
made a bad decision, he did not, in my opinion, engage in conduct that violates
the referenced statute or any other criminal law. Mr. Gappens cooperated fully
with the police, and we hope to have this difficult situation resolved
soon."(WMUR/News 9)(1-30-2015)
Closing statements expected in Kurt Busch case:
Attorneys
are expected to file their closing arguments Tuesday in the no-contact order
hearing involving NASCAR's Kurt Busch. The written summations mark the closing
stages of an atypical hearing that heard testimony from Busch's ex-girlfriend,
Patricia Driscoll, who alleged the driver smashed her head against the wall
three times during a September race weekend in Dover, and from Busch, who
claimed Driscoll was a trained assassin who could take him down at any moment.
Dover Police Department closed their investigation into the incident last
December and turned it over to the state Attorney General's office. The office
has not yet announced a decision on the allegations.(Delaware News-Journal)(2-3-2015)
NASCAR issues several rule updates:
NASCAR
issued a bulletin Monday with updated rules for the coming season for Sprint
Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series.
" Only drivers who are licensed and approved for competition in the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series will be eligible to participate in a NASCAR-approved tire
test.
" NASCAR clarified that should a vehicle pit out of its assigned stall and
the crew begins to remove the tire(s), the crew must reinstall the tire(s)
before moving the car back into its assigned stall to avoid a penalty. This is
for Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series.
" Any crew member interfering with another crew's pit stop, causing the
other team to incur a penalty or not, may incur a penalty. This is for each of
the three national series.
" Additional crew member(s), assigned to servicing the car or not, who
purposely assist from an adjacent pit box on the work service side of pit road
may be counted toward the limit of seven crew members over the wall. This is
for each of the three national series.
" NASCAR clarified the refueling procedure. Refueling can begin once the
car is stopped in its assigned pit stall. The fueler may continue to refuel the
car as it departs and crosses the front line of the pit box provided any
equipment used and/or the fueler do not cross over the front or the side line
of the pit box. Also, fueling cans or any other equipment must not be tossed or
thrown over the pit service wall at any time. This is for each of the three
national series.
" NASCAR lists violating the private team test ban as a P6 penalty for all
three series.
" NASCAR mandates that the switch for the driver-adjustable track bar
motor in Cup be located on the dash panel with the other accessory switches on
the steering wheel or on the left or right side of the seat or seat leg
extensions.
" NASCAR clarified that added ballast must be in block form using minimum
five-pound blocks. NASCAR clarified that the added weight must be in blocks.(NBC Sports)(2-3-2015)
Hendrick Motorsports names #88 pit crew:
Hendrick
Motorsports has confirmed the lineup for the 2015 #88 pit crew for Dale
Earnhardt Jr. Motorsports.com has learned David Mayo will replace Clay Robinson
as the front tire Changer. His new rear tire carrier is Dustin Lineback, who
takes over for Kevin Harris and moved from the fueler's position. The rear tire
duo will be returning changer Joe Slingerland and William "Rowdy"
Harrell, who replaced Matt Ver Meer. Robinson, Harris and Ver Meer moved to Joe
Gibbs Racing to pit the #19 Toyota for Carl Edwards. Nick Covey is Earnhardt's
new jackman and Matt Tyrrell will fuel the #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy. Crew
chief Greg Ives says the starters were named on January 22.(Motorsport)(2-3-2015)
Atlanta tire test canceled:
The March
2-3 NASCAR tire test at Atlanta has been canceled. That was to have been held
Monday and Tuesday after the Atlanta race and just before the Cup series begins
its three-week West Coast swing. Teams that were to have taken part in that
test: Richard Childress Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and
Michael Waltrip Racing.(NBC Sports)(2-3-2015)
Fan hit by cable at Coca-Cola 600 sues Fox Sports, CMS:
A fan who
says he was injured when an overhead camera cable snapped and whipsawed in the
grandstand during the 2013 Coca-Cola 600 has filed suit against Fox Sports and
Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. Patrick Carpenter filed suit last week
in civil court in Randolph County saying he was injured and scarred on his
right arm and shoulder after the synthetic cable fell and was then snagged by passing
race cars on the track. Patrick said he suffered permanent impairment of his
right arm. Fox and the speedway declined to comment on the suit. Carpenter,
represented by Michael Lewis and D. Stuart Punger of Winston-Salem, said in the
suit that Fox and the speedway were negligent in not better inspecting and
protecting spectators from the overhead cable and camera rig, called a CamCat.
Carpenter was seated in the grandstand near Turn 4 when the accident occurred
on Lap 121 of the May 26, 2013, race. About 10 people were treated after the
accident. Carpenter is the first to file a suit. Fox suspended use of the
camera rig at Sprint races and conducted an investigation into what occurred,
although the remains of the cable were in poor condition after they were
ensnared by 19 cars. Results of the investigation are not being made public
because of litigation, said Fox spokesman Lou D'Ermilio. Carpenter's suit seeks
more than $10,000 in damages.(Charlotte Observer)(2-3-2015)
NASCAR Announcements: Little Named to Inspection/Officiating Post; Sawyer
to Lead Truck Series:
NASCAR
announced two leadership changes in its Competition department, including the
selection of Chad Little to the new role of Managing Director, Technical
Inspection/Officiating and Elton Sawyer to Managing Director, NASCAR Camping
World Truck Series. Both assume their new responsibilities immediately.
In the new role, Little will provide high-level oversight in all areas of
technical inspection and officiating for the Competition department, bringing
to bear NASCAR's Research & Development. The updated officiating model
includes the introduction of NASCAR's new Pit Road Technology, which debuts
during Speedweeks in Daytona later this month. Little, who has spent more than
10 years at NASCAR, most recently served as Series Director in the NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series and the Weekly/Touring Series. A former driver in
the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Little brings a strong background in key areas of
competition to this new role.
Sawyer joins NASCAR after serving as Director of Team Operations for Action
Express Racing in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship governed by IMSA.
Prior to that role, he held competition roles at Red Bull Racing and Evernham
Motorsports. Sawyer also spent part of his career driving in NASCAR's national
series.(NASCAR)(2-2-2015)
Congrats:
To #2-Brad
Keselowski and girlfriend Paige White. Keselowski announced on his websitethat the couple are expecting a daughter.
"The biggest announcement I have to make about the offseason actually has
to do with Paige and me. We've been together for a little while now, and we've
been incredibly happy. And things are about to get even better because we're
having a baby girl together. Before I talk a little more about that, I do have
one request of fans and the media regarding my daughter-to-be. Some of you like
me. Some of you dislike me. You all share your thoughts with me via social
media, or in person at the tracks. I have no problem with any of that, good or
bad. I'm a public figure, and that's what I've signed up for. But the baby girl
we're having hasn't signed up for any of that. So if you can keep the focus on
me, that would mean a lot to us. Getting back to Paige and our new family, I
know that we're not doing this in the traditional order of things. I will
simply say this: I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life, and Paige is a
very large part of that. She's an amazing person. She's soft-spoken,
well-educated and smart. She's beautiful, which never hurts. Most importantly,
she understands who I am and where I've come from in ways that most people
wouldn't know or understand. Her family, which is extremely supportive and
feels like an extension of my own, came from very humble beginnings, just like
mine did. She's seen the world from a lot of different perspectives that most
people never get to see."(2-4-2015)
Gordon talks more about TV plans:
Four-time
premier series champion Jeff Gordon was a guest Tuesday on "FOX &
Friends," and he discussed more details of his new job as a FOX race
analyst. "I am going to do three races this year for FOX and FOX Sports,
XFINITY races," Gordon said. "I'm excited to get in the booth and see
what it's like. Who knows what might come out of it?" Those three races
comprise nearly a quarter of the 14 NASCAR XFINITY Series races that FOX and
FOX Sports 1 will televise in 2015. When asked whether he would consider going
into the booth full time after handing the reins of the #24 Chevy SS to Chase
Elliott, Gordon reiterated that he'd be ready but knows he has a lot to learn
this year. "I love to travel and I love racing," Gordon said.
"I'm always going to be a part of Hendrick Motorsports. It's not going to
be like focused on driving a race car, but I don't take it for granted. It is
going to be tough to do, and we'll see. We'll find out this year."(NASCAR.com)(2-4-2015)
NBC Sports Group to broadcast regional touring races:
NASCAR and
NBC Sports Group announced an unprecedented broadcast line-up of NASCAR's
popular regional touring series, with a 39-race telecast schedule for racing's
premiere grassroots series as their landmark partnership begins this season.
NBCSN's slate features all 25 K&N Pro Series races between the top
developmental series, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR K&N Pro
Series West. The coming season will also see triple the television exposure
from previous years for the stars and cars of the exciting Whelen Modified Tours,
NASCAR's only open-wheeled division, which competes at historic short tracks
from New Hampshire to North Carolina. A total of 14 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour events are included on this season's
schedule. NBCSN's inaugural touring series event is the NASCAR K&N Pro
Series East season-opener at famed Florida short-track New Smyrna Speedway. The
New Smyrna 150 will be contested on Feb. 15 and will air four days later on
Feb. 19 on NBCSN. All 39 races are scheduled to be presented by NBCSN in
one-hour shows the week following the event.(NASCAR)(2-4-2015)
From
Track Forum:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forum.php
How does Indycar tap into this?
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php/191875-How-does-Indycar-tap-into-this
From the Dirt Track Digest Forum:
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/
Dirtcar 358
tour-is there one
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52906-dirtcar-358-tour-is-there-one/
From
the AARN:
This week in the AARN:
Erick Rudolph,
Andy Jankowiak Top TQ Midget Fields At NAPA KNOW HOW Racing
Weekend In Boardwalk Hall
Racing Begins In
Florida, In Earnest, At East Bay, Bubba Raceway Park
Wild Last Lap
Tangle In AC Slingshot Main Takes Out Hieber, Gets
Drellos Disqualified; Gives Hartman Win
Tony Stewart Buys
All Stars, Renegades To Go Away
Emotional Yates
County Banquet Is Harpell’s First, Last
Jerry Coons, Jr.
Lands Ride In Mike Heffner’s Midget
Lancaster Speedway
Names Staff; Joe Skotnicki Is VP
And this was also
found:
Ron Ford has left
I-88 Speedway, leaving Jamie Page to continue the operation of the track.
ECS Auto Stores
Inc./East Coast Speed, has signed on to support the 2nd annual "Hard Clay
Open" They'll have American Racer
tires available for the modifieds. ECS
will also support the entire Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region - 8 events at
six tracks - OCFS, Big Diamond, Accord, Thunder Mountain, I-88 and Woodhull.
The dirt RoC
racing begins at Selinsgrove on March 14, 2015, with a rain date of March 15th.
Atlantic City
stuff:
In the TQ time
trials, Erick Rudolph was fastest with a lap timed at 8.029. There were 71 other cars that timed in the 8
second bracket, with Pat Vanvarick 72nd at 8.872. Thirteen others timed slower that 18 seconds.
Gary Hieber times
fastest in the Slingshots, with a lap at 10.030. 36 others also timed in the 10 second bracket.
Danny Bouc timed
in with a lap of 9.397 in the Champ Karts.
19 others also timed in that 9 second bracket.
Dave Orange, noted
engine builder, was stricken with a heart ailment on Thursday, just as he was
signing in. Seems he had to have a stent
replaced.
Some of those that
have run on the Dirt Oval at OVRP, were in competition in Atlantic City. Chris Daley was 2nd in the Champ Kart
feature, with Eric Zeh 11th and Joseph Pacovich 20th.
Joe Kata, III, was
3rd in his Slingshot qualifier and 16th in the feature.
Joey Bruning was
4th in his Slingshot qualifier and 3rd in a "B" main.
Cale Ross was 9th
in his Slingshot qualifier and 12th in his "B" main.
It seems that, due
to new rules, the 600 Micro Sprints are no longer competitive in Atlantic
City. Only three made the TQ main.
Note: Strange how there are so many TQ's that only
race the two indoor racing events - Trenton and Atlantic City, then they get
parked.
To me, both indoor
"races" resemble "Demo Derbies" rather than some good
racing events. Maybe the track is too
small? Maybe the TQ's are too fast?
Gone are the days
when the TQ's looked like scaled down midgets.
Methinks the racing with them, back in the day, was somewhat better.
On Facebook - racing related:
Start Your Engines: Settlement Reached In
Waterford Speedbowl Foreclosure Case
http://racedayct.com/2015/02/start-your-engines-settlement-reached-in-waterford-speedbowl-foreclosure-case/
More
from "Benzee":
Hello all , hope
everyone is enjoying the year so far !
Let me know if interested and to reserve your seats
Here is a list of the upcoming trips for 2015
Sun April 12th and Sun July 12th Sands Casino and Outlet Mall
Depart Middletown 9 am Monroe 930
Motorcoach , Refrshments and Raffles
Onboard Entertainment by Carmine The Crooner
Cost $35 per
Casino comps back 35
Sun April 19th Cub Scout Pack 41 Trip
NY Mets vs Miami Marlins
Mets Poster day
105 pm start
Depart Middletown at 1000 and Monroe 1030
Motorcoach , Ticket Raffles and Refreshments
Cost $50 per person
Sun May 31 st
Nascar Dover 13th Annual Spring Race
Motorcoach
Premium Ticket in Turn 1
All you can eat Barbecue
Pre Race Trackside tour tix raffle
Refreshments and Raffles
Cost $165 per person
Departs Middletown 400 am Monroe 430 am
Thurs July 23rd
NY Yankees vs Baltimore Orioles 105 pm
Depart Middletown 930 am
Monroe 1000 am
Motorcoach , Game Ticket
Raffles and refreshments
Cost $75 per person
Sat Sept 12th 13th Annual NJ Hot Dog Tour
Departs Middletown 1000 am
Sun Nov ??
Radio City Christmas Show 4 pm show
Motorcoach
Orchestra Seats
Time in city before show
Raffles and Refreshments
$89 per person
Depart Middletown 110 am , Monroe 1130 am
Erwin Benz
C- 845 234 5323
benzee95@Hotmail.com
Press Releases:
*The following press release was
created by BD Motorsports Media LLC for Teo-Pro Car
News From Teo-Pro Car’s ‘Get Smart, Get Quick’ Advanced
Chassis Seminar
Contact: Teo-Pro Car – 973.764.5500
For Immediate Release/Jan. 30, 2015
One Week Remains Until 2015
Teo-Pro Car ‘Get Smart, Get Quick’ Seminar; Limited Space Still Available; DRP
Representatives To Provide Information On New Dirt Modified Pull-Down Rig;
Vaughn Winters Joins Expert Panel That Includes Bobby & Matt Hearn, Stewart
Friesen, Ronnie Johnson, Jay Castimore, Pat Macaulay, Rob Fuller & Carl
Bush
VERNON, NJ – In just one week, Teo-Pro Car will provide
racers across the Northeast with their opportunity to get the jump on the
competition in 2015.
It all takes place next Saturday, February 7, when Teo-Pro
Car hosts the ‘Get Smart, Get Quick’ Advanced Chassis Seminar. Two days of
activity – preceded by an Open House on Friday evening, February 6 – takes
place at Teo-Pro headquarters in Vernon, N.J., with plentiful information for
racers readily available from industry experts, in addition to a chassis
raffle, giveaways and more.
On Friday (February 6), Teo-Pro will host an open house
from 5-9 p.m. There will be several parts specials. This is an ideal occasion
to pick up pre-ordered parts, as well, while touring the facility and meeting
Teo staff members.
At 7 p.m., Pat Macaulay from FOX Racing Shocks and Teo
shock specialist Joe Knoth will conduct a shock-specific seminar showing the
new Fox products. They’ll also cover building and valving shocks for varying
track surfaces and conditions. The open house portion of the weekend is free of
charge.
Saturday’s (February 7) kicks off at 8 a.m. with
registration and a light breakfast. The day’s activities will include a segment
on Tire Preparation led by Capital District driving star Ronnie Johnson of
Duanesburg, N.Y., and well-known tire prep expert Jay Castimore, who handles
the tire program for Brett Hearn and the Madsen Motorsports No. 20 team, which
secured DIRTcar Modified track championships at Albany-Saratoga (N.Y.) and
Lebanon Valley (N.Y.) speedways in 2014, in addition to a sweep of Eastern
States Weekend at N.Y.’s Orange County Fair Speedway (Hearn’s unprecedented 11th Eastern States 200 score and 15th small-block 100 checkered) and Hearn’s
11th Lebanon Valley
Speedway Mr. DIRT Track USA triumph, worth $17,500.
New for 2015: DRP representatives will be present to
display their new dirt Modified pull-down rig and provide information; Vaughn
Winters from Winters Performance will provide fresh insight; and a Teo-Pro car
will be assembled on site by the experts to address questions and provide tips.
Also on Saturday, noted crew chief Matt Hearn,
championship-winning driver Stewart Friesen and Teo founder Bobby Hearn will
host a Complete Chassis Maintenance and Setup discussion. Friesen was the Fonda
(N.Y.) and Utica-Rome (N.Y.) Modified champion during the ’14 season, in
addition to recording his third victory in the Syracuse 200 during Super DIRT
Week with a come-from-behind performance and second consecutive Charlotte
(N.C.) World Finals victory. Friesen, who won some 29 features during the season,
was also the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion for New York State.
Fox’s Macaulay and shock specialist Knoth return for a
Saturday session to discuss shock adjustments. Also taking part are Rob Fuller,
representing DRACO Springs, and Carl Bush from Wilwood Disc Brakes.
The ‘Get Smart, Get Quick’ Advanced Chassis seminar will
include the raffle of a Teo-Pro chassis to Saturday attendees, in addition to a
number of giveaways.
Saturday’s event will include a catered lunch.
Registration for
the ‘Get Smart, Get Quick’ Advanced Chassis Seminar is $149.95 per
person. To register online,
via the Teo-Pro website, click the following link: http://www.teopro.com/teopro/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=2015SEMINAR. To
contact Teo by phone, call 973.764.5500 during regular business hours.
Teo-Pro is located at 95 Maple Grange Road Vernon, NJ
07462.
Brett Deyo
BD Motorsports Media LLC
Phone: 845.728.2781
www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com
This week’s
photo:
Paul Russo in the Earl Beal Sprint Car
This weeks video:
Note:
With the videos at the beginning of this weeks column, I figured that
might be enough?
Non racin' stuff:
Obama State Dept.
Busted Lying About Muslim Brotherhood Meeting
http://nation.foxnews.com/2015/02/02/obama-state-dept-busted-lying-about-muslim-brotherhood-meeting
Found on Facebook on Sunday,
2/1/15:
Spanish-Speaking Employees FREAK OUT Over this
‘Racist’ Sign in the Workplace
The whole article:
"In the U.S., the language of commerce is English. In Mexico,
the language is Spanish. Germans speak German, the French speak French, and the
Italians speak Italian. Knowing another language is terrific, but there is
nothing remotely racist about a company mandating that the nation’s predominant
language be spoken exclusively.
However, not all see it that
way; according to employees of a restaurant that requires employees to speak
English, this policy is “discriminatory” and, of course, “racist.”
At Billy Reed’s Restaurant in
Palm Spring, California, management put up a sign asking that employees speak
English. The sign read:
“Billy Reed’s employee’s
(sic) please do not speak Spanish to other employees anywhere in the restaurant
exept (sic) when necessary on the cookline that means not in the waitress
stations or at the front desk. Thank you.”
Spelling aside, the request
seems pretty reasonable. They are working in the U.S. and they should conform
with societal norms (such as speaking the language).
However, employees are livid
about the “racist” sign. KESQ News reports that the owner placed the sign after
some customers complained that they “uncomfortable” with being surrounded by
employees speaking Spanish."
“I talk to my co-workers in
Spanish, that makes me feel very upset not being able to talk to them in
Spanish. I do feel discriminated. I know we are in America. We have to talk in
English. At the same time, we speak Spanish, that’s my first language,” the
employee told reporters at local station KESQ.
“He posted the sign. He
doesn’t want (anyone) to speak Spanish anywhere in the restaurant except with
the cooks in the line,” he said.
After hearing that general
manager warn a co-worker that they could get fired for speaking his native
tongue, the employee began to fear for his job.
“He said that the boss was
going to fire the first one he heard talking in Spanish,” the employee told
reporters."
The Obama
Administration has maintained that an English-only rule in workplace
environments serves as a discriminatory policy unless such a policy is designed
to ensure safety.
So, as America suffers a
continual flood of illegals looking to replace America’s culture with their
own, we should all look forward to a continuation of this kind of lunacy and a
Department of Justice that will prosecute any who stand up for themselves or
for America’s culture and customs.
http://www.tpnn.com/2015/01/30/spanish-speaking-employees-freak-out-over-this-racist-sign-in-the-workplace/
Note: Yes, this is AMERICA. We speak ENGLISH. Don't they get it?
Time to break out those hip
boots, folks.
Attorney
General: Final Report On IRS Probe To Come Out Soon
http://news.yahoo.com/attorney-general-final-report-irs-probe-come-soon-161509750.html
In
part:
"Attorney General Eric Holder said on Tuesday he expects the
Justice Department to soon release a list of final recommendations stemming
from its probe into whether the Internal Revenue Service wrongfully targeted
conservative groups.
"I am satisfied with the progress that the criminal division
has done; the civil rights division as well," Holder told reporters at a
press conference. "I expect that we will have some final recommendations
coming up relatively soon."
Uh huh! Betcha they find
zero, nada, zilch, wrong with what the IRS did.
GOP-led House
votes to repeal ObamaCare
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/02/03/gop-house-votes-to-repeal-obamacare/
The Big Lie: 5.6% Unemployment
http://www.gallup.com/opinion/chairman/181469/big-lie-unemployment.asp
This weeks joke:
As I was lying around, pondering the
problems of the world,
I realized that at my age I don't really give a damn anymore.
.... If walking is good for your health, the postman would be immortal.
.... A whale swims all day, mainly eat fish, drinks water, but is still fat.
.... A rabbit runs and hops and only lives 15 years, while
.... A tortoise doesn't run and does mostly nothing, yet it lives for 150
years.
And you tell me to exercise?? I don't think so.
Just grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked,
the good fortune to remember the ones I
do, and the
eyesight to tell the difference.
Now that I'm older here's what I've discovered:
1. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
2. My wild oats are mostly enjoyed with prunes and all-bran.
3. I finally got my head together, and now my body is falling apart.
4. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.
5. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.
6. If all is not lost, then where the heck is it?
7. It was a whole lot easier to get older, than to get wiser.
8. Some days, you're the top dog; some days you're the hydrant.
9. I wish the buck really did stop here; I sure could use a few of them.
10.. Kids in the back seat cause accidents.
11.. Accidents in the back seat cause kids.
12.. It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
13.. The world only beats a path to your door when you're in the bathroom.
14.. If God wanted me to touch my toes, he'd have put them on my knees.
15.. When I'm finally holding all the right cards, everyone wants to play
chess.
16.. It's not hard to meet expenses . . . they're everywhere.
17.. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
18.. These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter .. . .....
I go somewhere to get something, and then wonder what I'm "here
after".
19.. Funny, I don't remember being
absent-minded.
20.. HAVE I SENT THIS MESSAGE TO YOU BEFORE..........??????
Until my next column – next
week
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/