Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Chevrolet Builds 100-Millionth Small-Block
We knew it was going to happen soon, and today an LS9 from GM?s Performance Build Center became the 100-millionth small block Chevrolet built. The 638-hp engine will represent the 56-year history of the Chevrolet small-block, and will be set aside as part of GM’s collection. The Chevrolet’s small-block’s contribution to HOT ROD and the [...]
LIFE Magazine?s Top 75 Covers Includes a Bit of Hot Rodding
LIFE magazine recently picked the Best 75 covers from its 75-year history. The gallery is worth checking out, as it’s filled with amazing images that range from perfectly-timed photos taken during war to staged shots of popular celebrities. Among them is this flag man giving the go-ahead to a ’32 Ford, the most HOT ROD [...]
Pit Stop USA Announces New Retail Store and Catalog
Pit Stop USA, a leading online retailer to the circle market, will be opening a new retail showroom in March and also announced the release of their 2011 catalog.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Ragan Overcomes Spin; Finishes 11th in Charlotte
David Ragan and the UPS team started 11th and finished 11th at Charlotte Motor Speedway
This Weekends Race?
I just got this email through NASCAR.com Due to inclement weather from Tropical Storm Hanna, tomorrow?s Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway has been postponed until 1 p.m. Sunday. The Nationwide event will now be run at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Engine Issues Force Ragan to Exit Race Early in Miami
David Ragan and the UPS team's final race of the season was cut short after mechanical issues forced them out of the race. The team started 13th and finished 38th on Sunday.
Replacing Powertrain Control Module
Many different works and functions of a vehicle are performed by ?the power train control module?. Information is acknowledged by the module from different engine sensors and then module calculates the fuel flow rate necessary for protection of right quantity of air or fuel ratio during operational range. PCM, on the basis of information received [...]
MCACN: AMC Image Collection
From Mark Donahue�Javelins�to THE MACHINE the MCACN has got you covered…
A First NASCAR Race, Through the Eyes of a 9-Year-Old
[Note from Larry Edsall: Usually my words would fill the space below, but my 9-year-old grandson, Nicholas Chester, went to his first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway recently, and I asked him to share experiences. His report follows.)
By Nicholas Chester
The day I went to my first NASCAR race was Sunday, August 21, 2011.
Dad and I got up at 6:10 a.m. and ate breakfast. I guess we were pretty eager to get there.
When we got to the track it was so huge. We found a parking spot, and got on the truck and trailers we could ride from the parking lot to the track.
We got off and walked in through the gate. We looked at all the displays and the trailers where each of the teams was selling shirts and cars and other things. I bought a Dale Jr. T-shirt -- one for me and one for my sister.
Then we walked through a tunnel and went to the garage area and the pits, which was cool because we got to see the race cars and see the pit crews getting ready for the race.
There was still quite a while before the race so we went back to our truck, then went back to the track and found something to eat for lunch.
We went to our seats, which were in the first turn. We watched the big blowers clean the track and watched the drivers being driven around the track in convertibles.
Next, airplanes flew over. There were four old-time planes and then two jets flew over. We sang the National Anthem as the jets were flying over the track.
A few minutes later the pace car went around the track with all the race cars behind it. They weren?t going very fast.
But then the race started and it got really loud. REALLY LOUD!
At first the cars looked slow as they were coming toward us, but by the time they got into the turn they were going super-fast.
Being at the race was way better than watching on television like we usually do. When you?re there in person, you not only see the race but you can feel it when the cars go by. The wind rushes right by the side of your face.
It?s amazing how fast the cars really are.
The race was great, but the best part was getting to go to the pits and the garage before the race -- and getting my picture taken with two members of Dale Jr.?s pit crew.
Nicholas is not a professional writer yet, but his grandfather Larry Edsall is. You can read more of Larry at www.izoom.com.
By Nicholas Chester
The day I went to my first NASCAR race was Sunday, August 21, 2011.
Dad and I got up at 6:10 a.m. and ate breakfast. I guess we were pretty eager to get there.
When we got to the track it was so huge. We found a parking spot, and got on the truck and trailers we could ride from the parking lot to the track.
We got off and walked in through the gate. We looked at all the displays and the trailers where each of the teams was selling shirts and cars and other things. I bought a Dale Jr. T-shirt -- one for me and one for my sister.
Then we walked through a tunnel and went to the garage area and the pits, which was cool because we got to see the race cars and see the pit crews getting ready for the race.
There was still quite a while before the race so we went back to our truck, then went back to the track and found something to eat for lunch.
We went to our seats, which were in the first turn. We watched the big blowers clean the track and watched the drivers being driven around the track in convertibles.
Next, airplanes flew over. There were four old-time planes and then two jets flew over. We sang the National Anthem as the jets were flying over the track.
A few minutes later the pace car went around the track with all the race cars behind it. They weren?t going very fast.
But then the race started and it got really loud. REALLY LOUD!
At first the cars looked slow as they were coming toward us, but by the time they got into the turn they were going super-fast.
Being at the race was way better than watching on television like we usually do. When you?re there in person, you not only see the race but you can feel it when the cars go by. The wind rushes right by the side of your face.
It?s amazing how fast the cars really are.
The race was great, but the best part was getting to go to the pits and the garage before the race -- and getting my picture taken with two members of Dale Jr.?s pit crew.
Nicholas is not a professional writer yet, but his grandfather Larry Edsall is. You can read more of Larry at www.izoom.com.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Knowing About Car Batteries and The Fluid Level
There must be a daily refilling of water in car batteries because there is a specific amount of water loss, whenever there is an electrolysis process under every charging cycle. This water loss can be reduced by the regular change of the alloying element of calcium which is the main feature to reduce the water [...]
Sunday, November 27, 2011
You Too Can Be Fast And Fabulous!
Hey race fans- just wanted to let you know that you can win a $25.00 BP gas card from TheFastandTheFabulous.com. Just fill out the form located here. And while you are there poke around- it’s a great racing blog!
PIERRE CAMPANA IN CONTENTION FOR SOLID PODIUM AFTER SECOND DAY OF RALLYE DU VAR
The second day of this weekend?s Rallye du Var has delivered the expected increase in performance level from Pierre Campana, as the young Corsican driver leaps to third place on the overall standings after an impressive display on Saturday. Pierre started the rally in a deliberately cautious manner on Friday, securing himself a fine fourth [...]
Saturday, November 26, 2011
MCACN: Motion Car Image Collection
One of the yearly highlights of the MCACN Muscle Car and�Corvette�Nationals is the amazing collection of Motion Chevrolets that are in attendance…as well as a�opportunity�to talk with�Joel “Mr. Motion” Rosen�and Marty�Schorr about the�unveil�of Dan�McMichael’s MACO Corvette.
Cleared for Takeoff: Carl Edwards Re-ups With Roush Fenway and Gets Okay to Build His Own Airstrip
This has been a pretty good week for Carl Edwards. After months of speculation linking the No. 99 Roush Fenway superstar to a new, fourth Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup team it was announced that Edwards had signed a multi-year contract to remain with Jack Roush, Ford and the many solid, can?t afford to lose ?em sponsors that are so heavily engaged, invested and happy with the back flipping superstar. And this past Tuesday evening, the Boone County Commission gave its initial approval to Edward?s permit request to build and operate a private runway at his home just east of Columbia, Missouri. I?d say these are definitely good times for Carl.
His own airstrip. In the old days it was which driver or team owner had the better motor coach; until I read about Edward?s runway I thought NASCAR one-upsmanship had pretty much peaked at who?s got the better airplane or helicopter. I stand corrected. And it must?ve been one hell of a contract. My buddies and I regularly congregate at a local watering hole called the Darkhorse to watch, pontificate and pundit about racing and I was the only one with enough confidence to wager a cold beverage way back in June that Carl was sticking with the Cat in the Hat. I plan to collect this weekend when we gather to watch the Iowa and/or Pocono races. Because Carl Edwards and Jack Roush were meant for each other; their relationship is practical, semi-paternal, mutually beneficial, fulfilling and profitable. Carl Edwards in a Toyota? The skinny kid from America?s heartland who got his start with Michigander Roush in the truck series, won a Nationwide championship with him and now leads the 2011 Sprint Cup standings, racing for a Japanese manufacturer? Jack Roush is on lots of records regarding his feelings about Japanese manufacturers in NASCAR and buying American. One popular story tells of him paying one employee in yen after he saw said worker?s small Japanese pickup truck in the Roush Racing parking lot. I just can?t believe Edwards would do that to Roush, not after the chance Jack gave him and the history and success they?ve shared racing and winning with Fords. And they both love to fly. By now everyone knows about Jack Roush?s exploits and perilous adventures whist freed from these earthly bounds in various vintage and modern aircraft. He?s escaped death twice, the last incident costing him an eye and another of his nine lives. Carl Edwards has been flying since he was 17. Like many drivers with planes his business expense Piper Meridian is used to travel back and forth to races, the Roush Fenway complex in Charlotte, sponsor obligations and other personal appearances. He?s also into stunt flying. These guys are just too right for each other. And right now there is so much momentum on their side. After 12 years of trying Roush won five championships from 2000 through 2007; the first in trucks with Greg Biffle, the next in the Nationwide series from Biffle (2002) before two Sprint Cup titles from Matt Kenseth (2003) and Kurt Busch.(2004). Edwards? 2007 NNS championship was Roush Fenway?s last and from 2008 through last season there was nothing but dashed hopes, disappointment, disasters and too many DNFs. But this year the pendulum has finally swung back again. Edwards, Kenseth and David Ragan each have a win with Carl at the top of the Cup series leaderboard, Matt in fifth place and the No. 6 UPS driver in 16th with a decent-at-least chance to make the Chase thanks to his Daytona victory in July. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is leading the Nationwide standings and the factory Ford team from Concord seems to have the ?new? FR9 engine (introduced in 2009) and their Fusion and Mustang Cup and NNS cars finally figured out and fully developed. Confidence is high for Carl earning his first and certainly not last sterling silver NASCAR Sprint Cup trophy from Tiffany & Co. when the 2011 end with Ford Championship weekend at Homestead-Miami.
In fact the only thing that's cast any real doubt about Carl's chances to finally win it all has been the impending departure rumor mill.
So I ask you. Seriously. How on earth could Roush Fenway and Ford even think about letting their premier driver in America?s most popular racing series, a handsome, buff young stud who was on the cover of ESPN The Magazine with his shirt off, who is on the President?s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, who presents himself as a humble, God-fearing family man that just wants to win races more than anything else, leave to sign with a Toyota team? That would be like the Boston Red Sox selling Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. Whoops. Bad example. No, I knew deep down inside that Edwards was going to stick with Roush Fenway and unless the organization?s wheels totally fall off, or unless he finds himself driving a car sponsored by a male performance enhancing drug, I believe Carl will remain with RFR and Ford for a long, long time.
Heck, I'll bet a cold beverage on it.
Read More of Bill Tybur at his website: https://fmfl.net
His own airstrip. In the old days it was which driver or team owner had the better motor coach; until I read about Edward?s runway I thought NASCAR one-upsmanship had pretty much peaked at who?s got the better airplane or helicopter. I stand corrected. And it must?ve been one hell of a contract. My buddies and I regularly congregate at a local watering hole called the Darkhorse to watch, pontificate and pundit about racing and I was the only one with enough confidence to wager a cold beverage way back in June that Carl was sticking with the Cat in the Hat. I plan to collect this weekend when we gather to watch the Iowa and/or Pocono races. Because Carl Edwards and Jack Roush were meant for each other; their relationship is practical, semi-paternal, mutually beneficial, fulfilling and profitable. Carl Edwards in a Toyota? The skinny kid from America?s heartland who got his start with Michigander Roush in the truck series, won a Nationwide championship with him and now leads the 2011 Sprint Cup standings, racing for a Japanese manufacturer? Jack Roush is on lots of records regarding his feelings about Japanese manufacturers in NASCAR and buying American. One popular story tells of him paying one employee in yen after he saw said worker?s small Japanese pickup truck in the Roush Racing parking lot. I just can?t believe Edwards would do that to Roush, not after the chance Jack gave him and the history and success they?ve shared racing and winning with Fords. And they both love to fly. By now everyone knows about Jack Roush?s exploits and perilous adventures whist freed from these earthly bounds in various vintage and modern aircraft. He?s escaped death twice, the last incident costing him an eye and another of his nine lives. Carl Edwards has been flying since he was 17. Like many drivers with planes his business expense Piper Meridian is used to travel back and forth to races, the Roush Fenway complex in Charlotte, sponsor obligations and other personal appearances. He?s also into stunt flying. These guys are just too right for each other. And right now there is so much momentum on their side. After 12 years of trying Roush won five championships from 2000 through 2007; the first in trucks with Greg Biffle, the next in the Nationwide series from Biffle (2002) before two Sprint Cup titles from Matt Kenseth (2003) and Kurt Busch.(2004). Edwards? 2007 NNS championship was Roush Fenway?s last and from 2008 through last season there was nothing but dashed hopes, disappointment, disasters and too many DNFs. But this year the pendulum has finally swung back again. Edwards, Kenseth and David Ragan each have a win with Carl at the top of the Cup series leaderboard, Matt in fifth place and the No. 6 UPS driver in 16th with a decent-at-least chance to make the Chase thanks to his Daytona victory in July. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is leading the Nationwide standings and the factory Ford team from Concord seems to have the ?new? FR9 engine (introduced in 2009) and their Fusion and Mustang Cup and NNS cars finally figured out and fully developed. Confidence is high for Carl earning his first and certainly not last sterling silver NASCAR Sprint Cup trophy from Tiffany & Co. when the 2011 end with Ford Championship weekend at Homestead-Miami.
In fact the only thing that's cast any real doubt about Carl's chances to finally win it all has been the impending departure rumor mill.
So I ask you. Seriously. How on earth could Roush Fenway and Ford even think about letting their premier driver in America?s most popular racing series, a handsome, buff young stud who was on the cover of ESPN The Magazine with his shirt off, who is on the President?s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, who presents himself as a humble, God-fearing family man that just wants to win races more than anything else, leave to sign with a Toyota team? That would be like the Boston Red Sox selling Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. Whoops. Bad example. No, I knew deep down inside that Edwards was going to stick with Roush Fenway and unless the organization?s wheels totally fall off, or unless he finds himself driving a car sponsored by a male performance enhancing drug, I believe Carl will remain with RFR and Ford for a long, long time.
Heck, I'll bet a cold beverage on it.
Read More of Bill Tybur at his website: https://fmfl.net
Ragan Overcomes Spin; Finishes 11th in Charlotte
David Ragan and the UPS team started 11th and finished 11th at Charlotte Motor Speedway
PMI and Roush Yates Form Alliance
Performance Motorsports Incorporated (PMI) and Roush Yates announced today a newly formed technical alliance that will focus on product development in national and international markets. The announcement was made during...
Enjuku Racing heads to Atlanta!
Florida really made a big showing at Atlanta last weekend.
Jeff Frontcakas took 1st, Chris Ward took 2nd, and our driver Patrick Goodin took 3rd.
Way to go Florida!
All photos by: Kayla Montgomery
Jeff Frontcakas took 1st, Chris Ward took 2nd, and our driver Patrick Goodin took 3rd.
Way to go Florida!
All photos by: Kayla Montgomery
Friday, November 25, 2011
Chevy Fast & Fuel Efficient ? Extreme Hypermiling & Serious Karting!
This is the 3rd installment documenting the specific happenings & details of the Chevy Fast & Fuel Efficient event that occurred 2 weeks ago.� We met, 3 bloggers & 3 drivers, at the Chuck Nash Auto Group dealership,� just north of San Marcos, Texas. We were introduced to the inner workings & interesting details that [...]
Petty Holdings Announces Richard Petty's Driver Search
Training Camp & Competition Will Award Opportunity in ARCA Racing
Series and Marcos Ambrose and Randy LaJoie have joined the staff of
Richard Petty's Driver Search.
Series and Marcos Ambrose and Randy LaJoie have joined the staff of
Richard Petty's Driver Search.
Respect among contenders
In the final three races of the Chase for the championship, many drivers in contention profess a respect for fellow drivers, and a sense that what you give, you also deserve to get. View full post on NBCSports.com: NASCAR / Motors addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-racing%2Frespect-among-contenders'; addthis_title = 'Respect+among+contenders'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: among, contenders, Respect
The Saga of the Competition + Mustang Funny Car
The story of Competition + and how a collection of drivers, car owners and fuel funny cars lead to a sad event at the 1967 Nationals at Indianapolis
Nashville's Short Track: Does NASCAR Need More Short Tracks on its Schedule?
Nashville got its miracle, now it needs a hero. Nashville Superspeedway announced it would not host any NASCAR Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series races in 2012, signaling its inevitable demise and quite imminent property sell off to developers.
That one hurt. While only 10 years old the concrete 1 1/3 mile track in Lebanon, TN had some nice history and great traditions, including the Sam Bass Gibson guitar awarded to each race winner.
We won't mention what Kyle Busch did to his when he won the Nationwide Series race in 2009.
But the city and its NASCAR fan base also found reason to smile when Davidson County citizens voted by more than a three to one margin to amend the Metro Charter and keep the fairgrounds? existing uses: a state fair, expo center, flea market and auto racing.
Except for northern Alabama, middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky race fans, particularly the older ones, few realize the potential impact and miraculous result of this vote. In constant danger of being razed for the past few years, one of the oldest and most regionally storied tracks in America has a heartbeat again.
Originally opened in 1904 as a 1 1/8-mile dirt track the paved, beloved .596-mile bullring was built in 1958 and hosted NASCAR Cup -class races from then through 1984. From '95 through 2000 the track also ran Nationwide and later truck races.
Then NASCAR left completely for a variety of reasons; none of which had anything to do with the actual race track, fan base or community support. Local racing continued through 2008 but the track closed for good in 2009, when the buzzards started circling.
The cost-of-everything-value-of-nothing bureaucrats have been trying to develop, sell or build something else on the valuable mid town real estate ever since. But in the past year, thanks to the support of racers like Darrell Waltrip, Sterling Marlin and Bobby Hamilton Jr. plus Mike Curb and Scott Borchetta from the music industry and a real grass roots 'move to amend' effort, the tide has finally turned.
The fairgrounds track is now as politically protected from the greedy dismantle-and-destroy vultures as it will ever be.
Now it just needs a local leader or statesman or effective (and not crooked) wheeler dealer to bring the track back to full, thriving life again; e.g. an eventual return of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
(I know what you're thinking; but I swear I haven't been drinking any Tennessee sippin' whiskey or corn squeezin's, nor have I suffered some type of small aneurysm. Bear with me here.)
The bloom went off the cookie cutter mile-and-a-half tri-oval rose a long time ago and the most popular NASCAR races by far, among fans, teams, drivers and sponsors are the short track events; at Bristol and Martinsville, both half-miles, and at the three-quarter mile Richmond race track.
There will be no more short tracks built. There will certainly never been a new short track built in the middle of a major city -- especially one only only about four hours from the best NASCAR short track in the world.
But guess what. Waltrip, Marlin and many others always considered the Nashville track the best bullring in America. Better than Bristol. Hands down.
And NASCAR fans want more, not fewer short track races.
You want to talk history? Joe Weatherly won the first NASCAR race there, Richard Petty won nine times at the fairgrounds, Dale Earnhardt got a Cup win in a Ford (!) in Music City and Darrell Waltrip holds the all-time record for W's with 67 overall, including NASCAR and weekly modified or late model races.
After the recent vote that saved the fairgrounds from the bulldozers, some one or some Music City group has a chance to prove how great the racing this nearly 6/10th of a mile track provides.
I won't worry about the Sprint Cup date supply and demand conundrum yet or the relative ISC/SMI monopoly on events. If Nashville can't find a hero to champion this vision it's all moot anyway.
But if Music City CAN find a visionary who has the stick, connections and intestinal fortitude necessary to raise about $30 million for refurbishing, grandstand seating, garages, new lights, SAFER barriers, etc., -- about what former Tennesse Volunteer quarterback Peyton Manning makes every two years -- this dream could become a reality.
Far-fetched? Certainly. A snowball's chance in hell? Correct-a-mundo.
But as Robert Browning said, "A man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for?"
Read More of Bill Tybur at his website: https://fmfl.net
That one hurt. While only 10 years old the concrete 1 1/3 mile track in Lebanon, TN had some nice history and great traditions, including the Sam Bass Gibson guitar awarded to each race winner.
We won't mention what Kyle Busch did to his when he won the Nationwide Series race in 2009.
But the city and its NASCAR fan base also found reason to smile when Davidson County citizens voted by more than a three to one margin to amend the Metro Charter and keep the fairgrounds? existing uses: a state fair, expo center, flea market and auto racing.
Except for northern Alabama, middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky race fans, particularly the older ones, few realize the potential impact and miraculous result of this vote. In constant danger of being razed for the past few years, one of the oldest and most regionally storied tracks in America has a heartbeat again.
Originally opened in 1904 as a 1 1/8-mile dirt track the paved, beloved .596-mile bullring was built in 1958 and hosted NASCAR Cup -class races from then through 1984. From '95 through 2000 the track also ran Nationwide and later truck races.
Then NASCAR left completely for a variety of reasons; none of which had anything to do with the actual race track, fan base or community support. Local racing continued through 2008 but the track closed for good in 2009, when the buzzards started circling.
The cost-of-everything-value-of-nothing bureaucrats have been trying to develop, sell or build something else on the valuable mid town real estate ever since. But in the past year, thanks to the support of racers like Darrell Waltrip, Sterling Marlin and Bobby Hamilton Jr. plus Mike Curb and Scott Borchetta from the music industry and a real grass roots 'move to amend' effort, the tide has finally turned.
The fairgrounds track is now as politically protected from the greedy dismantle-and-destroy vultures as it will ever be.
Now it just needs a local leader or statesman or effective (and not crooked) wheeler dealer to bring the track back to full, thriving life again; e.g. an eventual return of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
(I know what you're thinking; but I swear I haven't been drinking any Tennessee sippin' whiskey or corn squeezin's, nor have I suffered some type of small aneurysm. Bear with me here.)
The bloom went off the cookie cutter mile-and-a-half tri-oval rose a long time ago and the most popular NASCAR races by far, among fans, teams, drivers and sponsors are the short track events; at Bristol and Martinsville, both half-miles, and at the three-quarter mile Richmond race track.
There will be no more short tracks built. There will certainly never been a new short track built in the middle of a major city -- especially one only only about four hours from the best NASCAR short track in the world.
But guess what. Waltrip, Marlin and many others always considered the Nashville track the best bullring in America. Better than Bristol. Hands down.
And NASCAR fans want more, not fewer short track races.
You want to talk history? Joe Weatherly won the first NASCAR race there, Richard Petty won nine times at the fairgrounds, Dale Earnhardt got a Cup win in a Ford (!) in Music City and Darrell Waltrip holds the all-time record for W's with 67 overall, including NASCAR and weekly modified or late model races.
After the recent vote that saved the fairgrounds from the bulldozers, some one or some Music City group has a chance to prove how great the racing this nearly 6/10th of a mile track provides.
I won't worry about the Sprint Cup date supply and demand conundrum yet or the relative ISC/SMI monopoly on events. If Nashville can't find a hero to champion this vision it's all moot anyway.
But if Music City CAN find a visionary who has the stick, connections and intestinal fortitude necessary to raise about $30 million for refurbishing, grandstand seating, garages, new lights, SAFER barriers, etc., -- about what former Tennesse Volunteer quarterback Peyton Manning makes every two years -- this dream could become a reality.
Far-fetched? Certainly. A snowball's chance in hell? Correct-a-mundo.
But as Robert Browning said, "A man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for?"
Read More of Bill Tybur at his website: https://fmfl.net
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Stewart brings new sponsor into NASCAR
Stewart-Haas Racing has signed Quicken Loans to sponsor Ryan Newman for nine races in 2012. View full post on NBCSports.com: NASCAR / Motors addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-racing%2Fstewart-brings-new-sponsor-into-nascar'; addthis_title = 'Stewart+brings+new+sponsor+into+NASCAR'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: Brings, INTO, nascar, sponsor, stewart
Own Kyle Petty's '06 Victory Bike and Ride Across the US
A special online auction give you the chance to own Kyle Petty's 2006 Victory motorcycle and join Kyle on the 2009 Ride Across America. But hurry, the auction runs July 15-25, 2008. All proceeds benefit two extremely...
Vintage Ad of the Week: Rocket-Fueled Go-Cart
Oh, the ’60s, what a magical time it must have been. A time when you could strap two nitromethane and propane-powered rocket turbines to the back of a go-cart and head off down the quarter mile to the tune of mid 8-second passes at 150mph. No cage, no chute, and based on the contact patch [...]
Hobart Brothers Welding Tips Poster
Hobart Brothers offers the cure to common stick welding troubles. The poster illustrates common weld defects, their causes and solutions and is available free of charge in Spanish and English.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Battle in Bristol; Ragan Finishes 20th
David Ragan and the UPS team battled in Bristol. They started 24th and finished 20th.
BBC Sport Version of Austin F1 Coulthard Video
BBC Sport – Coulthard Drives Off-Road on New Circuit of The Americas This is the BBC version of footage depicting David Coulthard & the F1 Team Red Bull crew descending upon Austin this past summer.� Although it’s not as slick as the highly edited Red Bull video, I like it better as it has a [...]
HRML: Bonus Audio ? Director of Ford Racing Jamie Allison
Hot Rod Magazine Live had the�opportunity�to sit and talk to the director of Ford Racing Jamie Allison – please check out this�insightful�and fun sit down with guy behind the blue ovals racing efforts. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN iTUNES or on�FEEDBURNER
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
A First NASCAR Race, Through the Eyes of a 9-Year-Old
[Note from Larry Edsall: Usually my words would fill the space below, but my 9-year-old grandson, Nicholas Chester, went to his first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway recently, and I asked him to share experiences. His report follows.)
By Nicholas Chester
The day I went to my first NASCAR race was Sunday, August 21, 2011.
Dad and I got up at 6:10 a.m. and ate breakfast. I guess we were pretty eager to get there.
When we got to the track it was so huge. We found a parking spot, and got on the truck and trailers we could ride from the parking lot to the track.
We got off and walked in through the gate. We looked at all the displays and the trailers where each of the teams was selling shirts and cars and other things. I bought a Dale Jr. T-shirt -- one for me and one for my sister.
Then we walked through a tunnel and went to the garage area and the pits, which was cool because we got to see the race cars and see the pit crews getting ready for the race.
There was still quite a while before the race so we went back to our truck, then went back to the track and found something to eat for lunch.
We went to our seats, which were in the first turn. We watched the big blowers clean the track and watched the drivers being driven around the track in convertibles.
Next, airplanes flew over. There were four old-time planes and then two jets flew over. We sang the National Anthem as the jets were flying over the track.
A few minutes later the pace car went around the track with all the race cars behind it. They weren?t going very fast.
But then the race started and it got really loud. REALLY LOUD!
At first the cars looked slow as they were coming toward us, but by the time they got into the turn they were going super-fast.
Being at the race was way better than watching on television like we usually do. When you?re there in person, you not only see the race but you can feel it when the cars go by. The wind rushes right by the side of your face.
It?s amazing how fast the cars really are.
The race was great, but the best part was getting to go to the pits and the garage before the race -- and getting my picture taken with two members of Dale Jr.?s pit crew.
Nicholas is not a professional writer yet, but his grandfather Larry Edsall is. You can read more of Larry at www.izoom.com.
By Nicholas Chester
The day I went to my first NASCAR race was Sunday, August 21, 2011.
Dad and I got up at 6:10 a.m. and ate breakfast. I guess we were pretty eager to get there.
When we got to the track it was so huge. We found a parking spot, and got on the truck and trailers we could ride from the parking lot to the track.
We got off and walked in through the gate. We looked at all the displays and the trailers where each of the teams was selling shirts and cars and other things. I bought a Dale Jr. T-shirt -- one for me and one for my sister.
Then we walked through a tunnel and went to the garage area and the pits, which was cool because we got to see the race cars and see the pit crews getting ready for the race.
There was still quite a while before the race so we went back to our truck, then went back to the track and found something to eat for lunch.
We went to our seats, which were in the first turn. We watched the big blowers clean the track and watched the drivers being driven around the track in convertibles.
Next, airplanes flew over. There were four old-time planes and then two jets flew over. We sang the National Anthem as the jets were flying over the track.
A few minutes later the pace car went around the track with all the race cars behind it. They weren?t going very fast.
But then the race started and it got really loud. REALLY LOUD!
At first the cars looked slow as they were coming toward us, but by the time they got into the turn they were going super-fast.
Being at the race was way better than watching on television like we usually do. When you?re there in person, you not only see the race but you can feel it when the cars go by. The wind rushes right by the side of your face.
It?s amazing how fast the cars really are.
The race was great, but the best part was getting to go to the pits and the garage before the race -- and getting my picture taken with two members of Dale Jr.?s pit crew.
Nicholas is not a professional writer yet, but his grandfather Larry Edsall is. You can read more of Larry at www.izoom.com.
David?s Blog: Visit to Roush Museum Before MIS
David Ragan made a stop at the Roush Museum before heading over to Michigan International Speedway
1970 Daytona 500
Pete Hamilton wins the 1970 Daytona 500 in a 1970 winged Plymouth Superbird. The 1970 race saw qualifying speeds approaching 200 MPH with Cale Yarborough taking the pole at 194.015 mph. Hamilton would fight off challenges by David Pearson late in the race to win by 3 car lengths. Time of race: 3:20:32 Average Speed: [...]
The Actual Reason of Automotive Salvage
In today?s world, people have started getting to know about environment more than ever. More knowledge gives automotive salvage a chance to be a safe occupation. Automaker should consider the law and take very good care of their products. The damaged parts should be reused and recycled in order to get rid of waste material. [...]
This Weekends Race?
I just got this email through NASCAR.com Due to inclement weather from Tropical Storm Hanna, tomorrow?s Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway has been postponed until 1 p.m. Sunday. The Nationwide event will now be run at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Video: Jorian Ponomareff Drifts on Two Wheels
Before you think we’ve misled you, Jordan’s only got two wheels to begin with, but this still looks like a lot of fun. We were immediately reminded of Ken Block’s first gymkhana video shot at El Toro Field. Considering how popular this video has become in the short time it’s been online, there’s got to [...]
"Safe is Fast" On-Line Seminars Offer Chance for Young Racers
By Larry Edsall
I?ve just spent the last few minutes watching a couple promotional videos for the Road Racing Drivers Club?s new "Safe Is Fast" on-line seminars for young and would-be racers.
The seminar features some 90 minutes of information on subjects from physical and mental preparation to driving techniques, vehicle setup, and even how to get sponsorship.
If you have a son, daughter or grandchild who is eager to become a racing driver -- whether it?s in go-karts, bikes or stock cars -- you certainly need to send them to a good racing school, but even before that you should sit them down to watch these videos featuring people who have been there on the grid and who have studied motorsports for many years.
For example, doctors Steve Olvey and Terry Trammell, MDs who have put many drivers back together again after crashes, talk about the importance of helmets and HANS devices. Jacques Dellaire, a psychologist who has worked with many world-class racers, talks about focus and concentration.
Dario Franchitti and other racers discuss the transition from karts to cars. Patrick Long talks about learning a new track. Boris Said and others discuss the importance of being smooth.
And the list of subjects and presenters goes on and on, all the way to Roger Penske, Chip Ganassi and others talking about what team owners look for in young drivers.
You?ll pay serious money for a good racing school -- and the good ones certainly are worth the price -- but these on-line seminars are free. All you do need to do is to have your son, daughter or grandchild -- or niece, nephew or neighbor -- register through the www.safeisfast.com website.
By the way, safe not only is fast, but it?s smart.
Read more of Larry at www.izoom.com
I?ve just spent the last few minutes watching a couple promotional videos for the Road Racing Drivers Club?s new "Safe Is Fast" on-line seminars for young and would-be racers.
The seminar features some 90 minutes of information on subjects from physical and mental preparation to driving techniques, vehicle setup, and even how to get sponsorship.
If you have a son, daughter or grandchild who is eager to become a racing driver -- whether it?s in go-karts, bikes or stock cars -- you certainly need to send them to a good racing school, but even before that you should sit them down to watch these videos featuring people who have been there on the grid and who have studied motorsports for many years.
For example, doctors Steve Olvey and Terry Trammell, MDs who have put many drivers back together again after crashes, talk about the importance of helmets and HANS devices. Jacques Dellaire, a psychologist who has worked with many world-class racers, talks about focus and concentration.
Dario Franchitti and other racers discuss the transition from karts to cars. Patrick Long talks about learning a new track. Boris Said and others discuss the importance of being smooth.
And the list of subjects and presenters goes on and on, all the way to Roger Penske, Chip Ganassi and others talking about what team owners look for in young drivers.
You?ll pay serious money for a good racing school -- and the good ones certainly are worth the price -- but these on-line seminars are free. All you do need to do is to have your son, daughter or grandchild -- or niece, nephew or neighbor -- register through the www.safeisfast.com website.
By the way, safe not only is fast, but it?s smart.
Read more of Larry at www.izoom.com
Another Mustang Funny Car Mystery
Who built the notch-back Mustang funny car that appeared briefly at North Brother's Ford in 1967? What happened to it? Help solve a 44 year mystery.
MCACN: Sneak Peek Nickey Camaro
As the days count down to the start of the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals Beth and Stefano Bimbi, owners of�Nickey Chicago, have decided to give you another reason to head to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road in Rosemont, IL this weekend. In addition to announcing the new Nickey Chicago [...]
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Richard Petty Drivers Search
Renowned road course racer Marcos Ambrose and two-time Nationwide series champion Randy LaJoie will, again, be among the guest instructors when Richard Petty's Driver Search III takes place December 6-9, 2010 at Charlotte...
This Weekends Race?
I just got this email through NASCAR.com Due to inclement weather from Tropical Storm Hanna, tomorrow?s Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway has been postponed until 1 p.m. Sunday. The Nationwide event will now be run at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Richard Petty's Driver Search is On
If you are an aspiring racer looking to develop your skills and advance your career, Richard Petty’s Driver Search is the program for you.
DMCC Round 2 >>> Travis Clark
DMCC Round Two. Stratotech Raceway, Fort Sask, Alberta.
July 31st 2011 was our round two competition out at Stratotech Raceway, I have always loved driving at this track and when I found out near the end of 2010 that we would be coming back I was pretty excited! I woke up that day
July 31st 2011 was our round two competition out at Stratotech Raceway, I have always loved driving at this track and when I found out near the end of 2010 that we would be coming back I was pretty excited! I woke up that day
Richard Petty 50th Anniversary
This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of Richard Petty's first race, which occurred on July 12, 1958. In celebration of his half-century of involvement in NASCAR, here is a reproduction of a Petty Enterprises race report...
Autotek Appointed As STI Base Team For UK
Autotek Motorsport has been appointed as Subaru Tecnica International (STI) base team supplier for the UK in a move that will see it supply STI specialist competition parts to motorsport competitors across Britain. Lancashire-based Autotek, which is headed by managing director Ken Skidmore, will use its 15 years experience of preparing and running Subaru rally [...]
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Dick Mack?s Satisfaction Chevelle versus Bob DuBrock?s Mustang
Dick Mack ran a full bodied Chevelle funny car with a shortened wheelbase approaching that of a fuel altered. The Satisfaction, running out of Ohio, garnered runner-up honors in the fuel category.
Matthew Thompson Wins UK Young Rally Driver of the Year Award
Matthew Thompson, the UK F1000 Junior Rally Driver from Cheshire, has won the UK Young Rally Driver of the Year award at the Professional Motorsport Expo in Cologne which was held on 15, 16, 17 November. Matthew joined an illustrious list of names for the awards ceremony; other award winners included the Citroen World Rally [...]
DIY Automotive Training
In past years, automotive trainings were considered as most common subject in our society. Elective on ship class were offer in high schools to make sure that boys know all about car?s engine bay. This would give students and car owners a chance to learn that in case they face difficulties with their cars, they [...]
Petty Holdings Announces Richard Petty's Driver Search
Training Camp & Competition Will Award Opportunity in ARCA Racing
Series and Marcos Ambrose and Randy LaJoie have joined the staff of
Richard Petty's Driver Search.
Series and Marcos Ambrose and Randy LaJoie have joined the staff of
Richard Petty's Driver Search.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Brace Yourself For The Off-Season Crew Members
The next couple of weeks will be a time for celebration in NASCAR. We’ll crown three different champions this weekend and then head to the respective banquets. It was a season of improved ratings, competition and the first Cup champion not named Jimmie Johnson since 2005. As some celebrate next week, a lot of others [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
NASCAR stars visit Orange County Fair Speedway
NASCAR drivers Carl Edwards and David Reutimann, along with team owner Jack Roush came to meet their fans and try their luck on the tough dirt track at the fairgrounds. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-drivers%2Fnascar-stars-visit-orange-county-fair-speedway'; addthis_title = 'NASCAR+stars+visit+Orange+County+Fair+Speedway'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: County, Fair, nascar, Orange, speedway, stars, visit
Thursday, November 17, 2011
can you but a ticket outside bristol motor speedway?
addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-tracks%2Fcan-you-but-a-ticket-outside-bristol-motor-speedway'; addthis_title = 'can+you+but+a+ticket+outside+bristol+motor+speedway%3F'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: bristol, motor, outside, speedway, Ticket
Racing, Risk, Longevity and Chance
This past weekend started our pretty good for yours truly. I watched the NASCAR Nationwide Series race from Charlotte and F1 qualifying on Friday night, then caught the Las Vegas truck race, the Sprint Cup race, the Monster Energy Cup motocross event and finally the Korean Grand Prix on Saturday.
The plan for Sunday included a trip to Firebird International Raceway for the NHRA Arizona Nationals, then back home to watch the DVR'd IndyCar finale since I wasn't going to be home for most of the race.
My kind host Jeff had VIP passes which meant all-day access to Firebird's third floor suite overlooking the launch area, where we could watch the action in air-conditioned comfort including closed-circuit television, complimentary refreshments and a free lunch.
But we knew we wouldn't be spending much time in the suite; we'd be walking the pits between rounds and then, as is our preference, become standing-room-only railbirds to smell the nitro fumes, feel the ground shake and mingle with our fellow race fans when the cars were actually running.
Drag racing is the one motorsports discipline that can't be fully, sensory-overload experienced digitally, so far at least; you simply have to be there -- with earplugs.
After round one of the pro cars, when we visited the tower to sample the surpsingly good track fare and watch the sportsman classes, we had the great pleasure of enjoying the company of two drag racing legends: Don Garlits and Shirley Muldowney. Big Daddy was in our suite with us, eating bbq chicken and ribs with beans and cole slaw and cornbread, just watching each run like any true fan. Shirley was outside in the courtyard, chatting and laughing with her guests and visitors, looking spectacularly regal.
How cool was that?
We stayed through the second round of the fuel cars and then took off; Jeff had some other obligations and I had to get home to do the scoring for my company's fantasy racing games.
And when I walked through my front door and saw the look on my wife's face I knew my weekend was about to turn sour. She'd been watching the race and filled me in on the big crash and concern over Dan Wheldon. Then, a few agonizing minutes later, we watched IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard make the accouncement that Wheldon had died.
I can't really express the sorrow and sadness we both felt when we heard that news. It was 1994, 1999 and 2001 all over again, when we watched Ayrton Senna, Greg Moore and then Dale Earnhardt die in the process of doing what they loved with full acceptance and clear recognition of all the inherent risks.
"To achieve anything in this game you must be prepared to dabble in the boundary of disaster." - Sterling Moss
Wikipedia has a depressingly complete list of racing drivers who died in crashes, including the painfully obvious introduction: 'Due to the inherently dangerous nature of auto racing, many individuals, including drivers, crew members, officials and spectators, have been killed in crashes related to the sport, in races, in qualifying, in practice or in private testing sessions. Deaths among racers and spectators were numerous in the early years of racing. However advances in safety technology, and specifications designed by sanctioning bodies to limit speeds, have reduced deaths in recent years.'
It already includes Dan Wheldon's name as the latest fatality in the Indy Racing League (sic) section.
Yes, advances in safety have and are and will continue to be made going forward.
But there will always be risk and there will always be chance and coincidence and perfect storm convergences of seemingly unrelated influences that will result in injury or death.
I keep reading all the tributes, commentaries, opinions and news items related to Wheldon's death and firmly believe positives will come from it. I completely disagree with the cruel, ignorant cretins who want to crucify or lynch the sanctioning body, the $5 million to win promotion, the size of the field, the track and/or especially Mr. Bernard.
But I'm still trying to put all of this into perspective.
"Once you?ve raced, you never forget it?and you never get over it." - Richard Childress
Race car drivers are passionate about what they do, just as most of us are passionate about something in our lives. Performers are addicated to the stage, athletes live to compete in the arena and racers were born to do both; as fast as their racecars will let them in order to finish first.
Racing is their choice and everyone understands the risks vs rewards. And as I learned from an old sociology professor way back when, concerning negative reinforcement to change behavior, "It's not the severity of the punishment, it's the certainty."
Skydiving is a great example. Fatalities result from a very small percentage of the total jumps made each year; its almost a certainty the chute will open although there's always a chance of injury on the landing. But if the chute doesn't open the consequences could not be more severe.
Comparitively speaking, fatalties in racing are fairly rare so drivers do what they were born to do; they don't worry about the severity of injuries or death from a crash, they're playing the odds because they are compelled to race.
But let's be honest; the chances of bad things happening in IndyCar have been signficantly higher over the past decade than they needed to be. The high downforce, relatively low horsepower, equal-to-a-fault spec series created the same kind of pack racing on high banked 1.5 mile ovals that NASCAR has marketed so well at the two restrictor plate tracks.
Except open wheel cars aren't supposed to make contact with each other, under any circumstances. Neither are they supposed to run in too-tight-to-escape packs that lead to Big Ones like the Sprint Cup, NNS and Camping World Truck Series races regularly produce at Daytona and Talladega. Tight, no-room-for-error, two and three wide racing with no separation is the classic recipe for disaster for cars without fenders.
Last night I was commiserating with friends over why IndyCar needs to get rid of flat-out-all-round racing on ovals racing and one buddy couldn't understand why having all the cars equal and tightly packed was a bad idea. He happens to be a former triathlete so I tried to explain.
One year he ran in the Pat Tillman marathon and fell down because someone in front of him tripped on someone else. He and half a dozen other runners suffered a few scrapes and bruises.
Every year there's at least one huge multi-rider crash in the Tour de France stage where one cyclist spills and then a whole bunch more riders crash behind him. Concussions and broken body parts are not uncommon.
When you and the large heavy mass you are driving are going 220 mph, and you're literally inches behind or beside other racecars, and one of them swerves, spins, slows or breaks you have neither the time or space to avoid contact. Disastrous, threat-to-life-and-limb contact.
So count me in as a proponent of the more horsepower/less downforce/next generation Handford device movement. Let's see IndyCar create a formula where drivers have to lift or brake for turns to allow separation that can only be closed through skill.
"If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower." -- Mark Donohue
Mark Donohue died in 1975 from a head injury suffered in a practice crash that also killed a corner worker who was struck by debris. Both victims knew the risks of their duties.
Yet chance plays such a role in these and all such tragedies.
In 1931 a young 12-year old boy, Wilbur Brink, died when he was struck by a wheel that came off Billy Arnold's Indy 500 racer and bounced over the Brickyard's fence into his front yard, where he was playing.
What are the chances?
In 1987 Lyle Kurtenbach, 41, of Rothschild, Wisconsin was a spectator at the Indy 500 when Tony Bettenhausen lost a wheel in the third turn. Roberto Guerrero came along and hit the tire, launching it into the air, over the catchfence and into the top row of grandstand K, killing Kurtenbach instantly.
In February of 2010, at my very own Firebird Raceway, Susan Zimmer, 52 of Rice Lake, Wisconsin was killed after the left rear wheel broke off Antron Brown's dragster during a first-round race against Troy Buff and struck her while she was sitting in a chair in the pits.
In 2009 Felipe Massa suffered a serious head injury when he was struck by a shock absorber that fell off Rubens Barrichello?s car at the Hungarian GP. The suspension piece was bouncing on the track, across the racing line, and hit the Ferrari driver's helment just above his left eye.
What are the chances?
Ayrton Senna was killed because a suspension piece broke and then pierced his helmet visor when he crashed at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. A few inches difference in the trajectory of that piece and he would have walked away.
I'm reconciling Dan Wheldon's death as the consequences of chance, in full consideration of the racing environment. Just like how in the recent past I've had to consider the losses of Eric Medlen, Darrell Russell, Paul Dana and others as against-all-odds accidents akin to being struck by lightning or getting all six Powerball numbers.
Don Garlits, 79 and Shirley Muldowny, 71 both retired in 2003 as survivors of some of drag racing's most dangerous decades. So did Connie Kalitta, now 73 and a retired driver turned team owner who lost his son Scott in a funny car accident in 2008. What are the chances?
Chance is how Bobby Allison and Richard Petty have lived to be old, retired race car drivers; it's how The King lost his grandson Adam and how the head of the Alabama Gang lost his sons Clifford and Davey.
It's how Thomas Murphy, vice president of corporate brand marketing for Sprint and the guiding force behind its NASCAR program, was killed when a boulder crashed through the windshield of the vehicle he and his family were driving near Aspen, Colorado in 2009.
What are the chances?
There's nothing we can do about chance except do everything possible to keep the odds in our favor without sacrificing whatever gives our lives passion and meaning. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but we've all got to stay in the game.
Godspeed, Dan Wheldon.
Tazio Nuvolari (1892 ? 1953) was an Italian racer who started out on motorcycles in 1920 and captured a championship in 1925, later winning the 1932 European Championship in Grand Prix motor racing. Dr Ferdinand Porsche called Nuvolari "The greatest driver of the past, the present, and the future."
This was one of the most dangerous eras in the sports history. A reporter once asked Nuvolari if he thought he might die at the wheel of a racing car and Tazio admitted he might, to which the reporter challenged, "Then how can you get into a racing car if it is likely you will die there?"
Nuvolari replied back, "Where do you think you will die?" and the reporter said, "Probably in bed."
And Nuvolari asked him, "Then how can you get into bed every night, when it is likely you will die there?"
NASCAR Sprint Cup @ Daytona (July 2, 2011) ? The Big One, First GWC Attempt
Original video: www.nascar.com Pretty crazy stuff at the end. twitter.com addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-sprint-cup%2Fnascar-sprint-cup-daytona-july-2-2011-the-big-one-first-gwc-attempt'; addthis_title = 'NASCAR+Sprint+Cup+%40+Daytona+%28July+2%2C+2011%29+%26%238211%3B+The+Big+One%2C+First+GWC+Attempt'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: 2011, Attempt, daytona, First, July, nascar, sprint
1970 Daytona 500
Pete Hamilton wins the 1970 Daytona 500 in a 1970 winged Plymouth Superbird. The 1970 race saw qualifying speeds approaching 200 MPH with Cale Yarborough taking the pole at 194.015 mph. Hamilton would fight off challenges by David Pearson late in the race to win by 3 car lengths. Time of race: 3:20:32 Average Speed: [...]
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The NASCAR Week That Was: Nov. 6-12
Kyle Busch was talk of the week after last weekend’s suspension. On Monday, NASCAR fined the driver $50,000 and put him on probation through the end of the year. Busch’s sponsor Mars opted after the incident to pull sponsorship for the remainder of the season. Busch was also pulled from the remaining Nationwide races after [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Busch?s Sponsors Exercise Influence
Take note of this past week – it was one of the more interesting ones I think we’ve seen in a long time. Championship hopes dashed. A driver suspended. A championship team owner put in a bad spot. And sponsors very publicly exercising their influence. It was a strange mix of expectation and surprise. With [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Video: Crusher Camaro on Adam Carolla?s CarCast
Editor-in-Chief David Freiburger and Adam Carolla talk retro street machines in this segment from his CarCast. For the full podcast, check out AceCarCast.com.
Circle City Hot Rods Pair of Rare Projects
We’d never even seen a Byers SR100, yet the guys at Circle City Hot Rods in Orange, California, had two in their shop owned by a single customer. The Byers SR100 was a fiberglass body kit car designed by Jim Byers in 1956 using Corvette windshields and windshield trim and intended to fit on shortened [...]
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Respect among contenders
In the final three races of the Chase for the championship, many drivers in contention profess a respect for fellow drivers, and a sense that what you give, you also deserve to get. View full post on NBCSports.com: NASCAR / Motors addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-racing%2Frespect-among-contenders'; addthis_title = 'Respect+among+contenders'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: among, contenders, Respect
Ragan Rallies for 12th-place Finish in Michigan
David Ragan and the UPS team started seventh and finished 12th at Michigan International Speedway
Video: Crusher Camaro on Adam Carolla?s CarCast
Editor-in-Chief David Freiburger and Adam Carolla talk retro street machines in this segment from his CarCast. For the full podcast, check out AceCarCast.com.
Dale Jr.?s Season Has To Be Considered A Success
I know he hasn’t won yet, and I know he won’t win the championship, but no matter how you slice it, 2011 has been a very solid season for Dale Earnhardt Jr. After struggling mightily in 2010 with Lance McGrew atop the box, Rick Hendrick decided it was time to make a change. �For 2011, [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
This Week in the NASCAR Blogosphere
By the end of the race at Lowe’s Motorspeedway the Chase will be half over. When the heck did that happen? I don’t know. Last weekend’s race at Talladega provided Tony Stewart with his first win of the season, his first win there in a sprint cup car and ended his 43 race winless streak. [...]
Monday, November 14, 2011
A First NASCAR Race, Through the Eyes of a 9-Year-Old
[Note from Larry Edsall: Usually my words would fill the space below, but my 9-year-old grandson, Nicholas Chester, went to his first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway recently, and I asked him to share experiences. His report follows.)
By Nicholas Chester
The day I went to my first NASCAR race was Sunday, August 21, 2011.
Dad and I got up at 6:10 a.m. and ate breakfast. I guess we were pretty eager to get there.
When we got to the track it was so huge. We found a parking spot, and got on the truck and trailers we could ride from the parking lot to the track.
We got off and walked in through the gate. We looked at all the displays and the trailers where each of the teams was selling shirts and cars and other things. I bought a Dale Jr. T-shirt -- one for me and one for my sister.
Then we walked through a tunnel and went to the garage area and the pits, which was cool because we got to see the race cars and see the pit crews getting ready for the race.
There was still quite a while before the race so we went back to our truck, then went back to the track and found something to eat for lunch.
We went to our seats, which were in the first turn. We watched the big blowers clean the track and watched the drivers being driven around the track in convertibles.
Next, airplanes flew over. There were four old-time planes and then two jets flew over. We sang the National Anthem as the jets were flying over the track.
A few minutes later the pace car went around the track with all the race cars behind it. They weren?t going very fast.
But then the race started and it got really loud. REALLY LOUD!
At first the cars looked slow as they were coming toward us, but by the time they got into the turn they were going super-fast.
Being at the race was way better than watching on television like we usually do. When you?re there in person, you not only see the race but you can feel it when the cars go by. The wind rushes right by the side of your face.
It?s amazing how fast the cars really are.
The race was great, but the best part was getting to go to the pits and the garage before the race -- and getting my picture taken with two members of Dale Jr.?s pit crew.
Nicholas is not a professional writer yet, but his grandfather Larry Edsall is. You can read more of Larry at www.izoom.com.
By Nicholas Chester
The day I went to my first NASCAR race was Sunday, August 21, 2011.
Dad and I got up at 6:10 a.m. and ate breakfast. I guess we were pretty eager to get there.
When we got to the track it was so huge. We found a parking spot, and got on the truck and trailers we could ride from the parking lot to the track.
We got off and walked in through the gate. We looked at all the displays and the trailers where each of the teams was selling shirts and cars and other things. I bought a Dale Jr. T-shirt -- one for me and one for my sister.
Then we walked through a tunnel and went to the garage area and the pits, which was cool because we got to see the race cars and see the pit crews getting ready for the race.
There was still quite a while before the race so we went back to our truck, then went back to the track and found something to eat for lunch.
We went to our seats, which were in the first turn. We watched the big blowers clean the track and watched the drivers being driven around the track in convertibles.
Next, airplanes flew over. There were four old-time planes and then two jets flew over. We sang the National Anthem as the jets were flying over the track.
A few minutes later the pace car went around the track with all the race cars behind it. They weren?t going very fast.
But then the race started and it got really loud. REALLY LOUD!
At first the cars looked slow as they were coming toward us, but by the time they got into the turn they were going super-fast.
Being at the race was way better than watching on television like we usually do. When you?re there in person, you not only see the race but you can feel it when the cars go by. The wind rushes right by the side of your face.
It?s amazing how fast the cars really are.
The race was great, but the best part was getting to go to the pits and the garage before the race -- and getting my picture taken with two members of Dale Jr.?s pit crew.
Nicholas is not a professional writer yet, but his grandfather Larry Edsall is. You can read more of Larry at www.izoom.com.
The List Of My Favorites Automotive Resource
There was a time when one had to go through magazines, piles of brochures, newspapers, and other print media. Many people used to subscribe to two, four, or five or even more journals to get the latest updates on their favorite vehicles. Internet has made this work easy now. You just have to go on [...]
Chevy Fast & Fuel Efficient ? Event Preparation
This week I jumped at the chance to get out of my comfort zone.� This is a driving & racing opportunity, along with promotional social media components, done through 2 new (to me) driving experiences: Driving a Chevrolet Volt as efficiently as possible, while completing 2 challenges & Tweeting their results… Racing ’round a short [...]
Archive Pic of the Day: Pontiac at the Starting Line
Nope, that’s not the start of a drag race. From the February 1964 issue of HOT ROD, “Bob Elliot of the Valley Volkswagen Club gives the start signal to one of the entries in the first Southern California ICCA Chapter reilability run.” Looks like a ’57 Pontiac to us.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Oliveira celebrates his first WRC season at the finish podium in Cardiff
The BWRT driver Daniel Oliveira finished his first FIA World Rally Championship season completing the fourth and final day of action in Wales Rally GB. He earned four Manufacturer points in his final outing on board the MINI John Cooper Works WRC this year and rounded off a good performance today to climb from 54th [...]
Busch can't do no wrong
Busch again was in the right place at the right time to claim victory in the pepsi 400
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Richard Petty Drivers Search
Renowned road course racer Marcos Ambrose and two-time Nationwide series champion Randy LaJoie will, again, be among the guest instructors when Richard Petty's Driver Search III takes place December 6-9, 2010 at Charlotte...
Friday, November 11, 2011
Paul Stefansky?s Boss Hoss Mustang Funny Car
The Boss Hoss was Paul Stefansky's entry for the 1968 drag racing season. The rare notchback Mustang funny car relied on an injected
Ford SOHC for power.
Ford SOHC for power.
David?s Blog: Charlotte Event & Off to The Glen
David Ragan took part in an event with Charlotte Motor Speedway before heading up to Watkins Glen for road course racing!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Did the Popularity of Street Courses Lead to the Demise of Road Racing?
By Larry Edsall
In my most recent post, I wrote about the heyday of professional road racing in the United States, back when the Can-Am and Trans-Am and even the F5000 series were as big a deal as NASCAR and even rivaled USAC-sanctioned Indy car races with the exception of the Indy 500, which at the time truly was the ?greatest spectacle in racing,? so important that almost nothing else happened during the entire month of May.
As I mentioned, the heyday-era road racing series -- Can-Am, Trans-Am and even Formula 5000 -- were such big deals that there actually were more people in the grandstands and on the hillsides than in the pits and paddock.
So what happened to cause the demise of road racing as a great American motorsport?
The most simple answer -- and albeit perhaps the most over-simplified answer -- can be given in, I suppose, in just two words: Chris Pook.
Born in Britain, Pook moved to the U.S. and in 1975 convinced the city of Long Beach, California, to allow him to stage an F5000 race on the city?s streets. A year later those cars were replaced by Formula One cars, yep, the real Grand Prix.
Nearly a decade later, when F1 sanctioning fees became even more outrageous, Pook offered his street circuit to Indy cars, specifically to the Championship Auto Racing Teams? branch of Indy car racing, which made its Long Beach debut in 1984.
Annually, a couple hundred thousand people showed up, some, no doubt, for the Indy car race, but perhaps just as many for a pro-celebrity race that put Hollywood types into race-prepped sedans. But perhaps even more were there for what was, basically, spring break for grown ups, or for as grown-up as people in Southern California might ever become. College kids went to Lake Havasu or Baja, post-college kids went to Long Beach.
Other cities saw the big crowd at Long Beach and wanted Indy car street races of their own.
Problem was, there are only a couple of weekends each year that work for adult spring break. Another problem was, racing between Jersey barriers on city streets isn?t really racing; it?s more of a fast parade interrupted too often to remove vehicles that collided with those barriers.
As I said, crediting Chris Pook for all of this is over-simplification. Maybe we should blame Indy?s Hulman family for allowing a situation in which the most prominent Indy car team owners revolted and broke away. Or maybe, as conspiracy theorists will tell you, it was actually the France family?s work to split the Speedway from its teams so NASCAR could race at the Brickyard and perhaps, someday, even buy the place for their International Speedway Corp.
Regardless of blame or credit, Indy cars racing on road and street circuits soon became the primary form of American road racing to the demise of the real road racers, the sports cars.
Contributing to the demise, though they would have argued just the opposite at the time, Just as there was a split within the Indy car community that led to the creation of CART, so, too, there was a split within sports car racing, with the new International Motor Sports Association challenging the old-guard SCCA -- and subsequently being challenged itself by the Daytona-backed Grand Am Road Racing.
Once again, Daytona and the France family enter the picture; maybe the conspiracy theorists are right after all?
Such splits never seem to improve the sport, they only open opportunities for some other form of racing to pull out into the passing lane and become more prominent. For example, instead of being the headliner at real road courses, what was left of the Trans-Am series became a support show for Indy car events on city streets.
And the split in sports car racing continues with Grand-Am and its support events on one side and the American Le Mans Series and its partners on the other. With the possible exception of the NFL-AFL split that led to the Super Bowl (and eventually to one united league), sports history clearly shows that unity wins, schism loses.
Sports car racing?s split helped open the way for Indy cars to move not only onto city streets but on traditional road courses as well; Indy car?s split opened the way for NASCAR to expand its schedule to paved oval tracks from coast to coast.
Oops, I need to put the gearbox into Reverse for just a second. Another thing that happened is that the original Can-Am series dissolved and eventually was resurrected as the new ?Can-Am,? actually sort of a merger of the Can-Am name with cars loosely based on those that had been running in F5000, though now with their wheels covered.
This new series did help accelerate the progress of several racing teams and drivers who were ripe to move up to Indy cars (think Carl Haas, Truesports, Bobby Rahal, Al Unser Jr., Danny Sullivan and others) as Indy car racing morphed from a series primarily on oval tracks to one more focused on road and street courses.
As it turned out, road racing wasn?t dead in the United States. But instead of real sports cars, it became dominated by Indy cars, which in turn became occupied not by young American drivers working their way up from dusty local ovals but by foreign-born drivers who grew up racing go-karts on paved courses.
And where did those young American racers go instead? Why, to Daytona and to stock car racing, of course.
So while many of those young American racers now are Chasing the Cup, Indy and sports car racers are left to chase their own tails.
Read more of Larry at www.izoom.com.
In my most recent post, I wrote about the heyday of professional road racing in the United States, back when the Can-Am and Trans-Am and even the F5000 series were as big a deal as NASCAR and even rivaled USAC-sanctioned Indy car races with the exception of the Indy 500, which at the time truly was the ?greatest spectacle in racing,? so important that almost nothing else happened during the entire month of May.
As I mentioned, the heyday-era road racing series -- Can-Am, Trans-Am and even Formula 5000 -- were such big deals that there actually were more people in the grandstands and on the hillsides than in the pits and paddock.
So what happened to cause the demise of road racing as a great American motorsport?
The most simple answer -- and albeit perhaps the most over-simplified answer -- can be given in, I suppose, in just two words: Chris Pook.
Born in Britain, Pook moved to the U.S. and in 1975 convinced the city of Long Beach, California, to allow him to stage an F5000 race on the city?s streets. A year later those cars were replaced by Formula One cars, yep, the real Grand Prix.
Nearly a decade later, when F1 sanctioning fees became even more outrageous, Pook offered his street circuit to Indy cars, specifically to the Championship Auto Racing Teams? branch of Indy car racing, which made its Long Beach debut in 1984.
Annually, a couple hundred thousand people showed up, some, no doubt, for the Indy car race, but perhaps just as many for a pro-celebrity race that put Hollywood types into race-prepped sedans. But perhaps even more were there for what was, basically, spring break for grown ups, or for as grown-up as people in Southern California might ever become. College kids went to Lake Havasu or Baja, post-college kids went to Long Beach.
Other cities saw the big crowd at Long Beach and wanted Indy car street races of their own.
Problem was, there are only a couple of weekends each year that work for adult spring break. Another problem was, racing between Jersey barriers on city streets isn?t really racing; it?s more of a fast parade interrupted too often to remove vehicles that collided with those barriers.
As I said, crediting Chris Pook for all of this is over-simplification. Maybe we should blame Indy?s Hulman family for allowing a situation in which the most prominent Indy car team owners revolted and broke away. Or maybe, as conspiracy theorists will tell you, it was actually the France family?s work to split the Speedway from its teams so NASCAR could race at the Brickyard and perhaps, someday, even buy the place for their International Speedway Corp.
Regardless of blame or credit, Indy cars racing on road and street circuits soon became the primary form of American road racing to the demise of the real road racers, the sports cars.
Contributing to the demise, though they would have argued just the opposite at the time, Just as there was a split within the Indy car community that led to the creation of CART, so, too, there was a split within sports car racing, with the new International Motor Sports Association challenging the old-guard SCCA -- and subsequently being challenged itself by the Daytona-backed Grand Am Road Racing.
Once again, Daytona and the France family enter the picture; maybe the conspiracy theorists are right after all?
Such splits never seem to improve the sport, they only open opportunities for some other form of racing to pull out into the passing lane and become more prominent. For example, instead of being the headliner at real road courses, what was left of the Trans-Am series became a support show for Indy car events on city streets.
And the split in sports car racing continues with Grand-Am and its support events on one side and the American Le Mans Series and its partners on the other. With the possible exception of the NFL-AFL split that led to the Super Bowl (and eventually to one united league), sports history clearly shows that unity wins, schism loses.
Sports car racing?s split helped open the way for Indy cars to move not only onto city streets but on traditional road courses as well; Indy car?s split opened the way for NASCAR to expand its schedule to paved oval tracks from coast to coast.
Oops, I need to put the gearbox into Reverse for just a second. Another thing that happened is that the original Can-Am series dissolved and eventually was resurrected as the new ?Can-Am,? actually sort of a merger of the Can-Am name with cars loosely based on those that had been running in F5000, though now with their wheels covered.
This new series did help accelerate the progress of several racing teams and drivers who were ripe to move up to Indy cars (think Carl Haas, Truesports, Bobby Rahal, Al Unser Jr., Danny Sullivan and others) as Indy car racing morphed from a series primarily on oval tracks to one more focused on road and street courses.
As it turned out, road racing wasn?t dead in the United States. But instead of real sports cars, it became dominated by Indy cars, which in turn became occupied not by young American drivers working their way up from dusty local ovals but by foreign-born drivers who grew up racing go-karts on paved courses.
And where did those young American racers go instead? Why, to Daytona and to stock car racing, of course.
So while many of those young American racers now are Chasing the Cup, Indy and sports car racers are left to chase their own tails.
Read more of Larry at www.izoom.com.
The Saga of the Competition + Mustang Funny Car
The story of Competition + and how a collection of drivers, car owners and fuel funny cars lead to a sad event at the 1967 Nationals at Indianapolis
Racing, Risk, Longevity and Chance
This past weekend started our pretty good for yours truly. I watched the NASCAR Nationwide Series race from Charlotte and F1 qualifying on Friday night, then caught the Las Vegas truck race, the Sprint Cup race, the Monster Energy Cup motocross event and finally the Korean Grand Prix on Saturday.
The plan for Sunday included a trip to Firebird International Raceway for the NHRA Arizona Nationals, then back home to watch the DVR'd IndyCar finale since I wasn't going to be home for most of the race.
My kind host Jeff had VIP passes which meant all-day access to Firebird's third floor suite overlooking the launch area, where we could watch the action in air-conditioned comfort including closed-circuit television, complimentary refreshments and a free lunch.
But we knew we wouldn't be spending much time in the suite; we'd be walking the pits between rounds and then, as is our preference, become standing-room-only railbirds to smell the nitro fumes, feel the ground shake and mingle with our fellow race fans when the cars were actually running.
Drag racing is the one motorsports discipline that can't be fully, sensory-overload experienced digitally, so far at least; you simply have to be there -- with earplugs.
After round one of the pro cars, when we visited the tower to sample the surpsingly good track fare and watch the sportsman classes, we had the great pleasure of enjoying the company of two drag racing legends: Don Garlits and Shirley Muldowney. Big Daddy was in our suite with us, eating bbq chicken and ribs with beans and cole slaw and cornbread, just watching each run like any true fan. Shirley was outside in the courtyard, chatting and laughing with her guests and visitors, looking spectacularly regal.
How cool was that?
We stayed through the second round of the fuel cars and then took off; Jeff had some other obligations and I had to get home to do the scoring for my company's fantasy racing games.
And when I walked through my front door and saw the look on my wife's face I knew my weekend was about to turn sour. She'd been watching the race and filled me in on the big crash and concern over Dan Wheldon. Then, a few agonizing minutes later, we watched IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard make the accouncement that Wheldon had died.
I can't really express the sorrow and sadness we both felt when we heard that news. It was 1994, 1999 and 2001 all over again, when we watched Ayrton Senna, Greg Moore and then Dale Earnhardt die in the process of doing what they loved with full acceptance and clear recognition of all the inherent risks.
"To achieve anything in this game you must be prepared to dabble in the boundary of disaster." - Sterling Moss
Wikipedia has a depressingly complete list of racing drivers who died in crashes, including the painfully obvious introduction: 'Due to the inherently dangerous nature of auto racing, many individuals, including drivers, crew members, officials and spectators, have been killed in crashes related to the sport, in races, in qualifying, in practice or in private testing sessions. Deaths among racers and spectators were numerous in the early years of racing. However advances in safety technology, and specifications designed by sanctioning bodies to limit speeds, have reduced deaths in recent years.'
It already includes Dan Wheldon's name as the latest fatality in the Indy Racing League (sic) section.
Yes, advances in safety have and are and will continue to be made going forward.
But there will always be risk and there will always be chance and coincidence and perfect storm convergences of seemingly unrelated influences that will result in injury or death.
I keep reading all the tributes, commentaries, opinions and news items related to Wheldon's death and firmly believe positives will come from it. I completely disagree with the cruel, ignorant cretins who want to crucify or lynch the sanctioning body, the $5 million to win promotion, the size of the field, the track and/or especially Mr. Bernard.
But I'm still trying to put all of this into perspective.
"Once you?ve raced, you never forget it?and you never get over it." - Richard Childress
Race car drivers are passionate about what they do, just as most of us are passionate about something in our lives. Performers are addicated to the stage, athletes live to compete in the arena and racers were born to do both; as fast as their racecars will let them in order to finish first.
Racing is their choice and everyone understands the risks vs rewards. And as I learned from an old sociology professor way back when, concerning negative reinforcement to change behavior, "It's not the severity of the punishment, it's the certainty."
Skydiving is a great example. Fatalities result from a very small percentage of the total jumps made each year; its almost a certainty the chute will open although there's always a chance of injury on the landing. But if the chute doesn't open the consequences could not be more severe.
Comparitively speaking, fatalties in racing are fairly rare so drivers do what they were born to do; they don't worry about the severity of injuries or death from a crash, they're playing the odds because they are compelled to race.
But let's be honest; the chances of bad things happening in IndyCar have been signficantly higher over the past decade than they needed to be. The high downforce, relatively low horsepower, equal-to-a-fault spec series created the same kind of pack racing on high banked 1.5 mile ovals that NASCAR has marketed so well at the two restrictor plate tracks.
Except open wheel cars aren't supposed to make contact with each other, under any circumstances. Neither are they supposed to run in too-tight-to-escape packs that lead to Big Ones like the Sprint Cup, NNS and Camping World Truck Series races regularly produce at Daytona and Talladega. Tight, no-room-for-error, two and three wide racing with no separation is the classic recipe for disaster for cars without fenders.
Last night I was commiserating with friends over why IndyCar needs to get rid of flat-out-all-round racing on ovals racing and one buddy couldn't understand why having all the cars equal and tightly packed was a bad idea. He happens to be a former triathlete so I tried to explain.
One year he ran in the Pat Tillman marathon and fell down because someone in front of him tripped on someone else. He and half a dozen other runners suffered a few scrapes and bruises.
Every year there's at least one huge multi-rider crash in the Tour de France stage where one cyclist spills and then a whole bunch more riders crash behind him. Concussions and broken body parts are not uncommon.
When you and the large heavy mass you are driving are going 220 mph, and you're literally inches behind or beside other racecars, and one of them swerves, spins, slows or breaks you have neither the time or space to avoid contact. Disastrous, threat-to-life-and-limb contact.
So count me in as a proponent of the more horsepower/less downforce/next generation Handford device movement. Let's see IndyCar create a formula where drivers have to lift or brake for turns to allow separation that can only be closed through skill.
"If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower." -- Mark Donohue
Mark Donohue died in 1975 from a head injury suffered in a practice crash that also killed a corner worker who was struck by debris. Both victims knew the risks of their duties.
Yet chance plays such a role in these and all such tragedies.
In 1931 a young 12-year old boy, Wilbur Brink, died when he was struck by a wheel that came off Billy Arnold's Indy 500 racer and bounced over the Brickyard's fence into his front yard, where he was playing.
What are the chances?
In 1987 Lyle Kurtenbach, 41, of Rothschild, Wisconsin was a spectator at the Indy 500 when Tony Bettenhausen lost a wheel in the third turn. Roberto Guerrero came along and hit the tire, launching it into the air, over the catchfence and into the top row of grandstand K, killing Kurtenbach instantly.
In February of 2010, at my very own Firebird Raceway, Susan Zimmer, 52 of Rice Lake, Wisconsin was killed after the left rear wheel broke off Antron Brown's dragster during a first-round race against Troy Buff and struck her while she was sitting in a chair in the pits.
In 2009 Felipe Massa suffered a serious head injury when he was struck by a shock absorber that fell off Rubens Barrichello?s car at the Hungarian GP. The suspension piece was bouncing on the track, across the racing line, and hit the Ferrari driver's helment just above his left eye.
What are the chances?
Ayrton Senna was killed because a suspension piece broke and then pierced his helmet visor when he crashed at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. A few inches difference in the trajectory of that piece and he would have walked away.
I'm reconciling Dan Wheldon's death as the consequences of chance, in full consideration of the racing environment. Just like how in the recent past I've had to consider the losses of Eric Medlen, Darrell Russell, Paul Dana and others as against-all-odds accidents akin to being struck by lightning or getting all six Powerball numbers.
Don Garlits, 79 and Shirley Muldowny, 71 both retired in 2003 as survivors of some of drag racing's most dangerous decades. So did Connie Kalitta, now 73 and a retired driver turned team owner who lost his son Scott in a funny car accident in 2008. What are the chances?
Chance is how Bobby Allison and Richard Petty have lived to be old, retired race car drivers; it's how The King lost his grandson Adam and how the head of the Alabama Gang lost his sons Clifford and Davey.
It's how Thomas Murphy, vice president of corporate brand marketing for Sprint and the guiding force behind its NASCAR program, was killed when a boulder crashed through the windshield of the vehicle he and his family were driving near Aspen, Colorado in 2009.
What are the chances?
There's nothing we can do about chance except do everything possible to keep the odds in our favor without sacrificing whatever gives our lives passion and meaning. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but we've all got to stay in the game.
Godspeed, Dan Wheldon.
Tazio Nuvolari (1892 ? 1953) was an Italian racer who started out on motorcycles in 1920 and captured a championship in 1925, later winning the 1932 European Championship in Grand Prix motor racing. Dr Ferdinand Porsche called Nuvolari "The greatest driver of the past, the present, and the future."
This was one of the most dangerous eras in the sports history. A reporter once asked Nuvolari if he thought he might die at the wheel of a racing car and Tazio admitted he might, to which the reporter challenged, "Then how can you get into a racing car if it is likely you will die there?"
Nuvolari replied back, "Where do you think you will die?" and the reporter said, "Probably in bed."
And Nuvolari asked him, "Then how can you get into bed every night, when it is likely you will die there?"
PMI and Roush Yates Form Alliance
Performance Motorsports Incorporated (PMI) and Roush Yates announced today a newly formed technical alliance that will focus on product development in national and international markets. The announcement was made during...
No Treats in Martinsville; Ragan Victim in Early Incident
David Ragan and the UPS team started 18th and finished 33rd at Martinsville Speedway after receiving damage to their radiator early in the race
Video: Hennessey?s 10-second Cadillac Wagon
You heard that right, a 10-second wagon. If that’s not impressive, what if we told you it was on street radials and they drove it home from the track? The “Hammer Wagon” as it’s been affectionately named, got the Hennessey V650 upgrade first, which included exhaust upgrades, a new pulley for more boost, and an [...]
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The List of Cars That Cost Less Than $18,000
$25,000 is the standard price of any new automobile. Now a day marketer has successfully made people believe that if they want to drive something worthwhile and something to impress their friends and coworkers with then they certainly have to spend some amount of money on it. Editor Kelly Blue has listed those cars that [...]
Hooker?s Cast Iron LS Exhaust Manifolds Available Soon
GM’s E-Rod engine gives you nearly everything you’ll need to put a new, smog-legal powertrain into your classic car. One problem that can crop up is the factory exhaust manifolds that point right at the framerails. Hooker engineered their Revolution exhaust manifolds for plenty of clearance and cool looks, and they just happen to be [...]
Yokohama helps Arai to IRC Production Cup title
Japanese tyre manufacturer Yokohama this weekend helped Japanese driver Toshi Arai to clinch the Production Cup in the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which features Yokohama as a tyre partner. The vastly-experienced Arai, partnered by Australian Dale Moscatt, won the Production Cup category of IRC finale, Cyprus Rally in his Yokohama-supported and shod Subaru Impreza R4. [...]
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
PMI and Roush Yates Form Alliance
Performance Motorsports Incorporated (PMI) and Roush Yates announced today a newly formed technical alliance that will focus on product development in national and international markets. The announcement was made during...
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