Racin'
& Internet Stuff:
By Tom Avenengo
Volume # 83
12/1/2011
First:
If you recall, I started off last weeks column
with this:
“First:
Getting old is a b*tch. As we
age we tend to have “issues” that pertain to ones health. Lord knows I’ve had some, myself. Mine started back in 1996, and the result was
some by-pass surgery on June 28th.
That ended my working career, and I was on Social Security Disability
until I reached the age of 65 when it changed over to being retired.”
Well, to be honest, things were not much better last Wednesday. I had a couple of errands to run, and between the first and second ones, the cable
between the transmission and console in my car broke. Guess what?
“Dealer only” item. Cost? How about $175.00? When will it arrive – Maybe Monday or Tuesday
or……. Uh huh!
So I go on a road trip with my son, Eric, down to
Second:
Going from bad to worst – On Tuesday, around 11:30 AM I received a
phone call from my son, Eric. He called
me to inform me that both he and his son, Brett, received a bogus e-mail from
me. Heck, I’m always getting them, as I
imagine you do too. That bogus message
was that I was in
And as for the broken cable, well a new one arrived where my son works
on Tuesday, so with a little assistance from a future grand-son-in-law, Shane,
around 4:00 on Wednesday, he’ll put it in gear (yes, it really takes two to do
that – one in the car with it running, in “Park”, with a foot on the brake
pedal, so the car won’t move forward when putting in gear). I’ll then drive the
car to where my son works and the new cable will be installed. That should be a fun job. Oh, it was, believe me!
Third:
Date: 11/23/2011 6:38:53 PM
New Egypt Offers
2012 Driver’s Free Season Pit-PassNew
Fourth:
Jim Rathmann, who passed away recently, was the only
driver to win the Indy 500, the Indy Car race at
Fifth:
Accord
Sixth:
With Albany/Saratoga coming back as a dirt surfaced track in 2012,
here’s a link to some of their rules:
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/41929-albany-saratoga-speedway-rules/
Seventh:
CUP: Layoffs Trim Staff At Roush Fenway
Roush Fenway Racing expects to field three Sprint Cup teams and two Nationwide teams next season…
Mike Hembree | Posted November 22, 2011
In part:
"Only two days after failing to win the Sprint Cup championship in
a tight race with Tony Stewart, Roush Fenway Racing has been rocked by the
layoffs of more than 100 workers, according to multiple sources.
RFR spokesman Kevin Woods would confirm only that layoffs took place
and would not discuss the number of employees impacted.
“We’ll have probably three Cup teams and one and one-half Nationwide teams (one full-time, one part-time) next
season,” Woods said. “Do the math. We had to right-size the organization to get
to that number.
“It’s an ongoing process that’s not complete.”
According to sources, more than 100 workers were released by the team
Monday and Tuesday. One source put the number at 125. Prior to Tuesday, the
team employed about 440 people.
Roush Fenway is expected to reduce its NASCAR Sprint Cup car count from
four cars to three next season, with the No. 6 driven
by David Ragan almost certain to be shuttered. At last report, the team is also
without sponsors for the No. 17 of Matt Kenseth, and there was no news on that
front Tuesday."
More on this can be seen, here: http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-breaking-news-layoffs-at-roush-fenway-racing/
And also some comments on this can be seen, here: http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?158022-Rousch-laid-off-125-employees-last-week
Eighth:
Question:
Who was the first Soap Box Derby regional winner to qualify for the
Indy 500?
Answer: Will be found at the end
of the column.
Ninth:
INDYCAR: Barnhart Removed From Race Control; Angstadt Departs
INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard finally made the decision to push Brian
Barnhart out of Race Control, according to SPEED's Robin Miller.
In part:
"After a season of non-stop controversy, including starting a race
in the rain and a lack of consistency in applying on-track penalties, Brian
Barnhart has finally been removed from Race Control in INDYCAR.
SPEED can report that Barnhart will be offered to stay on the payroll
as president of operations but will no longer have anything to do with the
officiating or managing of IZOD IndyCar Series races.
INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard was unavailable for comment but indicated a
few weeks ago that some major changes were forthcoming.
In addition to removing Barnhart as chief steward and director of
racing, Bernard is also replacing Terry Angstadt with Mark Koretzky, who served
as director of business development for IndyCar in 2011."
More on this can be found if you go here:
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-barnhart-removed-from-race-control-angstadt-fired/
And, over on the Track Forum, where I initially found this news:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?158075-The-Axe-has-Fallen-Barnhart-and-Angstadt-out
Tenth:
I found this over on the Track Forum:
Can IndyCar
drivers "drive"
This is the start
of the thread:
“I'm sure
I'll take heat for this, but I haven't started anything in a while, so my skin
is good and thick!
We all (fans, owners, drivers) say we want the driver back in control. We want
them to lift, we want them to steer/drive....not simply guide or point the car.
NASCAR drivers have to do this....they lift in corners, they take care of
tires, they watch fuel mileage, they draft. I remember when IndyCar drivers did
these things
Has 16 years of megadownforce, spec racing killed the talent level of IndyCar
drivers? It used to be that IndyCar drivers could go to NASCAR and compete (as
recent as Tony Stewart and JPM). Recent attempts, Hornish and Dario, have been
really bad
Is it possible that we don't have as big a problem with the new car as we have
with the guys we are putting in the new car to develop it....guys with skills
shaped by years of running in cars that required less driver than engineer?”
Note: Some pretty good thoughts and comments on
this, for sure. Personally, I do not
think today’s Indy car drivers are as good as those from “back in the day”. I’d love to see the wings taken off and get
rid of most of the downforce – put more back into the drivers back-side.
More on
this can be found if you go here:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?158079-Can-IndyCar-drivers-quot-drive-quot
Coming up:
Eastern
We will re-open for our annual Holiday Open
House the first
weekend of December; always lots of fun and food. That’s the 3rd and 4th.
Starting every Thursday during the winter from 6-9 pm,
Lynn Paxton and the gang will be holding weekly work parties.
We would love to have some volunteers step up and help arrange
cars and displays in the new wing. Without all the great volunteers
in this organization, EMMR doesn't exist.
So thanks to all of you !!!
Northeastern Vintage Dirt
Modified Racing Club
NVDMRC Club Banquet —
Sunday, December 4 at 1:00pm at
RSVP to Ed Stevens at 845-386-3484
Indoor Go-Kart racing in
Yup, almost that time again – December 10, 2011. Back when my grandson was racing Karts, we
made a few of those shows. The racing
was top notch; the building the track is in was both heated and ventilated. The only downfall was the possible weather
conditions – you know –
Info on this event can be found if you go here, below, and check out
the upper left hand corner for additional links.
http://www.cnyroadrace.com/indoor/
Found
on Jayski’s website:
Kurt Busch tirade at Jerry Punch: UPDATES:
UPDATE 3:
NASCAR has fined Kurt Busch $50,000 for his actions during the Nov. 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. NASCAR determined that Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing inappropriate hand gesture; abusive language) of the 2011 NASCAR Rule Book. In issuing the penalty, NASCAR cited Kurt Busch's "poor judgment in making an inappropriate hand gesture" when he drove his car into the garage early in the race after it experienced transmission problems. In addition, NASCAR said Kurt Busch showed "disrespect towards a media member," an incident that followed similar inappropriate media confrontations earlier in the season.(NASCAR)(11-25-2011)
UPDATE 4:
"Shell and Pennzoil are disappointed with recent actions by driver Kurt Busch at the final race of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race season," the company said in a statement. "His actions are in no way consistent with the way we want our brands represented and we have expressed our disappointment and concerns directly to Penske Racing."(Associated Press)(11-27-2011)
Addington leaves
Penske:
Steve Addington
finally came clean with #22-Kurt Busch on Monday. Busch said Addington called
him around 4 p.m. Monday afternoon to inform the driver he was "indeed
leaving" the team. Addington is expected to join Stewart-Haas Racing.(Fox
Sports)(11-22-2011)
UPDATE:
Steve Addington
will become the new crew chief for 2011 Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart,
multiple sources close to the situation told ESPN.com. An announcement could
come as early as Monday. Darian Grubb, who was Stewart's crew chief during the
title run, said after the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway that he was
told midway through the Chase he would not return in 2012. Addington informed
Penske Racing last Monday that he would not return as Kurt Busch's crew chief.
This will be the third driver Addington has worked with in the past four
seasons. He was with Kyle Busch from 2005 through 2009 and with Kurt Busch the
last two seasons.(ESPN)(11-28-2011)
UPDATE 2:
Steve Addington,
winner of 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races as a crew chief, has been named to
the same position for three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and the #14
Office Depot/Mobil 1 team of Stewart-Haas Racing effective immediately. The
Grubb is narrowing
down his options:
Darian Grubb will
take his seat at the head table in
Rick Hendrick talks
to media:
Rick Hendrick held
a teleconference Monday and discussed a wide variety of issues:
About Darian Grubb:
A: I have had discussions with Darian. When he left (at the end of 2008), we
told him we'd always have a place for him if he wanted to come back. Darian is
a very smart guy. I know he's entertaining a lot of offers out there. We don't
have a crew chief role. We have an engineering role that we think Darian would
be really good in. But at the end of the day it's got to be what Darian wants
to do. I know he is close to all of our people and our guys are close to him.
We'd love to have him back in the organization, but I quite honestly don't know
where he's going to end up. We would like to have him, but whether or not he's
going to decide he wants to be in the role we've offered him or he wants to do
something somewhere else, I'm just not sure.
Crew chiefs for 2012:
A: Yes. [All teams will have the] Same crew chief-driver
combination.
The plane wreck:
A: We were going into
Front Row
Motorsports driver lineup for 2012 not set:
Front Row
Motorsports owner Bob] Jenkins has been pouring millions into Front Row as it
seeks major sponsorship. Staying in the top 35 could help, as could recruitment
of a driver such as David Ragan (who is under the Ford umbrella but was phased
out at Roush Fenway), David Reutimann or Brian Vickers. [Team manager Jerry]
Freeze said he expected the team's crewmembers and drivers to be settled by
early January (#34-David Gilliland, #38-Travis Kvapil and #55-J.J. Yeley are
not under contract for 2012). "It's such an unusual time to have a fairly
good crop of drivers that are out there and available," Freeze said.
"Not to mention the guys that drove for us last year."(USA
Today)(11-29-2011)
Note: I believe that J.J. ended up 35th
in points which would put him in the Daytona 500 – but according to the above,
he is not under contract for 2012.
Blickensderfer
headed to RCR?:
Drew
Blickensderfer, crew chief for #6-David Ragan, is parting ways with Roush
Fenway Racing and is expected to be the new crew chief on the #31 Richard
Childress Chevrolet for driver Jeff Burton. An official announcement is
expected this week.(FOXSports)(11-21-2011)
UPDATE:
Richard Childress
Racing has named Drew Blickensderfer as the crew chief for the #31
Caterpillar/Wheaties Racing team with driver Jeff Burton for the 2012 NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series season. Luke Lambert, interim crew chief during the latter
part of the 2011 season for the #31 team, will assume a yet-to-be announced new
position at RCR. Blickensderfer begins his RCR career after nearly a decade
with Roush Fenway Racing. He spent the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season
leading the #6 team and has been a crew chief, in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide
Series, since 2007.(RCR)(11-28-2011)
Zipadelli
unable to get release from Gibbs?
Darian Grubb's
future with the Stewart-Haas, if any is unknown, although the Competition
Director position remains unfilled. Greg Zipadelli [crew chief for #20-Joey
Logano], according to several sources has been the frontrunner for that job but
has been unable to secure a release from his Joe Gibbs Racing contract. Signed
through 2012, those sources say the former crew chief for Stewart and current
head wrench for Joey Logano has met with strong internal opposition from J.D.
Gibbs to secure his release.(Frontstretch)(11-28-2011)
Brad Daugherty to
test at
Brad Daugherty may
be best known as a five-time NBA All-Star or for his work as an ESPN analyst
for NASCAR's top touring divisions. However, his passion for racing runs deeper
than just with his co-ownership of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team JTG
Daugherty Racing. Taking a closer look at Daugherty's fervor for racing, he
dabbles as a driver himself in the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) and
other racing series. In preparation for competition in the NASA Southeast
Region next season, he has decided to test a NASCAR Camping World Series truck
at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday. Daugherty plans to race in eight NASA
Southeast Region events during the 2012 season. Daugherty already has the races
circled on his calendar that he will compete in during the first half of the
season before he returns to work as a TV analyst.(JTG
Daugherty Racing)(11-28-2011)
RCR Racing
Operation to Conduct Surplus Auction:
Iron Horse Auction
Company, Inc. of
Simplified Points
System To Be Instituted In NASCAR Regional Touring
Series:
NASCAR announced
that the points system all NASCAR national series began using this year will be
instituted in the regional touring level for 2012. The points system was
simplified to make it easier for fans, competitors and the industry to
understand. Beginning in 2012, the system will be integrated into the NASCAR
K&N Pro Series East, NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and
NASCAR Mexico Series. The new structure awards points in one-point increments.
As an example, race winners earn 43 points, plus three bonus points for the
win. Drivers also can earn an extra point for leading a lap and leading the
most laps, bringing the race-winning total to a possible maximum of 48 points.
All other drivers in a finishing order are separated by one-point increments. A
second-place finisher earns 42 points, a third-place driver 41 points, and so
on. The move to bring the simplified points system from NASCAR's national
series to the regional touring level is part of an effort to integrate uniform
race formats and procedures throughout the NASCAR ranks. Earlier this year, two
race procedures were changed to bring the touring series in line with the
national series. One of those procedures stipulated that if a
green-white-checkered finish is necessary, a maximum of three attempts will be
made. The other change directed that on all restarts, passing will not be
permitted until the car reached the start-finish line. In some cases, race
procedures developed at the touring level have been adopted at the national
level. In 2009, the double-file restarts that had come about in the regional
series, became a part of the national series race procedures.(NASCAR)(11-30-2011)
Changes at
Earnhardt Ganassi:
Earnhardt Ganassi
Racing has confirmed that Steve Hmiel, Tony Glover and Ed Nathman have been
released from the NASCAR Sprint Cup organization. Hmiel was the competition
director for the team while long-time employee Glover was the team manager.
Nathman was the lead engineer before John Probst was named technical director
earlier this season.(FoxSports)(11-29-2011)
OK, see if you can
figure it all out:
2011
[after
1) #14-Tony Stewart
[5 wins], 2403 - 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion
2) #99-Carl Edwards
[1 win], 2403
3) #29-Kevin
Harvick [4 wins], 2345, -58
4) #17-Matt Kenseth
[3 wins], 2330, -73
5) #2-Brad
Keselowski [3 wins], 2319, -84
6) #48-Jimmie
Johnson [2 wins], 2304, -99
7) #88-Dale
Earnhardt Jr. [0 wins], 2290, -113
8) #24-Jeff Gordon
[3 wins], 2287, -116
9) #11-Denny Hamlin
[1 win], 2284, -119
10) #39-Ryan Newman
[1 win], 2284, -119
top 10 go to the banquet in
Vegas
11) #22-Kurt Busch
[2 wins], 2262, -141
12) #18-Kyle Busch
[4 wins], 2246, -157
(ties
broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
See drivers
championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(11-30-2011)
NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series Points - Classic with the Chase: Pos) Car#-Driver, Classic Points,
Behind Leader
1) #14-Tony Stewart
6634
2) #99-Carl Edwards
6584 -50
3) #29-Kevin
Harvick 6395 -239
4) #17-Matt Kenseth
6380 -254
5) #2-Brad
Keselowski 6348 -286
6) #48-Jimmie
Johnson 6288 -346
7) #24-Jeff Gordon
6223 -411
8) #88-Dale
Earnhardt, Jr. 6205 -429
9) #11-Denny Hamlin
6188 -446
10) #39-Ryan Newman
6187 -447
11) #22-Kurt Busch
6132 -502
12) #18-Kyle Busch
6049 -585
13) #4-Kasey Kahne
4382 -2252
14) #33-Clint
Bowyer 4363 -2271
15) #43-A.J.
Allmendinger 4202 -2432
(see
full rundown at phatstats.blogspot.com)(11-30-2011)
Difference in Chase
System - Current Points system vs Classic system:
rank, car#, driver, current fin
pos, claasic fin pos
1) #14-Tony
Stewart, 1st, 1st
2) #99-Carl
Edwards, 2nd, 2nd
3) #29-Kevin
Harvick, 3rd, 3rd
4) #17-Matt
Kenseth, 4th, 4th
5) #2-Brad
Keselowski, 5th, 5th
6) #48-Jimmie
Johnson, 6th, 6th
7) #88-Dale
Earnhardt Jr, 7th, 8th
8) #24-Jeff Gordon,
5th, 7th
9) #11-Denny
Hamlin, 9th, 9th
10) #39-Ryan
Newman, 10th, 10th
11) #22-Kurt Busch,
11th, 11th
12) #18-Kyle Busch,
12th, 12yh
13) #33-Clint
Bowyer, 13th, 14th
14) #4-Kasey Kahne,
14th, 13th
15) #43-A.J.
Allmendinger, 15th, 15th
(11-30-2011)
2011 Sprint Cup
Driver Points Standings [not the Chase]:
[after
using the CURRENT points system,
but NOT the Chase system, just points.
rank, car#, driver, points,
behind
1) #99-Carl Edwards
(x) [1 win], 1278
2) #29-Kevin
Harvick (x)[4 wins], 1200, -78
3) #14-Tony Stewart
(x)[5 wins], 1191, -87
4) #48-Jimmie
Johnson (x)[2 wins], 1187, -91
5) #17-Matt Kenseth
(x)[3 wins], 1183, -95
6) #24-Jeff Gordon
(x)[3 wins], 1150, -128
7) #18-Kyle Busch
(x)[4 wins], 1124, -154
8) #22-Kurt Busch
(x)[2 wins], 1115, -163
9) #39-Ryan Newman
(x)[1 win], 1103, -175
10) #2-Brad
Keselowski (x)[3 wins], 1079, -199
11) #88-Dale
Earnhardt Jr.(x), 1071, -207
12) #33-Clint
Bowyer [1 win], 1047, -231
13) #4-Kasey Kahne
[1 win], 1041, -237
14) #11-Denny
Hamlin (x)[1 win], 1028, -250
15) #43-A.J.
Allmendinger, 1013, -265
(x) = chase driver.(11-30-2011)
NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series Points - Classic without the Chase: Pos) Car#-Driver, Classic Points,
Behind Leader
1) #99-Carl Edwards
5193
2) #48-Jimmie
Johnson 4916 -277
3) #14-Tony Stewart
4897 -296
4) #29-Kevin
Harvick 4896 -297
5) #17-Matt Kenseth
4875 -318
6) #24-Jeff Gordon
4794 -399
7) #18-Kyle Busch
4713 -480
8) #39-Ryan Newman
4560 -633
9) #22-Kurt Busch
4531 -662
10) #2-Brad
Keselowski 4523 -670
11) #88-Dale
Earnhardt, Jr. 4422 -771
12) #4-Kasey Kahne
4382 -811
13) #33-Clint
Bowyer 4363 -830
14) #11-Denny
Hamlin 4318 -875
15) #43-A.J.
Allmendinger 4202 -991
(see
full rundown at phatstats.blogspot.com)(11-30-2011)
Difference in the
non Chase System - Current Points system vs Classic
system:
rank, car#, driver, current fin
pos, claasic fin pos
1) #99-Carl
Edwards, 1st, 1st
2) #29-Kevin
Harvick, 2nd, 4th
3) #14-Tony
Stewart, 3rd, 3rd
4) #48-Jimmie
Johnson, 4th, 2nd
5) #17-Matt
Kenseth, 5th, 5th
6) #24-Jeff Gordon,
6th, 6th
7) #18-Kyle Busch,
7th, 7th
8) #22-Kurt Busch,
8th, 9th
9) #39-Ryan Newman,
9th, 8th
10) #2-Brad
Keselowski, 10th, 10th
11) #88-Dale
Earnhardt Jr., 11th, 11th
12) #33-Clint
Bowyer, 12th, 13th
13) #4-Kasey Kahne,
13th 12th
14) #11-Denny
Hamlin, 14th, 14th
15) #43-A.J.
Allmendinger, 15th, 15th.(11-30-2011)
Going back, in time – in
racing history:
Note# 1: Most of the following information was found
here:
http://www.wheelsofspeed.com/history.html
Note: 2: Yes, most of this info is mostly from Open
Wheel racing from “Back in the day”.
Covering the days from
December 2nd to December 8th
DECEMBER 2
1910
Lew Volk ... Born ... A
former ARDC Midget and NASCAR driver from
1960
Ah yes, I remember it
well. That's the day that "Uncle
Sam" took me away from my wife of about three months. He felt I'd be better off in the US Army, I
guess?
DECEMBER 3
1937
Bobby Allison ... Born ...
A former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest
drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into
racing, and both died within a year of each other. Bobby was a car owner for
numerous drivers from 1990 to 1996, most notably Mike Alexander, Hut Stricklin , Jimmy Spencer, and Derrike Cope.
1951
Rick Mears ... Born ... A
retired American race car driver. He is the third of three men to have won the
1964
Bobby Marshman ... Died ...
Born in
1988
Alex "Al" Tasnady...
Died ... A modified stock driver for more than 23 years, he had more than 600
victories at tracks along the East Coast. During his career he won point
championships at the Reading Fair Grounds, the
1989
Jeff Gordon, in the
Bickford # 6, won the CRA Sprint Car race over Rich Vogler, John Redican, Billy
Vukovich III and Davey Hamilton at the Mesa Marin Raceway,
DECEMBER 4
2003
Iggy Katona... Died ... An American stock car racer from
2006
Len Sutton... Died ...
Sutton became involved in auto racing after serving in the Navy during World
War II. He spun out in the first corner on his first lap at a dirt track.
Sutton won Oregon Racing Association championships in 1949, 1950, 1954, and
1955. He flipped his car to avoid cattle during the 1954 Carrera Panamericana
road race (now Baja 1000). He was in a body cast for 4 months. He also won
midget car racing championships in
Note: It is Len Sutton that the Yahoo! Race History
Group has a "rule" named after - that rule is that we put our name
and where we live at the end of every e-mail we send out to the group.
2008
Rick Weld... Died ... He
was the youngest of the four "Weld" brothers, passed away after
losing his battle with cancer. Rick started his sprint car driving career in
1971 in his father's car, winning 29 feature events in his first two years.
DECEMBER 5
1930
Richard "Mitch"
Smith... Born ... From Linglestown, PA., Mitch was known throughout the world
of auto racing. When Mitch was in his prime in the 1960's and 70's, fans would
come to Central, PA just to watch Mitch Smith. His style was earth shattering
and it was hard to sit in your seat during a race that he was in. Mitch was
also involved in many wild crashes. Mitch captured 179 feature wins in his
career. He raced at a lot of tracks and with a lot of racing sanctions in many
different divisions. The one thing that sticks out the most was when he ran
against the USAC sprints in Central, PA and he beat them just about every time.
In those days the USAC teams thought they were unbeatable, which they were
until they encountered Mitch Smith. Mitch not only beat them, but he made them
mad and upset. One night at Williams Grove some of the USAC teams protested
Mitch and his car. From that time on , USAC never
seemed like they regained their composure and in time USAC sprint racing faded
away from Central, PA.
1932
Jim Hurtubise ... Born ...
An American race car driver who raced in USAC Champ Cars (including the
1938
J. D. (John Delphus)
McDuffie ... Born ... A NASCAR Series driver. He made his debut in 1963 at
Myrtle Beach Speedway, finishing 12th out of 18 drivers. He went on to finish
in the top ten in points twice in his career and won the pole position for the
1978 Delaware 500. He fielded his own team for most of his career. His
underfunded efforts made him a fan favorite, especially as his career ran down
and he only ran selected races. McDuffie was involved in an accident in the
opening laps of the 1991 Bud at the Glen race at Watkins Glen International
Raceway. Turning into turn 5, a brake failure resulted in the loss the right
rear wheel on his car, at perhaps the worst place in racing to have such a
failure. Unable to slow the car at all, and with an absence of a gravel trap,
McDuffie skidded across the grass and slammed with tremendous velocity into the
tire barrier outside the high speed right-hander. The force of the impact
flipped the car and kept it airborne as Jimmy Means, also collected in the
accident, crashed underneath him. Means was able to slow his car substantially
before crashing and avoid injury, but the sheer violence of the J.D.'s impact
with the tires made the impact unsurvivable for McDuffie. McDuffie's fatal
wreck, and a serious injury to Tom Kendall six weeks earlier in the Camel
Continental VIII, led to a new bus stop chicane shortly before Turn 5 to slow
down cars entering the turn.
DECEMBER 6
1914
Willard "Bill"
Cantrell... Born ... Nicknamed the "Silver Fox" because of his gray
hair and the sly tricks he used to win races, Cantrell came to Southern
California from
DECEMBER 7
1941
Somehow, this date is
slowly disappearing from our countries history, and being replace
by the attack on the
Note: Doing a quick "Google" search on
December 7, 1941, here is one of many things that came up:
“A Date Which Will Live in
Infamy”: FDR Asks for a Declaration of War
The Japanese attack on
Listen to Audio:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
President Franklin D.
Roosevelt: Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the
United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and
air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The
It will be recorded that
the distance of
The attack yesterday on the
Yesterday the Japanese
government also launched as attack against
Last night Japanese forces
attacked
Last night Japanese forces
attacked
Last night Japanese forces
attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night Japanese forces
attacked
And this morning the
Japanese attacked
As commander in chief of
the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught
against us. . .
Source: Courtesy of the
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library,
See Also:The
"Man in the Street" Reacts to
"This Is No Joke: This
Is War": A Live Radio Broadcast of the Attack on
1984
LeeRoy Yarbrough... Died ... A NASCAR racer. His best season was 1969 when he
won seven races and tallied 21 Top Ten finishes. During his entire career from
1960-1972, he competed in 198 races, scoring 14 wins, 65 top fives, 92 top
tens, and 10 poles. His racing number was 98. LeeRoy ran the Indy 500 3 times
with a best finish of 19th in 1970. A succession of crashes ended his career
and he struggled to cope without driving. After an attack on his mother, Lee
Roy, real name, Lonnie, was committed to a mental hospital for life. In 1984,
he suffered a seizure and fell, hitting his head and died the next day, from
his head injury.
DECEMBER 8
1940
George Snider ... Born ...
A longtime driver in the United States Automobile Club Sprint and Silver Crown
series, Snider is also a 22-time starter of the
News
from the AARN:
From
their November 22nd issue:
The
ARCA Series will return again to the dirt miles at
Indycar,
in 2012 will have some out of the
Note: No comment on me on the above.
Doug
Borger, from Xcel Chassis, along with Chad Muller – owner of Factor X Graffics,
will be sponsoring a $4,000.00 point fund for all teams deemed eligible and
that run the Sportsman Division at the Kutztown track.
At
the recently held Parts Peddler show up in
ISMA
Super Modified and former NASCAR driver Johnny Benson is going to race in the
indoor race at
Note: I believe that there is also a new Drinan TQ
being made for Billy Pauch, too.
French
Grimes, found of the Race Saver 305 Sprint Cars,
sanctions, with out fees, ten regions in seven states. He’s hoping for weekly competition for the
305’s at Canandaigua.
Lenny
Sammons:
Lenny
writes about Jeremie Corcoran, promoter of the Canandaigua Speedway, giving
serious thought of going independent, and leaving
DIRTcar. Corcoran has already had talks
with American Racer tires. It’s said
that Corcoran has several “issues” with the WRG. Corcoran is hoping to have a final decision
prior to the tracks banquet which is on December 17th.
If
Canandaigua doesn’t run with a DIRTcar sanction and IF Cayuga County doesn’t
open as a weekly track, then there would be no tracks in central
Might
there be a Big Block SDS race south of
Ransomville
is not scheduled to run with DIRTcar sanction in 2012.
Harvey
Fink is interested in buying Rolling Wheels.
As
of press time for the AARN, Howie Commander has not said whether A/S will be
DIRTcar sanctioned, or not.
URC
managing director John Zimmerman is less than happy with comments of current
and 8 time URC driving champion Curt Michael that appeared in last weeks
AARN. Zimmerman is tired of the negative
comments and will come out with a rebuttal of his issues in a letter sent to
Michael and also to Sammons.
Mike
Perrotte says that they will have a regular schedule at Airborne Speedway in
2012, with no ISMA Super Modifieds and no RoC Modifieds. There is a possibility of both in 2013,
however.
Ernie
Saxton:
Mr.
Saxton is questioning whether NASCAR racers should be able to speak their minds
about NASCAR related things. It seems
that if one does, one gets fined for doing so.
It’s been reported that Bad Keselowsi was fined $25,000.00, Ryan Newman
$50,000.00 for comments they both came out with.
Dover
Motor Sports, Inc. will only now be going to operate the
Brett
Deyo:
In
his column he makes mention that Neil Williams, who won the Sportsman race at
Utica/Rome
is still up for sale, per owner Gene Cole.
A number of interested parties have inquired about the track. Cole, and his team are still getting ready
for the 2012 season, even scheduling some “Touring” Series.
Todd
Henitzelman:
Todd
mentions that Greg Hodnett is the central Pa Sprint Car overall point champion –
that’s worth $4,000.00
Some
Selinsgrove 2012 dates: March 11th
– 410 Sprint Cars and Pro Stocks. March 18th – The Icebreaker. March 24th – 358 Sprint Cars. April 7th – 358 Sprint Cars, Late
Models, Pro Stocks and Roadrunners.
Don
& JoAnn Davies:
They’re
saying that Ronnie Johnson, Brett Hearn, Hector Stratton, Jim Introne, Jr. and
Rob Yetman will be returning the A/S for 2012.
Also as a possible – Tim McCreadie in the Vinnie
Salerno car, when possible.
Larry
Wight will be running Brewerton and Fulton, with the possibility of no Series
being completely followed.
With
the 2011 racing season now over, this is the last column for Don & Jo Ann
for this season.
Dave
Moody:
The
NASCAR Truck Series will have a race at the Rockingham Speedway.
No
immediate plans for Ford to get back into the Truck Series.
Rockingham in November 2012 – K&N Pro Series
East, Whelen Southern Modified Tour and UARA Late Models.
Bobby
Hamilton, Jr. had some problems with his lease on the Nashville Fairgrounds
Speedway and is no longer there.
Sterling Marlin, and a group of investors are
interested in taking the lease over.
Stephen
Kellogg:
Mr.
Kellogg makes mention of his top three stories of the 2011 racing season, they
being the re-birth of Raceway 5 – formerly Genessee Speedway in Batavia, NY –
the closing of Cayuga County Fair Speedway and Clinton County dropping the 410
Sprint Cars. In 2012,
Toby
LaGrange:
Toby
had quite a bit in his column about the new track that Glenn Donnelly is
involve3d with. Some of his suggestions
as to what to have there:
An RoC weekend for Modfieds and Sportsman. A summer World Finals for
360 Sprint Cars, or a truly open rules Dirt Modfied race. A USAC triple header. ARCA for a double header –
one race on the ½ mile dirt and the other on the road course. Get all of the “Crate” classes together for a
big “Great Crate Nationals”. Also, might
it be possible, via Glenn
Donnelly, to get some TV coverage of the events??
Gary
London:
Steve
Pados:
In
his write-up about the Hamlin Speedway banquet, he says it was announced that
the Smith Fabrications/Stage One Modified Division has been added to the weekly
shows for 2012 at Hamlin. The Stage One
Modifieds are scaled down Modifieds, similar to the Xcel Modifieds, but powered
with Briggs and Stratton engines.
John
Snyder:
Mr.
Snyder gives the dates for the EMPA’s Convention as being on January 6th
to the 8th. It will be held
at the Crowne Plaza Valley Forge in
He
makes mention that J.J. Yeley finished up 35th in points with NASCAR
in the Cup cars. That would put J.J.
into the Daytona 500.
Note
# 1: I was a member of the EMPA for
quite a few years. I even had a third
place in the Portrait Profile Category with my Bob Green Remembered
article. However, with the passing of
John LeVan, I didn’t keep up with my membership.
Note
# 2: From what I’ve read, J. J. Yeley is
not under contract, as yet, for the 2012 season. Might that affect his being a Daytona 500
starter?
Scott
Pacich:
Scott
wrote about his time spent in the pits, from his first time on.
Note: It was quite interesting to read his story;
which goes back to when he really wasn’t quite old enough to get into the
pits. Heck, at some tracks, today,
little toddlers are seen pit side.
As
far as banquets go, there were quite a few articles in the paper. As usual, the majority of them did not show
any monies that were awarded.
Those
that showed no monies were:
Selinsgrove, NEMA,
Jeff
Strunk got $10,000.00 for his championship at
In AARN this Week’s issue of November 29th:
In AARN
This
Week:
Blewett
Comes Out On Top
Of Wild Turkey Derby 150
Disqualification Strips Janisch
Of ATQMRA Championship
Friesen In A League Of His Own
In Wall's Dirt Modified Features
Legend Cars Mayhem Ends At Wall
With Alcaro In First Place
Eyres Comes From Last To First
In Wall's Sportsman Main
Armstrong, Tanner Put On A Show
At Irwindale
Former
I see that Roger
Coss was 7th in the Modified feature at Wall Stadium last Saturday.
More
racin’ stuff:
Part 1:
PHOTOS:
Dallara DW12 IndyCar Test At Auto Club
Take
a look at eight shots from today's combined Chevrolet
and Honda 2012 Dallara DW12 Indy car test at Auto Club Speedway.
Marshall
Pruett | Posted November 29, 2011
In
part:
"Enjoy
eight shots from today's combined Chevrolet and Honda 2012 Dallara DW12 Indy
car test at Auto Club Speedway.
With
a number of rear weight distribution and aerodynamic drag fixes on the testing
plan, items like the floor-mounted flow conditioners are readily apparent,
while the weight reduction items are kept hidden beneath the DW12's
bodywork."
Link: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/photos-dallara-dw12-indycar-test-at-auto-club-speedway
Part
2:
INDYCAR:
Inside The 2012 Car’s Design & Development Issues
SPEED's
Marshall Pruett delves into the issues facing the new Dallara DW12 and what the
IndyCar Series and its partners are doing to solve those problems ASAP.
Marshall
Pruett | Posted November 29, 2011
In
part:
"Power, weight, downforce, drag, grip and
balance.
Those are the six keys that dictate the lives of race car drivers, designers
and engineers.
As
the IZOD IndyCar Series has found with its new Dallara-built 2012 chassis, miss
the one key by a small margin in any one of those six performance categories
and the overall package will suffer. Miss the key in two or more areas, and
like a six-string guitar with multiple strings out of tune, no one will want to
play the instrument until it’s fixed.
With
INDYCAR acknowledging a few areas that require immediate attention
(weight/weight distribution, balance and drag), and others pointing to the need
for a major re-think on the levels of power, downforce and grip needed next
season, it’s clear a lot of tuning and tweaks will take place between now and
March 28th, the first race on the 2012 calendar."
Interested? For more, go here: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-inside-the-2012-cars-design-development-issues
Racing and
television:
Racing on TV - http://www.racefantv.com/USTV.htm
Note: On the website, above, there is now this
message:
About Race Fan TV
George Webster is retiring
from Race Fan TV
November 2011
Effective the end of November, 2011, I am
retiring from Race Fan TV and I will no longer be providing updates to the TV
listing database.
Last year I sold the website
(racefantv.com), including the name, to Charles Ehredt, who also operates other
websites, including the similarly-named RacefansTV. Ehredt has plans to
continue the TV listings service here, but these plans are not yet fully
developed.
I have enjoyed the time I
have spent compiling and posting the TV listing data here and I trust that you
have appreciated my 'labour of love' efforts
George
Webster
Found this little tid-bit
over on the Track Forum:
TV Alert - Xtreme Speed Classic at Bristol
Auto Racing : Xtreme Speed Classic
Next On: Thur, Dec 1, 5:00 PM EST 
Must See Xtreme Sprint Series on
Versus Channel
Event Run on October 1, 2011
From Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.
Race excerpt from YouTube:
http://youtu.be/0sI2u9tQzko
And:
FRIDAY,
DECEMBER 2
7:00P-9:00 SPEED 2011
NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Trucks Series Awards Ceremony, Miami, FL,
Nov 21/11, HD, N
9:00P-1:00A SPEED 2011
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony,
Some non-racing stuff:
For some time now,
there’s been quite a problem with one of our local schools with the school
basketball players cutting classes, yet still being allowed to play basketball
– even winning championships. But, by
cutting those classes, they did not graduate from school
Check this out:
Record files requests for
report in NFA attendance scandal
Published: 12:06 PM -
11/30/11
Last updated: 12:07 PM -
11/30/11
The Times Herald-Record and
reporter Doyle Murphy filed two Freedom of Information requests with the
One request is for the
report school attorney David Shaw presented, in part, to the board of education
Tuesday night.
The request is for a
complete copy of the full report.
The report discussed
Tuesday night is the latest twist in the saga of how officials in the district
allowed NFA boys' basketball players to skip dozens of classes and still play.
The report on Tuesday
blamed, among other things, “outdated computer systems,” but did not name any
school employees as culpable in the scandal or reveal any disciplinary actions.
The Record has also asked
for a full copy of the report of an earlier investigation in the scandal. That
audit was done by Martin Ruglis, a former Ulster BOCES superintendent. The
paper also asked for records of payments made in connection with the Ruglis
probe.
Here's the link to the
above. However, if you click on the
link, you'll notice quite a bit more, over on the right side that pertains to
this particular problem. Quite
interesting, to say the least!
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111130/NEWS/111139954/-1/NEWS
Toxic Levels of Arsenic
Found in Popular Juice Brands
In part:
"Arsenic has long been
recognized as a poison and a contaminant in drinking water, but now concerns
are growing about arsenic in foods, especially in fruit juices that are a
mainstay for children.
Controversy over arsenic in
apple juice made headlines as the school year began when Mehmet Oz, M.D., host
of “The Dr. Oz Show,” told viewers that tests he’d commissioned found 10 of
three dozen apple-juice samples with total arsenic levels exceeding 10 parts
per billion (ppb). There’s no federal arsenic threshold for juice or most
foods, though the limit for bottled and public water is 10 ppb. The Food and
Drug Administration, trying to reassure consumers about the safety of apple
juice, claimed that most arsenic in juices and other foods is of the organic
type that is “essentially harmless.”
But an investigation by
Consumer Reports shows otherwise. Our study, including tests of apple and grape
juice, a scientific analysis of federal health data, a consumer poll, and interviews
with doctors and other experts, finds the following:
Roughly 10 percent of our
juice samples, from five brands, had total arsenic levels that exceeded federal
drinking-water standards. Most of that arsenic was inorganic arsenic, a known
carcinogen.
One in four samples had
lead levels higher than the FDA’s bottled-water limit of 5 ppb. As with
arsenic, no federal limit exists for lead in juice.
Apple and grape juice
constitute a significant source of dietary exposure to arsenic, according to
our analysis of federal health data from 2003 through 2008.
Children drink a lot of
juice. Thirty-five percent of children 5 and younger drink juice in quantities
exceeding pediatricians’ recommendations, our poll of parents
shows.
Mounting scientific evidence
suggests that chronic exposure to arsenic and lead even at levels below water
standards can result in serious health problems.
Inorganic arsenic has been
detected at disturbing levels in other foods, too, which suggests that more
must be done to reduce overall dietary exposure.
Tainted brands include
Minute Maid, Mott's, Gerber, Welch's, and Great Value (Walmart) among others.
More on this can be seen
here: http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/arsenic-in-juice
Is
this true?:
Horses
could soon be slaughtered for meat in US
Guess
so, maybe?
In
part:
"TULSA,
Okla. (AP) — Horses could soon be butchered in the U.S. for human consumption
after Congress quietly lifted a 5-year-old ban on funding horse meat
inspections, and activists say slaughterhouses could be up and running in as
little as a month.
Slaughter opponents pushed a measure cutting off funding for horse meat inspections through Congress in 2006 after other efforts to pass outright bans on horse slaughter failed in previous years. Congress lifted the ban in a spending bill President Barack Obama signed into law Nov. 18 to keep the government afloat until mid-December.
It
did not, however, allocate any new money to pay for horse meat inspections,
which opponents claim could cost taxpayers $3 million to $5 million a year. The
U.S. Department of Agriculture would have to find the money in its existing
budget, which is expected to see more cuts this year as Congress and the White
House aim to trim federal spending.
The
USDA issued a statement Tuesday saying there are no slaughterhouses in the
The
last
Quite a bit more on this, and you can read all about it here:
http://news.yahoo.com/horses-could-soon-slaughtered-meat-us-080907323.html
Video time:
Video # 1: Midgets on dirt. Can you imagine some of today’s Indy car
drivers in midgets on a track like this one?
No wings and very little down force.
Oh, and steering with the rear wheels too. Turning right, to go left!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn2zL8JbgCo&feature=related
Video # 2: Might as well throw in an “oldie” music
video, or two, huh? It’s so nice that
the voice doesn’t change all that much, isn’t it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P2XvHo3Adg&feature=related
Note: Check out the younger Gene over on the right
– same song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH7DLuzuPeo&feature=related
Note: Same goes for Jack – a younger version – same
song – on the right.
Question: Why do the singers of yesterday not have to
wear something in their ear when singing; yet singers today, must?
Photos:
I’m posting a
photo a week for a while. Majority of
them will be from “Back in the day”.
Note: The photo is not available on Dirt Track
Digest, only on New England Tractor - http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/
The late Rodger
Ward is pictured in the Ken Brenn # 24 Midget that he drove to the win in the
Formula Libra race that was held on the road course at the Lime Rock,
Some of those that
raced there that day, and the cars they were in:
George Constantine
- 4.2 Aston Martin, Rodger Ward - 1.7 Offy Midget, Chuck Daigh - 2.5 Maserati
GP., John Fitch - 2.0 Cooper Monaco, Pedro Rodriguez - 3.0 Maserati, Lance
Reventlow - Cooper F2, Russ Klar - 1.7 Offy Midget, Dick Thompson - 4.9 Sting
Ray, Bob Colombosian - 2.0 Lister Bristol, Vic Meinhardt - 1.5 Porsche RS, Ray
Saidel - Jomar F2, Loyal Katskee - 3.0 Ferrari Monza, Denise McCluggage - 1.5
Porsche RS, Bert Brooks - 1.7 Offy Midget, Gordon MacKenzie - 3.5 C-Jaguar, Jokko Maggiacomo - 4.9 Ferrari-Corvette, John Grimaldi -
3.4 D-Jaguar, Paul O'Shea - 4.6 Bocar-Corvette and Duane Carter - 1.7 Offy
Midget. Tony Bettenhausen took over the
Midget that Klar ran in the first segment.
From above:
Question:
Who was the first Soap Box Derby regional winner to qualify for the
Indy 500?
Answer: Denny Zimmerman, who is still racing, believe
it or not, with the USAC Dirt Series Midgets, here in the Northeast. He was the Indy 500 Rookie of the year in
1971.
http://www.vintagemodifieds.com/denny_zimmerman/
Closing with these:
How to Get Even With
Someone – not sure if I’d do any of them, although the fax machine one is
great.
Garage
Sale
Place
an ad in the classified section of your local newspaper advertising a GIGANTIC
Garage Sale listing the address of your victim. Advertise televisions,
cam-corder, vintage automobile, antiques, etc.
...
X-Rays at Airports
Purchase
a large adult bedroom toy. Wrap it in a large amount of tin foil. Secretly hide
it in a piece of the victims carry on luggage. As it goes through the airport
x-ray machine the contents of the device will be shielded by the tin foil and
will be unwrapped and inspected by airport security officials. An absolute
classic...
Oil
Spot
At
night pour used oil underneath the victim's car while parked in the driveway.
Pour enough that will be alarming. Continue to do this each night. The subject
will spend great deals of money trying to get the oil leak repaired time and
time again. I have even heard of a person buying a new car after the repeated
attempts at repair. Imagine their surprise when that new car starts leaking
too.
Flat
Tire
Very similar to the Oil Spot, but with a twist. Let most of the air out of
one of your victim's tires. Keep doing this each night, and watch as they call
a tow truck or the Automobile Club day after day. Odd how
those new tires keep losing air, too.
Fax
Machines
Write
whatever you wish on 9 pages of 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper and tape them together
(end to end). Dial the victim's fax number and start sending the pages through.
After page two has been transmitted, tape the top of page 1 to the bottom of
page 9 making a continuous loop. The document will continue to cycle until the
victim's fax machine has run out of paper. Be sure and disable your phone
number from being printed on the fax and also disable caller I.D. This prank is
great to get even with a business or individual who has somehow cheated you.
This can have same results as Oil Spot.
Dogs
Purchase
a silent dog whistle. In the early hours of the morning (2am-4am) go near the
victim's house and blow the silent whistle and the dog will begin to bark
uncontrollably until the owner awakes and disciplines the animal. When the
owner goes back to bed repeat the process again
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
*Note: No you can’t! I’m able to send e-mails from what was my
Yahoo Mail, which somehow is now Yahoo!7Mail, but have
not been able to receive any at all.
So, until further notice,
please send e-mail so me at: ygordad@hotmail.com
I was able to get some of
the addresses off of Facebook, and I’ve sent out e-mails to those I think would
have been affected by the bogus e-mail.
If you did not receive an e-mail from me from Wednesday, then I do not
have your e-mail address. Please
send!! Again: ygordad@hotmail.com
There are
some e-mail addresses that I’d love to have, again – like the Yahoo! Race
History Group! Anyone help me out here?