Daytona around the corner!
June 30, 2008
With his first victory of the season at New Hampshire Kurt Busch is ready to return to the track he’s run the strongest on this season. Granted, his Loudon win was more due to pit strategy than having the best car, but any cup victory can be capitalized on. There were four Dodges in the top ten finishers, Read more
Double Clutchin’-The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly From New Hampshire
June 30, 2008
Call him the Milli Vanilli of NASCAR, because not only did Kurt Busch win a race that he did not deserve to win, the drivers who were in control of the majority of the race were left doing the only thing that they could do; blaming the rain. If there’s a worse finish in sports than a race stopped by rain, I’m pretty sure that I’ve not been a witness to whatever it is. A rain-out robs fans of the best part of the race; the finish, and this race Read more
Kanaan Survives Richmond Slugfest
June 30, 2008
Andretti Green’s Tony Kanaan went to a fight and a race broke out on the way to his 13th all-time IndyCar win at Richmond Raceway on Saturday. Read more
Monday Morning Crew Chief
June 30, 2008
Ten For The Weekend
1. The Unification High Is Over, Or Should Be — The Indy Racing League is now in charge of open-wheel racing in North America, but apparently has lost control of its races. The starts and re-starts at Richmond on Saturday night that led to a near-record 102 caution laps were an abomination. Another show in front of an excellent crowd gets undone. Read more
An uplifting competition after tragedy
June 30, 2008
The first half of the season is wrapping up, the Western Swing is about to start and the drag racing community was shocked last week by the tragic death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta (preliminary findings about the Englishtown crash were released by NHRA.)
Some uplifting news was needed, and it come from Dougzilla.
In the 2nd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert achieved his goal of winning one “for the boys;” his sons Jon and James, who were killed in a January auto accident. Read more
You Can’t Say Smoke Doesn’t Keep Us On Our Toes
June 29, 2008
Just when news breaks that the Tony Stewart/Haas CNC deal is done for 2009, Smoke decides to drop a bomb in an interview session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Asked if he would be interested in being considered for the 5 car that Casey Mears is vacating, Stewart responded that he would. He said that he doubted any driver in the garage would not seriously consider a ride with Hendrick Motorsports.
Of course, in the same interview, Stewart remarked that there were a few ARCA teams he hadn’t yet spoken with, either. It wouldn’t be a Tony Stewart interview session without a healthy dose of sarcasm. Read more
Loud-in New Hampshire!
June 28, 2008
Where did these guys find their qualifying speed? Patrick Carpentier won the pole! Scott Riggs was fourth fastest. Reed Sorenson and Dario Franchitti qualified sixth and seventh. There are four Dodges in the first seven starting spots. No Toyotas… ? Unfortunately Read more
Richmond qualification suprises
June 28, 2008
The Indy Car Series heads from the Heartland to the Eastern Seaboard this weekend to take on the 3/4-mile high banks at Richmond International. Yesterday’s qualifying action produced some surprising results with several of the “new” Indy Car teams qualifying in the top ten.
Smith’s Flamboyance Doesn’t Quite Fit at New Hampshire
June 28, 2008
The changes were obvious as soon as the speedway came into view. Darkness was falling, and the ever-present evening campfire haze hung over New Hampshire International…oops, I mean New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Darkness was falling as we made the right turn off rural Route 106, and we made our way past the field with the decrepit, cartoonish statue of the Loch Ness Monster we’ve never quite understood and quaint businesses with names like “Sharan’s Critters.” Read more
Hendrick/Mears Split a Good Decision
June 27, 2008
When teams and drivers announce they are “parting ways,” it’s tough to get the real story. It all boils down to who amongst driver, team owner, or sponsor was the most fed up with lack of performance and finally said “Enough!” However, if all parties are still even somewhat mutually respectful of one another, the “parting ways” term is broken out. Read more