Friday, September 30, 2011
NASCAR Unleashed Trailer
NASCAR Unleashed carries you on pavements, beaches and off-road areas of some of the most beloved NASCAR sanctioned race tracks. Racers Get Unleashed Related Reading: NASCAR Racing 2 My Greatest Day in Nascar: The Legends of Auto Racing Recount Their Greatest Moments NASCAR Mark Martin 2010 Delphi 1:24 ELITE - Autographed Die-cast Race Car
Edwards talks about his car after final Sprint practice
After final Sprint Cup practice Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway, Carl Edwards left the track with the fastest time at 15.943.
Ho-hum; Another Year, Another Title - While It?s a Champ Car Double...
Stevenson Camaro (Source: speed.com)
Still awaiting the start of the riveting Motegi Street-fest; Hya! I decided to watch the final round of this year?s Grand Am season - having stumbled upon the race?s final 42-minutes... When ex-Champ Car World Series (CCWS) driver Ryan ?Dazzle Dalziel literally drove the wheels off of his Starworks Riley-Ford DP Prototype to the chequered flag ahead of perennial Grand Am Champion Scott ?Scooter? Pruett. As Pruett and Co-driver Memo Rojas won their third-consecutive DP title, a series first, along with ?Cheep?s record fifth Daytona Prototype Crown!
As going to commercial break, SPEED highlighted a younger Scott Donald Pruett winning his first Rolex 24 timepiece ?Way-back-in 1988 - some 23yrs ago aboard an Eleectromotive Nissan 300ZXT... With TV Booth Boyz Dorsey Schroeder musing I was there - were you Calvin? To which Calvin Fish coyly replied I was just a kid... Yeah, you were there too Dorsey noted...
But the win was special for Dalziel, who clouted kerves, got extremely tail happy and as Leigh Diffey noted - was driving at 11/10ths to keep the victory out of the clutches of Pruett who was hounding the Scot in P2, where the California ?Kid? would finish the race; as Dalziel later claimed ?He was either gonna WIN or WRECK!? With the win being Dalziel?s first since his memorable Overall triumph in the 2010 Rolex 24 - and Starworks debutant victory...
And while the GT Crown was anything but assured - as the Speedsource Mazda RX8?s went hammer ?N tongs - as the HomeBoy Team of Patrick Dempsey Racing?s No. 41 Mazda lost the lead with nary 15-mins remaining; a late race caution flag saw a two lap shootout where the famous Brumos No. 59 hung onto fourth place to win the title over a hard pressing Jonathan Bomarito; ?Juan ?O thee Atlantics LOST Souls; as in in The Johnnie Boy Trio, i.e.; Bomarito, John Edwards and Jonathan Summerton - like can Y?all say Edwards, Summerton and Simona de Silvestro? Who finished 1-2-3 in the 2009 title fight whilst Bomarito was Atlantics runner-up in ?08...
Yet then another name from the past came to light during the winner?s interviews; Hmm? Hey! I knows ?Dat name... As the winner of the GT Class featured Robin Liddell and Ronnie Bremmer... Wasn?t Bremmer an ex-Champ Car competitor? Yeah, thought so - as I recalled seeing the Dane trundle ?round Portland in the Dale Coyne Sonny?s Bar-Bee-Que car - ?Circa ?05 after he?d been let go by the first incarnation of HVM who replaced Ronnie with some Cat I nicknamed Dan ?SpeedyDry? Clarke.
As Bremmer also scored his Debutant Grand Am Pole position in the Stevenson Motorsports Camaro, with Chevie?s sweeping the first three grid spots - while the back-to-back victories by Stevenson helped GM claim the Manufacturer?s Crown in the GT Class. As next up is the 50th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona next January...
Still awaiting the start of the riveting Motegi Street-fest; Hya! I decided to watch the final round of this year?s Grand Am season - having stumbled upon the race?s final 42-minutes... When ex-Champ Car World Series (CCWS) driver Ryan ?Dazzle Dalziel literally drove the wheels off of his Starworks Riley-Ford DP Prototype to the chequered flag ahead of perennial Grand Am Champion Scott ?Scooter? Pruett. As Pruett and Co-driver Memo Rojas won their third-consecutive DP title, a series first, along with ?Cheep?s record fifth Daytona Prototype Crown!
As going to commercial break, SPEED highlighted a younger Scott Donald Pruett winning his first Rolex 24 timepiece ?Way-back-in 1988 - some 23yrs ago aboard an Eleectromotive Nissan 300ZXT... With TV Booth Boyz Dorsey Schroeder musing I was there - were you Calvin? To which Calvin Fish coyly replied I was just a kid... Yeah, you were there too Dorsey noted...
But the win was special for Dalziel, who clouted kerves, got extremely tail happy and as Leigh Diffey noted - was driving at 11/10ths to keep the victory out of the clutches of Pruett who was hounding the Scot in P2, where the California ?Kid? would finish the race; as Dalziel later claimed ?He was either gonna WIN or WRECK!? With the win being Dalziel?s first since his memorable Overall triumph in the 2010 Rolex 24 - and Starworks debutant victory...
And while the GT Crown was anything but assured - as the Speedsource Mazda RX8?s went hammer ?N tongs - as the HomeBoy Team of Patrick Dempsey Racing?s No. 41 Mazda lost the lead with nary 15-mins remaining; a late race caution flag saw a two lap shootout where the famous Brumos No. 59 hung onto fourth place to win the title over a hard pressing Jonathan Bomarito; ?Juan ?O thee Atlantics LOST Souls; as in in The Johnnie Boy Trio, i.e.; Bomarito, John Edwards and Jonathan Summerton - like can Y?all say Edwards, Summerton and Simona de Silvestro? Who finished 1-2-3 in the 2009 title fight whilst Bomarito was Atlantics runner-up in ?08...
Yet then another name from the past came to light during the winner?s interviews; Hmm? Hey! I knows ?Dat name... As the winner of the GT Class featured Robin Liddell and Ronnie Bremmer... Wasn?t Bremmer an ex-Champ Car competitor? Yeah, thought so - as I recalled seeing the Dane trundle ?round Portland in the Dale Coyne Sonny?s Bar-Bee-Que car - ?Circa ?05 after he?d been let go by the first incarnation of HVM who replaced Ronnie with some Cat I nicknamed Dan ?SpeedyDry? Clarke.
As Bremmer also scored his Debutant Grand Am Pole position in the Stevenson Motorsports Camaro, with Chevie?s sweeping the first three grid spots - while the back-to-back victories by Stevenson helped GM claim the Manufacturer?s Crown in the GT Class. As next up is the 50th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona next January...
India Prepares for Inaugural F1 Grand Prix
As India prepares to host the inaugural Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix taking place on 28-30 October 2011, President and CEO of Formula One Management, Bernie Ecclestone, has been reported as saying that F1 authorities are happy with the progress at the newly constructed Buddh circuit located outside New Delhi.
Related posts:10th Anniversary of the Malaysia Grand PrixThe Honda Grand Prix of St. PetersburgAbu Dhabi hosting 2009 F1 Grand Prix
Related posts:10th Anniversary of the Malaysia Grand PrixThe Honda Grand Prix of St. PetersburgAbu Dhabi hosting 2009 F1 Grand Prix
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Ribbs Tires at Wheel of Indy Lights car
So apparently the ?Depenz Boy? got completely ?Knackered Out driving his No. 75 Willy T. Ribbs Racing entry vs. the ?HuggiesBoyz? crowd - of which the ageless Ribbs likened the Kids he was racing against in his One-off racing comeback during the Baltimore GP weekend?s festivities... As Ribbs reportedly lost his radio connectivity on lap-2 and was physically spent on lap-28, just seven laps shy of the Chequered flag... To which Willy T. proclaimed he was ?Totally Out of Gas,? yet if he?d known that he?d somehow gutted it out all the way to the finish.
Ribbs was classified 13th and said he was happy to have his son on hand to witness his racing return, as Theo hadn?t witnessed his ?Pappy behind the wheel since the tender age of nine, whilst the elder Ribbs has NO intentions on making any further racing starts after his short lived comeback at age 56...
Ribbs was classified 13th and said he was happy to have his son on hand to witness his racing return, as Theo hadn?t witnessed his ?Pappy behind the wheel since the tender age of nine, whilst the elder Ribbs has NO intentions on making any further racing starts after his short lived comeback at age 56...
Zanardi - Ten Years later
Once again your Humble Scribe?s goin? into le ?Wayback machine... Whilst everybody was celebrating Harbour-side on the shores ?O Baltimore, perhaps with a cuppa Uh Chowdah? Over the inaugural running of GASP! Another Street race, i.e.; the Baltimore Grand Prix on Labour Day weekend; Hmm? Why does IndyCar name many of its race events Grand Prix?s - as I thought that was a Formula 1 thingy; but I digress...
Alas, while I?m ?Uber pleased that Will Power SPANKED the Competition - my head ?N heart were somewhere else the whole weekend long... As Ten years ago, Tomaso was spendin? the Labour Day weekend Up North Eh! At what had become a Semi-yearly tradition for Mwah; ?Circa 1990-2001 - before Denver STOLE Vancouver?s Holidaze date... The final Labour Day race of what?s now Uh LONG defunct Temporary Street Circuit fondly known as the Vancouver Molson Indy... Which ALL of the Championship Auto Racing Teams Driver?s useda RAVE On ?N on ?bout! (The wonderful Atmosphere & devout Fans - as I?m not so sure of their thought?s coursewise, eh?)
Having been dropped off by Mary Ellen at the entry gates to spend the afternoon?s portion of thee Practice & Provisional Qualifying sessions Solo - I can still vaguely recall what would be a karmic occurrence as I stood there at the Science World chicane - on a bright, sunny and pleasant fall day watching all of the CART machinery flick thru the quick little right-left-right kink corralling all of the hustling Reynard?s vs. Lola?s; (when there were truly DIFFERENT chassis & engine manufacturer?s competing...) as the chicane was a Fan favourite and very popular for watching the racecars pass by... Always having a crowd on hand, albeit a brief wait could usually allow you to work your way to the front of the ?Queue against the Jersey barrier topped by catch fencing...
And there I was standing alongside said Jersey barrier watching the various CART Gladiators? Zoom-by when what occurred directly in front of Mwah?
It was none other then the No. 66 Mo Nunn Racing Reynard01i/Honda/Firestone racecar of ?Zorro, aka Alex Zanardi making a lazy half spin directly in front of us, then reversing out of the way and sitting there idling while impatiently waiting for all of his fellow competitors to ?Zoom-by before ultimately stalling the 2.65-liter turbocharged Honda ?lump!
As I think I mumbled something to myself ?bout how Zanardi wasn?t cutting it anymore? Being largely uncompetitive in his CART comeback - although to be fair, the likeable Italian was in the midst of his first year with the constantly struggling and underfinanced Maurice ?Mo? Nunn Operation after having been on sabbatical the year prior, after his flop at Team Willie, nee Williams F1, when Sir Frank dumped him in favour of a fresh faced British rookie named ?JENSE - future F1 World Champion Jenson Button...
Yet I suppose on the flip-side you could counter that point by noting it was Zanardi and the team?s 15th race outing that weekend, which should have been plenty of time to potentially ?Gel, right? Then again DER TERMINATOR (Michael Schumacher) hasn?t exactly set the F1 world alight in his second season of racing for Mercedes GP...
Afterwards, I met Mary Ellen at a nearby Beer Garden where we met up with some of my fellow CART Aficionado?s to revel in the day?s activities before we left the circuit with Zanardi nearly an afterthought - returning race day with Auntie Harriet and Uncle Bill in dueling Wheelchairs... As I?d secured seating in the Handicap seating area, which was situated in a great vantage point alongside one of the many sweeping corners - leading towards the Pits I believe? To which I can still fondly recall how we?d be treated to ?SuperSub? Roberto Moreno completely wafting us in multiple smoking victory doughnuts directly in front of us in his bright orange Visteon sponsored Patrick Racing car a la Alex Zanardi?s signature CART victory celebration...
And I can still see ?Zorro in his Pioneer sponsored Reynard-Honda trundling excitedly out of the Lausitzring Pitlane jerking along on the restraining Pit-speed limiter whilst leading and quickly trying to resume the lead in the race?s waning laps before apparently ?Gassing-it a wee too bit hard, breaking traction on his ?COLD? ?Flinstone rubber and spinning outta control directly in front of the oncoming hurtling traffic - as Y?all know the unfortunate rest - when the hapless ?TAG (Alex Tagliani) had NOWHERE to go and careened into the spinning racecar!
As reputedly Alex lost three-quarters of his blood before trackside doctors Terry Trammell and Steve Olvey heroically used safety worker?s belts to form two makeshift tourniquet?s to ultimately save Alex?s life; SHEISA!
And instead of trying to rewrite my previous salute, which you can read in; Salute Cavalryman
I?ll instead just touch on a few of my thought bubbles - as everyone knows about THEE PASS! When ?Zorro blasted around Bryan ?High speed Hurdles? Herta at the Corkscrew on the races final lap; BUTT! Did Y?all know that Zanardi?s inaugural CART victory actually occurred earlier during the 1996 season when he won at Portland International Raceway... PSST MR. BERNARD! PORTLAND?S STILL AVAILABLE...
And I still think it?d be an AWESOME idea to make ?Zorro next year?s Indy 500Pace Car driver! Having originally pitched Alessandro?s name to the Trackside Duo when it became apparent that IMS was overly concerned ?bout Duh Trumpster?s coif getting in his way and potentially Wadding-up its shiny new Chebbie Camaro Pace Car...
And although I?ve somewhat kept his name alive - after hearing repeatedly how Zanardi had wanted to be ?Juan ?O the Five Chosen One?s for Randy ?The CandyMann? Bernard?s Los Wages World Finale Albatross - personally I?m grateful that ?Cheep (Ganassi) and the resta duh IndyCar field wasn?t willing to put Alex in a seat for this Farcical Indy Car Series season ending Finale.
Yet an even better idea - especially since they?re in cahoots with Dallara Automobili as half-owners of the new Speedway, Indiana factory being built as we speak... Would see Synden Racing, Err the Indy Racing Experience outfitting one of its 2X Seaters - preferably Honda powered with the necessary Hand Controls to enable ?Zorro to be the pilot of IZOD?s FASTEST Seat in the House for next year?s 96th running of the Indianapolis 500! I mean C?mon, there should be plenty ?O obsolete 2003-11 Spec Dallara-Honda?s available, right? NOT to mention how this would be a huge coup for Indy Cars - as who doesn?t like Alex? Albeit this may have to wait until ?13 since Alex will potentially be busy riding his Hand-bike in the 2012 London Paralympics?
Zanardi to Contest 2012 Paralympics
Thus, perhaps somebody - I dunno, say Ye ?Ol Windbag Dave Despain could ?Ketsup with the affable Italian on an upcoming segment of Wind Tunnel to see if its still on his radar and how his preparations are coming along...
Or may be ?R, a.k.a. Robin Miller or his prot�g� - my ?friend? Kurty Cavin instead could do an article upon Zanardi?s latest exploits? As the last time I recall seeing his Mug on TV was when I had the pleasure of watching Zanardi on the ?Telie over in Jolly Old London during the summer of ?09 when he unexpectedly won the Czech round of that season?s WTCC Championship.
Along with the aforementioned Post NY Marathon Last Call segment I?ve previously scribbled ?bout ?Circa 2007; SHEISA! Can that already be nearly 4-years ago when I listened to Dave Despain ?Chat Up Zanardi; CRIKEYS!
HE?S BACK!
As I just enjoy mentally cataloging Alex by his ?Uber outgoing Panache, quick wit and that great smile of his! NOT to mention him being BLOODY QUICK!
Salute Alex!
Alas, while I?m ?Uber pleased that Will Power SPANKED the Competition - my head ?N heart were somewhere else the whole weekend long... As Ten years ago, Tomaso was spendin? the Labour Day weekend Up North Eh! At what had become a Semi-yearly tradition for Mwah; ?Circa 1990-2001 - before Denver STOLE Vancouver?s Holidaze date... The final Labour Day race of what?s now Uh LONG defunct Temporary Street Circuit fondly known as the Vancouver Molson Indy... Which ALL of the Championship Auto Racing Teams Driver?s useda RAVE On ?N on ?bout! (The wonderful Atmosphere & devout Fans - as I?m not so sure of their thought?s coursewise, eh?)
Having been dropped off by Mary Ellen at the entry gates to spend the afternoon?s portion of thee Practice & Provisional Qualifying sessions Solo - I can still vaguely recall what would be a karmic occurrence as I stood there at the Science World chicane - on a bright, sunny and pleasant fall day watching all of the CART machinery flick thru the quick little right-left-right kink corralling all of the hustling Reynard?s vs. Lola?s; (when there were truly DIFFERENT chassis & engine manufacturer?s competing...) as the chicane was a Fan favourite and very popular for watching the racecars pass by... Always having a crowd on hand, albeit a brief wait could usually allow you to work your way to the front of the ?Queue against the Jersey barrier topped by catch fencing...
And there I was standing alongside said Jersey barrier watching the various CART Gladiators? Zoom-by when what occurred directly in front of Mwah?
It was none other then the No. 66 Mo Nunn Racing Reynard01i/Honda/Firestone racecar of ?Zorro, aka Alex Zanardi making a lazy half spin directly in front of us, then reversing out of the way and sitting there idling while impatiently waiting for all of his fellow competitors to ?Zoom-by before ultimately stalling the 2.65-liter turbocharged Honda ?lump!
As I think I mumbled something to myself ?bout how Zanardi wasn?t cutting it anymore? Being largely uncompetitive in his CART comeback - although to be fair, the likeable Italian was in the midst of his first year with the constantly struggling and underfinanced Maurice ?Mo? Nunn Operation after having been on sabbatical the year prior, after his flop at Team Willie, nee Williams F1, when Sir Frank dumped him in favour of a fresh faced British rookie named ?JENSE - future F1 World Champion Jenson Button...
Yet I suppose on the flip-side you could counter that point by noting it was Zanardi and the team?s 15th race outing that weekend, which should have been plenty of time to potentially ?Gel, right? Then again DER TERMINATOR (Michael Schumacher) hasn?t exactly set the F1 world alight in his second season of racing for Mercedes GP...
Afterwards, I met Mary Ellen at a nearby Beer Garden where we met up with some of my fellow CART Aficionado?s to revel in the day?s activities before we left the circuit with Zanardi nearly an afterthought - returning race day with Auntie Harriet and Uncle Bill in dueling Wheelchairs... As I?d secured seating in the Handicap seating area, which was situated in a great vantage point alongside one of the many sweeping corners - leading towards the Pits I believe? To which I can still fondly recall how we?d be treated to ?SuperSub? Roberto Moreno completely wafting us in multiple smoking victory doughnuts directly in front of us in his bright orange Visteon sponsored Patrick Racing car a la Alex Zanardi?s signature CART victory celebration...
And I can still see ?Zorro in his Pioneer sponsored Reynard-Honda trundling excitedly out of the Lausitzring Pitlane jerking along on the restraining Pit-speed limiter whilst leading and quickly trying to resume the lead in the race?s waning laps before apparently ?Gassing-it a wee too bit hard, breaking traction on his ?COLD? ?Flinstone rubber and spinning outta control directly in front of the oncoming hurtling traffic - as Y?all know the unfortunate rest - when the hapless ?TAG (Alex Tagliani) had NOWHERE to go and careened into the spinning racecar!
As reputedly Alex lost three-quarters of his blood before trackside doctors Terry Trammell and Steve Olvey heroically used safety worker?s belts to form two makeshift tourniquet?s to ultimately save Alex?s life; SHEISA!
And instead of trying to rewrite my previous salute, which you can read in; Salute Cavalryman
I?ll instead just touch on a few of my thought bubbles - as everyone knows about THEE PASS! When ?Zorro blasted around Bryan ?High speed Hurdles? Herta at the Corkscrew on the races final lap; BUTT! Did Y?all know that Zanardi?s inaugural CART victory actually occurred earlier during the 1996 season when he won at Portland International Raceway... PSST MR. BERNARD! PORTLAND?S STILL AVAILABLE...
And I still think it?d be an AWESOME idea to make ?Zorro next year?s Indy 500Pace Car driver! Having originally pitched Alessandro?s name to the Trackside Duo when it became apparent that IMS was overly concerned ?bout Duh Trumpster?s coif getting in his way and potentially Wadding-up its shiny new Chebbie Camaro Pace Car...
And although I?ve somewhat kept his name alive - after hearing repeatedly how Zanardi had wanted to be ?Juan ?O the Five Chosen One?s for Randy ?The CandyMann? Bernard?s Los Wages World Finale Albatross - personally I?m grateful that ?Cheep (Ganassi) and the resta duh IndyCar field wasn?t willing to put Alex in a seat for this Farcical Indy Car Series season ending Finale.
Yet an even better idea - especially since they?re in cahoots with Dallara Automobili as half-owners of the new Speedway, Indiana factory being built as we speak... Would see Synden Racing, Err the Indy Racing Experience outfitting one of its 2X Seaters - preferably Honda powered with the necessary Hand Controls to enable ?Zorro to be the pilot of IZOD?s FASTEST Seat in the House for next year?s 96th running of the Indianapolis 500! I mean C?mon, there should be plenty ?O obsolete 2003-11 Spec Dallara-Honda?s available, right? NOT to mention how this would be a huge coup for Indy Cars - as who doesn?t like Alex? Albeit this may have to wait until ?13 since Alex will potentially be busy riding his Hand-bike in the 2012 London Paralympics?
Zanardi to Contest 2012 Paralympics
Thus, perhaps somebody - I dunno, say Ye ?Ol Windbag Dave Despain could ?Ketsup with the affable Italian on an upcoming segment of Wind Tunnel to see if its still on his radar and how his preparations are coming along...
Or may be ?R, a.k.a. Robin Miller or his prot�g� - my ?friend? Kurty Cavin instead could do an article upon Zanardi?s latest exploits? As the last time I recall seeing his Mug on TV was when I had the pleasure of watching Zanardi on the ?Telie over in Jolly Old London during the summer of ?09 when he unexpectedly won the Czech round of that season?s WTCC Championship.
Along with the aforementioned Post NY Marathon Last Call segment I?ve previously scribbled ?bout ?Circa 2007; SHEISA! Can that already be nearly 4-years ago when I listened to Dave Despain ?Chat Up Zanardi; CRIKEYS!
HE?S BACK!
As I just enjoy mentally cataloging Alex by his ?Uber outgoing Panache, quick wit and that great smile of his! NOT to mention him being BLOODY QUICK!
Salute Alex!
Back In The Hunt: Tony Stewart Brings New Optimism To Sprint Cup Sylvania 300 At New Hampshire Motor Speedway
LOUDON, N.H. - It was just about a month ago that it seemed Tony Stewart was ready to say thanks but no thanks to NASCAR when it came to one of the coveted slots in the Sprint Cup Series Chase for the Championship field.
After a season of relative mediocrity on the track, Stewart said on Aug. 22 that his team would be wasting one of the 12 Chase for the Championship spots if they qualified for it.
"At this point of the deal, if we are going to run this bad, it really doesn't matter whether we make the Chase or not because we are going to be occupying a spot in the Chase that somebody else that actually can run for a championship is going to be trying to take because our stuff is so bad right now," Stewart said after finishing ninth in the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 21.
After a season of relative mediocrity on the track, Stewart said on Aug. 22 that his team would be wasting one of the 12 Chase for the Championship spots if they qualified for it.
"At this point of the deal, if we are going to run this bad, it really doesn't matter whether we make the Chase or not because we are going to be occupying a spot in the Chase that somebody else that actually can run for a championship is going to be trying to take because our stuff is so bad right now," Stewart said after finishing ninth in the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 21.
Willy T joins the Blogger Craze...
That?s right, Willy T Ribbs , who at 56yrs young is coming out of retirement to participate in this weekend?s inaugural Baltimore Indy Lights race... And has decided to join the Blogosphere, as I?ve just read Willy T?s first RACER blog post. And Yike?s, Ribbs Twitter?s too! Check it out by clicking here.
NASCAR highs and lows of 2010
Most improved driver: “Flame On” Harvick. Least improved auto manufacturer: Ford.
HIGH: Jimmie Johnson won a record fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship, which is even more impressive in that no one else in the sport’s history as won more than three.
LOW: The exhortation of NASCAR vice president Robin Pemberton – “Have at it, boys” – proved to be emblematic of the season that followed. An on-track feud between drivers Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski boiled over in both the Cup and Nationwide Series. No one was hurt, but the crashes were scary and obviously intentional.
* * *
HIGH: Denny Hamlin’s run for the championship was inspirational and heartbreaking. Hamlin persevered in spite of a knee injury that required surgery … while he continued to race. He led Johnson by 33 points with two races remaining – and won two more races -- but wound up losing the championship by 39.
LOW: Dale Earnhardt Jr. continued to struggle. Ninety-three races have passed since his most recent victory. He will begin his fourth season at Hendrick Motorsports with his third crew chief, Steve Letarte. (A fourth, Brian Whitesell, just took the reins for one race.) He finished 21st in the standings and collected only three top-five finishes.
* * *
HIGH: Another driver who didn’t qualify for the Chase won the season’s two most prestigious races. Jamie McMurray captured both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.
LOW: Upset at being criticized, NASCAR officials tried to fine two drivers, Hamlin and Ryan Newman, in secrecy. Naturally, word leaked out, leading some to wonder what else the ruling body was hiding.
* * *
HIGH: The season’s two races at Talladega Superspeedway produced a total of 175 lead changes. The individual numbers were 88 and 87, the two highest such totals in the sport’s history.
LOW: Two of the sport’s more dignified drivers, Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton, exchanged blows after Burton inexplicably wrecked Gordon’s Chevy under a caution flag at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 7. It’s difficult to buy Burton’s explanation that he didn’t mean to do it on purpose.
* * *
HIGH: The Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the Camping World Truck Series, Austin Dillon, actually won two races.
LOW: The rookie of the year in Cup, Kevin Conway, never finished higher than 14th and was 35th in the point standings.
* * *
HIGH: The most improved performance came from Kevin Harvick, who improved his average finish from 19.9 in 2009 to 8.7 in 2010. Under the point system in place prior to 2004, Harvick would have finished the season with 295 points more than any other driver.
LOW: Even though three of its drivers made the Chase, and Edwards won the season’s final two races, Ford’s NASCAR program still had a disappointing year. Chevys won 18 Cup races, and Toyotas won 12. Fords won four, and Dodge’s one-team, three-car effort claimed two.
HIGH: Jimmie Johnson won a record fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship, which is even more impressive in that no one else in the sport’s history as won more than three.
LOW: The exhortation of NASCAR vice president Robin Pemberton – “Have at it, boys” – proved to be emblematic of the season that followed. An on-track feud between drivers Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski boiled over in both the Cup and Nationwide Series. No one was hurt, but the crashes were scary and obviously intentional.
* * *
HIGH: Denny Hamlin’s run for the championship was inspirational and heartbreaking. Hamlin persevered in spite of a knee injury that required surgery … while he continued to race. He led Johnson by 33 points with two races remaining – and won two more races -- but wound up losing the championship by 39.
LOW: Dale Earnhardt Jr. continued to struggle. Ninety-three races have passed since his most recent victory. He will begin his fourth season at Hendrick Motorsports with his third crew chief, Steve Letarte. (A fourth, Brian Whitesell, just took the reins for one race.) He finished 21st in the standings and collected only three top-five finishes.
* * *
HIGH: Another driver who didn’t qualify for the Chase won the season’s two most prestigious races. Jamie McMurray captured both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.
LOW: Upset at being criticized, NASCAR officials tried to fine two drivers, Hamlin and Ryan Newman, in secrecy. Naturally, word leaked out, leading some to wonder what else the ruling body was hiding.
* * *
HIGH: The season’s two races at Talladega Superspeedway produced a total of 175 lead changes. The individual numbers were 88 and 87, the two highest such totals in the sport’s history.
LOW: Two of the sport’s more dignified drivers, Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton, exchanged blows after Burton inexplicably wrecked Gordon’s Chevy under a caution flag at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 7. It’s difficult to buy Burton’s explanation that he didn’t mean to do it on purpose.
* * *
HIGH: The Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the Camping World Truck Series, Austin Dillon, actually won two races.
LOW: The rookie of the year in Cup, Kevin Conway, never finished higher than 14th and was 35th in the point standings.
* * *
HIGH: The most improved performance came from Kevin Harvick, who improved his average finish from 19.9 in 2009 to 8.7 in 2010. Under the point system in place prior to 2004, Harvick would have finished the season with 295 points more than any other driver.
LOW: Even though three of its drivers made the Chase, and Edwards won the season’s final two races, Ford’s NASCAR program still had a disappointing year. Chevys won 18 Cup races, and Toyotas won 12. Fords won four, and Dodge’s one-team, three-car effort claimed two.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Best Seats in the House
The best seats in the house at IMS are well known when it comes to the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400. When it comes to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP and the IMS road course, it?s a different story. We took the time to scope out the best three places to watch tomorrow?s race. [...]
Small Chinese: confident win all remaining games under McLaren on track
Hamilton, the British genius Xinxinbaopeng in an interview today. He believes that even now their in the drivers’ standings 88 points behind the German driver Vettel, but as long as they win the rest of the season all eight Grand Prix, and then won the championship is not an impossible task. NEW YORK, August 15 [...]
[HD] NASCAR 2011 ? Chicagoland Geico 400 (Finish)
Tony Stewart wis at Chicago Related Reading: My Greatest Day in Nascar: The Legends of Auto Racing Recount Their Greatest Mom NASCAR Challenge NASCAR Sim Racing
James Civali Fired By Hillbilly Racing NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Team; No Replacement Named By Team
Hillbilly Racing will be competing in the Whelen Modified Tour event at the CarQuest Fall Final this weekend at Stafford Motor Speedway, but it will be with a new driver in their car.
Team owners Roger and Sandra Hill fired driver James Civali of Meriden on Monday.
"It was a performance based decision," said David Hill, the team's crew chief and son of the team's owners. "We just weren't getting the results we needed. We'd have three real good races in a row and then he'd wreck two races. It wasn't his fault, just racing luck. We just ain't got no luck. James ain't go no luck and we ain't got no luck."
Civali said he wasn't totally surprised by the decision.
Team owners Roger and Sandra Hill fired driver James Civali of Meriden on Monday.
"It was a performance based decision," said David Hill, the team's crew chief and son of the team's owners. "We just weren't getting the results we needed. We'd have three real good races in a row and then he'd wreck two races. It wasn't his fault, just racing luck. We just ain't got no luck. James ain't go no luck and we ain't got no luck."
Civali said he wasn't totally surprised by the decision.
CORRECTION: No Fenders Bobbles over the Two Adams
Recently I scribbled a story about whether or not The Car Show was a Pour KNOCKOFF of Top Gear... Which I still say is the case. Yet, unfortunately I didn?t manage to grasp that although both The Car Show and Top Gear USA have hosts with the first names of Adam in them... I?d not caught the fact that The Car show is hosted by Adam Carolla, whilst Top Gear USA is co-hosted by Adam Ferrara; OOPS! And in the immortal words of that horrific slang phrase: MY BAD!
Thus, this would explain why Adam Ferrara is FUNNY and Adam Carolla is NOT! My apologies to Messer Ferrara!
Celebrity Drives: Adam Ferrara ? Top Gear USA
Thus, this would explain why Adam Ferrara is FUNNY and Adam Carolla is NOT! My apologies to Messer Ferrara!
Celebrity Drives: Adam Ferrara ? Top Gear USA
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Terrible accident destructive fighting force Polish Kubica back on track early next year
NEW YORK, July 14 reported Renault driver Kubica That is the beginning of a serious car accident over the pain and almost brought his career, a devastating blow, he believes he will be able to get fully recovered, drove onto the track season opener 2012 . For many drivers like the big nose of people, [...]
2011 NASCAR Nationwide US Cellular 250 Bizarre Finish in Iowa
Related Reading: My Greatest Day in Nascar: The Legends of Auto Racing Recount Their Greatest Mom NASCAR Racing: 2003 Season (Mac) 1997 NASCAR Racing Champions . . . Darrell Waltrip #17 Western Auto Parts America Chevy Monte Carlo 1/64 Diecast . . . Includes Collector's Card & Display Stand
Rain doesn't dampen Morris' quest for national championshp
Philip Morris for the last two months of the season felt it was his team’s destiny to claim the Whelen All-American Series national championship. With 20 victories in the No. 26 Clarence’s Steakhouse Chevrolet this season, it was a matter of time before it begun to sink in that he ...
So You wanna build a Street course?
Then you may wish to check out the NY Times story below over what are just some of the items being carried out to host the inaugural Baltimore GP this upcoming weekend...
As although I?ve known about the constant Problema?s loose manhole covers can cause, as I had to search the Internetz to confirm my hazy recollections of a Porsche Panzerwagon, nee the All-mighty 962 being destroyed by said manhole cover - recalling it being a Walter Brun entry...
As this significant accident did indeed occur during the 1990 World Sports Prototype Championship round for the FIA?s Group C Sports Cars being held on Il Notre Dam, aka Circuit Gilles Villeneuve - and occurred on lap-59 when Brun?s 962C with Jesus Pareja at the Keyboard struck a portion of a loose Manhole cover that had been extricated by a competitor ahead of Pareja.
When Jesus struck the debris, it punctured his Porsche?s fuel tank which promptly caused the stricken 962C to immediately burst into flames - with the chassis ultimately being written off, although Jesus was saved by track marshals and emerged unscathed...
Adding further insult to injury, Walter Brun who was Jesuses co-driver that day saw a sister team car also damaged in the ?Mont-royal event, of witch Brun threatened to institute legal action against the race organizers... And then for further insult - Brun?s Sports Car team was obliged to write off another chassis at the following race outing in Mexico, although NO word on whether or not Jesus was driving that day? (Hmm? Why do I feel a Larry The Cable Guy moment coming on here...)
As the name Walter Brun may ring a bell if you?re an Oldtimer F1 Aficionado like your Humble No Fenders Scribe is. As Messer Brun was half of the Minnowesqe EuroBrun Formula 1 racing team in name and partnership ?circa 1988-90, before the F1 Constructor?s demise. As Messer Brun himself was an accomplished Sports Car driver back in-the-day - winning a few races aboard his various 956/962 entries...
But back to our be-LUV-ed Manhole covers, eh? Which have caused a number of accidents, including the still publicly unresolved incident with Sergio Perez at Sepang - at the beginning of this season; when said unidentified object destroyed his Sauber?s floor and necessitated a new monocoque tub being flown out to Shanghai... Not to mention poor ?Rubino?s (Barrichello) contretemps at thee Principality (Monaco) last year. Or how ?bout ?ANT?s (Anthony Davidson) Up Close & Personal encounter with some sorta furry critter aboard his Super Best Friends racecar during the 2007 ?Kuhnadiun Grand Prix; ZOINKS! As Meesh would say, eh?
Canadian Beaver
And I also seem to recall manhole covers being a problema during Detroit?s Formula 1 days as well, not to mention the rare occurrence of M ?N M?s (Mario Moraes) KV Racing Technology IndyCar sucking out one of the Speedway?s famous bricks during a 2009 practice session; CRIKEYS!
So good luck Baltimore, as there?s obviously a little more involved in just lining the circuit?s public streets with Jersey barriers...
Baltimore Fixes Its Streets for 175mph Speed Limit
Thanxs to the all knowing Keith Collantine of F1 Fanatic for providing the definitive answer upon Manhole Cover STOPS race! Which you can read/check out pictures by clicking here.
As although I?ve known about the constant Problema?s loose manhole covers can cause, as I had to search the Internetz to confirm my hazy recollections of a Porsche Panzerwagon, nee the All-mighty 962 being destroyed by said manhole cover - recalling it being a Walter Brun entry...
As this significant accident did indeed occur during the 1990 World Sports Prototype Championship round for the FIA?s Group C Sports Cars being held on Il Notre Dam, aka Circuit Gilles Villeneuve - and occurred on lap-59 when Brun?s 962C with Jesus Pareja at the Keyboard struck a portion of a loose Manhole cover that had been extricated by a competitor ahead of Pareja.
When Jesus struck the debris, it punctured his Porsche?s fuel tank which promptly caused the stricken 962C to immediately burst into flames - with the chassis ultimately being written off, although Jesus was saved by track marshals and emerged unscathed...
Adding further insult to injury, Walter Brun who was Jesuses co-driver that day saw a sister team car also damaged in the ?Mont-royal event, of witch Brun threatened to institute legal action against the race organizers... And then for further insult - Brun?s Sports Car team was obliged to write off another chassis at the following race outing in Mexico, although NO word on whether or not Jesus was driving that day? (Hmm? Why do I feel a Larry The Cable Guy moment coming on here...)
As the name Walter Brun may ring a bell if you?re an Oldtimer F1 Aficionado like your Humble No Fenders Scribe is. As Messer Brun was half of the Minnowesqe EuroBrun Formula 1 racing team in name and partnership ?circa 1988-90, before the F1 Constructor?s demise. As Messer Brun himself was an accomplished Sports Car driver back in-the-day - winning a few races aboard his various 956/962 entries...
But back to our be-LUV-ed Manhole covers, eh? Which have caused a number of accidents, including the still publicly unresolved incident with Sergio Perez at Sepang - at the beginning of this season; when said unidentified object destroyed his Sauber?s floor and necessitated a new monocoque tub being flown out to Shanghai... Not to mention poor ?Rubino?s (Barrichello) contretemps at thee Principality (Monaco) last year. Or how ?bout ?ANT?s (Anthony Davidson) Up Close & Personal encounter with some sorta furry critter aboard his Super Best Friends racecar during the 2007 ?Kuhnadiun Grand Prix; ZOINKS! As Meesh would say, eh?
Canadian Beaver
And I also seem to recall manhole covers being a problema during Detroit?s Formula 1 days as well, not to mention the rare occurrence of M ?N M?s (Mario Moraes) KV Racing Technology IndyCar sucking out one of the Speedway?s famous bricks during a 2009 practice session; CRIKEYS!
So good luck Baltimore, as there?s obviously a little more involved in just lining the circuit?s public streets with Jersey barriers...
Baltimore Fixes Its Streets for 175mph Speed Limit
Thanxs to the all knowing Keith Collantine of F1 Fanatic for providing the definitive answer upon Manhole Cover STOPS race! Which you can read/check out pictures by clicking here.
This year ? the Chase works
Chase contenders Denny Hamlin, Jimmy Johnson and Kevin Harvick during a Champions press conference on Friday. (Photo: Getty Images)
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Let the best man win. Let the fastest car win. Here’s hoping they’re the same.
Grant the serenity not to have to muddy the Sprint Cup waters with leaking oil or litter them with debris. Here’s hoping no one’s title hopes run out of gas … literally.
Even though “ABC’s Wide World of Sports” is but a memory, it would be nostalgic to have the Ford 400 decided amid “the human drama of athletic competition.” What’s more important than who wins is how he wins it.
In an incredible development, given the slings and arrows of the Chase format, the three drivers who are still in contention – at Homestead-Miami Speedway, in the final race, with a 46-point blanket over them – are the three who deserve to be there.
If there were no Chase – and the points awarded in each race the same as now – Kevin Harvick would lead by 295 points. Of course, there is a Chase.
The driver with the most victories is Denny Hamlin.
The driver with four straight championships is Jimmie Johnson.
Chase or no Chase, they would be the top three now, though in different order. If the true goal of the Chase is to tighten, but not otherwise alter, the course of the season, then this Chase is the one that exemplifies the format. Even those who dislike the Chase – they’re out there – should be willing to concede that this is just about as good as the format, however flawed, gets.
If everything works out perfectly today, NASCAR will have a difficult time justifying further changes, even though NASCAR chairman Brian France has been floating trial balloons on the subject since July.
They’ll probably “tweak it” a little – France and his minions love that word – just to save face.
France was still pumping hot air – perhaps not quite as hot as before – into the balloon as recently as Friday.
The results of the current season, he said, demonstrate that “the more we can do, to have incentives ? an incentive basis -- to decide this championship, that puts it all on the line more often. That's what we need to be thinking about.”
Oh, yeah. “Take paradise and … put up a parking lot.”
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Let the best man win. Let the fastest car win. Here’s hoping they’re the same.
Grant the serenity not to have to muddy the Sprint Cup waters with leaking oil or litter them with debris. Here’s hoping no one’s title hopes run out of gas … literally.
Even though “ABC’s Wide World of Sports” is but a memory, it would be nostalgic to have the Ford 400 decided amid “the human drama of athletic competition.” What’s more important than who wins is how he wins it.
In an incredible development, given the slings and arrows of the Chase format, the three drivers who are still in contention – at Homestead-Miami Speedway, in the final race, with a 46-point blanket over them – are the three who deserve to be there.
If there were no Chase – and the points awarded in each race the same as now – Kevin Harvick would lead by 295 points. Of course, there is a Chase.
The driver with the most victories is Denny Hamlin.
The driver with four straight championships is Jimmie Johnson.
Chase or no Chase, they would be the top three now, though in different order. If the true goal of the Chase is to tighten, but not otherwise alter, the course of the season, then this Chase is the one that exemplifies the format. Even those who dislike the Chase – they’re out there – should be willing to concede that this is just about as good as the format, however flawed, gets.
If everything works out perfectly today, NASCAR will have a difficult time justifying further changes, even though NASCAR chairman Brian France has been floating trial balloons on the subject since July.
They’ll probably “tweak it” a little – France and his minions love that word – just to save face.
France was still pumping hot air – perhaps not quite as hot as before – into the balloon as recently as Friday.
The results of the current season, he said, demonstrate that “the more we can do, to have incentives ? an incentive basis -- to decide this championship, that puts it all on the line more often. That's what we need to be thinking about.”
Oh, yeah. “Take paradise and … put up a parking lot.”
Gordon snaps winless streak
�After nearly two years, Jeff Gordon made his way back to victory lane by winning the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceay on Sunday. The win was the first for Gordon in 67 races and his 83rd career win, overall, tying him for fifth on the Sprint Cup all-time win list with Cale [...]
Monday, September 26, 2011
This week's Stockcartoon from Mike Smith
Stockcartoons are created by Mike Smith, editorial cartoonist for the Las Vegas Sun, and syndicated through King Features Syndicate. Mike generously shares them with us here.
Mike is also the primary contributor to the Las Vegas Sun's NASCAR blog,"Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity."
INDYCAR: Missing the REAL Point over Competing in Japan...
So I thought the day would NEVER come... CRAP! When I?d actually Applaud Danica; SHEISA! As I?m simply taken aback over how much perceived criticism and media derision she?s enduring over her actually having the BALLS to admit her concerns towards the radioactive fallout in Japan from the molten Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Reactor Facility - which gee Wally? Just so happens to be a scant 90-miles away from Motegi...
And I?m even more DISGUSTED over how everybody seemingly is Snubbing Mrs. Danica Patrick by Pooh-Poohing her comments and saying I?ll only be there for four days, it?s really not a problem and will believe all of the experts comments about it being safe; Hmm? Isn?t that what Japan?s Nuclear Industry Officials said towards the stricken Fukushima Daiichi?s Tsunami defenses?
As Patrick wasn?t the first racer to criticize racing in Japan - as current MOTO GP Points leader Casey Stoner and defending Champion George Lorenzo had earlier this year claimed ?concerns? over racing at Motegi, as I thought I?d read they wouldn?t compete. While one of the sport?s greatest riders ?the Doctor,? aka Valentino Rossi proclaimed one month ago he wouldn?t contest the rescheduled October 2 round of the MOTO GP Calendar...
While I?m not debating the need to go to Japan from a moral angle - in hopes of giving the country some much needed uplifting of spirits over the Tsunami and Earthquake disaster of March 11 - NOT to mention the thousands that perished in this disaster. Just why is everyone in the media overlooking the crucial issue, i.e.; Nuclear Energy and its safety concerns... Oh Yeah, that?s right, it?s the Mainstream Media which Shill?s for such entity?s as General Electric, Comcast, Westinghouse, Hitachi, TEPCO, etc. Oh Never Mind!
As somehow I?m assuming that Versus, HVM & Simona de Silvestro will ALL be very QUIET ?bout who the team?s primary sponsor is this weekend, eh? As in who?s ?CLEAN AIR Car? WTF??? Can you say ULTIMATE CONTRADICTION??? But Hey! At least ?Symona-Symona?s? No. 78 should be very easy to spot in the dark, right? Oh, that?s right it?s just us stateside watching the race in the middle of the night!
HVM to run Glow-in-Dark colours for next Three-years
Yet, why is NOBODY talking about the 80,000 displaced citizens whose homes will never be able to be reoccupied in Fukushima Daiichi?s Disaster zone, not to mention the millions of tons of radioactive waste water dumped into the sea in order to prevent complete nuclear meltdown of Fukushima Daiichi? Or its inherent effects upon the Sea-life that are part of Japan?s culture... Along with the cattle and crops contaminated with the radioactive fallout... Which subsequently went to market before the Japanese Government reluctantly admitted these occurrences.
And I?ve also read ?bout how some IndyCar Officials previously made jokes ?bout how we?ll find out in 10yrs whether or not it was right to go to Motegi... which perhaps they?d wish to refer to joking about said matter of radiation with just ousted Yoshio Hachiro, Japan?s ex-Minister of Trade & Industry; who joked about rubbing radiation on reporters recently when visiting the crippled Fukushima Daiichi complex - and how that went down with the Japanese public!
So, while I?m all in favour of the Indy Car Series racing at Motegi this weekend, I?m just NOT very impressed with the tactless ?Smear campaign going on over the perceived lack of admittance over the HORRIFIC Environmental and Public Health problems that Fukushima Daiichi and Nuclear Energy have caused in Japan; who I?d say should perhaps take a close look at some place called Chernobyl. (Not to mention Hanford - US?s Nuclear DUMPING Grounds...)
Chernobyl: 25 Years After
And I?m even more DISGUSTED over how everybody seemingly is Snubbing Mrs. Danica Patrick by Pooh-Poohing her comments and saying I?ll only be there for four days, it?s really not a problem and will believe all of the experts comments about it being safe; Hmm? Isn?t that what Japan?s Nuclear Industry Officials said towards the stricken Fukushima Daiichi?s Tsunami defenses?
As Patrick wasn?t the first racer to criticize racing in Japan - as current MOTO GP Points leader Casey Stoner and defending Champion George Lorenzo had earlier this year claimed ?concerns? over racing at Motegi, as I thought I?d read they wouldn?t compete. While one of the sport?s greatest riders ?the Doctor,? aka Valentino Rossi proclaimed one month ago he wouldn?t contest the rescheduled October 2 round of the MOTO GP Calendar...
While I?m not debating the need to go to Japan from a moral angle - in hopes of giving the country some much needed uplifting of spirits over the Tsunami and Earthquake disaster of March 11 - NOT to mention the thousands that perished in this disaster. Just why is everyone in the media overlooking the crucial issue, i.e.; Nuclear Energy and its safety concerns... Oh Yeah, that?s right, it?s the Mainstream Media which Shill?s for such entity?s as General Electric, Comcast, Westinghouse, Hitachi, TEPCO, etc. Oh Never Mind!
As somehow I?m assuming that Versus, HVM & Simona de Silvestro will ALL be very QUIET ?bout who the team?s primary sponsor is this weekend, eh? As in who?s ?CLEAN AIR Car? WTF??? Can you say ULTIMATE CONTRADICTION??? But Hey! At least ?Symona-Symona?s? No. 78 should be very easy to spot in the dark, right? Oh, that?s right it?s just us stateside watching the race in the middle of the night!
HVM to run Glow-in-Dark colours for next Three-years
Yet, why is NOBODY talking about the 80,000 displaced citizens whose homes will never be able to be reoccupied in Fukushima Daiichi?s Disaster zone, not to mention the millions of tons of radioactive waste water dumped into the sea in order to prevent complete nuclear meltdown of Fukushima Daiichi? Or its inherent effects upon the Sea-life that are part of Japan?s culture... Along with the cattle and crops contaminated with the radioactive fallout... Which subsequently went to market before the Japanese Government reluctantly admitted these occurrences.
And I?ve also read ?bout how some IndyCar Officials previously made jokes ?bout how we?ll find out in 10yrs whether or not it was right to go to Motegi... which perhaps they?d wish to refer to joking about said matter of radiation with just ousted Yoshio Hachiro, Japan?s ex-Minister of Trade & Industry; who joked about rubbing radiation on reporters recently when visiting the crippled Fukushima Daiichi complex - and how that went down with the Japanese public!
So, while I?m all in favour of the Indy Car Series racing at Motegi this weekend, I?m just NOT very impressed with the tactless ?Smear campaign going on over the perceived lack of admittance over the HORRIFIC Environmental and Public Health problems that Fukushima Daiichi and Nuclear Energy have caused in Japan; who I?d say should perhaps take a close look at some place called Chernobyl. (Not to mention Hanford - US?s Nuclear DUMPING Grounds...)
Chernobyl: 25 Years After
Crate engines allowed for first time in Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300
Crate engines will be permitted to be used for the first time in one of the most prestigious Late Model races in the country, the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300, at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 9.
Justin Bell visits No Fenders...
Justin Bell with Tanner Foust
If you?re a Hard Core racing enthusiast, then most likely Y?all know that Justin Bell is the son of five times Le Mans winner Derek ? who although Justin admits great admiration and respect for, along with having spent considerable time in the cockpit as teammates at Circuit de la Sarthe; instead Justin wishes to remain his own man by not introducing himself as Derek?s son. (Rather that Derek is his father...)
And Justin?s had a fairly diverse Motorsports career ? if his WICKEDpedia page is its traditional ?69% correct?? Interspersed with his own ?Offical website?s Bio ? Justin has run the gamut from Motocross, Single Seaters, Sports Cars, Trans Am, Driving School, Celebrity Driver Coach and Television Pundit! So where to begin?
Tomaso (T) So I read that you began your climb thru the ranks by going Formula Ford racing, albeit getting ?Dusted-off by a wee lad named Alan McNish. Who else of notoriety did you race on your way up the ladder and what categories did you race prior to jumping into the ?BigCarz, i.e.; Porsche 962 at Le Mans?
Justin Bell (JB) Well Alan Mcnish was on the grid with me for my first FF1600 race - my FIRST and for him about his 500th race following his successful KArting career! And yes generally he did kick my ass... Although I was always second! The next season in Opel Lotus Mika Hakinen was added to the grid in the same Marlboro team as Alan. I finished THIRD a lot that season!
(T) I seem to vaguely recall you running a Shell liveried Porsche 962 with your Old Man, which reputedly you ran with him for four years. (1992-96) is that correct or am I confusing it with the Andretti?s? What team(s) did the two of you chauffer for, who were your other co-drivers and what?s your best memory(s) from those races?
(JB) No that must have been the Andretti?s. Dad and I raced a 962 under the ADA banner in 1991 at Le Mans with Tiff Needel. The biggest race together was when I asked him to join Andy Wallace and myself in the Harrods Sponsored McLaren F1 GTR at LM in 1995. Finishing third overall and standing on the podium with Dad was extraordinary. What an experience!
SPEED: Justin Bell?s Lemans Debut
(T) Whale, after having watched your Marshall Pruett Le Mans Debut Flashback video, (above) along with doing some more digging; it (indeed) appears that your first ?Proper? Le Mans was in 1992 in a Porsche 962 with your father and Tiff Needel. And then you shared a podium winning McLaren F1 GTR with your dad and Andy Wallace: (Which Justin noted above...) which race was more special?
(JB) Definitely the 1995 LM with the F1 - wow! To drive the coolest car built at the time with Dad was massive.
(T) And I really seemed to first notice you when driving those provocative Dodge Vipers, as I?m guessing your best Le Mans memory is your 1998 class victory. How fun were those Viper GTR?s to drive vs. the Corvette?s ? and how do they stack up against each other?
(JB) Yes Racing for Dodge in their World Championship team with Team OReca was definitely the most significant phase of my racing career. We won so many races and of course being the first Driver to win a World Championship for them and then as part of the LM winning team with Luca Drudi and David Donohue - really put me on the map.
Actually for four years our main competition was with Porsche and then Vette reared their fast paced faces at the end of 1999. When I jumped ship to join them!
(T) When did you last race at Le Mans and what was your favourite racecar to drive in the 24 Heurs du Mans. (Besides that memorable Spice-Ferrari Prototype; Hya!)
(JB) Thanks for bringing up the Spice Ferrari... not a positive memory! I last raced for Corvette there in 2000.
(T) And you seem to have an infinity for Hugues de Chaunac, who you drove for ? winning in his GT2 Oreca Vipers. What other Owners did you enjoy driving for?
(JB) Racing with Corvette under the mentorship of Doug Fehan was great fun. I admire him a lot - he hired me and had the balls to fire me... his mistake though... lol
(T) Many moons ago, your Dad thru Grand Prix Tours was chauffeuring GPTCustomers around the ?Green Hella,? a.k.a. the Nordschleife in a Dodge Viper GTS; of which I seriously wished I?d done. Did that come about thru your being a Dodge factory driver?
(JB) Probably, maybe, likely - no clue actually!
(T) Switching gears ? without going into a long Diatribe ?bout ?the Split.? I know another ex-Corvette Racing teammate of yours named ?Johnny ?O? (O?Connell) participated in the 1996 Indy 500, but was unaware that you tried qualifying for that event; reputedly in a 4yr old Lola chassis. Who was that for and can you summarize what happened?
(JB) Bloody awful experience. Terrifying. Shit team and no money. Tony George did not need/want a Brit in the race so no real motivation to help me. End of story.
To show how bad it was - I used to pack my wash bag up every morning just in case someone else was coming back to clear my shit up after what was going to be an eventual accident - and I knew it was serious when Johnny Rutherford suggested to me that I leave and comeback another year... otherwise I may not have that option...!
(T) Whilst searching for a current image of you - I came across a photo with you and Tanner Foust, who just set the record for jumping a PickEmUp truck off the Hot Wheels (?Door?) ramp at this year?s Centennial Indy 500. Do you know Tanner and have you ever competed/worked with him? As I really enjoyed him on the past season?s American version of Top Gear. (Of which a second season of Top Gear USA is currently running on the History channel Sunday evenings...)
(JB) Yes I have a great relationship with Tanner - the first time we worked together was on that event - we had a blast. I think the only thing missing from Top Gear USA is me... lol! He is the best thing on that show at the moment.
VIDEO: Justin & Tanner ?flog Ford Focus
(T) Back to the TinTops, albeit I seemingly lost interest in Trans Am after the Tommy Bahamas Qvale (De Tomaso) Mangusta car went away in the early ?Ought?s.? (2000?s) Thus I was unaware of your racing in the series. Who did you win R.O.Y. (Rookie Of the Year) Honours for? Did your two victories come with the same team, or did you run for more then one entrant during your three seasons of Trans Am?
(JB) I had a blast in TA - I was with the seasoned Jim Derhaag team and we really got that Orange #40 Vette working well. So yes I won ROTY with that team and the last two races of the season. We actually looked like we were going to win the first race of the year at Long Beach - I came from almost last place to take the lead briefly from Boris Said and Paul Gentilozzi... and then I screwed up with one corner to go!
What a shame that TA didn?t survive - it could have been the best option as a road racing series to rival NASCAR if managed properly...
(T) I recall watching, Err listening to your Dad call a season of Formula 1 upon my local Fox Sports Network (FSN) whilst I was struggling to acquire Speed Vision way back when. Did this have anything to do with giving you the bug to go into Television and how did you get your start.
(JB) No - I loved being interviewed - apparently I did it well. Then being quite a creative person I saw it as my chance to really shine in a world I always wanted to be part of. So I dedicated myself to being a professional TV host in the same way I did to being a racing driver 20 years earlier.
(T) And what?s it like working with Jay Leno?
(JB) I moved to LA to be on his (at the time) new ?Jay Leno Show? on NBC. I got to train the celebs to drive the Electric Ford and then interview them for NBC.com. What a great gig and sadly short lived, thanks to that whole Conan /Tonight Show situation.
But Jay has always been great to me - very encouraging and now I still work with him as a special correspondent to Jay Leno?s garage.com.
(T) During your annual ?CrowdCrawl this year at Le Mans ? you mused that it?d be your last Le Mans and from now on you?d be writing books... Was this just some more of your British wit, or is there any truth behind that?
(JB) Purely me goofing around... Just my sense of humour as when I interviewed that British fan wearing fake boobs and with a giant hairy bush peeking out from his ladies thong... I thought I have done it this time!!
(T) And I noticed that SPEED had a pretty Driver ?Heavy? announce crew on hand this year, with Calvin Fish, Scott Pruett, Dorsey Schroeder, Brian Till and yourself on hand. (Along with Greg Creamer, Leigh Diffey, Jamie Howe and Andrew Marriot)
Has the SPEED broadcast luminaries (9 On-air personalities) ever gone Go Kart racing and who?d win? (As I?ll put my money upon Leigh Diffey...)
(JB) Leigh would loose...
(T) And have you ever participated in a Barret-Jackson auction besides as a commentator, i.e.; Bidder? And if so what type of Automobile did you buy/wished-to purchase?
(JB) No I knew nothing about them until I worked that B-J Scottsdale last year. Now I love those events - they are incredible to be a part of. I am SO glad I don?t have a bidders paddle - or I would now be the owner of several American muscle cars, a 21 window VW van and several cool Bronco?s... haha.
(T) And lastly, you claim you?re not officially retired as a racer on your bio. Is there any race on your ?Bucket-list? you?d like to do; ore are you simply content upon focusing on your television career instead?
(JB) Well I am racing at the Petit Le Mans race at the end of the month with Michael Waltrip in the AF Corse Ferrari F430... so I guess you are correct. I am really looking forward to it. Good to remind people I can still walk it as well as talk it...
Thanxs very much for dropping by and good luck with the book; Hya!
And don?t forget to check out Justin Bell?s Official Website at: justinbell.com
Good Luck with Mikey ?N Thee 430 Ferrari!
If you?re a Hard Core racing enthusiast, then most likely Y?all know that Justin Bell is the son of five times Le Mans winner Derek ? who although Justin admits great admiration and respect for, along with having spent considerable time in the cockpit as teammates at Circuit de la Sarthe; instead Justin wishes to remain his own man by not introducing himself as Derek?s son. (Rather that Derek is his father...)
And Justin?s had a fairly diverse Motorsports career ? if his WICKEDpedia page is its traditional ?69% correct?? Interspersed with his own ?Offical website?s Bio ? Justin has run the gamut from Motocross, Single Seaters, Sports Cars, Trans Am, Driving School, Celebrity Driver Coach and Television Pundit! So where to begin?
Tomaso (T) So I read that you began your climb thru the ranks by going Formula Ford racing, albeit getting ?Dusted-off by a wee lad named Alan McNish. Who else of notoriety did you race on your way up the ladder and what categories did you race prior to jumping into the ?BigCarz, i.e.; Porsche 962 at Le Mans?
Justin Bell (JB) Well Alan Mcnish was on the grid with me for my first FF1600 race - my FIRST and for him about his 500th race following his successful KArting career! And yes generally he did kick my ass... Although I was always second! The next season in Opel Lotus Mika Hakinen was added to the grid in the same Marlboro team as Alan. I finished THIRD a lot that season!
(T) I seem to vaguely recall you running a Shell liveried Porsche 962 with your Old Man, which reputedly you ran with him for four years. (1992-96) is that correct or am I confusing it with the Andretti?s? What team(s) did the two of you chauffer for, who were your other co-drivers and what?s your best memory(s) from those races?
(JB) No that must have been the Andretti?s. Dad and I raced a 962 under the ADA banner in 1991 at Le Mans with Tiff Needel. The biggest race together was when I asked him to join Andy Wallace and myself in the Harrods Sponsored McLaren F1 GTR at LM in 1995. Finishing third overall and standing on the podium with Dad was extraordinary. What an experience!
SPEED: Justin Bell?s Lemans Debut
(T) Whale, after having watched your Marshall Pruett Le Mans Debut Flashback video, (above) along with doing some more digging; it (indeed) appears that your first ?Proper? Le Mans was in 1992 in a Porsche 962 with your father and Tiff Needel. And then you shared a podium winning McLaren F1 GTR with your dad and Andy Wallace: (Which Justin noted above...) which race was more special?
(JB) Definitely the 1995 LM with the F1 - wow! To drive the coolest car built at the time with Dad was massive.
(T) And I really seemed to first notice you when driving those provocative Dodge Vipers, as I?m guessing your best Le Mans memory is your 1998 class victory. How fun were those Viper GTR?s to drive vs. the Corvette?s ? and how do they stack up against each other?
(JB) Yes Racing for Dodge in their World Championship team with Team OReca was definitely the most significant phase of my racing career. We won so many races and of course being the first Driver to win a World Championship for them and then as part of the LM winning team with Luca Drudi and David Donohue - really put me on the map.
Actually for four years our main competition was with Porsche and then Vette reared their fast paced faces at the end of 1999. When I jumped ship to join them!
(T) When did you last race at Le Mans and what was your favourite racecar to drive in the 24 Heurs du Mans. (Besides that memorable Spice-Ferrari Prototype; Hya!)
(JB) Thanks for bringing up the Spice Ferrari... not a positive memory! I last raced for Corvette there in 2000.
(T) And you seem to have an infinity for Hugues de Chaunac, who you drove for ? winning in his GT2 Oreca Vipers. What other Owners did you enjoy driving for?
(JB) Racing with Corvette under the mentorship of Doug Fehan was great fun. I admire him a lot - he hired me and had the balls to fire me... his mistake though... lol
(T) Many moons ago, your Dad thru Grand Prix Tours was chauffeuring GPTCustomers around the ?Green Hella,? a.k.a. the Nordschleife in a Dodge Viper GTS; of which I seriously wished I?d done. Did that come about thru your being a Dodge factory driver?
(JB) Probably, maybe, likely - no clue actually!
(T) Switching gears ? without going into a long Diatribe ?bout ?the Split.? I know another ex-Corvette Racing teammate of yours named ?Johnny ?O? (O?Connell) participated in the 1996 Indy 500, but was unaware that you tried qualifying for that event; reputedly in a 4yr old Lola chassis. Who was that for and can you summarize what happened?
(JB) Bloody awful experience. Terrifying. Shit team and no money. Tony George did not need/want a Brit in the race so no real motivation to help me. End of story.
To show how bad it was - I used to pack my wash bag up every morning just in case someone else was coming back to clear my shit up after what was going to be an eventual accident - and I knew it was serious when Johnny Rutherford suggested to me that I leave and comeback another year... otherwise I may not have that option...!
(T) Whilst searching for a current image of you - I came across a photo with you and Tanner Foust, who just set the record for jumping a PickEmUp truck off the Hot Wheels (?Door?) ramp at this year?s Centennial Indy 500. Do you know Tanner and have you ever competed/worked with him? As I really enjoyed him on the past season?s American version of Top Gear. (Of which a second season of Top Gear USA is currently running on the History channel Sunday evenings...)
(JB) Yes I have a great relationship with Tanner - the first time we worked together was on that event - we had a blast. I think the only thing missing from Top Gear USA is me... lol! He is the best thing on that show at the moment.
VIDEO: Justin & Tanner ?flog Ford Focus
(T) Back to the TinTops, albeit I seemingly lost interest in Trans Am after the Tommy Bahamas Qvale (De Tomaso) Mangusta car went away in the early ?Ought?s.? (2000?s) Thus I was unaware of your racing in the series. Who did you win R.O.Y. (Rookie Of the Year) Honours for? Did your two victories come with the same team, or did you run for more then one entrant during your three seasons of Trans Am?
(JB) I had a blast in TA - I was with the seasoned Jim Derhaag team and we really got that Orange #40 Vette working well. So yes I won ROTY with that team and the last two races of the season. We actually looked like we were going to win the first race of the year at Long Beach - I came from almost last place to take the lead briefly from Boris Said and Paul Gentilozzi... and then I screwed up with one corner to go!
What a shame that TA didn?t survive - it could have been the best option as a road racing series to rival NASCAR if managed properly...
(T) I recall watching, Err listening to your Dad call a season of Formula 1 upon my local Fox Sports Network (FSN) whilst I was struggling to acquire Speed Vision way back when. Did this have anything to do with giving you the bug to go into Television and how did you get your start.
(JB) No - I loved being interviewed - apparently I did it well. Then being quite a creative person I saw it as my chance to really shine in a world I always wanted to be part of. So I dedicated myself to being a professional TV host in the same way I did to being a racing driver 20 years earlier.
(T) And what?s it like working with Jay Leno?
(JB) I moved to LA to be on his (at the time) new ?Jay Leno Show? on NBC. I got to train the celebs to drive the Electric Ford and then interview them for NBC.com. What a great gig and sadly short lived, thanks to that whole Conan /Tonight Show situation.
But Jay has always been great to me - very encouraging and now I still work with him as a special correspondent to Jay Leno?s garage.com.
(T) During your annual ?CrowdCrawl this year at Le Mans ? you mused that it?d be your last Le Mans and from now on you?d be writing books... Was this just some more of your British wit, or is there any truth behind that?
(JB) Purely me goofing around... Just my sense of humour as when I interviewed that British fan wearing fake boobs and with a giant hairy bush peeking out from his ladies thong... I thought I have done it this time!!
(T) And I noticed that SPEED had a pretty Driver ?Heavy? announce crew on hand this year, with Calvin Fish, Scott Pruett, Dorsey Schroeder, Brian Till and yourself on hand. (Along with Greg Creamer, Leigh Diffey, Jamie Howe and Andrew Marriot)
Has the SPEED broadcast luminaries (9 On-air personalities) ever gone Go Kart racing and who?d win? (As I?ll put my money upon Leigh Diffey...)
(JB) Leigh would loose...
(T) And have you ever participated in a Barret-Jackson auction besides as a commentator, i.e.; Bidder? And if so what type of Automobile did you buy/wished-to purchase?
(JB) No I knew nothing about them until I worked that B-J Scottsdale last year. Now I love those events - they are incredible to be a part of. I am SO glad I don?t have a bidders paddle - or I would now be the owner of several American muscle cars, a 21 window VW van and several cool Bronco?s... haha.
(T) And lastly, you claim you?re not officially retired as a racer on your bio. Is there any race on your ?Bucket-list? you?d like to do; ore are you simply content upon focusing on your television career instead?
(JB) Well I am racing at the Petit Le Mans race at the end of the month with Michael Waltrip in the AF Corse Ferrari F430... so I guess you are correct. I am really looking forward to it. Good to remind people I can still walk it as well as talk it...
Thanxs very much for dropping by and good luck with the book; Hya!
And don?t forget to check out Justin Bell?s Official Website at: justinbell.com
Good Luck with Mikey ?N Thee 430 Ferrari!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Women on Wheels: Meet Jodi!
This year’s Red Bull Indianapolis GP will take the time to recognize women motorcycle riders. Many events have been organized throughout the race weekend that are just for women. Some selected lady riders have been kind enough to share their riding stories with us. They come from different riding groups organizations from all over the [...]
Maybe it?s a matter of winning, not losing
It’s a simple case of the Cinderella story versus the truth of who has the best damn car on the track.
AVONDALE, Ariz. – This Chase race is a bouncing ball. Each week. Back and forth.
Intangibles run rampant. Let’s see.
On Friday, Denny Hamlin was in breakout mode. His crew chief, Mike Ford, has supposedly gotten under the skin of Jimmie Johnson’s crew, which, by the way, wasn’t the same as it had been a week earlier.
On Monday, Johnson still trailed by 15 points, but it seemed as if it was time to get the cases of champagne ordered. Hamlin had played it a bit too safe by pitting near the end of the Kobalt Tools 500, apparently not realizing that most everyone else was going to try to conserve fuel and make it to the end, and more importantly, that most were going to succeed.
At Phoenix International Raceway, Hamlin snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, leaving him to wander aimlessly out of the track’s media center, muttering that he didn’t think he had done anything wrong.
Meanwhile, there was Kevin Harvick lurking, eyeing the two in front of him with the stare of a vulture waiting to snatch up the pieces.
But what if we stopped putting so much weight into the tangibles? What if the tangibles are really going to decide who wins this heated contest?
What if what happens just … happens?
If Johnson emerges next week as the champion, the prevailing view is going to be that Hamlin’s crew chief, Ford, spat on Superman’s (Johnson crew chief Chad Knaus) cape and got what was coming to him. If Hamlin wins it all, it’s going be because he kept a level head and didn’t let anyone get to him.
If Harvick wins, well, it’s going to require some alleged choking or bad luck by not one, but two. Thus will emerge the Cinderella story.
But maybe, just maybe, this championship is to be decided simply by which driver has the fastest car. Maybe no one’s going to choke. Maybe the attention should be justly slanted toward a tale of winning, not losing.
If so, few will notice. What’s between the ears trumps what’s under the hood.
TV Alert: 12 Hours of Sebring Recap on ABC
In case you didn't spend 12 hours sitting in front of the laptop watching the ESPN3 stream-cast of the 12 hours of Sebring, you can catch a 90 minute recap of the race today on ABC. Since this is not a live broadcast, it is uncertain about what ...
Who knows why the bubble burst?
The morning after the Amp Energy Juice 500 was as muddled as the race. It required a long drive home to get the old thoughts in order.
This race featured 87 lead changes. It ended in a side-by-side finish, though, oddly, not at the finish line. The last-place driver in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Clint Bowyer, became the only driver so far to win two of its races. Of course, the reason Bowyer is buried so deeply is the absence of 150 points due to a NASCAR penalty.
See what I mean by muddled?
But what fired my ruminations was the question of declining interest in NASCAR. Many opinions have been offered, most by folks who, in some way, have a specific interest in the view they offer. Those who are having trouble economically blame the economy. Those who love Dale Earnhardt Jr. blame his struggles. Those who loathe Jimmie Johnson blame his dominance.
It can’t be contended that the sport hasn’t reacted. Ticket prices have been slashed. Rules have been changed to promote excitement. Nothing seems to work. The NASCAR estimate of the Talladega Superspeedway crowd was 110,000. In 2003, it was 170,000. Those who point out how convenient it is to watch on TV fail to account for why TV ratings are declining as rapidly as attendance.
I’ve pondered and addressed all these issues and offered a few of my own, but the truth is, I don’t know, either. And I don’t think NASCAR does.
One word occurred to me while driving the interstate: “bubble.”
In the stock market, there was a “dotcom bubble.” I’ve heard of mortgage bubbles, real-estate bubbles and Indy 500 qualifier who are “on the bubble.” The world is one big bubble bath.
The idea is that something grows too rapidly. The perception of prosperity creates something of a feeding frenzy. Everyone gets on board, so much so that growth is artificially enhanced in a way that can’t be maintained.
And the bubble bursts.
All that “Fastest Growing Sport” rhetoric, which NASCAR so enthusiastically circulated, may have burst. “Burst” may be too harsh a word. In the stock market, there is often a “fallback position.” Maybe that’s where NASCAR is right now. It’s still big, but not as big.
This race featured 87 lead changes. It ended in a side-by-side finish, though, oddly, not at the finish line. The last-place driver in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Clint Bowyer, became the only driver so far to win two of its races. Of course, the reason Bowyer is buried so deeply is the absence of 150 points due to a NASCAR penalty.
See what I mean by muddled?
But what fired my ruminations was the question of declining interest in NASCAR. Many opinions have been offered, most by folks who, in some way, have a specific interest in the view they offer. Those who are having trouble economically blame the economy. Those who love Dale Earnhardt Jr. blame his struggles. Those who loathe Jimmie Johnson blame his dominance.
It can’t be contended that the sport hasn’t reacted. Ticket prices have been slashed. Rules have been changed to promote excitement. Nothing seems to work. The NASCAR estimate of the Talladega Superspeedway crowd was 110,000. In 2003, it was 170,000. Those who point out how convenient it is to watch on TV fail to account for why TV ratings are declining as rapidly as attendance.
I’ve pondered and addressed all these issues and offered a few of my own, but the truth is, I don’t know, either. And I don’t think NASCAR does.
One word occurred to me while driving the interstate: “bubble.”
In the stock market, there was a “dotcom bubble.” I’ve heard of mortgage bubbles, real-estate bubbles and Indy 500 qualifier who are “on the bubble.” The world is one big bubble bath.
The idea is that something grows too rapidly. The perception of prosperity creates something of a feeding frenzy. Everyone gets on board, so much so that growth is artificially enhanced in a way that can’t be maintained.
And the bubble bursts.
All that “Fastest Growing Sport” rhetoric, which NASCAR so enthusiastically circulated, may have burst. “Burst” may be too harsh a word. In the stock market, there is often a “fallback position.” Maybe that’s where NASCAR is right now. It’s still big, but not as big.
CORRECTION: No Fenders Bobbles over the Two Adams
Recently I scribbled a story about whether or not The Car Show was a Pour KNOCKOFF of Top Gear... Which I still say is the case. Yet, unfortunately I didn?t manage to grasp that although both The Car Show and Top Gear USA have hosts with the first names of Adam in them... I?d not caught the fact that The Car show is hosted by Adam Carolla, whilst Top Gear USA is co-hosted by Adam Ferrara; OOPS! And in the immortal words of that horrific slang phrase: MY BAD!
Thus, this would explain why Adam Ferrara is FUNNY and Adam Carolla is NOT! My apologies to Messer Ferrara!
Celebrity Drives: Adam Ferrara ? Top Gear USA
Thus, this would explain why Adam Ferrara is FUNNY and Adam Carolla is NOT! My apologies to Messer Ferrara!
Celebrity Drives: Adam Ferrara ? Top Gear USA
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Colbie Caillat to perform at NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 29, 2010) ? NASCAR has announced the addition of multi GRAMMY-Award winning singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat to the performance lineup for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony, set for Friday, Dec. 3 at Wynn Las Vegas. Broadcast live on SPEED at 9 p.m. ET, Caillat will join country music vocal group Rascal Flatts and comedic host Frank Caliendo to create a fully star-studded celebration of the 2010 NASCAR season.
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NASCAR on ESPN ? Junior and Jeff
Check out how far Dale Earnhardt Jr. would go to win a race. Related Reading: Great Moments in American Auto Racing (Matt Christopher) NASCAR Sim Racing NASCAR Racing 2
Justin Bell visits No Fenders...
Justin Bell with Tanner Foust
If you?re a Hard Core racing enthusiast, then most likely Y?all know that Justin Bell is the son of five times Le Mans winner Derek ? who although Justin admits great admiration and respect for, along with having spent considerable time in the cockpit as teammates at Circuit de la Sarthe; instead Justin wishes to remain his own man by not introducing himself as Derek?s son. (Rather that Derek is his father...)
And Justin?s had a fairly diverse Motorsports career ? if his WICKEDpedia page is its traditional ?69% correct?? Interspersed with his own ?Offical website?s Bio ? Justin has run the gamut from Motocross, Single Seaters, Sports Cars, Trans Am, Driving School, Celebrity Driver Coach and Television Pundit! So where to begin?
Tomaso (T) So I read that you began your climb thru the ranks by going Formula Ford racing, albeit getting ?Dusted-off by a wee lad named Alan McNish. Who else of notoriety did you race on your way up the ladder and what categories did you race prior to jumping into the ?BigCarz, i.e.; Porsche 962 at Le Mans?
Justin Bell (JB) Well Alan Mcnish was on the grid with me for my first FF1600 race - my FIRST and for him about his 500th race following his successful KArting career! And yes generally he did kick my ass... Although I was always second! The next season in Opel Lotus Mika Hakinen was added to the grid in the same Marlboro team as Alan. I finished THIRD a lot that season!
(T) I seem to vaguely recall you running a Shell liveried Porsche 962 with your Old Man, which reputedly you ran with him for four years. (1992-96) is that correct or am I confusing it with the Andretti?s? What team(s) did the two of you chauffer for, who were your other co-drivers and what?s your best memory(s) from those races?
(JB) No that must have been the Andretti?s. Dad and I raced a 962 under the ADA banner in 1991 at Le Mans with Tiff Needel. The biggest race together was when I asked him to join Andy Wallace and myself in the Harrods Sponsored McLaren F1 GTR at LM in 1995. Finishing third overall and standing on the podium with Dad was extraordinary. What an experience!
SPEED: Justin Bell?s Lemans Debut
(T) Whale, after having watched your Marshall Pruett Le Mans Debut Flashback video, (above) along with doing some more digging; it (indeed) appears that your first ?Proper? Le Mans was in 1992 in a Porsche 962 with your father and Tiff Needel. And then you shared a podium winning McLaren F1 GTR with your dad and Andy Wallace: (Which Justin noted above...) which race was more special?
(JB) Definitely the 1995 LM with the F1 - wow! To drive the coolest car built at the time with Dad was massive.
(T) And I really seemed to first notice you when driving those provocative Dodge Vipers, as I?m guessing your best Le Mans memory is your 1998 class victory. How fun were those Viper GTR?s to drive vs. the Corvette?s ? and how do they stack up against each other?
(JB) Yes Racing for Dodge in their World Championship team with Team OReca was definitely the most significant phase of my racing career. We won so many races and of course being the first Driver to win a World Championship for them and then as part of the LM winning team with Luca Drudi and David Donohue - really put me on the map.
Actually for four years our main competition was with Porsche and then Vette reared their fast paced faces at the end of 1999. When I jumped ship to join them!
(T) When did you last race at Le Mans and what was your favourite racecar to drive in the 24 Heurs du Mans. (Besides that memorable Spice-Ferrari Prototype; Hya!)
(JB) Thanks for bringing up the Spice Ferrari... not a positive memory! I last raced for Corvette there in 2000.
(T) And you seem to have an infinity for Hugues de Chaunac, who you drove for ? winning in his GT2 Oreca Vipers. What other Owners did you enjoy driving for?
(JB) Racing with Corvette under the mentorship of Doug Fehan was great fun. I admire him a lot - he hired me and had the balls to fire me... his mistake though... lol
(T) Many moons ago, your Dad thru Grand Prix Tours was chauffeuring GPTCustomers around the ?Green Hella,? a.k.a. the Nordschleife in a Dodge Viper GTS; of which I seriously wished I?d done. Did that come about thru your being a Dodge factory driver?
(JB) Probably, maybe, likely - no clue actually!
(T) Switching gears ? without going into a long Diatribe ?bout ?the Split.? I know another ex-Corvette Racing teammate of yours named ?Johnny ?O? (O?Connell) participated in the 1996 Indy 500, but was unaware that you tried qualifying for that event; reputedly in a 4yr old Lola chassis. Who was that for and can you summarize what happened?
(JB) Bloody awful experience. Terrifying. Shit team and no money. Tony George did not need/want a Brit in the race so no real motivation to help me. End of story.
To show how bad it was - I used to pack my wash bag up every morning just in case someone else was coming back to clear my shit up after what was going to be an eventual accident - and I knew it was serious when Johnny Rutherford suggested to me that I leave and comeback another year... otherwise I may not have that option...!
(T) Whilst searching for a current image of you - I came across a photo with you and Tanner Foust, who just set the record for jumping a PickEmUp truck off the Hot Wheels (?Door?) ramp at this year?s Centennial Indy 500. Do you know Tanner and have you ever competed/worked with him? As I really enjoyed him on the past season?s American version of Top Gear. (Of which a second season of Top Gear USA is currently running on the History channel Sunday evenings...)
(JB) Yes I have a great relationship with Tanner - the first time we worked together was on that event - we had a blast. I think the only thing missing from Top Gear USA is me... lol! He is the best thing on that show at the moment.
VIDEO: Justin & Tanner ?flog Ford Focus
(T) Back to the TinTops, albeit I seemingly lost interest in Trans Am after the Tommy Bahamas Qvale (De Tomaso) Mangusta car went away in the early ?Ought?s.? (2000?s) Thus I was unaware of your racing in the series. Who did you win R.O.Y. (Rookie Of the Year) Honours for? Did your two victories come with the same team, or did you run for more then one entrant during your three seasons of Trans Am?
(JB) I had a blast in TA - I was with the seasoned Jim Derhaag team and we really got that Orange #40 Vette working well. So yes I won ROTY with that team and the last two races of the season. We actually looked like we were going to win the first race of the year at Long Beach - I came from almost last place to take the lead briefly from Boris Said and Paul Gentilozzi... and then I screwed up with one corner to go!
What a shame that TA didn?t survive - it could have been the best option as a road racing series to rival NASCAR if managed properly...
(T) I recall watching, Err listening to your Dad call a season of Formula 1 upon my local Fox Sports Network (FSN) whilst I was struggling to acquire Speed Vision way back when. Did this have anything to do with giving you the bug to go into Television and how did you get your start.
(JB) No - I loved being interviewed - apparently I did it well. Then being quite a creative person I saw it as my chance to really shine in a world I always wanted to be part of. So I dedicated myself to being a professional TV host in the same way I did to being a racing driver 20 years earlier.
(T) And what?s it like working with Jay Leno?
(JB) I moved to LA to be on his (at the time) new ?Jay Leno Show? on NBC. I got to train the celebs to drive the Electric Ford and then interview them for NBC.com. What a great gig and sadly short lived, thanks to that whole Conan /Tonight Show situation.
But Jay has always been great to me - very encouraging and now I still work with him as a special correspondent to Jay Leno?s garage.com.
(T) During your annual ?CrowdCrawl this year at Le Mans ? you mused that it?d be your last Le Mans and from now on you?d be writing books... Was this just some more of your British wit, or is there any truth behind that?
(JB) Purely me goofing around... Just my sense of humour as when I interviewed that British fan wearing fake boobs and with a giant hairy bush peeking out from his ladies thong... I thought I have done it this time!!
(T) And I noticed that SPEED had a pretty Driver ?Heavy? announce crew on hand this year, with Calvin Fish, Scott Pruett, Dorsey Schroeder, Brian Till and yourself on hand. (Along with Greg Creamer, Leigh Diffey, Jamie Howe and Andrew Marriot)
Has the SPEED broadcast luminaries (9 On-air personalities) ever gone Go Kart racing and who?d win? (As I?ll put my money upon Leigh Diffey...)
(JB) Leigh would loose...
(T) And have you ever participated in a Barret-Jackson auction besides as a commentator, i.e.; Bidder? And if so what type of Automobile did you buy/wished-to purchase?
(JB) No I knew nothing about them until I worked that B-J Scottsdale last year. Now I love those events - they are incredible to be a part of. I am SO glad I don?t have a bidders paddle - or I would now be the owner of several American muscle cars, a 21 window VW van and several cool Bronco?s... haha.
(T) And lastly, you claim you?re not officially retired as a racer on your bio. Is there any race on your ?Bucket-list? you?d like to do; ore are you simply content upon focusing on your television career instead?
(JB) Well I am racing at the Petit Le Mans race at the end of the month with Michael Waltrip in the AF Corse Ferrari F430... so I guess you are correct. I am really looking forward to it. Good to remind people I can still walk it as well as talk it...
Thanxs very much for dropping by and good luck with the book; Hya!
And don?t forget to check out Justin Bell?s Official Website at: justinbell.com
Good Luck with Mikey ?N Thee 430 Ferrari!
If you?re a Hard Core racing enthusiast, then most likely Y?all know that Justin Bell is the son of five times Le Mans winner Derek ? who although Justin admits great admiration and respect for, along with having spent considerable time in the cockpit as teammates at Circuit de la Sarthe; instead Justin wishes to remain his own man by not introducing himself as Derek?s son. (Rather that Derek is his father...)
And Justin?s had a fairly diverse Motorsports career ? if his WICKEDpedia page is its traditional ?69% correct?? Interspersed with his own ?Offical website?s Bio ? Justin has run the gamut from Motocross, Single Seaters, Sports Cars, Trans Am, Driving School, Celebrity Driver Coach and Television Pundit! So where to begin?
Tomaso (T) So I read that you began your climb thru the ranks by going Formula Ford racing, albeit getting ?Dusted-off by a wee lad named Alan McNish. Who else of notoriety did you race on your way up the ladder and what categories did you race prior to jumping into the ?BigCarz, i.e.; Porsche 962 at Le Mans?
Justin Bell (JB) Well Alan Mcnish was on the grid with me for my first FF1600 race - my FIRST and for him about his 500th race following his successful KArting career! And yes generally he did kick my ass... Although I was always second! The next season in Opel Lotus Mika Hakinen was added to the grid in the same Marlboro team as Alan. I finished THIRD a lot that season!
(T) I seem to vaguely recall you running a Shell liveried Porsche 962 with your Old Man, which reputedly you ran with him for four years. (1992-96) is that correct or am I confusing it with the Andretti?s? What team(s) did the two of you chauffer for, who were your other co-drivers and what?s your best memory(s) from those races?
(JB) No that must have been the Andretti?s. Dad and I raced a 962 under the ADA banner in 1991 at Le Mans with Tiff Needel. The biggest race together was when I asked him to join Andy Wallace and myself in the Harrods Sponsored McLaren F1 GTR at LM in 1995. Finishing third overall and standing on the podium with Dad was extraordinary. What an experience!
SPEED: Justin Bell?s Lemans Debut
(T) Whale, after having watched your Marshall Pruett Le Mans Debut Flashback video, (above) along with doing some more digging; it (indeed) appears that your first ?Proper? Le Mans was in 1992 in a Porsche 962 with your father and Tiff Needel. And then you shared a podium winning McLaren F1 GTR with your dad and Andy Wallace: (Which Justin noted above...) which race was more special?
(JB) Definitely the 1995 LM with the F1 - wow! To drive the coolest car built at the time with Dad was massive.
(T) And I really seemed to first notice you when driving those provocative Dodge Vipers, as I?m guessing your best Le Mans memory is your 1998 class victory. How fun were those Viper GTR?s to drive vs. the Corvette?s ? and how do they stack up against each other?
(JB) Yes Racing for Dodge in their World Championship team with Team OReca was definitely the most significant phase of my racing career. We won so many races and of course being the first Driver to win a World Championship for them and then as part of the LM winning team with Luca Drudi and David Donohue - really put me on the map.
Actually for four years our main competition was with Porsche and then Vette reared their fast paced faces at the end of 1999. When I jumped ship to join them!
(T) When did you last race at Le Mans and what was your favourite racecar to drive in the 24 Heurs du Mans. (Besides that memorable Spice-Ferrari Prototype; Hya!)
(JB) Thanks for bringing up the Spice Ferrari... not a positive memory! I last raced for Corvette there in 2000.
(T) And you seem to have an infinity for Hugues de Chaunac, who you drove for ? winning in his GT2 Oreca Vipers. What other Owners did you enjoy driving for?
(JB) Racing with Corvette under the mentorship of Doug Fehan was great fun. I admire him a lot - he hired me and had the balls to fire me... his mistake though... lol
(T) Many moons ago, your Dad thru Grand Prix Tours was chauffeuring GPTCustomers around the ?Green Hella,? a.k.a. the Nordschleife in a Dodge Viper GTS; of which I seriously wished I?d done. Did that come about thru your being a Dodge factory driver?
(JB) Probably, maybe, likely - no clue actually!
(T) Switching gears ? without going into a long Diatribe ?bout ?the Split.? I know another ex-Corvette Racing teammate of yours named ?Johnny ?O? (O?Connell) participated in the 1996 Indy 500, but was unaware that you tried qualifying for that event; reputedly in a 4yr old Lola chassis. Who was that for and can you summarize what happened?
(JB) Bloody awful experience. Terrifying. Shit team and no money. Tony George did not need/want a Brit in the race so no real motivation to help me. End of story.
To show how bad it was - I used to pack my wash bag up every morning just in case someone else was coming back to clear my shit up after what was going to be an eventual accident - and I knew it was serious when Johnny Rutherford suggested to me that I leave and comeback another year... otherwise I may not have that option...!
(T) Whilst searching for a current image of you - I came across a photo with you and Tanner Foust, who just set the record for jumping a PickEmUp truck off the Hot Wheels (?Door?) ramp at this year?s Centennial Indy 500. Do you know Tanner and have you ever competed/worked with him? As I really enjoyed him on the past season?s American version of Top Gear. (Of which a second season of Top Gear USA is currently running on the History channel Sunday evenings...)
(JB) Yes I have a great relationship with Tanner - the first time we worked together was on that event - we had a blast. I think the only thing missing from Top Gear USA is me... lol! He is the best thing on that show at the moment.
VIDEO: Justin & Tanner ?flog Ford Focus
(T) Back to the TinTops, albeit I seemingly lost interest in Trans Am after the Tommy Bahamas Qvale (De Tomaso) Mangusta car went away in the early ?Ought?s.? (2000?s) Thus I was unaware of your racing in the series. Who did you win R.O.Y. (Rookie Of the Year) Honours for? Did your two victories come with the same team, or did you run for more then one entrant during your three seasons of Trans Am?
(JB) I had a blast in TA - I was with the seasoned Jim Derhaag team and we really got that Orange #40 Vette working well. So yes I won ROTY with that team and the last two races of the season. We actually looked like we were going to win the first race of the year at Long Beach - I came from almost last place to take the lead briefly from Boris Said and Paul Gentilozzi... and then I screwed up with one corner to go!
What a shame that TA didn?t survive - it could have been the best option as a road racing series to rival NASCAR if managed properly...
(T) I recall watching, Err listening to your Dad call a season of Formula 1 upon my local Fox Sports Network (FSN) whilst I was struggling to acquire Speed Vision way back when. Did this have anything to do with giving you the bug to go into Television and how did you get your start.
(JB) No - I loved being interviewed - apparently I did it well. Then being quite a creative person I saw it as my chance to really shine in a world I always wanted to be part of. So I dedicated myself to being a professional TV host in the same way I did to being a racing driver 20 years earlier.
(T) And what?s it like working with Jay Leno?
(JB) I moved to LA to be on his (at the time) new ?Jay Leno Show? on NBC. I got to train the celebs to drive the Electric Ford and then interview them for NBC.com. What a great gig and sadly short lived, thanks to that whole Conan /Tonight Show situation.
But Jay has always been great to me - very encouraging and now I still work with him as a special correspondent to Jay Leno?s garage.com.
(T) During your annual ?CrowdCrawl this year at Le Mans ? you mused that it?d be your last Le Mans and from now on you?d be writing books... Was this just some more of your British wit, or is there any truth behind that?
(JB) Purely me goofing around... Just my sense of humour as when I interviewed that British fan wearing fake boobs and with a giant hairy bush peeking out from his ladies thong... I thought I have done it this time!!
(T) And I noticed that SPEED had a pretty Driver ?Heavy? announce crew on hand this year, with Calvin Fish, Scott Pruett, Dorsey Schroeder, Brian Till and yourself on hand. (Along with Greg Creamer, Leigh Diffey, Jamie Howe and Andrew Marriot)
Has the SPEED broadcast luminaries (9 On-air personalities) ever gone Go Kart racing and who?d win? (As I?ll put my money upon Leigh Diffey...)
(JB) Leigh would loose...
(T) And have you ever participated in a Barret-Jackson auction besides as a commentator, i.e.; Bidder? And if so what type of Automobile did you buy/wished-to purchase?
(JB) No I knew nothing about them until I worked that B-J Scottsdale last year. Now I love those events - they are incredible to be a part of. I am SO glad I don?t have a bidders paddle - or I would now be the owner of several American muscle cars, a 21 window VW van and several cool Bronco?s... haha.
(T) And lastly, you claim you?re not officially retired as a racer on your bio. Is there any race on your ?Bucket-list? you?d like to do; ore are you simply content upon focusing on your television career instead?
(JB) Well I am racing at the Petit Le Mans race at the end of the month with Michael Waltrip in the AF Corse Ferrari F430... so I guess you are correct. I am really looking forward to it. Good to remind people I can still walk it as well as talk it...
Thanxs very much for dropping by and good luck with the book; Hya!
And don?t forget to check out Justin Bell?s Official Website at: justinbell.com
Good Luck with Mikey ?N Thee 430 Ferrari!
Colbie Caillat to perform at NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 29, 2010) ? NASCAR has announced the addition of multi GRAMMY-Award winning singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat to the performance lineup for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony, set for Friday, Dec. 3 at Wynn Las Vegas. Broadcast live on SPEED at 9 p.m. ET, Caillat will join country music vocal group Rascal Flatts and comedic host Frank Caliendo to create a fully star-studded celebration of the 2010 NASCAR season.
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Friday, September 23, 2011
Win up to $1,000,000 with DIRECTV?s NASCAR Head 2 Head Knock Out!
Pager item text:
Budweiser and Daytona
Slide text:
<p>
NASCAR is rolling out a new and unique fantasy game. The contest starts on August 7th so be sure to get your entries in soon!</p>
7-26-2011 - Sponsored by DIRECTV - NASCAR is rolling out a new and unique fantasy game. 32 of the top drivers will be selected and seeded in a tournament style head to head single elimination bracket (think March Madness) Fans will then be able to choose the winners of each matchup. The winning driver of the head to head race (i.e. Dale Jr. goes against Mark Martin, Dale finishes in 7th place in his race, while Martin finishes in 15th, Martin is then eliminated and Dale Jr. moves on to the second round) then advances to compete another day. The competition kicks off at.
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Budweiser and Daytona
Slide text:
<p>
NASCAR is rolling out a new and unique fantasy game. The contest starts on August 7th so be sure to get your entries in soon!</p>
7-26-2011 - Sponsored by DIRECTV - NASCAR is rolling out a new and unique fantasy game. 32 of the top drivers will be selected and seeded in a tournament style head to head single elimination bracket (think March Madness) Fans will then be able to choose the winners of each matchup. The winning driver of the head to head race (i.e. Dale Jr. goes against Mark Martin, Dale finishes in 7th place in his race, while Martin finishes in 15th, Martin is then eliminated and Dale Jr. moves on to the second round) then advances to compete another day. The competition kicks off at.
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Rain Gets In The Way Of Thompson Speedway Thursday Night Finale Again; Track Will Try Again Next Week
Thompson Speedway officials aren't giving up hope yet of having a championship deciding night at the track.
A forecast calling for rain through the day and evening forced Thompson officials to postpone their final Thursday night racing card of the 2011 season for the second consecutive week.
The track will now attempt to run its final Thursday night NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing card next Thursday.
A forecast calling for rain through the day and evening forced Thompson officials to postpone their final Thursday night racing card of the 2011 season for the second consecutive week.
The track will now attempt to run its final Thursday night NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing card next Thursday.
NASCAR?s big, but not that big, here
Will Denny Hamlin join the Miami posse of Lebron James? The opposite is unlikely.
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – It’s all about the South down here. No drawls. No plantations (well, there is a city near here called Plantation). But there’s South Beach, and the geography is unmistakable. Homestead-Miami Speedway may not be Southern but it’s as south as the United States of America gets.
NASCAR takes its traveling show to most parts of the country, but it doesn’t get much glitzier than this. Juan Pablo Montoya held his annual South Beach gala – or soiree or extravaganza, or whatever – on Thursday night.
In other big news, Denny Hamlin met LeBron James.
“It was just at our hotel, basically,” said the Sprint Cup point leader. “One of the guys that I know, that works at the hotel, asked if I cared to meet him, and I said, ‘Of course. Sure.’ I just briefly talked to him for just a second. It really wasn’t anything too big. Obviously, he’s one of the most interesting guys of the past year, so it was good to experience that.”
Asked if the NBA star knew anything about NASCAR, Hamlin said not too much.
“He’s heard of it. I don’t know,” said Hamlin. “I really didn’t ask him too much about to be honest with you. I got to thinking, though, I was sitting there and looking around and the scene around him, and what-not, and I was thinking, why in the world would he leave Cleveland for this?”
It may have been a bit like the time Red Grange visited the White House. Grange was introduced to Pres. Calvin Coolidge, who was told, “This is Red Grange of the Chicago Bears,” and the president replied, “I’ve always enjoyed animal acts.”
NASCAR is known here. Every Chase has ended here, not to mention the seasons of 2002-03 before there was a Chase. NASCAR holds its grand finale in a city made famous at various times by Jackie Gleason, Tony Montana and Dan Marino. It’s going to take at least a Montoya championship to make NASCAR a household name.
Or maybe Hamlin can win the championship and thus earn a place in LeBron’s posse.
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – It’s all about the South down here. No drawls. No plantations (well, there is a city near here called Plantation). But there’s South Beach, and the geography is unmistakable. Homestead-Miami Speedway may not be Southern but it’s as south as the United States of America gets.
NASCAR takes its traveling show to most parts of the country, but it doesn’t get much glitzier than this. Juan Pablo Montoya held his annual South Beach gala – or soiree or extravaganza, or whatever – on Thursday night.
In other big news, Denny Hamlin met LeBron James.
“It was just at our hotel, basically,” said the Sprint Cup point leader. “One of the guys that I know, that works at the hotel, asked if I cared to meet him, and I said, ‘Of course. Sure.’ I just briefly talked to him for just a second. It really wasn’t anything too big. Obviously, he’s one of the most interesting guys of the past year, so it was good to experience that.”
Asked if the NBA star knew anything about NASCAR, Hamlin said not too much.
“He’s heard of it. I don’t know,” said Hamlin. “I really didn’t ask him too much about to be honest with you. I got to thinking, though, I was sitting there and looking around and the scene around him, and what-not, and I was thinking, why in the world would he leave Cleveland for this?”
It may have been a bit like the time Red Grange visited the White House. Grange was introduced to Pres. Calvin Coolidge, who was told, “This is Red Grange of the Chicago Bears,” and the president replied, “I’ve always enjoyed animal acts.”
NASCAR is known here. Every Chase has ended here, not to mention the seasons of 2002-03 before there was a Chase. NASCAR holds its grand finale in a city made famous at various times by Jackie Gleason, Tony Montana and Dan Marino. It’s going to take at least a Montoya championship to make NASCAR a household name.
Or maybe Hamlin can win the championship and thus earn a place in LeBron’s posse.
sponsored fashion F1 driver
Since March 2010, the lifestyle brand THOMAS SABO has become a F1 driver Nico – Nico Rosberg (Nico Rosberg)’s official sponsor. In the latest quarter is approaching, THOMAS SABO and Nico – Nico Rosberg (Nico Rosberg) to establish their ambitious ambitious goals, and strive to break through the achievements of the previous quarter, continued to [...]
Wild card spots still up for grabs in final races before Chase
Since the Chase format was instituted in 2004, it has undergone several changes to make it more exciting for fans as the cutoff point reaches Richmond in early September. It was first expanded from 10 to 12 teams.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Vettel is expected to break the single-season record of praise pole qualifying is the king of the Seine
Vettel could remain in the season to break a record for nearly 20 years, if successful, he will become a season in F1 history to obtain the largest number of pole driver. Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel won the season eight races, most of them come in pole position. The ongoing 2011 season, 13 races, [...]
INDYCAR is calling on you to vote on the ?lucky dog? rule
Yesterday INDYCAR announced several rule changes for the 2011:� Side by side restarts at all tracks, later green flag starts, and a "lucky dog" rule.� The fan reaction to the last one, the luck dog, was tepid at best.
I actually am in support of these rules, but a lot of ...
I actually am in support of these rules, but a lot of ...
NASCAR notebook: Edwards thinks Homestead is a new beginning
Carl Edwards, fastest in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, was second-fastest in qualifying at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (photo: Getty Images)
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Carl Edwards too has a reason to race, just one not so compelling.
Edwards is out of the Chase in terms of the championship but has fourth place, 47 points ahead of Roush Fenway teammate Matt Kenseth. And, of course, it’s Ford Championship Weekend, and Edwards drives one.
What Edwards talked about was “locking down fourth place.”
“That would be a big accomplishment for us, and we’ll just keep trucking,” he said. “I don’t feel like we have implemented all the things we’ve figured out yet. I think we have a lot of really positive things that they’re working on at the shop, so I think we could even be better yet come Daytona, Phoenix, Vegas (in 20100).
“I think we’re poised to be extremely good at the beginning of next season, maybe in a better situation than we were at the end of 2008, where I felt like we had been ahead and people were catching us.”
* * *
PITS CAN BE THE PITS–Pit choices could play a vital role in the outcome of both the race and the championship. Space is chosen on the basis of qualifying, which means Jimmie Johnson, who qualified sixth, has a much better location on pit road than Denny Hamlin, mainly because the point lead qualified 37th.
Johnson will pit at the midpoint, with an open spot in front of him. Kevin Harvick has a decent spot, behind the pole-winning car of Kasey Kahne and ahead of the No. 66 of Mike Bliss. Hamlin will pit near the pit entrance, behind Matt Kenseth and ahead of Aric Almirola.
* * *
NEW TASK AT HAND--Even though Johnson has won four straight championships, he’s never had to come from behind in the final race or, for that matter, the final two.
“In professional sports, things aren't always going to work out as you hope,” he said. “I wish we were leading the points and had the pressure of defending a championship down here, but I'm making the most of where we are.
“It's not far (15 points) from where we are to where Denny (Hamlin) is. We're going to have to go out and have a great day on Sunday afternoon, take it from there, see what happens.”
* * *
MOVE IT AROUND-- The third contender, Harvick, doesn’t want to see the Chase format change. He wants to see the Sprint Cup schedule change.
“I'd like to see a little bit more diversity in the race tracks,” he said. “I don't think the last 10 weeks should be the same tracks over and over and over again. I think it should rotate around. I think that would help particular race markets get better.
“You have it end at different places, have it start at different places. Maybe you go to some of the same tracks, but I think a different 10 weeks, even a road course at the end of the year, would put that full diversity, I guess you could say, on your champion to getting to all the different styles of tracks.”
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Carl Edwards too has a reason to race, just one not so compelling.
Edwards is out of the Chase in terms of the championship but has fourth place, 47 points ahead of Roush Fenway teammate Matt Kenseth. And, of course, it’s Ford Championship Weekend, and Edwards drives one.
What Edwards talked about was “locking down fourth place.”
“That would be a big accomplishment for us, and we’ll just keep trucking,” he said. “I don’t feel like we have implemented all the things we’ve figured out yet. I think we have a lot of really positive things that they’re working on at the shop, so I think we could even be better yet come Daytona, Phoenix, Vegas (in 20100).
“I think we’re poised to be extremely good at the beginning of next season, maybe in a better situation than we were at the end of 2008, where I felt like we had been ahead and people were catching us.”
* * *
PITS CAN BE THE PITS–Pit choices could play a vital role in the outcome of both the race and the championship. Space is chosen on the basis of qualifying, which means Jimmie Johnson, who qualified sixth, has a much better location on pit road than Denny Hamlin, mainly because the point lead qualified 37th.
Johnson will pit at the midpoint, with an open spot in front of him. Kevin Harvick has a decent spot, behind the pole-winning car of Kasey Kahne and ahead of the No. 66 of Mike Bliss. Hamlin will pit near the pit entrance, behind Matt Kenseth and ahead of Aric Almirola.
* * *
NEW TASK AT HAND--Even though Johnson has won four straight championships, he’s never had to come from behind in the final race or, for that matter, the final two.
“In professional sports, things aren't always going to work out as you hope,” he said. “I wish we were leading the points and had the pressure of defending a championship down here, but I'm making the most of where we are.
“It's not far (15 points) from where we are to where Denny (Hamlin) is. We're going to have to go out and have a great day on Sunday afternoon, take it from there, see what happens.”
* * *
MOVE IT AROUND-- The third contender, Harvick, doesn’t want to see the Chase format change. He wants to see the Sprint Cup schedule change.
“I'd like to see a little bit more diversity in the race tracks,” he said. “I don't think the last 10 weeks should be the same tracks over and over and over again. I think it should rotate around. I think that would help particular race markets get better.
“You have it end at different places, have it start at different places. Maybe you go to some of the same tracks, but I think a different 10 weeks, even a road course at the end of the year, would put that full diversity, I guess you could say, on your champion to getting to all the different styles of tracks.”
SACCO: Peters keeps climbing the Trucks ladder
Things at Bristol just keep getting better and better for the driver that greets you with a solid handshake and a smile that’s as white as his truck he drives.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
My First Brickyard 400
Earlier in the summer I attended the Indianapolis 500.� On Sunday, July 31st, 2011 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) hosted the 18th Annual Brickyard 400, which was the first Brickyard 400 I had ever attended. I didn?t know what to expect. I had never been to a NASCAR Race before. I wondered how the NASCAR [...]
Ribbs Tires at Wheel of Indy Lights car
So apparently the ?Depenz Boy? got completely ?Knackered Out driving his No. 75 Willy T. Ribbs Racing entry vs. the ?HuggiesBoyz? crowd - of which the ageless Ribbs likened the Kids he was racing against in his One-off racing comeback during the Baltimore GP weekend?s festivities... As Ribbs reportedly lost his radio connectivity on lap-2 and was physically spent on lap-28, just seven laps shy of the Chequered flag... To which Willy T. proclaimed he was ?Totally Out of Gas,? yet if he?d known that he?d somehow gutted it out all the way to the finish.
Ribbs was classified 13th and said he was happy to have his son on hand to witness his racing return, as Theo hadn?t witnessed his ?Pappy behind the wheel since the tender age of nine, whilst the elder Ribbs has NO intentions on making any further racing starts after his short lived comeback at age 56...
Ribbs was classified 13th and said he was happy to have his son on hand to witness his racing return, as Theo hadn?t witnessed his ?Pappy behind the wheel since the tender age of nine, whilst the elder Ribbs has NO intentions on making any further racing starts after his short lived comeback at age 56...
Danica Pulls A Goodyear!
Although I?m certain there?s some who?d say Danica Patrick?s PASSING the Pace Car during the Friday night Festiva at Richmond in the Doublewide, Err Nationwide race wasn?t the same as Scott ?What Pace Car?? Goodyear?s 1995 incident at Indianapolis, eh?
Tuning into Speedcentre Friday evening I somehow lucked into the report ?bout DannaWho? Passing the Pace Car and then listening to her in-car radio when Patrick proclaimed ?I NEVER even saw the Pace Car!? Seriously? Like when did it go by me? Hmm? As one Forum contributor boldly proclaimed ?Its BRIGHT Pink with FLASHING Yellow lights on top of IT!? So here?s your sign Danica; the pace car?s apparently the one with the flashing lights like a Cop car you know when you?re speeding...
Tuning into Speedcentre Friday evening I somehow lucked into the report ?bout DannaWho? Passing the Pace Car and then listening to her in-car radio when Patrick proclaimed ?I NEVER even saw the Pace Car!? Seriously? Like when did it go by me? Hmm? As one Forum contributor boldly proclaimed ?Its BRIGHT Pink with FLASHING Yellow lights on top of IT!? So here?s your sign Danica; the pace car?s apparently the one with the flashing lights like a Cop car you know when you?re speeding...
MOTORSPORTS: Jerry Caldwell ready for 'big party' at BMS
Strolling amid a colorful sea of campers, souvenir trailers and track workers, the Bristol Motor Speedway general manager maintained a wide smile Friday afternoon.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Kyle Busch pleads guilty to speeding, loses driver's license
NASCAR points leader Kyle Busch lost his driver's license for 45 days on Tuesday for driving 128 mph on a road close to a day-care center and church in a nearly $400,000 car. His lawyer said his client was not treated “like any other citizen.”
Morris one weekend away from fourth national title
Philip Morris’ full-field victory at Motor Mile Speedway, plus Rocco’s full-field victory Sunday at Thompson International Speedway, keeps the race for the national championship just as tight as a week before heading into the final points weekend of the season.
Small Chinese: confident win all remaining games under McLaren on track
Hamilton, the British genius Xinxinbaopeng in an interview today. He believes that even now their in the drivers’ standings 88 points behind the German driver Vettel, but as long as they win the rest of the season all eight Grand Prix, and then won the championship is not an impossible task. NEW YORK, August 15 [...]
Woody Pitkat To Likely Run One More NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Race In 2011; Expects Team To Shut Down
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regular Woody Pitkat said that his Don King owned Whelen Modified Tour team will run next week's event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway then likely shut down.
The team is not competing at today's event at Lime Rock Park in Salisbury.
Pitkat said that his understanding is that King likely will not field a team in the series in 2012.
"We're going to run Loudon and that's it," Pitkat said.
King was not available for comment on Saturday.
The team is not competing at today's event at Lime Rock Park in Salisbury.
Pitkat said that his understanding is that King likely will not field a team in the series in 2012.
"We're going to run Loudon and that's it," Pitkat said.
King was not available for comment on Saturday.
NASCAR: Steve Wallace loves to race hard
Steve Wallace makes no apologies about it. He races with a passion – every lap of every race. While the NASCAR Nationwide Series veteran has been roundly criticized by media types and even attacked by a opposing crew chief, Wallace isn’t about to change his brash approach.
Shanghai F1 Circuit F1 Chinese station introduced
“On”-shaped track of the car starting grid position region is the main grandstand at the Shanghai International Circuit, the diamond areas and between regions fleet maintenance, after participating in the car waiting at the starting line before the top set of lights track lights emitted language five red lights went out in the light language [...]
Monday, September 19, 2011
Richie Pallai Jr. Makes Return To Whelen Modified Tour Action With Career Best Finish At Lime Rock Park
SALISBURY - It was a break Richie Pallai Jr. didn't want to take, but one that was needed for his team NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour team.
Saturday, Pallai made sure that a short regrouping period for his team would pay dividends.
After skipping the last three Whelen Modified Tour events, Pallai returned to action at Lime Rock Park and recorded a career best fourth place finish in the Whelen Modified 66/99 at the 1.5-mile road course.
Pallai ran with the leaders most of the day in the 66-lap event at Lime Rock and held off 2008 series champion Ted Christopher at the line for fourth place.
Saturday, Pallai made sure that a short regrouping period for his team would pay dividends.
After skipping the last three Whelen Modified Tour events, Pallai returned to action at Lime Rock Park and recorded a career best fourth place finish in the Whelen Modified 66/99 at the 1.5-mile road course.
Pallai ran with the leaders most of the day in the 66-lap event at Lime Rock and held off 2008 series champion Ted Christopher at the line for fourth place.
Hamster racing at the UK
International Online Zhuangao: According to “Daily Mail” reported on August 20, recently, in Durham in the vicinity of Valley Children’s Adventure Playground held a spectacular racing. Participating in the “driver” is a cute fluffy little hamster only. In this interesting game, each has its own small hamster racing, this trait is installed on the car [...]
Morris eyes national title after capping off historic season at SoBo
Philip Morris won his track-record 19th race of the season at South Boston Speedway last Saturday and holds a 10-point lead (782-772) on Rocco in the national standings with two weekends left in the points season.
Thompson Speedway's Thursday Racing Card Falls Victim To Rainy Forecast
With a forecast calling for thunder storms in the area this evening, Thompson International Speedway officials made the decision early this afternoon to call off tonight's NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event at the track.
Tonight's event had been scheduled at the final Thursday night weekly event of the season.
The next event currently on the Thompson Speedway schedule is the season ending World Series of Speedway Racing scheduled for Oct. 14-16.
Tonight's event had been scheduled at the final Thursday night weekly event of the season.
The next event currently on the Thompson Speedway schedule is the season ending World Series of Speedway Racing scheduled for Oct. 14-16.
Quotations of the Year
“We’ve got a lot of racing left, but when we’re winning at places we’re not supposed to, you better watch out.” – Jimmie Johnson, after winning the Food City 500 at Bristol.
“I like Jimmie as good as anybody, but for the sake of the sport, one of the two of us (Harvick, Hamlin) needs to make something happen.” – Kevin Harvick, during the Chase.
“Two tires won the race, but when you’ve got two tires in dirty air, it’s no good.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr., after finishing eighth in the Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas.
“The ‘48’ (Johnson) is testing my patience. I’m hard to get mad, and I’m (ticked) off.” – Jeff Gordon, after the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega.
“If we’d have kept those guys a lap down, that would’ve been selfish.” – Dave Rogers, winning crew chief, on allowing a mass ‘wave-around” during an early caution period in the Heath Calhoun 400 at Richmond.
“When you play at home, that’s when you want to win the most.” – Tony Stewart, from Columbus, Ind., at Indianapolis.
“He's real aggressive. That's cool, but when he starts affecting me with his aggressiveness … I just will not put up with it. I've been around here long enough. I just will not tolerate it.” – Jeff Burton, referring to Kyle Busch, after Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
“There’s just a pit that develops in your stomach and doesn’t go away. It’s the championship pit, and it’s there.” – Jimmie Johnson.
“Points? I chipped away, but I didn’t chip away much.” – Kyle Busch, after a fourth at Martinsville.
“In the World Series, when a pitcher’s not doing his job, they put another one in that can.” – Johnson, referring to pit-crew swap at Texas.
“I wonder if anyone else will ever win five of these things in a row, but next year we’re going for six, so away we go.” – owner Rick Hendrick, after Johnson extended his consecutive championships.
“I won't turn on the television, watch any racing. Remove myself from it. I know what I need to do, what my team has to do. I don't want to hear what anybody else has to say.” – Johnson, before the final race.
“I don’t know if part of that is coincidence, or just that those guys who win championships are really good. I don’t know, but it isa difficult race track. You have to do everything right.” – Matt Kenseth, noting the overlap of Indy winners and Cup champions.
“Bristol is a lot like Watkins Glen. You never know what’s going to happen.” – Harvick, naming one thing the two have in common.
“We have a way of forgetting the way history really was. … I think we tend to forget that even the great race teams go through struggles.” – Jeff Burton.
“If I sat down and planned it, we would win every Chase race and I would win the championship. But plans don’t quite work like that.” – Kyle Busch, whose Chase struggles continued.
“Mathematically, it’s possible. Realistically, I don’t think so.” – Jeff Gordon, asked about the possibility of a driver winning the Chase without winning any races.
“There’s a lot of psychology that goes into racing, but all of that goes out the window once the race starts.” – Carl Edwards
“If you get in a problem (at Martinsville), it’s normally because you are a root of it.” –Stewart
“It’s amazing what the Chase format does to the nerves and to the teams and the drivers.” – Kurt Busch
“If the roles were reversed, I would be saying the same thing. As a competitor, you’re tired of the same guy winning. I guess I understand where they’re coming from and what they’re saying … I don’t necessarily agree with it. I think it would be great for someone to win five straight.” – Johnson, who did.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
27th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals
Forming part of the Full Throttle Drag Series the 27th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals became a fixture on the tour in 1985. This awesome track was constructed by Charlie Allen, who used to be a Funny Car Driver. Don't miss this third last event in the series.
Related posts:11th Annual NHRA Nevada Nationals47th Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA FinalsNHRA Summer Nationals
Related posts:11th Annual NHRA Nevada Nationals47th Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA FinalsNHRA Summer Nationals
Keith Rocco Sees NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Championship Hopes Spin Away At Stafford
STAFFORD - On most nights at Stafford Motor Speedway for most SK Modified drivers, a third place finish would be cause for celebration.
For Keith Rocco, that finish Friday prove the end of a quest to win consecutive NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championships.
Rocco saw his chances for a national championship go spinning out of his hands when he was tapped from behind by Todd Owen on lap 24 of the 40-lap SK Modified feature.
Rocco needed to win Friday at Stafford and Saturday at the Waterford Speedbowl to have any chance of overtaking national points leader Philip Morris of Ruckersville, Va.
For Keith Rocco, that finish Friday prove the end of a quest to win consecutive NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championships.
Rocco saw his chances for a national championship go spinning out of his hands when he was tapped from behind by Todd Owen on lap 24 of the 40-lap SK Modified feature.
Rocco needed to win Friday at Stafford and Saturday at the Waterford Speedbowl to have any chance of overtaking national points leader Philip Morris of Ruckersville, Va.
Woody Pitkat To Likely Run One More NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Race In 2011; Expects Team To Shut Down
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regular Woody Pitkat said that his Don King owned Whelen Modified Tour team will run next week's event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway then likely shut down.
The team is not competing at today's event at Lime Rock Park in Salisbury.
Pitkat said that his understanding is that King likely will not field a team in the series in 2012.
"We're going to run Loudon and that's it," Pitkat said.
King was not available for comment on Saturday.
The team is not competing at today's event at Lime Rock Park in Salisbury.
Pitkat said that his understanding is that King likely will not field a team in the series in 2012.
"We're going to run Loudon and that's it," Pitkat said.
King was not available for comment on Saturday.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Don?t Forget Moto GP at Indy this Weekend
So I?ll confess that I haven?t been able to ?Poond out the feature story I?d planned on to celebrate this weekend?s Moto GP event at the Speedway... As can it already be One-year since I attended my inaugural Moto GP event at Indianapolis... Not to mention having squirreled away my story about my favourite Hall of Fame Museum; SHEISA! But I digress...
Once again the ?BigBoyz ranks features three ?Yanks with the monikers of the Texas Tornado, The Kentucky Kid and ELBOWZ; Colin Edwards, Nicky Hayden and Ben Spies respectively. (Hey, age before beauty, eh?) Although I?ve personally nicknamed Speis Captain kOOL! Who came Oh So close to capturing his maiden Moto GP win last year at the Brickyard - where I witnessed him secure his maiden Big Bikes Pole Position.
Spies has gone onto win his first MOTOGP win at Assen, in the Netherlands earlier this season, whilst Edwards has proven his Ironman status by competing with a broken collarbone, which seemingly is the de riggour injury of the season, while Hayden?s struggled on the somewhat recalcitrant ?DUC. (Ducati)
These ?Scooters are absolutely MIND BLOWING - not to mention their Jockey?s aboard them and there?s action aplenty all weekend long, as I can still vividly see those FREAKINH? rockets hurtle by at speeds of 160-180+ mph standing along the front straightaway?s catch fencing just yards away from the track, with Ralph Sheheen claiming these Dudes reach a terminal velocity of 200MPH before grabbing the breaks and tipping over up to 60-degrees into Turn-1; INSANE! So go check it out if you get a chance or watch it ?live? on SPEED...
MOTO GP: 2010 Indianapolis Race Outing
Once again the ?BigBoyz ranks features three ?Yanks with the monikers of the Texas Tornado, The Kentucky Kid and ELBOWZ; Colin Edwards, Nicky Hayden and Ben Spies respectively. (Hey, age before beauty, eh?) Although I?ve personally nicknamed Speis Captain kOOL! Who came Oh So close to capturing his maiden Moto GP win last year at the Brickyard - where I witnessed him secure his maiden Big Bikes Pole Position.
Spies has gone onto win his first MOTOGP win at Assen, in the Netherlands earlier this season, whilst Edwards has proven his Ironman status by competing with a broken collarbone, which seemingly is the de riggour injury of the season, while Hayden?s struggled on the somewhat recalcitrant ?DUC. (Ducati)
These ?Scooters are absolutely MIND BLOWING - not to mention their Jockey?s aboard them and there?s action aplenty all weekend long, as I can still vividly see those FREAKINH? rockets hurtle by at speeds of 160-180+ mph standing along the front straightaway?s catch fencing just yards away from the track, with Ralph Sheheen claiming these Dudes reach a terminal velocity of 200MPH before grabbing the breaks and tipping over up to 60-degrees into Turn-1; INSANE! So go check it out if you get a chance or watch it ?live? on SPEED...
MOTO GP: 2010 Indianapolis Race Outing
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