2008 0-36; 2009 2-2, Kenseth wins again!
February 23, 2009
Matt Kenseth won his second 500 mile race of the season. This time he won in California. Kenseth led the most laps, as he dominated the end of the race. But it was his “Killer B’s” pit crew that launched him into the lead twice after super quick stops. When Kenseth took the lead after the final caution Jeff Gordon did all he could to catch him, but Gordon couldn’t find a groove that made up for Kenseth running in clean air. Finally Read more
John Medlen Admitted To Indianapolis Hospital
February 20, 2009
Long-time John Force Racing crew chief John Medlen was admitted to an Indianapolis hospital for discomfort in his chest late last night. After an examination by doctors a routine medical procedure was performed and a stint was inserted into his heart. Read more
FastMachines.com Radio Episode #24
February 20, 2009
Chris, Josh and Bill Zharen from Pressdog.com chat in depth about Danica and F1, Helio and the IRS and of course a big wrap of the Daytona 500 and the Dale Jr. “oopsie.” .
Let us know what you think by commenting on this posting, or shoot Chris and I an email by sending to radio@fastmachines.com.
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Kenseth wins in the rain!
February 16, 2009
Matt Kenseth made a late pass, and put a Ford in victory lane of the 500 for the first time since 2000. The rain brought out the checkered flag 48 laps early. Kenseth passed Elliot Sadler a lap before the caution came out for the final time. Kevin Harvick pulled off a second place… showing his Bud Shootout victory was no fluke.
A.J. Allmendinger had a great finish, Read more
FastMachines.com Radio Episode #23
February 12, 2009
Chris, Josh and George talk up the Twin 125s and the Daytona 500 coming up this weekend. We also touch on Danica’s choice to yet again sprawl herself across hot cars, the new Peugeot, Michael Schumacher’s dangerous hobby, Jimmie Johnson’s finger boo-boo, and Helio’s proclaimed innocence.
Let us know what you think by commenting on this posting, or shoot Chris and I an email by sending to radio@fastmachines.com.
Click below to listen to us right now in your browser…
Click here to download the MP3 of this week’s podcast and load it on your iPod or whatever you listen to your tunes on.
FastMachines.com Radio Episode #22
February 9, 2009
Chris, Josh, George and John talk all things racing, including the re-donk-ulous US F1 team story, Daytona 500 previews, crazy news from IndyCar, a nice motorcycle overview from Johnny, and yet more Armageddon for WRC.
Let us know what you think by commenting on this posting, or shoot Chris and I an email by sending to radio@fastmachines.com.
Click below to listen to us right now in your browser…
Click here to download the MP3 of this week’s podcast and load it on your iPod or whatever you listen to your tunes on.
NHRA season kicks off to a soggy start
February 9, 2009
There’s a new NHRA sponsor - Full Throttle energy drinks replacing POWERAde. There are new faces racing for old favorites (Spenser Massey with Don “The Snake” Prudhomme) and old favorites in new places (Antron Brown’s Matco Top Fuel team was sold to Mike Ashley, but Antron’s crew chief Lee Beard went to Don Schumacher Racing.)
Some beat the economic odds and returned (Erica Enders is back, driving a Ford in Pro Stock.)
There are drivers still looking for a ride during the current economic crisis (Hillary Will, Dave Grubnic, JR Todd, “Hot Rod” Fuller, Melanie Troxel, Tommy Johnson, Jr., etc.) They’ve relaxed the penalties for oildowns as a nod to tough times, and there’s a fan relief program to reduce the cost of many tickets including those for children and active duty military members. The NHRA Web site has been revamped; I’m not sure it’s an improvement, frankly, but that’s a whole ‘nother post.
John Force even says he’s trading two hours in the bar for two in the gym, and he does look pretty buff these days.
It’s certainly an exciting and interesting new season kicking off with the 2009 Winternationals, but the first Wallys of the year will have to wait. They’ve been struggling all weekend with rain at Pomona, and finally NHRA called a halt today and announced that racing will resume tomorrow (Monday, February 9th.)
Talk about “one and done”….there was only time to complete mostly one round of eliminations before the droplets started up, and that came after cars got into the show based on the results of one clean qualifying round on Saturday (rains washed out Friday action.)
Top Fuel resumes at 11:30 am PST, and ESPN2 will air Monday’s action starting at 9:30 pm Eastern. NHRA.com results and ladders are here.
Where Are They Now? Miss Winston Jackie Becke
February 5, 2009
Here is an easy way to win a bet with your friend who thinks he knows everything about drag racing. Ask him “From 1998 to 2001, who has appeared in the most NHRA Winner’s Circles?”. Of course he will probably answer John Force or Warren Johnson. The real answer is Jackie Becke. Although she never took a trip down the quarter-mile and never won a drag race, Jackie Becke served as Miss Winston and appeared in almost every winner’s circle photo during that stretch of time. If you ask any racer during the days the NHRA was sponsored by Winston, they will say the most gorgeous sight on Sunday afternoons was Jackie Becke. Not just because she is beautiful but seeing her smile meant they had just won the race. We were able to catch up with the former Miss Winston and ask her a few questions about her tenure in drag racing and what she is doing now.
Q: How did you become Miss Winston?
Jackie Becke: I worked the Winston suite in California as a hostess and became good friends with the Winston executives. When they were looking for a new Miss Winston I suggested they use me…That was the first time that they hired a Miss Winston that didn’t live in North Carolina. They didn’t know if it was going to work or not since they all traveled together. It ended up working perfectly because I was able to arrange my flights around theirs and meet them in the different cities.
Q: How many years did you serve as Miss Winston?
Jackie Becke: I was Miss Winston from 1998-2001. Four years.
Q: Now that you are not actively involved in drag racing, what are you doing now with yourself?
Jackie Becke: I am a mom to a 7 month old and in nursing school.
Q: Do you miss being Miss Winston?
Jackie Becke: Yes, it was the best job I ever had.
Q: What are some of your fondest memories of being Miss Winston and being involved with drag racing?
Jackie Becke: I have so many great memories of my time with the races. Watching John Force win a race since he was always so entertaining, hanging out at the top end with all the safety safari, walking in the pits and seeing how happy the fans got when they were able to see and talk to their favorite driver. The joy in the drivers’ faces when they won a race.
Q: What do you not miss about drag racing?
Jackie Becke: I certainly don’t miss having to get on an airplane every other weekend.
Q: Even though you are not actively involved in drag racing do you still follow the sport?
Jackie Becke: Yes, that is one great thing about living in California. I am able to go to the first and last race of the year (in Pomona, Calif.). I have kept up with a lot of the friends that I made and it is really nice to be able to spend time with them. Drag racing has a great group of people; it’s like going home, where you’re always welcome.
Q: What are your plans moving forward and where do you see yourself in the next five to 10 years from now?
Jackie Becke: I will hopefully have graduated from nursing school and will be working at a children’s hospital. I would also like to have another child since my son is the apple of my eye and I am loving being a mom.
2009 Budweiser Shootout: Statistical Tidbits
February 4, 2009
We are just days away from watching our drivers hit the track at Daytona and NASCARhas released various tidbits about the shootout:
• In total, 91 drivers have participated in the Budweiser Shootout, 42 have participated in two or less and 28 have taken the green flag in only one.
• Throughout the years, the lowest number of drivers to participate in a shootout was seven in 1981, while the high was 23 in 2008 (although it is set to be broken when 28 cars take to the track Saturday night.)
• Among the drivers who have participated in the most shootouts, none of the top-6 will hit the high banks of Daytona on Saturday night. They include: Bill Elliot (23), Mark Martin (21), Rusty Wallace (19), Ken Schrader (18), Geoffrey Bodine (16) and Ricky Rudd (16).
• Mark Martin will lose the lead for most consecutive starts in the Shootout, having competed in 20 straight events from 1989-2008 (Martin will not be included this year as a result of the qualifying procedures.) Jeff Gordon is set to take over the active lead, as he will start his 16th straight event Saturday night.
• Seven drivers have won the shootout multiple times. They include: Tony Stewart won three of the last eight, 2001, 2002 and 2007.; Dale Earnhardt won six of the 23 races between 1979 and 2001. His six victories came in 12 appearances.; Dale Jarret won in 1996, 2000 and 2004.; Other multiple winners include: Neil Bonnett (1983 and 1984), Ken Schrader (1989 and 1990), Jeff Gordon (1994 and 1997) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003 and 2008).
• Five drivers have won their first start in a shootout: Buddy Baker (1979); Dale Earnhardt (1980); Jeff Gordon (1994); Dale Jarrett (1996); and most recently Denny Hamlin in 2006.
• In the 30 year history of the Shootout, only five times has the winner went on to win the Daytona500. The list includes: Bobby Allison (1982); Bill Elliot (1987); Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000); and Jeff Gordon (1997).
• Three times the event has been won from the pole: Darrell Waltrip (1981); Bill Elliot (1987) and KenShrader (1989).
• Chevrolet leads the way with manufacture victories in the shootout at 17 (most recently in 2008 with Dale Jr.); Ford is second with seven wins (most recently Dale Jarrett in 2004); Buick has two wins (most recently in 1982 with Bobby Allison); Oldsmobile has two wins (last with Dale Earnhardt in 1980); and Pontiac has two wins (most recently with Tony Stewart in 2002). Dodge has never visited Victory Lane in a shootout.
By the Numbers: Budweiser Shootout at Daytona
.08 – Margin of victory in seconds by Dale Earnhardt over Sterling Marlin in 1995, the closest margin in Budweiser Shootout history
1 – Laps led by Rusty Wallace (1998), Neil Bonnett (1983-84), Dale Earnhardt (1980) and Dale Jarrett (2004) in the Budweiser Shootouts they won
2.75 – Average finish by Dale Earnhardt, best by any driver with multiple starts
5 – Drivers who have won the event in their first appearance (Buddy Baker, 1979; Dale Earnhardt, 1980; Jeff Gordon, 1994; Dale Jarrett, 1996; Denny Hamlin, 2006)
19 – Number of lead changes in 2001, the highest number since race began in 1979
19 – Starting position of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2003, the lowest starting position of a Budweiser Shootout race-winner
23 – Number of participants in 2008, the largest field in the event’s history. That number will be broken this year, as 28 cars will participate.
44 – Laps led by Greg Biffle in 2005, the most by a driver who did not win the event
47 – Laps led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008, the most in a single Budweiser Shootout
Source: NASCAR Media P/R
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ready To Defend Shootout Win
February 4, 2009
The green flag will wave on the 2009 NASCAR season at 8:10 p.m. Saturday night and defending race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. is ready to defend his title.
“Winning the first race of the year — whether it’s for points or not points — is always pretty special,” Earnhardt said. “There’s no better way to start a season than by winning the first one right out of the gate.”
Earnhardt won the event last year in his debut with Hendrick Motorsports.
This year, however, the event will have a different format and will feature different drivers.
Saturday will mark the 31st running of the annual non-points paying precursor to the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 15.
Last year, Earnhardt not only won the Shootout, but he also went on to win his 150-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500 as well. He couldn’t complete the trifecta, however, and finished ninth in the 500.
“It doesn’t necessarily determine how the rest of your Speedweeks will go, because we run different cars for the Daytona 500,” Earnhardt said. “But it’s the opening act of a new season, and everyone wants to start off with a bang. I guess it’s more important for bragging rights.”
Earnhardt said last year it was a combination of a good car, good motor and being in the right place at the right time that earned him the checkered flag at the 2008 Shootout—his third win overall.
“Everything was clicking,” he added. “I had teammates up front, and we worked together quite a bit. It was just a good race where everything went right.”
This year, he will again have two teammates in the race with him, Jeff Gordon and three-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson.
The 2009 Shootout will feature a new format in which the distance has been increased from 70 laps to 75 (or a total of 187.5 miles of Daytona’s high-banked, 2.5-mile layout.)
The event will still run in two segments, with the first lasting 25 laps and the second 50.
Following the first segment a 10-minute “pit-stop” will give each team the opportunity to make any normal adjustments to their cars they could perform on a normal pit stop. In other words, they can’t change springs, shocks or rear-ends.
Following the 10-minute “pit-stop” the event’s second segment will feature a 50-lap spring for the win.
The 2009 field includes five former Daytona 500 champions, including one three-time winner in Gordon, one two-time winner in Michael Waltrip, 2007 winner Kevin Harvick, 2004 winner Earnhardt Jr. and 2006 winner Johnson.
First-time Shootout participants include: AJ Allmendinger, Robby Gordon, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Scott Speed and David Stremme (all of whom received invitations due to the rule changes.)
The event will be broadcast of Fox, MRN radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Channel 128.
Let’s go racing boys!
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