Racin' & Internet Stuff:

                                      By Tom Avenengo

                                         Volume # 68

                                           08/18/2011

 

 

 First:

I’ve been attending auto races for some 65 years, give or take a few, in between.  In those years, I’ve seen my share of accidents.  Some were where drivers didn’t get hurt.  Some were where they paid the ultimate price.  Believe it or not, some accidents can look pretty scary, even when the cars are not going too fast.  I can still visualize Johnny Ritter going over in a quick barrel roll at the track in Danbury back in late ’47 or early ’48, when it happened on the first lap, first turn of a heat race.  His helmet rolling down the track, and most of us in the stands were wondering if his head was in it, which it wasn’t, thanking God.  The Charlie Musselman accident at Langhorne when he ran over another cars wheel, then started a series of flips, with him being tossed out of the car on the first flip, and photographers getting a bunch of photos of the flipping car, with Musselman flying in the air up over it, in each photo, and he finally landing on the track, close to the outer guard rail.  I’d say he was doing close to 100 MPH at the time of his flip.  If I remember right, he did not break any bones.  Had he remained in the car, it would have ended up with him being fatally injured, since the car, when landing directly on its tail had the cockpit close up

Last Friday, at the Accord Speedway, a driver I’ve known for some time, gong back to the Go-Kart days at OVRP’s Dirt Oval, Matt Hitchcock, took a scary ride over the first turn wall and into the pit area.  Talking with some that were close to the accident, I was told that Matt cleared the banking and landed, roof first, on the flat area in the pits.  How high was he in the air, is kind of hard to say, but he was up there, that’s for sure.  Luckily, from what we had heard, was that he wasn’t injured.  But I’m willing to bet he felt it over the next few days.  His car, from what I’ve heard, is totaled.  Not only did he use that car at Accord, but also at OCFS too.

His mother had this to say on Facebook:

Last night was the worst racing wreck I have ever seen. Everyone has been thanking the Accord ambulance safety crew, but I want to thank the one person that got to the car before it landed then pushed the car back over (with the help over so many other men), then ripped the roof and door off the car while it was on fire and pulled Matt out of the car, his Dad, Ed. Most women can say that their husband's are amazing fathers but I know that my husband is an amazing father and to me a hero.”

Ralph Stevens, Jr. takes photos at Accord and OCFS.  He happened to get these two of Matt going over the first turn wall.  Scary, huh?

Note:  For those reading this on Dir Track Digest, to see the photos, you’ll have to go here:  http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/ and click on this column over there.

Second:

 

The Indycar race at Loudon:

 

Oh boy!  I don’t know if you saw it live or not, but at the end, the proverbial sh*t hit the fan, for sure.

 

Start with this, from Robin Miller:

 

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/miller-the-final-nail-in-the-coffin/

 

And:

 

Barnhart must go

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?110800-Barnhart-must-go

 

Plus:

 

Will Power - Solid, measured response

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?154106-Will-Power-Solid-measured-response

 

 

Thanks NHMS and Jerry Gappens!

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?154180-Thanks-NHMS-and-Jerry-Gappens!

 

 

Loudon One and done????

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?154147-Loudon-One-and-done

 

 

Now the final word, from Brian Barnhart on what happened today at New Hampshire

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?154122-Now-the-final-word-from-Brian-Barnhart-on-what-happened-today-at-New-Hampshire

 

 

Track Forum for Indycars:  http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?3-rev-ed-s-IZOD-IndyCar-Series

 

 

 

Third:

 

Staying with the Indycar race at Loudon -I found this link on the Track Forum:

 

Indy Car management takes a hit at N.H. by Eddie Gossage:

 

In part:

Being an insider in this sport and having to work with people I write about in this blog, this is one of the toughest things I've had to write. Particularly for a sport -- Indy Car racing -- and people that I really like.

But it was a bad day Sunday -- a very bad day -- for Indy Car management in New Hampshire on two fronts.

First, the fiasco of a finish. The race's second rain delay hit with about 10 laps to go, causing an important handful of laps at a critical point so late in the race to be run under caution as officials hoped the cars would help dry the track and the showers would leave the area. It was a laudable notion.”

More can be seen here:  http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/motorsports/post/_/id/799/indy-car-management-takes-a-hit-in-n-h

 

 

Fourth:

 

When one listens to the announcers on TV for a NASCAR race, they always say so and so has so many Sprint Cup Championships - like, for an example, Jeff Gordon.  Well, I'm willing to be that any trophy that Jeff has will more than likely say "Winston Cup Champion" or similar definitely not Sprint Cup Champion.

Now last week, after Brett Hearn won his 799th and 800th feature wins at Fonda, it seems that there are some that are saying he has 800 DIRTcar wins.  Not so, my friends, not so.
He has 801 feature wins now, and yes, some are with DIRTcar, but a good portion are not.

 

 

Fifth:

 

Some real sad news was posted the other day on the Internet.  Kinda hard to believe, but it was this:

It looks like, for the first time since WWII, that there will NOT be a (full) midget race any where in New York State this year (2011).”

 

Note:  In the past, the ARDC has run at the Accord Speedway, but they were not scheduled for this year, and I doubt, with the way the Lightning Sprints are doing at Accord, this year, they - the ARDC, probably won’t be back in 2012, either.  Hoping I’m wrong, here, but………….I also am privy to some info about the ARDC and Accord, too, but “mums” the word on that.

I also read on the Internet that NEMA had a race scheduled for the Airborne Park Speedway on September 11, but that was cancelled – supposedly because of the low car counts with NEMA.

 

 

Sixth:

 

As I was typing in the above, I had a notice of a PR e-mail from the ARDC.

Here is what it said:

“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE WITH OUR THANKS

 The ARDC Midget Madness and Modified program at New Egypt Speedway scheduled for Tuesday August 16, 2011 has been postponed until next Tuesday August 23, 2011.

All times will remain the same with pit gates opening at 4:30pm, grandstands at 5:00pm and racing at 7:30pm.

ARDC’s next race will be this Saturday August 20, 2011 at the Port Royal Speedway.”

 

Seventh:

Back to Indy cars:

IndyCar Delays Aero Kits until 2013

In part:

IndyCar announced today that it will delay the introduction of alternative aero kits for its new IZOD IndyCar Series chassis until 2013.  The next-generation chassis remains on target to debut in competition at the start of the 2012 season.

"The most important thing we can do as a series is look at what is in the best interest of both our long and short term," said Randy Bernard, CEO of INDYCAR. "It is important that we maintain a high car count next year by ensuring we have cost containment for our teams. We must listen to our team owners and try to help. I'm the biggest advocate of the aero kit and I feel this is by far the best decision for our series. The 2012 season will be exciting with the debut of our new car as we focus on relevancy and technology with engine competition, turbochargers and direct injection among other things."

http://www.motorracingnetwork.com/Race-Series/IZOD-IndyCar/News/Articles/2011/08/IndyCar-Delays-Aero-Kits-Until-2013.aspx

Note:  There are quite a few comments on this on the Track Forum, too – most are against it as of  Monday afternoon, 268 comments.

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?154072-Per-Cavin-Aero-Kits-Delayed-Until-2013

Some of what’s been said:

Took RB this long to announce this? He could have said that 3 months ago.....Not surprised really....I'd figured RB would cave to the whiney snakes oops I mean team owners. Odds that the team owners will again makeup an excuse to delay until 2014???
So just to be clear, it will be another year of spec racing? Based upon posts from guys like Spike it appears the aero kits wouldn't mean much of variety anyway, so as fans, have we been duped again? What a sham.”

“Not good at all. New expenses up front, all same cars at the end of the day. STUPID.”

“Not happy with the decision but on the bright side it gives the fans and media something to look forward to in the next season.

2012: New Engines, Engine Competition, New Car
2013: Aero Kits and New Tire Constructors”

“The owners run this sport.

Have since 1979.

Randy has tried the best he can. He is just finding out what so many before him already know.

It will just mean less money for the owners to ask ridebuyers to give them for 2012.”

“It is all about the team owners wanting to keep the status quo, especially Penske. The teams owners don't want to take the risk of making a wrong choice of a aero kit and being behind other teams. The team owners have been become accustomed to spec racing and it seems like they don't want to venture outside the comfort zone and take a risk of choosing a wrong aero kit.

The thing that ticks me off the most is that I'm sure another excuse will roll around this time next year from the team owners and the mythical aero kits will be delayed until 2014 and beyond.”

Quite a bit more can be seen if you go here:  http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?154072-Per-Cavin-Aero-Kits-Delayed-Until-2013

 

Eighth:

Last Friday, while I was at Accord, I had a nice talk with Danny Ody.  Danny sells DVD’s of racing from back in the day.  Maybe you’ve seen some previews on DTD?  Most are with stock cars, but he does have one about Lime Rock and it has the Formula Libra race that Rodger Ward won with an 11 year old midget against some of the world’s best road racing cars in it.

His website:  www.oldspeedways.com

 

Ninth:

As long as I’m “Advertising” things, are you aware that the West Springfield, MA Motorsports Expo is returning?  It will be held at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA on March 2, 3 & 4 in 2012.

It’s website:  www.needforspeedexpo.com

 

Tenth:

Hard to figure this one out, but at Watkins Glen, last weekend, the Nationwide cars had rain tires, if needed and also windshield wipers.  So why not on the Cup cars?

 

Eleventh:

More advertising!  This one was sent out on Facebook by Bob Perran – the date for the OCFS Banquet is January 7, 2012.

 

Twelfth:

Not to be outdone, the NASCAR Cup race at Watkins Glen also had a lot of “Fun” – especially at the very end.

But first, I have to agree with this:

Credit Where Credit's Due

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?154212-Credit-Where-Credit-s-Due

 

Fighting NASCAR style

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?154161-Fighting-NASCAR-style

 

 

Thirteenth:

 

Sad news, via an e-mail on Tuesday evening.

 

“I just heard that the Darlington Historic Racing Festival scheduled for
Sept. 24-25 has been canceled. I'd heard that the advance entries were lagging
far behind and that was probably the reason for pulling the plug.
Too bad but it's all about the money with everything these days.

Marty Little
Ft Lauderdale, Fla.

 

 

Fourteenth:

 

Will the new “Gold Crown” cars ever make it?  I see they had some exhibition runs earlier this year, but not much news is coming from their website - http://www.goldcrownchampionship.com/goldcrownoverview.html

 

Their last PR was on October 5, 2010.

 

Are they really necessary?  Won’t the old “Silver Crown” cars do?

 

 

Fifteenth:

 

Uh oh – some competition for Danica in NASCAR (in the looks department for sure):

 

Former Price is Right model to make NASCAR debut Saturday

In part:

Canadian driver Maryeve Dufault will make her NASCAR debut on Saturday in the Nationwide Series Napa Auto Parts 200 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Dufault, who started racing in the ARCA Series this year, was a model on the Price is Right and according to IMDB, was a player for the New York Euphoria in the 2005 Lingerie Bowl.

Dufualt has said that she used the money she earned from modeling to pay for tires and equipment so that she could go race.

Dufault, 29, has made 12 starts in ARCA in 2011 with one top 10, a 10th place finish at Chicagoland Speedway. She'll be driving the No. 81 for MacDonald Motorsports and is one of four Canadian drivers entered in Saturday's race in the series that is most commonly referred to as the AAA to the Sprint Cup's Major League”

More on the article and some photos of this young lady can be seen if you go here:  http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Former-Price-is-Right-model-to-make-NASCAR-debut?urn=nascar-wp3160

Note:  Ok, I know I’m an old phart, and am probably over the hill, but damn – she’s a “looker” for sure!

 

Sixteenth:

Found this on Jayski’s website:

Ambrose 4th foreign driver to win:

After three Nationwide Series wins, a blunder last year at Sonoma and three top-3 finishes at Watkins Glen, #9-Marcos Ambrose finally got himself in Victory Lane in the Cup series by winning at Watkins Glen. In doing so, he became the first Australian-born driver to win a Cup race, and just the fourth foreign-born driver to win in NASCAR's top series. See the ol' accompanying list.

Ok, a little teaser here – any idea as to who those four drivers are?  You might be a little surprised.  Answer will be at the end of my column.

 

Seventeenth:

I received a PR from the ARDC late Wednesday night about a couple of up-coming races:

In part:

LOTS OF ARDC WINGLESS MIDGET RACING ON TAP IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS

The ARDC Wingless Midgets have a busy late August schedule starting this Saturday evening August 20th when they return to the Port Royal Fairgrounds.  They will then be back in action when they travel to New Jersey’s New Egypt Speedway on Tuesday August 23rd for the rescheduled Midget Madness and Modifieds.

The Port Royal race will be a return trip to the historic fairgrounds in downtown Port Royal.   When ARDC was there back on May 7th it was Bruce Buckwalter Jr. driving his Lupus.org Captain America 83 onto the stage for the checkered flag.  

Two trips to New Egypt last season produced two different winners.   The August race was dominated by Steve Buckwalter who returned to Midget action last Saturday night at The Winchester Speedway.   The September race was annexed by current ARDC point leader, Drew Heistand

Racing both evenings gets underway at 7:30pm.

 

 

Coming up:

Accord:

 

August 19th:

 

Mid Hudson Concrete Night – Racing all divisions – I’m not sure about Legends, which are on the original schedule, but were not there on 8/5. 

 

August 24th:

 

Mid Week Madness

 

August 26th:

 

Tom’s Auto Repair Night – Racing all divisions plus Lightning Sprints.

 

 

From the latest Accord Speedway write-up:

Racing fans should begin to make plans for the exciting King of the Catskills two day weekend of great racing on September 23rd and 24th. With eight diverse divisions of racing on the schedule, every true racing fan will want to make sure they are in attendance to take in every second of the great competition that will unfold. The ROC Modified Tour heads up the Friday evening of action September 23rd with a large $7,000.00 payday awaiting the winner of the 100-lap headliner with the Sportsman and Lightning Sprints also on the schedule. September 24th finds the Spec Sportsman going to war for a $3,500.00 payout with the CRSA Sprint Cars, Pro Stock, Pure Stock and the Junior Slingshot National Tour event also on the card that will determine the National Champion.”

 

 

OCFS:

August 20th: 

Sparta Trucking - Holiday Inn of Middletown - Kids Club - M/SP/PRO/SS

August 27th: 

Accord Speedway – Accord Speedway King of the Catskills Qualifier - M/SP/PRO/SS

September 3rd: 

WLR Construction - CHAMPION'S NIGHT - End of Points - Kids Club - Officials Race - M/SP/PRO/SS/4 Cylinder

Note:  I would not expect to see any 4 Cylinders in action on the 3rd. Also, hard to believe the point seasons are coming to an end.

 

Lebanon Valley:

August 20th:

Benjamin Moore Paints & Hometown Plaza Present The “$1,000 AIM Warrior Modified Dash”, Weekly Divisions & Budget Sportsman

August 25th:

CARQUEST Auto Parts & General Tire Present
$17,500 TO WIN “MR. DIRT Track U.S.A.” 100-Lap Modified DIRTcar Series Race Plus Budget Sportsman, Gates Open @ 5pm | Racing @ 6pm

August  27th: 

V.P. Race Fuels S.E.F. & Heavy Hauler Present “BACK TO SCHOOL” With Kiddie Rides, Weekly Divisions & 4-Cylinders

September 3rd:

J.H. Financial & Pepsi Present Championship Night $3,000 To Win Modified Feature, Weekly Divisions, 358 Modifieds - Final Night Of Points For DIRT Modifieds, 358 Modifieds & DIRT Prostocks (LV PROSTOCK POINTS CONTINUE)

 

Bethel:

August 20th:

 

Sportsman, Pro Stock, Legends, Bandoleros,

BMS Modified, Street Stock, 4 Cylinder

4/6 Cylinder Trucks

 

August 27th:

 

Nostalgia Night

Sportsman, Pro Stock, Bandoleros, BMS Modified,

Street Stock, 4 Cylinder

Northeast Vintage Dirt Modifieds

 

 

 

 

Eastern Museum of Motor Racing – EMMR:

 

August 19th to 21st – 37th EMMR/WGOT Convention at EMMR/LVFG

 

Chris Miller Memorial & Remembering Bowling Green Speedway

 

Fri, Sat & Sun – Daytime events at EMMR

 

Fri PM – Cruise at Latimore Valley Fairgrounds

 

Fri PM – Track Time at Williams Grove Speedway

 

Sat & Sun afternoon – Track Time at Latimore Valley

 

Sat PM – Track Time at Lincoln Speedway

 

http://www.emmr.org/

 

From an e-mail received on Tuesday morning:

 

“This Weekend August 19 – 21 the 37TH ANNUAL EMMR/WGOT CONVENTION

Free and open to the Public. Roundtables Friday morning and afternoon at EMMR.

Cruise Friday Night at EMMR; Annual Meeting Sunday 10:00 at Latimore Infield

Tracktime: Friday Night at
Williams Grove
Saturday Afternoon at Latimore Valley
Saturday Night at
Lincoln
Sunday Afternoon at Latimore Valley

See EMMR's main website later today for updates and a full schedule. Any questions about track time, contact Joe Heisler at
jlh3@erols.com”

 

 

Hinchliffe Stadium:

 

This years Hinchliffe Stadium Expo is on Sunday, September 4. The show coincides with The Great Falls Festival. Admission is free and entering a car or exhibit in the show is free. Come out and show your support for Paterson's rich racing history. See you at the show...

 

Some late breaking news about Hinchliffe:

Hinchliffe Stadium and the SUM Building Receive State Historic Preservation Funding

PATERSON, NJ – The state will provide $500,000 for the stabilization of Hinchliffe Stadium under legislation signed on Monday by Gov. Chris Christie.”

Hinchliffe Stadium

Grantee: Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium

Grant Award: $500,000

Work Proposed: Stabilization

Hinchliffe Stadium may be the last major New Deal-era stadium remaining in New Jersey. Opened in 1932, the Stadium was the site of the final meeting of the 1934 Paterson Labor Strike. The New York Black Yankees team of the Negro League used the stadium for twelve seasons beginning in 1933 and in 1936 and it was also used by the New York Cubans team. Hinchliffe is one of only three Negro League baseball stadiums of note still extant in the United States. The National Park Service is currently considering its potential to become a National Historic Landmark.

The building has been owned by Paterson Schools since 1963 but is in a deteriorated state and no longer in use (since 1997). Its decorative tiles of sports figures survive but the concrete is crumbling and heaving from water infiltration. Its Art-Deco geometric lines, red-tile roofing and decorative keystones survive.

The Trust grant will help stabilize the stadium. A preservation plan is currently being prepared under a 2009 Historic Trust planning grant and will guide preservation efforts. The project will stabilize significant portions of the stadium and help stop ongoing deterioration as well as provide protection from potential vandalism.”

 

Found on Jayski’s website:

Time ranks Jayski:

Pretty neat honor by Time magazine, see time.com for The 50 Best Websites of 2011: "We honor the scrappy newcomers and established players that make the Web so useful, entertaining and just plain indispensable".(8-16-2011)

International Motorsports Hall of Fame Announces Top-20 Finalists:

The field has been narrowed and only 20 finalists remain for induction into the Class of 2012 International Motorsports Hall of Fame. The final inductees will be elected when the last round of voting begins in August. "Practically every form of racing, from stock cars to open wheel to motorcycles to airplanes are represented. They are drivers, car builders, engine builders, owners, pilots, daredevils, pioneers and innovators," states Executive Director, Grant Lynch. The finalists are: Erwin "Cannonball" Baker , David Hobbs, Kenny Bernstein, Ted Horn, Keith Black, Joe Leonard, Richard Childress, Tommy Milton, Joie Chitwood, Marvin Panch, Rene Dreyfus, Les Richter, Zora Arkus-Duntov, Pedro Rodriquez, Harvey Firestone, Sir Henry Segrave, John Force, Lee Shepherd, Tommy Hinnershitz, and Chuck Yeager. The Class of 2012 will be announced in late fall of this year, with the induction ceremony tentatively set for Thursday, May 3, 2012.(IMHOF PR)(8-11-2011)

Gibbs to close engine shop? UPDATE:

Hearing that Joe Gibbs Racing [#11, #18, #20] will lay off half their engine shop staff and get engines supplied, supposedly for free, from TRD - Toyota Racing Development. Hearing it is a three year deal, not sure if it starts soon or with the 2012 season. Employee's not laid off will be reassigned within the company, as there are reports that JGR will expand to a fourth team and are in the hunt for Carl Edwards to drive for them in 2012. Edwards is a free agent and currently drives for Roush Fenway Racing in the #99 Ford. Just last week, Toyota'a Lee White told FoxSports: "No, they're not shutting down their engine shop and no we will not be building their engines," White said. "Of course, hell can freeze over and pigs can fly, but not in this world." Currently, the JGR engines would not even fit in the other Toyota cars with their configuration.(7-15-2011)


UPDATE:

Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota Research and Development announced Thursday that they are combining their engine efforts in 2012. Officials said there is a chance that JGR cars could use engines out of TRD headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif., before the end of this season, but that the focus is on next year. Economics in part drove the merger. As Lee White, the president of TRG said, "Building for three teams or less is extremely expensive and inefficient." JGR builds all of its engines while the other Toyota teams -- Michael Waltrip Racing and Red Bull Racing -- receive engines from TRD. With JGR looking to expand its Nationwide presence and add a Trucks program, the merger gives the organization more flexibility. With the future of Red Bull Racing in doubt, the addition of JGR also allows TRG to maintain a full workload if Red Bull's organization folds or is moved to another manufacturer with new investors. Gibbs said JGR will maintain its engine shop in Huntersville, N.C., so that it can make any tweaks to the engines it deems necessary and to work on other projects.(ESPN.com) See earlier updates on the #18 team page.(8-11-2011)

Gibbs fourth team "a long shot":

Joe Gibbs Racing President JD Gibbs said plans for a fourth Sprint Cup team were not necessarily derailed when Carl Edwards opted to remain with Roush Fenway Racing, rather than jump to JGR. "In each of the last three years, we've looked around to see what kind of things pop-up that would allow us to make (a fourth team) work," Gibbs said. "But it all has to come together. You have to have a driver, which is key. You need the right partner to sponsor the team (and) you have to have the right crew. If all that comes together, we're good to go. We can go quickly. But we've also learned that if all that doesn't come together, we're better off waiting, instead of trying to force something to go together. That's where we are right now. We can go quickly if it all lines up, and that's our hope." He admitted that a fourth Sprint Cup Series Toyota in 2012 is "probably a long shot, (since) we're not lined up with the right partners. But I also wouldn't rule it out. We don't have to plan something out six months in advance. We can cut it a little closer and make it work. We're in no hurry. There's no panic and we're not going to force it, but if the opportunity is there, we can take advantage of it quickly."(Sirius Speedway)(8-12-2011)

 

Latest feud - Said vs. Biffle:

NASCAR officials will review an incident in which #16-Greg Biffle took a swing at #51-Boris Said in the garage following Monday's Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International. According to witnesses, Biffle approached Said's car after a wild green-white-checkered finish in which Said got into the back of #6-David Ragan, Biffle's Roush Fenway Racing teammate. After the race, Biffle took at least one swing at Said through the window of Said's Phoenix Racing Chevy. Once Said unstrapped himself and climbed out of the car he went after Biffle, who by then was protected by his crew. "He is the most unprofessional little scaredy cat I've ever seen in my life,'' said an angry Said during a TV interview with ESPN The Magazine's Ryan McGee. "He wouldn't even fight me like a man after. So if someone texts me his address, I'll go see him Wednesday at his house and show him what he really needs." Biffle used his Twitter page to respond to Said's remarks. "Boris,'the roadcourse ringer' caused that wreck," he posted on his page, later adding. "Then Mr. Class pulls in behind my truck after the race today?! Shouldn't you go check on David & David? How unprofessional & disrespectful!" Both drivers left the track before NASCAR officials had a chance to talk to them. "We are evaluating the situation," NASCAR spokesperson Kristi King said. Any potential penalties likely would be announced on Tuesday or Wednesday.(ESPN.com)(8-16-2011)

Biffle tells his side of the story [altercation with Boris Said]:

When it was all said and done, #16-Greg Biffle didn't have to hide from #51-Boris Said and Said wasn't forced to find him as he had promised. The two spoke and aired their differences via phone Tuesday, and then Biffle headed to the SPEED Studios to share his side of the story with NASCAR Race Hub. Following is a transcript from host Steve Byrnes' interview with Biffle:
On his response to Said's post-race comments:


Biffle: "Several things to come mind. One  he wrecked me there last year. Never called me, never said anything about it. Number two  he ran me off in the carousel. That's what ticked me off. Same place we saw the 24 and 31 in that huge wreck  ran me off the track there and that was why I was mad at Boris Said. Then he goes and hits the 6 car off the track. We just heard him say (on video replay) that he had no choice. Well, I disagree about having no choice of turning a guy the wrong way into the wall. And then after the race, not concerned about the safety of those guys (David Ragan and David Reutimann), he drives to my truck and parks behind my car. I was fine after the race and that just set me off. He pulled up behind my truck like he had a problem. I didn't act properly there. I shouldn't have been as aggravated as I was. He should have went and parked at his truck, took his gear off and talked to me or whatever he wanted to do."
On whether he was upset with Said that he seemed unconcerned about David Ragan and David Reutimann post-race:


Biffle: "Yeah. That was kind of what fired me up because I had kind of forgotten about Boris Said running me off in the carousel. Let's face it  I could have turned him anywhere on that race track that I wanted to. I got more respect for our race cars and other competitors on the race track to do that. Did you see the video footage of his car (with damage) when they were putting it on the lift gate? That was the opposite side of the car that he had the scuffle with the 6 on. So, he had been in a lot more incidents in that race than that one. You can't come and race in this series and race guys with no respect at all. Come race hard, do your thing. Boris has a lot of talent, a lot of skill. He's just not showing it."

On his Tuesday phone conversation with Said:


Biffle: "He understands and he apologized for running me off in the carousel. He didn't know he did. That was probably the whole thing that led to him coming up to my truck because he didn't understand why I was so mad at him. He ran me off the race track in a very vulnerable spot, similar to what he did to the 6. We talked about it and I told him, 'You can very well be where Marcos Ambrose was yesterday. You need to get in a fast car and show your talent, not be beating and banging and running guys off the race track at spots like that.' We kind of said our peace and that's that."
(jokingly) On whether Said is going to give him a black eye as promised Monday:


Biffle: "I don't know (laughing). I felt like it was like fifth grade, right, which means after recess, 3 o'clock on Wednesday, we're going to fight over by the fence."(SPEED)(8-17-2011)”

Note:  It’s said that both drivers spoke via a telephone call and things are A-OK now.

 

SAFER walls to be installed at the Rock:

The Rockingham Speedway, which hosted NASCAR Sprint Cup races from 1965 to 2004, is taking a huge step toward once again hosting big-league racing as SAFER "soft wall" barriers will be installed next month. The energy-absorbing system will be installed in two phases, in mid-September and late December, covering all four turns of the one-mile oval and the inside of the backstretch wall. The most common estimate of the SAFER barrier cost is $1 million per mile. "Yes, that's expensive," said Robert Ingraham, the track's general manager, "but nothing's more expensive than having someone hurt." NASCAR requires racetracks to have the SAFER barrier in place before they can host one of the sanctioning body's top three national series -- Sprint Cup, Nationwide, or Camping World Trucks. Rockingham, then known as North Carolina Motor Speedway, hosted 78 Sprint Cup events and 42 Nationwide Series races, but it hasn't held a NASCAR event since Matt Kenseth's victory in the Subway 400 on Feb. 22, 2004. The track and the 244 acres it sits on were dormant for nearly four years before it was purchased by veteran racer Andy Hillenburg at auction on Sept. 27, 2007. Rockingham officials have had discussions with NASCAR, albeit informal, about the possibility of a Nationwide or Truck Series event returning to the track more commonly known as The Rock. A source within NASCAR, speaking on condition of anonymity, admits as much. However, the lack of a SAFER barrier had always been an insurmountable issue. Without the promise of a NASCAR race, Hillenburg wasn't confident enough to try and secure funds for SAFER installation. That now appears to have changed. Just last month, Nashville Superspeedway announced it was closing, essentially orphaning four NASCAR events, two each in Nationwide and Trucks. Since that announcement, speculation has run rampant as to where those races might end up in 2012. Next season's NASCAR schedules have not yet been finalized.(ESPN)(8-17-2011)

 

More SAFER at Watkins Glen?

NASCAR is talking to officials at Watkins Glen International about adding SAFER barriers and reconfiguring the angle of walls in key areas around the road course following Monday's Sprint Cup race in which there were two violent crashes. The governing body also is discussing the situation with engineers at the University of Nebraska that designed the SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barriers about what can be done to improve safety. The concerns came from two wrecks. The first involved #11-Denny Hamlin crashing head on into a tire barrier early. The one that brought the most concern came on the final lap in Turn 2. #51-Boris Said got into the back of David Ragan's #6 Ford, which bounced off a steel and tire barrier into David Reutimann's car, sending the #00 upside down into another barrier with parts flying everywhere. "We learn something every day on the possibility of what can happen,'' NASCAR president Mike Helton said on Tuesday from the NASCAR Hall of Fame where he announced plans to move the induction ceremony to January 20. "When you see something unusual like that you have to study it and see what's the better circumstance for that not to happen again. There are some areas, the engineers from the University of Nebraska have told us, where the SAFER barriers could be worse. We just have to make sure we do it right.'' Helton said NASCAR and the University of Nebraska are taking a hard look at where SAFER barriers could be beneficial and where re-aligning the angle of the walls will prevent cars from being thrown back onto the track. "There's some areas where a SAFER barrier isn't the best answer, particularly on a road course because of the uniqueness of going left and right,'' Helton said. "So far, at least from what we've been told, there are some areas that may not. That doesn't mean all the areas that need to be covered are covered, but SAFER barriers are not always the perfect answer for a situation.''(ESPN)(8-17-2011)

 

Latest on Danica...

to NASCAR in 2012: Danica Patrick next week will formally announce her intent to move to NASCAR full-time in 2012, multiple sources with knowledge of her contract negotiations told ESPN. Although her contracts are still being finalized, Patrick -- who has raced in both the IndyCar Series and the Nationwide series this season and last season -- will drive the #7 GoDaddy.com Chevy for the entire 2012 Nationwide Series schedule for JR Motorsports, sources said. She also plans to enter select Sprint Cup races next season in cars prepared by Stewart-Haas Racing, with the intent to move to Sprint Cup full-time in a multiyear deal with Stewart-Haas in 2013, sources said. Patrick is expected to make the announcement in Phoenix, where GoDaddy.com is headquartered, in a news conference currently being arranged, according to sources. JR Motorsports representatives said Wednesday they have "nothing new to report." It is unknown at this time how this may affect Patrick's ability to compete in the 2012 Indianapolis 500, sources said.(ESPN)(8-17-2011)

 

 

Former Oakland Valley Speedway (Dirt Oval) runners:

Last Wednesday, at Kutztown, Molly Chambers was 12th in the Wingless 600 Micro Sprint feature.

Kolby Schroder ran in the Modified feature at Lebanon Valley with a Big Block and finished 8th while Kyle Armstrong was 21st.

Danny Creeden had a 5th place finish at Five Mile Point.

Mike Mammana finished 2nd in the Sportsman feature at Big Diamond.

AJ Filbeck, in his first visit to Thunder Mountain Speedway, won the Sportsman feature.

At Wall Stadium, Roger Coss was 3rd in the Modified feature.

Tyler Boniface was 19th in the Sportsman feature at Glen Ridge, last week, and was 5th in the Sportsman feature on August 5th.  I missed that one.

Davie Franek was 5th in the 358 Sprint Car feature at Williams Grove.

In the 50-lap Super Modified feature at Oswego, Brian Sobus finished 5th.

Nick Pecko was 4th in the Modified feature at Mountain Speedway.

At I-88 Speedway, last Friday, in the CRSA 305 Sprint Car feature, Josh Pieniazek was the race winner.  John Virgilio was 2nd, Danny Hennessy 10th Brittany Tresch 13th and Emily VanInwegen 22nd.

In the Modified feature at Accord, Danny Creeden was 3rd, Mike Ruggiero 19th and Clinton Mills 21st.  Anthony Perrego was 10th, Mike Traver 16th and Brad Szulewski 19th in the Sportsman feature.  Kyle Rohner won another Spec Sportsman feature with Kyle Van Duser 4th and Tyler Dippel 11th.  Matt Hitchcock, after his wild, out of the ballpark, ride - in his heat was a DNS.

Hey, sorry if I missed anyone!

 

 

 

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 August 19th to August 25th:

AUGUST 19

1926

Johnny Boyd ... Born ... Boyd drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series from 1954 to 1966 with 56 starts. He finished in the top ten 31 times, with his best finish in 2nd position, in 1959 at Milwaukee. Boyd qualified for the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 1955 but finished 29th after being involved in an accident that killed driver Bill Vukovich. In a dozen starts, his best race was in 1958, when he led 18 laps and finished 3rd. In total, he finished in the Top 10 at the 500 five times. After 1949 Boyd had become close friends with Bob Sweikert of Hayward, California when he met him on the California racing circuit. The two often raced together, and Boyd qualified for entry in the 1955 Indianapolis 500 when Sweikert helped him overcome mechanical handling problems in Boyd's car. Sweikert won the race that day, but was overshadowed by the death of Vukovich. Boyd also raced against Sweikert in 1956 at Indy, but Sweikert was killed several weeks later in a Sprint car race. Boyd retired as a driver after failing to qualify for the Indy 500 and Milwaukee race in 1967. He died of cancer at age 77 in his hometown of Fresno.

1975

Mark Donohue... Died ... Known for his ability to set up his own race car and drive it consistently on the absolute limit. Donohue is probably best-known as the driver of the 1500+ bhp "Can-Am Killer" Porsche 917-30, and as winner of the 1972 Indianapolis 500. Ran USAC INDY cars from 1968 to 1973. Died of injuries from a crash in Austrian GP practice.

1979

Rick Mears won the CART sanctioned Ditzler 150 race on the 1.5 Mile Paved Oval Trenton International Speedway in Trenton, New Jersey. Bobby Unser finished second followed by Tom Sneva, Wally Dallenbach and Johnny Rutherford. It was the last Indycar race ever run at the track.

 



AUGUST 20

1938

Billy Winn ... Died ... An American racecar driver. Primarily a sprint car driver, Winn competed in four Indianapolis 500 races (1931, 1932, 1936, and 1937) and drove as a relief driver in 1933, 1934, 1935, and 1938. He also drove his single-gear sprint car in the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup races, running near the front of both races but being sidelined by mechanical failure both years. Died as a result of a crash in the AAA sanctioned Springfield 100 in Springfield, Illinois.

1939

Bob Hurt... Born ... USAC driver from the 1960's.

2009

Jonathan Byrd ... Died ... Longtime IndyCar Team Owner. Byrd campaigned late model stock cars in the early 80’s and once sponsored NASCAR champion Darrell Waltrip, but turned to USAC Midgets in 1985. He teamed with the late, great Rich Vogler from 1985 to 1990. The pairing qualified for 5 Indianapolis 500’s, with a top finish of 8th in 1989. The Byrd / Vogler combination scored two USAC National Midget Championships and five ESPN television championships. From 1991 to 2001, entered and qualified for the Indy 500 with drivers such as Stan Fox, Gordon Johncock, Buddy Lazier, Scott Brayton, John Andretti and Davy Jones, Arie Luyendyk, Mike Groff, and Jaques Lazier. In 1994, he teamed with the legendary A.J. Foyt, and allowed John Andretti to become the first, and one of only three drivers to compete in both the Indy 500 and Charlotte 600 on the same day. Andretti would later qualify the Jonathan Byrd entry in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s inaugural Brickyard 400. In 1996 he formed the Indy Racing team with driver, Arie Luyendyk. The team scored a pole position and race victory at Phoenix International Raceway, and set the all-time qualifying speed records at both Phoenix International Raceway and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His cars placed fourth in the Indy car points championship in 1997, and captured a race victory with driver John Paul, Jr. in the 1998 Lone Star 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. He had sixteen cars compete in the Indianapolis 500, garnering seven top-ten finishes. Byrd may be best known for his Greenwood cafeteria in Greenwood Indiana, which is the largest cafeteria and banquet facility in the world. Byrd also owned a book company that is the largest dealer, importer, and restorer of ancient bibles and theology books.

 

AUGUST 21

1913

Fred Agabashian... Born ... Born in Modesto, California, Frederik was the son of a genious mathematician, and just like his sisters, he wanted to become famous. While they became singers, Fred choose to race. The colorful Armenian with the big smile and terrific personality began racing cars while in his teens. He won his first midget championship in 1937 with the Northern California Racing Association against such drivers as Duane Carter, Lynn Deister, and Paul Swedberg. Driving for Jack London, Freddie captured the BCRA crown in 1946, then switched to the George Bignotti racing team in 1947. He was almost unbeatable for the next two years and captured the BCRA title twice more in 1947 and 1948. Agabashian did not limit his driving abilities to midgets. He won in big cars and stock cars as well which earned him a ride at Indianapolis for the 1947 race. He competed at Indy on eleven occasions and is best remembered for his pole winning effort in 1952 in the unique Cummins Diesel. His best finish at Indianapolis came the next year when he placed 4th with relief from Paul Russo. After his retirement, Agabashian did color commentary for the 500 Radio Network. Agabashian was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

1928

Elmo Langley... Born ... Langley began his racing career racing modified cars in Virginia and Maryland in 1952. Langley came in to NASCAR as a Driver/Owner in 1954. In 1966 in partnered with Henry Woodfield and created Langley-Woodfield Racing. That same year Langley won the only two races of his long career. After the second race of the 1969 season, Langley and Woodfield split and Langley continued to run team on his own returning to the driver/owner role. He finished in the Top-10 in season points from 1967 until his final full season as a driver for Langley Racing in 1975 (except 1974). He continued to drive in a few select races until 1981 when he hung up the helmet for good. Langley shut down his team after the 1987 season.

1944

Bruce Walkup... Born ... Walkup raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1967-1971 seasons, with 35 career starts, including the 1969 and 1970 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 11 times, with his best finish in 4th position in 1969 at Sacramento. Bruce's father, Vince, worked as a mechanic for Bill Vukovich.

1983

Gene Force ... Died ... Gene Force raced midgets 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.

1995

Chuck Stevenson... Died ...Chuck drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1949-1954, 1960-1961 and 1963-1965 seasons with 54 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1951-1954, 1960-1961, and 1963-1965. He finished in the top ten 37 times, with 4 victories, 2 of them coming in the 1952 season when he won the AAA National Championship. Stevenson also raced in two NASCAR events -- one in 1955 and one in 1956, picking up a win at Willow Springs Raceway in 1955 driving a Ford. The race he entered in to in 1955 was driving a car owned by Indy winner Pete DePaolo.

 

AUGUST 22

1964

Bill Horstmeyer... Died ... Bill Horstmeyer, a veteran of twelve years of racing who sucessfully raced in Badger Midgets, was entered as a rookie in his first Champ Car race in his newly purchased "big car" - the former "Central Excavating" vehicle, which he acquired from Pete Salemi. The race, a 100-mile feature event at the 1964 Illinois State Fair's one-mile dirt oval, was dedicated to Tony Bettebhausen, who had been killed in practice at Indianapolis three years earlier. After having completed twenty-four laps around the track in this race Horstmeyer's car hit - or brushed - the outer wall coming out of Turn Four, dug into the dirt surface of the course and wildly flipped end-over-end down the front stretch. The car came to rest against a fence, trapping Horstmeyer inside his car. The Kuzma then burst into flames, and Horstmeyer received severe burns from which he died a few hours later in St. John's Hospital. The accident cast a dark shadow over what was otherwise a noteworthy race. A. J. Foyt won his seventh race in a row, starting from the 16th position of 18 starters, barely edging Bobby Marshman for the win. A. J. went on to win his fourth USAC National championship in five years.

 

AUGUST 23
1917

Bill Sheffler ... Born ... AAA driver from the 1940's. He died in a practice crash for the AAA race at the Trenton Speedway (NJ).

1936

Doc MacKenzie ... Died ... AAA driver from the 1930's. He was killed in a Sprint Car race on the 1.0-mile dirt oval Milwaukee Mile, Milwaukee, WI Aug.23, 1936

1963

Kenny Wallace ... Born ... NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series driver. He has two brothers who are also NASCAR drivers: Rusty Wallace and Mike Wallace, a nephew Steve Wallace, and a niece Chrissy Wallace.

1966

Steve Park ... Born ... Park began racing not in an entry-level class, but in NASCAR Modifieds on Long Island as the son of longtime National Modified Championship contender Bob Park. After establishing himself in weekly Modified racing at Riverhead Raceway, he advanced to the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series. He won several races and became a championship contender before moving on to the Busch and Cup Series.

 

AUGUST 24
1930

Carl Williams... Born ... USAC driver from the 1960's & 70's.He ran the Indy 500 6 times with a best finish of 9th in 1970. He was killed in a motorcycle accident in Kansas City in 1973.

Roger McCluskey... Born ... McCluskey was one of the most successful drivers in USAC history. McCluskey won the USAC sprint-car championship in 1963 and 1966 and won the USAC stock-car crown in 1969 and 1970. A fifth USAC title came in the Champ Car (Indy car) division in 1972. McCluskey owns 23 victories in both the USAC sprint-car and stock-car divisions, and his five Indy car and four midget triumphs give him 55-all time USAC victories. McCluskey made 18 Indy 500 starts with a best finish of third. He is a member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame. Roger McCluskey lost his battle with cancer just five days before his 63rd birthday on Aug. 29, 1993.

1962

Clark "Shorty" Templeman ... Died ... Shorty drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1954-1962 seasons with 42 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1955, 1958, and 1960-1962. He finished in the top ten 16 times, with his best finish in 2nd position, in 1961 at both DuQuoin and Syracuse. His best Indy finish was 4th in 1961. He won five Washington State and three Oregon midget state championships. Templeman won all three Night Before the 500 midget car features at the 16th Street Speedway in Indianapolis in 1956. Templeman won the first three USAC National Midget Series champions when he won titles in 1956, 1957, and 1958. Templeman died as a result of injuries sustained in a midget car crash at the Marion County, Ohio Fairgrounds track. He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1984.

1997

Luigi Villoresi ... Died ... Driver from Italy who ran the 1946 Indy 500 in a Maserati and finished 7th.

 

AUGUST 25

1976

Doc Shanebrook... Died ... ARDC &AAA driver from the late 1930’s into the 1950's.  Real name was Beuford. Worked as a doctor for many years in a variety of different areas, but alwayskept up his racing wherever he could.

 

 

News from the AARN:

 

From their August 9th edition:

 

One of the first things I read when I get my AARN is the column by Ernie Saxton.  This week he says that he thought the Brickyard 400 was BORING!

Note:  From my column of a couple of weeks ago, column #66:

Tenth:

This is hard for me to say, but I suppose it has to be said.  I watched some of the Brickyard 400 last Sunday. B O R I N G!”

Yes at times, Ernie and I think alike.

 

We also think alike on this – Danica Patrick is making a mistake by leaving Indycar for NASCAR.

 

Ernie makes mention of a possible F-1 race on the streets of Weehawken and West New York, NJ.  Those towns are considering a proposal for an F-1 race there.  As for me – I don’t see it happening.

 

Ernie also makes note of Jerry Reigel and his difficult time with some rather serious health issues.

 

Those that have been associated with auto racing and that have passed on are Earl Gaerte, who I imagine you’ve already read or heard about.  George Hudick, 84, a dirt modified car owner from the Pennsylvania area, Debbie Hoddick, 53, wife of racer and car owner Trey Hoddick, from the western Pa area, and Dave Scarborough, 74, former racer from Florida.

 

Brett Deyo, in his column had quite a bit about some troubles at the Delaware International Speedway – problems with oversized bodies, it seems.

He also makes mention of the possibility of Brett Hearn not racing at Accord this coming Friday night, but opting to go run in the Alex Friesen Summer Nationals ($10,000.00 to win) at the Ransomville Speedway.

 

Note: At 2:35 PM on Wednesday, 8/17, I checked the Brett Hearn website.  In two places it showed that he would be at Accord on 8/19.  Time will tell.

 

Jerry Reigel, in his column, does not make any mention of his health issues, but he has cut back somewhat in his column.  Where he used to have the “Final 50”, it’s now the Final 40.

He makes mention that Jason Meyers leads Donny Schatz by only 52 points in the WoO Sprint Car Series.

He did make mention of an award that will be named after him – the 410 Sprint Car Sportsmanship Award at the Williams Grove Speedway will be named in his honor.

 

NEMA – the Northeastern Midget Association – are their days numbered?  Looking at the results in the AARN from their show at the Twin State Speedway in Claremont, NH, there are only 10 cars shown.  An attempt to see “Results” on the NEMA website, proves fruitless with no Twin State results being shown.  Also, going to the Twin State Speedways website – no place to check results.  Go figure!

 

Meanwhile, the ARDC in their “Southern tour” down at the Dixieland Speedway in Elizabeth City, NC and at the County Line Speedway in Elm City, NC, had 20 cars for each show.

 

Note:  It’s been said that when one runs a wing on an open wheel race car, such as Midgets and Sprint Cars, it puts a lot of strain on the entire drive line and also on the engines.  Might this be one of the problems with NEMA?

 

On August 6th, Billy Pauch won feature # 100 at the New Egypt Speedway.

Also on that night, Ray Evernham ran a 305 Sprint Car – winning his heat and placing 22nd in the feature.  No mention of his wife, Erin Crocker, racing, though.

 

By now you more than likely know that Dr. Joseph Mattioli has retired from running the Pocono racetrack.  The reins have been turned over to his grandchildren.  One thing – the track has been put in trust.  That prevents it being sold to anyone.  Interesting, to say the least!

 

On August 30th, with a rain date of the 31st, the “Jersey Rush” 410 - 30 lap Sprint Car race at the New Egypt Speedway, will pay at least $5,000.00 to the winner.  Some names already entered:  Fred Rahmer, Tyler Walker, Justin Henderson, Greg Hodnett, Daryn Pittman, Lance DeWease, Dave Ely, Curt Michael, Davey Sammons, Mark Smith, Frank Cozze and Steve Buckwalter.

 

In the column by Dave Roberts, he questions who might be the oldest competitive racer in the US.  Did you know that Hershel McGriff, 83, is still racing?  He’s been entered in six events out on the west coast, along with racing in the GASS (Great American Stock Car) Series in the mid-west – a series for drivers over the age of 45.

 

The race rundown for the Modified feature at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway, in the AARN, shows only 10 cars, while at the Albany/Saratoga track, 13 cars are listed.  Both tracks went to asphalt for the 2011 season.  Methinks they drew a little better, in the past, when they were dirt.

 

There’s an ad on page 55 for the next Atlantic City indoor TQ (600 Micro’s too?) race to be held on February 3rd and 4th.  More info on that can be found here:  http://www.aarn.com/acindoorrace2012.html

 

Two nights of Midget racing at the Belleville Nationals, once one of the bigger Midget races in the country, drew 25 cars for the Friday August 5th show and 24 cars for the Saturday August 6th show.  Kyle Larson won both nights.

 

Note:  Wow!  Only 24 & 25 cars?  What has happened to midget racing in the US?  My guess:  Those ultra expensive Midget engines, first off, along with today’s economy.  Sad,  real sad.

 

 

 

More racin’ stuff:

 

From the Frontstretch:

 

Matt McLaughlin’s Thinking Out Loud:  Watkins Glen Race Recap

Bryan Davis Keith – Tuesday, August 16, 2011”

 

In part:

 

In a Nutshell – After months of anticipation following a Sonoma race that had everyone and their mother dubbing road racing “the new Bristol,” the Cup Series’ annual trip to the Glen ended up being a fast-paced stroll through the hills of New York. At least until…

 

The Dramatic Moment - While Ambrose and Keselowski were storming away from the field to settle the battle for the checkered flag, contact between Boris Said and David Ragan triggered possibly the most violent wreck of the 2011 season. Ragan slammed at full speed into the wall jutting out the exit of turn 1, cutting into oncoming traffic and sending David Reutimann into the fence… and into a flip. Fortunately, both drivers walked away from the wreck, albeit visibly dazed.

 

Along with these topics:

 

What they’ll be talking about around the water cooler this week

 

Where…the…hell…were…the…rain tires?!

 

Will all the talk of road racing needing to increase in frequency cool off?

 

Check it all out, here:  http://www.frontstretch.com/bkeith/35011/

 

 

 

Racing and television:

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

 

 

 

 

Some non-racing stuff:

 

Open mouth – insert foot – again

 

Saw this on the news on Tuesday evening:

 

SPARTANBURG, South Carolina (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann got her Elvis Presley dates all shook up during a campaign stop Tuesday in South Carolina.

The congresswoman from Minnesota played the Elvis tune "Promised Land" at a local restaurant and told the crowd of 300 that she wanted to say happy birthday to the king of rock 'n' roll.

"Before we get started, let's all say happy birthday to Elvis Presley today!" Bachmann said.

But Aug. 16 is the anniversary of Elvis' death, in 1977, and someone in the crowd shouted back, "He died today!"

Bachmann didn't respond and launched into her speech.

She didn't miss a beat on the Elvis front either. As she signed autographs, she paused for a brief dance with one of her fans.

Bachmann corrected herself later as she spoke with reporters, noting the date marked Presley's passing, not his birth. He was born on Jan. 8, 1935.

"As far as we're concerned, he's still alive in our hearts," Bachmann said.

Bachmann has stumbled over cultural references before. In June, she kicked off her presidential campaign in Waterloo, Iowa, calling it the home of American actor John Wayne. The town was actually home for a time to serial killer John Wayne Gacy.

Uh huh, and she just won in Iowa?  OMG!

 

And, how about this one - Social Security Mistakenly Reports Thousands of Deaths

In part:

More Americans are being erroneously killed off by the Social Security Administration every day.

Of the approximately 2.8 million death reports the Social Security Administration receives per year, about 14,000 -- or one in every 200 deaths -- are incorrectly entered into its Death Master File, which contains the Social Security numbers, names, birth dates, death dates, zip codes and last-known residences of more than 87 million deceased Americans. That averages out to 38 life-altering mistakes a day.”

“Laura Brooks, of Spotsylvania, Va., discovered she had been declared dead when she stopped receiving her disability checks, and her rent and student loan payments unexpectedly bounced.

She went to her bank and a representative said her account had been closed because she was dead. Brooks, a 52-year old mother of two, was already on permanent disability because of a severe depressive disorder, so hearing this turned her already difficult world completely upside down.”

“The bank representative told Brooks she couldn't reopen her account until she could prove she was alive. When she went to the Social Security office in January 2001, she found out she was declared dead on Dec. 6, 2000. To correct this, she had to submit the pay stubs she was receiving from a program that helps people on disability get back to work.”

Kinda ridiculous, isn’t it?  More on this, and some which is quite unbelievable, I should say, can be seen if you go here:

http://finance.yahoo.com/retirement/article/113342/social-security-mistakenly-reports-deaths-cnnmoney

Note:  I might have mentioned this in a column or two, previously, but just for kicks, I “Googled” my fathers name and was surprised to find that in the Death Records in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) which came up, when I clicked on his name, along with others with the same last name, cousins, aunts and uncles, along with a sister-in-law, their Social Security numbers came up!

 

 

 

Is this true?:

 

Scary, if true – from an e-mail I received:

 

TWO  DIFFERENT DOCTORS' OFFICES ....

Boy, if  this doesn't hit the nail on the head, I don't
know what  does!  Two  patients limp into two different
medical clinics with the same  complaint.  Both have trouble
walking and appear to require a  hip replacement.

The FIRST patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed
the same day and has a time  booked for surgery the
following week.

The SECOND sees his family doctor after waiting 3 weeks
for an appointment, then waits 8 weeks  to see a specialist,
then gets an x-ray, which isn't reviewed for  another week
and finally has his surgery scheduled for 6 months from then.


Why the different treatment for the two patients?

The FIRST is a Golden Retriever.
The SECOND is a Senior  Citizen.
Next time take me to a vet!

 

 

Video time:

 

Something different – how we’re getting the shaft from oil companies.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qbdTcvr8bQ

 

 

The four foreign born drivers to win a NASCAR Cup race:

 

Driver, Country, Wins
Juan Pablo Montoya, Colombia, 2 (Sonoma, Watkins Glen)
Marcos Ambrose, Australia, 1 (Watkins Glen)
Mario Andretti, Italy, 1 (Daytona 500)
Earl Ross, Canada, 1 (Martinsville)
Ambrose now has four wins across the three NASCAR national touring series -- in Cup, Nationwide and Trucks. That's the second most in NASCAR history among foreign-born drivers - Canada's Ron Fellows has six wins (none in Sprint Cup)(ESPN)(8-17-2011)

 

How many never figured on Mario?

 

 

 

 

Closing with this:

 

No jokes again this week, but some helpful - to some - tips on saving dollars for us “older” folks:  This is the final part for some of those tips.

 

108 Stores with Senior Discounts

Gone are the days of your grandmother’s “early bird special” at the local diner. As our baby boomers reach retirement age, hundreds of retailers are featuring new and improved discounts exclusively for the 60 and older crowd. We have composed a list of senior savings that will help you keep more cash in your pocket. Whoever said getting older was a bad thing, obviously didn’t know about these fantastic senior discounts! This list is not all inclusive. Whataburger gives Seniors over 55 a free drink. I added this to the list. If you don't ask, you won't get it.

 

Activities & Entertainment

AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)

Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)

Busch Gardens Tampa: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)

Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)

Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off

U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+)

Regal Cinemas: 30% off

Ripley’s Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)

SeaWorld Orlando: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)

Cell Phone Discounts

AT&T: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $29.99/month (65+)

Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service (50+)

Verizon Wireless: Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan $29.99/month (65+)

*Check out our Secret Cell Phone Discounts to view all cell phone discounts available to you!

 

Miscellaneous

Great Clips: $3 off hair cuts (60+)

Super Cuts: $2 off haircuts (60+)

Since many senior discounts are not advertised to the public, our advice to men and women over 55 is to ALWAYS ask a sales associate if that store provides a senior discount. That way, you can be sure to get the most bang for you buck.

Looking for a printable version of our list of discounts for seniors? We’ve got you covered! Click this link to view, then just hit “Print” in your browser:108 Stores with Senior Discounts (PDF, 141 KB)

 

 

One more thing:

 

In an e-mail I got Wednesday evening, this little tid-bit was at the very end:

 

We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse”.


 

 

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