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:

http://www.jayski.com/

 

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 TQMidget Fields At NAPAKNOWHOWRacing Weekend In Boardwalk Hall

 

Racing Begins In Florida, In Earnest, At East Bay, Bubba Raceway Park

 

Wild Last Lap Tangle In ACSlingshot 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

 

 

C:\Users\Dad\Pictures\Russo in the Beal Offy.jpg

 

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."

 

KESQ News reports:

 

“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/