MYRACENEWS.COM

Racing World Loses 2 Greats

2010-03-01T23:30:00Z

I sadly have to announce the loss of two greats in the racing world, Gene Angelillo, a mainstay in the Northeast Midget world and Modified Racing great Artie Tappan, Sr.

Angelillo passed away after a brief illness at the age of 74 in Waterbury Conn.

Artie Tappan reportedly died of a massive heart attack. Arrangements for Artie will be published here when they are announced.

May they both rest in peace, and we send our condolences to both families.

03/02/2010 UPDATE:

Arrangements for Artie Tappan are as follows

Moloney's Holbrook Funeral Home

825 Main Street

Holbrook, NY (631-981-7500)

Hours:

Wed 3/3/2010 7-9 PM

Thurs 3/4/2010 2-4 PM & 7-9 PM

If you need any further information, please contact Moloney's at their number above.

Jamie McMurray Meets With The Media in NYC

2010-02-17T00:37:00Z

I was invited to attend a luncheon / interview with Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray at the Friar’s Club in Manhattan. Cool and collected after his victory on Sunday night, Jamie was a pleasure to chat with as he continues his whirlwind media tour before meeting his race team in Fontana for next Sunday’s race. Here’s some of what he had to say:

On winning the race: He said once he got out front, he was very surprised to see Dale Jr. in his rearview mirror, but knew as he came off of turn 4 that as long as his fuel didn’t run out, he would beat Jr. to the finish line.

(Photo by Kristina Johnston)

About the ‘breaks’ to repair the infamous pothole in the track: He said it was nice to be able to get out and take a break, grab a snack and take a restroom break. He said it really didn’t break his concentration, as he was focused on the job of trying to win, even though he was 14th at the time (of the first break).

He remarked that he wasn’t really prepared for the aftermath with all the interviews and such, and didn’t really have any clean clothes to bring with him on this media tour, but that he and his wife found a Laundromat to wash the clothes they’d brought to Daytona. Since the Victory, they attended various media events in Daytona early Monday, then flew to NY so he could appear on Late Night with Dave Letterman, then appear on Live with Regis and Kelly before coming to the Friar’s Club for this interview. When he was finished with us, he was due to fly to San Francisco for more interviews.

He spoke at length about switching teams and getting used to working with a new crew chief, but he said he was happy at how well they received him on the team, and I asked if they were helpful with his transition from Roush-Fenway to the Earhardt-Ganassi team. He said that Juan Pablo Montoya was particularly helpful, even though they both have different driving styles, and he said that overall, the team was very helpful to him as he adjusted to their way of doing things. He said the best thing about being a teammate of Juan’s was when the worked together during the 24 Hour Rolex Race at Daytona, because they were able to learn to get used to each other as true teammates, working towards the same goal with the same car, and Jamie felt that was a good learning experience. He said Juan gives 100% of his attention when asked a question, a quality Jamie likes very much. He also said that when they are in their Sprint Cup cars, they are competing against each other, even though they are teammates, because the object there for him as an individual is to win, and to beat Juan just like he is any another competitor, so working together in the Rolex Daytona race was a good experience to help them bond as teammates.

I then asked if Kevin ‘Bono’ Manion was going to let him drive his Modified, and he said they put a seat he is comfortable with in the Modified. Jamie said knowing how fast a Modified is, he wanted a really good, safe seat in the car before he would try it out. No specific race or date has been selected as yet, but Jamie said he might drive it in the future. There’s something for us to look forward to.

Further discussion about the delays to repair the track revealed that Jamie was glad he was able to discuss issues about the car face to face with his crew, because it was easier to hash out any issues than it would have been to talk about them on the radio. He also admitted that he only had a granola bar and a banana as a snack, while Carl Edwards ate 3 turkey sandwiches during those breaks. Carl obviously was quite hungry!

While he was happy to win the Daytona 500, his goal is to make the Chase, and he knows that means winning on all the different tracks that the series runs. He said he has no worry about being known as a ‘plate racer’, even though 3 of his 4 wins have come in plate races. “It really just matters that you win, no matter if it’s on a mile and a half, Martinsville or a road course, the important thing is to get the wins, and I don’t worry about what kind or size of track we are running.”

Towards the end, I asked Jamie’s wife Christy how she reacted to seeing him in the front during the closing laps. She said she put her hands over her eyes, just couldn’t watch for fear she might jinx him. I asked her if she even peeked during that time, and she said “Well, a little“, but she knew from the roar of the crowd that he had won when it was over, and that was when she finally looked.

Some facts about Jamie outside of racing include his love of golf, picked up from his first ever job at a golf course. His golf handicap is a respectable 15, even though he jokes, “It’s really my swing!“ Jamie is also very involved in Autism Speaks, with his foundation having donated over $200,000 to Autism research and awareness. He has also appeared on TV in the soap “Passions”, on “The West Wing”, MTV’s “Cribs” and on the Pyramid show.

All in all, a very pleasant interview with a truly nice man, and we wish him luck in his future racing endeavors

Daytona 500 Won by Jamie McMurray! Pavement Repair Won by Bondo!

2010-02-15T11:38:00Z

Everyone who is the least bit interested knows by now that this year's edition of the Daytona 500 was different in many ways. Before the race began came the announcement about how 'Green, White, Checkered" finishes would now be almost limitless. Little did anyone know that this would be the 'test case' for how that rule works.

In a race that didn't have the 'Big One', the multi-car crash that has come to be expected with restrictor plate racing, we instead had 3 'little ones' near the closing laps, which allowed us to witness 3 attempts at the G-W-C finish. The first occurred within the 500 mile distance of the race, while the last two came in 'overtime'. Each attempt shuffled the deck once more, with Jamie McMurray finally emerging as the clear cut leader on the 3rd attempt, followed closely to the line by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to finally end the race 6 hours and 10 minutes after the field of 43 cars had taken the green flag. Congratulations to McMurray and the Earnhardt-Ganassi, Bass Pro Shops team for pulling off the victory in the Daytona 500 (508 actually).

The race achieved it's dubious longevity because of a pavement issue in turn 2. It was discovered (actually, reported by many drivers) during a caution on lap 116 that a broken seam in the asphalt had developed into a pothole in turn 2. During that caution period that was turned into a red flag period, the track crew was dispatched to assess the situation and come up with a fix for the problem. Originally thought to be about a 10-15 minute repair, issues with moisture seeping up from the base under the asphalt turned it into a 1 and 1/2 hour patching job when the patch material wouldn't set up and harden to anyone's liking, giving us what the announcing team referred to as a 'half time' of sorts during the race. Trouble is, there was no Rock Band or Marching Band to provide 'half time' entertainment, just the remaining field parked on pit road.

Finally, racing resumed, only to be interrupted on lap 161 by another red flag period as the 'pothole' developed once more in the same spot, only larger this time, as the pavement around the original patch came apart. We were informed by the TV announcers that this time around, a different material would be used to try for a fix, though no one was telling them what it was. With yet another 'half time' provided for them, the drivers relaxed once again outside their cars on pit road, while up in the stands, and at home, plans for an unexpected dinner were being made by those who thought they would be done with the race by that time. After almost an hour, the fix was completed, and racing was set to resume once more. After the race, NASCAR PR issued a statement that this time, Bondo, the same material used to smooth over dents on your car and mine, was what was used to fix the pothole. A brilliant idea, almost as good as tarring the cracked seams on the pavement would have been BEFORE racing ever occurred there.

Many other stories will come out of this event, and you can read them everywhere. This one will hopefully be wrapped up by an announcement that a permanent fix has been formulated to prevent future potholes, but who knows. We all know from experience that our government agencies haven't found one yet. Maybe the folks at Daytona can invent one and sell it to them. At this point, buying stock in the makers' of Bondo seems like it might be a sound investment.

We'll be back Tuesday evening with our report on our interview with Jamie McMurray, to be conducted at a luncheon at the Friar's Club in NYC. Hopefully, potholes will play no part in the continuing celebration of his victory. Join us then......

Daytona 500 Party Tradition Continues at JC's on February 14th.

2010-02-06T13:35:00Z

By Bob Finan

Long Island's biggest and most traditional Daytona 500 party will roll into the new decade Sunday February 14th at JC'S Restaurant & Pub of Manorville and will feature some great new twists. The 2010 version of the Daytona 500 Party will be a Wave Energy Drink party and the Wave Energy drink girls will be on hand with two garage passes each for the Sprint Cup events in May at Dover and the June race at Pocono.

The party will again be hosted by Steve & Tim Halpin along with Bob Finan of Riverhead Raceway in conjunction with John & Jen of JC'S Restaurant who will provide their annual endless free hot & cold buffet during the race with beer specials to be plentiful also. JC'S features over a dozen big screen Plasma HD televisions throughout the pub that is located in the clubhouse of the Pine Hills Country Club in Manorville. JC'S will also conduct a pool for one lucky race fan to win a 42" Plasma HD TV at the conclusion of the 500.

Fans can win the Sprint Cup garage passes by either buying a Wave Energy Drink product or an adult beverage that includes Wave, when they do they'll receive a raffle ticket. At the end of the race Steve Halpin of Wave will announce the two lucky winners heading to Dover May 16th and Pocono on June 6th. Wave Energy Drink of course sponsors the #36 Sprint Cup team owned by Long Islander Tom Baldwin Jr. who will have NASCAR veteran Mike Bliss at the controls of his Toyota for the 500.

The doors at JC'S will swing open at 11:00 am so the Halpin twins can start their famed Daytona 500 pools with nearly 10 such pools sold in 2009. Race fans should note with the announcement by NASCAR late in 2009 that all east coast Sprint Cup Series races would start in the 1:00 pm time frame arrive in plenty of time to see if they can walk away with a Daytona 500 win of their own.

Year in and year out you never know who you might bump into at the Long Island Daytona 500 Party and 2010 will be no different. JC'S Restaurant in the Pine Hills Country Club is on Wading River Road in Manorville, which is exit 69 of the Long Island Expressway, head south after exiting. From Sunrise Highway use exit 59 and head northbound.

Riverhead Winter Informational Meeting Reveals Upcoming Changes

2010-01-31T23:57:00Z

Riverhead Raceway held their annual informational meetings today to bring participants up to date on changes and procedures that will be in place for the 2010 racing season. With many things on the agenda, it was interesting to listen to the plans to improve the experience for everyone. In an effort to speed up the show, it was announced that heat races would only be run if 24 or more cars are present in any given division. Otherwise, either time trials or handicapping will set the field and only a feature will be run. More on that later in this story.

All of last year’s officials will be returning for 2010, with the previously announced addition of Steve Tooker, who will observe the racing from the scorer’s booth and he will be in communication with Co-Chief Stewards Jim Maggio and Mike Cappiello to assist in any calls on the track. Steve, as many know, is an experienced race driver and past Champion of the Late Model division, so he is very familiar with on track action.

This year, the restart rule to only begin from the line in turn 4 will be strictly enforced, with no second chances. If the officials rule that someone has jumped the start during a restart, that competitor will be sent to the rear of the field, NO second chances. Also, all drivers are expected to be in communication with track officials via the track radio frequency to be given their positions on all restarts. Those without radios are to make sure they are equipped with a scanner or ‘raceiver’ to be given their positions for all restarts. Any questions about restarting positions will ONLY be done at the start finish line, not on the backstretch or the ramp. Pull into the checkered victory lane box and the starter or assistant starter will get you an answer if you have a question about where you restart.

The track has also changed the start times for all events. For the first 3 weeks, the pits will open at 1 PM, and racing will start at 5 PM. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, the pits will open at 2 PM and racing will start at 6 PM. Practice will be limited to 2 rounds per division, beginning about an hour after the pits open. No practice will be allowed after the show starts, except at the discretion of track officials in special circumstances. It is their hope this will save time for all involved and move the show along smoothly. In addition, when a division is called to line up in the chute for their event, if you are late, you will be placed at the rear of the field, so be sure to be ready when your race is scheduled.

It was also announced that all time trial events, in every division, will be subject to a redraw for starting positions. Some objection was raised about this at the Modified meeting, and it will be the subject of further discussions with Promoters Barbara and Jim Cromarty, who will have the final say, as it was their decision to do this in the first place. The Modified drivers expressed the idea that they feel since a lot of preparation goes into time trialing, it is like a penalty to have to redraw. An announcement will be forthcoming in the future to clarify what will be done on this matter.

NASCAR has instituted a new rule allowing 14 and 15 year olds to obtain a learners permit NASCAR license to drive in certain divisions. At Riverhead Raceway, this would include the Legends, Blunderbusts and Super Pro Trucks divisions only. 14 and 15 year olds are also allowed to obtain a pit license to work on the crew of cars in other divisions, which will allow them in the pits. It is track policy that no one under the age of 18 is allowed to be in the pits without a NASCAR license, including guests.

All teams are now required to submit a list of their pit crew members before the season begins, listing anyone who they expect to be helping out with their cars during the race season. All guests are also required to identify which car they are associated with. This is an effort to enforce the rule that the car owner/driver are responsible for the actions of their crew and guests, and it will be strictly enforced. While some people have NASCAR licenses, but are not associated with a particular car, they will be handled differently upon signing in for each event. There will be no fighting or entering the pits of others for the purpose of fighting or arguing tolerated, and track officials promised strict enforcement of these rules will be in place this season.

It was also brought up that if you lose you muffler, you will be black flagged, sent to the pits, and not be allowed to return unless it is properly repaired (welded) and it passes inspection by a NASCAR official. They stressed that you should be sure your mufflers are properly installed, and to check them periodically to prevent problems. The rule applies even it the muffler becomes lose or falls off due to an incident during a race, with no exceptions. Modified drivers were also told that tour type mufflers would be acceptable for weekly competition, as there is no discernable db difference when using them.

At the Modified meeting, the idea of using a different tire (compound) was brought up, and track officials said they would look into the possible changes that were discussed. All Modified tires will be impounded weekly, with teams allowed to reinstall them just prior to the feature event.

Lastly, to quiet all the recent chatter, Bob Finan addressed the recent story about the NY State Attorney General’s investigation of Suffolk Productions. While this company was founded by Jim Cromarty many years ago, it is now owned and run by Deborah Cromarty-Hallanan, and is a separate entity from anything to do with Riverhead Raceway. Bob went on to say this whole thing is just political posturing by someone who is running for governor and it is being litigated down at the present time and it should have no effect on the operations of Riverhead Raceway in 2010 or in years to come.

Lastly, a few reminders; you can now RENEW your NASCAR license online by going to www.nascarmedia.com and entering your current license number and credit card information. This should be a time saver for many. Also, there will be no more paper pit passes, just a wrist band, for 2010. That will speed up the sign in procedure greatly, but Christine Healy wanted to remind everyone that the one you get when you sign in must be worn during the entire event, as replacing the original will be very time consuming unless it is accidentally damaged and you have the original, which must be presented to get a replacement.

New Sponsor; Major Award for Chris Young

2010-01-30T14:31:00Z

(Calverton, N.Y.) - 16-year-old racer Chris Young has a lot to be excited about going into his sophomore season. First, he now can remove the proverbial "rookie stripe" from his back, as he has now completed a full year in racing and has two wins and a lot of progress to show for it. Young also goes into the season having picked up one of the highest honors offered by his NASCAR Driver Development Motorsports Management partner, Team Full Throttle. At the recent TFT Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C., Young was awarded the Thomas H. Baker Memorial Award, a "Driver of the Year" Award given in honor of the father of TFT Founder / CEO Tom Baker.

"We were proud to honor Chris with this award," Baker said following the banquet, which featured Long Island native and now North Carolina Business Coach Dave Ferguson as its guest speaker. "Chris worked very hard in his first year on the track, picking up two wins and showing tremendous improvement as the year went on. He is an outstanding young man who shows tremendous leadership ability and my father would have been proud to hand him this award."

Young plans to race in the six night INEX Legends Winternationals in Orlando, FL February 8th through the 13th at the Orlando SpeedWorld. He won his first feature there last season, and is hoping for a championship this time around. "We finished in the top five in every race but one last year, so we'd like to do the same again this year and hopefully win the series championship," the smiling young racer said. "It's been an awesome winter, adding Ray The Plumber to our marketing team and picking up the award at the TFT Banquet, and now I can't wait to get back on the track and continue my learning process as a racer."

Madhouse, Superstition and Stupidity: My Opinion

2010-01-26T20:03:00Z

So I'm watching Madhouse episode 3, taking it all in, listening to everyone talk about the full moon, the number 13, peanuts or peanut butter and green on race cars, and yakking about how all of it somehow brings bad luck.

Some believe it, some say it's just old beliefs that never came true. Chris Fleming sure doesn't believe in any of it, and numbered his car 13 just to defy it. The one true believer, though, seems to be Tim Brown. He can't believe Chris Fleming would use that #13 on his car, " what is he thinkin' ? ". Tim Brown doesn't want any of those things which bring racers bad luck around HIS car.

A few scenes later, there is Tim's grandfather, outside searching all over the lawn for 4 leaf clovers to put in Tim's car to bring him luck. He comes up with 3, telling Tim, "This one's for good luck in the time trials, this one's so you draw a good starting spot, and this one's so you win the race." Well, very good Grandpa Brown, but there's just one thing none of you thought of: Those 4 leaf clovers are GREEN!!! Might as well put them in a bag of 13 green peanuts and toss 'em in the car!

Now there's one other thing about this show that's rubbing me a little the wrong way. Does the "King", Junior Miller, really want to win races, or is his life now dedicated to hunting down anyone named Myers and dumping them? Does anyone in their right mind put all that work into getting a modified ready to race on Saturday night with the primary aim of dumping another competitor?

Well, he accomplished it near the end of the race, dumping Jason Myers and getting 4th at the finish, so the 'family feud' can continue at Bowman Gray for another week. Another week of Junior sitting around his shop, house, diner, whatever, ruminating about how he's gonna dump a Myers' and maybe win a race. Meanwhile, about 19 others are out to do the best they can, win a race, maybe a championship, and old Junior only wants to wreck cars, and on the show at least, we never seem to see a black flag as the stupidity continues into next week.

Overall, I am enjoying the show itself, as we get to see what is needed to prep the cars, repair the cars, tweak the set ups, and the financial end of things, especially for those trying to squeeze the most out of tight racing budgets. The program has been well received in it's first 3 weeks, leaving me to believe we are in for some rally good entertainment, and a little bit of racing education, over the last 10 shows of this series. I anxiously await the announcement that the cameras are back and shooting during 2010 at Bowman Gray Stadium!!!

Madhouse Debuts on the History Channel

2010-01-12T00:19:00Z

Madhouse, a reality type show about Modified racing at Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina, made it's debut on the History Channel.

I watched this program 3 times before writing this, and the thing I got out of it the most is they were building a foundation for the much ballyhooed feud between Junior Miller and the Myers family. It's hard to say who the 'bad guy' really is in this feud, but my feeling is Junior Miller's attitude needs an adjustment. Maybe a few more shows will add more information and change my mind, but in this first show, he really comes across as the one with an axe to grind, and an ego 10 feet tall. I know he should be angry over the way Burt Myers pounded on his car after the last race of 2008, and I suppose he has a right to feel that way. But take into consideration the way he rammed into Myers and dumped him. No 'brake check' as Miller stated, but a blatant 'hit and run' crash that turned Myers into the wall. I don't condone Burt's reaction either, though it is understandable in this circumstance that he might react that way. Absent were penalties of any kind for either of them, and I found that strange. We've all seen similar thing happen at our regular tracks, and they are seldom without penalty. Using a race car as a weapon should never be allowed to go unpunished. It's funny, the problem is identified well by the track official at the meeting they both had to attend, but neither of them is prone to making the effort to solve the problem.

The rest of the cast, Tim Brown, Chris Fleming, Jason Myers and a host of other drivers yet to be named, make the potential rest of the season look interesting. I wasn't too surprised about the lack of actual racing in the first show, simply because the creators of the program know they have to lay the foundation for what is to come, especially for the part of the audience unfamiliar with racing at Saturday night bullrings. The feud needed to be laid out in detail, so we all understand what the history of it is, and why the participants act the way they do as the story continues. The effect on others also needs to be shown, because it will play heavily on everyone as the racing season progresses. If anyone has yet to figure out these two guys don't like each other, it would totally surprise me.

One of the things that bothered me about the show was the quick cutting from scene, to scene, to scene in some parts, not giving the viewer enough time to absorb what they were looking at. Hopefully, future shows will rely on that less and less. If there were any doubts that this is a typical reality show, 'cable network style', they've been erased after this first episode. I guess we should all be thankful none of the reality stars on this show sing or dance. I also liked the part with Chris Fleming where he shows that he is a one man operation, making many of his own parts, or repairing cast off parts, to keep his operation going. Very 'old school', harking back to the days when just about everyone did that. In this day and age of built modifieds and off the shelf parts, it's refreshing to see someone do this, and to see him have a level of success doing it. Tim Brown, being a professional in the business, shows us that he is a perfectionist, something he does daily in his work on a Sprint Cup car, and it's nice to see how that carries over to his work on his own car, setting things up, double checking to see that everything is just right, and then checking again. The work ethic of all the drivers they showed is very good.

Over all, I think this show may bring new fans to the sport, simply out of curiosity after seeing it on TV. Look at it this way. If it brings 20 new fans to a local track, those 20 will talk to friends, and maybe that will bring more as they tell their friends about what they experienced. Anything that helps the sport of local racing is a good thing, and I'm sure many of the reportedly over 1 million viewers who watched the first of these programs were not regular fans, but may have watched after having their curiosity piqued by the promos for the program. If it hooked them enough to bring them back next week, they will show up at a local race track soon, and that's beneficial to us all. Now, 1 show down, 12 to go, and I can't wait. As always, your comments on what you thought about this are welcome here, and we invite you to add what you think was good or bad about the program. Just click on the comments link and fire away.

1/16/2010 - As an after thought, it just occurred to me, what if J.R. Bertuccio, who now resides in Statesville, NC, decides to join in the mix at Bowman Gray this season? Ah, think of the possibilities!!!

Frostbite 4 Enduro Runs On Snow Covered Track

2010-01-03T01:44:00Z

Photos from Frostbite 4 Full sized copies available to any who want them. Email request to wizgrand@gmail.com with picture number(s).

01/02/2010 - The Frostbite 4 Enduro, first race of the 2010 Mountain Madness Enduro Series, was run today on a snow covered track, the first time and enduro has been run under those conditions at Sundance Vacations Speedway. With 3 - 4 inches of snow on the racing surface, it proved to be a challenge to the racers in all 3 events, and pure entertainment for all the spectators.

A combined truck/6 cylinder car race opened the program, with 6 trucks and one car. While not a large field for an enduro race, the track conditions, with fresh, untouched snow all the way around the 1/3 mile oval, made for a very interesting event. Kevin Nowak started on the pole, but Harry Sager, who started last, worked his way to the front to challenge Nowak early in the event, as the 6 trucks were staying in a line at the bottom, while Sager, nicknamed 'High Line Harry' , used the deep snow near the high side to advance past everyone, and took the lead from Nowak. A good battle took place between the two, as they swapped the lead back and forth, until Sager had to pit and change a flat late in the race. As a combination race, it didn't matter to Sager, since he was the only 6 Cylinder car in the event, and was being scored separately from the trucks. While Nowak went on to take the overall victory, Sager was still the first and only 6 cylinder car, and won that portion of the race. FINISH: 1.) Kevin Nowak, 2.) M. Tischler, 3.) H. Sager,[6 cylinder car winner] 4.) F. Katonah, 5.) R. McCormick. 6.) G. Harris, 7.) J. Vullo

The 4 cylinder cars ran next, on a track that now had a clear lane through the snow, but that was the iciest portion of the track, and proved to be the worst route around the oval. Tony Rispin figured that out faster than anybody, and quickly put his car in the lead. Rispin would lead a majority of the laps in the event, which saw the snow on the track get pushed off to the high side as the cars continuously circled the speedway, packing down the snow, turning the surface into something like an ice rink. At one point, Rispin was the only car on the lead lap as the other drivers tried to keep up under less than ideal conditions. Jason Dunn, who fell a lap down, but still held 2nd spot, was able to get back on the lead lap, working his way through the field during the closing laps to catch up to Rispin with less than 5 laps left, and passed him with 3 laps left to take the victory. FINISH: 1.) Jason Dunn, 2.) T. Rispin, 3.) P. Morgan, Jr., 4.) C. McCormick, 5.)Matt Wahl, 6.) E. Michael, 7.) D. Bartuski, 8.)K Harper, 9.)J Campbell, 10.) W. Rice, 11.) E Brown, Jr., 12.)T Deutsch, 13. R. Dunn, DQ - Justin Dunn, Mike Wahl

The 8 cylinder race was the final event, with 18 cars, plus 4 added trucks from the first race, as they were given the option of entering this event also. They all found themselves faced with a slicker track than any of the previous events, but they quickly adapted after a start that saw many spins in the first couple of laps. Harry Sager, who lined up 13th at the start, quickly showed them all that up in the snow,or the 'fluff' as Geno and Ted referred to it over the PA, was the place to run and still get some traction. Others, notably the truck drivers entered in the event, ran the lowest line possible, since the normal racing groove was the iciest, and therefore the slickest, part of the track. Turns 2 and 4 in particular were very slippery, as they had turned to ice patches as the sun faded in the Western sky. But these guys put on what was arguably the best race of the day, running high, down low, and through the middle groove, as they all searched for the spot their car ran best. Some never found it, while others, notably Kevin Nowak, Harry Sager, and Mark Tischler, found it immediately based on their experience from the first race. It was those 3 who led the majority of the race, with Nowak and Tischler swapping the lead back and forth throughout the event, while Sager did his best to keep up, as he had to contend with many others who noticed how well he ran in the high groove, and followed his example in using it, which made his route around the oval a busy one as he negotiated the traffic up top, while Nowak and Tischler utilized the lowest groove. That was not the perfect one either, as Nowak, after having built an almost one lap lead over Sager and Tischler, spun several times on his own on the icy surface, allowing both Tischler and Sager to regain their lost ground on him.. With less than 10 laps to go, Tischler slid into the infield off turn 2, stalled, and Nowak pulled away to take the win. FINISH: 1.) Kevin Nowak, 2.) H Sager, 3.) TJ Kapish, 4.) R. Schewire, 5.) E. Brown, Jr., 6.) J Presley, 7.) S. Bird, 8.) S Gallucci, 9.) J. Vullo, 10.) T. Szoke, 11.) S.Tito, 12.) S. Morgan, 13.) R. Kulik, 14.) M. Parisi, 15.) M. Wahl, 16.) F. Petroski, 17.) G Harris, 18.) B. McCormack, 19.) S Barnes, 20.) E Wohl, 21.) M Pollack, DQ M. Tischler.

News and Notes: A few hearty fans braved the constant wind, with it's accompanying chill, to view the show. A big cheer to them for sticking it out in the cold to enjoy the first race of the season at Sundance (Snowdance?) Vacation Speedway.... While the sun made an appearance, it didn't make much difference, as sub-freezing temperatures kept the surface of the track in a condition that best resembled an ice rink. Still, it made for interesting strategies amongst the drivers. By the time the 8 cylinder race was nearing it's close, many were clipping the 3rd and 4th turns by cutting across the fresh snow of the infield, making the trip around much shorter, but it still made them slower as indicated by lap times on the transponder computer. With another MME series race scheduled for February 27th, many hope it will snow before that event, just so they can experience racing on snow once more. Each winner stated in victory lane that while it was different to run on the snow, they had a good time doing so... Starter "Chilly" Willy Schultz had the worst spot of anyone, as he was continually being pelted with snow kicked up by the cars as they passed the flag stand. Willy may be thawed out by Tuesday, but we can't be sure... Speeds were slowed considerably by the snow, with the trucks averaging 37.5 MPH, the 4 cylinders 34.4 MPH, and the 8 cylinders 32.9 MPH.... That's it for this effort. Great job by all to have the show completed by 4:15, allowing all of us to find someplace to warm up after a very enjoyable but chilly afternoon of racing. A big thanks as always to the Speedway staff for all their assistance today.

Enjoy New Year's Eve

2010-01-01T01:08:00Z

Happy New Year!!! 2010 Begins!

Be safe and smart, use a designated driver or stay put if you've been drinking.

“Frostbite 4” Ahead for Sundance Vacations Speedway

2009-12-21T19:34:00Z

IT'S This weekend! Dress warm, but be there!!! Racing starts at 1 PM with 3 BIG events!

Sundance Vacations Speedway has announced that this year's Charity donations will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, with $1 from each paid admission will be donated.

Sundance Vacations Speedway recently announced that the 1st event of the 2010 racing season would kick off on Saturday, January 2, as the celebration of the New Year continues with the "Frostbite 4(degree)" enduro racing event.

The Mountain Madness Enduro Series schedule will comprise of several events throughout the course of the season and the 4^th annual Frostbite enduro will be the first show to highlight the 2010-racing schedule. For the first time, enduro racers will take to the speedway in the month of February, as the 2nd event on the MMES schedule has been set for Saturday, February 27th.

Run like a true to form enduro, the Mountain Madness Enduro Series features relatively inexpensive "bone stock" automobiles for low budget racers, helping make enduro racing more affordable for beginners and masters alike. In addition to the new 6-cylinder only division, both, the four-cylinders and 6/8-cylinder divisions will have a three wide rolling start. Without yellow flags, only red flags will be thrown for serious incidents, or if a driver is in a dangerous situation on the speedway. "Dead" cars will be left on the speedway.

The Mountain Madness enduro events will be held rain, snow or shine. Race fans that are looking to fuel their racing appetites will now have the opportunity to do so over the winter months.

The pit area will open at 9 AM and the grandstands will be open at 12 noon. The first enduro event is slated to take the green flag at 1 PM.

For more info, and all the happenings at Sundance Vacations Speedway, please log on to www.sundancevacationsspeedway.com or call the Speedway office at 570-384-3215 and 570-788-7544 on race days.

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So grab a warm blanket, wear your best winter gear, fill a thermos or two with your favorite hot beverage, and support this great racing event, since $1 from each paid admission will go to help the Susan G. Komen Foundation in it's quest to find a cure for breast cancer. Come on, what else are you doing on Jan 2, 2010? Go to the first race of the year and start your year off right.

Tommy Baldwin and Al Heinke Form Heinke-Baldwin Racing, Announce 2010 Short Track Program Plans

2009-12-17T21:00:00Z

MOORESVILLE, North Carolina (Thursday, December 10, 2009) - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner Tommy Baldwin and Modified team owner Al Heinke announced this week that they will be teaming up to form Heinke-Baldwin Racing, which will compete full-time in two short-track series in 2010. HBR will field a full-time entry in both the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the Super DIRTcar Series, as well an additional Whelen Modified entry running a limited schedule.

Al Heinke is a former driver, crew chief, and race engineer who has competed in a variety of motorsports series, including Northeast dirt open-wheel modified cars, SCCA open-wheel formula classes, and IMSA-sanctioned full-fendered sports cars. Heinke has fielded a Big Block Modified team competing primarily in the D.I.R.T. Modified Series since 1999. During the past two seasons, Heinke also fielded an asphalt open wheeled modified team running a limited schedule on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

Tommy Baldwin is a 12-year NASCAR Sprint Cup veteran, five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Daytona 500 winning crew chief. Baldwin is no stranger to team ownership, as he formed a successful NSCS team which was responsible for bringing Unilever into the sport. Baldwin has served as crew chief for his father, Tommy Baldwin Sr., Steve Park, Ricky Craven, Dick Trickle, Ward Burton, Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, and most recently, Dave Blaney.

17-year-old Erick Rudolph will drive for the team in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and sponsor information is forthcoming. Rudolph ran his first complete schedule in the NWMT in 2009, finishing 12th in the driver point standings, scoring one win at Spencer Speedway and seven top-10 finishes. The driver from Ransomville, NY also completed a full season in the ROC Modified Tour, ran the entire the Dunn Tire Raceway Park schedule, and competed in 15 DIRTcar 358 Modified events at Ransomville Speedway last season. In his young career, Rudolph has 28 feature wins in Modifieds.

Dirt track veteran Jimmy Phelps has been named to pilot the No. 98H sponsored by Wave Energy Drink in the Super DIRTcar Series. Phelps returns to the car he finished third in the standings with last season running for Heinke's H&H Motorsports. The Baldwinsville, NY native picked up one win in the Super DIRTcar Series last year when he took the checkered flag at Cornwall Motor Speedway in Ontario, Canada. The entire No. 98H crew plans to return to the team as well, hoping to earn the championship which eluded them in 2009.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, Kasey Kahne and notable NWMT standout, Bobby Santos III will each get behind the wheel of the HBR's second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour entry, with Kahne running New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the spring, (June 26) and Bristol Motor Speedway (August 18), and Santos running at least five events which will be announced at a later date.

Santos, who made his racing debut in a NASCAR Tour-Type Modified at the age of 14, has found a great deal of success in Modified and Midget racing throughout his career, in addition to competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series. In 2009 he competed in the USAC National Midget Series, National Sprint Series and National Silver Crown Series, scoring wins in each.

Tommy Baldwin and Al Heinke's decision to form Henike-Baldwin Racing is part of a long-term goal of driver development at the grassroots level and catering to hardcore race fans in the tough economy. "I'm really excited to get back into the short track program," said co-owner Tommy Baldwin. "This new team is really important to us because we've got some young and talented drivers with Erick Rudolph, Bobby Santos, and Jimmy Phelps, and we want to develop a program which allows us to nurture young talent and to groom them into top-level stars, hopefully getting them into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ranks with Kasey Kahne someday."

"This is really the best way to do it, with the way the economy is and the way the sport is evolving," Baldwin continued. "Everything in Trucks, Nationwide, and Cup is so different now. You can't test, and the Truck and Nationwide programs are very costly from a developmental standpoint, so this is the best way that we can get the exposure that's needed for these young drivers, put them in good equipment, and let them win some races. Plus, the fans that can't really afford to be going to the Top-3 Series races are going to the DIRT races, they're going to the Modified races, so we're going to be able to reach those people again."

HBR also allows Baldwin and Heinke to effectively involve their current teams and current sponsors, such as Wave Energy Drink. "We have developed a unique business and marketing platform. We want to bring our Cup sponsors in and make them part of the grassroots program with the Modifieds and the Super DIRTcar Series. We can get those marketing partners within the Cup series and make them part of the short track program, so they can reach the grassroots racer. Plus, if we find some good companies that want to build the brand with the young drivers and bring them all the way up to the Cup level, that would make us extremely happy," said Baldwin.

Al Heinke, HBR General Manager and co-owner stated, "I am excited to give short track racers a platform to drive for a well-established team and give them an opportunity to succeed. We know that we will have a successful season due to the fact that the strength of HBR comes from the collective strengths of the people and partners we have assembled. We've got experienced, intelligent, and highly motivated drivers and team members at all levels, and sponsorship partners who are dedicated to our team and our sport."

HBR will utilize PR and branding agency Activ8 Communications to promote the team and its drivers. "We're very happy to be working with Activ8 Communications, which will allow our drivers and sponsors access to an unparalleled level of public relations and branding," continued Heinke. "Our partners, Troyer Race Cars, New England Racing Fuel, WAVE Energy Drink, and Bob Bruneau Race Engines, among many others, are very important to us, and I know that Activ8 will make the relationships with our marketing partners even more beneficial for everyone involved."

Heinke-Baldwin Racing's short track season begins with the Super DIRTcar Series event at Volusia Speedway Park on February 10, 2010, followed by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour "Icebreaker" at Thompson International Speedway on April 11.

Heinke and Baldwin are currently looking for additional crew members to assist with both the Modified and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams. Resumes can be sent to heinkebaldwinracing@gmail.com.

activ8 communications

Jessica Trippy

Public Relations Manager
704.664.5900
jtrippy@goactiv8.com

quick links

visit activ8's website

MY 2 CENTS - Off Season Comments to Relieve the Boredom

2009-12-13T11:56:00Z

As we sit here during the down time known as the off season, press releases being the only thing of interest, we thought it might be interesting to editorialize a bit to provide some thoughts on these events. While trying to keep things factual, some of this will be speculation, and the crystal ball is a bit foggy at times, so excuse any thoughts you might think aren't on the up and up. That's why I included a comments section on this site when I started it.

Biggest story right now? Danica Patrick coming to JR Motorsports to drive in the Nationwide Series and ARCA on a limited schedule. This talented lady, an Indy Car driver now for a number of years with known talent, will come into the full fendered cars to try her hand and display her skills there in 2010. The transition from computer designed, track hugging, low slung racers to the heavier, NASCAR full fendered taxicab type car should be an interesting one. It's been done in recent history by Tony Stewart, Robbie Gordon, John Andretti, and in the past by A.J Foyt himself. Even Janet Guthrie took a shot at Daytona. Danica Patrick is very popular and well known in the sport of racing, and has shown a talent for getting a car to victory lane. The people on various message boards have expressed a wide range of opinions about how she will perform in this transition to an obviously different ride. JR Motorsports will likely give her the best chance at success, because the cars coming out of that organization come from Hendrick, and we all know they build a good chassis. Now we can only sit back and wait to see how she does in February at Daytona. Are there any other new faces coming into big time racing? With all the buzz about Danica Patrick, who knows?

On a lesser scale, we've continued to read comments about tracks using transponders for scoring purposes. On that subject, I back the idea that this is the way to go. I've seen the system work, and though there are flaws in anything electronic, the ones I see here are correctable ones, mostly caused by overlooking something in the design phase of a specific tracks set up of the scoring loops involved. Once correctly installed, they give the track an accurate picture of where a driver is in relation to all others on the track. They also give the speed per lap, the average speed of the race, and an accurate placing of the cars at the finish. Ideal, right? So now we get to the drawbacks, and the main sticking point is the initial expense of the system itself. It requires cuts in the pavement, easily made with a diamond saw, and filled in after installation with epoxy. The transponders themselves are said to be in the $250 - $350 range, which is not cheap, but is affordable considering what I've seen racers spend on chrome parts. Tracks that use transponders do so in two ways: they own them and rent them back to the drivers, or they require the driver to have one to use when they come to the track. It can cost about $400 to buy one that can be permanently hard wired, thereby reducing failure of the battery pack in rentals, but assuring the driver they will be accurately scored. The computer system can run of a laptop or desk model, track owner's choice. It only takes one person to run it, and hard copy printouts of each race can document the results for all to see. So the upsides seem to outweigh the downside of cost and installation, and the rental of the transponder units, typically $10 -$15 per event, can create a revenue stream for the track if they choose that method. In that way, they system can eventually pay for itself, and then become a reliable income source for the track promoter.

On a smaller scale, something fairly new has entered the entertainment side of racing: skid plate racing. While I'm not sure where the idea originated, it has been tried at a few tracks around the country. Basically, it involves disabling the rear wheels of a front wheel drive car, usually a 4 cylinder, small car, by putting metal plates under the rear wheels. From what I've seen of this on You Tube, it creates a control problem that requires the driver to rethink their skills in negotiating turns on the race track. The rear of the car tends to throw out if they enter the turn at a high rate of speed, so they must compensate by braking hard going into the corners. Interesting viewing if you've seen it. But here is the main problem that seems to come with this: it is done on pavement tracks, and the skid plates have the potential to wreak havoc on the condition of the pavement. Even if the tracks most sophisticated division is some Street Stock level, smooth pavement is essential there for good racing, and safety. While skid plate racing will appeal to younger fans, a much needed audience for short tracks right now, the effect it will have on the condition of the facility is of much greater importance. The average promoter can't repave his track once a month, and if these things get popular (they're cheap to run, so many may give it a try), torn up pavement will become a major problem. This phenomena may die sooner than anyone could predict, a victim of it's own success. UPDATE: Now the news of this has sparked arguments about whether Spectator Drags, which it seems to be replacing, were a better 'feature' for the fans. It's even brought in comments from out of state people who likely have never even seen a Spectator Drag race, along with defense of the whole thing by someone whose never done much more than watch the races through a video camera lens, but considers himself an 'expert' on the subject. Neither possess the knowledge they'd like us to believe they have, but someone has to be posting in the land of 'delete what I disagree with'. I get closer each day to adding a straight up message board here. Dec 16th update: Now the thread is closed, no more comments, due to side comments by those who disagreed with the gist off it. Yeah, maybe a link to a message board would be a good thing........

So that's it for now. Do you have any ideas on these topics? If so, avail yourself of our comments section by clicking on the link below. While these are moderated, most of you know I am fair and will use anything that is sensible. If you don't want me to publish your comment, just say so, and I will not post it. Everyone has a right to express a reasonable opinion, and unlike other venues, I will not reject your thoughts just because they don't agree with mine. That's just a foolish way to not get ALL the ideas out there. Criticism has created some great ideas, so it should be a part of any discussion. Let's hear form you soon on your opinions, even if it's something not mentioned here.

Bryan Sescila Named Driver of JTL Enterprises Blunderbust for 2010

2009-12-03T13:48:00Z

JTL Enterprises Motorsports LLC has named Bryan Sescila as the driver for the JTL Enterprises owned #34 Blunderbust car at Riverhead Raceway for the 2010 season. Sescila, a former Blunderbust competitor, has one Feature win in the Division and always had immaculately prepared race cars throughout his Blunderbust career, earning him the Best Appearing Car in 2003.

Bryan also competed in The Super Pro Truck Division, taking down three Features wins in two seasons of competition.

Bryan will run a limited schedule at Riverhead Raceway in 2010.

Bryan's brother Joe will serve as the team's Crew Chief, not only on the Blunderbust car but also on the #8 Figure 8 car. Joe Larsen Sr. will steer the Figure 8 car, time permitting, due to obligations to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The second driver has yet to be named

NJ Motorsports Park to run Modified/Sportsman Tests

2009-12-03T12:44:00Z

New Jersey Motorsports will be conducting a test for asphalt / dirt Modifieds / Sportsman cars. We are planning on running this test on Saturday 12/12/09 and a rain dateSunday 12/13/09. We are going run on the 2.4 mile Thunderbolt road course. Nocost for cars / teams / crews. NJMP is planning on running several events in2010 based on the results of this test All interested parties please contact Wayne Weaver by phone 856.327.3486 or email at wweaver4649@comcast.net

Team Full Throttle to Host Driver Development Exhibit, Seminar at PRI

2009-12-02T23:15:00Z

Mooresville, N.C. (December 2, 2009) - Team Full Throttle will be appearing at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show with an interactive exhibit and informational seminar.

Partnering with Activ8 Communications and CGS Imaging, Team Full Throttle representatives will be on to answer questions about driver development and opportunities offered with the organization.

Team Full Throttle also will host a seminar at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show called "Doing Driver Development Right: A No Nonsense Approach to Motorsports Success."

The informational session, held on Friday, Dec. 11 from 1-2PM in room S-320-A, will give attendees a new perspective on the importance of driver development programs for up-and-coming drivers.

"If a driver is interested in furthering his/her career and reaching the top level of racing, our seminar is a must attend," said Tom Baker, Founder of Team Full Throttle. "This seminar will lay out the foundation of a driver development program in an informative way with no agenda."

Baker, one of the industry's top developmental guru, will share his expertise in the industry and the importance of creating an all-encompassing plan to develop a budding driver.

Topics covered in the session will include the brief history of driver development, the need for a program, options in the industry and how to choose the proper program for a driver.

"I hope drivers and teams will walk away from the seminar with a greater understanding of the importance of a developmental program and how it relates to being successful at the top level of racing." said Baker.

Don't miss this great opportunity to learn from an industry leader and gain the needed boost to achieve success. Seating is limited so arrive early.

Turkey Derby XXXVI Day 2 Completed

2009-11-29T01:56:00Z

November 28, 2009 - Wall Stadium - The 36th Annual Turkey Derby concluded today, with Rowan Pennink besting a field of 26 cars to hold on and take the victory. Pennink was the only driver in the top 5 to not pit for tires during the race. While that almost cost him the race after he lost the lead to Jimmy Blewett, Blewett suffered the biggest disappointment of the day when he was black flagged for leaking oil while he was leading the race with less than 10 laps left to go. That put Pennink, whom Blewett had passed for the lead just laps before, back in front, a position Pennink would not lose again.

Blewett's day wasn't all bad, though, as he led the majority of the laps of the Wall Mod/SK race, losing the lead briefly when he and most of the other leaders pitted for tires during a caution just past the halfway mark of the race. He quickly worked his way back into the lead and held it for the rest of the way to take the victory.

In the Street Stock race, Dan Turbush of Riverhead, NY emerged the victor after inheriting the lead early in the race while he was running in the 3rd position when the 2 leaders, Carl Thomas and Anthony Grimaldi, came together on a restart, crashing into the front stretch wall, With Thomas riding the top of the guard rail until his car flipped and ended up across the track. That brought out the only red flag of the day, as severe damage occurred to both cars. But from that point on, Turbush, who had started in 9th, proved to be the strongest car out there, as he was never seriously challenged over the final 20 laps of the race. Greg Miranda and Jon Meyer rounded out the top 3, while Ray Minieri finished 6th, and Brian Doyle finished 7th in the 26 car field..

Kevin Davison, who originally finished 2nd in the Wall Sportsman race, was awarded the victory in that race after Kevin Eyres, who'd crossed the line in 1st, was moved to 3rd place in the finishing order for rough riding, after race officials decided he had been too aggressive in the battle for the lead

In the closing show of the day, Paul Lotier, Jr. won the25 lap Midget race.

Great crowd for the 2nd year in a row, with the track closing their main parking lot when it became full, and having to use nearby lots to handle the crowd. The pits were full to the point of overflow, also, as some race car teams had to use part of the parking lot as pit areas. The weather was better too, with sunshine all day, though it was windy, but overall it was better than Friday's overcast and chilly day.

Lastly, I'd like to extend my thanks to Jim Morton and his wonderful staff for all their help throughout the 2 days of racing I covered. They made my job easier, and for that I am always grateful.

Further details in a few days. I inadvertently left my voice recorder, with my race notes on it, in the trailer at Wall. A big thanks to NEETS co-promoter Joe Cutri for finding it, and for thinking of the best way to get it back to me. I apologize to my readers for my error. More on these stories in a day or two. (Now I'm going to get comments, lol!)

Turkey Derby XXXVI Day 1 Complete

2009-11-28T02:19:00Z

November 27, 2009 - Wall Township, NJ - The first days activities for Turkey Derby XXXVI are complete, with qualifying for all but Tour Modifieds and Midgets completed in overcast but dry conditions. Time trials for Wall-SK Type mods and Late Models, along with qualifying heat races for Legends, Sportsman, Factory Stocks and Street Stocks were run without many difficulty. That was followed by the Legends feature, which was marred by many cautions, and eventually won by Daniel Hemric from North Carolina. Hemric exited his car, took the checkered flag, waved it a the crowd, and did a perfect back flip off the roof, a la Carl Edwards. Rounding out the rest of the finishers, Zach Alpach was 2nd, Roger Coss 3rd, Ryan Flores 4th and John Beatty was 5th.

The Late Model 50 lap feature, cut down from the originally scheduled 75 laps due to only 17 entries, was run after that, and was also filled with a lot of cautions, but when the dust had settled, only 10 cars remained in competition, with Wayne Helliwell, a regular weekly competitor at Lee, NH Speedway, emerging as the winner, with Mike Coll finishing 2nd, Mike Bologna 3rd, Dave Macomber 4th, and Roger Oxee 5th. Greg Kleila finished 6th, while Artie Pedersen, Jr. finished 9th, despite damage from being involved one of the many wrecks.. Peter 'Buzzy' Eriksen, an early leader, dropped out with engine woes around lap 29, while Mike Mortimer and John Matlach both left after wrecks earlier in the event. Fastest in time trials with a lap of 13.505, Zane Zeiner was also an early casualty of the wrecks that happened in the opening laps.

In Factory Stock action, Vern McLaughlin held off a strong challenge from Richard Petey, while Tim O'Shea, Joe Constanti, and J.R. Helberg rounded out the top five in that action filled race.

In SK Time Trial qualifying, Jimmy Blewett set fast time with a lap of 12.369.

The complete results of tomorrow's events will be posted her on Sunday after I return home. If you are reading this early enough, I recommend you make every effort to attend tomorrow's show, as there is a full field of cars in the Tour Mods, the Wall Mods, and the Street Stocks, and it promises to be a great show. If you're planning on coming, dress like it's Winter, because it sure was cold here today!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING To Everyone - Turkey Derby XXXVI weekend begins Tomorrow

2009-11-26T12:39:00Z

November 27th, 2009 - It is raining, but it is supposed to clear later today. Word we are getting is whatever doesn't run today will be rescheduled to tomorrow. If rain tomorrow (I hope not), the rain date is Dec 5th. for a one day show. Hope we see many of you there.

November 26th, 2009 - - I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and remind you that the 36th running of the Wall Stadium Turkey Derby begins tomorrow and continues on Saturday, while NEETS has a "run what ya brung" Enduro, scheduled to run there on Sunday. This great weekend of racing is your last racing fix of the year, so make plans to attend all or part of it. We will be there to provide coverage for those who can't make it, so stay tuned for all the news from Wall Stadium's premier year ending event.

Now, go enjoy your sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner, watch a little football if you like, take a nap in the recliner, and then get yourself ready to see the Turkey Derby this weekend!

Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson Lights Up Empire State Building

2009-11-25T00:58:00Z

Jimmie Johnson, celebrating his record setting 4th Sprint Cup Title, traveled to the Empire State Building today to throw the switch that lights the spire atop the building, lighting it up in blue, white and yellow to help celebrate NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson Day in New York City. Also on hand to help Jimmie throw the switch was Johnny Damon of the 2009 World Champion New York Yankees. Mayor Bloomberg had proclaimed today Jimmie Johnson in honor of Jimmie's accomplishments in racing, an honor seldom bestowed on a living celebrity. Johnny Damon, a NASCAR fan since his younger years growing up in Florida, was honored to join Jimmie in the ceremonial "throwing of the switch" in the lobby of New York City's tallest building.

Later on, we all traveled up to the 86th floor observation deck for more photos and interviews with both Johnson and Damon. One reporter asked Johnson about Cale Yarborough's reaction to him winning his 4th Championship, but Johnson said though he'd yet to speak with Yarborough about it, Yarborough did address it in a conversation the two of them had earlier in the season, and told him he'd like to see Johnson win a 4th Championship, just not a 4th in a row!. Jimmie went on to say that he was up late the night of the last race, celebrating with his team, listening to Queens' "We are the Champions", and he said, "You don't really know how good that song is until you listen to is just after winning one". Johnson has been on a whirlwind tour since achieving the Championship, and when I asked how much time he's spent with his wife since then, he remarked, "Very little, I've just been so busy."

Jimmie also spoke about his relationship with Rick Hendrick,and how thankful he is to his team owner for all the support Hendrick has given to the team. Johnson said, "Mr. Hendrick has always felt like something of an underdog, even with his successes, and is always willing to give more if the team asks for it. We hope he never stops feeling that way, because his support and generosity has made this team, and all the others at Hendrick Motorsports, the successful race teams that they are today. Without him, we wouldn't be here celebrating this Championship."

Damon, during his interview, spoke about growing up in Orlando, Florida, and remembering how the "Traffic got heavier every year around the Daytona 500." One year, he asked his dad if they could go to the race, and his father said yes. "After going to my first race at Daytona, I became a NASCAR fan for life." he said. He follows the NASCAR season all year long during the Major League Baseball season as he travels the country, and is very familiar with all the NASCAR drivers and teams. He also addressed his being a free agent now, and how he hopes to come to an agreement with the Yankees, but he will go with the best offer he gets that fits his future in baseball.