Unrestricted: My NASCAR Rants & Raves

Truex, team penalized for failing Chicago inspection

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:28:00 +0000

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR announced Tuesday that Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series, crew chief Kevin Manion and car owner Teresa Earnhardt have been fined for rule violations during last weekend's event at Chicagoland Speedway.

Truex was penalized 25 points in the Sprint Cup Series drivers' standings. Manion was fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2009. Earnhardt was penalized 25 points in the Sprint Cup Series owners' standings.

The three were penalized for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock-car racing); Section 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and Section 20-12.8.1C (right-rear quarter panel height did not meet the required specifications; too high in post-race inspection).

Truex waits for possible penalty

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:02:00 +0000

The No. 1 Chevrolet driven by Martin Truex Jr. did not pass a post-race inspection when NASCAR officials discovered the right rear quarter panel was too high on the car.

Truex finished 16th in the LifeLock 400 race at Chicagoland Speedway.

The car will be taken back to the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., for further evaluations. NASCAR officials will determine if the height problem is a violation that requires a penalty.

Any announcement of the process will come later this week, likely on Tuesday or Wednesday.

What an ass

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:20:00 +0000

Ya know Kyle Busch needs to grow up. Revving the engine up to 10,000 RPMs is not going to help matters. And yes, I did hear that he was already down a cylinder prior to his pit stop antics, but still that was a bit childish. JMO

Kyle's engine finally blew up. Of course he did not want to speak to the media...again.

Congrats to Mark Martin on his well deserved win.

Rainy weather means historic museum trip for Earnhardt

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:58:00 +0000

Source: HMS Website

INDIANAPOLIS (July 9, 2009) – Thursday's rainy weather kept Dale Earnhardt Jr. from circling Indianapolis Motor Speedway in an IndyCar, but it also afforded the driver a rare opportunity to visit the historic racetrack's Hall of Fame Museum.

Earnhardt, driver of the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, made a pit stop at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday on his way to this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Chicagoland Speedway.

Earnhardt was scheduled to join fellow National Guard driver Dan Wheldon for a hotlap in an IndyCar two-seater and drive the car that won the 1941 Indy 500. But the weather postponed those plans, and the racing buff was invited to view the historic cars stored in the museum's basement. This part of the museum is closed to the public.

"I filled up my phone with all kinds of video," Earnhardt admitted. "I stood next to a Formula One car for the first time. I had never been in the same room with a Formula One car, and if you're a race car driver, that's kind of like being in the same room with a national swimsuit model or something.

"I was pretty much in awe just to be next to a vehicle like that. And all the other cars that were in there, Smokey Yunick's little sidepod car, all kinds of neat little things that have happened at this racetrack and have been brought to this racetrack." View the photos here.

Truex Jr. will make move to MWR for 2010 season

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:01:00 +0000

Today at Michael Waltrip Racing headquarters, Truex finally got the opportunity to make the official announcement of his move to MWR under a multi-year agreement with the Toyota team, the specific terms of which were not disclosed.

"I'm excited," said Truex, who will drive the No. 56 NAPA Camry next season as team owner Michael Waltrip scales back to an abbreviated schedule in the No. 55 Toyota. "I've been telling y'all for a month and a half that I want to tell you, but I can't.

"It's hard to hold it in. I've been so excited about it -- I really have been. I haven't been excited about anything like this for a long time. I feel good about it."

Concurrent with the Truex announcement, NAPA confirmed a multi-year extension of its sponsorship agreement with MWR. NAPA also will sponsor Waltrip's car in the 2010 Daytona 500. Beyond that, Waltrip, 46, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, hasn't set his schedule for next year but says he could run as many as 10-12 races depending on sponsorship.

To view the video of the announcement, please click here.

Inside Track: Refueling the Business of NASCAR

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:56:00 +0000

Thanks to Niki Sri-Kumar for this info:

On Thursday, July 9, the all-new CNBC Original "Inside Track: Refueling the Business of NASCAR" premieres at 9P ET on CNBC. Darren Rovell takes viewers inside NASCAR for an unprecedented look at the once seemingly unstoppable sport. Today, the recession and the imploding car manufacturing business have hit NASCAR and its sponsor companies especially hard. In fact, as I’m sure you know, no other sport relies so much on corporate dollars. Rovell meets with Brian France, goes with Tony Stewart inside his garage, and reveals how NASCAR plans to weather today's economic storm.

Preview Clip: http://www.hulu.com/watch/78948/cnbc-originals-inside-track-refueling-the-business-of-nascar#s-p1-so-i1

Last Lap Was Interesting

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:04:00 +0000

(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

But for me the rest of the race was pretty boring. I really wish we had the old cars back, but I know that will never happen.

I'm pretty sure the wreck Junior was involved in had a lot to do with my lack of interest in the rest of the race.

“I just saw some guys getting together in front of me. The track’s real slick. It’s not wide enough for three-wide or two-wide racing sometimes; these cars are just sliding around and everybody had to be careful,” said Earnhardt.

“I guess there were a couple of guys going for the same piece of real estate there and I tried to stay high (on the track) because I thought they would spin down off the wall and (David Reutimann) got crossed up trying to miss them and we hit him.”

And I could not believe my eyes when I saw the backstretch completely empty. What a shame.

Anyhow, I guess Smoke had enough of Kyle's blocking and sent Kyle's car flying. I don't blame Smoke, but it was a shame so many other cars were wrecked along with Kyle's.

Kyle had to be escorted to the infield care center by four officials after trying to walk his way to Victory Lane. Of course Kyle didn't want to talk to any reporters about what happened.

Have A Safe & Happy 4th!

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:13:00 +0000

Hall of Fame Nominees

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:25:00 +0000

Following are the 25 individuals who have been nominated:

-Bobby Allison, 1983 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and winner of 84 races

-Buck Baker, 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 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.

Of those 25, 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.

Congrats to the nominees to the Nascar Hall of fame!

Five things about ... Daytona's fireworks show

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:12:00 +0000

Originally invented in ancient China used to scare away evil spirits, Americans now use them to celebrate the country's independence.

Fireworks, with their explosive pyrotechnic personalities, will be shooting off in high style at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday's Fourth of July holiday. But much more than lighting a few fuses on a pack of black cats goes into the fireworks display put on to entertain thousands of NASCAR fans.

So while you're 'oohing' and 'ahhing' from the grandstands Saturday night, read on to ponder Five Things About ... Daytona's fireworks show, maybe the largest pyrotechnic show in the Southeast.

Read the rest of this article here.

Dale Jr and the National Guard

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:10:00 +0000

Source: Hendrick Motorsports

Join Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the National Guard this Wednesday for the 2009 Battle of the Bands at the Bandshell, located at 250 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach, Fla. Earnhardt will introduce the three band finalists, hold a question-and-answer session for the fans and unveil his Daytona paint scheme. The event begins at 5 p.m. ET, and is open to the public.

To honor the National Guard and celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, the No. 88 Chevrolet will run a special hand-painted camouflage ACU (Army Combat Uniform) scheme this weekend at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The No. 88 National Guard "Serving America"/AMP Energy Chevrolet is a tribute to National Guard soldiers who dedicate a portion of their time to serving their nation, state and local communities. For more photos of the paint scheme, please visit http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/multimedia/.

Mark Martin Autograph Session

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:13:00 +0000

Source: Hendrick Motorsports

Mark Martin, driver of the No. 5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, is holding an autograph session this Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET, at the Wal-Mart on 1590 Dunlawton Ave. in Port Orange, Fla. A total of 400 wristbands will be distributed on site prior to Martin's arrival.

No. 3 Chevrolet to be part of '09 Goodwood Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:33:00 +0000

By Team Release

WELCOME, N.C. -- The Richard Childress Racing No. 3 Chevrolet that seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt earned his 76th and final victory with will participate in this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed in England on July 3-5.

Taylor Earnhardt, 20, Earnhardt's youngest child, will drive the car in demonstration runs during the festival. It is her inaugural turn behind the wheel of a stock car. She will be accompanied by her mother Teresa Earnhardt, president and CEO of Dale Earnhardt Inc.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual event held since 1993 at the Goodwood House in West Sussex, a place of great British motorsports history. Race cars old and new will participate in both demonstration and competition runs up the nine-turn 1.16-mile hillclimb circuit. This year's gathering will include a number of NASCAR stock cars in honor of the 50th anniversary of Daytona International Speedway.

Earnhardt drove this particular No. 3 Chevrolet to victory in the 2000 Winston 500 at Talladega. It has been on permanent display at the RCR Museum since its grand opening in May 2003.

The car was prepared by and will be cared for at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by former No. 3 team crew members Danny Lawrence and Rich Burgess. Lawrence is currently the assistant head engine builder/trackside manager for Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines and Burgess is the shop manager for RCR's No. 31 team in the Cup Series.

Thanks for not slowing down Kyle....

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:51:00 +0000

See the video here.

My favorite quote came from Brian Vickers:

"I guess everybody just learns to expect Kyle doing something stupid. Stupid is forever."

5:42 p.m. -- The race has been called due to rain and Joey Logano becomes the youngest winner in Cup history and wins the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 for his first Cup Series victory.

I'm glad I didn't watch the race. I did listen to some of it on Sirius, however I was having lots of fun swimming with Gunner.

I told you, when I don't watch the race Junior doesn't crash and burn. He finished 13th, which is rather mediocre, but it's better than 20 something.

Is there something in the water?

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:07:00 +0000

Tampa police say Billy Mays, the television pitchman known for his boisterous hawking of products such as Orange Glo and OxiClean, has died. He was 50.

Authorities say Mays was pronounced dead Sunday morning after being found by his wife at home. There were no signs of a break-in, and investigators do not suspect foul play. The coroner's office expects to have an autopsy done by Monday afternoon.

Mays' wife, Deborah Mays, says the family doesn't expect to make any public statements and asked for privacy.

Mays was also featured on the reality TV show "Pitchmen" on the Discovery Channel, which followed Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their marketing jobs.

Discovery Channel spokeswoman Elizabeth Hillman released a statement Sunday extending sympathy to the Mays family.

"Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth," Hillman's statement said. "Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend."

Martin and Stewart have a tough practice at NH

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:06:00 +0000

Fellows to drive No. 5 car for JRM at road courses

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:26:00 +0000

By Official Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- JR Motorsports announced Thursday that accomplished road-course racer Ron Fellows will return to drive its No. 5 Chevrolets in Nationwide Series races at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 8 and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Aug. 30, with Fastenal on board as the primary sponsor.

A native of Windsor, Ontario, Fellows is the defending race winner at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, as he drove JR Motorsports to its first road-course victory in the No. 5 Chevrolet last August. It was a historic win at the Montreal road course, as Fellows became the first Canadian to win a NASCAR event on Canadian soil. It was Fellows' fourth series victory. His other three wins came at Watkins Glen in 1998, 2000 and 2001.

"Ron is one of the best road racers of our time, plain and simple," said JR Motorsports owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who co-owns the No. 5 team with Rick Hendrick. "I've known Ron since 2001 when we raced the Corvette in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. It is an honor to have him drive our cars. I'm not sure there is anyone better at Watkins Glen, and what he did last year at Montreal was incredible."

A longtime sports-car and road-racing veteran, Fellows is credited with three class championships in the American Le Mans Series, two class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 19 overall victories in the Sports Car Club of America's Trans-Am Series as a member of the Corvette Racing Team. His NASCAR credentials include six overall wins (two in the Camping World Truck Series), and two runner-up finishes in Sprint Cup competition. With his four Nationwide Series victories, he also has six top-fives, seven top-10s and two poles in 13 starts.

"I'm honored to have another opportunity to drive for JR Motorsports and represent Fastenal," Fellows said. "Montreal was a special win for us last year. It was not only a great day for Canadian race fans, but to win that close to my home was a thrill. Watkins Glen, likewise, has always been a special track for me. I'm hoping we can get the Fastenal Chevy to Victory Lane in both road-course races this year."

Fellows is one of six drivers that make up the 21-race schedule for the No. 5 team in 2009, joining Earnhardt (seven races), Scott Wimmer (six), Ryan Newman (four), Mark Martin (one) and Tony Stewart (one). Fellows is one of four drivers representing Fastenal Racing, which serves as primary sponsor for the No. 5 team in 14 of its 21 races.

Fellows' victory last season was one of two wins by the No. 5 team in 2008, with Mark Martin capturing the other at Las Vegas on March 1. This year the No. 5 team has competed in nine events, scoring two top-fives and five top-10s.

Michael Jackson Dead At 50

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:43:00 +0000

Michael Jackson ws been rushed to the hospital, a fire department official told the Los Angeles Times. Capt. Steve Ruda said Thursday that Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper.

Michael Jackson dead at the age of 50.

Things are happening in 3's: Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and now Micheal Jackson

An Angel Goes To Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Farrah Fawcett Dies

Shared via AddThis

Farrah Fawcett passed away after a long battle with cancer, PEOPLE reports.

The 'Charlie's Angels' star -- who was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006 -- had recently been hospitalized again before succumbing to the illness.

Hendrick, Keselowski to meet about Cup future

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:06:00 +0000

Source: nascar.com

SONOMA, Calif. -- Rick Hendrick will meet with Brad Keselowski this coming week to discuss their 2010 options. Under consideration is placing the young driver with a team affiliated with Hendrick Motorsports.

Among the possibilities: a third entry at Stewart-Haas Racing, a full-time ride with James Finch's team, or staying put at JR Motorsports but moving that team to the Sprint Cup Series. Keselowski currently drives the No. 88 in the Nationwide Series for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who could move the team up to NASCAR's premier series.

"That's something that Dale and Kelley [Earnhardt, vice president and general manager of JR Motorsports] are looking at," Hendrick said before Sunday's race at Infineon Raceway. "That's a possibility." Read the rest of the story here.

I QUIT!

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:00:00 +0000

That's it, I quit watching NASCAR races! LOL!

I spent most of the day doing things in and out of the house and didn't start listening to the race until halfway.

Junior was doing well running in ninth place when I finally sat down to watch the remaining laps. Then....

(insert many curse words here)

Carl Edwards got into David Ragan, who got into Junior. Junior went from ninth to thirty something.

I threw my hands up and walked away.

Congrats to Kasey Kahne, who put a Richard Petty car in Victory Lane for the first time since April 18, 1999. The King must have had the biggest smile in the world today.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:53:00 +0000

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO MY DAD AND TO ALL THE DADS!

Gary Papa

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 03:41:00 +0000

6abc is mourning the loss of Action News Sports Director Gary Papa, who passed away Friday, June 19, 2009.

Gary died at 2:57 p.m. at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania after a long fight with prostate cancer. He was 54 years old.

Gary leaves behind his wife Kathleen, his two sons Tucker and Nathaniel, of course his Action News family, and all of you.

"We loved Gary Papa and, you know what? He loved all of us," said Action News anchor Jim Gardner while announcing Gary's death Friday afternoon during a special report on 6abc.

If you don't live in the Philadelphia area you probably don't know who Gary Papa was, but let me tell you he was a awesome guy. A video tribute to Gary can be viewed below.

NASCAR Mexico driver killed in crash

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:06:00 +0000

From the AP: Driver Carlos Pardo has been killed in a crash during the final laps of a NASCAR Mexico race, organizers said.

Pardo was leading the race in the 97th lap when his car was nudged by a competitor from behind and slid sideways into a wall at the entrance to the pit lane at about 120 mph on Sunday. The car disintegrated as a result of the impact.

Pardo was removed from the wreckage and sent by helicopter to a hospital. The NASCAR Mexico Web site reported that he died 45 minutes later.

Pardo was later declared winner of the race in Pueblo, east of Mexico City.

The following video which is in spanish, shows the horrific impact. RIP Carlos.

Benson in serious condition

noreply@blogger.com (Antonette) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:52:00 +0000

Johnny Benson is in serious but stable condition after a fiery crash during a supermodified race.

Johnny was starting his second lap when he collided with another car on Saturday night at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich. His car slammed into the wall and erupted into flames.

Benson reportedly had multiple injuries, including burns and broken ribs.