Saturday, October 31, 2009
Question
Will you watch Sunday's race at Dega after NASCAR has screwed with the cars once again?
I really don't know if I'll watch it or not. Unfortunately, I've really become bored with Sprint Cup. The Truck and Nationwide series are a so much more interesting and has less of the bull crap.
In my opinion, NASCAR is ruining itself and it's quite obvious that NASCAR doesn't care what the fans want. That's fine NASCAR have it your way, but you'll have more and more empty seats because of it. A matter of fact, we didn't renew our Daytona 500 seats for next season. And when and if NASCAR removes its head out of its own ass, maybe we'll come back until then, you won't see me at Daytona or any other race anytime soon.
Friday, October 30, 2009
HMS: McGrew to return as crew chief for No. 88 in '10
CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 30, 2009) – Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick has named Lance McGrew the full-time crew chief of the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolets driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The 41-year-old McGrew assumed the role May 28 on an interim basis.
"I have total faith in Lance and what he's capable of accomplishing with Dale Jr.," Hendrick said. "There was a lot of pressure with how he came into this deal, and the way he's handled it has been extremely impressive. Lance is confident in himself and in his decisions, and all the outside distractions aren't going to faze him. He's a strong-willed guy who will keep his eye on the ball and not settle."
McGrew will complete the final four races of the 2009 schedule, beginning with this weekend's AMP Energy 500 at Talladega, Ala., and return in 2010, which will mark the 11th full-time Sprint Cup season for Earnhardt.
"Lance has been part of the solution, not the problem," said Earnhardt, an 18-time winner in the Sprint Cup Series. "He's tough, which is what I need, and we've really clicked in a short period of time. The communication has gotten better every practice and every race, and I know that's going to keep improving. Having this decision behind us is really important, and now we can focus on the future instead of the past."
As a crew chief, McGrew earned the 2003 Nationwide Series championship with driver Brian Vickers and has posted victories in all three of NASCAR's national touring series. In addition to Vickers, he has won races with drivers Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Ricky Hendrick, Mark Martin and Tony Stewart.
"The communication between Dale Jr. and I continues to improve every single week," said McGrew, a native of Baton Rouge, La. "Both of us are 110-percent committed to the success of this team, and we're going to do everything necessary to get the job done for Hendrick Motorsports, our sponsors and Dale's fans."
"I have total faith in Lance and what he's capable of accomplishing with Dale Jr.," Hendrick said. "There was a lot of pressure with how he came into this deal, and the way he's handled it has been extremely impressive. Lance is confident in himself and in his decisions, and all the outside distractions aren't going to faze him. He's a strong-willed guy who will keep his eye on the ball and not settle."
McGrew will complete the final four races of the 2009 schedule, beginning with this weekend's AMP Energy 500 at Talladega, Ala., and return in 2010, which will mark the 11th full-time Sprint Cup season for Earnhardt.
"Lance has been part of the solution, not the problem," said Earnhardt, an 18-time winner in the Sprint Cup Series. "He's tough, which is what I need, and we've really clicked in a short period of time. The communication has gotten better every practice and every race, and I know that's going to keep improving. Having this decision behind us is really important, and now we can focus on the future instead of the past."
As a crew chief, McGrew earned the 2003 Nationwide Series championship with driver Brian Vickers and has posted victories in all three of NASCAR's national touring series. In addition to Vickers, he has won races with drivers Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Ricky Hendrick, Mark Martin and Tony Stewart.
"The communication between Dale Jr. and I continues to improve every single week," said McGrew, a native of Baton Rouge, La. "Both of us are 110-percent committed to the success of this team, and we're going to do everything necessary to get the job done for Hendrick Motorsports, our sponsors and Dale's fans."
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Allmendinger arrested for DUI after failed field test
MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- A.J. Allmendinger was arrested early Thursday morning on a charge of drunken driving.
Mooresville police said Allmendinger failed a field sobriety test after he was pulled over.
Allmendinger, who drives the No. 44 for Richard Petty Motorsports, said in a statement he had drinks with dinner and made a mistake in driving afterward.
"I honestly felt fine, but I obviously should have erred more on the side of caution, particularly given what I do for a living," Allmendinger said. "It was a bad judgment call and I apologize for that."
RPM officials had no immediate comment.
Allmendinger is a major factor in RPM's long-range plans, and team officials told The Associated Press that Allmendinger was going to be moved into Petty's famed No. 43 next season. Best Buy is expected to sponsor the car.
It's not clear how his arrest may affect that relationship. Petty routinely shunned alcohol sponsorship, and refused to allow his teams to participate in NASCAR's second-tier series when it was sponsored by Busch.
"If anything good can come of this, then hopefully I can be an example of being more aware of drinking responsibly and if even if you feel fine, take a cab, call a friend," Allmendinger said. "Just don't risk it. I will do my best to make it right and use this to learn myself and hopefully educate others."
Mooresville police said Allmendinger failed a field sobriety test after he was pulled over.
Allmendinger, who drives the No. 44 for Richard Petty Motorsports, said in a statement he had drinks with dinner and made a mistake in driving afterward.
"I honestly felt fine, but I obviously should have erred more on the side of caution, particularly given what I do for a living," Allmendinger said. "It was a bad judgment call and I apologize for that."
RPM officials had no immediate comment.
Allmendinger is a major factor in RPM's long-range plans, and team officials told The Associated Press that Allmendinger was going to be moved into Petty's famed No. 43 next season. Best Buy is expected to sponsor the car.
It's not clear how his arrest may affect that relationship. Petty routinely shunned alcohol sponsorship, and refused to allow his teams to participate in NASCAR's second-tier series when it was sponsored by Busch.
"If anything good can come of this, then hopefully I can be an example of being more aware of drinking responsibly and if even if you feel fine, take a cab, call a friend," Allmendinger said. "Just don't risk it. I will do my best to make it right and use this to learn myself and hopefully educate others."
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Junior Needs Pop
Below is a blog post from rowdy.com. He seemed to have taken a walk inside my head because he wrote what I have been thinking.
Note to Buzz: I tried to get in touch with you but to no avail. If this is unacceptable, please let me know.
Note to Buzz: I tried to get in touch with you but to no avail. If this is unacceptable, please let me know.
By Buzz Cutler
I have heard all of the arguments that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has had pretty good runs in the first five Chase races only to be done in by things beyond his control. I concede the point. I also suggest that it is wholly irrelevant. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. seems to be so incredibly frustrated by his results that the reason for them takes a back seat to his emotional state.
I assume that his equipment is comparable to that of his teammates. Certain members of the Junior Nation have suggested to me that the 88 is being used as a guinea pig in order to test out new ideas for the 5, 24 & 48. I guess that could be true, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Don’t you think Rick Hendrick is more inclined to give Junior every opportunity to get back in a groove rather than hamper him with experimental/risky set-ups?
I am not a Psychologist. I am not a Crew Chief. I am not Rick Hendrick. Still, I believe that if Junior can find some confidence and regain the joy he once felt behind the wheel, his performance is likely to improve. To that end, Tony Eury, Senior might just be the answer.
Tony, Senior currently runs JR Motosports Nationwide efforts and has said he’s perfectly happy continuing to do so, but maybe he shouldn’t be given the choice. I’m not in a position to assess his abilities as a Crew Chief versus Tony, Junior’s or Lance McGrew’s. I also know that past magic is difficult to recapture. Dale, Junior, however, needs to regain his confidence. The last time he had sustained success as a driver was with Eury, the elder. They won back-to-back Nationwide Championships together. They won 15 Cup races together, including the All-Star race and a Daytona 500.
Junior’s Cup Stats with “Pops” (five full-time seasons):
Wins – 15
Top 5’s – 52
Top 10’s – 78
Junior’s Cup Stats without “Pops” (2009 is the fifth season):
Wins – 3
Top 5’s – 36
Top 10’s – 63
Clearly, there are many factors that go into performance. Junior has had some tumultuous years since he and his Uncle split up. Junior left DEI. The Car of Tomorrow was introduced. Reuniting them for the rest of the season isn’t about any of that, and it’s not really about set-ups or equipment. It’s about Junior knowing that he won when he and “Pops” were together. Maybe, just maybe, seeing his Uncle atop the pit box will help him believe he can do so again.
Monday, October 26, 2009
You've got to be kidding me!
My husband was surfing thru channels and guess what he happened to see? Joey Logano and Kyle Busch on Monday Night Raw (eyeroll).
Yes, they were in the ring talking crap to Chris Jerico and The Big Show. Now, I don't watch wrestling for a number of reasons, but I do know most of the wrestlers names believe it or not. And I was hoping that The Big Show would scoop up Kyle Busch and break him in half. That did not happen, unfortunately.
Logano and Busch are appearing on the program to promote the upcoming O’Reilly Challenge NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 7 – a race during which each driver will helm cars featuring paint schemes from the WWE SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2010 (THQ, ESRB: T) video game. The video game tie-in is nothing new for Logano, as his No. 20 Toyota is sponsored by GameStop, the world’s largest video game and entertainment software retailer.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to guest host WWE Monday Night Raw and I’m happy that we were able to get Kyle on board too,” said Logano. “GameStop is one of the coolest sponsors a driver can have and I love that I’ll get a chance to bring the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 video game to life the best way I know how – on the racetrack.”
Yes, they were in the ring talking crap to Chris Jerico and The Big Show. Now, I don't watch wrestling for a number of reasons, but I do know most of the wrestlers names believe it or not. And I was hoping that The Big Show would scoop up Kyle Busch and break him in half. That did not happen, unfortunately.
Logano and Busch are appearing on the program to promote the upcoming O’Reilly Challenge NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 7 – a race during which each driver will helm cars featuring paint schemes from the WWE SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2010 (THQ, ESRB: T) video game. The video game tie-in is nothing new for Logano, as his No. 20 Toyota is sponsored by GameStop, the world’s largest video game and entertainment software retailer.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to guest host WWE Monday Night Raw and I’m happy that we were able to get Kyle on board too,” said Logano. “GameStop is one of the coolest sponsors a driver can have and I love that I’ll get a chance to bring the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 video game to life the best way I know how – on the racetrack.”
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Oh darn, I missed the race
So, what did you think of the race?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
No. 16 Nationwide team fined and docked points
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR announced Wednesday that the crew chief, owner and driver of the No. 16 Nationwide Series team have been fined and penalized for violations involving sealed engine rules.
Crew chief Eddie Pardue has been fined $30,000 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (Race equipment that has been previously sealed by NASCAR for use in an event) and sub-section 8-6 (Failure to submit the sealed engine from the race winner for inspection; removal of the seal from the winning engine without authorization from NASCAR) of the 2009 Nationwide Series rule book.
Team owner Jack Roush was penalized with the loss of 100 championship owner points while driver Matt Kenseth also was docked 100 championship driver points.
Crew chief Eddie Pardue has been fined $30,000 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (Race equipment that has been previously sealed by NASCAR for use in an event) and sub-section 8-6 (Failure to submit the sealed engine from the race winner for inspection; removal of the seal from the winning engine without authorization from NASCAR) of the 2009 Nationwide Series rule book.
Team owner Jack Roush was penalized with the loss of 100 championship owner points while driver Matt Kenseth also was docked 100 championship driver points.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Do I have to talk about NASCAR?
I really don't want to, after all my favorite driver is having one of the worst seasons ever.
Junior is so depressed and frankly, so am I. The poor man can't seem to get a break. And if I hear one more idiot say, "he's not like his father" I am going to scream.
I've been riding it out. There comes a point though when you don't want to ride it out anymore," Earnhardt said Friday at Charlotte. "You just have had enough, you know? It's been a long year. I really don't want the year to be over with, because I like going to the race track every week and racing. But the last several ... well, all year, it's been so ... low.
"The highs have been not very high and the lows have been terribly low. It's hard to want to get back up and try again the next week when you take such a beating. But I don't know what else to do."
"There are a lot of smart people around here," Earnhardt said. "I'm just waiting on somebody to make the call. Put the damn team together and say, 'This is what you've got, and this is what you're going to do next year.' I'm just kind of waiting on that to happen."
Believe me Junior, your loyal fans are waiting too.
Junior is so depressed and frankly, so am I. The poor man can't seem to get a break. And if I hear one more idiot say, "he's not like his father" I am going to scream.
I've been riding it out. There comes a point though when you don't want to ride it out anymore," Earnhardt said Friday at Charlotte. "You just have had enough, you know? It's been a long year. I really don't want the year to be over with, because I like going to the race track every week and racing. But the last several ... well, all year, it's been so ... low.
"The highs have been not very high and the lows have been terribly low. It's hard to want to get back up and try again the next week when you take such a beating. But I don't know what else to do."
"There are a lot of smart people around here," Earnhardt said. "I'm just waiting on somebody to make the call. Put the damn team together and say, 'This is what you've got, and this is what you're going to do next year.' I'm just kind of waiting on that to happen."
Believe me Junior, your loyal fans are waiting too.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Earnhardt has “had enough” with frustrating year
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CONCORD, N.C.(AP)—Dale Earnhardt Jr. hit rock bottom during his last trip to Lowe’s Motor Speedway. He struggled with his car, feuded with his crew chief and finished a season-low 40th in one of the most embarrassing weekends of his career.
Team owner Rick Hendrick fired crew chief Tony Eury Jr. three days after that May debacle, and things were supposed to turn around with some fresh leadership at Earnhardt’s No. 88 team.
It hasn’t happened.
Little has changed, at least in terms of results, in the four-plus months since. Back at LMS for Saturday night’s race, Earnhardt is slogging through a 51-race winless streak dating back to 2008, his first season with Hendrick Motorsports.
He’s 22nd in the standings, has five top-10s and five DNFs this season, and hasn’t finished higher than 17th in the last six races.
“It’s like really encouraging one day and the next day it’s equally discouraging, and that gets really old,” Earnhardt said Friday. “I’m about to the end of my rope on it.”
Earnhardt seemed deflated as he spoke candidly about a season he has repeatedly characterized as the worst of his career. He said earlier this season that his struggles and the emotional split with Eury, his cousin, weighed heavily on his large family, and Earnhardt doesn’t think he’s mentally strong enough to weather another year this bad.
He could stomach it if there were light at the end of the tunnel, but Earnhardt didn’t seem very encouraged about the progress of his team - particularly when teammates Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon hold three of the top five spots in the standings and are all in contention for the Sprint Cup title.
The three Hendrick cars were predictably stout in Friday’s qualifying - Johnson and Martin swept the front row - but Earnhardt was 39th and said his team looked “ridiculous.”
Even worse, he doesn’t have any solutions.
“I’ve been riding it out, but there comes a point where you don’t want to ride it out no more. You’ve just had enough,” he said. “It’s been so low. The highs have not been very high, and the lows have been terribly low. That’s hard to want get back up and try again the next week when you take such a beating. I don’t know what else to do.”
It’s a far cry from just two weeks ago, when Earnhardt seemed upbeat after qualifying second at Kansas. He gave interim crew chief Lance McGrew a strong endorsement for 2010 and thought his team had turned a corner.
But after leading 41 laps at Kansas, a pit road penalty took him out of contention and an engine problem later ended his race early. He was good last week at California, too, but was hit late by Ryan Newman and the contact caused a flat tire. It started a sequence of events that led to a late accident and a 25th-place finish.
“I was really upset,” he said quietly. “I was really, really upset.”
To the point that Earnhardt no longer even trusts his recommendation that McGrew should stay onboard next season. Hendrick said at Kansas that his plan has always been to discuss next season after this weekend at Charlotte, and Earnhardt doesn’t have much confidence in his suggestions right now.
“I don’t have the credentials to make the call, you know?” Earnhardt said. “If I told you I wanted to be with Lance next year, I wouldn’t be telling that out of my knowledge of expertise and talent. I’d be telling you, because it’s fun hanging out with him.
“I don’t think I’m the guy to leave that decision up to because I wouldn’t make the right one. Or there’s probably better people to make it, especially in the organization. There’s a lot of smart people around there. I’m just waiting for somebody to make the call. Just tell me.”
Former Cup champion Rusty Wallace said he’s spoken to Earnhardt and characterized his mood as “total frustration mode.”
“Right now he’s in this tough position because Hendrick Motorsports is so good. You got Johnson, you got Gordon, you got Mark Martin and they’re running up front, and he can’t get his hot rod to run up front,” Wallace said. “I almost feel like this guy needs a group of bandits to let him go out in the garage all by himself and say ‘Here, do anything you … want for a month and let’s see how it turns out.”’
CONCORD, N.C.(AP)—Dale Earnhardt Jr. hit rock bottom during his last trip to Lowe’s Motor Speedway. He struggled with his car, feuded with his crew chief and finished a season-low 40th in one of the most embarrassing weekends of his career.
Team owner Rick Hendrick fired crew chief Tony Eury Jr. three days after that May debacle, and things were supposed to turn around with some fresh leadership at Earnhardt’s No. 88 team.
It hasn’t happened.
Little has changed, at least in terms of results, in the four-plus months since. Back at LMS for Saturday night’s race, Earnhardt is slogging through a 51-race winless streak dating back to 2008, his first season with Hendrick Motorsports.
He’s 22nd in the standings, has five top-10s and five DNFs this season, and hasn’t finished higher than 17th in the last six races.
“It’s like really encouraging one day and the next day it’s equally discouraging, and that gets really old,” Earnhardt said Friday. “I’m about to the end of my rope on it.”
Earnhardt seemed deflated as he spoke candidly about a season he has repeatedly characterized as the worst of his career. He said earlier this season that his struggles and the emotional split with Eury, his cousin, weighed heavily on his large family, and Earnhardt doesn’t think he’s mentally strong enough to weather another year this bad.
He could stomach it if there were light at the end of the tunnel, but Earnhardt didn’t seem very encouraged about the progress of his team - particularly when teammates Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon hold three of the top five spots in the standings and are all in contention for the Sprint Cup title.
The three Hendrick cars were predictably stout in Friday’s qualifying - Johnson and Martin swept the front row - but Earnhardt was 39th and said his team looked “ridiculous.”
Even worse, he doesn’t have any solutions.
“I’ve been riding it out, but there comes a point where you don’t want to ride it out no more. You’ve just had enough,” he said. “It’s been so low. The highs have not been very high, and the lows have been terribly low. That’s hard to want get back up and try again the next week when you take such a beating. I don’t know what else to do.”
It’s a far cry from just two weeks ago, when Earnhardt seemed upbeat after qualifying second at Kansas. He gave interim crew chief Lance McGrew a strong endorsement for 2010 and thought his team had turned a corner.
But after leading 41 laps at Kansas, a pit road penalty took him out of contention and an engine problem later ended his race early. He was good last week at California, too, but was hit late by Ryan Newman and the contact caused a flat tire. It started a sequence of events that led to a late accident and a 25th-place finish.
“I was really upset,” he said quietly. “I was really, really upset.”
To the point that Earnhardt no longer even trusts his recommendation that McGrew should stay onboard next season. Hendrick said at Kansas that his plan has always been to discuss next season after this weekend at Charlotte, and Earnhardt doesn’t have much confidence in his suggestions right now.
“I don’t have the credentials to make the call, you know?” Earnhardt said. “If I told you I wanted to be with Lance next year, I wouldn’t be telling that out of my knowledge of expertise and talent. I’d be telling you, because it’s fun hanging out with him.
“I don’t think I’m the guy to leave that decision up to because I wouldn’t make the right one. Or there’s probably better people to make it, especially in the organization. There’s a lot of smart people around there. I’m just waiting for somebody to make the call. Just tell me.”
Former Cup champion Rusty Wallace said he’s spoken to Earnhardt and characterized his mood as “total frustration mode.”
“Right now he’s in this tough position because Hendrick Motorsports is so good. You got Johnson, you got Gordon, you got Mark Martin and they’re running up front, and he can’t get his hot rod to run up front,” Wallace said. “I almost feel like this guy needs a group of bandits to let him go out in the garage all by himself and say ‘Here, do anything you … want for a month and let’s see how it turns out.”’
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Edwards and wife expecting 1st child
CONCORD, N.C. (AP)—Carl Edwards says he’ll become a first-time father at the start of next NASCAR season.
Edwards’ wife, Kate, is due in mid-February. The couple is having a girl, and Edwards joked they’ll name her “Daytona” because her birth is projected around the season-opening Daytona 500.
Edwards says they went for the ultrasound this week to learn the gender, and the nervous dad-to-be “almost passed out” when he saw the baby move.
Edwards’ wife, Kate, is due in mid-February. The couple is having a girl, and Edwards joked they’ll name her “Daytona” because her birth is projected around the season-opening Daytona 500.
Edwards says they went for the ultrasound this week to learn the gender, and the nervous dad-to-be “almost passed out” when he saw the baby move.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Hall of Fame charter class to be announced Oct. 14
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR will gather at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday to announce the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class.
About the Hall
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, 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.
The inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be inducted into the Hall in a ceremony to be held May 23, 2010, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.
The 25 nominees:
• Bobby Allison, 1983 Cup Series champion and winner of 84 races
• Buck Baker, first driver to win consecutive Cup Series championships
• Red Byron, first Cup Series champion, in 1949
• Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in the national series
• Dale Earnhardt, won a record seven Cup Series championships
• Richie Evans, nine-time NASCAR Modified champion
• Tim Flock, two-time Cup Series 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 the national series
• Ned Jarrett, two-time Cup Series champion
• Junior Johnson, 50 wins as driver; 132 wins and six championships as owner
• Bud Moore, 63 wins and two Cup Series titles as a car owner
• Raymond Parks, NASCAR's first champion car owner
• Benny Parsons, 1973 Cup Series champion
• David Pearson, 105 victories and three Cup Series championships
• Lee Petty, winner of first Daytona 500 and first three-time series champion
• Richard Petty, 200 wins and seven Cup Series titles -- both records
• Fireball Roberts, won 33 Cup Series races, including the 1962 Daytona 500
• Herb Thomas, first two-time Cup Series champion, 1951 and '53
• Curtis Turner, early personality, called the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing"
• Darrell Waltrip, winner of 84 races and three Cup Series championships
• Joe Weatherly, two-time Cup Series champion
• Glen Wood, as driver, laid foundation for Wood Brothers' future team success
• Cale Yarborough, winner of three consecutive Cup Series titles, 1976-78
About the Hall
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, 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.
The inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be inducted into the Hall in a ceremony to be held May 23, 2010, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.
The 25 nominees:
• Bobby Allison, 1983 Cup Series champion and winner of 84 races
• Buck Baker, first driver to win consecutive Cup Series championships
• Red Byron, first Cup Series champion, in 1949
• Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in the national series
• Dale Earnhardt, won a record seven Cup Series championships
• Richie Evans, nine-time NASCAR Modified champion
• Tim Flock, two-time Cup Series 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 the national series
• Ned Jarrett, two-time Cup Series champion
• Junior Johnson, 50 wins as driver; 132 wins and six championships as owner
• Bud Moore, 63 wins and two Cup Series titles as a car owner
• Raymond Parks, NASCAR's first champion car owner
• Benny Parsons, 1973 Cup Series champion
• David Pearson, 105 victories and three Cup Series championships
• Lee Petty, winner of first Daytona 500 and first three-time series champion
• Richard Petty, 200 wins and seven Cup Series titles -- both records
• Fireball Roberts, won 33 Cup Series races, including the 1962 Daytona 500
• Herb Thomas, first two-time Cup Series champion, 1951 and '53
• Curtis Turner, early personality, called the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing"
• Darrell Waltrip, winner of 84 races and three Cup Series championships
• Joe Weatherly, two-time Cup Series champion
• Glen Wood, as driver, laid foundation for Wood Brothers' future team success
• Cale Yarborough, winner of three consecutive Cup Series titles, 1976-78
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Junior gets the shaft once again!
I'm still ticked off from last race, so it's doubtful I'm going to be talking about today's race in depth.
Tom Logano’s credential pulled after altercation
FONTANA, Calif. (AP)—NASCAR officials pulled Joey Logano ’s father’s credential after he confronted Greg Biffle on Saturday following the Nationwide Series race.
A NASCAR spokesman said Tom Logano walked up to Biffle’s car on pit road and had a verbal altercation with the driver.
Biffle and Joey Logano tangled earlier in the race, with Biffle putting Logano’s No. 20Toyota into the wall, a move Biffle hinted at over the radio beforehand.
Joey Logano came back to win the race while Biffle finished 14th.
Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs said he had no immediate knowledge of the event. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Tom Logano was meeting with officials to talk about the incident.
A NASCAR spokesman said Tom Logano walked up to Biffle’s car on pit road and had a verbal altercation with the driver.
Biffle and Joey Logano tangled earlier in the race, with Biffle putting Logano’s No. 20
Joey Logano came back to win the race while Biffle finished 14th.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
NASCAR shrinks restrictor plates at Talladega
FONTANA, Calif. (AP)—NASCAR is reducing the size of the restrictor plates used by Sprint Cup cars at Talladega in hopes of making it safer for drivers.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said the move will reduce horsepower and take a little bit of top-end speed off the cars.
The track announced earlier this week it is raising the fence at the massive 2.66-mile oval from 14 to 22 feet following a safety analysis after Carl Edwards’ last-lap crash during the spring race sent him flying into the fence.
Debris from the accident injured seven fans in the stands, the most serious a broken jaw suffered by a teenage girl.
The frontstretch fence at Talladega will be raised before the Nov. 1 race, and the backstretch will be completed during the offseason. Daytona will have its fences raised before its first big event in January.
Personal Note: I'm thinking of driving my Ford Escape in Dega and Daytona races because NASCAR is slowing the cars down so much, I would have no problem keeping up with the field. Pfft...NASCAR just wants to ruin everything, no wonder they are losing a lot of fans.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said the move will reduce horsepower and take a little bit of top-end speed off the cars.
The track announced earlier this week it is raising the fence at the massive 2.66-mile oval from 14 to 22 feet following a safety analysis after Carl Edwards’ last-lap crash during the spring race sent him flying into the fence.
Debris from the accident injured seven fans in the stands, the most serious a broken jaw suffered by a teenage girl.
The frontstretch fence at Talladega will be raised before the Nov. 1 race, and the backstretch will be completed during the offseason. Daytona will have its fences raised before its first big event in January.
Personal Note: I'm thinking of driving my Ford Escape in Dega and Daytona races because NASCAR is slowing the cars down so much, I would have no problem keeping up with the field. Pfft...NASCAR just wants to ruin everything, no wonder they are losing a lot of fans.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Bill France’s grandson arrested on drug charges
MIAMI (AP)—A grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France was arrested early Thursday on drug charges in Daytona Beach, according to a police report.
J.C. France faces charges of possession of narcotics and driving under the influence. France posted $4,500 bond and was released from Volusia County jail Thursday afternoon.
France, 43, was driving a 2007 green Lamborghini when he was stopped shortly after midnight Thursday. Authorities believe he was racing his half brother, 40-year-old Russell Van Richmond. France failed to stop at a traffic light and swerved on the roadway before coming to a stop in a parking lot.
Richmond, who was driving a 2003 Porsche when he was stopped, reportedly threatened the officer during the arrest.
“No, this is a mistake for you,” he told the officer, according to the report. “I’m a France, we own this city.”
Authorities continued with the investigation, and Richmond called for their commanding officers.
“You’re done,” he reportedly told an officer. “Your job is over. This is the biggest mistake ever and your (sic) so done in Daytona.”
While conducting a search during the traffic stop, authorities found containers with a “white cakelike substance.” The substances gave a presumptive positive reactions for cocaine when they were tested.
Richmond faces two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence and two counts of threatening a police officer. He posted $10,500 bond and was released from custody Thursday.
France is the son of NASCAR board member Jim France and a driver in NASCAR’s Grand-Am Series. Richmond is the son of Jim France’s ex-wife. The two share a home in Daytona Beach, according to the police report. A telephone number listed for Richmond rang unanswered Thursday evening. A man who answered the phone at a number listed for France said he was not available.
NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston released a statement saying France has been suspended from all competition.
“Grand-Am has issued a penalty notice and suspended J.C. indefinitely from all competition for actions detrimental to racing,” Poston said. “The penalty is not appealable. J.C. is being treated like any other competitor. His suspension is immediate and indefinite.”
AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer in Charlotte, N.C., contributed to this report.
J.C. France faces charges of possession of narcotics and driving under the influence. France posted $4,500 bond and was released from Volusia County jail Thursday afternoon.
France, 43, was driving a 2007 green Lamborghini when he was stopped shortly after midnight Thursday. Authorities believe he was racing his half brother, 40-year-old Russell Van Richmond. France failed to stop at a traffic light and swerved on the roadway before coming to a stop in a parking lot.
Richmond, who was driving a 2003 Porsche when he was stopped, reportedly threatened the officer during the arrest.
“No, this is a mistake for you,” he told the officer, according to the report. “I’m a France, we own this city.”
Authorities continued with the investigation, and Richmond called for their commanding officers.
“You’re done,” he reportedly told an officer. “Your job is over. This is the biggest mistake ever and your (sic) so done in Daytona.”
While conducting a search during the traffic stop, authorities found containers with a “white cakelike substance.” The substances gave a presumptive positive reactions for cocaine when they were tested.
Richmond faces two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence and two counts of threatening a police officer. He posted $10,500 bond and was released from custody Thursday.
France is the son of NASCAR board member Jim France and a driver in NASCAR’s Grand-Am Series. Richmond is the son of Jim France’s ex-wife. The two share a home in Daytona Beach, according to the police report. A telephone number listed for Richmond rang unanswered Thursday evening. A man who answered the phone at a number listed for France said he was not available.
NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston released a statement saying France has been suspended from all competition.
“Grand-Am has issued a penalty notice and suspended J.C. indefinitely from all competition for actions detrimental to racing,” Poston said. “The penalty is not appealable. J.C. is being treated like any other competitor. His suspension is immediate and indefinite.”
AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer in Charlotte, N.C., contributed to this report.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Greg Biffle Foundation Day
If you're going to be in town for the Charlotte race, you don't want to miss Greg Biffle Foundation Day being held Wednesday, October 14 from 11 A.M. - 7 P.M. at Roush Fenway Racing, 4600 Roush Place, Concord, NC.
The event will feature the 2010 NASCAR Pets Calendar and include 3M product giveaways, the #16 show car and race simulator, driver autographs, demonstrations by the NC Agility Dogs and Horsemanship Downunder's Clinton Anderson, pet care and rescue group booths, live music, and MUCH MORE!
Look for more information on our webpage, www.gregbifflefoundation.com. Hope to see you there!
Greg Biffle
Cause Creator
The event will feature the 2010 NASCAR Pets Calendar and include 3M product giveaways, the #16 show car and race simulator, driver autographs, demonstrations by the NC Agility Dogs and Horsemanship Downunder's Clinton Anderson, pet care and rescue group booths, live music, and MUCH MORE!
Look for more information on our webpage, www.gregbifflefoundation.com. Hope to see you there!
Greg Biffle
Cause Creator
Monday, October 05, 2009
Barrett-Jackson Returns To Las Vegas With 19 Hours Of Coverage
SPEED will once again be on hand in Las Vegas as the second annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event and ‘no reserve’ auction takes center stage at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Starting Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. ET, SPEED and SPEEDtv.com will provide 19 combined hours of live, multi-platform, high-definition coverage from Sin City, where pristine offerings drew large crowds and brought strong bidder interest during last year’s inaugural event.
For this year’s presentation, SPEED has expanded its live broadcast to 17 hours on the linear network, with two additional hours being streamed live at SPEEDtv.com on Friday, Oct. 9, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. Read more here.
For this year’s presentation, SPEED has expanded its live broadcast to 17 hours on the linear network, with two additional hours being streamed live at SPEEDtv.com on Friday, Oct. 9, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. Read more here.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Hamlin warns Keselowski to watch out after wreck
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP)—The feud between Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski is not over.
Far from it.
The tension started at last weekend’s Nationwide race at Dover, where Hamlin’s day ended with Keselowski spinning him into the wall. Hamlin went to pit road after the race and shoved Keselowski, followed by more skirmishes between the drivers and their crews.
Hamlin was critical of Keselowski again after Sprint Cup practice on Friday, saying he never reached out to apologize. Hamlin also issued a warning: “He needs to be worried whenever I’m around him.”
Keselowski had a quick response on Twitter: “Quakin’!” A representative of Keselowski’s later said the manager of his Web site posted the tweet.
Both drivers are entered in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway. Hamlin qualified for the Chase, while Keselowski did not.
Far from it.
The tension started at last weekend’s Nationwide race at Dover, where Hamlin’s day ended with Keselowski spinning him into the wall. Hamlin went to pit road after the race and shoved Keselowski, followed by more skirmishes between the drivers and their crews.
Hamlin was critical of Keselowski again after Sprint Cup practice on Friday, saying he never reached out to apologize. Hamlin also issued a warning: “He needs to be worried whenever I’m around him.”
Keselowski had a quick response on Twitter: “Quakin’!” A representative of Keselowski’s later said the manager of his Web site posted the tweet.
Both drivers are entered in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway. Hamlin qualified for the Chase, while Keselowski did not.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
