Racin' & Internet Stuff:

                                      By Tom Avenengo

                                         Volume # 59

                                           06/09/2011

 

First:

 

Hopefully, “Mother Nature” will be on her best behavior on the remaining weekends of the racing season!  Quite a few of those scheduled races for last weekend got to be run.

 

Second:

 

If things work out right, you can look for another of my “Photo” articles on the New England Tractor website - http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/

An article about the Vintage Race Car Meet that was held up in Loudon, NH.  Possibly early next week, I hope.

 

 

Third:

 

My son, still has his 2006 TEO Modified for sale.

 

Info:

2006 Teo. Complete car minus engine. kirkey full containment seat, Winters rear, Bert transmission, inboard starter, profile steering, parker pumper, wilwood hubs, aluminum wheels - $4500 also have spare shocks and wheels for sale.

 

You can contact me, via e-mail, at my e-mail address at the end of this column.

 

Fourth:

 

It really is a shrinking world out there.  Not just because of how fast we can get to places, but also in the products we buy.  Remember when Coffee was in a one-pound can?  Quite a few items that we eat have shrunk in size, yet the price remains the same – kinda like big business giving the customers the shaft.  Have you noticed the smaller containers of Ice Cream?  The price hasn’t gone down, though, has it?  The latest:  Pepsi “Cubes” – they were 24 cans to a cube, now they’re down to 20 – and the price is now actually higher, per can, too.  Gotta love it.

Even in racing, some things have shrunk some.  Take the “Vic 200” that was run last week.  It was only 100 laps.

 

Fifth:

 

50/50 ticket sales:

 

OK, so I’ve only hit a couple of tracks in my area this season - Accord and OCFS.  Earlier in the season, we did go to Selinsgrove.  I don’t recall any 50/50 at Selinsgrove.  At Accord, early on, they had a woman going around selling 50/50 tickets.  Heck, I missed by one number of hitting it, one night.  This past Friday, and two weeks prior, when I was there, no one was going around selling the tickets.  I believe I had heard, maybe three weeks ago, that they were available over by the refreshment stand, and at the end of the night, the pay off was something in the $30.00 range, not up in the hundreds, as usual.  At OCFS, they do have some people going around, but you really don’t get to see them as often as they used to be in the past.  Why is it like this, at both tracks?  I don’t mean to bash the tracks on this, really, just wondering what the problems are.  When one goes to Lebanon Valley, as soon as you get through the gate, there are 50/50 girls selling tickets, and you see them going through the stands all night long.  Most of them are pretty good looking, too – kinda like an enticement for the guys to get to get close to them when they buy a ticket.  Smart move on the Valley’s part, I’d say!  Their 50/50’s are usually in the high hundreds and even into the thousands of dollars.

 

Sixth:

 

This Saturday, June 11th, at OCFS it’s “Nostalgia Night” again.  The Atlantic Coast Old Timers (ACOT) will have some cars on display.  I’m not sure if they’ll have track time or not.  Also the Northeast Vintage Modifieds will be on hand and they’ll surely have track time.

 

Seventh:

 

Sticking with OCFS – if you recall, last week they were supposed to have 4 Cylinders in competition.  Over the course of the nights activities, I failed to see even one on the track.  No idea as to why they can’t get any.  They’ve been scheduled at OC when they don’t have them at Lebanon Valley.

 

Eighth:

 

Still with OCFS – If you recall, last weeks modified feature winner would get a guaranteed starting spot in the August 25th “Mr. Dirt Track USA 100” at Lebanon Valley.  Well, Chris Whitehead won the modified feature.  Will he go to the Valley?

This, from the OCFS website:

 

“Because Whitehead, behind his first OCFS victory of 2011 in the DIRTcar Modified 30-lapper, earned a guaranteed starting spot for August 25’s “Mr. DIRT Track USA 100’’ at Lebanon Valley Speedway in upstate West Lebanon. The race offers $17,500 to the winner.

“Yeah, we’ll be going now,’’ said Whitehead, after securing his third OCFS career Modified victory. “I really didn’t give it much of a thought before this because you need a lot of motor to race on that track. But I like racing at Lebanon Valley. We’ll give it a shot since we got the guaranteed starting spot.’’

 

Ninth:

 

At Accord, this coming Friday, June 10th:

Arkel Motors Night

Modifieds $2000 to win - “Friends of Mike” New Eqypt Qualifier

Plus:  Sportsman, Spec Sportsman, Pro Stocks-Pure Stocks & Legends

Pit gates open at 4:30 Spectator gates 5:00

Warm ups 6:30 Racing at 7:00

 

Tenth:

How about this?

From the Five Mile Point website:

“KIRKWOOD, NY…The staff at Five Mile Point Speedway is excited to announce the addition of two more driver incentive programs at the speedway this season.  The programs will go in to effect immediately and will include the first ever French’s Auto Parts “Driver Appreciation Night” on Saturday, June 18th where drivers will be admitted in to the pit area free of charge. 

 

The free admission driver program being sponsored by the speedway tire vendor French’s Auto Parts will take place on Saturday, June 18th.  The only requirement to obtain the free admission for the driver is to have competed in two race events prior to that night.”

 

http://www.fivemilepointspeedway.net/

 

Eleventh:

 

THE BIG SHOW III - ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY / TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2011 - The BIG SHOW III- Orange County Fair Speedway
Tuesday, June 21, 2011, 7:00 pm EST at  Orange County Fair Speedway
See Description

Important: Advanced Reserve tickets are available for Adults and Children. Tickets are $25 in advanced for adults and $10 for children.

Adult Reserve prices increase to $28 the day of the show. Children's pricing remains the same.

Advanced General Admission is also available. Adults are $20 in advance and increase to $25 the day of the show. Children 12 and under are FREE in General Admission only and those tickets must be obtained the day of the show.

Reserved seating is available in the Main Covered Grandstands as well as the Half Covered Grandstands.

Seats in Row A are closest to the track and the highest seats are in Row O and Q.

***Number of Reserved Rows are subject to change***

NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES. EVENT, DATE AND TIME ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

 

http://dirtcar.ticketforce.com/ordertickets.asp?p=177&backurl=default.asp

 

Note:  Tickets are NOT presently available at the OCFS office.  Tickets will be available on race day.

 

 

Twelfth:

 

Here’s what the “Nostalgia Night” at OCFS (This Sat, folks) T-shirts and crew neck sweat shirts look like, along with ordering info.

http://s2.excoboard.com/VictorySpeedwayForum/36204/2285421

 

Note:  For those that are reading this on the Dirt Track Digest, to see the photo, you’ll have to go to the New England Tractor website at:

http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/  if the link above does not work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thirteenth:

 

After seeing the shirts for “Nostalgia Night” and what with the late Bob Green being my all-time favorite modified driver, yes, even more so than Brett Hearn, I just had to get one.  I’ll pick it up at the track on Saturday night.

Quite a few years ago, when I was a member of the Eastern Motorsports Press Association, I entered their writers contest with an article I did about Bob Green - for the now defunct www.openwheelracing.com website.  I was fortunate to have received a nice plaque for my third place finish in the contest.  If you’re interested in reading about one of the “small” guys in modified stock car racing, you can read it if you go here:

 

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

 

 

Fourteenth:

 

While checking out the Internet early on Tuesday evening, I came across this little piece of trivia about the Indy 500:

 

A little Tommy Milton factoid....besides Milton being the first two-time winner, the 1923 HCS Special is the only car in Indy history to qualify 1st, finish 1st all the while carrying the #1.

 

Found it here:  http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=236178&page=747

 

 

Fifteenth:

 

As many of you probably know, in New Jersey, the State Police and the State, govern auto racing in Jersey.  One of the new laws that have caused some concerns is that there has to be 3” between the top of a drivers helmet and the bottom of the roll cage.  Well, while I was up in Loudon a while back, for the Vintage Race Car Meet, there was a fella with an asphalt modified.  He was staying in the same Motel we were at, and arrived a little late on Tuesday.  After he had gone up to his room, one of those in our little “bench racing group” told us that that fella had his car down at Darlington and darn near broke the track record.

Well, this fella is quite tall - VERY tall, to be precise.  I doubt there was anyone at Loudon that came above his shoulders.  So after he had made a run, we ventured over to the garage where his car was.  Jokingly, I asked him how the heck he was able to get into the car.  I then said that he’d never be able to race that in Jersey.  His response:  “Well, last Saturday, the State came to Wall Stadium to check out the cars.  Not one car passed the 3” law.  The State guy/guys shrugged their shoulders and said, ‘what can we do?”  They really could not do anything, it looks like.

 

 

Sixteenth:

 

So Dan Wheldon goes out and wins the Indy 500.  This coming Saturday night, the Indy cars race at Texas.  Guess who does not have a ride?

 

Texas entrants:  http://www.indycar.com:8080/var/assets/texasentrylist.pdf

 

 

Texas IZOD IndyCar events on TV:

FRIDAY. JUNE 10:

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM on VS – IZOD IndyCar Qualifying

SATURDAY, JUNE 11

7:40 PM to 12:00 PM on VS – IZOD IndyCar Series Firestone Twin 275’s

 

Seventeenth:

We were watching the Prelude to the Dream on Wednesday night, and all had the same question:  Why isn’t Joonyer in this race?  I doubt it’s a contract thing since Jimmie Johnson is in it and Jeff Gordon has been in it.

 

Eighteenth:

Prelude to the Dream results:

Prelude to the Dream
June 8, 2011

ROSSBURG, Ohio - Results Wednesday of the seventh annual Prelude to the Dream Dirt Late Model event June 8 at the half-mile Eldora Speedway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, laps completed and reason out (if any):

1. (1) Clint Bowyer, 30

2. (4) J.J. Yeley, 30

3. (2) Aric Almirola, 30

4. (10) Kyle Busch, 30

5. (5) Justin Allgaier, 30

6. (6) Ricky Carmichael, 30

7. (8) Ken Schrader, 30

8. (13) Austin Dillon, 30

9. (12) Ryan Newman, 30

10. (11) Kasey Kahne, 30

11. (21) Denny Hamlin, 30

12. (17) David Reutimann, 30

13. (14) Matt Kenseth, 30

14. (18) Brian Vickers, 30

15. (9) Carl Edwards, 30

16. (27) Kenny Wallace, 30

17. (20) Ron Capps, 30

18. (28) Jimmie Johnson, 30

19. (16) Cruz Pedregon, 30

20. (26) Tony Stewart, 30

21. (19) David Gilliland, 30

22. (22) Bill Elliott, 30

23. (24) Bobby Labonte, 30

24. (3) Marcos Ambrose, 30

25. (25) Ray Evernham, 21, Mechanical

26. (23) Ron Hornaday, 20, Mechanical

27. (15) Tony Kanaan, 18, Lost Wheel

28. (7) Jason Leffler, 16, Accident

Cautions: (Lap 10: Debris; Lap 13: Evernham, Hornaday Spin T3; Lap 19: Kanaan Lost
Wheel; Lap 20 Labonte, Hornaday Spin T4) Leaders: Bowyer 1-30

 

 

 

Found on Jayski’s website:

 

Altercation between Childress and Kyle Busch after CWTS Race: UPDATE:

From the SPEED Center Facebook page, "multiple witnesses tell SPEED there was a physical confrontation between Richard Childress and Kyle Busch after today's NASCAR Truck Series race..RCR driver Joey Coulter and Kyle battled for position..Kyle hit Coulter's truck on the cool-down lap..multiple sources say Childress took matters into his own hands".(6-4-2011)
UPDATE:

Richard Childress had an altercation with Kyle Busch in the Camping World Truck Series garage area after the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250, sources confirmed Saturday night. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp confirmed that NASCAR was looking into the rumors of an altercation following the Camping World Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway. The altercation happened in the garage area about 30 minutes after the conclusion of the race, according to the sources, who indicated that Childress initiated the altercation. Childress likely was upset that late in the race, Richard Childress Racing driver Joey Coulter and Busch had a tight battle for fifth with contact on the final lap. Busch tapped Coulter on the cool-down lap following the race.(Scene Daily)(6-4-2011)

UPDATE 4:

NASCAR has fined owner Richard Childress $150,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing  involved in an altercation in the garage area) of the 2011 NASCAR rule book. The violation occurred following the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race June 4 at Kansas Speedway. The probation includes all NASCAR-sanctioned events.
STATEMENT FROM NASCAR: "The penalty we have announced today for Richard Childress reflects NASCAR's response to the incident at Kansas Speedway on Saturday. We feel this action is appropriate and are confident all parties involved understand our position on this matter and will move forward appropriately."(NASCAR)
Statement from Childress: "First of all, I'm responsible for my actions, plain and simple. As you know, I am a very principled person and have a passion for what we do at Richard Childress Racing. I believe passionately in defending my race teams and my sponsor partners. In this instance, I let that passion and my emotions get the best of me. I accept the penalty NASCAR announced today and, as a company, we will now focus on this week's races at Pocono Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway."(RCR)(6-6-2011)

 

Hutchens out at Stewart Haas:

Stewart-Haas Racing has promoted Matt Borland to vice president of competition. Matt has been with Stewart-Haas Racing since its inception as technical director, and with his extensive racing background that includes being a crew chief and competition director, he's well-suited for this new role. "Bobby Hutchens, who served as our director of competition since 2009, has been released. Bobby played an integral part in building Stewart-Haas Racing into a team that wins races and contends for championships. We're grateful for all his hard work and dedication, and I am personally appreciative for the responsibilities he took on Friday through Sunday that allowed me to be just a driver. We wish him nothing but the best. In his new role as vice president of competition, Matt Borland will serve as Stewart-Haas Racing's interim director of competition. Once that position is filled, the director of competition will report to Matt."(Stewart Haas Racing)(6-6-2011)

Secret fine issued to Newman?

NASCAR officials wouldn't say Monday whether #39-Ryan Newman secretly was fined $50,000 for allegedly punching #42-Juan Pablo Montoya during a meeting last month at Darlington. The two drivers were summoned to NASCAR's at-track office on May 6 to discuss their ongoing feud, and NASCAR said afterward that the meeting "did not go as well as we had hoped it would." Commenting on a meeting inside the hauler was unprecedented for NASCAR, which promised a further review of the incident. No fines were ever announced, and NASCAR said the issue was closed. But rumors of the penalty began to leak on Monday in response to NASCAR fining owner Richard Childress $150,000 for attacking Kyle Busch after Saturday's trucks race at Kansas Speedway. Newman, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp also refused to comment on whether Newman was fined. If true, it's the second time NASCAR secretly has fined Newman. He was fined in April 2010 for comments he made about the style of racing at Talladega. It was not made public until the AP learned last July that Denny Hamlin had been secretly fined $50,000 for criticizing NASCAR on Twitter. Newman then admitted he, too, had been fined.(Associated Press/ESPN.com)(6-7-2011)

 

At Pocono Raceway:
· Opened in 1968 as a three-quarter-mile track, Pocono Raceway held the first race on the 2.5-mile track in 1971.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was in 1974.
· There have been 66 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono Raceway.
· There was one race from 1974 through 1981, and two per year since.
· All NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono have been scheduled for 500 miles.
· Buddy Baker won the first pole.
· There have been 36 different pole winners, including David Pearson who won the pole there in June 1984 but did not race; 16 drivers have more than one pole there.
· The pole has been swept just three times: Bill Elliott (1985), Ken Schrader (1993), Denny Hamlin (2006).
· Richard Petty won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono.
· 29 different drivers have won races at Pocono, led by Bill Elliott, with five victories; 20 drivers have won more than once there.
· There have been six season sweeps at Pocono, the last by Denny Hamlin in 2006.
· Bobby Allison and Tim Richmond each won three consecutive races at Pocono.
· 47 of 66 Pocono races have been won from a top-10 start.
· The June 2005 race was won by Carl Edwards from the 29th starting position, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started.
· Rick Hendrick leads all car owners with 11 Pocono victories.
· Mark Martin leads all drivers in top fives (19) and top 10s (33), but has yet to win at Pocono. His best finish was second, six times (most recently in August 2004).
· Denny Hamlin (8.2) and Jimmie Johnson (9.5) are the only active drivers to average a top-10 finish.
· There have been 100 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Pennsylvania.
· 137 drivers in NASCAR's three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Pennsylvania.
· There are three race winners from Pennsylvania in NASCAR's three national series.(NASCAR)

Note:  I was at the first race they had at Pocono – a 100-lap ARDC/NEMA Midget race on the ¾ mile track.

 

Former Oakland Valley Speedway (Dirt Oval) runners:

Note:

I’ve been away from the track for more than a few years now, so it’s very possible that there have been other drivers – other than those I make mention of, that have also gone onto bigger forms or racing vehicles, so chances are real good that I do not know their names.  If you know of anyone that’s gone onto bigger things, and had run at the Dirt Oval, how about dropping me a line and let me know their names and where and with what they are now racing.  Thanks!

 

Last Wednesday night, at Kutztown, Tiffany Wambold was 20th in the 270 Micro Sprint feature.  That news got to me about 15 minutes after I sent last weeks column out.

At Big Diamond, on 6/3, Mike Mammana was 4th in the Sportsman feature.

Kenney Johnson had a 10th place finish in his Ford Focus Midget at the Seekonk Speedway.

At Wall Stadium, Roger Coss was 2nd in the Modified feature.

Corey Ziegler was 2nd in the Crate Sportsman feature at Penn Can.

Danny Creeden was 7th at 5 Mile Point.

Rich Coons won the Sportsman feature at the Bethel Speedway.

At Accord, Danny Creeden was 4th, Clinton Mills 9th, Mike Ruggiero 13th, Michael Storms 14th and Anthony Perrego 22nd in the Modified feature.  In the Sportsman class, John Lodini was a DNS.  In the Spec Sportsman, Kyle Rohner was 2nd, Matt Hitchcock 3rd, Kyle VanDuser 6th, Brian Krummel 10th and Tyler Dippel 15th, in the feature.

At OCFS, Mike Ruggiero was 3rd, Michael Stoprms 13th, Tim Hndley 15th, Clinton Mills 17th and Billy VanInwegen 20th in the Modified feature.  In the Sportsman feature, Brian Krummel was 3rd, Matt Hitchcock 5th, Matt Janiak 7th, Keith Still 9th, RJ Smykla 16th and Jason Roe 18th.  John Lodini was a DNS.  Zack Vavricka and Seth Pacella were both DNQ’s.

On Friday, at Hamlin, Mike Casario was 16th in the 270 Micro Sprint feature.  Rick Casario was 8th in the 600 Micro Sprint Rookie feature.  In the 600 Micro Sprint feature, Molly Chambers was 7th, Cait Chambers 12th and Joe Kata 15th.

On Saturday, Mike Casario won the 270 Micro Sprint feature.  Rick Casario was 10th and Jacob Hendershot 15th in the 600 Micro Sprint Rookie feature.  In the 600 Micro Sprint “B” Main, Molly was 15th and Joe 18th.

In the May 21st held over feature for the 600 Micro Sprint Rookies, Jacob Hendershot was 5th and Rick Casario 6th.

Kolby Schroder was 3rd in the Sportsman feature, and Kyle Armstrong 9th in the Modified feature at Lebanon Valley.  In the Budget Sportsman, John Virgilio was 29th.

At Utica/Rome, AJ Filbeck was 3rd in the Sportsman feature.

At Albany/Saratoga, Bobby Hackel, IV was 7th and Alex Bell 8th in the Modified feature.

At Penn Can this past Tuesday night – June 7th, in the “Clash at the Can” 60 lap race, Danny Creeden was 25th.  Clinton Mills and Michael Storms were both DNQ’s.  There were 66 entrants for the show.

I missed the 5/29 results from the Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Alex Bell was 3rd and Bobby Hackel, IV was 5th.

This past Sunday night, at Devil’s Bowl, in the Modified feature, Bobby was 5th and Alex 6th.

Here are some that I’ve missed:

At Devil’s Bowl, on Sunday May 29th, Alex Bell was 3rd and Bobby Hackel, IV, 4th in the Modified feature.

At A/S on Saturday, May 28th, Bobby was 4th and Alex 6th.

In the Shampine Memorial Super Modified race at Oswego, Brian Sobus was 22nd in that feature.

 

On Wednesday, June 8th, some of the ARDC Midget drivers ventured out to Gas City I69 Speedway in Gas City, IN. for the USAC Midget show.  Justin Grosz was one of them, and he was a DNQ for the feature.

 

Note:  I finally got smart and checked out some of the OVRP race reports that are on the New England Tractor website – those by John Schoebel and also John Sainz, to see if there are others that ran at the Dirt Oval and have moved up, after I stopped doing their race reports.  Yes, I did find some more names!

 

 

 

 

 

Going back, in time – in racing history:

Note:  Most of the following information was found here: 

http://www.wheelsofspeed.com/history.html

 

Covering the days from June 10th to 16th:

 

JUNE 10

1934

Joe Russo ... Died ... AAA driver from the 1930's.

1962

Fred Lorenzen was declared the winner of the NASCAR Grand National 'Atlanta 500' after 328.5 miles. Heavy rain stopped the race but it took NASCAR officials five hours to declare the winner (a situation not helped by the fact that the scoreboard operator ran for cover when the deluge hit). It was the first superspeedway win for the Elmhurst, Illinois driver, who was driving a Holman-Moody Ford.

 

JUNE 11

1926

Alvin Junior "A. J." Shepherd ... Born ... CRA , IMCA and USAC Midget and Sprint car driver . He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1960-1961 seasons with 7 starts, including the 1961 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 4 times, with his best finish in 4th position, in 1961 at Springfield. He finished 26 in his only race at Indy.

1939

Jackie Stewart ... Born ... Former Scottish racing driver. He competed in Formula One between 1965 and 1973, winning three World Drivers' Championships. He also competed in Can-Am. He is well-known in the United States as a commentator of racing television broadcasts, and as a pitchman for Ford, where his Scottish accent made him a distinctive presence. 1966 saw him almost win the Indianapolis 500 on his first attempt, in John Meecom's Lola T90-Ford, only to be denied by a broken scavenge pump while leading by over a lap with eight laps to go.

1950

Pancho Carter ... Born ... The son of Indycar racer Duane Carter. He was born while his parents were on the way to a race at the Milwaukee Mile. His father's nickname was "Pappy". Pappy referred to his wife's pregnancy as "little paunch," so they nicknamed the child Pancho. Carter is the half-brother of Johnny Parsons. He ran Midgets, Sprints and Indy Cars. He drove his first Indianapolis 500 in 1974. He finished seventh, and was awarded the Rookie of the Year. He finished third in the 1982 Indianapolis 500 behind the now-famous duel between Gordon Johncock and Rick Mears. In 1985, Carter drove the brand new Buick V6 engine to the pole position of the 1985 Indianapolis 500. From 1985-1995 Pancho ran 14 NASCAR Winston Cup races for multiple owners including Elmo Langley. Pancho's best finish in NASCAR was a seventeenth place finish at the Michigan International Speedway. In 1995, Pancho also raced two Craftsman Truck Series races.

1966

Jimmy Davies... Died ... AAA / USAC driver from the 1940's - 1960's. He was the second man to win three USAC National Midget Championships. When Davies won the 100 mile AAA Championship race at Del Mar, California on November 6, 1949 - aged 20 years, 2 months, 29 days, he became the youngest driver to win a race in a major U.S. open wheel series, a record not broken until Marco Andretti won the IRL race at Sonoma, California in 2006. Davies raced AAA on a false birth certificate showing him older, (as did Troy Ruttman and Jim Rathmann), and was racing illegally. He ran the Indy 500 5 times with a best finish of 3rd in 1955. He died on June 11, 1966 aged 36 from injuries suffered in a midget crash at Santa Fe Speedway in Chicago. He was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1984

 

Jud Larson... Died ... He was a hard-drinking, hard-driving racer, a colorful character from the days when few drivers survived to retire, and roll cages were for sissies. Larson drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1959 and 1964-1965 seasons with 53 starts, including the 1958 and 1959 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 38 times, with 7 victories. He had a 27-year career, competing in hundreds of races. He spent his early years racing in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa on the half mile dirt bullrings that spawned many fierce competitions in the post war years. In 1964 he broke into the USAC sprint ranks, proving he was a serious competitor . In his first year in the ranks, he won six out of 19 sprint races and finished a strong second in the rugged sprint division point standings. In 1965 he won four of the first six sprint races and led the points standings for more than half the season, but mechanical ailments hit during the last half of the season and he slid to ninth in the final standings. In the '66 season, Jud was once again leading the sprint division until the night of June 11 at Reading Speedway in Reading, Pennsylvania. During that race Jud Larson and Red Riegel were running side by side going into the first turn. There was contact between the two cars and both started flipping. Jud Larson's sprinter ended up upside down on the guard rail with Red Reigel's, which was also upside down a little further down the track. The crash killed both drivers. Jud Larson was a very popular personality, who was always surrounded by autograph hunters win or lose.

Red Riegel... Died ...ARDC, URC and USAC driver from Leesport PA. Died in a USAC Sprint car race at the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway in the same crash which also claimed the life of Jud Larson.

 

JUNE 12

1927

Bill Cheesbourg ... Born ... Cheesbourg started racing jalopies in Tucson and successfully moved into midgets racing all over Arizona after World War II. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1962 and 1964-1966 seasons with 31 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1957-1959, 1961, 1964, and 1965. He finished in the top ten 8 times, with his best finish in 7th position in 1959 at Daytona and in 1966 at Fuji. Cheesbourg returned to the local dirt short track racing scene after his Indy Car career was finished.

1940

Bob Swanson ... Died ... AAA driver from the 1930's

 

JUNE 13

1962

Davey Hamilton ... Born ... Hamilton had been proficient in supermodified racing, as a frequent winner in various supermodified races, usually held in the northern areas of the United States. Driver in the CART, USAC and IRL series. He has made 49 series starts and while never winning a race, finished second 3 times. He placed second in series points in the 1996-1997 season and again in 1998. He retired from the cockpit in 2001 after a serious crash at Texas Motor Speedway. Hamilton has undergone 21 operations to reconstruct his feet. He began standing after five months, and spent one year in a wheelchair. Hamilton became the color commentator for Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network broadcasts. He later began driving the 2-seater IndyCar, which gives rides to VIPs and celebrities at IndyCar Series races. Hamilton returned to IndyCars for the 2007 Indianapolis 500, driving for Vision Racing.[1] Qualifying 20th, Hamilton placed 9th after the race was ended early on lap 166 due to rain. For 2008, Hamilton again signed with Vision Racing to run in the 92nd Indianapolis 500 and finished 14th.

 

JUNE 14

1913

Henry Banks ... Born ... He was the son of an early European race-driver. Henry began competing in 1932, when he was 19-years-old, and became successful in the midget cars. He was the first driver to pass the qualifying "rookie test" at the Indianapolis 500 in 1936. He also drove as a relief driver in 1937, 1939, and 1940, with a 21st place finish in 1938. He won the 1941 American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) championship in New England. After a break during the war, when he worked at Ford’s aero-engine division, Banks’ career took off. In 1947 he won 30 midget car races. In 1950, he was the AAA National Champion and, in the same year, came second in the National Midget points. He later retired from racing and became USAC Director of Competitions.

1958

George Fonder... Died ... He was one of the best midget drivers around at the time. The 1941 racing season began as the war was going on in Europe and at National it was the George Fonder and Charlie Miller show. They dominated the racing for most of the season. George Fonder started the season with three straight wins. Charlie Miller won one then Fonder took victory number four then it was Miller time again with his second win. A two week break saw Dave Randolph take one win and Joe Garson another the following week. Then it was back to businesss as usual as the next nine races all went to either Miller or Fonder. Fonder won one week, Miller the next. Fonder came back and captured a 100-lap affair with Miller winning the following week. George Fonder was back with two in-a-row before Miller duplicated that feat with two straight of his own then is was Fonder again. The end of season saw Fonder winning three of the last four races. He also raced big cars and raced in the Indy 500 three times. He debuted in 1949 at the wheel of an Adams powered by a supercompressed Spark engine, finishing in twentieth place, he was relieved by Mel Hansen from lap 68 to 116. He returned to Indy on two other occasions, in 1952 he received the checkered flag three laps down on the winner Troy Ruttman, in fifteenth driving a Silnes/Sherman - Offenhauser. In 1952 he retired on lap 107 when his the Offenhauser engine in his Kurtis 400 overheated. He died in 1958 when he came out of retirement to race in an ARDC Midget race at the Hatfield Speedway as a favor to George Marshman, the promoter of the race. After winning his heat, he crashed in the final. He was taken to North Penn Hospital in Lansdale but was dead on arrival. Fonder was the only fatality at the Hatfield Speedway during its five years as a half-mile paved track. Converted to a high-banked dirt oval in 1959 it closed in 1967 to make way for a housing development. Jim Packard won the race.

 

Note:  A few years ago, during an “Old Timers” night at OCFS, Pete Kessler brought Nick Fornoro to the track.  The nights racing was rained out, so once it was called, Pete, Nick and I ventured to the 31st lap to have something to eat.  Nick told the story of the Fonder accident, which wasn’t really very pretty.  What’s sad is that Fonder came out of retirement to help a friend, and was fatally injured doing so.  Almost like the time Dick “Toby” Tobias was fatally injured at Flemington, racing in a race that really should not have been run.

 

1961

Dr. Jack Miller... Born ... A long time Indy Lights driver, Miller raced in the Indy Racing League from 1997 to 2001 and the Indianapolis 500 from 1997 to 1999. Miller is a dentist and, thus, was known as "the racing dentist." His best IRL finish was a 9th in 1998 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. His best finish in the Indy 500 was a 20th his rookie year. During his stay in Indy Lights he won the 1993 B-series championship. This class of racing was only run in 1993 and consisted of drivers using the previous March chassis as the rest of the series introduced new Lola chassis. Miller won the championship by virtue of being the only driver to compete in every race in a B-series car.

1968

Scott Sharp... Born ... An American race car driver in the American Le Mans Series. He is the son of six-time SCCA champion Bob Sharp. Scott Sharp is best known for his years as a competitor in the Indy Racing League. Ran in 13 Indy 500's with a best finish of 6th in 2007.

1973

Herb Ardinger... Died ... AAA driver 1934 to 1947. Ran the Indy 500 6 times with a best finish of 4th in 1947.

1995

Bobby Grim... Died ... He won 12 feature races in USAC midgets and was one of the last to win in the ancient Offy. Bobby drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1958-1969 seasons with 66 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races each year from 1959-1968 except 1965. He finished in the top ten 30 times, with his one victory coming in 1960 at Syracuse. He won the 1959 Indy Rookie of the Year, despite finishing in 26th position and was the last person to qualify a front engined car for the race in 1966. . He was also the IMCA sprint car champion from 1955-1958 driving the famed "Black Deuce" Offy of Hector Honore.

 

JUNE 15

1916

Gene Force ... Born ... Gene Force raced migets and sprint cars in the 1950's and early 60's. He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1951-1952, 1954, 1956, and 1958-1960 seasons with 33 starts, including the 1951 and 1960 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 16 times, with his best career finish in 3rd place occurring on 3 occasions.

1920

Keith Andrews ... Born ... He started racing on oval tracks in 1946 driving Roadsters, progressing to midgets in 1947 and winning three feature races at Lakeside Speedway. He won the Colorado Midget Championship three years running from 1952 to 1954. In 1955 he moved up to big cars and entered in the Indianapolis 500 in 1955 and 1956. Finishing 20th in 1955, in 1956 he was involved in an accident early on, but got restarted to finished 26th. He was killed after crashing his car during testing for the 1957 Indianapolis 500.

1929

Ray Keech ... Died ... He was a board and brick track racer in the 1920s. He is best remembered for winning the 1929 Indianapolis 500, and for setting a land speed record in the Triplex Spirit of Elkdom. This monster featured three 27-litre Liberty aero-engines! He died in a racing accident at the Altoona 200-Mile Race in 1929.

 

JUNE 16

1943

Buzz Gregory... Born ... USAC Sprint and Indy Car driver from the 1960's.

 

 

 

News from the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

Trying to catch up, so here are two weeks worth.

From their May 24th issue:

 

In the Lenny Sammons column, he talks about Glenn Donnelly and a talk they had.  Donnelly was amazed how things have changed.  “Everything has turned to a ‘Competitive’ sport rather than a ‘Spectator’ sport, and that bothers me”, said Donnelly.  He’s also bothered that so few tracks now work together – rule books are splintered and tire rules are different since he was in control of as many as 32 tracks that ran under his DIRT rule book.  “They charge so much to get into the grandstand and pits today”, he said.  He doesn’t understand how that’s happened over the last six years.

 

Ernie Saxton was talking about beer prices at Yankee Stadium.  $10.50 for a beer.  If it’s delivered to you, it’s $12.60.  The extra dough is a “tip”, but that “tip” doesn’t go to the waiter who delivered the beer, but to the Hospitality Company.

He also made mention of there being no more Motor Sports news in the Philadelphia Inquirer – a Philly paper.  “Budget shortfalls” is the reason given.

 

In the Brett Deyo column, he talks about the Delaware International Speedway and their Big Block modifieds.  They don’t have any “tech”, so to say.  After the nights racing, the cars are weighed and tires looked at.  They have no cubic inch maximums.  Cars must weigh a minimum of 2,500 lbs.  They can use either gas or methanol for fuel.  They have liberal “Eastern Style Modified” bodies.  It’s said that a big cubic inch engine runs about $15,000.00 to $18,000.00.  That compares to the $40,000.00 or so 467 cubic inch big blocks that run elsewhere.

 

A few weeks ago, it was Doug Esh who wiped out his sprint car when he flipped and hit the overhead bridge at Williams Grove.

 

As of the May 24th edition of the AARN, it’s said that the WoO Sprint Cars have run only 16 races and only 7 since April 1st.

 

When they held a racing weekend at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, a road course, and the dirt modifieds ran, they only had nine cars show up.  The track still paid the $5,0000.00 to the race winner, though.  It’s possible that that might very well have been the last dirt modified race at NJMP.  Funny thing is, the fastest speeds over the weekend were by the dirt mods and not the ARCA cars!  The mods had a fast time of just over 100 mph, while the ARCA cars were just over 99 mph.  The winning car from last years race, the Herb Bartemy modified – a specially built car for Syracuse, which Ted Christopher drove, was not entered, since it needed too many changes made to meet this years rules.

 

If you’re thinking of having a space at the next AARN run Motor Sports show,, it’s now too late to get that “special” one.  Now, it’s a “First come – first served” basis.  Info on the show can be seen at www.aarn.com or by calling them at 609-888-3618

 

On September 10th, at the Lebanon Valley Speedway, they’re having a Jim Langenback Memorial race.  It will be 54 laps for the Pro Stocks, with $5,400.00 (at least) to the winner.  The New York State Stock Car Association is behind this event.  Each lap will have $54.00 in lap monies, with the leader getting $32.00, second place getting $13.00 and third place getting $9.00.  There will also be a $540.00 bonus for NYSSCA members.  One must join the NYSSCA by 8/10/11 to be eligible.  The winner could possibly get $7,437.00.

 

With his last modified feature win at the Lernerville, PA. Speedway, Brian Swartzlander now has 70 wins.  He has passed Lou Blaney who has 69.

 

Luke Schostkewitz will go right from High School to college after he graduates in June.  He’ll be attending the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH).  They have a high performance motor sports program, which will begin on 6/27.  Luke will be in school for 132 consecutive weeks, for engine building, fabrication and welding, along with the potential electives like alternative fuels and business classes.

 

At attempt was tried at running the Xcel 600 Modifeds (Sportsman cars) with the Stage One Modifieds, didn’t work out too well.  One party says it was a “People problem” while the other party says it was a “Tire problem”.

 

 

From their May 31st issue:

 

In the Brett Deyo column, Danny Creeden is quoted as saying he “Wasn’t happy at OCFS” and “I don’t like racing there.  It’s single file and hard to pass”.

 

In the Ron Mentus column he talks about the Waterford Speedbowls 50 lap International Super Modified Associations (ISMA) 50lap race.  Twenty-two cars started.  In 21 minutes, they had two yellows and two red flags.  After the second red flag, they were allowed to re-fuel.  They still had not completed ONE LAP!!!  Once they got going again, there were more yellows and reds.  After one hour and 29 minutes, with 47 laps completed, they had to stop the race because of fog.

 

When they had the Vic 200 at Utica/Rome, Mitch Gibbs won the 20 lap “B” Main.  He opted to not take the winning purse for that race - $1,200.00 and ran the feature.  He finished 17th.  I wonder how much 17th paid?

 

If you recall, there was a big problem for the Cayuga County Speedway with quite an outstanding water bill.  Well, Promoter Eric Kingsley has come out and said that the track will definitely not close and they should have run on June 5th.

 

The Keystone Cup Sprint Car Series has been averaging only 25 cars/meet so far in 2011.  Their averages over the last few years:

2007:  36

2008:  35

2009:  29.8

2010:  27.4

Note:  Has to be the economy and the price of fuel, I’d say.

 

The NJMP plans to emerge from Bankruptcy following a court hearing on July 14th, in Camden, NJ.  Their plan of reorganization, is expected to be confirmed by the US Bankruptcy Court.

 

Did you know that there is USAC Midget racing here in the Northeast?  Yes, there is.  The USAC Dirt Midget Association held its inaugural race at the Bear Ridge Speedway.  Joe Krawiec won the feature.  They had 15 cars show up.

 

Tommy Corellis won the US Legends Dirt Modified race at Ray Evernhams East Lincoln Speedway, in Stanley, NC.  For Corellis, that makes it six different decades of wining races.

 

The Dirt Modified Hall of Fame and Stock Car Museum will need help in keeping its doors open.  After the last HoF induction, Andy Fusco told those in attendance that money will be needed, in the future, to keep the lights on at the museum.

Glenn Donnelly built and opened it 20 years ago.  He assumed the costs, and when it was sold to WRG, they assumed the cost.

 

Last, but not least, from the May 31st edition of the AARN –

Eight year old Breanna Baker was seriously injured while racing with the ?Finger Lakes Microd Club, and is in critical condition with a spinal cord injury.  Those that want to help the family out with their expenses, which will more than likely be incurred over an extended period of time,  can contact the family at:

Duane and Kris Baker

917 Ithaca Rd – Apt # 2

Willseyville, NY 14864

 

Cards and well wishes will reach her at:

Breanna Baker

Golisano Childrens Hospital

750 E. Adams St.

Floor 11E – Room # 7

Syracuse, NY 13210

 

 

 

More racin’ stuff:

 

Some up and comers in NASCAR:

 

While checking out the Interent, I came across something rather interesting on the “Frontstretch”.  Ten names of some up and coming future stars in NASCAR.

 

They are:

Johanna Long, Timmy Hill, Joey Coulter, Chase Elliott, Coleman Pressley, Ryan Truex, Parker Kligerman, Darrell Wallace, Jr., Austin Dillon and Cole Whitt

 

See what Brody Jones has to say about those ten, above.

 

http://www.frontstretch.com/bjones/34171/

 

 

 

Racing and television:

Racing on TV - http://www.racefantv.com/USTV.htm

 

Found on Jayski’s website:

 

TNT Returns with multiplatform coverage of Sprint Cup Series:

TNT and NASCAR.com are set to wave the green flag on the network's Sprint Cup Series coverage debuting on Sunday at Pocono with enhanced features and more interactivity on television and online to provide fans with the most comprehensive multi-platform NASCAR experience possible. This year, TNT RaceBuddy on NASCAR.com will return with twice as many camera views as last year including two mosaics for fans to choose from. Also, the network will debut Inside Trax, offering fans exclusive audio and video from select crew chiefs and their teams each race. Wide Open Coverage returns for TNT's primetime race in Daytona on Saturday, July 2 and will feature the first-ever Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway in primetime on Saturday, July 9. For the first time this year, TNT NASCAR analyst Kyle Petty and Rutledge Wood's ongoing live video chat series "30 Minutes You Will Never Get Back" will invite TNT announcers to answer questions from the fans. Each Friday, fans can submit questions via Twitter or Facebook to have their questions answered on the show. TNT returns its marquee announce crew with analysts Petty and Wally Dallenbach joining play-by-play announcer Adam Alexander in the booth for each race. Veteran reporters Ralph Sheheen, Marty Snider and Matt Yocum will be joined by Chris Neville, a ten-year veteran motorsports reporter, on pit road. In addition, Lindsay Czarniak will once again host the network's 60-minute pre-race show, Countdown to Green, with Petty and McReynolds joining her on the TNT rig along with special guests each week.(TNT PR)(6-7-2011)

 

 

Some non-racing stuff:

How they vote in the United Nations:

Below are the actual voting records of various Arabic/Islamic States which are recorded in both the US State Department and United Nations records: 

Kuwait votes against the United States 67% of the time 

Qatar votes against the United States 67% of the time 

Morocco votes against the United States 70% of the time 

United Arab Emirates votes against the U. S. 70% of the time. 

Jordan votes against the   United States  71% of the time. 

Tunisia votes against the   United States  71% of the time. 

Saudi Arabia votes against the   United States  73% of the time.

Yemen votes against the   United States  74% of the time. 

Algeria votes against the   United States  74% of the time. 

Oman  votes against the  United States  74% of the time. 

Sudan votes against the  United States 75% of the time. 

Pakistan votes against the  United States  75% of the time. 

Libya votes against the  United States  76% of the time.. 

Egypt votes against the   United States   79% of the time. 

Lebanon votes against the  United States  80% of the time. 

India votes against the  United States  81% of the time. 

Syria votes against the     United States 84% of the time. 

Mauritania votes against the     United States 87% of the time.

 

US Foreign Aid to those that hate us:

Egypt, for example, after voting 79% of the time against the United States, still receives $2 billion annually in US Foreign Aid

Jordan votes 71% against the  United States

And receives $192,814,000 annually in US Foreign Aid.

Pakistan votes 75% against the  United States

Receives $6,721,000 annually in US Foreign Aid.

India votes 81% against the  United States

Receives $143,699,000 annually.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/unvote.asp  IT'S TRUE ! 

 

 

Is this true?:

 

Found on Facebook, early Monday morning:

 

Deported immigrant sues over injury at San Luis port

 

In part:

“A previously deported illegal immigrant is suing the federal government for injuries allegedly suffered at the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz., while being detained for trying to re-enter the country.

Jose Gutierrez, 41, was hospitalized in Phoenix for a head injury after falling at the port on March 30, according the lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles, where he resided before being deported.

Gutierrez had been trying to re-enter the country through the San Luis port when he was referred to a secondary area for follow-up inspection, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He fell and hit his head on the floor while trying to escape back to Mexico, the agency said.”

 

http://www.yumasun.com/news/gutierrez-70470-port-trying.html

 

 

 

Video time:

 

This might interest some, while not being interesting to others – the sound of a 110 cubic inch Offenhauser midget engine.

 

http://www.strykerscustom.com/video.html

 

 

 

Closing with these:

 

Walking can add minutes to your life.
This enables you at 85 years old
to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing
home at $4,000 per month.

My grandpa started walking
five miles a day when he was 60.
Now he's 97 years old
and we have no idea where the hell he is.

I like long walks,
especially when they are taken
by people who annoy me.

 

The only reason I would take up walking
is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

I have to walk early in the morning,
before my brain figures out what I'm doing...

 

I joined a health club last year,
spent about 250 bucks.
Haven't lost a pound.
Apparently you have to go there!

Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise',
I wash my mouth out with chocolate.

 

I do have flabby thighs,
but fortunately my stomach covers them.

The advantage of exercising every day
is so when you die, they'll say,
'Well, he looks good doesn't he.'

If you are going to try cross-country skiing,
start with a small country.

I know I got a lot of exercise
the last few years,......
just getting over the hill.

 

 

 

May “Guardian Angels” sit on the shoulders of all of our race drivers and race fans, and guide them safely around the tracks!

 

Drive safe! 

 

As usual, you can reach me at:  ygordad@yahoo.com