Mostly
Racin' Stuff
By
Tom Avenengo
Volume # 214
02/26/2015
Note:
Dirt Track Digest changed their front page. I've visited it, and no where can I find
where "Recent Columns", where my columns appear, is. So, for this week at least, you might not be
able to see my column on DTD. Sorry!
Per Mike Mallet, they have to set me up
with a new account. With him being in
Florida, it might take a while.
So, until I get that new
account, you'll have to go to http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/
Some
personal/family stuff:
My family isn't much different than most
families. We, as adults, get married
(Well most used to) have some kids, and raise them to the best of our abilities
- hoping they'll turn out as good citizens.
Then, as they get older, they also marry and in some cases, move
away. Yes, it hurts when that
happens. Sure we get visits or we visit
them. Then, at times, usually due to
circumstances, we also might make a move - such as I did, down to Florida,
after my wife passed.
Both of my sons, Tom, Jr. and Eric, came
down for a brief visit this past week.
Again, it was great seeing the, and yes, it hurt when they had to leave
on Sunday morning to get back home.
On Friday, there were 11 family members
that went out for dinner. While there,
Eric looked around and, with the exception of Shane Decker, my granddaughter
Samantha's husband, I was, in a way, responsible for everyone there - whether
it was my two sons or two daughters and grand children.
Saturday, we had a family BBQ. As I was cooking the chicken tenders on our
Foreman grill, on occasion, I'd venture into my room to see how the race from
Daytona was coming along. Every time I
did that, the race wasn't on, but the damn commercials were. Seems to me that when cable first came out,
we were all so happy that those commercials would be a thing of the past. WRONG!!!
More today than ever before.
How things have changed, over time:
When I walk in front of anyone, I was
taught to say "excuse me".
Today, when I say that, it isn't even acknowledged.
When exiting a store with one package, we
always carried it out. Not so
today. Today, I see people every day
wheeling that one little package to their car, in a shopping cart!
With the knowledge we have today about
what we consume, as far as what is healthy and what isn't - millions of people
still have no clue.
Racin’
stuff:
With this weeks NASCAR racing being held
in Atlanta, I thought I'd give a check on weather conditions. Hmm, best ya stay home and watch it on TV,
maybe?
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/atlanta-ga/30303/weather-warnings/348181
I imagine one could ask: "Why"? Why no "Safer Barriers" where Kyle
Busch hit? It isn't like NSCAR or
Daytona does not have the monies for them - right? So, for the 500, they're installing a ton of
tires in front of that wall. As someone
mentioned on Facebook, I think it was - "J. D. McDuffy".
Sorry,
but to me, the Indy 500 was "America's Great Race". Of course with the foreign influx, it's kinda
lost that title.
After reading a lot of posts on Facebook,
not too many are fans of Joey Logano.
Just how might drivers retiring, or being
not allowed to race for a while, or
permanently, affect the fan base for NASCAR?
From
Jayski:
Who will drive the #34?
Front Row
Motorsports needed a replacement, but... David Reutimann is kicking himself.
The former Sprint Cup driver had the opportunity to race for Front Row
Motorsports this weekend in the #34 Ford at Atlanta Motor Speedway. However,
Reutimann, who is traveling in California, told Motorsport.com on Tuesday he
had not renewed his NASCAR license for 2015. Reutimann says he hopes to return
to racing at some point. Renewing his NASCAR license and getting his physical
would be a good place to start.
Bobby Labonte has been mentioned as a fill in for David Ragan this weekend.
Sources confirmed that the team has talked to the 2000 NASCAR champ. With 48
entries for the Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Labonte's past
champion's provisional would come in handy.(Motorsport)(2-24-2015)
UPDATE: Front Row Motorsports tweeted: "Happy to have Joe
Nemechek on board this weekend, driving the #34 @CSX #PlayItSafe Ford at
Atlanta Motor Speedway.(2-25-2015)
Ragan to sub for Kyle Busch?
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announces that David Ragan will fill in for Kyle
Busch behind the wheel of the #18 M&Ms Crispy Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series beginning with this weekend's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kyle
Busch was released this morning from Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona
Beach, FL and transferred to a hospital near his home in Charlotte, North
Carolina for further treatment. Busch sustained a compound fracture of the
right lower leg in an accident during Saturday's NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Daytona
International Speedway. Additionally, Busch suffered a mid-foot fracture of his
left foot in the accident. No specific timetable has been announced for Busch's
return to the race track. It is expected that Ragan will pilot the #18 M&Ms
Crispy Toyota for at least the next several weeks. Ragan's current race team
Front Row Motorsports and sponsor CSX accommodated the move by Ragan and Ragan
is expected to return to the team later this season. Additional updates on
Busch's condition will be provided as necessary. In addition, JGR announces
that Erik Jones will pilot the #54 Monster Energy Toyota in the NASCAR XFINITY
Series this weekend in Atlanta. An announcement on who will drive the Monster
Energy Camry following Atlanta will be made at a later date.
"We appreciate being able to work with
Front Row Motorsports and CSX for David's (Ragan) availability," said Joe
Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. "We are fortunate to be able to have
someone of David's caliber behind the wheel while Kyle recovers. Erik is a big
part of our future at JGR and we will be increasing his schedule in the XFINITY
Series beginning this weekend in Atlanta and seeking the earliest opportunity
to provide him Cup experience. We appreciate all the support we have received
from the NASCAR community including our fans and we look forward to getting
Kyle back in the car as soon as possible."
"Everyone at Mars is thankful that Kyle is
doing well and we continue to wish him a speedy recovery," said William
Clements, vice president of sponsorship and sports marketing for Mars
Incorporated. "While we can't wait until Kyle returns behind the wheel of
the #18 M&Ms Crispy Toyota, we are excited to work with David and we're
pleased JGR was able to work it out for him to step in during Kyle's
absence."(Joe Gibbs Racing)(2-24-2015)
Fox swaps networks for Martinsville and Richmond:
FOX Sports
announced the Sunday, March 29 (1:00pm/et) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 500
from Martinsville Speedway will air on FOX Sports 1, in turn moving the
Saturday, April 25 (7:00 pm/et) Toyota Owners 400 night race from Richmond
International Raceway to the FOX broadcast network. With approval from NASCAR,
the swap is being made to avoid a potential conflict with another live event on
FOX Sports 1 that leads into the Richmond event. Martinsville now marks the
debut of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing on FOX Sports 1.(FOX Sports)(2-25-2015)
#10 Team Issued a Written Warning For
Rules Infraction at Daytona:
The #10
team [Danice Patrick, Stewart Haas Racing] that competes in the NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series has been issued a Written Warning for a rules infraction discovered
during opening day inspection Feb. 13 at Daytona International Speedway.
Written Warnings are outlined in Section 12.5.3.1 in the 2015 NASCAR rule book.
This warning is for violation of Sections:
12-1 - Actions detrimental to stock car racing
20.11.2.2.2.1.b - Unapproved left-side driver heat shield; the outer exterior
exhaust heat shield panel must follow the horizontal surface plane of the left
side floorboard forward section to the bottom edge of the left side toe
board.(NASCAR)(2-25-2015)
From
Track Forum:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forum.php
The first name in wrecking
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php/192200-The-first-name-in-wrecking
From the Dirt Track Digest Forum:
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/
Top Modified Engine Builders--name them
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/34406-top-modified-engine-builders-name-them/
From
the AARN:
This week in the AARN:
Huge DIRTcar Mod
Volusia Upset: Neal Williams Wins 50-Lapper
Daytona 500 Is Won
By Connecticut Native Joey Logano
Ryan Preece Wins
All But Two Smyrna Tour Mod Mains; Evans Memorial Gives Him Title
Mark Smith Invades
Florida; Takes ASCS 360 Sprint Ten Grand Back To Pennsy
Shane Clanton Runs
Roughshod Over Volusia Late Models
Ballou, Bacon
& Darland Share Ocala USAC Laurels
Ryan Reed, Tyler
Reddick Claim XFinity, CWT Daytona Wins
Fla. Mini Sprints
At East Bay Swept By Northerners Luke Thomas, Alex Bright
And some stuff I
found:
Bobby Gerhart will
be making a return to dirt racing, mostly at Bridgeport.
Harry Hide, Mark
Martin, Ray Evernham, Alan Kulwicki,
Herschel McGriff , Buddy Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Jerry
Cook, Ray Fox, Rick Hendrick, Bobby Isaac, Terry Labonte, Raymond Parks, Benny
Parsons, Larry Phillips, O. Bruton Smith, Mike Stefanick, Curtis Turner
and Robert Yatesare those that are
nominated for the NASCAR HoF. Some
people are upset that Smokey Yunick hasn't been nominated.
Brett Deyo has
quite a bit about Chris Larsen, owner of Halmar International, who has now
jumped in with both feet as far as sponsoring some Modifieds, Sportsman and a
410 Sprint car. (I wonder if he has ever
entertained any thoughts of buying OCFS?)
As of now, Clinton
Mills is rider less for 2015. Tim
Hindley has offered him a job with his race team, if Mills doesn't land a ride.
Some former OVRP
Dirt Oval runners were down Florida way racing.
In the DIRTcar final at Volusia, Tyler Dippel was 27th after a hard crash at the end of the first
lap. On opening night at Volusia,
Anthony Perrego was 2nd andTyler Dippel 12th.
On Thursday, Dippel was 18th and Perrego 22nd. On Friday, Dippel was 13th.
At East Bay, Billy
V was 12th on Thursday,13th on Friday and 8th on Saturday in the Florida
"Mini" Sprints. (There Mini
Sprints are more like the 600 Micros up North).
Not in Florida,
but in the indoor Kart racing in Harrisburg, PA, I see some names that ran at
the Dirt Oval, and still racing Karts.
Ryan Swartz, D J Shuman, Bob Hassenmayer, Geordan Farry, Ashley Mutrie
(her married name), Kyle Kania and Cale Ross.
Mike Mammana has
had to go from racing his 358 back to Sportsman due to a sponsor leaving.
Listed as passing
away were Paul Deasey Sr., Brian Stevens, George Gress, Harold Sager and Dennis
George.
Hyper Racing has
come forward with some point fund monies for the ARDC. The ARDC hasn't had a point fund for several
years, now. Hard to imagine, huh - one
of the oldest racing clubs in the country (since 1939) and no point fund.
Penn Can is due to
open it's season on April 24th. (Hope
the snow is all gone by then!)
Six of the seven
Modified races at New Smyrna Speedway were won by a new design Troyer asphalt
car.
Kenny Wallace will
be racing in the Brett Hearn "Big Show" event at A/S on July 7th.
Thunder Mountain
has an April 18th date to get their racing under way for 2015.
Brett Hearn won at
Volusia in a newly designed TEO which was designed after the Parts Peddler
show, last November. Tyler Dippel and
Stewart Friesen had the other two new designed TEO's. No, Dippel wasn't in his new car in his
accident.
Donnie Elliott
will make OCFS his race place this coming season.
Dion Naples will
split his racing between three tracks - OCFS, Bethel and Mahoning Valley.
Dave Darland has
now won USAC races for 23 years in a row, now.
Guy Smith has an
interesting article about how many race tracks some drivers have raced on. Any idea as to who has raced on the most?
In his order:
1. Roscoe "Pappy" Hough - 563
2. Steve Kinser - 300
3. Terry Gray - 250
4. Danny Lasoski - 237
5. Jack Hewitt - 210
6. Jac Haudenschild - 209
Hard to believe
but Kyla Larson has run on 118 so far.
Some I'm surprised
at not being at at least 200 are Frankie Schneider and Sammy Swindell.
Found on the South Jersey Dirt Racing
Forum:
Planned
on watching the 500 today not commercials all day what a joke!!!!
NASCAR
finally really hurt someone by not having safer barriers completely around the
entire track! Especially this track with the speeds they reach there. Shame on
you NASCAR spend some of your billions their Brian France!
Not
defending Kurt in any way, but it is kinda funny how times have changed.
Don't seem like
too many years ago when a "big name" owner was convicted of crimes
and only not convicted of a whole lot more due to a plea agreement. Now
he is a "respected" team owner! I guess in that case he was
"guilty until proven RICH".
Maybe if Kurt fakes an illness, that seemed to work pretty well also!
Yes, I
think most people have forgotten, or maybe were never of aware of, the serious
felony charges leveled against the team owner you've mentioned. Whether
he faked that illness is conjecture, but if he didn't, he's had a miraculous
recovery.
And I'm
no fan of Kurt Busch, but this woman had a history of volatile behavior and the
mix of their personalities was probably toxic. I read on ESPN.com that
he's retained Rusty Hardin as counsel. Now per ESPN, Hardin can't be directly
involved in the NASCAR appeal process. But he's a legal heavyweight and he gets
results ( his client list is very impressive). So I'm expecting at some point
going forward, there will be out-of-court settlements and/or lawsuits. I
certainly don't condone wife/woman beating (I'm tired of the euphimism
"Domestic Violence") but NASCAR might have enacted
penalties too soon so they wouldn' t be subject to the public's
criticism similar to what happened with Roger Goodell and the Ray
Rice/Adrian Peterson cases.
Found on Facebook - racing related:
Not going to post anything
here - if you're on Facebook, chances are you've seen/read it, already.
Press Releases:
Inaugural Green Mountain Sprint Car Nationals Coming to The Dirt Track at
Devil’s Bowl
ESS, SCoNE to co-sanction historic
$3,000-to-win open-comp Sprint Car event
WEST HAVEN, VT – Sprint Car racing history will be made in
Vermont as The Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway hosts a blockbuster
open-competition event – the inaugural “Green Mountain Sprint Car Nationals” –
on Saturday, September 26. The
new 1/3-mile clay oval is set for a showdown featuring the region’s most
fearless racecar drivers and their lightning-quick, winged, open-wheel
machines.
The Green Mountain Sprint Car Nationals will be the richest
Sprint Car race in Vermont history and is expected to draw the region’s top
teams. The purse boasts a
$3,000 winner’s prize and a minimum of $300 to start. The event is co-sanctioned by the
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) and the Bond Auto Parts Sprint Cars of New
England (SCoNE), but is open to any winged Sprint Car with a 360-cubic-inch
engine limit.
SCoNE champion Chris Donnelly of Piermont, NH became the
first Sprint Car winner at The Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl last fall. Other top SCoNE racers include Dan
Douville, Clay Dow, Kevin Chaffee, Luke Greenwood, Jake Williams, Tyler Austin,
and SCoNE president Will Hull. Front-running
ESS drivers include Chuck Hebing, Jason Barney, Jeff Cook, Matt Tanner, and
Cory Sparks, along with Canadians Lee Ladouceur and 2014 champion Steve
Poirier. A family rivalry
is also expected between SCoNE’s Lacey Hanson and her cousin, ESS competitor
James Hanson, who are each based in Orwell, VT just 10 minutes from Devil’s
Bowl.
“I think the Green Mountain Sprint Car Nationals will be
something special,” ESS promoter Dean Reynolds said. “We’ll see the best of both series,
and I bet a few Canadian teams will come to Devil’s Bowl for the great purse
being offered. We can’t
wait for this race.”
“I’m excited and anxious to bring together all of the
region’s top Sprint Car teams for the first time,” SCoNE president and
competitor Will Hull said. “We
had a great time at Devil’s Bowl last fall and I really think this is going to
be a race to remember.”
“Our fans are going to see a wild show at the Green
Mountain Sprint Car Nationals,” Devil’s Bowl promoter Mike Bruno said. “Dean Reynolds of ESS and Will Hull
from SCoNE deserve a lot of credit for putting this event together. It’ll be exciting to see how the best
from each series stack up against each other.”
The inaugural Green Mountain Sprint Car Nationals will be
held on Saturday, September 26, with additional details to follow. Drivers will also have two additional
opportunities to compete at The Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl, as SCoNE holds
stand-alone events on Sunday, July 5 and Sunday, August 9.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West
Haven, VT, four miles north of Exit 2 on U.S. Route 4. For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook
atfacebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway, and on Twitter and Instagram at
@DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.
-30-
Contact: Justin
St. Louis, Media
Director Email: devilsbowlspeedway@gmail.com
Cell Phone: (802)
355-3282 Track
Information Line: (802) 265-3112
Devil's Bowl Speedway
Phone: (802) 265-3112
Email: devilsbowlspeedway@gmail.com
News from the Orange County Fair Speedway ‘Hard Clay Open’
Media Contact:
Brett Deyo – bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com or 845.728.2781
For Immediate Release/February 25, 2015
Halmar International Signs On As
Lead ‘Hard Clay Open’ 2015 Sponsor For April 7 At Orange County Fair Speedway,
Joining United Pump & Tank And East Coast Speed/ECS Auto; Four-Car Halmar
Racing Team To Include Modifieds Of Mike Ricci, Rich Ricci Jr. & Willy
Auchmoody, Crate 602 Sportsman Of Matt Janiak
MIDDLETOWN, NY – The kickoff event to the 2015 Short Track Super Series
Fueled By Hi-Tek has a new marquee partner.
Halmar International has signed on as the title sponsor of
the ‘Hard Clay Open’ at Orange County Fair Speedway on Tuesday, April 7 (rain
dates: April 8 and 9). The ‘Hard Clay Open’ is headlined by a 50-lap
big-block/small-block Modified event boasting a $5,000-plus winner’s share,
$1,000 for 10th and
$500 to take the green from a hefty $30,000 posted purse. A number of lap
sponsors, special awards and bonuses will sweeten the pot for racers even
further.
The ‘Hard Clay Open’ kicks off the battle for the 2015 Bob
Hilbert Sportswear North Region championship, worth $15,000 for an eight-race
series.
Crate 602 Sportsman will also be featured in the Elmo’s
Speed & Supply 25 paying $1,250 minimum to the winner and $100 to take the
green flag.
Halmar International joins ‘Hard Clay Open’ presenting
sponsors United Pump & Tank of Newburgh, N.Y., and East Coast Speed/ECS
Auto of Middletown, N.Y., for the event’s second running at the venerable
five-eighths-mile oval.
Located in Nanuet, N.Y., Halmar International has a 50-year
legacy of service, integrity and performance with expertise in construction,
design/build, construction management, procurement management and logistics.
Key markets include mass transit, aviation, highways and bridges, and
environment, energy, industrial and institutional.
To learn more
about Halmar International, visit www.halmarinternational.com or call 845.735.3511. The general
information e-mail is: info@halmarinternational.com.
Halmar International owner Chris Larsen, a 55-year-old
resident of the area, has a deep love for racing at Orange County Fair
Speedway, a track he visited since his childhood days. He has assembled a
“mega-team” for the 2015 season and will have no less than four cars in the
‘Hard Clay Open’ pit area sporting the Halmar red, white and blue colors.
Larsen’s race-day roster will include three Modifieds: a
No. 44 Teo-Pro car big-block driven by Mike Ricci of Tillson, N.Y.; a No. 11
Hig Fab big-block piloted by Mike’s younger brother, Rich Ricci Jr. of New
Paltz, N.Y.; and the No. 16 Teo-Pro car 358-Modified with Willy Auchmoody of
Highland, N.Y., at the wheel. In
the Crate 602 Sportsman event, Matt Janiak of Warwick, N.Y., will drive a Hig
Fab No. 17J.
The BD Motorsports Media LLC promoted ‘Hard Clay Open’ is
unique in that big-block Modifieds and dry sump small-blocks will be outfitted
with traditional windows, while standard small-blocks will utilize high sail
panels, setting up a decision for competitors and true distinction between
engine combinations for fans.
Complete rules and
‘Hard Clay Open’ general information can be found at the following link:http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/hard-clay-open-rules-general-information/
The Modified purse
structure, from first to last, has also been posted: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/hard-clay-open-modified-pay-structure/
Registration is ongoing for both the Modifieds and Crate
602 Sportsman. Entry forms have been posted on the event website.
For the ‘Hard Clay Open’ pit gates will open at 1 p.m.
Grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. with a drivers’ meeting scheduled for 5:45 p.m.
at the pit tower. Hot laps will follow and racing is set to begin promptly at 7
p.m.
Grandstand admission is $22 (Adults), $20 (Seniors) and $2
(Kids 6 and under). Pit admission is $35, with no license required. Advance tickets will go on sale
through the speedway office on March 2 by calling 845.342.2573.
Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass., bested a 59-car Modified
field to win last year’s inaugural ‘Hard Clay Open’ special over a charging Tim
Hindley, who drove from 19th starting
position to a runner-up finish in Joe Sarvis’ small-block. Short-track racer
Danny Tyler, traveling star Danny Johnson and veteran Jeff Heotzler rounded out
the top-five.
Bachetti, off the strength of an Orange County triumph,
went on to earn the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek championship
worth $10,014-plus.
Brian Krummel of Middletown, N.Y., is the defending ‘Hard
Clay Open’ Crate 602 Sportsman victor, having pocketed the $1,000 payday a year
ago.
The Short Track
Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek and BD Motorsports Media LLC can be found on the
web atwww.shorttracksuperseries.com or www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com. Brett Deyo can be reached by phone at
845.728.2781 or via e-mail: bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com. The series is also on Twitter
@ShortTrackSS and Facebook under “Short Track Super Series.”
Marketing opportunities, including lap sponsorships ($20
per lap), are currently available by contacting the BD Motorsports Media LLC
office.
Located at 239
Wisner Avenue Middletown, N.Y., 10940 on the Orange County Fairgrounds, Orange
County Fair Speedway is the oldest continuously operating dirt track in the
United States. The first auto race was held at the speedway in 1919. The
five-eighths-mile oval offers fully-covered and half-covered grandstands in
addition to open bleacher seating on the frontstretch and turn one areas, with
drive-in viewing on the backstretch. To learn more, contact the Orange County
Fair Speedway office at 845.342.2573 or visitwww.orangecountyfairspeedway.net.
The Hard Clay Open is presented
by Halmar International, United Pump & Tank, ECS Auto Stores Inc./East
Coast Speed, American Racer/Lias Tire, Grand Rental Station of Middletown, Rock
Fantasy, McGannon Excavating, Elmo’s Speed & Supply, Zubi’s Racing and many
other fine marketing partners.
The Short Track Super Series is
presented by Hi-Tek Race Fuels, American Racer/Lias Tire, Bob Hilbert
Sportswear, Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc., ECS Auto Stores Inc./East Coast Speed,
Scotty’s Speed & Diesel, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Dirt Track
Digest, Hig Fab Chassis, Bicknell Racing Products, Teo-Pro Car, FOX Shocks,
Fast Axle, Henry’s Stainless Steel Exhaust, Kirkey Race Products, Simplicity
Designs, ATL Fuel Cells, Lineman Racing, S&W Awards and many other fine
marketing partners.
Short Track Super Series Fueled
By Hi-Tek 2015 Schedule
Bob Hilbert Sportswear North
Region
Tuesday, April 7 (Rain Dates: April 8 and 9) – Orange County Fair
Speedway/Middletown, NY: Hard Clay Open
Tuesday, May 5 (Rain Date: May 6) – Big Diamond
Speedway/Minersville, PA (Combo): Anthracite Assault
Tuesday, May 19 (Rain Date: May 20) – Accord Speedway/Accord, NY: Battle
of the Bullring 3
Sunday, June 28 (Rain Date: June 29) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center
Lisle, NY: Lightning on the Mountain
Wednesday, July 22 (Rain Date: July 23) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY: Crazy
8s Special
Tuesday, August 11 (Rain Date: Aug. 12) – Woodhull Raceway/Woodhull, NY: Hustlin’
the High Banks 51
Sunday, September 13 (Rain Date: Sept. 20) – Thunder Mountain
Speedway/Center Lisle, NY: Wade Decker Memorial
Friday-Saturday October 9-10 (Rain Date: Oct. 11) – I-88 Speedway/Afton,
NY: Short Track SuperNationals 8 - Championship Points
Short Track Super Series Fueled
By Hi-Tek Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region Point Fund (*based on 8 events): 1. $15,000; 2. $7,000; 3. $3,500; 4. $2,500; 5. $2,000; 6.
$1,650; 7. $1,550; 8. $1,450; 9. $1,350; 10. $1,250; 11. $750; 12. $650.
Drivers with perfect attendance
outside the Top-12 receive $250.
Brett Deyo
BD Motorsports Media LLC
Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek
Phone: 845.728.2781
www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com
Facebook: "Short Track Super Series"
Twitter: @ShortTrackSS
Note: Maybe Mr. Larsen
could be talked into buying OCFS?
Emails:
Usually, in this section I
deal with emails I've received. This
week it's a little different:
Driscoll email called for psy-ops war to manipulate
media
By Jerry Jordan
KickinTheTires.Net
EDITOR’S NOTE:
The emails quoted in this article were not altered in any manner and any
portions of them quoted were done without editing for content, spelling or
grammar.
DAYTONA BEACH – As three-time
NASCAR Champion, Tony Stewart, coped last year with the most tragic accident
ever to happen to him, Patricia Driscoll, the woman now accusing ex-boyfriend
and NASCAR driver, Kurt Busch, of domestic abuse, boasted her training in
psychological warfare was needed to help Stewart’s public relations team
manipulate and control the media, according to an email obtained by Kickin’ the
Tires.
“I am writing you
because what little you know about me you may not know that I have a background
in Psychological Operations,” Driscoll wrote, in an email dated Aug. 12, 2014.
“Part of my training and skill set is to break down large issues and be able to
convince large and small groups of people to do what you want. I’ve worked in
countries all over the world waging not only physical wars but mental wars, and
I’ve helped get a lot of Congressman save their jobs when they did some stupid
and not so legal things.”
Although numerous people, including Busch, have claimed Driscoll told them she
was a “trained assassin,” and killed Mexican drug dealers during her trips back
home to El Paso, this is the first time she has admitted something along those
lines in the dozen, or so, emails obtained by Kickin’ the Tires.
Driscoll heads the Armed Force Foundation, which works with soldiers to
overcome PTSD and return to normal life after their return from combat. She is
also the founder of Frontline Defense Systems, a multi-million dollar defense
contractor that provides ground sensor technology to the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security for monitoring movement along the U.S. border with Mexico.
Driscoll and Busch are currently waiting on a ruling from Kent County (Del.)
Family Court Commissioner David Jones, on whether or not a protective order is
needed to keep the two separated, as well as, whether the Dover Attorney
General will seek criminal charges for an incident that occurred inside his
motorcoach during the fall race at Dover International Speedway. She claims
Busch grabbed her around the neck and slammed her head against the wall after
ignoring his repeated request for her to leave because she had let herself in
using a code she learned during their relationship, which he ended a week
before. In court testimony, she said she ran to a motorcoach used by a Motor
Racing Outreach pastor and his family but the pastor said neither he, nor his
wife, saw any marks on Driscoll. Six weeks later, Driscoll drove to Dover from
the Baltimore area to report the alleged assault to Dover police – using the
time between the supposed incident and reporting it to try and obtain money
from Busch, court testimony revealed.
Jones’ decision, which was expected just over a week ago, was delayed after
attorneys requested more time to file their closing briefs following four days
of court testimony. The ruling should come this week, as NASCAR officially
kicks off its season at Daytona International Speedway.
As for the email, it reads like a playbook of how she tried to use the media in
her efforts to obtain that protective order; and it’s the first time in her own
words – at least partially – that Driscoll admits to working for the government
in some covert capacity.
“Between NYC & DC the people I know and work with have saved the
reputations of a lot of high profile people from DUI’s, sex scandals, DUI that
lead to an accident where someone was killed, corruption, drugs, prostitution,
etc.,” Driscoll’s email continues. “This isn’t the time for just in house PR,
this is the time for a good 10-15 different heads with different backgrounds
putting together a war strategy. This monster is out of control and you only
have a short time to steer this ship back around.”
The email was sent in response to the death of Kevin Ward, who was struck and
killed by Stewart’s winged sprint car, when he ran down the track after
spinning out during the race Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York. Ward,
who was later found to be under the influence of marijuana, was angry after he
and Stewart got together during the race and climbed from his car to confront
Stewart as he drove by on a live track. The case was investigated by the local
district attorney and Stewart was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Driscoll; however, believed she could use her skills and wanted to be brought
on-board with Stewart’s public relations team to manipulate the media and turn
stories in his favor. She also suggested in the email to bring out some of
NASCAR’s highest profile names, like Roger Penske, “to speak out about the
dangers of people walking down the track.” She claimed the idea came to her
from Penske, himself.
“Go on the offensive like your life depends on it,” she continued. “Nothing
gets better until you fight back. You must campaign for your life. Leverage all
of your assets, it’s time to cash in all of your chips.”
She even suggested the PR team dig up a tragic accident from years past
involving Richard Petty, where a young boy was killed at a drag race.
“If Tony goes to Michigan then the King (Richard Petty) needs to be seen
stopping by his trailer by the media,” Driscoll’s email continues. “The media
needs to be reminded of the 8 year old boy he accidentally killed while drag
racing in 1965. The King has been kept alive financially by NASCAR and a lot of
the owners. He should be pressured to be the face of this to help everyone out.
All he has to do is talk about how devastating this even has been to him and
that it haunts him to this day – get emotional and walk off. We need the
sympathy factor here for what Tony is going through. If we could get Petty out
there before the funeral Thursday that would be best.”
It is worth noting that Stewart’s PR team did not do the things Driscoll
suggested and instead, let the investigation play out. They answered what
questions they could from the media and allowed Stewart and the Ward family to
grieve. Stewart dealt with the tragedy surrounded by his closest friends and
family and assisted the district attorney in anything he needed during the
investigation.
In the closing remarks of her email, Driscoll continues discussing her strategy
to twist the media’s coverage. She pressed forward, giving a timeline to “start
drowning the media before the (Ward) funeral” because “a crying mom will be the
front page of every paper and TV show if we wait and do nothing.”
Driscoll also took a shot at one of the travelling NASCAR media members
stating, “We need to take control of it and not let the Jeff Gluck’s of the
world go on the Dan Patrick show.” Gluck is a hard-nosed reporter, who covers
NASCAR for USA Today and one of the leading motorsports journalists in the
garage.
Driscoll was asked on multiple occasions for comments on this email and the
statements it contained. As had been the case since Kickin’ the Tires first
began looking into Driscoll’s past and following the court case, she has
insinuated that she was taking legal action and would let “her attorneys handle
it.”
“You are a big part of the reason women don't want to come forward,” Driscoll
wrote, in the closing paragraph of her most recent correspondence with Kickin’
the Tires. “You try to ruin good people and further victimize the victims. You
call yourself a journalist but a real journalist would look at the situation
objectively and write the whole story. You're no better than TMZ, but actually
you're worse. I'd love to put your life under the worlds microscope and dig up
the dirt and cut it up out of context and print it to make you look as bad as
possible- only focusing on the bad. I'm going to let my lawyers handle it from
here.”
http://kickinthetires.net/news/372-driscoll-email-called-for-psy-ops-war-to-manipulate-media.html
And, here's one I did
receive, some surprising news:
Islam is a
political movement wrapped in the disguise of a religion.
Islam is riding the train of freedom to
it's ultimate goal of world domination.
Islam teaches treachery and lying to
fulfill it's ultimate goal of world domination.
Islam teaches that all infidels must
join the Islamic faith...or die.
Islam uses terrorism as a tool to
fulfill it's ultimate goal of world domination.
Alqueda, the Taliban, ISIS (ISIL), Boko
Haram, Hamas and other radical extremist terrorists, would gladly cut your head
off or burn you alive.
When you read this you will understand
why Obama refuses to say the words "radical Islam."..
I didn't originate this, but it checked
out with Google and Snopes
Did you know that we now have a Muslim
government?
Did you know that Obama was raised a
Muslim, had a Muslim father and a Muslim step-father and lived in Indonesia, a
Muslim country?
John Brennan, current head of the CIA
converted to Islam while stationed in Saudi Arabia.
Obama's top advisor, Valerie Jarrett, is
a Muslim who was born in Iran where her parents still live.
Hillary Clinton's top advisor, Huma
Abedin is a Muslim, whose mother and brother are involved in the now outlawed
Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
Assistant Secretary for Policy Development
for Homeland Security, Arif Aikhan, is a Muslim.
Homeland Security Advisor, Mohammed
Elibiary, is a Muslim.
Obama advisor and founder of the Muslim
Public Affairs Council, Salam al-Marayati, is a Muslim.
Obama's Sharia Czar, Imam Mohamed Magid,
of the Islamic Society of North America is a Muslim.
Advisory Council on Faith-Based
Neighborhood Partnerships, Eboo Patel, is a Muslim.
And last but not least, our closet
Muslim himself, Barack Hussein Obama.
It's questionable if Obama ever
officially took the oath of office when he was sworn in. He didn't repeat the
oath properly to defend our nation and our Constitution. Later the Democrats
claimed he was given the oath again in private. Oh?
CIA director John Brennan took his oath
on a copy of the Constitution, not a Bible.
Congressman, Keith Ellison took his oath
on a copy of the Qur'an.
Congresswoman Michele Bachman was
vilified and almost tarred and feathered by Democrats when she voiced her
concern about Muslims taking over our government.
Considering all these appointments, it
would explain why Obama and his minions are systematically destroying our
nation, supporting radical Muslim groups worldwide, opening our southern
border, and turning a blind eye to the genocide being perpetrated on Christians
all over Africa and the Middle East.
The more damage Obama does, the more
arrogant he's become!
Our nation and our government has been
infiltrated by people who want to destroy us. It can only get worse!
If you fail to pass this one on, there's
something wrong ... somewhere!
If you don't pass this on, you're probably it.
This week’s
photo:
Note: photos
can only be seen if you go to the New England Tractor website.
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/
Remember when the modifieds
looked like this? I dunno, but it sure
seems the racing was better back then.
My apologies to the photographer, whoever
it might be.
This weeks video:
What follows was also sent to
me via email. You have any idea as to
just what "Global Warming" is?
No, it's not the air around us, but the waters of the earth.
"I've read the entire article but I'm afraid my brain cannot
comprehend the entire thing.
However, you must watch the video at the end of the article.
It is fascinating and
more than a little scary. After the video make sure you
listen to the narrative.
Amazing."
Non racin' stuff:
Southwest
grounding 128 planes over missed inspections
http://news.yahoo.com/southwest-grounding-128-planes-over-missed-inspections-043340181--finance.html
Note: I wonder how often this happens with other
airlines?
AMNESTY
BENEFICIARIES COULD CLAIM MORE THAN $35K IN TAX
Really?
What next? Damned if I ever had a
break like this. Have you?
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/02/25/amnesty-beneficiaries-could-claim-more-than-35k-in-tax-benefits-in-first-year/
Illegal immigrants who are able to
obtain Social Security Numbers and work permits as a result of President
Obama’s executive amnesty could claim tens of thousands of dollars in back tax
benefits, a new Congressional Research Service memo obtained first by Breitbart
News reveals.
The
report comes following the Internal Revenue Service’s confirmation that once illegal immigrants are granted
Social Security Numbers — as a result of Obama’s executive actions — they will
be able to file back tax returns and obtain up to four years of tax benefits,
including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC).
The new CRS report — dated Wednesday and
requested to gauge the tax benefits an amnesty beneficiary could potentially
accrue — looks at the amount of EITC and CTC for a hypothetical family from
from 2011-2014.
“Specifically, you were interested in
the value of these credits for a married couple with three and four children,”
the memo details. “In addition, you requested that for every year, the family’s
income be equal to the maximum amount of earnings a taxpayer could have and
still receive the maximum amount of the EITC. This income level is often
referred to as the ‘phase-out threshold amount’ and is adjusted annually for
inflation.”
CRS calculated the maximum level of tax
credits available to hypothetical families with three and four children. It
found that for a family with three children in the four years from 2011-2014
“phase-out threshold amount” would be able to obtain $35,521 in the EITC and
CTC.
A family of four in that same four year
time frame and circumstance could obtain $35,560.
In those years considered, the
“phase-out threshold amount” for both hypothetical families was $21,770 in
2011, $22,300 in 2012, $22,870 in 2013, and $23,260 in 2014.
Both hypothetical families were also
able to amass around $9,000 worth of the EITC and CTC annually in the years CRS
considered.
The report comes as lawmakers have
expressed distress that amnestied illegal immigrants could be potentially
rewarded for illegal work and as Congress debates a Department of Homeland
Security funding bill that would block Obama’s executive amnesty.
Earlier
this month Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Ben Sasse (R-NE) pressed the administration on the tax benefits
amnestied illegal immigrants could accrue, calling the expected refunds
“amnesty bonuses.”
“This is basic economics: if you want more
of something, you subsidize it. By subsidizing illegal entry with four years’
worth of new tax credits, the IRS would promote lawlessness,” Sasse said in a
statement at the time. “This program severely undermines the White House’s
lip-service to enforcing the law and would increase the burden on law-abiding
taxpayers.”
Read the whole thing:
CRS memo – EITC and ACTC max amounts
This weeks joke:
The Pharmacist's Monday
Upon arriving home, a husband was met at the door by his sobbing wife.
Tearfully she explained, "It's the druggist. He insulted me terribly this
morning on the phone. I had to call multiple times before he would even answer
the phone."
Immediately, the husband drove downtown to confront the druggist and demand an
apology.
Before he could say more than a word or two, the druggist told him, "Now,
just a minute, listen to my side of it. This morning the alarm failed to
go off, so I was late getting up. I went without breakfast and hurried out to
the car, just to realize that I'd locked the house with both house and car keys
inside and had to break a window to get my keys.
"Then, driving a little too fast, I got a speeding ticket. Later,
when I was about three blocks from the store, I had a flat tire."
"When I finally got to
the store a bunch of people were waiting for me to open up. I got the store
opened and started waiting on these people, all the time the darn phone was
ringing off the hook."
He continued, "Then I had to break a roll of nickels against the cash
register drawer to make change, and they spilled all over the floor. I
had to get down on my hands and knees to pick up the nickels and the phone was
still ringing.
When I came up, I cracked my head on the open cash drawer, which made me
stagger back against a showcase with a bunch of perfume bottles on it. Half of
them hit the floor and broke."
"Meanwhile, the phone is still ringing with no let up, and I finally got
back to answer it. It was your wife. She wanted to know how to use a
rectal thermometer.
And believe me mister, as God is my witness, all I did was tell her.
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/