Click on the photo below to see a gallery of shots from Friday night's thrilling Truck Series race at Daytona Int'l Speedway. Thanks to Dave Franks for the use of these photos!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
There's a story on the wire saying that GM is in talks to buy the Chrysler division of DaimlerChrysler.
(CNNMoney.com) -- General Motors is in talks to buy DaimlerChrysler AG's struggling Chrysler Group in its entirety, according to several reports.
According to the reports, sources in Germany and the United States said high-level talks between GM and DaimlerChrysler executives are taking place...."
Another one bites the dust....
After winning his qualifying heat race, Jeff Gordon's car was found to be an inch too low.
Because of this, the Chevy driver has been booted to the rear for Sunday's Daytona 500.
Carl Edwards discusses the team's plans for the #50 Truck for '07
From the Ford quotes package... looks like Pete Shepherd is going get a lot of action this summer in an excellent truck.
CARL EDWARDS-50-Ortho Ford F-150 (Qualified 2nd)
YOU COMPETE FULL TIME IN THE BUSCH AND CUP SERIES, BUT YOU ARE ONLY SCHEDULED TO RUN A LIMITED TRUCK SCHEDULE. HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR MENTALITY ENTERING THE RACE? "This is different than those two. The biggest thing is that we're probably going to run this full time with Peter Shepherd and me splitting it, so there's still a championship on the line for Jack. But, for me, I'm going here to. That will be awesome to win tomorrow."
CARL EDWARDS-50-Ortho Ford F-150 (Qualified 2nd)
YOU COMPETE FULL TIME IN THE BUSCH AND CUP SERIES, BUT YOU ARE ONLY SCHEDULED TO RUN A LIMITED TRUCK SCHEDULE. HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR MENTALITY ENTERING THE RACE? "This is different than those two. The biggest thing is that we're probably going to run this full time with Peter Shepherd and me splitting it, so there's still a championship on the line for Jack. But, for me, I'm going here to. That will be awesome to win tomorrow."
Thursday, February 15, 2007
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series heading to Edmonton
For the past few months, I've been hearing that the promoter of the GP of Edmonton wanted the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series to be part of their event this summer.
I was also hearing that Champ Car didn't want them there.
Looks like the promoter won.
Edmonton joins Sun Valley Speedway and Mosport (here and here) in trumpeting the fact that the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will be at their track this summer.
A few more announcements like this and NASCAR won't have to bother announcing the schedule....
Here is the release announcing the Edmonton news:
February 15, 2007
Grand Prix of Edmonton
For Immediate Release
Grand Prix of Edmonton welcomes NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
Jim Haskins, President and General Manager of the Grand Prix of Edmonton made the following announcement: “Today, we are very excited to announce that the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will race in this year’s Grand Prix of Edmonton.
“The NASCAR race is a newly-formed series incorporating elements of the CASCAR series which ran last year in Edmonton. CASCAR has had a loyal following across Canada, especially in Edmonton going back to the 1970’s.
“But with NASCAR’s new participation this is going to be an even bigger, better series. It takes our event to a higher level when we can say the new NASCAR series is coming to Edmonton with all its market presence.
“In fact, Edmonton is going to be unique bringing together both the Champ Car World Series and NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in one event. We anticipate NASCAR will bring 35 to 40 of their throaty & noisy cars to the Edmonton track to support the world class Champ series which has already attracted such an enthusiastic crowd to our city. It’s going to be an amazing weekend.”
NASCAR cheating scandal goes mainstream
Having tired of the circus surrounding the death of Anna Nicole, the mainstream media has turned its attention to the cheating scandal at Daytona Int'l Speedway.
Prior to a few days ago, it would have been pretty good being Michael Waltrip.
NASCAR star.... team owner.... hooked in with Toyota... money out the wazoo.... TV star.... Buffy (say no more!) .... etc.
Now.... not so much.
The negative treatment Mikey is receiving might finally take the incentive out of cheating.
NASCAR's fines, suspensions and double-secret probations didn't do it.... but this might.
No one likes to be associated with a cheater. After this incident, would anyone risk having their sponsors and partners look at them the way that Toyota and the media are looking at Michael Waltrip right now?
It's just not worth it.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
SAD NEWS: Jim Paulson passes away
Click here for a link at the Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum where the tributes are flowing in for the late Jim Paulson, who passed away suddenly yesterday (Feb. 13).
One paragraph reads:
"A personable, dynamic freelance Host/Commentator he has worked with or interviewed them all from Frank Sinatra to Tony Bennett, Sophia Loren, Eddie Fisher, Raquel Welch, Lou Rawls, Charlton Heston, etc. in the entertainment world to Paul Newman, Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti, Richard Petty etc. in his other world of motor sports which Jim has presented for about as long as he has been in broadcasting. Whether asked to M.C. a Molson Indy or an Oakville Jazz Festival he is totally at ease and does it with a fine sense of humour as well... no thoughts of retiring."
NASCAR set to come down hard on Waltrip for technical violation
Whatever was going on under the hood of Michael Waltrip's car, it must have been pretty bad. Bad enough the Toyota looks set to throw him under the bus.
It goes without saying that Toyota wasn't looking for this kind of publicity when it made the plunge into Cup racing.
ESPN's story contains the following:
"Lee White, the senior vice president for Toyota Racing Development that is making its Nextel Cup debut at Daytona, said he also planned to meet with Waltrip.
"I wouldn't call it a setback, but it's disappointing for anyone that we partner with to have this happen in some form or fashion," he said. "We will talk with them to see where we need to go for the future."
White said TRD has been working with NASCAR on the situation.
"I can honestly tell you from an ethics standpoint and integrity, along with character and honesty, those things are paramount in our company," he said. "We hold ourselves to a high standard and we hold our teams to high standards. We hope we've picked the right ones."
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
ESPN REPORT: Reiser and Francis booted for the rest of Speedweek, and more
"YOU'RE OUTTTAAAAA HERE!"
ESPN is reporting:
"DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth will begin the Nextel Cup season with negative points and without their crew chiefs as a result of violations discovered Sunday during post-qualifying inspection for the Daytona 500.
Kenny Francis, the team director for Kahne, and Kenseth's Robby Reiser have been told by NASCAR officials that they are ejected from the 500 and will be suspended for multiple races."
NASCAR: No news today for teams who got into tech trouble during time trials
Our own Dave Franks was able to snap some pictures of NASCAR going over Michael Waltrip's car before he (Dave) was told to run along. Nice work Dave! Click here to see them all
"DAYTONA BEACH -- The teams captured by the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series dragnet Sunday at Daytona International Speedway must wait at least one more day to find out their fates.
In the inspection process before and after Daytona 500 qualifying, NASCAR officials found problems with the No. 55 Toyota, driven by Michael Waltrip; the No. 9 Dodge of Kasey Kahne; and the No. 17 Ford of Matt Kenseth. A NASCAR spokesman said any penalties, fines or suspensions could be announced today."
The Daytona News-Journal has the full story here.
"DAYTONA BEACH -- The teams captured by the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series dragnet Sunday at Daytona International Speedway must wait at least one more day to find out their fates.
In the inspection process before and after Daytona 500 qualifying, NASCAR officials found problems with the No. 55 Toyota, driven by Michael Waltrip; the No. 9 Dodge of Kasey Kahne; and the No. 17 Ford of Matt Kenseth. A NASCAR spokesman said any penalties, fines or suspensions could be announced today."
The Daytona News-Journal has the full story here.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Canadian Dennis Thomson Tops Pro Challenge Winternationals Night One
ORLANDO, FL (February 9, 2007) – Dennis Thomson is doing this weekend what many Canadians and people in the northeastern part of the United States do during the wintertime. The Ontario, Canada-native Thomson traveled to Orlando, Florida, to escape his frigid and snowy hometown to spend a couple of days in the warmth of the Sunshine State.
But Thomson’s trip is not a typical “snow bird” vacation to Florida. He brought along his number-02 Pro Challenge racecar to compete in the 2007 edition of Pro Challenge Winternationals, a four-race series at Orlando SpeedWorld and New Smyrna Speedway. On Friday night, instead of visiting the scores of tourist attractions in Orlando, Thomson was at the half-mile Orlando SpeedWorld and topped one of the strongest fields of Pro Challenge racecars in series history.
The 2006 Pro Challenge Canada Region Champion was in the right place at the right time in the first night of Winternationals 2007 Friday evening, taking the lead shortly after halfway in the 50-lap feature as several early leaders fell out of contention with mechanical problems. Thomson avoided the bad luck that found polesitter and early leader Zach Stroupe, defending Aaron’s Pro Challenge National Champion Terry Mathis and young Florida upstart Ryan Rust to take the first checkered flag of the 2007 Pro Challenge season.
“This just feels awesome,” said an ecstatic Thomson in victory lane. “I can’t believe it. I’m so excited right now, you wouldn’t believe it. The competition was so tough tonight. We went down to the Mason-Dixon Meltdown at South Boston (VA) back in November and raced against a lot of these same guys, but we didn’t have it. We went back, worked on some things and brought the car down here and we were very happy with our car tonight.”
Thomson ran inside the top-five for much of the race as he followed in the tire tracks of the early leaders Stroupe and Mathis. The fourteen-year-old Stroupe set fast time in qualifying Friday evening and checked out over the opening laps, but a flat right-front tire near halfway ended his night. That handed the lead to the defending National Champion Mathis, who seemed to have the win in his grasp until a driveshaft bolt came off his number-71 machine and put him out of the race. The only other driver in the opening stages of the race that looked to have a shot at either Stroupe or Mathis was Ryan Rust, but he also succumbed to a mechanical failure when an ignition wire went out in his number-18 machine.
When Mathis broke around lap 30, Thomson inherited the lead, but it was not going to be an easy win. Every active Pro Challenge Regional Champion from 2006 was in the stout 25-car field, including Stroupe (Carolinas), Kyle Mitchell (Georgia), Jamie Blanton (Tennessee/Virginia/Alabama) and Thomson. Winternationals night one also brought in a strong crop of rookies from around the country, including Steve Strandlund, Doug Moff and Legends Car standout Thomas Hartensveld, who entered a second entry for Duke Furr, but was not able to make the start due to engine trouble.
It was the defending Georgia champ Mitchell that was filling up Thomson’s rear-view mirror in the closing laps, but the big Canadian Thomson was too tough.
“The whole field was pretty stout,” said Thomson. “I was cruising there for a while. I knew Terry was real good and so was the 51 (Stroupe), but I could see that he was beginning to slow down with his flat tire. That’s when I got shuffled back to about fifth when he slowed with the flat. I thought that we still had a good horse here, and it took about four or five laps after restarts to get going, but when it did, this thing was awesome.”
Following post-race inspection, second-place finisher Kyle Mitchell was disqualified by Pro Challenge Officials for being under the weight requirements. That bumped Florida Region regular Rusty McLain to the runner-up spot after a topsy-turvy race for McLain’s number-12 machine.
“This wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but we’ll take it,” said McLain. “We started mid-pack, made it up to the front, went to the back and came back up to the front again and ended up with a third. I kept telling my spotter that I thought we could only get up to fifth or so. Then I just kept picking them off one by one and then thought we could win the thing. We still came close.”
The Cinderella story of the night went to third-place finisher Terry Horak. The first night of Winternationals at Orlando SpeedWorld was also Horak’s first-ever Pro Challenge race, so to come home with a podium finish left the Thunder Roadster veteran beaming with delight.
“We flew in from Myrtle Beach at four o’clock today, jumped in the thing for practice and the truck was ready to go for me,” said Horak. “We went up and tested for about 50 laps at Hickory just to get the hang of the truck a couple weeks ago, but this was my first race in this thing. This is beyond my expectations. I just wanted to come out here and run all the laps tonight and hopefully get a top-five, but this is beyond what I was expecting.”
Mathis wound up with an 11th-place finish after falling out of the race, while Stroupe came home 15th and Rust 17th.
Pro Challenge Winternationals continues Saturday night, February 10th, at Orlando SpeedWorld, before switching to the newly-repaved New Smyrna Speedway Sunday and Monday, February 11th and 12th.
For more information on the Pro Challenge Winternationals, contact Matt Kentfield at (704) 455-2051 x 5. The official website of Pro Challenge racing, www.prochallengeseries.com, will be providing trackside updates from the tracks throughout Winternationals weekend.
UNOFFICIAL FINISH: Orlando Speedworld // Winternationals 2007 // February 9, 2007 // 50 Laps
1. Dennis Thomson; 2. Rusty McLain; 3. Terry Horak; 4. Jamie Blanton; 5. JL Snowden; 6. Jason Burchard; 7. Jason Treschl; 8. Steve Strandlund; 9. Duke Furr; 10. Malcolm McAllister; 11. Terry Mathis; 12. Dean McIntyre; 13. Scott Hitchens; 14. Trevor Farbo; 15. Zach Stroupe; 16. Doug Moff; 17. Ryan Rust; 18. Trevor Cauble; 19. Sam White; 20. Ken Ellefson; 21. Lance Rubink; 22. Ken Nicholson; 23. Logan Ruffin; 24. Joe Chafin; 25. Kyle Mitchell
But Thomson’s trip is not a typical “snow bird” vacation to Florida. He brought along his number-02 Pro Challenge racecar to compete in the 2007 edition of Pro Challenge Winternationals, a four-race series at Orlando SpeedWorld and New Smyrna Speedway. On Friday night, instead of visiting the scores of tourist attractions in Orlando, Thomson was at the half-mile Orlando SpeedWorld and topped one of the strongest fields of Pro Challenge racecars in series history.
The 2006 Pro Challenge Canada Region Champion was in the right place at the right time in the first night of Winternationals 2007 Friday evening, taking the lead shortly after halfway in the 50-lap feature as several early leaders fell out of contention with mechanical problems. Thomson avoided the bad luck that found polesitter and early leader Zach Stroupe, defending Aaron’s Pro Challenge National Champion Terry Mathis and young Florida upstart Ryan Rust to take the first checkered flag of the 2007 Pro Challenge season.
“This just feels awesome,” said an ecstatic Thomson in victory lane. “I can’t believe it. I’m so excited right now, you wouldn’t believe it. The competition was so tough tonight. We went down to the Mason-Dixon Meltdown at South Boston (VA) back in November and raced against a lot of these same guys, but we didn’t have it. We went back, worked on some things and brought the car down here and we were very happy with our car tonight.”
Thomson ran inside the top-five for much of the race as he followed in the tire tracks of the early leaders Stroupe and Mathis. The fourteen-year-old Stroupe set fast time in qualifying Friday evening and checked out over the opening laps, but a flat right-front tire near halfway ended his night. That handed the lead to the defending National Champion Mathis, who seemed to have the win in his grasp until a driveshaft bolt came off his number-71 machine and put him out of the race. The only other driver in the opening stages of the race that looked to have a shot at either Stroupe or Mathis was Ryan Rust, but he also succumbed to a mechanical failure when an ignition wire went out in his number-18 machine.
When Mathis broke around lap 30, Thomson inherited the lead, but it was not going to be an easy win. Every active Pro Challenge Regional Champion from 2006 was in the stout 25-car field, including Stroupe (Carolinas), Kyle Mitchell (Georgia), Jamie Blanton (Tennessee/Virginia/Alabama) and Thomson. Winternationals night one also brought in a strong crop of rookies from around the country, including Steve Strandlund, Doug Moff and Legends Car standout Thomas Hartensveld, who entered a second entry for Duke Furr, but was not able to make the start due to engine trouble.
It was the defending Georgia champ Mitchell that was filling up Thomson’s rear-view mirror in the closing laps, but the big Canadian Thomson was too tough.
“The whole field was pretty stout,” said Thomson. “I was cruising there for a while. I knew Terry was real good and so was the 51 (Stroupe), but I could see that he was beginning to slow down with his flat tire. That’s when I got shuffled back to about fifth when he slowed with the flat. I thought that we still had a good horse here, and it took about four or five laps after restarts to get going, but when it did, this thing was awesome.”
Following post-race inspection, second-place finisher Kyle Mitchell was disqualified by Pro Challenge Officials for being under the weight requirements. That bumped Florida Region regular Rusty McLain to the runner-up spot after a topsy-turvy race for McLain’s number-12 machine.
“This wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but we’ll take it,” said McLain. “We started mid-pack, made it up to the front, went to the back and came back up to the front again and ended up with a third. I kept telling my spotter that I thought we could only get up to fifth or so. Then I just kept picking them off one by one and then thought we could win the thing. We still came close.”
The Cinderella story of the night went to third-place finisher Terry Horak. The first night of Winternationals at Orlando SpeedWorld was also Horak’s first-ever Pro Challenge race, so to come home with a podium finish left the Thunder Roadster veteran beaming with delight.
“We flew in from Myrtle Beach at four o’clock today, jumped in the thing for practice and the truck was ready to go for me,” said Horak. “We went up and tested for about 50 laps at Hickory just to get the hang of the truck a couple weeks ago, but this was my first race in this thing. This is beyond my expectations. I just wanted to come out here and run all the laps tonight and hopefully get a top-five, but this is beyond what I was expecting.”
Mathis wound up with an 11th-place finish after falling out of the race, while Stroupe came home 15th and Rust 17th.
Pro Challenge Winternationals continues Saturday night, February 10th, at Orlando SpeedWorld, before switching to the newly-repaved New Smyrna Speedway Sunday and Monday, February 11th and 12th.
For more information on the Pro Challenge Winternationals, contact Matt Kentfield at (704) 455-2051 x 5. The official website of Pro Challenge racing, www.prochallengeseries.com, will be providing trackside updates from the tracks throughout Winternationals weekend.
UNOFFICIAL FINISH: Orlando Speedworld // Winternationals 2007 // February 9, 2007 // 50 Laps
1. Dennis Thomson; 2. Rusty McLain; 3. Terry Horak; 4. Jamie Blanton; 5. JL Snowden; 6. Jason Burchard; 7. Jason Treschl; 8. Steve Strandlund; 9. Duke Furr; 10. Malcolm McAllister; 11. Terry Mathis; 12. Dean McIntyre; 13. Scott Hitchens; 14. Trevor Farbo; 15. Zach Stroupe; 16. Doug Moff; 17. Ryan Rust; 18. Trevor Cauble; 19. Sam White; 20. Ken Ellefson; 21. Lance Rubink; 22. Ken Nicholson; 23. Logan Ruffin; 24. Joe Chafin; 25. Kyle Mitchell
Sunday, February 11, 2007
BUSTED: Trouble in tech lane for some big hitters at Daytona
Chad Knaus was busted by NASCAR for cheating last year at Daytona, and spent four races in the penalty box.
Apparently, the message didn't get through to everyone.
In this piece, it's clear that NASCAR's Jim Hunter isn't amused by what they discovered in the 'Room of Doom' today at DIS.
On Monday, don't be surprised to see Robbie Reiser (Matt Kenseth's crew chief) and Kenny Francis (Team Director for Kasey Kahne) bounced for the remainder of Speedweek and then some for playing outside the rules.
In other news out of Daytona, Robert Yates is 'back' after putting two cars on the front row for next Sunday's Daytona 500. Finally, Toyota had a rough day in qualifying. Michael Waltrip is also potentially in trouble with NASCAR after they found an odd substance in the carb.
SPEEDWEEKS: Saturday action by Dave Franks
Here is an assortment of Saturday's action at Speedweeks, including:
- Canucks at New Smyrna (Cole Pearn, Kirk Hooker & Bruce Gowland)
- The Bud Shootout at DIS (Congrats to the slimmed down Tony Stewart, who I just saw in a Subway ad with Jarred!)
- The ARCA race at DIS which was won by Bobby Gerhart
Thanks again to Dave Franks for the use of these photos! Anyone interested in contacting Dave to purchase print quality versions of these or any other shots can drop him a note at davefranksphotos@sympatico.ca or call him (when he's back from Florida) at (905) 846-3615. There is a contact page for him on the OSCAAR site here.
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