No one, I mean no one, would have predicted that Mark Martin would win three races in the entire 36 race season in NASCAR’s 2009 season, yet don’t tell that to Mark ‘The Kid” Martin(age 50) who has done just that in only 16 races this year. Where are the so called young guns of the sport currently? With his win, Mark is now tied with Kyle Busch for most wins on the season with three, combine that with the NASCAR point’s leader Tony Stewart who is 38 years young and the sport has changed.
Now Mark Martin was also the first of the old-timer drivers to have a reduced schedule on the circuit, when he decided he would only run half the season to be with his son Matt during his run to a racing career. Well Matt got cold feet and stopped racing, and then Mark got the call from Rick Hendrick to drive the 2009 season in his car number 5. Mark was so excited at the start of the 2009 season with the equipment he was in he extended that deal for a few more years and really seems to me to be the happiest guy in the garage next to Tony.
It just makes me wonder if this will get some of the old-time drivers currently looking for rides a chance, such as Bill Elliott, Joe Nemechek, Johnny Benson, and Jeremy Mayfield (prior to testing) to get back into a car. I feel that all of this is possible because of the new COT that NASCAR put into place full-time in 2009. To me it seems the handling of these new cars is done by making changes during the race, and that knowledge of how to make the car do what they want it to do is why the old-timers are getting opportunities that weren’t there before. You definitely can’t teach an old dog new tricks or in this case teach a young gun how to communicate what the car is doing to his crew chief, like the old-timers can. So from one old-timer to another, age is only a number
As the season continues on the path to the finish at Homestead Speedway in November it looks like there could be an old-timer hoisting the championship cup at the end of the season. We currently have Tony, Mark, and Jeff Gordon as serious contenders to win the cup, but definitely don’t count out defending champ Jimmie Johnson who will have a say in who wins the cup. Jimmie could win a lot more as long as the best crew chief Chad Knauss is on top of the pitbox for the number 48.
Well that’s it this week from the BIG MAN, still pissed off at my Red Wings, and now in the sporting world we only have auto racing in all forms, so ratings should be high. Have a great week and JAEGER BOMBS to all. See ya!
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LOUDON, N.H. (AP) - Teenager Joey Logano became the youngest winner in the history of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series Sunday, winning the rain-shortened race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The precocious 19-year-old rookie came back from a crash that put him a lap down earlier in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 and won his first Cup race in his 20th start.
Logano was among a group of drivers who moved to the front of the field after getting out of sequence on fuel stops. The youngster took the lead when Ryan Newman, trying to stay on track as long as possible with rain threatening, ran out of gas on lap 264 in the event scheduled to go 301 laps.
Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon moved into second and was steadily cutting into the lead as Logano, with a nearly empty gas tank, conserved as much fuel as possible. But the rain began falling three laps later.
The competitors ran six slow laps under caution before NASCAR put out a red flag in hopes of drying the track. But the rain began falling harder and the race was called after 273 laps.
"I guess I'd rather be lucky than good right now," Logano said as he waited for the decision. "Obviously, we didn't have the car to win, but we've overcome a lot today: tires down and more issues than you can imagine."
Logano, 19 years, one month and four days old, broke the record set by Kyle Busch for the youngest winner. Busch, now 24, was 20 years, four months and two days when he won for the first time at California in Sept. 2005.
Logano was first spotted as a 15-year-old by NASCAR star Mark Martin, who predicted greatness for the youngster. He been on the fast track ever since, winning races at every level and beating some of NASCAR's top developmental drivers along the way.
To his embarrassment, Logano earned the nickname "Sliced Bread," as in, "the greatest thing since ... "
After two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart decided to leave Joe Gibbs Racing to become an owner-driver, Gibbs turned over the No. 20 Toyota that the Stewart had driven for the last 10 years to Logano. He also inherited veteran crew chief Greg Zipadelli, who worked with Stewart through that entire period.
"(Zipadelli) said to just stay out, rain's in the area," Logano said. "So we started saving a little bit of fuel ... It's a dream come true, that's for sure."
It was a virtual home victory for Logano, who was raised in Middletown, Conn.
Gordon was disappointed with the second-place finish.
"I felt like we had the best car," Gordon said. "The guys got us out first on our last pit stop, but it just got us out ahead of the guys we were racing with."
He congratulated Logano and said Zipadelli made "a gutsy call" leaving the youngster on track.
"I was trying to get him to use as much fuel on the caution laps as I could," Gordon said, grinning. "I thought for sure he was going to run out of gas. But we're here on pit road and it's raining hard, so I guess it worked out for him."
Kurt Busch, who won a rain-shortened event here last June, finished third, followed by David Reutimann and Stewart, now part owner of his own team and the series leader by 69 points over Gordon.
The race was slowed by 11 caution flags for 47 laps. The ninth one was brought out when Logano spun in heavy traffic, hitting the wall in turn four on the 1.058-mile oval.
That cost Logano a lap, but he got it back on the next caution flag, earning the free pass as the first car a lap down.
There were several other crashes in the race, the worst an eight-car wreck on lap 175 that took out contenders Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Burton and Brian Vickers.
It appeared that Dale Earnhardt Jr., in third at the time, spun his tires on a restart and Truex, right behind him, slowed and was hit from behind by Kyle Busch, igniting the melee.
An angry Truex waited on track for Busch, who eventually finished seventh, to drive past under caution and made as if to throw his helmet.
"I guess Kyle just decided he didn't want to lift, so I was just an innocent victim today," Truex said. "Someone spun the tires and our lane didn't go. Kyle just lost his head like he usually does when something bad happens." - AP
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LOUDON, N. H. -- Sometimes, the sun shines even though it's raining.
Ask young Joey Logano. A late-race rainstorm stopped the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 after 273 of the scheduled 301 laps, giving Logano his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory.
The 19-year-old rookie, who turned 19 on May 24, was probably the only happy driver when NASCAR announced the race official, but veterans of the sport would quickly tell the youngster to enjoy his win because "there's no telling how long it might be before he wins another one."
Crew chief Greg Zipadelli, Logano's mentor and crew chief on the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota, a veteran of this sport's tremendous emotional peaks and valleys, probably told his rosy-cheeked driver, "You take em any way you can get 'em, kid."
Even though Logano never challenged any of the race leaders, he raced his way back into contention after a blown tire and an untimely pit stop put him a lap down.
He eventually was the "Lucky Dog," which put him back on the lead lap and in position to gamble on fuel mileage as reports of impending rain rolled through the pit area like tumbleweeds.
Actually, Logano's car was the last in a group of cars who rolled the dice on fuel. Ryan Newman was the leader with some 50 laps to go but had to pit.
Bobby Labonte had a turn out front before his thirsty Ask.com Ford asked for fuel.
Logano's victory makes him the youngest driver ever to win a Sprint Cup race. That in itself came as no surprise to fans at this one-mile oval a couple hours from Boston. This track is Logano's "home" track since he grew up not too far from here in Middletown, Conn.
He has been pegged as the "next" Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson with his past success in other NASCAR series. He won the championship in the developmental Camping World East Series in 2007 and moved to the Nationwide Series last year, where he has won three times.
He has struggled at times this season but has also shown signs of tremendous potential. Sunday's win was a windfall of luck, which follows the wind and the rain from time to time.
Jeff Gordon was second after running up front all afternoon, and Kurt Busch was next.
They were followed by David Reutimann, Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Sam Hornish Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne.
Casey Mears was 11th and Juan Pablo Montoya was 12th, just ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Mark Martin.
An overcast New England sky cast an ominous shadow over the 43-car starting field for Sunday's race. The crowd of over 100,000 had the same thoughts as the drivers... would the New England weather allow the race to be run? As the field took the green flag, they were racing against another green, the rainy green of weather radar that lurked off the coast as a potential threat.
Gordon jumped out front early for the lead and then the older Busch Brother, Kurt, took the top spot. Greg Biffle passed Gordon for second, and Johnson was fourth. They were followed by Newman, Carl Edwards, Stewart, Montoya, the younger Busch brother, Kyle, and Reutimann.
Patrick Carpentier hit the retaining wall in turn two at lap 15 to bring out the first caution of the afternoon. Busch maintained the lead on the restart at lap 19. Two laps later, Jamie McMurray lost control between turns two and three and slammed the outside retaining wall. Gordon was ahead on the restart at lap 25 this time around.
They made just three laps this time before AJ Allmendinger spun in turn three. It was the third caution period in just a few laps, but the laps that were run were dandies.
Under NASCAR's new double-file, shootout-style restart procedure, Gordon, Busch, Biffle, Montoya and others were two-abreast around the track.
Gordon still led when the race resumed at lap 31, but Busch quickly went back out front.
NASCAR added a competition caution at lap 47 to allow the teams to check tire wear. A hard rain Saturday night washed away the rubber put down during several preliminary races.
On the restart at lap 50, Johnson took the lead for the first time with teammate Gordon next and young Busch third, then brother Kurt, Martin, Biffle, Stewart, Clint Bowyer, Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr. and Matt Kenseth.
Another caution slowed the field when Michael Waltrip was turned by Scott Speed at lap 59.
Johnson led on the restart at lap 64. He moved ahead of teammate Gordon by about one second, but at this point in the race, he certainly appeared to be the dominant car.
Another caution fell at the halfway point of the race, 151 laps completed of the 301 to be run, and a few drops of rain showed up on windshields. Johnson had led to this point, but both Gordon and Kurt Busch took two tires to beat Johnson back on the track while he took four tires.
The race started again on lap 157 with Gordon in front. He was followed by Busch, Johnson, Stewart, Earnhardt, Kyle Busch, Truex, Edwards, Martin and Reutimann. - credit: nascar
WATERTOWN, N.Y. — The last thing short-track driver Tim McCreadie remembers, he was leading in the semifinal qualifier at the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Okla.
When he awoke, he had two problems.
His back was broken and he didn't have health insurance.
"It happened so fast," McCreadie said. "I went down the front stretch, and when I started through the corner I had no brakes. Right past the flagstand it started vibrating real bad. I thought we broke a motor."
Instead, McCreadie's rear axle had malfunctioned, sending his car first sideways and then barrel-rolling over a catch fence. McCreadie suffered a shattered vertebra in his upper back and still has floating bone fragments from the mid-January crash.
"There was way more pain than there should have been," he said. "I knew I was in bad shape. It was a bad deal."
There are an estimated 25,000 drivers like McCreadie who are competing on the more than 800 dirt race tracks in the United States. No one keeps a count of how many have insurance, but people in both the racing and insurance businesses say as many as 80 percent of drivers do not carry coverage. The only medical coverage McCreadie carried was through a small policy bought by the promoters of the event.
Dennis Huth, president of American Speed Association, estimates that a typical track's policy offers $20,000 to $30,000 in medical coverage for injured participants. "But there are tracks out there that carry $5,000 in medical insurance," Huth said.
McCreadie, the 2006 World Of Outlaws late model champion, and fellow driver Tim Fuller figure the vast majority of drivers don't buy insurance because they pour their money into their cars.
"The focus is to go faster — that's the way racers think. They'd rather buy tires and motors than health insurance because, come on, nobody's ever going to get hurt, right?" Fuller said. "You just don't think about that stuff. I always wanted health insurance in case of the big one, and the right deal came along. I'm glad that I've got it now."
Laura Hauenstein, president of WSIB Motorsports Insurance, agrees that insurance is not a priority for drivers — in a sport which has had two fatalities in the past five weeks.
"When they get to the racetrack, they really don't think about" it, she said. "And when you bug them and say, 'Hey, we need to do this,' it's like the last thing that they're thinking about."
Jessica Zemken, a 23-year-old sprint car driver from Sprakers, N.Y., said she'd have to choose between insurance and racing. So she doesn't carry any, nor does her father, who also races.
"What it would cost me for health insurance I wouldn't be able to put tires on my car," she said. "If I paid for health insurance I wouldn't be able to race, so what would I need it for?"
Fuller, whose first race car cost $60 and was fitted with a rollcage made from the rusted pipes from a boat dock, enters up to 70 events a year around the country and drove for more than a decade without coverage. But with a family to protect, he secured a policy, two months before McCreadie's crash.
"Tim's accident was an eye-opener for me," Fuller said. "I just jumped into different cars maybe that weren't real safe. I just jumped into things to race because I'm a race junkie. Then I started rethinking it: 'Maybe I should just concentrate on my cars and what I'm doing instead of getting in this and that and taking chances of getting hurt and screwing my life up.'"
John Bickford, stepfather of NASCAR star Jeff Gordon and the architect of Gordon's early racing career, said some young drivers under the age of 18 get themselves legally emancipated from their parents so they can try to make a name for themselves on the dirt tracks. But they don't consider the risk.
"It can impact your insurance if you're not careful," Bickford said. "Kids who get themselves emancipated have to really be paying attention to that because they could find themselves being 16 years old, treated like an adult, and they think they have health insurance when in reality they don't" because they are no longer covered under their parents' policy.
Bickford agreed that the mindset of a racer plays a large factor.
"I used to tell people that at many of the racetracks you could put a sign up at the sign-in window that says, 'We do not have any insurance. If you are injured, we will not be able to help you. So if you still want to race, sign here,' and nobody would pay attention to the sign," Bickford said.
Mark Richards watched his 21-year-old son, Josh, an up-and-coming late model driver, compete in the Chili Bowl for the family racing team.
McCreadie's crash caught them off-guard and made Mark Richards review his insurance. Richards, who has been involved in the sport for more than three decades, thought his company policy covered his son. It didn't. It does now.
"It's just amazing to me that as many drivers as there are out there that drive these cars and don't understand that they're not insured," Mark Richards said. "Racers at this level should realize that, 'Hey, you're gambling with something that could put you in financial ruins.'"
The 35-year-old McCreadie has been a successful racer most of his adult life, following in the footsteps of his famous dad, "Barefoot" Bob McCreadie, one of the best dirt drivers in history with more than 500 victories.
Bob McCreadie raced more than once with a broken back, sometimes spending a night in a hospital and taking painkillers so he could get to the next track.
Tim McCreadie bought insurance when he briefly drove for Richard Childress Racing in NASCAR's Nationwide Series. But when RCR let him go, McCreadie let the policy lapse. That's when he got hurt.
"I had to switch a lot of things around. It was just like getting a new job," he said. "I didn't have it, and I got hurt in between. ... It was partly me being stubborn. I was just worried about racing."
Tim McCreadie knows he's fortunate — healthwise and financially — to be able to race again.
"The doctor said the bone break where I broke it is one of the ones you don't want. It causes a lot of paralysis," said McCreadie, who did not need surgery. "He said I'm really lucky."
Now, after months of rehab and a few fundraisers to help pay his medical bills, Tim McCreadie is back racing — he competed late last month for the first time since the accident and he's insured again.
"The bills are coming. I'd be happy if I could almost break even when it's all over with," said McCreadie, who was heartened when several hundred people from his hometown of Watertown — some of whom didn't even know him — attended a spaghetti dinner in March on his behalf. "I wish I could go back and change it. But only good can come out of this if all of a sudden everybody goes out and gets insurance. If people get hurt, at least they're covered." - By John Kekis Associated Press
Posted by captainthunder on Friday, July 03 @ 06:50:22 CDT (23 reads)
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LOGANO'S NEW HAMPSHIRE WIN IS JUST THE BEGINNING
Joe Gibbs didn't expect his gamble to pay off so soon.
The car owner hedged when asked whether he expected Joey Logano to win a race during his rookie season in Sprint Cup.
"Do I need to tell the truth on that?" the former NFL coach replied, grinning.
The kid who started driving when he was 4 years old, wheeling a go-kart around the yard of his father's hazardous waste disposal business in Portland, Conn., is now 19 and racing with the big boys in NASCAR.
On his journey to the Sprint Cup series, Logano has proved over and over that he is a phenom, winning races at every level.
Now he's a winner in Cup, the youngest driver to reach Victory Lane in NASCAR's 61-year history.
The first of what most observers believe will be many Cup wins came Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where Logano won a rain-shortened race.
Crew chief Greg Zipadelli gambled on leaving the youngster on track as his gas ran low, and the rain came just in time, giving Logano the win in his 20th Cup start. At 19 years, 1 month and 4 days, he is more than a year younger than Kyle Busch was in 2005 when he won for the first time at 20 years, 4 months and 2 days.
But before Sunday, winning in Cup seemed a long time away for Logano, the most hyped young driver since Jeff Gordon came along in the early '90s.
Overall, it hasn't been a particularly good rookie season for Logano, who replaced two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart when he decided to leave Joe Gibbs Racing to become an owner-driver.
Going into New Hampshire, Logano's best finishes were a trio of ninths. Even with the win, he is 21st in the points heading into Saturday night's race at Daytona.
But even when Logano has struggled with the adjustment to the Cup car this season, Gibbs has liked what he has seen.
"He continues to improve," Gibbs said. "I think we all feel (that) at the end of the race he's always better, running much harder, and I think that's going to bode well for us as we go forward and come back to these places a second time (this season)."
The team owner was quick to point out that NASCAR's ban on most testing this season has hurt Logano more than veteran the drivers.
"At the time (Logano got the ride in the 20), we thought we were going to test a bunch, and that got taken away from us," Gibbs said. "So then you're putting Joey out there with the best in the world, this is the best people in the world doing this, and he's having to compete at places he's never seen, really."
Logano still seemed a little stunned by the win a few hours after the race officially ended as he sat in his No. 20 Toyota on pit road, the rain pouring down.
But a win is a win.
"I'm not going to give it back," he said, laughing. "I think every win is a big win to me. It's the mentality I've got. You want to win every race no matter where you're at."
Stewart, the series points leader with his new Stewart-Haas Racing team, said Logano should definitely not be embarrassed or reluctant to take credit for his first win, despite the circumstances.
"I said, 'Ten years down the road nobody's ever going to know how this win came.' But, the thing is, they still had to earn it," Stewart said. "They had to put themselves in position to be in this spot. They did a good job strategy wise."
Logano, who got the first of his three Nationwide victories in his third start in that series, said the learning curve in Sprint Cup has been steep.
"It's tough, believe me, it's real tough," said Logano, who made his first Cup start at New Hampshire last September, finishing 32nd. "If you think of last year in the Nationwide Series, yeah, I had some good runs. Did I run where I thought I needed to? No. I think it just took time.
"Now, over there, I think I know what it takes and over here we are working on it and, obviously, from what we did in the beginning of the season to now, we are running a lot better. If you look at my first race here last year, (it) was completely opposite of this."
Even before Sunday's win, though, Logano had felt the improvement, and gotten plenty of support from Zipadelli, Stewart's crew chief for 10 years.
"It's motivating just to keep seeing yourself getting better and working with Zippy and all of the guys and getting that communication going helps us improve a lot, too," Logano said. "I try to go to every track with the same mindset, you know, and just go out there, do the best you can, and go for the win." - By Mike Harris The Associated Press
KAHNE SAYS NASCAR HAS CHANGED IT'S DRUG TESTING SINCE MAYFIELD
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Sprint Cup driver Kasey Kahne says NASCAR has stepped up its drug testing procedure since the suspension of Jeremy Mayfield. Kahne said the tests he took prior to the suspension were "in and out" in five to 10 minutes. He said his most recent test two weeks ago at Infineon Raceway took nearly 40 minutes.
"It's a process now," Kahne said on Thursday at Daytona International Speedway. "Every little step you have to sign your name or initial, work with the person that is taking the sample.
"To me that's because of the whole Mayfield incident, to clarify everything and make sure the driver and also the person taking the sample is on the same page."
NASCAR's procedure was under attack when attorneys were seeking a temporary injunction to get Mayfield's suspension lifted, which it was on Wednesday by a federal judge in Charlotte, N.C.
Attorneys for Mayfield questioned whether Mayfield saw the seal put on his "A" and "B" samples.
Kahne said he always has watched the collector put on the seal, but that the process wasn't so detailed before.
"At the start of the year you'd go in, take a sample, they'd go through and sign your name and you basically walk out," he said. "You watch them pour the A and B samples into the capsules, sign your name and leave.
"Now every step you have to initial every step that goes on through the whole process."
Juan Pablo Montoya, who was tested at Dover in early June, said there is a lot more paperwork now.
"I did it at Daytona [in February] and it was a little easier," he said. "[At Dover] it was like proof of who you are. I'm like, 'I'm a freaking racer.' "
Three-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson has not been tested since Mayfield's suspension, but said he's had to wait on other drivers who were and it's taken longer.
He noted at Sonoma Kahne held up things because he had to go get his driver's license, something that he didn't understand to be required previously.
Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon said the procedure has changed "slightly," that there was an additional piece of paper he had to go through at his latest test.
NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Aegis Laboratory, which runs the sport's test program, put into effect within the last month a few procedures to ensure that the process was consistent at all tracks. He said the Mayfield case did not factor in this decision.
"They just want to make sure we're consistent on every test," Poston said. "It's just a matter of more initials, more validation. All of the big stuff is the same. This is just a matter of documentation." Drivers didn't seem to mind the changes.
"It's just getting more in depth," Kahne said. "Which is great." - David Newton - ESPN.COM
Posted by captainthunder on Friday, July 03 @ 06:42:54 CDT (15 reads)
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NASCAR'S POSTON WONDERS WHAT MAYFIELD'S URGENCY WAS FOR
NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Jeremy Mayfield's absence from the track today called into question the argument his attorneys used in requesting a preliminary injunction on NASCAR's drug suspension.
Mayfield won the injunction yesterday.
Here's what Poston said:
"Jeremy and his legal team asked for a preliminary injunction for emergency relief because it was necessary apparently to come and compete here in Daytona. Apparently he’s not here and it appears as if he’s not going to compete this weekend which would raise some questions on how much of an emergency it really was." - by Tania Ganguli - blogs.orlandosentinel.com
Posted by captainthunder on Friday, July 03 @ 06:40:50 CDT (15 reads)
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RED BULL TO CHEVY & PETTY TO TOYOTA LOOKING LIKE A REALITY
Red Bull Racing will decide in a month whether to switch from Toyota to General Motors in 2010, sources close to the situation said. There has been speculation for a month that Red Bull would move to Chevys with the chassis and engines supplied by Hendrick Motorsports.
HMS owner Rick Hendrick has said he needs to pick up some additional business to make up for the financial support GM cut after it filed for bankruptcy last month.
Red Bull general manager Jay Frye, who has worked with HMS in the past, said Thursday at Daytona International Speedway, that no decision has been made.
Richard Petty Motorsports could leave Dodge and fill Red Bull's vacancy if there is one. Robbie Loomis, the vice president for race operations at RPM, said the organization continues talking to all manufacturers about next season. - espn
Posted by captainthunder on Friday, July 03 @ 06:38:42 CDT (36 reads)
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'SMOKE' AND BURGER KING GET GOING THIS WEEKEND
Saturday Burger King Corp. will officially kick-off the company's sponsorship of Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing at Daytona International Speedway with the debut of the #14 Burger King Chevy. Burger King Corp. is teaming with TNT for the "Wide Open" race coverage of the Coke Zero 400 - allowing fans fewer interruptions during the race.
BKC will feature two :60 ads in the lower third quadrant of the screen starring the King and Tony Stewart. This weekend also marks the first time race fans will have the opportunity to purchase Burger King branded Tony Stewart merchandise.
The BKC/Stewart-Haas Racing sponsorship agreement, which was announced in January of this year, includes two primary paint schemes on the #14 Sprint Cup car, including this weekend at Daytona and for the September 27th race at Dover. The company also has a personal services agreement with Stewart. - bk pr
Posted by captainthunder on Friday, July 03 @ 06:37:09 CDT (11 reads)
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REUTIMANN FASTEST IN FINAL PRACTICE
NSCS Final Practice Daytona International Speedway Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Thu, July 02, 2009 @ 08:53 PM Eastern COKE ZERO 400 Powered By Coca-Cola (51st Running) 1 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota 46.842 192.135 3 32 ---.--- ---.--- 2 07 Casey Mears Jack Daniel's Chevrolet 46.860 192.061 3 24 -0.018 -0.018 3 29 Kevin Harvick Pennzoil Platinum Chevrolet 46.868 192.029 3 26 -0.026 -0.008 4 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota 46.880 191.980 3 13 -0.038 -0.012 5 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet 46.975 191.591 7 24 -0.133 -0.095 6 17 Matt Kenseth R & L Carriers Ford 47.152 190.872 7 20 -0.310 -0.177 7 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota 47.199 190.682 6 32 -0.357 -0.047 8 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge 47.466 189.609 2 27 -0.624 -0.267 9 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet 47.540 189.314 24 27 -0.698 -0.074 10 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Mobil 1 Dodge 47.542 189.306 1 19 -0.700 -0.002 11 43 Reed Sorenson Air Force Dodge 47.543 189.302 2 34 -0.701 -0.001 12 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's / Kobalt Tools Chevrolet 47.558 189.243 27 30 -0.716 -0.015 13 9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser Dodge 47.582 189.147 2 29 -0.740 -0.024 14 26 Jamie McMurray IRWIN Marathon Ford 47.617 189.008 5 19 -0.775 -0.035 15 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ntnl Grd Srvng America/AMP Energy Chevrolet 47.647 188.889 5 17 -0.805 -0.030 16 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet 47.658 188.846 2 15 -0.816 -0.011 17 5 Mark Martin CARQUEST / Kellogg's Chevrolet 47.691 188.715 5 26 -0.849 -0.033 18 16 Greg Biffle 3M / Scotch-Brite Ford 47.711 188.636 8 26 -0.869 -0.020 19 19 Elliott Sadler Stanley Dodge 47.727 188.573 1 28 -0.885 -0.016 20 7 Robby Gordon MAPEI / Menards Toyota 47.733 188.549 1 13 -0.891 -0.006 21 12 David Stremme Penske Dodge 47.734 188.545 6 23 -0.892 -0.001 22 20 Joey Logano # The Home Depot Toyota 47.753 188.470 2 32 -0.911 -0.019 23 1 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet 47.773 188.391 5 24 -0.931 -0.020 24 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota 47.801 188.281 6 24 -0.959 -0.028 25 99 Carl Edwards SUBWAY Ford 47.806 188.261 5 18 -0.964 -0.005 26 47 Marcos Ambrose Kingsford / Clorox / Bush's Baked Beans Toyota 47.809 188.249 2 17 -0.967 -0.003 27 96 Bobby Labonte Academy Sports & Outdoors Ford 47.856 188.064 2 17 -1.014 -0.047 28 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet 47.884 187.954 22 28 -1.042 -0.028 29 *09 Brad Keselowski Miccosukee Indian Gaming & Resort Chevrolet 47.984 187.563 2 19 -1.142 -0.100 30 39 Ryan Newman Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet 47.990 187.539 2 25 -1.148 -0.006 31 44 A J Allmendinger PVA.org Dodge 48.014 187.445 5 29 -1.172 -0.024 32 6 David Ragan UPS Ford 48.016 187.438 6 21 -1.174 -0.002 33 34 John Andretti Taco Bell Chevrolet 48.053 187.293 8 22 -1.211 -0.037 34 *78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet 48.073 187.215 9 13 -1.231 -0.020 35 98 Paul Menard Johns Manville / Menards Ford 48.075 187.207 18 20 -1.233 -0.002 36 55 Michael Waltrip NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 48.086 187.165 4 26 -1.244 -0.011 37 14 Tony Stewart Burger King Chevrolet 48.093 187.137 10 21 -1.251 -0.007 38 *71 David Gilliland TRG Motorsports Chevrolet 48.156 186.893 4 10 -1.314 -0.063 39 *82 Scott Speed # Red Bull Toyota 48.536 185.429 6 6 -1.694 -0.380 40 *87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 48.564 185.322 2 5 -1.722 -0.028 41 *36 Patrick Carpentier Tommy Baldwin Racing Toyota 48.588 185.231 2 8 -1.746 -0.024 42 *13 Max Papis # GEICO Toyota 48.872 184.155 5 5 -2.030 -0.284 43 *37 Tony Raines Grander Mountain Dodge 48.960 183.824 7 7 -2.118 -0.088 44 *66 Dave Blaney PRISM Motorsports Toyota 48.977 183.760 2 5 -2.135 -0.017 45 *64 Mike Wallace FRED'S Hometown Dscnt Stores Toyota 49.182 182.994 2 5 -2.340 -0.205
Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, July 02 @ 21:26:43 CDT (13 reads)
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DRIVERS SPEAK OUT ABOUT MAYFIELD MESS
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Bump-drafting, slingshot passing and restrictor-plate racing weren't the buzzwords being thrown around Daytona International Speedway on Thursday.
There was way more talk about affidavits, B samples, false positives and a judge's temporary injunction that reinstated suspended NASCAR owner-driver Jeremy Mayfield.
A federal judge in Charlotte, N.C., lifted Mayfield's indefinite suspension Wednesday, allowing him to race at Daytona this weekend.
"The situation that we had, when somebody tests positive, is something to be seriously considered, and there's a lot of responsibility that goes along with that," driver Ryan Newman said. "People make mistakes. I hope the judge didn't make one."
Mayfield missed the deadline to enter his No. 41 Toyota into Saturday night's race. He still could drive for another team, although no owners seemed ready to offer him a ride.
"Everybody out here wants to race, and they want to race hard and race with people that are in the same state of mind that you're in," former teammate Kasey Kahne said. "If people are into other things, they should go do those things by themselves and not be on a race track going 200 mph with other racers."
Mayfield failed a random drug test May 1 and was suspended eight days later. Outside court Wednesday, NASCAR said Mayfield had tested positive for methamphetamines. But in an affidavit filed last week, Mayfield denied ever using the illegal drug. He has blamed the positive test on the combination of Adderall, prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Claritin-D, used to fight allergies.
NASCAR attorney Paul Hendrick argued that the "massive amounts" of methamphetamines in Mayfield's sample suggest his defense was "simply not true." But U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen ruled in Mayfield's favor, saying the likelihood of a false positive was "quite substantial."
That decision shocked many in the sport.
"Either Jeremy or NASCAR is wrong, and I don't know which one, but whichever one is wrong is really hurting the other," said veteran Mark Martin, adding that his biggest concern is that NASCAR doesn't have the final say in who can and can't drive.
Three-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson was simply baffled by the whole mess.
"I don't even know where to start because you hear one rumor that it's one way and another that it's another way," Johnson said. "Now, next thing you know, there's a chance for him to come back to the racetrack and makes you believe maybe there's something wrong with the system and then you hear the rumors. It's just a confusing mess right now. I look forward to the day that it's all laid out plain and simple."
For some it already is.
"If he's out there on the race track with me, it doesn't bother me," Kyle Busch said. "Normally, we're ahead of him anyway."
Kahne, too, took a shot at Mayfield.
"As far as racing with Jeremy, I don't ever race with Jeremy," Kahne said. "He's at one end; I'm at the other."
Even so, some drivers have expressed concerns about even being on the same track.
Johnson and four-time Cup champ Jeff Gordon both signed affidavits, part of a recent NASCAR court filing, saying they didn't want to be on the same track as someone who tests positive for a banned substance or has drugs in his system.
"It's almost a 'duh' statement when they say they don't want drivers using drugs on the racetrack. Who does?" Mayfield's attorney, Bill Diehl, said in court.
The two former champs are among those having a hard time keeping track of all the developments.
"I'm so confused right now at the whole thing that I'm going to let it all play out," Gordon said. "I haven't been following it enough to know what's going on, so leave me out of it. I support NASCAR in what they're wanting to do and what they're trying to do with the drug policy. I think it's the right thing to do."
Added Johnson: "We just want people on the track that are sober and not under the influence of anything. ... If he passes the test, then put him back on the track. It's hard to know with all that's gone on over last few months what is what. It's just getting more confusing as every day unfolds."
Jeff Burton had a better feel for the details.
"Ultimately, unless there is some agreement prior to that, it will eventually go to trial and that decision of that trial will be huge," Burton said.
Until then, Burton would like to see Mayfield tested as often as possible.
"The fact of the matter is that he failed a drug test, and that opens the door to question," Burton said. "I deserve to 100 percent know that he is 100 percent clean and so he should be tested soon enough, early enough, often enough to where he can never be on the race track while he is using drugs." - AP
Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, July 02 @ 21:19:39 CDT (29 reads)
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NASCAR'S INAUGURAL HALL OF FAME NOMINEES RELEASED
NASCAR announced a history-rich list of 25 nominees for the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class. From that list, five inductees will be chosen via a process that includes a nationwide fan vote on NASCAR.COM; the inductees will be announced in October and honored next May at the new Hall of Fame facility in Charlotte, N.C.
The nominees, which include many of the sport's legendary names, were selected by a 21-person nominating committee consisting of representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and track owners from both major facilities and historic short tracks. The HOF's first inductees will be determined by the Voting Panel, which has 50 members -- the entire Nominating Committee, 14 media members, four manufacturer representatives and nine retired competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs -- three each) and two recognized industry leaders.
In addition, the fan vote will result in the Voting Panel's 51st and final ballot. Following are the 25 individuals who have been nominated:
Bobby Allison, 1983 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and winner of 84 races
Buck Baker, the first driver to win consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championships
Red Byron, first NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, in 1949
Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series
Dale Earnhardt, won record seven NASCAR Sprint Cup championships
Richie Evans, nine-time NASCAR Modified champion
Tim Flock, two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion
Bill France Jr., NASCAR president, chairman and CEO (1972-2003)
Bill France Sr., NASCAR founder and first president (1948-1972)
Rick Hendrick, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series
Ned Jarrett, two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion
Junior Johnson, 50 wins as a driver, 132 wins and six championships as an owner
Bud Moore, 63 wins and two NASCAR Sprint Cup titles as a car owner
Raymond Parks, NASCAR's first champion car owner
Benny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion
David Pearson, 105 victories and three NASCAR Sprint Cup championships
Lee Petty, winner of the first Daytona 500 and first three-time series champion
Richard Petty, 200 wins and seven NASCAR Sprint Cup titles -- both records
Fireball Roberts, won 33 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, including the 1962 Daytona 500
Herb Thomas, first two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, 1951 and '53
Curtis Turner, first to win Daytona 500, Southern 500, Coca-Cola 600 in same year
Darrell Waltrip, winner of 84 races and three NASCAR Sprint Cup championships
Joe Weatherly, two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion
Glen Wood, as driver, laid foundation for Wood Brothers' future team success
Cale Yarborough, winner of three consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup titles, 1976-78 - nascar pr
Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, July 02 @ 21:08:53 CDT (11 reads)
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DALE JR THROWS F-BOMBS AT NASCAR
Daytona Beach., Fla., isn't the spring break destination it once was, but the seaside birthplace of NASCAR remains a vacation haven for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Or at least it did when the Sprint Cup schedule had an open week before its midseason trip to Daytona International Speedway, which plays host to Saturday's Coke Zero 400.
"The worst (expletive) thing that ever happened in this sport is when they took that away from us," he said. "That really (expletive) up everything I loved about this sport." -- USA Today
DALE JR THINKS #88 TEAM CAN WIN A RACE 'WITHIN A YEAR'
Dale Earnhardt Jr. asked if his team can legitimately win:
"Yes. A couple more moves in the right direction, I don't know what that is. We ran pretty good this weekend. We're a different team than we were two weeks ago. It just seems like each week we step it up a little bit more, little bit more, and I think we can get it to where we can legitimately win a race within a year." -- Orlando Sentinel
Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, July 02 @ 14:38:44 CDT (36 reads)
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LOGANO WAS HOME SCHOOLED SINCE THE 4TH GRADE
Joey Logano, who broke NASCAR records this weekend as the youngest rookie to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup race, is a homeschooler. Logano beat out four-time cup champion Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch, who placed second and third respectively at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Although 19-year-old Logano's name has been splashed across sports pages after winning the race, many reports do not mention that he has been homeschooled since the fourth grade by his parents, Tom and Debbie. His father credits racing with helping his son develop the necessary poise to handle himself in the professional racing circuit. -- Examiner
Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, July 02 @ 14:36:56 CDT (15 reads)
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TONY GEORGE'S MAMA 'SURPRISED' & 'DISAPPOINTED'
Tony George's resignation as chief executive officer of the Indy Racing League this week came as a surprise to his boss. George's mother, Mari Hulman George, the chairman of the board for Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp., said Wednesday she still can't explain why Tony George vacated the position after being replaced as president and chief executive officer of Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. and Hulman & Co.
"I was surprised, and I'm still surprised," George said in a telephone interview from her home in Terre Haute. "I don't really understand. I'm disappointed that he didn't want to continue." -- Indy Star
Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, July 02 @ 14:36:03 CDT (20 reads)
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MORE THAN 12.5 MILLION FANS TRAVEL TO AT LEAST ONE RACE A YEAR
Only the very best at what they do earns the nickname "The King." In stock car racing, it's Richard Petty, who turns 72 years old today. He was born in the town of Level Cross, North Carolina, where he still lives. He was seven times national champion of NASCAR, a feat matched only by Dale Earnhardt. Petty won 200 races during his active career, a record not apt to be matched anytime soon. He started 1,184 races during 35 years, and placed among the top ten 712 times. Each year, more than 12.5 million fans travel to at least one race of the NASCAR season to see their favorite driver. -- U.S. Census Bureau
Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, July 02 @ 14:34:49 CDT (8 reads)
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MC CAIN SAYS MAYFIELD CAN FISH ALL DAY FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE
Stephen McCain believes Jeremy Mayfield is fully aware of all that. In fact, he believes he's been aware of that since the moment he pieced together his small operation, knowing what was at stake, what was riding on his every decision, his every action:
"He knows the rules and the policies, and if anyone thinks he'd break those policies -- especially being an owner and driver and take the livelihood of the all the crew members, general manager, team mangers, sponsors -- they've got to be on drugs. "That boy is smarter than that. You know, Jeremy Mayfield doesn't have to drive a racecar for the rest of his life, he can sit on his farm all day and catch fish, but he loves to race and that's what he wants to do. He wants to clear his name and that's what he's doing." -- Athlon Sports
Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, July 02 @ 14:33:51 CDT (57 reads)
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Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, July 02 @ 14:30:28 CDT (16 reads)
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MAYFIELD MISSES DEADLINE TO ENTER #41 CAR
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Jeremy Mayfield has missed the deadline to enter his car into Saturday night's race at Daytona International Speedway.
He had an afternoon deadline Thursday to bring the No. 41 Toyota to the track, and it passed with no sign of Mayfield or his race team.
Mayfield's indefinite suspension for a failed drug test was lifted by a federal judge on Wednesday, allowing him to race this weekend. He still can race if another team gives him a seat in a car.
But four team owners who might have considered using Mayfield this weekend have said they aren't interested. -JENNA FRYER - AP
Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, July 02 @ 14:25:21 CDT (9 reads)
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Q & A WITH DALE JR - I'M OPTIMISTIC BUT I'M ALSO WORRIED
If it hadn't rained in February, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still convinced he would have won the Daytona 500. He took a break from a National Guard appearance in Daytona Beach on Wednesday to speak with the Sentinel about that, life after his former crew chief/cousin Tony Eury Jr., and sitting in 19th place, likely to miss the Chase, what he wants out of the second half of 2009.
Sentinel:What's changed since Rick Hendrick swapped your crew chief before Dover?
DEJ: I feel like our ability to talk is better. The team was so beaten up that everybody was having a hard time interjecting. Everybody was just shut down. And so the team's opening back up, and the lines of communication are going. Things are happening. The cars are running better as a result of us being able to function and go to the track with better attitudes.
S: Do you miss Eury?
DEJ: Yeah, I do. But you know, we're getting back to terms that we want in our friendship and him and I being cousins. We're just working on, 'Hey man, let's go hunting together.' Doing those kinds of things. Forgetting about the professional part. If you can forget about the professional side of it, you don't have to worry about the pride. I can be who I am, and he can be who he is and we like each other. This whole experience was the worst for Tony Jr.
S: Are you still shooting for the Chase this year or are you preparing for next year?
DEJ: Yeah, I don't know about making the Chase this year (laughing). Be kind of tough. We're trying, we'll see. Guys are going to have to have some serious bad luck. We're 300 out or something? It's going to be tough. We're not talking about just one guy here we've got to beat. There's about four or five of them.
S: Can this team win?
DEJ: Yes. A couple more moves in the right direction, I don't know what that is. We ran pretty good this weekend. We're a different team than we were two weeks ago. It just seems like each week we step it up a little bit more, little bit more, and I think we can get it to where we can legitimately win a race within a year.
S: The Daytona 500 didn't go well for you. (Earnhardt missed two pit stops and was involved in the incident which started the race's biggest wreck). Are you looking forward to come back? Is there any sense of ...
DEJ: ... I might be stubborn, but mass opinion about how the Daytona 500 went is different than how I thought it went. I mean I thought we had a winning car and we should've won. If the rain hadn't have come, we were gonna win and everybody would have forgot about missing my stall and being involved in the wreck, starting that wreck, whatever you want to say.
S: Are you looking forward to anything at the end of the season?
DEJ: ... When the race is over at Homestead, what am I going to be feeling about next year? ... Am I going to go 'Man, we didn't really fix it yet'? Or am I going to go 'Holy [expletive] man, we're gonna be [awesome] next year.' I hope I feel good. I want to. I'm optimistic, but I'm also worried. ... The season wasn't a success. Even if we win three or four races the rest of the year, I wouldn't count it as a success. This season was a big fail for us. I carry all the responsibility as the driver. ... We're starting to look and feel more like a top 10 team. We're not. I wouldn't even label us a top 10 team yet, but we're starting to look like one. And that's a long, long ways from winning races and dominating. - By Tania Ganguli - Orlando Sentinel
Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, July 02 @ 14:20:35 CDT (32 reads)
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LEE PETTY, YARBOROUGH AMONG NOMINEES FOR HALL OF FAME
NEW YORK (AP) — Lee Petty and Cale Yarborough are among the 25 nominees for NASCAR's first Hall of Fame class.
NASCAR released the two names ahead of the announcement of all nominees on Thursday night.
The late Petty was a three-time NASCAR champion in the 1950s. He was selected as one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers in 1998, along with his son, Richard.
Yarborough won three straight NASCAR Sprint Cup titles from 1976-78.
The first class, consisting of five members, will be inducted in conjunction with the opening of the Hall of Fame in Charlotte next May.
A 21-member committee selected the nominees from NASCAR drivers, owners and promoters. -AP
Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, July 02 @ 14:16:39 CDT (8 reads)
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FOUR TEAM OWNERS SHY AWAY FROM 'MARKED' MAYFIELD
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Four team owners won't put Jeremy Mayfield in their cars this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, one because of sponsor concerns and another because Mayfield is "marked" following his legal battle with NASCAR.
Mayfield faces a Thursday afternoon deadline to bring Mayfield Motorsports to Daytona in time to join the 45 other entrants. His indefinite suspension for a failed drug test was lifted by a federal judge Wednesday, allowing him to race this weekend.
He can drive for someone else or bring his own No. 41 Toyota to the track, but the $5,005 late entry fee is daunting for the cash-strapped Mayfield. He said in an affidavit last week that he laid off 10 employees, borrowed money from family and had to sell personal assets to cover his living expenses.
He's also being sued for more than $86,000 by Triad Racing Technologies for parts, pieces and chassis work that Mayfield allegedly owes the company.
Mayfield said outside court Wednesday he would travel to Daytona, but wasn't sure in what capacity. His suspension covered both his roles as driver and owner of his car, and he wasn't sure he could put something together in time.
Former series champion Matt Kenseth doesn't think Mayfield will be shunned by other drivers if he returns.
"I don't think he'll be treated any different," Kenseth said. "I don't know of any people off hand or any people that have ever really had a problem with Jeremy. I don't know if we'll ever know or if there's a way to really find out or not if it's right or wrong. But certainly, if for some reason it was wrong, you feel bad for the guy because he's been kind of crucified already."
And getting back onto the track may prove difficult.
Larry Gunselman and Tommy Baldwin, two owners who potentially could have given Mayfield a ride, said they weren't considering him for Saturday night's race.
"Whether he's right, wrong or different right now, he's marked," said Baldwin, "and that's going to hurt him probably for the rest of his career."
Phil Parsons said he'd keep Dave Blaney in his No. 66 car, and Joe Nemechek said he had no intention of giving up his seat in his No. 87.
"No way," said Nemechek, who has given his seat to Red Bull Racing twice this season after rookie Scott Speed failed to qualify for races. "He's got his own stuff."
NASCAR suspended Mayfield on May 9 after he tested positive in a random drug test on May 1, and spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed Wednesday that Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamines. Mayfield sued, and U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen issued a temporary injunction that allows Mayfield to return to NASCAR this weekend.
Driving Gunselman's No. 64 was believed to be Mayfield's best opportunity at Daytona, but Gunselman said Southeastern-based discount store Fred's, which signed on to sponsor his car this weekend, did not want to associate itself with Mayfield.
"They probably would choose not to be involved at this particular time," said Gunselman, who added he had not had any direct conversations with Mayfield about replacing Mike Wallace in the car.
"For being a small, startup team that's struggled, I have to consider every potential scenario for our race team. Everybody's feelings are kind of sensitive at the moment, and I'd have to be very aware of everything involved."
Gunselman said he'd be willing to work with Mayfield going forward. With no sponsor lined up for next week's race in Chicago, he wouldn't have the Fred's conflict. He also said NASCAR told him Mayfield is clear to drive.
"They said their position is Jeremy is an approved driver, so it was kind of left at that. I don't know where it's going to go from here," Gunselman said. "I've been involved in NASCAR for a long time, and I'm hoping all parties can put this thing behind them and move forward in a positive manner. If I can help mediate that or be somehow involved in that, that would be wonderful."
Ten teams are trying to qualify for eight open spots in Saturday night's race, but only a handful likely would consider making a driver change to accommodate Mayfield.
Told Mayfield had potentially sold a portion of his inventory to raise money, Nemechek said "I don't think anybody bought it. Not these days."
Baldwin, who was briefly crew chief for Mayfield at Bill Davis Racing in 2006, said he was sticking with Patrick Carpentier this weekend.
"We all like Jeremy, there's no doubt about that," Baldwin said. "The unfortunate thing is the last couple months here, he's gone through his struggles and it's not going to help him in the business world of racing. That's for sure." - AP
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If NASCAR is going to run two road races each year, shouldn't one of them be run during the Chase? It doesn't make much sense to me to run The Glen and Sonoma during the regular season and not run one of them during the Chase.
I would never suggest running more than two road races, so I would not want to see NASCAR add a second date to The Glen or Sonoma, but I would be in favor of running the Sonoma race in the fall. And the perfect date to run it would be the first weekend in October, the weekend of the Kansas race.
Kansas is one of four Chase tracks that measure 1.5 miles in length...that means 40% of the Chase races are on 'cookie cutter' tracks. Charlotte and Homestead have proven to be the only 1.5 mile tracks to offer the excitement NASCAR fans crave, while Kansas and California are snoozers at best. So, why not move the Kansas race out of the Chase and in to Sonoma's date, and move Sonoma in to the Chase and in to Kansas's date?
I don't want to pick on the fine people of Kansas especially when they have done a lot to improve the track and are now in the process of approving a state of the art casino (I do love to play a little craps at 3 in the morning), but let's be honest...Kansas is not a NASCAR hot bed and it ain't exactly the easiest track to get to. Plus, the track only holds about 85,000 fans.
Sonoma in October is usually 75 degrees and sunny while Kansas has an average low of 49 degrees...buuurrrrrrrrrrrrr.
But, the bottom line is the need for a road course in the Chase. Either take them off the schedule all together, or put one of them in the Chase. It makes no sense at all to race two road courses during the regular season and not have one of them on the schedule during the playoffs. That would be like the NFL playing the Super Bowl in London (which they ARE considering...what idiots).
I have to take a moment to be a doting father. My five-year old son Ty won his first Quarter-Midget race Friday night at the New Smyrna Speedway. He started fourth and moved to the front in just a few laps. Jamie Evans chased him down over the final laps of the race but Ty never flinched. He ran perfect lines and hit all of his marks in route to the victory. The next day, we ran the Tampa track and Ty finished 3rd in both races after starting last in each. He really is loving racing and I am stoked to be spending so much time with him. You can check out a video of Ty's big win HERE.
I hope you guys have been enjoying the interviews on our 'TWISTED METAL' radio show this year. Bill Elliott, Rutledge Wood, Todd Bodine, and Kenny Wallace are just a few of the guests we have had on the show this year and we have many more scheduled throughout the year.
If you would like to e-mail me or 'The Big Man', you can send your messages to Captain Thunder or The Big Man
Make sure all of you satellite radio subscribers tune in to listen to my live segments on 'The Scott Ferrall Show' EVERY Friday night during the Sprint Cup season LIVE on Sirius Satellite Radio, "The Scott Ferrall Show", channel 101 The Howard Stern Network. Each week, I preview the upcoming race, give out my Legendary Top-5 and pick to win the race, and take questions from NASCAR fans. Check out scottferrall.com , scottbeatstheman.com , & sirius.com You can dial in to the show by calling 888-STERN-101.
Our LIVE show, "Twisted Metal" is an UNCENSORED show and is NOT for those under the age of 18. If you are not a prude or an old lady, check out "Twisted Metal" , it is the wildest show on radio and is not for the timid! "Twisted Metal" will air every Wednesday evening at 8:00 PM e.s.t. and replays are also available in our RADIO REPLAYSsection. You can listen live clicking here - LIVE RADIO
Keep the pictures coming! We encourage you to send us the wildest race pictures you have. Please email them to us and we will post them in our photo section.
Remember to check the site every day! We will continue to update it daily with all of the breaking NASCAR news from around the country!
Captain Thunder is a noted NASCAR reporter and radio personality who has been featured on ESPN Radio, Fox Sports Radio, Cumulus Broadcasting, Clear Channel Communications, XM Satellite Radio, and Sirius Satellite Radio.
On Sirius, Captain Thunder is a frequent guest on the "Bubba the Love Sponge Show", and is a weekly guest on "The Scott Ferrall Show". You can listen to Captain Thunder LIVE with Ferrall every Friday night at 10:30 PM.
Captain Thunder has also appeared on "Press Pass", "Driver's Seat", and "Manifold Destiny with Mojo Nixon" on Sirius NASCAR channel 128.
In addition to interviewing legends like Winston Cup Champion Bill Elliott, Captain Thunder has interviewed current NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt JR., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex JR., Kurt Busch, Robby Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, David Stremme, Regan Smith, Sam Hornish JR., Aric Almirola, and many others across all three NASCAR touring series.
Captain Thunder's articles have been published in numerous publications across America including ESPN.com, CNNSI.com, FOXsports.com, CBSportsline.com, YahooSports.com, Jayski.com, SpeedwayMedia.com, Inside The Pitbox.com and Insider Racing News.com.
Throughout the SPRINT Cup Season, Captain Thunder travels around the country to cover the sport with an in depth perspective his fans have come to know and love. He can always be found at his motor coach, in the infield or in a nearby campground, giving away free race gear to lucky fans and talking racing.
Captain Thunder's racing roots go back to the 1970's and 1980's. His father, John Sr., was a drag racer and gear head who always kept his son working in the garage on cars and motorcycles.
Captain Thunder began his racing career at the age of twelve when his father forged his birth certificate so he could race motocross in the 125cc class at legendary 'Raceway Park' in Englishtown, NJ. Back then, the age class was fourteen and up, which meant Thunder was often racing against men more than twice his age. He continued to race at tracks across the country for another nine years before retiring from racing to focus on school and a 'real job'.
In 2004, Captain Thunder moved to the Daytona Beach area to be closer to NASCAR headquarters and the famed Daytona International Speedway. Moving to 'Thunder Ranch' put the radio star only 30 minutes from the historic Speedway.
'Thunder Ranch' is a secluded piece of property hosting a go-kart track, a four-wheeler and motocross track, a radio studio, pool and spa, and a separate guest house for friends and family.
Raised around racecars and motorcycles from an early age, Captain Thunder has been a speed junky his entire life. His daily drive is a 420HP Lexus ISF that goes through tires faster than a Top Fuel Funny car!
In 2005, Thunder built a custom designed 'Eddie Van Halen' Harley Davidson Road King Classic in homage to his favorite rock band, Van Halen. Thunder also has a 120 MPH alcohol-burning go-kart, a Kawasaki KX250 motocross bike, a couple of four-wheeler's, and a pair of two-stroke go-karts. You can check out the photo section of the website for a look at some of his toys.
Thunder has been happily married for nine years, and is the proud father of an eight-year old girl Samantha and a five-year old boy Ty. Ty is currently beginning his racing career in Florida Quarter Midget racing in the JR Novice class in the #3 Captain Thunder Racing.com car.
Captain Thunder hosts the weekly NASCAR radio show, "TWISTED METAL" with Captain Thunder. The show airs every Wednesday night at 8:00 PM and is the only UNCENSORED NASCAR show in the country. You can listen live by clicking the link on the Captain Thunder Racing.com homepage, or you can listen to replays in the Radio Replays section of the website. "TWISTED METAL" is NOT for those under the age of 18.
In 2008, Captain Thunder launched his second website, www.RaceMySpace.com, 'A Social Networking Site For Race Fans'. On 'Race My Space.com', fans can build their own 'MySpace' type web page and show off the colors and graphics of their favorite driver. They can talk smack on the message boards, post their own pictures & videos from the races, buy & sell race tickets in the classified section, and maybe find true love by meeting another NASCAR fan!
Many have asked...so here is the answer. Captain Thunder received his nickname from legendary broadcaster Scott Ferrall. Ferrall began referring to him as Captain Thunder nearly ten years ago when he would do live NASCAR reports for Ferrall's sports shows from the infields of race tracks. When someone as legendary as Scott Ferrall gives you a nickname, it tends to stick!
BOOKING CAPTAIN THUNDER
THUNDER IS AVAILABLE MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY FOR RADIO APPEARANCES. LIMITED BOOKINGS ON QUALIFYING DAY AND RACE DAY.
Thunder has also been a featured guest on Fox Sports Radio, XM Satellite Radio, Cumulus Broadcasting, Clear Channel Communications, and Sirius Satellite Radio's'Press Pass', 'The Driver's Seat', 'The Bubba the Love Sponge Show', and 'Manifold Destiny with MoJo Nixon'. He also appears daily on many independent radio stations across America.
Captain Thunder hosts the weekly NASCAR radio show, "TWISTED METAL" with Captain Thunder. The show airs every Wednesday night at 8:00 PM and is the only UNCENSORED NASCAR show in the country. You can listen live by clicking the link on the Captain Thunder Racing.com homepage, or you can listen to replays in the Radio Replays section of the website. "TWISTED METAL" is NOT for those under the age of 18.
IS CAPTAIN THUNDER AVAILABLE FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS? YES...Thunder gives motivational speeches to groups across the country about winning in life, and the behind the scene world of NASCAR racing. To book Captain Thunder e-mail your request to:
"Captain Thunder" is a noted NASCAR reporter and radio personality but he's also a die hard racing fan! Captain Thunder has been featured on ESPN Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, XM Satellite Radio, Fox Sports Radio, the Scott Ferrall Show, the Bubba the Love Sponge Show, Press Pass, the Driver's Seat, and the Mojo Nixon Show.
In addition to traveling around the country and hanging out in the infield with race fans, Thunder appears weekly on national radio broadcast's and writes for racing publications across the country.
In addition to daily appearances on independent radio station's around the country, Captain Thunder host's a weekly radio show,"TWISTED METAL" with Captain Thunder, the ONLY"UNCENSORED" NASCAR radio show in America!
On any given show you can hear guests ranging from Kevin Harvick to LeeRoy Mercer. Thunder has interviewed some of the biggest names in NASCAR and you can listen to the replays or DOWNLOAD THEM to your IPOD/MP3 player.
Listen to Thunder's interviews in our INTERVIEWS section. You can choose from names like Earnhardt Jr, Stewart, Johnson, Gordon, Kahne, Newman, Hamlin, and more.
You Can Hear Also Hear The Bad-Boy of NASCAR Twice Weekly On SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO, "The Scott Ferrall Show" Channel 101 the Howard Stern Network. Thunder visits with legendary sports broadcaster Scottie Ferrall EVERY Friday night at 10:30 PM e.s.t.
